One moment, the horizon was lit up with an intense emerald light, with the sounds of a rushing river as the beam struck the ground.

Not a second had passed before the shockwaves hit; peeling concrete and pavement away and forming rushing winds that snaked through the streets and alleyways, indiscriminate in their fury. Nobody left in the east side of the town could possibly know the utter deletion that had been caused in the impact zone, but they still felt the side effects.

And worse still, the portals began to open once again.

It was a plague; peppering the roads and walls and the middle of the air, one after the other as the fissure between the human and Digital world expanded. Many were small, not even big enough to fit a baby Digimon, and those that were larger were too turbulent to pass through, although the garbled screams from the other world implied that it hadn’t stopped some brave souls from trying.

But they were growing in number. They were crawling around, and edging closer and closer to one another. Faults in the fabric of reality, making it weaker by the second.

A family cowered as they watched their car rise up in front of them, swallowed up by the wall they’d just crashed into. The alarm was already warping and fading as it spiralled away into the other world. There was a flash of light, and several pops like firecrackers going off, before something fell forwards, yelling in pain as the residual data from the Digital World scraped against its flesh.

“Please... help me!”

The youngest boy in the family reached out, but his father pulled him back, holding him tightly as the Digimon unfurled before them; a great red and blue insect, but entirely mechanical, with beady yellow eyes, a red horn and a pulsing speaker on his chest. At least, what had once been a speaker. But the Ballistamon’s body had been lacerated and steam and sparks were spitting out from the holes over his body. He staggered forwards, looking up in desperation.

“You have to help me! It’s chaos! It’s all falling apart!”

The portal pulsed behind him, and he fell to one knee, staring down at the ground. His eyes fell pleadingly on the family in front of him. But as he looked up, and the teenage daughter turned around to point, he could see that they were as trapped as he was. A pile of rubble lay where the front of her house had been moments before, also dotted with a lattice of portals. They reached out, the several different locations of the digital world touching one another, and the entire structure wrenched itself around like the helm of a ship, the space unable to remain consistent.

Three joined together, and Ballistamon was thrown forwards as his own portal now lashed back at him, taking another gouge from his arm. He tried to stay standing as he moved towards the group, holding his arms out in some vague protective instinct, but the arms of the interface were closing in and he knew there was nothing he could do, there was still nothing he could do, for them, for him, for anything at all...

“Silver Siege!”

The Ballistamon and the family flinched as a flash of chrome pierced their vision. The whole world shook around them, and they held together, waiting it all collapse on top of them and end everything.

But it didn’t happen. The youngest son opened his eyes, and looked up in wonder at Ceratomon, standing above him with his mechanical arms raised. They strained, and steamed, glowing a bright silver as they held back the collapsing rubble with a metallic sheen.

Mark rushed up, looking at the group. “Get out of here! Hurry! There’s a pathway!”

The father stood up, pulling his wife clear, but they paused, looking back at one of their daughters as she sat in the dirt, her face streaked with tears and her leg twisted sideways.

“I...I can’t move...”

“Let me.”

The girl yelled as she shifted, but she bit her lip as she was held in the Ballistamon’s wounded arm, curled tightly against his humming body. He joined the others and they ran, as Ceratomon crouched further and further down, the portals swirling back and forth above him.

“I can’t...keep holding it...”

“Just a moment longer...” Mark looked behind him, watching the fleeing feet of the victims. They disappeared, and he ran towards his partner. “They’re free. Get rid of it.”

“I can’t! It’s pushing too much...” Ceratomon snorted, and he looked down at the young man. “Get out of the way yourself!”

“I’m not leaving you. We’re going together.”

“Then keep your head down and c-c-close your eyes...”

Mark obliged, clinging to the dinosaur’s underside as Ceratomon roared, the silver sheen spreading over his whole body. His feet pounded against the ground and he charged, feeling the world collapsing around him as all the myriad portals slammed together in the midst of the rubble.

There was a horrendous cracking sound, and both Ceratomon and Mark were thrown forwards. Mark pushed himself away, narrowly avoiding being crushed under his partner’s armour plate, and he rolled on the ground for several metres as it trembled beneath him. Dizzy and aching, he pushed himself up, looking behind him at the spectacle. There was only one portal left now; a chaotic monstrosity, only remaining open due to its own ferocity. Spikes of crystalline data, shards of metal and brick, and debris from the earth itself lay around it, twisted into a gnarled sculpture, interrupted in places by bits of separated car. The noise was unbearable. It was hard enough even to look at, with the air so thick with data that Mark felt as if his eyes were jellifying.

“You...you saved us.”

The young man turned around, and stood up, nodding at the family’s mother behind him. Ballistamon stood to one side, holding the daughter more comfortably as she clung on with shaking arms. Mark looked around him.

“Is there anyone else still round here?”

The mother opened her mouth, but could only let out a hoarse choke, tears catching in her throat. Mark lowered his head, and pointed.

“Head to the north byway. Stay out in the open if you can. There are people there who can help you all.”

The family nodded, and began to retreat without another word, moving briskly through the torn up streets. Mark leant forwards, holding his knees as he tried to calm his breaths. After a moment he walked back to his partner, crouching down and running a hand over the dinosaur’s muzzle.

“Thanks. I hope you’re not too hurt..”

“I’m f-fine.” Ceratomon tilted his head. “We got them out. That’s the i-i-important thing.”

Mark straighted up, looking at the monstrous portal behind him. “I know. But we lost control of another one. And there’s what happened in the sky just now. I could have sworn that came from where HelMidgarmon was...” He clenched his fist. “It’s all going to shit, isn’t it.”

“M-mark, don’t talk like that.”

Ceratomon pushed himself up, his eyes flickering. Mark shook his head, and brushed his jacket down. “You’re right. We don’t have time for that right now.” He placed a hand on the dinosaur’s muzzle, giving a faintly reassuring smile.

“Devolve yourself for now; we’re going to need to conserve energy where we can. There may still be people out there who need our help.”

There certainly were. The impact had shaken the whole town, and in this part which had already been devastated by the riots, the power had proved too much for a lot of the infrastructure. Holes had appeared in the roads, power lines lay strewn about over the ground, and the whole area was dotted with more and more portals, like miniature stars. Mark and Chromon carried on diligently, clearing exit paths and helping those trapped or too frightened to move. It was overwhelming, but after what felt like hours the captives had trickled away, leaving only their devastated homes behind them.

After ten minutes carrying on and finding nobody, Mark and Chromon stopped, and Mark called the others to find out what exactly the true extent of the damage was. Chromon hovered beside him, his eyes drooping and his spherical tail rolling across the ground.

“What do you mean, gone?”

“I can’t explain it any other way. It’s just a gouge out of the world. We’re lucky it was the mainly abandoned area from the riots.”

Mark held his breath, looking skywards. “He can’t be allowed to let off an attack like that again. How are we keeping him away?”

There was a crackle from down the line, before Jack’s voice reappeared. “We aren’t. He’s keeping himself away. Even with four of us there we could barely even change his direction.”

Mark swallowed, feeling his heart beating against his throat. Jack rustled on the other end. “I’ve spoken with Kai and Owen. For now we’re doubling down on getting people out. If we have an empty city then it gives us all room to work with.”

“Makes sense...”

“Sorry for abandoning you. Do you need one of us to give you a hand?”

Mark shook his head. “You stay south. If HelMidgarmon turns back around then you all need to be there. Besides, there’s barely anybody left here.”

“Cool. Join us once you’re done. We need to talk.”

The line went dead, and Mark lowered his hand, staring blankly forwards. He held his other palm up, and for the first time saw the scuffs and scars lining the skin; several hours straight moving debris and riding on his partner. He brought it up, holding the bridge of his nose.

“God...I feel so useless...”

“Y-y-you’ve saved a lot of people today, M-mark.”

“And that’s not going to mean a thing if we can’t stop HelMidgarmon. It’s just...delaying things.” The young man blinked. “How was I ever kidding myself to this extent? I never had any control over any of this. No matter what I do, it’s never going to stop the destruction. I’m not...I’m not strong enough.”

There was no response. Mark looked up, and saw his partner staring into the middle distance.

“What is it?”

“I thought I saw someone...” The dinosaur leant forwards, before jumping. “There, in the m-m-middle of the portals.”

Mark followed his gaze, and saw them too; a lone human, hovering in between two walls dotted with portals. They were facing away, swiping at something in their hands. Mark gritted his teeth, stepping forwards and calling out. “Hey, get out of there! It’s dangerous around here!”

The figure looked up, turning towards Mark. The young man stopped, seeing the dark raincoat and the motorcycle helmet, emblazoned with a red spiral.

“...a h-h-hunter?”

“Jack said they’d all gone away.”

Mark kept walking, beckoning repeatedly, but the figure remained in place, their face unidentifiable behind the helmet. Although Mark couldn’t help but feel a twinge of uncertainty. A vague description in his head. Somebody else at another time and place, on the day Fenghuangmon had died. The day that had kicked this all off.

“H...hey...can you-“

The figure turned, running back as the portals flared out around them. Mark stumbled, and before he knew what he was doing he was running at full speed, anger flaring in his voice.

“Get back here!”

“Mark!”

The figure turned, and held out the item in their hand; something small and metallic, glinting in the light. There was a puff of energy, and Mark skidded to a halt, feeling the data strike his face and causing him to gasp.

When he looked up again, the rogue hunter was gone. But where they had been, the portals were spreading out; a new fissure in reality, coagulating together and forming a new fault. Mark looked around, only seeing swirling lights around him.

“HELP!”

The voice cut through the electronic hum, and he turned, just in time to see the wall beside him opening up. He could see silhouettes beyond; dozens, crammed inside an old warehouse. All Digimon hiding away from the devastation, all Rookies and In-Training levels. Two small, red dragons swam back and forth in the air but locked in by the turbulent vortex. The tamer rushed forwards, reaching out, but the wall was shifting in front of him and he reeled back. The two Gochmon within saw him, and pleaded at him, but the world was shifting again and bending inwards, threatening to crush everybody inside alive.

“Don’t worry, I’ll...I’ll get you out of there!”

“HELP US!”

“Chromon!”

Mark looked all around him, seeing his partner rushing forwards, but soon he was running back and forth as the earth cracked and crumbled, being pulled into an abominable twister as reality bent up above. The tamer reached for his D-SEND, but his hand felt light, and energy flashed past his eyes. He heard Chromon shouting from behind him, and realised too late that he’d stumbled into the epicentre of the portals himself, stranded in the chaos. He cursed, and hit outwards, as the noise grew more unbearable and the ground reared up beneath his feet.

“Eon Tremor!”

With a mighty crack, the earth split apart, and Mark stumbled backwards as a tower of crystal erupted from the ground. It split apart, and more pillars burst out, one after the other, piercing the enclosing rubble and disrupting the portals all the more. They ran wild, curling over the edges and lashing out, but the crystal blocked their movements, masterfully interlocking and forming a half-dome that pushed them further away.

Mark turned round, and his heart leapt to his mouth as he saw another Digimon standing behind him; a giant brown mantis, covered in thick armour and wielding serrated scythe-like legs. He was immense, six times the boy’s height, yet he moved with an incredible delicacy and dexterity, manipulating the crystals with ease. It looked down, its jaws cracking open into a nightmarish maw. And yet Mark recognised him instantly, no matter how monstrous he had become.

“Trilomon!?”

The great mantis, Tectonamon, trilled awkwardly. “I hope we’re not too late...”

He bent over, his armour plating unfolding from the back, and Mark saw his brother leap sideways, shimmying down the insect’s leg and landing smoothly on the ground. He looked up, his hair blowing in the rush of energy.

“Get out of there! Now!”

Mark swallowed, and ran sideways, joining his own partner away from the carnage. But already the portals were morphing together again, the crystal cracking above his brother, and he skidded to a halt. Tectonamon drew back, his voice taking on a squeal. “Kent, be careful!”

“I’m always careful!”

“Liar!”

Kent reached down as he looked up at the portals, the crystal crumbling away above him. He thrust his hand out, a green and copper D-Nexus in his hand.

“Okay, but at least I can be efficient!”

He held his arm up, and his thumb slammed down on the button in the centre, releasing a burst of green energy. He held it down as the lights dispersed in a haze, and were swept up by the warps in space around him.

The cracking began to lessen, and the rushing sound slowly ebbed away. The portals hung in place, no longer ripping at the world but shrinking in on themselves, becoming static blobs. Although their movements weren’t stopped entirely, with many still vibrating with a hidden energy. But the area was at least stabilised.

Kent sighed, and rolled his shoulder as he brought the device back down. “That was a whole lot of everything all at once...”

Tectonamon strode forwards, his six eyes flicking from portal to portal. “They didn’t shrink as much as last time.”

“Close proximity. Lots of energy. Deceleration only works so much.”

He pocketed the D-Nexus, before looking beside him, frowning as he ran his hand over the smooth crystal.

“Not to be a critic but it looks like we accidentally locked someone in.”

Tectonamon quailed. “Ooops...”

There was a crunching sound, and the man and his bug stepped forwards, seeing Mark standing by the side of the ruined building. There was now a sizeable hole in it, having been bashed in by Chromon’s tail. The dinosaur stood sheepishly as Mark nodded at the other two.

“This should help.”

Kent grinned. “Nice one.”

“Thanks for saving us.” Mark nodded, and stepped back as the trapped Digimon began to leave, led by a tearful and overenthusiastic Gochmon. “We should get these guys to safety.”

His voice was flat, and a little skewed. Kent couldn’t help but tense up a little at his brother’s terse response, but he nodded nonetheless, and went forwards to help.

There were a few minor injuries, but the Digimon organised themselves, carrying those who were struggling. Even so, there were a lot of them, and by the time the brothers had freed them all from the shell of rubble the portals were beginning to grow restless once again, some of them pressing together.

Mark and Kent led the refugees back through the streets, avoiding the pockets of gates and making a pathway through. Eventually they reached a more barren area, and Mark pointed the way for the Digimon to get to the north, to the safer grounds inland.

The four watched them go, with Mark leaning against an abandoned shop, puffing his cheeks out. He looked up towards his brother, and nodded.

“Thanks for saving me.”

Kent blinked, before shaking his head. “No need to thank me. I always would.”

“...timing was a little bit tight, to be honest.”

“That’s his fault,” said a devolved Trilomon in a cheeky manner, pointing with a bone claw. “You have no idea how lost he’s been getting of late.”

“I get distracted!”

Mark smirked, and stood up, walking towards his brother. Chromon was sat beside him, keeping his beak very firmly shut.

“Have you seen what HelMidgarmon did to the west side?”

Kent’s smile fell, and he rolled his shoulders, pulling his jacket in. “Only bits and pieces. But they were enough.”

“How much do you know?”

Kent looked aside, his brown eyes meeting Mark’s green ones. “Most of it I’ve been keeping track of anyway. Salma’s told me what I needed to know. I’m here to stay until this is all fixed.”

“I thought you might be. Do you know if there’s anywhere we still need to evacuate?”

Kent held a hand to his chin. “A few streets, maybe. They’re mostly in the suburbs.”

“Hey, can you loosen your jaw for a minute?”

“Yes, I...uh...” Kent looked up, confused. “What?”

BANG

Kent spun around as Mark’s fist slammed into his chin, landing a solid impact. Kent took two steps, before he went down onto his backside, eyes shuddering in his head.

“Kent!”

Trilomon yelped, running forwards and staring in shock at his partner’s disorientated form. Kent shifted, gently pushing himself up and holding his chin, swinging it back and forth as he winced in pain.

“...aaaaaiee....”

Chromon hadn’t moved, his jaw open and his expression aghast. Mark shuffled next to him, wincing in pain himself as he waved his right hand back and forth, the knuckles looking very red. Still, he stared down, his eyes fixed and focused and full of barely held-together rage as he watched his older brother turn around in front of him, pushing himself up onto his knees.

“...I...deserved that, didn’t I...”

Mark narrowed his eyes, his nostrils flaring. Kent waited, awkwardly but patiently, as his brother’s breathing ebbed away, and he opened his mouth and spoke in a seething whisper.

“We need to have a fucking talk.”

Crunch

Hoatzimon could feel the ground crumbling beneath her feet as she trudged forwards. She was staring blankly, not even paying attention to the broken town as it blurred around her. There was nobody around. They’d all run by now.

She didn’t feel like running. Not now. Her whole body ached, and her throat burned. But she didn’t stop; she just carried on through the streets, her eyes staring before her. Not seeing anything. Just playing the same scene again and again. She’d managed to regain consciousness, and pull herself up, clawing her way to the top of the warehouse. She’d seen him, in the distance, standing up on that pillar, still as immoveable as always.

Then the light had come, and he’d disappeared before her very eyes.

“Sciamon...come back...”

Her talons hit a crack in the road, and she stumbled forwards, falling to one knee. She sat there, staring at the backs of her bruised, bloodied hands.

“You look lost, lady.”

Hoatzimon raised her head, and saw a few small Digimon standing before her. Hyokomon to the left, Alraumon to the right, and in front of both of them was Suricamon, leaning forwards on the handle of her shovel. She grinned, winking at the bird. Hoatzimon barely even reacted.

“You...I know you...”

“Oof.” Suricamon stood up, resting the shovel over her shoulder. “Charming. I fought for you bastards enough times.”

Hoatzimon stood up, swaying on her feet just slightly as her knuckles cracked. “Where...where have you been...?”

“They’ve been under my protection.”

Hoatzimon froze, and her head snapped around, her senses instantly snapping into focus. Caesiumon was leant against a wall, rolling his fingers in front of him with a slightly distant expression on his skeletal face. His eyes rolled sideways.

“Are you on your own? What’s happened to our dear leader?”

“You bastard!”

Hoatzimon strode forwards, breaking into a run, and before Caesiumon had even pushed himself off the wall he was grabbed by the shoulders and slammed back into it, the impact making cracks form. Hoatzimon’s eyes burned into his, bright orange and full of fire.

“Where the hell were you all this time?”

Caesiumon tilted his head, blinking innocently. “ I’ve been looking out for people.”

“Don’t give me that! You left us!” Hoatzimon pulled him back, and pushed him forwards again, her hands shaking. “You could have stopped them! You could have stayed with Sciamon and destroyed those...those monsters who...Sciamon wouldn’t have had to...”

She broke down, her head falling forwards as tears fell from the eyes of her mask. The metal man waited, feeling her grip loosen from his collar. Then he leant forwards, and held his arms around her, gently caressing her ragged shoulders. She jerked up and down, shaking her head.

“Caesiumon...I want him back...I don’t know what to do without him...”

“He was truly conscientious.”

Caesiumon pushed back, holding Hoatzimon in front of him as his eyes looked into hers. “ But he was a zealot, through and through. And it blinded him.”

Hoatzimon’s face crumpled up as she glared into his face. “He was better than us. Better than someone like you could ever hope to be. Don’t you dare slander him now.”

“Oh Hoatzimon...”

Caesiumon reached forwards, running a lone finger over Hoatzimon’s cheek. She flinched, and stepped back, holding a palm to the raw flesh. The metal man stood utterly still, looking oddly sad.

“I don’t understand. How you can be hurt so much and yet still find it within yourself to love?”

Hoatzimon looked down, her eyes darting back and forth. Caesiumon stood up before her with a slight ringing sound. “I hope you’ll see that one day. This world cannot be changed by a fanatic.”

Hoatzimon watched as he walked out into the open, her eyes glistening. “Where...where are you going then? What are you going to do?”

“This place is about to become a battleground. And we cannot be here when it is. Not if we hope to make a difference of our own.”

“A...difference?”

“Just because I never quite believed in Sciamon doesn’t mean I don’t agree with him.”Caesiumon turned round, his eyes shimmering. “This world is broken. And individuals suffer for it. We still need to gather. And bide our time.”

Hoatzimon stood straight, her arms held by her sides. She looked down at the three Rookies, who stood at Caesiumon’s feet. Not an impressive army. But a loyal one. Suricamon scuttled up Caesiumon’s leg, and crouched over on his shoulder, pressing her lips together in a wide smile.

“We’re still gonna change the world, lady. What are you gonna do?”

Hoatzimon blinked. “Me...I...I don’t...”

“There’s always a place for you. You believed in a better world for all of us. All innocents.”Caesiumon gestured out with a palm. “Come with me.”

The bird hesitated, holding her hands up before her. “This world is going to end. There’s nowhere to go.”

“But there is.”

“Where?”

Caesiumon turned around, holding a hand up to his brow.

“Back to the Digital World, of course...”

Liopramon snarled as a wind whipped across the streets, scattering reams of paper and chilling him to the bones. He pulled his waistcoat in, but it was no protection; threadbare at this point, and so torn and shredded by so many battles that it was practically useless. His hat wasn’t much better, and the boots he’d always been so proud of were now flapping against the rock, the soles peeling away at the edges.

The leprechaun hadn’t recovered from his attack on Eloise and Kai’s house, nor his hasty retreat. After warping a few blocks it had taken as much as it could for him to barely hold his shape together. He’d waited for the others, sure they would meet him in time. They could all escape together.

But they hadn’t come. And he’d been forced to hide himself away as the town had torn itself apart around him. He hadn’t dared show himself, wary of the wrath of the humans and Digimon he’d abandoned alike.

Now he was exhausted. And hungry. He couldn’t replenish his strength, or even summon enough energy to warp a short distance. Still, he had to admit as he trudged across the rough ground, he did at least have some peace and quiet now. No screaming and flailing and panicking to manoeuvre. Just him, a deserted town, and his own thoughts.

...that was even worse.

He stumbled over something, and twisted around, kicking the offending drinks can down the road. It bounced with an echoing clatter, and he rushed back on seeing what it was, hoping for something inside that he could salvage. But of course it was empty. Just the faint fumes of cider.

“Evrythin’s gone to shit in a stroller, it has.”

He turned around, and caught a sight of his own reflection; a sight that just made him angrier. There was something flickering in the mirrored surface, and his digital makeup told him instantly that it was a gateway to the digital world, not two hundred metres from him. He snorted, derisively.

“Feck’s sake...I only came here in the first place ‘cause that world was endin’.”

He wandered forwards, and slumped against the glass, muttering to himself.

“Stupid feckin’ world, and stupid feckin’ humans, and stupid feckin’ war. It’s always another poxy war. And I choose my sides and what do I get for it? Shit. Just another world ending. What’s the feckin’ point...”

He coughed, and glared up, a dark look in his piercing eyes. “Oh, but Yethmon does alright. Yethmon fails to fuckin’ do anything and somehow nabs himself a partner and power and all that shit. I never got that. Wouldn’t get the damndest chance, I wouldn’t...”

Talking out loud wasn’t doing much to make him feel better, so he just slumped back, his waistcoat rucking up behind him. He frowned, and reached deep inside, burrowing around in all the inner pockets, until he picked out a fluff-covered wallet. He opened it up, and spat a laugh out.

“Oh for FUCK’S SAKE!”

It was Nicholas’s; red leather, silver clasped, slightly scuffed at the edges. Still with all the cash and cards inside. The leprechaun had completely forgotten he’d swiped it back when he’d first met the young man, during Yethmon’s fateful encounter. Looking at it now, it just made him all the sicker.

“What the hell use is money gonna be now, anyway? It’s all crap. All meaningless crap.”

He let the wallet fall through his fingers, where it opened up before him. His eyes were narrowed even more now, his ears twitching with rage.

“You had to pick him, didn’t you...you had to give him everything and reject me. I’m more than worthy of a partner. Why’d you blow me off, you bastard?”

He clenched his fist, his fingers pressing against the hole in the centre of his palm. It was still there, even after all this time. Tingling slightly when he touched it. His aim was going to be askew forever.

He leant his head forwards, burying it in his folded arms.

“You bastards...you got everything...and I’m stuck with shit all. Again...”

Something clocked in his mind, and he looked over his arms, his eyes falling upon the wallet. He reached out, the card holder dangling downwards. At the head of it was a small pink card, showing a greyscale photo of Nicholas. The leprechaun stuck his lip out.

“No...no, I ain’t going down this way. I’ll make you beg to make me your partner, and I’ll jab this right into the middle of scruffy’s smug face.”

He began to laugh, fiddling with the card wallet and pulling the plastic away, freeing Nicholas’s provisional licence. He held it up, running a thumb beneath the address.

“And if y’won’t...if I’m going down then I ain’t going down easy. I’ll make you pay, you goggle-eyed fuck.”

A chuckle escaped his lips as he stood up, holding the card in his wounded hand and peering around for the nearest street name. He saw it, and set off in the opposite direction, cackling as he did so.

“I’m gonna make you hurt...”

“You are looking after yourself, aren’t you?”

Grace pulled back, running her fingers over Ember’s head from the window of the car. Skye shuffled forwards, whimpering slightly at the girl daring not to shower her with such immediate love and attention. Grace looked back at her parents, nodding.

“Of course. We’re going to have people with us all the way.” She looked at her father. “Has Jack talked to you?”

“He called a couple of hours ago. He’s...he said he was fine.”

The man tightened his fist, his eyes flickering back and forth, not quite looking at his daughter. “Why do you have to do this?”

Jade gave him a look, as Grace pulled back a little, a tired expression on her face. “Dad...”

“I know why, I know why, I mean...I just mean...you and Jack...why do you have to do this?” He bit his lip, trying to keep a strong expression and failing entirely. “You’ve already saved the world. And now it’s happening again. You’ve...you’ve already done more than you ever needed to...”

He sniffed, and Grace pressed her lips together, shaking her head as she fought back her own emotions. “Dad...please not now-“

Fwmph

The moment was broken as Skye, tired of being the third wheel, promptly wedged her head next to Ember’s, squashing the both of them together as she demanded cuddles. Grace smiled, and gave both the dogs a loose hug, before she pulled away and went up to her parents. She held out her arms and held them; no words, no sounds, just for a minute or so. When she pulled back again, Jade was holding her husband’s hand tightly.

“Whatever...you need to do, and wherever you need to go, you know we’ll always be waiting, right?”

Grace sniffed, and rubbed beneath her nose. “Hey, at least this time I get to say goodbye.”

It was a weak joke, and it dissipated in the air between them. There was a soft sound as Vulpimon padded up, little motes of frost trickling away into the air above her. Jade nodded down at her, before bundling the car keys into her hand, looking her daughter in the eye.

“Do what you need to do. And then both of you, come and find us. I don’t care how long it takes. Promise me, okay?”

Grace pulled the hem of her jacket.

“I promise.”

Vulpimon smiled warmly up at her partner, before her ears twitched and she looked behind her. Grace felt something too, following her partner’s gaze as the faint sounds of shouting echoed in the distance. Vulpimon stuck her lip out apologetically, but Grace ran a hand over the fox’s head.

“Sounds like something’s up. You should hurry. The sooner you’re all safe the better.”

Jade nodded. “Go. Look after each other, alright?”

She watched as her daughter and the fox rushed off down the street, a lead weight playing on her heart. Paul was leaning sideways, holding the side of his head. She nudged him, before raising the keys, opening the car without another word.

Grace kept pace with Vulpimon as they headed towards the source of the noise; definitely some sort of scuffle. Vulpimon winced. “Please don’t let that be who I think it is.”

“What’s the bet? Three times out of the last six? It’s even odds.”

“We really don’t have time for his temper though...”

They turned a corner, and found a gaggle of escapees circled around a ruckus in the middle of a street. A Gorimon was on the ground, swearing repeatedly and banging a flat palm against the tarmac. Vulpimon’s eyes drifted upwards, and she barked loudly.

“Yethmon! Again?”

Highwaymon leant back, a tired look in his eyes. “It’s not my fault. He started it by getting rough with that poor guy over there.”

Grace looked aside at another man on the ground, with a bruised face being tended to by a helpful Sepikmon. She sighed, looking back up at the rogue.

“Just let him go. We didn’t come here to start fights.”

“It doesn’t stop them.”

“Now!”

“Grace, relax,” said Nicholas, walking forwards with his hands in his pockets. He whistled up at Highwaymon. “You can probably let him be now.”

The rogue gave a nasty look, but he unfolded himself, rolling backwards and brushing his jacket off. The Gorimon was rescued by his own friends, many of them looking darkly at the rogue, but none of them daring to make a move. He walked back towards Nicholas, his shoulders hunched and his tail dragging along the ground.

“I was never gonna hurt him properly you know.”

“...you’ll pay for that, you goddamn rat’s nest!”

Yethmon’s eyes flashed, and he whirled around, but didn’t move even as both Grace and Nicholas held onto him. He raised a finger, pointing it at the Gorimon’s face.

“This ain’t the time and I don’t have the energy. Get your shit together and get out of here, all of you, ‘cause if you don’t then you’re gonna have a hell of a lot more to worry about than a twisted arm.”

His tail flicked upwards, pointing at the sky. Several of the onlookers quailed at this, and the Gorimon grunted and backed off, although he retained his dark look towards the tamers. Grace swallowed, and stepped forwards.

“I’m sorry for the rudeness. But he is right. This place is going to become dangerous and you all need to move now. There’s help there for anyone who needs it.” She placed her hands together in front of her. “Just...no more hurting each other. There’s been too much of that already.”

There were mutters and grumbles and barely-veiled threats, but the group moved along with a little encouragement. Grace and Nicholas stood watching them go, as the boy placed a hand behind his head.

“You’re always so deft at handling these things. I’m jealous.”

She turned around, and her eyes bored into his, causing him to wince.

“...my bad?”

“You’re supposed to be working with him, Nicholas. You know; stop him getting into fights and causing issues.”

There was a snort as Yethmon walked forwards, red mist trailing away from his Champion form. “Charmed. I break up a fight and I get shouted at.”

Nicholas raised a finger. “He didn’t actually hurt anyone.”

“He’s your responsibility. Now isn’t the time to be making enemies. This isn’t just some game.”

“For the love of...I know this isn’t a game! When have I ever been treating this as a game?”

“Nicholas, please!” yelled Grace, her voice sharp against the evening cold. The boy lowered his arm, waiting patiently as the girl held her wrist.

“This is...serious now. Really serious. I’ve been in situations like this and I know what it’s like just before a battle of this scale. You...you know we have to fight HelMidgarmon here, right?”

“I-“ Nicholas started, then he raised a hand to his mouth, coughing gently as he tempered his response. “I do.”

“Do you have any idea what it’s going to be like?”

“I don’t.” The boy looked behind him, as if he could see the great serpent through the buildings. “I’d like to think I do but I don’t.”

Grace looked down. “Enough people have been hurt by all this. There’s a good chance that more of us will. Which is why we need to be the best of ourselves. Just...focused, you know?”

“Of course I know.” Nicholas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “But...I can be better. I know that. I don’t want to upset you and I’ll try to stay focused.”

He glanced sideways at Yethmon. “Won’t I...”

There was a tsk, and Yethmon leant back against a wall, folding his arms. “Ganging up on me, they are...”

“Excuse you.”

The hound caught a frosty glance from Vulpimon, and squirmed slightly, before bowing his head. “I’ll try to watch my temper, marm.”

Grace held the bridge of her nose. She knew him well enough at this point that his sincere tone sounded just as sarcastic as his sarcastic one, but it didn’t make it much easier. She looked up, feeling bags beneath her eyes as she struggled to see in the gloom.

“How many more do we have to move?”

“That was the last of them.” Nicholas pulled out his phone, deleting the remaining memo. “Most of them were pretty good, you know.”

“Thank you. You were a great help. I don’t mean to...shout at you...”

She swayed a little, and Nicholas held her shoulder, steadying her on her feet. She leant in, holding her arms around him as he glanced down at her face.

“You look exhausted.”

“Nothing gets past you...” The young woman rubbed her eyes. “It was my parents as well. It’s all just a bit much at the minute.”

“It’s also late,” piped Vulpimon, pressing her front legs together. “We’ve been moving people all day. I didn’t realise how quickly everything was going.”

Nicholas winced, and looked over his shoulder. “It’s a fair way back to Inez’s from here. If they’re even still there.”

“I wouldn’t worry about it,” yawned Grace as she pushed herself up, blinking and trying to keep her eyes open. “I’ve slept rough before.”

Nicholas’s look of concern hit her, and she waved her hand up and down. “Not that we need to. Of course.”

Her hand went to her jacket pocket, and she jangled her keys. “My parents aren’t home. Do you want to come back to my place?”

“...you really are exhausted, aren’t you...”

She’d walked it a thousand times, but how Grace had summoned the energy to return home she had no idea. The journey was a blur, and as soon as she’d gotten back her head gave up entirely, and in ten minutes she was collapsed flat out on her bed. Nicholas had planned to keep watch, but after his own intense day he was almost out of it as well; enough that Yethmon forced him to find a corner and rest himself, and leave the vigilance to him. The hound didn’t sleep when he could help it.

It was pitch black when Grace opened her eyes again, and she curled over, her entire body aching from the day’s efforts. She lay in a state of half-consciousness for a few minutes, but pretty soon it was as if a switch had been flicked back in her body. She shifted, staring up at the ceiling. Sleeping as a stranger in her own house. It was all too bizarre to take in.

“Are you awake already?”

Grace turned her head, and found herself looking into Vulpimon’s golden eyes. The fox hadn’t left her side the whole time. Grace raised a hand to her forehead.

“How...long have I been out?”

“A few hours. It’s early morning.” Vulpimon sucked her cheeks in. “It might be an idea to get some more, you know.”

“I’m never going to get back to sleep now.”

“Too much going on?”

“You know me; there’s always too much going on.”

The girl pushed herself up, and curved around, gently sliding off the edge of the bed and sitting down next to Vulpimon. She stared ahead, her eyes gently getting used to the darkness.

“I hope the others are doing okay. And that they’re getting a chance to rest as well.”

“Time flies, doesn’t it...”

The girl nodded. “It’s flown since the last time we did this, as well.” She turned her head. “You...you remember, right?”

The fox bit her lower lip, her shoulders hunched slightly. “The night before I went to war for the first time? How could I forget?” She bristled, and looked at the girl. “How are we going to manage this time?”

Grace was silent for a few moments, collecting her thoughts in the darkness. She reached into the pocket of her jacket, and pulled out her D-SEND, running a finger over the curved side.

“There is only the one of him this time. Not a whole army.”

“He’s stronger than any army I’ve ever seen though.”

“We’re going to figure this out, Vulpimon. We have to.” Grace smiled at the fox. “That’s what we do, isn’t it? We fight and we make things better for everyone.”

The fox stared back, her fur bristling all the more. “Is it really me you’re trying to convince?”

“You can see through that too, huh?”

“I’ve lived with you for over five years of your life. I know how your mind works. And you know mine.” Vulpimon leant sideways, nestling her head on the young woman’s shoulder. “That’s what makes us partners, isn’t it? We get each other.”

“Partners...”

Grace placed her hands over her cheeks, feeling the cold skin. “Everyone’s getting stronger, aren’t they? We’re no longer alone. Even Nicholas is catching up to us.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“Of course not. The more we have the better.” Grace furrowed her brow. “I...think.”

Vulpimon looked puzzled, and Grace held her D-SEND closer to her chest. “HelMidgarmon...he was Ali’s partner, wasn’t he. How...how did he get like that?” Surely Ali...he must have been close with him. He must have thought nothing of this scale could ever happen to him, so how...how can I be so sure...”

She tightened up, her teeth grinding together. Vulpimon whimpered a little next to her, unable to find a response. Eventually Grace looked forwards, her eyes glazed in the darkness.

“I’m still thinking about it. The fight with Dramatismon. He pointed at me and said I needed to die. Or...or the world would end...” She smiled weakly. “Maybe...maybe it’s time now. Maybe this is where the world ends unless I...I...”

“What are you supposed to do?”

Vulpimon’s voice was scratchy. Almost pained. She pressed harder, and Grace could feel the uncertain rumble in her partner’s chest. She was worried about it too.

“You don’t want to end the world, you want to save it! We both did. We both still do. What...what else can we do?”

“Vulpimon-“

“I’m scared, Grace; I’ve seen this too much. We couldn’t save our world, not really. We couldn’t save my family. Every time we try this it’s just failed, so...so if it’s going to fail anyway...please don’t...don’t you dare leave me...I need you more than anything...please don’t leave me...”

Grace could feel the fox shaking beside her, and she held an arm out, holding Vulpimon close. They rocked for a few minutes, Grace making faint hushing noises as Vulpimon calmed herself down. The girl buried her face in her partner’s neck ruff.

“You’re supposed to be looking after me, you know.”

“...shut up...”

They didn’t move, each of them laying their traumas and fears on the shoulders of the other, all without a single word. Just an embrace. A single friend in a world gone mad.

They only broke apart when Vulpimon’s ears pricked up, and the two suddenly heard a vibrating noise coming from her desk. A light shone against the ceiling as a phone moved back and forth. It was Nicholas’s phone.

Grace pulled herself up, and looked at the screen as it vibrated. Rose. She knew that name; his grandmother, who he’d spoken about once in a while. The vibrating stopped, and the lock screen flashed up briefly, showing the time. Grace clutched her sleeve. 3:40 in the morning.

“Why are you calling now-“

The phone burst into life as Rose’s name flashed up again. Grace bit her lip, and picked it up, swiping onto the call.

“Hello, this is Nicholas’s phone.”

There was some sort of static on the other end of the line. No...not quite static. Too shaky. Too breathy.

“I’m his...I’m his friend. Did you need to talk to him?”

“...Nicholas...is Nicholas there...we have...he’s come to...he wants...”

The line crackled, and there was the sound of harsh sobbing. Grace’s eyes widened, and she pulled the phone closer. “What do you mean; who wants what? What’s wrong?”

“He...he needs to come now before anything else...before he does...”

Something beeped, and there was a scream and the sound of the phone banging on the floor. Grace jumped, already running for the stairs as the phone shook in her hand.

“Hello? Hello?”

She burst into the door of Jack’s bedroom, where Nicholas sat up blearily, rubbing under his eyes. Grace flailed for the light switch, and it burst into life, causing the young man to wince.

“Ayy...shouldn’t you still be resting? What time is it?”

Grace turned towards him, her face white, when the phone crackled in her hand once again, and a new voice sounded. It rang out into the room, slightly tinny due to the speaker.

“I guess I have your attention now.”

The expression froze on Nicholas’s face. Grace lowered her arm, the device chuckling in her hand.

“I hope this ain’t a bad time. Though I know it’s a bad time. But...well...there ain’t much else I can do any more. Not with the world about to end. So I thought, why not, hey, let’s settle some debts. Go out with a clean slate.”

Something rustled in the corner of the room as Yethmon stepped out of the shadows, his red eyes twitching.

“Liopramon...that prick...”

“Ooh good, you’re all there.” Liopramon’s voice lowered, a rasping sigh escaping his lips. “I think I’ve made my point. You know where I am. You know who I’ve got with me. I want to see the blonde and the mongrel in the next hour. We have some things t’discuss. The longer you take, the more I’m gonna get bored. And y’don’t want that.”

There was a bang, another cry, and the line went dead.

The streetlamps flickered as Alopemon rushed underneath them, holding Grace and Nicholas on her back. Alongside, Highwaymon’s dark silhouette warped through the shadows, rattling slightly as he moved and easily keeping pace. Nicholas sat behind Grace, trying desperately to see through the dim streets. Grace looked over her shoulder.

“Which way now?”

“Right. Then left, and carry on as fast as you can.”

Alopemon obliged, tilting her body so as not to dislodge her riders. She breathed out, a cloud of mist dissipating from beneath her mask. Highwaymon sped up to accommodate, his red eyes seeing effortlessly in the darkness.

Presently he held up a hand, and the fox skidded to a halt, leaving black ice on the ground. Nicholas immediately leapt off her back as Grace reached out after him, “Wait, Nicholas we don’t know-“

The young man didn’t wait; he rushed up to the front of his house, and called out into the night.

“Liopramon! I’m here, as you said!”

His voice felt narrow, swallowed up by the night, but it was no less intimidating for it. Grace nudged Alopemon, and she padded sideways, keeping an eye on all the nearby exits.

A window rattled and both Alopemon and Highwaymon tensed, the latter, turning a pistol in his hand. But the window only opened, and the pixie leant on the windowsill.

“So glad y’could come. I’m sad we couldn’t have met again sooner.”

Nicholas narrowed his eyes. “My grandparents. Bring them out now.”

Liopramon blinked. “I don’t really think that’s how this is going to work-“

“Save it,” Nicholas bellowed, his voice making the pixie jump. “If I don’t see them both out here, alive and mobile, then whatever you’re after is off. Do you understand me?”

Liopramon scowled, and promptly vanished, leaving the two tamers and their Digimon in the darkness once again. Grace gently dismounted from Alopemon, reaching out a hand towards her boyfriend.

“Nicholas, you know what he’s trying to do. Please stay calm-“

Nicholas shook his head. “Don’t tell me how to handle this. He’s come after me. He can deal with me.”

There was a click, and the door opened, lit by the dim lamp of the kitchen. Nicholas stepped forwards, holding his hands on the gate as he watched first his grandmother walk forwards, and then his grandfather. They walked slowly, and deliberately. His grandfather stumbled, just staying upright on his cane. They were both clearly in shock, but as Nicholas went to open the gate there was a flash of green and gold and suddenly Liopramon was leering up in his face. Nicholas went for his arm, but the leprechaun knocked him away, and sat on the rail, holding a myriad of golden coins in his free, and good, hand.

“There’s y’demand. Both out here, both alive, both walking as fast as their legs can manage. Any more demands are out of the question. Cause they ain’t as sturdy as you. I know that much.”

Highwaymon raised a pistol, but Nicholas held up a palm, his own face dead straight. He watched Liopramon for a moment, who whistled nonchalantly.

“Now, I say we need to reconsider a few things here, don’t we all. See, I offered you a good deal, and in return you blew me off and stuck with this runt. That’s your decision. But see, now the world’s about t’end and frankly I want you to reconsider. ‘Cause if anyone’s gonna survive all this it’s gonna be you freaks. So I want in on that. And I want him out.”

“You’re asking me to abandon him?”

“In a word? Yeah. Y’can abandon him. Or y’can abandon them. Who d’you love more, I wonder?”

Nicholas’s eyes moved down to his grandmother’s, seeing the light reflecting in her tears. She opened her mouth, her voice shaking.

“Nicholas...I...I don’t understand...”

The boy gritted his teeth. “I asked you to go. Why were you still here; you knew it was going to get dangerous.”

“We were waiting for you.”

Nicholas’s grandfather had spoken, and the boy turned towards him, seeing his own harrowed expression.

“...I told you I’d catch up with you-“

“No.” The man shook his head, his eyes never leaving Nicholas’s. “We weren’t going to leave without you.”

Rose’s voice shook. “You...you said you had errands you needed to run...is this what you meant? Are you with these people? Have you always been with them?”

Grace swallowed behind Nicholas. “What are you talking about...?” She looked at the back of his head, holding a hand to her chest. “Nicholas, you...promised you’d tell them...”

The boy didn’t answer. He just stared down, his face not even flinching.

“Aaiiuugh!”

Liopramon rolled his head back, breaking the silence with a rude yell. “So boring! Will ya have the decent courtesy and manners to pay attention to me, fer god’s sake!” He raised his hand, golden coins shimmering between his fingers. “I’m losin’ my patience. If you won’t accept, then y’have about five seconds to say goodbye to your grandmammy and granpappy.”

“You had no right.”

Liopramon raised an eyebrow, his cheek twitching. Nicholas’s eyes flashed up towards him. “You had no right to involve them.”

“...y’know what? Feck this.”

Liopramon vanished, and within seconds he had reappeared on Rose’s shoulder, forcing her down to her knees as he held a palm against her head.

“Give me yer goddamn digivice or you’ll be pickin’ out yer grammy’s skull for loose change. Gimme an answer or I’ll-“

“Purgatory Pistols!”

“Fuck!”

Crimson flashed in Liopramon’s eyes as he jumped, firing wildly as he did so. The coins mostly flew wide, but two of them scraped past Rose’s cheek and she cried out, falling to her hands and knees. Liopramon rolled behind her, fumbling with his hat and vanishing as another red shot cracked the pavement.

“Nicholas!”

Grace moved quickly, vaulting the low wall and placing her body between the two seniors and Liopramon, but the pixie was already jumping back and forth as red blasts exploded all around him. He thrust his arms out, sending a spray of coins in a wide arc, before leaping back towards the doorstep, cursing like a sailor.

“I’ve got them.”

Alopemon appeared next to Grace and the girl stood up, forming a barrier with her partner. She whirled around, glaring at Nicholas. “Are you insane? He could have hit her!”

“But he didn’t.”

Nicholas reached up, pressing his glasses up as Highwaymon dropped down next to him, red dust falling from his body and whipping around in a vortex.

“Get them out of here, Grace.”

“What are you doing? They’re your family, you have to-“

“They shouldn’t be here. They wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for him. I’m not going to let him get away with this.”

Grace gritted her teeth, gently helping Rose up as the woman held her bleeding cheek. They blinked, as Nicholas stood still, illuminated by a red light. There was a flash of crimson lightning, and suddenly Baskervimon stood there, his eyes bright in the pitch black, and a grey fog floating in wisps around his feet.

“...Nicholas...?”

Liopramon took a step back on the doorstep, his face twitching all the more as the hell’s gaze of the black hound focused upon him.

“Ah crap.”

Nicholas raised his hand, and patted Baskervimon on the shoulder.

“Go fetch.”

With a rattling of chains and a sea of red smoke from his jaws, Baskervimon rushed forwards towards the doorstep. Liopramon darted sideways, his hand already going to his hat, but the great hound was almost on him, slamming his great paw down. Liopramon stumbled, his hat shimmering in his grasp.

“Vanishing Cap!”

Baskervimon turned and snapped his fangs, but only caught empty air, interspersed with a few loose threads. He sniffed, and his eyes darted up to the top window, where Liopramon’s stubby legs were kicking outwards.

“Dire Deliverance!”

Baskervimon howled, and his body split into four, the red spectral hounds slathering at the base of the wall. One of them leapt up, his teeth snapping at Liopramon’s heels and causing the pixie to stumble. He kicked out wildly, before pulling himself up again, crouching on the edge. He looked down, watching the hounds splitting again, forming a sea of scarlet below. He raised a hand, pulling out a coin, but he knew that no matter how many he pulled out there was no way he could make a dent in the hound. He bit his thumbnail, trying to retain his balance even as his assailant swiped at the wall again, his claws leaving deep grooves in the brickwork.

The building shook as Baskervimon charged, and the leprechaun picked his moment; he leapt forwards in a shower of coins, clutching his hat as he disappeared from out of thin air. He landed several metres away, as far as he could manage in a single leap, and rushed into the depths of the terraces, not even daring to look back.

Baskervimon’s nostrils flared, and he whipped around as Nicholas held out an arm.

“Stop him! Don’t let him get away!”

“Dire Deliverance!”

The hound shimmered as he ran, and the air was filled with the sounds of scarlet hounds baying and snapping at the air as they spread out. Grace looked in horror all around her as they charged, completely out of control as they tore through road and pavement. She noticed Nicholas among them, holding his D-SEND tightly, and she called out in desperation.

“Nicholas, stop! He’s not worth this! Let him go!”

The young man didn’t even turn around; he began to run, flanked by the spectral hounds as they bayed out into the night. Grace swore, and took a few steps, before stopping herself and turning back to Rose and David, who were holding one another.

“Can you move? Are you going to be okay?”

The terrified looks on their faces said more than they needed to. Grace ran a palm over her mouth, looking around her.

“You...you have to go now. You can’t wait for him; you need to get to safety first. Can you do that?”

Rose looked over at her husband, who felt in his jacket pocket. He nodded. “I...I have friends I can call.”

“Is this what it’s like for you?”

Rose stared at Grace with a harrowing expression, holding her hand to her collar. “When you fight, does it turn you into...into this? He was so sweet...and kind...that can’t be...”

“Sssh, ssh, it’s going to be okay.” David held his wife’s hand, before looking up at Grace. “It’s all going to be okay, isn’t it?”

“Leave it to me. I’ll bring him back.” Grace called Alopemon over, quickly leaping up onto the fox’s back even as her body yelled at her to stop moving. “I’ll make sure to look after him.”

David nodded, and he clutched his wife as Alopemon rushed off into the darkness, towards the sounds of howling and baying. Rose held a hand to her mouth, desperately trying to fend off the tears, but David didn’t let go, comforting her as best as he could. But they couldn’t stand there forever, and eventually he held her cheek.

“The girl’s right. It’s time for us to go.” He let out a breath, his cheeks looking ashen in the dim lamplight.

“Nicholas won’t be coming.”