The rushing of the river seemed distant. Blurred into the scenery. White noise, still constant even after all the devastation. And the only thing to break the silence as Lonnie stood still. Axolomon sat by her feet, the little amphibian’s crest flickering back and forth.

“You’re still here...”

Eirenemon stared ahead, not reacting to Lonnie’s words. She just kept scratching, her claws hooking further and further into the skin of her neck. She dug again and again, her movements growing more earnest. Her fingers bent back, pulling flecks of skin and ribbon-like flesh with them. There was nothing left of the once delicate robes she had once worn, and her skin was like bleached rubber; pulled, stretched and yellowing, with pockmarks scattered throughout where her down had been stripped away. She was still bleeding after all this time, but it no longer flowed freely now. It oozed, thick and scarlet, leaving dark stains over her flesh.

Eventually she looked up, her eyes trembling in their sockets. They bulged, as she tried to blink, to clear her own vision, but her face had become so emaciated that it wasn’t even possible anymore. It took a minute for her eyes to focus, the whites showing behind the dark irises.

“How are you finding it?”

Despite her appearance, her voice was as tender and soft as ever, with barely even a ripple from where the rosary was digging into her neck. Lonnie swallowed.

“Finding...what?”

“The end of your world.”

Lonnie took a step, but one was enough. Her knees buckled, and she fell downwards, all her energy sapped away. Eirenemon watched as the girl’s head fell down, and she pushed herself forwards, barely able to stand up herself.

“Where are the others? Are you the only one left?”

She raised a hand, clawing against her own cheek. A wind blew up, and she looked towards the sky.

“Did they run away? Or are they saying goodbye to the ones they love? Or are they still fighting?”

Her mouth curled up, ever so slightly, and she gave a laugh that made her wince in pain.

“That’s all you people do, isn’t it. You never stop fighting. It’s in your blood. Not that it matters anymore.”

“Please...stop this...”

Eirenemon paused, looking back down towards Lonnie. The girl was hunched over now, her hands balled up in front of her as she held herself low before the fallen angel.

“Please call him back. Send him away. Anything. Don’t let any more of them suffer; I’m begging you.”

“You’re...asking for forgiveness...?”

Eirenemon stared in shock, watching as Lonnie held herself hunched over before her. The girl lowered her head, until her forehead was touching the cold ground below. There was a faint laugh, and Eirenemon took a step back, supporting herself against the wall.

“There’s nothing I can do.”

“I saw you. I saw...Ali’s digivice. You have it; you can control him, you can-“

“You think this gives me dominion over him?”

The angel’s hand went to her chest, and she peeled the digivice away from beneath the skin, tearing strips off herself as she did so.

“He is a force of destruction. He is his own master. They are one now. I cannot stop them now, and I could never have done so in the first place.”

“But...but...”

“Why do you think I let them loose? Why do you think I chose to suffer like this?”

Eirenemon took a couple of steps forwards, her eyes flashing with a brief spark of white flame. Lonnie looked up, seeing the raw anger behind the angel’s serene, almost lifeless eyes.

“This world cannot exist. For the sake of the life I knew, and the people I loved...it has to fall. What could you hope to offer me to change that?”

Lonnie gritted her teeth. “I’m the one who failed. Everything is down to me.”

“Lonnie, no, it wasn’t-“

“Axolomon, no!”

The salamander paused, as Lonnie pushed herself up into a sitting position once again. Her eyes stared up at Eirenemon, boring into her. But she couldn’t bring herself to even look at her partner.

“If it means nobody else will die, and nobody else will need to suffer, I’ll give you everything I have. I’ll take your pain on myself.”

“HA!”

Eirenemon spat venomously, her voice echoing over the pathway. She stood up, glaring down at Lonnie.

“Who are you? Who the hell are you that you think you’re worth anything to me now? Dead, alive, suffering or happy; you’re nothing. What could you possibly hope to atone for with your own life, when your life is worth so pitifully little?”

Lonnie flinched, and Eirenemon leered over her even more, so much so that Lonnie could see the tears in her skin, and smell the sickening scent of iron.

“There’s only one person I ever truly loved. And she’s gone. This world killed her.” Eirenemon reached out with an index finger, and burrowed it into Lonnie’s forehead. “You allowed her to die.”

Lonnie pressed her teeth together, trying not to cry out as the finger broke her skin. EIrenemon pulled back, flicking her hand away. Lonnie could feel blood welling already, pouring down the side of her forehead. It stung. She closed her eyes.

“I’m sorry...we couldn’t save her... or you...”

“...s...sorry?”

Eirenemon let out a hiss, and her leg swung out, the claws raking across Lonnie’s cheek. She fell back but she didn’t scream, or curl up. She just looked up again as Eirenemon towered over her.

“You...you think...you can make this better with empty words? You think sorry is anywhere near enough to pay for this?”

“We tried...I tried everything I could...”

“And you FAILED!”

Eirenemon kicked out again, strong even in her broken state. Lonnie was sent sprawling backwards, and she choked, holding a hand to her collar.

“You had all this power in your hands, but you never had the will to use it. You just battled in your own ignorance. Lives were destroyed around you and they were only ever a tragedy. A stepping stone.”

“I never-“

“You never what? You never meant for this to happen? You never meant to let anyone down? You never meant to kill?”

Lonnie pulled her hands further around herself, looking away. Eirenemon stood up straight, her shoulders drooping.

“Well...here we are. It doesn’t matter what you meant. People have died. This world is going to burn. And if you’re so willing to take it onto your own shoulders, then be my guest. Suffer in the wretched failure of your own creation, and curse yourself for eternity.”

Lonnie raised her head, her eyes squinting up at the angel. There was almost a defiance in them. But when she spoke, her voice was a broken rasp.

“Go ahead then. Make me pay for everything I’ve done to you. I won’t even run.”

Eirenemon stood still for a moment, her eyes moving back and forth. Lonnie curled around, holding herself on her hands and knees.

“It’s what I deserve.”

Axolomon crawled forwards, letting out little clicks from her throat. Lonnie glanced sideways, her pigtails obscuring her vision. She didn’t reach out, or say a word to her partner. Her arms shook, holding herself upright.

“After all this, after all you’ve done, you’re still desperately trying to break yourself for them?”

Eirenemon gently raised an arm, her hand coiling into a single pointed finger, as the last wisps of flame flickered around the end.

“Then break.”

Lonnie gasped, feeling every muscle in her body spasm at once. She was on the verge of falling, and then all of a sudden, she wasn’t. Her arms held her up, awkwardly and unnaturally, her fingers digging into the concrete. She tried to look up, but her neck wouldn’t listen to her.

“I said BREAK!”

Eirenemon thrust her hand down, and Lonnie’s body followed, the girl slamming herself face first into the ground below.

Instant pain. It jolted through her body, and rattled the back of her head. She lay there, utterly breathless, as lights danced in her vision.

Then she found herself rearing up again, like her own body was dragging her upright by the scruff of the neck. She looked forwards, the image blurring for a second, before refocusing on Eirenemon in front of her. The angel had her hand raised once again, more firmly this time. Flames poured from between her fingers.

“Bleed for my sake.”

SLAM

Crack

“Lonnie, NO!”

The second impact was worse than the first. Lonnie felt something crunch within her mouth, and within seconds she was tasting blood, pouring from between her split lips. She turned her head, trying to open her eyes, but she couldn’t see anything. Only a mist of static, through which only vague silhouettes shifted.

Eirenemon pulled her hand back, closing and opening her gnarled fingers. Her mouth twitched, only slightly, and she let out a laugh.

“It...it doesn’t hurt anymore...”

Her head snapped up as she watched Lonnie curl up before her, and she swung her arm out. The girl’s back arched, and she skidded sideways, yelling in pain as her face scraped across the concrete. She rolled, standing up as blood fell from her nose and mouth, and she realised that her chest was heaving, every breath racking her with pain. The lights fell away above her, a silver tower piercing the twisting vision.

She rolled again. Her muscles were on fire, stretching to their limit with every wave of Eirenemon’s hand. Her face cracked down against the ground again and she swallowed. Gagging and choking, she curled up, holding her arms inwards, not even aware of Eirenemon walking behind her.

“This is what you’ve brought upon yourself. This is the life you chose. Celebrate it. Take my place.” Eirenemon’s mouth twisted open in a malicious snarl. “This...this is right. My suffering is yours now. Own it. Live it. Shed every last drop of your blood to liberate the dust of my own.”

Lonnie didn’t hear. She heard the voice, and she felt the footsteps, and she pulled herself tighter as the angel began to let loose, twisting each of her muscles in turn. The girl could only hear her own breathing, and see nothing at all.

Only the familiar darkness. The same voices as always.

Why are you playing the hero, you little shit.

Suffer for their sake.

You don’t belong here.

You can’t protect them.

You bitch.

So die.

Why won’t you just die.

Die for their sake.

Die.

Die.

Die die die die die die die DIE DIE DIE-

“Burn Bubble!”

Eirenemon drew back, as the flash of red and green leapt in front of her. She saw the tiny fireball for a split second, before it struck her, bursting on her shoulder. She lowered her arm, glaring down at Axolomon.

“H...how dare you...”

The salamander whipped her tail back and forth, gnashing her teeth as tears of rage welled in her eyes.

“...I won’t...let...you...HURT her...”

She pulled her cheeks in, and fired again; one, two, three bubbles, one after the other, straight for Eirenemon’s face. They burst, leaving embers that ate into the raw leathery skin, but Eirenemon didn’t even flinch.

Axolomon shook her head, twisting around as she ran towards the trembling Lonnie.

“You’ve gotta get up, Lonnie. You have to. I can take her, I can stop her, but I need...I need you...”

Lonnie’s arm shifted forwards, and she turned her head, one blackened eye peering out from beneath her bloodied hair.

“You have...to go...”

“No!” yelled Axolomon, looking her partner desperately in the eyes. “I don’t want this! You don’t deserve this! You never did! You’ve given everything you had to this world! To mine as well!”

“I...have to...”

“You have to live! You have to do what’s right! Like...like you’ve always done...for the tamers...for your family...for Ali...for me...”

“Enough of this.”

There was a flash of white, and suddenly Axolomon was airborne, held effortlessly in Eirenemon’s skeletal grip. Lonnie’s eye widened, and she pushed upwards, trying to crawl forwards on limbs that screamed out in pain.

“Don’t...please...”

“Silence.”

Eirenemon didn’t even look down; she merely swept her arm sideways, leaving trails of white fire. Every muscle in Lonnie’s body contracted at the same time, and she lurched sideways like she’d been hit by a car. She crashed against the fence by the river, and buckled backwards, hissing and whimpering in pain as she tried to get her bearings.

The angel looked at her in a tired fashion, before raising her hand again, where Axolomon was biting furiously at her fingers, her frill quivering. She looked up, and fired a bubble towards the angel’s eye, but Eirenemon didn’t even swat it away. She raised her head, looking into the distance.

“I could break you into a thousand pieces and it wouldn’t even make up a quarter of the pain you’ve brought upon me.”

Her eyes flicked down towards the tiny salamander in her hand. She giggled. Only a small one, an involuntary one. But a laugh all the same. Her fingers twitched.

“But you always have so much more to lose.”

Her fingers curled, and Axolomon stopped trying to bite, wriggling more frantically. Then shrieking, trying to pull herself away as black marks formed around her body.

Eirenemon looked down at Lonnie, who was staring in horror, holding out a shaking hand of her own.

“You all do.”

Ever so slowly, the angel turned again, facing down the river. Lonnie’s arm fell, and her head swung sideways, looking the same way. She held her breath.

“No...”

Grace and Vulpimon stood not twenty metres away, staring at the scene before them. Vulpimon’s back was arched, her hackles up and her tail pointing out straight, as mist gathered at her feet. Grace was stood stock still by her side, her head shaking ever so slightly. She took in a breath. Even at this distance it was clear she was trembling. But not with fear. The wide-eyed rage was clear as day, as she raised her head, her teeth chattering.

“Stop...this...right now...”

The storm was fading.

Darkness hung in HelMidgarmon’s vision. He squinted, trying to peer through the shifting clouds, to see anything of the world beyond. It was so difficult these days. Nothing made sense. Nothing was clear. Nothing save for the power he held in his tiny, exhausted hands.

A tiny serpent of lightning crawled across his vision; a remnant from the storm that had racked him from the inside out. Its presence awakened something within him, and he tried to move, swimming towards the dancing light. It vanished. Another lost sensation. But he forced himself to focus, and others took its place. The freezing air. The patches of light washing away the black clouds. And the voices still calling him from deep within his memory.

Don’t do this, old friend.

They never went away. Not really.

You made me promise to stop you.

One after the other. Old phantoms.

You have to let it go.

They couldn’t stop him now. He couldn’t stop him now. His mind closed, forcing the voices into background noise, until only one was left over. He looked up, and saw him. Still young, strong, and reliable, reaching out, offering a hand in friendship, offering a new start, a new hope, a new power-

But he still couldn’t see his face.

The boy shifted. Now he was lying down. And no longer a boy, but an old, old man. He was barely moving. Only his shoulders were rising and falling, accompanying breathless sobs. He still called out in between, in a voice robbed of everything.

“Please...no more...”

HelMidgarmon shuddered, and his mind pressed in further. But he couldn’t shake it. As small and pitiful as the voice was, it remained. Even as the rest were drowned out by the roaring in his head, it wasn’t enough to silence this one, solitary man.

The rest of the clouds parted, and HelMidgarmon found himself looking down. Every time he came to, the world seemed different. A different angle. A different state. This time he could see the black patches beneath him, streaked from the outburst of lightning. The rest of the ground was a mess of rubble, looking miniscule from his great height. And in the centre of it all, something that caught his eye. A pull of energy, from a solitary ring of light, standing defiant in the midst of the destruction. The first true gateway to the other world.

HelMidgarmon felt a chill, and his great head slowly creaked sideways. He stared down, his eyes unblinking as they scanned the ground below. Broken road after shattered pile. And then he saw them. Walking together, directly towards him. Twelve of them; six humans, and six Digimon. The one at the head, the smallest among them, raised his eyes, and stared up at the dragon with a dead-eyed gaze of fear and fury.

“Leave them alone...please...”

HelMidgarmon heard the voice once more, and a new pain burrowed into the void that passed for his skull. He could feel the arms around him. That boy...that man...his own saviour, holding him back. Begging him not to go.

But the roaring recommenced, drowning him out again.

After all, he had a duty.

And he couldn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Down below, Jack saw HelMidgarmon’s head twitch, and he raised a hand. Perimon swooped forwards over him, as the others gathered behind him.

“Do you think he’s still dormant?” came Inez’s quiet voice, sounding a lot more desperately hopeful than she intended. Mark sighed beside her, placing his hands in his pockets.

“Honestly? I had a feeling he was going to wake up as soon as we came to find him.”

This sentiment was echoed by HelMidgarmon himself, as the dragon began to untwist himself. Slowly at first, in juddering creaks, but unfolding more and more and getting faster and more mobile all the while. Nicholas gave a low whistle as he watched the three-dimensional puzzle unfurl above him.

“How considerate of him...”

HelMidgarmon’s head shook, and his neck arched, his frills spreading out. But he presently stopped, his eyes looking downwards. The frills wriggled along his entire body, many of them lying in splinters and rags around him.

For a moment he seemed to be frozen.

Then his eyes burned a bright, cold blue, and he shuddered. As he did so, his body began to peel away. They started at his jaws, tearing the crystal and leaving only the circular void and his two eyes suspended in place in a halo of bone. And the fissures continued, shaking away the fragments of bone as they unfurled, until they reached a third of the way along his length. They spread out, and splayed apart, crystals growing and spines unfolding from the spires of bone, until they formed two vast skeletal wings, forming a lattice silhouette in the sky. They reached up, and beat down, forming whistling winds that buffeted the ground below, as HelMidgarmon’s tail whipped behind him, shedding more crystal as it did so.

Owen raised a hand, scratching behind his head as his eyes remained half-closed.

“Well, I guess it would be boring if he stayed the same, wouldn’t it...”

Simeamon let out a smirk. Nobody else did. They just watched as the newly draconic HelMidgarmon undulated above them, as wreaths of energy began to form around his wings, his neck and his tail. Lyra shuffled forwards, gripping her violin case tightly in front of her. She looked down, her eyes falling upon Jack.

“Is...is there any way...any tiny chance we can win this?”

Jack’s head fell down. He didn’t look back. When he spoke, it was with a harrowed and strained voice.

“If we don’t...stop him here...then more people are gonna die. It’s our job to do everything we can to make that doesn’t happen.” He turned back, facing the others as his D-SEND glowed red in his hand.

“Do everything you can. Take every chance you get. However this ends...this ends now.”

There came a caw from above him, as Perimon descended. “He’s coming.”

Jack’s head snapped back round, and he began to move again, throwing his arm sideways.

“Good luck.”

The others scattered, each pair taking off in a different direction. It seemed fruitless; HelMidgarmon’s new wider form loomed over them one and all, and already the bolts were crackling through the sky and the crystal meteors were falling to earth with every movement.

Only Jack remained where he was, just for the moment. His arms were still held beside him, fists closed. He thought he could feel the others behind him, just for a second. Standing there, fighting by his side, like always.

But he didn’t turn around. A tear fell from his eye as he forced them open, looking up at the wyvern as it undulated in the air, gaining speed.

This time, his fellow soldiers weren’t coming back.

He was on his own.

Well...save for one.

A shadow passed over him as Perimon arced forwards, his armour glinting from the green flashes. He looked back, the smile evident on his face; still there even after so much war and death and horror. A smile for his partner, and for himself.

Jack’s mouth parted, and he began to run.

His legs pounded against the ground, each impact sending a new jolt of pain through his body, his knee screaming out in agony. But he ignored it, staring upwards as the great dragon came closer and closer, the vast wings splayed out and cracking through the sky.

He let out a scream, and the crystal began to rain down, piercing the ground below in a deadly maelstrom.

But Jack didn’t slow down. And already the others were fighting back.

Inez skidded sideways, holding her D-SEND out as Syngnamon leapt from her shoulders, water billowing from his arms. The girl’s glasses shone as she looked up, watching the rain fall.

“I’m sorry for what you’ve gone through. But this world is protected.”

Syngnamon hunched his back, his eyes blazing and his scales shimmering with blue energy. “Our friends and family are protected.”

They called out, the waters breaking around them and rising up in a torrent, carrying them forwards as their silhouettes shimmered.

“We will be their guardian!”

“Soul Coalescence! Evolution Activate!”

“Okeanomon!”

The merlord descended, his lower body digging into the ground as he thrust his lance out. The azure waters followed his motion, curving upwards and intercepting the incoming storm. Then the torrent fell, and split, parting before Mark and Chromon as they stepped forwards themselves. The young man’s hair blew wildly behind him as he held his D-SEND to his chest.

“We won’t abandon them.”

Chromon stood beside him, his tail swinging back and forth as purple light glimmered over his body.

“And we w-w-won’t run away, or hide.”

Mark raised his arms, and brought them together before him as spikes and spires of metal unfolded from the ground, unfurling into a single morphing structure around them.

“We will be unbreakable!”

“Soul Coalescence! Evolution Activate!”

“Talosmon!”

The titan burst from the shell, spinning his staff in one hand as the crystal waters subsided. He slammed it downwards, the impact causing the earth to shake and the topmost mace to open up. It shimmered, and fired; a single, devastating shot that struck the underside of HelMidgarmon’s wing.

The dragon roared, veering sideways as lightning poured from his mouth. It strafed the ground, razing rubble and sending it firing in every direction. In amidst the storm Nicholas crouched down, as Yethmon leapt forwards and slashed through a projectile with crimson claws. He stayed low, looking over his shoulder at his partner.

“We’ve caused a hell of a lot of damage.”

Nicholas straightened up, holding a palm over his left eye, with his D-SEND clutched tightly in his other hand.

“And we’ve hurt a hell of a lot of people.”

His fingers curled round the device as the shadows morphed at his feet, twisting upwards into black talons that pulled him and the hound downwards.

“But we will make things right!”

“Soul Coalescence! Evolution Activate!”

“Herlathimon!”

The veil of darkness parted as Herlathimon’s chariot burst through, leaving grooves in the ground as he stood atop. His rifle was held wide, and he grasped the reins of shadow as, ten at a time, the spectral hounds bounded forwards like an army, clambering on top of each other and through one another as they flew up towards HelMidgarmon. He spread his wings, the energy vaporising several, but more and more kept coming, slowing him to a near stop.

Beneath him, unnoticed, Owen and Simeamon skidded to a halt themselves. They stared up, watching the skeletal form tussling with the shadows in front of him. The young man let out a breath, clutching the device in his hands.

“’Cause if we don’t, then more people are gonna suffer.”

Simeamon clicked her pistol shut, spinning it around her finger as she gave a grim grin.

“More lives are gonna be broken. In this world and the other.”

She looked up at Owen, and raised a fist. He did the same, and they held their fists together. He raised his D-SEND, and she held up her laser, and the ground around them began to shudder as circuitry exploded outwards from their bodies, forming a vast nexus of light.

“We will save them!”

“Soul Coalescence! Evolution Activate!”

“NeoSapiamon!”

With an almighty rush of energy, the great mecha rose up from the green circle. HelMidgarmon didn’t even have time to look down before her fist struck beneath his chin, sending him curving upwards. She turned again, and landed another blow, before spinning sideways away from the green mist that exploded outwards from his eyes.

Lyra stood at a distance, her violin in her arms, and her digivice clutched tightly in her palm. She bowed her head, feeling the warming presence of Tsurumon beside her.

“No matter how scared we are...”

She took in a breath, and raised her hand, the digivice extending into the bow of golden light. She spun it, holding it against the instrument with a shaking palm, as Tsurumon spread his wings.

“No matter how many times we fail...”

The crane fell forwards, his form dissolving into golden lights. Lyra opened her eyes wide, and took a step, dropping off the ledge as the first of her shivering notes called out into the night.

“We will never give up!”

“Tamashi no Kokyokyoku! Chou Shinka!”

“GrandTengumon!”

Waves of music filled the air as the yokai rose up, with Lyra stood atop his back, playing faster and more passionately than ever before. Lights danced forwards, mingling with the rest of the energy in the air, pulling HelMidgarmon backwards with the resonating sounds.

And below it all, Jack kept running, getting closer and closer as Perimon swooped back and forth above him. He could see and feel it all unfolding; water to his right, shadows to his left, cold metal and biting plasma above, and music at his back. His hand never let go of his D-SEND, which was pulsing with a bright red energy, pulsing in time with his heart. The pain and the fury ran deep, powering every step. He looked up with glowing eyes, and yelled out.

“We’ve fought this far! We’ve fought through more trials than you could ever imagine!”

Perimon spread his wings, beginning to spiral as his armour glinted in the green light. “And we’ve come through every single one!”

He reached out. Jack reached out. The boy’s hand clutched onto his talon, and all of a sudden they were flying, spinning upwards in a whirlwind of red lights as they screamed into the sky.

“However this ends...it’s gonna end now!”

“Soul Coalescence! Evolution Activate!”

The maelstrom shot upwards, tightening into a spear of red light that shot towards HelMidgarmon’s eyes. It unfurled, releasing waves of wind into the ether, and leaving only the tiny golden warrior spinning forwards, with the thunder of a thousand furious typhoons at his grasp.

“Ouranomon!”

He spun forwards, his form becoming a blur as he aimed for the very centre of the void, the storm closing in around him and silence falling all around.

“Spiral DRIVER!”

“Let her go!” screamed Grace, and in a flash of white and red Vulpimon was already running, leaving fractals on the ground beneath her. She leapt, and Eirenemon held up a palm, swinging Axolomon away from her.

“Snow Blast!”

The fox dived down, a white flash billowing out into Eirenemon’s face. The fox dropped down, leaping off the ground towards Eirenemon’s other hand. Within seconds she was landing again, Axolomon’s limp form in her grasp. She placed the salamander out the way, before turning back and glaring at Eirenemon.

“What happened to saving Digimon kind?”

Eirenemon reached up, running her talons down her neck. “ You’re all beyond saving.”

Vulpimon snarled, and leapt forwards again, ice crystals forming around her paws. But Eirenemon’s head suddenly snapped sideways, looking at Grace. The girl’s hand was already around her D-SEND, the screen glowing, but before she could so much as open her mouth she froze in place. Eirenemon tilted her head, her fingers glowing white.

“Throw it away.”

Grace’s arm shot out sideways, casting the device aside as it trailed blue light. Eirenemon’s hand snapped downwards.

“Fall.”

The girl’s legs buckled beneath her, and she slammed to the ground. Eirenemon twisted round, her arm sweeping backwards just in time for Vulpimon to latch onto it. The fox grabbed on, swinging wildly as she sunk her teeth into the pallid flesh, but it wasn’t enough, and with a crack of Eirenemon’s arm the fox was sent skidding backwards. She winced briefly, but remained standing, her shoulders rising and falling.

“You have some nerve…”

The angel scoffed, rolling her head. “ You’re all the same. Every single one of you.”

“Snow Blast!”

Vulpimon fired again; a wide blast of ice that engulfed the angel’s legs up to her waist. She ran forwards, firing again and again, before twisting and going for Eirenemon’s tendons. The angel stepped out of the way, and Vulpimon found herself open as the angel stood in front of her. She raised a knee, burying it into Vulpimon’s chest, and the fox gave out a hoarse bark as she fell sideways. The angel’s eyes flashed, white fire glowing at her fingertips.

“You chose to give up your life for these demons?”

She reached out, and her palm curled around Vulpimon’s throat, before she thrust her downwards against the concrete.

“You chose wrong.”

There was a crunching sound as the fox rolled backwards, but she scrambled upwards nonetheless, splaying her front legs as frost emanated from between her teeth.

“You…couldn’t understand…you could never understand…”

“The most important thing in the world?”

Eirenemon pulled her arm back, but it was held in place. She looked over her shoulder, and saw Grace’s hands curled around her elbow, the young woman straining as she gritted her teeth.

“More than you can imagine…”

“Don’t touch me! Angel’s Acolyte!”

Eirenemon’s hand shimmered, white flames burrowing into her skin as her fingers began to shake. Grace looked up, her body tensing as the energy flowed through her. Then she shot backwards, skidding over the ground.

“You BITCH!”

Vulpimon yelled out as she leapt forwards, ice crystals shooting forwards once again, but Eirenemon caught her with a sweeping claw and sent her careering back once more. The fox snarled, going to lunge again, but she stalled in place, her legs refusing to move. She glanced down, seeing her paws encased in her own ice as it spread outwards, and looked up too late to see Eirenemon’s hands outstretched towards her.

“You want to talk to me about loss?”

Eirenemon straightened up, pulling her arms down. She crouched down, and reached out with one arm, her talons digging into the fox by the scruff of the neck.

”Fenghuangmon lost more than you could ever dream of…”

Without warning, she turned, and her leg swung out and sliced Vulpimon across the cheek. The fox fell sideways, slamming against the ground and shaking from the impact. Eirenemon straightened up, rolling her limbs as she walked forwards again, and sent another crushing blow into Vulpimon’s chest. She skidded backwards, clawing against the ground in an attempt to regain her mobility. Her eyes squinted as she stared upwards against her assailant, who walked towards her with steeled eyes.

“Your beliefs? Your world? Your love? Your sole purpose in this world? You’re really telling me you’re willing to fight for that?”

Vulpimon pulled her forelegs in, her claws digging against the concrete as ice splayed out beneath her. She drew in a breath, letting out a hoarse roar as she prepared to charge once again-

And a lance of pain jolted through her body, and she stumbled, crashing down against the ground.

Eirenemon leant forwards, holding a palm over her mouth as she watched Vulpimon curl up, writhing in pain as she clutched at her own flank.

”Well…perhaps I’ve underestimated you…”

Her eyes flickered up, staring at Grace as the young woman gasped as well, her own arm coiling around her midriff.

“Perhaps…I’ve underestimated you both…”

She twisted, her back cracking as she thrust her arm up. Grace was dragged forwards, and she caught her breath, stumbling on her toes. But as she looked up, she saw Eirenemon’s skeletal face leering up against her own, her eyes glowing with white flame.

“Leave.”

Her fist collided with Grace’s stomach, and the girl flew backwards before she could even make a sound. She crashed into the fence next to Lonnie, and slid downwards, her chest convulsing. She retched, but there was nothing in her stomach to eject. Her insides were on fire and she could feel her whole body ringing from the impact.

“GRACE!” yelled Vulpimon, and she rushed forwards, blue sparks jumping out from her claws. She swiped, her paw raking across Eirenemon’s leg and leaving ice crystals jutting from the skin. She landed, and turned again, and as the angel turned towards her the fox bent down, ready to release a barrage of ice

And she suddenly gasped, as the entire right side of her body gave way, and she fell to the ground in a shivering heap.

Eirenemon paused, lowering her hands as she stared down at the fox. Then she crouched down, and placed a palm on Vulpimon’s shoulder, turning her over to look at her right flank, as it crunched and splintered with the movement.

“This is the mark of the horn. The end of everything. The destroyer can’t be stopped. You will be the first to decay.”

Vulpimon struggled, trying to pull herself away, but her right legs were moving stiffly now, immobilised by a mixture of intense pain and horrific numbness. Her eye looked down, glaring venomously at the angel. But Eirenemon merely reached out, and her hand pressed against Vulpimon’s side. The skin crumbled, leaving grey dust on her palm.

“Maybe you will know a fraction of the pain that Fenghuangmon felt in her last moments.”

Vulpimon hissed, a thin trail of blood falling from her teeth as she raised a shaking head. “She would never...have done the things you’ve done...not even now...”

“Don’t you dare dishonour her.”

Eirenemon’s eyes flashed, and she reached out, her hands curling into Vulpimon’s wound. The fox spasmed, and choked, the pain so intense that she couldn’t even scream.

But Grace felt the hand as well, and she cried out, her legs kicking out at nothing and her hand curling around her side.

She sat stunned for a second, before scrambling around her, blindly trying to find her digivice. Her hand fell over it, but it was dead and cold in her hands. Even as the pain stabbed her mind again and again, she knew there was nothing she could do. Nothing she could give her partner. Her strength was all but gone, sapped by HelMidgarmon’s attack and Eirenemon’s assault.

She reached out, her hand briefly hovering towards the clutched form of her partner. She looked aside, and saw Axolomon there as well, lying limply on the ground, her body laced with black.

“...have to...go...”

Grace’s head rolled sideways, seeing Lonnie crouched down next to her. The girl was pressing against the ground, pushing herself upwards on blackened hands. Blood dripped from her face, matting her hair which hung strewn around her shoulders. She looked aside, and Grace saw the look in her eyes, half-closed as they were.

“...save...yourself...”

Grace shook her head, gulping for breath as she tried to force the words out. “I’m not...leaving you...I came to find you...”

Lonnie’s hands clutched into fists, and she tried to stand up, but her arms shook and she fell forwards, rolling onto her side. Her eyes looked up into Grace’s, dry as a bone, as a thick trail of blood fell from her nose.

“I’m the...the only one...who needs...to die here...”

The words swirled around Grace’s head, seeming to block everything else out. She could only stare, her own breathing slowing. A lock of her hair slid forwards over her shoulder, hanging downwards. She held her lips together, the skin feeling dry, cracking as she touched them.

“...I won’t let you...”

A muffled scream punctured her ears, as Vulpimon clawed backwards, leaving a mark over Eirenemon’s hand. The angel closed it into a fist, staring down at the fox.

“Fenghuangmon saw this world for what it really was. But she still gave her life to try and save it. How are you so blinded that you can’t see there’s nothing here to save?”

Vulpimon swallowed, her form shimmering. “These...people...deserve to live...they always have...”

“These people are cruel. Cowardly. Broken. They only cause pain to themselves, and to us. They taint us.”

“They give us hope...and love...and reason...”

“You have been poisoned!” yelled Eirenemon, her hand striking Vulpimon across the jaw. The fox looked up, tears in her eyes as she stared at the two girls against the fence.

“I’ve...been saved...”

Her eyes narrowed, and she raised her head, only an inch, but just enough to look Eirenemon in the eyes.

“The only poison left here...is you...”

Eirenemon stood up, and her leg lashed out, almost halfheartedly. Vulpimon fell downwards again in front of her, her chest rising and falling. Eirenemon could only look down, standing still as a statue.

“There’s nothing left in this world to believe in. There’s nothing in these people to have faith in. They will turn on each other, and they will turn on you. It’s who they are.”

Her words were slow, and murmured, almost as if she were in a daze. She held up her right hand, watching the flames dancing over her knuckles.

“You will all die here anyway. So let me show you. A glimpse of the suffering they caused.”

She raised her head, and held her arm out straight towards Grace.

“Lonnie has asked to die. Oblige her. Crush her neck. End her.”

Her words resonated in the air, accompanied by flame as they spiralled into Grace. Vulpimon reached out, crying a hoarse ‘No...’

Axolomon twitched, shuddering on the ground.

Lonnie simply lowered her head, and closed her eyes, and waited.

But the hands didn’t come.

Grace stayed still, her head lowered and her hair covering her eyes. At least, for a moment. A gust of wind picked up, blowing it backwards and causing it to flutter.

Eirenemon’s mouth twitched. She reached out again, her fingers curling as the fire blazed out again.

“Kill her.”

No response. Grace pushed her hands against the ground, and raised a leg until she was in a crouching position.

“I said KILL HER.”

“No.”

There was a flash of blue, and the flames dispersed, turning into snowflakes that floated downwards all around her. Eirenemon held her wrist, sending more flames that lapped at Grace’s body, going for her eyes, her neck, her chest...but the young woman just kept pressing against the ground until finally she was stood up. She swayed, and her mouth moved ever so slowly, letting out faint words that still echoed around the riverside.

“We’re not ready to die yet. The world still needs us. It still needs her.”

Lonnie raised her head, her vision blurring as she watched Grace turning around slowly. One of the girl’s hands was held at her side, curling around her own hip as frost formed over her fingers. Her other arm was hung low, with her D-SEND in her hand, shivering and releasing blue lights.

Grace was facing Eirenemon now, her hair still blowing in the wind, falling across her face and masking her eyes.

A wind that nobody else could feel.

“She’s kind. She’s heroic. She’s brave and selfless and she’s never once backed down from doing what’s right. And when you brought death upon our world, she’s the one who stepped forwards to take the fall. She’s the one who chose to suffer for all of us. And for you. She’s given everything for you.”

Eirenemon hissed, holding both arms out together as she began to stride forwards, fury evident in her eyes.

“Why...won’t...you...OBEY-“

“I won’t let you hurt her.”

A blast of cold energy struck the fallen angel, and she staggered back. She reached up, holding a palm against her shoulder. Pain. Actual pain, burrowing deep into her, right where she thought she had nothing left to feel.

She stared ahead at the girl, who was stood stock still now. Her hair was rising up behind her, whipping back and forth. Behind her, a fog was drawing in, crawling through the fence panels and grasping out across the pathway, forming swirling patterns against the brickwork. Grace seemed not to notice, her face obscured by the dimming light. Only her D-SEND was reacting now; a hive of frenzied activity, releasing blue lights and emitting a high pitched whistle.

“This world is cold, and cruel, and getting worse every day. But we’re going to save it. It’s our job. Our choice. And that’s why we need heroes.”

Eirenemon held up an arm, and looked down at Vulpimon. She was staring ahead, her paws held together in front of her as she lay sprawled out on the path. Her golden eyes pierced the fog, focused on her partner.

But the fox wasn’t glowing.

Lonnie held her hands against her knees as she watched the girl beside her, squinting through the swirling fog. The blue lights were spinning around the girl now, mixing with the white cloud.

“...Grace...?”

“Because if you kill the last heroes...”

Grace let out a breath, visible in the fog before her. Her skin was beginning to pale, and as Lonnie watched she noticed the hundreds and thousands of motes of frost crawling over the girl’s hand. She shivered, feeling the chill, as Grace held up a palm.

“...then you’re left with me.”

Eirenemon stared, watching as the girl’s silhouette grew darker, save for the bright light clasped in her hand. The light spread, travelling up her arm, and winding into her chest, forming an old sigyl; three icicles in a circle, burning at her centre. Grace’s head tilted, and she let out an audible breath, the fog shimmering around her as she did so.

“You think you’ve suffered? That your pain’s gonna make up for what you’ve done? You have no idea...”

Only Lonnie was close enough to see Grace’s body glisten, her skin seeming to crystallise and crack, pulsing with dark patches.

“We tried everything we could to save you, and you turnedit away. Instead you laid down a death sentence on billions of innocent people. Now my world is ending, and the people I love have been hurt, maimed and killed because of the things you’ve done.”

With a sudden crack, Grace’s head snapped up, revealing her face in full. Only it wasn’t her face anymore. The skin was cracked, like a porcelain doll, and already segments were falling away and revealing only black matter behind. Her mouth had split apart, giving way to jagged jaws that only grew wider as she spoke. And where her eyes had once been a warm hazel, now one was sunken into that same dark void; a dead white light, with pinpoint pupil, staring harrowingly into Eirenemon’s own as she screamed.

“And I’m going to make you PAY!”

With a sound like the earth itself cracking open, Grace’s skin shattered, and a vortex of black matter opened up where she stood, sending claws of ice into the ground and ripping up the air into an infernal blizzard. The blast front struck Eirenemon, and she staggered, forced to crouch as tiny shards of ice ripped into her like glass. She looked down at Vulpimon beside her, watching as the fox gently lowered her head, her eyes never leaving her partner for a second.

But despite the severity of the storm, it wasn’t reaching her. Or Lonnie, or Axolomon. They watched, the energy lapping out at them but not passing over them. The chaos pulled inwards, solidifying as more fog rushed forwards, obscuring the battleground. Grace’s form was lost in the centre of the vortex; a cold shape that writhed back and forth, her arms clutched tightly around herself. Only the eyes remained visible, still piercing, and still staring, filled with hatred and despair.

“Soul...Fury...”

Her voice crunched as she spoke, as if her throat were filling with glass. She buckled, and creaked, the wind and snow whipping around her as her body flickered back and forth like a mirage. Ice bound to her, forming links of chain that wrapped all around her, crushing her, stretching her, pulling her into something that was almost, but also far removed from human.

Lonnie could only watch from behind, the lights obscuring her vision as she watched her friend evolve in front of her. She couldn’t say a word, nor look away. She let out a breath, and it came out in a trembling stream in front of her, almost opaque due to the cold.

“...oh god...Grace...”

There was another crack, and the storm burst its seams, flying sideways in a flash of white and black and blue. Only a single figure was left, standing as straight as a statue in the midst of a garden of ice crystals.

It was hard to tell how human she would have looked. The bottom of her dress flicked back and forth gently, so much so that she seemed to be standing on thin air. If she was even standing at all. Beneath the flowing ragged dress that bound tightly to her body, her limbs and torso seemed almost elongated, and possibly not entirely corporeal. Here and there were vessels; armaments that held her in place. A dull violet breastplate connected to the jagged armour that covered her entire left arm, ending in a dark gauntlet. Her other arm was bound with three black rings, studded with diamond, and ending in a torn sleeve, with no sign of her other hand. Her body was embraced in black chains, which jangled gently as her lower half floated back and forth.

Only her head may have been human, with a pale grey neck poking out from the top of the chestplate, and the long brown hair coiling out behind her in a trail, streaked with white. But there was no way to tell, as her face was covered by a flat mask. Featureless, save for the coiling shadows that danced over the left side, and the same staring eyes that glared down Eirenemon before her. Never blinking. Never succumbing. Dead, and yet all too alive.

“...Marzamon...”

Eirenemon stared at the wraith in front of her, slowly unfolding herself as frost fell from her body. Her eyes were wide, and round, looking up and down before her. She swallowed, the motion clear on her gaunt throat.

“What...manner of demon are you...?”

Marzamon stayed silent for a second. Then she let out a sigh, the darkness coiling over her left eye.

“I’m no demon.”

Her right arm fluttered forwards, the sleeve blowing around. Then it straightened, and with a gentle scraping sound, a long, waving blade slid out of the end; made of the same dark metal, edged with ice, and engraved with glowing red digital code. Marzamon’s head tilted sideways, just a little.

“A demon would offer you mercy.”

Eirenemon stepped backwards, and her arms flew out in front of her as fire cascaded down them. It scorched her skin and tore her flesh like paper, but the flames kept going, shooting through the air towards Marzamon’s head.

“Peacebreaker!”

Marzamon turned her head, the shadows masking her movements. There was a shimmer as the flames reached in, going for her eyes...and then she was gone. Swallowed by the fog. Eirenemon spun around, her arm lashing out at a ghost beside her, but it merely gave way to empty air.

“A demon would tolerate the wicked.”

Shining white, and red spots. Eirenemon turned, throwing her hand out as Marzamon slunk back, her sword arm held wide. The angel thrust her arm forwards as white flames burst from her neck.

And they dispersed, unguided and uncontrolled. And Eirenemon pulled her hand back, seeing the clean severance, straight across the palm above her thumb. There was no blood, frozen instantly to her pallid flesh.

But the pain hit her like a comet and she screamed in rage. The rosaries moved beneath her body and her bones cracked as she slammed her remaining whole hand against the ground.

“AGONY MARK!”

The ground shifted, and the fog was blown away. Eirenemon lunged forwards as Marzamon’s blade came down, and she turned around, grasping the wraith’s wrist. Ice crystals shot up before her, breaking the pairs’ gazes as they tussled, sliding back and forth through the fog. Eirenemon swiped, and slashed, and reached out for Marzamon’s neck...but every attack only led to more wounds of her own. Her forearm stripped back to the bone. One eye going dark. Her leg wrenched sideways.

With a cry of anger, Eirenemon leapt forwards, and her hand grasped at Marzamon’s mask, her claws digging around it. She choked, and began to laugh, all her control and civility gone.

“So this is what you really are...”

Her mouth twisted down, dust falling from her lips as she grimaced.

“You should all have gone extinct long ago.”

She twisted, and pulled the remains of her other arm back, flames twisting around what was left of her hand as she aimed for the wraith’s head.

But her arm juddered to a halt, and stopped, and she felt a new pain. A cracking, burrowing deep down into her withered old bones. She looked down, and saw Marzamon’s left hand digging into her waist, the diamond claws rending her flesh apart as black marks spread across her.

“Cryonecrosis.”

Marzamon’s eyes never left Eirenemon’s as she tightened her grip. Ice crystals burst from her fingertips, splitting the angel’s skin in trails as her flesh literally pulled itself apart. It wound around her legs and pressed out her ribs and pulled the rosaries from her veins, the pain that powered her flaring up, and then replaced by a cold, black numbness. Marzamon leant forwards, her voice lowering to a vengeful whisper in Eirenemon’s ear.

“Believe what you will about me. But I will always protect the ones I love.”

She backed off, pulling her gauntlet away as she did so. The motion shattered the ice, and Eirenemon fell forwards, her lower body falling apart with every movement she tried to make. Her shoulders crunched as they shook, her spiteful laugh growing in pitch.

“I curse you. I curse everything about you. Your people. Your world.”

“Then you should be thankful.”

Eirenemon looked up as Marzamon rolled her neck, and raised her sword as the digital code glowed a bright blood red, and white ice crackled in the air above it.

“You will never have to suffer it again.”

Eirenemon blinked. Marzamon’s eyes flashed, and she brought her arm down, the sword letting out an unearthly scream as it fell.

“Banshee Sever!”

The air seemed to part, cracklng and flashing as ice crystals erupted from the very ether. The break in space slammed into Eirenemon’s body, from her shoulder down to her groin, and the howling scream of the sword was joined by her own. Her body lost whatever form it had left as her flesh split, peeling open. Black and white crystals burst through, breaking her further.

And as the angel’s cries gave way to a static fuzz, she fell apart. Her thin skin tore, and her bones cracked and crumbled, and she gently fell downwards, her limbs falling limp and her head lulling sideways. A few beads rolled away, severed from their rosaries and freed from her body. One of them rolled towards the bottom of Marzamon’s dress, and she nudged it away, pulling her sword back into her sleeve.

Slowly she moved forwards, her lower half barely seeming to even ripple. The shadows around her eyes pulled back a little, and she crouched down, holding out her armoured gauntlet and gently touching Eirenemon’s shoulder, the frozen flesh crumbling a little as she did so.

“For what it’s worth, I hope you’ve found your peace.”

She stood up, and as she did so, something followed her hand. A faint trail of sparkling data, floating around her fingers as Eirenemon’s body collapsed further beneath her. The wraith curled her fingers, before turning, shifting towards the prone body of Vulpimon. The fox lowered her head against her paws, watching her coming with round, golden eyes.

Marzamon reached out, and the data began to flow, flowing around and through Vulpimon’s body. It sparkled on her fur; the faintest trail of frost. And as it did so, her breathing began to settle, and the cuts and bruises around her body began to shimmer, the essence of her enemy healing her. She curled up, wincing in pain as her flank glowed a brilliant white, the grey chalk-like decay liquefying and destabilising, and then resolidifying.

It took a couple of minutes. Then Marzamon straightened up again, and floated back, towards a wounded Axolomon. Vulpimon gently rolled over, her paws pressing against the ground beneath her. She didn’t look up at her partner. She didn’t look at anything.

“Who...who are you...?”

Marzamon straightened up, and her head turned as the last of Eirenemon’s data flowed from her hand. Lonnie stood up, slightly unsteady on her feet, against the riverside fence. She held her hands before her, clasped at her chest. Her expression was one of horror, of confusion, of pain...so many emotions all at once, each one boring into Marzamon’s head. Lonnie took in a shuddering breath, the cold air making her teeth chatter.

“What...what have you done with Grace?”

She swallowed, taking a step as she forced herself to be strong.

“What have you done with my friend?”

She knew the answer before she’d even said the words, but they spilled outwards anyway, in a desperate need to deny it.

She watched, her eyes looking up, as Marzamon gently floated towards her. She towered over the girl, her eyes staring down, unblinking as ever. Lonnie turned a shaking hand round, then pulled it back, holding her breath.

“I’m sorry...”

Her head fell forwards, and she looked smaller than ever, clutching her hands together so tightly they went stark white.

“I’m sorry...this happened. I’m sorry all this happened. It’s all my fault. I...I could have stopped it. Stopped Ali, or Eirenemon, or Vex or Sciamon or someone...and...” Her teeth pressed together, her lips stinging from the angel’s assault.

“I...didn’t. I let you all down. Eirenemon was right. I...there’s...I don’t deserve to keep going...I’ll only make things worse...”

She raised her head, her eyes wide and shining as she stared into Marzamon’s.

“Do it. Please.”

There was a rush of cold, as Marzamon reeled back, and Lonnie saw the frost gathering on her hand as it bent into a claw. She felt the wind as Marzamon swung, a crackling sound following her movements.

And Lonnie closed her eyes, waiting for it to end.

SMACK

“You can’t!”

The jolt of pain drew Lonnie from her trance in an instant, snapping her back into the moment. She reached up, instinctively, feeling her cheek where the hand had slapped her. And she looked forwards to see Grace, fully human, holding herself awkwardly as frost gathered on her hair and shoulders. The girl was clearly in pain, the data still falling away around her...but she stayed standing, and lunged forwards with both hands. Lonnie was sent backwards into the fence as Grace grabbed onto her collar, crying up into the other girl’s face.

“You can’t give up! Not you! Never you!”

Her shoulders jumped, and she pulled herself back, her head moving awkwardly. One hand began to shake, but she couldn’t do anything about it save for hold it as tightly as she could. And as she staggered, her whole being still readjusting, the words just fell forth uncontrollably.

“I’ve seen you. You’ve...you’ve fought on the front line since you began. You never faltered and you never ran away, even when...when everything turned to shit. You stood up to the worst monsters I’ve seen and you made sure they knew your name. Because...because they needed to know it. The one who was going to save us. Who’s always saved us.”

Lonnie began to shake her head, but Grace reached out before she could speak. “I’ve looked up to you since you began. You’ve always...always...been the best of us. And that’s why...why I had to save you. No matter what I had to do...to make sure...”

She finally stepped away, her legs still shaking but keeping her upright. One hand trembled, and she folded the other one over it, her hair falling in front of her eyes. There was a shimmer, and Vulpimon was stood by her feet, gently nuzzling her head over Grace’s leg. The girl crouched down, and held her partner tightly, the two sharing their wounds together. Lonnie just watched, letting out a harrowed breath.

“How long have you been hurting, Grace...?”

The other girl flushed, looking away and holding her left arm in place. “I...never wanted you to see me like this. I...I hoped I’d left her in the digital world, but somehow I knew...she’s a part of myself I hate more than anything in the world.”

She steeled herself, and stood up, looking forwards into Lonnie’s eyes. “But I...I had to save you. I still need you; we all still need you. You’ve led us through every battle up to now.”

“...the others...”

“They’re fighting now. Because they know there’s still a chance.”

“I can’t lead them. No more.” Lonnie gritted her teeth, shaking her head. “I...I can’t let any more of you die...because of me...”

She looked away, even as Grace reached out with a hand. The redhead just stared behind her, seeing the river rushing along below. The same as it always had.

“How many of us are still alive because of you?”

“Dendromon?”

Lonnie turned to see the salamander stood before her, back in her Rookie form, if a little uncomfortable from the way she held herself. She gave a grin. “This isn’t like you. You can’t stand aside when people are still hurting. I can see it in your eyes.” She smirked. “I always did. From day one.”

Lonnie looked down at her partner, and saw herself reflected back. Bruised, beaten; a wreck from the inside out. And yet she could see the fire in her own eyes through it all. They hadn’t gone out. Not yet.

“I...I don’t know what’s gonna happen. I could make things so much worse...”

“Can’t argue that.” Dendromon folded her arms. “So many of us make terrible decisions because we want to make things better. Things which are gonna haunt us forever. But we’re still alive, aren’t we?”

She stepped forwards, and placed her hand through Lonnie’s, squeezing it gently. Lonnie crouched down, and gently held a hand against Dendromon’s cheek, making the crest flutter slightly. Dendromon grinned.

“As long as we’re breathing, and as long as we still care, then we have to keep going. We can’t stop until we’ve made things right again.” She reached out, gently pressing her talon into Lonnie’s collar. “That goes for you and me, and all of us.”

Lonnie closed her eyes, and nodded, unable to keep the smile away from the corners of her mouth. She stood up, and shook a little, hesitant in her movements. Grace reached her hand out, beckoning the other girl.

“However this is going to end, we’re ending it now. We fight to save the world, every one of us. And if we’re all damned, then we’ll all be damned together.”

Lonnie leant forwards, grabbing the hand, and Grace let out a breath as the girl’s arms wrapped around her, holding her in a strong embrace. She faltered for a moment, before the moment caught up with her and she reciprocated, holding Lonnie tightly in place.

They stood there for several seconds, locked tightly together. Then they parted, only holding the other’s hand. Lonnie looked up, her eyes steeled.

“Let’s go.”

“Right.”

They turned, and headed off down the riverside path, picking up speed as they did so. Dendromon and Vulpimon kept pace by their sides, together as they all left the dark and terrible deeds behind them, blowing away on the breeze. Lonnie could feel a warmth in her pocket, and pulled out her D-SEND, watching the screen glowing brighter than ever. She looked forwards, her body still in pain but her legs not stopping.

“I’m coming to end this, Ali.”

TO BE CONTINUED...