A Walk in the Woods (Hiroyo, Tsukiko, Eleonora)

Layla blew a strand of hair away from her face as she listened to Eleonora's charmed life. "Well, aren't you lucky?" she joked, giving Eleonora a teasing nudge to show she wasn't being serious in her mocking. "You'd think having a lot of siblings like I did would make it easier on me, right? But none of us could ever agree on what to do half the time, so everything kept getting way more out of hand than it needed to be. Gets lonely without them, but I'm kinda glad we all struck it out on our own. Means I can actually hear myself think, for starters." She laughed a little as she said this, eyes bright as she let nostalgia wash over her. "God, you should've seen how the two oldest kept going at it. They could barely agree what to have for dinner."

While Layla was busy reminiscing, Tsukaimon beamed at the praise from Hiroyo and Tsukiko. "Yep, yep!" she chirped. "What's a Digivice. anyway? Some kinda beepy thing? That's not a tamer! A tamer's a person. They gotta be strong, and smart, and brave, and nice. That's the part that matters, right?" It wasn't the most poetic insight, but judging by the soft smile on Layla's face it resonated nonetheless.

All of these conversations came to a halt as the twin gears alerted the group to trouble. Most of the party took to the treeline, getting out of the direct path of the Gorillamon. Solarmon and Hagurumon had the group's rear and front covered. Morgan had taken to the skies, to serve as equal parts aerial reconnaissance and a distraction. Finally, Mitsuharu was going on the offensive, approaching closer to Gorillamon in hopes of pushing this fight forward.

It was smart of the entire group to take cover, because once Mitsuharu emerged from the treeline Gorillamon went on the offensive. He swung down from his tree branch and fired a large barrage of energy blasts at the Agumon's last known position. The trees that it ducked behind were seared, in some cases bad enough to start sagging and dipping from the punishment. Mitsuharu himself, however, was untouched, the Gorillamon failing to lead his shots properly. It let out a grunt as Mitsuharu's approach continued, and swung down from the treeline to try and engage the Agumon in close combat.

Bad move. The two KoSolarmon detonated in sync, the combined explosion singing Gorillamon's fur and sending him stumbling forward. Normally, this would have just dazed Gorillamon rather than hurting him too much, and sure enough the Gorillamon was already picking himself back up off of the ground. However, he failed to account for the other fact about tree-mounted explosions: what comes up must come down.

With a groaning creak, the two trees each bent inwards, collapsing onto the Gorillamon's back. He let out a pained howl, and then fell still.

Even from up in the skies, Morgan could probably see that. However, there was some other subtle movement coming from the trees. This one wasn't coming from in front of the group's position but instead behind it, the tops of the branches slowly yet gently swaying in a rhythmic fashion. Who could be the cause of this? Perhaps the group would know once the branches directly above them started to sag. Right after this a large, yellow-furred hand shot through the branches, grabbing Tsukaimon in a fist bigger than the bean itself was.

Layla turned around, fists clenched in a white-knuckled grip. "Hey!" she shouted, primed as if ready to attack the fist herself.

As the Tsukainapping began, the Gorillamon started to stir once more. It wearily cracked an eye open, then snapped a large branch off of the tree that had fallen on its back. Almost as if using a makeshift spear, it recklessly hurled it in Mitsuharu's direction. Not the most powerful attack, but for a Digimon that was half buried alive it was an admirable attempt.

As the large arm pulled away, Roger's aim struck true. His electrified net shot through the canopy, lighting it up just enough for the group to get a proper view of their assailant. This Digimon was also ape-like, but rather than the stout, gorilla-esque Gorillamon it looked to be tall and lean. Its body was covered not only in fur but also in quills, red tips standing out from the yellow that made up the rest of its hair. Its skin was almost a drowned tone of blue, and it slung a large bone over its shoulder with the hand that wasn't holding Tsukaimon hostage. This was an Apemon, and it looked diligent and disciplined as it prepared to leap away from the canopy.

At least, of course, until the net hit and tangled around its legs. What was supposed to be a graceful jump from tree to tree turned into a stumble as the Apemon hit the ground. Even a small slow like Roger's was enough to leave it stuck on the ground floor with everyone else, and it grunted in frustration as it tried running off to make the best of the situation. The net's illumination and speed reduction made it easy for Hagurumon X to track the Apemon, too. The first few dark gears hit right on target, sending Apemon stumbling with each strike.

By the time the last gears would impact, Apemon was prepared. He wheeled around, moving Tsukaimon into the path of the attacks. She let out a high-pitched yelp as she was hit, Apemon leering maliciously at the group all the while. Then he turned tail and ran, bowling over trees with hefty swings of his bone.

Gorillamon fared less well than his ally. No matter how much bigger or stronger he was than Morgan, his eyes were still his eyes. And now his eyes were practically miniature beehives, the Gorillamon howling in pain as the Hachi Hachi Call took effect. He practically clawed at his face with his hand, tearing as many fistfuls of bees away as possible, but he could still barely see through the swarm. His hesitance left him wide open, and even as he tried to sidestep Mitsuharu's strike he came up short. The tornado sliced right into his arm cannon, cutting at the wiring holding it together. It sparked dangerously, and the Gorillamon gave it a few frustrated whacks with his hand to try and make it stop.

Another whack came after, but not from the expected source. Apemon had run up to its simian brother, giving him a whack on the head and motioning for him to get running. The Gorillamon shook his head and followed, still being tailed by the bees all the while. With one blinded and the other slowed, they were far from perfect at dashing through the forests. However, they were making quite good pace nonetheless, especially with Apemon hellbent on uprooting every tree in their path. It was almost as if his goal was less to crush and more to get in everyone else's way.

Layla tried to run after the apes, fists clenched into white-knuckled balls. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I should've been more careful," she muttered under her breath, stumbling as she tried to climb over uprooted trees. "Maybe there's still time. Maybe . . . maybe we can still catch up, right?"

In front of the apes' positions, a fog was rolling in.

Gorillamon seemed incensed by Roger's taunting, a vein protruding at the side of his head. He whipped around, arm cannon sparking dangerously as he tried to aim it right at the cantankerous caterpillar. Apemon saw it coming, however, and grabbed Gorillamon right by the scruff of his neck. At the very least, this meant both of Apemon's hands were occupied. No more trees would be felled by Apemon's swinging bone, at least for as long as Gorillamon was too busy barking and hollering to focus on a proper escape.

Not that the trees were much factor anymore. Mitsuharu had exploded into a tyrannosaurus warrior, the great and powerful Dinohumon. Layla smiled, both at the reassurance from Tsukiko and from Mitsuharu's ability to back it up. "You're right," she said, clenching her fist to her heart. "I know we can do this. And I'm not going to let my best friend get snatched by these . . . these . . . jerks!" She knew she couldn't contribute much to this situation combatwise, but Layla refused to let that stop her. "Hang in there, Tsukaimon! Please, don't give up hope!" she called, stretching out a hand towards the bean.

Faintly, she could see a small, stubby foreleg reaching back towards her.

Eleonora had a good plan, but it seemed the anger everyone felt lead to them coming to their own conclusions. Fortunately, these conclusions at least aimed in the same direction as the General's ambitions. Mitsuharu, for example, had taken his role of lumberjack with vigor. He charged forward like a raging beast, the trees before him diced into splinters. It was as if they were paying the price for daring to be in his way. The path before everyone would be far easier to navigate now, leaving this contest a race of endurance. Would the group's unhindered pace be able to chew through the monkeys' head start, or was there simply too much of a gap to begin with?

As the fog started to close in, it seemed that question would be answered. It almost stretched out to meet Apemon and Gorillamon, wispy tendrils curling around them to drag them further inside. Then, in a few more misty spirals, they were little more than silhouettes. Apemon's fist unclenched from Gorillamon's neck, and their silhouettes parted in two separate directions. Gorillamon had taken a hard bend to the left, and Apemon let himself drift forward to the right.

Only one shape matched their approach. Roger's sparking body, sitting atop Morgan's tornado as if he were an expert airbender, also careened into the fog. His tiny body also vanished, the fog seeming to coil around the tornado rather than let itself be dispersed. However, the group would see just enough of a disturbance in the fog to know that Roger's trip was a success. He had adhered to the Apemon with almost a static cling, the ape digging his fingers into his fur to try and pluck it off.

With the apes and Roger already swallowed up into the void, now would come the party's turn. The fog swirled towards them in thin, wispy tendrils, swaying back and forth like the tail of a curious cat. They seemed rather unobtrusive, and perhaps the party would try to charge right through them. Layla certainly did, running with all of her might to try and rush past the fog. However, her eyes widened in surprise as she felt her body slow down. It was less like moving through fog and more like wading through molasses, Layla letting out a frustrated huff as she tried to force her legs to move faster. Worse still, her movements no longer seemed to be her own. As she tried to push forward, she found herself forced to weave to the left and right. Soon she was being spun off course from the rest of the group. She turned, trying to call through the fog even as it swallowed up her voice. "Be careful, please," she asked. "I'll find you guys, one way or another. Just get Tsukaimon back . . ."

The fog would do the same thing to any others as it lingered over the group. It snaked between each member, trying to come between them and push them in different directions. Worse still, the fog only seemed to grow thicker over time. The silhouettes of the apes, once visible on the horizon, were now completely gone. Only the occasional flash of light from Roger's sparking body would give a hint as to Apemon's current location. Layla's, too, started to fade away, and the deeper into the fog one traveled the worst this swallowing would become. Sounds were swallowed up as well, until soon the only thing audible was the sound of one's own thoughts. The moisture and heat of the fog, once a soft, slight feeling, was starting to get unbearable.

It was as if the forest itself was trying to break the group up, assaulting nearly all of their senses to do so.

And so, each of our brave heroes set forth. Even in the face of the all-consuming fog, they kept their heads held high. Their paces slowed. Their senses dulled. Soon, they would be able to make out little more than their own hands in front of their faces. Yet as they pressed onward, each with their own plan of action, the fog would start to peel away. It was imperceptible at first, wispy tendrils lifting away from the rest of the cloudy mass. However, each second that past lifted the veil a little bit more. Once the ambient chirps, clicks, and hums of the forest started to reassert themselves, it was clear that the worst of the fog had passed.

Unfortunately, as silhouettes started to reform in the fog, there was a distinct lack of human or Digimon shadows along the treeline. In fact, by the time the fog peeled away, each individual within its bounds would see that they were left all by their lonesome.

For Eleonora and the KoGears's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Eleonora couldn't really tell if her message had gone through or not. The fog was too dense for any spark to be seen through it, after all. However, there was a certain peace of mind that the action had offered. After all, the KoGears would experience no technical failures, radio interference, or dropped signals. It was a sign that, even if communication wouldn't be easy. it was at least still a possibility.

That said, would Eleonora be able to cling onto that faith? She may not have had any proof of her failure, but she didn't have any proof of her success either. And with the silhouettes and footsteps of her teammates only growing more and more distant, it seemed likely that her attempt had failed.

Just as the last silhouette faded from view, a pair of beady eyes appeared in the fog. They bobbed up and down as they followed Eleonora, making it almost look like the fog had a face. Then the eyes narrowed cruelly as the fog parted, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth on a lipless mouth. "I'm an idiot!" the voice repeated, the mouth promptly shutting and retreating back into the fog. Only the beady eyes remained, followed by two more pairs flanking it to each side. They, too, sprouted mouths and spoke. "How did I screw this up?" they said, one right after the other.

As they finished, two more appeared in their place. Then another two. Then another two. Each time they appeared they were followed by more of Eleonora's own words.

"This is not happening!"

"How could I let this happen?"

"I'm an idiot!"

"I'm an idiot!"

"I'm an idiot!"

Soon a swarm of eyes and mouths had practically surrounded Eleonora, their hateful words running over each other into a stream of white noise. Slowly but surely they started to press inwards, as if hoping to overwhelm Eleonora entirely. Their beady eyes grew larger by the second, and their mouths twisted into cruel smiles. Occasionally a small, clothy arm reached out towards Eleonora, writhing by her face but never quite reaching her. More and more of these cloth arms started to sprout as well, each reaching out towards her.

Then a purple backpack came shooting through the fog, sending the faces scattering. Scrambling away like this, they almost looked like they were classical bedsheet ghosts. As they dispersed the fog did so too, revealing a tired-looking Layla holding the backpack. "Damnit, Leo . . . I came as soon as I heard those . . . things," she muttered, looking worriedly at the General. "Are you okay?"

For Tsukiko and Mitsuharu's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

The fog had swallowed all sight and sound, but there was still one unexpected ally on Mitsuharu's side. As he honed his senses one by one, it would be the sense of smell that ended up picking something up first. The stagnant, swampy air had intermingled with an almost oily odor, tinged with the slightest hint of blood. Next came the sense of touch. Mitsuharu's claw would run cold as it landed in a puddle. When he made contact with the puddle, the scent would only intensify in his nostrils. It seemed the two were tied to one another. Had Mitsuharu stumbled upon a clue?

The stretch between puddles was interminable, especially as the fog continued bogging down each of Mitsuharu and Tsukiko's movements. However, that shared scent continued connecting each puddle to the next, forming a trail that not even the fog's best efforts could break. It was also clear that Tsukiko and Mitsuharu weren't the only ones having trouble moving through the fog. A familiar ape-like silhouette was taking form at the edge of Tsukiko's vision, sparks occasionally flying from the busted cannon on its left arm.

It may have become all too clear who was leaving these puddles of oil behind.

As the fog started to clear up, the Gorillamon took notice of Tsukiko and Mitsuharu's pursuit. It turned around and started to backpedal, resting a hand on its arm cannon. However, it stopped just as quickly as it started, almost as if it had bumped into something. Sure enough, when the fog finished dispersing, the Gorillamon was backed into a stone wall. Moss and web-like cracks spread across its surface, and what seemed like a circular shape at first had been broken into several pieces. In fact, the more the fog pulled away, the more of these worn-down stone walls were visible. Just what was this place?

The Gorillamon, seeing no other options, leaped to the top of the stone wall and rained a plasma barrage down on Mitsuharu. With each shot his cannon sparked more dangerously, but he seemed too hell-bent on chasing Mitsuharu away to notice.

Neither did he notice Layla, who was crouched down on the other side of the stone wall. She looked up at Tsukiko, winking conspiratorially. Did she have a plan?

For Hiroyo's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

As the fog around Hiroyo started to clear, she would be bemused to learn that the increased clarity did nothing to help her vision. Slowly, it changed from a smoky white to an inky black as the fog was swallowed up by pure darkness. Only the occasional beam of light shined down from the canopy, serving as a reminder to Hiroyo that she had not gone completely. However, these were little more than fleeting glimpses, quickly swallowed up by the natural swaying of the branches above.

Perhaps if Hiroyo spent time trying to follow their path, she would notice that they curled in the path of a spiral.

The ground here was muddy, Hiroyo's feet starting to sink into it if she stayed still for too long. A droning hum echoed through the forest, increasing and decreasing in volume at seemingly random intervals. If Hiroyo listened closely, it almost sounded like the buzz of a bee's wings. Occasionally there was a smell of burning rubber, but it subsided almost as quickly as it arose.

Despite all the eerie sights and smells, Hiroyo was well and truly alone. At least, of course, until something hard smacked into her back. Layla hard burst through the treeline, bouncing off of Hiroyo and landing flat on her butt. "I didn't even see that tree coming . . .

Oh! It's just you, Hiro. Thank goodness." She sighed as she dusted herself off. Even in the pure darkness, Hiroyo would be able to see Layla's face wrinkle in disgust when she felt the mud on her outfit. "Was starting to think I'd gotten completely lost. Although I guess that just makes us both completely lost, huh?

So, do you know, like, what any of this is? Because I've never seen the Server Woods like this before."

For Morgan, Gurren, and Lagaan's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Against all odds, communication between the KoGears, Gurren, and Lagaan had been established. Whatever suffocating fog had swirled around the group, it was no match for the power of modern technology. However, it was certainly a match for the flare. What would be a radiant sunburst in any other situation, unfortunately, ended up being smothered into a soft, subtle glow. For those left within the fog, the flare would be impossible to discern by their strained, hampered vision.

For Morgan, it was a different story. When the Fanbeemon pushed through the treeline the fog was left rolling under him, sparing him the sensory deprivation that the others were being put through. The fog still smothered the sounds of those within it, and it still blocked the others from view the further they wandered, but Morgan had one bit of crucial information that the others didn't. As everyone's silhouettes started to fade, he could see that they were wandering in several different directions.

An eerie stillness and quiet settled, as everyone's wandering brought them further and further away from Morgan's position. At least, of course, until a distant flare shined through the fog, all too visible for the airbound Fanbeemon. Would he recognize the spark as an ally, or would he steer clear?

Regardless of Morgan's choice, the fog around Gurren and Lagaan started to part. The silhouettes of trees almost seemed to stretch through the fog, like the claws of a hundred-armed beast. Compared to the more ordinary treeline that the group had initially passed by, the trees here were far more imposing. Their roots seemed half-pulled from the ground, resting like the legs of a tarantula ready to pounce. Their boughs bent forward, as if eavesdropping in on whatever conversation the two gears may have been having with one another. There was a small clearing around the gears, giving them enough room to move around. Beyond that these gnarled, twisted trees stood densely packed.

There wasn't a digital life form to be found, and yet the feeling of being watched was unmistakable.

For Roger's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

When Apemon came bursting out of the fog, he had a few unwanted companions with him. The first was Tsukaimon, still clutched tightly in his fist. The poor thing seemed absolutely tuckered out, eyes half-lidded and weary as it took a few shallow breaths. The second, Roger, was a lot more willing to be here. He remained embedded in the Apemon like a literal thorn in his side, sparking and shocking all the way. By the time Apemon, Roger, and Tsukaimon hit the air again, a black spot visibly marred his golden fur.

The ape himself seemed utterly exhausted too. Maybe it was the repeated shock from Roger, or maybe it was from exerting himself by running through what felt like liquid concrete. Whatever the details, the Apemon fell onto his hands and knees, chest heaving heavily as he desperately tried to swallow down air.

Tsukaimon, seemingly unconcerned, wiggled right out of the Apemon's hands. She promptly trotted over to a nearby tree stump, wiggling to aim herself before leaping right onto the surface of the stump. She promptly settled down, her tiny body stretching cartoonishly as she yawned. "Are we done yet? I'm tired . . ." she asked, prodding what looked to be an axe that was buried in the stump.

Sure enough, this end of the forest was completely clear-cut. The only trees visible hung far in the distance, with the area around Roger instead a sea of stumps. In the distance a cabin was visible, smoke rising from what could only be a chimney on its roof. Occasionally the smoke seemed to twist into the shape of a Digimon: Flymon, Devidramon, Gorillamon, Dinohumon . ..

Besides this cabin, there didn't seem to be any signs of life in the area. The air was stagnant and still, and after how thick the fog was it almost seemed to be inadequately thin. Even Apemon had fallen still for the most part. However, if Roger paid attention, he might notice the Apemon clawing into the soil. Grass that once seemed green and healthy crumpled to ash within his grip: was the land that fragile, or was his grip that forceful?