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

For Eleonora and the KoGears's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Sepikmon practically jumped out of his taut, wrinkled skin as the sound echoed through his ears. He looked around in a panic, boomerang flailing at a mile a minute as he tried to discern the source of the sound. Finally he found it, sitting face to face with Leo for the first time. From here she would truly be able to make up the sheer nothingness that made up Sepikmon's facial area, not even having a pair of eyespots to call its own. Nevertheless, panic was evident in the void, the data bubbling up beneath it taking on a frantic pace as it tried to approach Sepikmon. "You imbecile! You buffoon of a baboon!" he called out, desperately running towards Leo. "Don't you know what'll happen if that thing breaks? There'll be nothing left to hear the spirits of the forest with . . . and when nobody's around to hear them, hoo boy do they get angry!

If you know what's good for you, you'll give it right back! Or do you want us all to get torn to shreds by the Bakemon?"

"Oh, we'll be fine," Layla said, a light smile on her face. Normally it'd be quite cute, but the spark in her eyes made it almost terrifying. "After all, we have the mask, don't we? If the mask lets you talk to spirits, that means we're the ones who'll be fine. Maybe you just don't want your own Bakemon turned on you, hm?" She looked far more confident now that Leo had given them proper leverage.

"Ha! I'd love to see you try," Sepikmon retorted. "I don't know what your deals are, but you two don't sound like any mediums I've ever heard of. You might have the tools to give it a try, but when the spirits realize you're putting the 'sham' in 'shaman,' you're gonna be in for a rude awakening." Nevertheless, it was clear he was getting desperate. As he spoke he continued walking from one side of Leo to the next, trying to find a proper angle to lunge at her and grab his mask back. A few beads of data even started to roll down the sides of his head, as if he was starting to sweat.

Layla promptly stomped at a nearby tree, doing her best to keep the sound where Sepikmon would expect it to be. The sound of tree bark splintering caught the monkey's attention, and he promptly started shaking his head out of concern. "Alright, alright! I'll talk," he finally said. He stooped down, flicking his tail into the nearby grass and kicking up a small fire. After doing so he turned around and hurled a powder into the fire, translucent smoke rising from the flame. Through the smoke a vision started to play out, depicting a little Tsukaimon toddling along.

"This forest, if you two've gotten the hint by now, has got a mind of its own. Anything going on in these trees only goes on 'cause the forest wants it to. And when there's something the forest doesn't like? Then it's gotta go," Sepikmon explained. He pointed a boomerang in the general direction of where the vision of Tsukaimon was depicted. As it toddled, other Digimon appeared to the side, small auras of power appearing next to them. Apemon and Gorillamon, watching the Tsukaimon passed, had very small ones. A Dinobeemon that promptly appeared next to them, scaring them off, sprouted a larger one as it victoriously beat its chest. "The spirits of the forest keep tabs on all the Digimon here. They can see how dangerous a Digimon is, as well as how rotten of a core's directing that danger.

Your friend right here?" The vision of Tsukaimon paused, turning to face Layla and Leo. As it yawned a deep purple aura exploded around it, stretching out many feet away from Tsukaimon. "It reeks of danger so bad, the forest goes bananas trying to get rid of it! And until then, life around here gets turned right on its head. You try spending a day getting whipped by vines and skewered by brambles and tell me how you like it, hm?

And that mess ain't gonna stop until the cause of it all's long gone. So if you're asking what we want with the Tsukaimon, not a damn thing. Thrown out, pounded into dust, whatever it takes to get it as far away from us as possible, we'll take it!"

The fire smoldered down to nothing, and with it so did Sepikmon's speech. "If I had to guess, I'd say those stupid apes ran as deep into the forest as they could. Probably kept close to the center. Hell, with their sense of direction I bet you'd have a better shot of finding them if you just ran in a straight line. Now, if you two've got anything left in those heads of yours, you'd keep back and let them solve this little problem. But if you two just keep having this death wish of yours, hell if I'm gonna stop you," he explained. "Now, we had a deal. Mask." He held his hands out expectantly.

For Tsukiko and Mitsuharu's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

"Yes?" Gorillamon said, clearly confused. "Sepikmon blind. When you see him? Thought you chased us since you came here." The poor gorilla just did not have Tsukiko's deductive skills, did he? Unlike her, he didn't even notice that he was part of a Three Monkeys motif.

Layla, previously quite worried, perked up a little as she heard Mitsuharu's response. "Like Nightmare Soldiers?" she asked. "Tsukaimon always kept calling herself that when trying to act tough. It never really worked, because she just kinda looked adorable when puffed out like that. But whenever I tried to point that out, she just insisted that no, she really was. Is that one of those families?" It'd make sense. Barring Digimon of the Dark Area classification, Nightmare Soldiers seemed to be those most predisposed towards villainy, brutality, and the dark arts. If the forest could see into a Digimon's nature in such a fashion, it might make sense that it had reacted poorly.

The final questions were both rather difficult ones for Gorillamon: location. Considering that the forest seemed hell-bent on hiding and erasing everyone's progress when exploring it, the Gorillamon looked almost exasperated. "H-how would that work?" he asked, almost in despair. "With the fog, can't know! But . . .

Ran with Apemon. Straight line, same way. Fog moved us apart. Maybe keep straight, and he's there? Apemon . . . stubborn. Not much for turning." That was something, at least. "Sepikmon sticks to the dark. Helps him hear spirits better. Too bright, here." With that, Tsukiko had let Gorillamon go, the ape dashing away as soon as the wall of flame had gone down. He looked over his shoulder as he ran to follow the girl's speech, but frankly he seemed more concerned with his own survival than he did with taking her words to heart. With the rough day that the Gorillamon had been saddled with, it was hard to blame him.

Layla seemed much more concerned with Tsukiko's words, finding herself nodding in agreement. "You're right," she said. "I don't think any of the Digimon around here are bad. Even the ones that chased Tsukaimon and I on our last trips here are just doing what it takes to survive, right?" She smiled sadly, looking down at her feet a little. "I can see what my big brother means when he says it's a way different world from ours. Even if it can be really special, it's also really dangerous. Maybe that's why he worries when I get tangled up in Digital business, huh?

But I'm willing to brave that danger if it means saving my friend. And maybe if we're quick and quiet enough, we'll be able to help her without anyone here needing to get hurt, right?"

Her eyes shining with a renewed hope, Layla turned to survey the forest. "I think you came in from the south, right? So if we were going to keep following Apemon and Gorillamon's old path, we'd probably want to go north," she explained. "I know Sepikmon was the one who wanted Tsukaimon caught, but Apemon's the one that actually had her. And if he found Sepikmon then that just means both of them are on our path, right? So it'd probably be for the best if we kept following the way we went before. What do you think?"

For Hiroyo's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Layla's cheeky grin only continued to spread as she saw the effect her words were having on Hiroyo. "Could say they're the same thing, couldn't you?" she asked. "God knows my friends would call me a mess if I tried leaving the house looking like that. And there's always some level of presentation a girl's gotta keep to when there's eyes on us. But . . . the part of the day when you can put all that aside, and not have to worry about it because it's just you and someone you trust. That just feels so good, doesn't it? And seeing someone else at peace like that's always a treat. Especially since it means you're part of that bubble." For someone who had just been teasing earlier, Layla sure seemed to be genuine in her observations. Maybe she just really did want to help Hiroyo relax, almost as if repayment for Hiroyo helping her with her own anxieties over Tsukaimon.

Then again, the way she turned to face Hiroyo, still hand in hand, probably didn't help with that. She almost coyly let the motion flow into Hiroyo's continued walking pace the bring the two a little closer. "Figured you'd agree," she said, her voice dropping the slightest bit more quietly. "Since it seems you've had some experience." Yep, Hiroyo's flustered face had definitely not escaped Layla's notice. Yet just as quickly as the girl turned towards Hiroyo, she turned away and took her place back at her side. It was a movement so brief that it almost seemed like two dance partners twirling towards each other, then right back apart. Were it not for the slightly tighter grip around Hiroyo's hand and the slightly reduced distance between them, it could've easily been dismissed as Layla just slowing down for a minute.

She giggled at Hiroyo's guilty apology for her enthusiasm. "There's a reason I brought these boots, you know," Layla said, turning her leg slightly so Hiroyo could get a view of her more heavy-duty footwear. Even covered in mud, there was still a bit . "Wish I knew Tsukaimon was planning on bringing others in. Then I could've at least warned you all about what to wear. But you've all been doing a good job with the journey so far, so maybe outfits are the least of our problems." Briefly, Layla had the idea of everyone coming onto the mission in full rain gear. How could an image like that not make her smile?

Maybe because it was paired with some rather crushing news. It was one thing to have a bad adventure in the Digital World. It was a completely different thing to have that shake your faith in your team for good. Layla sighed sorrowfully at the news, then pulled Hiroyo in for a warm hug. "Hey, come on. It's okay," she said, voice quieted to an almost soothing level. "Tsukaimon and I have been trying to find these flowers for weeks now, right? We couldn't handle it ourselves. Instead, we needed to call you guys in. And even then, this might be the most dangerous day she and I have ever been through. But we're still here, right? Even if she and I are apart, I know we're both giving it our all. I know this hurts for you. I can't imagine how much it does, but I know it has to. But you have each other, even when you think you don't. And even then, I can promise you, you're not alone."

Suddenly, Layla's grip on Hiroyo turned rigid. "We're not alone," she repeated, this time her voice much more urgent.

The ground shook as heavy footfalls hit the earth, and a droning buzz started to vibrate through the air. A shadow stretched past where the two girls were standing, looking almost like a bee with massive, hulking forearms. The shadow's position slowly started to change from a neutral stance to one of piqued aggression. Layla promptly broke the hug and took Hiroyo's hand again, running for the treeline as fast as she can. "Unless your Digimon can turn into a Dinobeemon and you didn't tell me, we need to run! Now!"

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

SPOILER: Click to show

Fortunately, if the gears kept at it, they would indeed be able to pass through the wall of dead trees. It would be an agonizingly slow process, as if one was trying to squeeze the last few drops of honey from a bottle. Nevertheless, with each passing second they would travel more through the veil, until finally either giving up or being pushed through to the other side. If they persisted, they would find themselves landing right next to Bagramon, who was standing in a far less desiccated forest. The dead trees that surrounded them previously would be gone, replaced with the same placid stretch of land that they had initially entered from. It was almost as if they hadn't moved previously, or if they had did not take as drastic of a turn as it first seemed.

Whether they did pass or not, Bagramon's voice would echo through the trees. "This forest is nothing," he said, his voice as bitter as a snake's venom. "There is nothing special or extraordinary about this place. It simply is, just like the rest of the Digital World. No. It is the actions of one within the forest that trouble you. One who seeds illusions and trickery to lead others astray, leaving them trapped in their minds as they wander these woods. I am but a hermit who is living out the rest of his days here, but in my time I have grown wise to these tricks. As for your friends . . .

Do you not find it strange that you are all Digimon?"

Bagramon's sentence sounded absolutely nonsensical. However, when considering the fact that Gurren-Lagaan and Morgan were both partnered too humans, the weight of such a question was all too apparent. Far from the random act of nature that the fog had seemed to be, Bagramon's suggestion seemed more pointed, almost to the point of malice. And it didn't bode well for Hiroyo or Eleonora.

After such a bitter question, the Bagramon simply sighed. "If you and your friends know what is best for you, you should leave," he said. "If I cannot do anything else, I can at least make sure others are not sucked into these games they play here. Yet if you do not heed my advice and leave, I cannot promise you will be safe."

Any still within the ring of dead trees would find Mephistomon gliding towards them. He had risen from his seated position, now standing stock-still with both hands spread at his sides. He did not walk or fly but instead floated, the ring of dead trees seeming to shrink with each "step" he had taken forward. "He speaks truths couched in lies, and lies couched in truths," the goat explained. He did not move his mouth, but his words were clearer than any actual speech. "All so he may continue to run, just as you have. Yet, what use is there to run in an ever-shifting world? Perhaps it may be best to lie down, and let the forest takes you where it pleases.

After all, it is not as if you were in control to begin with."

For Roger's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Babamon shook her head sadly. "I understand, dearie. I know this must be such a bother," she said. "But this forest isn't one for the weak of mind or faint of heart. All those rules most places follow just don't apply here. The forest, and those who give it life, do what they want, when they want, how they want. You can go places without moving at all, and you can move for days on end without having gone anywhere. Much like the ape over there."

She sat down, folding her hands as she listened to Roger speak. It seemed that he was one who had lost before, and since then had only kept losing. Nevertheless, he put himself in harm's way for the safety of the Digital World, and even tried to preserve a family he never wanted or asked for despite such loss being fresh on his mind. The Babamon gave him a gentle pat on the head, which would immediately send waves of soothing feelings right into his head. While he could try and resist these feelings to preserve his righteous indignation, the impulses were of worrisome power. Even for a Mega's standards, it would be a massive shock to his little, angry system.

Her smile softened ever so slightly as she stooped down to the worm. "I suppose it's only fair I do so, mm?" she asked, amusement twinkling in the eyes behind her bangs. "After all, you were so generous with your story.

Back in my prime, I was a Digimon of far, far greater power than what you see today. Yet, I had but the tiniest bit of the responsibility I hold today. I used to walk the land, treating all the Digimon I met as mere playthings. I'd help them if it amused me. I'd hurt them if it amused me. I'd toy with their minds just because I was bored. It was a tremendous, almost frightening power, yet I was addicted. With but a snap of my fingers, I could leave them seeing, feeling, or believing anything I wanted them too. Wherever I went, the world around me was changed, all the little changes I made building up. Mayors acted like they were dogs. Birds lived in the seas, and fish tried to hop among the clouds. And oh, all the matchmaking I did, driving those who particularly amused me to fall deeply in love with each other.

The hopes and desires of those I met were mere toys to me. Maybe that was why they called me Lust, all those years ago.

To some, what I brought about were a blessing. To some, they were a torment. But no matter what, the chaos I brought was too much to allow to continue. Many Digimon came to stop me, fighting for their homes, their loved ones, even their own lives. All who did failed, but with each failure came countless more. Perhaps, in a way, I had brought about my own downfall. After all, what stronger desire is there than the desire to keep those important to you safe? What stronger passion is there than the passion of a wounded warrior or avenging hero, knowing they will fall but willing to step forward regardless?

It was under the death of a thousand cuts that I finally succumbed. With no rest from the battlefield, even the mightiest Digimon eventually reaches a point that they just can't take. Oh, how I remember the look on the face of the last Digimon to encounter me . . . I knew there was nothing I could do against him, for his only remaining desire was my death.

When I had emerged from my egg anew, I immediately knew something was different. The power that was with me once had faded. In despair, I threw myself to the beasts of the forest, hoping it would be back upon my next incarnation. Yet, again and again, it failed to manifest. It had been a freak incident, one that could be used for such purpose, and I squandered it for mere games and torments. To say it is a decision that I regret cannot be overstated.

These flowers, one could say, are almost a remnant of a life that once was. They shape themselves to the perception of those that find them, giving them an almost limitless potential. Only the one sowing the seed knows what could possibly sprout out from the ground, and even they will never know for sure. And that is not a privilege I wish to give out so foolishly. I will not see others make the same mistakes as I, even on such a small scale.

Now tell me. What do you wish to do with such a plant, that you'd come all this way to find it?"

For Eleonora and the KoGears's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Layla stood up a little bit straighter, eyes shut as she tried to think. "I wish I knew," she said. "If there's anything I learned about Digimon, it's that they have a lot of secrets hidden. Even the smallest, cutest Digimon can do some surprising things. And even if they're nothing too special themselves, their Digivolutions can be even more shocking. Maybe if Sepikmon can see a Digimon's 'bad juju,' it's that kind of thing?"

"You think if I could tell you for sure, I'd even be in this mess?" the Sepikmon asked, his grumpiness lightening by the slightest margin. He let out an audible sigh of relief as the mask slid back onto his face. His shoulders settled and his back straightened, the aggression in his tensed-up stance melting away. "I'm a medium, not a psychic! The most I get's a chill down my spine, and you can bet your ass it's been like I've had ice down my back all day."

"Well, if you think it is some kind of hidden power, don't you think Tsukaimon would've used it to get away from Apemon?" she asked. "My brother always told me that when a Digimon's in crisis, it'd be way more likely to Digivolve in the heat of the moment. I'm sure if Tsukaimon was really so bad, she could've done that."

"Yeah, yeah. Or she could be taking you all for a ride," the Sepikmon said. Layla's hands clenched to a white-knuckled grip, but she bit down quite visibly on her tongue to avoid saying anything. "Why fight a bunch of apes when you can get other people to do it for you? Hell, if I could trust those two bozos to do their jobs, I wouldn't have even shown up! I'd be napping in a tree without a care in the whole dang world-"

"I'd prefer you just answer Leo's question now," Layla interjected, her voice cold and dangerous.

"Right." Sepikmon coughed, squatting down and putting his boomerang to the floor. The air hung cold and clammy around him, and a small aura of power started to flicker around his body. Then it all promptly dispersed as he looked to the treeline, shouting "Ah, get out of here, ya slackers! We're calling off the plan!" Several disappointed sighs were heard as Bakemon floated away from the trees, the ground, and the underbrush. How many did Sepikmon have lying in ambush?

Once they cleared out, he turned and pointed over his shoulder. "Way's clear. Now get on outta here before I change my mind," he said. He threw another orb of smoke and sparks around his feet, and then he was gone.

Layla took the lead and started to walk forward, keeping her eyes to the floor "We're safe, for now at least," she said. "Thanks again for the help back there. I . . . I wish I could say that Sepikmon was wrong, but with how little I know about Tsukaimon myself . . ." Perhaps she didn't want to finish her thought, or perhaps she was distracted by the fact that the ground was starting to slope upwards. Slowly she trailed it upwards, eyes widening as she noticed that they were right by a hill. And on top of that hill was a house, rings of smoke wafting up from it.

She let out a cheer of relief, speeding forward as fast as she can. "This was where we found them!" she said. "The flowers! If we have these, then we can just grab Tsukaimon and run. This is perfect!" Unfortunately, in her excitement she didn't notice the small peals of fog that were starting to form around her ankles. They almost seemed to draw her in as she ran towards the house, becoming thicker and thicker with each step she took. Was history threatening to repeat itself?

Yet, this time there was an actual vantage point for Leo and Layla to focus on. Maybe that would make things different.

For Tsukiko and Mitsuharu's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Layla smiled sadly. "I think we'd all worry about the people we care about being here," she said. "My big brother's a tamer in his own right, and even I get worried sick about him every now and again. Maybe that's part of why I'm always tagging along here. So at least I can see for myself that he's doing alright, you know?" She tried to bring a bit more cheer to her sorrowful smile, but worry still shined in her eyes. "Heh . . . you could say I'm just as worried about Tsukaimon right now, too. But it wouldn't help anyone if I just fall apart on her. So . . . catch me if I'm starting to seem a little hopeless, okay?" It was a lot of trust to put into another's hands, but clearly Tsukiko had earned it.

She also learned the right to laugh, considering that she had just praised Layla's sense of direction. The worry in her eyes melted away as she tried not to double over, shaking the laughter out of her head. "Me? Sense of direction?" she asked. "Come on, you're talking to the girl who's on, what, her tenth try at finding these flowers? The one who's only not lost right now because she stumbled in the right direction? If you're gonna compliment me, you could at least give me a good one." Nevertheless, judging by the teasing nudge she gave Tsukiko, it was clear she was more amused than genuinely denying the compliment.

"Well, if we are trusting my sense of direction, then follow me," she said. "Maybe all the wrong turns I took will come in handy here, eh?"

As they continued to go north, Layla started to notice that the treeline was thinning out. "Huh. Too soon for this to be the end of the forest," she said. "I know we've been walking for a while now, but not this much of a while. Unless . . ." Her pace quickened as she felt her way around the trees, looking for larger gaps to focus her attention on. "The trees were really thin where I found the flowers. If I can just grab them here, we can focus all our attention on looking for Tsukaimon. Heck, if we're lucky, she might have even beat us here. Come on, Tsuki, lets go!"

Excitement shined in her eyes as she made her way to the thinnest spots of the treeline, which parted enough to reveal the telltale curve of a hill. Atop this hill was a small house, rings of smoke drifting away from it every minute or so. Layla's already quick pace only got faster as she saw the house, so much so that she didn't even notice the wisps of fog starting to rise from behind her. They trailed behind her like dust kicked in her wake, getting more and more numerous the faster she moved. It was almost as if the house was beckoning her forward, trying to ensnare her in its clutches. Would this be another attempt at fracturing the group?

If it was, at least there was a flaw in the forest's plan. The house on the hill served almost as a lighthouse, remaining high enough above the swirling mists to escape being covered up. With a marker like this in sight, and the helpful warnings of Gorillamon in mind, was the fog capable of causing as much trouble as it had before?

For Hiroyo's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

"Yeah, trees sound really good right about now," Layla wailed, clearly panicked by the bug's approach. She held onto Hiroyo's hand like her life depended on it, mainly because in this case both of theirs did. "I've seen it up close. It's the size of a double decker bus. So the more cover we have, the more chances we have of shaking it." Layla seemed to catch onto what Hiroyo was saying, and promptly started weaving their way into the treeline. It was almost a mirror of their previous spiral pattern, this time not spiraling outwards but instead inwards. The further they ran, the thicker and darker the tree cover was. Normally that'd be a pretty awful decision, but in this situation it was exactly what they needed.

Once they were close to the center of their little path, Layla turned Hiroyo around and pressed her against the closest available tree. She promptly spread her arms to each side of the tree, letting her jacket hang loose on her body. When held out like this, it covered the two like a drape. "Now just keep very still, and very, very quiet," she whispered, which may not have been the easiest thing with how flustered Hiroyo was earlier. It certainly wasn't easy as nearby trees started to creak and groan, bending from the sheer force of their unseen foe. Dinobeemon's thick, sausage-like fingers were practically the size of bicycles, and more than capable of snapping a tree if it felt so inclined. "If we don't move, it might just think we're a tree trunk. And then we can tiptoe away when it looks elsewhere. Okay?"

The Dinobeemon's shadow loomed over the duo as its head poked through the treeline. Steam puffed out from its nostrils, each breath in tune with its hefty footsteps. For a second a hand groped worryingly close to Hiroyo's head, each crack of Dinobeemon's palms against the tree's trunk deafening for the poor girl. Nevertheless, Layla kept quiet and firm, the look in her eyes practically pleading for Hiroyo to do the same. Her heart had practically stopped, but she was still doing her best to keep strong for Hiroyo.

If there was any small comfort, it was that the treeline seemed to thin out from this point. In fact, if Hiroyo could bring herself to look up, she would notice rings of smoke drifting up into the air past their current location. Most importantly of all, however, was the fact that her Digivice was starting to feel a little bit . . . different. To a non-Tamer, the difference would be imperceptible. It wasn't that the Digivice any warmer, or larger, or heavier. However, there was a certain closeness that it seemed to radiate, as if Hiroyo wasn't alone in the world.

The feeling stretched outwards, almost as if yearning to head towards the direction of the smoke. Maybe, just maybe, it would be a rare good omen in such a twisted forest maze. Would Hiroyo deem it one worth pursuing?

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

SPOILER: Click to show

Slowly, Mephistomon started to fade from view. It was as if the illusionary treeline he dwelled within was consuming him, bit by bit. "I?" he asked, tilting his head as it faded behind the branches. "I am one incapable of such petty matters. All the words of man and beast alike are mine to command, but not a single lie among them. You will all come to understand this, in time. Just as you will all come to understand the forces that lurk behind the veil, witnessing your each and every move. The cowardly wretch you entrust with your lives knows this well. Notice how he lifts what he must, but leaves the rest intact. Learn from his example, lest you find yourselves unable to handle what you may perceive."

The ring of dead trees finished collapsing inwards, each gnarled trunk coiling around another until they formed a withered, decayed beanstalk. As quickly as it twisted it unfurled, falling to the ground in thin, brown strands. After this display, Mephistomon was gone.

Bagramon had remained utterly silent through the entire spiel, not even looking towards Morgan and the gears. He only allowed himself a small smile at Gurren and Lagaan's determination.
"Good," he said. "To give up is to let a part of yourselves die. Perhaps in this case, with the danger your tamers may be in, I mean that literally. Come, let us find them." Gnarled sprouts spread from the knuckles of his ashen hand, each gently resting against one of the three smaller Digimon. It was as if he was guiding the younger ones by the hand, despite his own being unsuited for the purpose.

Slowly he walked through the woods, occasionally looking over his shoulder to check on his charges. Larger Digimon lurked in the shadows; Kuwagamon with gnashing jaws, Drimogemon whose beady eyes watched from beneath the ground, and the eerie red slits of Veggiemon blending in with the local plant life. However, all shied away from Bagramon, who didn't even care to acknowledge their presence. So far, Gurren, Lagaan, and Morgan seemed to be in safe hands.

It was only when Bagramon approached a wall of fog that he stopped in his tracks. He peered through the fog, forehead wrinkling with concern for each second he stared. Finally he turned away, sighing deeply. Bags were clearly visible under his eyes, and his shoulders tensed u[ enough to carry the weight of a mountain. "This is as far as I can go," he said. "Ahead is the dwelling of one I promised to never again cross paths with. I would do well to honor such a promise. But you . . . you have a promise to those you hold dear to keep, and I will not ask you to break such a promise. I will only advise you to keep cautious for what lies ahead."

Bagramon's ashen hand tensed, and a snap of his fingers launched a shockwave through the fog. Slowly but surely it rolled aside, finally parting to leave a small alleyway for Morgan, Gurren, and Lagaan to pass through. "I wish you luck," Bagramon said, slowly walking away from the path he had just carved. It was a fairly ordinary path, winding ever so slightly as it lead up towards a house on a hill. A Babamon stood at the door of this ramshackle house, looking up at a pair of figures it would be impossible for any of the assembled party to mistake:

Roger stood right by the Babamon, and hovering a few feet away from him was Tsukaimon. As she spotted the group, she fluttered up to wave with both paws. There was no sign of any of her pursuers, and she seemed especially excited to see them! Had the group's trial finally come to an end?

For Roger's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Tsukaimon shook her head vigorously. "How would Lay even know that?" she asked. "We didn't have a scary old lady to explain it to us. We just kinda . . . picked one. And then we ran from a bee. All we know is it smells nice."

Babamon looked hard at Tsukaimon, but the innocent look on her face never faltered. Even when Babamon clapped in front of her face, her expression never changed. "Either this one's not very bright, a master of deceit, or truly an innocent," she mused. "And you have all been trustworthy so far. I suppose I can let you take from my supply." She rested against her broom, her grin widening like a cat watching a captive field mouse. "I'm sure you'd all regret trying something, anyway. I may've lost my power, but what I've got left is more than enough to give you a thrashing."

She almost looked hopeful that they'd give it a shot.

With her blessing, Tsukaimon eagerly flew towards the flower field. A shame that it wouldn't be so easy. By the time she turned around, Apemon had finally staggered his way up the hill. He was supporting himself by his knuckles like a common gorilla at this point, his bone long abandoned at the foot of the hill. Babamon cocked an eyebrow in interest, watching as Apemon forced himself to look up at Tsukaimon. "So he finally realizes," she said, leaning the slightest bit further in interest. "But, does he realize enough? The forest's done quite the number on him, it seems."

The Apemon took a few shaky steps forward, then lifted a gnarled paw up at Tsukaimon. He was pointing at her, but turned instead towards Roger. Through all of this he remained silent, but there was a strange look in his eyes. Was it anger? Was it hatred? No, it didn't have the passion behind it for either of those. Instead, it far more resembled . . . fear?

Tsukaimon gently perched on the Apemon's outstretched finger, blowing another raspberry at him. Then she stretched forward, her mouth growing to several times her body's size as she bit Apemon clean in half.

There was no blood. And after that first ear-splitting crunch there was no sound, either. She simply snapped back into her small, bean-like shape, the Apemon's remains dissolving into data beneath her. She hopped off of his dissolving finger, fluttering into the air with the utmost casualness. Stranger still, Tsukaimon didn't seem to absorb the resulting mass of data, instead watching it with an amazed smile on her face as it caught on the wind and drifted away.

She turned to Roger, cheeks puffed out in frustration. "Roger, you burned it way too much!" she whined. "Now it tastes all gross. But it's gone now, so you guys are all gonna be safe, right? Oh! Oh! And now Lay doesn't gotta worry about getting hurt, too! This is great!

Let's go get our flowers now, kay?"

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

SPOILER: Click to show

Tsukaimon fell over, laughing her tiny bean booty off as Roger starting making demands of her. It may have been visible to Roger now how flexible, almost elastic, her body was. She twisted and turned with each laugh, and her grin seemed to stretch from ear to bat-winged ear. "You're so silly!" was all she had to say in response to Roger's berating. Any other questions he had were answered with little more than a giggle. Babamon, clearly amused by this, excused herself to head back into the house. By the time Morgan, Gurren, and Lagaan approached, the Tsukaimon swooped down and perched right onto Roger's head. His twitching antennae beckoned like cat toys set to high speed. How could she not absentmindedly paw at them while waiting for all those slowpokes to approach?

It lasted for a painfully brief time. As soon as Tsukaimon was called the brat-queen her uproarious laughter returned, leaving the bean rolling right off of Roger's noggin. She flung out her wings right as she well, catching herself without falling an inch. Then she just continued to roll away. How much was she enjoying this? "Yep! Yep! I'm the queen of the castle!" she chirped, drifting back to her favorite stump all the while. As she finally settled she turned to Morgan, tilting her head to process his question. "What's a Hiroyo again? Oh! Right! The ditzy one! Well . . ." Tsukaimon paused, looking up to the sky and humming loudly. She rolled over onto her back and scratched her chin with a wing tip. She drummed her legs onto the stump's surface thoughtfully. Then she sprang onto her feet, eyes shining bright. "Oh!

I dunno."

Well, Tsukaimon, you sure are helpful.

TO BE CONTINUED!

For Tsukiko and Mitsuharu's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

"The . . . house?" she asked, standing on her tiptoes to take a peek at the roof. She was clearly straining her eyes due to the fog swirling around her. However, the puffs of smoke coming from the roof proved to be all the help she needed. She snapped her fingers, letting out a laugh of triumph. "You did it again, Tsuki! Sure am lucky to be here with a brain like you." Now with a plan set, she kept her head held high and marched right into the fog.

The house seemed to drift in and out of focus, its position changing within the swirling mass of fog. Sometimes a peal of fog drifted in front of Layla and Tsukiko's eyes, only for the house to be several feet in front of them when their vision cleared. Sometimes it skipped forward right in front of their faces after they blinked, only to be back in its usual place afterwards. There were even times when strange shadows moved within the fog, writing and grasping for the duo. Nevertheless, it always remained visible. The forest's smoke and mirrors were having no effect on the Ashikaga Clan's focus, and soon the house began reluctantly stretching into running distance.

"Something about this house feels important," Layla mused, the fog starting to thin around the duo. Had they broken through its densest part? "It's funny. I was hoping for a change from the forest, but now that it's here I'm starting to get a little worried. Or, heck, maybe I'm just gonna miss traveling with all you guys. Do you think we'll find the rest before we're done here?" She laughed nervously, her laugh petering out into a sigh. "I really hope so. I'm not sure what's gonna be worse. Dealing with this place unprepared, or having to go back into that forest after.

Whatever happens, I can count on you to keep everyone safe, right?" She smiled softly at Tsukiko, her question less genuine curiosity and more a firm belief in Tsukiko's ability.

Then, without a further word, she stepped out from the fog.

Roger, Morgan, Gurren-Lagaan, Tsukiko, and Mitsuharu:

SPOILER: Click to show

An incoming silhouette had barely stepped through the fog before Tsukaimon rocketed off of her stump. She was on a direct collision course, arms spread and smile adoring. "Lay!" she cheered, promptly knocking into the girl hard enough to leave her sprawling onto the ground. Tsukaimon didn't seem to care about that little detail, trotting in a little circle on Layla's jacket before snuggling into it. "I was so worried! I thought you were, like. Dead! Or eaten! Or dead, then eaten!"

Layla could only laugh warmly in response, propping herself back onto her feet. To make sure Tsukaimon didn't drop, she swaddled the little bean back into her arms. "Hey, come on," she said, ruffling Tsukaimon's fuzzy head. "You know I'm made of tougher stuff than that. 'Sides, I had some good help keeping me company.

Tsuki! Mitsu! Come on out, guys, it's just everyone's partners!" Wait, what? Layla suddenly straightened up, blinking a few times. "Just everyone's . . . oh, I am gonna kick this forest's ass for this," she muttered, shaking her head in frustration. "Okay, don't panic. I'm sure the rest of the humans are around here somewhere, guys."

Tsukaimon wiggled out of Layla's arms as she heard this, taking a few wingbeats before flapping into the skies. "I'll check up here," she said. She was way less lazy when her beloved human was around, it seemed. "Shadow, shadow, shadow . . . ooh! Ooh! There's somebody over there!" Tsukaimon pointed a nubby paw towards the fog, a silhouette worming making her way through it.

Layla turned to Tsukiko and Mitsuharu, a confident grin on her face. "Tsukiko, can you wait here and make sure the others are safe?" she asked. "Mitsuharu's our best fighter right now, and I don't want that Apemon sneaking up on us again. Worst case scenario I'll have a better chance of losing him in the fog without you all getting scattered again. Keep an eye out for me, Tsukaimon. I'll be right back!" Her earlier worries melting away in the presence of her friends, Layla turned and dashed back into the fog.

For Eleonora and the KoGears's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

Layla looked away, nervously adjusting some hair behind her ear with her free hand. "Right. That was foolish of me," she said. "I guess I was too excited about the change of pace. This place is really starting to get to me . . .

Thanks for helping me cool down. That could've been really bad."

Layla sighed, taking in a few breaths so deep that they seemed to be moving the fog around. She seemed all too happy to accept Eleonora's hand. Heck, she even held more tightly onto it, just as frightened of losing Eleonora as Leo was about losing her. "Alright. We're here. We're alright. We can do this," she repeated. She took in one last deep breath, and then closed her eyes.

The forest's whispers began dancing around Layla and Leo once more. They began taunting the girls about how lost they were, how confused and frightened they must have been. They insisted that the girls were going the wrong way, simply heading further into the depths of the forest. They wondered if the girls would starve first, or if they would instead be food for the forest's many Digimon. They asked if Tsukaimon, Gurren, and Lagaan would know if they were gone, or if they would even care. Each of these questions repeated for what felt like an eternity, seamlessly blending from one to the next.

Layla's grip on Leo's hand tightened with each word. She whimpered slightly, biting her tongue to stop the sound from escaping her throat. However, the verbal assault was all too much. Her eyes snapped open, and she found herself screaming "Leave us alone!" Her hands were trembling now, but she didn't care about hiding that from Eleonora anymore. Instead, she continued screaming into the forest. "Our Digimon are okay! Our friends are okay! And we! Will! Be! Okay! So just . . . get . . . out!" She put her back into that last scream, leaning forward with her eyes squeezed shut. Then as quickly as she had started she stopped, flinching back in fear of the forest's retribution.

But nobody came. Even the forest's whispers came to a halt.

The rest of the journey was almost suspiciously quiet. Layla was thankful for that. She kept close by Eleonora's side to scan the forest for threats, but if anything each step brought them closer to safety. Each passing second thinned the fog around them more, until soon a thin haze was all that remained. The house was tantalizingly close now, and with it several figures came into view. Layla peered into the fog to try and make them out, but upon noticing a Tsukaimon among the group any hesitation stopped. She let out a deep sigh of relief and ran through the fog, taking the lead for Leo in this final stretch.

Everyone But Hiroyo:

SPOILER: Click to show

Layla sighed in relief as she broke through the fog, hand in hand with Eleonora. "There we go . . . we're okay now, see?" she panted, turning to Leo and trying to work up a confident smile. It wasn't very successful, but she was trying her best here. Upon noticing this Tsukaimon swooped down to perch on her shoulder. The bean softly smooshed her face into Layla's face, Layla weakly leaning into the gesture. "Thanks, Tsukaimon," she said, giving the bean a pat on the head. "But hey, at least we're almost done here. We're all here now, right? . . . Right?"

She turned to the crowd, pointing at them and counting under her breath, before letting out a worried sigh. "Hiroyo," she added, turning back to the fog just as quickly as she had exited it. "I'll be right back, everyone. I'm just gonna make sure Hiroyo gets here safe and sound. Tsukaimon, keep an eye on me from the sky, okay? The fog seems like it's thinning out, but . . . just in case something goes wrong, yo know?"

Tsukaimon nodded, a determined smile on her face. "I'm not gonna let you down!" she chirped. "Everyone else just wait with Mitsuharu, okay? He's so big and strong now, so he'll keep you safe." Did she just wink at the Dinohumon? Surely that was just his overly-romanticized imagination at work!

With that said, the two girls dipped into the fog.. Tsukaimon skimmed its upper layer, but Layla went right back into the mess.

For Hiroyo's Eyes Only:

SPOILER: Click to show

As an apex predator of the Server Woods, Dinobeemon had nothing to fear. Maybe that was why its first reaction to a suspicious noise was not to flee but instead to answer its challenge over his dominance. He let out a ferocious roar, beating his chest so loudly that each smash made Layla cringe. It was fortunate, then, that Hiroyo promptly yanked Layla away from the source of the noise. This time it was Layla's turn to stumble a little as she tried to catch up with Hiroyo, but she was too thankful for the rescue to mind. As they ran she looked over her shoulder, sighing in relief to see that Dinobeemon was charging in the other direction. With his massive forelimbs propelling him forward, and his wings giving him hangtime on each launch, it was clear that they could not beat Dinobeemon in a straight up race.

The fog thickened around Layla and Hiroyo as they ran, finally amassing to the point where it started slowing their movements once again. Layla took advantage of this time to tighten her hold, a signal that she wanted to take a quick breather. "Just give me a second," she asked between heavy breaths. "Today's been one heck of a workout, I swear." Whereas before the fog seemed isolating, it took on a different tone now that Layla and Hiroyo weren't alone. It was almost calming, the eerie trees and threatening Digimon of the forest all blocked from their vision.

After taking a look around to confirm that they were safe, Layla looked at Hiroyo and smiled. "You really saved my butt back there, didn't you?" she asked, before promptly leaning into a hug with the other girl. Now it was her chance to whisper something directly into Hiroyo's ear, so close that she might as well have been brushing against it. Unlike Hiroyo's situation, however, Layla had far less urgent reasons for such an intimate form of communication. "I guess that makes you my Hiro, huh?"

I take it back. A pun that awful is clearly an urgent reason.

With the pun delivered she turned to Hiroyo, a mischievous smirk on her face. She had yet to break the hug, and she almost seemed to be studying Hiroyo's face. She just had to know what Hiroyo's reaction would be to a mix of smooth flirtation and awful, awful puns. Then she leaned the slightest bit forward, once more trying to gauge Hiroyo's reaction. Would the girl be alarmed? Confused? Or intrigued?

If Hiroyo didn't shy away too much, Layla would lean forward to plant a kiss right on her cheek.

(Un)fortunately, that would mark the end of their alone time. A familiar cry of "Lay! Come on, where are you?" echoed through the fog, as Tsukaimon's silhouette appeared on the horizon of Layla's vision. Her flirty grin immediately dropped to a look of relief, and she promptly started walking towards the source of the sound. "Everyone's waiting for you, Lay! Come oooooon!"

In mid stride she turned back to Hiroyo, a soft smile on her face. "Shall we?" she asked, hand dangling behind her for Hiroyo to either take or leave. Whatever they had chosen, it would only be a short walk to safety now that Tsukaimon was here to guide them.

EVERYONE IS HERE:

SPOILER: Click to show

Once Hiroyo and Layla strode through the fog, a sharp "A-hem!" echoed through the air. The door to the house creaked open as its owner walked out; a Babamon with a wide smile stitched across her face. She turned to Roger, one of the few people around who she actually knew enough to speak with. "Roger, are these all of your friends?" she asked. "I'd really rather not have to explain all of this again. And I do not want any uninvited guests coming to m flower garden."

Tired yet seemingly at peace, Layla flashed a smile Babamon's way. "This is everyone, don't worry," she said. "Who are you, and- wait, did you just say flower garden?" The girl's eyes lit up, and she took a few steps forward out of sheer amazement. "I . . . wow, I don't even know what to say. I mean-"

"I do."

Babamon took a few steps forward, tapping with her broom as she stepped towards Layla. She looked the girl up and down, rubbing her chin thoughtfully all the while. She continued to maintain this thoughtful pose while orbiting around Layla. Tsukaimon promptly landed on the girl's head, trotting in circles to follow Babamon's orbit. "You seem quite happy to hear of my gift. Are you the boring-honest one?"

"The huh?" Layla blinked a few times, trying to figure out what that meant.

Babamon promptly waved the comment off. "Oh, don't you mind that. I meant to say, you're the one who came this far to find my gifts, yes?" This time Layla nodded, the statement far more comprehensible. "And are you aware of what these flowers are capable of?"

"Capable of?" Layla's forehead wrinkled as she tried to think of an answer. "They're capable of . . . smelling really nice and glowing pretty in the moonlight?"

Babamon sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "I figured she'd know nothing," she muttered. "Roger, could you please explain? These tired old bones just don't tell stories like they used to. And once you do . . . why don't all of you tell me what you think of your friend taking a plant with her? These are not a boon to be given lightly, but if you trust her enough to risk these woods with her, I trust your judgment."

AT READING THIS LAST SPOILER, YOU ARE NOW FREE FROM THE FOREST'S CURSE. ALL SPOILER TAGS ARE NOW NON-BINDING, AND YOU AND MAY READ THE THREAD IN ITS ENTIRETY

BUT USE THESE FOR METAGAME KNOWLEDGE IN YOUR RESPONSES, AND I SHALL FOREVER BE GRUMPY