Digital Mayhem

"Sure... So where it is?"

*Hawkmon points in the direction she came.*

Hawkmon: <There's a clearing that way. We can digivolve and fly there.>

"Let's go?"

*Taiyo looks at Euryale as if waiting for her to say something.*

E"Yeah, I guess. We wouldn't want to anger the generalissimo."

"He's not scary. Lead the way, Birdy!"

*Hawkmon nods and marches off towards the clearing, Allina, Razz, and respective partners following her. Tae seems reluctant to move, trying to discreetly look from Hitomi to her hand and back.*

*Hitomi's hand closes around his and she stands up. In the clearing everything is normal for a clearing in a forest. There's some dirty, rocks, and grass. What's not normal is a set of enormous rectangular footprints heading forward. Taiyo stands, frantically wiping her hands on her pantlegs.*

"Ew ew ew! I probably should've walked normally."

*Tae holds Hitomi's hand, smiling.*

[I'm really sorry.]

Hawkmon: <This is when we ignore the footprints and fly off the find Puppetmon. Except the odds of whatever left these interfering with our search in the near future are extremely high.>

Patamon: <I'll follow the footprints since I can fly but can't carry people anyway. You guys should go on ahead and find Puppetmon.>

*Aquilamon digivolves to Aquilamon near Tae and Hitomi. Veemon digivolves to AeroVeedramon at the center of the clearing.*

E"But then how would I pet you?"

A<Hello? Footprints.>

E"Whatever."

*She tugs on the leash & begins following the footprints.*

*Taiyo and a confused BlackGabumon follow.*

"I don't know, but..."

*She scurries up beside Euryale, looking at her dirt smeared hands.*

"What if we get some alone time?"

*Hitomi and Salamon board Aquilamon, Salamon sitting up front near Aquilamon's head.*

*Razz climbs on AeroVeedramon and since everyone else apparently fucked off, he takes off, Aquilamon following. Once they're high in the sky, Aquilamon points at the structure with her head.*

Aquilamon: <That's the one!>

*Tae holds on to Aquilamon's right horn with his right hand and wraps his left arm around Salamon to make sure she doesn't fall off, wishing he hadn't had to let go of Hitomi's hand.*

E"Then you'll have to wash your hands or limit yourself to groping external bodyparts only."

"I don't want to get gross mud and dirt on you. Unless..."

*She somehow turns around with her hands out.*

"Froggy, do you mind spraying my hands with water?"

=====================================================

*Hitomi has her arms wrapped around his waist. At the structure they find it's not metal but stone except for a large set of twin metal doors with eight square indents in them four on each one. The grey path is stone with rubble of broken statues on each side except for two in tact ones at the end closest to the building.*

*MegaSeadramon opens his mouth, a veritable waterfall spilling over Taiyo's hands.*

E"That looks so wrong."

T"Because your partner looks cool using his attack to roast marshmallows."

*AeroVeedramon and Aquilamon land by the entrance. Razz looks at the intact statues to see what they are.*

Tae: <...Do we crash in all by ourselves?>

=====

Allina: <This is so weird!>

*Taiyo shakes her hands as that kinda hurt and to get the water off.*

"Thanks, Snakey!"

=====================================================

*Being closer to the door they can see that something tried to get in already leaving only a set of three claw marks on the door. The two statues stand across from one another. One is a tall eight-winged angel clad entirely in armor with a mark in the center that should be familiar to anyone who has taken a gander at Tae's wrist. While the statue across from it is of a clocked demon with a large set of bat wings and a necklace of sorts. Hitomi and Salamon get off of Aquilamon and approach the structure. Passing the statues Salamon's ring glows and she steps back, growling. Hitomi clutches the back of her neck.*

Aquilamon: <That's... the Crest of Hope.>

Tae: <Salamon, what's wrong?>

*Razz jumps off of AeroVeedramon, who degenerates. They walk to the door.*

*The Generalissimo nods at Taiyo & blasts the door with a Lightning Javelin.*

*"The Generalissimo" and his group having decided to follow the monster footprints instead attacked the forest. Three Aurumon fly out and scatter, one heading the direction they came from, one heading in the direction the second group went, and the third turns around and heads further north. Taiyo throws her arms around Euryale.*

"Now I won't have to worry about smearing dirt on you."

*Passing through the forest the find more footprints and oddly enough not as many toppled trees as one might expect. Above them in the trees, they hear rustling.*

=====================================================

*The two back away, the glow in Salamon's ring fades and Hitomi lets go of her neck when they pass the statues.*

Salamon:<This isn't a good place.>

*Up close the door isn't any different except they can see the dirt and dust in the squares.*

=====================================================

*Elsewhere someone is changing the channels on an old wood framed antenna television set. One channel shows Allina, Euryale, Taiyo, Tsune and their partners going through the forest.*

???:<One group coming here.>

*The channel changes showing a few Divermon lost in the forest.*

???:<Remnants of MetalSeadramon's forces.>

*The channel changes to the second group.*

???:<Why is that wretched place in my domain?!>

*Tae and Razz attempt to open the door.*

Hawkmon: <Something about this place smells real fishy.>

Veemon: <Be prepared.>

=====

Allina: <Hey, hey, did ya girls see those?>

*Allina runs ahead after the Aurumon headed North, Patamon following.*

*From the trees above a monster drops down in front of her. Another drops down behind the group and one between Allina and the others.*

=====================================================

*The door doesn't even budge.*

Allina: <What the hell is that?! A walking guinea pig!?>

*Patamon warp digivolves and grabs Allina, flying to meet the rest of the group.*

=====

Tae: <...How nice.>

Razz: <Your Crest might have something to do with it.>

*Tae walks over to the Seraphimon statue and attempts to show it his hand or even touch it with it.*

*Euryale lets go of the leash, punches it in the, face & kicks it in the side of the head before jumping back.*

E"...We mean you no harm, unless you're with the Dark Masters."

B<But you just beat the Hell out of him!>

E"Yeah. On reflex."

A<Surprising her is not recommended.>

*MagnaAngemon or whatever hits a hell out a lot of branches when flying up. Kyukimon growls and gets back up noticbly mad about being kicked in the head. The Kyukimon that was in front of Allina before she decided to fuck off approaches and growls. The third Kyukimon gets ready to pounce.*

=====================================================

*It glows somewhat, but that's about it. Salamon appears to be growing impatiant.*

Salamon:<Are you almost done?>

*Tae turns to face her, shrugging.*

Tae: <Salamon, I'm just... trying to open the door. There's still that other statue.>

*Hawkmon stares at the Daemon statue.*

Hawkmon: <It can't be Light. Razz, what is your-->

Razz: <I'm not sure.>

Tae: <I don't think there are Crests for negative traits, and I can't relate the statue to any positive one we've seen.>

Hawkmon: <So we have no choice but to crash in?>

=====

*Allina is dropped near Euryale, Taiyo and Tsune and MagnaAngemon lands in front of them, pointing the Excalibur around at the Kyukimon.*

MagnaAngemon: <What do you want!?>

Allina: <Talking to aggressive Digimon. Considering our past experiences, that's bold stuff.>