Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters presented here and am not making any profit off of this whatsoever.
Story Title: Being of Two Worlds
Chapter Title: Let Loose The Dogmon of War
Story Word Count: 27,071
Chapter Word Count: 8,528
Rated: PG-13
Romance: Adam Park x Angewomon
Notes: This is set after Countdown To Destruction and three years after the end of Digimon Adventure 02. Digimon are known to exist, but except for the partners of the international Chosen, have not spread out of Japan as of yet. Comments and criticism gratefully accepted.
Summary: One former Power Ranger. One angelic female Digimon. One mission to save the world. And to fall in love with each other

Demon watched the proceedings with a cold and clinical eye. His troops were doing very well against the various teams of Chosen Children across the world. Not that he'd expected anything less. His murder of the blonde girl in that region...what did they call it again? Oh, yes, France. That had sent the proper message: he was not afraid or unwilling to attack the human partners, which had a much more desirable effect on the Digimon than simply pounding on them. This made those human partners so much more reluctant to do anything besides hide behind trees and shout out warnings of attacks from behind. He'd had the chance to take out a few more of them when they did that, but he'd let it pass for now.

I will kill more of them. Especially any who have partners who could evolve into anything holy or angelic. But just not yet. He wanted to have a more certain hold on the two worlds first. Earth was his first target. He could deal with the Digital World once he had a firm stranglehold on the world of humans. Digimon were much easier to make cower and weep at the sight of him anyway. They were no challenge.

Conquering this world first was why he'd put his fortress here in the first place. He had a stable gateway that he could use to go back to the Digital World whenever he needed fresh troops or just a change of scenery, and it also made for a safe escape route should the Chosen Children actually find their way here. Which he doubted they would, it was simply too well protected.

His gaze shifted to the Phantomon who hovered beside him, and beneath his hood, unseen lips twisted into a cold and dark smirk. "Tell me, Phantomon, what visions of the future do you see for me now?"

There was no answer, and Demon hissed lightly, a whip of energy snaking out to lash across the Perfection level Digimon's back. "Answer me." Demon demanded, and his creature looked back at him with anger-filled eyes. The Ultimate wasn't bothered, though. He was firmly in control, and there was nothing this thing could do to stop him or even harm him.

"I see you and yours in a battle." The words were crisp and to the point, almost frigid. Demon had grown used to the tone, and permitted it to a degree. It made his slave feel better to think that he could resist him even in this small bit. Of course, there was no real resistance to Demon's power, but the Demon Lord was willing to let Phantomon think so. Crushing hope was so amusing.

As was this. "We have been in many battles, Phantomon, elaborate." He twitched his fingers slightly, and smirked to see the Ghost Digimon recoiling in pain. "And do so swiftly. If I get bored, you know what might happen."

Phantomon shuddered briefly, then did his best to compose himself. His eyes went distant and very remote as he used the clairvoyance granted to those of his kind to see what there was to be seen. "There is a battle." His voice assumed the tone that meant he was Seeing properly. "The forces of evil are winning. There is pain everywhere."

Demon smirked, he liked the sound of that a great deal. He didn't even have to indicate for Phantomon to continue.

"There is a light. A great light that shines like the sun. Angewomon..."

Demon sat up straighter, his eyes flaring with fury. "What??" He hadn't seen the annoying blonde witch for a few days now, and he was almost starting to wonder what had happened. Not that he cared, he simply was wary of the position of all the angel and holy type Digimon. The Talisman of Shadow protected him from their power, but even it had it's antithesis. If one of those found it...

"Angewomon bears a crystal that glows, now white, now violet, now gold. It hangs over her heart and she carries in her soul the weapon that will destroy you."

Demon's ice-blue eyes flamed in demonic fury. "This will not be. I will not allow it." In a blast of temper he knocked Phantomon to the side, jarring him out of the trance he'd been in. "Go to the troops who are still stationed here. See to it that they're prepared for battle."

Phantomon hesitated for a heartbeat, and Demon lashed out at him with a ripple of energy. "Do not even dare to disobey me!" The Demon Lord hissed in fury. "I will not hesitate to destroy anything that stands in my way, and that includes you!" Blue eyes flashed with a gleam of insanity. "And those you care about."

Phantomon flinched back, then floated away silently. The only time he ever spoke was when Demon commanded it of him, and that was only for visions. Demon never even required him to call him master or grovel. That kind of posturing was reserved for lesser beings. Demon had more amusing ways of showing his dominance over those who ruled.

Demon mentally ran over a list of his troops, then sent out a magical summons to all of those who could get to him on short notice. The visions Phantomon had were never specific as to time, but combining those visions with Angewomon's recent disappearance told him that it was very likely the angel was going to be returning at any moment. If she has the Angelic Talisman...what else could it be that he described? I've never seen it, but what else would she have went to retrieve that would be worthy of being Seen?

He had put too much effort into all of this to have it fall apart now. He had sucked as much dark energy from the Dark Ocean that he possibly could, putting his already enormous power levels far off any existing scale of measurements. Exiting the Dark Ocean had been simplicity itself. He could've done it from the moment they'd put him in, but there had been reasons he hadn't.

Demon was easily capable of sensing power, no matter where it hid. He had sensed very familiar power inside of the human Oikawa. Vamdemon held no fear for him, the vampire was merely a Perfection, and a very insane Ultimate at times. Demon knew how to control his power, it was a part of his essence. Vamdemon had always reached too far, too fast, and as a result had always gotten himself into trouble with his evolutions.

So when Oikawa had turned up, bearing the power and the spirit of Vamdemon within, Demon had made his plans carefully. Obviously the evil Digimon wasn't ready, or perhaps not capable, of emerging just yet. He was someone that the Chosen Children hated with a deep passion, and he did have rather formidable powers, by some standards. The most logical thing to do was pretend to be banished, and then watch to see what happened next.

Being in the Dark Ocean gave him a wonderful view of the whole battle, and had taught him quite a few important lessons, not the least of which was that being ganged up on by twenty very pissed off Digimon hurt. That had also led to his decision to fight the Chosen Children on Earth, and nowhere near that dream world. He knew he was tougher than BelialVamdemon could ever hope to be, especially after sucking up all the power he had, and having the Talisman of Shadows as well, but it was overconfidence that had defeated all those who had tried before him. He was not going to be like them.

Taking Phantomon had been one of his better ideas, one that had far reaching implications, he knew. Not only were Phantomon rare and gifted in many unusual arts, but this one had a history that would make him his most formidable weapon in the battle to come. Having him serve me is an amusement in and of itself. But it will prove to be quite useful when that Angewomon returns.

Demon reached up to brush a hand across a small dark gemstone set in the folds of his cloak. It was unnoticed by virtually everyone, but it's affects were impossible to miss. He smirked in memory of when that Angemon had evolved up to Holy Angemon and attempted a Heaven's Gate on him. I don't think I've ever seen a Digimon be de-evolved that fast in all my life. Holy Angemon had went back to Poromon so fast you'd think someone had cast a de-evolution spell on him. The blonde partner had been all upset and near-weepy, much to Demon's disgust. When I'm ready to kill again, that pair will be the first. I thought I heard something once of that Angemon having died against Devimon when they first were in the Digital World, so you'd think he'd be used to it by now. Ah, humans are useless. They don't even make good playthings. They break and bleed far too easily.

Something caught his attention from the corner of his eye and he looked to see Phantomon hovering there in his near-eternal silence. "Have my orders been carried out?" The Demon Lord demanded. Phantomon nodded. "Good. See to it that you're ready to fight as well." A human or a Digimon who didn't know Demon that well wouldn't have noticed, but Demon was smirking, his ice-blue eyes sparking with delicious evil. "I think it's time that the Chosen really met you, my slave."

Phantomon looked a trifle taken aback and began to shake his head just a bit. Demon rose up to his full height and glowered down at him. "I don't think you quite understand, Phantomon." The word echoed with more than usual emphasis. "We will use every weapon in my arsenal against them, and that includes you." Demon chuckled darkly. "Even if the winged witch has the Angelic Talisman, it's power is useless against you. It only works against the one who holds the Talisman of Shadow." He sneered even more. "And we all know she won't hurt you, will she?"

His slave just looked aside, and Demon laughed, the sound of it echoing throughout his dark fortress and reaching out into the surrounding countryside, chilling the souls of all who heard it, and making them wonder just what dark force had come to dwell among them.

It was just before dawn in Odaiba. Yagami Hikari watched the fading stars with a worried tinge to her eyes. Another night without Angewomon had passed, and another day that looked as if it were also going to pass without her partner being there with her.

She's been gone so long. She shuddered briefly in the predawn chill. This is the third day. She had never been so long without her partner since they had been reunited three years earlier. She knew that Angewomon could get along without her, but even so, it was a bit unnerving.

Even more so with the way Demon's attacks had been stepping up lately. Gennai had said that Angewomon would be safe on that 'Phaedos' place, but Hikari still worried. If something happens and I can't be there to help her. Or worse, if something happened to me...

She tried not to be too worried. After all, she'd been kept under virtual lock and key since Angewomon had left. If Demon had known that they were looking for the only obstacle to his power, and that it was Angewomon who had left, then she would have become a prime target. Gennai had made it very clear it had to be Angewomon, which meant Hikari had to be kept alive so her partner could use the Talisman once she got it back. Though I would've surrendered if I thought it would have done any good.

She had known it wouldn't, though. Looking back, she still couldn't think of the reasoning that had led her to give herself over to Vamdemon when she was eight years old. We didn't have the Crest of Light then, and he could've destroyed Tailmon and me without even trying hard. The only thing that saved us was his ego and a lot of luck. But that kind of luck doesn't strike twice in the same lifetime.

Hikari glanced back at the streak of light that touched the horizon, and avoided looking at her watch again. Time had crept by the last few days. No word from Gennai since she left. Is that good or bad? She couldn't be sure.

How is she even going to get back? Gennai didn't tell her. There has to be a way, he wouldn't send her on a one-way trip. She leaned back against the wall and sighed. Whenever Angewomon did come back, with the Angelic Talisman or without it, there was going to be a battle. And this'll be the last one. She had been growing more and more sensitive to things with every passing year, and though she was nowhere near the level of foresight that she'd heard some Digimon could be, she was aware some things were going to happen.

A flash of a dream she'd had the night before stirred back to her, and she shuddered faintly in memory. It had been horrible. The sensation of being pulled somewhere against her will, of dark and contaminating energy pouring all through her, making her into something she wasn't meant to be...

No. That was just a dream. She kept telling herself that, but she knew it wasn't. What foresight she had tended to come to her in her dreams, and this one had possessed a level of clarity that rang amazingly true.

"Awake already?" She didn't have to turn to know who it was. Taichi stood right behind her, she could feel the warmth of his presence, always big and comforting. "You should be getting your rest, Hikari." That was his standard question.

"I'm fine." That was her standard response.

Her brother put a hand on her shoulder. "You're still waiting for Angewomon, aren't you?"

"Yeah. She has to come back soon. You know what the last few battles have been like." Hikari turned slightly to look at him, and wasn't surprised to see that her brother was a little pale. Demon had been getting worse and worse with each strike, and since none of them could do anything against him, they were reduced to taking out his henchmon. That seemed to do very little, since he seemed to have a nearly endless supply of them. Their partners were getting a lot of fighting experience, though.

The two siblings stood in silence for a few minutes, watching as the dawn slowly broke. This was a sight they'd seldom seen unless they were in the Digital World, but with Hikari hardly able to sleep with Angewomon gone, it was starting to become a familiar ritual. A single gleaming ray of sunlight shot across the sky, coming to rest almost precisely before Hikari, who stared at it in surprise. This had never happened before.

Her surprise turned into raw, pure, unadulterated joy as the light pulsed, most unlike sunlight, and where there had been nothing, there now stood an angel and a man in a black uniform. Hikari didn't bother noticing him, her attention was all swallowed up by the golden haired angel she had been waiting for. "Angewomon!! You're home!!"

"Hikari." Angewomon gently wrapped her arms around the teenager and smiled a bit wearily, but with evident joy. "It's good to be home. What's been going on?"

The Child of Light looked up at her. "Demon's attacked a few times. Nothing we couldn't handle, thank goodness, but a lot of trouble anyway. We haven't lost anyone else, that we know of. Did you..." Her question faded away in the wind as she saw the gleaming talisman nestled at Angewomon's throat.

"Yes. I got it. With Adam's help." She motioned to the young man who accompanied her. "We met on Phaedos and he decided to help me. Adam, this is my partner, Yagami Hikari."

Adam smiled politely at the young woman, and spoke in lightly accented Japanese. "It's nice to meet the person that Angewomon has spoken so highly of."

"Thank you for helping her, Adam-san." Hikari bowed slightly towards him, then indicated her brother. "This is my brother, Yagami Taichi, partner of Agumon, and the Chosen of Courage."

Taichi stepped closer and bowed as well. "Nice to meet you. I hope she told you what we were going up against?"

"She told me about Demon and the things he's done." Adam nodded. "I'm going to help you guys anyway that I can. I don't know if you've heard about us, but I used to be a Power Ranger, and I am still a Ninjetti warrior. I won't let evil of any kind do any harm that I can prevent."

Hikari and Taichi looked a bit surprised, but Angewomon smiled gently at his statement. "He means it too." She glanced around. "I didn't think it was going to be this early when we got back. It was almost noon on Phaedos."

"You look like you're hungry." Taichi noted. "I'm not the chef Yamato is, but I can work up something. Besides, it's breakfast time for us."

As he hurried in to get to cooking, Hikari leaned back to get a better view of her partner. Now that Angewomon had returned, she had halfway expected the nervousness that had filled her to ease. Instead, she was feeling even more antsy. She flicked her eyes unobtrusively over to the stranger, and felt a faint shimmer of surprise. The way he was looking at Angewomon, and the way she was looking back at him...something in the way they were reacting around one another... Did they fall in love??

She wanted a chance to ask, but it wasn't the sort of thing one could really bring up in public, especially around someone she didn't really know. I'll talk to her once we're alone, she decided. But for now, I have an idea. "So, what happened while you were gone? Tell me everything, please."

Angewomon nodded, then started to tell of all that had occurred since she had been sent to that far off planet. Hikari listened with careful attention paid to every word she said, analyzing it. It was times like this when she wished she were more like Sora or Miyako. They would've known at once what was going on. Even Daisuke occasionally had an amazing level of perception when it came to what was going on in the human heart. But though she was aware in her own way of things, knowing when one person truly loved another was something that she had never quite figured out. It could've come in handy quite a few times, but even so, it was a skill she didn't possess. Well, if he's going to be helping us out, maybe I can check with them on it.

"Then, we came back." Angewomon fingered the talisman at her throat gently. "We're going to have to fight Demon soon, Hikari. We can't wait around and let him find some way around this. Or worse."

Her partner nodded; what had happened to Catherine was still fresh in all of their minds. If Demon could get rid of her, then they were all done for.

"Breakfast is served!" Taichi called from inside, and all three trooped dutifully in to see the food spread out before them. "Eat up, I'll call the others and let everyone know that Angewomon's back with the Talisman."

"Remember, Daisuke, Takeru, Iori, and Miyako are all over at Ken's." Hikari reminded him. "They were going to be doing some kind of plotting session or something about a battle plan."

Taichi nodded; Hikari would've been with them, but since her partner was gone, she'd been sidelined until now. Whatever they've got in mind, I hope it's good. He got to dialing.

Adam watched quietly as the door opened again and again and various people and Digimon came in. He was introduced, but except for quick and polite greetings, no one seemed that interested in talking to him. The real topic was Angewomon and the Angelic Talisman.

"We still have to keep Hikari safe," Taichi overrode the various chattering as they tried to get Angewomon caught up on everything that had went on while she was away. "She's still the vulnerability."

The Child of Light rolled her eyes. "Thanks, Taichi. Glad to see you're still thinking of me as someone who can take care of herself."

"I'm serious, Hikari." Taichi looked at her. "You know that."

She was about to keep on complaining when the apartment building shook suddenly, and a voice that could only be described as the voice of evil echoed from outside. "Chosen Children! Your time has come!"

There was a collective groan from everyone and a blue-haired teenager that had been introduced to Adam as Ken shook his head. "Don't they ever come up with a better line than that?"

"Like you did any better." Daisuke shot back with a grin. Ken rolled his eyes as the group started to get up. "Come on, let's get rid of this guy."

"So, do we have a plan?" A violet haired girl asked. "Or are we just going to do like usual: throw everything we have and hope a lot?"

Angewomon touched the talisman. "Something like that." The words that the voice had spoken repeated themselves over and over in her mind. He called me the warrior who defeated Vamdemon. He must mean for me to do what I did then. And what was that about a friend who wears an enemies' face? It was something very confusing, and she didn't like it, not so close to the battle that would more than likely settle things once and for all.

The group filed out in a solemn line. Adam wanted to stay close to Angewomon, but an instinct told him to keep an eye on the group as a whole. I don't know what I can do, but I'm going to do something. I can feel it.

After the initial attack and challenge, everything had fallen silent. Once the group got outside, they could see why. Demon and his army had ranged themselves outside, looking at them all with calm confidence. At Demon's right hand was Phantomon, and at his left was a Blue Meramon, an icy cousin of the fiery Meramon. Other troops were ranged up and down the street, various Virii and evil Data types who had come to serve Demon. The Chosen Children were outnumbered at least three to one, if not more.

"So glad you decided to join us." Demon sneered at them. "It's time to end this."

Angewomon stepped forward, her eyes fastening on their enemy's. "I agree. You've caused more than enough trouble, and this ends."

Demon laughed at her. "Oh, it does, but not the way you think it will." Adam was fairly sure that he was smirking, and whatever it was that the Demon Lord was smirking about was bound to be trouble. "I believe that I've been remiss in my manners all this time. I haven't properly introduced you to my right hand 'mon Phantomon."

"He's no one any of us want to meet." Takeru hissed. He and Taichi had taken Catherine's death worse than any of the others, since they had known her the longest, and over the years had both taken trips back to Paris to visit with her.

Demon chuckled darkly, and placed a hand on Phantomon's shoulder. "Oh, but I think you do want to meet him. He hasn't been with me all that long. Only about three years or so. He was so lost and alone when I found him. A ghost of his former self, you might say."

Hikari and Angewomon exchanged nervous glances. This was already starting to sound bad. Demon wasn't quite done yet, though.

"Out of the goodness of my heart---"

"Oh, come on, at least make it sound believable!" Daisuke shouted. "We all know you don't have any goodness, and the jury's still out on if you have a heart!"

Demon gave the cinnamon haired Chosen Child a look, and Daisuke just grinned back at him. "Hey, if you want to cut to the chase and get to the part where we pound you into the dirt, I'm certainly up for it. All this exposition is boring anyway."

The Demon Lord appeared to agree for a moment, as he casually forced Phantomon to what passed for his knees, then looked up at the assembled defenders of two worlds. "Very well, since some of us appear to have the attention span of a Gnatmon, we'll hurry right along. I captured the spirit of your precious Wizarmon three years ago and managed to persuade him to continue along a proper viral evolution line." He laughed darkly. "As Phantomon, he has been able to see the future, and keep me advised of all your plans. He's been so very helpful."

Angewomon stared down at Phantomon, fighting back the urge to fly down and rip him away from Demon. "Wizarmon?"

Phantomon looked up at her, and for the first time they heard his voice. "Angewomon."

Many Digimon changed voices when they evolved or de-volved, due to the difference in vocal cords, but quite often there was a similarity in tone. The voice wasn't one hundred percent identical, but as their eyes met, Angewomon realized something she never had before. Most Phantomon had light blue eyes, cool and remote as if they were seeing things far away all the time. This Phantomon had eyes as green as emeralds. Only one Digimon had ever had eyes like that, and they had always turned to her with this same look in them.

Her wings snapped out and she rose off the ground, fury filling her like it never had before, the righteous wrath of all those who have been wronged. "Your crimes have gone on for long enough, Demon! This ends!"

Demon laughed coldly, the shadowy power of his Talisman surrounding him. "I think not! Step towards me, and your precious little friend here will be the one to destroy you!" There was a definite smirk in his tone. "Phantomon obeys me and no one else!"

Angewomon raised one hand, ready to fight any way she could, but even as she did, her eyes couldn't seem to leave Phantomon's. His eyes, Wizarmon's eyes, penetrated right into her soul. The friendship between them had always been deep, and she couldn't bring herself to make a move. She could feel her hand starting to fall, and tried not to let it, to no avail.

Demon laughed, the sound sending chills down everyone's spine. "I hate to sound so cliché but...I told you so. He's mine!"

"Release him!" Angewomon shouted, preparing a Holy Arrow. "I have the Angelic Talisman, Demon, I can hurt you now!"

"Go ahead." Demon's hand tightened on Phantomon's shoulder. "Hit me and you hit your little friend here. I'm sure you know what that would do."

Angewomon shuddered; she remembered when Angemon had attacked Vamdemon. The evil vampire had been knocked to his knees by the power of the holy blast, but the Phantomon beside him had been deleted just by the backwash of it. And he's just an Adult. I might kill Demon, but I'd also take out Phanto...Wizarmon. She shuddered again. "I can't do it..."

"I know." Demon laughed. "I'll accept your surrender whenever you like. This world is mine!"

"This world is ours." A powerful kick knocked the Demon Lord back only a few steps, but it was enough. Adam picked Phantomon up and leaped back to where the others were, his Ninjetti powered muscles carrying them both as if they were made of nothing more substantial than air.

Demon whirled almost at once, regaining his balance, and glared in the direction of the offending person. "Who are you that dares to interfere with me??"

"Adam Park." Adam grinned almost mockingly at the evil Digimon. "Black Ninjetti of the Frog. Helped Angewomon get the Angelic Talisman."

The dark lord raised his hands, preparing a blast of his attack. He didn't get the chance to fire it off, however. Phantomon lifted himself carefully off of Adam's shoulder and turned quickly, his scythe appearing in his hands. "I reject you and everything that you've ever done to me. I am not your creature any longer. I am a free Digimon...and I am your enemy!! Shadow Scythe!!"

Demon let the attack go through him, and grinned. "I am an Ultimate, you idiot. That attack won't even cut a thread on my robe! There isn't anything that any of you can do to me!"

"You're wrong." Angewomon rose up again, reenergized with the release of her friend. "I can do something to you. I have the Angelic Talisman and you have no protection!"

Demon's eyes lit up with darkest fury as the dark shadow around him increased. "Then try it, Perfection!! Try it and see just how little effect your puny Talisman will have on me!" He pointed towards them, his attack glowing brightly. "Flame---"

"Oh no you don't!!" Angewomon snapped the words out sharply, bringing her hands over her head as they began to glow with a rainbow sheen. "Heaven's Charm!!"

Demon found himself frozen in place, his attack halting as the same rainbow glow encircled him. "What is this!??"

"The end." Phantomon said quietly, looking to his angelic friend. "It's time."

Angewomon nodded, and in moments, she was surrounded by a group of Ultimate, Perfection, and Adult level Digimon, all ready to fight in any way they could. The original Chosen Children were there, as were those who had once been the Dark Spore Children of Oikawa. A few visiting international Chosen were also there, Micheal standing beside his friend Mimi, Chichos near Ken and Yamato, and all the others who were there standing with friends they had met three years ago and friends they had made on this trip.

"Everyone!!" Phantomon looked at them all. "Give your power to Angewomon! There's only one way to do this!"

"Saint Aim!" Angewomon felt the power of the attack growing in her, and she prepared as each of the Digimon there added their strength and energy to the blast waiting to be shot. The power was building far faster and far more than she'd ever imagined it would, and she knew it would be enough to shatter the Talisman of Shadow, and wound Demon.

We can't just wound him. We have to destroy him. It's the only way. But there was no one else, no one who had any power to help or give, none of the others could get there in time, it wasn't going to work...

Her eye fell on Adam and the answer came to her. "Adam! Help us!!"

The Black Ninjetti looked up, and she knew he knew what to do. He concentrated as hard as he could, a glow of his own forming around him. "Ninjetti!" He declared. "The Frog!"

The shot of black light zipped towards her, and then it joined with the others, and it was all they needed. She pointed at Demon, the power shaping itself into an arrow of all colors. "Holy Arrow!!"

In the end, it was all too simple. A single arrow with all the power of Digimon and Ninjetti combined. It tore through the Talisman of Shadow and through Demon, and the dark power of the evil Digimon shattered and was no more.

They had won.

Billy was not in a good mood. To say he was on the edge of insanity would have been a lot more accurate. Three days ago Adam had vanished, and there hadn't been any word from him anywhere. The ex-Blue Ranger was more than ready to come out of his skin.

Where in the universe did I send him? He refused to think about the possibility that wherever it was, it was a place humans couldn't survive in. The thought he might have accidentally murdered his friend sent chills down his spine. Bad ones.

He looked through every record he had available on what he'd been doing. There was nothing he could find that would in any way indicate how things had screwed up. Something had to be there, though, some clue, some inkling. But there wasn't.

Great. The genius slumped back into his chair and sighed. Now what do I do? Try and tell his parents that their son is halfway to who knows where? That just didn't feel right. There was a chance that Adam was alive somewhere, and just couldn't get to where he could communicate that fact.

He couldn't escape the guilt that was hanging over his head for this. He'd been so certain that nothing would go wrong. He wasn't even sure really what had gone wrong. It just had happened. I don't suppose I should be too surprised.

Billy looked down at the phone perched neatly on the table beside him and started to reach for it. At the least he could tell them some comfortable lie that would make sure they didn't worry any more than they already had. They hadn't called him up, so he was fairly sure Adam hadn't told them he was coming to visit his ex-teammate. Which means I don't have to say anything that'll conform to stuff they already know. As far as he could remember, Adam hadn't told his parents about the fact he used to be a Ranger. Only the Astro Rangers were world-famous, and they had bluntly stated that they weren't going to reveal who their predecessors had been, for the safety of said predecessors.

In the moment that his hand landed on the phone, it rang sharply. He stared at it briefly in that uncomprehending way so many of us have when we receive a call we weren't expecting, especially when we were about to make a call. He picked the phone up, wondering just who it was that could be calling him right now. With my luck it's his parents. "Hello?"

"Billy?"

The young genius felt his eyes bugging out of his head. "Adam?? Where in the universe are you??"

The answer was not really what he was expecting. "Tokyo, Japan. Odaiba to be precise."

Billy stared at the phone as if he wouldn't be all that surprised to find it starting to attack him rabidly. "You're where??" Adam repeated his location and Billy shook his head in shock. "The teleporter sent you across half the planet three days ago, to where you can't take five steps without turning over a cell phone and you just now get to calling me?"

"Well, actually I was teleported to Phaedos."

The ex-Ranger did a very surprised doubletake. "Phaedos?"

"Phaedos."

"And what did you do on Phaedos?"

"Met a girl. A Digimon, really."

Billy was almost certain he was hearing things. "You met a Digimon on Phaedos?"

"That's what I said, isn't it?"

"You met a Digimon on Phaedos?" Billy knew he had to be hearing things right now. "The most untechnological planet in the universe and you met a Digimon? A creature born from technology???" Billy paused for a moment. "Hey, did you mean met as in met or met as in I like this person and I'm going to date them?"

He was almost certain he could hear Adam grinning. "Option two."

"You're going to date...a Digimon..."

"I think I am. I haven't actually asked her yet but..." Billy could very definitely hear something special in Adam's voice. Whoever this Digimon was, it wasn't just some random creature.

"So, who is it? What is it? What happened? I want details, Adam, lots and lots of details...is it just me or am I channeling Kimberly?"

Adam chuckled quietly. "Kimberly? Is that you? Has Billy been playing with that thing of his that switched your brains?"

"Funny, Adam, funny." Billy rolled his eyes, not caring that his friend couldn't see him. "Remind me never to tell you stories of things that happened before you showed up again. Or at least to spread around certain embarrassing stories to certain Digimon you claim to like. Like a certain person currently once more going under the name of 'Sabrina'."

"So, let me tell you what's been going on over here." Adam had picked up a few tips on 'how to change the subject fast' from Rocky it seemed.

Billy paid strict attention as his friend filled him in with terse words and quick summaries of the events that had occurred since his unexpected jaunt across the cosmos. "Adam, you're kind of leaving the interesting parts out here, you know."

"I am calling long distance, you know, on someone else's phone number."

Billy frowned slightly. "Okay, I want the whole story, so I'm going to have to get to where you are to talk to you it seems. And I want to meet this new friend of yours."

"Hop the nearest flight to Tokyo then. I'd bring you myself but I'm a little exhausted right now. I haven't properly slept since I left you and I've had to help save the world, and I'm a bit out of practice."

"Bring me yourself?" Was there something that Adam had left out of his recitation?

Adam broke off a deep yawn. "Oh, that's right. I forgot to tell you. I got my Ninjetti powers back from Dulcea. It's the whole 'I can do anything' thing again. Or at least I can when I've had some sleep."

Billy did the mental calculations and frowned even more. "It's almost seven here, so it's ...almost eleven in the morning, tomorrow, for you, right?"

"Right. Trust me, I need some sleep. I've been through at least three time zones, or worse, in the last few days. I need a real bed and I'm going to get one. If you're coming, hop a flight and get here. I'll tell you everything as soon as I can."

"All right, all right. I'll see you as soon as I can. And if you leave out so much as one detail..." Billy's voice promised dire threats and retributions in return. Adam just laughed wearily. The exhaustion in his voice had become more and more prominent with every word he spoke.

"I know, I know. I'll see you when you get here."

Billy nodded, then something hit him. "Wait a second! You have the Ninjetti power, where we've been told time and time again that we can do 'anything' with it...and you didn't bother to contact me??"

Adam gulped audibly. "Um...I forgot?"

"You forgot." Billy delivered a glare of death towards the phone. "You forgot."

"Sorry?" Adam almost whispered, and Billy was fairly sure the reason his friend had forgotten wasn't because he was careless, but was because of that Digimon he'd met. "Well, I do have to go, Billy. You can ream me out later over it."

"Don't think I won't."

"All right. Bye." Adam hung up and Billy looked at his phone for a moment or two. He was used to processing vast amounts of information in nothing flat, but this was overloading even his brain. He hung up and leaned back, trying to get his mind wrapped around all the things that had just happened.

All right. Adam has met a Digimon. Adam is possibly dating a Digimon. That much he could grasp. He'd wanted to meet one of the digital creatures since he'd first heard about them, but hadn't ever had the chance. Until now.

Now he had a chance. Now his friend had met one first. Billy felt like strangling something but wasn't exactly certain just what offhand, or how. He wasn't romantically jealous of Adam, but he was definitely...well, he wasn't certain just what the appropriate term was, but he was jealous. Adam had gotten to one first. Angewomon, he said. I think I remember seeing that one on TV once or twice. Blonde, I think. He always liked blondes.

For a moment Billy simply let his mind digest everything that had went on. Then he grabbed his laptop and started searching for the fastest, cheapest, most quickly available flight to Tokyo possible.

"So what do we do now?" The question was asked by Taichi as the group assembled in the Yagami apartment late the next day. They'd gotten lucky; since Demon had started his periodic attacks, a lot of people in the area had moved out for the duration, letting the Chosen Children handle things, since they were the experts, and the only ones who could handle them. That meant there hadn't been any civilian casualties and the few injuries had been taken care of by those with first aid skills.

"Well, I need to look for an apartment." Adam had made the decision to stay here in Tokyo. No one who saw how he and Angewomon looked at each other could ever doubt why. No official statements had been made, but it was rather obvious in the quiet looks and occasional brushes of hands. "And a job."

"And we have to do something about Demon's army." Wizarmon said quietly. He had startled them all by being able to de-evolve back to his Adult stage, but none of them could say they missed his higher form. He was uninjured, if somewhat shaken by everything that had happened, and he and Angewomon had been quite busy catching up on things. "They scattered when he was defeated, but they'll try something else, I'm sure. That Blue Meramon was his real second in command."

Angewomon smiled faintly. "I don't think he's anything we can't handle, my friend. Will you be helping us?"

"If I can." Wizarmon looked down slightly. "I'd like to be able to."

"Then do it." Everyone looked up at the voice, whether they recognized it or not. Standing before them was a familiar brunette wearing a tan robe, with a sword belted to his side. "All anyone ever has needed to help is just the willingness to do it. And you have that, Wizarmon."

Hikari's eyes light up at the sight of him. "Gennai! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, just a few things that need doing." Gennai walked over to where Adam and Billy, who had arrived earlier that morning, were filling each other in on the things that had happened. "Welcome, chosen of Zordon." Gennai bowed politely. "It has been some time since I have spoken with any of your kind, and know that I grieved for his passing as much as any of you." He spoke first in Japanese, then shifted to flawless English to repeat what he had just said.

Billy looked rather startled. "You knew Zordon?"

"He made his own trips to the Digital World, in his own fashion." Gennai smiled faintly. "We were good friends. I am pleased to see that he chose so well with the two of you." His eyes flicked to Adam. "And you have fallen in love with Angewomon, it seems."

Adam stuttered and stammered, turning an amazing shade of red. He wasn't ashamed of his feelings, but to have them stated so blatantly was a bit on the shocking side. "I...um...well...yes."

"Good." Gennai nodded approvingly. "The two of you will be very good for each other. But there's someone you can do even more good for, though not quite in the same way."

As he provided a translation of what he was saying to those who didn't understand, everyone started to look at each other, wondering just what it was that he meant. Gennai smiled, then motioned to Wizarmon. "Though you have not felt it yet, the guilt and rage and grief for all that you have done as Demon's Phantomon is within you, awaiting a moment when your defenses are down to strike at you. You have your friends and your life experience to guide you, to let you know that what you did was not something you would have done willingly. But there is one thing you do not have that can help you. All need this, some more than others, and you are one of those who needs it more." Gennai intoned. "This is a gift, a reward, and a guide for the future all in one."

Wizarmon looked very confused, as did all the others. That confusion lasted only until Gennai reached out his hand flat, palm up. There was a flash of light, and seated neatly in the center of it was a D-3. It's main color was green, and where other D-3's were white, this one was black. He turned to Adam and offered it to him. "This is yours, Adam Park, Black Ninjetti, Chosen of the Frog."

Adam stared at it in shock, his eyes going from Gennai to the D-3 and back again. "What??"

"It's yours. You are an official Chosen." Gennai's eyes danced a bit. "Perhaps not a Chosen Child, since you are hardly a child, but if you intend to make any kind of relationship with Angewomon, you're going to need to be able to cross back and forth between the worlds, since she is a creature of the Digital World and you are a creature of this world."

Adam looked rather as if someone had hit him on the head with a very large board. "But wouldn't I need a partner? I mean, I thought---"

"What do you think I was talking to Wizarmon about?" Gennai rolled his eyes. "You might not be a child, but you do seem to miss things a great deal. You and Wizarmon are to be partners: if you both want it. This is something you must decide for yourselves. Being a Chosen and their partner is not something that is for lack of a better word...child's play. It can be very dangerous." Gennai's voice went quiet and firm. "It can even be fatal. So long as you live, your partner will return. But if you die somehow..."

There was silence in the room, and Wizarmon bowed his head in remembrance of the death he had caused. Adam thought over all the things he had seen and heard in the last few days. His eyes trailed over to Angewomon, who was looking back at him with a calm confidence that made him feel very strange inside. Wizarmon sat beside her, not looking at anything but the floor.

Adam made his decision. It's the only one I can make. It's what's right. Not just so I can be with Angewomon, but...Wizarmon needs someone. Someone to talk to. To help him. He didn't know if he was the best for the job, maybe Tommy or Katherine, with their long term experience in being evil, would be, but he did know that he was the one being offered the job. He reached out a hand and touched the D-3. "I'll do it."

As his fingers brushed the device, it burst into a brilliant spill of white light, filling the room with it's brilliance. Once it faded, Adam felt a part of him that he'd never even known was there in the first place was now awake and deliriously happy. He picked the D-3 up and looked at it for a moment. He knew he would never be fully complete unless he had it with him now, it and Wizarmon and Angewomon. This was his life now, and it was one he didn't mind one bit.

Wizarmon looked at him, and Adam was almost certain that his new...partner was smiling at him. A tired smile perhaps, but one all the same.

"And now that that has been completed," Gennai looked rather smug as he stepped back. "I have things that have to be done elsewhere. It's been wonderful meeting everyone, and I'll see you all again sometime."

With a flicker, he was gone, as if he had never been. But there was still the new D-3 in Adam's hand to prove that he had been. The newest of the Chosen smiled a bit, then looked at his partner. "I'm not really all that certain of just what is usual to do right now...but I know I'm starving. We still haven't had lunch, you know." After the battle, all of them had been more interested in cleanup and sleep to worry that much over food.

Yamato stood up quite gracefully. "I can deal with that." He headed on into the kitchen, his partner Gabumon following along and suggesting various dishes. Adam had gotten the idea that even though this was the Yagami apartment, the various friends were all close enough that they didn't have to ask to use some things.

"So." Adam looked over to see Daisuke looking at him. "You're in love with Angewomon?" The redhead grinned at him then tried to look blustery. With his near perpetual grin, that just didn't go over very well. "You're not a real Power Ranger, are you? If you guys are all that great, why didn't you help stop all the problems we had over here?" He started to list off a very long list of annoyances that Adam had never even heard of. He had an answer, though.

"Well, we were kind of busy fighting off Rita, Zedd, Master Vile, Ivan Ooze, the Machine Empire, Divatox, and a few others." Adam grinned back at him. "We're not that great, we can only handle a couple of major threats per continent."

Daisuke stared, awe written all over his face. "Oh." He reached down to pick up his own small partner, a blue bundle of adorability. "I'll bet you couldn't beat him! Show him the chocolate face, Chibimon!"

Chibimon turned to Adam with a look that would have probably melted the heart of Dark Spectre and turned him into a puddle of goo. Adam and Billy both stared in complete shock. How could anything be that...cute???

Daisuke grinned smugly. "Thought so."

Adam chuckled softly, then looked at Angewomon. "Chibimon might be the cutest thing around, but you are the most beautiful." The words slipped out of him without a moment's thought, and Angewomon blushed softly. Adam slipped a little closer to her, and smiled. "So...are you busy this weekend?"

"I don't think so." Angewomon smiled quietly at him. "I could show you around the Digital World, if you're interested. There's a lot to see there."

"I'd like that." Adam had never before in his life felt this complete. He could hear Billy, Koushirou, and Miyako getting into some kind of technical discussion behind him, and Wizarmon was watching him and Angewomon with an approving gleam to his eyes, and he could feel the power of Ninjetti filling him once again.

The Chosen of the Frog looked into the face of his beloved angel, and he knew that at long last, he was really home.

The End