"Where in the world... are we?" Uju groaned while rubbing his head. "And HOW?" He felt like he had fallen through the rabbit hole multiple times headfirst just for the funsies. 

"Good question," Gangsan agreed, getting up despite how exhausted she suddenly felt. Why?... "What WAS that?"

"Something... Unexpected," Daun moaned, still sprawled on the ground. His head hurt badly. "But to be exact... WHO was that?"

And that was the question of the day, yet Gangsan helped him up, getting her phone out to check what time it w-

She froze. "Daun, it was afternoon when we heard that boom right?"

"Yeah? What about it?" The other asked.

Gangsan slowly showed the two her phone, and Kongor nearly choked from Daun's shoulder. "What- We were in there for a WHOLE TWELVE HOURS?! The actual ****?!"

"I knew that the space time continuum has been acting weird but that's crazy!" Ludomon gaped as he materialized, surprising Uju. "A Digimon?!"

"Oh, hi, Uju! Sorry I didn't show before, didn't want to alarm you too badly!"

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?!" He yelped. "Who are you?!"

But Daun leaned in forward and adjusted his glasses. "Hey, Gangsan, the location on your phone, it says BF-0000. Isn't that a main timeline?"

"A what now?" Jalter blinked. He knew briefly of the specifics regarding multiverse theory (He swore he heard of Bad End AUs and Little Mistake that Changed Everything AUs? The second one confused him a lot.), but timelines? Yeah, that was more Setoni's style than his.

"Basically it's a foundation for a good amount of worlds," Gangsan explained while slipping her phone back into her pocket. "These worlds are much more fragile than the average cause they keep the time flow stable. Anything disrupts them, they fall apart. They don't become Forbidden Verses, they become Bad End worlds."

"Those worlds basically spell the end for happy endings, though, so we try to minimize to the best of our ability," Daun finished. "The fact that that figure teleported us all the way here is concerning, to say the least."

Uju nodded while Ludomon asked, "What IS the difference between Forbidden Verses and Bad End worlds? Isn't it better to be a Bad End world than a Forbidden Verse?"

He had seen Forbidden Verses. NOTHING could beat that, not even Bad End worlds... 

"No, not quite. Bad End worlds are ravaged by malice but can still be purified while Forbidden Verses are practically unlivable. Nothing you can do can purify it, for the most part," Daun explained. "Even then Bad End worlds almost always end up with ruined landscapes and evil winning. Here, the chances of getting a Forbidden Verse is actually a LOT higher. Wuliang's told me outside our multiverse, Forbidden Verses are next to nihil. Makes sense to be honest."

"Bad End Worlds in our multiverse in close proximity to each other is pretty bad too, because we live pretty close to a cluster of Bad End worlds so having them happen to a major timeline could cause more Forbidden Verses to form," Kongor added. "Basically leads to a countdown of sorts to destroying this multiverse. Domino effect and all that. Once Bad End Worlds go haywire, so do Forbidden Verses, and THAT is REALLY bad. Those things could breed more Surges, and that is never a good thing."

Uju's eyebrows raised. "Surges?"

"That... Is where we Fragmented Code Digimon came from; beings of pure negativity to the point past redemption. Pascatmon, she ruined worlds to make the perfect soldiers. Heck, Apophimon... Apophi was the progenitor of the Codes... and she all but KILLED him herself just to use him as a puppet..." Ludomon looked down.

"Hang on, Jalter. You're not making sense. Wasn't ACHEELMON the first?" Gangsan asked with a frown.

He hesitated, but closed his eyes. "That's not completely right... We'll have to explain it to you later. It's really complicated, trust me."

The two brothers shared a glance, but nodded. Alright, that would do.

Uju, on the other hand, was staring at him. "Wait, you're JALTERMON?! I... I thought your Rookie form would be an Agumon..." Tianheng's partners had all been Agumons, so surely...

"A lot of people assume..." He seemed to be avoiding his gaze now, tone growing cold from what he had said. Anger was beginning to bubble in him as he snarled, "You guys never even questioned where the data came from. We didn't even have any will during that situation. Your Digivices, they stripped us of freedom. We could only be free after we were taken down..."

His eyes widened. "I..." Sistermon Ciel had been the one to suggest the format, so Pascatmon, she had used them?

"DysMo, Nervosa and ShatteredHope were in agony too. I'm honestly surprised you didn't question at all, but I suppose getting high is enough to make you forget your morals," He snapped. There was an edge in his voice, tears threatening to break free. "And you JUST HAD TO FORCE THAT STUPID CANISTER OUT OF BOKOMON. Do you have any idea how much it hurt? Do you know the tears left behind, what you did to them!? I'm honestly glad Haneul and the others saved us, cause truth be told you're a traitor, uncaring for how others feel. Heck, your partner is only around as an obligation to your family, not you. You may not be Pascatmon "

Uju's posture stiffened at that. He and Asagao... They had questioned it, yes, but ultimately they ignored it cause it couldn't be.... They hadn't considered...

He... He had ****Ed up. He had...

Ludomon bit his lip, but looked away to look at the others. "Anyway, what kind of world is this?"

"This was... Wait, this is my birthday..." Gangsan gaped.

"14 May..." Daun whispered. "But why would the portal spit us out here? Does Whirnobog have anything to do with this?"

"I can picture it. Tzelohimon did mention that Broken World came from Pascatmon," She darkly said. "She helped Nanana Paruko ruin everything for my family. Heck, she's the reason they don't... Remember me, I... Think."

Solarmon whirred her gears, worried for Gangsan even though she felt guilt. Oh Dragod, she had messed up...

"Wait, it is?! Happy birthday, Gangsan!" Ludomon giggled as he leapt to hug her.

Gangsan laughed, patting him on the head. "Thanks! But we should probably find that figure we saw." And figure out why they felt so familiar... She added inwardly.

"Well, there's a hospital over there. Maybe we can head in and look around," Kongor suggested, gesturing to the towering building in front of them.

"Sounds like a good idea," Uju agreed, walking a bit faster as his mind raced. Was RobinHood only around... Was he only doing it for his grandparents? Sure, he had died, sure the Codes had overtaken him, but Uju, he didn't have the same excuse. He had WILLINGLY let the Codes overtake him, had plotted to get the programs from Bokomon by all but ruining someone mentally....! Even if he had been forgiven, his crimes, they... 

****, he had ****Ed up...

He wiped the tears away, willing himself to move so they didn't worry about him. He didn't deserve it, a traitorous *******, indeed...

Gangsan frowned, but looked up at the hospital. Cho-Tokyo General Hospital, the place where she and her twin, Mikado Yuga, had been born...

If only she knew why they had been brought along. Maybe, then, could they have avoided the domino effect... Of DESTRUCTION.

The main timeline has its own worlds, and in this case, the Medical Mayhem world stars Zirca Xenowave and Dakota Borealis, two doctors who work to maintain the balance between humans and other species, specifically Buddy Monsters.

However, the seventeenth world to be vi- no, INVADED by the Anomalice holds a secret close to the instigator's heart. Mikado Yuga yearns to discover what truly happened to him and his twin fourteen years ago that led to everyone in his world forgetting about Gangsan/Arata. But how does this tie into the words in the cave found by Wuliang and Winnie? What plan does Yuga have that could ruin it all for him? And... How does he even KNOW about it in the first place? All this comes together in the finale of the first arc... ANOMALICE: Mystical Anomaly Saga.

~~ June 14, 2045 ~~

To say he was nervous would be a lie.

Mikado Tasuku was pacing across the floor, face creased with worry. He knew that Kuguru would deliver the babies to the best of her ability. He trusted her enough for that, sure, but at the same time, twins when doing in vitro fertilisation wasn't all that common, and this was her first time giving birth. What if it went wrong? What if one of them didn't survive!? What if SHE didn't survive!? He would have to suffer the guilt for the rest of his life!

"I feel like he's about to burn a hole into the floor. Someone stop him before we actually have to call the fire department." Even with that joke, Noboru understood why he felt so nervous. This was probably very nerve-wracking for the Buddy Police commissioner. He was used to a lot of things, but having kids? That was a new plunge he and Gao were about to venture into. Despite their practice with Bal and Ashes, that didn't mean they were ready for their actual kids, and it showed as obviously as their crush on each other before their confessions. 

"Brat, please stop staring into space for the last time!" Batzz threw his hands into the air, but the champion Buddyfighter only gave a blank nod, even as those amber eyes stared ahead without any thoughts. Kids, kids, kids, oh, he was so nervous. He couldn't think anymore. Gone was his usual confidence; when it came to kids, when it came to raising them, his feet turned into jelly and his mind went blank. He didn't want the kids to feel lonely cause of his and Tasuku's jobs, but how would they make time for them!? AHHHH, questions, questions!

"I think we've lost them both," Bernard chuckled as he held Suzuha's dainty hands gently. The princess was excited for the birth of the twins as well. She had, after all, given name suggestions for them. Names everyone had liked right away.

Yuga and Arata, the perfect names for the two.

"I do hope they grow up happily, too," she spoke, smiling at her husband while Parker and Michelle nodded.

"We'll all be here to help you, too, so don't worry about it, Gao, Tasuku!" Yunbae said. Ayumi grinned too, holding her big stomach fondly. Gaito and Kanata's child was to be born soon, so at the very least the twins wouldn't be alone for long.

But when they got no reply, Drum snorted. "Gao has been lost."

"Tasuku, don't die internally on us right now," Jack said. He may have nudged him a bit less nicely than usual, but he had to snap him out of it. He could see the doctor emerging with Paruko.

"So? What's the verdict?" Tamamo cut right to the chase as everyone crowded around. It was not a small group, so the doctor was immediately intimidated by this, especially with Gao and Tasuku leading the charge, even if she was used to this procedure for every operation she and Dakota did. 

Gaito scoffed. "Fate has decreed that the kids will survive, do not doubt it for one second."

Kanata sweatdropped, but Kana looked at the woman in front of her. "Well?"

Zirca smiled at them, even as Dakota emerged from the operation room as well. He was wiping sweat off his brow, but he gave the group a thumbs up as Zirca announced, "We managed. Your kids are safe."

"YES!"

"Fate has pulled through!"

"Congrats, Gao, Tasuku!"

"We HAVE to see the babies! Like, right now!"

"You can't!" Paruko suddenly cut in, making everyone pause as they looked over. She flushed a bit, but said, "The babies are resting right now, so it wouldn't do to bother them during that rest."

"Ah, fair. So we should wait for now, I guess?" Baku asked, a bit anxious to see his wife.

"Pretty much, but she worked really hard, Omori-san. I'm sure you're proud of her," Zirca chuckled.

His eyes lit up. "Oh, am I ever."

"Well, make sure she gets enough rest before you guys decide to make your own kids," Dakota joked with a small smile. "You don't want her to get too exhausted."

Baku's face immediately flared up while the others burst out laughing. "T-That's...!"

"Thanks for helping Kuguru, though, Paruko. Really. Gao and Tasuku were in no state to get in there to help with the kids' birth considering how clumsy and braindead they are with these matters-" "HEY!" "-so you really saved them," Yunbae told her cousin, blatantly ignoring the blushes on her friends' cheeks. 

Paruko laughed. "Anything for my friends! I'll get going now, if that's okay, though. I need to get to work on my next article before things get too close to comfort to the deadline."

"Sure! See ya!"

But as she walked away, a sinister smile formed on her face.

Her hand slipped into her pocket, where an empty syringe lay. She had managed to knock them out with transquilisers while no one was looking, so they would be sleeping, alright.

Phase Two was now a go. Everything was going to plan. All she had to do was make things fall into place more, then...

Then the children were HERS to rear.

~~ Main BF world, Year 2059 ~~

They had never wanted to meet HER again. Truth be told, they could have gone years without contacting her.

But with Yuga missing and the revelation about what happened in his past with Ranma, what led him to become the Ace of Blackmail, they... they didn't think they had any other choice.

Rouga watched the two with a frown as he walked with them. Grey hallways and dim lighting made the atmosphere even bleaker, accurate considering the circumstances. "Look, I get things aren't the best, but is there something going on that I'm not aware of?"

"Rouga-senpai, it's... complicated..." Gao admitted quietly. "But we just learnt about something really disturbing, and the only one who can confirm it is... HER."

"Yeah, but she's crazy. You saw her when she was a Shoulder Demon. She was ANYTHING but sane..." Rouga shuddered. Stories from Team Demigod were enough to tell them how far Paruko had fallen to Whirnobog's influence, how insane she had gone.

And yet, she alone held the answers to this story. Plus, she still had to answer for her words after she was defeated, what she had said to Yuga to make him go quiet after defeating her during the Gemini arc.

"You'll always be a monster. One of my design, nay, one of FATE's design. You will NEVER, NEVER be a good person, just remember that! You and I, we both have pitch black hearts now, Yuga! You'll never escape the truth, just you wait and see!"

"Yuga doesn't talk about what happened before he met Garga, but we managed to dig up some old files after hearing what Ranma had to say, and... well... they're not the best," Tasuku added, showing Rouga some case files, who looked them over, eyes widening with every issue while Cerberus Ace went deathly pale. 

Threats of suing for blackmail, but they were never resolved, always retracted. Heck, they had found some supposedly lost files where Yuga had threatened people out of information, out of stuff that ruined their mental health. One of them happened to be the case Ranma had told Team Demigod, and hoo boy, it was brutal. The kid had ended up living his life in fear to the point of developing anxiety. 

They had no clue how their son had picked that up, but only one person came into mind; the woman who had pretended to be his mom when she was anything but.

They had questions, and she was going to answer to them no matter what.

Rouga looked at them, and smiled a bit. "Well, you guys definitely are really dedicated to your kid(s), huh?"

(Their heads pulse. What the...? Kids? PLURAL? Impossible, wrong, wrong wrong-)

"We are?" They blinked at him owlishly. Beside them, Batzz, Ashes and Jack all facepalmed while Cerberus Ace laughed. "Oh man, they're really dense."

"Exactly," the Danger World user agreed, but soon his lips thinned as they arrived at a grey door with jail bars. "We're here... Brace yourselves, guys..."

He hadn't liked Paruko from the start, and she had only proven it with what she had done later on.

Gao and Tasuku shared a worried look, but nodded as they walked to the door, their Buddies with them. Both reached out to grab the door knob, but stared at each other before Tasuku grabbed it and opened the door to reveal the one who had kidnapped Yuga all those years ago, smiling as sinisterly as she had as she walked away from the group during that time, part of her plan already completed.

Nanana Paruko smiled, the dim light making her light blue eyes glow all the more contrasting the grey walls. "Why, hello, Gao-chan, Tasuku-sama. Batzz, Jack, Ashes. Why would you look for me this fine morning?"

-- X --

"I've never visited the Buddyfight world much, so I've never seen this hospital before," Uju mused as he, Gangsan and Daun walked around.

"We've never really visited the Buddyfight world either. Mainly cause Gangsan-" Daun froze at the withering gaze his sibling was now shooting him. Right. Uju didn't know she was Yuga's twin, would probably be surprised by that too. (Were they really all that different?) Plus, that was NOT his story to tell! 

"Gangsan? Do you not like this world?" Uju asked in concern. His cousin rarely had any dislikes, heck, he didn't think she had it in her to NOT like anything.

"Well, it's just that the first world I visited was a Buddyfight world and it WAS pretty memorable," She admitted. (The realization hitting Gangsan back then. A twin, a brother never known.) "Plus, we're really busy and rarely visit the main worlds."

Uju frowned at that, but sighed. "Fair enough."

Daun looked at his sibling, worried about the sad look in her eyes. When thinking about what could have been, she normally got that glassy look. It really did hurt him seeing her like that...

But just as the three were about to turn a corner, a familiar voice yelled out in anger, "You... YOU TRICKED US!"

Uju gasped. "T-Tasuku-sshi!?"

The three immediately rushed to the end of the hallway, poking their heads out slightly to see him and Gao facing someone. Tasuku looked genuinely angry, red eyes alight with fury, while Gao had sorrow. Strangely, their Buddies weren't there...?

"You've been overtaken by Broken World..." Gao whispered, amber eyes staring at the person.

Gangsan froze. That pink hair, no, this couldn't be...!

Paruko simply chuckled, holding the crying babies in her arms as she said, "Honestly, Tasuku-sama, I'm hurt that you think so lowly of me even after all this time. Your eyes were ALWAYS on Gao-chan even though so many girls wanted you. Quite ironic how you chased after someone who proceeded to backstab you, huh?"

"He never backstabbed anyone! He was under Broken World's influence!" He argued heatedly. "Whirnobog, she only exacerbated the problems!"

She scoffed. "What an excuse. You really expect me to believe that after all this time? I was the one worthy to be your bride. And yet you two never noticed ONE BIT."

"Paruko, we can talk this out. Just... Don't hurt the babies. Please, they've just been born..." Gao begged. "If you want to get revenge on us, leave Yuga and Arata out of this..."

Paruko, she threw her head back and LAUGHED. "Don't make me laugh, is that the phrase Magnus Black would use? It applies here, really. You two really are blind as bats. You don't see what Broken World truly is. It is but an extension."

"An extension? What do you mean?!"

"Oh, all shall be answered, but for now..." She held her hand out, and her eyes glowed before the two slumped over, a dark blue mist emanating off them as the babies cried harder.

"Wait, babies?..." Uju gasped, hands reaching out, but Daun immediately pulled him back. "Daun, we should ask for answers! Who is that lady anyway!?"

"We can't interfere with the main timeline! Plus..." Daun looked at Gangsan, who had frozen over, golden eyes watching this scene even when she wanted to move, her entire body screaming to RUN RUN RUN NEVER LOOK BACK THIS ISN'T MEANT TO BE WATCHED!!! "Hyung..."

"Awww, don't worry, kids, you'll be okay with Mama," she cooed as she cradled the babies, but they only cried harder, causing her nose to wrinkle up. "Ugh, can kids even sense when their parents are nearby? It's like they have a psychic power or something..."

"As much as this is an amusing scene, I believe it's time to go to the final step of the plan," A voice spoke from behind her. 

Ludomon immediately stiffened while Uju's eyes narrowed darkly. "Pascatmon... What is she doing here...!?"

There she was, the lying ******* floating as Paruko turned around. "I'm glad you showed up. The babies have been secured."

"Good, good. You remember our deal, right?" The Digimon inquired, although Uju noticed that she had... glitches all over her. For a minute, he thought he saw... tentacles? coming out of her. 

Was she really some sort of eldritch terror underneath all that!?

"Yes. Work with Whirnobog and use Broken World to ruin more lives in exchange for having the twins as my children," she said with a twisted smile. 

Gangsan's eyes widened. Hang on, what?! She... She hadn't wanted to throw her out? She had... wanted to keep her too? 

Then why-?

Pascatmon chuckled as she opened up a portal. "Perfect. Well, I suppose I'll see you soon, Nanana Paruko. I look forward to your performance in the future."

"As do I, Pascatmon. As do I." 

But when she turned around to walk away, she nearly got hit by electricity. Batzz and Jack stood in front of her, eyes narrowed at her upon noticing the babies. 

"I don't know what the heck is going on here, but you're taking the brat's kids and I can't have that," Batzz growled at her. 

"Paruko, why are you doing this?" Jack was more reasonable, even holding his fellow dragon back from all but pummeling her. "And why is PASCATMON here?" 

Pascatmon cursed. This was not supposed to happen! "****! Deal with this, Paruko!"

"I will!" She struggled to grab a card, but her right arm let go of one of the kids, who knocked onto Pascatmon, causing her and the baby to fall into the portal. "****!"

"NO! NOT THE KID!" Jack screamed. 

"LADY, I'M RUINING YOU!" Batzz snarled, but with one hand now free, Paruko grabbed the card she had been looking for and held it out to them. "I cast, Mind Vacuum!" 

The two slumped, falling unconscious as red locks appeared over their and their Buddies bodies. (Never would they remember they had another kid. Not when the kid was no longer around.)

Paruko let out an exhale of relief, looking down at the relentlessly crying baby now in her arms with a smile. "Crisis averted for now. Well, I can work with this. Just erase the others' memories and it'll be alright. This was our agreement anyway. Also gets rid of all the witnesses at once, doesn't it...."

(The portal branches out, separating Pascatmon from the baby, who lands in the Ghost Game world, Korea... To be found by the DigiDestined that had opposed her will, Tak Beom and Yoo Young.

Red and blue hair, amber eyes like their brother, with the sole exception of a certain apple mark on them... They would become the person now watching this with Daun and Uju.

Tak Gangsan.)

"... Yuga?" 

The child wailed, but Paruko had a wicked, oh, what a wicked smile she had on her face as she took out yet another syringe. "Well, this ought to shut you up nicely, child."

"Wait, is that a transquiliser?..." Daun whispered. 

Ludomon had gone completely pale, though. The puzzle pieces were falling into place... Mona could only possess someone like her. That meant... Oh ****, this was bad. If this reflected the actual story in the main worlds... "Daun, Gangsan, I just... I think I've figured out who the Vessel is. We have to stop her!" 

"Wait, what are you talking abo-" Kongor's words died in his mouth upon seeing what happened next; 

That of Paruko inserting a familiar blue liquid into the baby in front of them, forming a familiar mark on his body. 

Uju's eyes widened. "What in the world is that?..."

Daun paled. "Ludomon, t-that can't be..."

"It is, it's--"

No one could have expected what happened. 

It came out of nowhere, that figure appearing behind Paruko and all but kicking her down to the floor, gently grabbing the baby beforehand as they set Pascatmon's egg on the counter. 

"W-What... Who are y-" She got her head kicked. Hard. 

"Shut up," The figure's voice was a mere whisper, but the sheer malice that came out of it, oh, it was horrifying... It sent shivers down every spine in the hallway as they squatted. Purple and blue eyes stared at her while the Vessel kicked her again. His voice raised in volume as he all but screamed, "Say another word and I ruin your pretty little head, you *****!"

But then they jolted, as Aesopia took back control. "Stop, this is wrong. You came here for the truth, you got it."

"Aesopia!" Gangsan snarled. She could no longer contain herself as she rushed out to face her. Daun was right behind her, and Uju was more hesitant, but nonetheless followed. He didn't get what was going on, but this was the one who had attacked them back in his world. What was she doing here and why was she covered by a hood?

"I see you enjoyed the show?" Yuga asked mildly. He didn't turn around, forcing Mona-san back in as he spoke, "You must have been shocked to learn what truly happened, didn't you? That Pascatmon had been the one behind Paruko. That you became an Anomalice all because of a simple accident. All because she-" He roughly kicked Paruko once more, making her scream in pain. The baby seemed to be sleeping peacefully despite that, and watching his past self like this, he couldn't help but smile sadly. If only the baby realised early on, if only HE had realised what this meant, that what she had been teaching him was wrong, maybe, maybe things would have been so, so different... "-was sooooo bitter at Mikado Gao and Ryuenji Tasuku for not noticing her. For wanting Ryuenji Tasuku to be her husband, but he never returned the feelings. She wanted to feel like she mattered, but she went down the wrong path for it."

He leaned forward, grabbing Paruko by her hair and lifting her up despite the height difference as he set the baby down on a nearby chair. "You really are a ***** through and through. You feel no remorse for the things you have done, do you?"

"I-I really didn't mean to-" she started, but his grip tightened as he roared, "YOU LIAR! YOUR EYES SHOW A DIFFERENT STORY, YOU PSYCHOPATH!" 

Without thinking, he threw her down to the ground, and there was a resounding crack of bones. Paruko screamed even more. Her back, oh **** her BACK hurt too much! 

Everyone gasped. What the heck!? This guy was way too brutal!

He leaned down to look at her, those bright blue eyes now wide with fear as he let out a feral grin. "I will make you wish you were never born. I will make you feel every piece of agony you made everyone around you feel, and... and I will ruin you. Bit. By. B-"

Yuga suddenly paused, feeling the barrel of a gun to his neck. "Huh. Didn't expect you to show up this early. Thought it would take you longer, Tai Wuliang."

"Drop the cloak," He said quietly, even as he felt the gun shake. "I know who you are, but I don't... I don't believe you can kill someone, not even your fake mother, in cold blood."

"And how well DO you know me?"

The shaking increased. "I don't know. I didn't put the dots together until Ranma-senpai told me about what happened when you were kids. It told me that Nanana Paruko's words got to you much more than you let on."

"Wait, Wuliang, what are you... what are you saying?" Gangsan stammered.

Winnie looked away. "You... may not like what you hear."

"What do you mean?!" her tone held desperation in them. "You're not making sense!"

"Gangsan-senpai... Centuriomon told me that in every multiverse-threatening event that had happened, I had always been at the center of it. But... it wasn't just me. Even the Keketmon crisis... I had been suffering as a baby in the OD." He hesitated. "And yet... and yet no one knew how... how Yuga-senpai got involved. Even Centuriomon had no idea how, all he knew was that he had been involved."

It was like cold water had been splashed onto her.

Daun paled. "Wuliang, Winnie, you... you can't be suggesting..."

Uju stammered, "B-But the ones who had been dealing with Keketmon had been us! T-There was no one else! He can't have been involved!"

"Believe me, I don't want to believe it as well. But it lined up a bit too perfectly. The writings, the prophecy, all were connected to this..." He closed his eyes, flinching as if it hurt him physically to say what was coming next. "The thing that sealed the deal for me, though... We found Ragnarökmon's egg. And it was in Yuga-senpai's room all along."

Daun gasped. Ludomon shook.

"It was... It still had the Codes in it..." Winnie added. "We managed to recover it, but it confirmed our fears. We don't know where Garga went off to, though. All we know is that Yuga is involved."

Gangsan, her knees felt weak. "No. No, no, no, Wuliang, please..."

"Heh, should have known that you would figure it out with so few clues. You really are a member of the SRS," Yuga chuckled while getting up, and down came the hood as amber eyes shone underneath the dim lighting.

Ludomon paled. So it was... So it really was true...! "Mona, why?..."

"Jalter, I'm sorry...." His eyes glowed slightly before they returned to their normal amber irises. 

"It wasn't a coincidence then," Wuliang said, tears pooling in his eyes while Yuga tilted his head, as if urging him to continue. His throat constricted. He... He didn't want to believe this, but... "Everything had been pointing towards a darker meaning, yet it flew right under our radars. Papa knew, and that's why he said what he had the day I had my fight against him. I should have realized when Paruko said that you were a monster."

"Well, I think you can see what she meant for yourself now!" Yuga laughed, ripping part of the cloak aside to show-

Ludomon shook. Daun covered his mouth. Kongor paled. Winnie looked ready to puke. Wuliang's tears were falling down freely now. Uju froze. How had this...!?

Gangsan couldn't, she...

"What did you mean back then, when you called Yuga a monster?!" Tasuku's grip on Paruko's collar had tightened so hard. "And you better tell us straight or so help me-"

She let out a laugh, and those light blue eyes looked back at him as she smiled sinisterly. "There's no more reason to hide."

The Codes of Hubris and Melancholy were now embedded in her irises.

Tasuku backed away, shock riveting through his body as Gao shot up. "What the-"

"Have you ever wondered who exposed me to Broken World in the first place?" She all but purred, the *******. "You knew that Pascatmon created Whirnobog, but you never truly put the dots together, did you?"

"W-What are you saying, lady?" Batzz looked downright terrified, as realization dawned onto him.

Ashes paled.

Paruko's lips curled up.

[Centuriomon shoots up, eyes wide. No. No. NO!

He had thought that Yuga was a Rightfater...! How could this have...?]

Marks. Of the worlds visited so far, of ALL the worlds. Wuliang had done a bit of research before coming to this world, so he knew the logos of each fandom by heart...

The Ghost Game logo...

The Mao Mao logo...

The Bakugan Battle Planet logo...

The Nexomon logo...

The Tales of Ladybug and Chat Noir logo...

The Owl House logo...

The Digimon logo...

The Monster Farm logo...

The Appmon logo...

The Servamp logo...

The Legend of Zelda logo...

And... and the Youkai Watch logo... the one that started it all.

All glowing across his arms and legs.

But what truly stood out?

It was the broken heart crown on his left cheek, shining dark blue.

The same mark found in the cave where the Anomalice had been sealed beforehand.

"You... you had been the one to... You're the one who... You had been the one to release us back then..." Jaltermon whispered. Words failed him at that moment, unable to speak as it hit him like bricks. 

"A price to pay, to find out the truth that she refused to show herself. Pascatmon played me thoroughly, I admit, but it was worth it. That means that I can now end the life of the one person who ruined it all for my family. For my dads... and for Mikado Arata, or rather... Tak Gangsan." Yuga smiled.

Uju froze. Wait. 

Mikado Arata? Didn't that mean the baby who fell into the portal had been...?!

His... his cousin was Yuga's twi-

It happened way too fast. The gun was suddenly grabbed and-

"TAKOCHU!"

BANG!

Blood flew. Shouts were heard.

But Yuga, he... he seemed unbothered despite the blood smeared on his face. In fact, a smile curled his lips upwards.

The worlds, the Creator Gods wanted a monster? 

Well, they got one in the form of those they've forsaken.

Mona couldn't, she- "YUGA, WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"I'm sorry for lying to you. I should have been frank that from the start, I wasn't going to let Nanana Paruko live," he answered simply. "And to be honest, good riddance to a *****. She was never even a parent. Told me once that in order to get a good scoop, you gotta keep all cards to your chest. Destroy all those who go against you. She ruined me, made me into who I am today to the point even my own friends fear me. Funny how that principle worked against her, huh? And you're no exception to this... Solarmon."

Everyone's heads snapped over to the terrified Digimon.

She... she had been exposed... in that one split second, she had told the world who she had been in the past. 

(The baby was not the only one who arrived at the Ghost Game world. Pascatmon sheds her vessel with the Codes, and with one command, the Buddy Monster from Hero World became a golden gear of "no emotions", landing near the same house. 

She would spend her time there until one day, when the child finds the belt, and it would expose her to them just as they are teleported to another world.)

"It was my very own partner... Takosuke. But after we got Yuga, after Batzz and Jack interfered and made Arata fall into the portal, she had Apophimon change her into a new form... that of a golden gear."

That...!

There was only ONE mon who fit that description.

"No... no! You're saying that... that Gangsan's partner, that SOLARMON..."

"Used to be Takosuke? Yep! Pretty much! And you know what makes it even better?" She grinned.

The lights chose that moment to die.

And those blue eyes glowed in the darkness as she giggled, "You were there. You tried to stop me, but you just up and forgot! Up and forgot about the entire incident! It's almost laughable how forgettable your children are to you! Heck, Batzz and Jack were the ones who led you to lose your other child!"

They froze.

C...

Did she say...

Children?...

"I didn't realize it myself, honestly. It was Apophimon who helped me understand when he told me that he had infected a Buddy Monster, a rare case, even, to make them a Digimon. As much as I believe that you're innocent... I find it unfair that no one knows your crimes when I'm being exposed, don't you think?" Yuga asked lightly.

"Solar, you... he's not..." Gangsan looked so lost, so broken...

Solarmon gulped. Looked down.

But all she could say confirmed their suspicions.

"Tako... chu..."

Gangsan shook. No, NO! How could everything become such a nightmare?!

"Yuga, you have to stop! This isn't-"

"Aesopia, with all due respect, shut the **** up. I don't want to hear your words about morality when you all but sent the entire Ghost Game DigiDestined group to the hospital and took over Centuriomon. Seriously, don't be a hypocrite." He looked a bit disgusted as he said that. 

"HEY! DON'T TELL MONA TO SHUT UP!" Ludomon snarled.

"And why shouldn't I? She all but hijacked my body without my consent. I think some retribution is in order." He was STILL holding the gun, and he even aimed it at the dead body again as he used up some more bullets. More blood splattered all over the place. "Ahhh, sweet revenge. Hmmmmm, maybe..."

He then shifted the gun's focus almost lazily at Solarmon, who froze. "Maybe I'll kill YOU to make a point. I don't give a **** about what sob story you may have cause of Pascatmon. Your actions RUINED a family."

"Yuga-senpai, we can't let that happen. If you're to insist..." Wuliang got his deck out. "We may as well Buddyfight for it."

The other looked over at him, and stared at the core deck case...

He... he looked down, and for a minute Wuliang dared to hope, that he was fighting back against the Codes, that things would go... back to normal somewhat...

But then a smirk graced his lips. A crazed one as the Codes subsided just a bit, just a bit, and he looked at his (former) comrade. "Sorry, Helios Black. You and the SRS won't interfere this time."

"Wha- AH!" Winnie screamed, stumbling while her Mark glowed powerfully.

"Aunt Winnie!"

"Gangsan!" Daun and Uju immediately rushed to the genderfluid's side as they shook. It hurt, it hurt, it HURT!!!

Solarmon was writhing in agony too, not that anyone was taking notice...

But...

".... Huh?" There was... confusion in Mona's tone. "What in the... You said he had the mark, right, Yuga?"

"He and Tak Daun, but... how is this possible?" Yuga whispered. "I knew the Codes could be purged through rebirth, but..."

He shook his head. "Let's not think about that. We have one more thing to do. Not that it'll change anything."

He turned over to look at the egg that had been sitting on the hospital table, aiming the gun once more...

A cruel smirk, so unlike (or did it actually match?) Yuga, formed.

"BANG."

Digital blood splattered on the walls. Another horrified yell from Kongor as garnets scattered across the floor.

Wuliang's eyes widened. "Yuga-senpai..."

What in the... Was he truly...?

"Enough."

And just like that, they were out of that hospital and in the garden.

"Sure took you a while, didn't it, oh great Space Time Keeper?" he mocked with a smirk. "Aren't you happy that you can finally get rid of all the thorns on your side?"

"What I think doesn't matter," Centuriomon scowled. "But what you're doing is wrong on so many accounts."

"Oh really? So your father being a crazed time stealer, your mother being a runaway goddess, your own godfather killing your father's partner... You can accept that, but treat others who try to do the right thing like they're Pascatmon?" He laughed maniacally. "Wow! So this entire multiverse is nothing but a system of ingroup and outgroup! Do I fall in the category of the outgroup then, Centuriomon? Is that why you hated me and Wuliang before?"

"They didn't threaten the balance of the worlds like you are right now! You've gone all but insane, Yuga! Whatever you're trying to prove, it doesn't matter!"

"Doesn't matter? So you're saying that nothing I do matters, basically? Oh, don't I agree with that!" The... The tone he used...

Centuriomon, he couldn't believe this was the same teasing but caring Mikado Yuga, who he had... Who he had started to see as a friend...

In fact, those amber eyes shone brilliantly as he held out his hand. "So if nothing matters... Why bother with morals in the first place?"

The moment he snapped those fingers, it was like a shockwave. Pulses could be felt throughout the worlds. The very same pulses that Areum and her new friends could feel in the Burning Ocean Digiverse. The very same pulses that made the rest of the Dimension Keepers shoot up, eyes wide. 

No... 

The... countdown has begun...

"Goodbyyyee, Gao-chan, Tasuku-sama~" Paruko giggled. "I've ruined every part of your family now~ I've taken your twins away, and now... Now the real show begins."

Then....

Blood. Crystals sprung up from her body, making her slump as the blood splattered all over the room.

Screams echoed in the Buddy Police prison before going deadly silent while Gao and Tasuku shared a shaky glance.

"I... I didn't hear wrong, did I, Suku?..." Gao whispered.

"I... Did she say... Twins?" Tasuku was JUST as pale.

The words emanated through both of them, like voices of mockery.

This was, it was, they couldn't-

TWINS? They had TWINS?

Their heads hurt. The memories shimmered, trying to break free from the binds, but...

(Would they ever...?)

Bodies, Yuga could feel it.

And it made his smirk wider. "And they're gone. All those Shoulder Demons, and Whirnobog... All of them are gone. It's finally over, they're..."

"You... You monster!" Centuriomon roared. "You would kill people to...!"

"Kill people who deserved it, you mean." He got out another Darkness Dragon World card, calling it out as he aimed Demios' sword at Centuriomon. "You know, being a Space Time Keeper must suck a lot. No time for yourself, no breaks. You tell yourself that it's for the greater good, but aren't there times when you wished you didn't have to suffer like this?"

He froze. He... He had considered it but... He had always told himself that it was for Milady, he would do anything for her, banishing those thoughts to the Netherrealm of his mind. 

Sadly, those words pulled those thoughts, those feelings back out into the open...

"And what did Mei-sempai get from being a Creator God? The previous one let her grandma die, she loses everything that made her who she was. Why uphold this stupid system in the first place?"

He swung his sword at him, but Wuliang countered with his taser as he made the weapon disperse. "STOP! This isn't how you do it!"

"Oh, really? Then I must admit, you and your Papa really do share similarities." His words made Wuliang freeze. "Oh, come on, don't freeze up on me. Stop letting the worlds run all over you like a doormat! Stand up and fight. They will NEVER give a **** about you and me. Heck, I'm sure that once this is over, we're all going to die. Every single one of us is nothing but a speck of insignificance in the world." He flicked his index finger to the side to demonstrate his point, eyes flickering to the sides. Was he... Was he questioning his decision as well? "So really, no turning back. This multiverse actually sucks. You got attached to it for the wrong reasons, and you're suffering for it. Can't say no to your own partner huh?"

"We both agreed to come here! Don't make it sound like he won't speak up and have his own opinions!" Glasssweeper hissed while lunging at him, but Yuga dodged and kicked him away. "And you don't get mercy for what you were made to do, don't you? Even if you're a Biome World monster now, people can still see you as Mindsweeper, as who you were before. No one, and I repeat, no one will ever see us in a positive light. Do you think the Mystic Detectives will like it when they learn that I turned on them? Do you think Anomalice will ever be seen as anything but bugs to the system? You believe that all these roles have meaning? Ha! They don't, all they do is bring pain and suffering and sorrow. And for what? To teach lessons? Did it really have to go this way?"

(In another world, a Forbidden Verse, five humans face off against one of their own to save her from being turned into its fuel.

Solisamon, pushing herself too much to the point she ruins herself, all to uphold what she believes is expected of her... )

"Although don't worry, I'm sure they'll be kind to everyone else! They're all Rightfaters after all, those who are meant to be!" His tone sounded so light, so... so sinister, even when his eyes said a different story. "But us? Oh, don't even think about fooling yourselves into thinking that you would matter to them. As soon as they learn the truth about everything... They'll turn on you. They'll throw you out. And at the end of the day... There's nothing worth fighting for anymore."

(He came into this knowing the consequences. That ruining himself would affect Mitsuko and everyone else.

But why would it matter? The him who had eventually had Mitsuko and her siblings as his descendants hadn't known about his past, hadn't learnt the truth. Plus, Bal and Azi Dahaka would still be freed. One way or another. Fate would clear the skies for them.

His fate was sealed the moment Paruko inserted those Codes into him. He would die a painful death, never to be remembered again. To be seen as a traitor while the "good" live on, uncaring of the consequences.

Even... Even Ranma would hate him, wouldn't he...?)

"Even Ranma... He was scared of me when he first saw me blackmail someone." His tone was softer now. "So he would be better off with someone else. Someone who wouldn't be a ticking time bomb."

A... a ticking time bomb?

Centuriomon wondered just how long he had felt this way. Watching him from afar, did it really compare to knowing how he felt face to face?

Wuliang then laughed a bit, confusing him, but Yuga called out another sword. "I equip, Blade of Lament, Sadgrieve!"

Another sign! He simply equipped Riptide, rushing at him out of nowhere. Yuga barely parried, but Wuliang had suddenly become relentless, swinging the demigod's sword back and forth as he said, "And that makes you a bad person how?"

"W-What do you mean by that!?" he gaped at him, barely keeping up with the speed. Had he gone insane?! His battling speed seemed to reflect that too! Blades clashed, a journalist versus a trained warrior, and the power difference showed hard as Wuliang kept on jabbing, nearly getting him a few times even. He had really forgotten that he had trained to fight since he was young. 

Still, he held his own through equipping another sword, twisting them to block his attacks. 

Even Centuriomon was staring in stunned silence. He had all but cursed this multiverse and Wuliang was laughing?!

"Sure, you've done bad things. My Uncle Duri has always told me that one's actions may not define their true self, and that rings true for everyone the team had fought! Heck, Aunt Winnie can tell you that!"

Winnie couldn't help but chuckle herself. She got what he was talking about now. "He's not wrong. I was literally... I grew up as a weapon, my own 'mother' taught me to just kill others, but then I was saved. It... It doesn't wipe the blood off my hands."

Emeruda nodded quietly. It definitely didn't. "But we work hard to ensure that those lives are remembered, and we carry on."

Centuriomon froze. Pendulum suddenly felt so heavy in his hands as he considered what they had said. Sure, Yuga had been a gremlin, but hadn't he always tried to ensure the worlds' safety?

"Plus, you know my backstory," Glasssweeper said, flopping forward to face him too. "As you said, some people may always see me as Whirnobog's puppet, but I've long broken out of it. Destiny isn't set in stone, Yuga."

"And that goes for you too, Aesopia, no, Mona, right?" Kongor joined in. "We don't know you like we know this kid, but..."

"Mona, you've never been weak. Even when things went hard, even when Pascatmon killed you and made you her puppet... You still tried to find a way to save us. You have a heart of gold and I would rather die than let Pascatmon destroy you this way," Ludomon pleaded. "You can fight. Both of you can."

"Past sins or not, there are a lot of people in the world who've managed to turn from their mistakes and become better. Heck, you know about DP-Leviathan. Why can't you see that you can do the same?" Daun agreed.

"You're not as weak or strong as you think, I suppose," Uju quoted a song he had heard once. "I've only known you for half a year, but one thing I've noticed is that despite the hardships, you've never been the kind to give up. You've fought your hardest, and I notice that you really look up to Mei. You care for her a lot because you feel like she gets you, right?"

"It's that very same Hoshi that... that chose to take up the mantle. She didn't have to, and yet, why do you think she did?" Centuriomon spoke up, making Yuga pause. HIs concentration was lost, and Wuliang dispelled the sword with a smile. They had gotten through, it seemed. 

Wait... wait what?

"She... she didn't have to?" Yuga stammered, eyes wide as he looked at Centuriomon. Surprise was written all over his face, genuinely taken aback by that information.

That and it was Centuriomon, the guy who hated his guts, who was telling me this.

"Don't assume stuff, idiot." Wuliang had to fight back a grin, which Centuriomon shot him a glare for. As one can guess, the younger simply whistled. He rolled his eyes, but turned back to Yuga and said, "You caused trouble. I don't agree with what you do. That's the truth, but it doesn't mean I hate you."

"That... is a really strong word," Gangsan managed finally, looking at her... her twin.

They looked similar to hers, but... right now, all she could see were fractured orbs. Pleading for help.

Just what had Paruko done to him?

She... She didn't know, but she held her hand out to him. "You can be better. You just need to believe in it, as you always have. You and Mona Artemision both."

Their eyes widened.

And it was like Mona and Yuga were staring at each other as they stood in a cage. One Pascatmon built as voices screamed at them.

"You don't deserve forgiveness!"

"After what you had done!? Who would take you back!?"

"Just submit to Pascatmon for your just desserts!"

Veins began spreading all over his body, making the soul and the human scream in pain as Pascatmon's voice pounded into them. "YOU'RE NOT GETTING AWAY FROM ME! YOU BELONG TO ME!"

And yet, as the purple and amber eyes opened up, nothing but sheer determination could be seen.

No, this is... this is...

THIS IS THEIR CHOICE!

"WE!"

"WE CHOOSE TO SAY NO THANK YOU!"

Pascatmon jerked back, screaming as if the words tore at her very Digicore. No no no no! 

"**** YOU PASCATMON, GO TO ****!"

"SHUT UP! YOU ARE MI-" She gripped her head, pain filling her entire body. NO NO NO NO NOOOOOO!!!!!!!

"NO, YOU SHOULD SHUT THE **** UP AND LEAVE!

"US!"

"ALONE!" They both screamed, as Pascatmon felt everything tear at her. The bonds she had tethered to her, they were...! They were breaking apart! 

"I WILL RUIN YOU! I WILL MAKE YOU PAY FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID! MARK MY WORDS, MIKADO YUGA, MONA ARTEMISION! NO ONE WILL FORGIVE YOU! YOU WILL BE FORCED TO CARRY THE BURDENS OF YOUR ACTIONS FOR ETERNITYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!"

A huge blast of energy dispelled itself from him, making him fall to the ground, panting as the symbols on his body became scars, the veins receding into the mark. 

[Hiuliyoull watches in awe as the final gem fixes itself, soon clear up but not shining. They had... they had pushed the Codes back... 

Of course, she knows that there still remains acceptance, but she feels like it is possible with them. 

If anything, the Anomalice, maybe Borrowed Actors, have proven capable of stuff beyond one's imagination.]

{Castarismon smiles. At least he was saved... At least... she could get her revenge on him someday for defeating her Pichu...}

When Yuga looked up, relieved purple and amber looked back at them. He had... He had done it. Somehow, he had... 

Ludomon immediately tackled him. "Mona! You... You did it!"

"I-I did..." Mona smiled as she hugged back.

But then Centuriomon gently moved him to the side, and Yuga stiffened, expecting another hit of Pendulum, expecting glares and yells for what he had done...

Only for the other to suddenly hug him.

"Yuga... I... I'm sorry if I gave you the impression I..." He whispered. "It's just... Duties and all that."

Milady had once suggested he befriend the two, and back then, he had been against it. Befriend a sadistic journalist and a teasing interloper? No way! That was crazy! 

And yet... and yet...

"I... I'm willing to give it a shot," he said, throat clogging up. "F-F-Friendship. But only if you... only if you want to."

"I... Nah, pal, it's nothing much," Yuga reassured him with a soft smile, even as his eyes watered. "I'm sorry for... For not realising the truth and assuming too much."

He only hugged him tightly. No words could describe how he felt right now. Maybe, relief. Simply, relief.

Everyone shared a smile as the other Dimension Keepers showed up, with Onyx yelling at Yuga for making Winnie hurt before hugging him for being an idiot.

Sure, it was nice, but it was Tsuchiyume who brought up the question. "Wait, where is Solarmon?"

"Good question..." Gangsan frowned, and Daun quietly held his shoulder with Uju. "I... hope that we can find her later on. I want to talk to her about this."

"I'm sure she'll be fine, Gangsan. We just need to give her time to figure things out, then she'll come back." Uju smiled. "I just feel like that's the truth." 

Watching from afar, Solarmon closed her eyes. No longer was she held back by the Codes, so she could now... 

She could now owe up to her mistakes.

And so, she wandered off to find a stray portal. Gao and Tasuku, they deserved to know the truth about what happened fourteen years ago.

She did not realise her body was glowing, unlocking a new route of evolution as she ended up... elsewhere. 

"Yeah, well, we do have another issue to address," Centuriomon said as he turned to the (now former) villain.

At that, he inhaled. "Sure, shoot away."

"How did you get involved with the Keketmon crisis? I felt you were involved somehow, but..."

"Well..." He sighed. "Pascatmon, she..."

~~ JAN 2oxX, Keketmon Crisis ~~

"H-Huh?"

When he opened his eyes, he nearly jumped upon seeing a 3D freeze frame of his parents and their Buddies, eyes alight with bliss as they rocked two toddlers back and forth. They looked eerily similar to him and... and that cousin of Uju-sempai's, Gangsan, wasn't it? The one who had helped Haneul-sempai find out the truth about Perfectio?

"Where am I, and why... why is this being shown to me?" he asked himself quietly. 

"Because you deserve to know the truth before you get wiped out, at the very least!"

He jumped, reflexes kicking in as he turned around to face someone he had briefly seen beforehand. "Pascatmon!?" What was she doing here!?

She sniffed, looking away as she said, "How rude! I saved you from being erased and this is the thanks I get!"

"Saved me?! What do you mean, saved me?!" he demanded. "I don't--"

"The multiverse is falling apart because of Solisamon." Her face went blank, showing images of what had happened to him. Of them being taken over by the virus, of it being absorbed by Solisamon, then of her losing parts of her that led Team Lirurun to kill her counterparts before it showed her other evolutions... "And I'm not kidding. There was a remnant of the L virus that infected her and it then unlocked more evolutions to the point the one designated the Destroyer by Pangu, Keketmon, was unleashed to the world."

His eyes widened. "B-But the SRS-"

"-can't do anything either. This multiverse exerts its effects thoroughly. Everyone suffers, everyone is erased all because of that one strain. Imagine, losing yourself all because of the supposed 'hero'." She walked closer to him. He took a step back, suspicious of her. "Oh, come on, now, I'm just here to make you a deal."

"A... deal?" he repeated slowly. 

"Simple, really! I can help you restore everything! I know for sure that child will come through and 'save' everything," she said, doing air quotes. "She IS the hero after all, meant to save everyone. But I think that there is a better way to go about it."

"Why would I trust you? You tried to kill Haneul-sempai and caused pain to people I know," he asked. 

"Simple. Because, as you have seen, you have a twin. And I can show you how to find out what Paruko did to your twin to cause you two to grow up in different worlds," she offered. 

"As if that's going to convince me," he scoffed. "You have no evidence and proof of it. No one ever mentioned that I had a twin, so I doubt it's true." 

"Oh, but you have suspected for some time, haven't you? After all, why else would Haru be kidnapped?" Pascatmon smirked. 

Yuga froze. He... he HAD questioned it. He HAD wondered why Haru had been kidnapped, and although he had chalked it up to his similarities with his aunt, something had nagged at him, claiming that was not the case. 

But a twin? "Why does no one remember then?"

"Because fate can be so, so cruel. And unfortunately, that's all I know, so you'll have to figure out the specifics later. Although I'm pretty sure you'll be made to forget by that Nirvanamon." Pascatmon looked at him. "She would never want you to know the truth about your heritage. She could take this as an opportunity to erase you from existence and no one will be the wiser, don't you think? After all, your fathers matter more than you. I'm sure people can easily erase you and make it so that you never existed in the first place."

His eyes widened. He... He knew that he shouldn't believe Pascatmon, and yet... and yet it felt so believable. 

Was he... willing to enter the lion's den to find out the truth?

Pascatmon's head then tilted slightly as she felt something. "Well, it's almost time for the reset, so make your choice now, Yuga!~"

He bit his lip, but decided. I have nothing else to lose.

Looking up, Mikado Yuga met Pascatmon's eyes and said, "Fine, you have a deal."

Pascatmon's grin then turned into a Grinch smile. "Excellent."

And as the scenery faded into black, the two shook hands. 

The mark on his body glowed-

And he was back in the park, in the middle of a Buddyfight. 

"Hey, Yuga, it's your turn!" Jane called out. "Don't space out on us!" 

"R-Right!" he put on a shaky smile as he called out Garcat and Gardog, but his mind now had one command set months later. 

"Release the Anomalice from the seal..." He thought to himself in his head. 

And indeed he did when the portal opened up in front of him that summer day, walking up to the huge cave with a smile on his face as he headed for the symbol on the wall. 

"No turning back, Yuga," he told himself. "After this..."

No more article reading and RanGa stuff with Ranma and the Awesome Brawlers. 

No more Buddyfighting. 

No more family and...

No more Garga. 

His hand reached out. 

He had caused enough damage. At least... let him fix what he had done. 

A bright blue glow. Digital webs broke away as blue balls of lights ran away. 

And so it is done. 

~~ A N O M A L I C E~~

mYsTiCaL aNoMaLy aRc, COMPLETE

"She... She's safe now?" Setonimon asked, hope clear in his tone as he looked at Arturomon. 

Arturomon chuckled. "It's hard not to feel it, Setonimon."

"Yes! We finally... She's finally saved," NegaLeomon said. 

"Indeed she is." Marduk smiled. "For now, though, it's time to go. We... have work to do."

A person then showed up at their doorstep.

Kirameki Sasuga leaned on the door, carrying Rag's egg with him. "Looks like things are getting crazy, so... time to lay low."

Schizomon sighed. "Let's go."

Nervosamon and ReceLeomon shared a glance but nodded as they disappeared.

And should Ranma or Yuga/Mona return to that shack, he would find... nothing.

Not that the Creator Gods would allow him that chance, of course.

Because the Ragnarok tournament would take place the month after.

next time,

~~ travelling malice arc ~~

in which bonds are formed, friends are reunited and the countdown goes on and (maybe) reaches its climax