Let's reach 250 Power Stones for an extra chapter
***
I stroll to Washington Square Park, the designated hangout spot. The familiar arch looms ahead, a meeting point for artists, students, and tourists alike. The fountain gurgles merrily, a sound oddly comforting in the midst of the city's constant hum.
Gwen is already there, perched on the edge of the fountain, sketching in a notebook. She smiles when she sees me, a flash of brightness that makes the world a little less bleak.
"Hey, Ethan! Glad you could make it."
"Wouldn't miss it," I reply, flashing a grin. "Where's Peter?"
Gwen sighs, tucking a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. "He's working. Part-time gig at some photography studio. You know how he is, always hustling."
I nod, picturing Peter snapping photos, trying to make a few bucks. "Yeah, that's Peter."
We start walking, heading aimlessly through the Village. The air is thick with the scent of street food and something vaguely floral. It's a quintessential New York day, a blend of grit and charm that somehow works.
"So, how's life been?" Gwen asks, her eyes scanning the passing crowds.
"You know, same old, same old," I shrug, trying to keep my voice light. "Digimon, villains, saving the world... the usual."
Okay, I didn't say that last part. I just mumbled something about things being busy. No need to drag her into the crazy world of Digimon.
"I heard Midtown's almost done with the repairs," Gwen says, changing the subject. "We'll be back in school soon."
"Seriously?" I reply, pretending to be excited. "Wow, time flies." I didn't like being in school, but if Gwen and Peter were going to be there, I had to.
"Yeah, it'll be nice to get back to normal, right?" She smiles softly. "Though, I still can't believe all that happened... Stane and that monster... it was so scary."
I nod, remembering the chaos. "Tell me about it. I'm just glad everyone's okay." Well, not everyone. Jessica's still in the hospital.
Gwen's expression turns somber. "Speaking of which... I'm so sorry about Jessica. It's awful what happened."
"Thanks, Gwen," I say quietly, my throat tightening. "Yeah, it sucks."
We walk in silence for a few moments, the weight of Jessica's condition hanging heavy in the air. I'm still trying to process it, the unfairness of it all.
"So," Gwen says, after a beat, "how's everything going with Oscorp?"
I perk up a little, grateful for the change of subject. "Oh, it's great! I'm learning so much from Dr. Connors. He's brilliant, you know?"
"Yeah, I've heard good things," I reply. "What exactly are you doing there?"
"I'm his assistant," she explains, her eyes lighting up. "Mostly lab work, running errands, organizing stuff... but I'm also getting to help with some really cool research. He's working on limb regeneration, you know, trying to help people who've lost limbs."
"That's awesome, Gwen," I say, genuinely impressed. "You're going to change the world."
She laughs, a light, airy sound. "Maybe someday. For now, I'm just trying to keep up. And guess what?"
"What?"
"Dr. Connors mentioned that Midtown will be doing a field trip to Oscorp soon. I'm so excited. I can show you and Peter around the lab."
I nod. "That'll be fun. I will be sure to go."
"I can't wait," Gwen says.
We stop at a small Italian place, lured in by the aroma of garlic and oregano. We order a couple of slices of pizza and find a spot at a sidewalk table.
"This is nice," Gwen says, taking a bite of her pizza. "We should do this more often."
"Definitely," I agree, savoring the cheesy goodness. "Maybe next time Peter can join us."
We continue our walk, munching on our pizza, when a police cruiser rolls to a stop beside us, its tires crunching on the asphalt. Two officers peer out, their expressions shifting from professional to friendly when they spot Gwen.
"Hey, Gwen! How's it going?"
"Officer Murphy, Officer Davies," she greets them with a warm smile. "Everything's good. Just hanging out with a friend."
The officers turn their attention to me, their eyes narrowing with mock suspicion. "Is this a date, Gwen? Because if it is, we're gonna have to report this to Captain Stacy."
"Relax, guys," Gwen says, rolling her eyes playfully. "We're just friends. Ethan's cool."
The officers chuckle, their playful demeanor easing up. "Alright, alright, we believe you. Just looking out for our Captain's little girl."
As they pull away, Officer Murphy leans out the window, winking at me. "But seriously, kid, you treat her right, or the entire NYPD will be coming for you."
I raise my hands in mock surrender, a grin spreading across my face. "Duly noted, officers! I promise to be on my best behavior."
The cruiser merges back into traffic, leaving us in a cloud of exhaust fumes and amusement.
"Sorry about that," Gwen says, her cheeks flushing slightly. "My dad's the police Captain for the NYPD. He sometimes sends some of his officers to keep an eye on me. It's kind of embarrassing."
"It's fine," I say, chuckling softly. "It's actually kind of sweet. It's nice to have a dad who cares that much."
"Yeah, well," she says, a wry smile tugging at her lips, "it's a strange way to show it, don't you think?"
"True, but still," I tell her. "Anyway, where were we headed? I completely forgot."
"I wanted to check out that new exhibit at the Natural History Museum. Dinosaurs, remember?"
"Oh, right, the dinos," I say.
We head down into the subway, swiping our MetroCards and boarding the next train uptown. The usual mix of people surrounds us – students with backpacks, business types glued to their phones, and a guy playing surprisingly good jazz on a battered saxophone.
About halfway to our destination, I hear it, a low rumble that vibrates through the floor of the train. I frown, trying to place the noise. It sounds almost like... an earthquake? Nah, can't be.
Then, the lights flicker. The phone screens of everyone around us start freaking out, displaying distorted images and garbled text. The electronic signs above the doors go haywire, cycling through random characters and nonsensical messages. Something is definitely wrong.
"What's happening?" Gwen asks, her voice laced with concern. She grabs my arm, her grip tightening. "Is this some kind of electrical surge?"
My Digivice buzzes frantically in my pocket, and I pull it out. A blaring alert fills the screen: "Digimon Signature Detected. Champion Level. Approaching at High Speed."
My eyes widen. I shove Gwen against the nearest wall. "Get down!"
Before she can react, a deafening crash echoes through the train car. The wall next to us explodes inward in a shower of sparks and twisted metal. The force of the impact sends the train careening off the tracks, the cars screeching and grinding against each other.
Everything goes black.
***
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