(Now to make that filler actually relevant and have fun with the writing structure while I'm at it! Note that a side effect of the fusion into MechaGarurumon is that Taylor and HeatGabumon are sharing this dream, so everything he does is what he's dreaming.)
~MEANWHILE WITHIN TAYLOR'S DREAM~SCENE: Taylor and HeatGabumon are sitting at a table in a diner. Taylor is getting outraged because her order isn't being properly filled while HeatGabumon is devouring endless mountains of food across from her. A robed figure enters the diner and heads towards Taylor's table.TAYLOR: This isn't what I ordered! Seriously, I won't be satisfied until you get me what I paid for! Err.. Will pay for! Your tip's on the line, ya know!
HEATGABUMON: Calm down, Taylor. *gobble snarf snap* They don't respond well... *gobble snarf snap* to yelling, you know.
TAYLOR: How can I be calm at a time like this? *sigh* I just want some scrambled eggs! Not fried, not boiled, not Benedict-ed... just scrambled! They've made it every single way BUT scrambled... AND A FEW WAYS THAT DON'T EVEN EXIST!
ROBED FIGURE: Excuse me, miss... *prods Taylor's shoulder*
TAYLOR: *turns angrily* Who the heck are you?
ROBED FIGURE: No one in particular...
Waitress returns with plate in hand. On the plate is a spread of a traditional breakfast with everything but eggs. There is a small plate of biscuits and gravy in her other hand; within the gravy is what looks to be spit. When she speaks, it is quick and irritation is evident in her words.WAITRESS: Will this work, ma'am?
TAYLOR: *sighs* I suppose... Sorry for snapping at you... but one last thing. Could you take those biscuits and gravy back? I'm not dense enough that I don't recognize spit when I see it.
Waitress is surprised that the punishment from the kitchen was recognized and nods, delivering the main plate and returning to the kitchen with the contaminated plate. Heated words can be heard from the direction of the kitchen, albeit somewhat muffled.HEATGABUMON: See? *gobble snarf snap* That wasn't so hard *gobble snarf snap* now was it? *gobble snarf snap*
TAYLOR: No, not really... *turns to the robed figure* Now what did you need?
ROBED FIGURE: Just a couple questions and a brief test.
TAYLOR: Ask away. *she starts to eat*
ROBED FIGURE: Okay. First off, who do you fight for? Yourself or your friends?
TAYLOR: *swallows a huge bite of a waffle* Easy. My friends. Without them I am nothing; HeatGabumon here is proof enough of that.
HEATGABUMON: We're best friends! *gobble snarf snap* In our last battle *gobble snarf snap* we became one and *gobble snarf snap* kicked some serious butt! *gobble snarf snap*
TAYLOR: That was definitely unexpected... and even then we wouldn't have done as well had our other new friends not helped us when we asked them too.
ROBED FIGURE: Good, good... Next question. Why do you fight? Is it for power, for justice, or some other reason?
TAYLOR: Hmm... that's a bit trickier... It's definitely not for power, nor just for fun. The main reason I fight... Hmm... I haven't given that much thought.
ROBED FIGURE: If you had to answer it now... what would you say?
TAYLOR: Hmm... I think I fight... to protect those who can't. Or maybe to help protect those who can't with my friends. I mean, I'm only human, I can run out of energy.
HEATGABUMON: And if I run out *gobble snarf snap* of energy, I get *gobble snarf snap* either turned back *gobble snarf snap* into a DigiEgg or *gobble snarf snap* outright deleted!
TAYLOR: Calm down on the eating before you choke, buddy. *laughter* Anyways, yeah. I fight to protect those who can't, with the assistance of my friends. I can do well on my own, but... when they're near me and fighting alongside me... It's almost like I feel a surge of energy flowing through me... It's almost like they're giving me more power, and I hope I return the favor and give them some of my power as well.
ROBED FIGURE: Oooh, very nice, very nice. One last thing. Hold out your hand and look me in the eyes.
TAYLOR: What eyes? You're robed, I can't really see them.
ROBED FIGURE: Just please, do what I ask and I'll leave you to eat.
Taylor shrugs and does so. The robed figure holds out their arm, and though Taylor can't see it since the sleeve of the robe hides it completely, she grabs it anyways and stares into the blackness of the hood. She holds on firmly.ROBED FIGURE: Good good. Now no matter what you see or feel, keep that firm grip, okay?
Taylor nods. The robed figure keeps their arm outstretched. Shortly afterwards, the sleeve begins to fall back, revealing a wrinkled ashen arm. Bones are clearly visible close to the surface of the discolored skin, and yet Taylor's grip remains fast and her gaze does not waver. The background of the diner begins to fade away slowly, and shatters completely. The robed figure nods from beneath the hood. The diner is now gone completely; Taylor and HeatGabumon are surrounded by inky blackness as they sit at a table resting atop a giant pillar, though HeatGabumon seems to have frozen in time. The pillar is round with a flat surface and if one were able to float away from the pillar they'd see no visible bottom. The top of the pillar is adorned with stained glass; the imagery depicts Taylor and HeatGabumon within circles and the Digivice in a smaller one near them. Small circles decorate the rim of the surface, each containing a small Digimon card. There are a few circles of intermediate size near the ones containing Taylor and HeatGabumon containing Sapph and a few other members of the Resistance that had fought against Sapph's possessed armor, such as Borock-bot and Sinos. The robed figure noticed this, and though it was hard to tell, they began to grin approvingly. Taylor's gaze remains steady despite the transformation of the scenery. Suddenly she speaks.TAYLOR: Fancy tricks you have here. Tell me, why not show me what you look like beneath that hood? Do you have something to hide?
ROBED FIGURE: Curious, are you? Are you sure you can keep your steady gaze if I show you what I truly look like?
TAYLOR: You asked me if I could, and despite the fact that everything around me has changed since I started holding your hand, I've kept it focused. Try me. If this is really a test, then you should throw a curveball to see if I can handle that, no?
ROBED FIGURE: You make a good point. Just don't say I didn't warn you.
The robed figure lifts their free arm up to their hood and slowly removes it. Taylor is momentarily taken aback, but she manages to keep her gaze steady despite everything inside her telling her to stop. The robed figure's appearance is instantly familiar to her... The figure puts their hood back up, grinning from ear to ear as it does so.ROBED FIGURE: I could tell you wavered for a second there, and yet... You didn't look away, even just a little bit. You didn't even blink in surprise. You may let go now...
The diner quickly falls back into place, the food back where it was before. HeatGabumon has unfrozen and immediately resumes eating his endless mountain of food.TAYLOR: So... did I pass?
ROBED FIGURE: I cannot tell you that. Only time will reveal that answer. All I can tell you is that your heart is strong, as is your will. You will find out soon the purpose of the test, and what will come of your results, be they good or bad. You likely won't remember this test upon waking, so enjoy this feast here while you still can...
TAYLOR: I see...
Taylor turns to look at the food in front of her before looking back up. She goes to ask something, but as she does she notices that the robed figure has vanished. The door is still closed, obviously not having been within the last few minutes, at the very least.TAYLOR: Odd... Oh well.
She returns to her food, and notices scrambled eggs have mysteriously appeared on her plate next to hash browns and a medium-rare New York steak.TAYLOR: Finally! Took long enough!
She digs in and starts enjoying her feast.~FIN~
~MEANWHILE IN THE REAL WORLD~Taylor grins in her sleep, obviously happy at the latest development within her dream.
(Well that was fun to write, and took care of the internal monologue... As for why the robed figure's appearance was familiar and the reason as to why that test must not be remembered... that'll come later ;D)