Howdy! This is my first fanfiction, so go easy on me! This starts at the exact point when Devimon splits up the Chosen Children, and will probably continue up until they defeat Milleniummon or Apocalymon. I have plans to include not only Kari, but Ken as well. I'll be using the Japanese names of Digimon, the main exception being Ogremon (Ogremon just doesn't look right, does it?) The idea is that once Devimon's gears reach the new continents, rather than it being a two-sided war between the Chosen Children and each individual villain, it will include a larger conflict between the evil Digimon from the series. Anyways, thanks for reading, and tell me what you think!

Thanks,

DDNeuro

—

The screams in the wind were only overshadowed by that menacing laughter, that hollow, pure laughter of enjoyment. Devimon's arms swung open, and the beds flew into the wind as the land beneath him shook. Taichi watched in astonishment as, not only were his friends scattered, but File Island itself split apart, the islands sailing towards the horizon.

Now, only Taichi and Agumon stood opposite Leomon on the crumbled walls of that ancient mansion, Leomon with nothing but death in his eyes, his mind blank and his body controlled. Agumon shivered, "Leomon! You don't have to do this!"

The cries fell on deaf ears as Leomon raised his blade. "Kill the children." He mumbled to himself as he stepped forward. Taichi's eyes darted around him, searching for something, anything he could defend himself with. Nothing. He turned to Agumon and saw the same fear that plagued him clearly written in his eyes. Agumon was too weak to fight. What could they do?

But brave Agumon, trying to forget his crippling hunger, moved in front of Taichi. "I'll protect you!" He would try, at least. Leomon was unaffected by this display of courage, he was unaffected by everything now. Behind them, as Leomon drew closer and closer, Devimon grinned. He not only awaited the act, he anticipated it, he hoped that in this moment perhaps, he would rid himself of two obstacles. He wanted to see the child cut down by a protector of justice, he wanted them both to be stained.

Leomon's first slash was met with Agumon's claws, a temporary stalemate, the hard claw meeting with Leomon's iron blade. But Agumon's strength was waning fast, and in an instant, he was blown away by Leomon's strength. He fell to the ground. He tried to muster the courage and strength necessary to stand once more, but failed, collapsing onto his stomach.

Taichi looked Leomon in his blank eyes as once more Leomon raised his blade. Perhaps, Taichi thought, just perhaps, if he were to look into Leomon's eyes, he would know when to move, what to do. So as Leomon slashed, Taichi jumped back, but Leomon had anticipated this, and stepped forward as he slashed. Devimon could not help but guffaw, the blood he eagerly awaited had finally been spilled.

Blood splashed the ground, it poured from the wound, from Taichi's right eye onto the faded wooden floor. He howled in pain. "TAICHI!" Agumon shouted with all his might. Leomon raised his blade once more, ready to land the final strike, when a sudden wind blew. The wind carried upon it, a small plastic device, it landed between Taichi and Leomon, and began to shine. The light was blinding, both Ogremon and Devimon raised their arms to guide their eyes. The light blasted into Leomon, and a single gear tore out of his back. His eyes regained their hue, but the sight he was greeted with was a terrible one.

Before him, Agumon was no longer slumped next to his wounded friend, now, he was standing tall, a terrible beast. The cut was harsh, and the clearly the response was harsher. MetalGreymon stood before them now, but something was wrong, its skin was frigid and its heart impure, not filled with courage, but with anger. Its eyes not filled with control, but an unnatural rage. It roared, and the island shook. Taichi, forgetting his pain looked at the beast before him, "Agumon?"

Leomon leapt back. Fear gripped even the courageous warrior of justice. Even Devimon was aghast, such power, and how? He had seen Perfect-Levels before. Even on File Island, such power existed, but how did it manifest so suddenly? So violently? In such an incredibly massive form?

Leomon looked at Taichi, the wound he had been forced to inflict, and his heart ached. "DEVIMON!" He shouted, blinded with rage, he leapt towards the cur, but as he did Metalgreymon attacked, its chest opening to reveal its weapon. The missiles launched quickly and expertly, trailing smoke as they made a direct course for Devimon. Devimon extended his hands before him, attempting to create a barrier block the attack. The missiles collided with his barrier and exploded.

As the light from this explosion faded, Taichi, his hand still held fast to his wound, gazed upon the scene with his good eye. Little of the mansion remained, and Leomon and Ogremon lay on the hard ground, scorched all over their bodies. Devimon alone, remained atop a pillar. Sweat covered him and his palms were burned. Taichi looked at the device, the device he knew him and his friends all held, the device he did not understand. Looking at it, he felt that he would need it, so he picked it up.

Devimon panted, "Im-impossible." MetalGreymon was not finished with just one attack, rushing forward, it swung down with its massive metal claw. Devimon raised his arms to defend, another temporary stalemate, but this time, Devimon was blasted down through the last pillar. He groaned. What was this unfathomable power?

Leomon raised his head, his vision blurred, but he had seen the events transpire, "Y-you fool Devimon, th-these Children, they have something you lack. You cannot win." Devimon scowled, how dare he assume the mighty Devimon so weak? This Digimon was powerful, surely, but it didn't stand a chance again the power of his pure darkness. Devimon's wings flapped, and he flew into the sky before MetalGreymon, his wings flexed and from them two beams of darkness shot towards his opponent. MetalGreymon swiped at the beams with his metal claw, deflecting them into the ocean where they created pillars of steam.

"Im-impossible." Devimon stuttered. "IMPOSSIBLE!" He flew forward and began to unleash a barrage of strikes at MetalGreymon, who blocked them with his metal arm. But Devimon did not relent in his furious flurry, and soon enough MetalGreymon was forced to take a knee. Taichi shouted, "Agumon!" Devimon began to laugh as he beat into the metal arm, but his laughter was premature. He failed to notice MetalGreymon's second arm slashing at him, and he was knocked into the ground once more.

Taichi was amazed at the strength of this new form, but afraid. He couldn't shake the fear he had, nor the pain, which assaulted him as the battle continued. Something was truly wrong here, for even as MetalGreymon continued to crush his enemy, Taichi felt something painful in his heart, something tragic about the scene. He could barely keep his other eye open, but he had to, he couldn't turn his back from Agumon, even in this terrible form. He could not help but feel somehow responsible for the terrible form.

Devimon caught himself just before he hit the ground, he carefully aimed his other arm, and shouted, with all his might, "Demon's RAY!" From the palm of his hand, another blast shot out, MetalGreymon raised its arm to block, but the beam pierced it, knocking him onto his back. In that instant, the battle was over, as MetalGreymon shrunk back to his original form. Agumon lay unconscious on the ground. Taichi felt tears mix with the blood running down his face, "Agumon… no."

Devimon panted, such a trifling matter had taken near all of his energy. He pulled himself up, and staggered towards the boy, even with the amount of energy he had left, he could at least kill the boy. Taichi stepped back, but all that was behind him was cliff, a fall, his death. And before him, the very same. What now? What could he do now? He looked to the device in his hand as if it had answers.

In a flash, Devimon dropped to a knee. Behind him, Leomon's blade dripped with black blood, he had taken the opportunity to strike. "Chosen Child," he said through broken breath, "I leave it to you." Suddenly Leomon's body appeared as if it were aflame, Devimon looked over his shoulder and swiped quickly, but Leomon was gone. He stood before Taichi and Agumon now. In that instant, Leomon's eyes met Taichi's, there was something in the interaction that can not be spoken for, the despair and fascination of destiny, the glory and failure of Leomon's mission, Taichi's unfinished courage, it was a single moment, but Taichi would always remember, in that moment, Leomon's eyes never looked more alive.

Suddenly, Taichi and Agumon were pushed away, a final bed, alight with the same flame that burned around Leomon, carried them towards an island sailing away into the horizon. Taichi's eyes still locked with Leomon, as Devimon came cruelly from behind, his hand thrusting into Leomon's chest. The flames around Leomon died, and his blue eyes once again became windows into a soulless existence. Taichi felt tears rushing down his fact. In that moment he knew what he had to do, he had to defeat Devimon at all costs. As the scene faded into the horizon, so did his consciousness fade, the blood loss and strength finally taking their toll on the brave boy.

—

Ogremon's awoke confused, as he almost always did. His vision blurry, he wiped his eyes, and took notice of the scene around him, the craters and tears created by the fight. Last he remembered the brat and his Agumon were on the ropes, when suddenly he managed to evolve to Perfect-Level. Then, an explosion perhaps? He was knocked unconscious by the blast. Why was he there? Devimon. He looked around, and saw Devimon standing overlooking the cliff, Leomon by his side.

He gazed into Devimon's back, a large gash was carved into it, but slowly it was healing before his eyes. What power did Devimon have?

"Ogremon.". He straightened his back, "Devimon? I mean, Lord Devimon?" Devimon looked over the island, now incomplete. "Have you been across the sea? To the other continents?"

Ogremon pondered for a moment, his head was still fuzzy. "Uh, can't say I have sir."

"I have. Do you think- No. Those devices they carry, are they what cleansed Leomon? Are they what made that Agumon so strong? Do they have the power to destroy my gears?"

"Uhh…" Ogremon shrugged. Devimon waved his hand, "Silence. I need to think."

Devimon floated into the sky, he needed some semblance of privacy. There in the sky, overlooking the ocean he raised his hand before his eyes, and it became transparent. The islands he had sent away were before his eyes now, sailing through the sea like great vessels of war, intent on expanding the area under his command. "But if the devices they carry can stop my gears…"

He thought back, to before he came to File Island, to where he found the power to create the black gears. The Dark Ocean. The waste ruled by those terrors that could hardly be called Digimon. Could he return? Could he borrow more power from that darkness? No- could he even take any more power? But what if these gears were faulty? if these things he had so much pride in until now, these things that he thought would allow him to conquer, what if they were weak?

He considered his obstacles. As if Vamdemon would allow himself to be subjugated by them, as if Etemon would not destroy them before they could even touch him. As if these gears were not child's play. As if that was not the reason they were so easily destroyed.

Devimon faced himself, as he looked upon these islands, he faced his weakness. An Adult-Level, merely an Adult-Level, but he had such ambitions. That Agumon, in only a week of time, had gone from a Baby into Perfect-Level, a level equal to even Vamdemon. The power of darkness was on his side, but maybe, he was realizing, it was incomplete. He had no army, only the ambition of an army. He had no power, only the ambition of power. If those children were to use their devices against him again, he would be powerless. Worse, if that Patamon were to evolve, he would be defeated without a doubt, even with the power of the black gears on his side.

He swiped at the air, then again, then again, he struck at the air as he had struck at that monstrosity earlier. He fought tooth and nail with his own thoughts as he had fought with MetalGreymon only minutes ago.

Ogremon peered up from below, what was Devimon doing? Could he fight alongside his enemy, Leomon? Did he even agree with Devimon? Did he even want him to succeed? He swept such thoughts from his mind. He could not oppose Lord Devimon, or the same fate as Leomon would befall him, he would become a mindless slave. No, Ogremon refused to be controlled, even if it meant betraying himself, he refused to become like Leomon.

Devimon was drenched in sweat, panting, his vision blurred from exhaustion. He realized what he had to do. He had no other option. From those countless islands his gears would not be spread. They would focus on keeping the Chosen Children away. He needed time more than anything. He wiped the sweat away. He had finally realized what he needed to do. He had finally realized what he needed to do to match his enemies.

Ogremon drifted from his thoughts as Devimon landed, it seemed he had donned his signature smirk once more. Now was no longer a moment of weakness. "Ogremon." Ogremon was terrified of his voice, the confidence, the power, even if he wanted to fight, to escape, he couldn't. "Yes, Lord Devimon?"

"Have you ever wanted to become stronger?"

Ogremon glanced to the frozen soldier at his side, the lifeless eyes of Leomon. Even now, if they were to fight, who would win? Even without the fire that burned in his heart, even without his own will, wouldn't it be Leomon? Wasn't it always Leomon? As they fought over and over, Leomon had the advantage every time, no, it would be better to say he had won and why? It was because he was weak. It was because he was a coward. "… Yes." Ogremon replied, "I've always wanted to get stronger."

Devimon turned to look at the mountain behind them. That mountain held his ambitions, or at least, the method of his ambitions, the gears, his devices, but also more, a core source of darkness, a port of entry into that Dark Ocean. "Have you heard of the Dark Masters?"

Ogremon shivered. What Digimon had not heard of their legend? But they had vanished, leaving an opening for Digimon like Devimon. New evil. But if they were to return, wouldn't Devimon fall to their might as well? "I've heard of them. Why?"

"I imagine we can become stronger than them." He said as he sat on the ground, then peered back, he had forgotten himself for a moment, "Or at least I can. You…" He waved his hand emptily. "Perhaps, you can match Vamdemon."

Ogremon shivered again, such a thing was not to be said so casually. Vamdemon was something to be reckoned with. Even Devimon would fall to- Ogremon was shocked by his own thoughts. HIs own realizations, Devimon, like him, was weak, but there was something about him that was different. Devimon was not truly powerful, but he knew it. He knew something that Ogremon had always refused to face, he knew his own weakness. That and he was no coward. That and he promised strength. He promised strength so very casually. He promised strength as if it were nothing. Could he be lying? No. No, he had no need to lie to someone he saw as a servant. "Do you really think so?"

Devimon laughed. "Come, Ogremon, Leomon, we have business." Devimon began to walk towards the mountain. Leomon followed. "Wait, Lord Devimon, what of the children? Won't they return?" Devimon looked over his shoulder, smirking. "Those children will be nothing to us now." He continued forward towards the mountain, Leomon lumbering behind him.

Ogremon stood for a moment. He thought about his freedom again. Was sacrificing freedom worth strength? He looked at Leomon's back, as he had looked at it time and time again. What was it that Leomon saw in him, that he kept allowing him to live? Even as he lost, over and over, why did Leomon spare him again and again? Strength, he thought, brings another kind of freedom. He swallowed what remained of his pride, and followed.

Devimon led them deep into the mountain, deep down into the icy depths of that place he called his home. As they descended, Ogremon could not help but to notice the gears, still turning, filling the place, covering the walls. "Lord Devimon," he began, "These gears are what you use to control Digimon?"

Devimon looked at the countless gears, he felt like a fool now, for believing so totally in their power, when they had been destroyed already time and time again. "Yes, but soon, these gears will seem like nothing." Ogremon fell silent. He feared what could make such a horrible device into nothing. He feared this promise of strength, but he feared the other option more.

They reached the bottom, a room surrounded on all sides by Black Gears, with a pool of black liquid in the center. Was this what he used to create the gears? This seeping pool of blackness, just looking at it terrified him. He found himself envious of the heartless Leomon, who could feel nothing, who could fear nothing now. Devimon peered into the pool. "This pool, it draws from the endless well of darkness, far from here. That is where we shall go."

Devimon strained himself, his teeth clenched, his muscles tensed, as the pool began to rise, forming a large circle before them. His red eyes bulged, and the gash on his back opened once more, though only slightly. The circle perfected itself, and a gate opened before them. Beyond it, cloudy skies and an endless dark ocean against a rocky grey shore. Devimon relaxed. He took deep breaths and the gash on his back began to heal once more. He looked to Ogremon and Leomon. "Once we are through, you will only follow my commands, you will trust in me or you will be swallowed whole."

Ogremon nodded. Devimon thought to himself, why was he allowing them to come along? Was it because Ogremon was his first willing follower? Is it because he followed him without question? Then what of Leomon? Why did he bring him? He supposed it was his sadistic nature, the corruption of the good was so appealing. Perhaps it had to do with what Leomon had said, he knew something and if Devimon were to become stronger, if the Black Gears could be made into something more than just a device for simple control, if he truly became stronger, perhaps he could find this out. Perhaps he would find what he lacked.

Ogremon crossed first, then Leomon. Devimon waited, he looked to the shrine he had built to his previous self, the gears, and he laughed. He laughed because no one could hear. Because by giving up his pride, the pride that was all that kept him alive for so long, he would become strong. As he walked through the gate, the gears shook and ground, and flew from their place, into the air. Devimon would need them no longer when he returned, so he sent them, his agents of chaos, to distract, to give him time. And this act would indeed serve its purpose. As Devimon would see when he returned, as the Chosen Children would see all too soon.