'What if there were more Digi-destined? Maybe there are, somewhere in the world. As far as I know, there are only three of us, plus our Digimon of course. I'm sorry, I should introduce myself. My name is Kalai, and my Digimon is named Ventusmon. The others are my cousin, Leisha, and her Digimon, Magickmon, and our friend, Gabe. His Digimon is called DarkAngemon. Kind of fitting, given Gabe's dark nature, and his full name, Gabriel.'
The girl paused in her writing, stretching her arms, then petting the small, dragon-like creature beside her. She got up and walked away from the wooden table, leaving the book she'd been writing in laying there. Stepping outside the small cottage, she looked around for her friends.
"Gabe, Leisha! Where are you?" she called into the warm, night air. a few seconds later, the slight crackling of underbrush told her someone was near. The Digimon tensed, sniffing the air, then relaxed and gave a small chirp of greeting. A tall young man stepped from the trees into the clearing. Striking grey eyes looked everything over, then he strode forward, running a hand through his midnight-black hair. High cheekbones and black eyebrows gave him a brooding look.
"Gabe, where's Leisha? You know Gennai wants us to meet him soon." she reprimanded gently. Gabe scowled, then shrugged.
"Dunno. Me and DarkAngemon were looking for her and Magickmon." He was interrupted by more rustling in the trees, and DarkAngemon, Leisha and Magickmon stepped out. DarkAngemon was very tall, with flowing black hair. The massive wings stretching out behind him were a complex mixture of grays and blacks. Magickmon looked fairly human, but her skin was a pale aqua. Large, solemn purple eyes were set in a heart-shaped face, eyes that seemed to look through you, to see your very soul. Leisha smiled sheepishly at them, blue-violet eyes downcast. Her waist-length copper hair stirred in a slight breeze. The same breeze ruffled the girl's silver hair, blowing it into her face. She pushed it aside to reveal luminous golden eyes, shaped like a cat's.
"Sorry Kalai. We got distracted." Leisha said. "What did you need us for, anyway?"
"It had best be urgent, Kalai. I do not take lightly to being disturbed for trivial matters." Piercing emerald eyes regarded Kalai through DarkAngemon's ebony mask. The dragon Digimon growled softly in her throat at his imperious tone.
"Easy, Ventusmon. We are all uneasy." Kalai comforted her Digimon.
Since Kalai had been 12 years old, they had been fighting Piedmon, the only Dark Master that evaded them. It had been three long years, and still they were no closer to him. Now, this call from Gennai, who said he had been trying to reach them for at least three years. He had important information for them. the three wondered what it could be that Gennai sounded so urgent about.
"Kalai, should we leave now?" Leisha asked, interrupting Kalai's thoughts. She nodded and turned to go back to their cottage, to gather their things. Leisha, Magickmon and Ventusmon followed her. They packed in silence, each alone with her thoughts. Outside, they could hear Gabe talking softly to DarkAngemon. Kalai sighed. Gabe had changed so much, as they all had. She would hate to leave this cottage, their home since she was three and Gabe and Leisha were four. They had only the faintest recollection of their parents, and what a note left with them could explain.
Carefully packing her heavy writing book, Kalai reflected on the importance of it. Since she could write, she had put everything down. Their struggles against evil Digimon, meeting Gennai, learning who they were.....
Kalai broke from her thoughts, turning to follow Leisha out. They met up with Gabe and all of them exchanged glances.
"Are we ready?" Magickmon asked softly. She had a beguiling voice, one that could almost hypnotize you....
"Stop it, Magickmon!" Kalai said sharply, realizing what Magickmon meant to do. "I know what I'm doing!"
Shouldering her backpack and tossing Gabe his, they set off into the dark forest.
It seemed only minutes before they noticed the sun coming up. With a start, Kalai realized they were nearing Gennai's lake. She shook her head, muttering about magick. As they came closer, the sparkling water parted for them, allowing them to walk down to Gennai's home. He suddenly appeared before them, looking tired and worried.
"Good, you're here. I was beginning to wonder if you had received my message. Come, come, inside, all of you." Gennai turned and walked into his house, leaving the six behind to follow. Settling them onto mats inside, Gennai regarded them gravely.
"I have been trying to reach you for over three years. You know you are the Digi-Destined, but did you know there are more? Yes, there are." he added at the look on their faces. Kalai unconsciously held her Crest in one hand.
"Separately, you have been fighting the Dark Masters. Yet now you must join together. Piedmon is not the only danger, soon a new evil altogether will envelop the DigiWorld. I am not at liberty to tell you what it is, but you must prepare. Find the other Digi-Destined, they should be nearby. Leave now!" he urged.
Suddenly, they found themselves standing on the shore of the lake. Gennai's voice came from the air.
"Head east. You will meet up with them soon." Kalai shivered. She didn't like magick, and hated it when Gennai did something like this.
"Should we go, Kalai?" Ventusmon suddenly asked. Her voice was low and soft, close to a hiss. Kalai nodded, mentally shaking the thoughts out of her head. The six turned east, and started to hike towards the mountains in front of them.
Few hours had passed before they found themselves standing at the base of the mountains.
"Don't tell me." Gabe muttered. "They went into the mountains."
"Looks that way." DarkAngemon replied. Gabe mumbled under his breath.
"I guess we go up." Leisha said, glancing nervously up at the rapidly darkening sky.
"Let's camp here tonight. Unless these new Digi-Destined are insane, they'll be camping now anyway." Kalai told them, dropping her backpack and rummaging through it for her sleeping bag. Spreading it out, she then gathered up some branches and twigs. Putting them near the bottom of the sleeping bag, she gestured to Ventusmon. Ventusmon exhaled a stream of fire, igniting the wood in seconds.
Leisha and Gabe spread their sleeping bags in a triangle around the fire. DarkAngemon stood stiffly next to Gabe, watching everything. Magickmon and Ventusmon curled up with their respective humans and they all went to sleep.
Kalai woke first, shoving Ventusmon off her and quickly waking the others. Leisha hurried to gather some berries, while Gabe and Kalai silently packed up. DarkAngemon had disappeared sometime during the night, only re-appearing as they set off again. He walked next to Gabe, apparently arguing with him.
They were soon in the mountain passes, traveling at a steady rate. Kalai, in front, called a halt as she heard the sound of many voices in front of them. Carefully looking around the corner, she came face-to-face with a blond-haired young man. His mouth widened, but he was faster to react than Kalai. Spinning around he called to a strange looking Digimon. This Digimon had large fangs, a horn on his forehead and striped fur covering his back.
"Gabumon!" the youth called. The Digimon immediately turned from what he was doing and ran towards the youth. Kalai stumbled back, yelling for Ventusmon. The other Digimon rounded the corner with a roar. She recognized it as a Garurumon, digivolved form of Gabumon and a highly skilled fighter. Ventusmon streaked in front of her, digivolving to her next form, Volantmon. The dragon became much larger, changing from pale white to a deep azure. Sharp fangs lined her mouth, and massive bat-like wings appeared on her back. Uttering a feral roar, she charged the Garurumon, which looked slightly confused. It recovered quickly and tried to blast Volantmon. Volantmon dodged and blew a stream of purple fire at the Garurumon, immobilizing it. The young man cried out in alarm, more youths running up behind him. Kalai counted eight, including the blond-haired one. Five seemed to be her age, while one was slightly younger and the other two looked to be about nine. There were three girls and five boys. Behind her, she heard DarkAngemon yell a warning. Whirling around, she saw a pack of Utahmon, deadly raptor Digimon that tore their victims apart. Leisha rolled out of the way as one swiped at her, and Magickmon blasted it off the edge of the cliff.
Kalai cursed as she realized how vulnerable they were on the narrow ledge. She could see the other youths were standing on a wider chunk of the cliff, with enough room to fight properly. Kalai ran towards them, her friends following. The Utahmon shot after them, snarling viciously.
The other Digimon were digivolving, ready to fight the new threat.
"Meteor Wing!" came the call from above her, and two Utahmon were roasted. The other avoided the giant fire-bird, rushing at the youngest boy, who had somehow been behind them. Magickmon was already fighting off two more, Volantmon and DarkAngemon fighting others. All around Kalai, Digimon were involved in battle.
"Look out!" Kalai screamed, running toward the boy. She jumped in front of him, taking the blow of an oncoming Utahmon. Sharp claws gashed her unprotected back, and she screamed with the pain. There was a brilliant flash of light, and Volantmon digivolved again, to Daimarimon. She was now a purple-black leviathan, almost too big for even the large space of cliff. Silver lightning shot from her mouth, spearing the Utahmon near Kalai and the boy. The few remaining Utahmon scurried away, their pack down to four.
Daimarimon de-digivolved back to Ventusmon, rushing to nuzzle Kalai. Kalai was breathing heavily, slipping in and out of consciousness. Leisha ran up and cradled her cousin's head in her lap, looking stricken. DarkAngemon winged back, carrying Gabe. The others were gathered behind them, the children's faces hidden by the two older girls.
Gabe dropped next to her, checking Kalai's pulse, then gently lifting her up. She moaned as the muscles in her back contracted, sending white-hot flashes of pain up her spine. The strangers hurried to their campsite, the blond-haired boy spreading a blanket for Kalai.
Gabe lay her down on the blanket, on her stomach. Magickmon ran up, breathing heavily. "Magickmon, you can heal this, can't you?" Leisha asked anxiously.
"I don't know, Leisha. It looks pretty bad, and you know she would resist." Magickmon replied.
Behind them, the young boy burst into tears. The blond-haired boy hugged him, glancing pleadingly at Magickmon.
"I will try." Magickmon knelt beside the unconscious Kalai, spreading her hands over the wounds. Pale rose light gathered around Magickmon's hands as she chanted under her breath. Leisha was sobbing quietly on Gabe's shoulder as the strangers looked on.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the wounds began to heal. Sweat broke out on Magickmon's forehead as she completed the spell, leaving only thin white scars on Kalai's back.
Magickmon staggered as she stood up, then leaned on Leisha. Ventusmon, who had stayed back, galloped up to sniff Kalai.
"Is she okay?" asked a soft, childish voice behind them. Leisha turned around to see the young, blond-haired boy Kalai had saved.
"She's fine. She'll wake soon." Magickmon replied. The boy smiled radiantly, and the others stepped forward hesitantly.
"Who are you, and why did you attack us?" Leisha asked. A brunet boy stepped forward defensively.
"You attacked Matt!" he protested. They were interrupted by a soft groan from Kalai. She was sitting up, rubbing her head.
"What just happened?" she asked. "I remember the Utahmon, then pain and blackness." She stared accusingly at Magickmon. "You used magick on me, didn't you?" she demanded.
"She saved your life, Kalai." DarkAngemon had appeared beside her, startling the young boy.
"Hey, you look like Angemon!" he exclaimed. Someone at the back of the group stepped forward, and Gabe started at the sight. The new person looked exactly like DarkAngemon, only with golden hair and white wings.
Angemon and DarkAngemon looked at each other warily. Gabe stepped between them.
"Not now." he cautioned. DarkAngemon turned his back.
The strangers had walked forward, settling on sleeping bags scattered around. Leisha and Gabe joined Kalai, facing the strangers.
"My name is Taichi, but call me Tai. This is Hikari." It was the brunet that had spoken. He pointed to a young girl beside him, who looked up solemnly.
"I'm Yamato, and this is Takeru." the blond Kalai had seen earlier said, gesturing at the young boy she'd saved.
"Everybody calls me T.K, though. That's Sora. She's really nice." The little boy pointed to a tall girl with short blonde hair and a blue cap. She smiled at the trio and their Digimon.
A girl in pink spoke next. "I'm Mimi, that's Jyou and that's Koushiro, but call them Joe and Izzy." She pointed to a tall, gangly boy with blue-black hair and glasses. Izzy was a solemn looking boy, with spiked reddish hair and black eyes. He was typing on a laptop.
"I'm Kalai, that's Leisha and Gabe. This is Ventusmon." Kalai indicated the dragon curled up by her side.
"I am Magickmon. That is DarkAngemon."
"Hi! I'm Gatomon, that's Gabumon, Biyomon, Tentomon, Angemon, Agumon, and Palmon." The speaker was a small white cat with purple tufts on her ears.
"We're the Digi-Destined." Leisha added. Sora gasped and Tai and Matt exchanged looks.
"But you can't be." Tai replied. "Because we're the Digi-Destined."