Chapter 1: The Separation

Thanks to the combined efforts of the Monster Makers and the Digimon Tamers, the D-Reaper had returned to the Digital World, where it was converted to a harmless program of data and nothing more.

But with defeating such a foe, it came at a cost, to which the Digimon were all sent back to the Digital World, where they returned in the flower field.

And while the others were still in their In-Training forms, Guilmon somehow managed to reach his Rookie form once again without the need to Digivolve, which confused him as well as the others.

"Hey, wait a minute. How did you become a Rookie again while the rest of us went back to In-Training forms?" The In-Training form of Impmon, Yaamon, asked.

"I don't know." Guilmon said in all honestly, before he took a guess. "Maybe it's because I am a Virus Digimon?"

"Don't say that, Guilmon." Calumon said, sounding upset.

"Impmon's a Virus too, but unlike him, you're the kinder one." The catalyst Digimon added, getting an annoyed look from Yaamon.

"So now we are separated from our Tamers, should we enjoy our peace here?" The In-Training form of Terriermon, Gummymon, asked, leaving the Digimon silent, unsure of what to do now that they had no Tamers to tell them what to do or to play with, making Guilmon look up into the sky, thinking of Takato and the others.

Suddenly, the Digimon were interrupted as a powerful pain entered Guilmon's body, as he felt something attack his heart, making him gasp, before falling to his knees, where he continued to show he was in pain.

"Guilmon!" The In-Training form of Lopmon, Chocomon, called in concern as all rushed to his side.

"Guilmon, what happened? Are you alright?" Viximon, the In-Training form of Renamon, asked, worried for Guilmon as well.

"Something is happening to me. This anger... this darkness... this evil... what is this...?" Guilmon gasped in between breaths, before streams of dark mist began to exit Guilmon's body, causing the red dino Digimon to cry out in agony, while the sky darkened and lightning struck around the once peaceful field.

"What's happening?" Calumon asked fearfully, wondering if Guilmon pain had anything to do with the change in weather, getting an answer when Guilmon cries increased and more black mist exited his being where it formed in the sky as a dark cloud.

Soon, Guilmon felt the pain go away as all the darkness exited his body, before he then panted and fell on his hands and knees, sweating after such an ordeal.

Concerned, Viximon went right up to Guilmon, where she asked. "Guilmon, are you alright?"

"And what is with that huge black cloud that exited from Guilmon?" The In-Training Cyberdramon, Hopmon, asked as he and the other Digimon all looked in the sky and were shocked to see something was forming inside it, which then broke up and a claw like Guilmon emerged, only it was black and had red stripes, followed by a set of feet, then a chest with an all too familiar Digital Hazard symbol on it.

Guilmon was shocked as the smoke then revealed a face, a face that looked like Guilmon, but just like the rest of his skin, this Guilmon's face was black and had red eyes.

And when the whole cloud disappeared, it revealed a new Guilmon.

"Another Guilmon?" Asked Calumon in fear, sensing a horrible darkness within the new Guilmon, who fell back to the ground, but landed on his feet.

And as the Guilmon rose, he looked at the other Guilmon, the first Guilmon with a glare, which the red skinned Guilmon rose too and returned the glare.

"So who is that anyway, and why did he come out of Guilmon?" Asked Chocomon.

And while the In-Training Digimon were scared of the new Digimon, Guilmon showed no fear.

"Who are you?" He questioned.

However, the black skinned Guilmon just smirked and said in reply. "Who do you think? I am you."

"What!?" The heroic Digimon all questioned, all shocked and confused.

"Don't be ridiculous. This is the real Guilmon!" Yaamon then stated, standing by Guilmon's side, before adding. Whoever you are, you're the fake!"

Yaamon's words just amused the black Guilmon, who then turned to Yaamon.

"A fake huh? You're wrong about that." He said in reply, before dark flames filled his maw.

"Pyro Grenade!" The dark Guilmon then announced, releasing a dark purple fireball at Yaamon, who closed his eyes tightly, expecting to be struck down, but Guilmon protected his friend, whacking the inferno away with his tail.

Wanting an answer, Guilmon questioned. "If you're me, how come you are so evil?"

"Because I was born from you." Guilmon dark copy replied, before it said. "You can call me... BlackGuilmon."

"BlackGuilmon..." Guilmon said quietly.

"How can you be born from Guilmon?" Hopmon called out, both confused and a little angered, wishing he was Cyberdramon again so he could just beat out the answers instead of waste time talking.

"Tell me, have you all forgotten that incident when Beelzemon killed Leomon and took his Data, where Guilmon gave into his rage?" BlackGuilmon asked, his question made Guilmon sweat at the memory and knew exactly what BlackGuilmon was talking about.

"You mean... that time?" Viximon asked, remembering the event as if it were a nightmare.

"You and your Tamer were so enraged at Beelzemon that you tried to become a Mega Digimon just so you could destroy him. But with such rage in your hearts, it resulted in Megidramon's creation. And with Megidramon, I was born from that darkness." BlackGuilmon told them.

Hearing that, Guilmon, Viximon and all the other Digimon were all shocked to hear that this new Digimon was born from the dark power which Guilmon was almost consumed by when he Dark Digivolved.

"And once you all defeated the D-Reaper, that is where I must become my own person." BlackGuilmon said, then facing Guilmon, where he told him. "I couldn't bare to stay in someone like you, my other half."

"And just what are you planning to do now?" Gummymon asked, guessing a dark Guilmon created from Megidramon's hate wasn't going to be the friendliest Digimon around.

"Right now, I am going to train this new body of mine to gain new power, so I can break from my weaker self once and for all. But in years time, I will return to destroy both this world and the Real World!" BlackGuilmon replied, shocking the heroic Digimon, while Guilmon clenched his right claw into a fist as he glared at his evil doppelganger and stated in determination. "Then I will do whatever it takes to stop you, even if I have to destroy you all by my own!"

Worried, Viximon asked. "Guilmon, what are you saying?"

"Hmph. Is that so? Then you shall be my first target. See you again in about... let's say three years." BlackGuilmon cackled as he then turned around to leave.

"Farewell big brother." BlackGuilmon then said with evil in his voice and headed off.

"Come back here!" Guilmon yelled as he ran up to BlackGuilmon, who disappeared just before he could so much as touch his dark counterpart.

"What a jerk. But three years is a long time. So we better find a way to train and become stronger." Gummymon said.

"Right, so let's find a way to Digivolve back to our Rookie forms and train together." Chocomon added.

But as everyone turned to leave, they all noticed Guilmon was not following them.

"Guilmon, are you coming?" Hopmon asked.

"Sorry, but it's my fault he was created, so it's my responsibility. I must train on my own and become stronger so I can destroy him myself. I'll get stronger and I'll see you all again in seven years or more." Guilmon said sadly as he turned and began to walk away.

"Hey, you can't just leave! We need you to help us! Guilmon! Come back!" Viximon called out, but Guilmon continued to walk away as he vanished into the fields.

"Now why did he have to leave us?" Chocomon asked, feeling sad that one of their friends had gone.

"Because he feels responsible for creating BlackGuilmon. He'll need some time to be alone." Gummymon said in reply, before saying with a smile. "But I am sure we see him again in future."

And while the others felt a little better, Viximon looked in sadness as she watched her friend leave.

-With Guilmon-

After leaving his friends and traversing through the Digital World, he came upon a hidden cave, which he had heard about from Jijimon and Babamon.

Telling him rumours of a room that could give him years of training in a month, without aging him too far, before Jijimon made a comment on wanting it to have the effects reversible on Babamon, causing the pair to fight once again.

But focusing back on the present, Guilmon then found a door that was seen in the rock face hidden in the cave and pushed it open, where he found that within was a simple, white room, where he could actually feel time and space seem to flow faster when compared to the outside, while many books, training equipment and various foods, all sealed and preserved were inside the room.

And seeing the items needed to make him stronger and smarter, Guilmon thought aloud. "If I am gonna be able to defeat BlackGuilmon, I need to train myself hard and becomes smarter. I must lose my child-like presence, my chubbyness and make sure I never let BlackGuilmon win."

With that thought, Guilmon then went inside, to start his harsh and lonely training.

'I am sorry Takato. When we next meet, I'll be a different Digimon. But I cannot allow myself to be forgiven to given birth to something evil. My training starts now.'

-Several days later-

Guilmon was in the middle of another training regime, to which as he laid on his back, had heavy weights were attached to his ankles, while he began to lift up a pair of large and heavy weights with his hands, doing the same thing with lifting his legs with the smaller weights attached to them in the air, causing him to work up a sweat.

And after several more hours, Guilmon continued to push himself he tied his arms, tail and ankles to a huge rock and begin pulling the rock, while, attached around his forehead was a ring with a book before him, allowing the Hazard Digimon to read as he dragged the rock behind him.

He panted with exhaustion but knew he had to keep going, if he had any hope of defeating BlackGuilmon and stopping his evil.

-Meanwhile-

The other Digimon all found one way or another to become Rookies again.

Now they were planning on what to do.

"So we have to train to defeat BlackGuilmon." Terriermon said, only to inform his friends. "But we can't tell Henry or the others yet. Because we might need their help again in the near future."

"Agreed." Lopmon said, before adding. "And I've decided me and Terriermon should train together because of our smaller bodies."

"Very good. And Guardromon and I will train with each other." Monodramon said.

"Calumon and I will try to get better ourselves." MarineAngemon said, knowing that even though the two were not fighters, their techniques could be useful.

"Impmon, will you help me get stronger too?" Renamon asked.

"With Beelzemon, I could get up to your speed and strength." She then said, before showing her determination to get stronger as she knelt before Impmon and begged. "Please train me."

"Aw, alright, fine toots. But you follow my lead, got it?" Impmon sighed, making Renamon nod in reply.

"Ok. With that, let's meet again in three years time." Terriermon then said, before the Digimon all went their separate directions, while Renamon looked back and looked concerned, which Impmon noticed.

"Don't worry, fox-face. If I know pineapple head, he'll come back stronger than ever. Besides, he isn't one to be beaten so easily." Impmon assured her.

"I hope so." Renamon replied as she began to follow Impmon, before thinking as she placed her left paw on her chest. 'It's three years of training. You said seven. Just stay alive, for me, Guilmon.'