The Defenders

Chapter 4: Round One

The lone Forgotten Warrior made it's way to the demon lord around dawn.

"Milord, I have found the opposition. There are eight children and five digimon. The oldest of the children, a boy, reeks of poisoned flesh." The creature reported.

"He will be easy to destroy-" the demon lord grinned

"Milord, he has the strongest digimon though, it won't be easy at all, and I saw them enter the nearby town.

"Very good. You are to spread the word to the others to surround the town. They shall not escape."

"As you command Milord."

If they had any idea that the Forgotten Army had been so close, maybe they would have chosen to be more careful. Once in a while the digimon would think they heard something, but only shrugged it off. Ryo had estimated that the opposing army was a day away at least. Unknowingly they were walking near the enemy's encampment. If only they had known...

The children soon approached a small town. It was the first town they'd found in about a day and a half of walking.

"Why are we here?" Takato asked.

"To get supplies for what is ahead of us. By the way, this town is known as Aiko, the little loved town. The people here call it that because it is one of few such places where humans and digimon get along together." Ryo explained as they entered the town gates.

"There are other types of digimon?" Jenrya asked.

"Just look around. I know where to get what we need. Cyberdramon, stay here with them." Commanded Ryo.

Ruki immediately found some boys practicing martial arts and went there with Renamon following her.

Suichion went to look at some pretty dresses. Jenrya and their digimon tagged along.

Takato and Guilmon went to a food cart down the street.

Eventually Juri started down a street leaving Hirokazu and Kenta.

Hirokazu was busy talking to a type of digimon he'd never seen before, a Guardromon, and Kenta went looking at different shops along the street.

"So you're still alive are you, 'Boy'?" Asked a man, known as Koji outside the supply shop Ryo had just left.

"Yeah. So what about it?" Ryo answered.

"The way people were talking, someone would've thought you were dead."

"My time is coming soon enough. Why do they think that?"

"Maybe from the rumors that one of them chimeras poisoned you." He paused to let Ryo speak, but when he didn't the man continued. "It isn't a rumor is it?"

"No." Ryo said sadly.

"Listen boy. So far no one has survived it. Maybe you will."

"Why do you say that?"

"I believe that we can do whatever we put our minds to. When we do, we can either succeed or fail. The fear of failure keeps many from trying. Whatever has happened, good or bad, or will happen is part of your destiny and you must accept it."

"Thanks 'Old man'. I must get going. We're off to face the Forgotten Army."

"Good luck, and don't forget what I told you."

"I won't forget. See you later." Ryo waved to the man as he went to gather everyone up and get going.

But they were already waiting for him, and so were some digimon who were willing to fight with them.

"They are waiting for us." Cyberdramon said in a low voice.

"What?" Ryo hissed.

"Guardromon said he saw them advancing." Hirokazu said, and the nearby Guardromon nodded.

"We're trapped." Stated Takato.

"They'll kill us if we leave. There are hundreds of them out there!" A Leomon affirmed.

"We will fight them. Here." Ryo said passing out weapons to the kids.

"Suichion is too young to fight!" Jenrya cried.

"It is her decision." Said Ryo offering a long dagger to the little princess.

She took the proffered weapon. Ryo smiled making her blush. When she first saw him she 'fell in love' with him.

The army of children and digimon passed through the gates to face the enemy.

The children slashed at the Forgotten Warriors with their blades, and the digimon used their special abilities to fight. The Forgotten Army retaliated with wolf-like teeth and cat-like claws, along with their poison spiked tails.

It seemed that as one Forgotten Warrior was cut down and turned to dust two more would take it's place. The digimon could take out several at a time with their attacks, but the enemy army just kept coming.

"It's useless! There's no way we can win!" Ryo heard Kenta yell.

"No we must win." He responded, but then a terrible pain shook his body to the ground.

"Are you okay?" Cyberdramon asked concerned about his partner, as he released his attack 'Erase Claw'.

"I-I'm fine!" He lied.

The poison was spreading quickly now. He knew he didn't have much time left before it stopped his heart.

Maybe I can beat it like Koji believes. Ryo thought to himself and rose to his feet.

"Die you bastards!" As he went stronger than ever against the monsters.

The troops seemed to be thinning as time wore on. It was then that Ryo came face to face with one of them that reminded him of Youma with the scar it had across it's eye from when it was human. He remembered Youma having a similar scar from fighting against these creatures. He faltered momentarily. He had wanted revenge for nearly a year, but it didn't seem right for some reason.

"If that is you Youma, please forgive me for what I must do." He whispered and, rose his sword and sliced it through the monster.

The monster hissed in pain as it turned to dust as the others had, but to Ryo it sounded as though it had said 'I forgive you.'

The final one fell as the waning moon rose above the horizon. They had fought all night and were dog-tired. After a good rest in the town's inn there was a feast for those who fought against the Forgotten Army.

"What we fought all night was not the entire army." Ryo told everyone as they ate the meal the town's people prepared for them for protecting the town.

"You've got to be kidding!" Stated Ruki.

"I wish I were. That was only a portion of the army. They are only pawns for someone, or something, bigger." Ryo added.

"You mean there's more of them?!" An upset Jenrya asked.

"We could hardly hold our own out there, and you're saying that there are more of them?" Hirokazu yelled.

"I'm afraid so."

"Hey Boy. So you saved this town, eh? You and these kids are heroes!" Koji interrupted.

"I guess you could say that Old Man."

"Who are you?" Renamon asked Koji.

"I am Koji. Me and Ryo here have been friends since before those scums poisoned him." He answered and Ryo tried to stop him, but it was too late.

"Poisoned?" Kenta asked.

"Poor Ryo." Suichion said concerned.

"When did that happen?" Juri asked.

"It was a long time ago. Just forget about it." Ryo stated then left.

"What's with him?" Hirokazu said aloud.

"A good friend turned Forgotten Warrior is the one who poisoned him. It hurts him to talk about it. He'll come back sooner or later." Cyberdramon answered.

"That's so sad. Will he be okay?" Takato said sadly.

"I think so." Koji answered.

Ryo sat alone on a hill outside of the town gates. The twinkling stars almost seemed brighter than they had a few nights ago.

"Youma. Why?" He asked the stars. "Why did you have to join them?"

The stars just winked. They didn't tell him anything.

While he waited for the stars to speak to him he fell asleep.

He had a dream.

He stood in a strange room.

He turned around and saw Youma standing there as he was before he was turned into a Forgotten Warrior.

"Youma!" Ryo cried.

"Hey." Youma answered in a smirk.

"Why did you join the Forgotten Army?" Ryo asked angrily.

Youma said nothing.

"Answer me!" He yelled.

"If you were dying, wouldn't you do anything to live?" Youma asked.

"No. If I were dying I would accept it. I would never sell my soul to demons."

"I didn't sell my soul. I merely became one of the immortals."

"How were you immortal when you couldn't even think for yourself? I pity you Youma."

"And why is that?"

"You sold your soul for what? Another year of life? Power? Revenge? Meaningless things when you lost your soul and chance for redemption from God. I'm sorry to say that after I die we won' t see each other in heaven."

The dream ended then, and Ryo awoke to dawn breaking

To be continued