Chapter 4

(a/n. In this chapter, Dahlia's going to get her spirit! The digimon I'm using is not an original, and I would be surprised if you didn't know who her spirit was when I give you the name. I'm doing this 1. so it's easier to imagine the digimon in the story, and 2. so you can look her up online and get all the information you need. Enjoy! and please don't be mad and let me know in a comment what you think!)

Kouji and I were sliding side by side on a narrow path. I was hugging the rock wall, inching forward with him ahead of me. I slid my left foot forward.

The rock under it crumbled and fell. My eyes widened in shock. I almost slipped, but quickly got my footing.

"Help! Help us!" We heard people cry from somewhere above us.

Kouji looked up and found a little cave, probably where the cries for help were coming from. We had to climb up vertically to get inside. Kouji went first, me climbing behind him. He hauled himself inside, me starting to climb in as well. He grabbed my wrist, pulling me up. Obviously, he had heard me almost fall and didn't want that to happen again.

He yanked a little to hard though, and I ended up stumbling into him and us falling to the ground. I'd fallen on top of him, my hands on his chest with his around my waist. Our noses were practically touching. I jumped back, my face probably red as a tomato. He got up and dusted himself off, but I didn't miss the pink on his cheek.

We turned to look behind us.

"Hello?"

These green snail looking things were all pushed up against that back wall, locked in by a metal gate. They were caged in. My guess was that they were all female digimon.

"Heroes!" One yelled.

"Quickly please, you must release us." Another cried.

We ignored the others as Kouji started pulling on the lock, trying to get it undone. Seeings that it wasn't working, I handed him a rock.

"Thanks."

He started slamming the rock down on the lock, but it wouldn't budge. I stood back, giving him room, and watched.

The digimon started to squeal in surprise. We turned.

Two giant hands were reaching out at us. One grabbed Kouji by the arm, the other one grabbed me by the neck. Tears started to stream down my face. It hurt, God it hurt!

My throat had always been sensitive, ever since the accident.

"Let us go!" Kouji yelled.

It turned, walking towards the exit of the cave, and threw us out. I gasped for air now that I could breath again, but the air was rushing past me so fast that it was hard to get any at all.

"Dahlia!" Kouji yelled, trying to reach me. My eyes were closing and I was loosing consciousness. I felt arms wrap around me, one around my shoulder and one around my back. I was pulled to who ever it was.

Kouji.

I seriously thought that we were going to die. That is, until we landed with a soft thud.

Kouji let go of me once he realized we were safe. I purple bruise was forming around my throat in the shape of a handprint. I put my hands over it gently. Right now, it hurt to breath, but I had to keep on breathing. I couldn't just stop, I would die.

"Are you okay?" He asked. He seemed to be asking that a lot lately. It was kind of annoying, but he meant well.

I tried to answer, but black dots clouded my vision. "Dahlia? Dahlia hey!"

Soon they took over and everything went black.

I woke up lying on hard cement. Kouji was leaning against a wall with a pole in his hand. When he noticed me, he put a finger to his lips. I knew he meant more of a "Stay still and, don't move." rather then "Don't speak."

A head popped up and Kouji swung down with the pole. He barley had time to stop himself when he realized who is was.

It was Takuya.

"You're the people these guys found to help out?" Kouji asked in disbelief and annoyance. One by one, the other kids popped their heads in the doorway.

"Kouji and Dahlia?"

"Yeah, none of us could find any food either." Takuya said.

"Don't lump us in with you guys. These kids aren't going to be able to help out at all." Kouji stated, turning to the snail digimon.

"I'll help you right upside the head!" Takuya retorted. I held my throat, the pain rushing back to me.

"Hey, what's wrong with her?" Tommy asked, seeing me grimace in pain.

Kouji momentarily forgot the other kids as he ran over to me. He knelt down next to me, a hand on my shoulder. "Are you alright?"

His eyes were full of concern. I put up my index finger.

Just a second.

I sat there for a minute, breathing carefully and trying not to focus on the pain. Finally, I nodded.

"Good." He sighed in relief, then turned back to the other kids.

"Thanks but no thanks, the only thing you guys can do is get in my way. Can I help it if your not up to my level?"

"And she won't get in your way." JP replied, pointing to me.

Kouji suddenly became all defensive. "No she won't!"

"And how's that?"

"Gentlemen please! My thanks to all of you for coming to help." One KaratsukiNumemon started. "And now, it's time to eat."

"Alright! Time to chow down!" The kids cheered. That made them lose their balance and fall into the room. Kouji grabbed my shoulder and pulled me out of the way so I wouldn't get crushed.

The other kids stared at the food (multicolored cabbage) in front of them making a fuss about it until Zoey took a bite. She told them it was good and they started to eat happily. Kouji and I sat farther away from the group.

I had to rip off little bits of leaves so that I could eat, each bite sending a small pain through my body when I swallowed. Kouji watched me eat, a bit concerned.

"How come you guys are eating over there?" Zoey called over to me. She'd given up on talking to Kouji and now expected me to answer.

I tried to come up with some way to explain.

"Yeah, speak up!" Takuya agreed. Kouji's fists were clenched at his side.

"She can't." Kouji answered, trying to keep his voice calm.

"What do you mean she can't? Everyone can talk." Takuya exclaimed with that big mouth of his. I looked down in shame.

"Well she can't! She's mute, got it. She couldn't take to you even if she tried, though I'm not sure why she should want to talk to an inconsiderate airhead like you!" Kouji snapped. Everyone ignored Kouji's insult and looked over at me shocked.

"Oh my god." Zoey whispered. "All those times I called you anti social. . . I'm so sorry." She apologized. I shrugged my shoulders, loosing my apatite. It did hurt, but they didn't know. They just judged me from what they could see. It's human nature. Zoey saw that I wasn't talking and assumed it was because I was antisocial.

The room was quiet as everyone finished their meals. Zoey felt guilty, Tommy wanted to cry for me, Takuya was speechless (for once), JP wasn't talking because nobody else was, Kouji was fuming in anger, and I just couldn't speak at all. I couldn't look at anything but the cabbage thing in front of me.

"You need to eat." Kouji told me. I shook my head.

I'll be fine.

"If your sure. . ."

A while later, we were all crowded around a map of the mountain side.

"Grumblemon as the captives in a cave. It's right about here." Kouji says, pointing to where we had fallen.

"We have to get in and out quickly."

The KaratsukiNumemon started muttering silently, some whimpering in fear.

"Hey just relax! Have no fear, leave everything to us legendary warriors!" JP exclaimed with pride.

The KaratsukiNumemon were surprised at the "Legendary warriors!" part. They all backed away from us.

"What's the matter?" Zoey asked.

"You mean all of you are legendary warriors?" One KaratsukiNumemon with a mustache asked for confirmation. They were all huddled in a group in the corner of the room.

"Yeah in the flesh." Takuya exclaimed. I looked over, making an X with my arms and shaking my head.

"Oh..." Takuya fumbled with his words. "Right she's not." He pointed to me.

"But she is working with you guys right?"

"Yup!" Later on, that would prove to be the wrong thing to say.

They turned and started muttering furiously to each other.

"Hey, what got them all so worked up?" Tommy asked. I shrugged, but I had a feeling it had to do with the others being legendary warriors and it certainly wasn't good. They had gone from fear, to fury and back again.

"Believe me, I'd have trouble believing your legendary warriors too." Bokomon exclaimed.

"I bet their in awe of us." JP smiled. I wanted to face palm. Digimon don't mutter angrily when they are in 'awe' of someone.

"Umm, it's time to go to bed!" The snail with the mustache told us.

"And I say it's time for us to rescue the girls." Takuya countered with a determined look on his face. Takuya was fired up and ready to go on this mission now. He really wasn't a patient type of guy. To sum it up, he's the polar opposite of Kouji.

"Uh no no, get some rest first and then you can tackle the job in the morning." The KaratsukiNumemon insisted. I glared at them. Something wasn't right. Kouji and I exclaimed a glance and I knew then that he was thinking the same thing I was.

"Huh, uh, okay." Takuya agreed.

"Now off to bed with you!"

Everyone but me was lying on a pile of leaves that serves as a make shift bed since the real beds were on the side of the wall. I was pretty sure they were all asleep as I gazed out the window.

JP was right earlier. I would be in Kouji's way during this mission since I couldn't digivolve, so why would he say that I wouldn't? If grumblemon came after me, then I was a goner.

"You okay." Kouji came up behind me. I nodded, then looked confused. I pointed to myself, the others, and then my D-tector.

I won't be able to help you, but they will, because they have their spirits and I don't.

Then I pointed to the cliff.

What do you want me to do tomorrow?

Kouji sighed. "The best thing you can do is climb up to the cave and try to get the KaratsukiNumemon women out while we fight off Grumblemon. Just be careful and if you don't think you can make it, come back. It's no use to anyone if you get hurt.

I could tell it was a struggle for him to let me help at all. He looked like he wanted to force me to stay here, protect me, but he couldn't do that. I wouldn't stay put while the others were fighting. Saying I wouldn't be of use if I got hurt was his way to cover up what he was really feeling, but I could see right through the act.

I smiled.

I'll be fine.

"Not if you don't get some sleep. Come on, we need to rest." I nodded, walking back over to the leaf pile with Kouji. I lay down on the outermost side while Kouji settled between me and Takuya.

"Night." He whispered.

I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

"Dahlia, Dahlia wake up!" Kouji yelled at me. My eyes slowly opened, but the world was foggy. Below me was. . . nothing. I looked around to find the others next to me, all tied up and hanging over the end of the cliff. Looking down, I realized that I was as well. Kouji looked at me with relief and then back up at the KaratsukiNumemon in anger.

"What are you doing?"

"Well give you back to your partner in exchange for our women!" One yelled.

"You dirty sneaks, is that why you brought us here?" Takuya questioned.

I wanted to know how they even got us here in the first place.

"I think it is you who are the dirty sneaks! Pretending to be caring, helpful strangers when your really legendary warriors!" They spat back. I was right, and I should have done something before. Once again everyone was in danger because of my inability to help.

"I don't understand, what's wrong with that?" Zoey screamed.

"Yeah, and Dahlia's not even a legendary warrior! Why'd you take her too?" Kouji called.

"Because she's working with you! The time for lies and games is over, now it's time to go back with your ally"

"Ally? What are you taking about?" Kouji yelled, getting frustrated again.

"Don't play dumb. We all know your in league with Grumblemon." The KaratsukiNumemon answered.

They thought we were what?! Isn't that the digimon that threw me off the cliff? I swear if I get my hands on that guy. . .

There was a smash in the wall next to me, creating a tunnel.

"Now give fractal code or" I couldn't even understand his stupid threat. What was that thing anyway? He looked like a dwarf with a big nose and his red hat, sticking out the side of the tunnel. With him he carried a rather large hammer and he had red face pant all over his face. That's all I could really see since the rest of him was still inside the little hole he had created, but I could also tell he had a speech impediment.

"Oh yeah? Says who?" Takuya asked. That idiot!

"Say me! And you say me too once you know who I am. You call me Grumblemon!" My eyes widened in fear. I looked down at his hand, the hand that he used to grab me throat and throw me over the cliff.

"Hey, look at that symbol!" Zoey pointed out.

"He's also a, a legendary warrior?" Takuya yelled.

"Give fractal code. Or else. You not want see what or else is."

"I didn't realize their were bad legendary warriors." Bokomon thought out loud.

I disagreed with Bokomon. I didn't think the guy was necessarily bad, he was just confused. And in his eyes, we probably looked like that bad ones. Whatever Grumblemon's reasons were for doing this, I'm sure that he thought he was doing the right thing.

Grumblemon mumbled something about "Human Yoyo's."

"If you want to save your Ally's, give us back our women now!" KaratsukiNumemon tried to negotiate. They brought their knifes a bit closer to our ropes, or in this situation, life supports.

"Hey those knifes are a little close there!" JP complained.

"What so? Me no care what happens to weird human things." Grumblemon pointed to us.

They brought their knifes closer to the ropes but Grumblemon didn't even flinch.

"Wait you mean your not in league with them? Their legendary warriors too!" KaratsukiNumemon yelled down in confusion. This seemed to catch Grumblemon's attention.

"Huh, these weaklings be legendary warriors? Me think someones got their hands on some spirits when they shouldn't have!" I didn't get to hear what else he was saying because my rope was cut by a KaratsukiNumemon who didn't believe that we had nothing to do with Grumblemon.

I started plummeting to the ground at a rapid pace.

"DAHLIA!" I heard the others yell.

I wanted to scream with fright. I wanted to cry.

I wanted to be saved.

A bright light suddenly appeared from the side of the mountain. It was coming straight towards me. My D-tector started glowing like crazy. I pulled it out and the light came eagerly towards it, getting sucked in.

"It is time"

The data stream flowed around my hand. Determined, I scanned it with device.

"Execute." I choked out in a whisper.

"Spirit evolution!"

My body was enveloped in the light. My size didn't really change, but the rest of me did. My skin became tinted pink. On top of my head was a flower like hat and my green hair came out of it flowing down my back. It was ivy with thorns. I wore a pink dress, the top a sleeveless turtle neck with a golden leaf design and the skirt pink petals. On my feet I wore green boots with a yellow flower panted on them and actual yellow flowers at my ankles. The boots came up to about my knee's. Starting at my elbows, I had green sleeves coming down to my wrists and then turning into long yellow petals. From my back were wings in the shape of green leafs.

"Lillymon!" I unconsciously shouted the name of my digital form. I loved it. Sure it was a little pink and girly, but I also felt like I could take on the world right now and win.

"Hold on guys!" I yelled, flying back up. It was amazing, power coursing through my new body.

When I got back up, Lobomon kicked Grumblemon and they went flying into one of the houses. The others were pulled back up by the KaratsukiNumemon and getting themselves out of the thick ropes.

"Are you okay?" I asked them. They all looked confused.

"Who are you?" Takya asked.

"Yeah and wheres Dahlia?" Tommy added. His lip was quivering and he looked like he was going to cry.

"It's me! I am Dahlia. I spirit evolved." I giggled. I know that I should be serious in a time like this, but it just felt great to finally have my spirit.

"She's right!" Bokomon exclaimed. "That's Lillymon, the warrior of nature." I looked back down at myself. Nature did make sense, and I had always really liked nature.

"I thought you couldn't talk." JP was frowning at me. He was right! When I was like this, I could talk!

"It must be because I'm a digimon now! Anyway, I'm glad your alright, now come on, you've got to digivolve." I shouted, my mind registering the seriousness of the situation now.

They nodded, determined. The blue data stream appeared around their hands.

"Execute! Spirit evolution!" They yelled in unison. The world was enveloped in the white light.

"Agunimon!"

"Kumamon!"

"Kazemon!"

"Beetlemon!"

I was impressed with JP and Tommy. I had never seen their spirits before, but it suited them well. Tommy looked like a little polar bare all decked out in armor. Although he looked cute on first glance, I could tell he was tough and ready to fight.

JP on the other hand literally looked like a giant blue, orange and yellow beetle. The look was definitely intimidating and JP's confidence spiked with the transformation. You could see it in his eyes.

We all launched ourselves over towards Lobomon to help, who was busy fighting Grumblemon.

Lobomon was hanging from a hole in the wall by one hand and Grumblemon had raised his hammer, ready to pound Lobomon off the cliff. Beetlemon grabbed onto the hammer before he could strike.

"Careful, you might hurt someone with this." Grumblemon tried to get his hammer back, but Beetlemon yanked him up. Kazemon, Kumamon and I flew inside the house to get Lobomon.

"Grab my hand!" I yelled, holding out a hand to pull him up. He looked down, debating on wether or not he should let me help him or fall.

"Cut the macho act and grab her hand!" Kazemon yelled. He groaned but grabbed my hand, letting me pull him up.

"Who are you?" He asked. I was hurt for a second before remembering that he didn't know it was me yet. I understand. He had seen me fall off a cliff and now this pink flower girl had appeared acting all friendly around him and asking him to let her help. If the roles were reversed I would be on edge as well.

"It's me, Dahlia. I found my spirit!" I exclaimed.

"Dahlia? But how?"

I was about to explain what happened after I fell, but Kumamon interrupted. "Guys, we don't really have time for this!" He yelled.

Lobomon nodded but gave me a we're-talking-about-this-later-look.

"Okay guys, heres the plan. While I'm fighting Grumblemon, you free the captives and get all the KaratsukiNumemon someplace safe you got it?"

"You bet." Kumamon told him. Kazemon picked him up and the three of us flew out of the building and up to the cave.

When we got there, the KaratsukiNumemon women backed up in fright. It had been a legendary warrior that locked them in there, and now 3 of them were standing before them. I debated changing back into my normal self, but decided that was to risky. Instead, I went over and knelt down in front of them.

"Don't worry, we won't hurt you. We just want to get you out of here okay?" They relaxed a bit.

"Got any ideas?" I asked the other two warriors.

"Leave it to me." Kazemon smiled. Kumamon and I backed out of the way. "Hurricane wave!" Her winds slashed the lock, snapping the whole thing to pieces.

"Right this way ladies." Kumamon gestured to the exit.

The KaratsukiNumemon women cheered as they piled out of their prison. We watched them with glee as they reunited with the rest of the KaratsukiNumemon. I wondered how long they had been in there.

"We owe you a great debt brave heroes!" The KaratsukiNumemon leader cried with glee.

We smiled at them and looked outside the cave. It had started to rain.

When I flew out of the cave, I saw Beetlemon punching the side of the mountain with his thunder fist. It only took me a second to realize what he was doing. It was brilliant!

A wave of rocks fell onto Grumblemon, knocking him off the cliff.

"Nice job!" Agunimon complimented.

"Yeah it was, wasn't it."

"But where are the captives?" Lobomon asked.

"There!" Kumamon and I pointed up to where the KaratsukiNumemon were gathered.

"Boy, sure must be nice to get back to your family." Beetlemon commented.

Must be nice to have a family to go back to.I thought.

"Hey, what's that?"

"It must be the mountains fractal code." Kazemon said. I had to agree with her there. A chunk of the mountain had been replaced with the blue data streams.

Grumblemon appeared out of nowhere.

"Oh no, Grumblemon!"

"Hehe, look like I find what I want anyway! And thank you, I never find without you! Now get rid you!" He laughed, holding out a spirit in his hand.

Who's spirit was that?

"Execute!" Grumblemon yelled.

"Slide evolution."

He was surrounded by the blue data streams. When they disappeared he was an entirely new digimon.

"Gigasmon."

He jumped up into the air, spinning around extremely fast.

"quagmire twister!"

He hit all of us, knocking Takuya and Kouji off the ladder.

"Kouji! Takuya!" I yelled.

"Hold on, grab on to me!" Kumamon yelled.

"Frozen tundra!"

His body became solid ice sicking off the side of the mountain. Agunimon and Lobomon grabbed onto him, stoping themselves from falling.

I regained control of my wings, back up to my friends and Grumblemon. (At least, I think we're friends.)

I put my hands together. The petals on my wrists connected and spread out like they were blooming into a large flower, though in the center there was a large metal canon.

"Flower canon!" I shot a blast of green energy at Gigasmon that was deflected by his spinning and sent flying into the air.

Beetlemon charged at Gigasmon only to be knocked back and hit the wooden poles Bokomon and Neemon on. They started to fall, but Kazemon and Beetlemon caught them, me a little below incase they slipped. It was slippery after all.

"Whew, that was close." Bokomon sighed in relief.

"Slide evolution!"

Gigasmon was surrounded in data and changed back to Grumblemon.

"That it? That best you do with your spirits? That pathetic! Even make pathetic look good!

"Execute."

Oh no. He's changing back. Why did he change back to Grumblemon just to insult us though? Isn't that just a waste of energy?

"Beast spirit evolution"

Gigasmon looked back at us. "You joke."

"Wait a minute, what's going on?" Agunimon asked in fear. We were all afraid at this point.

"Rhino boy has too evolutions." Bokomon informed. "No kidding." I mumbled.

"Now I take fractal code in name of Cherubimon. Fractal code digitize!" He opened his mouth, sucking in all the data.

"Our mountain is no more!" The KaratsukiNumemon with the mustache yelled over the rain. The whole mountain started falling apart.

All my energy was drained from me as we fell. The others started screaming and we all changed back to our regular forms. JP, Zoey, Bokomon, Neemon, and I were all falling to the right while Kouji, Takuya, and Tommy fell to the left.

"Dahlia!" Kouji yelled. I looked at him with a sad smiled. I knew we were going to be separated for a while, so I wanted to smile at him and let him know that I was going to be all right.

"Kouji" I mouthed. I saw the scared look on his face. It was the last thing I saw before everything disappeared from my vision.