Posted on: July 9th, 2009

Fc: More apologies, Life's been hecktic that and I had slight writier's block. Major debate over what would happen next, but it's fixed. For those expecting Spirits... Sorry, not yet, Next Chapter.

Cookies for whoever guesses who gets theirs first! (one guess per reviewer XD)

Chapter Six
Nobody Knows the Troubles I've Seen

Why did I tell them I;m Danny Phantom!? I hardly know these people!

You trust them...

But why?

You trust them… because you have always trusted them

"That… makes no sense… At all." Danny muttered quietly, scowling slightly.

Sam raised an eyebrow but said nothing, seeming to be the only one who heard him. She glanced at him realizing he was having a mental debate of some sort, and it appeared as though neither side was wining. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, following Zoe and the rest up a steep incline. Everyone had fallen silent, like no one felt comfortable enough with the newcomers to talk freely. And man did it drive everyone bananas.

"Does anyone have any idea where we are?" Kouichi asked after a good while of silent wandering.

The Chosen Children and their new additions to the team had been wandering through the forest for hours. It really had been hours, the sun already set. Everyone was tired, irritated, and lost. It seemed like they were walking in circles, although it was hard to tell as all the trees and plants looked the same.

Zoe heaved a heavy sigh. "Where's Bokomon when you need him?" she wondered aloud. That odd uncomfortable feeling seemed to have lifted from the group as agreeing smiles were exchanged between the remainder of the original Spirit holders. They would've been lost without the little white Digimon on their last adventure.

"Who's Bokomon?" Danny asked, suddenly jarred from his silent musings.

All eyes fell upon Danny and Sam. That same discomforting feeling set in again. There was so much to be said, so much that needed to be said… and so much that just couldn't be explained. Eyes averted to the nearby ground and foliage, no one wanting to try and explain the current situation.

"He was a friend of ours," JP started, knowing this would go over about as well as a lead balloon.

Danny and Sam seemed to accept the vague answer, knowing that was pretty much all they would be able to comprehend at the moment. Takuya gestured for everyone to get moving again, no matter how unwilling they were.

So they trudged off up the hill. The trees began to thin as they neared the top. Tommy and Takuya, who were leading the group, stopped suddenly. Everyone else filed around them so they could get a glimpse of the scene below. Two words came to mind upon seeing the fields and valley below

Complete Annihilation.

It was far worse than the destruction that Cherubimon had caused. It was even worse than the destruction Danny's evil, jerky, no longer future self had caused. Trees had been blown away, leaving only frail, charred toothpicks. The grass was dark and sooty. Life was completely devoid of the area. Nothing… Nothing would have survived whatever had caused such devastation.

Takuya, without hesitation, slid down the side of the steep hill into the charred remains. His expression was fearful, almost like he had seen this somewhere. He looked completely horrified.

"This is all that's left… This is what the Digital World will become"

He remembered that vision of the dark warrior he had had, "He was right…The destruction has begun… And we're still not ready…" The brunette gogglehead whispered, eyes scanning the scorched landscape. He clenched his fists. They couldn't stop anyone yet. They were powerless.

The rest of the team followed Takuya down the slope, each gazing at the horrific sight in front of them.

"What… What could have done this?" Sam asked fearfully, not truly wanting an answer.

The Original Spirit Holders found it hard to come up with an answer, a logical one at least. The only enemy they ever had to fight capable of such a disaster was Takuya's wild, untamed Beast Spirit; BurningGreymon. When he first received it, it possessed the boy and tried to destroy everyone and everything, burning anything that got in his way…

"Lucemon," Kouji growled.

Sam and Danny exchanged quizzical expressions. "Lucemon?" Sam repeated.

Kouichi glanced at the pair solemnly, "The Fallen Angel Digimon. He's a raving lunatic, who'll stop at nothing to seize total control of the Human and Digital Worlds."

Danny raised an eyebrow, not sure really whether to buy this explanation. Sam seemed to feel the same way, given her skeptical expression. "A Fallen Angel? Seriously." Sam replied, her tone cynical if nothing else.

Takuya was about to argue back when Zoe interrupted him. "Guys look over there! I think there's someone out there!" She exclaimed shrilly, pointing towards the valley. Seven head swiveled to follow her hand. Sure enough there seemed to be something out in the ashy forest, approaching them slowly.

"Let's go check it out." Takuya said, motioning for everyone to follow his lead.

Danny stood his ground firmly, "Wait a second. We can't just run off to check it out… It could be dangerous!"

"It could need our help," Takuya countered, "It's our job as the Chosen Warriors-"

"Warriors? We're not Warriors! We're defenseless if whatever's out there isn't friendly."

Kouji and the others paused mulling this information over while Danny and Takuya glared at each other with a renewed burning hatred.

"You both have a good point," Zoe said quietly, "But we need to risk it. We need to find out what's going on. And we're not totally defenseless… You still have your ghost powers right?"

Danny blinked, having forgotten that little fact. "Fine" he grumbled, crossing his arms like a defeated two year old.

Takuya motioned for everyone to follow again and they set off across the field. Danny muttered quietly to himself as Takuya led the way. Sam and Zoe rolled their eyes. "Boys will be boys," Zoe commented to Sam softly. She smiled and agreed. Boys will be boys.

"Look! There it is!" Tommy said, pointing at a large darkly colored Digimon. It looked very much like a large wolf. It's fur was the same color as the ash and soot of the forest's remains. White stripes cris-crossed the entire length of his body and long, whip like tail. His golden eyes locked with the group. He tried to turn to flee but his legs gave out from beneath him.

"Whoa, hey buddy! We're not going to hurt you." Takuya said reassuringly as the group drew nearer to the large Digimon.

The dark wolf lifted his head. "Impossible. You're humans… Humans don't' belong in the Digital World." He said in a deep gruff voice.

Kouji shrugged. "Well we're here, want us to leave you stranded out here or help you..." Kouji replied curtly, earning a stern gaze from his brother.

"Humans…" The Digimon shook his head in complete disbelief, "Last time there were humans in the Digital World was the last time- Lucemon! Tell me you're not here because of him!" he barked, suddenly becoming very nervous.

"Isn't he the one who did this?" Sam asked curiously. So this is a Digimon.

The Wolf snorted, "Hardly. This was the doing of a dark Digimon. BlackWarGreymon."

Several eyes flickered towards Takuya, namely because BlackWarGreymon sounded awfully similar to BurningGreymon. "So it wasn't Lucemon…"

"Do you mind… uh…" Zoe faltered realizing they never learned the dark Digimon's name.

"BlackGarurumon." The dark wolf supplied.

Zoe blushed in embarrassment, "Sorry; where are we BlackGarurumon?"

"Where are we? We're in what's left of the Forest Kingdom. Just over those hills is all the life that remains."

Takuya, Zoe, JP, Tommy and Kouji gasped, remembering how vast and lush the Forest Kingdom used to be. "Did BlackWarGreymon do all of this?" Kouji asked.

BlackGarurumon nodded. "He came out of nowhere, striking down the weak and innocent. He has a heart of coal, dark and dingy, if he has a heart at all. His slaughter was ruthless and merciless. Many tried to stop him… but his power far exceeded our own. I was once a Mega level Digimon, BlackMetalGarurumon. I along with several other Mega Digimon tried to stop him. He took us down and took our Data. I believe I am the only survivor. WarGreymon… Sakuyamon… BanchoLeomon… They're all gone…"

The Digidestined felt a twinge of sadness for the dark Digimon's fallen comrades. They exchanged solemn expressions.

"We'll stop him… Somehow…" Takuya muttered.

BlackGarurumon scoffed, "If four Mega level Digimon couldn't defeat him, what makes you think you scrawny humans can."

"Because Seraphimon sent for us. The Digital World is about to collapse again… We're here to stop it." Kouichi stated matter-of-factly.

"Pfft, Seraphimon sent for you. Why in the Celestial Moons would he do that? Who do you think you are? The Legendary Warriors!? If such a legend had existed, surely they would've stopped BlackWarGreymon by now." BlackGarurumon shot back in a scathing tone.

"What do you mean if they existed?" JP asked, wondering what the dark wolf's words meant.

BlackGarurumon stared directly at the eldest boy. "The Legendary Warriors are nothing more than what their name implies; a legend. The last time they supposedly save the world was hundreds of years ago… It's just rubbish. They don't exist or else this wouldn't be happening." He said scornfully.

Takuya and the original Digidestined looked at each other guiltily. It had been a little more than two years since they had set foot in the Digital World, returning on the same day they left. In the Digital World, time flew forward, hundreds of years. Hundreds of Years without the Spirits… no wonder BlackGarurumon didn't believe in the Legendary Warriors.

The Black Wolf caught their expressions, "Wait a second… You're kidding right? You puny little humans are-"

"Six of the Ten Legendary Warriors." Zoe finished.

"So what about you two? Wait let me guess, You're AnicentGaiamon and AncientSeishinmon come back to life." BlackGarurumon said sounding completely unconvinced.

"Well yeah." Sam said, "Danny and I have the Spirits of Life and Death."

BlackGarurumon's joking expression faltered. "You're kidding with me right? Right?" he saw the serious expression on each of the children's faces, "So the stories are true. The Spirits of the Ten Legendary Warriors reside in humans…" BlackGarurumon said thoughtfully.

"Over there! There he is!" The eight spirit holders jumped upon hearing a new voice. A lean, yellow, nine tailed fox Digimon was racing towards BlackGarurumon. She was followed by a large, orange, striped T-Rex like Digimon and a anthropomorphic lion Digimon.

The dark wolf blinked in surprise. "Kyubimon?" he asked in shock.

Kyubimon pounced on him. "Who else my dear friend?" she purred happily.

"Kyubimon, Greymon, Leomon… I thought BlackWarGreymon had taken your data! I thought you guys were gone!"

Leomon, the lion Digimon, stepped closer, "You must have more faith in us. We don't get taken down easily."

Greymon, the large orange with blue stripes dinosaur, turned to the Digidestined. "Now who might you young ones be?" He asked gruffly turning his attention on the eight Spirit Holders

"You'll never believe it," BlackGarurumon said, "These humans are the Warriors that so many of us have waited for."

"The Balance!?" Kyubimon replied in shock. Leomon, Kyubimon, and Greymon studied the eight children carefully. BlackGarurumon nodded. The children had no idea what they were talking about in the slightest.

Leomon gazed up at the darkening sky overhead. "We must take them to the Gotsumon Village. It is unsafe to be exposed out here."

Kyubimon nodded. "You and Greymon go, take the humans, I'll stay here and help BlackGarurumon," she said.

"We'll see you at the Gotsumon Village," Greymon responded inclining his head slightly, "Come along young Warriors. We'll take you to a place where you'll be safe for now."

"I suggest consulting with Meteormon; he's one of the oldest and wisest Digimon, he might have some good advice for you." Leomon chimed in. He followed behind the Children as Greymon led the way.

Sam and Danny were just in total shock as they followed the large orange dinosaur. Digimon, or Digital Monsters as they had come to realize, were intelligent, and these four, beast-like. They were beautiful and destructive given the amount of damage the forest had sustained. Each Digimon was unique… they were, in many ways just like humans. Maybe… This wouldn't be so bad after all.