All of us were sitting in a circle resting accept for Kouji who still didn't fully accept the idea of 'teamwork.'

"Isn't it nice to finally have some piece and quiet for once?" Bokomon asked.

"Let's have some fun and play charades!" Neemon suggested. I looked over at him with an angry glare.

I'm always playing charades

The little digimon ignored me.

"I thought you said fun." Bokomon grumbled.

"I've always wanted to try that thing where you're trapped in an imaginary box!"

Four little Tanemon popped out from the ground near us. One waddled over to Neemon who stroked her on the head. One of them looked at me wide eyed and grinning.

"Dahlia!" She exclaimed. I recognized her as the little Tanemon from the preschool. My smiled widened almost impossibly big. She jumped over to me and sat on my lap. I hugged her close.

"I'm so happy to see you!" She smiled. I bent down and whispered to her.

"I'm happy to see you too."

"You two know each other?" Kouji questioned. I nodded and gestured towards JP and Zoey.

I met her when I was with JP and Zoey

My attention was drawn back to the little digimon on my lap. "Oh Dahlia I have so much to tell you!" She started talking extremely fast informing me on everything that had happened since we left the preschool. "Gabumon is doing well and Kapurimon was able to digivolve into Kotemon! Also, I think I might digivolve soon!" I listened intently to everything that she was saying, happy to be able to see her again.

"Aww man, I really messed up." Tommy whispered, looking at the ground, feeling guilty about Zoey sacrificing her spirit for him. I held Tanemon closer to me.

"It's okay Tommy what happened wasn't your fault." Zoey tried to reassure him, but the sadness dripping from her voice didn't make it very believable.

JP started going off about how he was going to get Zoey's spirit back for her no matter what and if the others wouldn't help him, then he was fine with that.

"You have a one track mind buddy. We can't just run out and fight, we have to get to the forest terminal." Takuya said. I frowned. With everything that was going on recently I had forgotten that we had actually had a goal and was simply focusing on staying alive.

"So what then we just let him win? I can't just sit back and let Grumblemon run around with Zoey's spirit." JP argued.

"It's okay JP." Zoey was staring down at her D-tector sadly. A bunch of Tanemon ran over to her but she was to absorbed in her own sadness to notice them. Disappointed, the Tanemon started heading away.

"I have to go." Tanemon frowned sadly. Then she suddenly smiled.

"Dahlia I really want to show you something! Can I?" I nodded. I'm sure it would be fine and I could catch up to the others. I quickly wrote a note.

Went with Tanemon, go on ahead, I'll catch up - Dahlia.


"Nice sentiment but we have more important things to do then fight battles we can't win." Kouji sighed. He had just about enough of this pity party.

"What is your problem Kouji!" JP snapped. "You'd be going crazy if you're spirit was stolen. But hey! I understand if your afraid. Even the great Kouji doesn't stand a chance against Grumblemon."

"What?" Kouji was getting mad now.

"I mean, who cares if you have your beast spirit. You can't even control it."

Kouji's fists were clenched at his side and he was ready to pound some sense into the giant idiot in front of him. Takuya and Tommy jumped between them to stop the fighting. Zoey agreed that they shouldn't worry about her spirit and JP argued that she was crazy as well.

"Alright, that's it, I've had enough." Bokomon jumped in. He could no longer stand watching the legendary warriors fight the way that they were.

"I think it's time to do something more productive then stand here and argue."

"Ahem my friends, I think the time has finally come." He began.

"Come for what?" JP asked.

"What do you mean?" Zoey questioned.

"Time to show you the path of wisdom."

"Well theres a change."

"Yeah no kidding."

"Wisdom is a path not easily walked. You must-" Kouji stopped listening to him and instead thought back to JP's words earlier. He was not afraid of losing his spirit and he certainly wasn't afraid of Grumblemon. He just didn't see the point in fighting a losing battle.

"Now come along." Bokomon signaled with dirt on his face from falling before.

"Okay. Dahlia, Come on! We're going!" Takuya yelled. He waited a second but Dahlia never appeared.

"Dahlia! Let's go! You don't wanna get left behind do ya?" He tried again. This time they waited a minute but she never appeared. All of them were starting to get worried.

"Let's take a quick look around." Zoey finally suggested. She was getting really worried now. Dahlia wasn't someone to keep people waiting.

They split quickly to look for Dahlia and decided to meet back at their original spot in ten minutes. Tommy was looking at the clouds when he tripped and fell to the ground. As he started to pull himself up he saw a note right in front of his face.

"Hey guys! I found something!" Tommy yelled. Takuya was the first to burst through the bushes.

"What is it little buddy?"

"A note."

The others appeared next to them as they crowded around the note, reading what it said.

Went with Tanemon, go on ahead, I'll catch up - Dahlia.

Kouji could feel his fists ball up in anger. What the hell was she thinking! With Grumblemon on the lose it wasn't safe for any of them to be alone, and there she goes, waltzing off like it's just a walk in the park.

"Any idea's where she went?" Kouji growled, trying to hide his anger.

More then anything though, he was worried. Worried that she would get lost, or hurt, or she would lose or spirit, or even her-

"Perhaps she is with the Tanemon. She did seem to be talking to them a lot." Bokomon suggested.

Kouji mentally slapped himself. That's right! She had said that she'd met one of them before.

"Where would the Tanemon be headed?"

Bokomon though for a second. "Probably towards the town over that way. I'm sure we can catch up if we-"

Kouji didn't hear the rest as he had already taken off towards the town. She had better bet there.


Dahlia was amazed by the sights before her, carrying Tanemon in her arms. They had been walking around for about an hour. Digimon crowded the streets and little tents and shops lined it offering various items and activities.

"Meet apples! Meet apples! Get your steaming hot meat apples here!"

"Just get the hoop onto the pole for a prize!"

" 2 for the price of one sale!"

"Isn't it awesome Dahlia!" The excited green digimon asked her. The pinkette nodded. This was definitely a sight to see.

"Hey! You! Over here!" A digimon yelled at Dahlia. The girl turned to find the voice that waved her over. Uncertain, she walked over to the digimon. She gave it a questioningly look.

"Confused? Well you won't be for long. With just a look at your palm I can tell you your future love life!"

Dahlia blushed at that, realizing with embarrassment that a certain boy popped into her mind. She stepped back with a wave of her hand, trying to tell the digimon no. Instead, her hand was grabbed and the fortune teller stared deeply at her palm.

"As for your past, you've never really had a love life. You poor girl. Your past is a life with hardly any love at all. You have tried so hard to gain it, but to no avail."

Dahlia shifted uncomfortable. It was creeping her out on how spot on this digimon was. Perhaps it was just a guess.

"Interesting. Presently, you do have your eyes on someone, someone who you have not yet come to accept your true feelings for, but it is clear right in the palm of your hand. The way you really feel, that is."

The girl gulped. What truth.

"You love him." The digimon stated simply. "But you doubt that he could ever return the feeling, and you are afraid that this feeling will distract you from your goal."

Dahlia's eyes widened in shock. There was no way she was in love with Kouji right?

Yet the fact that it was his name and face that popped up at the word love was all the proof that Dahlia needed. This digimon was right.

She was in love with Kouji.

The problem was, she had no time to be anything with Kouji but friends under the circumstances. Right now, their main goal was to get to the forest terminal.

Who is to say that when they got home, Dahlia would ever see him again anyway? Would she see any of them again, or was their friendship really limited to the digital world?

Dahlia had to get over her feelings, and she had to get over them fast. They were dangerous, distracting even. She couldn't let this get in the way of her goal.

"JP what are you doing?"

The familiar voice snapped her out of her thoughts. It was Takuya! If he was here then so was everyone else. She needed to get back to the group.

Yanking her hand away, she started running towards her 'friends.'

"Wait! I haven't told you your future love life yet!" The digimon yelled to her. Dahlia ignored it with a soft smile on her face. She would rather not know what the future held for her until she lived it out herself.

Tommy heard the footsteps first. He turned towards where they were coming from, getting slightly nervous. His nerves went away when he saw the familiar head of pink.

"Dahlia!" He yelled excitedly, rushing over to meet her. Nobody else had heard the young boy cry out of the footsteps rushing towards them.

Dahlia bent down, putting Tanemon next to her and scooping Tommy into a hug. She could here his snivels in her ear as he tried not to cry.

"Why'd you go? We were so worried."

The girl held him a bit tighter to her chest.

"Sorry." she whispered.

"Just don't do it again okay? We need you."

Her heart swelled as she nodded again.

"Promise?" Tommy asked, holding out his pinky.

Dahlia giggled but wrapped her pinky around his own. Satisfied with the answer, Tommy pulled out of her embrace and held her hand as they walked back over to the group. He was glad to have his big sister back.

"Guys look what I found!" Tommy yelled happily. His friends turned to them.

"Dahlia your back!"

"Where did you go?"

"What were you thinking!"

"Is that Tanemon with you?"

Questions were being thrown at her from all angles. She put up a hand to stop them, scooping up Tanemon into her arms.

First, she pointed over to the road she had come down.

I was just over there.

Secondly, she nodded and smiled at Tanemon.

Yes, this is the Tanemon from the preschool.

Finally, she glared at Kouji, a look that no one but him got.

I'll talk to you about this later.

"Come on you lot, we still have to talk to Shamanmon!" Bokomon reminded them already walking away. Soon, the kids followed behind.


After a few minutes of walking, Dahlia and Tanemon had said there goodbyes, promising to see each other again soon.

Kouji put a hand on Dahlia's shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"It's later."

The pinkette sighed. She knew they would have to talk about this eventually, so might as well just get it over with. The two started walking slower, distancing themselves from their teammates but still in range to keep them in sight.

"What were you thinking just leaving like that without telling us! All you left was a note!" Kouji whisper yelled, furious. This made Dahlia furious as well. Stupid hypocrite!

"Like you haven't done that before." She retorted with her own whisper.

Kouji was at a loss of words for a second.

"That was different." That excuse even sounded pathetic to him.

"Yeah it was. I promised to come back." Her words felt like a slap in the face. Knowing she had won this argument, Dahlia quickened her pace, heading towards the front of the group head held high and throat soar. That didn't matter though. She was glad to get the words out. As for the 'head held high' thing. It was a disguise, because inside, she was just as hurt as Kouji was.


They entered through the ancient doors, each holding a different emotion. Takuya was curious, Zoey was nervous, Tommy was scared, JP wanted to run and hide in a bush, Dahlia was upset yet also a bit nervous and scared, and Kouji was just angry. He didn't care about where they were or what exactly was going on, his fight with Dahlia replaying over and over in his head, as it did in hers.

"Shamanmon I call upon your wisdom, your insight, so basically, we are asking for 2 cents worth of advice." Bokomon called. The warriors could see a figure standing towards the back of the room.

"Who calls upon Shamanmon?" The figure asked.

"Weary travelers in need of guidance from the universe."

Dahlia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. This was just way too cliche and weird. Then again, what would she have said if she were Bokomon. "Hi, I'm traveling with the legendary warriors and we don't know what the hell to do, so would you please help us?"

"Oh you get guidance alright." Shamanmon turned. Half of the group gasped while the other half remained silent, the other half being Bokomon, Neemon, Kouji, and Dahlia.

Takuya pointed accusingly. "Wait a minute I remember you!"

"Your one of those nasty Goblinmon from the wind factory!"

Both Kouji and Dahlia were about to exchange a glance, wondering what they had missed, but then the remembered that they were supposed to be mad at each other and stopped.

"Come on you guys, lets get him!' Tommy exclaimed, already reaching for his D-tector.

"No no no Shamanmon is one of the good guys!" Bokomon all but yelled in their faces, trying to stop them from attacking. "Shamanmon is a medium. This all seeing digimon does a ceremonial dance and uses his magical club to see into the future."

Shamanmon started doing some weird dance, swinging around his club.

"You should be very careful. Ahead, you face much danger." he warned.

The digidestined stared at him like he had three heads.

"You will come up against a foe you have faced before, but this foe has a friend and in beating him, you will find a friend is your foe."

Dahlia blinked rapidly, confused and curious. She thought about what he said over and over again. If they defeated the enemy, then they would discover one of their friends is an enemy or will turn into an enemy. If this were the case, then wouldn't it be better not to fight this foe at all? Then again, they might have to if it meant their life was on the line.

"I don't buy it." Takuya declared. Tommy nodded in agreement.

"Then listen to this! The greatest test will be faced by you two!" Shamanmon yelled, shoving his club in their faces.

"This test had the power to destroy you all if your not careful."

With that, the digimon turned his back to them and started walking away.

"Hey, come back!" Tommy yelled.

"Yeah, we don't wanna get destroyed."

Shamanmon went back to dancing. "Then remember who you are and trust in each other and your friendship."

No sooner was that said, the building started shaking. Dahlia fell backwards, landing into someones arms. Looking up, she found it was Kouji.

"You alright?" She blushed but nodded. He helped her back to her feet and grabbed her hand, running towards the exit.

Outside the door, the shaking got worse. It was a struggle to stay on their feet.

"Come on, we have to keep moving." Kouji yelled. He tugged on Dahlia's arm a little bit which brought her back into focus as they ran down the stairs.

A digimon emerged from the ground with Grumblemon on it's back. It looked like a bunch of stone glued together as an art project with a helmet on it's head.

"Old foe big friend!" Takuya yelled, summarizing Shamanmon's words.

"It's Golemon!"

"Grumblemon get big angry surprise for little spirit kids!" Grumblemon sang. Kouji clenched his teeth, not realizing that he was still holding Dahlia's hand.

"One of these days, I'm going to beat this guy." Kouji growled. Dahlia put a hand on his shoulder to calm him.

Not alone. I'll be right there.

Golemon lunged towards the other legendary warriors.

"Oh save me!" Neemon cried.

"Just give me a minute!" Takuya snapped back. He didn't mean to sound so angry but he was kind of frustrated and scared at the moment.

Golemon punched the ground, sending rocks into the air and the kids flying. A shard of the earth lodged itself into Dahlia's wrist, the force of it making her let go of Kouji's hand.

Blood oozed from where it pierced her skin.

Takuya and the others grabbed their D-tectors, ready to digivolve. Data surrounded their hands.

"Execute!" All but Dahlia yelled.

"Spirit evolution!"

"Agunimon"

"Beetlemon"

"Kumamon"

"Lillymon"

Kouji shot his hand out as multiple data streams surrounded it. "Now for the big spirit! Execute."

"Beast spirit-"

"Me no think so!" Grumblemon tossed powder out of a bottle straight at him. It landed on the ground in some sort of star formation and Kouji fell, getting trapped in the center.

"What's going on? I can't move!" Kouji yelled as he struggled to move. For some reason, his body wouldn't react to his demands and he was stuck in place.

"Sorry. KendoGarurumon no play today. You no move till grumblemon say so."

Dahlia made a note that Grumblemon didn't seem so sorry at all.

Together, her and Kumamon made the first move.

"Crystal freeze!"

"Flower canon!"

The green ball of energy mixed with the snow, making the attack seemingly more powerful. The targets dodged out of the way though, Kumamon narrowly missing a punch while Lillymon took it directly. It sent her straight to the ground.

"Lillymon!" Beetlemon yelled. He started to charge up.

"Thunder fist!"

His fists slammed straight down onto Golemon's head but that didn't seem to do anything. The giant digimon didn't even flinch.

"Sulfur plume!"

Golemon opened his mouth, firing the attack. It sent Lillymon, Beetlemon, and Kumamon flying backwards and smacking into crushed up pillars.

Grumblemon was laughing at them. "Don't tell me that best you can do."

Golemon advanced on the three fallen warriors. Lillymon was the worst off having taken two direct hits in a row. One more and her spirit would be up for grabs.

"My turn. Pyro tornado!" Agunimon shot fire from his fists, sending it straight into Golemon's face. It only took a second for the digimon to rebound.

"Sulfur Plume!"

Zoey watched in horror as Agunimon was sent flying backwards. "You can do it! Just work together!" She yelled.

The legendary warriors forced themselves back onto their feet.

"Enough! You finished! You surrender spirits now or be destroyed big time." Of course, none of the warriors backed down.

Kouji was extremely pissed, stuck in his spot and being forced to watch the others get hurt. It was obvious that Dahlia couldn't take much more of it. If he could just move to digivolve into KendoGarurumon. . .

"Anyone got any suggestions?"

Golemon slammed his fist down into the ground again, Dahlia being the closest. A giant boulder was coming straight at her. There was no time to dodge or attack, but if she didn't do something, Grumblemon would get her spirit. She couldn't let that happen.

For Kouji, it felt like the whole thing happened in slow motion. Lillymon gripped her D-tector, it began to glow and so did her body, her shape returned to that of Dahlia, the spirit returned to the safety of her D-tector,

And she was hit by the boulder.

Her frail body was sent flying backwards and into another rock. She gasped at the impact and fell to the ground. Everything hurt, her body was soar and her vision was blurry. She couldn't think straight due to the excruciating pain she was feeling. From Grumblemon's cry of frustration she could tell that her spirit had been saved.

"DAHLIA!" Kouji screamed. His efforts to get out of this spell were doubled but he still couldn't move. Only stare at her broken body.

A tear fell down her face. She wanted to tell Kouji that she was going to be alright, but there was a metallic taste in her mouth and she couldn't find her words. A single tear slid down her face.

One thought raced through Kouji's mind. Grumblemon was going to pay.

"What do we do?" Kumamon yelled. He wanted to attend to his friend, no sister, but they were in the middle of a battle. Agunimon gritted his teeth.

"Work together and take this guy down!"

With a new found determination, they jumped into the air.

"Hit him hard!"

"Right"

"I'll chill him out! Blizzard blaster!" Kumamon fired various snowballs from the gun on his shoulder. The attack was followed by Beetlemon's and then finished with Agunimon's Pyro tornado. Golemon was sent down and slammed hard into the ground.

"No!" Grumblemon yelled in frustration. He jumped up.

"Execute! Slide evolution!"

"Gigasmon!"

Dahlia stared at the scene in front of her. She was hardly able to make out the shapes of her friends, but she could tell that they were now up against Gigasmon. Tommy tried to attack him but he was unable to do so and ended up taking one of Gigasmon's instead. Agunimon tried to get Tommy out of there, but it was no use. When Tommy did escape though, his spirit was exposed.

She could hear Zoey yelling desperately at Tommy but it was no use. Gigasmon ate his spirit.

"No." Dahlia chocked on her own sobs. Her body was shaking which didn't help with the pain but there was nothing she could do to stop the tears flowing down her face. They were a mixture of pain and grief.

"Tectonic slam!"

Gigasmon slammed his fists onto the ground. The entire area started to shake.

Out of nowhere, a digimon tackled him to the ground. Gigasmon went flying back while the other digimon stayed standing. It roared in what Dahlia could only guess was pain. She knew the feeling.

Words were exchanged that Dahlia ignored. She knew her friends were still fighting and she also knew that Kouji was still stuck. She had to help somehow, but she couldn't do that on the ground.

Shaking, she forced wait onto her hands and knee's pushing herself off the ground. Pain shot through her back causing her to bite her lip to keep from screaming as she continued to force herself up.

Gigasmon disappeared which meant that the magic circle surrounding Kouji disappeared as well. He got up off the ground, running towards Dahlia with an indescribable feeling in his chest. His heart was beating a million times faster then before.

When he got to her, he wrapped one arm around her shoulder and the other around her waist. She was practically sitting as she leaned against the rock behind her for support.

"What were you thinking?! Why did you change back like that?! If you had stayed as Lillymon you wouldn't have been hurt so badly!"

Rather then respond, Dahlia coughed. Her eyes widened when she looked down at the red substance on her arm. Not only was one wrist bleeding, but also the other one was splattered with her mouth blood.

She could tell that Kouji was worried. He just tended to express that worry with anger. The girl twisted her arm hoping that Kouji wouldn't see the blood, but he did.

Without another word he scooped her up bridal style and moved as fast as he dared to towards the others, not wanting to hurt her. He caught up to the rest of the team who were retreating from the giant digimon that had attacked Gigasmon.

There was a roar that Agunimon recognized from the beast. He turned, hearing it again in the form of words.

"I've been possessed by the beast spirit!" It yelled. Agunimon turned on his heels.

"Shamanmon?"

"Please, rescue me!" Agunimon listened closely as Shamanmon retold the story of how he had gotten the beast spirit.

"Please, help me!"

Agunimon made up his mind and moved slowly towards the digimon that was crying out in pain.

Beetlemon turned, confused as to why Takuya wasn't following.

"Agunimon, what are you doing?"

If his friend had heard him, he didn't show it.

"Don't worry Shamanmon, I can help you."

Shamanmon cried out in pain again as fire exploded from his body. Against his own will he tried to attack Agunimon who dodged out of the way. Agunimon fired an attack of his own that seemed to have no affect.

Kouji watched the scene unfold from the sidelines, holding Dahlia against his chest. Her breathing was ragged and shallow, obviously still in a lot of pain.

Agunimon had been hit and was now lying on the ground struggling to get up. The possessed Shamanmon stomped on his back when he tried to get up. The digimon aimed an attack at Takuya's throat. Just when Agunimon though he was going to get hit, Shamanmon froze.

"Strike now!" He commanded. Agunimon looked confused.

"Now!"

Getting the message, Takuya kicked him off then summoned as much energy as he could muster into his pyro tornado attack.

He struck twice.

The first punch did almost nothing, but the second one sent the large digimon flying backwards from the impact.

"Now to free Shamanmon."

Takuya pulled out his D-tector, the data stream around Shamanmon becoming clearly visible.

"Fractal code, digitize!"

As the code was absorbed into his digivice, Shamanmon was able to return to his normal form. The spirit was also absorbed into him, forcing Agunimon to digivolve yet again.

His friends all started screaming at him to get away before things got out of hand, but he couldn't move. In moments, Takuya had become possessed as well.

"Holy sock!" Neemon exclaimed.

Bokomon shook in fear. "for once, I completely agree with you."

Takuya roared in pain, fire exploding out of his armor.

"It seems that the beast spirit has possessed him." Bokomon stated the obvious. Takuya shot forward, attacking JP.

"Take cover!" Bokomon yelled.

"Zoey?" Kouji asked. She turned to look at him. Silently, he placed Dahlia in her arms. This was no bother for Zoey because as far as human's went, Dahlia was light as a feather.

"Take care of her for me." Zoey nodded, running back towards Bokomon, Neemon, and Tommy for cover.

With that taken care of, Kouji turned back towards Takuya.

"Takuya stop! That's JP!"

Takuya stopped for only a moment before lunging towards Kouji.

"Fine!" Kouji yelled, his D-tector starting to glow. Multiple data streams surrounded his hand.

"Execute! Spirit evolution!"

"KendoGarurumon."

The two squared off, ready to fight. They ignored Beetlemon's protests, only focusing on their opponent, snarling and growling.

A fight was about to begin.