"Wait, Gatomon kissed me?" Gaomon exclaimed stopping in his tracks. It had been four days since the Wanderers left Patamon's home. Right now they were traveling across a large open plain. The ground was green and grassy and the sky was clear and blue.
"Where'd that come from?" Veemon asked from behind Gaomon.
"Back at Patamon's house, when I woke up, Gatomon punched me in the stomach, but did she kiss me too?" Gaomon asked.
"You are so stupid. How do you not remember being kissed by pure evil?" Veemon laughed.
That means Gatomon stole my first kiss. I was saving that for Renamon. Gaomon thought.
"Hey, you guys are falling behind!" Agumon called from where the rest of the group was, sever feet ahead of them. Quickly the two caught up to them.
"Hey cat!" Veemon exclaimed earning a glare from Gatomon. "Furball here just realized you kissed him!" Gatomon blushed and turned away.
"You jerk!" Gaomon growled. He tried to kick Veemon but when his foot got close Veemon's tail wrapped around it. Gaomon was forced off balance as Veemon continued to walk forward. He fell over and landed on the tents he was carrying on his back.
Later that night everyone had gone into their tents to sleep except Gaomon. He was feeling uneasy and couldn't sleep.
While sitting in the dark Gaomon suddenly saw a small light in the distance. He noticed it was hopping, slowly getting closer. "What in the digiworld is that?" Gaomon wondered aloud.
"I don't know, but it's dangerous." Veemon growled from behind Gaomon, making him jump. He turned around to see both Veemon and Renamon standing there, watching the fire.
"Wake the others." Renamon said in an even tone.
Gaomon and Veemon split up, each taking two tents.
Gaomon first looked in Monmon's tent to see the monkey already sitting up, slingshot in one hand and a banana in the other. "Looks like we're gonna have to fight in the dark." He smiled. Wrapping his tail around a bag of rocks he jumped past Gaomon and out of the tent.
Gaomon left Monmon's tent and moved on to Gatomon's tent and saw Gatomon was still asleep. He stepped up to her and shook her trying to wake her up. Instantly Gatomon shot up and pressed her claws against Gaomon's throat Gaomon was shocked by her speed.
"Gaomon, what are you doing in my tent?" Gatomon asked pulling her claws away from his throat.
"There's something coming and Renamon wants everyone ready." Gaomon explained. "We'll all be outside so hurry." Gaomon quickly left the tent and went back over to Renamon. Veemon, Agumon, Patamon, and Monmon were already there. He looked toward the light and saw that it was much closer.
After a moment Gatomon came out and joined them. "What is that?" She asked.
"We'll find out soon enough." Renamon mumbled.
They all just stood there watching as the light hopped closer until they could see what it was. It was a small fire on top of a large white candle hopping on a golden base.
"Is that a moving candle?" Gaomon asked.
"It's known as a candlemon." Veemon said. "But what's it doing here in the middle of the night?"
"Just be prepared for anything to happen." Renamon said.
"What do you expect to happen?" Patamon asked groggily.
"Something really bad." Veemon muttered.
That's when the candlemon stopped only a few feet from them. "Hello, I'm Candlemon." He introduced himself. "And there's no need to introduce yourselves I already know all of your names."
"How is that?" Renamon asked calmly.
"My boss has had his eyes on you for quite a long time now." Candlemon smiled.
"And who is your boss?" Agumon challenged.
"Some of you already now him, but I won't say who they are. My boss prefers to stay anonymous."
"Well, what do you want here?" Renamon asked.
"I'm just here to explain a few things to you all." Candlemon said. "Like, for one thing, I'm sixteen just like you other four." He gave purposeful looks to Gaomon, Gatomon, Veemon, and Patamon all in turn. "And we were all born on the same day. The day of the 'Digital Distortion'."
Everyone except Monmon gasped in shock. The Digital Distortion was a major cataclysmic event the struck the digital world. No digimon is sure as to what caused the destruction, or exactly if it had any kinds of side effects. All they knew was that out of nowhere there was a large amount of energy came from out of nowhere causing quakes, tidal waves, and fires all over the digital world.
"How would you know something like that?" Gaomon snarled. He already guessed it was true by everyone's reactions.
"Like I said; my boss has been watching you for a long time." Candlemon grinned. "He already knows about all about your powers as well. For instance, Gaomon can sense the attribute of a digimon. Meaning he can tell if they're virus, data, or vaccine. Gatomon can tell how and where a digimon is hurt as well as how to care for it or make it worse. Veemon can sense the intent of another digimon, like if they want bad things or god things to happen, or if they might want to help or harm someone. And Patamon can sense his destiny. But, of course, those are only a small part of your power. There's still more to them. I just won't reveal any more."
"How many are there like us?" Patamon asked.
"Well since the death of Gaomon's blood-lusting brother that lowers us down by two, meaning there are eight left out of ten."
"My brother was one of us?" Gaomon gasped.
"Yeah, his power was he could sense just how much blood was in a digimon's body. That's the reason he liked to hurt others. He loved the feel of the blood dripping away."
"But then where are the other three?" Patamon asked.
"That doesn't matter since they're already on my side and if you found them they'd kill you." Candlemon grinned.
"So it's a four-on-four?" Veemon challenged.
"Actually it's more of three-on-five." Candlemon chuckled.
"Where is he?" Renamon snarled shocking everyone with her anger.
"You know I was given a massage if you were to ask that." Candlemon sighed. "Your husband says 'I'll be waiting for you in the capital, my feisty vixen'."
"Husband?" Gaomon exclaimed. "Renamon's married?"
"You're going to tell me everything you know. Then you're going to take me straight to the capital." Renamon snarled.
"Sorry, but my mission's complete." Candlemon sighed. "I should really be leaving."
"You're not going anywhere. Wanderers, don't let him escape. Do whatever's necessary to capture him!" Renamon ordered.
Instantly Agumon and Veemon jumped as Candlemon, but before they could reach him he burst into flames. Gaomon watched in horror as the fire slowly took on a humanoid shape.
"He digivolved into Meramon!" Veemon exclaimed backing away from the flaming monster.
"Then we'll have to digivolved too." Agumon growled. His body began to grow. At is grew his tail and back gained blue stripes, and a brown helmet in the shape of a giant dinosaur head with three horns formed on his head. By the time he finished growing he was huge, bigger then any digimon Gaomon had ever seen.
"So you can digivolved to Greymon? I never would have guessed." Veemon chuckled.
"I could easily crush you right now." Greymon rumbled in a deep tone.
"Let's catch this loser, then I'll show you who can crush who." Veemon smiled as he began to grow taller. It took a lot less time for Veemon to grow and he was much smaller then Greymon still, but when he finished Flamedramon's armor materialized on his body.
"Your fire won't affect either of us." Flamedramon growled glaring at Meramon. "Just give up now so we can get some sleep."
"Fire may not affect you, but I'm sure a chain will." Meramon cackled. Almost instantly Meramon's fire went out to reveal a gray humanoid digimon with black pans and a thick chain around his arm. His face was covered by a metal mask and he had blue fire for hair.
"He can go ultimate?" Flamedramon gasped. "Now he's Skullmeramon."
"Monmon, let's go help." Renamon ordered. "Gaomon and Patamon, you two pack up everything as quickly as you can. It probably won't be safe to spend the rest of the night here. Gatomon, be prepared to treat any kind of injury we may receive."
"Yes Renamon." The three said together.
"Let's go Reny." Monmon smiled jumping on Renamon's back.
"Go now!" Renamon growled before she dashed over to the fighting digimon.
Renamon reached the others and was surprised to see, even though the battle had just started, Greymon had a deep gash in his left leg and Flamedramon looked pretty beaten himself, Where Skullmeramon looked like he hadn't been touched.
What's going on? Renamon wondered. A single ultimate shouldn't be having such an easy time against two skilled champions.
"Monmon, it's time for your master marksmanship." Renamon growled. "Hit him fast and hard."
"You got it bossy." Monmon climbed onto Renamon's shoulder and pulled out his slingshot. He took aim, pulled the sling and released, sending a ball of energy right at Skullmeramon's head. Just before the energy ball would have hit Skullmeramon slightly tilted his head and he ball flew right by.
"What?" Renamon gasped completely shocked. Never once in the entire three years Renamon had known Monmon had he missed anything. He was a perfect marksman. Yet, somehow, this digimon had dodged it like it was moving in slow-motion.
"I don't like this guy." Monmon grumbled. "He made me look bad."
"Well then fire again, and this time, don't miss!" Flamedramon exclaimed as he ran at Skullmeramon. He got right up close and thrust his claws right at Skullmeramon's face. Skullmeramon blocked the claw by grabbing Flamedramon's forearm. He then wrapped his chain around Flamedramon's throat and pulled it tight, chocking him.
Monmon lifted his slingshot and fired multiple shots at Skullmeramon. Skullmeramon swung his chain and flung Flamedramon in the way of the shots. The shots hit him dead on.
Flamedramon made no sound as he fell to the ground. His body shrank and his armor vanished as he hit the dirt, turning back into Veemon.
"Now he's just getting on my nerves." Monmon muttered. "If I wanted to hit the blue guy I would've aimed for him."
"Obviously, your slingshot won't work on him, so let's try close combat." Renamon growled. "Greymon, back us up!"
"You got it." Greymon rumbled charging at Skullmeramon.
Renamon charged at Skullmeramon and Monmon shot at him from her shoulder, none of the shots making contact. When Greymon reached Skullmeramon he lifted his foot and tried to stomp on him.
Skullmeramon easily dodged the foot and used his chain to whip Greymon's bleeding leg. Greymon roared in pain and fell over, landing on his back. Skullmeramon then lifted Greymon off the ground and threw him right at Renamon and Monmon.
"Monmon, knock him out!" Renamon exclaimed.
Monmon obeyed and fired several shots at Greymon's head. Greymon began to shrink and flew right over Renamon and Monmon. He landed as Agumon a few feet away from Veemon.
How come we can't even lay a hand on him? Renamon wondered. He seems so fast and strong. He may even be faster then me.
"You know the only reason I haven't killed any of you yet is because I was ordered not to. Skullmeramon muttered. "I had a hard time holding back against Veemon. If I were fighting Patamon I think he'd be dead."
"Why is that?" Renamon asked.
"He's my opposite." Skullmeramon said simply. "We're meant to kill each other. Just like Gaomon and his brother. We all have opposites and we're all meant to kill one another."
"So you're doing all this just to die?" Renamon challenged.
"It's what I was born for. It's what we were all born for. Gaomon's only prolonged his death. He will die though. Trust me on that."
"I won't let you or your other four allies hurt anyone. I'll kill you all before then."
"You couldn't defeat us no matter how hard you try. You already failed to save one of them. What makes you any use for the other ones, especially since one of them is against you?"
"Which one is the traitor?"
"I can tell you only this. He's male and blue."
"That means it's either Gaomon, or Veemon. But which one?"
"That's for you to find out when the tie comes."
"Fine then, get out of here. I've got enough information from you for now."
"Wise choice." Skullmeramon chuckled. "Farewell Renamon. I'll see you again in the capital where we will all be waiting to kill you and your little group." With that Skullmeramon just vanished, almost like he was never there.
"Well Monmon, if the other four are like him I'm afraid to say that going to the capital is certain death." Renamon sighed.
"Then that makes you wonder, is vengeance really worth the lives of all those who put their trust and lives in your hands?" Monmon inquired.
"Vengeance is all I have left to live for."
"Then I'll stay with you and just make sure we all live through this."
"I'll do the same. Either we all live, or we all die."