Ch. 28 Countdown

Cody, Agumon, TJ, Veemon, Trey, and Dracomon slowly opened their eyes as the light from the spring subsided. The group soon found themselves standing on a large white platform in an unknown place. A beautiful, starry night sky could be seen above them and clouds seemed to surround them. The section of the platform they were standing on began to glow in a golden colored light and reveal their three crest symbols on its surface.

"Excellent Digidestined!" roared a loud and powerful voice "You have passed my Trial of Earth and restored light to the western lands of the Digital World"

"Who said that?" asked Dracomon searching the area.

"Sounds like the voice that spoke to us when we started the trial" replied Veemon.

"I didn't know y'all heard that to" said Agumon.

"Allow me to introduce myself then" said the voice. The clouds began to part as a huge figure leapt through them. The creature ran around the platform a few times then stopped before the trio of Digidestined and their partners. The figure resembled a white tiger with light purple colored bands running along its back to its tail and was enormous in size. A set of spiked bands were attached to the Digimon's hind legs and tail while a metal, purple colored mask covered the great Digimon's face. Another two metal, purple colored plates covered the Digimon's front legs. Twelve yellow colored orbs surrounded the torso of the mighty tiger like Digimon. "I am Baihumon, Digimon Sovereign of the West and creator of the crests of Valor, Trust, and Bravery."

"Whoa… you're huge…" said Trey spellbound.

"You're Fanglongmon size" said TJ.

"We didn't know all the sovereigns were this huge" spoke Cody.

"This is the first time you've met another sovereign other than our leader." laughed Baihumon. "I can see I have selected the proper humans to harness the power of my crests along with the best Digimon to match and aid their partners. I knew you would complete the Trial of Earth easily but I see one of you has received a slight an injury"

"It's nothing, I'm fine" winced Trey trying to force a laugh.

"You have done well to defend your partner, allow me to ease the pain a bit" spoke Baihumon. The yellow cores around the sovereign's waist began to glow for a bit then subsided. Trey soon found he could move his arm around a bit more though he still felt the pain surge through his arm. "I have repaired any internal damage Fugamon may have inflicted. Speak with the bearer or the Crest of Purity and he shall aid you further"

"Alright thank you, I'll see what Albert can do for me," said Trey

"Trust us, he'll fix you up in no time" spoke TJ.

"Yeah, he'll have you feeling better than ever" added Cody.

"Listen well Digidestined, the Digital Reapers have greatly shifted the balance in the Digital World. The darkness they have spread is destroying the Digital World slowly each day. They must be stopped at all costs." spoke Baihumon.

"Don't worry Baihumon, we're on it. We'll have the D-Reapers running from our world in no time" assured Agumon.

"Time, that is the issue my warriors. You know by now that both the human world and Digital World are connected. There will be a moment when both worlds will be linked and when this time occurs, the Digital Reapers will be ready to release their true evil into both worlds" informed Baihumon.

"What! What is their plan?" asked Veemon.

"That I do not know, their influence on our world has greatly weakened not only my powers but that of the other Digimon Sovereigns as well. With my Sacred Spring activated, all evil in my domain has been purged. I will continue to watch over my land and protect it from the Digital Reapers influence. You three must hurry and aid the remaining Digidestined and their partners in freeing the other regions of the Digital World from the Digital Reapers."

"Alright, we'll do everything we can to help them. Anything you can do to help us find the next Sacred Spring?" questioned Dracomon hopefully.

"I am afraid I do not know the exact locations of the remaining four springs but I can tell you one lies below a great ocean, another in a land high in the heavens, there is one deep in the molten fires of a soaring peak, and the final spring lies in the heart of our world. I have two gifts for you three before you return to the land below. First, a tool in fighting against the darkness the reapers have spread" spoke Baihumon. The orbs around Baihumon began to glow in a bright yellow light. Three of the cores left the ring around Baihumon then began to change in size and form. The three Digidestined held out their hands as the changing orbs began to fly toward them and enter their palms. The orbs finished reconfiguring themselves to form a silver colored ring; the front of each ring bore the crest symbol of the selected Digidestined engraved into the ring with a gem to match the crests color embedded in the center of each ring.

"Those rings are created from one of my Digicores, they can repel the dark influence created by the Digital Reapers and will allow you to have your partners Digivolve to the champion level uninhibited by the darkness the plagues our world. They can even allow you to Digivolve to the Ultimate level if need be. Now for my second gift" said Baihumon. Baihumon let out one thunderous roar causing an orb of yellow colored light to appear before him. The orb flew around Baihumon a few times then flew down to Cody. The sphere of light began to take form revealing a smooth, oval shaped gem. The gem was clear in color with a yellow light being softly emitted from the jewel's core.

"What is this for?" asked Cody.

"That object contains the pure essence of my power and the elemental force of earth. That gem will be needed to reveal the final spring's location along with stopping the darkness from spreading into either the Digital World or human world once united with its sister gems." informed Baihumon.

"Thank you Baihumon, we'll do our best to protect it" said TJ.

"We'll do everything we can to stop the D-Reapers from doing any more damage and stop them once and for all" added Trey.

"I know you all will; now it is time for you to return to our world. I wish you luck, and I will see you again one day" spoke Baihumon. The gem Baihumon had given the group began to glow, releasing a blinding yellow light. The group shielded their eyes as the gem began to glow brighter and brighter.

Remember leaders of the Digidestined; protect those who guided by the purist light

"They've been in there for awhile, think we should see if they need any help?" asked Kayla sounding worried.

"You heard Oryxmon" said Lopmon

"Only the Digimon and Digidestined selected by the sovereign of this region are allowed to enter and perform the trial" spoke Gaomon.

"I'm sure they're alright Kayla, nothing to worry about" assured Albert trying to get Kayla to relax.

"We did see that bright beam of light leave the coliseum a little while ago" spoke out Jennifer.

"Maybe it means they finished the trial already" suggested Lunamon.

"Hey guys, the doors are opening" said Diego suddenly pointing to the entrance to Terra Coliseum.

"Looks like someone is coming out" added Coronamon. The group turned their attention to the doors and noticed several figures exiting the coliseum. Kayla quickly ran over to her brother and hugged him once she realized he was exiting the great coliseum.

"You're safe" smiled Kayla.

"Of course I am, you should know by now nothing can get your big brother" grinned Cody.

"I know. I still can't help but worry about you though" frowned Kayla.

"Albert, we need you to help out Trey. He got hurt when he helped Yasyamon fight a Fugamon." said Cody.

"Oh no, are you ok Trey?" asked Jennifer looking over to Trey and noticing the way he held his arm.

"Yeah, just a little banged up on my arm but I'm fine" answered Trey. Albert ran over to Trey then began to examine his arm for a few moments, being sure not to cause him any pain.

"Baihumon helped heal him a bit, but asked that Trey see you to finish getting healed" said TJ.

"Nothing seems to be broken, bruises and cuts here and there but nothing serious. You'll be feeling sore for awhile but this is nothing I can't treat" smiled Albert finishing his examination.

"That's our group doctor" said Gaomon with a chuckle.

"I think it's time for you all to head home, I will see you at the next trial location" called out Oryxmon from one of the upper levels of the coliseum.

"Can't you tell us where the next one is?" asked Dracomon.

"Nope, you must find the next spring's location on your own. I will tell you you'll have to search the deepest part of the Digital World to find it. I will see you Digidestined very soon" spoke Oryxmon with a laugh. Oryxmon rang the bell around his next and with that he was gone.

"Let's go home guys, we have a lot to fill you in on" said Cody.

"How… How did they remove a fourth of our territory in just one day?" asked Corvus in confusion.

"Those brats, I should have stopped them when I had the chance" growled Fornax.

"Whatever they did pretty much shut off all our work in the western hemisphere of this world" spoke Ara.

"No matter, there was not much left to do in that part of the Digital World anyways" figured Lyra.

"I fear the children have found a way to stop us. We must work harder and swifter to meet our deadline. Tail those kids and find out how they are ruining our efforts" instructed Crux. The reapers nodded then vanished to continue their wicked plans.

"There we go, try not to use that arm to much. Wear the sling for a day or two to ease the weight and pressure being put on that arm. After about a week or so you can take of the bandages. Worst case scenario, you'll have a scar or two on your arm" spoke Albert as he finished attending to Trey's injuries.

"Thanks a lot man, I owe you one" said Trey getting a feel for the sling around his arm.

"Don't mention it. I've been treating the team's injuries ever since we became Digidestined. Just be careful next time or at least try not to break something I can't fix." laughed Albert As Albert helped Trey, Cody caught up all the other Digidestined on the events that had occurred while they were in the Digital World. Albert and Trey joined the group just as Cody had finished.

"Sounds like these trials are going to be brutal" said Michelle.

"The good news is part of the digital world is free from the reapers control at least" smiled Gabumon.

"You three getting the ability to Digivolve back to the ultimate level will be a great help" said Renamon.

"It will be an even bigger help once we all can help our partners reach that level again" added Winona.

"So what did y'all find out today?" asked Agumon.

"The lab work will need more time unfortunately" answered Andrew.

"We'll tell you what we find out as soon as we can" said Guilmon.

"The whole deadline thing to find the springs is starting to scare me" frowned Brandi.

"Any idea when we need to find the other four springs by?" asked Salamon.

"Actually…" started Ricky looking over to Ann, Hawkmon, and Falcomon.

"We do and it's not looking to good" said Ann.

"We looked over the notes on that mural that had the two globe looking pictures being covered with shadows and found that they matched up to a really rare event where a solar and lunar eclipse occur at the same time. From what you are tell us, this is when the Digital World and human world will be linked for a full 24hours" explained Hawkmon.

"We researched the notes Sorcerymon sent us and found a time when both worlds will be under both a solar and lunar eclipse that will last the full day." continued Falcomon.

"Don't leave us in suspense, what day is it?" asked TJ.

"December 21, the day of the winter solstice" answered Ricky.