The kids made their way to the cave. At a look inside, the place was small and a bit cramped but against the back wall was enough space for all of them to lay down to sleep, even if it was pretty close to one another.
"Man, this can't be called a cave." Whined JP looking at the place.
"Well, at least we won't be cold." Said Nayna looking outside over her shoulder.
"Cold? What are you talking about. It's pretty cozy out here." Said Takuya who was still out in the open.
As on que, a cold wind started ruffling through his hair and clothes making him shiver and hug himself to regain some heat.
"A rain is coming. By how cold the air is I wouldn't be surprised if it turned to snow." Said Nayna.
"Great…" Shivered the Google-head making his way inside too.
They all made themselves comfortable in the back as Nayna made a fire then turned to find herself a place by the back wall.
She eyed the place next to Koji's left, the only free place remaining but had no time to react as Koji called for his brother to sit by him.
As Koichi sat by his brother starting a seemingly pleasant conversation with him, Nayna sighed looking outside then into the fire. Her eyes remained transfixed on the flames, hypnotized.
"You suddenly feel important? Wanted? Needed? You're kidding yourself. They all have someone more important to care about. You are just a tool at their disposal."
She snapped out of her daze blinking a few times then turned her crimson eyes towards the other kids, her gaze lingering a bit longer over the twins who were sleeping peacefully side by side facing each other.
She turned her eyes away before making herself comfortable by the fire.
Next morning Nayna woke up startled. She got up and looked around. The others were still asleep so, quietly, she made her way out of the cave into the humid air. Luckly, the rain passed, so she made her way towards the forest in hopes of finding something to eat for the others.
Wondering around, she found some fruits that smelled edible so she gathered a few then returned to the cave where she saw the others leaving the cave.
As she reached them, she handed them the fruits.
"It really wasn't a dream! Cherubimon is finally gone!" Cried Bokomon with happiness.
They all sat down to eat the fruits.
"I can't believe it's all over now." Said Zoe happily.
"And all this thanks to you. And especially Takuya and Koji." Said Bokomon.
"It wasn't just us. It was all of us. You and Neemon included. You guys helped more than you know." Said Takuya.
"I wonder what will happen now. Can we finally go home?" Wondered Tommy.
At his question everyone perked up.
"I guess so. I mean we saved the Digital World. What else is for us to do here?" Said Takuya with a shrug.
"Yeah, I guess all we have to do now is to go to a terminal and ask a Trailmon to take us to the human world." Shrugged JP.
"Yeah...But I sure will miss being Kazemon and everything…" Sighed Zoe.
"Yeah, I'll miss Kumamon for sure…" Nodded Tommy.
During all this conversation, Koji looked away with a frown, his dark blue eyes trying to hide some kind of pain.
Nayna saw this and was about to ask him about it but once more, Koichi was a step ahead of her.
"Koji, are you ok?" Asked the warrior of darkness looking at his brother in concerne.
With an annoyed groan he turned his head to the others, the frown still present.
"I don't really want to go back home." He said surprising everyone. "I mean, to what? I don't even want to see my father. He lied to me all my life! I don't think I can face him without wanting to punch him. He kept you and our mother away from me!" He ranted angrily.
Hearing this, Koichi looked to the ground understanding how his brother felt.
"I understand why you are angry and I'm not saying you shouldn't feel like this but you have to face him and hear his reasons. You can't hide from it." Said Nayna softly.
"What do you know, huh? You always think you know everything. You really think you know what this is like?!" He snapped at her, the girl looking at him unfazed.
"Being lied to by the one person you trusted the most. Being lied about the life of a sibling you never knew existed. Yeah, I have no idea how that feels. Not even how it feels to find out that that parent lied about being dead." Said the girl unemotionally before turning to walk away.
"Where are you going?" Asked Zoe.
"For a walk. " Responded the white haired dryly.
"Uh…"
"Don't worry. I can find you if I have to." She said before leaving without another word.
As she left, Zoe turned to glare at Koji.
"Why are you such a jerk to her!? She's trying to help you." Barked the blonde.
Koji looked at Nayna's form becoming smaller and smaller. Suddenly he gasped in realization then face palmed himself with a groan.
"So what now? "Asked Tommy.
Suddenly, some mountains in the distance lightened up as they turned to data and disappeared.
"That doesn't look good." Said Takuya
"It's not. Let's go. "Said Koji.
"What about Nayna?" Asked Tommy.
"She walked that way anyway. We'll meet her there." Said the wolf warrior.
"How do you know she'll be there? You don't seriously think she did that, do you?" Asked J.P.
"No. But she may end up facing whoever did that by herself."
"Let's go. "Said Takuya.
As they walked towards the place, they arrived to some ruins.
Suddenly a fireball whizzed towards them making the kids cry out in alarm only for a white blur to jump in front of them absorbing the attack.
"Nayna" Said Tommy happily looking at the girl who landed in front of them facing towards the attacker.
"Come out already! I got your scent! I know you're there!" She said eyeing the top of the wall.
A strange digimon with a bear-like face stepped into view on top of the wall.
When they digivolved he appeared in front of them.
"I am Baromon. I cannot allow you to pass!" Said the digimon
"I see! You're the one who scanned the mountain!" Said Takuya as he holds up his Detector, the others following his example.
When they digivolved, he appeared in front of them.
"Don't attack! I have no intention of fighting the 10 Legendary Warriors." Says Baromon looking at them then at Nayna and bows his head to her. "Or the queen. I know you are protectors of the peace. But all of you must hear what I have to say!" Says the digimon touching his forehead with both of his hands, the third eye on his face glowing. "I have a prophecy!" He says as a bright light started to shine, the kids had to shield their eyes.
"It concerns the rebirth of an ancient evil... Lucemon!" Said Baromon sending them all mental images of the Digital World then it zoomed in towards the core of the planet where they could see the silhouette of a winged boy who seemed to sense their presence and looked up smirking at them.
The simple stare was so powerful and malicious that it caused all the kids to digivolve.
"So Lucemon is coming back, huh?!" Says Takuya
"That's...not good!"Commented Bokomon worried.
"You got it wrong, pal! Lucemon was defeated a long time ago!"
"I will show you! The truth is about to happen!"
Red light shines through the cracks along the wall, and it implodes, sending smoke and dust everywhere.
"Ok…"
"Look! This is where the Holy Mountains once proudly stood! Our great protectors have fallen to the evil that struggles to return. Listen. The Digital World is crying out for your help." Says Baromon opening a door in the wall and entered inside making his way down the stairs there until they ended on a small platform. "Follow me".
"Follow you where?" Asked Takuya going down the steps followed by the others.
"You see before you the Digital World's Tunnel of History."
"Tunnel of...History?" Repeated Takuya confused but as they got on the platform, they could see before them glowing spheres hovering around.
"Yes. This place holds the entire recorded history of this world.
The small platform started to descent leaving the kids in awe.
"At the start, our world began from 10 spirits, and 10 different types of data. There are human and beast type spirits."
"Yes, yes, yes! That much we know!"Says Bokomon impatiently
"There is more…" Said Baromon as the platform descended into one of the disks, there they start to see visions for everything Baromon talks about. "The 10 Ancient Legendary Spirits banded together to defeat Lucemon and then sealed him in a world of nothingness: The Dark Area." Said Baromon and they descend out of the disk.
"All of us have heard this history lesson before!" Barks Bokomon.
"Be quiet and listen! Behold and learn...Lucemon's demise led to this." Spoke the digimon as he points to another disk where a vision of strange digimon are shown.
Seeing the images the kids gasp.
"The warriors freed the spirits...all 10 were released in our world. The spirits needed to be protected, so they were entrusted to the 3 Celestial Digimon who had chosen to rule. Five were given over to Cherubimon, two were placed in the care of Seraphimon, and the other three to Ophanimon . And the warriors fell to sleep. And it was wonderful. You see, the next period of time was characterized by a long and lasting peace...that existed throughout the entire digital world, but Lucemon was waiting, biding his time, knowing the day would come when he would be revived…"
The kids gasp as the disk provides zooms into the core of the Digital World again.
"Waiting patiently for his chance...Then one day, an opportunity arose. He projected his aura into one of the Celestial Digimon. Cherubimon was a victim of evil. His heart was drowned in darkness. After that, Lucemon used Cherubimon to collect the Digital World's data for him. The result is the ravished world you see before you. Eaten away by the treachery of Lucemon. When you vanquished Cherubimon, the massive amount of data he gathered was released and absorbed by Lucemon."
"Hey wait! So Cherubimon didn't really know anything!" Sais Koichi.
"It was Lucemon! But he acted through Cherubimon!" Said Koji.
"All of this brings us to the present. Bear witness to the deplorable condition of the Digital World!" Sai Baromon and shows the kids images from outside, somewhere, everything in ruins as two silhouettes absorbed the data of a mountain.
"Who is that?"
"They're sucking up the fractal code!"
"The mountains! Are disappearing!"
"All right, so tell us! Who are they?!"
"I don't know" He says closing his eyes. "I'd say...now that Cherubimon is gone, these are the other underlings that have been sent to collect the Digital World's data. Now you understand what is happening. Lucemon will use any means to achieve his goal. If they succeed, Lucemon will be revived! That is...my prophecy."
"Y'mean...?"
"The entire Digital World will be destroyed. But luckily, the spirits granted us the ultimate helper, beside the warriors." He says and turns to Nayna. "The unique queen of Tils."
"You got this all wrong. Or Ophanimon miscalculated her moves because even if I wanted to help I can't. My connection to the source of my power is blocked. I barely have any of my power." Explained Nayna narrowing her eyes at the digimon annoyed. "So, sorry I can't win your war for you and can't let you bask in that glory. But I'm kinda done fighting other people's fights as I know already that all I get in return is another set of broken bones and problems. No Thanks." She snarled jumping back up to the stairs and left the Tunnel.
"Nayna…"
Just as she got outside, the tunnel slowly turned to data, the others getting out in the last second, but got covered in debris.
Slowly, they got out only to see through the dust two tall digimon facing Nayna who was trying to keep them away from the others.
"Hey! Knock it off! Just who are you?"Demanded Takuya as Nayna evaded an attack, landing closer to the group, the two digimon marching towards them.
"l am Dynastman, the passionate warrior! " Said the bulkier one with large purple wings.
"And I am Crusadermon, the indifferent warrior. " Said the slim pink one.
"We are known to all as Royal Knights! " Said the two at once.
"The Royal Knights? " Repeated Takuya dumbly.
"What about you stop asking dumb things and bring out your side of this story. " Said Nayna annoyed.
"Right." He said and they all took out their D-tectors digivolving.
The two looked at the warriors unimpressed.
" So, it's you."
" The humans have evolved into the 10 Legendary Warriors." Said Crusadermon amused.
"You can't keep up your destructive ways! " Said Aldamon.
"The Digital World belongs to everyone! " Chimed in Beowolfmon.
"You have no right to wreak it!" Said Kumamon.
" Don't you - " Started Kazemon but stopped when she heard Nayna's sharp voice..
" HEY! " She shouted getting their attention. "Less talk, more fighting! GO! " She barked.
"Right!" They all said rushing towards the knights using all their power in their attacks.
Nayna stayed with Bokomon, Neemon and Patamon watching the fight, analyzing their every move.
"This isn't good. Those two are at complete another level of power. They are toying with them." She said, her eyes moving to keep the Royal Knights in her field of vision.
"Don't say that! Takuya and the others have to make it. " Said Bokomon looking at her worried.
"Maybe but not like this."
"Can't you help them at all? " Begged Bokomon holding onto Patamon.
"I told you. I don't have any connection to our world, to my source of power. "
" I was afraid you'll say that... "
Nayna sighed sitting on the ground cross legged.
"But I could try in another way... " She whispered.
"Feel... Feel every grain of dirt on the ground, feel the wind and every speck of dust floating around, feel the energies of it all feel... Be one with the world... Connect to everything at once. "
She heard a voice in her mind as her eyes, although closed, could see the world around her. First only a circle around her body, then a normal field of vision then she could see everything throughout the Digital World. Suddenly she could
Feel it, and later see it. The thing separating this world from the human world.
An shield. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't pass it.
Suddenly, her consciousness was sucked to the core of the planet.
" You." She said angrily seeing the sphere with the winged boy inside.
" I wouldn't do that if I were you."
" Says who? An egg? Like I listen to a chicken. We will stop those bastards of yours. Mark my words." She growled.
"Big words for someone so weak." Mocked Lacemon.
" Maybe I may be. But sooner or later you and your pawns will make a mistake. And I will know it and use it to destroy you." She said narrowing her crimson eyes at the sphere.
"To which one of us are you talking now?" Chukled Lucemon before erupting in a full blown maniacal
laughter when he saw the realization on her face
" You can't save this place from me. Nevermind your world." She heard in the darkness before she was thrown away and back towards her body.