Scrambling out of Trailmon's carriage as soon as it stopped, Yutaka pulled his brother through the broken window, being careful not to catch any of the glass.
"What the hell was that?" Yutaka asked.
"That was one of the reasons you and Takuya's brother were best going back to the human world." Katsuharu answered, scowling slightly.
"But that guy turned into a bird." Yutaka stammered. "And what happened to Takuya?"
"He became the Legendary Warrior of Fire Agunimon." Bokomon answered, jumping to the ground. "He, Koji, Zoe, Tommy, JP and Koichi each become one of the Legendary Warriors."
"And what does that mean?" Yutaka asked the small Digimon.
"They use what we call a spirit to become infused with the power of the ancient Digimon that created it and become the Legendary Warriors reborn." Bokomon answered.
"And what is Duskmon?" Katsuharu asked.
"He is a long story." Koichi said.
"Well, it looks like we're in for a long walk to Seraphimon's castle." Zoe sighed. "It took us over a week to get there last time."
"Can't we just ride another train there?" Shinya asked.
"They're called Trailmon and without any rails, they can't really go anywhere easily." Tommy replied.
"And I'm going to have to wait for a strong Digimon to try to help get me right side up." Trailmon sighed. "Unless any of you can lift me."
"Not a chance." Yutaka muttered.
"It was still a challenge when we were Digimon." Tommy remembered.
"We'll send help as soon as we can." Bokomon promised. "But we can't say how long it will be."
"Fine." Trailmon accepted. "It's not like there's anything I can do about it."
"What about Taky and Koji?" JP asked. "They're still up there with Duskmon and Mercurymon."
"They'll be fine." Neemon said in his breezy tone. "They can always evolve and get out of there."
"You idiot." Bokomon said, pulling on Neemon's pants again. "Koji can't Spirit Evolve and Takuya has only just got his Spirits back."
"Bokomon, can we just go now?" Koichi asked. "We should at least start to make our way before it gets dark."
Bokomon nodded in agreement. "You're right Koichi. I happen to know about a small resistance camp near here."
One hour later, and the large group were walking along a stream at the bottom of the cliffs. The water simply splashed against the rocks and Chiaki found the sound soothing. She almost closed her eyes when she realised that everyone had disappeared.
She looked around and tried to listen for any voices. It was then she noticed that she was no longer at the side of the stream and seemed to be knee deep in an endless looking ocean. She called out to anyone who might hear her.
She felt her eyes began to fill with water. Yes, she was in her mid teens, but she was thrust into a strange world. Again. And now she was somehow somewhere that was nothing but endless water.
"Sugar, don't cry." Said a Texan-styled voice.
Chiaki turned around to see a green-blue skinned being she would only guess as a Digimon. Judging by the figure, the Digimon was female. She wore a blue themed swimming outfit and on her hands and head, were small pieces of smooth armour shaped like water droplets. She also had fins for ears. Chiaki thought they might help with swimming.
"Are you one of the Warriors?" Chiaki asked.
The Digimon nodded. "Ranamon, Warrior of Water. At your service."
"Where am I?" Chiaki asked.
"A spiritual plane." Ranamon answered. "I don't really like doing this. I prefer to let my audience see my natural beauty in person."
Chiaki raised her eyebrows. "Seriously?"
Ranamon shook her head. "Sorry. A little something from my previous life."
"Why am I in this plane thingy?" Chiaki asked.
Ranamon looked like something clicked in her head. "Sorry Honey, I just plum forgot. I wanted to talk to you especially. As the only other girl in the group, you are going to inherit the Spirits of Water. I'm only warning you now since in my previous life, I had a rivalry with Kazemon."
"Kazemon?" Chiaki asked. "Who's that?"
"She means me." Announced another feminine voice.
Chiaki looked up seeing another female Digimon flying down. She had long purple hair and wore an outfit that Chiaki did not see any use of on a warrior. "You sound like Zoe."
"That's because she wields the Spirits of Wind." Kazemon smiled.
"So I've been pulled into this plane to learn that I'm getting the Spirits of Water and that you two are rivals?" Chiaki clarified.
"We were rivals." Ranamon emphasised. "Without a human host to reign in my vanity, I became a little bit of a diva."
Kazemon folded her arms. "That's putting it mildly."
"Can I go now?" Chiaki interrupted. "Not that this isn't fun, but I would like to get back to reality."
"See you soon sugar." Ranamon waved.
Chiaki blinked and jumped back when she saw Bokomon staring right into her eyes.
"Are you alright Chiaki?" Teruo asked.
Chiaki looked around, taking in the concerned faces of the group. She looked back to the stream and with a fleeting glance, saw Ranamon's face.
She looked back to the group and took a breath. "I'm getting the Spirits of Water."
"How do you know?" Katsuharu asked.
"That sounds right." Koichi nodded.
"How so?" Yutaka asked, still wary.
Koichi leant against the cliff-face and folded his arms. "Out of the Ten Legendary Warriors, only the Warriors of Wind and Water are female." He then looked at Zoe and Chiaki. "Since Zoe has already connected with the Spirits of Wind, it makes sense for the only other girl of the group to be told that she would gain the Spirits of Water."
"That still doesn't give a valid reason why." Yutaka said.
"We're dealing with another world here." Zoe inputted. "And this world has its own separate set of rules and physics. There may not be a valid reason that makes sense on our world." She reasoned. "That's why in this world, we have to adjust our way of thinking."
"To accept that spirits of legendary creatures can talk to us?" Yutaka clarified.
"It's what happens in the Digital World." JP added.
"Where are we going anyway?" Teppei asked.
"Well, there is a small settlement around here somewhere." Bokomon revealed. "It was where Takuya, Tommy, Zoe and JP first learnt about the Legendary Warriors."
"Oh yeah. The Candlemon." Tommy remembered. "This was also where I found my first Spirit."
"First Spirit?" Yutaka asked.
"Yeah." Tommy answered. "Each of us has two spirits. A Human Spirit and a Beast Spirit."
"When you say beast…?" Yutaka asked warily.
"It's exactly like it sounds." Bokomon spoke up. "In a dark time, Duskmon was the only Warrior of Darkness. Duskmon is the Human Spirit and Velgemon is the Beast Spirit of Darkness."
"So the Beasts are birds?" Yutaka asked.
"No." JP told him. "My Beast Spirit is basically an insect tank."
"And Mercurymon's Beast Spirit is a bunch of spheres." Zoe remembered.
"Bottom line, Digimon's forms can either be similar to what they were or something you'd never expect." Koichi summarised.
After a further ten minutes of resting and talking, they decided to make their way towards the settlement that Bokomon mentioned.
It was dark before they reached the small area that Bokomon recognised as the Candlemon Settlement.
"So this is where the Candlemon are?" Katsuharu asked.
"It is where they were last known to be." Bokomon confirmed. "But it has been several decades since I last visited."
"What's that?" Shinya asked.
The group looked to see Shinya and Tommy looking at ten symbols arranged in a circle next to a carving of a large angelic figure. Zoe and JP stepped forward and looked at the circle, something triggering their faint memories of when they first entered the Digital World.
"That's my symbol." Zoe smiled, reaching to the familiar symbol of Wind.
"There's the Thunder symbol." JP added, touching his own elemental glyph.
"This is my symbol. Ice." Tommy pointed out. As he touched his symbol, the symbols began to glow slightly. They quickly backed away.
"What's happening?" Teruo asked.
"I don't know." Bokomon answered. "This had never happened before."
"What have you done?" boomed a voice.
The group turned around to see a group of what could only be described as blue skinned people dressed as wizards.
"Wizardmon?" Bokomon asked. "Where are the Candlemon?"
"We haven't been Candlemon for two decades now." one said.
"Why?" Tommy asked.
"Because we need the power to evade Duskmon's forces." Another snapped. "Where have you been?"
"The human world." Koji sarcastically said. "Where else would we be?"
"Humans?" another asked as the rest began to murmur to themselves.
One particular Wizardmon stepped froward. "Our leader will want to see you."
Since Tommy, Zoe and JP stepped froward, Chiaki, Teruo and Shinya followed them with Yutaka trailing behind with Katsuharu and Teppei just behind him but just following Koji and Koichi. Bokomon and Neemon led the group.
"So Duskmon has been terrorising you for at least twenty years?" Zoe asked. "That's awful."
"We survived." A Wizardmon answered. "Our elder has since Digivolved into Mistymon."
"What's a Mistymon?" Shinya asked.
"Mistymon is an Ultimate Level Digimon with considerable power." Bokomon instantly answered. "He carries a sword that has a lot of magical power packed inside."
"Which of you harnessed the power of the Legendary Artifact that rested here?"
Tommy slowly raised his arm. "That was me."
"Mistymon will want to speak to you."
Five minutes later, Tommy was taken into a cave that was dug into the mountain. The only light in the cave came from small balls of light that hovered ten feet into the air, with a little space from the ceiling.
Tommy looked ahead at a small raised throne. A Digimon with a sword sat and looked down at him.
"And who are you?" the Digimon asked, voice betraying his youthful looks.
"My name is Tommy." He answered confidently. "I was told that you would want to see me."
"Why?"
Tommy took a small breath. "When I was previously in this world, I inherited the strength of the Legendary Warrior of Ice."
The Digimon narrowed his eyes. "Impossible. That was decades ago."
"In your world." Tommy said. "In my world, it's only been four years."
"Then prove yourself."
Tommy was afraid of the answer to his next question. "How can I do that?"
"Become the Warrior."
Tommy internally moaned. "I can't. The Spirits of Ice aren't with me at the moment."
"Then you have no proof."
The Wizardmon that accompanied Tommy stepped forward. "But Mistymon, this human is with a group that has both Bokomon and Neemon."
"Not effective proof." Mistymon dismissed.
"There's no other way I can prove it to you." Tommy insisted. "I'm sorry I wasted your time."
Tommy left the cave and re-joined the group as Yutaka and Katsuharu were arguing with each other.
"What are they arguing about?" Tommy asked.
"It depends on the moment." JP answered. "One minute it's going home, the next it's about letting you stay and be a warrior." Tommy sighed and approached them.
"It's too dangerous." Yutaka shouted.
"I'm agreeing with you on that but the fact is that he has the experience and can take care of himself." Katsuharu argued back.
"Well, I'm still going to get on one of those trains and get my brother to safety." Yutaka insisted.
"No you're not." Tommy said.
Despite Tommy saying it in his normal tone, Yutaka heard him clearly and looked him in the eye. "Tommy, listen to me."
"No Yutaka." Tommy interrupted. "I get that you're trying to protect me, but you also need to listen to Katsuharu." Seeing Katsuharu's smugness in the corner of his eye, he continued. "He spent his time here basically hiding behind a protective Digimon."
"Tommy, I know I've only been here a day, but this is the kind of thing that no-one should be used to." Yutaka said.
"But I am used to it Yutaka." Tommy insisted. "If I had the Spirits of Ice I would show you that I can deal with this."
Takuya and Koji sat by the small fire, waiting for Mercurymon to return with Lobomon's Rookie form.
"What kind of Digimon do you think he is?" Takuya asked.
"Who?" Koji asked, not taking his eyes off the dancing flames.
"Lobomon's Rookie form." Takuya answered.
"I don't know." Koji answered.
"I barely got to see my Rookie Form." Takuya said. "Still, I'm happy to have my Spirit back. I'm just worried about Mercurymon and the others."
"Why?"
"Because without the Spirits, they'll just become four normal Digimon." Takuya sighed. "The spirits belong with their rightful hosts but I don't want to force the Digimon to give them up."
"Takuya, when the time comes, it won't be the Digimon's decision." Koji told his friend. "It will be the Spirits decision and no-one else's."
"It just doesn't seem right." Takuya confessed.
"I concur." Takuya and Koji turned to see Mercurymon standing by the fire. "But as Master Koji has stated; it is purely the choice of the Spirits and no-one else."
"So, what would happen to the four of you?" Takuya asked.
"Thine query will have to wait." Mercurymon instructed. "Young Strabimon and Polacumon have left the safety of Seraphimon's castle and made haste for the former Candlemon Settlement."
"I remember that place." Takuya said. "Tommy got his Ice Spirit there."
"Tis a different area now." Mercurymon told them. "The Candlemon have since Digivolved to protect themselves from Duskmon's nefarious attacks."
"Well, I managed to beat one of them after they Digivolved." Takuya smiled.
"But thou hast never faced a foe like Mistymon." Mercurymon reminded him.
"No, but we've dealt with Crusadermon, Dynasmon and Lucemon." Koji added. "How bad can this Mistymon be?"
"Mistymon, surely you can't be serious?" his Wizardmon guard questioned.
"I am serious." He replied. "We cannot ignore the possibility of Duskmon corrupting the humans."
"The Celestial Angels themselves told us that Duskmon cannot corrupt them due to the defences that the Legendary Warriors put in the humans." Wizardmon argued.
"That accounts for six." Mistymon agreed. "But the others are potential puppets for Duskmon's powers."
"But your orders are a little extreme." Wizardmon tried to reason.
"Do not question my orders." Mistymon snapped, his sword starting to ignite.
"I mean no disrespect sir." Wizardmon tried.
"Silence!" Mistymon stood up and pointed his sword at Wizardmon. "Blast Fire."
The fire around Mistymon's sword intensified and he swung his sword towards Wizardmon three times, each swing creating a blade of intense heat that on the third hit, destroyed Wizardmon, leaving only a shadow of his form surrounded by a glowing white ring.
Mistymon held out his unoccupied hand, mentally bringing the ring of Wizardmon's data into his own body.
"Another puppet of Duskmon has been destroyed." Mistymon announced to himself, unaware that his eyes had momentarily turned coal-black.
Outside, no-one had no idea of what had just transpired.
Shinya, Teruo and Chiaki were discussing the Legendary Warriors. "So you guys didn't have these Spirit things?"
Teruo shook his head. "No, but the four of us refused to leave the Digital World."
"We kept in small contact and Katsuharu told us how Tommy told him that thinking back, it was strange that three boys and a girl just happened to stay back."
"Why?"
"Simple Shinya." Teruo answered. "The last four warriors were three guys and a girl. There were loads of kids called that day but they all left. We didn't."
"Why didn't you leave?" Shinya asked.
Chiaki opened her mouth to answer but turned her head slightly, as if she heard something faint. "Did you hear something?"
Shinya and Teruo looked at each other then shook their heads at Chiaki. Chiaki looked around again as she heard the same sound again clearly.
"Something's coming." She said.
Teruo and Shinya seemed to be sceptical of her claim and made questioning noises as Zoe approached them. "Are you three alright?"
"Yeah, why?" Teruo asked.
"I think I heard something and I'm concerned." She answered.
"I heard something too." Chiaki agreed. "I don't know what though."
"Get away from there!" called a voice.
Shinya and Teruo looked to see Koichi running to them in fear whilst Zoe and Chiaki were noticing that their shadows were moving on their own.
They quickly grabbed the boys and pulled them aside as the shadows turned into spikes and broke the ground that they had stabbed. Shinya and Teruo gasped at seeing what could possibly have happened to them.
"How did you know?" Chiaki managed to ask.
"It's a long story." He answered. "The first lesson we're going to teach you is that if your instincts say to do something, do it!" Teruo quickly pulled Shinya to the ground as another shadow swiped at neck level. "Like that."
"Run." Zoe instructed.
The four of them ran back to the group, who had not even noticed their absence.
"What happened to you?" Bokomon asked.
"The shadows were attacking." Teruo answered.
"That's not possible." A Wizardmon argued. "Mistymon's power protects this area from shadow manipulation."
"Maybe we should talk to him." Zoe suggested. "He may be getting tired since shadows have just tried to stab us."
With a little more persuading, Zoe and Koichi were permitted to see Mistymon.
Koichi was instantly tense since the lights above granted many opportunities for shadows to be made. Zoe heard what could be best described as minute whispers. She knew something was being said, she just couldn't understand what was being said.
"Something's not right here." She whispered.
Koichi nodded as Mistymon stood from his throne. "What is your reason for coming here?"
"We were called by Lady Ophanimon and were traveling by Trailmon until we were attacked and were forced to take a detour through your village." Koichi answered.
"Why would you come down here?" Mistymon asked.
"We were here before and hoped we could gain some insight to the Digital Worlds current trouble." Zoe took over.
"The current trouble is because the Celestial Digimon don't want to stop Duskmon." Mistymon spat.
"I'm sure they do want to stop Duskmon." Zoe started. "It's probably just that…"
"They're selfish!" Mistymon snapped, his sword flashing with red flames. "They had their chance to stop him and to even stop him from coming back but they just wanted to let him come back and bring the Digital World to chaos just so they can be the heroes."
Zoe was appalled at the accusation. "How can you say that?"
"It's the truth." Mistymon simply shrugged, walking slowly towards them. "They live for the glory that they receive."
"Why would you say things like that?" Zoe asked. "What you're saying doesn't make sense."
Koichi's eyes darted around the room as he noticed that shadows were slowly moving towards Mistymon. Without trying to draw attention to himself, he took note of where the exit was and what would be the best way to get both himself and Zoe out of the cave.
As Koichi felt a chill up his spine, he pushed Zoe in one direction whilst jumping in the other.
Zoe turned around and was about to shout at Koichi until she saw a stream of shadows. She followed the stream around the roof of the cave and back towards Mistymon's throne.
"What just happened?" Zoe asked.
Koichi looked at Mistymon, already knowing the answer. "Duskmon's darkness has corrupted Mistymon."
"Impossible." Mistymon denied. "I have trained my will to resist any form of corruption."
Koichi stood up and signalled Zoe to come towards him. "Mistymon, darkness cannot be resisted fully. It finds a small crack in your defences and it use that to seep into your soul."
"I cannot be corrupted." Mistymon repeated. "It is impossible."
"Koichi?" Zoe hinted.
"Slowly, make your way to the entrance." Koichi instructed quietly.
Zoe took one step backward before Mistymon raised a hand to the air. The shadows gathered into a small orb that seemed to flicker with black flames.
Koichi took two breaths, then noticed Mistymon's eyes turn black. He grabbed Zoe and together, they ran from the cave. He looked around and saw the ball of shadowy fire coming towards him. He flinched and covered his face, expecting to be severely burned.
"Darkness Hand!"
Koichi looked from behind his eyes, seeing an unknown Digimon growling slightly towards the cave. The Digimon had light-purple fur with a white face and bright amber eyes. A black scarf settled down its back and several small belts were placed around its body. It had a pair of sharp gloves that seemed to dim slightly.
"You alright?" it asked.
"Yes. Thank you." Koichi regained his breath.
"I almost didn't make it in time." The Digimon smiled. "I had to leave Polacumon just so I'd be able to save you."
Koichi seemed to recognise something in the Digimon. "Koji?"
"Strabimon." He was contradicted. "Rookie Warrior of Light."
"You're Lobomon's Rookie form." Koichi caught on. "But why are you here and not with Koji?"
"I guess a little of his brotherly protection stayed with me." Strabimon guessed.
"I'm still happy you're here anyway." Koichi smiled. "I'm sure Koji would forgive you for delaying him getting his spirit back."
Strabimon smiled slightly and turned back to the cave. Mistymon stood out of the darkness and held out his free hand, palm facing towards Strabimon and Koichi.
Shadows gathered at his palm, then shot out towards them. Strabimon jumped in front of Koichi and crossed his arms. A small shield of light stopped the shadows from hitting him, but Strabimon couldn't move. "Koichi. Get away from here."
"I'm not leaving you." Koichi insisted.
"Koichi, I can't hold back these shadows." Strabimon strained.
"Maybe you don't have to." Zoe said, joining them.
"What?" Strabimon snapped.
"I've been hearing voices slightly." Zoe answered. "I thought my hearing was getting better, but I realised it was voices carried on the wind."
"What are you saying?" Koichi asked.
"Something happened to me that's connected to my element, so maybe something can happen to do with your element." Zoe suggested.
"Like what?" Koichi asked.
"I don't know." Zoe shrugged. "Think of what your element could do."
Koichi saw Strabimon stumble back slightly and raised his hand in reflex. Even though it was minute, Koichi saw the shadows retreat slightly. He repeated the action, but this time, they did not retreat. He tried twice more before a shadow wrapped around hid body and lifted him off the ground, much like Takuya.
"Koichi!" Zoe and Strabimon called.
"Get to the others." Koichi told them.
"I'm not leaving you." Strabimon defied.
"Neither am I." Zoe agreed. "You helped us when you were trying to redeem yourself and did not give up when Cherubimon tried to get you to give into the darkness again. You didn't abandon us and I'm not going to abandon you."
Koichi smiled slightly at Zoe's words. He felt a warmth in his chest he hadn't felt since he sacrificed himself against Lucemon and said what he thought was his final farewell to Koji. He tried to spread his arms again, and managed to push the shadows aside far enough for him to drop down to the ground.
He quickly grabbed Strabimon and Zoe and ran away from where the others were.
"Why are we running this way?" Zoe asked.
"Since Mistymon is corrupted, we should lure him away from the others." Koichi reasoned.
Strabimon stopped suddenly and looked back. "Guys, Mistymon's not following us."
Koichi and Zoe looked around and realised that Strabimon was right. Mistymon was not following them. Zoe listened carefully but could not hear anything.
"I can't hear anything." She told them.
"So what do we do now?" Koichi asked.
"We get to the others and help them." Strabimon said, already making his way.
"But we don't have our spirits yet." Zoe argued. "How can we help?"
"I didn't come alone." Strabimon smiled. "I happened to come with one other spirit, and with any luck, they should be a pair."
"Hey Mercurymon?" Takuya asked. When Mercurymon turned slightly, Takuya continued. "Can you teleport others?"
"What?" Koji asked.
"He can see where the others are so I was thinking he could teleport us them." Takuya explained.
"A wise plan." Mercurymon agreed. "However, it would be new territory."
"You've never done it?" Koji asked.
"Nay. I have never tried to transport someone else." Mercurymon revealed.
"Well, try it now." Takuya said, standing up. Mercurymon and Koji just looked at Takuya as he folded his arms and looked at his companions. "Why not? What's the worst that could happen?"
"We could be wiped from existence." Koji guessed.
"Relax buddy, it's not going to be that bad." Takuya smiled.
"I say we try." Mercurymon said, straightening his body.
"Are you serious?" Koji asked. "You've never done this before and you're willing to try it?"
"Of course." Mercurymon said. "But we must make haste before they leave the area."
Mercurymon raised his arm and shone a light over Takuya and Koji.
"Mistymon?" a Wizardmon asked. "What are you doing here?"
Everyone looked around as Mistymon raised his flaming sword and brought it down swiftly, instantly reducing Wizardmon to a Digi-Egg and absorbed the ring of data and surrounded the egg. Everyone gasped in horror at what they just saw.
"What just happened?" Yutaka asked.
"Mistymon destroyed Wizardmon and absorbed his fractal code." Bokomon answered.
"Mistymon! Stop!" another Wizardmon tried, but met the same fate.
"We need to get away." Chiaki said.
"If we do, then Mistymon will completely delete the Wizardmon Village." Tommy argued. "We have to stay."
"I agree." Said a similar voice to Tommy, just more youthful.
Tommy looked to his side and saw a small white bear-like Digimon on all four legs with a green band around each leg, big green eyes and a small mouth.
"Thanks." Tommy smiled. "Who are you and where did you come from?"
The bear smiled. "I'm Polacumon. An old friend."
Tommy turned to Mistymon. "Think you can beat him?"
"Not a chance." Polacumon stuck his tongue out.
"Then why are you here?" Yutaka asked.
Polacumon turned his head to Yutaka. "Take a chill pill. I only mean I can't beat him alone." Yutaka just blinked.
Tommy smirked slightly and looked back at Polacumon. "You seem familiar."
"I should hope so." Polacumon giggled.
"More darkness from Duskmon." Mistymon began to grumble.
Polacumon growled back, showing sharp teeth. "We are not the darkness. The darkness is inside you."
"I have no darkness!" Mistymon called and swung his sword at Tommy.
Yutaka dived forward and pushed Tommy to the ground, getting hit in the back himself.
"Yutaka!" Polacumon called.
"How does he know the humans name?" Neemon asked.
"I have no idea." Bokomon shook his head.
Tommy looked behind him and saw small tunnels of smoke coming from Yutaka's back. He did not miss the look of pain in his brothers face.
"Are you alright?" Tommy asked.
"I'll live." Yutaka grunted. "If only I had an ice pack."
"Slushy breath." Polacumon whispered, blowing out a soothing breath over Yutaka's back, instantly cooling it and stopping the minor burns from becoming worse. "How's that?"
"Better. Thanks." Yutaka smiled slightly.
Polacumon looked at Mistymon and charged. "Snowball charge!"
Polacumon rolled into a ball and shot for Mistymon's face. He bounced off after knocking Mistymon to his feet.
"Nice one." Tommy praised.
"I only caught him off balance." Polacumon sighed. "We need more power."
"How do we get more power?" Katsuharu asked.
"That's tricky without Mercurymon." Polacumon confessed.
"Mercurymon?" JP asked. "What does he have to do with more power?"
Polacumon was about to answer when a stream of shadows shot from under Mistymon and made their way to Shinya.
"Look out!" Teruo shouted, pulling Shinya out of the way.
"This shadow thing is getting old." Katsuharu said.
"Darkness will be snuffed out by the light." Mistymon announced.
"You know nothing about darkness." Everyone turned to see Koichi, Zoe and an unfamiliar Digimon.
"Who's that Digimon?" Teppei asked.
Katsuharu glanced at Teppei with a slightly confused look as Polacumon announced it as Strabimon.
"Polacumon." Strabimon nodded.
"Enough of that. Help us." Polacumon snapped. "Yutaka's already been burned by Mistymon's sword."
"How do you know my name?" Yutaka asked, still holding Tommy slightly.
"You." Tommy realised.
Polacumon winked and stood by Tommy's side. Polacumon looked Mistymon right in the dark orbs of his eyes. "Let's cool this guys temper."
"Go get him." Tommy smiled.
"Not so fast." Katsuharu urged. "Just how powerful is Mistymon?"
"That doesn't matter." Polacumon said. "We still have to fight."
"Why?" Shinya asked.
"Because if we don't…" Strabimon started, standing at Polacumon's side.
"Who knows what could happen?" JP finished. "Besides, we may have a chance to purify him."
"Purify?" Chiaki asked.
"It's what we used to do when we fought a bad Digimon." JP answered.
"Enough talk!" Mistymon called. "Shadow Hold!"
Mistymon pointed his sword at Bokomon and Neemon, shadows wrapping around them like vines. JP and Katsuharu quickly rushed to help the small Digimon out. Once they were in range, the shadows wrapped around them. They struggled against the shadows but were no match. Teppei reached for Katsuharu and the shadows wrapped around his arms and rendered him immobile too.
Teppei looked and saw Shinya about to help him, but called out. "No Shinya! If you get too close, the shadows will get you."
"How do we get out?" Teppei asked.
"What about light?" Shinya asked.
"Great." Katsuharu sighed. "Anyone bring a torch?"
"Strabimon!" Zoe realised. "He's the Warrior of Light."
"I can't fight something like that!" Strabimon countered. "Not unless…"
"Unless what?" Yutaka called, dodging a shadow spike and grunting when Polacumon landed on him.
"No!" Chiaki called. Everyone looked as at a dozen spikes quickly shot for both her and Teruo.
Teruo blocked his face with his arms. He never even heard or noticed that the earth itself lifted from the ground and made a wall protecting him and Chiaki from the shadows. "Teruo, what did you do?"
Teruo lowered his arms, seeing the wall of earth. "Where…?"
"You did that." Chiaki answered. "You covered your face and the earth made a wall to protect us."
"How?" Teruo asked.
"It must be to do with one of those spirits." Chiaki guessed.
"Yutaka!" Tommy called.
Teruo and Chiaki saw that Yutaka was protecting Tommy from shadows by taking all the attacks meant for Tommy.
"Tommy, get out of here." Yutaka insisted.
"I'm not leaving without you Yutaka." Tommy argued.
"Tommy, listen to me." Yutaka instructed. "You have to escape so you can live to fight another day."
Tommy smiled at this gesture. "That's sweet." He then looked behind Yutaka. "But being here has taught me a few things."
Definitely out of character for Tommy, he grabbed a staff from a Wizardmon that was laying on the ground, injured. He did a forward roll and using the staff like a baseball bat, hit the shadow that was about to attack Yutaka. Tommy turned his head slightly and saw Yutaka's shocked face.
"What? Koji taught me a few things." Tommy shrugged.
"We're talking about that later." Yutaka told him. "But for now, let's protect each other."
"Duck." Tommy instructed, swinging at Yutaka's head. He quickly ducked as Tommy hit another shadow. "Polacumon, can't we become Kumamon again? This fight might be easier."
"Ophanimon doesn't have the power to give out all the D-Tectors at once." Polacumon answered. "She gave that power to Mercurymon."
"Can't we just get Mercurymon here?" Shinya asked. "He just appears out of nowhere."
"Easier said than done." Koichi answered. "When we were evil, Mercurymon never really answered any summons we gave him. Except maybe Cherubimon."
"So, how can we get him here?" Teruo asked. "We don't know where he is."
"If we assume that Mercurymon stayed with Takuya and Koji, all we would have to do is to call Koji and get him to send Mercurymon." Koichi reasoned, pulling out his phone.
He dialled Koji's number and heard a few rings before a shadow swiped by and wrapped around the phone, crushing it.
"My phone!" Koichi called.
"Look out!" Tommy shouted.
Both he and Polacumon ran towards Koichi, not caring about the shadows that were now heading for them. Everyone gasped and called out to them, but their cries fell on deaf ears. Just as the shadows reached Tommy and Polacumon, a beam of light hit them, destroying the shadows and giving them precious little breathing room.
"No!" Yutaka called.
Tommy and Polacumon looked around and saw the shadows still trying to get them, but disappearing as soon as they crossed the small dome of light. Tommy looked down at Polacumon with a questioning look.
"I can see through you." Tommy observed.
"This dome is made with Spirit Energy." Polacumon explained. "It's borrowing energy from me to maintain it."
"What's going to happen to you?" Tommy asked.
"I can't say." Polacumon replied. "I don't know."
A small beeping filled the air. Tommy looked down at his phone and saw a welcoming symbol. The phone began to peel away, leaving Tommy's D-Tector in its place. Tommy smiled when he realised that his D-Tector was back, then realised that he wouldn't be seeing Polacumon again.
Seemingly reading his mind, Polacumon looked at Tommy. "Don't worry Tommy, my body may not be with you, but you know for sure that I'll always be with you."
Tommy nodded and aimed his D-Tector at Polacumon. "Sorry we couldn't talk more." Polacumon nodded and closed his eyes, shrinking and changing into a small white totem statue.
The dome began to dim its light as Tommy swiped a ring similar to the ring that surrounded Takuya's hand.
"Execute! Spirit Evolution!" Tommy called, repeating the same motion that Takuya had performed earlier that day.
The cocoon of data surrounded Tommy, completely engulfing his body. Yutaka restrained himself from rushing to help his brother, simply telling himself that the same thing happened to Takuya.
"Kumamon!" announced the dissolving of the cocoon.
Yutaka looked at the white polar bear with a green headband, green boots and a weapon of some sort over its back. "Tommy?"
The bear looked at Yutaka and gave him a wide smile. A shadow shot straight for Kumamon who, unexpectedly to all but JP, Zoe, Koichi, Bokomon and Neemon, suddenly melted. The shadow went completely overhead and spun back around.
Kumamon quickly resolidified as his original body shape reformed. He leapt into the air and pulled the weapon from his back.
"Blizzard Blaster!" he called out, firing several snowballs to the shadows.
The snowballs passed through harmlessly. A shadow wrapped around his ankle and whipped him to the ground.
"Tommy!" Yutaka called, rushing to the bear's side. "Are you alright?"
Kumamon sat up and nodded. "I've been hit with worse."
"Stop fighting the shadows." Yutaka instructed. "Go for that other guy. He's controlling the shadows."
Kumamon looked at Mistymon and saw that every time a shadow changed target, Mistymon either moved his hands slightly or moved his eyes in that specific direction. Kumamon nodded at Yutaka and quickly jumped at Mistymon.
"Frozen Tundra!" he called, changing his body to a large icicle.
Mistymon looked at Kumamon, mentally sending more shadows to attack but because Kumamon was getting too close for comfort, the shadows were starting to miss. Kumamon struck Mistymon in the chest, breaking his concentration, releasing Bokomon, Neemon, JP, Katsuharu and Teppei.
Kumamon took in a sharp breath. "Crystal Breeze!" he announced, breathing out a snowstorm that quickly froze Mistymon's body. Mistymon shook his head, trying to use shadows to break the ice. "Give it a rest."
Mistymon looked art Kumamon. "The darkness must be destroyed."
Kumamon smiled. "I couldn't agree more." He aimed his launcher at Mistymon's unprotected face. "The sad part, is that the darkness has corrupted you. I'm sorry." Kumamon closed his eyes as he launched close range snowballs at Mistymon's undefended head.
Mistymon called in pain as his figure darkened and a ring of data surrounded his body. Kumamon took out his D-Tector and looked at Mistymon. "I'm sorry the darkness twisted your views, but maybe a little ice can purify and snap you out of this."
The D-Tector began to spark as it was dragged across the data ring. The ring turned into a single line that travelled inside Tommy's D-Tector as the darkness surrounding Mistymon was replaced with light.
Once the line of data was inside the D-Tector, Kumamon was surrounded by a second cocoon of data and emerged as his human self. He fell to his knees and sighed.
Yutaka rushed to his brothers side, kneeling beside him. "Tommy, are you ok?"
Tommy looked at his older brother. "I'm fine. It's just been a while." He looked at JP, Zoe and Koichi. "Was it always that draining?"
Mistymon sat up and rubbed his head. "What happened?" he looked at Tommy and the other humans. "Didn't I see you?"
"We think Duskmon's darkness somehow corrupted you and twisted your intentions." Tommy explained.
"Duskmon?" Mistymon questioned. "He hasn't been here, has he?"
Yutaka stood up. "Not here, but it's a good thing that my brother was able to stop you before you went too far."
Mistymon looked at Tommy. "Well, however you stopped me. I am grateful for your actions. Is there anything I can do to repay you?"
Tommy looked at the others and instantly knew the answer. "Food and shelter for the night."
Mistymon smiled. "As you wish."
Mercurymon smiled, seeing his allies having a feast and resting after their ordeal. He looked at Takuya and Koji, seeing that they were asleep, though not for long if the impending sunrise was any indication, he walked away from them and looked into his arm shield, the image of a Digimon filling the mirror.
"The Warriors of Flame and Ice have reawakened." He announced. "Takuya and Koji are with me, but the others were separated by Velgemon and are currently at the Wizardmon Settlement. And thanks to the encouragement of Takuya and Koji, I now know I can safely teleport other beings across distances, albeit at a cost of energy both to myself and those I teleport. They are currently resting, but I am confident that they will reawaken soon."
The next morning, everyone left the cave they slept in and looked around.
"So, which way do we go?" Katsuharu asked.
Bokomon looked around and pointed. "That way." He began to walk away, the large group following him
"Well, here we go again." JP sighed. "Walking to Seraphimon's castle and hoping we find our spirits along the way."
"Why not?" Zoe smiled. "That's how our first adventure started, it seems fitting our next one should start the same."
"And the spirits are coming back in a different order." Bokomon answered. "Last time, it was Takuya, Koji, and then Tommy. This time, it was Takuya, then Tommy."
"So?" Neemon asked.
"So nothing." Bokomon answered. "I just thought it was an interesting detail."
"Shouldn't you be getting to Koji?" Koichi asked Strabimon, who was walking next to him.
"No need." Strabimon waved him off. "No matter what happens, light and dark always come together. Koji will find you when the time is right."
Meanwhile, Yutaka was eyeing Tommy. When Tommy caught him looking, his face flushed slightly.
"Just ask your question 'Taka." Tommy simply said.
"Was that bear your Beast Spirit?"
Tommy shook his head. "Nope."
"So what's your Beast Spirit?" Yutaka asked, slightly afraid of the answer.
Tommy looked at his brother, smirking like only a little brother could. "Just wait and see."