Putting one foot in front of the other, he walked through the small forest, looking at the trees as he passed them by. Seeing a small white blob float by him, he felt a serene smile cross his face. He took a deep breath and inhaled the aroma of cooked pork, chicken and beef. He broke out into a jog to find the source of the hunger inducing smell.
Finding a small clearing, Takuya couldn't help the laugh that escaped his mouth seeing his five best friends eating apples. Takuya clearly remembered a time where he would be cooking meat apples with his friends and each wondering what flavour they would get.
He sat down next to the youngest of his friends, Tomoki 'Tommy' Himi and the only girl in the group, Zoe Orimoto.
Next to Zoe, was the boy who had had a crush on her ever since he met her, Junpei 'JP' Shibayama. Then came the twins Koji Minamoto and Koichi Kimura. Their parents separated as they were born so Koji lived with their dad and Koichi lived with their mother.
It wasn't until later in life that they knew the other even existed. For some reason, their mother and father decided not to tell them about their twin. Koichi only found out about Koji when his grandmother was dying.
Takuya was happy. His friends were all enjoying themselves and laughing about the adventure they shared that only took a few hours. If that. To them, it was months in a strange world, which was where they were now.
As Takuya finished eating a meat apple that was steak flavoured, he felt something approaching. His body stiffened as his friends carried on talking as if nothing was happening.
He looked around the trees, searching for the source of his suspicions. At one point, he saw a flash of red dash in between some trees. He stood up and walked to the red blur.
He looked through the trees and saw nothing. But he was certain the source of the red blur was still about. He looked back at his friends, still talking and laughing as if Takuya was still there. He sighed and took a step back to his friends.
Then he heard a twig snap behind him. In reflex, he raised an arm as he spun to catch the possible assailant off guard. He gasped when a tall figure in red armour and long bushy yellow hair caught his arm.
"Still as sharp as ever." He smiled.
"Agunimon?" Takuya asked.
Takuya lowered his arm and took a glance back at his friends, who were now nowhere to be found. Agunimon placed a hand on Takuya's shoulder, causing him to turn around.
"What's going on?" Takuya wondered.
"I needed to speak with you and dreams are the easiest way to do that." Agunimon answered. "Something is coming."
"What do you mean?"
Agunimon knelt down so he was eye level with his human host. "The Digital World is going to need the Legendary Warriors again. The warriors are already warning the others."
"What's coming? Do you have any ideas?" Takuya questioned.
"I'm afraid not." Agunimon shook his head. "All the ten of us know is that the Digital World can't handle the oncoming threat on its own. It needs the six of you again."
Takuya was trying to adjust to this revelation when a thought crossed his mind. "What about the other four spirits? They never had human hosts."
Agunimon smiled and faded away. "All things in due time."
Takuya opened his eyes and yawned, stretching his arms and legs and looked around his room. He heard the clatter of his parents and brother as they ate their breakfast. Takuya walked to the bathroom and did his morning routine.
He walked into the dining room as his mother placed a bowl of cereal in front of him. He looked at the bowl, took it from his mother and sat at the table.
"I thought it was toast this morning." Takuya commented.
"The bread was bad." His younger brother Shinya told him.
Takuya looked at Shinya, noticing the large badge on his jumper. That was when Takuya remembered that it was Shinya's thirteenth birthday. After he finished his breakfast, he rushed back to his bedroom and took out the present in the back of his closet after getting himself dressed in a yellow t-shirt with a red zipper hoodie and black jeans that were slightly clinging to his legs.
He walked back downstairs and found Shinya watching his favourite cartoon. He placed the present next to his brother and sat down on the sofa.
It took five minutes for Shinya to notice the present and he immediately opened it, forgetting to read who it was from. When he saw it was an action figure from his favourite show, he knew immediately who it was from.
He immediately hugged Takuya and thanked him for the figure. Takuya tussled his brothers hair and laughed slightly. It was two hours later when the doorbell rang. Takuya sighed and went to answer the door.
He was surprised to find Tommy standing there with a present in his hands. Tommy had long since stopped wearing his large orange hat in favour of a small orange cap. He also wore a simple white t-shirt and denim shorts. "Hi Takuya, is Shinya in?"
"Yeah." He answered, stepping aside. "Come on in."
Ever since they finished their adventure four years ago, Tommy had realised he was in the same class as Takuya's younger brother and through a shared interest in Shinya's favourite cartoon, they became fast friends.
"Tommy, before you go and see Shinya, did you have a weird dream last night?" Takuya quickly asked.
Since they barely spoke about their adventures in public or around their families, Tommy looked around before nodding. "Kumamon told me we may be needed again as something is coming."
Takuya leant against the door and sighed. "Agunimon said the same thing."
"What are we going to do?" Tommy asked his older friend.
"Well, assuming the other spirits told Zoe and the others, all we can do is wait for Ophanimon or someone else to summon us." Takuya guessed, rubbing his hair.
Tommy nodded and made his way to Shinya and gave him his present. A book about his favourite cartoon. It was safe to assume that anything related to Shinya's favourite cartoon was a perfect present.
After watching one full episode of the cartoon, both Takuya and Tommy's cell phones beeped at the same time. They looked at each other, knowing what this could be.
Since the two of them were together, Takuya opened the message and stiffened slightly, hearing the mature female voice announce his name. "Takuya Kanbara and Tomoki Himi."
"Ophanimon must know we're together." Takuya joked.
"Yes I do." She replied. "I'm afraid the Digital World needs your help again. Please go to the main Shibuya Station as soon as you can. A Trailmon will collect you all when you are all present."
Takuya's phone went silent and he looked at Tommy. "Once again, I'm going to the Digital World on Shinya's birthday."
"We've got to answer the call." Tommy said, seeing Takuya reluctantly nod in agreement.
Takuya told his mother he was going out for a while but emphasised he would be back in time for Shinya's birthday meal at night. Takuya and Tommy left the house and quickly made their way to the station.
As they sat on two seats on the train to the main Shibuya station with Tommy catching his breath, Takuya sighed and looked at his phone, hoping to see any messages or calls from his other friends who would have received the message from Ophanimon.
"Anything from the others?" Tommy asked.
Takuya shook his head. "Nope. But they could be thinking what I am."
"What's that?"
"That they got the same message we did." Takuya instantly answered, before realising that it wasn't Tommy who had asked the question. He turned his head to see Shinya poking his head over Takuya's shoulder. "Shinya! What are you doing here?"
"I followed you." He replied. "This is the second birthday you left because of a phone message. I want to find out why."
"Does mom even know you're here?" Takuya asked as Shinya came and sat with him.
"I told her I was going to see another friend before they went on holiday." Shinya answered. "She bought it easily and I quickly followed you onto this train."
"Takuya…" Tommy started to hint.
"I know." Takuya said as the train began to slow down. Against his better judgment, he let Shinya follow him and Tommy through the station.
"Takuya, Shinya isn't a warrior." Tommy said between breaths. "Will he be able to even go to the digital world?"
"All those kids four years ago did." Takuya answered. "And remember Katsuharu, Teppei, Chiaki and Teruo? They spent a lot of time in the Digital World and they didn't have any spirits."
"What are you talking about?" Shinya asked, surprising himself by catching up with his brother at an elevator.
"Never mind." Takuya told him, pressing the elevator button. When the doors opened, Takuya turned to his brother. "Shinya, I want you to stay here. You have to believe me. It will be safer."
Shinya nodded. "I do believe you Takuya." As the doors began to close, Shinya quickly jumped in. "But I also know that I want to follow you."
"Shinya." Takuya growled. "You shouldn't have done that."
"Too bad." Shinya stuck his tongue out.
Tommy and Takuya grabbed two of the three bars and as the elevator began to drop even faster, Shinya quickly grabbed the third bar and the three of them yelled as the elevator didn't seem to be stopping.
"What's happening?" Shinya called.
Before Takuya or Tommy could answer, the elevator suddenly stopped and the doors opened, revealing a large round station with only one train at a platform.
Takuya and Tommy instantly exited the elevator with Shinya following. The three boys made their way to the train.
"Do you think the others are here yet?" Tommy asked.
The door on the final carriage opened and out stepped a beautiful blonde girl. "I'm the only one here."
Shinya fell into a slight daze as he took in her blue eyes and warm smile. She wore an unbuttoned purple cardigan over a black t-shirt with a light blue twister pattern with purple tights under a knee length purple skirt to match her cardigan.
"Takuya, care to explain?" she folded her arms.
"He followed me." He answered. "It's not my fault Zoe."
She sighed and turned her head. "Boys."
All four turned their heads as they heard another elevator descend. The doors opened and three figures stepped out.
Tommy gasped in shock as he recognised one of the figures as his older brother Yutaka. He quickly hid behind Takuya, but it was too late as Yutaka had already laid eyes on his younger brother.
"Tommy!" he snapped. "What are you doing here?"
"Why did you follow us?" one of the others grumbled.
"It's too late to question now Koji." The third sighed, placing a hand on Koji's shoulder. "Just relax."
"You're too calm for your own good Koichi." Koji told his twin.
"I know." Koichi smiled, with a hint of smugness.
Koji and Koichi were both wearing matching blazers with a small crest on the left breast pocket. The shirts underneath were a deep blue for Koji and black for Koichi. The smart black trousers they wore were a dead giveaway for a uniform.
"Did you two just finish school or something?" Takuya asked.
"We just took our entry exams." Koji answered.
Zoe sighed and placed her head in her hands. "Is everyone bringing an unexpected guest?" The answer was yes. The last member of their group arrived with four unexpected guests. "JP!"
"They were summoned too." He quickly explained.
Tommy quickly took notice of two of the four extra. "Katsuharu and Teppei?"
"What is going on?" Shinya called.
Before anyone could even think of answering, a train whistle sounded, catching the attention of six of the large gathering. Those who weren't on the train, which was all but Zoe, called out and ran for the train.
Takuya and Tommy jumped on the train quickly and Shinya instinctively followed. Yutaka dove forward to get his brother, but due to Koji and Koichi also running, he was inadvertently brought aboard the train.
Katsuharu, Teppei, JP and the remaining boy and girl had managed to get on the train as it started to move. The train passed through the instant tunnel as everyone who had ran the farthest tried to catch their breath.
They were all in the only carriage there appeared to be.
"This is a problem." Takuya mumbled to Tommy. "Forget that our own brothers are here. It's because there are twelve of us here."
Tommy nodded, knowing Takuya's point. "There are only ten Legendary Warriors."
"What's a Legendary Warrior?" Shinya asked.
Six faces looked at Shinya, then at Yutaka, and finally at the final four. They had a silent conversation with each other.
"That's a little difficult to explain." Takuya answered.
"Well, you've got us on a train going God knows where." Yutaka said. "Start talking."
"Easy Yutaka." Tommy said. "It's not that we can't explain, it's just that it's hard to believe."
Something flashed in four memories. "I remember." Katsuharu gasped.
Tommy looked at his former bully. "What?"
Katsuharu looked at Tommy, memories of a small white bear turning into a large beast with braided hair protecting him and his friends from various creatures. The same memories flashed in the others from their own points of view.
"We're going back there. Aren't we?" asked the girl dressed in a blue flowing dress with white frills.
Katsuharu nodded. "Yes Chiaki. We are."
"Do you think Angemon will be there?" the other boy, Teruo asked.
"I don't know." Koji shook his head. "But every Digimon that was scanned is reborn as an egg so there is a chance he might be back."
"But we're warning you now." Takuya added. "A lot of time will have passed. He may not even remember you."
Chiaki and Teruo lowered their heads. Angemon had cared for and protected Katsuharu, Teppei, Chiaki and Teruo when they refused to leave the digital world four years ago.
"What are you talking about?" Yutaka asked again. "None of this is making any sense."
"If this is making no sense to you, then what's about to happen will be completely lost to you." JP said.
Yutaka was about to ask a follow up question when the train shook violently. Everyone was thrown about, none of them seeing the faded images that surrounded Takuya, Koji, Zoe, Tommy, JP and Koichi.
The train roared as it exited the tunnel. Yutaka looked out of the window, seeing a vast landscape of green fields and blue skies. He noticed birds flying through the air and small white blobs floating around the train.
"Where are we?" Shinya asked, looking out of the window at the other side.
"Welcome to the Digital World." Ophanimon's voice rang throughout the carriage. "Please meet with an old friend when you reach Flame Terminal."
"Who was that?" Teruo asked.
"That was Ophanimon." Zoe answered. "She's the one who called us here four years ago."
"Who's Ophanimon?" Shinya asked.
"She's an angel." Takuya instantly told his brother.
"Takuya." Koji seethed in a warning tone.
The train pulled to a stop and the doors opened. The group of twelve left the train and stepped onto the platform. Small purple heads with long ears bounced around them. Takuya, Koji ,Tommy, Zoe and JP were slightly uneasy as they had a previous bad experience with these creatures.
"They're…different." Yutaka commented.
"They're Digimon." Tommy explained.
"Digimon?" Shinya repeated.
This was another difficult area. How to describe Digimon?
Takuya thought about how best to explain when a call echoed through the station. "Out of the way Pagumon! I need to get here before Trailmon arrives!"
"But Trailmon is already here." A slightly high-pitched voice said.
"Well that's your fault for getting lost in the house!"
"It's confusing in there." The higher voice countered.
"I recognise those voices." JP smiled.
Five nodded in agreement as a small white creature pushed its way through the Pagumon, followed by a yellow rabbit in red trousers. The white creature looked around the humans, but his face fell when he didn't see who he was looking for. "Lady Ophanimon must have had to call new successors to the spirits."
"Excuse me?" Tommy asked.
"I hate starting over." It muttered to itself. "Ok, this may be hard for you humans to accept but you are in another world."
Yutaka and Shinya had the only genuine faces of surprise. The six 'retired' warriors were just disappointed that their supposed friend didn't recognise them. The remaining four were just confused.
"Really?" Takuya asked sarcastically.
"Yes." He was told. "This may possibly look like your world, but it is in fact…"
"A digital one." Takuya interrupted. "Yes Bokomon. We know."
The creature, now known as Bokomon, looked at Takuya. "You can't know my name. We haven't met before."
"Come on." JP moaned. "We couldn't have changed that much in four years."
"But it may have been longer than that." Takuya realised. "Bokomon, how long has it been since the last humans were thrown through the portal by the spirits?"
"It's been close to forty eight years." Bokomon answered, then realised something. "How do you know about that? Only five Digimon alive now, including myself, remember that."
"Who are they?" the rabbit asked.
Bokomon grabbed the waistband of the red trousers and pulled them, allowing them to snap back into place. "Quiet Neemon."
"That was always funny." Tommy whispered to Yutaka.
"Looks painful." Yutaka commented.
"It's just how they are." Koji added, walking to Bokomon. "Bokomon, we are the humans. Takuya, Koji, Koichi, Zoe, Tommy and JP."
Bokomon looked at Koji's face, studying him. "Koichi?"
"I'm Koji." He sighed, scowling slightly.
Bokomon gasped when he saw the scowl. "Koji?"
Koji nodded as Bokomon looked over the five humans closest to him. His eyes began to well up as recognition flowed through his eyes and mind. "It's really you?" he began to sob.
"Yes it is buddy." Takuya smiled.
Bokomon grabbed Takuya's leg and began to cry uncontrollably. Neemon simply waved at the humans, going with the flow.
"So, what's happening Bokomon?" Zoe asked. "Why are we back?"
Bokomon looked at the blonde girl and shook his head. "Sorry about that. Emotions later, business first. Follow me." Then he did a quick head count. "Why are there twelve of you?"
"Our brothers followed us onto the train." Takuya explained.
"I was just trying to get Tommy before he got onto the train." Yutaka clarified. "I was caught up in the rush."
"Well, I suggest you get back on the Trailmon and go back to the human world before things get too bad." Bokomon said.
"How can things get bad?" Yutaka asked.
"Never ask that." Bokomon warned before a loud bang sounded through the station.
Everyone turned toward the sound and saw several towers of smoke. Takuya and Koji instantly ran out of the station to investigate.
"Where are they going?" Shinya asked, too stunned to move.
"They were always the first to investigate something." Zoe sighed. "Bokomon, tell us what's going on."
"It's Duskmon." Bokomon answered, looking at Koichi specifically. "I'm afraid he's emerged as his own presence and has begun amassing Digimon to follow his tyrannical rule."
"That's not possible." Koichi insisted. "He was destroyed when Ophanimon purified the spirits."
"That's what we thought also." Bokomon agreed. "But somehow, he has come back and is most definitely not a spirit."
"What about the other spirits?" JP asked.
Yutaka, Shinya and the others were lost in the conversation and began to look around the station whilst the talk about Duskmon and the spirits was happening.
"Did any of you understand what they were talking about?" Yutaka asked.
"Nope." Katsuharu answered. "We never understood anything about the spirits."
"We met Takuya and the others later when the digital world was disappearing." Teppei continued. "We were protected by a Digimon called Angemon until he sacrificed himself so we could escape."
"Why did you stay if you didn't have those spirit things?" Shinya asked.
"Honestly, I stayed because I felt I had to." Chiaki answered. "Like I was needed for something."
"Me too." Teruo added. "I was supposed to do something."
"Well, I'm getting Tommy and we're leaving this place." Yutaka insisted. "The sooner we get out of here, the better."
"Tommy's not going anywhere." Katsuharu said. The glare from Yutaka dared him to continue. "He became a better person thanks to the Digital World. He saved my life even though I used to bully him."
"What?" Yutaka snapped.
"That's in the past." Katsuharu quickly said. "But you can't take him home. He's needed here."
Shinya had walked away slightly during Yutaka and Katsuharu's exchange and decided to do a little exploring of his own. He quickly found a narrow path that down a cliff and to a shrine of some sort. He looked back and when he was sure no-one was looking made his way down the path.
At the bottom, he noticed it was definitely a shrine. A statue of a man in armour with his left arm held out and flames coming out of his body was at the centre.
The plaque read 'In honour of the Flame Warrior Agunimon'. Shinya looked again at Agunimon, thinking that he looked like a superhero. "Cool."
"I think so too." Came a familiar voice.
Shinya turned around, not seeing Takuya, but an orange Digimon his height. It had brown-red trousers and was bare chested with a white pattern painted on its chest. It had a mane of orange hair that Tommy noticed was similar to Agunimon.
"Who are you?" Shinya asked.
The Digimon smiled and offered a hand. "My name is not important right now. Why have you come here?"
"I just got bored listening to everyone else." Shinya told the Digimon, shaking its hand.
"You really shouldn't wander away from the group." Shinya was warned. "You never know what might happen."
"They're only up there." Shinya pointed. "Besides, my brother will protect me if I needed it."
The Digimon's eyes widened slightly. "Your brother?"
Shinya nodded. "Yep. I don't know where he is though. There was a bang and him and Koji went to look at it."
"Yeah, that might have been me." The Digimon rubbed the back of its head sheepishly. "I was trying to Digivolve."
"Digivolve?"
The Digimon sighed. "I've probably already done too much by even talking to you. Go back to your friends."
"I knew you'd betray me." Accused a mature voice.
Shinya and the Digimon looked to the shadows where the voice came from and out stepped a tall Digimon in dark armour with eyeballs covering it.
The Digimon stood in front of Shinya. "I can't betray someone I never worked for."
The dark Digimon stepped forward, a red blade emerging from one of the skulls of his hands. The blade was raised, reflecting in the light.
"Back off Duskmon." The Digimon threatened. "You're not harming him."
"I don't listen to anybody." Duskmon told the small Digimon. "I give the orders."
"Shinya, get back to the others." The Digimon instructed.
Shinya shook his head. "He'll kill you."
The Digimon turned his head and flashed Shinya a smile. "You can't kill a spirit. Go."
Shinya turned around to run, but found his path blocked by a figure who seemed to be a man made of green armour and mirrors. Shinya stepped back slightly, seeing only the scowl on the figures face area.
"Who are you?" Shinya asked.
The Digimon looked at Shinya and moaned. "Come on. Why are you here Mercurymon?"
Mercurymon turned slightly, facing Duskmon. "Duskmon, surely thou art not fighting the forces of good?"
Duskmon stared directly at Mercurymon. "Stay out of my way."
Mercurymon stepped forward, past Shinya and in line with the small Digimon. "Flamemon, you have been told about your rash impulsiveness."
"I was feeling sentimental." The Digimon, now known as Flamemon, defended himself.
"I understand, but Lady Ophanimon is growing tired with this behaviour." Mercurymon scolded.
"Enough!" Duskmon shouted, leaping over the two Digimon and landing by Shinya. "The human must be destroyed."
Flamemon rushed away from Mercurymon. "No! Leave him alone!"
"Flamemon!" Mercurymon called.
Flamemon called out, becoming surrounded by an aura of fire. As Duskmon raised his blade, Flamemon pushed Duskmon to the ground.
"I told you to leave him alone!" Flamemon snarled.
"A pitiful Digimon like you has no authority over me." Duskmon stated. "How dare you give orders to me."
Shinya watched as Duskmon easily pushed Flamemon aside and placed a foot on his head. He noticed Mercurymon had disappeared when Flamemon pushed Duskmon to the ground.
Shinya used the distraction to run back up the path. When he heard a thump, he looked behind himself and saw Duskmon simply walking after him.
When he reached the Flame Terminal again, he looked again and Duskmon was still following him. He knew if Takuya and his friends had been here before, then they must know about Duskmon.
"Shinya, where have you been?" Chiaki asked, then she noticed he was breathing heavily. "What's wrong?"
"Digimon." He answered. "Bad Digimon."
"How bad?" Katsuharu asked.
As Shinya was about to answer, he saw Zoe, JP, Tommy and Koichi walking to them along with Bokomon and Neemon.
"My dear boy, you look like you've seen a ghost." Bokomon observed.
Shinya shook his head. "Dusk…"
"Dusk?" JP asked. "Look kid, it's still a few hours before dark."
Shinya pointed behind himself. "Duskmon."
Five faces shifted into fear. "I hoped you were joking about him." JP said.
"Why would I joke about Duskmon?" Bokomon asked.
Sure enough, Duskmon came into view and looked down at the humans. When his gaze met Koichi's, he paused. Koichi felt as if Duskmon was looking into his very soul.
"Ok, now if you could all Spirit Evolve, that would be super." Bokomon suggested.
Zoe, JP and Tommy reached for their waist, but looked down when they didn't find what they were looking for.
"Where's my D-Tector?" Tommy asked.
"Our phones haven't changed." Koichi answered, still staring down Duskmon. "Ophanimon must have a reason for not giving us our D-Tectors yet."
"Ophanimon." Duskmon drawled, sending shivers down Koichi's spine. "She will pay for this." Duskmon leapt into the air. "But not before I destroy you!" Duskmon became surrounded by a blue cocoon.
"He can't be." Koichi denied.
"Duskmon slide evolution…Velgemon!"
Everyone looked in shock as Duskmon had become a large red skeletal bird with three eyes. Velgemon used his wings to stay airborne as his middle eye glowed with dark energy.
"Run!" Koichi called.
"Dark Vortex!" Velgemon called.
Shinya looked directly at Velgemon as a beam of dark energy was fired. Just as Shinya was about to move, Mercurymon seemed to appear out of nowhere and raised his right arm, absorbing the attack into the mirror shield.
"Generous Mirror!"
The beam stopped and suddenly fired from the mirror, directly back towards Velgemon. Velgemon was hit, sending him to the ground in pain.
Mercurymon turned around. "We should make haste to the Celestial Digimon. Velgemon is merely stunned by his own attack."
"Mercurymon?" Zoe asked.
"Aye. Tis me fair Warrior of Wind." Mercurymon knelt. "But I repeat, we must flee before Velgemon recovers."
"What about Flamemon?" Shinya asked.
"Flamemon is not like we are." Mercurymon answered, as they began to retreat back to the station. "Four of us have re-bonded with our Human Spirits whist the other six are somewhere in the world as spirits, but are in a different form."
"So we have to find our spirits again?" JP moaned. "I'm going to be last again."
"Maybe not." Zoe said. "If our spirits are in a different form, then they may be walking around, trying to protect the digital world."
"Actually, they are all at Lord Seraphimon's castle." Mercurymon answered. As they reached the platform. Takuya and Koji were waiting there.
"What was the smoke?" Zoe asked.
"It was just some Biyomon trying to start a fire." Takuya answered, then he noticed Mercurymon. "Shinya, come here."
"Why?"
"Do as I say." Takuya repeated in a warning tone.
"I saved this human from an attack by Duskmon." Mercurymon told Takuya. "Fear not. My morality is solely aligned with Lady Ophanimon and Lords Cherubimon and Seraphimon."
"What?" Koji asked, picking up on the keyword. "Duskmon?"
Bokomon nodded. "I'm afraid so. As I was explaining to the others after you went to investigate the smoke, Duskmon has become his own entity separate from the Spirits of Darkness."
"Are you sure?" Koichi asked.
"Positive." Bokomon confirmed. "They, along with the purified Mercurymon, Ranamon, Grumblemon and Arbormon and the Celestial Digimon are teaching the reborn Lucemon about compassion and trying to ensure he does not repeat his evil ways."
"If only the world would be so lucky."
Everyone turned and saw Duskmon walking toward them. "Hello again Koichi. Miss me?"
"Stay away from my brother." Koji threatened. "Or you'll be sorry."
"What are you going to do? Hide while Mercurymon fights me?" Duskmon taunted.
"We've beaten you before, we can beat you again." Takuya stepped forward.
"But my power is greater now." Duskmon boasted, raising an arm and pointing it at Takuya. "Behold."
The shadows at the groups feet shifted and quickly wrapped Takuya tightly, lifting him off the ground. Koji and Koichi rushed to help him, but the shadows easily kept them at bay.
"How can we help Takuya?" Zoe asked.
"Mercurymon, can't you do something?" Shinya asked, causing JP and Tommy to look at the Warrior of Steel.
"I'm afraid my powers are no match for Duskmon." He answered. "Before, he had the boy to hold him back, but now without him, he's as soulless as he seems to be."
Takuya screamed as the shadows tightened around him. Everyone wanted to help him, but no-one had the power to help him.
"Guys, get out of here." Takuya managed to get out.
"We're not leaving Takuya." Tommy insisted, trying himself to get to his friend. The shadows pushed Tommy away with such force that Yutaka was knocked to the ground when Tommy hit him. "Sorry Yutaka."
Mercurymon stepped towards Takuya. He looked at Takuya, meeting his eyes. He understood Takuya's look instantly.
Get everyone to safety and forget about me.
Mercurymon turned against Duskmon. "Duskmon, as the Legendary Warrior of Steel, I order you to release the human and leave this area."
"Your words mean nothing to me." Duskmon simply said.
"How about mine?" called a voice. "Flame Toss!"
Duskmon flinched as a ball of fire hit him. His hold over the shadows did not weaken as he turned to face Flamemon.
"You really are troublesome little Flamemon." Duskmon announced, raising his other arm. "But not for long. Deadly Gaze!"
The eyeballs on his armour shifted to look at Flamemon as beams of red energy erupted and shot at Flamemon, who simply leapt over the attack and landed next to Takuya.
"Are you alright Takuya?" Flamemon asked.
Takuya looked at Flamemon. "Do I know you?" a smug smile on Flamemon reminded him of himself. "I do know you."
"Let's get you out of those shadows." Flamemon smiled. "Baby Salamander."
Flamemon became surrounded by an aura of fire that seemed to dissolve the shadows. Everyone watched as Flamemon stepped closer to Takuya, who was slowly lowered to the ground as each shadow disappeared.
"How?" Takuya asked Flamemon.
"A lot can happen in forty-eight years Takuya." Flamemon answered, with a sudden wisdom that Shinya didn't notice before. "Since four certain eggs hatched, the spirits of Water, Earth, Wood and Steel bonded with the Rookie Digimon that hatched and they became the Warriors again."
"We knew that it was only a matter of time before the true bearers of our Spirits would arrive." Mercurymon added.
"But because of that event, the six of us became half Digimon in Rookie level."
"Half Digimon?" Takuya asked.
"We have a body and thought as we did before, but we can't interact with the world." Flamemon explained. "We can only just manage to interact with each other and put a feeble resistance against Duskmon."
"Enough talk!" Duskmon shouted, getting extremely angry. "If I can't destroy you, I'll destroy this terminal and take you with it!"
"Like that'll happen." Takuya balled his fist. "I won't let you."
"And how are you going to stop me?" Duskmon began to laugh. "The mere existence of Flamemon is the biggest hinderance to your plan."
"And yet, thine arrogance be thy downfall." Mercurymon smirked, pointing one of his arm mirrors at Takuya and Flamemon. "My Lady hath given me the ability to bestow great power to the humans."
A small beam of orange light shot at the pair and gathered in front of Takuya. He looked as a definitive shape took form. He reached his hand into the light and as his hand wrapped around the object, the light exploded and gave the added bonus of pushing Duskmon to his knees, stung by the pureness of the light.
"My D-Tector." Takuya breathed. He then looked at Flamemon. "How do I…?"
"I'm just a spirit." Flamemon smiled. "We just don't have our Beast Spirit counterparts with us. They've gone back into hiding."
Takuya nodded, then pointed his D-Tector and pressed a button. Flamemon closed his eyes as his body shrunk and changed into a small totem-like figure with red armour.
Duskmon had seen the whole thing and decided for a last ditch attack. He quickly shifted into Velgemon and flew into the air.
"Everyone! Get on Trailmon!" Takuya ordered, standing by Mercurymon's side. "We'll handle Velgemon."
"Are you crazy?" Mercurymon asked. "We do not have the power to defeat him."
"Who said we were defeating him?" Takuya asked.
Koji realised Takuya's plan was really an escape plan. "Everyone, on the train. Go!"
As everyone took the seriousness in Koji's tone and ran to the carriage, Koji went to the Trailmon at the front. "Can you take us to Ophanimon?"
"It's a little bumpy on the way, but yeah, I'll get you there." The Trailmon answered.
"Thank you." Koji smiled, before turning to Takuya and Mercurymon. "Whatever you guys are going to do, do it now."
"I'd better change then." Takuya smiled as he raised his hand with a bright blue ring surrounding his hand. "Execute!" he placed the ring at the top of his D-Tector, sparks erupting as they made contact. Takuya then quickly moved his hand away from his D-Tector. "Spirit Evolution!"
Takuya felt the familiar rush as he slowly became the Warrior of Flame again. "Agunimon!"
Agunimon lifted his arms, releasing a wave of heat and fire. He looked down at his hands and moved his fingers. He made a fist and smiled.
"I'm back." Agunimon smiled.
"I knew that fool Flamemon would be the first to go." Velgemon muttered to himself. He heard the sound of Trailmon beginning to move. His eyes caught the pillar of smoke from Trailmon and immediately swooped down for the attack.
Agunimon and Mercurymon moved quickly, following Trailmon down the track to protect Trailmon from any attack by Velgemon.
Velgemon flapped his wings and quickly blew Agunimon and Mercurymon away and fired a 'Dark Vortex' for good measure.
Velgemon then looked and saw that Trailmon was heading towards a bridge. Velgemon flapped his wings and shot straight for the bridge. He landed on the ground and looked directly at Trailmon. Trailmon called out and tried to stop before he got to the Beast of Darkness.
Velgemon shot a 'Dark Vortex' at the rail in front of him, breaking it and the resulting attack bent the rail so that Trailmon would fly over the cliff and into the ravine below.
"Hold on!" Trailmon called. "The first roll is a doozy!" he finished as he rolled over the track and began to fall, the occupants of the carriage screaming as they realised that they were in danger.
Koji had decided to stay at Flame Terminal in case Takuya and Mercurymon needed help with anything.
"Takuya! Mercurymon!" Koji called, then realised that he had quickly accepted Mercurymon as a good Warrior. "Answer me."
Koji saw a thick green beam reaching to the sky and instantly knew it was meant for him. He ran to the source and saw Mercurymon kneeling over the bruised body of Takuya.
"Is he alright?" Koji asked.
"He shielded me from Velgemon's attack." Mercurymon told Koji. "Why would the fool give his only life for a Digimon who can be reborn later?"
"That's Takuya." Koji said, helping Takuya to his feet. "Always helping those in need."
"Koji? I told you to get on the train." Takuya lightly scolded.
"I'm not leaving my best friend to fight something like Velgemon." Koji said.
"What happened to our allies?" Mercurymon asked.
"I saw a small explosion but I don't know what happened." Koji answered.
Mercurymon held up a mirror shield and disappeared, as his disembodied hand clicked its fingers and disappeared also. It was only a few seconds before Mercurymon returned to the two boys and told them about the broken track.
"Shinya!" Takuya called, starting to run along the track.
"Takuya wait!" Koji called.
"My brother is on that Trailmon." Takuya argued.
"And so is mine." Koji reminded him. "We will get them back. But we have to think right now."
"And pray tell, what is thine plan?" Mercurymon asked.
Koji looked at Mercurymon and smiled. "You go get the Rookie form of Lobomon so I can become a Warrior again. We'll rescue the others, and then we go to Ophanimon and see what we can do to help."