Disclaimer: I don't own the Digimon, but the characters belong to the moderators and members of the Digital Connections forum – found here forum/ Digital-Connections/ 22352/ and under the "So you want to be a Digidestined?" topic

A/N: Okay, this has been a really tricky story to get up off the ground so I'm sorry for the huge delay and for this probably really badly written chapter, sorry it's going to be a lot like an info dump

Special thank you to Miss Anonymous hp for her amazing notes and background that have really assisted in piecing together this chapter, so thank you

Without much more waiting, I give you, the next chapter!

Chapter 02

When Heather's eyes opened, she was standing in front of a large stone castle. It was so magnificently built and had certainly stood the test of time and severe weather conditions. Large blocks of various dark shades that looked navy in the moonlight were interconnected with one another in complete uniformity to create the foundation of the building. Clusters of moss and lichen had sprouted on the cracks of the wall. Her two companions, Charles and Sonja, were standing either side of her also in awe of the building in front of them.

"Where are we?" Charles asked, turning his head to look around as if he would come across a brightly lit sign with an arrow pointing to the castle. "I don't get it- we were genuinely just in that hut with those other three… Then we saw that thing, that Digimon, no-"

"It's like an illusion, or perhaps a flashback," Sonja suggested, trying to move her feet and walk around, but she couldn't. She was rooted like a tree to the spot she stood. "I can't move!"

The same thought began to cross Heather's mind as she watched her boots, telling her feet to move but nothing happening.

Okay, stay calm Heather, this might just be a normal occurrence in this place. I hope

"Open the gates!" a proud, booming voice called out from behind the children.

Drawn to that direction, the three twisted awkwardly to see what was coming their way. Another monstrous creature was thundering towards them without a care in the world that it might collide with them.

"Guys!" Sonja called out, grabbing a hold of one of her legs and trying to pull it up from the ground. "What now?"

"Hold on you two. I think you're right Sonja, what you said before. I think it's- this, it's crazy to say it, but I think this is all an illusion. A projection from the past or something," Charles said quickly, which made him stumble and falter with his words. "Look."

The almighty creature passed straight through Charles, sending a shiver down the young man's spine. Dirt was lifted into the air as the gate was opened, the wood digging its worn out grooves in the ground. Rather than trying to think of a reasonable explanation as to why he was there, Charles was stuck in a zone of sure amazement and intrigue towards the Digital Monster that had just passed through him. Originally he had hoped that the device around his neck would tell him more about the knight like being that had gone into the castle, but no voice emanated from device that hung from the leather string around his neck.

"We need to see what's going on!" Charles exclaimed, pleading with all his might that he would see where that Digimon had gone.

In the blink of an eye, the three then stood at the head of a long hall. Twelve banners flapped about overhead with giant intricate symbols on them. Another Digimon blocked their view of the hall, but the voice of the knight like Digimon that they had only seen not moments ago echoed out across the room.

"Omegamon, the time to make a stand is now! The mole in our midst is still at large. Something must be done. I left Craniamon in charge of the Southern hemisphere so I trust that everything will be safe there."

The Digimon standing in front of the three children, Omegamon, walked towards the guest in his castle. "Alphamon, you worry far too much… Come, let us walk," Omegamon replied, striking out a glass door that was to the right hand side of the room.

As Heather blinked, she and her two companions were moved to yet another location. This time, it was a small balcony that the two knight Digimon stood at either side of. An intricate silver fence was all that stopped Alphamon and Omegamon from falling into a dark and deep chasm below the castle. It was as if the castle hovered above a valley where the only way to assess it would be from the narrow rocky pathway that spiralled around the castle with the chasm locked in between them.

This is impossible, everything about this just defies the laws of gravity, Heather thought to herself, leaning forwards to look over the edge of the fence. Her hand nearly slapped itself to her face as she tried to contemplate what was going on and how it was all possible.

"Alphamon – the Digital World was entrusted to the Digimon Sovereign Huanglongmon before the devastation began forcing him into hiding. No one has heard or seen of Huanglongmon in decades. The Twelve DIgimon Knights that we are were left to decide who would be in charge of the Northern and Southern Hemisphere of the Digital World. It was our fellow Knights who decided it would be you that governed the South and I would govern the North. This land you see here, this land is safe right now-"

"But the Southern Hemisphere isn't safe…" Alphamon told Omegamon that a mole had come to light and that it would only be a matter of time before the darkness engulfs the whole of their home. The mole had already alerted the darkness of the location of Alphamon's castle – an underground, underwater castle that only the knights knew the location of. Knights of the Southern Hemisphere had managed to ward off a herd of a pitiful Minotarumon and that forced the head of the South to head North to inform Omegamon of the attack.

After what Alphamon had to say, Omegamon looked up a little, scanning the vast horizon. "What about Crusadermon?"

"I- I, Omegamon. I had to do what I did. She was the one that leaked news of my base's whereabouts- there is no other explanation, with the evidence that Gallantmon and Craniamon found, it was hard for me not to exile Crusadermon. Whilst my actions were not agreed with, I must live with what I have done. It is likely that Crusadermon has gone down into the graveyard below – to the Labyrinth."

"If that is true, then I feel Crusadermon may be lost to us forever… I have never heard of someone return from the Labyrinth, at least not with a sane mind."

"You mean that one Goblimon, don't you?"

Omegamon nodded.

Hi Heather…

Heather noticed that there was a hint of shame and sadness in Omegamon's voice, it was as if there had been a failed mission. "What do you think happened after this- how did it get so bad? It's like this place isn't the same place that we were in not an hour ago…"

"I think we're about to find out," Sonya whispered, listening into the conversation going on between the two Digimon Knights – she was sure she heard them speak of some guardians that would be sent forth to save the Digital World from total destruction. "Do you think that they're talking about us?" It was the first thing that came to mind, and that was a thought that terrified her. She was just one person, so to think of herself being able to save a world, it was terrifying and made her hands shake a little.

"No, it can't be us. We can't save this world – what can we do to help…" Charles waved his hand a little. "I think there's something really big missing from this story. Whatever it is, I really hope that it can get us home because this place is really starting to get to me. "You okay, Heather?" he asked, glancing over at his companion who looked even paler than usual.

Right now, the older girl was hearing a quiet voice in her ear. A soft, but gentle voice that was full of curiosity and sounded keen to learn. Though there was clearly no one there that had a voice like that, Heather knew she wasn't hearing things. And she didn't want to say anything, because nobody likes someone they've just met to tell them that they're hearing voices.

Heather – can you hear me?

It had been speaking to her since this vision sequence occurred, but Heather couldn't ignore it now.

"Can you hear that?" she asked the other two, but they murmured that no one was talking, not even Alphamon or Omegamon were talking now. "I can definitely hear a voice, talking to me. Maybe it's just a figment of this place or something…"

"Possibly," Sonja replied, reaching out for Heather's pale and fragile hand. "Don't worry, I believe you."

The world around them began to dissolve like it was a basic computer's screensaver that was disintegrating into thousands of little pixels. Even the floor that their feet were rooted to slowly vanished, letting them falling through a dark abyss where there was not thought of being safe.

-o-

"Hey, come on, wake up… Wake up-"

Sonja stirred a little as she was beginning to wake up. A short sigh escaped her lips and her eyes flickered open. "What was that?" she asked, looking between the other three that were in the hut that Wisemon was in. "How did that happen?"

"You had to be shown how he Digital World became such a devastated land." The Digimon named Wisemon blinked at the children. "You are the guardians that the knights sent for. Together, you are going to save the world we Digimon live in."

"Well that might be difficult…" Heather added, dusting herself off as she got up. "Well, Charles came to this place with another girl, her name was Kaitlyn, or Kate as she liked to be called I think. She got, and I don't know the right word for it, but she was kidnapped by another Digimon called, called…" Heather paused, and just couldn't remember what the name of the Digimon. She tried to remember the device around her neck telling her what the Digimon was named, but failed miserably.

"Chrysalimon. It was called Chrysalimon." Charles interrupted, smiling a little to take the edge off the situation. "That's what the device said, but we need to think about our next move. Wisemon, what do we need to do now?"

"Now, the six of you must travel to one of the castles that you saw in the visions I showed you. There, you will set about reuniting the Royal Knights. With their help, you may be able to unlock a power great enough to vanquish the evil that has plagued this land. However, with the divide created by exiling Crusadermon who Omegamon and Alphamon believed was the mole giving information to the darkness, that task will be a difficult one. I have faith, confidence and belief in you that you will do what needs to be done."

Sonja wasn't quite so sure about all the riddles that Wisemon was using and decided to bite the bullet. "How will we bring Crusadermon back?"

"You have to make a choice… To take the path to the highest point in the lowest times."

Heather looked towards the other three who were in the hut with Wisemon and her two new friends. She walked towards the girl of the three. "I believe an introduction would help the situation a little, don't you? I'm Heather, this is Charles and this is Sonja."

The other girl held her hand out. "It's nice to meet you, I'm Akiza- maybe it might be worth making a plan to help reunite all the Royal Knights."

Heather smiled and nodded. "I think that would be a great idea, what plan have you thought of?"

"Well… I was kind of debating whether we should split up. Me, Jake and Chris could go to the Southern Hemisphere and find Alphamon's castle and you, Charles and Sonja could go north to Omegamon's castle. Or we could go to one place together… I'm not sure, but it would certainly help if we knew more about this place." Akiza glanced over at Wisemon before sighing.

One of the boys, who had brown eyes and hair shrugged. "That Digimon, Wisemon, it didn't help us out that much and he just sort of zones out completely so we can't ask any questions even if we wanted."

Sonja tilted her head to one side and tried to wonder whether or not to ask the boy's their names, or to wait for them to introduce themselves. She smiled at them in order to appear more welcoming.

I don't know how long we're going to be here, but if we have to be here for a while, then I think we ought to try and get along with one another, the youngest thought, twiddling one of the rings on her finger.

"I'm Christopher, most of my friends just call me Chris."

Sonja's wrinkled her nose a little, "You looked more like a James to me…"

"Well my middle name is James, so I suppose you're kind of right," Chris laughed calmly, looking out the window to side of the hut. "I think something's coming…"

"What?" Sonja squeaked, running over to the window beside Chris. "What if it's the bad guys? What if Chrysalimon just killed Kate and wants to murder us all?"

"Calm down, Sonja – it's probably just nothing…" Heather said, patting the other girl's shoulder in an attempt to relax her. "Charles, blow out the lantern- we need to eliminate all light sources whilst it passes."

"Got it, Heather," Charles whispered, doing what he was told.

The six waited in total darkness and complete silence, waiting to see whether the thing outside would pass them by, or if it would come knocking.

"I think it's gone," Charles said, breaking the silence.

Chris and Sonja dropped to the floor as a silhouette appeared at the door – breathing heavily from the shock and trying to calm themselves and not kick up a fuss.

No one said anything for a long time.

"You are safe now, children…" Wisemon woke up, blinking at the six who started to nervously laugh amongst themselves. "But one other child is in great danger."

-o-

Chrysalimon carried Kaitlyn through a long sewer like tunnel. The girl saw green moss clinging to the walls and a suspicious liquid below her dangling feet. She had given up struggling against the cables that were fastened around her body.

The Digimon that had kidnapped her said nothing, and had a dark aura about it. As Chrysalimon progressed along the tunnel, a smell wafted up Kaitlyn's nose making her gag a little. She had never smelt anything so bad in all her life.

"Put me down!" Kaitlyn screeched, finding a little more energy to fight against the cables.

"Shock Ringer!" a deep and booming voice called out.

Out of the corner of her eye, Kaitlyn noticed a weird and psychedelic looking ring shot through the air and hit the wall just in front of Chrysalimon. Her captor released her in the aftermath of the attack.

There was a small splash as she hit the water and kicked out to take above the liquid – it just wasn't pure water… The current was fast moving as it swept Kaitlyn away. As her eyes adjusted to look ahead of her, she saw a drop at the end of the tunnel. In an attempt to get away, she kicked out and tried to desperately swim towards the path at the side of the tunnel.

Kaitlyn screamed out for help, but no one came to her rescue.

Just as she was thrown out of the tunnel shoot, a metallic hand grabbed her leg. The grip burnt on her skin from the quick momentum she had built up.

"What a pitiful excuse for a child who claims she is a Digidestined…" the deep voice called out over the sound of the rushing sewage. "Especially when she doesn't even have a Digimon partner. A sad excuse for a Digidestined child, but you're lucky I have found you. Because now you are safe and I will look out for you."

"Put me down!" Kaitlyn squeaked, dripping wet. "Are you listening? I said put me down!"

The large Digimon dropped her and towered over her. "I am Craniamon… You are probably expected in the Circuit Labyrinth."

"The Circuit Labyrinth – where is that?" Kaitlyn asked, wringing her dress and hair out before adjusting her shorts. "Craniamon?"

The device around Kaitlyn's neck lit up and showed an image of the Digimon in front of her, turning on a pedestal. A calm and peaceful voice emanated from her device, just like it had done when she met Chrysalimon.

"Craniamon, a mega form of Guardromon. This Digiomn is a part of the legion known as the Royal Knights and wields a large shield called the Omni Shield."

"Royal Knights – what are you? The legend of King Arthur?" Kaitlyn snorted, unable to stop herself from laughing. This was something she had inherited from her mother. Whenever the mother and daughter was nervous, or found themselves in hysterical laughing, they would do a little pig snort. "Really?"

"You should not joke about the Royal Knights…" Craniamon held his hand out to the wall which dissolved away in a flurry of pixels. "Right this way, after yourself."

Kaitlyn thought nothing of it and proceeded to walk through the dark passageway that Craniamon had unearthed for her. "Thank you," she replied politely.

Just as Kaitlyn passed the Digimon, Craniamon shouted out to her to stop, she turned around and saw Craniamon reaching out for her. Then the floor opened up and swallowed her whole.

It all went dark, totally dark.

Green light, a little green light dared about, trying to show Kaitlyn the different directions she could take. For now, she was trapped in a maze. She thought that this might have been the Circuit Labyrinth that Craniamon had mentioned, but the way Craniamon spoke about it, it sounded more positive.

"Hello?" she called out quietly. "Is anyone there?"

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = Hit me with it- such an info dump and I'm really sorry to not have fleshed out more of the other characters but I want to move the pace a little because sometimes my pacing is very slow – let me know if it still is though! :S