I don't own Digimon

The Shadow of Greatness

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Kevin ran with Koromon held tight against his chest. The little digimon yelped in discomfort about nearly being juiced by his partner.

"We'll run away and we'll just hide," whispered Kevin under his breath. "And when everyone moves on we'll just stay here and eat fish and play all day. No need to keep fighting forever."

Kevin suddenly found himself on his butt. He blinked. He'd slid on the ice and fell on the ground. Koromon had gone bouncing. He slowly stood and wiped himself down and walked over to the small pink ball that was lodged in a pile of snow and debris.

Kevin turned back to look at what he was leaving behind and then turned and started to walk from the city.

"KEVIN!" shouted a voice. The brown haired boy stopped dead in his tracks. He turned his head slightly and saw a smudged pasty colored shirt coming towards him. "Kevin, where are you going!?"

"I'm going…you guys don't need me," said Kevin as he walked off. "I'll only make a mess of things. Tell the others good bye, Jason."

"Kevin…" Jason ran up to the brown haired boy with Koromon, "what do you mean?"

"Look around you, this is my mess," said Kevin. He didn't look up. "I made Koromon into a monster. I'm dangerous. I'm going to hide so I can't hurt anyone again."

"No, you aren't," whispered Jason.

"Who's going to stop me?" asked Kevin angrily.

"You will," Jason stepped in front of Kevin and stopped him. "Kevin you made this mess, you have to clean it up. You made Koromon into a monster; well, you have to fix that too. You know, you're the one that wanted to come to this continent. You're the one that wanted to fight Assaultmon. You made a mistake; so now you're going to let Assaultmon win?" Jason shook his head and furrowed his brows.

"It wasn't just a mistake, I didn't choose milk when I should've chose orange juice!" growled Kevin. He looked up. The brown eyes were cold. "I destroyed an entire city! I probably got that digimon Lucemon put down, in his position, I killed who knows how many digimon! SO YES I THINK THAT BETWEEN THE TWO OF US ASSAULTMON IS THE LESSER OF TWO EVILS!"

"You don't understand," Jason looked at him. "You made one mistake, it was one hell of a mistake, but it is a mistake you made for a reason. You made your decision to save five lives."

"What do you mean?" Kevin looked up.

"If I remember right, Shima Unimon digivolved because you ran in front of Assaultmon to keep him from killing Mark," explained Jason quietly. "It may not have been in the forefront of your mind at the time, but deep down that is what you were doing, and trust me, if Skull Greymon hadn't arrived on the scene Assaultmon would've killed you, then Mark, then Brendan and then he would've killed Dobermon and Shima Unimon and you know what would've happened if he came up on the rest of us!

"Look, we're the Digi-destined, I know what that it sounds rather nebulous, and I can't even start to imagine what it all entails but I do know this, a whole heck of a lot of digimon and things are putting a lot of hope on us, and it's our duty to do whatever we can to help them realize that hope! The innocent may get hurt, but I am sure that they would rather be killed or hurt in a fight with Assaultmon or even back with Boogeymon than they would if they just died from pain and depression from being subjugated by those evil S.O.B.s!"

"I…killed…so many," whispered Kevin as he looked down at Koromon. "I can't just forget it…"

"No, you must never forget it," Jason's deep blue eyes were like sea ice; hard and cold. "If you forget you will have not learned anything. You have to fight on, even though you are afraid, because those digimon that got deleted tonight deserve something good to return to, not more of Assaultmon or Boogeymon or anything else. You fight for those digimon that died tonight, fight for their futures, it's your duty."

Kevin blinked. Tears started to run down his cheek again. "I don't think I can…"

"Don't be a coward, you're not good at it," said Jason bluntly. He then reached up and slapped Kevin on the cheek, hard enough to leave a mark. "Now, come on we're going to help those that survived, it's the least we can do."

Kevin blinked again. "I…."

"Kevin, I really don't want to leave the others," said Koromon. The pink ball looked up. "They could get in trouble and need us to save them…"

Kevin sniffed and looked at Jason quietly. Kevin nodded softly. "I'm sorry I was…"

"You have no reason to be sorry, I know what you're going through," said Jason quietly. Kevin shot a questioned look at the pasty clothed boy. "Don't ask; it's a very long story and one I care not to tell."

Kevin nodded slowly. Jason put his hand on Kevin's shoulder and gently walked with Kevin back to the others.

"JASON!" Otamamon shot out of an alley. The little tadpole slid across the street and plopped into a snow pile. The tadpole spun around and bounced forward. "You found him!"

"Yes, I did," said Jason quietly. "How have the others fared?"

"No idea," shrugged the tadpole. "I left after we realized you were gone!"

"Well, we're not helping them here, come on," whispered Jason as he walked forward. Kevin nodded quietly and followed slowly. Jason smirked, "If you run for it; I'll beat you."

"Heh…" A smile weakly formed on Kevin's lips.

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Lucemon sighed. He hated to do it but there was no choice. He had found another digimon, a young Otamamon. Its small amphibious body was thrashed inside and out. It was only inches from death; and the poor thing was quivering and twitching in pain. The angel closed his eyes; a tear streamed down his cheek. Lucemon's hands glowed softly and deleted the digimon. A group of Gekomon was hiding under a pylon. He had helped them out of their trap and directed them to the ground zero.

Most of the digimon he found were dazed but mostly unharmed. They just stood there in numbness. Lucemon lifted off the ground and glided slowly over the wreckage. A small flock of Muchomon was huddled around a burning building crying. The red penguins' colors were accentuated by the flames. He sighed.

"So much death and destruction," whispered Lucemon. A tear quivered in his eye. "I…must have been such a monster." There was a pulse of darkness in the angel's heart. "I can't hold this against anyone, it was just a mistake; we didn't know this would happen."

He flew down and herded a bunch of Poromon back towards ground zero. When Lucemon arrived back at the meeting place the digi-destined were busy gathering what supplies they could find. Kevin and Koromon had returned. The angel immediately left the Poromon in the hands of Mark and glided over to Koromon.

"Lu-Lucemon," Koromon yelped in surprise.

"I should speak to you," said the angel. He extended his hands in a way that he could hold Koromon. "May I?"

The pink digimon nodded and hopped in Lucemon's arms. The angel then took off slowly.

"I did all of this," said Koromon quietly.

"Hmm, yes you did," replied Lucemon quietly, "but did you want to?"

"I…don't remember," whispered Koromon. "I just remember hearing Kevin's voice and he being really scared and frustrated and mad…and then I was in that big hole, as Koromon, though I remember trying to tell the others to run away…but they couldn't hear me…"

"I think that this destruction was done by that dark part in every mon's soul," said Lucemon. "You and Kevin made a choice, whether it was a good or a bad one is up to interpretation. I just think…."

"Lucemon, did you forget when you went dark?" asked Koromon innocently. The angel nearly dropped Koromon at his bluntness.

"No…I saw everything," said the angel with a sigh, "I was controlled by a virus; but really when you think about it, you were being controlled by the unbridled passions in both you and Kevin, but that is not an excuse, we still have to repay our debts." Lucemon looked at Koromon. "We have to pay our debts by sojourning on; if we hide and cower, then the darkness has won. We can't let that happen. Do you understand?"

The pink digimon nodded and Lucemon lowered down by a group of Gabumon.

"You guys; there is some help this way, follow us," said Koromon to the blue furred digimon.

"Follow me," said Lucemon as he took off. The blue furred digimon staggered after the two destined digimon.

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"This is really depressing," whispered Amy as she looked over the 'survivors'.

"Yes, but we just have to persevere," said Janet as she watched Kevin dish out food slowly to an Icemon. The large digimon looked a lot like a large, white Gotsumon.

"I wish we were on File Island," sighed Amy. She looked up at the smoke filled skies. "I mean things weren't nearly as bad as this…"

"The morning didn't help much did it?" whispered Brendan as he walked behind them. The sun had risen some three hours earlier. It only confirmed the destruction the night's darkness had suggested.

"No…but look," Jason pointed out towards the lake. A large steam barrier enveloped the body of water. The shore was now completely liquid water, no chunks of ice were visible, "and doesn't it feel warmer?"

"I suspect that's the geothermal vent stabilizing the temperature," said Brendan. He looked at the crest on his chest. "I wonder if all our crests will…be so destructive…"

"I hope not," snuffed Amy as she looked at the smoldering remains of the city.

"I don't think it will," Steven walked up behind them, with Mark at his side. He'd been listening to their conversation, "I mean; if they were, then that old fart wouldn't have given them to us…right?"

"I wonder where he is," said Mark. The young boy was looking out over the fog laden lake. "Didn't he say he would contact us…?"

"Probably," said Steven quietly. The group of six humans looked over at Kevin and Michelle as they made their rounds looking over the digimon.

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"They're looking at us again," whispered Kevin as he ladled out some water to a thirsty Poromon.

"Just ignore them, they are just as worried as you are," said Michelle quietly. The tan haired girl looked up at her brother.

"I feel so responsible," hissed Kevin under his breath.

"Good," sighed Michelle quietly. She turned and looked at Kevin. "This situation is because you tried to save someone and well, couldn't control the chain of events that happened afterwards. You did something stupid…very, very stupid. It isn't the first time, and it won't be the last…"

"I caused all of this death and destruction!" rasped Kevin as they walked from the digimon.

"Yes, you did," returned Michelle as she walked past him, "but there is nothing you can do now to change that, now is there?"

"No…" whispered Kevin.

"Then all you can do is repent, and try and atone," Michelle whispered as she sat down and ladled out some water for herself. "The worst thing you can do is beat yourself up over it. It will only darken your heart."

Kevin sighed quietly. "I just feel like crap."

Michelle was getting frustrated. "We should leave this place soon."

"What…? I thought we were…" Kevin looked up.

"It is making you worse," replied Michelle. Her eyes were strange and distant. Her voice was far more mature than Kevin could remember it ever being before. "You had to be taught a lesson, and you are not learning it…if you stay here, your crest will never reach its potential." Michelle stood and walked off. "I will return, do not despair, brother, your choice was not entirely incorrect; it was a start down the correct rode. Your wishes were corrupted…you will learn."

Kevin blinked. "What the heck just happened…?"

"I don't know; what happened?" asked Koromon. The little fluff was bouncing in Kevin's lap. "You were looking at Michelle and zoning out…she just got frustrated and went over to the others to ask if it would be proper to move on…"

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"Leave?" asked Amy. She looked at Michelle. "Why?"

"Being here is hurting Kevin, the longer we rub his nose in this…" whispered Jason.

"The more distant he'll get," finished Janet quietly.

"We have to explain to the digimon," said Steven as he stood.

"They should be ok, now that we've restored the heat vents," Brendan looked up at the steam.

"I think they'd understand, and we really need to look for the rest of our crests," Mark was looking over at Kevin, "and Kevin is truly looking horrible."

"I'll tell them," said Steven. He stood quietly. "I think it would be best if you start getting some supplies ready."

The others nodded as Steven walked towards the group of homeless digimon.

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They slowly walked out of the town. The snow was melting and the temperature, though not tropical, was not frigid like it had been when they had arrived. Kevin was walking slowly behind the main group. Every once in a while Jason or Lucemon would drop back to make sure things were ok. Janet and Steven were now starting to warm up to the browned haired boy.

"Where should we go?" asked Janet quietly.

"Well, while I was patched into the factory's computer I downloaded a map," replied Brendan quietly. "There is a small fishing village not far from here. It's on the ocean though, and is a bit of a back track…."

"A little time on the beach might be the prescription for what ails us right now…" said Jason quietly. The others looked at him. "What…? Right now we have to get Kevin calmed down, what better relaxer is there than the beach?"

Amy was silent and was walking slowly on the outside of the group. She kept looking back at Kevin.

"Is something wrong?" Michelle asked quietly as she pushed close to Amy.

"No…" Amy closed her eyes and pushed on ahead.

"Sure there isn't…" whispered Michelle as she watched the back of Amy.

"Mm, it may be prudent to stop in this village here," Brendan had his laptop out and was pointing to a little map on the screen. "It's in this gulley. It may be a good idea to you know…stop for some supplies."

The others nodded slowly.

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The afternoon was weakly glowing from behind the mountains. The village was small and dust filled, like a town from the old west. A little tumbleweed swept around them quietly.

"Why do I get the feeling that this is a ghost town," said Janet quietly.

"As long as it's not a town filled with Bakemon," grumbled Jason as he walked ahead of the others.

"What's that?" asked Amy as she wandered around, "It sounds like…music…"

"A mariachi band?" asked Mark.

"Yeah, that sounds exactly like that band we heard in Mexico, doesn't it?" Steven was looking around for the source of the sound. Brendan was bobbing his head.

"What music?" asked Amy. She turned and looked at the other.

"Don't tell me you can't hear that…" said Janet. Her foot was tapping softly to an unheard beat.

"Is that a rhumba?" asked Kevin.

"Yes," replied Brendan.

"It has quite the beat to it…" said Michelle.

"What Music!?" shouted Amy. She looked at the others and then something caught her eye. A sick looking digimon staggered out of one of the wooden, dusty houses.

Amy ran up to the digimon. It was green with leafy arms and thorny claws. Its ovular head was topped by a pink and yellow flower. Her feet were roots.

"A Palmon," whispered Penguinmon quietly. "She's a plant digimon; she is pretty good at gardening and usually nice."

"Usually?" asked Amy.

"Well I don't think you'd want to be tied up by her Poison Ivy," said Penguinmon.

"What's wrong?" asked Amy as she looked down at the plant.

"I'm so hungry," whispered the plant. "We used to have a lot of plant digimon here, but the ground went bad and then our fields stopped making food and we couldn't get food from the soil…"

"Why didn't you leave?" asked Amy quietly.

"This is our valley, and there is nowhere where the soil is as fresh, or used to be," whispered the plant. "That and the General came."

"General?" Amy looked in surprise.

"Mm, Ponchomon," whispered Palmon quietly. "He came and now the town's people are all mesmerized. He has all the food locked up in the granary. If the ones that aren't mesmerized don't do what he says he won't feed us and if we try to fight him, he just sicks the mesmerized digimon on us…"

"Umm, guys, did you…?" Amy looked back. The others had gone down the street. Palmon slipped from Amy's arms and wandered off. Amy snatched at the plant but Palmon had gotten too far. "Drat it to heck and back!" The children were dancing and laughing and hopping around the street. "You guys! Pay attention!"

"Oh shut it, Amy," returned Brendan with a sneer. "You've been complaining ever since we got here, let loose and have some fun!"

"Jason, please explain to Mr. Brain that we're not here for fun!" yelped Amy. She was hurt a little.

"Stuff it, he's right a little fun won't kill you," said Jason as he danced with Janet. "Unless you're the fun Nazi…wait I think you are!"

"Fine…" Amy stood up. Her fists were at her side and she growled angrily. "You guys goof off while these poor things starve to death!"

Amy walked off. Penguinmon looked at the other digimon. Koromon was bouncing with Renamon and Ryuudamon. Tapirmon was doing arm rolls as he floated backwards on his clouds of magic. Otamamon was lifting one leg and then another teetering back and forth to an unheard rhythm. Labramon was jabbing her cream colored paws into the air and wiggling her bum, thusly swishing her long, curled, auburn tail. Finally Lucemon was twisting his legs at the hips and sliding two extended fingers, first from his right hand, then his left, over his eyes. He then put his arms out and then pretended he was swimming. The tips of his wings flicked forward then back like a metronome.

Penguinmon blinked and turned her head from the surreal scene to find Amy walking down the street; the bird could almost see the steam coming off her partner's head. "Hey wait for me!" Penguinmon hopped after Amy.

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"Yes…We have them in my grasp," chuckled a strange creature. It was watching a monitor on a dusty bar counter. It had a huge floppy sombrero. It wore a ragged, brown poncho. Its body and arms were that of a green, spiky cactus and on its hands it wore red boxing gloves, wrapped in spiked leather straps. It had no feet or legs; it just hovered their on the remnants of tattered, cream colored cloth. The background was thrumming with the sound of Latin music. A group of lizard like flowers was standing behind the creature as they bent their legs to the music. "Wait…one of them is missing! You Floramon go…I'll get the others you get the one that's missing!"

"Right oh, El Capitan Ponchomon!" saluted the flowers and they walked in a dancy fashion.

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The saloon had one other occupant. One no one had noticed because he hadn't made himself very noticeable, of course his small almost fairy like stature helped in his inconspicuousness. He had been resting in the corner. His wide-brimmed hat slid over his black eyes. He chuckled a little to himself.

The cactus ghost glided out of the saloon after his Floramon had left. He had heard about the antics of the Digi-destined in Alpine Tundra. It was that which had brought him here. He needed to see them in action; something inside wanted him to see grand things but he wasn't going to let his hopes up too high, the last time he did that they were dashed when he actually had met the humans.

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Amy walked slowly down the street. She was angry and sad and hurt. She took a deep breath and gulped hard. She wasn't going to cry. Penguinmon was at her side and looking up at her. Amy looked down at the blue penguin.

"Am I a fun Nazi?" asked Amy as she walked down the sandy rode.

"What's a Nazi?" asked Penguinmon.

Amy sighed softly. She looked down. The ground had a reddish brown warmth to it. It was silly. She knew deep down inside they were just mesmerized; but why did it still hurt. They had been friends before the Digital World, and it seemed that everyone else had gotten stronger, and she was just getting worse. She was never a fun Nazi at home.

"Stupid Digital World," grumbled Amy as she walked forward.

"Amy…you don't like my world?" asked the penguin as the bird hopped forward.

"It just…" Amy stopped and turned. "I'm not any good at it! This…camping out and saving the world and dealing with demons and warlords and evil skaters! I'm a girl, a ten year old girl! I mean I haven't had a zit yet and you want me to save the whole world!"

Penguinmon blinked. The little bird didn't know what to say. "Amy if that is how you feel really inside. Maybe we should find a way for you to go back home." With that Penguinmon walked forward.

"Wait…" Amy shouted as she ran after the bird. "Where are you going?"

"No where…" said the bird as she turned a corner and disappeared behind some buildings.

"Penguinmon…" Amy reached out and sighed. "I'm sorry." The little necklace on Amy's chest glowed softly. A stream of light fell on the ground.

"There she is!" shouted a group of voices. "Let's get her!"

"Penguinmon…" Amy looked back afraid. The little flower lizards had their petal hands outstretched. "Please…"

"Allergy Shower!" puffs of yellow pollen swam around Amy's head.

"I'm sorry…Peng…" Amy fell to the ground unconscious.

"Let's get her to the boss!" said the forward most, flower. "Help me lift her."

The others nodded and carried her off.

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AN: I am almost done with Chapter 40; unfortunately I have been ill, so I'm going to post this early. I hope you like it…