The Remains Of Heaven
Chapter Fourteen: Destiny Broken
By Ryan Bodle

A/N: With real life taking its heavy toll, my fiction writing came to an absolute halt. Thank the gods of fanfics for inspiring me and long weekends! Hope you like this next chapter, let me know. I think we have the ball rolling and the story under way now.

There was a sudden contortion in his chest causing Davis to wake, coughing and choking. A warm, metallic taste shot through his mouth. Even though eyes were open, he couldn't see anything, it was pitch black all around him. The next sensation he felt was the dull pain in his head, it felt like his brain was trying to break free by growing too large for it to contain. He choked again. Dust filled his throat and turned it raw and dry. He moved his arm to wipe his mouth.

With no light, he had no bearings on where he was. He couldn't tell how big the cavern he was in was. He tested the space in front of him by putting his hand out tenderly. About three feet in front of him he felt cold earth. He followed it up and found it was just above his head. It was really cramped.

The air suddenly seemed very thick and he began to breathe with great difficulty. He was never one to be claustrophobic, but he was trapped in a cave under an unknown amount of rock and his air was sure to run out soon. He felt the situation deserved a moment of anxiety if not a full on panic.

A quick investigation found him alone, no Veemon. Perhaps he was nearby. Maybe he was on top, trying to dig him out now. Maybe he was crushed beneath the rocks. A large lump began to form in Davis' throat. He wished he hadn't thought of that. He had to get out now. With surprising speed, he slid round and propped his legs against the opposite wall and kicked hard. The rock gave way with ease.

It rolled away and leaked pure daylight in causing Davis to close his eyes. He creaked them open again letting his eyes adjust to the light.

"DAVISH!" The unmistakeable voice of Veemon shouted with joy. "I thought you were a goner!"

Davis crept through the gap he'd just created and in to a much larger cavern. More surprisingly, a cavern filled with green grass, flowers and natural beauty. Light graced its walls from a hole in the surface. There was no shadow here. No darkness to threaten them.

"Where are we?" Davis asked.

"Beats me," Veemon replied. "Sure beats being held up with those nasty creatures though and what about that huge worm thing?"

"Yeah, at least the others got away safely." Davis was distracted by the monument at the centre of the cave. A natural rock formation seemed to serve as an altar. He walked towards it. The natural beauty of its craft was awesome to his eyes. He felt a presence here he had never felt before. Yet it seemed vaguely familiar to him. It was as if he knew the source of the feeling, but had never experienced it inside of him. It was too strange to explain. He reached out and touched the altar. A flash of something passed through him. He retracted his hand, stunned by it. The feeling itself seemed nothing malevolent and so he reached out again.

He was instantly taken to another place, another reality where his conscious could only go. It was black all around him and nothing else. "Where am I?" He asked absently expecting no answer.

"You are in a place between one life and the next," a familiar voice replied. His figure appeared mysteriously.

"Gennai!" Davis exclaimed. "What's going on here?"

Gennai smiled weakly at him. "I wish I could explain everything, but time for us is rather short, you'll need to listen Davis and take everything as it is, there isn't anytime to go over everything. Not now.

As I said, you are in a place between one life and the next. Normally time would have no meaning here, it does not exist for those preparing for their next life. However as you have not passed on yet, there is somewhat of a paradox in this places existence."

"I…" Davis started. "I guess I know what you mean."

"Well, I guess it matters not. By all means, someone like myself would have moved on already except I died before I was meant to."

"Huh?"

"My destiny was intervened by another, Davis and my life was forfeit. Because of that I'm trapped in limbo, as it were. The destiny changed had a ripple effect and others beside myself have been trapped, it must be undone."

"Others? Who else died?"

To answer him, two figures started to fade in to focus beside Gennai. The first was a tall and broad shouldered teenage boy, his brown hair a mass of patterns, unkempt. The second was a girl, she gave a soft and warm smile, her face framed by auburn hair. Davis swallowed hard.

"Tai, Sora," he said almost apologetically.

"Hey Davis," Tai greeted. There was a moment's silence. Davis took on board was he was seeing. If Gennai was to be believed, as he generally was, all three of them were dead, and they shouldn't be. He took a deep breath. He didn't need everything explained to him, not this time. All he needed was the answer. "What do I have to do?"

She kept her knees bent, hiding from the scouts in front of her. They were lazy and ill-motivated, making them easy prey. The harder task was to engage the flanking force when they were unaware and unprepared. Her own scouts revealed the force itself was numbered just a hundred small troops. There were six scouts in front o her now. There was a small movement behind her, Yolei was very surprised by the natural stealth Kari had as she approached.

"Are we going to fight?" She whispered. Yolei shook her head.

The older woman looked to her right and spotted the fox digimon hiding, waiting for orders. Yolei pulled a fist to her chest, the fox nodded. Kari watched it all happen and reading Yolei's intentions.

"I thought you said we weren't fighting."

"I plan on taking out these scouts out before a fight breaks out," Yolei explained coldly. "Are you up to it?"

She hesitated, shocked to be asked the question. She gathered herself and nodded minutely, yet with grim determination.

"Good, I want you to take out the centre target. If you miss, they may get a message back to their main guard and we'll have to fight a hundred fully prepared soldiers." She didn't wait for a response. Yolei changed the grip on her spear which suggested she was going to use it as a javelin.

Kari brought her crossbow to her shoulder. Since receiving the weapon, she was able to become a competent shot quite quickly. The weapon's design was to ensure that. She leaned away from Yolei to get a good sight on the target given to her. She raised the crossbow and fixed the sights for its chest. The creature was by far the most confident of the group. It walked with more certainty and for her benefit, made itself a bigger target. She kept her sights fixed on it, waiting for one of the others to make the first strike.

It came silently and swiftly as the fox digimon crossed the group from its rear, grabbing the rear guard and taking it in to the green pastures where it was silenced almost immediately. The group turned as they felt a brisk wind to find their companion gone. Kari didn't wait a second longer, she tensed on the trigger. The weapon bucked but she kept still and the arrow sailed through the air. Before it had a chance, her projectile pierced the creature through its chest and forced it back through the air, nailing it to a tree. There was a short yelp before it began to dissipate.

The fox came about again, slashing in its path and taking two more down in the blink of an eye. Yolei leapt up and launched her spear. Before it hit its mark she was up and charging the lone scout with her rapier out. She swung swiftly and took the creature's head clean off. She stopped amongst the group and grasped her spear. It struck its target through the heart. Kari stood, amazed at the speed at which she moved.

"That was a good shot," Yolei said looking at her with an almost proud like smile.

"Same for you," Kari said breathlessly. The accuracy of her spear throw was perfect.

"That's the scout group taken care of, but if we hang around, they'll wonder what happened to them, we must strike quickly." Yolei sheathed her rapier and removed her shield from its holster on her back. "Come on." She took off down the path the scouts had come from.

Kari followed without question, stopping only to retrieve her spent arrow and put it back in her quiver.

The column had broken in just thirty minutes. Facing them were a host of shadows, half a kilometre away. The digimon had widened their formation and set camp, making preparations for the oncoming battle.

Izzy and Joe had a centre of operations setup to the back and centre of the camp. With Cody gone, Izzy had command of the digital armies. Joe was made honorary Lieutenant given the lack of commanding officers at current. The digidestined with Tentomon, Ogremon and Pegsusmon stood in council.

"What are their numbers?" Izzy asked Pegasusmon.

"We estimate roughly two thousand."

"I thought you said their numbers were little? That matches our own ranks."

"The shadow are weak in small numbers, two thousand may match us in number, but not in might." Pegasusmon explained.

"Our biggest priority is to keep losses to an absolute minimum," Izzy started. "I want to use all artillery units to thin them out, be sure their placed in the first ranks."

"Yes sir," Tentomon chirped.

"Ogremon, have your company on the right flank. I have no doubt in Yolei's ability, but if the flanking force decide to break before she can reach them, I don't want us unprotected." Ogremon merely nodded. Izzy could tell he was disappointed.

Ogremon and his company's tenacity was matched only by their eagerness for a fight. Izzy knew Ogremon could compromise their lines by declaring a charge and didn't want to risk it.

"Have companies make columns in their ranks every five men, wide enough to allow artillery to withdraw at a moments notice. If we have to fight hand to hand, I want to save them for the real fight."

"Yes sir," the digimon affirmed. Joe looked about before falling in with some amount of embarrassment. Izzy grinned, clearly amused.

"Lets get to work before they decide to attack then."

The commanders of the digital army parted company to organise their troops. Izzy caught up with Joe.

"You ok?"

"I could be a whole lot better, but I guess I'm alright, yeah," Joe answered. "Where did you want me?"

"You'll be on my left flank, you have four companies to control. They all have their sergeants who'll help you anyway they can. Just follow my signals and plug up any holes by diverting the back ranks, think you can handle it?"

"I think I can keep on top of it, a column every five men, right?"

"Right. You'll be fine." Izzy left to command the centre.

Joe looked down to his partner. "Hope you plan on helping me."

Gomamon raised a claw to his mouth as if considering it. "Will I get a title?"

"Sure, why not?"

"So how about Major?"

"O…" Joe was about to agree. "Wait a minute, Major is above Lieutenant!"

"I'm sure its not, are you sure you don't want to name me Major?"

"I'm sure. I'll give you Lance-Corporal."

"What's that?"

"It's a senior corporal."

"That's lower than Sergeant!"

"Well the other Sergeant's have experience."

"I bet I've been in more fights than all them put together!"

"True. But they have command experience." Joe argued.

"No deal. Sergeant or nothing."

"What about a specially made up title? Like special forces?"

"If its not Sergeant, I'll have to get my union involved," Gomamon answered. Joe laughed.

"Sergeant it is then."

Ark stopped his run. He felt a familiarity with the plains they travelled. He'd been her before, but more specifically, he felt he should remember why. It suddenly occurred to him where he was.

"You say the ground opened up and he fell through?" Ark asked again to T.K behind him.

"That's right," the blonde haired boy answered.

"I have a feeling Davis is safe, follow me." Ark turned and headed in a westerly direction. The others turned about and followed him.

"So you understand?" Gennai asked.

"I know enough," Davis replied.

"Good," Tai said back. "Now when you return to your body, you may well notice a certain change about yourself, be sure to become familiar with them quickly, they'll guarantee you'll win this one."

Davis wasn't sure what he meant but nodded.

"Consider it a gift," Tai explained. "Take care of the others for me."

Within a flash, Davis was back in the cavern. He knew now where he was, he was standing on a grave and with respect he stood back.

"Are you ok Davis?" Veemon asked.

"I'm fine," he answered. "How long was I out?"

Veemon cocked his head. "Out? You just put your hand on that rock and took it way again?"

Davis looked confused at that, he thought all the time he was in that place with Gennai, Tai and Sora, time was passing.

"Never mind." Davis started to feel a warm presence about himself. Perhaps this was the change Tai mentioned. An aura enveloped him. A magnificent breast plate began to materialise around him. It shimmered blue and red, the countered each other to give a purple haze. He felt two objects form about his palms. He gripped them instinctively and let the weight form. He now held two weapons.

One was a battle hammer, the head was large and looked like it belonged in a metal smiths. It was light though and he wielded it with a lot of ease. The handle was wrapped in fine leather, woven in a fine plait. One the side of the hammer head was the sign of courage.

His left hand held a pick. The handle was much the same as its partner. The pick head glistened ice blue and revealed the symbol of friendship etched in to it.

Davis didn't have much time to look about his new equipment. A crashing sound alerted him to another presence and he faced it. The worm creature barged through the walls of the cavern. Davis growled at its intrusion. He saw it as a desecration of his friends' resting ground and he also had a taste for payback.

"You want some more?" He asked in a raised voice. "Because I've got something for you!"

The digivice on his belt glowed and began to vibrate. Veemon felt a familiar invigorating sensation as he turned in to Ex-Veemon. He was about to assess the situation and the enemy. Davis was already charging down the creature. The digimon's eyes widened with fright. His partner was about to charge into certain death.

"Davis! NO!"

"Davis! NO!" The echo resonated up through the tunnel. Ark, Matt, T.K and Ken froze a second, the digimon behind them. Ark clenched his teeth and drew his sword.

"To battle!" He declared and sprinted down the tunnel.

Davis held out each weapon from his body as his legs spurred him on. He watched the worm creature open its mouth and reveal large teeth as big as himself at each corner of it's mouth. It dived to engulf him in one bite. Davis made a large stride and timed his approach perfectly. His foot landed on the things bottom lip and he propelled himself up, he cleared the whole creature and came over its back.

He twisted to face the body and swung his left arm with a scream of determination. The pick dug itself in to the tough hide of the worm and it screamed in agony, but Davis would let go as it writhed in pain, desperately trying to shake him free. He landed roughly and gained his senses. Then before the thing spun again, he wrenched the pick free and got to his feet, running the length of its spine. He picked a spot towards its front end and swung hard with his right hand, delivering a crushing blow to what he figured was its head.

The creature wailed and leapt up, exposing its soft underside. "Now!" The digi-destined shouted. Ex-Veemon didn't hesitate.

"V-LASER!" The energy shot raced forward and struck the creature where it was not protected. The heat tore through its flesh as it gave one last squeal and fell to the ground, never to move again.

There was a thundering sound of footsteps and Davis saw Matt, T.K and Ken come barging in with a stranger and several digimon in tow. He hefted his hammer over one shoulder and shouted over.

"What took you so long?"

The mass confusion added to their certainty of victory. The shadows broke in every direction at the ferocious attack. "Diamond Storm!" A barrage of icicle bullets hailed, shredding anything in their path. A single female warrior ploughed in to the ranks brave enough to rally. Her shield was used to strike a creature that leapt at her, a rapier of magnificent colour reaped through the crowd.

Two small, fairy-like digimon zipped through the company tearing through whatever they charged at. The leader tried to rally a counter attack by directing its troops from an elevated point. It spied an extra member and screamed helplessly as it saw an arrow come straight for it. The arrow took its head clean off and the body disappeared.

Leaderless and overwhelmed by the warrior's ability in a fight, the shadow turned to flee. Most were cut down in a rain of digimon attacks. Others were caught by two flanking digimon who's sole job was to take care of any stragglers. None survived.

"Was it necessary to slaughter all of them?" Kari questioned.

Yolei wasn't prepared for the question and wasn't entirely sure how to answer it. "Don't misunderstand Kari. These things do not feel any remorse. They do not take prisoners and they don't accept prison. They'll die fighting off anyone who tries. Its just the way it is." Without being able to explain it any more she sheathed her rapier and walked from the battle ground. "We'll join up with the others now."

Tankmon and Gatsumon filled the front lines of the digimon army. The Gatsumon all handed heavily built shoulders and wielded rocks in their hands. With special training they had built themselves up to be able to hurl projectiles over hundreds of metres and with deadly speed and accuracy. Kazimon also joined the ranks with crossbows locked and armed. The all waited for the order to fire as the shadow host approached.

Izzy looked about him and saw his troops ready. The shadow came within range. "TANKMON!" He shouted. "Ready cannons!" A series of clicks answered him as the Tankmon aimed their weapons and made a round ready. He looked down his flanks. Several raised flags showed all in the front ranks were ready. He raised his own flag.

Joe saw Izzy raise a red flag, the order to fire. "TANKMON! FIRE!" A series of booms followed by whistling rounds followed. Several holes were blown in the ranks of the shadow as they continued forward. "Ready second round!" He ordered as the Tankmon complied. "Light artillery ready!" The Tankmon raised their arms with heavy rifles armed. The Gatsumon and Kazimon readied their projectiles.

Joe looked up to see Izzy raise his flag again. "TANKMON! FIRE!" A second series of fire opened up and cut down more. Still the host advanced. The red flag was waved back and forth. "Light artillery! Fire!" Joe's sergeants relayed his order and bullets raced forward, followed by arrows and rocks. The front ranks of the shadow faltered.

"Hold fire!" Joe ordered. The army held in front of them. They were going to charge. "Artillery retire! Infantry ready!" The Artillery fell back through the columns made for them. Joe felt the need to withdraw his sword and did so, allowing the tip to rest on the ground.

"Gomamon? Ready?"

"You bet." He answered as Joe clicked his digivice. Ikakumon now stood in the battlefield. The infantry had now formed up at the front.

"Ready weapons!" Joe barked. All swords and weapons were drawn. At that point the army charged.

"Looks like we managed to halve their numbers from the artillery," Ikakumon said having the advantage of height.

"Well that helps. Do you see a leader of any kind?"

"Nope."

"So they operate as a swarm? Great." Joe looked to the centre lines, Izzy raised a red and white flag. "Infantry! Charge!"

The digimon roared as they went to meet the shadow army.

A single being walked the hallway nervously. His reports bode bad news and he feared his master would forfeit his life for hearing it. But he had to report. He could not hide these facts.

The dark hall echoed his footsteps in the pitch black. The hall opened directly into a cavern of equal darkness. The master lay there, breathing deeply. He seemed asleep. The lesser being still shivered with fear. "What news do you bring child?" The master said scaring the servant.

"I-It is ill news master," he stammered with a slimy voice. "The advanced party are likely to fail in deterring the digimon armies. The second detachment in the forests were slain before the battle commenced. I also hear Marthis, the lord of underground and your companion has been slain by one of the digidestined."

"Marthis was destroyed?" The master asked. He let a deep grunt as his informant cowered, expecting his death. "It was a necessary sacrifice. Go now."

The servant skittered away before his master changed his mind. He was bewildered by the reaction his master had to learning one of his most endeared companions, the worm had been destroyed. It was unlike the master.

"Something intervened destiny," Matt reiterated. Davis only answered with a nod. Matt returned it with a raised eyebrow.

"I don't know how and I don't understand either," Davis responded. "All I know is, this was never meant to happen. Something changed and something happened that shouldn't have and because of it, this happens." He raised his hands indicating the state the digital world was in.

"I get it," Ark spoke. "A single event occurred and its result had a chain reaction the consequences spinning out of proportion." The others looked at Davis expectantly. He just shrugged.

"Gennai told me, I only got the reader's digest version."

"So how do we undo it all?" Ken asked.

"Gennai said we have to kill the one that intervened their own destiny. Their still trapped in a time thing."

"Continuum?"

"No, it's a para-something."

"Paradox."

"Yeah, by removing them from this paradox, they return to the moment the intervened their own destiny, that's when we have to destroy them once and for all."

"I guess it doesn't take a detective to figure out who shouldn't be here now."

"Right," Davis tucked his hammer and pick into holsters on his back, they fitted perfectly into the armour. "So we join up with the others and march to this Shadow Lord guy and take him out, all of us."

"Harpoon Torpedo!" Ikkakumon unleashed another barrage into the ranks of the shadow creatures. Their number dwindled fast as the well trained digimon army stood their ground. Joe pushed himself forward, feeling his presence may further bolster the morale. It seemed to work, as they saw Joe in the thick of the fight, they doubled their efforts to end the fight all the quicker.

Suddenly the shadow seemed to change. They formed into a tight formation and almost looked to wash over the digimon like a wave. Then without warning, several shadow creatures jumped over the front lines and into the rear guard taking them by surprise. Chaos ensued as the digimon at the rear struggled to regain themselves. Joe began to bark orders to keep his companies in check. With his back turned he failed to see anything from the front lines. A stray shadow had made a leap for him.

He felt a weight knock into him and forced him the ground. His chin smashed against the rock hard ground and he felt himself bite his tongue, blood filled his mouth. His hand released the sword Izzy gave to him. Thankfully his large shield kept the creature from tearing a hole in his back. He felt it leap from his back and saw it land in front of him. It's claws bared, eager to rip him apart.

'Someone help,' he thought, he couldn't speak. He was too afraid. He had nobody around him. 'Joe, move! Do something!' He told himself. Without any more delay, his body moved. He got to his knees and with startling initiative, he dived for the creature. At the last moment, he turned his back to it and ran into it with his shield. He slid along the ground, crushing it underneath and grabbed his sword. Another shadow jumped over and was bearing down on him. Joe let out a battle cry as he held up the heavy sword with both hands, right at the thing.

It was too late to move and it impaled itself on his blade and went limp. It started to fade into nothing. Joe got back to his feet. His hands shook from combat high, adrenaline levels shot through the roof. His senses were heightened. He could hear better than he ever could, his eyes shot across the field in blinding speeds. He took in everything around him. He started to shout another order and his throat quivered. He swallowed down any fear in him and shouted again. His companies rallied quickly and surged forward, knocking out the shadow tower that allowed single assailants to jump into the thick of their ranks.

As the tower of bodies fell, the found themselves impaled on all manners of weapons and the remaining army was cut down in a matter of moments. The battle was won.

The war however, had just begun.

A/N: There's a review button just there. Click it. Do it, do it!