After being dropped off by the HolyGriffomon and waving their goodbyes to the winged Digimon and their angelic escorts, the heroes and heroines walked out of the Light Tribe's territory and headed back into the Borderlands.
Remaining on their quest to unite the Tribes against the darkness, the group found that through their continued conversation they had arrived in the midst of a forest path, taking note of the various and beautiful plant life blooming around them.
Though a faction of the group wanted to venture further, the majority needed to take a break after all the walking.
And with nightfall approaching, it didn't seem like a bad idea.
As the group set up their camping supplies for the night, Davis and the others were deciding their next move, for which tribe to visit next.
Setting up their tents, and as Davis began cooking, Kari, Rika, Jeri and Renamon had distanced themselves from the rest of the group, the four deep in conversation.
Surprised, Jeri questioned. "So... Rika actually told you?"
"Yeah, back when we were in that pit and when the others were fighting DracoLichmon." Kari confirmed as she looked at the red haired Tamer and added with a smile. "We discussed things and we're at an agreement on it."
Seeing Rika nod back in reply, Jeri smiled as she then said happily. "That's good, I'm glad you guys were able to talk about it."
Closing her eyes, Jeri then said with a smile. "I mean, with her large collection of Davis merchandise it was easy for me to see how big of a crush she has on him."
With her eyes still closed, Jeri did not see the panicked look on Rika's face as the redhead tried to get her to stop, while Kari just stared at her fellow brunette as she asked in a calm voice. "Merchandise?"
"Oh, yeah, I think Rika's even got a few of the more... exotic books they have involving you and Davis." Jeri added with a laugh, before opening her eyes, where she sweat dropped to see Rika's paled expression of fear and embarrassment, Renamon placing her hand over her face at her partner's secrets being revealed, and Kari's almost blank expression as she kept walking, a bright blush on her face.
"What... um... What are some of the things people think we do?" The Digidestined of Light questioned with a fair interest, causing Jeri, Rika and even Renamon to sweat drop at her eagerness, realizing that she wanted to know the information to try it out with Davis himself later on.
Meanwhile, as Davis remained before the open fire, overlooking the set of supplies he had cooking before at the flames, the maroon haired Digidestined took note of Novicmon, who was in the midst of one of his books, one with a white cover, golden designs running along its spine and bore the sun icon of the Light Tribe.
Curious, Davis asked. "Where did you get that book from, Novicmon?"
"Oh, this?" Novicmon asked back as he held the book up, before replying as he looked it over. "Nyarukimon gave it to me before we left. It's a book on basic Light Magic spells. I might be a Fire Tribe Digimon, but I don't mind expanding my knowledge."
Seeing the light blush on Novicmon's face as he mentioned the mystic feline Digimon, Davis, Tai, Marcus, Takuya, Yoshi, Zoe, Eri and most of the Digimon gained sly grins, where Yoshi said as her grin grew. "Sounds like someone wants to impress a certain someone the next time he sees her."
On hearing this, Novicmon's blush grew even more, where he panicked and began stuttering, trying to deny what Yoshi said as the others began to laugh lightly.
As the heroes and heroines then set themselves down for another meal, unbeknownst to them, something was watching them from the trees, which slithered along the branches as he kept his eyes on the group, waiting for his moment to strike.
The Digimon resembled a dark purple scaled serpent with a humanoid torso and a cobra's head with glaring red eyes.
Upon the serpent's chest was dark armour with spiked shoulder pads, with the crescent moon of the Dark Tribe emblazoned on the chest piece.
This creature was Nagamon, an Ultimate Level Digimon that served as one of Charonmon's top agents, mostly due to his unique ability, and was now commanded to claim the Dark Lady's chosen and bring them back to his Master and the leader of his Tribe.
Watching the heroes and heroines as he slithered silently through the trees, the serpent Digimon realized that he would not be able to truly strike until later in the night, when they were all fast asleep.
But as soon as that thought came to mind, another idea formed in his mind, causing Nagamon to smirk darkly as he waited in the shadows to strike.
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After finishing up the last of their amazingly prepared dinner, most of the group turned in for the night, hoping to get a good night's sleep before deciding on their next destination in the morning.
Acting as the start of the night watch, Nene and Mervamon remained vigilant, the duo keeping themselves alert and their guards up in the event that either Dark Tribe Digimon attacked the camp, or the heroes and heroines would have their first run-in with the so-called Bandit Digimon.
However, despite being on watch, Nene found her gaze focused on a tent nearby, where the light sounds of Tagiru and Gumdramon's snoring could be heard.
And though nothing had been said but knowing her partner, Mervamon spoke up.
"You should really tell him how you feel." She commented as she took a seat beside Nene.
"I'm sure he'd not only be ecstatic, but he'd also give you a good time as well." Mervamon added with a teasing smile, which left Nene blushing at Mervamon's suggestive words.
And her blush only grew to the suggestive wink her partner gave her.
However, the brunette idol then let out a depressed sigh as she looked at the campfire before her, expressing her emotion as she told Mervamon. "That's just it. When we first met, he seemed smitten, head over heels for me, but since then, he's treated me as nothing more than a friend."
Looking back at Tagiru's tent, Nene then questioned aloud. "Does he still see me that way? Does he care about me more than just a friend? I just don't know, and part of me is scared to find out."
Smiling warmly at Nene and showing her support, Mervamon set her arm around Nene, while mentally thinking on how she could get the other girls to help the idol find a way to figure out just how Tagiru really felt about her.
"Sssuch a sssweet ssscene." A sinister voice echoed around the campsite, causing Nene and Mervamon to quickly get up and turn to the forests behind them, where they saw a snake-like Digimon slither down the trees and look upon the pair with a dark smirk.
But what put Nene and Mervamon on edge was seeing the Dark Tribe's icon upon the Digimon's chest, letting them know that he was another enemy.
"Now, now, sssuch feissty attitudesss. Perhapsss we can change that." Nagamon said with a dark glee as his eyes began to glow a bright red, instantly captivating Nene and Mervamon as they found they could not look away, feeling something grip their minds as they were drained of all thought, causing the pair's eyes to glaze over and their bodies to relax, leaving the pair mindless puppets for Nagamon to command.
From his position, Nagamon grinned as the pair fell under his Dark Entrancement, where he sent a mental command to the pair, before Nene's D-Bracer activated, turning the pair into AncientMervamon, who remained standing at attention and with a blank expression on her face, still under the dark serpent's command.
Why should he settle with just capturing one of the heroes when he could capture them all, bringing their entranced forms before the Dark Lady, and reap a reward greater than anything Charonmon could give him.
"Now my dear, you're going to help me capture the ressst of your friendsss." Nagamon said as he approached the entranced form of AncientMervamon, where he slid his tail up her leg and lightly slid it around her rear, causing the serpent Digimon to chuckle lightly, looking forward to having some 'fun' with the females before giving them all to the Dark Lady.
Removing his tail, Nagamon then watched as his entranced puppet turned towards the campsite, her great sword drawn, before AncientMervamon swung it through the air, sending off a shockwave that immediately awoke and alerted most of the heroes and heroines.
"What the heck?!" Takuya called in confusion as he and most of the group looked out of their tents, looking confused to see AncientMervamon looking ready to fight, before they noticed the serpent Digimon slithering by her side.
Immediately recognizing the Digimon from his readings and from his knowledge, Novicmon called in warning. "That's Nagamon, don't look into his...!"
Before Novicmon could finish, Nagamon turned to him with glowing red eyes, causing the small mystic Digimon's eyes to glaze over and a blank look to come across his face, where he then brought up his hands as magic circles formed around them, before Novicmon fired off a series of fireballs, causing the other heroes to panic in reply.
Likewise, before Takuya or Zoe could react, Nagamon turned his still glowing eyes towards them, capturing their attention as their own eyes glazed over, where both were covered in light, changing into CrimsonAldamon and GaleSilphymon as they mindlessly floated into the air, their weapons drawn and ready to fight.
"He's controlling them!" Gatchmon let out, alerting the others as those present quickly changed for battle, being consumed in pillars of light, while Marcus' Agumon and Lalamon turned into energy and formed the Digi-armour around Marcus and Yoshi.
"Samudramon!"
"MedievalGallantmon!"
"MysticSakuyamon!"
"LordShoutmon!"
"ShaolinArresterdramon!"
"Sagemon!"
"ShogunOujamon!"
"BardMusimon!"
"Jeri, run for it!" MedievalGallantmon called to the brunette Tamer in clear concern.
Nodding in reply, Jeri turned and ran, before the entranced heroes and heroines rushed at their friends, preventing them from warning the others as Nagamon moved about the camp.
"What the heck is going on out there?" Veemon asked in a tired voice as he, Davis, Kari and Gatomon were awoken by the sounds of fighting outside, where the V marked Digimon moved to open the tent and to see what was happening.
But upon opening the flap, Davis, Kari and their partners were met by a pair of glowing red eyes, causing their eyes to glaze over as the four fell under Nagamon's control, where the serpent Digimon moved out of the way as his four new puppets exited their tent, turning into MagnaVeedramon and Lightbearer Ophanimon as they joined in the attack on their friends.
"No, no, no!" Samudramon called upon seeing MagnaVeedramon and Lightbearer Ophanimon now under Nagamon's dark spell, before turning his head as he saw the flap of Sora and Biyomon's tent open and the pair exit.
"What's going on?" The Digidestined of Love questioned, unaware of a certain serpent Digimon slithering towards her.
"Don't look!" The Digimon of Courage warned but found Sora and Biyomon turn their heads just in time to meet with Nagamon's entrancing gaze, both falling under his mesmeric spell, before the duo were consumed in a pillar of blazing light, emerging as the entranced form of SacredPhoenixmon, who looked down blankly at her former friends.
Acting under Nagamon's control, SacredPhoenixmon moved down in order to try and grab Samudramon and ShaolinArresterdramon, who quickly moved out of the way.
Above them and close to the trees, MysticSakuyamon used her spear to block a strike from GaleSilphymon's shuriken as the entranced Warrior of Wind pushed against her friend.
"Zoe... fight back... you have to..." MysticSakuyamon tried to say, to break her from Nagamon's control, only to feel something begin to wrap around her legs.
Looking around in a panic, MysticSakuyamon's eyes were soon met with a pair of glowing red ones, where the shaman Digimon fell under Nagamon's control as her body relaxed and GaleSilphymon stopped her attack, both entranced Digimon remaining in the air as Nagamon chuckled lightly.
"Now you two are a fine catch." The serpent Digimon said with a smirk as his tail caressed MysticSakuyamon's body, while his hand did the same for GaleSilphymon, before Nagamon let go of his pets and returned to the ground, while MysticSakuyamon brought her spear up, causing her fox spirits to emerge and shot out towards those not under her new Master's control.
Soon enough, ShogunOujamon and BardMusimon were back to back as the fox spirits circled them, both trying to protect one another and keep watch for Nagamon.
As their eyes kept darting around, however, the warrior Digimon soon caught a pair of glowing red eyes looking at them.
"Don't worry, we'll get through..." BardMusimon started to say, only for four hands to grab him from behind, holding his arms and keeping him from moving or attacking as he looked behind to see the entranced form of ShogunOujamon restraining him.
"So not groovy!" The music Appmon let out in frustration, before Nagamon appeared before him, grabbing his head and holding him in place as he stared into his eyes, causing BardMusimon's eyes to glaze over as he too fell under the serpent Digimon's control, where ShogunOujamon released him and the pair joined their enslaved friends against the others.
High above the growing conflicts, Marcus and Sagemon were battling CrimsonAldamon and MagnaVeedramon, who both swung their blades at their former friends, trying to strike them down and bring them before Nagamon.
"Damn it, guys, fight it! I don't want to hurt you!" Marcus yelled as he swung his blade at CrimsonAldamon, who moved upward and dodged the strike, before slamming his fists into Marcus' back, sending the fiery knight plummeting to the ground, followed a second later by Sagemon.
As the pair tried to get back up, however, a series of vines emerged from the ground and wrapped around Marcus and Sagemon, who looked up with a panic to see the entranced form of Yoshi before them, with AncientMervamon, Lightbearer Ophanimon and MysticSakuyamon behind her.
"Yoshi, no!" Marcus cried out with dread at seeing the girl he loved under their enemy's control, just before Nagamon moved in front of him and Sagemon with his glowing eyes, entrancing the pair and adding them to his little collection.
Mentally signaling his pets, Nagamon then watched as Yoshi brought her hands up once again, while MysticSakuyamon did the same, causing a seal to appear below Samudramon, MedievalGallantmon, LordShoutmon and ShaolinArresterdramon's feet, causing them to groan as they felt their energies drain, before more vines came out of the ground, restraining the four as Nagamon moved towards them.
"Guys... don't..." Samudramon tried to say, before Nagamon approached him with his glowing red eyes, placing him and the other three Digimon under his spell as Yoshi released the vines and the entranced group stood before Nagamon, who smiled delightfully at his victory.
However, the serpent Digimon knew he still had one more prize to catch before he would return to the Dark Lady and reap his reward.
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Panting as he continued to run, Jeri mentally cursed herself one again, feeling useless as her friends fought against a foe that seemed to have the power to control them and turn them against one another, and all she could do was run.
'Why am I here...?! What purpose do I have other than being a burden...?' Jeri thought to herself as she fought back tears, before almost crashing into a tree as she came to a halt, falling to her knees as she tried to catch her breath.
A second later, however, a series of thuds and sensing presences around her caused Jeri to turn, where she saw all her friends in their Digimon, Appmon and Armoured forms around her, with Novicmon on Samuradramon's shoulder as they all stared at her with blank looks and vacant eyes, terrifying the brunette as she pushed herself back against the tree.
"Ssso sssorry, my dear, for sssaving you for lassst." Nagamon said from behind the entranced heroes and heroines.
"But unlike them, you are not a threat, and ssso there was no need to take you until now." The reptilian Digimon added with a wicked chuckle.
"Now my petsss, bring her to me!" Nagamon then commanded, watching as his enslaved puppets began reaching their hands out towards Jeri, while mentally laughing as he imagined bringing his puppets before the Dark Lady, being rewarded for his deed, possibly even being made a Dark General himself, with his own fortress and servants at his command.
Seeing her enslaved friends reaching out to grab her, Jeri felt her panic take over as she brought up her right hand and closed her eyes, letting out a terrified scream in the process, before her D-Bracer began to glow and mystic runes appeared around her arm, sending out a bright light.
When the light faded, the other heroes, heroines and Novicmon blinked their eyes as they returned to normal, before they widened them in realization.
They could think again, Nagamon's spell was broken!
Nagamon, meanwhile, waited in confusion, first at the strange light he saw, then at the fact that his puppets weren't moving anymore.
The serpent Digimon's confusion then turned to shock and horror as all the heroes and heroines then turned to him, glaring at him with rage as he realized that they were no longer under his control.
"Rinkageki!"
"Rage of Wyvern!"
"Holy Strike!"
"Holy Judgement!"
"Sacred Flame!"
"Full Spirit Wave!"
"Arcane Inferno!"
"Arcane Twister!"
"Flaming Destruction!"
"Violet Blast!"
"Omni Force!"
"Thunder Force!"
"Passion Shot!"
"Gaia Link!"
"Golden Arrow!"
"Rhythmic Stream!"
Nagamon didn't even have time to scream as he was consumed by the combined attacks, his body disintegrating as the barrage left a smoldering crater where the serpent Digimon once stood.
"Oh no, that was too quick!" AncientMervamon let out in anger as she glared at the hole that was once Nagamon, along with MysticSakuyamon and GaleSilphymon, who each still wanted to make the serpent suffer.
"It's over, already." MagnaVeedramon said to the three as he watched MedievalGallantmon revert back to Takato and Guilmon, who rushed to check on Jeri as hugged her boyfriend, who tried to calm her down, while she cried with tears of joy that he and their friends were alright now.
"Hey, that creep groped me!" GaleSilphymon let out, still wanting to kick Nagamon's ass for what he did to her.
"And now he's gone, it's over. Let's move onto other things." The holy knight Digimon suggested, causing GaleSilphymon to cross her arms and huf, before MagnaVeedramon then looked at Jeri and asked in confusion. "For example, Jeri... just how did you do that?"
Seeing the confusion in the brunette's eyes, unsure how she did what she did herself, Novicmon was the one to answer as he said in awe. "She can use Digi-magic!"
The response caused the other heroes and heroines to look at Jeri in surprise, while the brunette was left even more confused than ever.
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After making a quick patrol, making sure that Nagamon was alone and didn't have any backup hiding in the forest, the heroes and heroines regrouped at their camp, reverting back to their normal forms as they sat around the campfire, feeling both unhinged at how close they came to being taken down, and awe struck by what they've learned about Jeri.
"Ok, I understand us being able to use Digi-magic in our Digimon or Appmon forms, but how is Jeri able to use that power?" Eri asked in confusion, which was shared by many within the group.
"I don't know, but if there is a place we can go to and help her learn to use it, I think it would be good for all of us." Davis said in reply, trying to look on the positive, which received nods from the others as they too tried to think of how best to help Jeri.
"Thankfully, I know just the place, and we're close to it!" Novicmon said with pride as he stood up and pointed towards a lone mountain not too far off in the distance.
Upon opening his eyes, however, seeing the confused looks on his friends' faces, the mystic Digimon sweatdropped as he remembered that they were not from Witchelny, where Novicmon then informed them. "That's Mount Brocken."
Blinking a few times, Davis' eyes widened as he realized what Novicmon meant as he asked. "Wait, the school is still open?"
"It's neutral ground, not even the Dark Tribe has dared to attack it." Novicmon replied with a smile as he added. "Most of the tribes have been sending more and more students there to get them out of the war. Heck, I was about to leave for there before my village came under threat. If there is any place that can help us understand and help Jeri learn about her connection to Digi-magic, it's there."
Looking at each other, the group then looked to Jeri, waiting for her decision.
And upon seeing her nod her head yes in reply, the group knew then and there that in the morning, they would be heading for Mount Brocken and face whatever awaited them at the Magic School.
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Within the Dark Citadel, Charonmon seethed with rage at Nagamon's stupidity and vanity.
The serpent had one job, to capture the Dark Lady's chosen and bring them to their Mistress.
Instead, he got greedy and got in over his head, which led to his defeat.
Though the fact that the lone human seemed to be able to use Digi-magic was interesting, the fact that he had once again failed to capture the Dark Lady's prize infuriated Charonmon even more.
Another infuriated growl then snapped the dark mystic out of his musing as he looked to see Wraithmon grab his spear and begin walking towards the door, where the Dark Digimon growled out. "I am tired of waiting around! I will tear them apart and bring the Dark Lady's prize to her myself!"
"Just be careful." A familiar voice then said as Sciophobimon materialized and looked at Wraithmon's back, commenting with a smirk. "Those brats are heading for Mount Brocken."
The jester-like Digimon then smirked as he saw Wraithmon stiffen for a moment, before the dark Digimon continued out of the room, ready to hunt the heroes down for the Dark Lady.
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Author's Note: Good thing Jeri has more power than even she knew. How is she able to use Digi-magic? What awaits the heroes at Mount Brocken? And what will happen when the Dark Lady's champion and hunter finds them? Stay tuned to find out as the adventure continues.