Pain gripping his body, all Davis could see around him was ruin and destruction, a city burning around him as the skies darkened above.
Among the devastation, the maroon haired Digidestined saw the broken bodies of his friends, Veemon amongst them, where fear and dread filled Davis' being.
Why couldn't you stop her…
We trusted in you…
You let us down…
"Stop, please!" Davis yelled as he covered his ears, trying to keep out the disembodied voices of his friends taunting him, blaming him and venting their anger and disapproval at him.
Looking forward, however, Davis' eyes widened in horror to see the Dark Lady standing over a ridge, the broken body of Kari within her left hand, much to Davis' horror.
"No!" The Digidestined of Miracles cried out as he rushed towards the Dark Lady, desperate to save Kari, even as his damaged body screamed against him.
"In the end, you will always fail." The leader of the Dark Tribe merely said as she brought her free hand up, unleashing a powerful blast of energy that went flying straight towards Davis, blinding him with the dark purple energy.
.
.
.
With a startled cry, Davis shot up from his nightmare, panting heavily, before gripping his side as the pain nearly overwhelmed him, finding wrapping around his arm and stomach.
"Davis!" A familiar voice cried out desperately as the maroon haired Digidestined quickly felt a pair of arms wrap around him and hold him tightly, looking to see Kari at the side of his bed, some bandages on her arm as well, before Mikey quickly came to the other side and helped ease Davis back down on the bed.
"Easy there, you're still injured." The Red General remarked, his words causing Davis to relax a little as everything came back to him.
'It was only a dream…' The maroon haired Digidestined thought, pushing the nightmare of his friends gone from his mind as the memories of what happened returned to the forefront of his mind, remembering the battle against the Dark Lady and how she still bested them.
Looking around the room, Davis found Rika leaning over and looking at him with a clear concern, the emotions shared alongside Kari.
From his position and examining Kari, Davis took note of how her left arm was set within a sling.
Though Davis felt concern for Kari's wellbeing, her warm smile helped Davis relax.
Continuing to examine those around, on the bed beside him was Veemon, who, other than a few bruises and scratches upon his body, seemed to be in ok shape, evident as the Digimon of Miracles slept peacefully, along with Gatomon curled up against him.
Off to the side, Davis saw Renamon rested against the wall and accompanied by Shoutmon.
Turning back to Kari, to see her warm and devoted smile, further comfort filled Davis as Tai, Sora, Agumon and Biyomon moved around the bed.
Knowing that though they had a few victories under their belt, but knowing the Dark Lady had succeeded in her goal in claiming the energy of the Sacred Frost, Davis sighed, frustrated as he questioned. "How bad are things?"
Refusing to hide anything from Davis and to be completely honest, Shoutmon told the maroon haired Digidestined. "After she took the energy from the Sacred Frost, the Dark Lady left the city. She also teleported her remaining forces and the Dark Frost Digimon away with her. The others are with Odinmon checking to see the damage done to the city, but otherwise everything seems to be alright."
"The casualties were at a minimum, thanks to us holding back the Dark Lady's forces." Sora then added, the orange haired girl hoping that her words would help brighten Davis' mood but found the Digidestined of Miracles frowning.
Growling lightly as he began berating himself, Davis said with anger. "I should have done more to stop her, I screwed up, I…"
"Davis, calm down, none of this is on you." Tai quickly cut in, knowing that the younger Digidestined was putting a lot on his shoulders and was blaming himself for the Dark Lady's win.
In agreement with his partner, and refusing to allow Davis to put the blame all on himself, Agumon added with his own confident tone. "Tai is all thought the plan would work, so don't beat yourself up over what happened, we'll figure out something and we will take her down next time together."
"We'll need to think about it very soon, I am certain we will face her again wherever we go next." Renamon then commented, her words causing most in the room to deflate at the idea of confronting the Dark Lady again so soon after this battle, but they knew Renamon's words were of truth.
Looking at Kari and seeing the worried and scared expression on her face as she looked over Davis and his injuries, Rika turned her attention to the others and suggested. "Guys, let's let Davis rest for now. We can talk later."
Looking between the depressed Digidestined of Miracles and his girlfriend, the others nodded and excused themselves.
As Rika was about to leave, the red haired Tamer looked to Kari and saw the brunette flash her a warm smile, one Rika reflected, before the red haired Tamer returned to Davis' side, giving him a small kiss on the cheek.
"Try and get some sleep, Davis. And try not to overthink all this." Rika said with a surprising warmth and sincerity in her tone, before leaving Davis and Kari, allowing the Digidestined of Miracles and of Light time alone and to recover.
Confused by Rika's affection, but knowing behind her stubborn side was a caring person, Davis returned his focus back upon Kari, but felt the concerns growing within him as he could see his girlfriend was holding back her tears.
"I was so scared… seeing you lying there as she walked towards you, like she was about to finish you off." Kari sobbed through her pain as the tears began flowing from her eyes.
Moving onto the bed and beside Davis, sliding her arms around his chest, Kari continued to express her emotion. "I should have been there for you… I should have been by your side."
"You were in no shape to keep fighting, Kari, this wasn't your fault." Davis said in reply and with a clear care and love in his voice, before wrapping his arms around Kari and sliding her into his embrace.
As the love of his life quietly sobbed into his chest, Davis gently stroked her hair.
"I was so scared I was going to lose you… please don't leave me, Davis…" Kari pleaded, her words filling Davis with sorrow to have caused such pain to the girl he loved, where he held Kari close and kissed her forehead lightly.
"I will never leave you, Kari, I promise." Davis said reassuringly as he slid his hand under Kari's chin, lifting her head to meet his lips in a warm kiss.
After allowing Kari a little more time to pour out her emotion and allowing the brunette to fall into a deep sleep in his arms, the maroon haired Digidestined stared up at the ceiling, his mind occupied with many thoughts, but none more important than Kari.
'I will protect you from her, Kari, I promise.' Davis thought to himself as he kissed Kari's forehead, vowing to never let the Dark Lady lay a hand on his love again, no matter what it would take.
From the bed next to them, though remaining silent, Veemon and Gatomon kept their eyes closed and listened and watched their partners express their love to one another, the sight leaving the Digimon smiling sadly as they too vowed to do whatever they could to protect the pair, and each other.
.
.
.
A few hours later, and after Davis fell back to sleep, sliding slowly from out the warmth of her lover's arms, Kari found Gatomon and Veemon awake, where the Digidestined and Digimon of Light, along with the Digimon of Miracles, joining their friends in the great hall as to converse with Odinmon, FrostJarlmon, ArcaneSeermon, IceTactimon, BlazeShogunmon, TyphoonShogunmon and GrandPyromon.
Amongst the Ice Tribe Digimon was a large map of the city and its surrounding areas, which IceTactimon was in the midst of explaining to the heroes and heroines present.
"Though DarkHelamon is gone, her forces have all pledged themselves to the Dark Lady and are no doubt bolstering her forces as we speak." IceTactimon informed as he looked over the map, adding as he looked to the heroes, heroines and Novicmon. "Fortunately, with your distraction of the Dark Tribe's forces, the damage done to the city was minimal, and our warriors are still at full strength."
"We're just sorry we could not stop the Dark Lady from draining the Sacred Frost." Gatchmon then said with a clear solemn voice as he looked down the hallway behind Odinmon's throne, seeing the massive pillar of ice at the other end, and how the aura around it was not as bright as when the group first saw it.
"That you were willing to stand against her honors us anyways." Odinmon replied with sincere encouragement, looking to Kari, Rika and their partners as he saw their injuries healed, before the leader of the Frost Tribe added. "We face a foe greater than we have ever imagined, it is an honor to have heroes such as yourselves willing to fight her."
Looking to the Sacred Frost herself, ArcaneSeermon informed. "Even with what was stolen, the Sacred Frost still has enough energy to give the Frost Tribe power, and enough for you to use on your journey."
"However…" The chief mystic of the Frost Tribe had to say, her tone growing serious as she continued. "With so many of the primordial fragments drained as they are, the balance of Digi-magic within Witchelny has changed."
"Indeed." GrandPyromon remarked, looking to the heroes and heroines as he added. "Even with our victories, the lands are starting to be affected by the loss of Digi-magic, and I fear it will only increase if the Dark Lady obtains the power from the remaining fragments."
"Not while the Frost Tribe stands!" Odinmon declared as he slammed his spear into the ground and declared with his own determination. "We will take the fight to the enemy and take back what was stolen, and we shall not rest until the Dark Lady is brought to justice!"
"Does that mean you will join the alliance?" Marcus asked, his question receiving a nod from Odinmon, which caused the group of heroes and heroines to cheer, happy to hear that yet another tribe would join the alliance as FrostJarlmon then stated. "Once we have things settled here, our warriors will join the other tribes and take the fight to the enemy."
Hearing this brought smiles to all the heroes, heroines and Novicmon, before Mikey looked to BlazeShogunmon and asked curiously. "Now that there are six of the tribes working together, do you have enough forces to strike at the Dark Tribe's own territory?"
"Unfortunately, not just yet." The champion of the Fire Tribe replied, his words shocking the heroes and heroines as he explained. "Despite the size of the forces we have faced so far, the army guarding the Dark Tribe's territory is more than three times the size of our current forces, even with the addition of the Frost Warriors, we are no match for the Dark Lady's army."
"Likewise, there is only one entrance into the lands of the Dark Tribe, protected by a massive gate, the dark army and powerful spells." TyphoonShogunmon added, looking to the group of heroes and heroines as he then said. "If we are to have any hope of breaching that gate and taking on the defending force, we will need the help of the Wind, Metal and Thunder Tribes as well."
"Then we still have a job to do." Shoutmon declared, receiving nods of agreement from the others.
"Once Davis is healed up, we'll set off for the next tribe." Shoutmon went on to say.
"The Wind Tribe is the closest, I recommend you talk to them first." GrandPyromon suggested, his words causing Zoe's eyes to widen in intrigue as the blonde was clearly eager to meet the tribe of Witchelny Digimon that shared the same element as her.
"I also hope your leader recovers soon." BlazeShogunmon then added, causing the heroes and heroines to nod in reply.
"Don't worry about Davis, he's a lot tougher then…" Takuya started to say, before his eyes, along with the rest of the group's, widened as BlazeShogunmon's words registered in their minds as the Warrior of Flame then questioned. "Um… what did you call him?"
BlazeShogunmon, TyphoonShogunmon and GrandPyromon looked to one another, before looking back at the humans, Digimon and Appmon as the fire champion replied. "Well, you all seem to follow his lead, we just assumed that he was the leader of your group."
Before any of the heroes or heroines could respond to the statement, they each thought deeply on BlazeShogunmon's words, and quickly found that he had a point.
Despite most of them having taken the role of Leader in their adventures, whenever they were down, it was Davis who brought their spirits up, whenever they had a plan, it was Davis they looked to.
Unknowingly, Davis had become the unofficial leader of their group, which left most of the heroes and heroines somewhat surprised.
For Kari, however, a bright smile came across her face, happy to see her beloved being recognized as their leader, as well as receiving the respect the others had for him.
'Finally, Davis is getting the respect and recognition he deserves.' The Digidestined of Light thought happily.
Though she had never said anything about it, there was part of Kari which had despised how she and her friend used to treat Davis back during their past adventures, even part of her which detested her own mistreatment toward her love.
But keeping her smile, Kari knew Davis' heart, and knew he wasn't one to bear a grudge, but to look to the good and just smile.
Letting the topic drop, the heroes, heroines and Novicmon resumed listening to Odinmon's words as they discussed the future of the Frost Tribe as part of the Alliance of Witchelny.
.
.
.
As the sun began to rise the next morning, the heroes, heroines and Novicmon found themselves in a familiar setting as they stood before the gates of the Frost Tribe's capital, Odinmon, his council and tribesmen, along with BlazeShogunmon and his allies standing before them.
Meanwhile, within Novicmon's hands was a golden container, shaped like an icicle which held an icy blue aura to it, energy from the Sacred Frost for the heroes and heroines to use in their battles to come.
"We won't let you down." Davis, who was no longer wearing bandages, said to Odinmon and the other Digimon, bowing slightly alongside his friends, while the leader of the Frost Tribe nodded his head in respect.
"I know you will not." The leader of the Frost Tribe replied, adding as he looked upon the group with his lone eye. "And I look forward to seeing you all again at the gates to the Dark Tribe's lands."
Odinmon's words earned a loud cheer from the Frost Tribe warriors, all eager to finally take the fight to their enemy, while the heroes, heroines, Novicmon and the allied tribal Digimon sweatdropped at their new allies' enthusiasm.
Bidding their farewells, the heroes, heroines and their guide turned and began to walk through the snowy terrain as they headed towards the Borderlands, where they would continue from there to the lands of the Wind Tribe.
"Alright, Novicmon, lead the way!" Tagiru called with his usual enthusiasm, keeping everyone in a high-spirited mood as they continued through the snow.
"Yep, we're going to go meet those bird brains and get them on our side!" Novicmon replied with his own cheer, not realizing his words had negative consequences, until Biyomon and Zoe moved to the small mystic Digimon's sides and stared him down.
"Oh? And why do you call them bird brains?" The Digimon of Love questioned with a sweet, yet deceptive smile.
"Yeah, I'd like the answer to that as well." The Warrior of Wind inquired as she bent down, her eyes closed and a smile of her own now gracing her face.
Instantly, a bead of sweat came down Novicmon's back as he felt a killer intent behind the girls' smiles, realizing that he might have said a poor choice of words, letting an old habit slip as he now potentially faced the wrath of the two wind-based individuals in the group.
In the back of the group, and ignoring Novicmon's plight, Davis was deep in thought over his battle with the Dark Lady, looking up every once and a while to see Kari, where he failed to notice Mikey, Shoutmon and Veemon coming close to him.
"You alright, Davis?" Mikey suddenly questioned, causing Davis to snap out of his thoughts as he looked at the Red General.
"Yeah, just… thinking." Davis confessed as he looked back at Kari, who was chatting with Rika, and from the blush on the redhead's cheeks, the Digidestined of Miracles assumed it was most likely about him.
"I feel that Kari is the Dark Lady's chosen." Davis said in a whisper to the three around him, his remarks causing Mikey, Shoutmon and Veemon to look toward the Digidestined of Miracles with concern.
"It wouldn't be the first time a dark force tried to use her for their own ends." Davis said with a continued silence, knowing of the unknown force within the Dark Ocean which sought Kari out.
"I don't know what the Dark Lady is planning, but I won't let her take Kari." The maroon haired Digidestined then said with determination, willing to do anything to protect the woman he loved.
However, after a moment of thinking, Shoutmon then questioned, expressing his confusion and doubt. "If Kari is her chosen, then why didn't the Dark Lady grab her when she had the chance?"
Hearing the question, Davis nearly stopped in his tracks as he looked to the Digimon King, asking. "What do you mean?"
"Shoutmon is right." Mikey replied, adding as he thought about the situation himself. "The Dark Lady had taken you, Lightbearer Ophanimon and MysticSakuyamon down, with Kari and Gatomon too injured to fight. If it was Kari she was after, she would have grabbed her, regardless of how much energy you had left to fight."
"She is also capable of teleporting an entire army, it would seem plausible that she could have teleported Kari to a cell and then go after the Sacred Frost, but the Dark Lady just left her there." Shoutmon then said, his words, and Mikey's, ringing true as Davis thought about the battle, and how vulnerable Kari was after the Dark Lady had taken her down.
"Maybe she is waiting for the right moment to take her?" Davis theorized as he found himself not exactly sure what to make of all of this, uncertain if the Dark Lady was waiting for a precise moment when she could obtain Kari's power, or whether she was just toying with the brunette.
"Maybe Kari might not be her chosen at all?" Mikey found himself asking, this leaving Davis even more confused than before as a single question ran through his mind.
If Kari wasn't the Dark Lady's chosen, then just who was?
.
.
.
Within the Dark Tribe's Citadel, the Dark Lady stood before the large seal, the container holding the energies of the Sacred Frost now placed within and now leaving only three open slots left to fill as the leader of the Dark Tribe held the golden orb within her right hand.
Meanwhile, following the directions from one of the pages taken from the Book of Mortismon, a pair of Lichmon were drawn runes and symbols along the floor, preparing the room for a powerful ritual.
"My Lady." Charonmon said as he entered the chamber and bowed before his Mistress.
The Dark Lady kept her back to him and keeping a chilling silence, her advisor informed. "The remaining Dark Frost Digimon are settling in, they will be added to our forces soon."
"Good." The Dark Lady merely said, her gaze still upon the seal, before looking over her shoulder as she looked to Charonmon and stated. "They will be heading towards the Wind Tribe in a matter of days. Inform the Corvus Brothers to prepare for a renewed assault, and make sure they receive our new 'weapons'."
"As you wish, my Lady." The Dark Mystic Digimon replied obediently as he turned and left, before the Dark Lady waved her hand, signaling the Lichmon to leave her be, knowing that they would return later to finish their work.
Once she was alone, the Dark Lady's helmet and wings receded into her being, where the leader of the Dark Tribe gained a small smile as she held the golden orb close to her.
"Soon, my love. Soon you will have everything you deserve, and we will be together again." The dark being declared, the orb pulsating lightly as the Data particles within shifted, the Dark Lady feeling a warm emanating from it, as though someone trying to wrap their arms comfortingly around her.
After so many years, the Dark Lady was now so close to achieving her desire, and nothing would stand in her way.
Unbeknownst to the leader of the Dark Tribe, however, another individual watched from the shadows of the chamber, smiling wickedly from behind their mask.
Everything was going according to plan.
.
.
.
Author's note: Thus ends the Frost Tribe's arc as the heroes continue their journey, but what is the Dark Lady's true intentions, and who else seemed to be working from the shadows? Stay tuned as the adventure continues with the Wind Tribe.