Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon.
Chapter 9: Battle of the Dark Warriors
After walking for a while longer, it became obvious that Taiya was too tired to continue walking. So the Chosen walked until they found a place to camp. It was late in the day so their campsite was going to be the place where they would sleep. When they found a place, everyone did the jobs that they had during the night before SkullGreymon had attacked them, except for Taiya. Kouji did her job while she stayed with Yutaka. She didn't complain; she just gave Kouichi her flint and pocketknife and found a spot where she fell asleep.
Everything was soon gathered, a fire lit and everyone was talking around the fire, waiting for the meat apples to cook. When the meat apples were done cooking, Kouichi tried to wake Taiya who didn't seem to care that it was time to eat. No matter what Kouichi did to wake her, she didn't do anything.
Yamato joined Kouichi after he had eaten his apples, but both boys still couldn't wake her. Kouichi then took a break to eat, leaving Yamato to wake Taiya. Kouji had been wondering about something Taiya had said and asked Kouichi.
"Hey Kouichi? You remember what Taiya said to you when you asked for a break?" Kouichi turned a little red but nodded and Kouji continued, "Why did she say that you were worrying like her uncle? Why didn't she say her mom or dad?" Kouichi looked at the sleeping Taiya and sighed before answering.
"Taiya doesn't know her parents."
Everyone looked at him in surprise. That was not the answer that they were expecting. Zoe then asked…
"Why?"
"I don't know," Kouichi replied, shaking his head, "All that I know is that she's lived with her aunt and uncle in America and that they moved to Japan so that she could meet her family."
"Are her parents still alive?"
Before Kouichi could answer, another voice spoke up, startling them.
"Yes, they are. And Kouichi, next time, please ask me before you tell everyone about my life." All of them looked over to see that Taiya was finally awake.
"How long have you been awake?" Yamato asked. He had been paying attention to the conversation and hadn't noticed when she had woken up.
"Since Zoe asked 'why'."
"Then, if you didn't want the question answered, why did you let Kouichi answer?"
"'Curiosity killed the cat but satisfaction brought it back.' Besides, I understand that you were confused. Most people are when I say 'aunt' or 'uncle'. Mostly because I look a lot like my aunt except my eyes are like my uncles. Either way, I'm used to having the question answered," Taiya answered, stretching before coming over to the fire.
"Do you know why you've lived with your aunt and uncle?" Tommy asked.
"Yes, but I don't really want to tell everyone right now." The subject was dropped as Taiya grabbed an apple and began to eat. Everyone was still curious but Taiya had already said that she wouldn't tell them. Either way, they began to talk to each other again.
After a while, Yamato asked the original Chosen to tell them about their first adventures. The original Chosen did, taking turns so that everyone could tell about one event from each of their point of view. All of the new Chosen seemed to find their story interesting. Shinya tried not to look interested but he didn't ask them, or rather, tell them to stop. They all started when they got the message or, for Kouichi, followed someone.
They continued their story until it was late and the sun had set. They had told about their adventures up until they helped the ShellNumamon. By then, their supply of firewood was beginning to run low. Taiya volunteered to go gather some more and everyone else said that it wasn't necessary. Taiya, however, ignored that and went to get some more. In a minute they couldn't see her. Takuya wasn't happy that she had just left without having anybody go with her.
"Why did she just leave? She doesn't know much about the Digital World."
"That's true, but at least she has her Spirit. She can evolve if she needs to," Kouichi pointed out.
"That doesn't mean that she should go off on her own. Besides, she'd probably still tired," Takuya countered. But he couldn't anything until Taiya got back.
With Taiya
Taiya had been walking for a while and had found some dry wood, but not enough in her opinion. So she continued looking for some good wood. She knew that she was getting further from the camp but she wasn't worried. She had left trail markers that she knew how to follow otherwise anyone else would get lost.
As she walked, Taiya thought about the original Chosen's adventures. She thought that they should write a book about all of their adventures. But that would be hard because each would want to tell it from their point of view. 'Hmm, maybe…'
(Snap)
Taiya spun around as she heard a twig break. Looking around, she saw nothing out of the ordinary, shrugged and continued walking.
(Snap)
She spun back around, narrowing her eyes. Someone or something was following her and she had the feeling that it wasn't friendly. Besides none of the Chosen had followed her and if they did they would have gotten lost.
Now wary, she began to walk again. This time, however, she was ready to drop the wood Spirit Evolve and fight. And good thing she was. Instead of hearing a twig snap, she heard rustling in the bushes and jumped to the side, narrowly missing getting herself skewered.
Dropping the wood, she pulled out her D-Tector and faced her attacker.
Her attacker was a human looking digimon that she guessed was not a digimon that she wanted her path to cross with. He was Agunimon's height with waist long, straight blonde hair. His armor was pure black with red eyes on it. His own eyes were cold and cruel with a blood red coloring. He had no hands; where his hands were supposed to be were black dinosaur skulls, one of which had a crooked, blood red blade coming from its mouth.
Frontier Spirit Evolution Theme: With the Will
Ranamon's armor form drew itself onto the screen. Taiya made a circle going backwards with her arm, almost like she was doing backstroke. When her left hand was above her head, she stopped and watched the ring of Fractal-Code as it appeared around her left hand. She then turned around, switching her hands as she did, and turned again, bringing both hands above her head as she scanned the code.
"Execute!"
"Spirit Evolution!" Both of her hands dropped to sides and her clothes were ripped away (she hadn't brought her backpack). Ranamon's armor appeared behind her created a whirlpool.
Ranamon's armor began to appear around Taiya before they took their places and fused to her body. Turning around, water left her eyes to show ruby red eyes instead of blue eyes. Jumping down, Ranamon created a rain cloud and gave a salute, completing her Spirit Evolution.
"Ranamon!"
"Who are you?" Ranamon yelled at the digimon facing her.
"My name is Duskmon but you shall know me as your death!" the digimon yelled as he lunged, trying to skew her again. She dodged the sword and attacked.
"Drainin' Rain!" Duskmon jumped to avoid the rain and attacked.
"Deadly Gaze!" All of the eyes looked at Ranamon and glowed red until red beams shot from the eyes and his hands. The beams sent up dust and dirt. When the dust settled, Duskmon could not see Ranamon anywhere.
"I see that you've escaped. No matter. I'll destroy you after I take care of something," Duskmon said before walking in the direction that Taiya had come. He didn't notice a pair of ruby eyes watching him leave from up in a tree.
'Whew…that was close. But…what does he need to take care of? And who exactly is he? He seemed sort of familiar. But this is my first time here, so I can't have met him…Forget it for now. I have to tell the others.' With that thought in her head, Ranamon jumped out of the tree and began to run a different way back to the camp.
With the Rest of the Group
"Taiya's been gone for a long time. Should we go look for her?" Tommy asked.
Before anyone could answer, there was a rustling in the bushes and Ranamon appeared.
"Ranamon?" Kouichi asked, confused. "Why did you Spirit Evolve?"
"I was attacked."
"By who?"
"Some digimon called Duskmon."
"The original Chosen looked up, startled, and Kouichi went as white as a ghost.
"Is something wrong?" Ranamon asked, confused by their reactions.
"Is he coming this way?" Takuya asked sharply.
"Maybe. He went in the direction that I had come from before he attacked me. He also said something about he had to take care of but I don't know what," Ranamon answered, startled by the question. "What's wrong and just who is he?"
"Duskmon is the corrupted Human Spirit of Darkness. Originally, when Kouichi came to the Digital World, he was Duskmon. However, Takuya and Kouji defeated Duskmon and took the corrupted Spirits away from Kouichi, purifying them. Later, the Spirits returned to Kouichi in their true form," Bokomon explained.
"I wouldn't say true form. I would say weaker form." Ranamon spun around to find Duskmon. The Chosen who could fight got their D-Tectors out and got ready to Spirit Evolve. Duskmon glanced at Ranamon.
"I see you got here before me. How?"
"Walking in circles," Ranamon replied, confusing the other Chosen. Wouldn't walking in circles get you lost? If Duskmon was confused, he didn't show it.
"Well, it doesn't matter," he said, turning to Kouichi. Ranamon noticed and stood in front of her best friend. Duskmon seemed to look amused.
"Get out of my way."
"No."
"Then die."
He thrust his sword at Ranamon. Ranamon, knowing that she couldn't move out of the way to dodge, shifted slightly to the side so that the sword missed and wrapped her arm around Duskmon's arm, trapping him. Before Duskmon could get his arm free, Ranamon punched him in the face, sending him reeling, and then kicked him in the stomach, letting go of his arm when her foot made contact. Duskmon stumbled back a little before glaring at the Warrior of Water.
"You will pay for that."
"I don't think so!"
Frontier Spirit Evolution Theme: With the Will
The armor form of each Spirit drew itself onto D-Tectors screen. Each person put their left hand out and watched as a ring of Fractal-Code appeared around their hand. Each did their moves and scanned the code.
"Execute!"
"Spirit Evolution!" Their clothes were ripped off and the Spirit appeared behind them. The armor then appeared around them and fused to their bodies. Landing on their platforms, they completed their Spirit Evolution.
"Agunimon!"
"Kazemon!"
"Kumamon!"
"Arbormon!"
"Lobomon!"
"Pyro Punch!" Agunimon yelled as he attacked Duskmon. Duskmon jumped to avoid the fire.
"Tempest Twist!" Kazemon yelled, kicking Duskmon before he could attack. Duskmon flew into a tree.
"Kouichi get out of here!" Lobomon yelled as he took out his sabers. Kouichi didn't need to be told twice. He bolted out of there leaving JP to get Yutaka and Shinya.
"Lobo Kendo!" Lobomon yelled. Duskmon blocked the swords and threw Lobomon back. The other Warriors attacked but were also thrown back. They always got back up, but Duskmon kept throwing them back and eventually forced them to de-evolve. Soon, only Ranamon and Lobomon were still in their Spirit form. Duskmon sent them flying in opposite directions. He then went up to Lobomon to finish him off. Before Duskmon could finish Lobomon though, something flew an inch in front of his face before it hit a tree. Glancing at it, he saw that it was a knife. Glancing the other way, Duskmon saw Ranamon.
"Leave him alone," she growled.
"Very well. You will be first." Duskmon came up to her fast and swung at her. Before the blade could hit her, Ranamon put her hand in the blade's path. Instead of being cut though, there was a sound of metal striking metal and the red sword stopped in its path.
"What?" Duskmon yelled, confused. Ranamon just smirked. She then raised her fist and tried to hit his face again. Duskmon jumped back to dodge the fist. Ranamon then began to twirl something in each hand before pointing them at Duskmon. They all saw that they were knifes.
"What's wrong? Are ya scared of me and my knifes?" she asked mockingly.
Duskmon growled and lunged. Ranamon blocked his thrust and attacked.
'Taiya's trying to hold him off on her own. She's doing really well, but how much longer can she hold him off for? I should be fighting him! He tried to control me and make me destroy Kouji! I should show him the true power of Darkness is not evil! I have to stop him from attacking everyone! Lowemon, please…Help me!'
Ranamon was then sent flying into a tree and was knocked unconscious. Duskmon advanced on her as he prepared to finish her. Lobomon tried to stop him but was thrown back and de-evolved. Before Duskmon could finish Ranamon though, an attack hit him and knocked him away from Ranamon. Kouichi then felt something on his shoulder and turned to face Lowemon.
"Daemon brought Duskmon back so that he could control one of the Warriors. Namely you. Will you help me stop him?"
"Yes," Kouichi said, pulling out his D-Tector. Lowemon's eyes seem to smile as he changed into his armor form and entered Kouichi's D-Tector. The symbol of Darkness appeared on the screen and Kouichi began to Spirit Evolve.
Frontier Spirit Evolution Theme: With the Will
Lowemon's armor form drew itself onto the screen. Kouichi then moved his hands in a circular motion, like he was doing backstroke. He stopped when his left hand was above his head and watched as a ring of Fractal-Code appeared around his hand. He then brought his hand down sideways while he brought his right hand up, sideways. When his hands were shoulder height he brought his hands together and scanned the code.
"Execute!"
"Spirit Evolution!" After scanning the code, his right hand went above his head and his left hand went to his side. His clothes were ripped off and Lowemon's armor appeared behind him before three lion-heads were released from within the armor.
Lowemon's armor began to appear around Kouichi before it fused to him. His eyes glowed red before the glow faded to reveal brown eyes instead of navy blue. Dropping down, two of the lion heads joined together to form Lowemon's lance before Lowemon grabbed it and landed on his platform. When he landed, the third lion head formed his shield on his left arm before he swung his lance once and fired a meteor, completing his Spirit Evolution.
"Lowemon!"
Duskmon growled when he saw the Warrior of good Darkness.
"So, you and the boy are one again. But I will destroy you and fuse with him," Duskmon snarled as he charged at Lowemon, swords extended. Lowemon summoned his lance and parried the attack.
Lowemon was doing well but Duskmon had the advantage. Lowemon's lance did some damage but not enough because he couldn't hit with the tip of the lance. Duskmon's blades had no limits except for the flats of his blades.
Soon, Duskmon disarmed Lowemon.
"Now die! Deadly Gaze!" Red beams shot towards Lowemon. Before they could hit the lion Warrior though, he was pushed out of the way by someone. It was Ranamon. The beams hit and she converted back to an unconscious Taiya.
"Taiya," Lowemon whispered as he ran up to her, knelt down and turned her over. Being unconscious she didn't respond.
"Is something wrong? What is it? Do you need others to protect you?" Duskmon asked mockingly.
"No."
"What was that?"
"No, I don't need others to protect me. I need my friends to help me."
"How did that help you?"
"It gave me another chance to fight you and…" Lowemon paused, standing up and turning to face Duskmon, "It has given me the strength to defeat you! Shadow Meteor!" Lowemon crossed his arms over his chest and then uncrossed them, sending a blast at Duskmon. Duskmon was caught off guard and the attack hit him head on. Before he could recover, Lowemon attacked again.
"Shadow Lance!" This time the tip of the lance caught Duskmon in the chest and forced his Fractal-Code to come out.
"Corrupted spirit, be banished to a place where your shadow and evil will never spread and be seen from again! Fractal-Code! Digitize!" Duskmon disappeared as his code was scanned and a digi-egg flew off. Lowemon then de-evolved and Kouichi fell to his knees panting. A moan soon caught his attention and he went over to Taiya who was waking up.
She squeezed her eyes tightly before she opened them slowly, either in pain or not wanting to wake up. Maybe both. She blinked a few times before noticing Kouichi.
"Did you beat him?"
Kouichi shook his head and said, "No, I didn't defeat him. We beat him…together."
Taiya smiled at that.
"I'm glad that I could help," she said as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. The others then came up to them.
"Are you alright Taiya?" Kouji asked, concerned about her after she was hit by that last attack.
"Yeah, but I never brought any firewood back."
Everyone laughed at that. It seemed ages ago that Taiya had gone to get firewood when everyone told her it was unnecessary. But it turned out to be a good thing she did.
"Don't worry about it. At least you got back here before Duskmon did to warn us," Zoe said.
"Yeah. If you hadn't then we would be dead and Kouichi would be under Duskmon's control," Tommy added.
"Don't worry about getting more firewood tonight. I'll gather it," JP said.
"I'll help," Yamato offered. JP nodded.
"Taiya, what did you mean when you answered Duskmon's question?" Yutaka asked.
"I walked in circles to gather firewood. When I got to my starting point, I would go out farther."
"Good thinking. And Taiya, don't volunteer to do any jobs tonight. You're tired and wounded. And if you do, you'll be the bait for Daemon," Takuya told her.
"I figured that you would say something like that. But I thought that you would make me bait anyways because I just left. What changed your mind?" Taiya asked.
"You coming back with the warning of Duskmon and your skilled knife fighting. Besides, why should I? You were right; we did and still do need more firewood."
Tommy: We're almost to Toy Town!
Taiya: What's that place?
Yutaka: It looks like a…factory?
Yamato: What's a factory doing in the middle of nowhere?
Kouji: Don't ask me.
Zoe: Why is Andromon forcing all those Thundermon to work?
JP: They need my help! Execute! Spirit Evolution!
Kouichi: Next time on Digital Union, Frontier! Beetlemon's Thunderous Come Back Tour! It's time to Spirit Evolve!