A/N: Finally! This has taken forever for me to write, I know. But enjoy it anyway. Thanks to Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 for reviewing my last chapter.
The Warrior of Hope
Chapter 11
Better An Egg Than An Egg Shell
I awoke to someone shaking me. I waved them away, "Just five more minutes." I heard someone chuckle and then felt a hand brushing my hair away from my face. The hand continued down my face, cupping my cheek and bringing my face up slightly. My eyes opened in shock when my lips were suddenly covered with another's. "That woke you up." Koji smirked down at me. I blushed and looked around, glad that I was the first one that he had woken up. I frowned and looked up at him, "I wasn't done kissing you yet." He grinned as he once again brought his lips down to meet mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck, wanting to keep him in this embrace. I pulled away when I ran out of air. Koji pulled me into a sitting position, "We should probably wake the others up now." "Yes, now let's think about the others, after our lovely wake up kisses." The sarcastic voice startled me. I looked around to see Zoe looking at us with a smirk on her face. I saw that everyone else was awake; they were just looking away like J.P. and Tommy, or grinning at us like Takuya. I sighed, this was going to be an interesting day.
We walked through the forest, hoping that today might be the day that we find the Forest Terminal. I walked next to Koji, our hands brushing every once in a while, making me blush as they made me remember this morning. Koji tensed and grabbed my hand as we were suddenly surrounded by fog. We walked forward until we came to a sign that said Forest Terminal. "We finally made it!" I smiled at Koji, but he was busy looking up the tracks, "Shouldn't there be a Trailmon here?" "Yeah, really." Zoe agreed with him. "Well, maybe they're on their way back right now. Or uh, you know, they uh could be, oh man!" Takuya tried to reason with them, but failed miserably. "Hey, who cares about the Trailmon? There's a restaurant here!" J.P. exclaimed. "Is there ever a time when you aren't thinking about food?" I asked him. He shrugged and we all headed toward the restaurant. Behind the counter, there was a bird with a bush growing out of its back. "Welcome weary travelers." He said. "What do you have to eat?" Tommy got right to the point. "Ask instead what I don't have to eat. Step right up friends, and don't worry about money, for you the first meal is free!" J.P. cheered and ran to get a seat at the counter. "Now there's a man who knows what he likes, or doesn't care what he eats. Yolk surprise, coming up!" He threw six eggs into the air, and pecked each one, making each one land in a bowl of noodles in front of us. "Hail to the chef!" We all exclaimed. Everyone started to dig in. I took a bite and had to stop myself from spitting it right back out. Everyone else was having the same reaction. I was about to tell the bird that I wasn't hungry, when my stomach proved me wrong by growling. When was the last time I had eaten? I groaned when I realized that it was back when we were staying with the KaratsukiNumemon. I looked down at the bowl of noodles and sighed, I needed to keep my strength up. I started shoveling in the noodles, swallowing them quick so that I didn't have to taste them. Everyone was staring at me in horror and amazement.
"Thank you for the meal, it was quite interesting." I said as I stood to get up. Everyone was still staring at me. I tried to help them out, "Come on guys, let's go." Before we could leave, the bird noticed that I was the only one who finished my bowl. "Alright, alright, what's the big idea? I just can't believe all of you are going to turn down free food." He glared at my friends. "That was food?" Zoe asked. "I'm insulted!" The bird replied. "I'm going to be sick." Takuya crossed his arms. "Fine, get out of here, kids you're bugging me. Go ahead and go to the Forest Terminal, they say no one has ever returned from there." The bird threatened. "Yeah, well we'll just take our chances; I doubt the Forest Terminal can be any worse than this food." Takuya remarked and everyone stuck their noses up and looked away. The bird started crying, "Aw, come on guys, I was just trying to be nice, that's all." "Being nice has nothing to do with cooking, and rumors don't matter to us, we've already been told that we have to go to the Forest Terminal." Takuya replied. Everyone got up and left the restaurant. I turned back, "Thanks again for the meal." I smiled at the bird and started walking away. "I have leftovers if you want them." I grimaced, "No thanks." I hurried to catch up to everybody.
"Let's go." Koji said and started leading the way through the fog. I walked next to Koji as we approached the train station. "This place is empty too." Koji remarked. "Yeah, and just a little bit creepy." Zoe replied. We walked next to the tracks. "Keep your eyes peeled guys." Takuya said. "For what? All we can see is fog." J.P. said. We approached a giant tree with a doorway in it. Inside the doorway, there were stairs leading up. "Well, there have to be some people here." Takuya replied. "But what if they're all…ghosts!" J.P. exclaimed. Everyone started looking around in panic at that. Great job J.P., let's scare everyone. We got to the top of the stairs and there was another doorway, leading to a huge branch that made a path. "Well, I guess we have no choice but to keep walking." Takuya said. "Man, this world sure loves its walking." J.P. sighed.
Suddenly we were faced with a split in the path. "Great, now what?" Way to stay optimistic, Takuya. Tommy's D-Tector started making noise. "It's that way." Tommy pointed towards the smaller path. We walked up the path, but came to a dead end. "Tommy, this way's a dead end." Takuya said. "Yeah, are you sure it wasn't the other way?" Zoe asked. J.P.'s D-Tector lit up and flashed a light on the branches blocking our path, making the branches move aside. "Now, for my next trick." J.P. joked. We walked up the path, but the fog seemed to be getting worse the further up we went. "Man, I can't see anything in this fog." Takuya complained. "I know, we could be attacked." Koji agreed. Zoe's D-Tector started to make noise, "Hey, maybe my D-Tector is good for something too." Her D-Tector lit up the whole forest, making the fog disperse.
We looked up to see the towers of a castle rising above the treetops. "I hate it when I'm right." Zoe said. "Why? Now we'll know if someone is going to attack us. It was very helpful." I told her. She smiled and nodded. We walked towards the castle, seeing that it was made of what looked like crystal. "This place is beautiful." Tommy remarked. "That doesn't mean it isn't dangerous." Koji replied. "What if this is where the person from our D-Tectors lives? We did get a message to come here." Tommy said. "Well, should I knock?" J.P. asked, going up to the gate. "I still don't think this is safe." Koji said. His D-Tector started making noise and it lit up, making the gate open. "Well, at least they're polite, I guess." Takuya said. "Yeah, that or eager to lure us in there." J.P. said. We stood, staring at the doors, nobody making a move towards them. "I say we go inside, how bad could it be? Sleeping beauty used to live in a castle in the forest." Zoe commented. "Yeah, well so did the wicked witch." Koji replied. "We'll never find out what's in there if we don't go in." Tommy said as we walked towards the front door. "Says the kid at the back of the line." J.P. commented. Takuya grabbed the knocker and knocked twice. "Maybe nobody lives here." Tommy said. "Maybe you should open up a wishful thinking store, Tommy." Takuya said. Takuya's D-Tector started to shine and the doors opened.
"Get back, Cherubimon scum!" A digimon with white clothes and a white pointed hat said. He was pointing a wand with a snowflake at the end of it at us. He looked a lot like a wizard to me. "Um, isn't that Wizardmon?" Takuya asked. "But he's a different color." Tommy replied. "And meaner." J.P. added. I had no idea what they were talking about. "We can beat him, just like we beat Gigasmon!" Takuya said. I grabbed my D-Tector out of my pocket and got ready to use it if I have to. "Gigasmon? But he's one of Cherubimon's goons." "Yeah." Takuya said. "So you're not allies with Cherubimon." I raised my eyebrows at the digimon. "Are you kidding?" Zoe put her hands on her hips. "Look, why don't you put that wand down, okay? We're all on the same side, isn't that obvious?" Koji said while walking towards the digimon. The digimon lowered his wand, "This is what comes of fighting too much, everyone seems to be an enemy. I apologize friends, how did you find this place?"
"We got a message that told us all to come to the Forest Terminal, but there was no one there and when we kept walking we ended up here on your doorstep." Takuya replied. "Oh, a message, could it be? My solitude has driven common courtesy from me, I apologize. My name is Sorcermon. Please, come in. I have something important to show you." Sorcermon turned around and started walking down the front hall of the castle. Koji and Takuya looked at each other then nodded and started walking forward. I followed behind Koji and the rest trailed behind us.
We had been walking for a few minutes in silence, never leaving the hall for any of the many doorways. "Where are you taking us anyway?" Koji asked. "To meet someone." Sorcermon replied, not missing a step. "I bet it's a trap." Koji said. "You think everything's a trap." I chuckled at Tommy's reply. "Caution is wise friends, but only within reason. This is no trap, this is a prophecy." Sorcermon pressed his hand against a wall, and it opened like a door, revealing a hidden room. We gasped in shock. "So, where is he?" Takuya asked. "Up there. Allow me to introduce our salvation, Seraphimon." We looked up to the ceiling to see a giant crystal. Inside, there was a digimon that looked like a more advanced version of Angemon. "Um, are we supposed to know who that is?" Zoe asked. I knew exactly who it was. I still had the memory of my spirit choosing Seraphimon as one of the three that would rule after we defeated Lucemon. "Seraphimon was one of the three celestial digimon chosen to rule this world."
"So, what are we supposed to do? He's all frozen up." Takuya asked. "Perhaps not for long, there is a prophecy." Sorcermon said. Great, a prophecy, are you going to tell us what it is? "Let your light shine as one." The voice that came from our D-Tectors ordered. "That was Lady Ophanimon, she's the one who asked me to watch over Seraphimon." Sorcermon explained. "Ophanimon? She must be the voice that told us to come here." Takuya said. "It's all falling into place. I brought you here because the prophecy says that one day a group of wayward humans will free Seraphimon." Sorcermon told us. "Typical, humans get to do everything, when is my turn?" Bokomon complained. "How about next week?" Neemon said to him. "Be quiet." Bokomon ordered him.
"So what did she mean?" Koji asked. "I bet it has something to do with our D-Tectors." Zoe replied. Our D-Tectors all started to shoot light from them. I moved my D-Tector around, seeing that it moved the light. "Hey guys, focus them up there." Takuya said, and we all pointed them at Seraphimon. The crystal surrounding him disappeared, and down floated Seraphimon on his ten golden wings. "The prophecy!" Sorcermon exclaimed. "Welcome back Lord Seraphimon." "It's good to be back, my faithful servant. You have done well. Sorcermon tell me, there is so little I remember." Seraphimon hadn't noticed us yet. "My Lord, when your defeat seemed imminent, Ophanimon was able to get you to safety she sealed you away from danger so that you could be revived after the trouble had passed." Seraphimon stepped back in shock, "Ophanimon, that's right. Has she been harmed? Why isn't she here?" "Truth is often unpleasant, I'm afraid. Nobody knows where she is. But these humans have been in contact with her, so all is not lost." Sorcermon gestured to us. "These humans? But, they're only children." Bokomon stepped forward, "Yes, but they're also legendary warriors, and if not for them you'd still be stuck to the ceiling." I cringed at his disrespectful comments. "Legendary warriors, impressive." He looked straight at me, noticing the tiara on my head and nodded in recognition of my title. I bowed my head back at him and smiled slightly.
"Hey listen, just what is going on here? We've been led all over, getting our snot kicked out, and we don't even know why we were brought into this crazy world!" Takuya glared at Seraphimon. "Yeah, someone owes us some answers." Zoe agreed. "And I think you're that someone, so tell us what's going on." Koji demanded. I shook my head at them, knowing that they were way out of place making demands to Lord Seraphimon. "Um, please." Tommy said, the only polite one of the group. "Very well brave ones, I shall tell you." Seraphimon said. "If you want answers you will have them. The story begins long ago, when human digimon and beast digimon warred against each other. Their battle lay waste to the digital world, befouling what was once beautiful. But Lucemon appeared, and put an end to the fighting. For a time he ruled in peace, but soon he was corrupted by his own power." "My, this story sure sounds familiar." Bokomon interrupted. "Bokomon!" We all yelled at him. "What?" He replied. "The ten legendary warriors and their princess arose to free the oppressed and abused digimon. They battled valiantly, and after a fierce struggle, they were able to defeat the tyrannical Lucemon. After peace was restored to the digital world, the Princess chose three champions to protect that peace. Cherubimon, Ophanimon, and myself, but as before, our time of harmony was short lived. Cherubimon wanted to control the digital world by himself, and so attacked me. You know the rest of the story thanks to Sorcermon. Ophanimon rescued me and brought me to safety here. Where I have slumbered and regained my strength until I was awakened by you legendary warriors." Seraphimon ended his story.
"Luckily, you came when we needed Seraphimon most. The digital world is in a crisis, as you can see." Sorcermon held up his wand and showed an image of the digital world. There were holes all over, from Cherubimon's goons taking fractal codes. "Man, the digital world looks like Swiss Cheese." Takuya remarked. "And the future looks even more bleak. You see, Cherubimon has sent his minions to destroy it." Sorcermon replied. "This is even more serious than I'd imagined. We must find Ophanimon at once." Seraphimon demanded. "Yes my Lord, your combined might can surely defeat Cherubimon, and of course you'll have my help. While you've slept I felt that I have too, and I have dreamt only of fighting by your side against that evil creature." Sorcermon said. "Dear, brave Sorcermon, you are a true friend. Thank you, your courage gives me strength." Seraphimon told him. "I am as you taught me." Sorcermon replied. Seraphimon turned towards us, "And I must thank you, for your courage. All would be lost were it not for you. But now I must ask that you do one more favor for me. Before the fighting begins, go back to your own world." We all looked at him in shock. "Your task is done, and it's too dangerous for you to stay." Seraphimon explained. "But we're legendary warriors!" Takuya exclaimed. "Yeah, we can't just walk away now." Zoe agreed.
Suddenly, a hammer burst through the wall that we had come from. In walked Grumblemon and three other digimon. I recognized them as the legendary warriors of water, wood, and steel. Ranamon was wearing a blue full body swimsuit over her green skin. Her red eyes matched the jewels on her hat and gloves. Arbormon looked like a mechanical person. He had gears sticking out all from his orange and yellow armor. Last, but not least was Mercurymon. His armor was green and red. He had a mirror for a face, two mirror shields, and a mirror on his stomach. I narrowed my eyes at those who my spirit used to call friends. "Good, whole brat brigade here." Grumblemon said as they walked towards us. "And ready to fight." Takuya said. "You better be, because me introduce other digimon who defeat you, Ranamon." "Charmed, I'm sure." Ranamon had a southern accent. "Arbormon." Grumblemon continued. "You're in for it now, right?" Arbormon said. "And lastly, Mercurymon." Grumblemon finished. "So these be the whelps that have given thee so much trouble? Pathetic!" Mercurymon said. I knew that his old English accent was going to bug me. "Well, they tougher than look." Grumblemon said.
"It shall be utter delight to defeat thee and to take Seraphimon's fractal code in Cherubimon's name." I could barely understand what Mercurymon said. "With so many options, I don't know where to start." Ranamon said. "Enough of your meaningless taunts, tell me where Ophanimon is, now!" Seraphimon ordered. "Me no care about her, me just want beast spirit back, so give it!" Grumblemon replied. "Why don't you come get it, buddy?" Takuya asked. "Yeah!" Everyone agreed. We all grabbed our D-Tectors except for Zoe. "Execute, Spirit Evolution!" We all spirit evolved to our human spirits. "The legendary warriors have returned." Sorcermon said. Zoe backed up, not wanting to get in our way as we fought. "If that big idiot hadn't stolen my spirit, I'd show him a thing or two."
"Yeah, well did, and now I show you thing or three." Grumblemon said. "Are you sure you don't want to get warmed up first?" Agunimon asked before attacking, "Pyro Darts!" He threw his fire at them, but they all dodged it. We each attacked someone after they were split up. "Evil Charm!" I made the dark cross in the air and sent it at Mercurymon, but he just dodged it. "Thanks for the overwhelmingly underwhelming lesson in combat, let me show you how it's done! Drainin' Rain!" She created a dark cloud and it flew over us and started raining. I felt my power leaving me as the rain drenched us. "Roundhouse Punt!" Arbormon threw his foot out on a long rope and kicked each of us, but I dodged it, knowing what was coming. The boys all got thrown into the wall. "That was too easy." Ranamon said. "Right." Arbormon agreed. "Um, hello? Miss someone?" I looked at them with a smirk on my face. "Sugar, I would not be smirking if I had Mercurymon behind me." Ranamon's said. "Mirror Offset!" I jumped into the air before Mercuymon's beam of light could hit me. I smiled at their surprised expressions, they expected me to be ignorant of their powers, but my memories of their training sessions were still strong. I knew that I was pushing my luck, trying to fight them all on my own, but I would have to try. "Heaven's Wave!" My dark angels attacked them, gathering them in one place.
"Guys, lend me your power." I looked at Koji and nodded, telling him that I was going to use my best attack. They all nodded and an aura of power built up, then came into my body. I gasped at the power filling my body; it hurt to have so much strength, so I let it go, "Darkness Charge!" The energy flew out of me in a swirling mass of swirling light and darkness. I fell to the floor in exhaustion. The attack hit, but Mercurymon gathered up most of the energy in his mirror shield, "Dark Reflection!" My attack shot back out at me, but I was too weak to dodge it. I flew back, and my body dug into the wall at least a foot. I fainted.
I awoke to the sound of Seraphimon yelling, "Strike of the Seven Stars!" Suddenly, Mercurymon appeared in front of the attack and absorbed the attack into his mirror, "Dark Reflection!" He shot it back out at Seraphimon. The attack hit him right on, making his fractal code appear around him. "To the victor go the spoils." Mercurymon said as he collected the fractal code into his mirror. Seraphimon's form turned into a digi-egg. "No!" I yelled and jumped from the wall, only to fall on my knees and back into a human. "Seraphimon turned into a digi-egg!" Agunimon said, stating the obvious. "How ironic, Seraphimon sought to defeat Cherubimon, but now his fractal code shall be used for our ends." Mercurymon smirked. "No, it can't be! The hope of the digital world is gone." Sorcermon said. "No it's not!" Zoe yelled as she jumped up and grabbed the egg. "Maybe we can bring him back if we have his egg, right Sorcermon?" "Yes, we must protect that egg at all costs!" Sorcermon ordered. "Oh, thou shan't get far." Mercurymon said. "If we can get the egg to Ophanimon, she may be able to revive Seraphimon." Sorcermon said.
We were backed against the wall, I had no strength to make a break for it, and I knew that everyone else was tired too. Suddenly, the wall behind us shattered and we started running out of the room through a door that was behind the crystal. I ran as fast as I could, but I was still at the back of the line. I knew that I wouldn't be able to go much farther, but I had to try. Everyone was back to their human form. We were running through a straight corridor. "Quick, this way!" Sorcermon shouted. "Well, duh!" J.P. said. Koji was at the back with me, and when he saw me start to slow down, he grabbed my hand and pulled me faster. There was an explosion from where we came from. "Me coming get you!" Grumblemon said as he raced towards us with Ranamon and Arbormon. We got to the end of the hall to see Sorcermon open a door leading to a tunnel with a Trailmon in it. "Wow, a getaway Trailmon!" J.P. exclaimed. "Thank goodness! Come on, let's go!" Takuya said. We all ran and got on the Trailmon, with Takuya and Koji on the sides, and the rest of us in the back. "Sorcermon, hurry up!" Zoe called back to our friend. "I'm not coming." He replied. "What?" She was shocked. "The egg is all that matters now, I must ensure its safety, now go, there isn't much time!" "You don't stand a chance!" Takuya yelled back at him. "Take care of Seraphimon, he's our last hope." Sorcermon said before closing the door.
"No, we won't leave you!" Tommy yelled as the Trailmon started to move. Tommy started to cry, "Sorcermon!" "Tommy, that isn't helping anyone!" Zoe said sharply. Tommy stopped crying. I patted his back, "You have to be strong, Tommy. Sorcermon is trusting us to save the world." He nodded and sat up straight. "I can't believe this is all that's left of Seraphimon." Zoe was huddled around the egg. "I'm never going to let this go." "That egg may be the most important thing in the digital world right now, it's its last hope. So all of Cherubimon's forces will be gunning for it, but no matter what happens we've got to protect it. We can't let Sorcermon's sacrifice be in vain. I hate to say this, but it's up to us now guys." Takuya said.
A/N: I'm not really satisfied with this chapter, but the next one should be better, I hope. Please review. :)