A/N: Yay, two chapters in one weekend! I have been planning this chapter for a while now, so be prepared. Thanks to Crystal-Wolf-Guardain-967 for reviewing my last chapter. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, and I probably never will, *sigh*
The Warrior of Hope
Chapter 17
From Dawn to Duskmon
We sat on a Trailmon, headed for the Rose Morning Star. I was sitting across from Koji, while everyone else was on the other side of the aisle.
"Check it out, the Rose Morning Star's got to be close now." Takuya said, leaning out the window.
Tommy, Zoe, and J.P. all joined him at the window.
"But, it's midday, are the clouds supposed to be that dark?" Zoe asked.
I looked out my window and saw that the clouds ahead were dark shades of purple and black.
"Uh, hey Bokomon, what does the book have to say about this area?" Tommy asked.
"Let's see, I haven't found anything that-" He screamed as we slowed down, sending me flying from my seat onto Koji's lap.
"Why, hello there." Koji smiled at me.
I blushed and rolled my eyes as I stood up.
"Alright, who was the nimrod who slammed on the brakes?" J.P. asked.
"That'd be me, blue boy. End of the line." The Trailmon replied.
We all looked out our windows and found that we were still quite a ways from our destination.
"That can't be right, we're in the middle of nowhere." Zoe said.
"It looks like the tracks don't stop for miles." Koji said.
"How observant of you, look if I say it's the end of the line, it's the end of the line. Go on, get out, get lost." Trailmon said.
"Koji, how did you ever race with this guy?" J.P. asked.
"You can't do this, we have digirail passes." Zoe said.
"Yeah, yeah, write it down, you'll sell millions. Look, you want to go? Then go, I'm not stopping you. And I wish you the best of luck." The Trailmon said as he opened his side and tilted the seat so that we all dropped to the ground.
"I'm going to have to admit, I've been dumped before, but never quite like that." J.P. said.
"So, everyone in one piece?" Takuya asked.
"Yeah." Tommy said.
"Aren't there any normal Trailmon?" Zoe asked.
"I think I popped a waistband." Neemon said.
Koji helped me up and we brushed ourselves off.
"Bokomon?" Takuya asked.
"Welcome to the Dark Gate." Bokomon said. "That temple-like structure behind you is the Dark Gate. Through it lies the Continent of Darkness."
"Why do I get the feeling that's not a good thing?" J.P. asked.
"Is it as bad as it sounds?" Zoe asked.
"I wish I could tell you, but to be honest, I have no idea what awaits us there. It's an eerie land shrouded with utter darkness. But, the dangers that it holds are as legendary as its mysteries." Bokomon said.
"There's got to be something written in the book about it." J.P. said.
"Well, let's take a look, shall we? Continent of Darkness, chapter 12." Bokomon opened the book, showing us a black page.
"Wow, it's pitch black." Takuya said.
"How come?" Tommy asked.
"It appears that there's really no first-hand information on this place. Many a brave digimon have ventured within, but it seems none of them have ever returned to tell of its secrets. Only the foolhardy would dare enter the Continent of Darkness. We'll have to find another route to the Rose Morning Star." Bokomon said darkly.
"But, the shortest route is straight ahead. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?" Takuya asked.
Bokomon looked at him with surprise.
"Uh, I think we should take a vote." J.P. said.
"Agreed." Bokomon said.
"You know, when all of us work as a team, we've overcome some pretty tough stuff, so what's the point in backing off here and giving up?" Takuya asked.
"Yeah, and if something major happens, we can just spirit evolve." J.P. said.
"There isn't any trouble that we can't handle." Tommy said.
"Exactly, we're the six legendary warriors, and we stopped Grumblemon, and that guy was no push over." Zoe said.
"You guys know I'm in." Koji said.
"I'm not afraid of this Continent of Darkness, we have strength in numbers. Besides, if we were the first humans to transform into digimon, then we can be the first to survive this place." I said.
"Well, we took a vote, motion carry, move out!" Takuya said.
We all started walking.
I stared at the clouds, full of confidence in our ability. I could hear thunder, but that didn't scare me, not with J.P., Legendary Warrior of Thunder walking right behind me. We walked through the gate and followed the tracks.
The sounds of the forest surrounded us, causing the others to get uneasy. Koji grabbed my hand, thinking that I was also nervous, but I just smiled at him. I wasn't afraid of the forest, I had been all around the world. I lived in the mountains while I was in Utah.
"I'm wondering, do you think digimon could somehow end up being ghosts?" Tommy asked.
"What kind of question is that? Next you'll start telling ghost stories." Zoe said.
"It was a dark and stormy night, luckily, there was this terrific guy there waiting to come to your rescue." J.P. joked.
"Give me a break." Zoe said.
The wind started blowing through the trees, scaring Zoe, Tommy, Bokomon, and Neemon. They each latched onto somebody. Tommy grabbed Takuya, Zoe grabbed Koji, Neemon grabbed a tree, and Bokomon grabbed J.P.
"Tommy, it's just the wind." Takuya said.
"Hey Zoe, don't you recognize your own element?" I asked, annoyed that she was clinging to my boyfriend.
"Oh, um sorry about that." Zoe backed off.
"No problem." Koji's expression was shocked.
When Bokomon grabbed onto J.P., he tripped him, "Stop acting like my aunt Mabel's dog!" J.P. said.
"Aunt Mabel's dog would have turned tail and gone by now!" Bokomon yelled.
"We're not going back, we've all been walking for hours." Takuya said.
"Let's walk back a few hours, and then we can all get ourselves out of this poor excuse for a dark closet once and for all." Bokomon said.
"H-hey guys, something's glowing." Tommy pointed down the tracks to where something was, indeed glowing.
"I wonder what it is." I said.
"Fireflies?" J.P. suggested.
"Maybe there's a town up ahead." Koji said.
"Come on, let's check it out." Takuya said.
We walked down the tracks, toward the light. As we got closer, we all started to jog.
"Wow, look at that." Takuya said when he was the first to arrive.
I looked past him and saw glowing green moss.
"That moss is actually glowing. I wonder if it's safe to touch." Koji said.
"Let's see, sure is. We can use it to light our way!" J.P. picked some up.
We all picked some up and started walking. We were no longer on the tracks, just on bare dirt.
"Wow, this stuff works great." Tommy said.
"Look, it's a cave!" J.P. said.
The cave's walls were smooth and round.
"It's almost to perfect, like it was cut out by someone." Zoe said.
"Or dug out by something." Tommy said.
"Hey, anybody in there?" Takuya called.
"Guess not." Zoe said.
Bokomon started screaming and we all looked at him.
"Bokomon, what is it?" Takuya asked.
"I feel like this place is a ghost cavern, full of evil, ectoplasmic digi-spirits. I knew I should have stayed behind, but did I listen to myself? No." Bokomon said.
There was some rustling in the trees behind us, "Did you guys see that?" Tommy asked.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" Takuya yelled.
"Who's there? Show yourself!" A high voice came back, mocking him.
"What are you, a parrot?" J.P. asked.
"What are you, a parrot?" The voice replied, and then echoed.
"Knock it off!" Tommy said.
"Knock it off!" The voice echoed.
Bokomon cried, "They'll mock us until we go insane! We're doomed, doomed I tell you!"
"Hey, I know. Beetles battle better in water!" Zoe yelled.
"Beetles battle better in water!" The voice said.
"Just as I thought." Zoe said.
"That's great, you want to clue us in?" Takuya asked.
"They're repeating what we say, so let's confuse them with tongue twisters." Zoe said.
"Okay. Six sick bricks might bring back a snack!" Takuya yelled.
"Six sick bricks might bring back a snack!" The voice said.
"Peter Piper poked and picked a pack of pickled peppers!" Tommy yelled.
"Peter Piper poked and picked a pack of pickled peppers!" The voice said.
"Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore!" I yelled.
"Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore!" The voice said.
"Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, tyo, ugh!" J.P. said.
"Toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, toy boat, tyo, ugh!" The voice repeated.
"It's no use, we can't trip them up." Tommy said.
"Oh yeah?" Koji threw a part of his moss at the trees, causing them to glow. It revealed some bat-like digimon hanging upside down on a branch.
"My goodness, those are Pipismon. They're mutant digimon whose power is greatest in the dark. They can reflect sound back exactly as it's heard." Bokomon said.
The Pipismon flew into the cave and hung onto the ceiling.
We walked in and stood below them.
"These cave-dwelling digimon are really rather gentle, even if they are a bit scary looking." Bokomon said.
"Well, just between us, I think they're kind of cute." Zoe said.
"I think they're kind of cute." The Pipismon echoed.
"I'm amazed to find peaceful digimon in such a dark place." Bokomon said.
"So, I guess it turns out you're glad you came." Takuya said.
"What?" Bokomon asked.
"You just learned something. If you hadn't come, you'd never had learned about this. It's good that you took a risk." Takuya said.
"If you're not sure about something, there's really only one way to find out. That's to take a risk and experience it for yourself." Koji said.
"Well, bless my buttons, you're right." Bokomon said.
Bless my buttons, I mouthed, but then just shrugged, I would never figure out the expressions of these digimon.
"Why don't you write it down in the book? You'll be the first digimon to chronicle the Continent of Darkness. You'll be famous." Takuya said.
"Well, I…really?" Bokomon asked.
"Sure, and since you're writing about digimon, maybe you could write about us. The true adventures of the legendary warriors. You can say how I controlled my beast spirit." Zoe suggested.
"I'd like to be mentioned. You can write about my cool hat!" Tommy said.
"And mention how fearless I am!" J.P. said.
"I wouldn't mind you writing about how I earned my tiara." I said.
"Alright, I'll do it! Today I'll begin the greatest novel of all time, The Legendary Warriors and the Continent of Darkness!" Bokomon said.
"So, will you write about me as well?" Neemon asked.
"Oh, I think not!" Bokomon snapped Neemon's waistband.
We all laughed.
"Well, a great novelist needs great material, so let's continue our journey into the unknown." Bokomon said.
"Sounds great." Takuya said.
"Let's go!" We all said together.
A tree fell down in front of us, blocking our vision.
"You's journey is about to be cut short, right." A voice came out of the dirt.
"Oh yeah, says who?" Takuya asked.
"Take a guess!" Arbormon jumped over the fallen tree.
"Not Arbormon again!" Bokomon yelled.
"Good guess. Power Pummel!" Arbormon hit all the Pipismon with his extended arms and legs. He then took their fractal codes, "Oh yeah, feel the power, baby!"
Zoe gasped and Tommy said, "No way!"
"That was an appetizer; you kids are the main course! Arbormon, Slide Evolution! Petaldramon!" Petaldramon ran at us, but ended up hitting the cave. He ran through the forest, knocking down everything that got in his way.
"Right, let's do it!" Takuya said.
"Execute, Beast Spirit Evolution!" We all said at once.
"BurningGreymon!"
"KendoGarurumon!"
"Gatowomon!"
"MetalKabuterimon!"
"Zephyrmon!"
"Korikakumon!"
"You know what I think? It's petal pulling time!" MetalKabuterimon said.
Petaldramon lashed out at us with his tongue, but we dodged and he picked up a tree instead. He ate it.
"Man, talk about getting fiber in your diet." BurningGreymon said.
Petaldramon grew bigger and bigger.
"It looks like Petaldramon is growing into a king-sized pest!" Bokomon said.
"He's cool!" Neemon said.
"He is not cool!" Bokomon snapped.
"Yo, eating good makes you grow up big and strong, right?" Petaldramon said.
"Right, Bolo Thunder!" MetalKabuterimon attacked Petaldramon, hitting him in the arm. Unfortunately, it healed almost right away.
"My turn." Petaldramon ran at MetalKabuterimon.
"Oh, boy." MetalKabuterimon said.
"Pyro Barrage!" Burning Greymon shot at him.
"Plasma Paws!" Zephyrmon attacked.
"Come here!" Petaldramon wrapped his tongue around her.
"Howling Star!" KendoGarurumon cut off Petaldramon's tongue before he could eat Zephyrmon.
"Cat Claw!" I slashed at Petaldramon's face.
He hit KendoGarurumon, Zephyrmon, and me away.
"Frozen Arrowheads!" Korikakumon wrapped his arrowheads around Petaldramon's head, but he just swung him around and into the ground.
"Thorn Jab!" Petaldramon pushed his tail into the ground and it came out and surrounded all of us except for BurningGreymon. "Leaf Cyclone!"
"Hang on, guys! Wildfire Tsunami!" BurningGreymon yelled.
The two attacks met in the middle, but the Leaf Cyclone won, sending us flying.
"Giving beast spirits to you puny humans is like giving soap to pigs, so why don't you just do yourselves a favor and hand them over?" Petaldramon asked.
BurningGreymon struggled, "Never! If you want these spirits, then you're going to have to come here, and take them!"
"Right." Petaldramon's petals started turning.
"Lupine Laser!"
"Midnight Eyes!" Our two lasers hit him before he could power up his attack.
Korikakumon grabbed his leg.
"Neutron Cannon!" MetalKabuterimon hit his tail.
Korikakumon lifted him up, and then dropped him on the ground.
"Wildfire Tsunami!"
"Hurricane Gale!" The two attacks mixed together before hitting Petaldramon.
Petaldramon's fractal code appeared as he groaned in pain.
"KendoGarurumon, Slide Evolution! Lobomon! Petaldramon, it's kindling time. Fractal code, digitize!" Lobomon took Petaldramon's beast spirit, turning him back into Arbormon.
"Lobomon did it!" Bokomon cheered.
"Now he's cool!" Neemon exclaimed.
"Arbormon, now will you give up attacking us?" BurningGreymon asked.
"Well, uh…" Arbormon started.
"Yes, he will." A dark figure came out of the forest. He had black armor with eyeballs all over. He had skulls instead of hands and a skull mask with three eyeholes. He had long blond hair.
"Duskmon." Arbormon said.
"Who is that?" Zephyrmon asked the question that we were all thinking.
"Well, here comes the cavalry, a friend in need's a friend in need, right?" Arbormon said.
"Wrong, with your beast spirit gone, there's really no use for you now, is there?" A sword came out of his left "hand" and he raised it. He slashed at Arbormon from twenty feet away, yet still managed to cut him down.
"Yesterday's ally is today's enemy!" Arbormon screamed.
We all stared as this new enemy took our old enemy's fractal code.
I swallowed, this was going to be a very hard battle.
"Who is this guy?" BurningGreymon asked.
He laughed evilly, "I am Duskmon, Legendary Warrior of Darkness."
I gasped, "That can't be." I whispered.
Lobomon shot me a confused expression, but I just shook my head. The Legendary Warrior of Darkness was supposed to be Loweemon, not Duskmon. Who was this guy? And what happened to Loweemon?
"You have done well against my brethren; let's see how strong you really are. Show me your power." Duskmon swung his sword at us, but we dodged. We looked at the trail in the dirt that the sword had made.
"All he did was swing his sword!" Korikakumon said.
"I've got a bad feeling about this." Zephyrmon said.
"Come on, there's only one of him. If we defeated Grumblemon and Petaldramon, then laughing boy over there should be a piece of cake. Remember, we're legendary warriors." BurningGreymon said.
"Right." MetalKabuterimon said.
"There's no way we can lose!" BurningGreymon said as he rushed at Duskmon.
"Bolo Thunder!" MetalKabuterimon shot at Duskmon.
While the dust was up in the air, I snuck around the back for a surprise attack after BurningGreymon attacked. I could hear him laughing.
"Laugh at this!" I heard BurningGreymon yell.
The fog cleared when Duskmon threw BurningGreymon out of his way.
"Takuya!" Everyone gathered around him, but I stayed hidden.
"You are weaker than I thought. I should at least give you the chance to surrender." Duskmon said.
"You can give it, but we won't take it." Lobomon replied.
"You are proving to be very foolish creatures." Duskmon said.
"J.P., Tommy, switch to your human spirits." Lobomon ordered.
"Right, Slide Evolution!" The changed into Beetlemon and Kumamon.
"Let's go!" Lobomon said.
"Lobo Kendo!" Lobomon attacked with his sword, but Duskmon easily blocked it.
"Each of your attacks seems to get weaker, not stronger." Duskmon said. That's when I noticed that the eyes on his body weren't even looking at the others, they were looking at me. Staring straight at me, as if he wasn't fighting anyone else at the moment. I shuddered. His eyes hungrily stared at my body. He was just toying with the others as they attacked, and it scared me to death.
I shook it off; I had to help the others. His back was turned to me because of Lobomon's attack. "Cat Claw!" I slashed at his back, barely leaving a scratch on his thick armor. He pushed Lobomon off him and slashed at me with his sword, which I did a back flip to avoid.
He laughed, this time even more evilly than before. It made even the beast inside me want to run and hide. "You can't run forever, Princess." He mocked.
I hissed at him, nobody gets to call me that, except Koji, unless they were using it as my title, which Duskmon obviously wasn't.
He sent a quick attack at the others, clouding our vision with dust. He then snapped his fingers. I sensed someone approaching me from behind, but before I could turn, my arms were grabbed from behind and I was being pulled back, towards the woods. If they accomplished their goal, then my friends would never know what happened to me. I looked behind me to my right and saw Ranamon, to my left was Mercurymon.
I dug my shoes into the ground, but they only pulled at my arms harder. I put my whole body weight into leaning forward. Soon, they were pulling as hard as they could. I knew that my body was going to give very soon, so I put all my strength into pushing forward, then let go. This caught them off guard, and they let go. I saw that I was headed straight for a tree, so I twisted my body so that my feet were the first things to hit the tree. I bent my legs with my landing and launched myself back at Ranamon and Mercurymon.
"Cat Claw!" I slashed at both of them. I hit Ranamon in the face and Mercurymon in the shoulder. They both cried out in pain. The ground was approaching fast, so I pushed off with my front paws and flipped so that my feet landed on the ground. My momentum was so high that I left skid marks in the dirt.
"Jade!" Lobomon called when he heard me yell my attack. I could hear his feet pounding as they ran through the dust.
"Get her out of here!" Duskmon yelled.
"Fine, Drainin' Rain!" Ranamon sent the attack over me, swiftly draining my energy.
"No fair." I complained as I fell to the ground.
Mercurymon threw me over his shoulder and started running, with Ranamon behind us.
"Jade!" Lobomon yelled when he saw them running away with me.
"You shouldn't be focusing on them; you should be focusing on me!" Duskmon said as he flew up into the air and focused his eyes on Lobomon. "Deadly Gaze!" Red lasers shot out of his eyes and knocked my friends back.
"Lobomon!" I yelled, but my energy was so far gone that I turned back into a human and drifted into unconsciousness.
A/N: Rika's voice:"Where are they taking Jade, and what do they want with her? Find out next time on The Warrior of Hope!"
Me: Okay, what did you think? I thought that it was pretty good, but I'm biased. I worked really hard on this, so I really want to know your oppinion of it, so please review. :)