Ominous Flame

Chapter 19

Author Notes: We nearly reached twenty chapters...wow that's crazy. And to think I still have a ton more chapters to go(i haven't finished typing this story up but yikes lol) Welp, it's time to get things rolling. I do not own Digimon.

3rd P.O.V

The train ride was a quiet, somber one. Everyone was lost in their thoughts, mentally licking their wounds as they struggled relaxing. Koichi found himself sighing as he took a glance at each of his companions. Neemon was being Neemon, humming a little tune to himself as he sat at the edge of the train.

Not concerned now that the danger has temporarily passed. Normally Bokomon would be pissed off over such behavior his fellow digimon displayed, but he was preoccupied. After...everything Bokomon took possession of was what could be considered the most important thing in the Digital World.

An egg. Protecting and interacting with it like any good mother would. The image should've been hilarious, everyone should've been teasing the daylights out of the serious digimon. But...sadly that wasn't the case. Nothing was ok right now.

'Welcome back Lord Seraphimon!' So this was the reason why Ophanimon had told all of them to go to the Forest Terminal. Their answers lied hidden away deep within the Crystal castle Sorcerermon was protecting.

Inside laid Seraphimon, one of the Trio of Celestial Digimon, and an enemy to Cherubimon. 'Thank you my friend. It seems quite a bit of time has passed. What has happened?' With a captivated audience, the magician brings everyone up to speed.

From Seraphimon's comatose state to Ophanimon's disappearance, he told both his master and the legendary warriors(something the Celestial was surprised to find out) the current, decaying state of the Digital World. Whatever missing pieces from Takuya's story was filled within a matter of moments.

'I see...' It was a grave matter. 'There has to be something we can do.' But there was still hope. If all of them combined forces, they stood a chance against Cherubimon and his minions. They could save Ophanimon.

They could restore the world and bring peace. 'You were all brave, and I will be forever grateful for your assistance, but I have a request for you.' Six pairs of bright eyes turn to the blue armored digimon, eager.

Koichi wasn't too sure what they could do, but whatever it was, they would try their best. 'Leave this world. Return to your homes.' However, none of them expected that. 'What?! Why?!' Takuya especially was shocked, before clutching his hands in anger.

A feeling all of them felt. 'This war is a matter between digimon. And all of you are only children, I wish to spare you from such needless danger.' It was clear that the celestial warrior had meant no offense. That he was only concerned for their safety.

But no matter what way he voiced it, no one was happy with it. In fact, that request didn't sit well with any of them. 'It's a bit too late for that don't you think?!' Koji was(of course) the first to lash out.

'Yeah! We've been here for a least couple months now. Fighting Cherubimon's allies and any rampaging digimon. You can't just tell us what to do after we're already getting invested in this!' Zoe was the next to speak out.

It was way too late for them to back out. 'She's right-we didn't ask to be brought here! And in case you didn't hear, we can transform into the Legendary Warriors. We ARE digimon.' There was no way they would just up and listen to him.

Especially when there was so much at stake. 'The way I'm seeing it, you need us to help you fight. Just like how you needed us to wake you up.' JP wouldn't hesitate to deliver a low blow if it meant Seraphimon to change his mind.

But...it was Takuya's statement that left the pair of battle worn digimon startled into silence. 'Even if we wanted to...some of us Can't. And no matter what Cherubimon CAN'T win. No matter what i'm staying.'

He had promised Ophanimon that he would stop them...and even if he didn't, he couldn't forgive what had happened to him. All the casualties he caused, all the mindless destruction that he was forced to do. Those were sins that Takuya would make him pay for.

'Wha-' There was more to say. Far more but before the argument could go any deeper the ground began to shake. 'What the?!' A deep foreboding sensation overtook the group as this felt familiar. Takuya had a sick feeling in his stomach.

He knew...they were here. 'Payback time!' Just like Takuya thought, Grumblemon had indeed returned...with friends of his own. Ranamon, Mercurymon, Arbormon, digimon that though they were warned about far ahead of time, they weren't prepared to face.

They should've won, especially with Seraphimon by their side. But, they didn't. They didn't have the chance to digivolve before Ranamon attacked them with her Draining Rain spell. Weakening them. Leaving Seraphimon and Sorcermon to try and protect them from the onslaught.

And things took a turn for the worse when Mercurymon bounced Seraphimon's attack right back at him, reverting him into a digi-egg. It took Sorcermon sacrificing himself for them to escape. Forced to flee with their tails between their legs.

'The future of the Digital World is up to you!'

Overall JP and Zoe didn't look too bad. Neither of them had really sustained any injuries in their last fight. However both wore sour expressions, absolutely irritated with how things transpired. And his brother was especially looking frustrated, even more than he usually does.

His fingers clenching the safety ring above his head, as if he were trying to crush the metal in his grip. Then there was poor Tommy, as expected he took it the hardest, unable to stop the tears from falling down his cheeks.

Constantly shifting his gaze from Bokomon and Takuya, thankfully using the breathing exercises that his surrogate brother figure has been teaching him to try and calm down. Which led him to his final friend. Takuya who in their haste to run away gripped onto the outside bars of the Trailmon they were riding.

He hasn't moved an inch since, his expression full of regret, hatred and though hard to see...fear. "Takuya? Why don't you come in?" He had been hanging on for ages now, he had to be in pain. Especially since both he and Tommy took some bad hits during the battle while trying to escape.

"I'm alright Koichi...someone has to keep a lookout. May as well be me." Takuya gave him a smile, but...it didn't reassure the dark warrior at all. He wasn't fine. None of this was fine. "Takuya." Lately Koichi has been very careful to take note of his friend's expressions.

Since the beginning the younger twin has wanted to get to know him, and he wants to say he's gotten to the point where he knows the upbeat brunette pretty well. But the latest set of incidents that have occurred destroyed that sense of confidence.

Finding out the secrets he had, the burdens he's had to bare, even the nights where he would hear him exhale a quiet, frantic gasp before getting up to switch places with whoever was on night watch(usually Koichi himself surprisingly enough) showed that there was far more to him than meets the eye.

And that was concerning. "Takuya...please. I know you're exhausted. I'd rather you not fall." Though if there was one thing to really take into account, is the brunette's desire to overdo things.

So it was a bit of a relief seeing him sigh before heeding Koichi's request. "Alright, you win." With careful movements, he makes his way back into the trailmon's interior. Grabbing onto Koichi's outstretched hand.

At that the dark warrior follows his gaze, seeing all their friends in the same positions they were in before. "They'll be following us." There was no doubt that the Cherubimon's forces were on their way.

"That egg is probably the most important thing in this whole world. No matter what, we can't give up and let it get destroyed. We got a lot of work ahead of us..." Though those red-tinted eyes showed signs of fatigue, there was hope in them.

Something Koichi was relieved to see. "Where do we start? Ophanimon hasn't contacted us, there's no destination for us to go to." Now that wasn't exactly true. "For now...let's just follow the end of the railroad." There was no way to know where they'll go or what's going to happen.

But Takuya refused to give up, he couldn't afford to. "The further we travel, the stronger we'll get-and eventually...we'll be able to take down Cherubimon once and for all." Koichi huffed, amazed. Here he was trying to cheer up the fire wielder...when instead it wasn't needed.

If anything, it was Takuya who reassured him. He couldn't be surprised at this point.

to be continued

Author Notes: Yeahhhh I wasn't in the mood to go into a serious chapter detailing the fight and episode...but I think this is good enough lol. We got some backstory, we got the baddies involved and Seraphimon is still an egg.

Big fun. I promise next time will be on a somewhat lighter note. But that is it for the moment. Thank you everyone for reading my story. Please feel free to fav/follow/review if you like this story as it means so much to me. Tchao for now.