I don't own Digimon.

Well guys, I don't really have a reason for why it took so long to update this story. At first it was because my old laptop died and I lost everything that I had written in advance. And because of that I lost my will to continue writing. But eventually I began to write again as I got into a new fandom, The Loud House. I actually started to write a crossover of sorts that involves the Loud House characters getting transported to the Digital World. If any of you wish to, please give it a read. I think I've done a good job on it.

I honestly had no plans to continue this story. I had felt defeated after the loss of everything and I wanted to simply forget it existed. But I also couldn't just abandon it. I know that it seems like I did but it just took me a while to find the will to continue it. My other story, The Digi-Loud Adventure has reignited my will to write this story and I've been slowly trying to piece together what I had planned for this story. It will be different from what I had originally planned but I am planning on continuing it. Updates will be slow since my main focus is DLA and my other story, Too Many Dates. But I am continuing this story and if you'll be patient with me, I hope that you'll give it another chance.

Well I hope that you enjoy this long awaited chapter.

Once A Leader

Chapter 42: Enter The Dark Area

Gennai looked down at the valley below as he wondered if perhaps this was the right move. They were in the continent of WWW at the ruins of what used to be the temple of judgment. Two days after the DigiDestined had left his house after the news that the Sovereign had lost faith in them, Gennai received word that Piedmon was marching his army into the Dark Area. He quickly ordered his forces to evacuate the ruins and to allow Piedmon to enter. According to his spy, Piedmon was going to talk to GranDracmon and there was a chance that they would come to blows.

GranDracmon was probably one of the only Digimon alive that could pose a threat to Piedmon. Even the Royal Knights never dared to face such a powerful Digimon. The Seven Demon Lords, as powerful as they all were, were afraid to challenge GranDracmon and thus always left his territories alone. Only Piedmon ever dared oppose him and their clash almost destroyed the Digital World. It was rumored that GranDracmon's power rivaled that of Apocalymon and if that were true then Gennai feared what would happen if he ever decided to leave his castle in the Dark Area.

"Gennai, are you sure that this is the best course of action?" Leomon asked him.

"There is much that I am uncertain of in these times, my friend." Gennai said as he turned to face his friend. "But if we allow Piedmon to face GranDracmon then there is a chance that they will destroy one another. We can only hope that the Digital World will survive such a battle."

"But what if he doesn't fight GranDracmon?" Leomon asked. "What if GranDracmon joins him?"

"Then our impossible battle becomes infinitely more so." Gennai sighed. "Sovereign help us but if that happens then we will need a miracle. A true Miracle."

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Piedmon left the bulk of his small force at the entrance of the Dark Area in order to prevent anyone from passing through. If there were any dark Digimon that were strong enough to maintain their minds in the Dark Area then Lilithmon and Mistymon would put them to the test. If they impressed them then they could join his army. But Piedmon couldn't care less about that, no, he was after a much grander prize.

GranDracmon's castle could be seen in the distance from the entrance of the Dark Area. And it was one of the largest structures known to Digimon kind. GranDracmon was a titanic Digimon easily several hundreds of feet tall when he wanted to be. But when he wasn't in the destroying mood, GranDracmon was about 4 stories tall. Still large but not as massive as he normally was.

Piedmon made his way towards the castle with three other Digimon at his side. Daemon, BlackWarGreymon, and Samudramon were accompanying him as his bodyguards just in case the guards wouldn't let him through. But to his surprise, when they did arrive at the gates, a Myotismon was waiting for him.

"My Master has been awaiting your arrival, Lord Piedmon." The Myotismon said as he gave him a respectful bow.

The castle towered over them a small mountain in the background as Piemdon took it all in. The gates were made out of an obsidian like metal and the stone walls were as dark as the blackest night. But while the black metal gleamed in the firelight, the black stone seemed to absorb light into them. Large trees adjourned the path that led towards the castle and as they followed the Myotismon, Piedmon could see that GranDracmon's forces lurked in the shadows. In terms of numbers, GranDracmon had more than enough Digimon to rule the Digiworld if he wanted to. But for some reason the vampiric Digimon chose to stay cooped up in his castle.

It didn't take them very long to reach the massive front doors that made up the entrance of the castle. The castle looked like your typical medieval castle only a hundred times bigger. The doors were easily large enough for a MetalGreymon to walk in without an issue. And once they crossed the threshold of the castle, a deep rich crimson carpet covered the floor of the entrance chamber. Large fireplaces lined the walls in order to give enough light to be able to see though Piedmon suspected that they were only there for his benefit since he knew that Vampire type Digimon could see in the dark.

Once they reached what they assumed was the throne room, Myotismon turned around to face them and he gave Piedmon another bow. "My Master will see you now, Lord Piedmon."

"Why thank you, my good fellow!" Piedmon said as he returned the slight bow. He then made his way forward and with a wave of his hand, he spelled the doors to open with flourish as he entered. "Dracy! I'm home!"

The chamber of the Throne Room was massive with large pillars that adorned the path leading up to the throne and also helped support the massive ceiling. The entire chamber was lit up by the same large fireplaces that adorned the walls as well as hanging chandeliers with entire tree trunk like candles that had a roaring flame burning at their peak. And standing at the end of the chamber, towering over them all was the massive form of GranDracmon.

GranDracmon was considered to be the the oldest and most powerful living thing in the Dark Area and among the oldest living Digimon in the entire Digital World. His power was such that even at their peak the Seven Demon Lords never dared to interfere with his territories. And the only Digimon insane enough to ever challenge GranDracmon was coming back to visit him. Their last encounter had almost destroyed the Digital World, tearing the very fabric of reality from their titanic clash. And even then, they had yet to push each other to their limits. If there was a Digimon that Piedmon believed could be a threat to him, GranDracmon would be at the top of a very short list.

The Vampiric Lord turned his gaze towards his visitors, the maws attached to his sides on his lower half of his body growled as they approached. "What is it that you want, Piedmon?" Cam the elegantly smooth voice of GranDracmon. He sounded gentlemanly and refined, similar to that of royalty.

"Is that anyway to greet an old friend?" Piedmon asked as he pretended that his feelings had been hurt.

"You are neither an ally nor a friend. I offer you this last chance to state your business before I have you escorted out." GranDracmon warned him. And from the shadows, they could all see various shadows begin to move closer to their location.

"You're no fun." Piedmon pouted. He then conjured a chair for him to sit down on as an obvious sign that he would not be leaving anytime soon. He looked up at the glaring eyes of his old foe and smiled. "I've come here for information. You are far older than I am, almost as old as my former master. You can still remember the time before the DigiDestined, before I ever came to be. You know about the legend of the Victory Tamer."

As GranDracmon listened to Piedmon speak, he showed no outward reaction until he heard that last part. "What is it that you wish to know?" He asked carefully.

"I want to know how he got his power, where it came from." Piedmon said as he began to draw symbols in the air with magic. "The DigiDestined's crests were made using the powers of the Sovereign, 9 crests from the four of them. But the tenth Crest, the Crest of Miracles existed far before the Sovereign ever existed. It existed in the time of the ancient Digital World where chaos truly reigned supreme. Back when Imperialdramon created and formed the Royal Knights in order to protect the Digital World. The first Mangamon held the power of Miracles and he passed it on to his successor and so on. That power has been passed over for countless years until it was lost when I destroyed Mangamon as he tried and failed to protect the Veemon. I wiped them all out and with it, the power of Miracles was supposed to be lost forever. But it seems that I missed one since a Veemon survived my mass genocide and the power of Miracles was reborn in him."

Piedmon then waved his hand and the symbols faded away and in their place an image of Davis and Veemon. "These two formed an incredible bond and given time they would've been the second coming of the Victory Tamer." GranDracmon frowned at this. "But fortunately my fellow Dark Master here killed him and stopped him before he could fulfill his destiny."

BlackWarGreymon growled, recalling his battle with the boy and his pet. "They were weak."

"Now, now, BlackWarGreymon, you fought them before they could fully realize their power. If they had been allowed to live, they no doubt would've been a force to behold." Piedmon chided him.

"If you say so." The Control Spire Digimon said with a shrug, clearly not believing the Clown.

"It seems like you already know so much, tell me, what exactly do you want me to tell you?" GranDracmon asked him.

"I want to know who created the power of Miracles." Piedmon said in a rare show of seriousness. "When I stole the power of Light from the girl, that boy was waiting for me. He told me that he would protect her and keep her alive until someone could finally defeat me and they returned the Light to her. I obviously tried to call his bluff but before I could even take a step forward, the power of Miracles radiated off of him. And as much as it pains me to admit, I felt fear for the first time in my life." Piedmon sighed as he leaned his head back against his chair. "The power had a presence to it...vast...ancient...limitless..."

GranDracmon listened to Piedmon's words. He contemplated on what to do and how best to deal with the Digimon before him. GranDracmon held no fear towards Piedmon, only indifference and mild annoyance. If the clown attempted to attack him, GranDracmon was confident that he could come out on top. But as he listened to the Dark Master's words, he began to recall a certain legendary figure that he had fought many years ago before the time of the Sovereign.

"Piedmon...before I tell you what I know, what do you have to offer in return?" GranDracmon asked him.

Piedmon returned his attention towards the larger Digimon and gave him a mischievous grin. "You mean aside from sparing your life?"

"If you were confident that you could defeat me, you wouldn't have bothered with pleasantries." GranDracmon told him. "Now what do you have to offer me? And be warned, my patience grows thin."

Power began to radiate from the massive vampiric Digimon and the three Digimon that accompanied Piedmon began to feel on edge. GranDramon's power dwarfed theirs and for the first time, BlackWarGreymon and Samudramon felt like they were powerless. Daemon suppressed his emotions as he felt the titanic power of GranDramon. He had only ever felt a power similar to this from the Clown that was sitting down nonchalantly in the chair before him. If things escalated, Daemon wasn't confident that they would come out alive.

"You really are a downer, you know that?" Piedmon asked him, not seemingly bothered by the display of power. He then waved his hands and a single orb appeared and hovered in front of Piedmon. "I offer you one of the Seven Demon Keys for you to do as you wish."

GranDramon growled as he eyed the floating orb. "You DARE bring that thing here!?" He demanded, the castle shaking from his fury.

"Are you really surprised by what I dare to do anymore?" Piedmon asked, rising from his chair. He kept his smile on his face but he readied himself for a fight. "I'm offering it to you because I don't need it. At least not yet."

"If you hand that key over to me, you will never again see it." GranDracmon warned him, still radiating massive amounts of killer intent.

"If you say so." Piedmon said with a shrug. "So do we have a deal?"

Everyone waited with bated breath as they watched the two powerful titans stare each other down. It was hard to draw breath and almost everyone was covered in cold sweat. And as Daemon looked on, he hated the fact that he wanted to run away.

End of chapter.