A/N: Hi everybody, I'm The Food Dude, and this is my first Digimon fanfiction I've ever done, as well as the first story I've ever written to be posted online. This idea's been brewing in my mind for a while, and I hope you guys enjoy it! Before I begin, though, credit needs to be given in some places.
I would like to thank Zero Unit RGB for inspiring me with the ages of the Chosen from his fic, Children of the Present.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or its characters.
Yoshino, Megumi, Miki - 22
Joe - 19
Tai, Sora, Matt, Marcus, Thomas, Mikey, Christopher, Nene, Jeremy - 18
Izzy, Mimi, Angie, Ewan, Tagiru, Ryouma, Ren, Airu, Hideaki - 17
Yolei, Ryo, JP - 16
TK, Kari, Davis, Ken, Takato, Henry, Rika, Kazu, Kenta, Jeri, Takuya, Koji, Zoë, Koichi, Keenan, Kristy - 15
Cody, Tommy - 13
Suzie, Ai, Mako - 10
Anyway, enough of my ramblings. On with the story!
~X~
Chapter 1: Pain, Promise, and Prophecy
Rage. Death. Darkness. The air continued to choke upon. Deletion, inevitable.
Fires blazing high, tainting the night sky bloody. Screams billowing through the smoke, to be repeated by every throat for miles. Chaos ensuing everywhere, and no one was there to stop it. In the far distance, this was watched.
And mourned for.
"The Digital World will not be able to hold on much longer…" the shadowed figure whispered, "…and neither will the Digimon." He didn't voice the full extent of what was on everyone's minds.
"Dynasmon," another silhouette murmured dejectedly. "We all know it won't just be the Digital World that will be destroyed. The Human World will surely be annihilated as well, not to mention all the other universes existing. The whole Multiverse will be obliterated."
"How has it come to this…?" another asked fearfully. "Where have the Chosen Children gone…?"
"I fear that they have been compromised with, Crusadermon," the Digimon named Dynasmon answered. "They are continuing their lives, oblivious to what has happened around them in both worlds." And here he hesitated.
"But I hear a 'but' coming on," Crusadermon persisted.
"However…they do not seem to be at fault for their…ignorance. Their memories of the Digital World, and the adventures that they had with their partners together…have been erased," Dynasmon finished grimly. There was a collective sharp intake of breath from all the assembled Digimon as the news painfully sank in.
"Impossible…" Crusadermon muttered. "All of them? The twelve Chosen…?"
"Yes." Dynasmon hated telling the truth.
"Even the Tamers?"
Dynasmon nodded slowly.
"The Legendary Warriors?"
Another painful nod.
"The Data Squad?"
A nod.
"Even the…Fusion Fighters? And Hunters?"
Dynasmon nodded again, face grim as Craniamon asked, "But there are Chosen all over the world… Even they…?" He couldn't bring himself to finish the question.
"Yes…even them, Craniamon," Dynasmon said. "I hate to be the bearer of such…painful news, but if we are to look for a brighter future in the Multiverse, we must take the knowledge we are given and make a plan of action."
"But there may already be a plan of action to take," a voice said behind them.
And that's when a humanoid figure walked to the front of the group. And took off his hood for everyone to see his familiar face.
"Gennai!" everyone gasped, and started talking over one another.
"Where were you?"
"How did you get here?"
"Did you hear about all the Chosen?"
Gennai simply put a hand up to silence them. "Royal Knights," he began, "indeed, I have heard about the Chosens'…condition. I had just gone to see the four Sovereigns. The news I bring you may be just as excruciating as the news about the Chosen. The Sovereigns…they are dying." This time, no one gasped or made a noise of surprise. All you could see was the grief on their faces, saying their thoughts clearer than any words could have: No, no, no… How?
As if reading their faces, Gennai replied, "They were injured while trying to fight our…" Gennai glanced at the bloody horizon where cries could still be heard, "…gravest enemy yet. They have retreated to Dream Cave. I have come to you because they have asked for your presence. It seems they would like to give their…final words."
All the Royal Knights looked at one another, their faces all reflecting the same expression: grief, and somewhat confusion. Why would the Sovereigns call on them? Seeing as what the Sovereigns wanted with them had to be important, grim-faced, they all nodded at Gennai, who simply turned around and led them on toward Dream Cave. The Royal Knights followed suit.
Not one of them looked back at the battle. Even when they couldn't hear the cries anymore. Because there would be nothing to look back at.
Agumon hated being cooped up. He hated being away from Tai even more. The little cell barely had any room for him to stand, let alone walk. The interior walls of the it were composed of black metal bars, so he could look and see his friends in the other cells, as well as other Digimon he didn't know. But that didn't help him find a way to get out of this thing.
Tai will come, I know he will! He, along with the other Digimon, were in a room…or Agumon couldn't really call it a room because it was mostly a hallway, with row upon row of cells on either side. Not just rows, rows on top of rows, there were so many Digimon! Do all of them have partners, like I do? Agumon thought sadly. Are all of them waiting for their partners to come and rescue them…like I am?
The thing was, he didn't actually know what had happened to Tai. He could only remember those last moments he had had with him—the sacrifice Tai had made, and the promise that came with it. Everything after that was all a blur…but he couldn't shake the feeling that it was all his fault.
"Agumon Warp Digivolve to…WARGREYMON!"
WarGreymon looked to his side to find Gabumon warp digivolving to MetalGarurumon. Tai and Matt nodded to each other as they raised their Digivices to their respective Digimon.
"Let's go, WarGreymon!"
"You know what to do, MetalGarurumon!"
A shining light enveloped the two Digimon. The light of digivolution.
"WarGreymon + MetalGarurumon! DNA Digivolve to…OMNIMON!"
In his merged form with MetalGarurumon, WarGreymon heard the laugh escape from the mouth of their enemy—before he could see the enemy itself. Omnimon drew his Omni Sword…but there was nowhere to hit, no target to aim at. He was barely aware of his friends digivolving and trying to help them. All he was focused on was the darkness surrounding them. And the laugh that seemed to come from within it.
"Biyomon Digivolve to…Birdramon! Birdramon Digivolve to…GARUDAMON!"
"Tentomon Digivolve to…Kabuterimon! Kabuterimon Digivolve to…MEGAKABUTERIMON!"
"Palmon Digivolve to…Togemon! Togemon Digivolve to…LILLYMON!"
"Gomamon Digivolve to…Ikkakumon! Ikkakumon Digivolve to…ZUDOMON!"
"Don't forget us!" a voice that was unmistakably Davis's shouted, as he held out his D-3. "Let's do this, Veemon!" He cast a look at Ken, who simply nodded, holding his own D-3.
"Veemon Digivolve to…EXVEEMON!"
"Wormmon Digivolve to…STINGMON!"
A blinding light encased the two Champion levels.
"ExVeemon + Stingmon! DNA Digivolve to…Paildramon! Paildramon Mega Digivolve to…IMPERIALDRAMON!"
"Us too," said TK. "Let's go, Patamon! Cody?" He looked at the younger boy, who slightly hesitated. He looked at TK, and then Kari, before finally settling his eyes on Yolei.
"If we're fighting against darkness," he said slowly, but his words had a certain firmness to it, "your Ultimate level Digimon are better suited to fighting against darkness since they are Angels." He looked to Yolei for support.
She got the message. "Y-Yes!" She tried again. "Yes, it would work better with your original Ultimate forms!"
Kari still looked unsure, until Yolei took both her hands and rested them on each of Kari's shoulders. "Listen to me. If you're worried about us…" She glanced at Hawkmon and Armadillomon. "…then don't be. Because we'll be right beside you. Right, Hawkmon?" The bird-type Digimon nodded. Kari looked like she was about to say something, when Yolei shoved her forward. "Now GO!" Kari nodded resolutely. "You're right," she said with a grin.
"Alright, Gatomon!" she yelled, just as TK called, "You know what to do, Patamon!"
"Patamon Digivolve to…Angemon! Angemon Digivolve to…MAGNAANGEMON!"
"Gatomon Digivolve to…ANGEWOMON!"
"Hawkmon Digivolve to…AQUILAMON!"
"Armadillomon Digivolve to…ANKYLOMON!"
Meanwhile, in the heart of the battle, Omnimon was struggling. How do I attack an enemy that I can't see? Or rather, he could see it, he just couldn't touch it. Every time his sword hit the dark form surrounding them all, it just went wispy, and his sword past right through it. It was the same case for the others.
"What's happening?" asked Tai, who saw everyone's struggle at giving a blow to the darkness. "Their attacks pass right through it! What…is 'it' exactly?" All eyes turned to Izzy, whose eyes were already furrowed in concentration.
"It doesn't seem to be a matter of it having the ability to let all objects pass through it. It simply is intangible." Seeing the looks of confusion on some people's faces, he continued. "It seems that the…thing…we are fighting is true darkness. That's not something you can simply touch. In fact…I wouldn't even know if it has a life force."
"Oh, it's very much alive!" Omnimon shouted from above them all where he was still struggling with his Omni Sword. He had been listening to the entire conversation. "Can't you hear it? Or rather…can't you feel it? It's just there...and it is very much alive."
Everyone paused to contemplate this for a moment. Omnimon switched his focus to the darkness again. He was about to swing his sword again when a wisp of the darkness—void of any colour—swept around him like a hand and started squeezing. It felt very much solid as the darkness squeezed harder. Omnimon cried out.
"Omnimon!" Tai and Matt both yelled in concern.
"Imperialdramon, help them!" Davis shouted. "Not like that," Ken said quietly. He looked to Davis. "If the darkness can bring down Omnimon so easily, Imperialdramon has to switch to Fighter Mode." As if hearing him, Imperialdramon started to glow.
"Imperialdramon! Mode Change! FIGHTER MODE!"
"MagnaAngemon!"
"Angewomon!"
TK and Kari were both yelling to be heard over the chaos. Omnimon was still being crushed. "GO!" They both looked at Davis and Ken. "Angewomon and Imperialdramon will attack him on both sides to try and free Omnimon," TK explained. "Meanwhile MagnaAngemon will open his Gate of Destiny. Since the darkness is such a big…being, though, it will take some time for him to open a large enough Gate. And then all the Digimon will push him…um, it…through."
Davis nodded in agreement, before Ken spoke up. "Is that even possible?" he asked skeptically, his eyes looking to the three of them, but especially lingering on Kari as if they shared some common knowledge. "Izzy said it's…intangible. Will the Digimon be able to push it through?"
TK replied, shaking his head, "There doesn't seem to be anything better for us to do," at the same time Davis said, "Well, it's obviously shown that it can be solid when it wants to be. Then that means we can push it when we want to, too!" He looked at all the Digimon looking at him. "Well, what are you all staring at? GO!"
"Who died and made you leader?" Tai asked dryly. A light laugh escaped everyone. A small one, and feeble at that, but a laugh. They needed one.
As one, the Digimon attacked. Imperialdramon Fighter Mode and Angewomon attacked the darkness surrounding Omnimon while the rest of the Digimon attacked the darkness itself.
"Wing Blade!"
"Horn Buster!"
"Flower Cannon!"
"Vulcan's Hammer!"
"Blast Rings!"
"Tail Hammer!"
Meanwhile, Imperialdramon Fighter Mode and Angewomon braced themselves on either side of Omnimon, where they found the source of the strands of darkness. They both attacked as one.
"Positron Laser!"
"Celestial Arrow!"
The two attacks passed right through the darkness. In fact, all the Digimon's attacks passed right through the darkness. At the same time, MagnaAngemon readied his own attack.
"This isn't working," Matt said. "At this rate, if what Omnimon says about it being alive is true, then the darkness may choose to get them all. We should just focus on freeing Omnimon and escaping while we still can."
"Uh…escape to where, exactly?" Mimi asked. "Did anyone else notice that we're…surrounded?"
"Has the darkness surrounded us this entire time?" Joe suddenly mused nervously. "If so, then that means we all fell right into its trap…"
As if hearing their brief exchange, the darkness suddenly seemed to grow wispy arms and wrapped them around all the attacking Digimon and squeezed. All the Digimon started screaming in pain as their respective partners called out to them.
From the dull haze of pain, Omnimon could feel that it wasn't just the darkness physically crushing his body. He could feel that dim laugh, pressing against his very mind. It didn't really affect him, but it was still there. Dull, but persistent. Eventually, he heard it getting louder and louder…until he was pretty sure everyone could hear it.
"What is that…?" Sora whispered, voicing everyone's thoughts. Then they could hear the laugh again, monotonous and horrific, getting louder and louder, until they all realized that they weren't hearing it, they were feeling it, that whatever it was that was speaking was inside their minds. Surrounding them. Everywhere. And then it spoke.
"What am I, you ask?" Its voice seemed to be coming from millions of mouths at once to sound like one unanimous voice, dull, persistent. "I am what you all think I am. I am Darkness itself. I have always been with you. Some stronger than others. Some I have even managed to root myself in."
At his words, Omnimon glanced down, which was agonizing since the darkness was squeezing him so hard. He saw Matt stiffen slightly, Sora turn pale, Kari cringe, and Ken bristle.
Then Davis spoke, his voice hot and firm despite the mental pressure against his and everyone's minds. "So you got the better of them…once! Then they came back, and fought it—you—off, and have become stronger because of it."
Tai took up the flag next. "That's right! And even if they had fallen, they always had their friends to pick them back up!" Davis nodded enthusiastically.
"It doesn't matter how big you've gotten or what your name is," he growled. "So maybe you're stronger than what you were before—" What was he before? thought Omnimon. "—but that doesn't mean you're the only one! All of us have gotten stronger, because of our Digimon, and we're not about to let another enemy crush them!"
The Darkness went quiet for a moment, before laughing again, this time even louder. Omnimon was beginning to hate its laugh. "So tell me, how do you plan on winning? All your friends seem to be getting a little trampled by my slight squeeze. If I want to destroy them, I can easily do so right now. So I will give you a choice: surrender now, and your friends may live longer, or continue fighting, and they will inevitably be killed right in front of you."
"'May live longer'?" Cody repeated. "Does it mean to only delay the time when…?" He didn't finish the sentence.
"Well, then if that's the case, we can't surrender!" Davis fumed. "We've got to—"
"Davis!" Matt shouted, silencing him and stunning everyone. "Don't you see that if we don't surrender, all our Digimon will die right now? At least by surrendering they have a chance at living a little longer so we have more time to think of a plan."
Omnimon saw the blond shake a little as he said it, and WarGreymon felt (and heard) WereGarurumon whisper "Matt..." through their fusion together.
Tai nodded in agreement. "Matt's right on this one, Davis. We can't let the Darkness…" he hesitated slightly. "…Through all our adventures together, the Digimon have always protected us. And now their lives are on the line for us to decide. We may as well try to give back the favour. And it's not like we really are surrendering. We're just putting our fight off on short notice before we can think of a better plan."
Everyone was nodding their agreement. Eventually even Davis nodded. "Alright…I see what you mean. I wouldn't want anything to happen to Veemon (Imperialdramon in this case)…It's just that I hate not knowing what he…um, it…will do to them after. What if it backs up on its promise?"
Everyone started looking uneasy, until TK spoke up. "And that's why we have to hope. We've always put our hopes in our Digimon, which is why we have to keep on doing it…even until the end."
Tai then turned around to face the bottomless void. "Alright…um, Darkness! We surrender! And we expect you to honour the other end of the bargain!" The Darkness remained silent for a while once again.
"So be it, then. I shall spare their lives a little longer." And with that, the black wisps faded from around the Digimon. The Digimon started going/flying back to their partners, but before they reached them, a huge black wisp shaped like a hand smacked them all to the side and kept them contained. The constant crushing and mental pressure caused them all to De-Digivolve to their Rookie forms. Agumon was aware of Tai staring at him in horror as the blackness continued to surround him, containing him, keeping him away from his partner.
"You said you'd keep them alive!" Yolei yelled at the same time Davis shouted, "I knew it! That…thing is backing up on its promise! I never did trust—" He was cut off by the horrific laughter again.
"Is anyone else getting tired of that thing's laugh?" Matt asked exasperatedly. But then the Darkness spoke, silencing them all with his next words.
"If I may recall, I said that if you surrendered, your friends may be kept alive a little longer. And that is exactly what I am doing. I am putting them out of harm's way."
"Harm's way?" Izzy echoed. He seemed to be hating what he suspected.
"Yes, and if I look back again, I also recall not specifying what I would do to you."
Its words were met by silence as everyone realized the mess they had fallen into. With no way out. "Well, fine then," Davis spoke again, and everyone was surprised to see no tremor in his voice. "Try and kill us if you want. That'll—" He broke off as the Darkness cackled (once again). "You know you should really learn to…" Davis began before Ken put a hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
"I never said I would kill you either. After all, some of you have already proven that you make good slaves." Its words were met by thick tension. "If you see it this way, I am being merciful with you. I shall send you back to your world without a trace of memory of what you have seen here, as well as your original adventures you had together. You will not remember a thing about your Digimon, or the Digital World. It allows me the time to work without disruption, and you and your fellow Chosen have a little more time to live in freedom."
"Fellow Chosen?" Izzy asked. "Like the ones around the world?" at the same time Tai said, "As if we could ever forget our Digimon. Do what you want with us, it won't stop us from remembering."
"We shall see about that. And if you somehow manage to come back, even accidentally, I will not hesitate to kill you in any way. But for now…" The twelve Chosen suddenly felt rooted to the spot, unable to move their arms or legs, only able to move their eyes and mouth.
"This won't hurt. For long, anyway." Silvery strands of light suddenly started forming and concentrating in one place, right in front of the Chosen, while the Digimon stayed off to the side uselessly, still hemmed in by the darkness as they called out to their partners. The silvery light abruptly stopped concentrating, and stayed there, glowing in place.
"Now, before I do this, are there any final words you would like to say to your partners before you forget about them forever?"
As if in response, Tai's gaze rested on Agumon. "I believe I speak for everyone when I say this, so listen closely. I will never be able to forget my partner...And I never will. That's a promise, Agumon." Everyone else's eyes seemed to say the same thing to their own respective partners.
"We have yet to see you fulfill your promise. You should brace yourselves for it. A quick sting to the mind, and we're done, you'll be back in your world. And I will also be taking these before you go." Like hands, dark wisps held out all twelve respective Digivices and D-3's. How did it get them…? Agumon thought, before realizing, This is its domain. We probably are in it for all we know. Of course it has control over everything. "You are about to witness Darkness's special attack. You should feel honoured."
The silvery light suddenly got brighter and brighter, until it was so blinding Agumon had to look away.
"FINAL MEMORY!"
The light finally exploded in a blinding white light as the Chosen were engulfed in the it. Agumon could still hear their screams of pain. "Tai!" he finally managed to squint at the light and yell his partner's name.
By the time the light faded away, the Chosen were gone, leaving their Digivices, D-3's, and partners behind.
Tai…
…Keep your promise…
The rest was a blur as Agumon's world faded to black.
Gennai led the Royal Knights to Dream Cave. It would seem to be a tunnel at first, steeping sharply downward for quite a while before coming to a stop in a huge cavern emitting an eerie glow. There, they found the four Digimon Sovereigns, Azulongmon, Baihumon, Ebonwumon, and Zhuqiaomon.
And they were dying.
The Royal Knights were shocked at seeing the four most powerful Digimon dying, right before their eyes. They could see the little gold specks coming off them as they slowly faded. At first the Knights just stood at the entrance to the cavern, all too stunned to move, before Azulongmon summoned them:
"Come closer, Royal Knights. It would be best for you to remember our last words before…we take our leave." Nodding stiffly, they all followed suit, Gennai in the lead. As they stood right before them, Gennai asked the question that was on everyone's mind.
"How long do you have?" he asked quietly, but humbly.
"Half an hour, at most," replied Ebonwumon, "which is why we must get to the topic at hand immediately."
"Why? What is it that is so important?" Leapordmon asked. He, as well as the others, knew they were in for something truly significant, but just what, was beyond them all.
"Do you know why it is called Dream Cave?" asked Zhuqiaomon, "It is not just your presence we seek. We are currently contacting the Chosen. All the Chosen."
"What do you mean, all the Chosen?" Omnimon asked, clearly aware that Zhuqiaomon had not answered the question.
"Every Chosen that was involved in saving their universe," Baihumon answered. "In our case the original twelve Chosen, the ten Tamers, the six Legendary Warriors, the seven Data Squad members, the six Fusion Fighters, and five Hunters."
"That makes 46 Chosen in all…but what about the other Chosen around the world?" UlforceVeedramon asked.
"It is these 46 Chosen we are focused on…because there is a prophecy about them, to be said with our final breath…" Azulongmon whispered weakly. "They must work together to stop the threat that has not only posed itself in the Digital World, but will pose a threat to their world as well, in fact, the whole Multiverse."
Everyone paused to let the news sink in. Then Gallantmon spoke up. "But all those Chosen…they come from different universes…how shall they meet? We would need a Clockmon at the very least…"
Baihumon answered, "That is not necessary. It seems that our enemy has taken the liberty to make his work easier…by combining all universes into one. That would include the Digital World as well. As originally, each group of Chosen had a...version, you could say, of the Digital World that they are familiar with, each in their respective universes. Each of us, the Sovereigns, looked over one group of Chosen, to determine whether or not they would be the ones from the Great Prophecy. So Azulongmon watched over the original twelve, Zhuqiaomon the Tamers, Ebonwumon the Legenadary Warriors, and I, Baihumon, the Data Squad."
"What about the Fusion Fighters and Hunters?" Magnamon checked.
"During times of need, the Fusion Fighters had the assistance of DigiCards of the Legendary Digimon," Zhuqiaomon supplied. "The Red General himself was chosen by the leader of them all, Omnimon. A different Omnimon, of course," he noted as he glanced at the Royal Knight. "The Legendary Digimon are the ones that have been watching over the Fusion Fighters and Hunters, even though not physically there. They have been close friends with us, the Sovereigns. Indeed, at some point, each Sovereign or Legendary Digimon has gone to the other universes to check who the other supposed Children of the Prophecy were. And now, we have narrowed it down to these forty-six."
"And with all the universes formed as one," Gennai mused. "That gives a much higher chance of all 46 Chosen meeting in their own world. Only…"
Dynasmon finished grimly. "Only they would not remember who or what they are or once were. Their memories have been erased."
"Which is why we are going to call all of them to this cave through their sleep," confirmed Ebonwumon. "Hence the name, Dream Cave."
"How do you call them in their sleep?" asked UlforceVeedramon.
"Their bodies will not be here physically, but their mental presence will," Azulongmon said. Then, all four Sovereigns' bodies started glowing as one, and only then did Gennai and the Royal Knights notice a shaft of moonlight cut the eerie light, as slowly, they noticed translucent forms of all 46 Chosen appear from that shaft of light. They did not seem to notice each other, their eyes staring vacantly ahead.
Suddenly, the Sovereigns' bodies started flickering slightly, more gold specks coming off them at an alarming rate. "We do not have much time," Azulongmon whispered. "The Prophecy…" Abruptly, all of the Sovereigns' eyes went milky white, and a voice spoke out of them, a voice that was not theirs.
They all chanted:
"Forty-six Chosen shall answer the call,
To light or to darkness the worlds shall all fall.
Dragons of fire shall go lead the charge,
Seven Gifts of Dauntless unite at large.
Knights of water shall go tame the fire,
Six Gifts of Reason as one defeat the Liar.
When the worlds are in disorder, and all are at wit's end,
Seven Gifts of Sage shall rise and make amends.
At hammer's last strike, when war's spark has been ignited,
Eight Gifts of Forge shall search 'til knowledge has alighted.
Guardians of steel shall bear arms on foe's field,
Eight Gifts of Stalwart shall hold fast 'neath the Shield.
Seven Gifts of Life shall heal the Mistaken,
At Friends' last breaths, the Phoenix shall awaken.
When the worlds have all fallen and the end is quite near,
With Three Gifts of Freedom, the Unicorn shall appear.
And though it may seem that risk and pain are put to no avail,
Let everyone believe in miracles,
And the Worlds' Last Hope shall prevail."
With those final words, the colour returned to the Sovereigns' eyes, and all the Chosens' translucent spirits faded away, but the Sovereigns seemed to be fading even faster. "Royal Knights," Azulongmon gasped. "Come closer."
They all rushed to comply, standing in a loose circle around all four Sovereigns rapidly vanishing before their eyes. "There is something…you must…know…" Baihumon wheezed between breaths. "There is sti…still a chance…the Chosen can re…member…"
"What is it?" the Royal Knights all asked at once. They were all aware of Gennai standing a few feet behind them, watching and listening intently.
"You must…get their…partners back…" Ebonwumon whispered. "…but it may cost you...your lives…"
The Royal Knights all nodded, already in decision. They had risked their lives countless times for the sake of the Digital World; of course they wouldn't hesitate to do so again, if not for the sake of the whole Multiverse.
"Blackmont Castle…" Zhuqiaomon stuttered between words. "Portal to human world…Digimon captured…send them…"
"Of course," Omnimon vowed, "and I speak for all of us. And if I may add, we will also look after your Digieggs upon your…departure."
"No," the Knights all jerked in surprise when Gennai spoke up, having come up from behind them. His eyes were moist and glistening. "I don't believe there will be any Digieggs, will there?"
The Sovereigns all shook their heads sadly. "No," said Azulongmon. "There will not."
Gennai's face darkened. "Whatever darkness is out there…it can delete the very data of Digimon. The path we will tread will be a dangerous one. But if it will help those Children…"
"…then it must be done," the Royal Knights finished. They were all aware that the Chosens' path would be even more dangerous.
"One last thing…" Azulongmon whispered. With a shining burst of light, a million shining orbs floated above them all.
"Your DigiCores…? All of them…" Crusadermon asked.
"They must be given to the Chosen," Baihumon said. "So that the Digimon…Digivolve to Ultimate...and Mega…and four…Biomerge…Legendary Warriors...Fusion Evolution...Fusion Fighters...Grand Fusion...and so…a miracle can happen…"
And as they all gazed at the Sovereigns, they knew their time was finally up. Everyone's head bowed low in mourning.
"Good luck, Royal Knights…" Azulongmon murmured. "The Digimon…and Chosen…need you…"
And with that, the last of the Sovereigns' remains exploded in a shower of golden dust, slowly fading away to nothing.
Sure enough, there were no Digieggs to collect.
After collecting all the DigiCores in a small cubical container, the Royal Knights and Gennai all filed wordlessly out of the cave back into the black and bloodstained sky, where the cries of fighting were still a dull echo in one's ear.
But all anyone could think about was that they couldn't fail.
It wouldn't matter that they could be deleted in the process. It mattered that they had to do it in one shot. Because the Multiverse didn't have the time—or power—for a second chance.
Whoa, so none of the Chosen remember the Digital World? Or their Digimon? So what are they doing in the Real World right now? And what's with the Prophecy the Sovereigns said? And what's Blackmont Castle? You'll just have to read the next chapter to find out!
Chapter Notes:
1. Yes, the beginning of the Prophecy was inspired by the Prophecy of Seven from the Heroes of Olympus.
2. Royal Knight, Legendary Digimon, Omnimon: No, not Tai and Matt's Omnimon, I probably don't have to say this, but just for the sake of citing...In Fusion Episode 30, it is revealed that Omnimon chose Mikey to wield the Red Fusion Loader. Yes, he's the Red General.
3. Dauntless: I got this from Divergent, which, oddly enough, I haven't actually read, I just heard from my friends that one of the factions in Divergent is called Dauntless.
~X~
Alright, first chapter is done! I know you didn't really see much of all the characters (except for Adventure/02) but I promise that in the next chapter you will! Don't forget to leave a review!
Just on a side note, if you want the full list of Royal Knights that have appeared so far, well:
1. Omnimon
2. Dynasmon
3. Crusadermon
4. UlforceVeedramon
5. Magnamon
6. Leopardmon
7. Craniamon
8. Gallantmon