Chapter 28

'Agumon. Agumon! Can you hear me?'

Agumon blinked in surprise as he heard Baihumon's voice in his head. 'Baihumon? Now's not a good time, you know...'

'I must speak to you. It is urgent.'

'OK... what about?'

'Myotismon. He's... not as trustworthy as he seems.'

'What do you mean?'

'Surely... you don't think he intends for you to leave?'

Agumon raised an eyeridge in confusion. 'Of course he does. He's trying his best to get us to the portal, and out of this castle. I can see it's painful for him to come back here...'

'He's only masking it. You've got to get out of the castle and save yourself!'

'What? You're not making sense, Baihumon.'

'He's leading you to your doom!'

Agumon shook his head. 'No... he can't be. I trust him... you didn't hear the same things I did...'

'It's too late to save this land, Agumon. The Ghoulmon army has rooted out most of the digimon that once lived here. I am afraid you and your friends will join them if you stay.'

Agumon frowned suspiciously. There was something off about the way Baihumon was speaking. He seemed to be forceful with his suggestions and emphasized selfish terms referring to himself.

'Since when did you get the impression that I want to save myself? Why do you think I even came here?'

'To stop Barbamon.' The voice answered hastily. 'But you're in way over your head. Please, heed my advice as your mentor.'

'We're not going to stop trying! You're not just telling to go and save myself, and maybe my friends, not that they would ever agree. You want me to abandon the digimon counting on us... to force them to abandon their villages and homes. But that won't be enough to stop the Ghoulmon...you have no idea why I'm doing this, do you?'

As the voice became silent, his eyes quickly widened angrily.

'You... you are not my mentor. Barbamon!'

Barbamon was silent for a few moments, before returning to his old voice. 'A pity. Turning you would have been the most valuable.'

'You bastard! You'll pay for everything you've done!'

'Oh... I think not. I was telling the truth, you know. You're in way over your head. And your friend's not going to last much longer...'

Agumon felt Barbamon retreat from his mind but he was furious at not being able to fight him then and there. Tai studied his rather frenzied expression worriedly.

'Agumon? Did something happen, pal?'

Agumon nodded vehemently. 'Yes... Barbamon... the nerve of that...'

Tai wanted to enquire further, but Myotismon signalled to stop, and turned to face everyone. Gryphonmon allowed everyone to climb off as she backed away, trying to stay out of sight of the BlackGhoulmon just in the next room.

'The Theatre hall is just beyond...' He warned in anticipation. 'It will most likely be guarded. I can tell that there are several BlackGhoulmon in there...'

He didn't risk looking around the corner, but everyone could hear odd sounds coming from the large room. They could hear some treads ending abruptly at the sound of flashes of energy. It sounded like digimon coming in and out of the portal.

Myotismon glanced at Tai expectantly. 'It's about time we regrouped with Davis and his team.'

Tai nodded in agreement and backed away slightly so the Ghoulmon wouldn't hear. 'Davis.' He called in a low voice. 'Come in.'

'... I read you, Tai.'

Tai frowned sympathetically as he heard Davis' morbid tone. 'Still nothing?'

'No... and the Ghoulmon have picked up our trail. Gabumon also said he saw thousands of Ghoulmon outside.'

Tai's eyes widened in alarm but he suppressed his voice so he didn't yell out. 'Then... you've got to get yourselves up here! We're just near the theatre hall with the portal.'

'Right. I'll lock onto the digivice's signal... keep an eye on mine.'

Tai nodded. 'OK. Be careful.'

Tai closed the communication and quickly brought up the scanner, and could see Davis' signal approaching slowly, along with several unidentified signatures. Damnit... hurry, Davis...


Kari and Gatomon quickly observed that the passage they were travelling through was roughly cut out by the Ghoulmon, obviously tailored to their shape to allow them through. They were quite surprised to see many side passages throughout the network, despite not glimpsing a sign of them before.

'We've just...' Kari panted. 'Got to find a way back up...'

They ducked slightly as they heard heavy treading above them and some debris fell from the ceiling. Gatomon glanced behind them fearfully. 'We should hurry... The Ghoulmon could be coming after us, too.'

Kari nodded in agreement. 'They did seem to be targeting you... what did they call you? Archangel?'

Gatomon only shuddered uneasily as they continued. 'It seems Barbamon doesn't like angels... being a demon lord, you know.'

They raised their eyebrows hopefully as they encountered single cells lining the left wall. On instinct, they began to check the cells, alternating every second one between them.

Finally, Gatomon's heart leapt slightly as she spotted Veemon on the ground lying on his side in the next cell. Kari quickly joined her. 'Veemon!'

Veemon groaned weakly as he raised his head to look at her. 'Gatomon? And Kari?'

Gatomon gasped in dismay as she saw his condition under the torchlight as he slowly got up and approached them. 'You look horrible, Veemon... what have they done to you?'

Veemon's eyes looked rather spiritless, and there were dark bags under his eyes. 'You... don't want to know...' He managed to croak.

Kari and Gatomon looked around the cell bars frantically for a way through, but only found a large lock that looked like it was made of chrome digizoid. Gatomon began to claw at it furiously.

Veemon shook his head feebly. 'Don't bother. The only time I tried that, I ended up with a large bruise on my hand.' He glanced down as he raised it for them to see. 'There's no getting through that without serious firepower.'

Undaunted, Gatomon continued to attack the lock, and any other bars she could reach furiously, but had to rest, panting, after barely making a scratch on the lock. She glanced up at Veemon with tears in her eyes.

'I'm... sorry, Veemon...'

Veemon raised an eyebrow worriedly. 'What for?'

Gatomon bowed her head in shame. 'I couldn't stop myself from closing that portal behind you. If I had just stopped it before it close... maybe... none of this would have happened to you.'

After studying her, Veemon couldn't help but smile encouragingly. 'Just seeing you here has already done wonders for me.'

Gatomon quickly realised he was telling the truth. His eyes were quickly returning to the same spirited maroon, and his expression brightened. 'Knowing you're safe, Gatomon...' He grinned. 'That'll be enough.'

Kari shook her head doubtfully. 'You're talking as if you're going to stay in there... we have to get you out!'

They all flinched with a start as several weighty footsteps sounded around the corner at the beginning of the cell block. Veemon's eyes quickly shot to Gatomon and Kari.

'You two have to get out of here!' He pleaded. 'Those Ghoulmon wanted you in the first place, Gatomon. Barbamon thought he could use me to find our friends' weaknesses, but he wants to utterly destroy you and other angels alike.'

Gatomon shook her head vehemently. 'I won't leave you in there! Not after what I did... it's my responsibility.'

She was taken aback as Veemon took her claws gently through the bars, and looked up at him.

'Please, Gatomon...' He stared into her eyes determinedly. 'I don't want you to be destroyed - or tortured anymore, like I have here. You've suffered enough already...'

Gatomon's eyes widened in realisation when he studied her left glove sympathetically. 'You... know about... what happened to me? Because of Myotismon?'

Veemon nodded. 'I've wanted to know everything about you, Gatomon...' He grinned in embarrassment, before gazing at her warmly. 'Sorry if that sounds kind of stalker-ish, but... seriously, though... you are an amazing digimon, Gatomon, in - a lot of ways...'

His sincere voice and affectionate gaze only made it harder for Gatomon to leave, with tears still on the edges of her eyes. She shook her head hesitantly. 'But...'

'Go!'

Hearing a slight rumble and flickering shadows appearing far off to their left, Kari and Gatomon eventually broke away from Veemon's cell and fled. Veemon stared after them as the Ghoulmon approached from the other side, who rushed forward at the sight of Gatomon. She couldn't help but glance back at him, and could only look away guiltily as he continued to smile at her.

That look... I've never seen him stare at me like that before. And why do I feel kind of... nervous? How can we tell Davis - that we found him, but couldn't get him out...and... in Veemon's presence, too...

She shook her head in helpless confusion as they struggled to stay ahead of the pursuing Ghoulmon. They breathed a sigh of relief as they approached a small winding staircase, and managed to get into it before the Ghoulmon smashed their bodies against it, attempting to demolish the structure. As the stairs collapsed behind them, Gatomon and Kari neared the landing at the top before Gatomon lost her footing and clawed at the edge.

'Gatomon!'

Kari quickly grabbed her arms and lifted her out, and the two of them were heartened to see the inner castle entrance on their right. They quickly began retracing their steps, and took the opportunity to hide when they heard BlackGhoulmon nearby, before continuing on as fast as they could.


Tai and the others found themselves waiting frantically for Davis, Kari and their groups to rejoin them. Davis had kept them updated on their progress, but Tai was particularly worried when he didn't hear from Kari. He was relieved when he finally heard her on Izzy's digivice.

'Tai! Where are you?'

'Kari!' Tai exclaimed worriedly. 'We're just outside the theatre! Do we need to come and get you?'

'No need.' Kari assured him. 'I can already see your digivice within my scan range.'

Tai nodded and closed the communication, only to hear Davis' voice burst out. 'Tai! We're just about near the theatre hall. On the opposite side of you, I guess.'

Izzy looked around the corner again and spotted Davis' spiky hair poking around the opposite entrance. He nodded to Tai. 'That's him all right.'

'Should we attack?' Davis asked impatiently. 'There's only two of those Black Ghoul dudes. We can take them!'

'Wait!' Joe warned on his side. 'We'll need to close the portal once everyone's through, otherwise that Ghoulmon army will follow us.'

Davis paused thoughtfully. 'And we'll need Gatomon for that.'

Patamon cleared his throat lightly. 'I think I can try it, too.'

Tai glanced at his digivice as he brought up the scanner and saw Kari's digivice approaching fast. He gave a single nod at everyone in his group.

'OK, Davis. Kari and Gatomon are just about here... so let's get through that portal!'

Hearing this, Guilmon and Agumon jumped out first, earning a cold, hostile stare from one BlackGhoulmon each, and the two creatures immediately tensed in preparation for battle.

Guilmon warp digivolve to... Gallantmon!

Myotismon grimaced uncomfortably as Gallantmon appeared and immediately engaged one of the BlackGhoulmon. 'Not again...'

TK frowned suspiciously at Myotismon as Agumon immediately started firing at the other BlackGhoulmon. Gryphonmon quickly joined the fray along with Gabumon.

Gabumon warp digivolve to... MetalGarurumon.

With the four of them engaging the BlackGhoulmon, the other digidestined quickly made for the large, dark portal, this time embedded in the back wall of the stage between two curtains. Mimi and Palmon got there first and hesitated slightly as they stood before it.

'Mimi! Let's go!' Gomamon urged. 'This portal is our only hope!'

Mimi shook her head slightly. 'It looks... so dangerous...'

Palmon reached her arm through the black material and small ripples in the strange substance emanated outward. 'My arm feels fine, Mimi. There's something on the other side.'

Mimi braced herself as she followed Palmon through the portal, their entire bodies vanishing in an instant.

'Mimi?' Joe immediately called into his digivice worriedly.

'We're safe, Joe. You can all come through now!'

Joe exhaled heavily before he and Gomamon followed, and the digidestined filed through, two at a time.

MetalGarurumon supported Gallantmon as he went to impale the BlackGhoulmon through the eye but was caught off guard when it swiftly ducked and grabbed his lance in its claws, and before MetalGarurumon could stop it, Gallantmon was hit in the face with a red beam before he could raise his shield. Staggered, he stumbled backwards.

Agumon glanced over at them in alarm before raising his voice. 'Their weak point is the eye on their right claw!'

MetalGarurumon immediately bounded forward and closed his jaw on the BlackGhoulmon's right claw and took a few hits from its other claw before blasting the claw at point-blank range, quickly expanding his mouth to avoid internal damage. The BlackGhoulmon shuddered and was paralysed briefly, allowing MetalGarurumon and Gallantmon to finish it off.

'Lightning Joust!'

'Metal Wolf Claw!'

They both caught opposite sides of the creature before it dissipated. Wasting no time, they quickly moved to assist Agumon and Gryphonmon, who already had it reeling from attacking its weak point repeatedly with ranged attacks. After a focused attack, it too was gone.

By now, most of the digidestined had gone through the portal. Myotismon, Tai, Sora and Matt remained waiting for them, as the four digimon approached. They raised their heads expectantly as they saw Kari and Gatomon approaching them from Tai's spot.

'Guys!'

Tai beamed warmly as he went to hug Kari. 'You're all right...'

Agumon initially smiled at Gatomon, but quickly became concerned as he saw the ashen look on her face. 'Gatomon? What's wrong with you?'

Kari and Gatomon glanced at each other solemnly before Gatomon looked up at him. 'We... found Veemon.'

Agumon gaped in horror. 'Don't tell me he's...'

Gatomon quickly shook her head. 'No, Agumon. He's alive, but we couldn't get him out before the Ghoulmon arrived.'

Silence pervaded them as Agumon examined them sympathetically. 'There was nothing you could do...'

Gatomon frowned disparately. 'Don't you think I know that? That's the whole problem! I...' She faltered as she choked up, glancing away sadly.

Agumon quickly glanced up at Tai. 'We have to find him and get out of here!'

Matt frowned doubtfully. 'I know we need to get him out, but... that Ghoulmon army is already here. Can't you hear them? They're coming.'

As they paused, they quickly detected a gradual rumbling of the floor. Agumon quickly rushed towards one of the entrances anyway, but skidded to a halt when several Ghoulmon stepped in front of him and advanced unrelentingly.

'Agumon!' Tai cried out in alarm. 'We have no choice! We can only hope Veemon can get out by himself... or that we can come find him after defeating Barbamon...'

Gatomon teared up again as she heard him, but followed as they backed up towards the portal. As Agumon, Gallantmon, MetalGarurumon and Gryphonmon tensed in preparation, they froze in shock as Myotismon stepped forward.

'Go, all of you. I'll hold them.'

He quickly brandished his whip.

'Crimson Lightning!'

The Ghoulmon on the small stage in front were unable to retaliate, and ended up blocking the others crowding the room from advancing. Myotismon grimaced tensely as he concentrated on keeping them bound, while Tai directed Kari and Gatomon through the portal.

'You're needed on the other side, Gatomon.' He explained. 'Patamon's trying to close the portal, but he needs your help.'

Gatomon gasped in disbelief. 'But... that means, Veemon won't be able to...'

Kari frowned sadly down at her. 'We know.'

One by one, the rest of them headed through the portal, and it visibly began to shrink in front of them once Gatomon went through. Tai and Agumon were the last ones left, as Agumon was staring at Myotismon with admiration.

'Agumon!' Myotismon yelled out warningly. 'You have to go! You stand the best chance to destroy Barbamon!'

Agumon shook his head in disbelief. 'You don't have to sacrifice yourself! Quickly, come with us!'

Myotismon shook his head slowly. 'I can't help you with Barbamon. He and I... share a similar power. I'm afraid I would only burden you if I came with you.'

'What are you talking about?' Tai pleaded frantically. 'Let's go already!'

Myotismon frowned grimly. 'I know what needs to be done to stop him. I'm sorry, but I must do this...'

They were shocked when he turned slightly and with one hand, summoned a small bat cloud which flew towards them.

'Grizzly wing!'

They tried to fight off the bats but were quickly engulfed and they felt themselves backing away from Myotismon in mid-air. Agumon struggled a little, but knew it would only worsen their current situation, and could only cry out helplessly. 'Myotismon! No!'

They last saw Myotismon turn back to the Ghoulmon and the two front ones break free and lunge towards him before their vision was momentarily blackened and they landed on a flat platform, and could only stare as the portal disappeared in front of them. A single tear ran down Gatomon's cheek.