Chapter 29

Bokomon and Neemon looked around the odd tower they had found themselves in after stumbling out through the portal. Bokomon trembled slightly as nostalgic, feared memories returned.

'This place... it hasn't changed at all!' Neemon cried out in sombre annoyance.

Bokomon shook his head. 'Actually... it has. It's... become even more barren and unpleasant than before.'

They looked down over the landscape and saw a massive purple fragmented wall surrounding them and the tower, as if it was once dome like but had most of it blown away. They could see little, but darkness below the wall, the round surface housing a large dungeon where Cherubimon's prisoner, IceDevimon, was once imprisoned. As they looked up at the edge of their platform, they could see they were standing at the very top level, and immediately backed away as their stomachs churned uneasily at the sheer height of the tower. The lower storeys' platforms grew wider the lower down it got. And, wanting to tear their eyes away, they looked up at the sky and spotted the large nebula-like pattern, the Rose Morning Star, hovering ever so near, with its purple cloud-like tendrils swirling ominously around it, casting a sinister purple light over the entire landscape. They morbidly decided to keep their eyes within their current area.

'I'd hoped to never come back here.' Bokomon murmured weakly.

Neemon scratched his head meekly. 'Why did we agree to help these guys again?'

Bokomon glanced at the digidestined, who were still surrounding Tai and Agumon, all still looking at the absence of the late portal regretfully. 'We were the only ones who could help them, Neemon. This entire continent needs them...'

Neemon and Bokomon watched the digidestined sympathetically as they grieved unanimously, especially Agumon, Gatomon and Davis.

'I... can't believe it...' Agumon murmured dejectedly. 'Why couldn't we save him? Or... any of the others? We... failed them.'

Gatomon stared off into the distance as she pondered remorsefully. 'We were so close! So close to getting Veemon...'

Davis gaped at her in shock. 'You... found Veemon? How come you couldn't get him out!?'

Gabumon and Guilmon glanced at each other with concern when Gatomon recoiled slightly at the force of Davis' exclamation. 'Well... what did Veemon say to you, Gatomon?' Gabumon asked. 'What happened to him?'

Kari frowned slightly at Davis, who immediately looked back at her apologetically before gently speaking up. 'Sorry, Gatomon, but... if you can, please explain.'

Kari studied Gatomon for a while before Gatomon nodded at her expectantly, and she began to elaborate.

'After we fell through the floor...' She paused as she recalled what had happened. 'Gatomon managed to save us from some spikes in the floor, and we found ourselves going down a recently carved-out passage - I think by the Ghoulmon. Eventually, we found ourselves running along another cell block, and we started to check every cell. Near the end... we found Veemon inside one of them.'

Davis' eyes glinted hopefully as he listened. 'Was he... all right?'

He gawked slightly as Kari hesitated. 'Physically, he seemed fine, but...'

Gatomon suddenly spoke up as she continued. 'He told us that Barbamon was... 'using' him to try and find our weaknesses. And something along the lines of him being tortured...'

She frowned sadly as Davis glanced away and shut his eyes in horror. 'No... Veemon... why?'

Izzy studied Davis sympathetically. 'Perhaps... it would have been better not to know.'

Tai shook his head. 'No. We know that Veemon lives... and that Barbamon thinks he's worth keeping alive. There's... still hope for us to rescue him afterwards.'

Agumon continued staring at the ground. 'Too bad... it's too late for Myotismon.' He muttered angrily. 'All because of Barbamon...' He trembled slightly, remembering the feeling he had when he heard the screams of the dead digimon reach his eardrums. Several of the Digidestined behind him glanced at his stripes, which seemed to be glowing brightly, illuminating them in a low blue light. As frustration and helplessness washed over him, he couldn't help but smash a clenched claw against the ground repeatedly, his blue glow flashing as he did so. Everyone glanced at the edge of the platform and jumped in fright as large cracks quickly appeared despite the thickness of the platform.

'Agumon!' Biyomon cried out with a mixture of concern and alarm. She rushed up and kneeled next to him, quickly grabbing his arm, firmly but gently, staring at him in concern. As he stared back at her, the fury in his eyes slowly faded and was replaced with sadness. Biyomon smiled warmly and slowly hugged him comfortingly, and he slowly hugged her back, tears still prevalent at the edges of his eyes.

Tai and Sora quickly joined them, comforting their respective partners. Tai studied the cracks in empathy, almost wanting to smash the ground too. He was tired, tired of other digimon needing to sacrifice themselves to make up for their weakness. Myotismon had known that Barbamon's army was too powerful for them to take on all at once, and he hated to admit it, but Myotismon was right. Even with Agumon fighting alongside them, he couldn't participate in a full scale battle like that without serious risk to himself. Panic flashed through Tai's stomach briefly as he considered the possibility of such a battle happening. SacredGreymon could definitely take out some of the army, but eventually he would have to degenerate and be escorted somewhere safe in his weakened state. But where was safe? The Ghoulmon army was clearly surrounding them as he glanced at the horizon's edge. The same problem applied to the rest of their digimon, too. He frowned tensely as he thought about the next possible course of action. Remembering what happened the first time Agumon entered a serious conflict made Tai unconsciously recoil at such a thing, given how dangerously close to death he had come.

Tearing her eyes away from the scene, Renamon began to scan the landscape around the tower. Alarm shot through her when she also noticed large silhouettes against the Rose Morning Star's Light. They were unmistakeably more Ghoulmon, thousands of them, and she spotted them all around, everywhere on the horizon she looked. Even more disturbing were the presence of BlackGhoulmon in their ranks; with their overbearing minds, even from that distance, they weakened her when she exposed herself, and she quickly shut out their minds from her own.

As she shook her head exiting her temporary mind stasis, she opened her eyes to see Calumon and Guilmon studying her curiously. 'Well? What did you find, Renamon?' Guilmon asked expectantly.

There was a short silence as everyone turned their heads towards Renamon. Looking around hesitantly, her shoulders slumped slightly as she told them what she had felt.

'The Ghoulmon... they have us trapped.'


Tai stared at Renamon in stunned silence as she confirmed his observation. 'You're kidding... what are we gonna do?'

The disbelief and doubt in his voice stung everyone, because he was their leader, and if he wasn't confident, things were grim indeed. The look on his face also betrayed his hesitation to confront the situation.

Agumon didn't seem to care. He was still staring at the spot where the portal had vanished, along with the deep claw marks he had made in the ground. In strange contrast to Tai, he seemed unfazed by the announcement of the Ghoulmon presence around them.

Biyomon quickly decided to fly up and scan the landscape like Renamon, and came to the same conclusion, with disappointment showing on her face as she came back down, as she had hoped that Renamon was mistaken.

There was a long pause as everyone thought of what they could do. Eventually, Hawkmon managed to pipe up a suggestion.

'Our options are tied to our goals, so...' He began hesitantly. He grew slightly nervous under everyone's gaze, especially under Agumon's at what he was about to suggest.

'We can try and scout a way out through this Ghoulmon blockade, and break through if we find a weakness.'

He flinched under Agumon's gaze, as Agumon stood up and objected rather forcefully. 'That would mean we'd have to escape after that! I'm not going to let any more digimon die because of that monster! And you should know better, Hawkmon. You're a digidestined, aren't you?'

Hawkmon grimaced uneasily as he looked up towards Agumon. This side of him was so different that it was scary. Instead of the usual bright demeanour and friendly natured digimon, in times like this it was now being replaced by a stern and intimidating figure who seemed to tower over him, standing just as tall as Yolei. Hawkmon then quickly shook his head. Agumon may have grown, but he wasn't much smaller. But he did feel somewhat minor to him at that moment. Agumon had changed - for the better or worse, Hawkmon couldn't judge. He was, however, slightly confused as to why Agumon was so upset about all those dead digimon when he wouldn't have been in the past. He had heard from TK, Kari and their partners about their previous adventures, and whenever some digimon friends died or sacrificed themselves, sure, the humans were sad, but the digimon themselves knew some sacrifices had to be made to stop the dark masters, and accepted the losses with little to no hesitation. Hawkmon's eyes widened slightly as he realised. Agumon had changed - because he was becoming more - human? All this time, and he had only just noticed?

Tai nodded in agreement. 'He's right. That's the only reason we would break the blockade. We can't retreat... otherwise a lot more digimon are going to suffer. We... can't let them down.'

Matt raised an eyebrow in surprise as Tai adopted a similar gentle tone like after they had argued, on their first adventure. 'Don't you think we could go around and try striking at Barbamon without fighting the army? That seems like the best idea to me.'

Izzy regarded Matt with a serious, and oddly sympathetic, expression. 'I'd like to think such a thing is possible, Matt. But... given our previous encounters and evidence about how this army operates... I fear it is not.'

Mimi's lip almost trembled as she unconsciously objected, despite knowing Izzy was most likely right. He rarely wasn't.

'There has to be a way! At least without charging them head-on...'

Izzy shook his head solemnly. 'If we break through the blockade, they will immediately move to surround us, or try to. That means; it will be impossible to go for Barbamon, since he will obviously keep the army between us and him at all times. We'll have no choice, but to retreat further and further until we have all, but left Barbamon behind. And... as Agumon already said, we can't do that in good conscience.'

As Matt frowned in pondering silence, Gabumon studied him and glanced around before he spoke next. 'If the blockade is really all around us... then we'll have no choice, but to break it at some point to get at Barbamon. Sooner or later, we'll have to attack and breach it... unless Barbamon, by some miracle, puts himself ahead of the army. Which... I don't think he will.'

There was another hush as everyone processed the truth of Gabumon's words. Matt gulped slightly as he pictured the ensuing chaos that would occur if, no, when the battle would start. It wasn't a pretty sight, for he dreaded even thinking of such a thing, and the image of Gabumon's burnt and bruised form repeatedly came to his mind. He struggled to shut the images out, for this kind of fear hadn't helped against the dark masters, and it certainly wouldn't help here. He raised his head and looked around at the other humans, seeing similar concerned glances towards their digimon, also thinking about their digimons' safety. It was hard, he realized, to care so much for friends who had to fight so much.

As they pondered the severity of their situation, they all jumped in alarm as a cackling laugh echoed over the dark plains. At least, they thought it echoed. As it continued, however, they realized with horrid realization that the laugh was echoing through their own heads as well as in their ears.

Several of them turned their heads dejectedly towards the source of Barbamon's mocking amusement, with Davis being the first to react.

'What's so funny!?' He cried with indignation. 'You took my friend away, and I might never see him again, and all you can do is laugh!?' He clenched his fists helplessly as he yelled into the sky. Kari and Yolei studied him sympathetically, but decided to let him vent his feelings. 'Veemon deserves better than this... how can you treat another digimon like that!?'

Standing alongside Davis, TK also spoke a few harsh words into the air. 'I can see why your kind was driven away. You're nothing but a coward who hides behind puppets. Come out and face us!'

Most of the males in the group soon joined them and yelled insults into the sky as the cackling continued. Gabumon and Guilmon were too exhausted, but Agumon tried to suppress his rage, remembering the worried look on Biyomon's face as he had smashed the ground moments ago. He couldn't keep it in, and finally decided to let the rest of it out, despite Biyomon's presence.

He trembled slightly as he eyed a distant depression in the ground, certain that Barbamon's projection was coming from there. Everyone else fell silent as Agumon roared.

'You better listen, Barbamon!' He took a deep breath. 'What you've done... is unforgivable. I've led myself to believe that all digimon have the capacity to be good or evil... the capacity to be saved, but I see now that I was wrong. You are beyond saving - beyond even consideration! All those digimon you've killed, and these others you've sent to their deaths... and your worst crime is: you don't care! All you can do is laugh in contempt!'

The force of his speech caused Barbamon to pause before resuming, but his laughter seemed forced and angry, as if he felt threatened and had tried to blow Agumon's retort off as if it didn't move him. When Agumon noticed that Barbamon had faltered, he continued.

'Know this - Barbamon. We are coming. The Digidestined are strong, and we'll bring you to justice. When I find you... I will do everything in my power to destroy you!'

As if acknowledging his strength, Barbamon fell silent. Agumon was standing upright, panting furiously, still glaring off into the distance. As everyone studied him, Hawkmon wasn't the only one intimidated by him anymore.

Biyomon's eyes drooped slightly as she wondered at him. She suddenly felt a wave of fatigue wash over her, and as she studied Agumon, sympathy mixed in, as she realized he was also under a terrible amount of stress, since his demeanour had changed so much. He seemed like a completely different digimon now, and it troubled her to see him this way. This wasn't the digimon she had fallen for.

Sora gasped with concern as Biyomon's shoulders suddenly slumped and she sat on the ground, panting heavily. Sora looked around as other digimon did the same, but some more heavily fatigued than others, the most exhausted being Biyomon, Gabumon, Guilmon, Patamon and Gatomon. She shook her head worriedly as Tai eyed them with concern. They both knew the inevitable battle with the army could not be fought now. The few exhausted digimon looked close to collapse, and their eyes were already half-lidded and dreary. Agumon quickly noticed when Biyomon collapsed next to him, and crouched to let her lean against him. He didn't look at her, however, aware that he was still frowning with resentment of Barbamon, and didn't want to worry her further. Kari, Davis and TK mirrored his actions with Patamon and Gatomon, and even Renamon helped support Guilmon, to which he responded by smiling at her gratefully.

Tai gradually sat down near Agumon and Biyomon as well. Holding his legs with his arms, he raised his head lightly to address everyone one last time. 'I think we should rest, guys. From that distance, I'd say we still have at least another day before the Ghoulmon will converge on us.'

From the various disapproving glances at him, he regretted wording it that way, but shrugged as he knew he was tired enough not to be able to form words properly. He grimaced apologetically before resting his head against his forearms and closing his eyes, too tired to worry about the rumbling in his stomach.


Patamon was curling up next to TK as they rested for the next few hours, just like a large hamster. TK, unable to sleep, glanced over at Kari and Gatomon, and sighed sympathetically as he spotted Gatomon's expression contorting repeatedly, as if in a nightmare. From her despairing reaction at leaving the castle, he guessed she was still thinking about Veemon, and what situation he was in now.

Since becoming a closer friend to Davis, it troubled TK now more than ever to see his constant grimacing with anxiety, along with Gatomon's. The feeling was all too familiar during the time Agumon was missing, along with the feelings of helplessness and despair that accompanied it. TK quickly shook his head, trying to clear these burdening feelings, before studying the horizon. They had to defeat Barbamon, and it was too late for them to go back to free Veemon. It was better, he thought, to focus on what they could do to destroy Barbamon, before delaying his defeat, even to help a friend.

He jolted slightly as Patamon yawned and opened his big blue eyes to glance at him worriedly. 'Have you had any sleep, TK? You... look so serious.'

TK managed to crack a weak smile. 'Sorry. Just thinking a lot, I guess.'

Patamon stood up and glanced away uncomfortably before he spoke. 'TK... what you said at Barbamon... did you mean it?'

TK took a moment to recall what Patamon meant. 'You mean when we all yelled back at his laughter?'

'Yeah.'

TK nodded vehemently, frowning slightly. 'Of course I did! Don't you think so, too? Barbamon has done so many terrible things! He deserves no mercy.'

Patamon nodded. 'I know, TK.'

'So... why are you asking?'

As Patamon flinched slightly, TK realized how forceful he sounded, and tried to soften his tone.

'Sorry, Patamon. It's just... when I think about Barbamon, and everything he's done, it just reminds me of all the other dark digimon like him, and what they've done too. And I can't help it... I just get so angry. I mean, will these dark digimon never disappear? Do we always need to stop them?'

Patamon frowned solemnly. 'Dark digimon were among the victims, TK. Including Myotismon... after everything he went through, he was still willing to sacrifice himself so we could have a chance...'

TK raised an eyebrow suspiciously as he scrutinized Patamon. 'You... feel sorry for him?'

Patamon's sad eyes shot to TK's. 'You don't?'

TK stared at the ground grimly for a few seconds. 'I know I should... but... no. I don't.'

Patamon glanced around at the others before gazing at TK incredulously. 'You don't!?' He exclaimed, but hushed so he wouldn't wake the others. 'But... he's done nothing but help us. He deserves as much respect as our other friends who helped us.'

TK was silent as old feelings of prejudice began to clash with Patamon's logic.

'But... he's...'

Patamon frowned with disapproval. 'A dark digimon? That's why you can't feel sorry for him?'

TK sighed with shame. 'I know it's stupid, but I can't help it. And I also can't help feeling like he was hiding something from us... and how the Ghoulmon detected us in the first place.'

Patamon turned away. 'I don't like what I'm hearing, TK.'

'I don't like it, either, Patamon. But it's there.'

The two of them remained in uncomfortable silence for several long seconds, before they looked up as Agumon cleared his throat, with Biyomon still resting against him as she slept. It became obvious that he hadn't been sleeping, either, as his eyes reached TK's, demonstrated the same weariness.

'TK, I don't want to argue with you anymore...' He spoke with a bitter edge to his voice. 'It's become clear that words won't convince you otherwise about Myotismon. And his actions, even sacrificing himself - that isn't enough, either. Don't you remember how you treated him? You second guessed his motivations a lot, and slighted him for the smallest signs of betrayal. Imagine how you'd feel if someone treated you like that, just because you're different. He's gone now, though... and you never even thanked him, or apologized for your treatment of him.'

TK was taken aback as he knew everything Agumon said was true. He rested his head in his hands, staring at the ground, guilt squirming within his gut. After a while, a few tears dropped on to the ground, and Agumon turned away, before glancing at him sympathetically, wondering if he had gone too far. He glanced at Patamon as well, and was surprised when Patamon smiled at him gratefully before going back to TK. Agumon glanced down at Biyomon worriedly, and hugged her closer protectively before returning his concerned gaze to the crater where Barbamon was. He felt his eyes droop several times before the dark blanket of sleep over came him.