It had started out so differently than Myotismon had anticipated.
Months ago, Sirene's child had secretly followed that fool Demidevimon right to his domain, only to fall through the floor into one of the castle chambers. Myotismon's first instinct was eliminate her on the very spot, until he thought it better to keep her a prisoner, and deliver her to the one who'd given him life.
Naturally, the heir awakened stunned and needless to say, intrigued with him. In the months she was with him, he found himself growing closer, and closer to her than he thought possible…
Sirene's heir had often been on his mind these last few weeks, more so, he was surprised to find, then any of the Chosen children or the other meddling guardians. His thoughts had not even been those of her demise, as they probably ought to have, but rather thoughts of admiration: Admiration for how the least likely had risen through the ranks to become a stronger magical user. Admiration for how Kylie had been able to gain respect from the most feared creatures, admiration for intellectual words of altruism, and admiration for the traits that made her a formidable warrior in her own right. Even the negative traits, such as her self-doubt and her shyness, stood out to the vampire.
He seen her true shape and her varying fairy forms, yet he cared not for her changes, it was Kylie's self that drew him to her.
Myotismon returned to his castle, as he walked past a mirror, a voice called out to him. "Myotismon!"
He turned startled, as a pair of glowing, pink eyes with black, cat slit pupils stared out, before the reflection of him was replaced by a woman.
"Mother!" Myotismon bowed, crossing his arm over his chest.
"What has happened!? The Crest of Love, I can feel its power activated!" Lady Despair rages, clutching her head. "It burns even here in the human world!"
"Demidevimon had failed to take care of the children," Myotismon tried to explain. "And when I got there..."
"Don't blame DemiDevimon for your own failures!" Lady Despair snaps. "You should've done it yourself, but I know the truth!" She narrows her eyes at him. "You were too focused on the Heir of Sirene!"
Myotismon looks up in alarm.
"Oh, don't think you can hide things from me, Myotismon. Mothers see all." Lady Despair points at him. "Get here to the human world, I've discovered the city the 8th child is living in...we must hurry, you must bring your forces here. Strand those children and the guardians in the digital world. We can't have them interfering in our plans."
She placed her hands on the mirror, leaning over with a frown. "Understand, Myotismon? The schedule's been pushed ahead, I need you here. NOW!"
And with that, Lady Despair vanished from the mirror.
Meanwhile, the the group was still by the the creek Garudamon had taken them the previous evening. Zaira using her filter with Beth while Tai and Joe were filling some of the water.
Mimi spoke up from her spot next to Palmon. "Now that Myotismon appeared, we'll probably have to keep running like we did with Etemon."
"Well, that's true…" Joe said thoughtfully then looked to Tai.
"Now if we beat him at his own game." Zaira pointed out. "We'll just have to use his weaknesses against him. He might be a digimon but he's still a vampire."
"Yeah, we'd just be laying low for the time being." added Tai.
"We'll all prepare to take him down." Palmon reassured Mimi.
Beth reminded. "Don't forget, we already have at least five of us guardians that achieved new transformations we'll put to good use the next time we face him."
"That's right."
Then Izzy ran up nearly out of breath informing them that Gennai has appeared and wished to speak to them all. As before, Gennai has appeared to them via holographic projection.
"I have both good news and bad news, so which would you like to hear first?"
"I'd like to say leave the good news for last, but…" Joe began.
"We'll end up disappointed either way, so let's hear the good news first." Matt decided.
"Okay. Then I'll start with something positive. The truth is, I've found a new comrade of the Chosen children." Gennai told them.
"A comrade? As in another a Chosen Child?" Sora inquired.
Gennai confirmed, "Yes. After much research I have discovered that there truly eight Chosen Children altogether."
The group was stunned by the news.
"If there's another one of you then that means there's another Digimon who's on our side?" Pyokomon questioned.
Kylie gasped softly, "So that's what Myotismon meant when he said that the power of seven Chosen children would not be enough…"
Gennai informed. "Yes, most important fact to know is that if you're not all together, the distortions in this world won't be straightened out. That also includes the distortions in your world. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Kylie and the guardians nodded.
"I wonder what that person is like." T.K. looked excited to meet their new team member.
"Yes, I hope I can meet our new friend soon!" Mimi was equally enthusiastic.
Gennai added, "I've been in contact with the Dark Spectre Queen of your world, where she discovered the child, and is protecting them."
Tai frowned in surprise. "I met her with Theo when we went back to Earth," he said. "She mentioned to us about the force behind Myotismon and the others."
Gennai frowned. "Yes, Lady Despair. And that's the bad news, she knows about the child plots to find this child, and kill them before they can be used to defeat Myotismon, due to her needing him to conquer the Digital World and your world. But it seems the Dark Spectre Queen's magic are stronger then hers, since her black magic can't find the child."
"Who are they, we must know!" Kylie said intensely.
Everyone's faces grew rigid with anxiety.
"I fear she wouldn't reveal it to me." Gennai told them, causing them to groan in disbelief. "She worries that Lady Despair might be listening into the connection we have, but if you manage to get to the Human world, she just might tell you in person."
"So now we have an extremely powerful and dangerous dark sorceress, with an army of evil digimon searching for a child somewhere on Earth." Beth said.
"I'm afraid it's not somewhere," Gennai said in uneasy tone. "I believe she's been...'sleazing' around your home town."
That caused Tai, Matt and the others to react in alarm.
"She's in our home!?" Matt shouted in fear.
"And worse," Gennai said. "She plans to bring Myotismon into your world, and have him help in STALKING the poor child like a hunter a bird in the forest."
Zaira's eyes widened, "He's going to Japan?! The ministry's going to put a price on our skin!"
"Japan? Where is that?" Gabumon inquired.
"It's in the world where Tai and the others all came from." Agumon explained to him.
"And if he gets to Earth, his own presence could cause mass panic for both magical and no maj communities!" Beth yelped, "One of the worst breach to the statute of secrecy!"
Kylie looked worried then a light-bulb clicked. "Wait, I know where Myotismon's castle is!"
The group knew they would be needing spies on the inside. So Agumon and Palmon go in disguise as recruits for Myotismon's army, and are accepted for training by Nanimon.
Meanwhile, in his chambers Myotismon was perusing through a book of dark magic in his chambers, when a knock sounded at the door.
"Enter." Myotismon called out.
DemiDevimon appeared as the doors opened by their own, and cautiously stepped into the room.
"Lord Myotismon, potential soldiers are streaming in from everywhere." Demidevimon reported.
"Will they be useful for my mother?" Myotismon inquired.
"P-probably." DemiDevimon said nervously.
A girlish giggle came from the shadows. "As if you can call THAT an army!"
Demidevimon glanced around wildly. "Who's there?!"
The speaker walked out of the shadows from behind him. It was a white cat wearing large lime yellow and red striped gloves with black claws sticking out of them. Her ears are large with tufts of purple hair on the tips reminiscent of a caracal. Her tail has purple stripes with a tuft on the end and a golden ring around it. She was Gatomon, Myotismon's lieutenant.
"You plan on making a second string army with a ratty bunch like that?" She taunted.
Demidevimon was indignant. "Hey, don't say that!"
"What you want to fight?" Gatomon challenged, her paws on her hips.
Myotismon stood up, silencing them both. "That's enough. More importantly, Gatomon have you found anyone useful?"
"Yes sire, just as you've ordered I've searched everywhere and recruited only a number of Digimon that posses extraordinary powers." Gatomon replied by kneeling.
"I look forward to seeing how impressive they are." The vampire replied.
Gatomon nodded once. "Yes, sir."
Behind her Demidevimon growled angrily. Then a Bakemon came through the bookshelves. "Excuse me for interrupting Lord Myotismon."
"What is it?" Myotismon folded his arms.
"The stone room is ready for your inspection." The Bakemon answered.
Myotismon turned back to his minions. "You two can go."
"Sir," they bowed once then walked out.
Then Myotismon walked up to the bookcase to a small vault with two side levers, however when he lifted them both what opened was not a vault but a secret room.
With a low creaking sound, the bookshelves slid apart. Appearing behind them was a pitch-black staircase that led to an underground stone room. Pushing back his cape, Myotismon walked down the stone steps into an enormous chamber with a great steel door. A door that was a gate that connected this world to other worlds.
Myotismon faced the stone slate that stood in the middle of the room.
The middle of the slate was divided by a box of 3 x 3, with a sign of ∴ on its left and three different shapes carved into its right side boxes. Above the boxes were pictures of a lion, an archer, and a monkey. Within each box, going down, were an increasing number of stars.
Out in the castle courtyard, Agumon and Palmon are aided by Sukamon, Chuumon, and some Numemon and Vegiemon who are also part of Nanimon's group of overworked henchmen, find a way in for the group by luring Nanimon with sake (Japanese rice wine).
Back outside the group was on edge waiting for Agumon and Palmon's signal. The guardians were already transformed and ready to fly the children and digimon up inside if need be. Fortunately some familiar long vines dropped out a tower window.
"Sorry for the wait!" Palmon apologized from the window.
"All right!" Tai exclaimed, running forwards.
"Then that's our cue!" Beth nods once, she and the girls flew over.
"I won't be able to contact you inside the castle, so you're on your own." Gennai called out to them.
"Sure, you can count on us!" Tai had a thumbs up as he and Mimi were the first to be pulled up.
"Remember, stop Myotismon's plans and protect your comrade in Japan!"
"Alright, who's next to be flown upwards?" Theo asked the others.
Deep in the castle, within Myotismon's chambers, with its curtains drawn all the way, was naturally faintly dark, and had a musty smell. The vampire had several cards on the table that he was analyzing critically.
"The key is within my grasp. After understanding the meaning hidden within these cards, they must be placed in the appropriate order. Then the door to the other worlds will open." He then smirked wickedly. "Guardians, Chosen Children. No matter how hard you struggle, it is already too late."
Once inside the castle, the group split up trying to find the right way to the gate.
Although the hallways were not narrow, there were no straight corners that could be called corners, giving the feeling that they were trapped inside. If someone who did not know this entered the castle, they would get lost immediately and be driven insane.
"I'm starting to feel like we're in a M.C. Escher painting." Zaira remarks grimly.
"Kylie, you've been here before. Don't you know where to go?" Sora asked her.
"Not really." Kylie admits. "I was never allowed this far into the castle."
This would be a lot harder than they thought.
"Get ready for departure. Gather all of the soldiers to the stone room!" Myotismon ordered his minions.
"Yes, sir!" Gatomon and Demidevimon nodded and left to comply.
Myotismon then mused to himself, "I've made many preparations to accomplish my greatest aspiration… but to think they will be useful this very moment. First comes the eighth Chosen Child, their remains will act as the foundation for my ambitions! Sirene's heir… her mortal limitations can be remedied, but I'll make her my mate yet."
However a darkened mirror, a familiar face stepped into view with a scoff. "You are smitten with that child," Lady Despair said in disdain. "The daughter of that wretched Nymph! Of all the maidens for you to desire, and it's her!?"
"Mother, would it not be poetic justice?" Myotismon tried to persuade his creator. "For Sirene's heir to be corrupted, and become my bride!"
"She would never have you, Darling Boy. She has a heart warm enough to melt nifelheim, and adores those Chosen brats as if they were her own offspring. She'd sooner be a martyr, than your bride, so just give up on her!"
However that was the very last thing Myotismon intended to do.
"This castle is very strange." Izzy was saying to the Guardians and the other children. "The airspace in here must be distorted and warped."
"This isn't the first time we've seen this world acting weird." Tai reminded them
"But this place is particularly weirder than the rest." Matt pointed out. "Most likely because of Myotismon's powers."
Zaira looked around. "It would make sense hypothetically speaking, the place might've been designed to keep intruders out or stuck until they're dealt with."
Gomamon had paused, listening. "Someone's coming!"
They all peered over the walkway to see line of intimidating Digimon, ones intended for Myotismon's army. There was great number of Bakemon among them.
"That's an awful lot of grunts…" Theo muttered.
"They're getting ready to leave." Matt correctly surmised.
"We better follow them!" Sora suggested.
"Right! Let's go!" Tai said.
Hurriedly they following after the army, hoping they were not too late.
Within the stone room, the Digimon that Gatomon had recruited from different lands were all lined up, waiting for orders to depart. Standing in front of the stone slate with an unperturbed look on his face, Myotismon was giving a speech. "Heed me. Our target is the Eighth Chosen Child. Find him and destroy him. Shroud everything in darkness with the power of darkness!"
Cheers of agreement rang throughout the stone room.
Myotismon placed the cards upon the stone slate and raised his arms, chanting a strange spell. "Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius!"
The stack of cards floated into the air as if they were being arranged by an invisible hand, separated, and fit themselves neatly into all nine spaces within the stone slate. The door that connected them to another world, the door that gave a few horrible omen of death, slowly opened towards them.
"It's time to depart!" Gatomon called out.
Obeying her orders, the Digimon passed one by one through the gate.
"Wait!" Tai yelled out. "You won't get away with this!"
"We won't let you go to our world!" shouted Zaira.
The Chosen Children came charging down the spiral staircase with the five guardians flying above them.
But Myotismon did not appear to be in the least worried. "So you're finally here. But it's too late. Look well upon this historic moment! Unfortunately I don't have the time right now to concern myself with you. DemiDevimon."
"Sir!"
"Silence them. However, if so much as a scratch is laid upon Sirene's child, I'll personally clip your wings."
Demidevimon yelped, "Understood!"
As someone who loved darkness and detested the light, Myotismon shielded himself from that light with his cape. And, as if to escape from it, he dove into the coffin that was prepared within the carriage pulled by Devidramon, closing the lid over him.
Before vanishing into his carriage, Myotismon blew a farewell kiss to Kylie.
'Welcome back, my darling...I'll see you again soon.' he'd whispered into her mind.
Kylie just about almost dropped to the ground with shock, even more so when Demidevimon had frantically yelled at the mediocre rear guard that their orders were not to harm 'Lord Myotismon's future bride.'
While Nanimon's group was facing down the chosen children's digimon and five of the guardians, Gatomon had been briefly delayed.
"Will you be alright by yourself?" Wizardmon asked Gatomon worriedly.
"I'll be fine," Gatomon answered calmly, the ring on her swaying tail clinking. "Go on."
"Understood. Let us meet in the other world." Saying that, Wizardmon headed for the gate.
Just before he passed through, he glanced back one last time. It wasn't to check on Gatomon. No, it was because he wanted to carve into his memory every shape of this world that he may never again return to, of this Digital World that had led him to his fateful meeting with Gatomon.
Of course, being faced down with six full grown champion levels and five spell casters had sent Nanimon and his crew fleeing for their lives.
"The Gate is closing!" Sora cried.
"Playtime is over! Let's go!" Tai yelled.
"One side!" Gatomon had jumped in front of Demidevimon. "Honestly… I can't stand watching this anymore."
Kylie fluttered downwards with a weary sigh. "Hello Gatomon."
The white cat digimon met her gaze stoically. "I'd been wondering whether you'd actually show up."
"Aww, a kitty!" Dana smiled.
Joe moved his hands in a dismissive gesture towards Gatomon. "Another small digimon showed up. Shoo, shoo. Get out of the way. You don't want to get hurt, do you?"
None of the others knew Gatomon's strength. It was hard to imagine that her small, innocent-looking frame had gone through many a bloody battlefield.
"Oh so you're underestimating me," Gatomon said looking slightly miffed. "Watch this."
Greymon gave her a light swipe with his hand, but Gatomon dodged that swing and landed on his chest. It looked as if she only touched Greymon lightly. But power that was unimaginable from its appearance attacked Greymon and, was blown off his feet.
"Don't be fooled! She's much stronger than she looks." Kylie warned.
Kabuterimon, Birdramon, Ikkakumon and the others pulled into alert, fighting stances. Even so, Gatomon's continuous Cat Punches brought them down. Dana had tried catching her into her arms as one would a pet, only for the cat Digimon to burst free slap her away with her tail.
"Never mind her, and get to the gate!" Beth yelled.
"Let's go!" Tai called out, and they all dashed for the gate as Togemon and Garurumon attacked Gatomon.
But Gatomon spotted them to her irritation, and landed on the floor.
"You're not getting away!" Gatomon cried out.
The golden ring around her tail glowed brightly. The gargoylish figures called Devidramon suddenly came to life.
"What is going on?" cried Dana.
The beasts snarled furiously at the children. The guardians rushed to their defense, Theo immediately flung a fireball at the monster, but it smacked the ball back with its claws. The fireball sizzled over to the guardians, knocking them out of the air. The five fairies crashed into the rubble on the floor.
"GARTHIM!" Gatomon hollered.
Immediately, the flea-crab hybrid statues all over the room suddenly stirred much like the Devidramons have. Their eyes glowed a deep, dark purple, and strange appendages on their chests moved, making a chittering sound. And they moved, falling off their alcoves and crashing to the ground in front of the group.
"Ahhhh! What are those things!?" Mimi cried out.
Kylie froze, her chest rising and falling as she gasped in fear.
"Kylie? Kylie!" Theo cried out, shaking her arm. "What is it!?"
"GARTHIM!" Kylie cried out, her voice overlapped by another's.
"What?" Tai and the others looked at her in shock.
"What in the Universe?! I thought these things were from Thra!" Dana yelled in utter disbelief.
"Golem creations of Lady Despair!" Kylie said in her own voice. "Keep away, keep away!"
Zaira frowned, and delivered an electric spell against the creatures. Only for her spell to fail, much to her own shock.
"It didn't work!?" Zaira cried out.
"They're impervious to primary forms of magic," Kylie yelled out. "Too strong, only one weak spot on their chests, unrelenting!"
"Leave them to us!" Garurumon declared. "Hurry to the gate!"
Patamon flew ahead to the gate and was fighting with Demidevimon.
"If we don't hurry, the gate will close!" he cried.
"I know!" Tai said irritably, and clenched his Crest.
Seeing him attempt to evolve his partner to Perfect level, Gatomon decided that it was time for her to leave. She swiftly swatted Patamon away before running back to the gate.
"Sorry, I can't let you pass!" Gatomon said.
"You can't be serious!" Kylie yelled flying forwards.
"KYLIE!" Theo cried out.
She grabbed Kylie, pulling her out of the way, as a Garthim lunged at her, it's gnarled hand grasping and claw hand snapping.
"Don't be so crabby, Guardians." Gatomon mocked with a hissing laugh. "It's nothing personal, princess. You're much better off here in your birthplace anyway."
There was only a small gap when DemiDevimon rushed through, with Gatomon already standing past the threshold ready to visit Earth.
"Be seeing you." Gatomon taunted before the gate closed.
Tai dove forwards with a yell but it was too late. He crashed against it and fell back with the children catching him.
"N–No way…"
"No…"
"We were so close!"
Tai ran back to the door, pounding his fist on it in desperation. "If we don't do something, the eighth child…!"
Beth was stunned. "Now we're all in big trouble, Myotismon and his goons are in Japan and he's probably going to start enslaving no majs and magical beings as we speak…"
Zaira glowered. "Thanks Boss, for the cheery little update."
To be continued…