Part Three: The Digital World

City in the Sky

The Digital World

Saturday, June 2nd, 2018

8:30 A.M.

The clouds turned from blue to orange as night became day, light beaming across the world of the Devas. Twelve round islands were suspended in the air, connected by wooden bridges and stone staircases. The lowest of the islands was dipped in the clouds below, and a low fog rolled across the surface, which was paved with tan tiles. At the edge of the platform, the mouth of a cave opened up, revealing a path within the island.

A serpentine, green Digimon slithered out, yawning as it combed its long, silver hair with its claws. The dragon Digimon stood on four, pronged feet, its upper limbs conformed to gripping. A line of red hair ran down its back, ending at a bushel of silver hair at its tail. The Digimon wore a purple and brown cuirass, its hair bound in locks, with three-pronged antlers protruding from its skull. Majiramon blinked lazily as it stared out across the clouds, his eyes adjusting to the morning sun.

Then, from beneath the clouds, a ship erupted into view, flying into the air with tremendous speed. The Digimon watched curiously as a mechanism on the sides of the hull were released, and wide wings ejected outwards. The ship caught the air, and began to glide gracefully down towards his island.

"Well, that's something you don't see every day." He yawned, watching the ship slow down as it approached. The ship slowed to a stop over the island, and then four wooden pegs dropped down from the sides of the hull, clasping against the ground and holding the ship steady. A drawbridge was then shot down from the deck of the ship, and moments later, a silver-bearded Digimon walked down to greet him.

"And who might you be?" Majiramon cocked his head. "Actually, how did you get here? No, the first question is more important, I think. Answer both, please." He decided.

"Greetings, I am Captain Hookmon. I've come from the digital world proper because I have some passengers with a message for the Devas. I take it that you be one of them?" The Digimon spoke in a grisly, salted accent.

"I am Majiramon, the Dragon." He answered. "This message must be awfully important. I've never seen a vessel from the digital world proper come here before, although I must admit I have not been a Deva for long. What is the subject of this message?"

"I'll let my travelers tell you that their-selves." Hookmon answered. "Here they come now." He looked back to his ship, where Gankoomon was helping the Digidestined out from below deck. Palmon was the first topside, and with directions from Octomon she happily scrambled down the plank to the ground.

"Oh, sweet, stable, earth." Palmon hugged the tiling, her roots seeping in between the cracks. "I didn't know if I'd ever get back."

"Oh Palmon." Mimi smiled as she slowly walked down the plank, with Takuya, Dinoster, and Alice behind her. Alice held her partner, who, though still woozy, quickly jumped down to the ground once she saw Majiramon.

"Antylamon?" The dragon raised an eyebrow. "Well isn't this interesting. I thought you were on a mission in the human world."

"I've returned, with important news for Makuramon." Lopmon explained. "I've brought the Digidestined with me."

"Digidestined… I wasn't aware that Makuramon had turned the destiny key." Majiramon replied.

"We must speak with him, now." She said urgently.

"Of course, he should be home right about now. You know the way." Majiramon pointed to the edge of the island, where a long staircase led up to a massive floating isle.

"Right," She nodded, "Is it alright with you if this ship rests here for the time being?" She inquired.

"I don't see a problem." Majiramon shrugged. "It's not as if I'm using it for anything important." He slithered towards the stairs. "Come, I'll take you there." He lowered his back enough to the ground to allow people to climb atop him. With Lopmon's encouragement, Alice climbed atop the Digimon's back. Mimi followed, dragging an unwilling Palmon behind her.

"You fly all the time: what's the problem?" Mimi groaned.

"I just got back onto solid ground." Palmon whined.

"Obviously it's not that solid." Mimi pointed up towards their destination, the floating island above, which caused Palmon to groan.

"Are you coming, Impmon?" Takuya turned to the rookie as his partner climbed up the Digimon's back.

"Uh, I'ma stay here at the ship." Impmon replied. "Youse guys don't really need me right now anyway."

"Yeah, no problem." Takuya smiled, and climbed onto the Digimon's back.

"Well, if yer staying with the ship, then you'll be helping us secure 'er now." Hookmon patted the Digimon's back and started up the plank. "Come with me, boy."

"Aye, cap'n." Impmon nodded.

"I thank you for the assistance." Gankoomon said as he sat at the front of the group. "I apologize if I'm too heavy."

"No need," Majiramon shook his head, "It'll be a short trip regardless." Majiramon then lunged into the air, spiraling up and away towards the floating isle he had pointed at earlier. Palmon winced as they flew, her eyes looking back in longing for the island they had just left, but the trip was over almost as soon as it had begun. Majiramon landed on an island above his, connected by a path leading down to the massive isle in between them, which the Digidestined could see had a giant pyramid built atop it, as they slipped off of Majiramon's back and onto the tiled platform. The dragon Digimon led them to the center of the isle, where a tall, tiered temple stood.

"Makuramon, you have visitors!" He yelled inside, ducking his head down to the entryway. "I'm sure he'll be just a moment." Sure enough, within the minute, the group watched as a monkey-Digimon, as tall as the human tamers and dressed in clothing similar to Majiramon, descended the steps within the temple and walked outside.

"Makuramon, I have returned." Lopmon bounced towards the Deva, bowing with respect.

"Antylamon, it's good to see you." Makuramon bowed as well. "I won't lie, I expected you back sooner. Tell me what has happened, please." Makuramon waved them inside, where the group found an empty room surrounding a wooden staircase. Makuramon sat cross-legged on the ground, and the Digidestined followed suit. Lopmon then summarized the events in Kyoto, as well as their journey to the fourth plane, making sure to explain in short order, so they were not all gathered for as long as they had been at Gankoomon's camp.

"I see, I see." Makuramon nodded as Antylamon finished her explanation. "So the Digidestined I sent you to find were not there, aside from Izzy and Henry, but you found yourself a Digidestined partner instead. I am happy for you," He said to her, "It is a great honor."

"Thank you Makuramon, but there is information we must acquire. A friend, Willis has been taken, and we need to know where. In addition, it would behove us to know how long it's been since we've arrived in the digital world." Lopmon urged.

"I understand, and we will recover that information for you," Makuramon answered, "But first, it might benefit you all if you were to follow me. I have some information that will interest you all." He stood up. "Gankoomon, Majiramon, I apologize, but you will not fit down the path that I am leading them." He walked towards the stairs, ducking under them as the two Digimon nodded in understanding.

"Where are we going, Makuramon?" she inquired. The monkey raised a finger, asking patience, and then pulled up the panel beneath the stairs, revealing a pathway leading down into the island. "I discovered this room shorty after you left. I was quite surprised, given that I've lived here for so long." He climbed down the steps, and the Digidestined followed, and within a moment they arrived in a dark, circular chamber, with lights shimmering along the walls.

"What's this place?" Palmon asked curiously.

"Look along the wall; what do you see?" Makuramon inquired.

"Just some lights." She replied.

"Not just any lights," Makuramon replied, "I found this place almost five weeks ago, when that panel that concealed this room jumped open as I had come down from breakfast. I investigated, and at first didn't know what I saw." He walked up to the wall, placing his fingers against one of the lights, tracing the outline with the tip of his index finger. "These aren't just any lights: they're symbols; do you see?" The Digidestined went up to the walls, and observed that the lights were, indeed, actually ornate, abstract symbols, glowing with some mysterious power.

"What do the symbols mean, Makuramon?" Lopmon inquired.

"Hey, this is mine!" Takuya exclaimed. The group looked to him as he pulled the crest up from around his neck, comparing the symbol on each. Sure enough, they were the same.

"These are the crests." Makuramon answered. "Courage, Friendship, Knowledge," He moved his finger across the room, indicating to each glow on the wall, "Love, Wisdom, Reliability, Light, Hope, Vigor, Ingenuity, Common Sense, Justice, Faith, Kindness, Bravery…" His voice trailed off, "These are the crests of the Digidestined who came before you. And these," He walked up to the segment of the wall where Takuya stood, "These are the only ones aglow that do not belong to the old ones. These are yours." Mimi and Alice gathered around, where five glowing lights were spaced randomly along the wall. "Sincerity, Duty, Honor, Charity, and Peace. That is what these symbols represent." He explained.

"Two months ago, I turned the destiny key, knowing that the situation in our world was desperate. That is when you were called. But no Digidestined came to the digital world, which I didn't understand until now. You were called where you were needed the most, in Kyoto, to defend your people from the digital army."

"We didn't get our crests when we first became Digidestined." Takuya remembered. "It wasn't until Palmon was fighting Blossomon that they came. They appeared as lights in the sky and shot down to all of us."

"Because you asked." Makuramon replied. "That was a month ago, if I recall. A screeching sounded from the room which houses the destiny key. I went up to attend to it, and found it twitching. I fixed the key, and came downstairs to eat, which is when I discovered this room. All this time, it seems, every time I've turned the key, this room was housing the crests that give power to the Digidestined. When I summoned you, there was an error, and you did not receive your crests, only your digivices. When you called for help, the digital core heard you, and sent the message to me. Turning the key once more released your crests, although it seems there was a buildup of energy at the time, which caused the roof of this room to come undone."

"You said that was a month ago…" Mimi pondered. "It took us over a week to get from Gankoomon's mountains to the village. That means we were trapped in the data streams for three weeks?" She gasped.

"Oh dear…" Lopmon sighed. "Although it could have been worse. We could have been trapped in there for months. We should be grateful the digital core was as fast as it was."

"That just means we have to be that much faster about rescuing Willis." Takuya said with fire in his eyes. "We need to find him, now."

"You said these were the only ones aglow that you didn't recognize…" Alice hummed, her hand brushing against the surface. She turned to the right, where a portion of the wall was not alight. She squinted, and found another set of symbols etched into the wall: five dull, abstract lines.

"Yes, those are Digidestined who have yet to be called." Makuramon voiced what the girl was thinking. "It puts things into perspective, for me at least. Everytime I turned the destiny key in the past, it called only those that were needed. I know not why there are only five crests remaining, but it seems that the next time I turn that key, it will be the last."

"It really is… our destiny…" Mimi gasped.

"It's not just a phrase, you know." Makuramon smiled. "I don't know if even the digital core fully comprehends the power of the destiny key. You were truly meant for a higher purpose. Come now, there's one other thing which I must show you." He made his way out of the room, and the Digidestined followed, still mesmerized by the lights. He climbed back up to the ground floor, and swiftly exited the temple.

"Majiramon, would you be so kind as to take us up to Antylamon's library?" He asked the dragon.

"Of course," Majiramon ducked down once more, and the group climbed onto his back, with Makuramon taking place atop his head. The dragon zipped into the sky, following a long, winding staircase that led up to another platform, where a great, pillared building, shaped like the Greek Pantheon, stood.

"What did Makuramon show you, if you don't mind me asking?" Gankoomon asked the children as they climbed off Majiramon.

"I'm not exactly sure." Takuya answered. "He showed us where our crests came from, but I don't fully understand what it means."

"I see…" Gankoomon hummed, but had nothing further to say.

"What have you come to show me in my own library?" Lopmon inquired as they walked up the steps. "Granted, I only manage it, I've not read every tome."

"Yes, well it's not so much a question of what, but who." Makuramon replied. "Following your departure, we had a visitor, seeking knowledge. I sent him to your library in your absence. He's been researching the virus, and how to stop it."

"I don't know if he'll be able to find much about it." Lopmon said. "I was researching the virus as well before I left, and found nothing that would help us combat it." They passed the archway and entered a long, dark hall. The lower floor opened up into rows of tables, and in the background the group could see tall cases of books reaching high into the room. The walls were lined with books as well, with sliding ladders build into them that allowed one to reach the highest shelves. In the center of the open room of tables, a series of books were stacked together, with several sprawled out across a table. A lone figure sat hunched over the volumes, illuminated by candlelight. The humanoid was clad in red-and-white armor, and had a red cape draped over the back of the chair.

"Gallantmon!" Makuramon caught his attention, and Lopmon stopped dead in her tracks.

"Makuramon, how could you?" She whimpered. "One of the Royal Knights?" The rest of the Digidestined immediately grabbed their digivices, with Palmon and Dinoster jumping in front of them. Gankoomon prepared himself as well, but Makuramon waved the group down.

"Relax." He smiled. "This one will not fight you." As he spoke, Gallantmon looked up at the arriving group, his eyes widened at the sight of humans. He pulled up out of his chair, rounded the table, and walked up to greet them. "Gallantmon came looking for a solution to the virus, not content with the decisions made by the Royal Knights. He agrees with our philosophy, and wants to save both the human and digital worlds."

"Makuramon, how did humans find their way here?" He inquired, his high and scratchy voice in stark contrast to his intimidating demeanor.

"Gallantmon, may I present you with the newest group of Digidestined. They have come from the human world after protecting it from the digital army, seeking their friend. He was kidnapped by Asuramon in his retreat."

"Asuramon has retreated from Kyoto?" Gallantmon inquired. "Well," He bent down, extending a hand to the three humans. "You must have really put up quite a fight against him, didn't you?" Alice, Takuya, and Mimi nodded as they hesitantly shook his hand. "Please, don't be afraid. I don't know what experiences you've had with us Royal Knights before, but I promise you, I mean you no harm."

"We encountered Dynasmon and Rapidmon on our way here." Gankoomon answered for the children. "Dynasmon in particular was quite adamant about taking us in for questioning."

"Yes, he's become quite aggressive ever since the virus appeared." Gallantmon lamented. "I regretfully apologize on behalf of my brethren. Their actions are misguided. I came into conflict with them concerning their decision to invade the human world, and we came to no resolution. I couldn't condone their actions, so I left the group, and came here to research a way to combat the virus that did not include full scale war."

"Why are the Knights doing this?" Dinoster asked. "If they're partnered with humans as well? How could they want to attack the human world?"
"That is a complicated question, but I shall explain." Gallantmon replied.

"I shall go check on discovering the whereabouts of Asuramon." Makuramon excused himself from the group. "That should tell us the location of your friend, or at least where to start looking." He walked away towards the entrance to the library.

"You were saying?" Gankoomon asked suspiciously.

"Yes, well as you may know, the virus has ravaged our world, eliminating almost 90% of the Digimon who inhabited the digital world proper. We tried our best to keep Digimon safe, turning to the Devas for answers." He looked to Lopmon. "When they found nothing, we desperately looked for solutions to the problem. As we searched, one of our own, Leopardmon, became afflicted with the virus. We tried to save him, but he was lost to us." Gallantmon sighed heavily. "After that, we discovered something in the fifth plane. It's always been a puzzling issue to us, that the digital world proper should be so large, while the world of the Devas and the Royal Knights was so small. We've always been fighting some opponent or another, so it's never a question we were able to investigate, but in the hopes that we could find a safe place to relocate the Digimon, where the virus wouldn't afflict them, we began searching the seas of the fifth plane for other islands."

"We found one, but it was barren and desolate. Still we had hope, so we sent two of our numbers, Kentaurosmon and Paladin Imperialdramon, to investigate. When they didn't return, Dynasmon and Crusadermon volunteered to look for them. We insisted that we go as a team, but Dynas and Crusader persuaded us that our efforts were better served in keeping the virus at bay. We were worried, but they returned safely, and they were not alone."

"You found Digimon on the fifth plane?" Lopmon inquired.

"No, not a Digimon." Gallantmon shook his head. "We found something, someone, we had never imagined in our wildest dreams we would have met. Sitting within a cathedral in the middle of this barren wasteland, was Lord Yggdrasil." Dinoster, Palmon and Lopmon gasped.

"That's the thing that created the digital world, wasn't it?" Mimi inquired. Alice and Takuya nodded.

"Yggdrasil, surely that cannot be!" Lopmon cried.

"I promise you it was." Gallantmon replied. "Or rather, it was his consciousness, preserved within a great crystal, that we found. We brought him back to our castle, and begged his guidance. Using his great knowledge, he told us that the virus had come from the human world, and that the only way to stop it was to go there, and eliminate it from the source."

"Yggdrasil is the one who commanded the Knights to attack the human world?" Lopmon exclaimed.

"Yes." Gallantmon replied. "It was there that I came at odds with them. I do believe that great form we found to be Yggdrasil, but I cannot agree with his verdict. But the other Knights did, finding no other options, and followed his command. They created the digital army, drafting as many able-bodied Digimon as they could, while still preserving what was left of the trading networks of the world, and sent them to Kyoto."

"He's no god." Takuya said angrily. "All the strife he's caused, all the misery. He took all the pain that had been inflicted upon the digital world, and redirected it to the human world, and he brainwashed good Digimon into doing terrible things in the name of justice. He's no god, or at least not one I'd worship."

"You are not wrong." Gallantmon nodded. "What does 'god' mean, anyways? A creator, a leader, something deserving of respect? Yggdrasil may have formed our world, but that does not mean he is one that is worthy of our worship. That is why I departed the Knights. Yggdrasil was always portrayed as benevolent in our legends, while the Reaper was considered the source of all dark data. I do not know if that is truly the case, but it may be that neither Yggdrasil and the Reaper were the sources of good and evil that we portray them to be.

"Often our understanding of good and evil is flawed as well. What is evil, but the opposite of the values you hold dear? When the first Digidestined arrived in the digital world, they battled with a Digimon named Piedmon. He used to be the leader of the Royal Knights, until our values clashed and he was ousted. We were at odds with him until his death, when he sacrificed himself to save the digital world from certain destruction. We considered him evil, but he always only ever tried to do what was right by the digital world, in his own twisted definition. That is why I now stand against my brethren. I don't believe good or evil has anything to do with Yggdrasil's decisions. His values and mine, simply do not overlap, and for that we are at odds. But I warn you children, though he may not be evil, make no mistake: Yggdrasil has power that we cannot comprehend, and before this is over, he will use that power, should it come down to it, in preservation of those ideals he holds. If you want to save the human world, I believe a battle with Yggdrasil is unavoidable."