Fallen Angels
Book V of the Guardian Angel Sequence
Prologue
The Digi Destined have accomplished another amazing task. T.K., Kari, Jenny, and Julie had their partners taken away along with their other friends and partners. The four unlocked the key of their gems to Digivolving themselves.
But something else happened. The once-Guardians had an argument that caused them to split up, on five different sides. Now they will not speak or interact with one another, and war is at risk.
Now, the Digi Destined must find out what to do next with the one clue of a simple voice. They only know that the awakening of the twins of Gemini may be close at hand…
Terror ripped through them as the ten of them ran. The ten Digi Destined ran from their own partners, who pursued them with only evil thoughts. In their dream state, they could barely run, while their partners seemed to have unmatchable speeds. At the same time, all the kids fell. The Digimon towered above them, ready to strike. Several evil laughs were heard and they could see the figures of all the evil Digimon they had defeated laughing at them. And suddenly a brilliant light ripped through the darkness and terror and…
Kari woke up, sweating and pale, skin clammy. She barely held back a scream as the dream replayed itself over and over in her memory. She looked at the others who were sleeping peacefully. Silently she slipped under Angewomon's protective arm and slipped out to the balcony of the fortress. A cool night wind blew by, tossing her hair about.
"Why is this happening to me?" She whispered to no one. She recalled a long time ago when they had to answer Riddlemon's riddle to find Katie. The night before she had had a dream that told her of what was to come. Now she was having these other dreams when no one else was.
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the dream where she had foreseen the horrified and sad expression of Angewomon, which matched her partner's face when Kari freed her.
"You are special, little one." Said the soft voice that they had heard the day before. "In many ways, yes, indeed."
"But why me? There are the other Digi Destined." Kari asked. But there was no answer.
"Who are you talking to?" Asked a voice. Kari turned, startled. It was T.K. She would have expected him to look exhausted, but he looked alert and awake. A change had gone through them when they had Gem-evolved themselves.
"Oh, just having dreams. I woke up and came to get some fresh air." Kari said, half-lying.
"You're pale." T.K. clarified. "Are you sick?"
"No." Kari suddenly felt a wave of grief and explained out what she was worried about and what was going on.
Though they didn't see it, their two angel partners had woken and were watching them silently from the shadows.
"So that's it." T.K. said softly. Kari nodded, looking away as tears pricked her eyes. T.K. felt compassion for her and instinctively reached out to touch her shoulder. After a moment he pulled his hand away, afraid he might have embarrassed her.
"I don't know what's wrong with me or why I get these dreams. There are others who are like me. I'm different, though." Kari said quietly.
"You are only a little different from the rest of us." T.K. said. "You came here after us and seemed to be more powerful in strange ways. Even your partner is somehow a little more powerful than ours."
"You are right." Kari admitted. "But my dreams are strange, like they tell the future." T.K. nodded.
"That can happen." He said.
"Well I guess I should go back to sleep."
"Yeah, me too."
"Then again, I think I am going to stay up a little longer out here to think. Maybe I can clear my head."
"Alright. I'm going to go back to sleep." T.K. slipped into the room, not noticing that he and Kari's partners were in different spots than before, apparently asleep.
Kari sighed, searching the night sky. She picked out Gemini, who seemed to wink at her reassuringly.
"Why am I different?" She asked no one. A slightly stronger night wind than before picked up and whirled around her, as if it had a purpose.
"There are reasons." Said the voice. "Watch. Listen, now."
A mist formed in front of Kari and in the middle it cleared. Kari saw the castle that was once Rahomor's. The view slowly moved away, showing forests dying and lakes drying up. All of the mountains were collapsing bit by bit.
On top of the Girl of the Mountain's home, the Girl was fleeing, her home being destroyed.
The Titans were escaping from their own homes and Kari saw the mermaid swimming desperately for some form of water. Norian was in danger because she hadn't woken to flee. The vision showed her still resting on the ocean floor.
Their newer partners fled their mountain homes in a panic and gathered together to find a shelter.
All of them seemed to be slowly moving in the same general direction – towards a place a couple of miles south of the Digi Destined current location. Kari saw the vision slowly move over a destroyed forest near their current location. She gasped and saw that she and the others were standing there, barely protecting themselves from attacks of several Digimon. Kari watched, horrified as their Digimon collapsed, failing to protect them. Kari stepped back as the vision faded.
"But what do we do?" Kari whispered.
"Heed the warning at the end. Only you can avert the future as it stands." The voice disappeared.
Kari replayed it in her head. Only she could stop the rest of them from being annihilated.
The "responsibility" overwhelmed her. Thoughts rushed through her head.
The dreams.
She was special of all the others.
Their fleeing friends.
Only she could save her friends.
The thoughts whirled through her head and she felt incredibly dizzy. She felt light-headed and nauseous. She collapsed in a faint. Angewomon managed to catch her a moment before Kari hit the ground.
The dream. The vision. But this time she saw the place where their friends were fleeing. It was a gate. Beyond was not visible. Their friends were there, doing nothing as if they were waiting. Kari's dream shifted and she saw the once-Guardians really fighting. They were throwing each of their best techniques at each other.
So that's why everything is being destroyed. The Guardians fighting is upsetting nature and causing disaster.
The dream slowly faded…
"Kari, wake up!" Urged a voice. Kari blinked open her eyes heavily. It was still night, but dawn was not far. Angewomon was holding her.
"Ugh…how long have I been out?" Kari murmured.
"An hour or less."
Again, her dreams and what had happened rushed back at her. She tried to hide her eyes as tears filled her eyes, but her partner saw.
"What is wrong, Kari?"
Kari explained out everything that had happened. Everything. Her partner listened to everything, never interrupting, never reprimanding.
"There are a couple of things I need to do." Kari said, wiping her tears. "Will you take me and help me do them? I am not asking or commanding you to. I'm asking you if you will." Angewomon thought a moment, and then she nodded.
"What do you have to do?"
"I want to wake up Norian: she is in danger. That means I have to find the Girl of the Mountain. I have to ask the Girl some questions anyway. I have some other things I have to do to, but after I ask her I will. Can you take me?"
"Yes. When?"
"Now. I don't want to get Tai and the others involved in this."
"We'll come." A voice offered. Kari turned. T.K. and Magnaangemon were standing there. Kari thought a moment, and then she nodded. She explained out to them an outline of what she wanted to do.
They were ready to leave almost immediately. Kari wrote out a note to Tai and the others and left it where she had been sleeping. They left quickly and flew towards the Girl of the Mountain's home.
A couple of hours after they had left, the others woke up.
"Where's Kari?" Tai asked worriedly, jumping up.
"T.K.'s gone." Matt said, looking around. Everyone got up and looked around. It was Mimi who finally found the note. Tai grabbed it from her and read it.
"'Tai - T.K. and I went to go talk with the Girl of the Mountain and finish some other business. Don't worry; we'll be fine. If you go anywhere, you will eventually find us at a gate just south of where the fortress is. If you head directly south, you should find it. If we don't find you here when we come back, we'll see you there.'"
"Great." Tai said, crumpling the note.
"They have their partners with them, Tai, so they'll be fine." Sora said.
"I'm worried about them, but T.K. has shown me he can take care of himself. Especially with Magnaangemon around, he'll be fine." Matt said. He was clearly worried, but obviously not in a panic like Tai.
Tai continued pacing for a moment, and then he stopped, nodding.
"We should go down to this gate sometime today or tomorrow."
"Niera! Girl of the Mountain!"
The four of them were at the Girl's (Niera's) Mountain home. It was like a ruin. The rocks had collapsed and there was no sign of the Girl.
"No luck." T.K. said.
"We have to find her." Kari persisted.
"Me?" Asked a tired and weary voice. They turned. It was the Girl of the Mountain. Her clothes were torn a little and she looked weary.
"What happened to you?" T.K. asked.
"Evil forces came and destroyed my home. They stole my instrument and more." The Girl said.
"Oh, no." Kari said.
"Tell me what you needed of me."
"I had some questions."
"Go on."
"The Guardians are fighting. I know that forests are beginning to die, lakes beginning to dry up, and the mountains are crumbling. I had a vision where you, the Titans, and our new partners all had to leave your homes. Norian hasn't woken up and she is in danger."
The Girl of the Mountain gave Kari a long look, marveling at her ability to gain this knowledge.
"Not the work of the Guardians, it isn't. Must be some help from the twins of Gemini." The Girl muttered to herself. "We are fleeing. I don't know what I can do about Norian. I know she is-" Abruptly she was cut off by a screech. A falcon landed on one of the destroyed rocks. The falcon lifted its talon, showing a rolled up paper.
"I bear news for the Girl of the Mountain from the Digimon mountain dwellers." The falcon said in a rough voice. It dropped the scroll into the Girl's waiting hands and took off. The Girl opened the scroll. She read it and a look of horror came to her face.
"Read it." Kari said.
"'Dear Niera, I trust you can bring this message to the Digi Destined. Our mountain homes are collapsing. We gathered to flee, but realized that two were not with us. Cheribimon and Siriusmon are trapped in different places in different ways. Please contact the Digi Destined and tell them. They can help. Please hurry, the mountains could be collapsing on them at any moment! –Martialmon'"
"I can't –" T.K. started but he was cut off by a howl. They all looked around, confused. A small, ragged looking black wolf limped up the hill, a few other wolves trailing behind him.
"Niera," The small black one gasped. "The Guardians have engaged in an all-out war! You are the only one that can help."
The Girl, Niera, lifted the black wolf into her arms so he could tell her more.
"This is impossible." Kari said. "It's like the world is going to end."
"We have to make a plan." T.K. said. "All this is going on and we don't have much time to do it all before the whole Digital World collapses.
"First we have to get to our newer partners at the mountains. Then we go help Norian, and then we go to that gate. Unless something else turns up." Everyone agreed.
"Niera!" Kari called. "We are going to help the Titans and our partners. We'll meet you at the gate!" Niera nodded and waved them on.
The angels lifted their partners and they took off east for the mountains.
When they arrived where their newer partners had gathered, they all looked weary.
"We came to help. The others couldn't come." Kari told them.
"Cheribimon is trapped on her mountain home, as is Siriusmon." Martialmon told them. T.K. turned to the other three.
"How about Magnaangemon and I go look for Siriusmon, and Kari, you and Angewomon go look for Cheribimon? We can cover more ground." T.K. said.
"Right." Kari agreed. "After we're done, let's meet back here."
"Agreed."
The Titan of Fire touched down in the clearing in front of the other two expectant Titans.
"I saw the two younger ones headed towards the mountains. The others are headed to the gate." Van said wearily.
"I have had no luck with Norian. Niera is needed." Aria said.
"Someone stole her instrument." Rhian informed them.
"But it sounds like the younger ones will head this way soon." Van said. "They will help us."
"Celestial Arrow!"
"No luck." Kari sighed as the arrow had little effect on wires.
Cheribimon was trapped in a forest of wires. Kari and Angewomon heard her cries for help from the inside. The wires were like a filled-in dome, trapping Cheribimon.
"Do you think you could Gem-evolve yourself into your DigiWarrior form?" Angewomon asked.
"I'll try." Kari said. She drew a deep breath to calm down and grasped the gem at her neck.
"Hikari Gem-evolve to…DigiWarrior of Light!" Kari looked at her DigiWarrior self triumphantly. "I did it."
Kari searched through her quiver full of arrows, searching for a certain kind. As if reading her mind, the quiver held a large bundle of razor sharp arrows, cutting through anything to serve a good purpose.
"Careful. Don't touch the tip on these." Kari said, carefully handing several of the arrows to her partner. Together, they carved a narrow path through the wires, replacing old arrows with new ones as they went. When they were nearing the center, they saw flashes of white that were Cheribimon's wings. When they could fully see Cheribimon, they could see that she was cut in many places and hurt. Angewomon lifted her out instead of making her fly.
Once Cheribimon was out, she surrounded herself in a ball of psychic energy. Slowly but surely, her wounds healed and her broken wings snapped themselves back into position.
They set off to where the others were, happy for at least one thing having been accomplished.
"Takeru Gem-evolve to…DigiWarrior of Hope!" Swords flashed as T.K. shifted them. "Much better." He commented.
T.K. and Magnaangemon plunged their swords through many different, strange rocks that had caved in on Siriusmon's home.
After a lot of dust and wrists well worn, the two finally hacked away the last of the rocks. Siriusmon was lying motionless on the floor. He had clearly been there a much longer time than Cheribimon had been trapped. T.K. dropped to the stone floor beside him and listened for heartbeat and breath. Siriusmon's heart was weakly beating and his breath was shallow.
Magnaangemon knelt down beside the wolf-like Digimon. Gently he opened the wolf's jaws.
"As I thought. Siriusmon is dying of thirst." The angel said. Desperately, T.K. went through his swords, having a strange hope of finding one that sprayed water. To his surprise, he found one. Showing it to his partner, he sprayed a stream of water down Siriusmon's throat. The wolf- like Digimon remained motionless, but suddenly gulped down the water. Siriusmon slowly came to, blinking.
"Don't move around yet, friend." T.K. said. "We're going to give you some more water. Open." Siriusmon eagerly opened his mouth and T.K. sprayed some water into it. Siriusmon swallowed and T.K. repeated the process several times until Siriusmon could sit up.
"Thank you." Siriusmon said, his voice hoarse. The two others nodded. At a steady pace, they set off to where they would meet Kari and her partners.
"Alright, so it's already noon and they haven't turned up." Tai said sounding annoyed.
"They have a lot to do." Sora replied. "Why don't we go down to this gate they mentioned and see if we can help out there."
"There you are." Kari said as T.K. and his partners came up the hill.
"Sorry, we had to go at a slow pace." T.K. said.
"The other Digimon took off for the gate. We have to keep going." Kari said.
"You guys up to it?" T.K. asked, turning back to their friends. They nodded and they took off, moving at a quicker pace towards the place where they would find the Titans.
"It is taking too long!" Rhian said, rearing and striking the air with her fore- hooves, landing with a crash. "We need to try to get the instrument ourselves."
"We can't. And it is quite possible they can wake Norian without it." Van said, though he shifted and spread his wings in great distress.
"There." Aria said, pointing.
"What?" Rhian said.
"They're coming." Van said, taking flight and stretching his neck to the fullest.
"There's Van." T.K. called. They were flying above tree level. The dragon was flying, waiting for them a quarter-mile away. In a few minutes they reached him and touched down. Rhian was impatient and nervous, rearing constantly. Aria floated, arms folded, hair and tail waving to the rhythm of the waves. Van was emotionless, only waiting.
"We can't wake Norian ourselves." Aria said. "I tried to wake her, but she didn't stir."
"Maybe we can." T.K. said.
"How?" Kari said. "Remember what happened last time we were in that water?"
"It's different. I could take you down there." Aria said. Kari and T.K. looked at each other, silently agreeing. They turned to their partners, who reluctantly agreed.
Aria led them down the cliff face and to the water edge. She handed them each a small device.
"Breathe through this, and only this. It also protects your body from the freeze of the water." Aria instructed. She dived into the water, followed by T.K. and Kari. They moved swiftly. Aria swam to the ocean floor and into a cave. She stopped and turned and pressed a rock beside the entrance. The water flushed out and a wall closed in front of the water. Aria led them through the wet, slimy cave. At the back, the water griffin was sleeping deeply.
They walked up to her. Kari laid a hand on Norian's forehead. She didn't stir.
"Nothing known will wake her but Niera's song." Aria said. They stood in silence a moment. Suddenly, T.K. walked up to the back of the cave. He skirted Norian and pressed his hand against the strange, dry wall. It slipped back. They all gasped. T.K. walked in and suddenly torches flared. Kari followed him in, but Aria stayed out, knowing this was not a matter she was involved in.
As they walked father down a torch-lit hallway, they noticed that the walls were dry and looked as if they were made of crystal. The hallway opened into a small dome. Firelight bounced off the crystal walls.
"Look." Kari whispered. Along the walls were pictures. Young girls. They were grouped according to the girl, and underneath them were different objects, such as a sword, stone, jewel, or bow and quiver.
"It's the Guardians throughout their lives." T.K. gasped. Along another wall were group pictures. Beneath each group of pictures there was a great chest with a key turned in the lock, each a different color.
"Oh, look there." Kari said, pointing to the opposite wall. There were pictures of…them. The Digi Destined. They were also grouped. Each group had the kid and then his or her Digimon in each of his or her stages.
"It must be the Guardian's gallery and keepsake room." T.K. said.
"In that you are right." Said an old, weary voice. They jumped and turned. A man with a long white beard sat on a cushion-chair in the back of the room. He held a staff in his hand and a falcon perched on his shoulder. He stood.
"I am Merlin, mentor an advisor to King Arthur." He said. "You must be Takeru and Hikari." The two kids nodded, wary.
"You know what's happening in this world, don't you." Kari said. "Why don't you help?"
"I came to help you." Merlin drew out two strange instruments. One looked like a harp, the other like a horn.
"You will use these to wake the sleeping Twins." Merlin said. "They will be at the end of the Gate's course."
"Us?" Kari asked. Merlin nodded.
"Do you know where Niera's instrument is?" T.K. asked. Merlin cocked his head. Niera appeared in a flash of light. In her hand she held her instrument.
"A stroke of luck and friends help." She said. Her clothing was mended. She smiled. "Or should I say, fate." She exited swiftly and they heard her play the song. Norian woke, trotting back into the room.
"Now what?" Kari asked. Merlin snapped his fingers. Their partners appeared and Niera and Norian disappeared. Merlin closed his eyes briefly and then disappeared himself.
Suddenly alone in this strange cavern, the four exchanged a look.
"Strange." T.K. said.
"Look." Kari said, pointing. A large chest below Katie and Arianna's pictures was glowing. They surged forward and struggled to lift the lid. Inside were two necklaces with a strange emblem on a charm hanging off of each. An opened scroll lay beside them.
"Read it." Kari pressed. T.K. picked it up and slowly read the writing out loud:
"To those who seek to awaken;
Let these precious gems guide the way.
Through the light and dark of the Gate's way.
Guiding only, beware! Seek protection alone.
Bearers be led through the twist and turned pathway,
Awaken then musically at the Pleasant Lake.
Friends and friends of shall not yet come,
But thou must seek, unfaltering!"
Before anyone could say anything, Cheribimon pulled him or her in and they disappeared. Suddenly they reappeared in the midst of voices.
"There they are." A voice called. As they righted themselves they looked around. They were at the Gate mentioned so often. The Titans were there, Niera standing beside them. Their other partners stood with the others and they saw Tai, Matt, and their other friends, who greeted them gladly.
After many greetings they quieted. Niera stepped forward.
"I do not know what lies along the path to find the Twins, and I would be a fool to try to predict what does. What I know is that T.K and Kari must go through first...alone. Once they make it safely through, a path will open for us, and those that will gather to see the Awakening." The unspoken "if" in Niera's voice was disguised. Obviously there was danger in the path that has to be taken.
The two kids exchanged a look.
"Well, let's go then." Kari said softly. They turned and waved to their friends and reluctant partners.
"Be careful!" They called.
Niera beckoned the two forward in front of the Gate.
"Listen." She said, leaning in so only T.K. and Kari would hear. "There are ordeals along the path that may not be what they seem at first. Be on your guard always." She reached into a pocket and pulled out the two chains that they had found in the under-sea cavern. "Put these on the moment the Gate swings shut behind you. They are the only things that light the way and guide you. You will be tempted to turn from the path they indicate, but do not waver from it, or you will fail."
Niera straightened and passed them the chains with the emblems. She backed away and the two faced the Gate. It seemed to quiver, and then it swung open with a chiming sound. They exchanged a look and entered. They placed the chains over their heads just as the Gate swung shut.
T.K. and Kari seemed to disappear into blackness, as the Gate swung shut.
"How long will it be?" Norian asked, tail twitching nervously.
"I do not know." Niera said softly. "We can only hope that they will be all right."
A light came from the emblems that the two children carried around their necks, guiding the way.
"T.K.," Kari said softly, "I'm…scared…" She whispered hesitantly.
"So am I." He replied. "But it will be all right." Almost unconsciously they grasped hands out of fear. "We have to keep calm."
They continued walking through the darkness, with only the emblems as their guide. They came to a fork in the path. Carved into the rock, beside an arrow pointing to the right, there was the symbol of an arrow being released from a bow. Beside that there was another symbol beside an arrow pointing to the left of two swords clashing.
"Those are out DigiWarrior symbols." Kari said. They each reached out to touch their own symbol. As their fingers brushed the carved rock, they found themselves as their DigiWarrior selves.
"I guess this is where we split up." T.K. said.
"Yeah. I guess I'll see you at the end. Good luck." Kari said.
"You too." T.K. replied. They split off and went their separate ways.
"Time…for the healing…soon…" A whisper floated on the breeze at the Pleasant Lake, stirring the flowers that ringed the Gate.
"Will they make it?"
T.K. headed to the left, feeling forlorn and lonely. He might have more strength as his DigiWarrior self, but he still felt the cold and loneliness. After several minutes of walking through a cold darkness, he crossed over a threshold. As soon as he had stepped over it purple flames sprang up, blocking a return. In front of him was a table with some bottles and beyond that was another doorway. He started toward the door and suddenly fiery red flames sprang up in front of the door. He turned to the table, curious to see if it would tell him the way out.
There was a rolled up piece of paper lying on the table along with seven bottles. T.K. unrolled the paper and read what it said:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line,
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide,
You will always find some on the nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right,
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
"Great," T.K. muttered softly aloud. "Logic." It took him a while, but he figured it out. He took the bottle that would let him move onward. It tasted and felt like ice, but that got him through the fire and into another chamber.
Meanwhile, Kari had a short ways to walk before she got to her own challenge. She entered a chamber lit only by a few torchlights. There was a door at the end of the chamber that she quickly headed towards. Before she reached it there was a snarl. Instantly Kari drew her bow and notched an arrow in the string. Two almond eyes were glaring at her from the shadows near the door. The creature stepped into the light and Kari drew a sharp breath. A sphinx was there, blocking her progress.
"May I…get by?" Kari asked tentatively.
"No," answered the deep, hoarse voice. "Not unless you answer my riddle correctly."
"Tell me your riddle, please," Kari said. The sphinx paused as if to think.
"Listen carefully:
First think of the person who lives in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and the end of end?
And finally give me the sound often heard
During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together, and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?" The sphinx ended with a swish of her tail.
"Great, a riddle." Kari said. "Let me think it through.
"First, a person who lives in disguise…hmmm…a robber? A sneak? A spy? Maybe. Next, the last thing to mend, middle of middle, end of end, well, that's not hard. It's 'd'. Last- 'er' works out. I don't say it myself but I've read plenty." Kari paused, thinking. "Stringing them together…well…robber-der? Sneak-der? Spy-der? Wait, spider! That's it."
"Correct." The sphinx said. She prowled into the shadows, disappearing. Kari smiled, and then continued on.
The next, and surprisingly, last ordeal T.K. and Kari faced was a lot alike. I won't tell you all that happened, only that mental abilities were put to the test. They both faced horrible memories as if they were living them over again. And they appeared to live through things that only existed in their own nightmares.
When it was over and they were both still all right, though shaken, they appeared beside each other as their normal selves. They were in a peaceful place. A golden arch above the shimmering lake spelled out words in a different language. They meant: Pleasant Lake, Sleepers Wake. T.K. and Kari glanced at each other with looks of total surprise.
"We did it!" T.K. said, happy as ever. Kari glanced over her shoulder at where the tunnel should have been, but a Gate was there. It was shimmering, impossible to see through.
"We have to let the others in." Kari said. They approached the Gate. They reached out to touch it and it suddenly swung open.
The others were waiting anxiously.
"Something must have gone wrong." Matt said. "I would think they would be out by now.
"The ordeals will not be easy in the least." Van said. "I have heard enough about this place to know it for a fact."
"What sort of ordeals?" Sora asked.
"There will be only two." Van said, swinging his head lower. "They face them alone, and they are different, four ordeals in all, two each. The first one shall test simple logic and puzzle ability. When," The unspoken 'if' rang out, "They finish that ordeal, they move on to a mental ordeal. I will not tell you what happens. But when we see them, they are likely to be shaken from the second ordeal." He stopped, not wanting to sound any more ominous.
Before anyone could reply, the Gate glowed and swung open. Kari and T.K., looking tired and shaken, were standing there. Everyone rushed through the Gate to greet them.
After several happy greetings and questions, Niera walked over to the Lake. On the shore there was a chest marked with the emblem on the necklaces T.K. and Kari had to wear to get through the Gate, and also marked with the Crests of Light and Hope. She opened the Chest to find her instrument and the two Merlin had showed T.K. and Kari. She called them over and handed Kari the harp-like instrument, T.K. the strange horn-like instrument.
"These will wake the Twins of Gemini, known as the Sleepers." Niera instructed.
Everyone gathered around, separated by "group". The Digi Destined stood together, the Titans together, and a few more Digimon appeared and stood together.
"I don't play." Kari said softly, holding the harp carefully. Niera began the song, that amazingly the other two seemed to know, and played careful, soft notes. Kari and T.K., unsure but willing to try, started playing themselves a few moments later.
After some moments, a glow began over the Lake. Everyone was silent. The glow increased and two shadows could be made out. They trotted forward and seemed to break through a barrier. Two unicorns, one a brilliant silver color and the other ruby red cantered out, slowing and standing on shore. They turned their heads to the glow, horns flashing. Two figures walked forward and broke through the barrier. They stood on shore, familiar and kind, though long not seen. The three others played slowly ended the song.
"I'm tired, even though I slept for years." One said, yawning. She stopped in mid-yawn and looked around. She closed her mouth and the other laughed with a sound of chiming bells.
"Katie? Arianna?" Niera said, finally speaking.
"It has been a while." Arianna said, nodding and grinning. "There are many more here than expected."
After this it was a hustle of greetings and introductions. Katie and Arianna looked almost the exact same that they had when they had first defeated Lucarinia.
"But where are the Guardians?" Katie asked, scanning the area again.
"They are warring." Norian said. Katie turned to Arianna, looking pale, and whispered these two words:
"Fallen angels…"
The End of Fallen Angels
Book V of the Guardian Angel Sequence
Prologue
The Digi Destined have accomplished another amazing task. T.K., Kari, Jenny, and Julie had their partners taken away along with their other friends and partners. The four unlocked the key of their gems to Digivolving themselves.
But something else happened. The once-Guardians had an argument that caused them to split up, on five different sides. Now they will not speak or interact with one another, and war is at risk.
Now, the Digi Destined must find out what to do next with the one clue of a simple voice. They only know that the awakening of the twins of Gemini may be close at hand…
Terror ripped through them as the ten of them ran. The ten Digi Destined ran from their own partners, who pursued them with only evil thoughts. In their dream state, they could barely run, while their partners seemed to have unmatchable speeds. At the same time, all the kids fell. The Digimon towered above them, ready to strike. Several evil laughs were heard and they could see the figures of all the evil Digimon they had defeated laughing at them. And suddenly a brilliant light ripped through the darkness and terror and…
Kari woke up, sweating and pale, skin clammy. She barely held back a scream as the dream replayed itself over and over in her memory. She looked at the others who were sleeping peacefully. Silently she slipped under Angewomon's protective arm and slipped out to the balcony of the fortress. A cool night wind blew by, tossing her hair about.
"Why is this happening to me?" She whispered to no one. She recalled a long time ago when they had to answer Riddlemon's riddle to find Katie. The night before she had had a dream that told her of what was to come. Now she was having these other dreams when no one else was.
Tears filled her eyes as she remembered the dream where she had foreseen the horrified and sad expression of Angewomon, which matched her partner's face when Kari freed her.
"You are special, little one." Said the soft voice that they had heard the day before. "In many ways, yes, indeed."
"But why me? There are the other Digi Destined." Kari asked. But there was no answer.
"Who are you talking to?" Asked a voice. Kari turned, startled. It was T.K. She would have expected him to look exhausted, but he looked alert and awake. A change had gone through them when they had Gem-evolved themselves.
"Oh, just having dreams. I woke up and came to get some fresh air." Kari said, half-lying.
"You're pale." T.K. clarified. "Are you sick?"
"No." Kari suddenly felt a wave of grief and explained out what she was worried about and what was going on.
Though they didn't see it, their two angel partners had woken and were watching them silently from the shadows.
"So that's it." T.K. said softly. Kari nodded, looking away as tears pricked her eyes. T.K. felt compassion for her and instinctively reached out to touch her shoulder. After a moment he pulled his hand away, afraid he might have embarrassed her.
"I don't know what's wrong with me or why I get these dreams. There are others who are like me. I'm different, though." Kari said quietly.
"You are only a little different from the rest of us." T.K. said. "You came here after us and seemed to be more powerful in strange ways. Even your partner is somehow a little more powerful than ours."
"You are right." Kari admitted. "But my dreams are strange, like they tell the future." T.K. nodded.
"That can happen." He said.
"Well I guess I should go back to sleep."
"Yeah, me too."
"Then again, I think I am going to stay up a little longer out here to think. Maybe I can clear my head."
"Alright. I'm going to go back to sleep." T.K. slipped into the room, not noticing that he and Kari's partners were in different spots than before, apparently asleep.
Kari sighed, searching the night sky. She picked out Gemini, who seemed to wink at her reassuringly.
"Why am I different?" She asked no one. A slightly stronger night wind than before picked up and whirled around her, as if it had a purpose.
"There are reasons." Said the voice. "Watch. Listen, now."
A mist formed in front of Kari and in the middle it cleared. Kari saw the castle that was once Rahomor's. The view slowly moved away, showing forests dying and lakes drying up. All of the mountains were collapsing bit by bit.
On top of the Girl of the Mountain's home, the Girl was fleeing, her home being destroyed.
The Titans were escaping from their own homes and Kari saw the mermaid swimming desperately for some form of water. Norian was in danger because she hadn't woken to flee. The vision showed her still resting on the ocean floor.
Their newer partners fled their mountain homes in a panic and gathered together to find a shelter.
All of them seemed to be slowly moving in the same general direction – towards a place a couple of miles south of the Digi Destined current location. Kari saw the vision slowly move over a destroyed forest near their current location. She gasped and saw that she and the others were standing there, barely protecting themselves from attacks of several Digimon. Kari watched, horrified as their Digimon collapsed, failing to protect them. Kari stepped back as the vision faded.
"But what do we do?" Kari whispered.
"Heed the warning at the end. Only you can avert the future as it stands." The voice disappeared.
Kari replayed it in her head. Only she could stop the rest of them from being annihilated.
The "responsibility" overwhelmed her. Thoughts rushed through her head.
The dreams.
She was special of all the others.
Their fleeing friends.
Only she could save her friends.
The thoughts whirled through her head and she felt incredibly dizzy. She felt light-headed and nauseous. She collapsed in a faint. Angewomon managed to catch her a moment before Kari hit the ground.
The dream. The vision. But this time she saw the place where their friends were fleeing. It was a gate. Beyond was not visible. Their friends were there, doing nothing as if they were waiting. Kari's dream shifted and she saw the once-Guardians really fighting. They were throwing each of their best techniques at each other.
So that's why everything is being destroyed. The Guardians fighting is upsetting nature and causing disaster.
The dream slowly faded…
"Kari, wake up!" Urged a voice. Kari blinked open her eyes heavily. It was still night, but dawn was not far. Angewomon was holding her.
"Ugh…how long have I been out?" Kari murmured.
"An hour or less."
Again, her dreams and what had happened rushed back at her. She tried to hide her eyes as tears filled her eyes, but her partner saw.
"What is wrong, Kari?"
Kari explained out everything that had happened. Everything. Her partner listened to everything, never interrupting, never reprimanding.
"There are a couple of things I need to do." Kari said, wiping her tears. "Will you take me and help me do them? I am not asking or commanding you to. I'm asking you if you will." Angewomon thought a moment, and then she nodded.
"What do you have to do?"
"I want to wake up Norian: she is in danger. That means I have to find the Girl of the Mountain. I have to ask the Girl some questions anyway. I have some other things I have to do to, but after I ask her I will. Can you take me?"
"Yes. When?"
"Now. I don't want to get Tai and the others involved in this."
"We'll come." A voice offered. Kari turned. T.K. and Magnaangemon were standing there. Kari thought a moment, and then she nodded. She explained out to them an outline of what she wanted to do.
They were ready to leave almost immediately. Kari wrote out a note to Tai and the others and left it where she had been sleeping. They left quickly and flew towards the Girl of the Mountain's home.
A couple of hours after they had left, the others woke up.
"Where's Kari?" Tai asked worriedly, jumping up.
"T.K.'s gone." Matt said, looking around. Everyone got up and looked around. It was Mimi who finally found the note. Tai grabbed it from her and read it.
"'Tai - T.K. and I went to go talk with the Girl of the Mountain and finish some other business. Don't worry; we'll be fine. If you go anywhere, you will eventually find us at a gate just south of where the fortress is. If you head directly south, you should find it. If we don't find you here when we come back, we'll see you there.'"
"Great." Tai said, crumpling the note.
"They have their partners with them, Tai, so they'll be fine." Sora said.
"I'm worried about them, but T.K. has shown me he can take care of himself. Especially with Magnaangemon around, he'll be fine." Matt said. He was clearly worried, but obviously not in a panic like Tai.
Tai continued pacing for a moment, and then he stopped, nodding.
"We should go down to this gate sometime today or tomorrow."
"Niera! Girl of the Mountain!"
The four of them were at the Girl's (Niera's) Mountain home. It was like a ruin. The rocks had collapsed and there was no sign of the Girl.
"No luck." T.K. said.
"We have to find her." Kari persisted.
"Me?" Asked a tired and weary voice. They turned. It was the Girl of the Mountain. Her clothes were torn a little and she looked weary.
"What happened to you?" T.K. asked.
"Evil forces came and destroyed my home. They stole my instrument and more." The Girl said.
"Oh, no." Kari said.
"Tell me what you needed of me."
"I had some questions."
"Go on."
"The Guardians are fighting. I know that forests are beginning to die, lakes beginning to dry up, and the mountains are crumbling. I had a vision where you, the Titans, and our new partners all had to leave your homes. Norian hasn't woken up and she is in danger."
The Girl of the Mountain gave Kari a long look, marveling at her ability to gain this knowledge.
"Not the work of the Guardians, it isn't. Must be some help from the twins of Gemini." The Girl muttered to herself. "We are fleeing. I don't know what I can do about Norian. I know she is-" Abruptly she was cut off by a screech. A falcon landed on one of the destroyed rocks. The falcon lifted its talon, showing a rolled up paper.
"I bear news for the Girl of the Mountain from the Digimon mountain dwellers." The falcon said in a rough voice. It dropped the scroll into the Girl's waiting hands and took off. The Girl opened the scroll. She read it and a look of horror came to her face.
"Read it." Kari said.
"'Dear Niera, I trust you can bring this message to the Digi Destined. Our mountain homes are collapsing. We gathered to flee, but realized that two were not with us. Cheribimon and Siriusmon are trapped in different places in different ways. Please contact the Digi Destined and tell them. They can help. Please hurry, the mountains could be collapsing on them at any moment! –Martialmon'"
"I can't –" T.K. started but he was cut off by a howl. They all looked around, confused. A small, ragged looking black wolf limped up the hill, a few other wolves trailing behind him.
"Niera," The small black one gasped. "The Guardians have engaged in an all-out war! You are the only one that can help."
The Girl, Niera, lifted the black wolf into her arms so he could tell her more.
"This is impossible." Kari said. "It's like the world is going to end."
"We have to make a plan." T.K. said. "All this is going on and we don't have much time to do it all before the whole Digital World collapses.
"First we have to get to our newer partners at the mountains. Then we go help Norian, and then we go to that gate. Unless something else turns up." Everyone agreed.
"Niera!" Kari called. "We are going to help the Titans and our partners. We'll meet you at the gate!" Niera nodded and waved them on.
The angels lifted their partners and they took off east for the mountains.
When they arrived where their newer partners had gathered, they all looked weary.
"We came to help. The others couldn't come." Kari told them.
"Cheribimon is trapped on her mountain home, as is Siriusmon." Martialmon told them. T.K. turned to the other three.
"How about Magnaangemon and I go look for Siriusmon, and Kari, you and Angewomon go look for Cheribimon? We can cover more ground." T.K. said.
"Right." Kari agreed. "After we're done, let's meet back here."
"Agreed."
The Titan of Fire touched down in the clearing in front of the other two expectant Titans.
"I saw the two younger ones headed towards the mountains. The others are headed to the gate." Van said wearily.
"I have had no luck with Norian. Niera is needed." Aria said.
"Someone stole her instrument." Rhian informed them.
"But it sounds like the younger ones will head this way soon." Van said. "They will help us."
"Celestial Arrow!"
"No luck." Kari sighed as the arrow had little effect on wires.
Cheribimon was trapped in a forest of wires. Kari and Angewomon heard her cries for help from the inside. The wires were like a filled-in dome, trapping Cheribimon.
"Do you think you could Gem-evolve yourself into your DigiWarrior form?" Angewomon asked.
"I'll try." Kari said. She drew a deep breath to calm down and grasped the gem at her neck.
"Hikari Gem-evolve to…DigiWarrior of Light!" Kari looked at her DigiWarrior self triumphantly. "I did it."
Kari searched through her quiver full of arrows, searching for a certain kind. As if reading her mind, the quiver held a large bundle of razor sharp arrows, cutting through anything to serve a good purpose.
"Careful. Don't touch the tip on these." Kari said, carefully handing several of the arrows to her partner. Together, they carved a narrow path through the wires, replacing old arrows with new ones as they went. When they were nearing the center, they saw flashes of white that were Cheribimon's wings. When they could fully see Cheribimon, they could see that she was cut in many places and hurt. Angewomon lifted her out instead of making her fly.
Once Cheribimon was out, she surrounded herself in a ball of psychic energy. Slowly but surely, her wounds healed and her broken wings snapped themselves back into position.
They set off to where the others were, happy for at least one thing having been accomplished.
"Takeru Gem-evolve to…DigiWarrior of Hope!" Swords flashed as T.K. shifted them. "Much better." He commented.
T.K. and Magnaangemon plunged their swords through many different, strange rocks that had caved in on Siriusmon's home.
After a lot of dust and wrists well worn, the two finally hacked away the last of the rocks. Siriusmon was lying motionless on the floor. He had clearly been there a much longer time than Cheribimon had been trapped. T.K. dropped to the stone floor beside him and listened for heartbeat and breath. Siriusmon's heart was weakly beating and his breath was shallow.
Magnaangemon knelt down beside the wolf-like Digimon. Gently he opened the wolf's jaws.
"As I thought. Siriusmon is dying of thirst." The angel said. Desperately, T.K. went through his swords, having a strange hope of finding one that sprayed water. To his surprise, he found one. Showing it to his partner, he sprayed a stream of water down Siriusmon's throat. The wolf- like Digimon remained motionless, but suddenly gulped down the water. Siriusmon slowly came to, blinking.
"Don't move around yet, friend." T.K. said. "We're going to give you some more water. Open." Siriusmon eagerly opened his mouth and T.K. sprayed some water into it. Siriusmon swallowed and T.K. repeated the process several times until Siriusmon could sit up.
"Thank you." Siriusmon said, his voice hoarse. The two others nodded. At a steady pace, they set off to where they would meet Kari and her partners.
"Alright, so it's already noon and they haven't turned up." Tai said sounding annoyed.
"They have a lot to do." Sora replied. "Why don't we go down to this gate they mentioned and see if we can help out there."
"There you are." Kari said as T.K. and his partners came up the hill.
"Sorry, we had to go at a slow pace." T.K. said.
"The other Digimon took off for the gate. We have to keep going." Kari said.
"You guys up to it?" T.K. asked, turning back to their friends. They nodded and they took off, moving at a quicker pace towards the place where they would find the Titans.
"It is taking too long!" Rhian said, rearing and striking the air with her fore- hooves, landing with a crash. "We need to try to get the instrument ourselves."
"We can't. And it is quite possible they can wake Norian without it." Van said, though he shifted and spread his wings in great distress.
"There." Aria said, pointing.
"What?" Rhian said.
"They're coming." Van said, taking flight and stretching his neck to the fullest.
"There's Van." T.K. called. They were flying above tree level. The dragon was flying, waiting for them a quarter-mile away. In a few minutes they reached him and touched down. Rhian was impatient and nervous, rearing constantly. Aria floated, arms folded, hair and tail waving to the rhythm of the waves. Van was emotionless, only waiting.
"We can't wake Norian ourselves." Aria said. "I tried to wake her, but she didn't stir."
"Maybe we can." T.K. said.
"How?" Kari said. "Remember what happened last time we were in that water?"
"It's different. I could take you down there." Aria said. Kari and T.K. looked at each other, silently agreeing. They turned to their partners, who reluctantly agreed.
Aria led them down the cliff face and to the water edge. She handed them each a small device.
"Breathe through this, and only this. It also protects your body from the freeze of the water." Aria instructed. She dived into the water, followed by T.K. and Kari. They moved swiftly. Aria swam to the ocean floor and into a cave. She stopped and turned and pressed a rock beside the entrance. The water flushed out and a wall closed in front of the water. Aria led them through the wet, slimy cave. At the back, the water griffin was sleeping deeply.
They walked up to her. Kari laid a hand on Norian's forehead. She didn't stir.
"Nothing known will wake her but Niera's song." Aria said. They stood in silence a moment. Suddenly, T.K. walked up to the back of the cave. He skirted Norian and pressed his hand against the strange, dry wall. It slipped back. They all gasped. T.K. walked in and suddenly torches flared. Kari followed him in, but Aria stayed out, knowing this was not a matter she was involved in.
As they walked father down a torch-lit hallway, they noticed that the walls were dry and looked as if they were made of crystal. The hallway opened into a small dome. Firelight bounced off the crystal walls.
"Look." Kari whispered. Along the walls were pictures. Young girls. They were grouped according to the girl, and underneath them were different objects, such as a sword, stone, jewel, or bow and quiver.
"It's the Guardians throughout their lives." T.K. gasped. Along another wall were group pictures. Beneath each group of pictures there was a great chest with a key turned in the lock, each a different color.
"Oh, look there." Kari said, pointing to the opposite wall. There were pictures of…them. The Digi Destined. They were also grouped. Each group had the kid and then his or her Digimon in each of his or her stages.
"It must be the Guardian's gallery and keepsake room." T.K. said.
"In that you are right." Said an old, weary voice. They jumped and turned. A man with a long white beard sat on a cushion-chair in the back of the room. He held a staff in his hand and a falcon perched on his shoulder. He stood.
"I am Merlin, mentor an advisor to King Arthur." He said. "You must be Takeru and Hikari." The two kids nodded, wary.
"You know what's happening in this world, don't you." Kari said. "Why don't you help?"
"I came to help you." Merlin drew out two strange instruments. One looked like a harp, the other like a horn.
"You will use these to wake the sleeping Twins." Merlin said. "They will be at the end of the Gate's course."
"Us?" Kari asked. Merlin nodded.
"Do you know where Niera's instrument is?" T.K. asked. Merlin cocked his head. Niera appeared in a flash of light. In her hand she held her instrument.
"A stroke of luck and friends help." She said. Her clothing was mended. She smiled. "Or should I say, fate." She exited swiftly and they heard her play the song. Norian woke, trotting back into the room.
"Now what?" Kari asked. Merlin snapped his fingers. Their partners appeared and Niera and Norian disappeared. Merlin closed his eyes briefly and then disappeared himself.
Suddenly alone in this strange cavern, the four exchanged a look.
"Strange." T.K. said.
"Look." Kari said, pointing. A large chest below Katie and Arianna's pictures was glowing. They surged forward and struggled to lift the lid. Inside were two necklaces with a strange emblem on a charm hanging off of each. An opened scroll lay beside them.
"Read it." Kari pressed. T.K. picked it up and slowly read the writing out loud:
"To those who seek to awaken;
Let these precious gems guide the way.
Through the light and dark of the Gate's way.
Guiding only, beware! Seek protection alone.
Bearers be led through the twist and turned pathway,
Awaken then musically at the Pleasant Lake.
Friends and friends of shall not yet come,
But thou must seek, unfaltering!"
Before anyone could say anything, Cheribimon pulled him or her in and they disappeared. Suddenly they reappeared in the midst of voices.
"There they are." A voice called. As they righted themselves they looked around. They were at the Gate mentioned so often. The Titans were there, Niera standing beside them. Their other partners stood with the others and they saw Tai, Matt, and their other friends, who greeted them gladly.
After many greetings they quieted. Niera stepped forward.
"I do not know what lies along the path to find the Twins, and I would be a fool to try to predict what does. What I know is that T.K and Kari must go through first...alone. Once they make it safely through, a path will open for us, and those that will gather to see the Awakening." The unspoken "if" in Niera's voice was disguised. Obviously there was danger in the path that has to be taken.
The two kids exchanged a look.
"Well, let's go then." Kari said softly. They turned and waved to their friends and reluctant partners.
"Be careful!" They called.
Niera beckoned the two forward in front of the Gate.
"Listen." She said, leaning in so only T.K. and Kari would hear. "There are ordeals along the path that may not be what they seem at first. Be on your guard always." She reached into a pocket and pulled out the two chains that they had found in the under-sea cavern. "Put these on the moment the Gate swings shut behind you. They are the only things that light the way and guide you. You will be tempted to turn from the path they indicate, but do not waver from it, or you will fail."
Niera straightened and passed them the chains with the emblems. She backed away and the two faced the Gate. It seemed to quiver, and then it swung open with a chiming sound. They exchanged a look and entered. They placed the chains over their heads just as the Gate swung shut.
T.K. and Kari seemed to disappear into blackness, as the Gate swung shut.
"How long will it be?" Norian asked, tail twitching nervously.
"I do not know." Niera said softly. "We can only hope that they will be all right."
A light came from the emblems that the two children carried around their necks, guiding the way.
"T.K.," Kari said softly, "I'm…scared…" She whispered hesitantly.
"So am I." He replied. "But it will be all right." Almost unconsciously they grasped hands out of fear. "We have to keep calm."
They continued walking through the darkness, with only the emblems as their guide. They came to a fork in the path. Carved into the rock, beside an arrow pointing to the right, there was the symbol of an arrow being released from a bow. Beside that there was another symbol beside an arrow pointing to the left of two swords clashing.
"Those are out DigiWarrior symbols." Kari said. They each reached out to touch their own symbol. As their fingers brushed the carved rock, they found themselves as their DigiWarrior selves.
"I guess this is where we split up." T.K. said.
"Yeah. I guess I'll see you at the end. Good luck." Kari said.
"You too." T.K. replied. They split off and went their separate ways.
"Time…for the healing…soon…" A whisper floated on the breeze at the Pleasant Lake, stirring the flowers that ringed the Gate.
"Will they make it?"
T.K. headed to the left, feeling forlorn and lonely. He might have more strength as his DigiWarrior self, but he still felt the cold and loneliness. After several minutes of walking through a cold darkness, he crossed over a threshold. As soon as he had stepped over it purple flames sprang up, blocking a return. In front of him was a table with some bottles and beyond that was another doorway. He started toward the door and suddenly fiery red flames sprang up in front of the door. He turned to the table, curious to see if it would tell him the way out.
There was a rolled up piece of paper lying on the table along with seven bottles. T.K. unrolled the paper and read what it said:
Danger lies before you, while safety lies behind,
Two of us will help you, whichever you would find,
One among us seven will let you move ahead,
Another will transport the drinker back instead,
Two among our number hold only nettle wine,
Three of us are killers, waiting hidden in line,
Choose, unless you wish to stay here forevermore,
To help you in your choice, we give you these clues four:
First, however slyly the poison tries to hide,
You will always find some on the nettle wine's left side;
Second, different are those who stand at either end,
But if you would move onward, neither is your friend;
Third, as you see clearly, all are different size,
Neither dwarf nor giant holds death in their insides;
Fourth, the second left and the second on the right,
Are twins once you taste them, though different at first sight.
"Great," T.K. muttered softly aloud. "Logic." It took him a while, but he figured it out. He took the bottle that would let him move onward. It tasted and felt like ice, but that got him through the fire and into another chamber.
Meanwhile, Kari had a short ways to walk before she got to her own challenge. She entered a chamber lit only by a few torchlights. There was a door at the end of the chamber that she quickly headed towards. Before she reached it there was a snarl. Instantly Kari drew her bow and notched an arrow in the string. Two almond eyes were glaring at her from the shadows near the door. The creature stepped into the light and Kari drew a sharp breath. A sphinx was there, blocking her progress.
"May I…get by?" Kari asked tentatively.
"No," answered the deep, hoarse voice. "Not unless you answer my riddle correctly."
"Tell me your riddle, please," Kari said. The sphinx paused as if to think.
"Listen carefully:
First think of the person who lives in disguise,
Who deals in secrets and tells naught but lies.
Next, tell me what's always the last thing to mend,
The middle of middle and the end of end?
And finally give me the sound often heard
During the search for a hard-to-find word.
Now string them together, and answer me this,
Which creature would you be unwilling to kiss?" The sphinx ended with a swish of her tail.
"Great, a riddle." Kari said. "Let me think it through.
"First, a person who lives in disguise…hmmm…a robber? A sneak? A spy? Maybe. Next, the last thing to mend, middle of middle, end of end, well, that's not hard. It's 'd'. Last- 'er' works out. I don't say it myself but I've read plenty." Kari paused, thinking. "Stringing them together…well…robber-der? Sneak-der? Spy-der? Wait, spider! That's it."
"Correct." The sphinx said. She prowled into the shadows, disappearing. Kari smiled, and then continued on.
The next, and surprisingly, last ordeal T.K. and Kari faced was a lot alike. I won't tell you all that happened, only that mental abilities were put to the test. They both faced horrible memories as if they were living them over again. And they appeared to live through things that only existed in their own nightmares.
When it was over and they were both still all right, though shaken, they appeared beside each other as their normal selves. They were in a peaceful place. A golden arch above the shimmering lake spelled out words in a different language. They meant: Pleasant Lake, Sleepers Wake. T.K. and Kari glanced at each other with looks of total surprise.
"We did it!" T.K. said, happy as ever. Kari glanced over her shoulder at where the tunnel should have been, but a Gate was there. It was shimmering, impossible to see through.
"We have to let the others in." Kari said. They approached the Gate. They reached out to touch it and it suddenly swung open.
The others were waiting anxiously.
"Something must have gone wrong." Matt said. "I would think they would be out by now.
"The ordeals will not be easy in the least." Van said. "I have heard enough about this place to know it for a fact."
"What sort of ordeals?" Sora asked.
"There will be only two." Van said, swinging his head lower. "They face them alone, and they are different, four ordeals in all, two each. The first one shall test simple logic and puzzle ability. When," The unspoken 'if' rang out, "They finish that ordeal, they move on to a mental ordeal. I will not tell you what happens. But when we see them, they are likely to be shaken from the second ordeal." He stopped, not wanting to sound any more ominous.
Before anyone could reply, the Gate glowed and swung open. Kari and T.K., looking tired and shaken, were standing there. Everyone rushed through the Gate to greet them.
After several happy greetings and questions, Niera walked over to the Lake. On the shore there was a chest marked with the emblem on the necklaces T.K. and Kari had to wear to get through the Gate, and also marked with the Crests of Light and Hope. She opened the Chest to find her instrument and the two Merlin had showed T.K. and Kari. She called them over and handed Kari the harp-like instrument, T.K. the strange horn-like instrument.
"These will wake the Twins of Gemini, known as the Sleepers." Niera instructed.
Everyone gathered around, separated by "group". The Digi Destined stood together, the Titans together, and a few more Digimon appeared and stood together.
"I don't play." Kari said softly, holding the harp carefully. Niera began the song, that amazingly the other two seemed to know, and played careful, soft notes. Kari and T.K., unsure but willing to try, started playing themselves a few moments later.
After some moments, a glow began over the Lake. Everyone was silent. The glow increased and two shadows could be made out. They trotted forward and seemed to break through a barrier. Two unicorns, one a brilliant silver color and the other ruby red cantered out, slowing and standing on shore. They turned their heads to the glow, horns flashing. Two figures walked forward and broke through the barrier. They stood on shore, familiar and kind, though long not seen. The three others played slowly ended the song.
"I'm tired, even though I slept for years." One said, yawning. She stopped in mid-yawn and looked around. She closed her mouth and the other laughed with a sound of chiming bells.
"Katie? Arianna?" Niera said, finally speaking.
"It has been a while." Arianna said, nodding and grinning. "There are many more here than expected."
After this it was a hustle of greetings and introductions. Katie and Arianna looked almost the exact same that they had when they had first defeated Lucarinia.
"But where are the Guardians?" Katie asked, scanning the area again.
"They are warring." Norian said. Katie turned to Arianna, looking pale, and whispered these two words:
"Fallen angels…"
The End of Fallen Angels