Chapter Nine

Guardian of the Gate

Lina, Josh, Riley, David, Mikara, and their Digimon sat around a fire. It was early morning and the sun was slowly rising. The Tamers and their Digimon had awakened one-by-one, and they were quietly talking as breakfast was being cooked.

"Do you think the others are all right, Mikara?" Josh asked his sister.

Mikara smiled. "I'm sure they're all right. They've got Jessie and Terriermon, who've lived here all their lives. They've got Riku and Petalmon, who'll never give in no matter what. They have Daiki and Tetramon, who are full of hope. They've got Compass and Morglormon, who can find their way out of a maze by simply pointing north. And they have Riki and Vipomon for comic relief."

"What do we have?" Josh wondered, looking around at the small camp.

"Well, let's see…we've got you and Patamon. You guys have lots of hope. And then there's Lina and Sytamon, who we'll follow to the ends of the Digital World coz she's our leader. There's Riley and Gabumon, our comic relief. There's David and Wormmon, who can provide us with every detail known to mankind about my laptop if we asked."

"And then there's you and Nekomon, who will keep our spirits up with your dreams."

Mikara laughed. "Thanks, Josh."

Breakfast was served, and the Tamers got up and started walking. They were almost out of the forest and closer to the mountains. When they reached the mountains, they saw a path leading to a mountain pass. The Tamers and their Digimon walked up the path and stopped in front of a huge gate. Guarding the gate was an Antylamon.

Lina took out her D-force. "Antylamon: Ultimate level. Her attacks are Bunny Blade and Arm Bomber." She put her D-force away and looked up at Antylamon. "Well, hello, Antylamon. Can we pass through the gate?"

Antylamon looked at them. "No. It is currently closed for repairs."

David peered at the gate. "It looks like it's in good condition. What's wrong with it?"

"………"

"Hellooo, I'm talking."

"………"

Riley stepped forward. "Hey, you, Antylamon! What's wrong with the gate?"

"You can't pass," the large rabbit-like Digimon declared. "You're not allowed to pass. Those are very strict orders."

"From who?" Wormmon wanted to know.

"Satanmon. He doesn't want some snot-nosed kids getting passed this gate."

Mikara frowned. "But, you know, we're just kids. We're not going to do anything drastic."

Antylamon's eyes narrowed. "WaruMonzaemon, Gesomon, and Hyogamon have already been defeated by you kids. I won't let you pass!"

"Then you're asking for a fight!" Josh yelled.

Antylamon sneered. "You're so little and your Patamon's so weak. You took out Gesomon, but he was a mere Champion. I'm an Ultimate!"

"She's got a point," Patamon stated.

Mikara pushed past her brother with Nekomon at her heels. "Then we will fight you!"

"I don't think so," Antylamon replied. She brought her arm down. "Arm Bomber!"

The Tamers scattered before they could get hit. The ground split where Antylamon's arm landed. Mikara and Nekomon ran to face Antylamon.

"You're going to let us pass whether you like it or not, miss big-shot rabbit!" Nekomon hissed.

Antylamon smirked and, quick as a flash, brought her arm down again. Nekomon knocked Mikara out of the way but was pinned down by Antylamon's arm.

"Nekomon!" Mikara screamed.

"Mikara, stay back!" Nekomon cried. "I'll…handle this!"

Antylamon picked up Nekomon and tossed her from hand to hand, as if she was juggling. Nekomon's rough yelps filled the air.

"Mikara!" David yelled. "Use your Digiegg!"

Mikara took out her backpack and rummaged through it, trying to ignore her Digimon's pleas. "I…I can't find it!" she finally said in despair. Mikara sat down and closed her eyes, afraid she was unable to do anything. Oh, man, I knew this was gonna happen! I should've paid more attention to where I put it, Mikara thought bitterly. When this is all over, I'm going to punish myself. Damn it all! I want to go home…this is too much for me! Tears started to well up in her eyes. I wish Nekomon wasn't in such danger…I wish I could do something to help…

"Mikara!!!" Nekomon screamed.

Mikara opened her eyes and a certain glow caught her eye. She grabbed her D-force. It shone with a brilliant light, and a mass of white energy was floating above it. Mikara took the energy in her free hand, and it solidified into her Digiegg.

"That's where it was…" Mikara whispered, smiling. "In my D-force…"

She stood up and held her D-force and Digiegg close. Then, with a renewed strength, she yelled, "Digi Armor energize!"

Nekomon, who was in midair, glowed with a sudden white light. "Nekomon Armor digivolve to…Teimon, creator of Dreams!"

Teimon was a large black cat with threads of gold in her fur. She sported armor of silver and sapphire blue, and on her chest plate was the Crest of Dreams. Teimon stood upright and held in her right hand a huge energy gun.

"Whoa!" Mikara exclaimed gleefully. "Teimon!"

"Your shift as guardian has ended, Antylamon," Teimon growled, "and we don't pay overtime!" She raised her energy gun. "Itami Blaster!"

A blue-green beam of energy shot from the gun and hit Antylamon in the head. The Ultimate-level Digimon yelled as electricity jumped around her. She fell, and from her head a black mist grew. The mist solidified into a Soulmon.

Riley took out her D-force. "Soulmon: Champion level. His attacks are Necro Magic and Soul Cry."

At that moment…

"Necro Magic!" Soulmon yelled, sending off a brilliant purple mist at Teimon. The large armored cat, however, jumped from the mist and aimed, point-blank range, at Soulmon.

"Itami Blaster!"

Soulmon floated out of the way and opened his mouth. Sound waves emanated from them—"Soul Cry!"—causing all who were present (except Soulmon, of course) to cover their ears.

"T-Teimon!" Mikara stuttered. "Get…him!"

Teimon leveled her energy gun, trying to ignore the earsplitting sound waves. "Itami Blaster!!!"

Soulmon was caught off guard. The energy beam hit him. A screech like that of nails against a blackboard filled the air, but was soon cut off. Soulmon vanished, and his data flew away on the wind.

—————

Antylamon sat against the gate, rubbing her head. "I thank you, Mikara, and you, Nekomon, for stopping Soulmon. He was possessing my mind and I could not stop him."

Mikara smiled. "We know. That's why we didn't destroy you. Right, Nekomon?"

Nekomon grinned ecstatically. "Of course!"

"Well, not that our little debate is over, can we pass?" Josh asked Antylamon.

The rabbit-like Digimon smiled. "Sure!" She looked curiously at Mikara. "Say, you look like Suzie with your hair like that."

"Su…zie…?" Mikara said slowly.

"Yes. Suzie Wong, but I'm sure she's married now."

"We're her kids!" Josh and Mikara exclaimed together.

Antylamon laughed. "Yes, I see now!" She turned to Lina and David. "And you two are Takato and Jeri's children?"

They nodded. Lina grinned.

"So…well, you don't look like any Tamer I know," Antylamon told Riley.

"That's coz I inherited most of my mom's traits," was the reply.

Antylamon smiled again. "I am Suzie's partner Digimon. After D-Reaper was destroyed, the other Digimon and I stayed here. I stayed to guard this gate." She gestured to the gate. "I will let you all pass."

The Tamers headed through the gate and into the mountain pass. Looking back, they waved at Antylamon, who was yelling:

"Goodbye and good luck, Tamers of legend!"