Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.  But I won't mind owning it.

A/N: Sorry for lame chapter title…. I couldn't think of another…. Hopefully I'll have better chapter titles later on…

Chapter 31: Deactivation

            Over two months of bitterness continued in the Digital World.  It was now the last day of February.  Thank heavens it wasn't a leap year.  Both the Digidestines and the Empress were getting extremely annoyed.  Each battle against each other only drove everyone closer to their limits.

            "How much longer, Wishmon?" an agonized Mariana questioned as she threw her body lazily onto the sofa and switched on the television.

            Before Wishmon, who stood some metres away from the sofa, could answer, the noise of static coming from the television set died down and only a voice could be heard coming from it as an image pixel in.  "Reports from the Space Centre have confirmed that there will be a surprise solar eclipse this August.  However, due to this unforeseen event, astronomers around the globe are beginning to calculate the exact timing of the solar eclipse…."

            "Uh?  Okay, that answered my question," Mariana said as she powered off the TV.  "Okay, Wishmon.  Back to work before the eclipse leave without me and the others."

***

            Elsewhere, deep with the heart of the Digital Realm, a group of young, tired and energy-drained Digidestines (including Von) scoped the green terrain for the last dark pyramid in Sector D-26.

            "Kari, how much longer?"

            "Oh, stop whining, Daivs," Von, walking right behind Davis, said as he patted his shoulder.  "The last pyramid in this sector should be very close."

            "So, don't worry.  You won't miss any action," Ken, walking beside Davis, added when beeping sounds started to come from all of their D-terminals.

            Altogether, the Digidestines stopped, took out their terminals, opened them and started to read an incoming message from the older Digidestines (Tai and the others):

            "Hi,

            This is Joe.  The others and I have found the dark pyramid.  Come quickly.  You have to see what's going on.

P.S. Izzy says it's fascinating, and Tai complains that the dark pyramid flew out from the water and gotten his clothes all wet when he charged towards the shoreline with Metalgraymon."

            "Alright.  Let's go!!!" Yolei exclaimed, now fully recharged from tiredness after taking it easy for a little while.

***

            Upon their hasty arrivals, they discovered the other Digidestines with their rookie-form Digimon standing beside a large floating pyramid.  The triangular sides of the Empress' flying pyramid slowly shrunk in height until their points aligned to create a small square opening at the top, allowing an image to be projected in white light.  This time, the image wasn't Sam dressed as the Digimon Emperor.  It was the Empress'-- a masked young girl.

            "Your foolish quest to demolish my creations will end here.  Unless one of you has the correct password, I highly recommend that all of you leave this realm forever or prepare to face ultimate annihilation for your insolence," the image swore in an irritated tone.

            "Enough chit-chat, bring out your slaves so we can free them," T.K. demanded, all fired up for battle.

            "Very well then, I summon you.  My eternal servants; release yourself from the confinement of this dark pyramid.  Defend it, and destroy all who stands in your way!" the Empress' image commanded, and the four visible sides of the pyramid projected white light and beamed out three of the Empress' fiercest and dreaded slaves yet.

            "Devimon has returned."

            "Ladydevimon's back and ready to serve."

            Kimeramon only roared louder with each passing second.  The Digidestines and their partners covered their ears to prevent the deafening of their hearing senses until the Empress' image demanded his silence.  Unlike previous battles where the image would disappear, this time, the image remained.

            "Digivolve, everyone," Tai shouted, and in unison the heroic Digimon digivolved to their limits—champions or ultimates because of the dark pyramid and insufficient energy.

            Divided into four smaller groups, they began to carry out their tasks.  Angemon, Weregarurumon and Metalgreymon were to take care of Devimon while Birdramon, Angewomon, Acquillamon and Lilymon would fight Ladydevimon.  Megakabuterimon, Zudomon and Stingmon would challenge Kimeramon.  As for Ex-veemon, Ankylomon and Snakedramon, they would, with their partners, destroy the dark pyramid.

            "Devimon's Touch of Evil!" Devimon shouted, making his assault on Angemon.

            "Hand of Fate!" Angemon countered, and Devimon flew higher to evade attack.

            "Giga Blaster!" Metalgreymon attacked, aiming for Devimon's dark ring on his neck when Devimon was distracted by Angemon's Hand of Fate.  Success!  A direct hit!  And still, the ring did not shatter.

            "Wolf Claw!" Weregarurumon growled as he moved swiftly to shatter the dark ring right after it was weakened.  Abruptly the dark ring began cracking, and Devimon fell down, unconscious.

            Meanwhile, Angewomon, Acquillamon, Lilymon abd Birdramon battled Ladydevimon.  Distracted by Angewomon's Heaven's Charm attack, Birdramon fired her Meteor Wing and Lilymon used Flower Cannon, all aimed at the dark ring around Ladydevimon's neck.   Knowing that Ladydevimon would be unable to attack all of them at once, Acquillamon sent the final blow towards the dark ring with his Blast Laser.

            At the same time, Megakabuterimon directed his Electro Shocker towards the dark ring on one of Kimeramon's leg just seconds after Stingmon used his Spiking Strike and Zudomon used Vulcan's Hammer.

            Happening at the same time, Davis, Von, and Cody stared at the dark structure.  "Okay, you little evil image, you, open the pyramid for us!" Davis demanded futilely on Ex-veemon's back.  Von and Cody sweat-dropped.  The image laughed mockingly as it faded out.  "GRRR!" Davis roared.

            "Let's just destroy it, Davis," Von recommended.

            "Yeah.  It's not worth it!" Cody agreed wholeheartedly.

            "Fine with me.  You, Ex-veemon?" Davis shouted.  The three Digimon nodded.

            "Alright then, charge!" Davis commanded his troops.  Instantaneously, the pyramid descended onto the solid ground, and the Empress' voice could be heard.

            "Password accepted."  Entry into the structure was granted.

            As soon as Davis noticed the opening, he and Ex-veemon charged forward, without the rest of the group.

            "DAVIS!!!" T.K. shouted, returning with the others from destroying dark rings.

            "WAIT UP!" Kari cried out when he was out of sight.  Promptly, they followed, and the door of the pyramid slid close.  Absolute darkness embodied them until the lights were activated automatically, and the Digimon returned to their usual forms to converse energy.

            Inside they saw large, locked, cylindrical glass tubes, television screens, a flat-screen computer and controls.  Izzy and Ken, fascinated by the peculiar tubes examined them.  "They are two of them," Mimi claimed.  "I wonder what they do."

            "Wonder no more," Tai said when he hit a yellow button marked 'OPEN' by a slip of hand.  The glass doors swung opened.  Yolei and Izzy walked in.

            "You sure this is wise?" Hawkmon questioned uncomfortably.

            "Don't worry, Hawkmon.  This reminds of one of those showers," Yolei answered as she wore a mischievous smile across her face.

            "Hey, Tai, what's this little green button for?" Agumon queried curiously, pointing his paws so closely that he pushed the button.  "Oops."  Both glass doors closed, trapping Izzy and Yolei inside the cylinders.

            "Uh-ohhhh—" Yolei shrieked as materialized out of sight.

            "Where did you—" Izzy managed to say before he too vanished.

            Just then, a television screen flashed on, monitoring two figures that appeared inside a mysterious room.  They gasped as they saw each other on TV.

            "What just happened?" Matt inquired, confused.

            "It would appears that we've just been teleported," Izzy, staring back at the gang through the screen, hypothesized, "into another pyramid."

            "COOL!!!" Yolei excitedly shouted causing all eyes to be on her.  "We found Gatomon's tail ring!" she exclaimed as she pointed to something shiny flashing inside a glass window case beside her.

            Stunned, Gatomon didn't say anything at the start.  Instead, she leaped onto the controls to get closer to the screen to verify if the tail ring was hers.  "Yes, that's it!" she rejoiced.  "Let's go there."  With her right paw, Gatomon pushed the yellow button, opening both glass doors again.  Then she led Kai inside and leaped onto her shoulders.

            "Are you sure, Gatomon?" with caution Kari asked, removing Gatomon from her shoulder and instead cradled her.  Her partner nodded.  "Okay.  Hit it again, Agumon."

            Before Agumon touched the green button Davis and Veemon darted themselves into the other vacant tube.  The others then repeated the procedure until Mimi, Tai, Agumon and Palmon were left.  "Okay, Palmon, use your vines to stroke the button," Mimi ordered and Palmon obeyed.  Immediately they were teleported to where the others were.

***

            "What took you?" Davis asked impatiently.

            "Grrr.  So what have you found, Izzy?" Tai queried.

            "While you were still inside the other structure, we discovered not only Gatomon's tail ring but also a command button to deactivate the remaining dark pyramids," exclaimed a joyous Yolei instead.

            "That's great news!" Palmon commented.

            "AWESOME!" Mimi exclaimed happily.

            "So did you take back your tail ring yet?" Agumon asked in curiosity, gazing at her tail.

            "Not yet; we were waiting for you," she replied.

            "Alright then, let's get it."  Grunting, Tai tried to lift the lid of the window case.  As soon as Tai was able to lift lid high enough, Gatomon slipped her tail inside and looped her tail around the ring.  Then, briskly she brought her tail out along with the ring and Tai released the lid gently.  Beads of sweat had formed on Tai's forehead.  Kari handed him a tissue and offered her thanks.  "No problem, Kari."  Anxiously Gatomon placed her tail ring on her tail.

***

            Elsewhere, Kamari was at home on the phone with Ange who said she would return to visit again.  "When?" she asked eagerly.

            "Soon, my friend, soon.  When you need me there," Ange answered on the other line when Kamari's D-terminal beeped an e-mail message.

            "I need you now, Ange," Kamari begged as she read the e-mail in her head.  "They've just infiltrated my creations and retrieved Gatomon's ring."

            "As anticipated, Mariana.  And soon you must carry out your final tasks of the mission."

            "Yes, I know, when they deactivated them," Kamari replied, knowing exactly when her friend what speaking of.

            "Until then, conserve your energy and powers.  Do not waste them.  I can feel your magical powers draining with each passing second."

            "I've noticed.  I am growing weaker.  But don't worry, when this is all over, I shall rest and rejuvenate.  My magic will return to its fullest," Kamari spoke confidently and calmly, trying to assure a worried Ange.

            "Got to go now, Mariana.  I'm off to recruit Willis for the final test.  Bye."

            "Okay.  Talk to you later," Kamari said and Ange hung up.

***

            "What does this button do, Tai?" Agumon asked, once again itching to press something.

            "I dunno, so don't—" Tai managed to say before Agumon hit a glowing red control.

            "Agumon!" all of them scowled, angered to see that Agumon hadn't learnt his lesson.

            "Sorry, Tai.  My paws were just so itching to hit something," Agumon explained, innocently when a voice interrupted.

            "Pyramids deactivation verification.  Press control again to deactivate all existing pyramids," a voice coming from the speakers of a computer was heard.  Agumon excitedly hit the button again.

            "Agumon!" Tai shouted, raising an eyebrow.

            "Deactivation process complete.  All Digivolutions now granted."

            "What, Tai?  I thought you would be happy to have all these ugly things out of commission."

            "I do, Agumon, but try not to be so reckless."

            "You mean like you back then?"

***

            "Digi-port open!" Kamari commanded.  A beam of light flashed across the screen and filled the room, taking the figure into the digital realm.

            Upon arrival, she was greeted by Wishmon.  "Mistress, the others are still here.  They're now exiting the control room."

            "Then, let's go and greet them," she said, smirking.  Then she pulled out a pen from her mini skirt's pocket.  As she held it out, she murmured, "Disguise as Empress.  Disguise now."  With her new attire on, she and Wishmon began to briskly walk towards the sector of the pyramids where the others were.

***

            The door of the control room slid shut when the Digidestines and their Digimon companions exited.  They climbed up some flight of steps until they reached the absolute peak of the pyramid possible.  There they found two figures awaiting their presences.

            "Digidestines," the Empress said as she removed her mask.

            Stunned like his friends, Davis asked in disbelief, "Mariana?"

            "You're the evil Digimon Empress?" Yolei questioned slowly.

            "So you've discovered out central control and managed to retrieve Gatomon's tail ring and deactivate my mistress' pyramids all at once."

            "A Wishmon?  I thought Wishmon were just legendary creatures," Izamon hissed.

            "Let's not go through this insanity again," Kamari, the Empress, declared sharply.  In her mind, she recited a reversal spell for forgetfulness upon the Digidestines before her.

            "Maria!  Don't do this!" Davis begged when he and the others regained their memories the Empress blocked.

            "Like I said before, Davis, I've come too far to quit," Kamari said obstinately.  She held out her D-3 and rays of white light shot out from it, hitting all of them.

            "Ahhhh!"

***

            All of them materialized out of the base and into an open field.  "We deserve an explanation," Kari claimed, glancing straight into the Empress' dark eyes.

            Kamari glared straight back at Kari, sending chills down her spine.  She shivered a little, causing her to break free of the glare.  "Now that all of you have recovered your memories and passed my previous tests, brace yourself for your own ultimate examination!"

            "This was all a test?"

            "Why are we being tested?" Izzy asked, adding to Ken's question.

            "All shall be revealed when and if you pass your own obstacles I've devised."

            "What if we fail?" Cody posed.

            "If you fail, you'll be stripped of your crests and Digidestine destiny.  All your memories of this realm will be erased forever."

            Expressions of fear ran across all of the Digidestines' faces.  They did not want to lose the happy memories of the time they all spent together in the digital realm.  It would be too great a loss.

            "And if we choose not to participate in your silly tests?"

            "You cannot neglect my tests.  If you do not wish to take my test, you will automatically be stripped of your title, crest and memories."

            "So, you have no choice in the matter," Wishmon mentioned coldly.  "If you truly care, you shall take my mistress' test."

            "Any quitters?" Kamari asked emotionlessly.

            "Not on this team," Tai and Davis blurted out at the same time.

            "We're with you, Tai," the others replied in unison.

            The Empress held out her D-3 again.  A streak of white light blasted upwards and brought forth her base floating in the air right above her and everyone else as they gasped in astonishment at the sight of such a vast floating, glass-composed, pyramid.  Wishmon digivolved into Tykylomon, and Kamari placed her D-3 into her pocket, and climbed on board her partner's back.  Lightning quick Tykylomon flew her mistress towards the great structure as a door slid open.

            "What's going on?!" Matt demanded to know as he and the others watched intently the Empress and her Tykylomon entering the pyramid, leaving all of them stranded in an open field unknown to them.

            The Empress laughed mischievously.  "Your trials begin, silly," she answered in between laughs as she held out her grey D-3 once again.  This time rainbow rays shot out towards all of the Digidestines below her.  The Digidestines shrieked as they were hit by the blinding and colourful rays.

***

To be continued….

A/N: Hopefully next chapter will bring more excitement….  Sorry for the delay; there were exams, and there still are… Luckily I had this written out and it only need to be typed up….  Thanks for reading and reviewing, and I'll try harder to update faster….bye now.