Chapter One: "The Fall of a Guardian."
It seemed so different, so dark and foreboding, as if everything he once knew and felt had changed, reflecting the dark entity from within his dreams. Walking silently through the surrounding overgrowth, TK shifted his gaze to what was above him, witnessing the fiery red sun that was slowly setting in the digital world. Night was not far off, but he knew that they could not rest, not until they could find out what was going on.
The feeling of darkness continued to grow all around them, so much that even Patamon could now sense it's presence, his eyes carefully looking from side to side, as if awaiting an unavoidable fate. The small digimon flew by TK's side, uneasiness in every gaze and expression.
"It feels like we're being watched." Whispered TK, breaking the powerful silence.
Patamon nodded his head. "I feel it too."
They both fell silent once more, as TK looked around him. "Do you have any idea of where we are, Patamon?"
"I think so." Came the answer, as he thought for a moment. "If I'm right, the Temple of Light should be up ahead."
"Temple of Light?"
"Remember when you originally gave up your crests with Tai and the others?" He turned to see TK nod in remembrance. "Well, their power was sent into every corner of the digital world in order to protect it. Eight temples were then created, each containing a power of each crest."
"So the temple nearby is where the Crest of Light resides." TK lost himself in thought. "And if this dark digimon is as powerful as I think it is, then Angemon doesn't stand a chance. The only way we have a chance of beating it is if we could reclaim the power of our crest, and get you to digivolve into an Ultimate again…" A sudden explosion cut the rest of his words, the impact, shaking through the entire area. "What was that?"
Patamon quickly flew himself upwards, rising above the tops of the trees, and gain a better vantage point. "Huh?! TK!"
TK didn't need anything else. Quickly pulling his digivice from out of his pocket, he raced through the overgrown path, rushing forward with all his speed. He slowly looked up as a clearing began to appear, and braced himself for what he was about to see. Another explosion rocked the area, and TK glanced up at the large form of a digimon that crashed hard against the side of the temple, crying out in pain as several dark forms surrounded it.
"A-Azulogmon?!" TK turned his gaze to the dark shadowy digimon that attacked it, but not recognizing what they were. "Patamon, what are they?"
"… Shadowmon!"
The Shadowmon were tall creatures, their forms resembling that of a human frame, except that they were covered entirely in darkness, possessing long clawed arms that almost reached the ground, and deep set eyes that were punctuated by razor sharp teeth. Just by staring at them, a coldness seemed to wash over TK's body, as an aura of darkness continued to ebb from their forms.
"Shadowmon." Patamon continued. "Powerful and extremely deadly Ultimate level digimon. They possess critical attacks like Darkness Wave, and Viral Infection!"
"Patamon, we've got to stop them!" TK lifted up his digivice. "Azulogmon needs our help!"
"Right! Ready when you are TK!"
Digimon…
A stream of powerful energy erupted from the digivice, ascending high into the heavens, before falling back to gather into the form of Patamon. "Patamon digivolve to…" The familiar hidden data within him began to rise, quickly rising to the surface, as he digivolved into his Champion form. "… Angemon!"
Angemon soared through the air with ease, his wings carrying him fast, as he hurried to Azulogmon's aid. "Hand of Fate!" A blast of pure holy energy emerged from Angemon's right fist, crossing the distance in no time at all, and exploding in a dazzle of light as it hit the center of the group of Shadowmon.
"Alright!" Encouraged TK, but the shock returned to his features, as he saw that they were only phased.
Angemon landed on the ground in front of Azulogmon, protecting him, as he reached for his rod. "Angel Rod!" The rod quickly spun through the air, slashing at the skin of the nearby Shadowmon, and pushing them back, before returning to his hands. But the Shadowmon, though hurt, continued to press forwards. "… They're strong!"
"Darkness Wave!"
TK's eyes grew wider. "Angemon! Look out!"
Angemon barely had time to move, jumping backwards as a pulse of dark energy ripped through the air, hitting the area where he was a moment ago. Before he had a chance to recover, two Shadowmon suddenly jumped forward, Angemon managing to hit one away with his rod, but the other slashed its claws across his chest. "Ugh!"
"Angemon!"
Angemon gripped his hand tighter around his rod, driving the end hard into the stomach of the Shadowmon, before finishing it off with a hit to it's head. He then quickly turned, lashing the rod across the sides of two others, blocking several claws with the side of the rod, and countering with a blast of his Hand of Fate. "TK! T - There's too many!" He shouted, and braced himself for the impact of the next attack.
"No!" TK ran forward, not sure of why he did it, but just needing to try and help his friend. He did not get far, as three Shadowmon turned towards him…
"Rosetta Stone!"
Three stone tablets suddenly flew through the air, crashing into the approaching Shadowmon, and startling them a little. TK quickly turned his gaze to see a shadow fly over him, and looked up to see Kari riding on the back of Nerfertimon. The emotions that raced through his mind were one of relief, but also of fright, as all that he could see when he saw her, was her dead body from his dream.
"TK!" Kari shouted, as she turned around on Nerfertimon. "We're here to help!"
"K-Kari … what are you doing here?!"
Nerfertimon carefully dropped Kari off beside him, before rushing over to provide Angemon with some support. Kari saw the look that appeared on TK's features, but turned her gaze away, concentrating on the fight. "Did you think that I was going to just let you come here alone?" Her tone was one of hurt. "I thought we were close TK … that you could trust me."
"I … Kari, I…" He could not get the words out. "I just don't want anything to happen to you!"
"It won't." She turned to face him. "Not if we work together. Gatamon might not be able to digivolve into Angewomon, but she can still kick butt as Nerfertimon!"
TK slowly fell silent, finally turning back to face the dire battle.
"Glad you could make it, Nerfertimon." Angemon smiled.
"No problem." She nodded, staring at the hoard of Shadowmon. "Now let's push these creeps back into the rock that they oozed out from … Cat's Eye Beam!"
"Hand of Fate!"
The two combined attacks pulsed through the air, slamming into the closest Shadowmon, and managing to delete one or two. Both digimon suddenly cried out in fright, as a Darkness Wave was sent their way, knowing that they could not move from where they stood, for fear that it would hit Azulogmon.
"No!" TK and Kari cried out as one.
The force of the hit immediately caused Nefertimon to de-digivolve, her armor form no match for the powerful dark attack, whilst Angemon managed to sustain through it, but was badly injured, falling to his knees. With his remaining strength, Angemon quickly executed an Angel Rod attack, shielding Gatamon from the Shadowmon that tried to claw at her, and giving her a chance to stumble out of harm's way.
"Gatamon!" Pain filled Kari's eyes. "Get out of there!"
TK stepped back in shock, the gravity of the situation hitting him hard. "I-It's no use! Our digimon are just no match for them!"
"TK, don't give up, we can't give up! Azulogmon is depending on us!" She turned to face him. "The light from our digimon can beat back the darkness … I know it can!" She suddenly fell silent as her digivice began vibrating harshly, and a loud beeping sound erupted from it's core. "W-What's this?" It began to softly glow.
"D-Digidestined…" Azulogmon's voice echoed through her inner mind. "W-With my remaining … power … reclaim the power of your crest…"
An intense pulse of bright light suddenly erupted from the temple, soaring through the air, as it merged with Kari's digivice. The light then exploded…
Digimon…
Gatamon slowly opened her eyes, feeling the incredible yet familiar power resurface within her, filling her with the power to digivolve back into an Ultimate. "Gatamon digivolve to…" She grew taller, her cat-like appearance fading, as wings formed on her back, and she shifted into a human frame. "… Angewomon!"
"H-how is this possible?" TK turned in puzzlement to Kari, having not heard Azulogmon's voice in his mind.
"Go Angewomon!" Called Kari, barely understanding it herself, and knowing that there was no time to explain.
Angewomon's light caused the Shadowmon to take several steps backwards, giving her a chance to make the first move. "Heaven's Charge!" Raising her hands into the air, a circle of pure energy began to form, re-energizing Angemon's weakened form. Waiting for him to get back onto his feet, she then reached for her bow, pulling it back to reveal an arrow made of pure white light. "Let's finish this!"
"Right!" He nodded. "Hand of Fate! …"
"… Celestial Arrow!"
The two angel digimon began to release their attack, but before they had a chance to do so, a sudden deafening cry echoed from behind them, turning to see Azulogmon begin to disintegrate, the last of his energy drained. Angemon and Angewomon quicky flew to his side, resting their hands on his tired form, and trying to combine their energy to perform a Heaven's Charge.
"I-It's too late!" Shouted Angewomon.
In total silence, TK and Kari watched as the Shadowmon slowly turned to leave, their objective completed. Rushing forward through the clearing, the two made their way to their digimon's side. "Azulogmon…"
"D-Digidestined." The Guardian digimon said slowly. "I-I must tell you something … before my data is all gone…" He closed his eyes, struggling to breathe. "The dark evil that has surfaced … it is trying to d-destroy all of the Guardians of the digital world."
"B-But why?" Said Kari, her hands beginning to shake. "Why do such a thing?!"
"T-The resulting imbalance will destroy the entire digital world … And allow it access to y-your own. You must, must stop it…"
TK stepped forward, shaking his head. "But how? Angemon was hardly even a match for them. And if Gatamon hadn't been able to digivolve…" He let the sentence go unfinished.
"T-There is a way. In order to destroy this evil … y-you must seek out the power of the digi-crystals. With them in your possession, and the power of your crests … both Patamon and Gatomon will be able to reach their Mega forms…" Azulogmon suddenly coughed violently. "S-Seek them out … before it is too late…" The last remaining visible portion of his body, finally dissipated from sight.
"Azulogmon!" Cried Kari. "No!"
The period of silence that then followed was eternal, as TK, Kari, and their digimon mourned the passing of a dear friend, and one of the four Guardians of the digital world. No-one spoke for a very long time, and they did not even noticed when both Angemon and Angewomon de-digivolved back into their rookie and champion forms.
TK slowly placed his arm around Kari's shoulders, the tears falling from her eyes, as he tried to comfort her. No words, nothing spoken, just the safety and feeling of one another's company, as the stars slowly appeared in the dark digital sky, and the moon began to rise. At that moment, the darkness crept into each of their hearts, filling them with doubt, with pain, and with little hope.
End of Chapter One.
