The Search Resumes

"Cybermon, we are almost there!" yelled J.C. as he rushed towards the flames

"J.C. slow down before you get fried!" yelled Rena as she rushed towards him

"Wow, I've never seen a fried poodle" joked Darkrenamon

"Hey!"

The four ran towards the near by flamed when they finally arrived right before its surface. It was beautiful as it glowed a divine white and its warmth caressed its surroundings.

"It seems a lot hotter and dangerous than it did a few minutes ago" said J.C.

"Yeah, how should we get through it?" asked Rena as a drop of sweat came down her forehead

"I think it would be best if Darkrenamon and I go first, it might be dangerous." said Cybermon with the light contradicting his violet eyes

"No. We have to do it together. We got into this adventure together, and we will go through these flames together." said Rena

"Then its settled, then we will go through" Darkrenamon paused "Together."

The four paused in a moment of total silence as they stared at the almost intensifying flames before them. They reflected upon their situation, their mission and the chance of them completing it. The hope and faith was with them, but victory seemed to be on the other side of the flames, yet if they did not enter the flames correctly, what was their to lose. Perhaps this, and only this, led them to fall through.

It seemed like as soon as they would touch the flames, it was all over, but they had completely gone through and nothing had happened, and the flames became nothing. There was no longer any flames to burn into anymore and the only thing behind them was the back of Tortoisemon. The flames were an Illusion, nothing more than a harsh mind trick obviously meant to intimidate intruders and a job very well done. But maybe their was more to the puzzle the four thought. Why had their attack from earlier had gone through and was reduced to a bundle of false sparks while their flesh remained on their bones. Why were they not burned and dead, maybe they were. But it seemed impossible, but the mind puzzle immediately was cleared from their minds, maybe the flames weren't meant to be understood. They had gone through them successfully, why worry? Could it be linked to the mysterious behavior of the two digimon, but this even more than the last, could hold deeper mysteries within. Untouchable truths, but truths can never remain untouchable...

"Whoa, that was weird. Oh my god! Look! Its the palace you guys. Its so pretty, it really is made of crystal." said Rena as the reflection of the regal palace reflected through the clearness of her eyes.

"We shouldn't admire this castle too long, we need to find the Phoenix in there." J.C. smiled at Rena, breaking her daze.

The four headed into the palace and through its opened gated they went and they soon found themselves in the middle of several paths to several different hallways. Everything in the palace was made out of solid crystal and glass and everything dulled in its comparison . Suddenly J.C.'s and Rena's crest lit up and it was driving them to the center.

"Darkrenamon, our crest our trying to drive us to the center door, its starting to pull me and J.C." said Rena amazed at her brightly lit crest

"Then that means something of great magnitude lies within there, we must head towards there then" replied Darkrenamon as they headed towards the sparkling door in front of them.

Cybermon and J.C. immediately opened the door with great force and made it slide to the sides revealing a shrine to be behind the doors. Rena and J.C. walked in to see a shadow of a center piece when Rena's crest sent a huge beam of blue light towards the podium-like stand as it blinded the quartet momentarily.

As the light faded the centerpiece remained in the same place and the unseen contents on it seem to remain untouched as Cybermon and the others cam closer.

On top of the stand was a bunch of golden ashes and a red skull lying on top. It was the head of a Phoenix and it took everyone by surprise. The ashes sparkled a vibrant, but lifeless glow and the skull lay just as lifeless and merely decorated the dusty remains.

Cybermon lifted the skull to see if any stone was underneath but nothing was there except more ashes and anger surrounded the room