Redux I: Reality Redux
By ArchangelUK & Digicowboy

Digimon: Digital Monsters are owned by rich people who live in glass houses and throw stones whenever the hell they like because unsurprisingly they're rich and can replace any broken windows.

Chapter 32 - All Kinds Of Darkness : Pt 1 - Bloodlust

"What do you think he's going to do?"

"I dread to think."

"Silence!" Gennai ordered and the two SkullGreymon obeyed, they stood next to the vast array of Knightmon and others who Gennai had gathered at his other home. The Temple of the Dragon was surrounded by a moat of viscous lava that popped and bubbled, strong currents made the lava move slowly around the vast building. Considering the flowering landscape around it the fact there was an open volcanic channel running through the small valley was something most unusual. Then again since when did the Digital World conform to the ideas of science and nature? The temple was big, very big indeed the front gate featured a drawbridge over the magma of an ancient wood, then a Japanese style portcullis before you came to the doors. Two massive doors of solid oak coated on the outside and inside with the purest platinum digizoid, the hardest substance known in existence, there was an inlaid pattern of gold digizoid and diamond which foretold the coming of the great dragon - the first of all Digimon who gave life to the first generation of monsters and in time it was said created the beings that became the four Sovereign Digimon. The doors were monstrous in size, they stood almost thirty feet tall and were at least seven feet thick, two feet of which was the platinum digizoid covering on the front and reverse. The walls of this mighty castle-come-temple were at least three and a half metres thick.

Gennai paced and fondled the pommel of his sword, it's twin whom he could never remember using was strapped to his other side. Chewing on his lip he turned to a Knightmon who had just asked him a question.

"What do wish us to do?"

"Bar the doors."

"Already done." The Knightmon gestured at the solid gold digizoid bar that had taken twenty Knightmon to lift. "What next?"

"We wait."

"And if he comes?"

"He will. Let us hope the doors are strong enough."

Gennai hoped like crazy they would, the temple was sealed every other way and the doors were the only feasible entrance. Should by some wild miracle Angelus be able to get past the doors then his small personal army should see to it that he travelled no further. The Digimon had bar the two SkullGreymon who acted like sentry guards been all armed with weapons forged by a deity, which Gennai had 'acquired' over the years through one way or the other. It was safe to say Gennai was a little scared, it had not been long ago he had thought he was just a normal being - not a demi-god just like Angelus, and now either he or his brother must die. Not only that but the last time Gennai had seen his angelic brother the wing-clad human looked as though he could cause severe damage to anything and anyone in his path.

Far away from the Temple of the Dragon, in the Temple of Hope two very old friends sat silently waiting for the inevitable. Baihumon flexed his claws and growled agitatedly, "I knew this would come one day."

"Of course, it is not the first time we have been party to the events that will shape this day." Azulongmon said; his eyes clouded by thought.

"I didn't realise it would be this difficult."

"Yes, we cannot interfere and I wish we could but it would distort the timeline far too much."

"If I could save him from what was to happen though, wouldn't it be worth it?" Baihumon angrily slashed at a statue with his right front paw, reducing it to rubble with very little effort. He sighed and his friend shook his head.

"No. Don't you think I thought of that?"

"Of course old friend."

"I know it's hard Baihumon but that's life and when it comes to them life is even harder. I know how hard it was for your partner to live the life he was set, how many things had to be sacrificed and were sacrificed on his behalf without his consent. I know how much he lost, will lose and will lose again but by choosing his own fate he chose what fate assigned to him in the first place but an even trickier path."

"He will never be happy, not truly."

"Perhaps he will, if there is any justice in the universe."

"If he were here now he would say the only thing the universe has is pain."

"If my partner were here perhaps he would say the same. It's hard to believe after all these years that he still is so bitter about this day, it's said time heals."

Baihumon looked skywards, memories flowing through his consciousness. "We have seen more time than most yet that wound is still as fresh today as it was... today."

"Hmm." Azulongmon murmured, "Of all the scars they carry for both of them this is the greatest."

"The burden is upon his heart, and the scar is on that so the burden rest upon the scar. I don't think he will ever truly trust again, from this his attitude changed. The fighting he once abhorred he now relishes as it's the only way he can forget his pain, his betrayal by that which is supposed to be most sacred."

Azulongmon turned to face him, "Fear? Of being hurt."

"No."

"Then what?"

Baihumon cast his eyes down for a moment, "Fear of what he is."

Ben had re-materialised next to his friends, with Raine curled up around his shoulders the dragonet chirped a hello. Mimi patted his scaly head and gave Ben a brief peck on the cheek that made the Traveller wince, everyone bar two individuals began inspecting Ben's wounds. The two were Angelus and 'Kari', the Light still embodying Tai's sister. They were kneeling beside Sora's body, which had had a blanket draped over it, Angelus's face was emotionless with the Light too a bastion of silence. The Light spoke first:

"The time of change is soon complete."

"Why the hell should I believe anything you say? You, Aeth, Gennai - you've all lied from the very beginning."

"The end justifies the means."

"Spoken like the a-typical voice of self-righteousness."

"Destiny calls you Gatekeeper."

"Men who crave power look back on all their mistakes and their lies, gather them all together and call it 'Destiny'."

"An interesting if irrelevant philosophy."

"It's from a film actually, and I'll give a tenner to anyone who can name it." Angelus stood up. "This is not destiny, it has been manipulated since chapter one of this god damn story. Sora shouldn't have had to die; her end is not justified by ANY means. I will make him pay I will make ALL PAY WHO CROSS ME!"

The Light took a step back; Angelus stood and began to pulse with white light. "Angelus?"

"THOSE WHO DO NOT DECLARE SHALL BE DECLARED. I WILL HAVE REVENGE ON THE BASTARD WHO DID THIS AND HEAVEN HELP ANY OF YOU WHO GET IN MY WAY!" The last two words boomed out around the valley as a swirling vortex of colour swallowed Angelus up and disappeared in a blink of an eye.

"Well" Davis said, rubbing his hands together then patting 'Kari' on the back. "Congratulations, I didn't know what you did to enable our emotionally volatile friend to completely lose his frail grasp on what passed for his sanity but you've certainly done it now."
"Yeah, nice one." Tai scoffed, "Any idea as to what that whole 'those who do not declare shall be declared' thing was about?

Armadillomon asked, "Where's he gone?"

Ben looked sadly at the place Angelus had been, "To his fate."

"Could you be a mite more specific about that? A location maybe?"

Ben nodded, "I think I know where."

All of a sudden there was the gentlest knock on the door, a barely audible rat-a-tat-tat. Gennai's pulse quickened and every set of eyes focused on where the noise had come from.

"There's somebody at the door." A Knightmon said.

"Gee, you think?"

"Should we see who it is?" Asked another dumbly, the first looked at its comrade and cracked it around the head with his shield.

THUMP

THUMP

THUMP

The door boomed. Three very loud thumps that felt like a trio of elephants had been catapulted into it echoed through the temple so loud were they sprinklings of dust came from the ancient ceiling.

"Maybe he'll go away."

"Really?" Asked one of the SkullGreymon, "A pity. I want to kill him."

"If you get a chance to you mean."

"Silence!" Gennai hissed, and an eerie calm descended upon them all. For a while nothing seemed to happen and Gennai breathed a silent sigh of relief, if Angelus believed the temple was empty and abandoned he may go somewhere else. Then Gennai went pale, but the doors were obviously barred and the temple sealed and the 'A' target still was on his chest the tiniest beam of light was coming from between the doors and it was at that moment he realised Angelus knew he was inside.

KAAAAAAAAAAABOOOOOOOOOOOOM!

The temple doors exploded inward in a shower of lethal wood and metal shards. Gennai cried out in alarm and threw himself behind a pillar a great plume of smoke and shards billowed past the stone either side. The noise of a thousand shrapnel pieces peppering the walls with tiny holes rung in his ears and shook him right down to his toes.

The two SkullGreymon had been instantly deleted by the blast being as they were right next to the doors when they were blown open. Gennai when the dust had settled gingerly walked out from behind his shelter, stepping through the remains of granite, wood, metal and one of the six massive hinges that had been twisted beyond all recognition. Smoke dust and ash all still floated downwards yet the room was unnaturally light, the light was streaming through what was now an archway into the sacred building. About 20 Knightmon still stood, or rather were still living many were trying to stagger to their feet. Some of the Digimon had been crushed by the fallen masonry, other were wounded but most just seemed to have been stunned Gennai couldn't help fearing the lucky ones were the ones who had been destroyed before they knew what had occurred.


Gennai picked his way down the few steps that had lead up to where he'd been standing, coughing with all the dust that was clogging up his lungs. He drew one of his swords and moved slightly forward, he signalled for the Knightmon to get ready and shuffled even closer to the doorway.

Closer.

Nothing happened.

Closer still.

Nothing happened.

One more step and he'd be outside, sunlight was glinting of the tip of his sword.

Nothing happened.

Then Gennai noticed it, or rather the absence of it, he looked down at himself and found that the target had gone. He chuckled and a smile of relief broke out on his face, Angelus was gone, the fool must have used so much power in destroying the doors he'd destroyed himself in the process. Foolish to the last it seemed.

"Sir?" The most senior Knightmon alive asked, "What now?"

"He's gone." Gennai tucked the samurai-style sword back in his belt, "Guard the entrance in case the DigiDestined arrive and if they do escort them to me, if the Traveller arrives kill him."

"Which one?"

"If it's Aeth let him past, if it's any other Traveller especially the one known as Ben and Aeth has failed to deal with him significantly then erase him."

"Target acquired." Came an unfamiliar voice, Gennai paled and turned around finding as he did so the 'A' symbol, back both brighter and stronger than before. From out of the archway floated a figure clad in ornamental ivory white armour, silvery white hair hung down to his middle back. A sword was at his belt in an ornate scabbard, the light (which Gennai thought had been coming from outside) was actually being radiated from the levitating figure - mostly from his both iris and pupil-less eyes.

"I AM BECOME GATEKEEPER, DESTRUCTOR OF THE CORRUPTED." The figure pointed an accusing finger at Gennai, "AND YOU SHALL BECOME A CORPSE."

Gennai face had been white before but now it was the whiteness of ice, he wasn't able to reply he just took two steps backward involuntarily. He only snapped back to reality when he heard the sound of Angelus, no, Gatekeeper's feet hitting the cold stone floor and the sudden war cry of the remainder of his army. The Knightmon, swords drawn charged at Gennai's brother who just stood his ground until the first one leapt at him slashing downwards with it's huge broadsword. The white warrior quicker than the blink of an eye drew his holy blade sliced upwards and cut through sword and shield and armour and digital bone. The two halves of the Knightmon landed either side of him, then began fizzing away into nothingness. The others paused in nauseated wonder as the remains vanished completely; Angelus raised his hand and beckoned the next one forward.

The leader, rather braver than the rest called out to Gennai, "Run Master Gennai, we will hold him off." The robed man nodded despite his shocked stupor then took off as fast as he could for the catacombs.

As Gennai ran the Knightmon all drew their swords and advanced in a horseshoe formation towards the Gatekeeper who smiled wryly. One charged him, sword met sword as Gatekeeper spun around, a high blow parried easily with straight block. One Knightmon tried a thrust from behind but the possessed Angelus jumped into the air, landing precisely on the flat blade and kicking the creature in the face. It's neck snapped backwards and it fell, Gatekeeper twisted his sword downwards and plunged it into the Digimon's throat; It disappeared also. He leaped again as a sword slice through the space he'd just occupied, parrying the stroke Gatekeeper somersaulted into the air in a twisting motion, at the peak of the jump his sword flicked out and the offending foe's head bade farewell to his neck.

Three down. Seven remained.

Gatekeeper threw his sword into his left hand and used the momentum to continue swinging the sword upwards, knocking the sword of the fourth flying out of it's grasp. The sword stuck in the wall, wobbling in mid air above a suit of armour carrying a spear. The Knightmon rolled to the side and dived towards the spear, Gatekeeper put his hands on his hips and yawned. The spear carrying Knightmon threw its new weapon at the white warrior and cheered as it struck him dead centre of the chest. This elation was snuffed out as Gatekeeper looked down and plucked the weapon out of him without so much as a flesh wound to show for it. Gatekeeper examined the spear point in a detached way.

"Man forged."

"Ah."

"Ah." Gatekeeper agreed.

"AHHHHHHHHHHH!" Finished the interchange three seconds plus a spear throw later and another Knightmon fell.

The leader looked around, the others wanted to turn and run and one did but Gatekeeper was not going to let him. It puffed as it ran, all that armour weighed a lot and it'd barely made it out of the ravaged temple entrance before a shadow blotted out the sun, a winged messenger of death swooped down and carried the Digimon aloft as though its weight was as nothing to him.

Which was probably the case.

"Let me go!" The Knightmon pleaded and looked up into the unnervingly calm face of its assailant. Gatekeeper simply nodded then let go, but by this time he had flown to the very ceiling of the cavernous theatre. The Digimon screamed as it fell to its doom, landing as it did with unquestionable accuracy on another two Knightmon that were hiding by a fallen pillar.

Landing once more, Gatekeeper advanced on the remaining three Knightmon with little concern for the sharp swords they carried. One jumped into the air but Gatekeeper did too and landed a reverse kick in its solar plexus sending crashing back downwards. Landing the floored Knightmon got up and tried a diving thrust, but Angelus pointed two fingers at him and with a flicking motion of his arm the Knightmon was spun away through the air to land in a pile of rubble. Thrown by invisible hands at terrifying speeds.

Turning Gatekeeper sent the leaders sword spinning away only to twist and push the remaining enemy backwards into the wall with a series of powerful swings. Although they did not make contact with flesh and were well blocked were strong enough to cause the knight to be forced back. This adversary met a messy end when the possessed chosen one sliced through one of it's legs, Gatekeeper seemed to look at his sword for a moment after he pulled it out, tossed it slightly in the air and upon catching it rotated the sword 180 degrees and thrust backwards past his side and under his arm to impale the Knightmon with the air miles through the chest. His free hand pushing backwards on the pommel only served to increase the severity of the stroke. It gasped and fell in a heap of dissolving data.


The leading Knightmon was the last to fall, Gatekeeper launched a flurry of sword blows that by skill or dumb luck the Digimon was somehow able to avoid. Knightmon breathed a sigh of relief and felt brave enough for one last attack, Gatekeeper hued at him then held up a hand. The air seemed to ripple as reality changed within the great hallway and the Digimon ceased movement. Frozen in mid air Knightmon tried to scream but couldn't as the deity brought his palms together then pushed both away from each other. The light noticeably flickered and the Digimon was unceremoniously ripped in two by unseen forces.


Gennai hurried down the stone steps, cursing his choice in clothes, the sandals and robes were slowing him down and he so very needed to move faster - Much, much, much, much faster. Above him some way above him in fact a door was thrown open, light flooded the area several floors above him. Gennai scowled and retreated down another staircase into a dungeon area, the floor of this prison was dotted with bones and Gennai had to carefully pick his way through them. Gatekeeper meanwhile wasn't bothering with stairs he was simply floating downwards, the candles near or around him as he past exploded into purple flames and burned with an unnatural light and ferocity.

Gennai broke into a run down a corridor only to realise he no longer knew where he was, he knew where he wanted to go but this was the wrong way. Cursing his ill luck he turned around, only to find himself staring at a white wide-eyed warrior blocking his path. Gennai swallowed, Gatekeeper had caught up with him.

"So brother, this is it."

"I am Gatekeeper." Gatekeeper took a pace forward, electricity crackled and jumped along the walls, the cell doors were blown open, the cover for one of the oubliettes was thrown upwards by a jet of high pressurised steam. "You have broken sacred law by instigating the demise of the bearer of the crest of Love. I hereby dispense judgement on you in accordance with those laws." Gatekeeper drew his sword, "And I will take great pleasure in doing so brother."

Gennai drew two swords from his belt, a pair of twin katana blades and held them in a defensive posture. "If we're going to do this let's do it. I'm a busy man"

"And I'm missing a good episode of 'Highway To Heaven'." Gatekeeper said sarcastically, flexing the grip on his sword.

"Cute." Gennai spat, his agitation giving way to anger. "Come on then! BRING IT ON ANGELUS!"

Gatekeeper calmly ran a thumb down his sword blade slightly, testing its sharpness. "As you wish traitor."

And Gatekeeper attacked

Zombie Sora: Urrrrr, arg!
AAUK: You didn't bring ANOTHER zombie here did you?.
DC: Meh, can you really have too many zombies in any one particular fanfiction collection?
AAUK: I thought you'd kinda milked the idea dry in 'The Adventures of Marky-Mark and Benny Boy'.
Zombie Sora: BRAINS!
AAUK: *rolls eyes*
Zombie Sora: STAINS!
AAUK: *Taps foot*
Zombie Sora: TRAINS!
AAUK: ENOUGH ALREADY!

ArchangelUK 0:o)
Digicowboy c):o)
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