Notes: Many thanks to Epsilon, my 50th reviewer and too all those who have enjoyed my story so far. This chapter, which I had to split up because I knew it would be long, takes place only within the Digital World. Since the focus hasn't been on Takato for a while, I decided to make it so. So you'll all have to wait for the Sakuyamon/Erinyemon conclusion and Ryou's suffering and settle for Demon and Takato's final showdown.
As for Takato "surrendering to evil," my only comment is that Takato is both human and still a kid, thereby liable to make mistakes. I'm also revising my chapter format, which is why this chapter looks so different from the rest. Once I get a chance however, they'll all look like this. Enjoy.
Chapter 6: Countdown
In an area composed of darkness and whispers, Takato struggled to open his eyes. He remembered waking up after being captured by Erinyemon, with Guilmon by his side. He also recalled LadyDevimon taking him, going through a strange portal in the sky and then…
I must have fallen asleep again, Takato thought worriedly. Guilmon…where is he? If something's happened to him…
Takato stood amidst the darkness and glanced around frantically. There was no sign of his partner, his captor or anyone else.
"Guilmon!" He shouted, refusing to believe he was truly alone. "Guilmon!"
"There's no need to shout, Takato." A familiar, yet unseen voice whispered gently.
Takato jumped; surprised to find the one person he never expected standing a few feet away from him.
"Mom?"
His mother or some form of her smiled and nodded in acknowledgement. "Well, who else were you expecting, Takato?"
"What do you mean?" Takato replied uncomprehendingly. "How did you get here? This place is-" He stopped speaking when he noticed how things around him had changed. He was…home. Sitting up in his bed, within his bedroom. His mother was standing in the doorway, an expression of worry etched on her face.
How did this happen?
"You were having a bad dream, Takato," Mie spoke soothingly as she entered the room. "Everything is going to be okay. I promise."
Takato stared at his mother, his concern slowly fading. A dream…was what happened at Hypnos and Erinyemon…could it all have been a dream? Yet a nagging worry continued to plague him.
"Mom, have you seen Guilmon? I need to find him!"
Mie smiled at Takato gently. "Guilmon is fine." She positioned herself at the end of Takato's bed, her calm expression finally giving way. "But there is something more important we need to talk about."
Takato frowned. "More important?"
"Yes." Mie paused, her eyes almost appearing to glow. "The future, your future, Takato. It's time to make a choice. One that will affect everyone around you."
This sounds so familiar…
"I know how much you care about us, Takato." Mie continued. "And I know that I've raised you well enough to make the right decision. You don't want to see anyone else hurt on account of you. You need to give in to Demon. Forget your pride and give in to your destiny."
With those words, the deceitful façade shattered. Takato jumped from the bed and stepped away from Mie slowly. "You're not my mother! She'd never try to convince me to do something I knew was wrong!"
Mie smiled at him coldly, her eyes glowing a brilliant blue. "I see you are more perceptive than I thought Matsuda Takato. How unfortunate for you." Her voice changed, becoming more of a growl or a rasp. "Vessel."
Takato felt his body jerk suddenly, as his familiar bedroom became the dark place he had glimpsed earlier. Where previously something resembling his mother stood, a monster languished in her place. A shapeless mass with the terrible glowing eyes and wriggling tentacles, Takato knew that he was finally facing Demon in his true form.
A soft laugh caused Takato to turn. It was then that he noticed LadyDevimon smirking at him, a bruised Guilmon at her feet. Takato felt his blood run cold, his partner been hurt while he had almost been tricked by Demon.
Not caring about his own safety, Takato ran to Guilmon's side. He hesitantly reached out and touched his head, causing his partner to open his eyes blearily.
"Ta…kato?" Guilmon murmured.
"Guilmon, I'm…sorry." Takato wanted to hug his partner, but was afraid of hurting him even more. Behind him, LadyDevimon made obnoxious gagging noises.
"Oh, boohoo. Poor, Guilmon." She said snidely, once she was finished. "What now Takato, are you going to cry? Because you're just so good at it."
Feeling pure anger coursing through him, Takato glared at her, "How could you?" He asked, his voice taking on an odd calmness. "How could you do that to someone who was completely defenseless?"
LadyDevimon shrugged callously. "Because I enjoy it. And because Demon was having his fun with you. I couldn't let myself get bored, now could I?"
Demon watched Takato's reaction to LadyDevimon's rash words and smiled vaguely. He had ordered her to remain with him because he knew that once he activated the virus internally, her life would be over.
Yet she still served a purpose, making the Vessel angry and clouding his judgment. Demon could almost feel the waves of fury the young Tamer was emitting, it increased his anticipation.
"Here you stand Matsuda Takato," He spoke with false geniality. "Alone and broken. Your allies most likely are dead, for my Reapers are the most effective killers. Your parents…I cannot speak for Erinyemon's sanity. They and the bakery you live above may have burned to the ground. And those poor humans in that building…at least the Reapers have been well fed." Demon chuckled lightly.
"And it was all due to you Takato. Your stubbornness, your unwillingness to submit…all of their deaths hang over your head."
Demon watched closely for the Tamer's reaction. If he lost control completely, as he expected, he would activate the virus and end things quickly. But not for the first time, Matsuda Takato surprised him.
"No, it wasn't." He said simply, his expression hard. "My friends are alive and my parents…I know that they're with me. But you killed those people! You create those things and sent them there. You hurt innocent people to try and make me help you and I'm not going to let you get away with it! Guilmon, my parents and my friends…it all ends!"
With those words, a crimson glow began to surround Takato's body. LadyDevimon moved closer, intrigued to feel the intense hatred and dark power it had come to symbolize. The second the light touched her, she backed away hissing. Something was wrong…she had felt anger, but it was corrupted. Tinged with self-righteousness and goodness and all together loathsome.
Even more strangely, when the battered Guilmon was bathed within the light, his wounds vanished. The Digimon stood, looking as astonished as those around him.
"Takato, I'm all better!" He said happily.
Takato gave him a thin smile. "I'm glad." His voice then hardened and his expression became set. "Are you ready Guilmon?"
In an instant, the cheerful Digimon's appearance became feral. "We talked about this Takato. No matter what happens…I'll always be by your side."
"No matter what happens…" Takato repeated softly. "Guilmon and I will never stop fighting, no matter what!" His voice rose with every word he spoke.
"Matrix Evolution!" Takato shouted, raising his D-Arc. The words were both repeated and shown across the device's screen as a red light flowed from it and intermingled with the light surrounding Takato and Guilmon.
"Guilmon, Matrix Evolve!"
Takato's body was reduced to data, before merging with that of Guilmon. Both Demon and LadyDevimon did what they could to shield their eyes against the light, while the merged form underwent a remarkable metamorphosis. Rather than a small saurian Digimon, a white knight stood. The crimson hazard sign on his forehead, gleaming shield on one arm and lance in place of the other, he was the Holy Knight…
"Dukemon!"
LadyDevimon stared at the Ultimate Digimon in horror. She'd heard tell of some drooling Dragon, but any fear she had of it had vanished. All Dukemon had to do was look at her and she knew her number would be up.
Luckily, Dukemon never glanced her way. Instead, he extended his lance, pointing it at Demon unflinchingly.
"Prepare yourself." Dukemon ordered in the dual voices of Takato and Guilmon. "You're about to meet your end."
Demon gave a deep laugh. "Come to me then Dukemon. Bring me 'my end."
Needing no further invitation, Dukemon ran forward…
This place is a maze, D'Arcmon thought as she passed over shadowy ruins and twisting crevices that stood out among the darkness. One could get lost in here, if they were on foot and didn't know the way.
Feeling slightly childish, D'Arcmon allowed a smirk to form, remembering that Rosemon was in such a situation. It serves her right, she reflected with mild guilt. She just has to let everyone know she's better than I am. Plus she's so haughty and vain; she'd probably faint were she ever to meet a Raremon.
D'Arcmon would have laughed at the image her imagination conjured of such an encounter, had something not bumped into her roughly, causing her to nearly careen into Metal Garurumon.
"Pay attention!" War Greymon hissed, fixing D'Arcmon with a frosty glare. "Demon's scouts could be skulking around anywhere and I do not intend to be delayed further on account of your idiocy."
His chastising complete, the golden armored Ultimate turned away from D'Arcmon and surged forward through the shadows and peaks.
D'Arcmon watched him, her mouth still hanging open in shock and embarrassment. Never had she been so belittled, even the memories of Rosemon's prior taunts seemed to lose their sting. D'Arcmon sighed heavily, trying her best to recapture her focus. I should never have left the desert. I might not have remembered anything of my life before awaking there, but at least I wouldn't be getting talked down like some Baby level Digimon.
"He is correct about one thing." Metal Garurumon said, his voice taking on a softer tone. "Demon has servants everywhere and you would never know that they were around you or even beside you, until it was too late."
The lupine Ultimate's words were far from comforting. And the way he had said them…it made the hair on the back of D'Arcmon's neck rise and she shook her head uneasily. Sparing a glance at the area where War Greymon had previously been flying, she sighed. Damn him and his stupid ambitions.
Metal Garurumon watched his angelic companion closely and gave the smallest of smiles beneath his armored helm. So young and so naïve, he thought serenely. To not even give any thought to the implied threat he had uttered showed that D'Arcmon was far too loyal for her own good. It was a trait that he most fortunately, did not share. He would do what needed to be done and with War Greymon no longer present, too wrapped up in ideas of a grand battle or a courageous death, it would be all the easier.
"You should always be on your guard, tenshi." Metal Garurumon murmured to the preoccupied D'Arcmon. "Like your habit of facing those you have no hope in defeating, it is one of your greatest flaws. Though not for much longer."
He savored the look of horror on her face, the shock that someone she had considered an ally, even a friend, was nothing more than a traitor. Metal Garurumon's smile became a full-blown smirk. He had been trained in methods of infiltration for years; she was simply another mark to him.
"A pity. I was growing quite fond of you." Metal Garurumon remarked off-handedly, before a blue light began shining within his mouth.
D'Arcmon's eyes widened. "I don't believe this." But the absolute surety in Metal Garurumon's eyes proved to be most convincing. The Adult Digimon knew she stood no chance in outrunning him, but perhaps she could lose him among the shadows and mountains. Flapping her wings as rapidly as possible, she dived, trying to get as close to mounts as she could without crashing into them.
Metal Garurumon watched D'Arcmon's attempt at escape and rolled his eyes. For one part of the Sacred Three, one who was feared by the all-powerful Demon, she was truly clueless to the methods of battle.
"Cocytus Breath!" Metal Garurumon roared, sending a powerful artic blast downward. The areas the light touched began encompassed in ice, but his target, D'Arcmon's fluttering wings, were shredded. The Adult off balanced before losing complete control and careening into the ground in a flurry of black dust.
Were he a Digimon of cockier personage, Metal Garurumon might have taken D'Arcmon for dead and continued on. Nonetheless, he wore the symbol of a Nightmare Soldier in Perfect form and had served as one of Demon's prized assassins. He never took things on faith and always made sure to finish his prey.
She had no part in the battle, yet LadyDevimon was exhausted. Watching Dukemon and Demon go against one another was as tedious as a battle came. She had immediately assumed that Dukemon would have the advantage, since Demon was so much larger and stationary. Nevertheless, Demon appeared to have more raw power and succeeded in batting many of Dukemon's attacks away harmlessly.
"Final Elysian!" Dukemon cried, sending a cataclysmic blast of power directly at Demon.
"Chaos Flare!" Demon countered with a discharge of flames.
The two attacks collided in mid-air, their equal power causing them dissipate.
Dukemon growled in frustration.
We can't hit him. Guilmon observed.
We have to try harder!Takato agued from within his sphere of glowing red light.
If we had more power… Guilmon began thoughtfully.
Takato paused, his mind racing. More power…if there was ever a time…
Guilmon, you're right! To beat Demon, we need Grani's power!
While Dukemon remained still in thought, Demon laughed.
"Dukemon, you disappoint me. I thought I would be receiving a challenge. Is this truly the best you could muster? Or have I overestimated the power of my so-called Vessel?"
"If you want a challenge, then how about this?" Dukemon replied, his armor glowing.
Demon watched him, unperturbedly. The moment he had waiting for had finally arrived.
Once the glow faded, the Demon Lord found himself facing a Digimon of remarkable proportions. His armor had become scarlet and edged in gold; the shield and lance were replaced with a golden double-sided lance and ten shining wings extended from his back. Dukemon: Crimson Mode in the flesh.
Without hesitation, Demon activated the virus. He knew of the delay, but refused to take any chances.
Dukemon: Crimson Mode wasted no time in charging, the tip of his regal lance shining with power.
10
"Quo Vadis!" He shouted, his attack easily tearing through Demon's erected shield and driving right through him. The Demon Lord screamed, clawing madly at body.
9
Fighting his way through tentacles and ignoring a burning pain, Dukemon: Crimson Mode tore through Demon's body and exited it. He paused a moment, before readying a second attack.
"Quo Vadis!" Rushing forward once again, Dukemon: Crimson Mode ripped through Demon once again. This time the pain was sharper and it took Dukemon: Crimson Mode only a moment to figure out why.
8
His armor…it was melting! But he couldn't pay attention to that now. With a loud crash, Demon had collapsed to the ground, his tentacles and arms flailing.
7
Dukemon: Crimson Mode flapped his wings and flew forward, intent upon making his next blow straight through Demon's head, hopefully ending things once and for all. The moment he drew close enough, the wiry tentacles took hold of his body.
6
Fighting to free himself from Demon's grasp, Dukemon: Crimson Mode cried out as more and more of his armor melted into nothingness. If he didn't escape soon, he would end up being deleted as Demon himself was.
5
Takato, where is that light coming from?
Completely preoccupied, Takato almost didn't hear his partner. He tried to concentrate on Guilmon's words and almost froze. Something within Demon was glowing…a golden light that progressively grew brighter.
4
"You fool…" Demon gasped breathlessly. "You have done the very thing I planned you to do… I can withstand this virus; even now my regenerative powers are healing me. But you…you cannot."
"No!" Dukemon: Crimson Mode screamed. "This can't be!"
3
"But it is." Demon cackled maliciously. "I said that you would be mine Matsuda Takato and mine you will be. Even now I am absorbing you into me, soon there will be nothing of you left. Welcome to Hell Matsuda Takato. I do hope you enjoy it."
Dukemon: Crimson Mode struggled against his bonds with renewed desperation. Within him, Takato felt powerless, yet refused to give up. So many people were counting on him and so many would be shattered by his and Guilmon's deaths.
2
Takato pictured his parents' faces, his mother's tears and his father trying to comfort her. The other Tamers…Hirokazu indignant, Kenta dubious, Juri shattered after already losing so much… Jenrya would probably blame himself and Ruki… Takato could see her normally placid face full of horror and fury. Even the Digimon, the wisecracking Terriermon, serene Renamon, quirky Guardromon, always surprising Marine Angemon, calm Lopmon and Impmon. Ms. Asanuma and Mr. Yamaki…they would all be affected…all of them…
1
With an explosion of light and horrific pain, Dukemon: Crimson Mode…Takato Matsuda and Guilmon knew no more…
LadyDevimon flew as quickly as her tattered wings would carry her. She didn't dare glance behind her, for she knew the horrific fate that was waiting.
Demon tricked me and I fell for it! LadyDevimon swore mentally. I should have known that it too easy, that he was being far too nice. That he…
"Aahhhh!" LadyDevimon shrieked as her back began burning. She slammed into a deteriorating wall, awkwardly trying to force the fragments of the virus from her.
She became horrified to find that rather than dispersing from her body, the virus was growing more rapidly. That verity and the sight of a golden wave rushing forward to claim her, made LadyDevimon quiver. She threw up her arms, knowing they would provide only a futile defense and screamed…
Impatience is foolish. It serves no real purpose and prevents clear thinking and decision making…
Hououmon sighed lightly as tried to focus on what War Greymon had spoken to her of sometime before. He was more prone to speeches and lectures nowadays, something that should have made her happier, in a sense, yet didn't.
Feeling greatly uncomfortable in her position on the ground, Hououmon reset her golden wings. Not too long ago, her size had bothered her for a much different reason. As the cute Piyomon, she had always been in danger from the larger, stronger Digimon. But in her current state, the immense, golden Queen of the Skies had little to fear.
Though she could not help but look back upon those memories of the past with more than little yearning. Before the light of the Shining Evolution had touched her, she, War Greymon and Preciomon had enjoyed their lives in their Child forms.
They were always in danger, aside from the D-Reaper matter there was always Digimon about who searched for those weaker to destroy and claim their data. But as long as the auspicious Agumon, kind Piyomon and comedic Gomamon stuck together, they had nothing to worry about. Until that day.
They had been separated from Agumon when the light of Evolution had washed over them and despite the changes in level, Hououmon had assumed nothing would change once she came in contact with her friend.
How very foolish I was.
Along with his humanoid form, incredible power and Ultimate level, War Greymon seemed to develop a contemptuous nature and sizable bloodlust to match them. Gone were the ties that used to bind them, War Greymon regarded her only as a necessary ally and the evolved Preciomon as a nuisance.
And while the reptilian Digimon did have his moments, even now as he lounged in a fetid river he had swam into from underneath a cave, he was doing his best to draw some type of reaction from the solemn Heracles Kabuterimon. Be it by silly jokes or slight jibes, Preciomon still had the persona of a Child.
"I wouldn't keep that up if I were you." Hououmon admonished him at last. "War Greymon said he would be returning quickly and is liable to catch you."
Preciomon gave a hissing laugh and raised a white flipper in a gesture of mock fear. "Oh, how I quiver." He responded sarcastically. "Don't let the big, bad War Greymon catch me and Gaia Force me into tomorrow."
"I wish he would." Heracles Kabuterimon muttered quietly. "You deserve it." The immense insect had barely spoken since that day when he had been chosen for the mission against Demon. Nonetheless, he had made his opinion of the mission quite clear that day, claiming that he and the other creatures of the underground had no quarrel with Demon and that the prospective battle between the him and the Beasts served no real purpose.
It was after that outburst that the other Digimon had been dismissed, so the knowledge of what had changed his mind was his alone.
His choosing to speak was something Preciomon couldn't let pass.
"He talks! He insults! For an encore, will he serve us all to Demon on a silver platter?"
Heracles Kabuterimon stiffened at the comment and Hououmon was surprised at the venom behind it.
"That's enough." She reproached Preciomon firmly. "Try keeping your insults and insinuations to yourself for a change, before I Starlight Explosion you into tomorrow."
Preciomon looked at her, eyes wide, then turned away muttering. Hououmon caught snatches of his words, "Jealous…Rosemon…" and frowned. For him to even assume such a thing…
She did her best to be kind to the vainglorious Rosemon, only to receive haughty responses and snide comments in response. The narcissistic Ultimate didn't want any part in the coming task anymore so than Heracles Kabuterimon and though she had held her tongue among the gods, her opinion was constantly obvious to those around her.
As for being jealous, Hououmon did secretly envy the fact that someone so petty and supercilious had evolved to a humanoid form, while her form, magnificent in its own way, was bestial.
Dismayed with the thought, Hououmon tried to concentrate on other things. It had been quite some time since War Greymon had set out to retrieve Rosemon, D'Arcmon and Were Garurumon and she was growing worried.
She didn't doubt Were Garurumon, who always gave her a feeling of disquiet, had the ability to take care of himself if the situation called for it. And she was sure that Rosemon would gleefully dispatch any Digimon who crossed her. It was a trait that she and War Greymon shared, irritating Hououmon to no end.
The enigmatic D'Arcmon on the other hand, was another matter entirely. She was a mystery, even to herself apparently. And while D'Arcmon had the fighting spirit, she lacked the prowess necessary for every warrior. Hououmon had voiced her concerns to War Greymon on the day they had all met, causing him to give a cold response about "Baby-sitting." Yet it had been Were Garurumon who had spoken to her aside, saying that D'Arcmon was far more than she appeared, with no other explanation.
It had made no sense then and still didn't now. Hououmon would have continued brooding about it, if Preciomon's sudden yell didn't interrupt her train of thought.
"Something's coming!"
Hououmon looked forward, her breath almost catching in her throat. A wave of golden light seemed to appear of out nowhere and was drawing closer. Everything it touched disappeared within it and it seemed to be gaining speed as it came closer.
"It will be upon us!" Heracles Kabuterimon bellowed, the first signs of fear entering his voice.
Preciomon drifted backwards in the water, his large form trembling. "What do we do?" He asked, his voice a mixture of surprise and terror.
Wishing that she had War Greymon's mind for strategy or Rosemon's knack for self-preservation, Hououmon remained stationary. She probably could have outran the light for a time, but the bulk of Heracles Kabuterimon would keep him from following and the water wasn't deep enough for Preciomon to hide under.
When it came down to it, she couldn't leave them behind.
The three Ultimates cowered away from the golden wave and its course remained unchanged. With an unnatural roar, the tumultuous swell soon overwhelmed them. Caught in its golden undercurrent, Hououmon was aware of her Preciomon and Heracles Kabuterimon only by their screams. She was sure she had contributed to them as well.
Hououmon had expected death on this quest, but never by such a method. Piece by piece, the golden light seemed to be devouring her. It was a slow and horrific end indeed.
Trying not to give into the growing panic, Hououmon clung to one image…War Greymon…
War Greymon flew forward steadily, lost in his own dismal thoughts. The mission had been a disaster from the very start. Heracles Kabuterimon and Rosemon were dead weight, save when in battle. Hououmon let her emotions get the better of her, Preciomon sorely needed his mouth slammed shut and D'Arcmon…battle was the last place for the wayward angel.
Only Metal Garurumon had been the most reliable member of the group. War Greymon wasn't always sure of the ice wolf's motives, but he had proved to be clear-headed on more than one of their previous excursions.
Speaking of which…
War Greymon stopped moving and turned, ready to berate his fellow companions about their slowness. He didn't really care about their responses; he well knew what Rosemon called him when she thought he wasn't present. He did get a perverse kick out of it, knowing that he could drive someone so superficially polite to saying things uncouth.
He sometimes wondered if he was the only one who took the present task seriously. To go up against Demon, the source of true evil and the being even the gods feared was a remarkable challenge. One that would be better met if the rest of those participating in it were actually here, he thought irately.
D'Arcmon and Metal Garurumon were nowhere in sight and with Rosemon most likely lounging somewhere; it brought the able-bodied team to four. Wonderful. Growling in frustration and itching for something to release it upon, War Greymon almost didn't notice the swiftly traveling wave of golden light.
Once he caught sight of it, a rushing swell of deadly proportions, he debated his options. Since it had come from the direction in which he had traveled earlier and was deleting everything in its path, he safely assumed that Hououmon, Heracles Kabuterimon and Preciomon were dead.
It brought him no comfort, only a deep measure of bitterness. War Greymon had pictured them dying in the heat of battle or not all. Instead they had been the victims of some unnatural light show. Most likely human formed, he thought scornfully.
War Greymon stared at the wave coldly, trying to judge any and all possible methods of escape. He was disappointed, though not astonished to conclude that there was none. The light was too big, too lengthy and too fast, a perfect killing weapon for a Digimon not of immense stature…
Growling softly, War Greymon began to fly forward. His death was assured and he wasn't going to run from it like some sniveling coward.
If I cannot escape, then I'll damn well go through it! He thought wildly.
"Brave Tornado!" War Greymon cried, rotating his body into a golden vortex and flying forward. As his body came in contact with the golden light, War Greymon's armor began melting and the blades of his Dramon Destroyers shattered. Yet his consciousness, stubborn and unyielding even in the face of death, still existed. Still remained. Still-
The first thing D'Arcmon noticed when she opened her eyes and flexed her wings cautiously, was dust. Thick burst of foul smelling soil assaulted her eyes and caused her to cough painfully. She tried to move, but seemed all but rooted in her facedown position on the acrid ground. The gaping fissure that opened beside her did little to improve her mood.
This is simply perfect, D'Arcmon thought sourly. Alone, unable to fly and with a traitorous Ultimate ready and willing to use me for target practice. Can things get any worse?
"So the sleeping angel awakens." A familiar voice remarked amusedly. "It took you long enough."
D'Arcmon stiffened. I guess they can. She followed the sound of the voice and scowled. Standing scant feet away and leaning against a misshapen rock was Were Garurumon, whose smug expression made D'Arcmon feel bitter.
"As easy as it would be for me to kill you," Were Garurumon spoke coldly. "I thought I would make things slightly amusing. For the second member of the Sacred Three, dispatching a lone Virus should be all too easy." He gave a patronizing smile.
"What is all of this 'sacred' garbage you keep spewing?" D'Arcmon inquired crossly. "And what does it have to do with me?"
Were Garurumon stared at the battered Adult closely. "You still don't remember? How surprising."
D'Arcmon made a sound of frustration, which only seemed to amuse her companion.
"Allow me to clear things up for you tenshi." Were Garurumon continued with mock amiability. "Years ago Demon, Sovereign of Darkness engaged in a battle to overthrow the Holy Beasts. The clashes between the two forces often resulted in stalemates, until the Beasts grew sneaky and formed a plan. Demon however, had many spies, myself included. And it was only a matter of time before he learned that the Beasts planned upon unleashing the Sacred Three. Seraphimon, Ophanimon and Cherubimon, the Digimon highest in the hierarchy of Angels and possessing the greatest concentration of holy power in existence."
"The Three were cunning and chose to mask their power by remaining always at Perfect level. Namely Holy Angemon, Angewomon and Cherubimon, the First, the Second and the Third."
D'Arcmon was having trouble digesting the onslaught of information and it showed.
"What happened to them?" She inquired, trying to mask her incredulity.
"They're dead, or rather were dead. Fate has a funny way of meting out surprises. Holy Angemon and Antiramon were killed in a trap set Demon. The data of Holy Angemon, he absorbed and the data of Antiramon was left to drift in oblivion. However, Demon believes that former servant of Zhuqiaomon somehow came into possession of the Third's data and that the First is hiding himself. Which leaves only you, D'Arcmon. Formerly Angewomon, until you're near destruction forced you to de-evolve in order to heal yourself. Your memory regrettably, did suffer during the process, but your ignorance couldn't protect you forever."
This is crazy, D'Arcmon mused frenetically. I'm supposed to be some spectacular holy being? Can such a thing really be possible?
Her thoughts traveled to the past. Awaking one cold night in the middle of an unfathomable desert with no knowledge how or why she had come to it…the special attention the gods had given her… was the reasoning behind her inclusion in the venture all part of an effort to rouse the spirit of someone she had once been?
Were Garurumon then frowned down at D'Arcmon, his expression cold. "But I grow tired of exposition. I thought it amusing to tell you the details of your wretched existence as a final act of 'friendship' before I finished you."
"You're all heart." D'Arcmon mumbled sarcastically.
Were Garurumon stepped forward slowly. He raised one immense paw, the lengthy nails glowing with crimson light.
"Any final words?"
D'Arcmon clenched her fists. "Only one."
"Oh?" Were Garurumon responded, tilting his head to the side. "And that is?"
"Duck."
Predictably, Were Garurumon glanced upwards to find the golden wave of light D'Arcmon had noticed some time before.
D'Arcmon took advantage of his distraction and rolled over. Immediately, she plunged down into a dark crevice, hearing Were Garurumon's agonized howl above her. Smiling maliciously, D'Arcmon closed her eyes against fierce wind and the all-encompassing darkness…