Amethyst Blizzard (formally Dark-Angel): Hiya peoples, I'm back and ready to bring you another chappie of Devil's Advocates. Due to the 'Unique Penname' regulation, I have reluctantly changed my name to Amethyst Blizzard. Just thought I'd tell you guys that in case you thought I was a kacker or something.

Thank yous go out to everybody who reviewed my last chapter. Chocolate cookies to all ya!

Floramon: Rightyo, I'm here too just sitting here being AB's muse as usual. And I'll do the disclaimer. We do not own Digimon so legally we have the write to publish this. (I think).

A/N: This chapter is dedicated to my friend Jenna, whose cousin recently committed suicide. This is for you, girl.

Devil's Advocates

Chapter 9: The Order Of The Phoenixmon

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Ok, could someone please explain to me one more time why we're doing this?" Rika asked in annoyance. She, the other Tamers, their Digimon, Alice, Jeri, Alicia and Brad were walking towards an old building, where Alicia stated they would find a clue as to where Ryo was. The Tamers had already been the park and the hideout to retrieve their Digimon because Alicia told them that they might need them, though she didn't say anymore than that. 

Kazu, from behind, frowned. "Ditching school's not a reason enough?"

Alicia sighed from up the front and turned around to face her sister. "We're trying to save your………" She stopped herself before she said what she was going to say. "Friend."

Alice, who was walking next to Rika at an even pace behind Alicia and Brad, frowned. Her eyes flicked to Alicia then back down to the ground. Jeri, who was walking behind Alice and Rika with Takato, noticed Alice twitching but didn't say anything.

Meanwhile, Rika's heart was beating at a very fast pace. She knew Alicia knew where Ryo was, but her sister wasn't giving any clue as to the exact location. Rika wanted to scream in frustration over her sister's stubbornness. She sighed and closed her eyes, indulging in herself for a moment. If she hadn't allowed her memories of her father affect her when they did, then maybe Ryo wouldn't be in this predicament. It was all because of what Rika had said to him the day before that made all of this happen. Rika yelling at Ryo, saying that he couldn't love her for what reason again? There was no apparent reason why Ryo couldn't love her, at all. So why had Rika said that he couldn't? Was it because of her father, or a much greater fear? A fear of loving or maybe commitment?

Takato held up his arm and twisted it slightly so that he could read his watch. The small clock told him that it was almost half past one. Lunch break would've finished by now. He sighed and glanced at Jeri, who was looking down at the ground, obviously uncomfortable with the way things were. Ever since Leomon was killed, Takato had noticed something in Jeri that told her when things were looking bad. A kind of sixth sense. He let his hand slip into hers and they intertwined their fingers together. Jeri looked up and smiled at her boyfriend. They had been through a lot together. A lot.

Renamon, from the back of the group, noticed Kazu turn his head in disgust at Jeri and Takato's "moment". Her eyes narrowed at him and she thought about how immature he was, even after three years. Renamon then glanced at Kenta and noticed he was looking down to the ground, almost solemnly. She cocked her head to the side and wondered why he was so down. Was it because of Ryo, or was it because he didn't exactly have the best luck with the ladies?

As the group of friends continued to walk, not one of them spoke another word to one another. It was one of those moments where talking really was unnecessary and no one wanted to ruin the comfortable silence they had fallen into. Well, comfortable for some, namely Takato and Jeri, but for most of the others, it really wasn't a companionable silence.

Terriermon, however, was confused by this insufficient silence and he moved his head from side to side as he looked from Henry to Kazu to Kenta. He was walking between Henry and Kazu behind Takato and Jeri. After his neck was beginning to get a little sore, he stopped moving it and simply looked down, embarrassed and uncomfortable with the silence he thought had gone on for too long. A small smile lit up his cute features and he started to summersault in the air in a straight line, going from Henry to Rika, who was in the second line, right behind Alicia.

Rika looked down to where Terriermon was now walking proudly, a smirk on his face. From up the front where Alicia was, Monodramon turned around and glared at his team-mate, angered by his lack of respect for his Tamer, Ryo. Terriermon noticed Monodramon's death glare and slunk quietly back to where his own Tamer was.   

Despite herself, Rika laughed quietly to herself then looked back in front of her. She gasped, for there straight ahead of her was the building that she had stumbled upon that day she had run away from the park when Ryo asked her if they could be more than just 'friends'. This was the building that Alicia wanted them to go to. And this was the building that held the key to Ryo's disappearance.

Alicia from up front sighed and turned around to face the crowd. "Ok, this is it. Well, I may as well tell you where your friend is." She looked around to everyone's eager faces before continuing. "Yesterday, I'm assuming Ryo walked here and entered the building we call the 'Doom Dome'. By we, I mean all of the Devil's Advocates. Before I left Kyushu, I called around and asked people if they knew of any empty venues where we could rehearse. To cut a long story short, we all decided on this place for our rehearsals. Anyway, back to Ryo, I think that upon entering this building, he broke a link in the chain and threw everything off balance. By this I mean that, apart from the Devil's Advocates, no one has been in this building for over ten years." Alicia stopped to look at everyone's reactions, which were of course, one's of complete and utter confusion.

Except for Rika's expression. Her face remained emotionless, for she had fiercely told herself that she would not let any emotion slip on this day.

Alicia, seeing her sister's face, proceeded. "I will explain this later, but for now everyone please try to stay focused. I'm aware that three years ago, each of you travelled to a world known now as the Digital World, where your partners came from. Well, most of them, anyway. But to get on with point of this, Ryo is currently in the Digital World and facing much danger. But he's not alone. I don't know who else is there with him but I do know that he's in danger." She paused again to see everyone's reactions. This time, most of the Tamers and their Digimon looked determined and somewhat angry to hear this.

Taking the opportunity, Henry stepped up to look Alicia in the eye. "So, what your saying is, Ryo's in the Digital World right now and is in danger. But you don't know what kind of danger?"

Alicia just shook her head and turned to the others. "Once we walk into the building behind us, we will not walk out until we have succeeded in bringing Ryo back with us. Only then will the chain be fully broken." Alicia smiled at her last comment, just wanting to confuse them a little bit more. "Those of you who do not wish to take part in this little expedition, I suggest you back out now."

With that, Alicia looked questioningly at the others to see who would be the first to wimp out. Jeri, feeling lethargic and weary all of a sudden, took a few steps back so that everyone else would realise her decision.

Alice from in front of Jeri took a step back as well. "I really shouldn't go because I have no place in the Digital World. Besides, I'll keep Jeri company back here." Alice smiled at her friend and placed her hands on either side of Jeri's shoulders. 

Alicia nodded slightly and looked around at everyone else. No one else moved a single inch. They were all in. She turned around to look at Brad. A smile lit up his features and gave Alicia a calm reassurance that everything was going to be okay. She nodded again and turned back around. "Ok, if everyone's ready, let's go."

She went once more over the Tamers before turning the other way and opening the large door. She walked in without a care in the world and switched on the lights, knowing exactly where the switch was, even in the darkness.

Brad then proceeded in after her, followed by Rika, who was looking extremely calm on the outside but on the inside, she was scared as hell. She didn't have a clue what to expect when they entered the Digital World, despite being one of the first to venture there. She didn't even know if what Alicia had said was true and if it was, how did Alicia know where Ryo was? After all, she never explained that. Now fully in the building, Rika looked around and took everything in, much the same as Ryo had. Her eyes scanned the area around her and she realized that the building was smaller than it looked. All around her lay random music recording equipment as well as a drum kit and turntable.

Rika took a step forward and stopped right next to her sister. Together, the twins looked almost identical, except for the clothes they were wearing. Rika's dark blue jeans and sky blue top contrasted well with Alicia's dark purple cargo pants and violet tank top with yellow kanji writing. Alicia was wearing a trademark yellow bandana, whereas Rika's hair was tied up in its usual spiky ponytail. 

Kazu, who had just walked into the building with Guardromon at his side, stopped and gazed in awe at what he saw. (A/N: That rhymes………) All around him he could see 'cool band rehearsal stuff'. "Uh, just one question here. What are you two really doing here? I mean, Alicia just comes out here from miles away and decides to live with her sister instead of her dad, and you Brad, well you just followed her. I mean, doesn't that seem a little too farfetched? Oh, by the way, no offence. I'm just asking, here."

Alicia looked at him and raised her eyebrow. "No offence taken, but the reason is sort of personal." Without saying anything else she turned her back on him and walked over to the turntable.

Rika frowned and suddenly remembered Alicia's diary that she had accidentally read while Alicia was at her band rehearsal. Her sister had mentioned in it the reason why she had moved was because their father was upset at her when she told him something about an ability of some kind. Rika simply shrugged and focused one what was going to happen now. She turned her head around to where her sister was now bending down on the floor and picking something up.

The Tamers, their Digimon and Brad crowded around Alicia and whatever it was that she was reading. It looked to be some sort of song, maybe even one that she herself had written. "Ok, everyone, read this at the same time. Ready, three, two, one………"

~*~*~*

Stacie cringed at Ryo's last question. "So what's going to happen to us now?" Did he really want to know? Was it even worth telling him when he would surely find out very soon anyway? How could she even tell him?

Ryo, his back facing Stacie's sighed when he realized he wasn't going to like the answer. He took a deep breath and steadied his thoughts, not wanting to race ahead of himself. "Is he going to kill us?"

After a long pause, Stacie finally gave in to the deadly silence that had formed between them. She decided to tell him, after all, he was going to find out soon enough anyway. "The Digimon who captured us wants to combine our DNA in order for us to be able to control the incredible power of the Phoenixmon. In answer to your question, if we are not strong enough to control the overwhelming power of the Phoenixmon then sure enough, we will consumed by it, or even worse, killed by it."

Everything was beginning to become clear in Ryo's mind. By reading that song, he was chosen to control a very powerful Digimon. Not only him, but Stacie as well, and that meant that it was going to take a lot out of both of them if they were to control this Digimon known as Phoenixmon. But what didn't make sense was that if they both succeeded in controlling this Digimon, wouldn't it be under their command and therefore do only what they wished? If so, then what was the point of resurrecting it at all? And what was in it for that strange purple Digimon? Was there more to this than what met the eye?

Taking the sudden opportunity, Ryo twisted his hands upside down in the ropes and eventually wriggled them free. He then worked on the ropes around his legs and sighed in relief when every rope was off his body, as they were beginning to cut of his circulation. He turned in his chair and saw the back of Stacie's head, covered completely in beautiful blonde curls that hung all the way down her back and stopped at her waist. He wasted no time in standing up from the chair and going to help her.

"Stacie, I'm going to take the blindfold off so close your eyes. I'm sorry if this hurts, but I'm trying to be as gentle as possible."

Stacie began to feel the blindfold being lifted from her face and closed her eyes obediently as Ryo had instructed. She began to feel the light coming back intro her vision and even though her eyes were shut tightly, she could scarcely make out a figure crouching in front of her. When the blindfold was lifted, she opened her eyes immediately and smiled thankfully at Ryo. "Thanks, I was beginning to think that I would become blind from not seeing anything, as funny as that sounds."

Ryo returned the smile and looked steadily into her crystal blue eyes. "It was no problem at all. Anything for those who I must protect." He said this with a slightly formal accent, just wanting to see her smile again. A painful feeling of betrayal crept into Ryo's chest. Rika was still out there, completely unaware of what was happening, and his heart still belonged to her, even if she would never return his feelings.

Without any warning, the purple Digimon faded into the room and came to stand just behind Ryo. Stacie, seeing him, froze and Ryo could see the fear rising in her eyes. "What's wrong?"

"This is what's wrong." Hearing the husky, cold voice, Ryo clenched his hands and turned around to face the Digimon. "Ah, Ryo. You were always the hero, weren't you? Always wanting to help out those less stronger than you, thinking that it was your duty to play Mr. Hero, especially with Rika. Yes, Rika, the girl who you love but will never love you in return. Poor, poor Ryo. Why do you bother?" 

Ryo decided not to answer that question and remained silent.

~*~*~*

As soon and the Tamers, Alicia and Brad and finished reciting the words of the song, an orange portal appeared in front of them, dotted with strange shapes of data particles. The exact same one that had appeared inside of Guilmon's hideout when the Tamers and their Digimon ventured into the Digital World for the first time.

The Tamers gaped at the size of it and did nothing but stare. The Digimon were all focused and ready for the adventure and Alicia and Brad were just exchanging glances all the while. Rika was the first to snap out of the trance and turned to her sister.

"So, is this what happened to Ryo before he was taken into the Digital World?"

Alicia turned to face Rika and for the first time since the two met, took a good look at her. Her hair colour and her eyes were identical and the resemblance between the two was uncanny. But the way they both dressed was a completely different story. Alicia was the baggy type and wore baggy purple cargo pants. Rika was more of the punk type and wore jeans and a spiky ponytail and opposed to Alicia's bandana.

Alicia decided to answer her sister's question. "Actually, Ryo's entrance was a lot more elegant and embracing than this. The song embraced him, whereas we just read the song in order for the portal to open. The words actually meant something for Ryo."

Rika frowned. "How do you know what happened to him? How do you know that he's in the Digital World when you haven't even been there? How do you even know that we won't be too late?" Rika's words were forced out of her by an unexplainable anger that she couldn't hold in any longer. Ryo's disappearance had taken its toll on her and now Rika's feelings were slowly being exposed.

The other Tamers just stared at Rika while they tried to understand Rika's sudden outburst. Brad was staring into the portal and Alicia was glaring coldly at her sister.

"I thought you of all people would recognize pain when you saw it. Rika, I have a gift. I have premonitions, ok. Just by coming into contact with something or someone, I can see into their future and know what's going to happen to them. I've told the people who I thought I could trust, but they all thought I was crazy and went out of their way to avoid me. Eventually, I met Brad and the other Advocates and I told them. I could trust them because we just connected. But I guess you wouldn't understand that, would you?" Alicia's voice had a world of pain in it and all at once Rika could understand her pain. She knew what it as like to be an outcast and be ignored.

Still, Rika wasn't about to give up this fight. "No, you're right Alicia, I don't understand. I don't understand because I don't have premonitions. I can't see into the future like you can and I'm very proud of that because unlike some people, I like being in control of my life. I don't want someone's visions of me to haunt me for the rest of my life, ok." Her voice was tinged with a mocking attitude and no sympathy for her twin.

Alicia gave Rika one last cold glare before walking straight into the portal and disappearing into the data. Bard followed suit and so did Monodramon, who had grown quite fond of Brad. The Tamers just looked at Rika and waited for her to do the same. However she didn't move. She just stared into the portal, thoughts of Ryo entering her head and consuming her anger.

Renamon deliberately coughed next to Rika and walked into the portal, looking one last time at Rika and willing her to do the same thing. Rika understood Renamon's look and walked in with a calm determination, but still she couldn't help the feeling of apprehension that was creeping into her.

The others followed suit and pretty soon, everyone had been completely consumed by the portal.

~*~*~*

Ryo could still see the tight muscles in the Digimon's neck when it backed away, a small smirk on its face. Not being able to resist the urge he had to ask the Digimon its name, Ryo did so and received a suitable answer.

"I am Mephismon. I am an Ultimate and that is all you need to know." Mephismon had completely backed away from Ryo and was now directly adjacent to Stacie, who was still tied to the chair but could see everything clearly now.

Suddenly, three sharp claws pierced their way through each of Mephismon's knuckles. Ryo's attention turned to them when he heard the sickening sound of flesh peeling. He noticed the large claws protruding out of the Digimon's clenched hands. With a closer look, he realized that the claws were in fact metal knives that were made to look like claws.

The knives spread out across Mephismon's hand like he was flexing them. Ryo watched them carefully, cautiously waiting for the Digimon to make his move. And he did. The knife in the middle detached slowly with a grueling ripping sound and Mephismon held it in the palm of his hand.

Ryo looked up and noticed the smirk on his face. Something was going on inside of his twisted mind and Ryo needed to know what, and fast. Turning his head to the side, he could make out Stacie's figure, struggling to move from the chair and break the ropes that held her there. 

Mephismon's expression never changed when he spoke. "Allow me to help you." The knife he was holding in his hand suddenly twisted so that the blade was tucked into his palm and he threw it across to where Stacie was still struggling.

Ryo's eyes widened with horror as he saw the blade twirling towards Stacie with perfect aim. "Stacie, look out!"

Stacie turned around to meet Ryo's voice and when she did, the knife sliced through the ropes holding her feet together. The knife twirled back so it landed precisely in Mephismon's hand again.

~*~*~*~

"Calumon zoom, zoom. Calumon zoom." Calumon's voice rang out as he skipped happily along in front of the Tamers, their Digimon, Alicia and Brad. His cheery voice lifted the tension of the journey.

Rika walked slowly along the back line with Renamon by her side. She was still deep in thought and wasn't taking any notice of Calumon's chants. She wondered whether Alicia could actually see into the future of people's lives or whether she was just making that up to lead them all into a trap. Rika sighed with desperation when she finally caught wind of Calumon's singing and humming. Her features creased into a deep frown and she bowed her head again to look at the sand underneath her feat.

Renamon glanced sideways at her partner and noticed the look of frustration on her face. "Rika, what's wrong? You don't look too pleased."

Rika sighed again and told her partner not to worry about her. Renamon nodded with understanding and focused her thoughts on what was to come.

The landscape around the group changed and soon they were walking along a steep cliff surrounded by plantation and portions of discarded foliage. The sky around them was a dark purple shade and specks of blackened dots appeared once in a while.

Sure enough, they were walking right into the Dark Area of the Digital World.

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A/N: There you go, chapter nine. The next couple of chapters will be action-packed I promise, and there will be a tad more romance as well.

Floramon: Keep reviewin' peoples and tell us what you thought of this chapter. Peace for now!

A/N: *sigh* Again you steal my lines………What ever shall I do? Loved it, hated it, not sure? Review and tell me! Till next chapter………