Author Note: This chapter of Hardwired features something special. Straight from the famous production of Shakespear, Macbeth, the spell of the three witch sisters. Text from the play is in italics. Enjoy.

Chapter 8

Guardian of the Bridge

Hageramon stood in front of the great fire pit, looking over at Renamon as she struggled against the chains. It had been a few days since the incident in Peradium, and it was no secret that the tamers and their digimon were coming to try and free Renamon. Hageramon and Vexmon were running out of time. They had to pull the secret out of Renamon before the tamers arrived. That way, Zhuqiaomon and Azulongmon could attack Peradium and defeat its false god before the tamers could return.

Hageramon turned when she heard the castle's great doors open, Vexmon walking in with a large black bag hung over his shoulder, "Here is the stuff you wanted."

Hageramon smiled, turning as the bag flew from Vexmon's shoulder into her hand, "Wonderful, this is everything I need to make this stubborn fox tell us that god's secret. Now, step back, and let me get to work." Vexmon nodded, stepping back as Hageramon turned the bag over, spilling its contents onto the floor. Lots of smaller bags landed on the floor along with a small black cauldron.

Hageramon took the cauldron, holding it in her hand before throwing it in the huge fire pit between her and Renamon. The cauldron grew in the heat, becoming large enough for a car to fit inside. The cauldron then filled with water, the liquid coming to a boil quickly as Hageramon began to float in the air above it, the many smaller bags dancing in the air around her.

Hageramon then seemed to split apart, two similar but not exactly same Hageramon's appearing. The trio looked at each other, one Hageramon smiling as she said, "Thrice the brinded cat hath mewed."

The second nodded, "Thrice, and once the hedge-pig whined."

The original Hageramon bowed her head, "Harpier cries; 'tis time, 'tis time."

The three Hageramon began to circle the pot, there magic weaving beginning as each said there part.

Hageramon One: Round about the cauldron go;
In the poisoned entrails throw.
Toad, that under cold stone
Days and nights has thirty-one
Sweltered venom sleeping got
Boil thou first I' the charmed pot.

The three then raised there heads, a dark light flowing from the cauldron as they chanted, Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Hageramon Two: Fillet of a fenny snake,
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt, and toe of frog,
Wool of bat, and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork, and blindworm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing
For a charm of powerful trouble
Like a hell-broth boil and trouble.

The three Hageramon threw in different bags as each said an ingredient, the cauldron bubbling with a sickly green broth that smell horrible and look twice as bad. Vexmon began to smile, his senses drawing in the darkness brewing in the cauldron. Renamon, however, looked at the concoctions with a look of fear. What was Hageramon, or were Hageramon, planning.

The three Hageramon continued there spell, chanting in unison a second time, Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble.

Hageramon Three: Scale of Dragon, tooth of wolf,
Witches mummy, maw and guff
Of the ravined salt-sea shark
Root of hemlock, digged I' the dark;
Liver of blaspheming yew
Gall of goat, and slips of flu
Slivered in the moon's eclipse
Nose of Turk and Tartar's lips:
Finger of birth-strangled babe
Ditch-delivered by a drab:
Make the gruel thick and slab.
Add thereto a tiger's chauldron
For the ingredients of our cauldron

The cauldron began to billow with dark red clouds, pouring out across the floor so the entire hall was bathed in mist. The cauldron bubble, bursts of the green swamp like liquid landing on the floor. Vexmon leapt out of the way, a few drops off the potion falling on his paw. The liquid burnt like acid, and Vexmon truly began to wonder for himself what Hageramon had planned. What was the purpose of such a vial concoction?

The three Hageramon slowly began to come together, forming back into one as there three voices chanted, "Double, double, toil and trouble. Fire burn, and cauldron bubble. Cool it with a baboon's blood, and then the charm is firm and good."

Hageramon, the one and only, landed in front of the cauldron as the fire below the cauldron cooled, and the green liquid turned a dark black soup. It was thick, moving and gurgling like muck in a dark swamp. Vexmon stepped forward, limping a bit on his foot as Hageramon said, "Behold, the darkest potion ever designed. This is the pinnacle of evil, and the potion that I owe my very existence to. I was placed in this very broth by the darkest of evils."

Vexmon smiled, "So, if this stuff created a digimon like you…"

"Then imagine just imagine what will happen to Renamon." Hageramon said as her magic began to lift the chains that bound Renamon to the wall.

Renamon struggled with a new strength, pulling at the chains as she was lifted away from the wall, and over the cauldron. Hageramon and Vexmon began to laugh, enjoying the sight of Renamon trying so hard to free herself when there was no hope. Still, Renamon pulled against her chains. She would not give up, could not give up.

Renamon began to lower towards the cauldron. The sickly green liquid began to engulf Renamon, her body disappearing below the surface. Renamon cringed, a terrible feeling filling her body as she sank farther and farther into the liquid. Finally, she managed to pull one of her arms free of the chains. She began to pull at the others when her chest sunk into the liquid. The terrible feeling, like something was ripping her body apart from the inside, continued to grow.

Hageramon and Vexmon watched as Renamon's head sunk below the edge of the cauldron, and soon into the liquid. Hageramon held Renamon in place for a few moments, and then began to reverse her magic, slowly pulling Renamon from that liquid. The chain drew Renamon out of the cauldron, her body still covered in the thick ooze of the potion. The chains dropped her down on the floor in front of Hageramon and Vexmon.

Vexmon moved forward a step, bending down as he asked, "Is she dead?" At that moment Renamon began to move, slowly standing up. The ooze began to slip of her body, revealing her yellow fur had turned a ghastly green. Hageramon smiled, stepping forward as a black mass of fabric appeared in her hand.

Renamon raised a hand, setting it on the fabric. Like a swarm of spiders the fabric flew up Renamon's arm, leaving a long black sleeve in its track. As the fabric covered Renamon's body, Hageramon turned to Vexmon with a smile on her lips, "Vexmon, say hello to the new Renamon, WickRenamon, the wicked witch of the west."

At that moment Renamon turned, smiling as the black fabric flowed up onto her head and took the shape of a large, pointed black hat. Vexmon took a step back, noticing the look of evil that had sprouted in Renamon's eyes. Her entire coat of fur had turned green, standing out against the long black dress and black hat. She looked like a completely different digimon, and in truth she was.

Hageramon turned back to WickRenamon, her tone returning to its usual seriousness, "Now, what is the weakness of those hands, that false lord of Peradium?"

"Darkness", WickRenamon replied, "In the darkest of night those hands turn back to their true form, a weak human that can easily be dealt with."

Hageramon smiled, "Finally, the secret is ours. Vexmon, hurry and tell Zhuqiaomon the information, and prepare for the tamers arrival. We must detain them long enough for the master to reach Peradium with Azulongmon."

Vexmon nodded his head, quickly turning as he ran towards a staircase in the corner of the room. He scaled the stairs, racing to the castle's roof where the phoenix digimon waited. A few moments later, Zhuqiaomon took flight and began to soar to the distant Peradium.

Vexmon watched his master leave, and in the process noticed a cloud of dust roaring towards the castle. As the dust cloud neared, he could see the shining blue paint of the Trident. Vexmon's eyes narrowed, the tamers had arrived sooner then expected. This did not bode well.

The Trident began to slow, coming to a stop in front of the black castle and the dark, stormy sky. The engine let off a burst of steam as the tamers and their digimon slowly stepped of the train. Takato gulped, looking up at the castle as a bolt of lightning crashed in the sky, "Well, this place sure is welcoming."

Kazu nodded, "Yeah, as welcoming as a toe jam sandwich."

"No kidding. This place gives me the creeps." Kenta said as he held tightly to MarineAngemon, who was nodding in agreement. The rest of the tamers looked up at the black castle, fighting back their own growing fear. Guilmon and Terriermon were hiding behind Guardromon, who was himself hiding behind Eclipsemon. Kazu, Kenta and Takato had huddled together, jumping at as another bolt of lightning lanced through the sky. Jeri had started to shake in fear, but was now standing her ground as Leamon set a comforting hand on her shoulder. Henry, Rika, and Eclipsemon were the few standing there ground in face of the black castle. Even the tough guy Impmon was scared, his knees shacking as he tried to look brave.

Henry turned, looking back at the others, "Come on guys. We didn't come all this way to turn around and go back." The others nodded, starting to walk forward towards the castle. When the gang was nearing the castle's drawbridge, a figure leapt off the castle's roof. As he dropped to the ground his body was enveloped in a shadow. When the figure landed, and the shadow's departed, the tamers and digimon could see ShadowMiromon blocking the castle's drawbridge.

"Well", ShadowMiromon said, "I didn't expect all of you to get here so quickly."

Rika growled, "Believe it you scum bag, now where is Renamon?"

ShadowMiromon pointed over his shoulder, "She is just inside the castle, but to get there you will have to get by me. Oh, and by the way, only a single pair can fight me at once."

"What makes you think we'll do something stupid like that?", Rika snapped back.

"Simple, because I am the guardian of the drawbridge and here, on this burnt ground, I make the rules." With that a barrier of dark purple energy rushed out, creating a dome around the entire castle. ShadowMiromon smiled, turning so he faced the tamers down with a powerful fire flashing in his eyes, "Only two may enter the barrier at once. They will then fight with me. Should you defeat me, the barrier will disappear and you can enter the castle. At any time you wish you can run out of the barrier, but once you have left you won't be able to reenter again. Now, let's begin."

Rika growled, starting to step forward when she felt Henry grab her shoulder, "No Rika, you can't fight until we get Renamon back. Now, come on Terriermon."

Terriermon gulped, "Yeah, you go on ahead. I'll catch up later."

"Terriermon."

"All right, all right, I'm coming. Sheesh, can't anyone take a joke." Terriermon grumbled as he jumped onto Henry's shoulder. Henry shook his head, a smile slipping onto his lips before he stepped into the barrier. ShadowMiromon smiled, lowering into a defensive position. The black robed monk held his staff at the ready, the length of the metal glowing black.

Henry pulled out his digivice, holding it tightly in his hand, "You messed with the wrong tamers, Biomerge Activate."

In a flash of light the towering MegaGargomon appeared, the many missile launchers opening up as he prepared to bombard ShadowMiromon. The dark monk smiled, relaxing his battle pose as he began to unwrap the fabric around his right palm. MegaGargomon bit back a growl, launching a huge barrage of missiles.

ShadowMiromon stood still, waiting till the last minutes before extending his hand, a powerful wind filling the barrier as he called out, "WIND TUNNEL." The many missiles began to veer of course, being drawn into the black hole buried in ShadowMiromon's hand. The vortex swallowed up all the missiles, and then began to pull in MegaGargomon.

ShadowMiromon began to laugh, the vortex growing stronger and stronger, "This void in my hand is the ultimate end. Come, fall in and be lost in the darkness forever." Outside the barrier, the rest of the tamers and digimon were trying to blow there way into the barrier. Still, all there attacks just bounced off leaving nothing, not even a scratch. Finally, MegaGargomon could not hold his ground anymore, and had to jump back out of the barrier. Henry and Terriermon split apart, flopping down on the ground.

Takato, Kazu, Rika, and Kenta ran over, helping Henry up as he said, "That hole in his hand, it's like a black hole. Anything that goes in is never seen from again. I don't see how we can defeat him. If we even get close, we'll be sucked up in that Wind Tunnel."

Takato grumbled, looking over at Guilmon, "Come on boy, let's go teach that guy a lesson." Guilmon nodded, running up beside Takato as they charged at the barrier. Then, Takato and Guilmon crashed into the barrier. Both of them fell back, Guilmon moaning as he asked, "What happened Takato?"

Takato sat up, rubbing his head, "I don't know, the barrier wouldn't let us in." Takato then looked through the barrier, and gasped, remembering the rules of ShadowMiromon's sick game. Only one pair could be in the barrier at once, and right now Jeri and Leamon were standing in front of ShadowMiromon, sliding across the ground as they were pulled closer to the Wind Tunnel.

Takato shot up, pounding on the barrier, "JERI, What are you doing?"

Jeri, however, could not hear Takato in the blistering wind. She was standing beside Leamon, holding tightly to her old digivice as Leamon began to place an arrow in the crook of her bow. Jeri lowered her head, holding the digivice close to her heart as she whispered, "Leomon, if you can hear me, I need your courage. This time, I want to stand my ground, and help Leamon. I want to show the others that I don't need them to protect me."

Jeri felt her digivice grow warm, a few bits of data escaping the yellow device as Leomon's voice said, "Jeri, you have your own courage, and all the strength you need to stand your ground. What I can do give up my bound with your digivice, and pass it to another. Jeri, it is now up to you."

Jeri nodded her head, "Yes Leomon, and thank you." At that moment Jeri opened her eyes, a fresh determination flashing in those usually kind orbs. Jeri slipped her hand into her pocket, pulling out a card. She had been digging for a rock foundation card, so Leamon could stop sliding forward. Instead, resting in her hand was a blue card. Jeri stared at the card, turning it slightly to make the image appear and then disappear again. She then set the card in place, closing her eyes as she whispered, "I hope this works."

Jeri slashed the card, the digivice coming to life as a bright sphere of light surrounded her and Leamon. The others watched in awe, having to cover there eyes because of the light's intensity. ShadowMiromon cringed, the light actually burning him. He quickly stepped back, covering his face with his sleeve as he waited for the light to fade.

After a few minutes, the light did begin to dim. As the light became weaker, a silhouette started to take shape. The tamers were in awe, the figure was dressed in long, white flowing robes. Rich, golden brown, hair flowed down the figures back like a great waterfall. In one of the figures hand she held a great white bow. On top of the figures head sat a pure white crown with a blue sapphire locked in its band.

The figures face soon came into view, a humanoid lion face with fur that was as white as the robes. ShadowMiromon stood in shock as did the tamers as the figure came into full view. There was a dead silence for a few moments before the figure pointed the edge of its bow at ShadowMiromon and said, "Let us pass, and I will not harm you."

That tamers all gasped, hearing two voices ringing in the figures voice. On instinct Rika pulled out her digivice, and read the information aloud, "EmpressLeamon, a mega level royalty digimon. She is a warrior of purity, ruling her subjects justly and with kindness. Don't cross her though, or you will not survive her Empress Arrow or Volley of the Kingdom."

ShadowMiromon grumbled holding out his Wind Tunnel again as he said, "Empress or not, you shall not escape."

The Wind Tunnel began to pull, growing stronger and stronger with every passing second. EmpressLeamon, however, did not move an inch. It was like the wind was nothing more then a gentle breeze to her, holding her bow up with little effort as she called out, "Volley of the Kingdom."

From out of thin air thousands of arrows began to pour towards ShadowMiromon. It looked like some would break through the vortex of the Wind Tunnel, but they all were sucked into the dark void. ShadowMiromon laughed, increasing the pull of his Wind Tunnel, "I am no impressed Empress. Why don't you go along quietly, and I might spare your friends."

EmpressLeamon's eyes narrowed as she began to take aim with her bow, "You have proven your evil nature, and content to live among the shadows. I have given you the chance to flee with your life. Now, I am afraid it is time you faced the shadow I your own heart."

Leamon began to pull back on the bow, a pure white arrow of energy forming on the string. The arrow turned solid, becoming a piece of pure white metal. Then, with the twang of a bow behind it, the arrow took flight. It flew across the field, its heavy metal form unaffected by the Wind Tunnel.

ShadowMiromon wondered what the arrow had been aimed at, the metal seeming to fly straight into his Wind Tunnel. In truth, the arrow had been just a little off to the right. The tip of the arrow's edge cut ShadowMiromon's palm, and in an instant the Wind Tunnel grew larger, expanding.

ShadowMiromon began to yell, holding his hand as he tried to control the Wind Tunnel. He held it above his head, screaming as earth, stone, and fire from the castle's moat began to fly into his hand. The Wind Tunnel began to flash with purple light, and then in an instant there was silence. ShadowMiromon was gone, a victim of his own Wind Tunnel.