Chapter 17

Guardians of the Castle

EmpressLeamon slowly shifted back into Jeri and Leamon as the barrier around the castle disappeared. The other tamers rushed up, most of them severally confused. Leamon helped Jeri up, smiling as she said, "That was…interesting."

"Interesting", Kazu shouted, "Try as crazy as catfish. What just happened?"

Jeri shook her head, "I don't know. I just wanted to help Leamon, and then I heard Leomon's voice. He said he was giving up his link to my digivice, and passing it to another. After that, I found a blue card in my pocket and slashed it."

The other tamers looked at each other as Kenta said, "You guys don't think."

A few silent moments passed, and then all the tamers and digimon shouted, "YOU BIOMERGED!"

Jeri and Leamon cringed backward, but then the thought sank into their minds. It was the only thing that could have happened. Takato, Kazu, and Kenta were all surrounding Jeri, congratulating and saying how well she fought. At the same time Calumon and MarineAngemon were circling Leamon's head, cheering the champion's victory. Jeri started to blush, but the moment was ended when Guilmon came up behind Takato, gently pulling on his shirt, "Uh…Takato…shouldn't we go get Renamon.'

The tamers quickly remembered what they were supposed to be doing, and the tone became serious. The tamers began to walk across the castle's draw bridge. The interior of the castle was pitch black, and eerily silent. A chill hung in the air, making the tamers shiver as they moved further into the castle.

When they were half way across the castle's hall, the sounds of chain creaking began to echo across the room. The tamers turned just in time to see the draw bridge pull up, and the castle gates seal themselves shut. Green torches lit themselves all across the castle's main hall.

Jeri clung close to Leamon, "I have a bad feeling about this."

Takato nodded his head, "Yeah, this feels like a scene out of a scary movie."

"A scary movie Takato", Rika said as she rolled her eyes, "sometimes I think your brain's in a movie."

The tamers all jumped, the voice of Hageramon echoing from some dark corner in the hall, "Oh, children, this is going to be far worse then any movie. This is real, and this time the hero's aren't going to come out alive." The tamers then saw a huge fire flare up near the front of the hall, two figures standing on far side of the great green flames. One of the figures was easily Hageramon, but the other was dressed in all black and far enough away from the fire she couldn't be seen.

Hageramon began to float off the ground, a devilish grin crossing her face, "You tamer's have destroyed but a pawn in the sovereign's great plan to capture Peradium and destroy its lord. Now, it is time for you to face the bishop of evil."

Rika stepped forward, balling her hand into a fist, "Where is Renamon you dried up husk?"

"Flattery won't get you anywhere little girl. As for Renamon, let's just say she is here in body, not in mind. Still, if you are still so dead set on seeing here, defeat me and see how it goes from there."

"Count on it." Takato grumbled as he held out his digivice. In a flash he and Guilmon biomerged together into Gallantmon. The shining knight then began to glow a fiery red, a long forgotten strength resurfacing as he shifted into a higher level of power, Crimson Mode.

Hageramon laughed, landing on the ground as a dark green mist began to seep from her mouth, "You think that scares me, I have seen red wagons scarier then you. Know, you knight of the ancient order, it is time to fall like so many others. For, it is a witch that has true strength against the honor, the strength, and the will of a knight."

Hageramon lunged forward, pillars of green mist firing from her hands. Gallantmon countered, sweeping his great sword through the air and cutting the mist in two. The attack, however, was not without its effect. Some of the mist got by, and landed on Gallantmon's shoulder. The mist quickly began to eat at his crimson armor, turning it a rusty color.

Hageramon smiled, "Oh, by the way, my mist will melt anything that it touches. Even if you block the center of my attack, some will always seep through. So, how long will it take Royal Knight before you are nothing more then dust on the wind?"

Gallantmon growled, jumping up into the air as his great, white wings spread out. Hageramon continued to laugh, the dark mist spewing from her arms. The other tamers watched, each wondering what the battle outcome would be. Henry and Jeri both wanted to help Takato and Guilmon, but they were too tired from their battle with ShadowMiromon. Rika was powerless against Hageramon, at least without Renamon.

There were, however, some that had a very powerful urge to fight. Kazu and Kenta both had clenched fists, watching the battle as they cheered Gallantmon on. Still, no amount of cheering was going to turn back Hageramon's dark, acid mist. Kazu growled, looking back at Guardromon as he asked, "Dude, isn't their anything we can do?"

Guardromon shook his head, "No way Kazu, my body would be melted in ten seconds if I got into the fight."

Kazu growled, "All right, but there has to be something we can do."

Kenta nodded, "Yeah, MarineAngemon, you're a mega, can't you help?"

MarineAngemon nodded her head, flying up a little as she shot out her heart shaped bubbles. The bubbles floated slowly up, touching the green mist. For a second, the two lingered together before the mist began to infect the bubble, turning it a sickly green before it popped.

MarineAngemon yelped, hiding behind Kenta as she trembled. Kenta held his small digimon partner, "It's all right, I won't make you go out their again. If we can't help now, we'll just wait until we can."

Kazu nodded, "Yeah, the first chance we see will rush in and help, but I won't put you in danger unless you're willing to go in yourself."

Guardromon sighed, "Oh, thank you Kazu."

Kenta and Kazu nodded, raising their voices as they continued to cheer Gallantmon. Finally, the Crimson Knight got close enough to Hageramon to strike her, sending the evil witch crashing to the ground. Hageramon slowly stood up, growling as she said, "You will pay for that Knight. Spell of Fire."

Hageramon began to mumble, holding her hands in front of her as a circle of fire formed in the air. In an instant a surge of fire rushed out, and struck Gallantmon right in the chest. Gallantmon yelled in pain, crashing into the wall of the castle while the fire continued to burn at his armor. Even with his hard armor and the power of his Crimson Mode, Gallantmon couldn't endure the heat of the fire for long.

"Come on Gallantmon, you can do it!" Kazu shouted.

Kenta shook his head, "I don't know, maybe we should do something."

MarineAngemon nodded her head, flying into the air. Guardromon also got ready, moving in front of Kazu as his guardian missiles locked into place on his arms. "Yes", Guardromon said as he took aim at Hageramon, "as friends and allies we must help Gallantmon."

Kazu and Kenta nodded, reaching into their pockets for modify cards. So quick in their search, they didn't notice the color of the cards they had pulled. With a quick swipe and a flash of light, Kazu and Kenta both shouted, "Digimodify…"

Hageramon laughed evilly, increasing the strength of her fire to force Gallantmon to burst into data. Suddenly, from the side of the room, a burst of blue energy struck Hageramon in the side and sent her flying. Her spell of fire ended, and Gallantmon was able to get away from the wall of the castle.

Gallantmon looked over at where the blast came from, his voice filled with shock, "What was that?"

The other tamers also turned, their eyes falling on a pair of figures. As tall as Gallantmon, two more knights stood ready to fight. Both knights were covered with silver armor similar to Gallantmon's usual coloring. One knight was carrying a large axe and had a large flowing blue cape. The other, a knight with a green cape, carried a pair of swords, one held in each hand.

Jeri raised her digivice, reading the information as it came up, "The one with the green cape is Chilvarmon, one of the three legendary knights of the trinity. He carries two swords, using them with deadly accuracy. His special attacks include Joust of Honor, and Revered Blade of Healing."

Jeri continued, the display screen on the digivice changing, "The other one is Generalmon, the third member of the knights trinity. His strength and knowledge in battle is unmatched, able to lead great armies against his opponents. His special attacks are Warriors of Earth and Distance Desolation."

Henry looked over, his eyes bulging as he said, "Kazu, Kenta, Guardromon, and MarineAngemon are gone!"

"You don't think…" Rika said as she looked over the two knights as they moved into the center of the battlefield. Still, the same thought was running through Jeri, Rika, Henry, Terriermon, Impmon, and Eclipsemon's minds. Kazu had biomerged with Guardromon into Generalmon and Kenta had biomerged with MarineAngemon into Chilvarmon. A knight of strength and a knight of chivalry to join with Gallantmon, the courageous knight and first member of the legendary trinity.

Gallantmon dropped to one knee, recovering from Hageramon's attack as Chilvarmon and Generalmon came running up. Generalmon, Kazu and Guardromon, stepped in front of Gallantmon as he struck the ground, a great crack forming the floor as he called out, "Warriors of Earth." Hageramon began to back off, miniature versions of the trinity knights rising out of the floor and lunging at her.

While Hageramon was directed by the small knights, Chilvarmon held his sword above Gallantmon, the blade turning a bright green as he called out, "Revered Blade of Healing."

Gallantmon's armor began to repair itself, the erosions from Hageramon's acid mist. Soon, Gallantmon was able to stand up under his own power, his armor returning to its usual silver as his Crimson Mode power began to weaken. Gallantmon looked over at Chilvarmon, a tone of surprise still lingering in his voice, "Kenta, MarineAngemon…but how?"

"I don't know." Chilvarmon replied.

"And who cares, we finally biomerged." Generalmon added as his warriors continued to throw themselves at the now furious dark witch. Finally, Hageramon had enough and a black sphere of energy surrounded her. With a small explosion the warriors of stone were thrown back, all of them breaking into dust on impact with the floor.

Hageramon growled, raising a single bony finger as she said, "You three, you won't defeat me. I am Hageramon, the corrupter of nobles and one who bears a heart of pure darkness. No Noble Knight has ever, or will ever, destroy my power."

"One Knight may not be able to stop you Hageramon" Gallantmon said as he took a step forward, "But why don't you try three on for size."

Hageramon smiled, "My pleasure." In an instant Hageramon seemed to split apart into her three parts. The original Hageramon lunged at Gallantmon while her sisters, the fat and thin Hageramon, went towards Generalmon and Chilvarmon. The three trinity knights put their backs together, holding their ground as the three Hageramon began their assault.

Takato held up his shield, holding back the original Hageramon back as he said, "All right guys, remember that old trick we used to dodge bullies at school."

Kenta nodded, "How could I forget, it took us two weeks to perfect it."

"Good", Gallantmon said as he pushed Hageramon back again, "do it, but add a special attack to the end. On the count of three. One…Two…Three." The three trinity knights suddenly dodged to the left, making the three Hageramon fall forward. Their heads crashed together, a resounding crack filling the room as each trinity knight prepared his special attack. In unison, the room was filled with the battle cry of three special attacks, a loud explosion enveloping Hageramon and reducing her to data.

The three knights moved together, broad smiles hidden underneath their helmets as they performed a big high five. The celebrations, however, were cut short when three crystals flew through the air. The crystals struck the three trinity knights, a surge of energy flowing through their body. The three knights suddenly felt their bodies become numb, and they crashed to the floor with a resounding thud.

Henry, Jeri, Rika, Terriermon, Calumon, Leamon, and Impmon rushed forward as Jeri yelled, "Gallantmon, are you okay?"

"I…can't…move…" Gallantmon said as he laid on the ground. Slowly, a haunting laughter filled the room. The tamers froze, their eyes drifting to the end of the hall. The figure, who had remained hidden during the fight, slowly stepped into the glow of the fire pit. Still, the digimon body was hidden beneath a long, black dress and a black, large rimmed witch's hat, "You did well to defeat Hageramon, and I am honored to able to see the three trinity knights fight in such harmony. However, I am afraid that all you're fighting has been in vain. Renamon isn't here anymore."

Rika growled, running forward until she stood on the far side of the fire pit, "You, tell me where Renamon, or I'll tear you apart myself."

The digimon chuckled, keeping her face hidden, "I don't think you want to do that."

"WHY?" Rika snapped back, her hand balling into a fist.

"Because, you wouldn't want to harm your digimon partner." The digimon then looked up, a smile crossing her face as the tamers caught sight of her face. Rika gasped, falling back as she stared into the blue eyes she had once known, and saw a huge evil.

"I said Renamon wasn't here. My name is WickRenamon, and I am the digital wicked witch of the west. Even at the rookie level my magic is enough to paralyze all three of the trinity knights. So, who's next?"