AC: Yep. Here's chapter 19 of the story. The reason it came so fast was that simply that I reached the interesting part in the story. We are reaching the climax of the first Arc. The next one will be later and don't expect anything during the week end. I'll end up with between 20 hours to 30 hours of work during two days. It will be exhaustive for me who never work night and sleep day, but I'll manage it. So I will surely slowdown in my writing because I'll be tired.
Even so, cheer up; you have two chapters this week instead of one.
I already decided how the relationship between Ryo and Millenniumon will develop during the Second Arc.
Chapter 19: In the dark temple of the god
Millenniumon heard the sound of the temple resonating by the footstep and shouted on his followers. It was the first time his temple was so much alive compare to the usual day when nothing threatened the temple. He already finished the reception, but the chosen children were coming soon. The light started to claim back the digital world and the darkness was tore apart by it. The dark god quietly listened to the preparation. He did something different than last time. He decided to let his servant behind. He knew they were going to be crushed and killed by an all-out assault from the chosen children if they even tried to fight them. So he put them behind as they were useless in a fight of this caliber.
What he did the same was to bring back those defeated by Ryo. The only one not back alive was Etemon who pissed Millenniumon off when he ran away. He didn't need a coward fighting in his name. They were already posted for the battle. He also added the elite warriors who were either perfect digimon or a few ultimate digimons serving him. It soon turned silent when every digimons were at their position.
The Devidramon in a tuxedo entered in the throne room and bowed in front of his master: "My lord, we are ready for the upcoming of the chosen children," he raised his head and looked in Millenniumon eyes: "I was just wondering why one of your orders was to let Ryo come to you? And also, to open the door to the throne room for him?"
"Because I want to deal with him personally. He might not look like the strongest chosen children, but he is. He is the only one who can use whatever he obtained and I'm the best one to oppose him. If any of you tried to stop him, you will end up dead," Millenniumon warned.
Devidramon nodded and stood up: "I pray to you my lord that we shall be victorious."
"I will answer your prayers Devidramon," Millenniumon chuckled.
The dark god was once again alone in the throne room. He tore space once again and watched the chosen children almost ready to face him: "Ryo. After many years, today will be the day when we united our fates. When destiny will come true. Nothing will stop us from accomplishing it. Today, the rewards will come for both of us."
Millenniumon felt joy in his heart, imagining who his life will be complete with Ryo by his side. He was the darkness and Ryo was the light. They were opposite elements, but destiny wanted them together. It started with hatred for Millenniumon, but it changed as he realised that destiny gave him someone to be by his side.
He remembered when the other Ryo entered in his heart once with Ken; he saw his hatred and the darkness in his heart. If there was one thing Millenniumon never said was that Ryo didn't dig deep enough in his heart. If he had looked at the deepest part of his heart, he would have seen love. Love that he had for Ryo, his opposite, his enemy, his destined partner and more importantly, his equal.
"Ryo. Our destiny is to be together, not just me as your digimon partner. It is more than that Ryo...So much more than that. We are soulmate Ryo," Millenniumon lovely said.
Ryo looked at the other chosen children and also what he hid in his bag, hopping it was out of Millenniumon sight. He put it on his back and looked at the other chosen children.
Ryo thought about everything they prepared yesterday. If Ryo would comment about the preparation, it would that it was nothing. They didn't prepare anything, because Millenniumon was surely watching and listening to everything. It was the best course of action and Ryo knew it was the best one. It worried him that the best plan was having no plan and purely improvise.
The other thing he was worried about was simply what Millenniumon prepared for them. He knew they were coming and how they would strike. The only thing positive thing was that the object he obtained was out of Millenniumon sight.
He realised he wasn't listening to Gennai when he was explaining them about the teleportation that would guide them to the temple. Koushiro and Gennai worked on it and it was ready to go when they were ready.
"Once you are ready, you have to go at the center of the teleportation device. Remember that once you go there, there is not turning back," Gennai warned them.
Ryo looked at Agumon; his friend looked back at him. The other chosen children did the same thing with their partner.
"I need a few minutes. I have a few things left to say to Agumon," Ryo replied.
The other chosen children nodded before he walked away with Agumon. Once they were alone, Ryo kneed at the high of Agumon.
"Agumon. This is soon the end," Ryo said.
"You're scared Ryo?" Agumon asked.
"Of course. We are going to fight Millenniumon, but don't worry, I won't let it control me," Ryo replied. He then whispered: "Never again."
"Ryo?" Agumon asked.
"Don't worry about it, it's my problem, but not for long. I also wanted to tell you that it was fun the journey we have together. I'm glad that we are friends Agumon," Ryo said with a smile.
"I'm happy too Ryo. You did so much to help me even if you didn't know me," Agumon replied, smiling like Ryo.
"Soon you will be back with your friend Taichi. I want to meet him and talk with him," Ryo said.
"You will become his friends like the other chosen children," Agumon replied.
"I'm sure we will. Agumon, it was nice to have you as my partner," Ryo replied with a smile.
He stood up and after they nodded at each other's, they joined the others.
"We are ready," Ryo said.
"You just need to step on the circle and you will be teleport to the temple of Millenniumon. Once you are there, you have to be careful. Millenniumon might let you enter in his domain, but he won't let you out," Gennai warned.
"He won't be alive for long. Once we are in his domain, we are going to take him out," Yamato said.
They silently nodded to each other's and they walked at the center of the circle. Gennai waved at them and said: "You can defeat Millenniumon and save the digital world. I don't need to have faith in you. I know you can do it."
"Thank you Gennai," Ryo replied.
They teleported and after a flash of light, the chosen children were in front of the temple of the dark god. The chosen children and their digimon partner raised their head as they looked at the orange Millenniumon domain rising in front of them with the form of a pyramid. The domain was orange, not a color they were expecting. They had to walk on a black road to reach the domain. They didn't have time to take a step when they heard something shouting at them.
"The chosen children are here! I need to warn my lord!" A PicoDevimon shouted before flying away.
The chosen children looked at the small ball with wings flying away. None of them said anything; they were taken off-guard by his sudden appearance. They said nothing for a few seconds before they marched forward. No words were needed between them. They walked closer and closer of the domain of the dark god. It grew bigger and bigger as they approached and it left the impression that they were small fry compared to Millenniumon. They reached the domain and were close of the entrance. They were about to enter when they heard:
"Welcome in my temple chosen children!" The chosen children raised their head and saw the dark silhouette of Millenniumon: "I hope you are enjoying the design of the temple dictated to me, the dark god of time and darkness! You are free to enter in my temple chosen children, but one you are inside, you are never going out of here alive!" Millenniumon laughed loudly for a few seconds before he calmed down: "Ryo! I am glad you managed to come here! Remember what I told you! Your destined partner is in the temple, but what are you going to do, search for him or defeat me first? Whatever you choose, I don't mind. I can wait for you to come to me. If you are searching for me, I am waiting for you, sitting on my throne. Maybe not alone."
The silhouette of Millenniumon disappeared as he returned in the temple.
The chosen children looked at each other's.
"Let's go inside," Yamato said.
The chosen children nodded and they walked inside the temple through the large door made or crimson color. Once they were inside, the heard the door closing behind them.
"There is no going out," Koushiro said.
"We have to move forward. That was we were going to do anyway," Sora added.
"Now that we are inside, any plans?" Mimi asked.
"No," Yamato said. It wasn't his forte to formulate a plan without thinking it first.
"We should move forward and remaining together...That is some strange decoration," Ryo commented.
The entrance of the temple looked closely to a church with a statue of Millenniumon at the end of the entrance, leading to a corridor. They weren't any bench at the middle of it, but the walls were gray and lifeless. A few painting were present and showed the locations controlled by Millenniumon before Ryo intervened and free those places.
They walked until they were near the statue of Millenniumon.
"Millenniumon has as a big ego," Yamato commented.
"I don't think so," Jou said nervously. "He was able to defeat us and as great power, it's not only ego."
"You're right Jou. Although I wish you were wrong," Mimi replied.
"Do not worry. We are ready to fight Millenniumon. We just have to hide our key to victory," Ryo said.
"Just to be safe, we should evolve our partner now," Koushiro said.
The chosen children nodded. Only Ryo didn't do it, waiting the moment he was needed. They continued and looked around.
"It's really empty," Hikari noticed.
"True," Takashi said.
They younger chosen children were nervous about the silence in the temple. The older were also nervous, but they hid it inside of them. Ryo was like them.
"I hope it's not a surprise attack," Sora said.
"I think it will be," Yamato said.
They reached a room painted in black only. They stopped when they saw in front of them Devimon, Vamdemon and Piemon.
"How? We defeated you," Ryo said surprised.
"Our lord gave us a second chance to defeat you together. We aren't alone either," Vamdemon replied.
"There are a few digimons lurking around. You just didn't cross their path yet," Piemon said.
"Show those digimon then," Yamato replied.
"Not now. Before that, Millenniumon personally ordered us to let you and your partner pass Ryo. He wants you to move forward," Devimon said.
"W-" Yamato was about to reply, but Ryo said it first.
"Why?" Ryo said.
"He never fought you compare to the others and he wants to personally defeat you," Devimon replied.
"You better move forward. Millenniumon said that he won't use his ability to control time if you do as he said," Piemon said with a small smile.
Ryo looked at Agumon looked at each other's and nodded.
"Let's go," Ryo said.
"Wait! You can't go there alone Ryo!" Mimi shouted as she grabbed his hand.
"Millenniumon is our enemy, but if he gave us an opportunity, we shouldn't waste it. It will also help me finding my partner faster," Ryo replied.
"That's crazy Ryo. We can't separate like that. Millenniumon won't hold his words," Yamato replied.
"Everyone. It's better this way. If Millenniumon used his time control ability, he will defeat you, if he doesn't, he will be too busy against us to fight you. I'm sure controlling time used a lot of his strength," Ryo replied.
"You have to trust us on this," Agumon said.
"You agree with his idea?" Gabumon asked.
Agumon nodded and said: "Yes. I will help Ryo and find his partner."
"I hope you are right," Yamato said.
"I will be careful, you join me once you defeat all of them. The time I'll search for my partner, you'll already beat them," Ryo said.
He walked forward and the three digimons let him pass. Once he was outside the room, the door closed behind him. Ryo stopped for a few seconds.
"Are you sure about it Ryo?" Agumon asked.
"Yes. I think Millenniumon will hold his words," Ryo replied.
"How can you think that?" Agumon asked.
"He never really lied," Ryo replied.
"That doesn't mean he's honest this time," Agumon replied.
Ryo smiled and said: "It's better this way too. We have a few things in our sleeves," Ryo replied.
"Right," Agumon replied.
They moved forward, they weren't aware, but they were following Millenniumon plan. He wanted Ryo and Agumon to be by themselves just like they said.
AC: This is the end of chapter 19.
Chapter 20: Ryo and Millenniumon confrontation
Chapter 21: The revelations