DISCLAIMER: I do not own Digimon, but I do own the plot, and DRAGOON.

Digimon Continuity

Quest for the Digimon

Chapter 22

Calm Before The Storm

:. Digital Plane - Desert Plane
DRAGOON

03:50 PM JST

Yamaki must have downloaded Ryo's maps into DRAGOON. Takato thought absent-mindedly. He seems to know where he's going.

It was truly odd. He would never have believed at the start of this morning when he went to school early that he would do all this today. Ever since Guilmon had disappeared, Takato had decided to make it a habit to actually get to school on time... only to fall asleep in class. Still, he stood by his first statement. Meeting Guilmon again was great... no, it was like the best thing that had ever happened, right next to Guilmon's first appearance and them Biomerging to form Dukemon.

Dukemon... Takato's thoughts slowly wondered to the Holy Knight. It was his and Guilmon's Biomerged form, who first appeared when he and Guilmon made up with each other for Takato's mistake of creating Megidramon and hurting his partner. It was also to stop Beelzemon. Right now, looking back on all the things that had happened and will happen, Takato still felt like all this was just one giant dream that he never wanted to wake up from.

Takato looked around. Most of them had taken Ryo's suggestion to get some rest, mainly the Digimon. Henry was at the head of the room of sorts, doing whatever it was that he was doing. Ryo was shuffling through his cards, sorting them for easy use, though the expression on his face revealed that he was in deep thought. Rika was the only one asleep, with the ever vigilant Renamon by her side, though Takato could not tell if the former was asleep or awake. Strikedramon stood beside her, glancing up to Ryo every now and then. Since there was nothing to attract his attention, save for Guilmon's rather regular loud snores, his thoughts wandered back to Dukemon.

Just a mere hour ago, Henry... or more accurately, Rika... had discovered that they could not Biomerge or Matrix Digivolve. That observation was soon confirmed by Ryo, who could not as well, though he did not test the latter problem. Henry tried to explain, but all he caught was that without Calumon's Shining Digivolution, it was all but impossible to do either of those. Takato never tried it, but he thought that Biomerging was something that was due to the connection and bond between Digimon and Tamer. Matrix Digivolution he still could not understand, so he took Henry's word for it... whatever it meant.

Takato did not doubt Henry, Rika and Ryo's words. However, he could not bring himself to believe that Dukemon was an inaccessible form to them now. It had truly been an experience, to unite with the best friend he ever had, the one he had created. He only wished that he had time to enjoy the sensation of his and Guilmon's minds fusing together to work on a single common goal, be it defeating Beelzemon or the D-Reaper. It was truly unlike anything he that he had ever felt before.

Takato's mind drifted again, to what would happen when they reached Zhuqiaomon's lair. He thought about what would really happen should Zhuqiaomon choose not to tell them Azulongmon's whereabouts. His heart began to worry. If they could not convince the Sovereign, they would have to fight him. As he recalled in the last battle, even three Megas could hardly harm the Sovereign. Only when Azulongmon came did the battle cease. How were they to fight him now?

As worry continued to plague him, Takato looked at his golden ringed D-Power. He remembered that Ryo had stared at it for some reason. Takato read the symbols on it for the hundredth time, unable to decipher the hidden message that was engraved in the golden ring. Maybe it held some secret message or something that could help them in this situation. Maybe.

Furthermore, Takato's worries moved to that of Kazu and Kenta. What had happened to them? Rika had left them somewhere, had something happened to them? Were they... NO! Don't think that way. I am sure that they are alright. Maybe Kazu went by himself to find Guardromon... maybe...

Takato allowed his head to rest on the bulk of the wall. All he had was more questions. He was not one that usually thought much, mainly daydreaming instead. Still... he hoped that when they reached their destination, Zhuqiaomon would be understanding and tell them Azulongmon's location. Otherwise, they would need a miracle.

I think that we need a miracle anyway to have an understanding Zhuqiaomon... and even to have Azulongmon know what to do with the Digimons chasing them.

A smile came to his face as he remembered how they had always pulled miracles from somewhere anyway, this should be no different... should be. With that, Takato let himself drift off to sleep.

:. Digital Plane - Sovereign Plane
DRAGOON

04:30 PM JST

"I hope everyone's rested..." Takato said as they saw the ruins of what used to be Zhuqiaomon's palace through the eyes of DRAGOON as they flew toward it. Ryo saw that there were signs of it being reconstructed, and no sign of the phoenix Sovereign anywhere. He had only heard of how it looked like, having not really seen it up close before during his time. Cyberdramon had at that time preferred to stick more to the wilderness during his rampages.

"If he moved, maybe we can ask around for his new address," Terriermon suggested.

"Terriermon," Henry sighed.

"No, I don't think he has," Lopmon said from knee level.

"What makes ya think so?" Impmon asked.

"Just a feeling," Lopmon replied.

Terriermon rolled his eyes. "Oh great, we are basing our rescue mission on a feeling..."

"Terriermon..." Henry said again, a hint of a warning in his tone.

"Momentai, Henry," Terriermon said, spreading out his ears, making his perch wobble a little to balance himself.

Rika rolled her eyes. "Must I always be the voice of reason here? All we have to do is go out and check."

Terriermon put a finger to his chin, a perfect imitation of Henry in deep thought. "I thought you were the voice of anger and impulse?" Terriermon commented, heedless of his own safety.

Renamon had to be the one to restrain Rika from jumping on the smirking Terriermon and his innocent perch Henry. "I'll show you anger and IMPULSE!!"

"Perfect example right here..." Terriermon's smirk widened.

"Terriermon..." Henry said worriedly. "Please... learn the meaning of tact..."

"Sorry, Henry," the bunny apologised, though Ryo doubted it sounded even close to sincere. It was more like a natural reaction that didn't take more effort than rolling one's eyes.

Ryo took initiative and DRAGOON's door, stepping outside into the scarred landscape. Strikedramon swiftly followed, tailing him like a shadow. His shadow. Which was ironically more literal than Ryo liked. Guilmon followed, jumping off the platform onto the digital dirt, nose in the air. Henry slowed backed out, eyes on the angered Rika at all times. Terriermon acted like he didn't have a care in the world.

"So... uh... do we knock?" Takato asked from beside him. Ryo had apparently missed the gogglehead's departure from DRAGOON.

"Dunno, how did you guys enter the last time?" Ryo asked. After all, the boy was the one that had been here personally, not him.

"Um... we floated there?"

Ryo shrugged. "I don't see any bubbles... maybe we shouldn't have gotten off DRAGOON and have him get us there instead." In the background, Henry was busy covering Terriermon's mouth, with a flared Rika in his face, glaring at the green bunny in his arms. Ryo shook his head, turning to the others. "Come on guys, we should get going." Unconsciously, he made a headcount, a habit he picked up years ago. Mentally, he flinched when he recalled that Kazu, Kenta and their respective partners were absent. Ryo hoped that this encounter with the less than pleasant Sovereign would yield some answers.

"Uh... fellas... I don't think that is part of the scenery, is it?" Impmon asked no one in particular, uncertainty odd in his usually confident voice. Ryo followed his finger and found himself staring at a magnificent and horrible sight. One that he couldn't have missed, but somehow, he did.

The phoenix was right on top of them, descending from the clouds.

Ryo arched his neck as far as possible to see all of it, but couldn't. He was large... gigantic. The wings certainly made him look bigger than either of the Sovereigns that he had encountered. Actually seeing one right on top of you was not a position one liked to be in, even a hardened person like himself.

An entire life of fighting and survival snapped back, pushing Ryo to do things calmly. He held his D-Power up, though he was slightly surprised to find his hand trembling slightly. Well, I guess meeting a Sovereign that more or less wouldn't hesitate to crush you flat would do that to you.

Takato once again felt the awe and terror of meeting Zhuqiaomon for the first time fill him. The good thing was, he had Guilmon by his side, so that helped a little. The bad thing... well, they were doomed without the ability to Biomerge. All of the Digimon jumped due to the close proximity of Zhuqiaomon, not unlike how they did the first time. All of them began to tense up, even Renamon... but not really growling. Then, Takato found out one Digimon was perfectly calm: Strikedramon. He was cool as a cucumber, which was a complete contrast to his Ultimate form who would more likely charge ahead of all of them.

Pushing the oddity away, Takato kept his eyes glued to Zhuqiaomon. Zhuqiaomon still radiated anger, but not as intense as it was before. It was as though the battle with the D-Reaper had taken something out of Zhuqiaomon.

"Tamers," Zhuqiaomon said, his voice causing a god-like echoing effect that vibrated all around him. "What are you doing in my land again?" Takato gulped. At least he sounds calm... Takato tried to look on the positive side.

Lopmon seemed to be the only one who wasn't intimidated. Even Ryo's jaw was down. "Sovereign Zhuqiaomon... we have come to seek your help," Lopmon said in her respectful way.

The said Sovereign merely snorted... a godly snort indeed. "So Lopmon, your Tamers have come to seek my help?" Zhuqiaomon taunted, pushing Takato's nerves closer and closer to the snapping point with each second that passed. If he didn't know better, he would have thought it intentional. "Why don't you seek your all great Azulongmon instead?"

The silence that ensued was all he needed.

"Let me guess... you need my help because you couldn't find him."

Tension built up, as the Sovereign looked down at them, waiting for them to answer. Takato took a deep breath, summoning courage he didn't know he possessed. "Yes," He said, slightly astounded that he did not stammer. But he was incapable of longer replies, because at that moment, his courage seemed to desert him as the four eyes of the phoenix focused on him. Takato suddenly seemed to remember that he was literally an insect in the Sovereign's eyes.

However, his reply unlocked the voices of the others, allowing them to continue in his steed. "We need to find out why everyone is trying to kill us... and even where our friends are..." Henry said, the last part coming out as a hesitation. With a sharp intake of breath, Takato realised that they had also forgotten someone, someone that was the reason for their first 'visit' here. Calumon... I can't believe we forgot about him... What kind of a friend, am I? Takato thought guiltily, though no one paid attention to him. All eyes were transfixed on either Henry or Zhuqiaomon.

"Kill you? I don't think I know the answer to that. Only one Digimon knows that," Zhuqiaomon said. "No others, not even me or Azulongmon. To go to him would have been wasting your time. This Digimon may also know the location of your... friends, something that neither of us Sovereigns know either." the phoenix finished, snorting at the last word.

"What do you mean that you don't know?" It was Ryo who asked this time. "I thought you Sovereigns were supposed to know everything about what happens around this place." The last part was more of a statement than a question.

Zhuqiaomon looked annoyed that a human would rebuke him like that. Takato was beginning to fear that something was about to happen when Zhuqiaomon answered, his voice still as calm as it could be. "Just because we are Sovereigns in this place doesn't mean that we know everything, human... or rather, the fabled Legendary Tamer."

Ryo sighed, a sound that sounded more like it was supposed to come from an old man rather than a fourteen year old. "I guess you are more omniscient than I thought."

"No," the Sovereign said. "I just hear things, enough to know about you and your partner Cyberdramon."

Henry soon cut back in, before the conversation got ugly. "Please, can you tell us where to find this Digimon."

Zhuqiaomon stared at Henry, while the latter trembled involuntarily. "I do not think that you have to find him. I think that he will be the one to find you. After all, he is the one now in charge of this world, he should know everything that goes on here."

That shook Takato right to the core. Before he could stop himself, his curiosity took over and the question came out. "Why would you give him charge of the world?"

Zhuqiaomon now glared at him, mildly irritated... so far. Takato felt as though the Sovereign was drilling right into the back of his skull, searching for the reason why he had asked such a question. Then, after an eternity of silence, Zhuqiaomon spoke again. "I never said that I gave him charge of this world. Have you forgotten this world was governed by Four Sovereigns? I did not make that decision willingly. But I had to, because I need to rest from the battle with the True Enemy."

For the first time, wariness crept into Zhuqiaomon's voice, taking away the god-like tone and replacing it with vulnerability. "It was a battle that was truly difficult... impossible even. Only with his help did we vanquish the True Enemy and eliminate his threat to the Digital World and this continent..." Such emotion filled Zhuqiaomon's voice, emotion that Takato, nor anyone, would have believed possible for him.

"Who... is this Digimon?" Rika asked, her voice soft as well. Only those who truly knew her would have sensed the underlying fear in her tone. Hearing fear from the hardened Rika sent his spiking as well. What kind of Digimon would have more power than the Sovereigns? Takato was certain that the same thought was running through all their minds.

However, Rika speaking had caused Zhuqiaomon to assume yet again his god-like tone, the vulnerability in his voice gone in an instant and replaced with rage. Rage that was likely due to the fact that he had shown weakness to what he considered 'vermin'. "Why does it matter to you?! All you want is your information! You care not for the affairs of the Digital World!! Now get out of my sight!! I will not help you!!"

"Please, Zhuqiaomon," Guilmon begged. Had Takato been hoping that the innocence in Guilmon's voice would be able to get to Zhuqiaomon, he would have been sorely disappointed.

"NO!!" The Sovereign thundered.

"PLEASE! We have to find out where the others are and why all this is happening!!" Ryo shouted, as though it could pass the barrier that Zhuqiaomon had put around himself after realising his mistake.

"LEAVE NOW OR YOU WILL SUFFER MY WRAITH!!"

Defiance flared in Ryo, as the latter roared back. "I have withstood the wraiths of Digimon much more powerful than you!!" Takato didn't know if that was true, but Ryo's fearlessness was contagious, Takato felt himself rearing up as well, his adrenaline peaking. The Digimon tensed up, ready for battle. Confidence and something else that Takato could not identify flared in Ryo's eyes, as the latter glared right back at the raging Zhuqiaomon. "You are no different! I will withstand you! And I will find out what we need to know!!" With a single word, Ryo made this not just about him, but about all of them as well.

"Then I shall accomplish one wish that I have wanted for a long time! YOUR DELETION!!" Everything was building up to a climax. Unconsciously, Takato's hands found his D-Power, and he gripped it tightly. "CRIMSON BLAZE!!"

Ryo had far faster reflexes than any of them...

...He swiped a card so quickly that all Takato saw was a blur...

Sparks emerged from the D-Power...

... Strikedramon appeared in front of them all out of nowhere...

And abruptly, a hemisphere materialised around them. Zhuqiaomon's attack splashed across the shield, causing none of them any harm.

Takato brought up his D-Power an instant after the impact, swiping an Evolution Plug-In S through. In corner of his eye, he saw Henry and Rika do the same.

And so the battle begins... Takato thought absent-mindedly.

Hurray!! At long last, the moment I have been waiting for. A repeat of... what episode was it?... oh yeah, Episode 37. Well, more or less.

I just noticed that it was a month ago when I updated this fic... hmm... I have to work on that...

But who noticed a change? Those that did notice that I have suddenly added places and times to all the chapters of Quest. I plan to continue and do so to all my fics. However, I have not put in the date for a very simple reason: I want to give Aftermath a little freedom to work around. Once Aftermath is complete, I believe that the dates will be updated.

Thanks to Winter-Skye-Phoenix, SpookyButt and TT8WizziE8TT for reviewing. As for the answer to your question Winter, I would say wait and see, as Ryo's past is rather... complicated, so I believe that it will only be revealed in the next fic that follows. Another reason is of course that way it has more impact and I only have to do it one time for the Chosen and the Tamers.

Moving on, the battle with Zhuqiaomon is going to be interesting... but what battle isn't interesting?

Alright. Now review what you think!!