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

Digimon Continuity

Quest for the Digimon

Chapter 24

Turning the Tables

:. Real World - Japan, Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Towers
Main Control Room

05:07 PM JST

Yamaki clicked his lighter close, deep in thought. He held the D-Power of Impmon's partners in his hand, inspecting it with a curiosity that had not plagued him in a very long time. Riley was still trying to hack into the profile of Taichi Kamiya, which might provide vital information on the latter which will perhaps help the Tamers.

Yamaki considered consulting the Chief Cabinet Secretary on this. But he immediately rejected the idea. If the classification level of this guy was so high that only heads of states could gain access to it, the Chief Cabinet Secretary would be likely to know of the guy, but Yamaki doubted that he would take the mention of this guy very well. Sighing, he set down the D-Power and the lighter, taking up the papers that he had Riley print out of both 'producers' and the cast. Yamaki allowed himself another glance at the D-Power, before re-reading the printed profiles yet again.

Taichi Kamiya was the first and only son of Susumu and Yuuko Kamiya. He also had a sister, Hikari Kamiya, who coincidentally was also one of the 'cast' of the show who had disappeared ten months ago and reappeared as well. According to gathered sources, the Digimon show initially started out as a personal project by a bunch of kids, much like how the Monster Makers came about. There were members of the group that were very notable, mainly Yamato Ishida and Ken Ichijouji, who was a famous rock star a few years back and another genius respectively. Coincidentally, their known girlfriends, Sora Takenouchi and Miyako Inoue; Yamato Ishida's younger brother, Takeru Takaishi, who took his mother's name when their parents divorced; and the forementioned Hikari Kamiya were also part of the group.

Yamaki frowned. He read their profiles, which were thankfully not placed under 'Classified'. There were many coincidences that could be noted. Half of them had taken part in a particular summer camp, which was cancelled due to the strange weather phenomenon that had suddenly occurred. Ironically, they all shared the same cabin. Another coincidence was that all of them from this cabin had all lived in the same area during a supposed terrorist attack, though he wasn't sure whether they were friends at that time.

The blonde took a look at another printout, which was a newspaper cutting. It was about how no one had admitted to the attack, no threats given for further attacks if conditions weren't met. Government officials could make nothing out of it. However, anonymous sources said that it wasn't a terrorist attack. It was a battle of monsters. Giant monsters that resembled a bird and a dinosaur. A team was set up to investigate. The investigation was cancelled when resources poured in were going down the drain.

Yamaki shook his head, considering to ask Riley to go through it later. He moved on to the history of the members of the cast and the show.

According to what the group released, Taichi Kamiya had come up with the idea of Digimon, and decided to create characters out of himself and his friends. Of course, he changed their names, but kept most the personalities of his friends and even asking his friends to make the show with him. Koushiro Izumi agreed and made the graphics for the show. They enlisted the help of other friends to do other jobs, but soon got people outside their circle to help out.

The project blossomed, liked by many children during its broadcast, which Yamaki believed was the favour of Yamato Ishida's father, Hiroaki Ishida. He was the person in charge of a Fuji TV station at that time, which probably was in favour of the group. What had initially been a small project became fully blown, from a mere 13 episodes to a 54 episode show. The group had been smart, making use of the unexplained phenomenon of the summer of 1999 to their advantage. The show went global, being dubbed into the country's respective languages. By then, the infamous Digimon Card Game had been released.

The sequel was then released, with Taichi Kamiya claiming to use the cast as inspiration. The show was well-received. More and more things about Digimon came and only one stuck: the card game. The game was so famous that despite Digimon dying from its seat of fame, tournaments were still held annually. Then, came the disappearance of one-who-started-it-all.

The strange thing was, no proper investigation was held. The case was closed only a few days after it was reported. Not usual at all for a missing person's case. Yamaki noted. He was no expert on the things that went on in a police station, but he knew the basics. Cases didn't just close a few days later with the guy still missing. He suspected someone in the higher ups had a hand in this.

Of course, then came the disappearance of the entire cast altogether. Tournaments were still held, and the world continued to spin. But the investigation was definitely more in depth this time. It was properly carried out, but with no results. It were as though they were wiped from the face of the Earth.

Yamaki, however, held an answer that could be the reason as to why they had disappeared. Two actually. The first was that it probably had something to do with Taichi Kamiya's government profile being classified.

The other was of course:

The Digital World.

:. Digital Plane - Sovereign Plane
Somewhere in Ryo's head/mind/consciousness/somewhere

05:10 PM JST

"I-I don't understand," Ryo repeated when he regained his voice. "What are you doing, Monodramon?"

Monodramon stopped when he reached Millenniummon's side, turning to face him. By then, he was already beyond surprise, shock and horror. He just noted that Millenniummon didn't move, didn't attack Monodramon, only sent the latter a sad smile. "Ryo, you do understand. You know this. You are just denying it."

"Denying?" Ryo shook his head. "I really don't know what you're talking about Monodramon."

"No, Ryo," his partner said. "You are smarter than this. You just don't want to think about it."

"There is nothing to think about, Monodramon! There is nothing left!!"

"That's what you think, Ryo. It is because you think that there is nothing left. Ever since you remembered your past, ever since that final battle, that's all you've thought."

"No! That's not true! I've thought a lot, Monodramon! I've-"

"Ryo," Monodramon said softly. "Stop. You did think a lot. But not about the right thing. The problem is, you don't want to think about it."

"What?! What am I not thinking about?!! What is it that I don't want to think about?!!!"

"The jogress," Monodramon said simply. Immediately, Ryo stiffened.

Millenniummon continued for Monodramon. "Ryo, you don't see us as one being after the jogress. In a way, we are not one being. But we are. Yet when you look at Cyberdramon, at our current form, you don't see him as a single being, but as me and Monodramon."

That was true, too true. Ryo did not want to accept that his sworn enemy was now part of his partner.

Then Monodramon and Millenniummon began to morph. They began to fuse, just like how they did when they jogressed together. Ryo was rooted, watching the event through both his eyes and his memories. He couldn't remember all the details, but he knew that he was crying when the jogress began and was still doing so when it ended. Now, he did not cry. He was confused. He did not understand, or like Monodramon said, did not want to understand what was going on.

When they had fused, they did not become an egg. Instead, it split into three beings: Monodramon, Strikedramon and Cyberdramon.

Ryo blinked.

"Hi, Ryo!" Monodramon exclaimed, leaping into the air in his enthusiasm.

"Hello, Ryo," Strikedramon said calmly.

Cyberdramon simply growled his name.

Ryo remained silent, frowning.

Strikedramon glanced at the other two beside him, before stepping forward. "Ryo, I know that you would trust me - us - with your life," the humanoid dragon began. "Many believe that that is the highest amount of trust that could be given to anyone. But not you, Ryo. You think differently. To you, that is nothing. To you, the highest trust you can give is to be able to turn your back on someone and not expect to be stabbed in the back. To you, to let your guard down is the highest trust you can give.

"We're asking for that trust, Ryo. We're asking you to let your guard down. To let us in. To give yourself fully to us. To trust us with yourself. Your heart. Trust that we will not turn against you. Trust us."

Strikedramon morphed, causing Ryo to take a step back. He shaped into Millenniummon, and he continued. "Trust me, Ryo. Trust that I have changed. Trust that I am not your enemy. Trust that I am on your side now. Trust me enough... to forgive me. I am your partner as well right now. Please."

Millenniummon let it hang in the air, let Ryo think.

Ryo closed his eyes. Strikedramon was asking for the impossible. Millenniummon was asking for the impossible.

Ryo couldn't let his guard down because he was always being betrayed. He had no one to truly call his friend. Not even Takato. Not even Henry. Not even Rika. One day, they would turn on him, just like Taichi and Agumon did. Although he wished the best for them, although he wanted very much to be more involved, more their friend, he couldn't. He always had to have everyone an arm's length away. Even his partner. For in the end, his partner was also his enemy. His partner may also betray him, just like Veemon did when he partnered himself to Daisuke.

Ryo couldn't forgive Millenniummon because he had done too many wrongs. Too many. He had destroyed whole worlds, brought down civilisations. He had forced his friends against him. To cheat him. He was the cause of all his troubles. He was the reason why Ryo was who he was today. Why he was in a world, a reality that was not his to call home. Why he had friends that weren't truly friends.

How could he do any of those things?

That's it... Ryo realised with a gasp. That is my problem. I don't trust anyone. I keep to myself. I don't even trust my partner! Ryo suddenly found his feet extremely interesting.

"Yes, Ryo. You've finally figured it out," Monodramon's voice said proudly, as though he had attained the answer to the most difficult question that ever existed.

Ryo looked up to see two Monodramons, one on each side; their Digivolutions of Strikedramon and Cyberdramon; and of course Millenniummon.

"Hurray!! Ryo did it!" The other Monodramon exclaimed.

Ryo looked at each of their faces in turn, only to see a smile on each face. He smiled back.

Maybe... Maybe I should change. Maybe I should learn to trust again. Maybe I will be stabbed yet again on the back, but... why should I torment myself with that now? Why can't I enjoy it, however temporary it might be? Maybe that trust will be broken, but at least I can say that I trusted. And maybe I should give Millenniummon another chance. He may not deserve it, but I can always wait and see...

Upon that conclusion, Ryo opened his eyes to find his vision white. The world suddenly seemed that much brighter.

:. Digital Plane - Sovereign Plane
Ruins of Zhuqiaomon's Palace

05:14 PM JST

BIOMERGE
DIGIVOLUTION

"Biomerge Activate!!" Takato yelled with all his might, as light shone from the Digivice in his hand. It engulfed him and Guilmon, with an intensity that he had not experienced in a long time. Takato closed his eyes to feel it even more powerfully.

"Guilmon! Biomerge!!..."

Takato felt the flames of Zhuqiaomon's attack consume him, but never touching him. It were as though there were an invisible shield around him. Takato felt a funny tingle travel through his body, and then a sudden sensation that shook him to the core. The suddenness caused him to cry out, but it was not in pain, but in joy. He had never thought that he would feel it again, the sensation of fusing with Guilmon. Guilmon's data merged with him, and he felt strength flow through him. Chrome Digizoid metal covered him, making him a literal knight in armour. The helmet of Dukemon closed on him and familiar weapons materialised in his hands.

Takato felt like laughing. He probably was. It had worked. And all he needed was faith in Guilmon and himself. Courage flowed through him like water, courage that materialised inside him only when he was the holy knight Digimon.

He and his partner were one again. He was Dukemon. He could do anything and everything.

Defeating a Sovereign was easy.

Takato pumped Dukemon's legs and jumped into the air, out of his Digivolution sphere, out of the flames, and into the open.

Dukemon landed on the ground, a safe distance away from the ring of fire and Zhuqiaomon. Another being landed beside him and Dukemon turned to find himself facing a surprising face.

The face of Justimon.

"What do you know, Guilmon? Looks like Ryo managed to do it too," Takato commented.

"I sure did," Ryo's voice came in reply, though Justimon remained silent.

Dukemon nodded to Justimon, who returned the nod. Then they both turned to face the Sovereign.

"Zhuqiaomon!" Dukemon called out in a voice that was the fusion of Takato and Guilmon's most mature voices that had blended perfectly together, making sound completely different from their individual voices. This caused the voice to attain a tone that neither he nor Guilmon could ever attain by themselves. "We want to ask you one more time, can you please tell us where we can find our friends?"

The said Sovereign snorted. "Find yourselves another Sovereign to ask!" The phoenix raged. "I have nothing to tell! Now leave me!!"

"Then at least tell us where Azulongmon is!" Justimon said with the roughness of Cyberdramon's voice and Ryo's confident one fused together, making him sound as hoarse as a commander who had shouted too much.

"You already have your answer. I have nothing left to say! Nothing but this, Crimson Blaze!!!" Zhuqiaomon opened his beck to release a stream of flame at the two Megas.

But Dukemon was prepared, jumping aside at the last instant while simultaneously brandishing his Gram lance in preparation for his counter attack. Meanwhile, on the other side of the stream of fire, Justimon was doing the same thing.

"Royal Saber!!" Dukemon levelled his Gram lance at Zhuqiaomon and let loose a spear of energy at the phoenix.

"Blitz Arm!!" Justimon did the same, levelling his mechanical arm at Zhuqiaomon and releasing missiles of energy.

Zhuqiaomon let out a cry of anger as he ascended to avoid the attacks. However, he met with DRAGOON above him, diving toward him at an incredible speed, unleashing beams of light at Zhuqiaomon and charging his main attack at the same time.

"Yuggoth Blaster!!"

The deleting beam shot toward the giant Sovereign, but the latter leaned back with speed that belittled his size and allowed the laser to shoot pass in front of him, missing completely. DRAGOON was going too fast to pull up in time when Zhuqiaomon swung his claws at the Zero Arms and effectively knocked him aside like a fly. The Sovereign then unleashed another attack.

"Blazing Helix!!"

Four spheres of flaming infernos appeared at the tips of each of his wings. However, instead of fusing together to form on powerful attack, Zhuqiaomon spread his wings and sent the spheres hurling in four different directions. One toward himself, Dukemon; another toward Justimon; a third toward the downed DRAGOON; and the last toward Gargomon and Kyuubimon.

Dukemon reacted by instinct, rushing toward the nearest of the victims, Gargomon and Kyuubimon. Justimon did the same, not caring for his own fate and rushing to protect the downed DRAGOON. The moment the Megas reached their destinations, all four snakes of flame changed course and headed toward the place where Impmon, Lopmon and Calumon were...

...And in turn, where the defenceless and dumbstruck Henry and Rika stood.

Takato screamed their names.