Chapter Twenty: Celestial Palace Part 2
Magnamon stepped into the courtyard and stood before the still somewhat sleepy group of human children and their Digimon partners. His golden armor shimmered in the morning sun as he stood proudly before them. He took his place at the center of the courtyard and watched as each of them stood at attention, though he noted that the one called Xander required some prodding to get into position. Each of them studied him, his humanoid body was an oddly vivid shade of blue but on close inspection had scales that gave his skin a dragon-like appearance. The golden armor over top of his body bore a strange insignia that shimmered in the sunlight even brighter than the armor itself.
He stared back at them, their tired faces, their young faces. The rest and recreation they'd received the day before had helped to some extent them but several of them still bore bruises and wounds in the process of healing up. Yet despite the fatigue each of them wore on their faces they all stood straight and ready. Magnamon bowed to the children.
"You may think it silly or formal or even unwarranted," Magnamon spoke as he bowed. There was strength and authority in his voice and yet a kindness lingered there as well, "But you are all more powerful than you know. You represent an amazing legacy of human beings helping Digital Monsters when we are in our time of need. I am honored to train you!"
"Rise sir Magnamon," Xander quipped, "And getteth oneth with this trainingeth session-eth."
"Not exactly Shakespeare," Solara noted with a laugh.
"Very well, we will commence the first lesson," Magnamon directed with a gesture of his dragon-like hand, "If you will stand before your Digimon and cause them to evolve."
Soon enough the massive courtyard of the Celestial Castle seemed a bit smaller as Salbogmon, Felehaomon and Echodyrasmon appeared. A second flash of light and Lobomon and Agunimon were present as well. Despite Thompson still being missing Adlimon stood bravely beside all of them not about to let an opportunity to learn something about fighting pass him by.
Magnamon began to lead them in a series of attacking motions, simple easy to do strikes repeated over and over so that he could strengthen their sense of discipline.
"Make a strike routine and eventually you will do it on instinct," Magnamon explained as he led them.
Inside the Palace Piddomon stood watching from the courtyard windows. Other than Seraphimon himself Magnamon was the most powerful Digimon under the direct authority of the Palace. While many Digimon did recognize the authority of the Three Angels the territories of Severa were independent of one another and were ruled by the Digimon themselves. It had been centuries, perhaps thousands of years, since the last true Digimon Emperor had sat on the throne in the Celestial Palace.
Piddomon turned to see Ophanimon enter the room and immediately he felt a jolt of anxiety deep within him as he bowed before the elegant angelic Digimon.
"You have served them well," she whispered gesturing for him to rise, "But you know it cannot last forever."
"I am afraid," Piddomon admitted, "All of these memories I thought were my own."
"I pray you do not think us too cruel for asking this of you," Ophanimon said in a truly apologetic tone, "Leomon and Sorcerymon had sent word across the sea that there were humans in the Digital World. We needed a soldier and mentor to guide them."
"I do not blame you one bit milady," Piddomon bowed again briefly, "I will be honored to help them this last time."
As Ophanimon left the room Piddomon felt another jolt of anxiety and fear. He looked out the window watching Magnamon lead the group in focusing their attacks all on one target. As the hours moved by the group did seem to develop better coordination. Even the humans were learning to focus their energy and inner fire on making their Digimon that much more fierce in battle. It was an awe-inspiring sight and a truly powerful thing to be a part of. It was worth making the coming sacrifice.
The sun had shifted up higher in the sky, taking on the bright burning glare of early afternoon. Thompson had drifted, flying along thousands of feet above the air in the form of a loosely connected collection of windblown snowflakes. Using the power had become taxing as the morning sun had risen despite the cool temperature of the altitude at which he flew. It was only a matter of time before he would have to set down and reform himself or else be melted by the late Autumn sun.
He'd tried his best to get some sense of direction but it was difficult since he had been unconscious for much of his transport from the Temple of Light to the mountaintop. Now it seemed almost impossible for him to find his way from that mountain to the Celestial Palace, a place he'd never been. He had to believe his friends had headed there without him and that he could arrive there before Skullsatamon and Beelzemon could.
Overnight most of the land beneath him had been snow-covered but just before the sunrise he'd seen a transition into a warmer region. Now as the afternoon hours began to move past he began to see far more vegetation, almost a jungle, and the air was quickly warming around him. Slowly his snowy form moved closer to the ground but as he did the air inevitably grew warmer. He tried to keep the transition smooth but soon enough he felt his physical body reappear and found himself plummeting toward a thick canopy of trees all connected by tangled vines and overgrowth.
As he fell he saw a Digimon flying in the distance and tried to cry out for help but the air rushing past him no doubt muffled his screams. He tried to summon enough focus to turn back into snow, but it was too warm, it was too late. He hit the first branch with an agonizing thud groping desperately for the nearest branch or vine solid enough to hold his weight. After several seconds of being pummeled and thwacked by branches and vines he managed to get his arms around a thick vine feeling his weight stretch the vegetation nearly to its breaking point before it finally caught him just fifteen feet from the forest floor below.
Thompson dropped down and landed on his feet but found his vision blurring. The impact and the first few seconds of tumbling through the tangled branches had taken a toll. He collapsed onto the soft soil taking a deep breath of humid jungle air before fading from consciousness.
A sound shocked him awake and he immediately sprung up and into a defensive posture that looked like something out of a Kung Fu movie. It was clearly several hours later now and the sunlight was already slipping. The air was cool now but still humid. A faint mist clung between the trees as he proceeded forward. The sound had clearly been farther away than he had first realized as he could now hear the resounding sound of battle being joined. The battle part was causing enough anxiety but it was the deep ground-penetrating thuds he was also hearing that made him truly afraid.
"Torchlight," he whispered to himself catching sight of a village up ahead. Many of the houses were built into the tree trunks with some actually being up in the trees. Shadows and figures darted about. He recognized one of the bird Digimon he'd seen earlier, he could make out the pink colored wings tipped with blue features and big inquisitive eyes. There was at least a dozen of them fending off a much quicker enemy that was darting in and out of sight swinging their clubs wildly, "Goblimon!"
Thompson steeled himself from the pain of his earlier fall and rushed into the fray avoiding the constant gnarled roots and twisted vines of the jungle floor and covering the distance to the village in only a few minutes. He thought to grab a torch but instead headed toward the well hoping his new ice powers might work if he had a ready source of water. The Goblimon were everywhere bonking heads and terrorizing the bird-like villagers. One of the villagers caught sight of Thompson and grabbed him by the arm as he hoisted up a bucket of water.
"Who the hell are you kid?" the Digimon asked, "You don't look like any Digimon I've ever seen."
"I'm a human, I'm a friend, there's no time to explain," Thompson complained tearing his arm away, he tossed the bucket of water at an onrushing Goblimon and caused the water droplets to become razor sharp sickles of water that dug into the Goblins skin sending him scurrying backward.
"You're not one of them?" the Digimon asked as if incredulous, "Are you sure?"
"Do I look like a goblin to you?" Thompson asked, "My name is Thompson."
"Biyomon," the Digimon introduced, "Duck!"
Thompson ducked feeling the whoosh of a Goblimon club soaring right over his head. He watched the Biyomon fly up into the air and launch a swirling green energy wave from his mouth that sent the Goblimon tumbling back onto its butt. Thompson was up in a flash getting a second bucket of water and looking to find a target as he formed the water into a ball of ice in his hands. He launched the first ball of ice at a Goblimon up above him that was terrorizing a pink little orb-like Digimon with a weird blossom on its head. To his surprise the ball of ice left his arm going far faster than he could ever have thrown normally smacking the attacking Digimon square in the temple and sending him careening over a railing.
Suddenly the chaos of the battle around him seemed to slow as the cause of those deep resounding thuds that he'd been feeling appeared over the treeline. The first shape he saw was of the giant tree, forty feet tall or perhaps more. Then the great bird appeared. With crimson wings and yellow talons the upright bird Digimon stood on equal footing with the massive walking tree. The two rushed at each other and sent the whole village shaking from the force of the impact. The crimson aerial warrior raised his wings and let out an attack.
"Wing Blade!" the powerful voice echoed out.
Thompson couldn't watch the attack though as a Goblimon tackled him to the ground and began to pummel him. He kicked the green creature off of him feeling that the bucket of water had spilled on him in the process of falling. He took a deep breath and used the power of the Spirit Shard to turn his soaked clothing into ice armor and attacked the Goblimon punching hard and knocking the club out of its hand. The creature tackled him again punching him hard in the face. Thompson's heart thumped in his ears and his life flashed before his eyes as the Goblimon scratched and bit and clawed and wrestled. There wasn't a thick enough layer of ice to truly protect him as he grapled with the savage creature before finally pinning it to the ground. Now Thompson was on top of the Goblin using the empty water bucket to hit the creature square in the jaw.
Once he was sure the creature was unconscious he stood up and looked back to the massive combatants both of whom were now partially obscured by the jungle around him. He could see that a fire had started, the jungle now alive with smoke rather than mist. A minute or two passed him as he stood catching his breath and soon enough the Goblimon were in full retreat. Thinking he should do something to stop the fire from eating the forest alive he grabbed a bucket of water and climbed the tallest tree in the area. He froze the water into snowflakes and waited for a strong breeze transforming himself into the snow and letting himself waft up into the air.
Sure enough the jungle below was alight with fire. He could see the massive tree Digimon retreating in the distance and the impressive Eagle-like Digimon was being cheered for by all the Biyomon in the village, at least those who were not already addressing the flames. Luckily for Thompson there were a few clouds low enough to the ground for him to fly up to and gather the moisture he needed. Despite the jungle night being quite warm he soon had it snowing down onto the flames. With the light precipitation helping douse the flames the Biyomon had everything under control soon enough and Thompson returned as quickly as he could to the jungle below.
He caught his breath and wondered if he should stay and help the Biyomon rebuild. He knew he had to get back to his friends and warn them, he couldn't go getting involved. He walked toward the village hoping they might at least point him in the right direction and only now realized how badly he was injured. Most of his wounds were small scrapes and bruises but the head injury he'd sustained back in the vault on the icy mountain had been reopened and was bleeding. His ribs still ached from the fall through the trees and the Goblimon had left one or two deep gashes as well. He stumbled forward but the moment he set foot in the village he was surrounded by angry Biyomon.
"A spy!" one cried, "Those foolish Goblimon think they can disguise themselves!"
"He's no Goblimon," another Biyomon corrected.
"Then what the heck is it?" Another asked as they closed in around him.
"He's a Thompmon," a familiar voice called and Thompson turned to see the Biyomon he had met earlier, "He helped our side during the fight."
"You sure he ain't a spy?"
"I saw him nearly bash a Goblimon skull in with a bucket," the familiar Biyomon chuckled, "He's not an enemy."
"He's not a Thompmon either," a deep voice rumbled and Thompson looked up to see the towering form of the guardian Digimon, "He's a human."
Ayden moved over to Solara as he joined the others at breakfast offering her a friendly smirk and grabbing himself a pastry. He didn't want to feel so distant with her and wished he could have just given in to his feelings. All of the dreams and memories that had come back into his mind in the past few days didn't leave much room for Solara in his heart. He was occupied with that thing that had brought him here to the Digital World and as much as he was still skeptical there was a connection between the Master of the forces of evil and the reason he'd come here in the first place that possibility remained.
"I'm sorry," Solara said almost simultaneously with Ayden.
"What are you sorry for?" Ayden asked, "I'm the one who's been hiding from everyone."
"I know I've come on strong," Solara said, "I was afraid I might scare you off."
"We've both been sending kinda mixed signals I guess," Ayden agreed, "Don't get me wrong, you're amazing, strong, sexy... It's just before I came here to the Digital World I was in a very serious relationship... I never really broke it off. I didn't even really think of her until recently..."
"You think she might be waiting for you when you get back?" Solara hypothesized, "I guess we'll just have to be friends for now?"
"I guess," Ayden winked and smiled trying to lighten the mood a bit.
While they were training out in the courtyard Ayden couldn't help but think about whether he was making the right choice or whether he should tell Solara the whole truth. Ophanimon had cautioned him, telling him with her authoritative voice to admit to his friends the whole story just on the off chance that he was right. He was afraid that if he didn't speak his heart on the subject Ophanimon might.
He found himself struggling to focus knowing he was keeping secrets from them. As he and Lobomon attempted to spar with Magnamon he found himself distracted and constantly missing attacks, or being broadsided by the miraculously fast gilded dragon warrior. He had spent three months here alone in the Digital World, three months that had nearly erased any chance of seeing her again from his mind.
Thompson took a deep breath feeling the pain from his bruised ribs course through him. The Biyomon had helped him, bandaging his scrapes and abrasions and applying a numbing balm to his ribs that helped dull the pain. He knew it was already afternoon and that he should be leaving but he'd spent much of the morning helping the Biyomon in their effort to rebuild and sure up their defenses in case the Goblimon tried to attack again. He felt it was the least he could do to repay the kindness of their protector, Garudamon.
The massive bird stood on a distant hilltop perched in a tree that he was nearly larger than. Thompson headed in that direction, a hike that took his little feet nearly an hour. Soon he stood beside the massive talons of the great bird and gawked up at the crimson features and armor painted with strange designs and pictographs.
"What brings you here human?" the great bird growled.
"We need to talk."
Thompson shook with fear despite the fact that Garudamon was clearly not his enemy. The great bird lowered its hand and let him crawl into his palm lifting Thompson into the air to stand before him. Thompson started by explaining who he was and that he was part of a team that had come to the Digital World and begun to fight for the safety and peace of innocent Digimon everywhere. He spoke of the Ice Spirits he'd found, that strange shard he'd absorbed, and the powers he'd used in the fight and to put out the fire.
"And yet you don't seem to trust me," Thompson noted, "Why?"
"I was not always the towering guardian of this jungle, six months ago I was changed. I was taken from this village by a strange wizard Digimon and experimented upon. They used a strange relic to change me, one that looks much like the device you carry with you. I knew then that humans had entered the world. I broke free and returned here to fight to defend my people."
"My friends and I have only been here a month, and Ayden has only been here for three months."
"All I know is that a Digimon called Mistymon serves the owner of one of those relics and that is how the evil Digimon have grown so powerful."
"The Master is a human?"
Thompson let the idea sink in even as Garudamon admitted he didn't know for sure.
"I need to get to the Celestial Palace," Thompson said.
"It is North of here quite a ways," Garudamon told him, "On foot it will take you more than week."
"There is going to be an attack there," Thompson revealed and Garudamon's eyes went wide, "I know you are needed here but I cannot get there in time to warn them without your help. Please, consider it."
"Cherrymon has been sent scurrying back to his side of the jungle," Garudamon reasoned, "If I fly you it will take much less time."
"Are you sure the village will be alright without you?"
"In these crazy times I never feel sure of anything," Garudamon growled, "But the Three Angels must be warned of the attack! Hold on human child!"
Garudamon lifted his wings and leaped into the air taking flight. The sound of those massive wings flapping was absolutely deafening as Thompson sat clutched in the bird's talons holding on for dear life. The ground was soon rushing past beneath them at such a blurring rate he could hardly believe. He was glad he would soon see his friends again and he was equally glad that Beelzemon and Skullsatamon's element of surprise would be thrwarted. Rather the evil Digimon would be faced with a fighting force more than ready to stand against them, or so he hoped.
Piddomon landed in the courtyard with two Pegasusmon landing on either side of him whinnying. A day and night of search had turned up no information about Thompson or his demonic captor. The Bakemon cult had scattered back to their normal haunts after the death of Soulmon and for the most part even the Jakimon attacks had stopped. In fact in nearly every direction he'd explored and every village he'd stopped at life was beginning to return to normal and a general sigh of relief was being breathed by many innocent Digimon just trying to live their lives out there.
"Hey Piddomon!" Anselm called racing the others across the courtyard to greet the angel, "What's the word?"
"It's quiet beyond the Castle walls," Piddomon said, "Too quiet if you ask me."
"Maybe we've sent the bad guys scurrying back to their holes," Haomon added throwing a few pretend punches at the air in front of him.
"We lost pretty badly against Skullsatamon," Vera reminded.
"And lost one of our own," Adlimon added.
"Exactly," Piddomon nodded, "They should be crawling all over the countryside, or demanding a ransom for your friend or making a move of some kind. Whatever they are doing they are doing it quietly."
"You don't think they would hurt Thompson do you?" Patamon asked innocently.
"I think they need him alive," Piddomon lamented, "And if they find a way to use the Digivice without him they will no longer need him."
"I'm sure Tom has already escaped," Solara said trying to inject some hope and levity, "He's probably on his way here right now."
"Perhaps," Piddomon sighed, "Now, what are all of you even doing awake at this hour. Sunrise is only a few hours away and Magnamon will be quite upset if you miss his lessons!"
"We're not kids you know," Haomon retorted, then he looked at Anselm, "Well some of us aren't."
"Hey!" Anselm chided ruffling the feline's static laced fur.
"Goodnight friends," Piddomon said softly as they walked away. He could remember his childhood, he could remember his training standing before Angemon his brother and yet they carried with them an emptiness he could not wish away. With a heavy soul-heaving sigh he looked up at the stars as one of the angels entered the courtyard. Seraphimon's blue armor glistened with starlight, his ten wings were tucked behind him but Piddomon did not return the Digimon's gaze and did not even turn around.
"Is it time?"
"Not yet," Seraphimon told him. Piddomon turned to the elusive Mega Digimon surprised to see that he had come out of the Palace instead of Ophanimon, "You no doubt feel like an imposter, a shell of the real thing."
"I feel like the real thing and that is the problem," Piddomon shook his head, "All these memories."
"Yet you feel the Spirit within you don't you?" Seraphimon inquired, "You are truly a Guardian of the Wind, no one can take that from you."
"Will a part of me still be alive?"
"Always," Seraphimon assured him, "But it does not dull the fear one bit does it?"
Piddomon didn't answer.
"Tomorrow," Seraphimon told him, "Ophanimon, Cherubimon and I will perform the ritual tomorrow."
Piddomon sensed Seraphimon's presence departing and looked back up at the stars.