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● The Keeper of Worlds: Called it!
The Digital World, Lady Ophanimon's castle library
When Suzie woke up, it was to wholly unfamiliar surroundings. Around her were four bookshelves, each leaned against a wall, all reaching higher up than she could see, and loaded to the brim with books of various sizes and colors.
To her north, south, east and west, there were wide gaps in the walls, leading to nearly-identical rooms to the one she was already in. Was the entire floor arranged in that grid-like pattern?
Suddenly, she noticed Ophanimon, Cherubimon and Seraphimon floating above her, while the Legendary Warriors, and Cody, of all people, stood around her. Leaning against a bookshelf were two women, both around seventeen, accompanied by a Biyomon and a small purple dinosaur with a hammer-shaped tail.
Against another bookshelf were, to her surprise, Keenan Crier and Falcomon.
The brunette of the pair had bright green eyes, and wore a closed red jacket and black jeans. When she noticed Suzie, she gave a wide grin, and a v-sign.
The blonde of the pair had dark-violet eyes, and wore a pink tube-top and a soft-blue skirt. When noticing Suzie, she gave a soft smile.
"So this is the boss as a kid?" The brunette asked to the blonde, who gave a small nod in confirmation. "Doesn't seem like much, does she?"
Suzie didn't understand what the brunette was referring to, or why she had called her 'boss', but she ignored it, having more important matters to attend to. "So, uh, where's Lopmon?"
"I'm right here, Suzie," She heard the soft voice of the rabbit behind her.
"She's the one you brought here, to save the Digital World?" Koji asked, mildly skeptical. "A complete stranger, who just happens to have a Lopmon as a pet?"
"Why do you even need us?" Cody wondered. "Can't the five of you just turn into Susanoomon and take care of it?"
Cherubimon shared a soft grin with his compatriots, amused at their mild display of insight.
"Wise of you to ask," Ophanimon smiled warmly, before her smile faded. "The enemy the Digital World faces derives its power from the unique bond between a human and a Digimon. That is something which none of you Legendary Warriors can demonstrate or match, mighty though you be."
"Then, why don't the three of you just partner with us?" Takuya suggested, not entirely satisfied by her answer. Weren't their Spirits as good as a partner Digimon?
As if to emphasize his point, the spectral form of Agunimon, the Human Spirit of Flame, appeared behind him.
"Alas, that venue is not available, Takuya Kanbara," Cherubimon responded, mildly peeved at the notion. "Though we would be honored, our responsibilities to the Digital World makes that impossible."
"Then why we wait?" Keenan exclaimed. "We go fight now!"
Both women and the Legendary Warriors eyed him curiously, wondering why the strange boy spoke in broken english when his partner spoke fluently.
"The grammatically-challenged kid has a point," Zoe spoke, and Keenan shot her an annoyed glare. "If this human and their Digimon is as powerful as you're saying, then why aren't we, or they, I guess, out there fighting?"
"... Because the enemy is not yet in this Digital World," Seraphimon revealed.
Everyone blinked at him, when what he had told them had sunk in completely. "How could the enemy be in another Digital World?" Zoe exclaimed.
"And what's the problem if he is?" Koji asked, earning him a slap from Zoe for his callous remark.
"The enemy has already invaded another Digital World, destroying it utterly, and they might yet come to our world, and destroy it as well. If they were to enter this Digital World, all would be lost," Ophanimon spoke. "We need the five of you to fight them in that ruined world, where there is nothing left to destroy."
"Can't we just leave them stuck in that world?" JP suggested. "How do you know that they can leave?"
"We do not," Cherubimon conceded. "However, we dare not take that chance!"
"An undefined mission against impossible odds, with the fate of all creation riding on the outcome?" Suzie asked tentatively, waiting for the Angels to respond. After a short pause, Ophanimon gave a brief nod. "We'll definitely do it!"
Keenan, Cody and their partners nodded in agreement with her statement. Suzie wasn't altogether sure what the brunette had meant by, 'Just like boss', though she surmised that they were people she had yet to meet, and their seeming respect for her stemmed from things she had yet to do.
"Just two more questions," Suzie said. The Angels eyed her intently, expecting her inquiries with bated breath. The library had turned deathly still, eagerly awaiting Suzie to end the silence.
"1; why was everyone here, other than the Legendary Warriors, chosen for this battle?"
"An excellent question," Ophanimon smiled at her, at Cherubimon, at Seraphimon, and at everyone else present. "Cody Hida and Armadillomon were chosen from their ability to Bio-Merge together."
Suzie supposed that Ophanimon's stated reason was a good enough answer. That she hadn't called Henry, Rika, Takato or Ryo merely added to Suzie's nagging suspicion.
Oblivious to Suzie's misgivings about it all, Ophanimon continued. "You, Suzie Wong, was chosen not only because your partner has tapped into both the powers of the divine and the demonic, but also because you yourself have the background, the mindset, and above all, the somewhat-distanced determination to face this enemy."
Another reasonable answer, Suzie supposed, while Lopmon cringed at being reminded of Digivolving into Cherubimon Vice Mode.
"Keenan Crier were chosen because of his unique perspective on the Digital World and the human world, and because Falcomon has access to the fabled Burst Mode." Ophanimon spoke.
"And we came here," The blonde interjected. "Because Suzie Wong has saved our lives countless times in the past, and we wish to repay her for it all."
"Protecting her past to ensure her future!" The brunette grinned.
Suzie scratched the back of her head in mild embarrassment; was she really going to do that? Then again, she supposed, Rika would. "Just one more question..."
"We will answer, as best we can," Cherubimon's voice resounded through the area.
"2; who is it we're being sent to fight?" Suzie asked sharply. Through-out the entire conversation, the Angels had been vague, referring to whoever or whatever it was as 'them' or 'the enemy', which served to narrow the proverbial list of suspects down to only a few.
Ophanimon shared a nervous look with Cherubimon and Seraphimon, as none of them had wanted that question, though they had expected it.
"The Digimon you are being sent to fight, is perhaps not a Digimon at all," Ophanimon replied after a small pause, the reactions she got ranging from shock to disbelief to skepticism.
"And as for its Tamer, I scarcely believe he can still be called a human," Seraphimon continued.
"Once, however, his name was Takato Matsuki," Cherubimon finished gravely.
Oh yeah, like nobody saw that coming. It was plainly obvious where this was leading.
Well, regardless, please leave a review.
Well, Guest-Reviewer, you got your wish.