Chapter 12 – The City of Ghosts

Ophanimon and Kari were spat out from a cracked marble wall onto a wide stone street lined with opalescent cobbles and shrouded in a thick white fog. Kari struggled beneath the weight Ophanimon, who despite her status as a Digimon was at this moment for all intents and purposes an injured adult woman wrapped in heavy metal armour, and Kari felt that weight keenly. Though Kari had been certain up to this point that this was simply her partner Gatomon who had somehow attained mega-level, a seed of doubt still existed in her mind. There was something about this Digimon that was unfamiliar in a way Kari couldn't quite place, and as she helped this injured angel prop herself against a nearby marble wall, the feeling only intensified with every second that Kari stared at Ophanimon's winded and gasping face. "I'm sorry, but I need to ask- who are you?". The words hung between them on this silent street, and as Ophanimon steadied herself she began to formulate a reply. "I'm not going to lie to you Kari. I'm not entirely your partner Gatomon. I am using her body as a host for my data. I should say though- this is something she has consented to, and she still has complete autonomy. We're simply sharing this form."

With this, Kari took a step back from Ophanimon, eyeing the angel sceptically. "Why would Gatomon agree to that?". Ophanimon shrugged in a manner that seemed entirely unlike any version of her partner she knew, and replied "I promised her greater power, and the chance to use that power to rescue you. She agreed almost instantly. Now come, we may not be safe here." Using the wall for support, Ophanimon began to struggle down the street, gripping her side and wincing with every step forward. Kari remained where she was. Turning back, the exalted angel implored her "Please Kari, I understand this must seem odd, but I really am here to help." Kari looked around the misty streets. For the first time she could discern just how wide the street was, seeing it was a promenade at least seventy meters wide. At the far side she could just about make out the hazy shapes of tall statues lining the road, and far above them- the pointed and conical shapes of tall towers reaching off into the distance. "Where are we?" Kari asked finally, turning back to Ophanimon.

With a look that seemed to recognise she would gain Kari's acquiescence sooner with explanation than pleading, Ophanimon sighed and looked down at the child. "This is the City of ROM. It was my home before the rebellion…the home of all angelic Digimon. From here we oversaw all matters of The Digital World. It was the centre of our world." Kari stepped lightly over the vibrant cobbles while looking up the street. Far at the end of the promenade she could now make out a gigantic ornate archway. Turning back to Ophanimon, she asked "How come I've never seen this part of The Digital World before?". A sadness overtook the angel, and as she walked forward with Kari down the street she reflected silently for a moment before replying "ROM is no longer accessible from your Digital World. You see it was…corrupted…during the war, and so like many other sections of the old world it was discarded.". A thought occurred to Kari that she could not suppress. "Why did you bring us here?" she asked suddenly. "I did not mean to," replied Ophanimon, "I simply wanted to get us to safety, and this is where my mind took us. I will need to get my strength back before I can open another gateway." Passing underneath the archway, Kari was amazed by the beautiful carvings she beheld on the inside of the arch. Stopping suddenly, she pointed to two figures with interlinked arms standing in the centre of a great host of golden angels "Is that you?"

Indeed, the carving did strongly resemble Ophanimon linking arms with another angel covered in blue and gold armour. "Yes. Seraphimon and I leading the heavenly host…" said Ophanimon with a hint of melancholy penetrating her otherwise stoic tone. Passing out the other side, the angel again was forced to stop and get her breath. "Are you sure you're ok?" asked Kari, concerned as she looked up at half-masked face of the angel, which was now dripping with beads of sweat as she gripped her side where Barbamon's attack had struck her. "I j-just need a m-moment to…to…" with that Ophanimon fell forward, lying prone on the underneath the shadow of the grand archway. Kari rushed forward to her side, but already Ophanimon was turning on her side and reaching out to her. "I'm sorry Kari, I'm not gonna be able to take care of you. Listen to me- you need to make it to the Azure Citadel. Just follow all the straight roads heading towards the centre of the city in the direction we've been going and eventually you'll make it. It will be safe there. A-and remember…a-avoid the reapers…" with that Ophanimon was overtaken by a flash of yellow light and in a moment was nothing more than the unconscious Salamon with two golden rings at her side.

Scooping up Salamon and the two Digibands, Kari placed the strange rings in her pockets and tucked her unconscious partner tightly between her arms. Ophanimon's last words to her had sent a shiver down her spine, what had she meant by "the reapers?". She resolved not to stay around here long enough to find out. Pressing on from beneath the shadow of the archway, Kari soon found herself crossing a large bridge over a stagnant river. The dead calm of the water disturbed her, but that was not the only thing that disturbed her. While Ophanimon had been here to talk to she hadn't noticed how quiet ROM was, but now that she was on her own, she became aware of the terrible all-consuming quiet of the dead city surrounding her. From a million high windows and empty street after empty street, Kari felt a slowly increasing dread, and she could not tell if it was born from being so alone, or the fear that she may not actually be alone.

Eventually Kari began to notice that the mist which had seemingly been engulfing the city upon their arrival had started to clear, and as she walked down streets and laneways, she finally got a clear sense of the sheer scale and grandeur of ROM. Tall topless towers of intricate brickwork reached high into the sky in every direction, and amid them were a great many ornate domed buildings of gold and silver. Tall statues of masked and helmeted angels stood proudly on many streets, and though there was an eeriness to see such a grand place so devoid of life, Kari could not deny that it was spectacular. All the same, signs of time's passage and of conflict were still present. Occasionally Kari would find a weapon embedded in a wall, or statues collapsed with its limbs and wings strewn across the street. It was as she stepped over the largest of one of these felled statues that she saw a bright blue structure standing tall in the distance. It seemed to be formed of a great dome pierced by taller towers flecked with blue gemstones and supported below by a great many alabaster pillars all leading towards an elaborate golden door. Kari guessed that must be The Azure Citadel Ophanimon had talked about.

Running down the wide adorned street towards the citadel, Kari felt something she could not put her finger on. An uneasy awareness. She was being watched. From the corner of her eye, she perceived the smallest movement. Spinning around, she felt an ungodly fear at what she saw. What must have been less than fifty feet from her, there stood what looked like a person wearing a red cloak and some sort of helmet. The mask was black and gold and came to two rounded flat points above their head, while covering their face with an image that resembled a single inhuman staring eye. The red cloak covered their body entirely and gave no impression of the entity beneath. Kari's mouth was dry. She wanted to cry out. To run. But her legs were made of stone. Looking at her, that unsettling head tiled slightly in a manner that reminded her of animal inspecting something unfamiliar. Then it began to move. Not walk though, for the first time Kari could tell that this thing had no legs. Instead, it simply glided over the ground, it's red cloak flitting over the surface in a manner even more unnerving. It was within fifteen feet of Kari when the front of its cloak split open and four sickle-shaped appendages burst out. Kari screamed and turned on her heels. Sprinting down the street, she suddenly became aware as she passed every laneway and side street that more and more of these creatures were beginning to appear. She did not dare look back and see if she was still being pursued by the original creature, instead letting the thought of it spur her on to run even faster until she was within a few feet of the great golden door.

Slamming against it with all her weight, she bounced off. Dread began to overwhelm as she realised the door would not open. Was it barred? No, it couldn't be. Turning back, a dozen or so reapers were advancing down the street towards her, bearing their horrible sharp appendages from beneath their cloaked bodies. Kari began to slam her fist against the door, but it would not budge. Putting Salamon down for a second, she ran back and forth in front of the door, looking for any clue to it's opening. She could now hear the flutter of the reapers cloaks on the wind as they approached. It was as she approached the centre of the door again that a panicked glance upwards yielded progress. A space in the centre of the door. Ring-shaped. With terrible urgency Kari jammed a sweaty hand into her pocket and pulled out one of The Digibands. This had to work. Leaping high she tried to press the ring into the slot. It glanced off the edge. She wasn't tall enough. On her tiptoes, Kari began to try and place the ring in more slowly. She could hear them coming. Her fingers guided the ring the last few inches over the lip of the slot. They were seconds away. Finally, the ring slotted into the door. Kari turned and involuntarily let out another scream as the reapers descended on her. In that final moment, the door let out a bubble of white energy which repelled the reapers, sending them scattering off in every direction. Falling back against the door, Kari felt it give way beneath her weight, and suddenly she was lying in the foyer of The Azure Citadel.

_ XX _ XX _ XX _

Gabumon was missing the tour bus. The tour bus had video games, and air-conditioning, and a nice driver who knew all the best rest-stop restaurants. The convoy Gabumon and his partner Matt found themselves leading was nothing like the comfort of the tour bus. They walked day and night at the head of a great column of Digimon. Since they had been formally gifted the power of the Cipher of the Ancients by the Digimon Sovereign, their life had changed immeasurably overnight. That first transformation had for better or worse been a beacon that had been seen all throughout their Digital World, and as they travelled across the land on their way to their destination that fact became more and more apparent. At first it had only been The Digidestined and their partners, The Sovereigns and their Devas, but that changed very soon. On the first morning they were joined by a massive herd of Monochromon, and in the afternoon two Kokatorimon and a Parrotmon joined alongside a few Tuskmon and Brachiomon. Followed in the evening by a Kuwagamon and to Mimi's delight- a huge gaggle of Gekomon who remembered her and fussed over her endlessly, something she only lightly resisted. Over the next four days many other Digimon joined them. Groups of Gazimon and Elecmon as well as a great many Gotsumon. A Frigimon and and Mojimon came next, and after that there were some truly impressive heavy-hitters who joined the herd, such as Andromon, a SuperStarmon and a truly noble Hippogriffomon who quickly became the de-facto representative of the Digimon. Now on the sixth day of their march more joined them every hour, and at this pointed Matt guessed that there must be thousands of Digimon marching behind him.

At first the Sovereigns had remained tight-lipped as to their destination, but when the host became large enough, they shared with The Digidestined where they were going and why. "We are approaching our destination. A place called Codec Ruins." Announced Baihumon at they made camp that evening. "Really, why are we going there?" asked Joe as he unrolled his bed roll. "Long ago it was foretold by our great master Fanglongmon that a great battle which would decide the fate of The Digital World would unfold there," replied Azulongmon from the sky, "It was our charge to find worthy leaders and bring them there. Now we must endow them with the power to win this war."

At this statement, all five Digidestined turned from their evening activities and looked at the Sovereign. Cody was the first to ask the question which hung in the air. "What exactly do you mean sir?" he asked with that ever-present politeness. Zhuqiaomon descended from the clouds and tucked his wings in as he landed softly on the ground next to Ebonwumon, before replying to the boy. "You and your Digimon share a great connection young one, never doubt that. But with the divine power we can give them, that connection can be utilized to its fullest extent. If your Digimon agree, we will gift them the power of Warp Digivolution." Yolei's eyes went starry at this "You mean Hawkmon could become a mega-level?!". With a chuckle, Azulongmon nodded his great head, saying "Indeed, if he so wishes it."

Kneeling next to Palmon, Mimi touched her friend on the head and asked "So, what do you think Palmon, are you up for it?". The words had barely escaped her lips before Palmon raised her arms enthusiastically and said "Are you kidding, of course I am! I can't wait for Agumon to see this." Cody looked down at Armadillomon questioningly, who said "Hey pal, it couldn't hurt!". Finally, Joe gathered Gomamon up into his arms who turned his head to face his friend and said "Get ready to be impressed by me in a whole new way Joe!"

"Approach us- and we will each empower you with some of the Digi-core from our bodies," announced Baihumon. With that the four Digimon each walked away from their partners and towards the Sovereigns. Hawkmon stood in front of Zhuqaiomon, Armadillomon in front of Ebonwumon, Palmon with Azulongmon, and Gomamon with Baihumon. Standing next to Mimi, Joe noticed her worried expression and offered her his hand, which she accepted warmly. Seeing this, Cody did the same for Yolei. One by one, The Sovereign's bodies began to glow their respective colours, slowly forming into balls of energy which descended down from the Harmonious Ones and hung in the air in front of the four rookie Digimon. A moment of silence passed, and then the four balls of energy shot forward and resonated with the four Digimon, whose bodies shone with a blinding light outlining their forms. Each of the children stiffened as they felt the same energy course through them. From the light, their partners voices called out:

"PALMON- WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…ROSEMON!"

"GOMAMON- WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…VIKEMON!"

"ARMADILLOMON- WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…CANNONDRAMON!"

"HAWKMON- WARP DIGIVOLVE TO…VALKYRIMON!"

The light dissipated, and all assembled were stunned at the truly awesome sight before them. Two mega-levels stood statuesque flanked by two even larger mega-levels. Rosemon was almost intimidatingly beautiful, a picture of feminine grace and poise wrapped in deep red petal and razor-sharp thorns. Looking down at Mimi, that grace was only slightly dissipated by the way she struck a pose and said "Hey Mimi, get a load of me!" an infectious smile plastered across her pretty face. Looking down at Joe with massive blue eyes framed by a white beard and an impressive set of horns, the huge and intimidating armoured bulk of Vikemon made Zudomon look positively tiny by comparison. With a low chortle, Vikemon said "So, are we impressed?". Joe laughed in response and hugged one of his pals' legs.

Yolei approached Valkryimon suspiciously. "Hawkmon, is that really you?". With a flourish of his armoured and winged arm, Valkryimon bowed to his partner with a smile on his face, dipping his helmeted head low and saying "Indeed, and I am as always at your service my dear!". Yolei grunted with slight dissatisfaction "I wish your mega form had been a big bird, I like birds more than guys…" At this Valkryimon double-took in shock and said "You wound me Yolei…". With a laugh, Yolei jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck in a hug, saying "It's ok, I'll get used to it!". Finally, Cody walked up to Cannondramon, who bent his great helmeted head down and met his friends eye. " Are you sure you digivolved Armadillomon, you look the same to me!" Cody said jokingly. "Oh I'm the same, just with a little more firepower" said Cannondramon with a laugh. As if to emphasise this Cannondramon raised his neck and long legs, brandishing his dual cannons on his back. From the side, Matt marvelled at his friends' new forms. Tomorrow, they would arrive at The Codec Ruins and discover what destiny had in store for them.

_ XX _ XX _ XX _

Ken and Davis were standing on a street corner with a boy Ken knew very well indeed, though when they had first seen each other in The Hypnos Headquarters Ken had doubted his eyes. Ryo Akiyama looked exactly as Ken remembered him from all those years ago when they had fought Millenniummon together, albeit with a little more grit and experience added to his usual friendly demeanour. When they had first been reunited Ken had puzzled at how Ryo had seemingly barely aged, but the boy simply shrugged and said "Time travel…" in a typically-Ryo fashion. How someone could be so remarkably unphased by living such a weird existence was beyond Ken, but that was something he had always liked about his friend. Of course, Davis and Ryo struck up a bond instantly, something Ken found gratifying if a little predictable.

The plan the group had devised to save Shinjuku from the remains of Barbamon's forces was already in full swing, though you would not have guessed it based on how the three kids and their partners were standing nonchalantly on this street corner swapping stories and laughing. Within sight of them, Jeri Katou was holding Calumon as they sat on a burnt-out car across from TK and Patamon. The idea was that Calumon would activate his abilities and allow Patamon to reach Mega-level, but so far nothing had happened, and unfortunately- they were running out of time. From four different directions across the city- Rapidmon, Taomon, Metalgreymon and MegaKabuterimon were luring in as many Digimon as they could with quick hit and run attacks. High in the sky above them, Garudamon and Sora were coordinating everyone's efforts. Soon enough the intersection they found themselves in would be awash with Digimon, so they better have a portal ready to go. Walking away from Davis and Ryo, Ken ambled over to TK and Jeri with Wormmon sitting on his shoulder. "How's it going guys?" Wormmon asked brightly as they approached. Immediately Ken could see by TK and Jeri's faces that things weren't developing as they would have liked. Calumon had a worried expression as he closed his eyes in concentration, slowly his ears began to shrink in disappointment. "I don't think I can make myself do it…I'm sorry Jeri…" he said finally with a sigh. "It's ok Calumon, you tried your best!" Jeri replied encouragingly. Vaguely in the distance Ken could hear a steady rumbling punctuated by the occasional explosion. They were getting closer.

At this point TK rose in anger. "What do you mean its ok, we need him to do this or we're in trouble" he barely raised his voice, but all the same his harsh tone made Jeri shrink into herself, and almost instantly TK softened, realising his mistake. "I'm really sorry Jeri, I shouldn't have taken my frustration out on you, please forgive me." He said formally, bowing his head slightly. With this Jeri blushed, but accepted TK's apology. TK was right though, Ken thought. Without Calumon's ability to unlock Digivolution they were in trouble. It was as this thought occurred to him that Metalgreymon came bursting through the glass foyer of a building down the street, his giant armoured body skidding along the asphalt and colliding with a building across the street. Ken watched in shock as Tai ran out of the wreckage after his partner, followed quickly by the one who had obviously sent the ultimate-level Digimon flying. His body shining in pure silvery Chrome Digizoid- a MetalEtemon came swinging down from the rafters of the building after Tai. The muscular metal chimp flexed his biceps and shouted at Metalgreymon "How'd ya like that ya overgrown iguana!". Suddenly he turned back into the dark of the building and gestured at someone inside. "Let's get him!".

From behind him came a laugh that though Ken did not recognise it, Tai knew it only too well. Shrill, childish, and inhuman. Advancing until he was standing beside MetalEtemon, Puppetmon brandished his hammer with menacing glee. Suddenly Ken became aware that Davis was beside him. "Ryo said we should be the last line of defence. I didn't feel like arguing. Puppets kind of freak me out to be honest.". Ahead of them, Ryo and Cyberdramon were running down the street towards their enemies. As he raised his Digivice to the sky, Tai did the same.

"BIOMERGE DIGIVOLUTION: CYBERDRAMON BIOMERGE TO….JUSTIMON!"

"METALGREYMON DIGIVOLVE TO…WARGREYMON!"

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That's all for Chapter 12, I hope you enjoyed and if you did I hope you'll consider leaving a review. Who's story do you most want to hear more from next chapter?

Thanks for reading!