Chapter 6 - I Know You
The Digidestined stared up with wonder at the armoured angelic form of Ophanimon. The mega level digimon had taken Gatomon's place almost instantly, as soon as the champion level cat digimon had interacted with Takato's Digibands. For a moment silence reigned, and then the angel's head shifted, looking down at her friends. Descending slowly to ground-level, she spoke.
"My apologies, that was…unexpected…" her voice was beautiful, light and clear, filled with wisdom and grace. Upon hearing it, all in her presence seemed soothed. But it was Tai who spoke next. "Gatomon, is that really you?", he said with some uncertainty. "Yes…" said Ophanimon, though her voice betrayed some uncertainty. "…And yet no…" she said with slight trepidation. "I am the Digimon you have known, but those rings contained additional data which seems to have bonded to me and transformed me into this…" she looked down as her own hands, new to her. "I am more than I was before…with new knowledge, new awareness."
It was at this point that Izzy raised his Digivice. Instantaneously an image of Ophanimon appeared on its display. And he began to read. "Ophanimon- an exalted celestial digimon- the final form of Angewomon- her Eden's Javelin and Sefirot Crystal attacks are unstoppable…Wow, prodigious!". As the assembled Digidestined marvelled at their new ally, it was Davis who turned to Takato and asked the obvious. "So, what gives new kid, how come your digi-whatever's made Gatomon digivolve?"
"I really have no idea, we were told they were for travelling between dimensions, not this!" said Takato, utterly puzzled. As he spoke, Ophanimon focused in on Takato among the mass of children surrounding her. "Takato Matsuki," she said with an assurance that made a chill run down Takato's spine. "Ehm…yes ma'am?" asked Takato in response. "Though unknowingly, you have been of great use in giving me physical form, I thank you.". Ophanimon bowed her head to Takato and Guilmon. "Oh, uh- don't mention it…" said Takato, embarrassed and not a small amount confused. Turning back to the group, she addressed them all. "Digidestined, though I am your friend, I am also now so much more- I have been sent here for the purpose of acting as your guide in the conflict to come."
Raising her right hand, she summoned a great gleaming double-sided lance into being. The exalted angel then turned and with two almighty thrusts, Ophanimon seemed to poke holes into the fabric of reality itself. These two pinpricks of light hung in thin air and began to slowly expand, as if drawing in light, oxygen, matter, and gravity itself into the apertures in reality that they contained. Soon they were two doorways of pure white light standing at about 6 feet each, present in the street as real and tangible as anything else. "You must divide into two groups. One of you will come with me to Takato's digital world, where we will rescue Kari. The other group will return to your digital world, where a great meeting and purpose awaits you."
All assembled looked at the glowing gates, pulsing with unfamiliar energy. In the moment of silence, an echo of fear passed silently between them. Of course, it was Tai who stepped forward first. Although all the assembled kids in that moment admired the boy and his everlasting courage, only one person's heart truly skipped a beat at the image of Tai standing in front of the gate. Sora Takenouchi had always felt strongly for Tai, always admired him and seen him as her best friend among the Digidestined. More than that, as they had grown up together, he had been like her brother. And though once she had felt strongly for Matt, now for the first time she began to see Tai in a new light. Because in this moment, his courage shone for her brighter in the dark than any star in the sky. He ignited a hope in her that she hadn't felt since they were children.
"So, who's coming?" said Tai, raising his fist in a gesture of self-assurance and bravery. "Me." Said TK before anyone else could even take breath. "If this Barbamon has Kari, I'm gonna make him regret ever crawling out whatever hole he came from!" said TK with a savage intensity. It was Davis who stepped forward next. "Where Tai goes, I go, especially if it means saving Kari!". Tai nodded at Davis, who stepped forward to join him and TK with Takato. Surprisingly, it was Izzy who spoke next, "I don't think I can miss out on the opportunity to see a new Digital World!". "It might be dangerous Izzy, are you sure?" said Tentomon, the little bug digimon speaking up for the first time, raising one of his claws in protest. "Well that's why I've got you to look after me" said Izzy with a smile. "We should come too." Said Ken, with Wormmon perched on his shoulder. "After all Davis, you're going to need Imperialdramon!"
Ophanimon raised her hand. "That will be sufficient I believe. To the rest of you-" she turned to the remaining Digidestined, but was cut off by Sora, who stepped out of line. "Wait!" she said breathlessly. Ophanimon looked down at her. "I…want to come too!" said Sora uncertainly. "Are you certain Sora?" said the angel. Sora looked past Ophanimon, meeting Tai's stare. "Yes." She said with a slight smile. At her side, Biyomon nuzzled her crested head into Sora's arm, feeling exactly what her partner was feeling.
"Very well." Said Ophanimon, turning back to the remaining pairs of Yolei and Hawkmon, Cody and Armadillomon, and Joe and Gomamon. "To the rest of you, I wish good luck. And remember, the fate of all worlds rests as much on your shoulders as it does on ours". With that, there was much hugging and wishing well between the friends, who knew not what awaited them beyond these doorways of light, taking them across dimensions to the beginning of the battle of their lives.
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Kari and Shibumi stood in silence in the centre of a great stone hall, it's wall lined with flaming torches and etched with a great many figures and symbols. Kari couldn't help but feel that the room somewhat resembled a church, but one erected for solely for the worship of some dark and profane god forgotten by time. More than anything, this room looked like nothing she had ever seen in the digital world before. At a raised dais in the centre of the room stood Barbamon, the unmistakable form of his hanging robes and long grey beard trailing on the floor as he paced. His staff lay on it's side on a stone table before him. Beside it, a strange piece of machinery Kari did not recognise. It was metallic and painted green, roughly cone=shaped with an array of sensors and antennae poking out of it's wider end, whereas it's other end came to a tapered point.
"So, human, you were able to use this to cross the barriers between dimensions then?" said Barbamon with seeming genuine curiosity, his large, clawed hand gliding over the probe device. "Not me, no…" said Shibumi. Barbamon turned, meeting Shibumi's eyes for the first time. "The men your minions slaughtered invented and designed it. I only provided the initial concept and helped with some of the coding." Said Shibumi, a look of disdain on his face. "I see." Replied Barbamon after a moment, clearly choosing to restrain himself from simply destroying Shibumi. "But all the same, you can open a gate to the dimension I requested. I trust this is so, or your life will be forfeit." Shibumi stepped forward, the chains around his ankles clinking in the dark. "Why do you want to go there?" he asked the monstrous Digimon lord. "None of your concern, I believe. You will simply do as I say." Said Barbamon, his voice dripping with self-assurance and command. Silence. Then, looking up Barbamon, Shibumi gave a three world reply. "Go to hell."
LadyDevimon at this point lashed out with her claw, cutting a stripe into Shibumi's back. He hit the floor with a heavy thud, blood pouring from his back. "No!" screamed Kari, falling to her knees and gripping Mister Shibumi's arm. "Hmph, he'll live." Grunted LadyDevimon, who was now being glared at by both Kari and her master Barbamon. "Leave us!" commanded Barbamon. With a sigh, LadyDevimon rose high into the air and floated out through a tunnel in the ceiling. "My apologies, such brutality was not necessary" said Barbamon. From his cloak, he produced a small white ball, about the size of Kari's fist. Sending it floating through the air, the ball touched Shibumi's skin, and instantly his injury began to heal itself, the flesh knitting back together seamlessly.
"What was that?" asked Kari, her eyes wide with shock and anger. "Courtesy of the Digimon Sovereign Azulongmon. When I loaded his data, I retained some of his abilities." Kari was confused, unfamiliar with what Barbamon was saying. But Shibumi, now recovered, rose and stared at Barbamon in disbelief. "You loaded the Sovereigns?!"
"Very much so, and in destroying them and loading their data, I have succeeded them as the one true sovereign of this world. The Dark Sovereign." Said Barbamon, his voice a mixture of pride and sick joy. "Now, tell me how to access The Dark Ocean, or this time you will die. You humans are good for little else." For the first time Kari saw something in Barbamon, a quality in his pale skin and sharp pointed teeth that against all logic, she recognised. Meeting her gaze, the Dark Sovereign turned a smile on her which sent a chill through her bones. "What…are you?" said Kari, the words being drawn out of her almost against her will. His smile never fading, Barbamon said "Very well, I will tell you…"
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Ophanimon, Tai, Takato, TK, Davis, Ken, Izzy and Sora, along with their partner digimon, appeared seemingly from nowhere in the wasteland that had once been the Digital World of Takato's reality. Takato knew this world had suffered under the D-Reaper, but even he wasn't prepared for the desolation that stretched out in every direction. "Wow Takato, your digital world really needs a makeover!" said Davis obliviously. "It wasn't always like this…" was all Takato could say in reply. He knew that whatever Barbamon had done to warp this world, he would also do it to Takato's home if given the chance. But he wouldn't get that chance, Takato would not let that happen.
"So, what's the plan guys?" said Sora uncertainly, turning to Tai and TK. Looking around, it was TK who was first to point to the tall, pointed towers in the distance. "Well, I don't know, but I'm guessing that would be a good place to start." Ophanimon nodded in response. "You are correct, I sense a great evil in that direction. Barbamon is there!"
"Well then we'll need a plan of attack." Said Izzy, sitting down and taking out his laptop. Taking a picture of the horizon, he fed the image into a piece of software, giving him a 3D map of the towers, which comprised Barbamon's stronghold. "We have a plan- attack" shouted Davis, raising his fist to the sky. Smiling, Tai patted Davis on the shoulder. "I like the enthusiasm Davis, but Izzy is right, we need to play this smart. I say me and TK will go in first with Agumon and Patamon quietly and try to find Kari, and then if we need to make a quick exit you guys can come in and save us!"
"I think that would be wise. Barbamon still has many servants who will undoubtedly spring to his aid if he attack him directly. However, we will need a distraction in order to give Tai and TK a chance to slip in unnoticed" Said Ophanimon.
At that point, Takato raised his hand. "Well, I think me and Guilmon can handle that."
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Barbamon picked up his staff, waving it to summon down a large wooden throne from on high, which rested on the centre of the stone dais in the hall. How appropriate, Kari thought. So he was what was worshipped in this room. "Did you know that there was once only one Digital World?" said Barbamon, staring into the head of his staff as he spoke. Kari said nothing in response, unsure how to respond to such a strange claim. "Oh yes, once there was one digital world which reflected the dreams and desires of every reality translated through the prism of data. It was endless, edgeless, an infinite plain of human fantasy. It was attended to, preserved, and cultivated, by an order of great angelic digimon who served the power that controlled the digital world. I was one such angel."
Barbamon shifted his staff to the side and met Kari's puzzled gaze. "Do I surprise you? Yes, before I fell, I was an angel. You see, the greatest of us fell first. In that time, he became known as Lucemon. Lucemon led a rebellion, and his greatest lieutenants were I, Lillithmon, and Daemon." Another shiver ran down Kari's spine at the mention of Daemon. "Ah yes, you have met him." Said Barbamon with a toothy smile. "When our rebellion was smashed, and our forces destroyed- our enemy divided the Digital world into many different and disconnected realities, so that our forces could never be so great again. Lucemon was imprisoned forever. Lillithmon was destroyed. Daemon fled. And I…"
At this point Barbamon's hand gripped his staff tighter in rage. "My data was divided across many realities. Scattered to the winds. When the largest part of me reformed, I didn't even know who I was. But with every barrier I crossed, and every time my data was scattered- I came back stronger, finding more pieces of myself with each new life. Becoming more the Digimon I used to be. I owe you so much for that Kari, you made me who I am today…"
Kari's breath caught in her throat. She knew that voice. She knew that sick smile. Rising from his throne, Barbamon walked forward until he stood before Kari Kamiya. Dropping to his knees, Kari for the first time fully perceived his pointed teeth and ruby lips. Kari was frozen on the spot. Too horrified to speak. "Yes, it's me…" said Barbamon quietly. "…I am Barbamon now. But to you Kari, I will always be Myotismon."
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That's the end of Chapter 6. The next chapter is going to be more action-packed, but I hope people enjoyed the more character and dialogue-based writing of these past two chapters. As always please leave a review if you enjoyed, and thanks for reading.