(Writers note: in my fic series Thunderbirmon is an ultimate level digimon not an Armor champion)

Takajin ran to sister, as she collapsed, he was angry that these people let this happen, Juniko was there having caught as she fell.

"She is just fine, your sister is just exhausted" said Drake calling over to them, as Mikuni opponent was coming out, it was a Panjyamon, a man lion digimon.

Donica made her way toward Hikaru, with her was two other people, they eased Hikaru unto a gurney and took her away, Takajin and Juniko were going to follow them but drake stepped in their path "Who dismissed you, I told you she is fine, you can see your sister after you match" he said placing a hand on Takajin shoulder, he knocked it away, Takajin was fuming and pissed off, Juniko placed her hand on his shoulder and he relaxed.

Takajin now turned his attention to Mikuni and MachAntylamon vs. Panjyamon taking place on the area floor, Even though Mikuni annoyed the heck out of him with her ego and rudeness, he didn't want anything to happen to anyone else.

Digimon Sync episode 24 "The Precipice part 1"

Watching Mikuni and MachAntylamon seemed to slightly impress Sorami but not very much she seemed very hard to impress. Panjyamon taken off guard, seemed use to this type of thing but he was barely keeping up with this team, soon he gave up and walked back into the door on his own accord instead of being blast by Dynasmon.

"Is that all you have, I barely broke a sweat?" Mikuni said returning to her companions and site down on the ground beside them; her ego would crush them all if it had a physical form.

It was Huang, and Babydmon turn next, and He hesitantly walked towards the door, and waited for his opponent. He was worried since he didn't reach ultimate yet, how could he ever take revenge on the one who took his family from him, just thinking about Scythe made his blood boil. The doors opened in front of him, the digimon that would be his opponent was about to come out, then the door shut suddenly, he turned to see what was going on. He saw Donica was the one who shut the door, she had her hand on the lever that opened and shut it, and she walked up to Sorami and whispered something. "Apparently you aren't medically cleared to be a part of this" said Sorami slightly confused. "He has suffered a major trauma and I don't think he should be allowed to take part of this and even your mission"

At this point Huang collapsed, landing with a loud thud, Babydmon was thrown from his shoulder, and Huang began to shudder violently.

"I am surprised it took him this long to collapse under it, I spotted this when I saw him coming on the boot, I did warn you that it wasn't safe for you put that device on him it just added to his mentally scarred mind" said Donica gesturing to medical staff to help Huang out of the arena. "I said the same thing about Hikaru but destabilized during the test to the point it didn't affect her much"

So it was Juniko and Mikemon's turn now, but before she could make her way to the door, Sorami walked in front of her "You have nothing to prove I would prefer watching your friend before I have to go" said Sorami gesturing for Juniko "you can visit your friends in the medical ward"

"No I am staying I am not leaving Takajin with you to nearly kill him too" said Juniko glaring a hole in Sorami's gut with her arms crossed, she was too intimated by Sorami's stoic presences that she couldn't even look in the eye.

"Why are you so interested in me doing this?" asked Takajin confused at why Sorami had stopped Juniko's training just so he could be next.

"Because she said so, do what you are told child" said Impmon chiming in her two cents, and pointing at Takajin in annoyance "She is your leader now just do it"

"Stay out of this Impmon" said Sorami waving off her digimon partner, and walked over to Takajin, so they were now face to face "I want to see that fire from within, the one that comes from wanting to protect those you care about the most" at this moment she looked much older than she appeared to be she might only be a few years older than Takajin but her eyes showed that she had seen much more than he has. But there was some kind of insincerity to what she was saying like she was trying to get this whole thing over.

Takajin decided that he wanted to get this over with too, and just headed toward the door, with Coronamon looking stoked as he flexed his arms as he followed, but a little voice in Takajin told him that unlike the others he hadn't digivolves his digimon partner to ultimate yet and recently got him to champion even his own sister who had gotten over some of her fears to do so what chance did he have. He had to banish those thoughts or he will have his ass handed to him.

The door began to open; they slid open to reveal nothing there, just a very long corridor. Takajin looked around for what he was going face in his test nut absolutely was there. Takajin turned to face Sorami who shrugged that she was just as confused as he was which was not good at all.

A digimon Silhouette appeared in the long hall but it was slowly making its way down it, for some reason it looked like it was drunk as it wobbled down the hall, it came into sight and it was an Etemon, it came out and suddenly collapsed to the ground.

Donica ran over to and checked it pulse "Medical team get down here!" she shouted, and two people dressed in medical scrubs carried Etemon off on a stretcher.

A shadow in the tunnel, it was too small to take out something like an Etemon, the thing quickly ran for cover, and the hallway began to glow purple light, the light in the arena went out, at this moment something hit Coronamon sending him flying, and then hot again to knocking him sideways this hit knocked out Coronamon. Something now struck Takajin in the chest knocking him off his, before whatever it was could strike as Takajin got up the lights came and nothing was there.

Takajin Collapsed to his knees, and coughed heavily, he had metallic taste in his mouth, he looked down to see his own blood on the ground he had coughed it up, he now collapsed fully to the ground in a lot of pain.

"His injuries might prevent him from going on the mission as well" said Donica checking Takajin for a pulse, and then checking on his condition "whatever that was did a number on him I can't clear him.

"No I am going I will not let them go anywhere alone with you I still don't trust you enough" said Takajin slowly, he wiped the blood from his face, he was now being helped up by Juniko, she was going to say something to him but stopped when she was now face to face with him. Takajin stepped away from Juniko now walking on his.

"But I can't fully allow that until I check you in the medical ward" said Donica gestured Takajin to followed, who was back to being helped by Juniko who he was now leaning on again, they followed her till they reached the medical ward. Takajin sat on a medical bed, he wasn't coughing anymore, Coronamon was carted as he did so, and he had not regain consciousness yet from the second attack.

"Take off your shirt" said Donica gesturing to Takajin "I have to check to see what hit you" a weird looking horned digimon now stood beside her, it shied away from looking at either of their direction it was holding a medical bag. "This is Gabumon my nurse and friend" it handed Donica not raising its voice passed a very barely audible here. It backed away as soon as she held the back.

"Is he your digimon partner?" asked Takajin as he pulled off his shirt revealing a very nasty looked bruise, it looks bad enough that it showed he might have a few broken ribs.

"sadly I don't have a digimon partner I was born without one and I am not a hybrid either I only wish I had or was either I have done studies hoping one day I will figure out how to connect myself to a digimon" said Donica smiling yet the tone in her voice was clearly sad. She now placed her on chest running it along the area that he was hit "you have a fractured rib" she pulled out some bandage tape signing as she did so and started wrapping it around Takajin's chest area, she ignored his winces of pain. "I still can't clear you I need to make it clear that I let you go under protest, but if your digimon partner doesn't wake up what would be the point of you going. Donica walked over and started treatment of Sunmon as Coronamon had de-Digivolved into his in-training form due to the injuries he received.

Takajin hopped down from the bed to stand at the bed of Sunmon, he squeaked as he touched him, whatever did this if he ever found out who it was they would pay for it. After making sure Sunmon was going to be ok something dawned on Takajin he looked around the room "um where is Huang and my sister?" he said looking somewhat confused.

"Your sister was released after being treated for minor bruises and cuts, and Huang is being treated at this moment; he has stabilized but hasn't woken up yet" said Donica reading off a chart "We don't know what to do for him" she blinked like something dawned on her like she just remembered something "Um do you mind if I look at that digichip of yours and digivice, I have seen a few digichips the ones belonging to Huang and Sorami. When they were first found but never seen a digivice because Sorami would never part with hers for any reason at all and I seriously tried"

Takajin looked at Donica, he was taking measure of her, and if Sorami didn't trust her enough should he trust her as she is nearly a complete stranger to him.

"Please I won't hurt it" she said pleadingly with outstretched hand "I need to see at least one"

"Why don't you look at Huang's digivice, he is out cold and yon don't have to ask him?" Takajin asked hoping that would redirect Donica.

"I would but even in his unconscious state Huang has a death grip on his digivice, I could break his fingers but I rather not do that I would get into so much trouble with Sorami making it not even worth doing" she said shrugging her shoulders in annoyance.

Takajin signed in annoyance and handed Donica his digivice but palming the digichip from it before doing so "I don't trust you enough to leave this with you" he said putting it in his pocket.

"Better get some sleep, but please take it easy I don't want you to make these injuries worse" said Donica placing her left hand on Takajin's shoulder. He nodded in response to her, and headed back to his room.

Later in his room Takajin regretted leaving his digivice behind with Donica, it made him feel defenseless what if that thing that had attacked him returned to finish him off, but Sunmon was unconscious so even if he had his digivice it would have been useless too. This line of thought kept him from getting that much sleep.

-The Next day-

Instead of being waken up harshly like days before Takajin and company were allowed to sleep in, once awake they were called to the main barracks of the Guardians, The building looked similar to the temple in Tabula Rosa but without all the statues and weird Lilithian hieroglyphs, it was still breathtaking as they passed through its main gates manned by men dressed in full steel colored but looking closely it shimmered in many colors. They spotted Sorami entering a room and followed, she took a seat at a round table, and she gestured for them to do the same.

Takajin was the first to take a seat, followed by Juniko, with the rest doing the same after, it was still intimidating being in the presence of Sorami, and feeling the coldness of her gaze as it pierced right through and made you feel inadequate, she was someone you would never want to mess with her as long as you lived.

"I brought you here to say that we will be heading out on that mission that we spoke about when you arrived, we will be leaving tonight" said Sorami placing both her hands on the table. "This mission can't wait any longer"

"Tonight?" asked Juniko startled "But Takajin hasn't healed fully yet" she stood now looking down on Sorami the expression on her face was that of fury, and concern, stating firmly that she wasn't going to let this subject go.

"Your concerns are noted but it can't be helped, our sources say they are going to move the prisoner, if we don't get him out we will never find him again. If Takajin thinks he is too injured to go then he can stay here I'll take you, Hikaru and Mikuni" said Sorami looking directly at Juniko, with her piercing platinum grey eyes, making Juniko back up slightly.

Takajin stood placing his hand on Juniko's shoulder "I am going I want to be there to protect my friends, and my sister" he said, they both sat down.

"Let's go over the plans of the mission" said Sorami looking over at Mikuni and Hikaru who hadn't talked yet, Huang wasn't there since he hadn't woken up yet.

Hikaru raised her hand shakily in the air "do you think we have had enough training got this sort of thing my brothers digimon hasn't yet reached Ultimate yet, and I know Huang hasn't either but he isn't going to be a part of this…" she said looking from Sorami to Mikuni.

"Yes we have had enough training" said Mikuni interrupting Hikaru before she could continue "As leader I think we have had plenty of training on and off this island.

"Now that everyone has spoken, let's get back to the plan of sneaking into the infinite Citadel, and rescuing their prisoner and getting out without them knowing we were even there, there are too many of them for a full on assault I promise you us the guardians have already tried that and failed" said Sorami with right fist clenched into fist and rubbing into the palm of her right hand, now squeezing that fist tightly. Sorami then went over detailed schematics of the infinite Citadel from their point of entrance a cave at the base of the citadel, and to the room the prisoner was being held in, the escape route was for them to leave out the same cave they entered through.

Juniko suddenly shivered for unknown, this whole scenario was familiar but from where, but she shrugged it off and continued to listen to Sorami's plan, and she really had every inch of this planned out right down to the very second of the mission.

Once the meeting was over they all were dismissed to get ready for the mission, and it was still hours away but it still felt too soon.

Outside the barracks, Hikaru walked up to Takajin's side still had a look of concern on her face "are you even thinking this through you have nothing to prove to anyone brother" she said placing her hand on his shoulder "you are injured I don't want to lose you"

"I understand but I said I was fine, it's not like we are going there to fight them we are sneaking in to rescue a prisoner" said Takajin as he tried not showing his doubt about the whole mission.

"Look I will protect you all as a champion of justice and leader of the digidestined that is my job, you just follow and don't do anything stupid" said Mikuni standing behind Takajin and Hikaru. They turned and were now glaring at Mikuni, but she ignored them, and walked off without another word.

About an hour later Sorami walked out of the barracks, running to catch up with her was Drake, when he caught up with he stepped in her path. "Are you sure you aren't rushing our spy network would find where ever they take him if they move like the information says they are?" said Drake looking very concerned, his brow furrowing as he turned his gaze toward Sorami. "Or you could take a few guardians instead of these kids, I don't know if they are ready for this"

"As the current leader of the guardian I choose who ever I take with me, and I choose them as we are digidestined" said Sorami as her steel gaze met with Drake's, making him almost turn away.

There was an awkward silence before Drake spoke again "I am sorry for question your decision I shouldn't have" he said walking away from her, and Sorami continued on like this didn't even happen.

The day seemed to last forever, and every second the sense of dread built in most of Takajin and his companions, till the final minute ticked by, they all met at the prescribed waiting area, they waited nervously for Sorami to arrive.

Minutes later she made her appearance, dressed in that robe emblazoned with emblem of the chip of friendship, even though her demeanor was anything but friendly, her eyes as they were now made her look rather creepy, as she takes on the eyes of a Thunderbirmon as a part of the digivolution sharing of energy. And there it was Thunderbirmon now flying over Sorami's head its enormous shadow being cast over her, it landed when she arrived, she walked on Thunderbirmon's back, and gestured for everyone to get on "This is your ride, everyone get on" she said sitting down.

Once they were all onboard, Thunderbirmon took off into the air like a streak disorienting everyone except Sorami for obvious reasons. Thunderbirmon even out as it passed through the clouds and into the stratosphere making Hikaru hurl over the side. After the initial take off flying became smooth and interblent with the sky like they were just hovering toward their intended destination, if it wasn't for the flapping of Thunderbirmon's massive metallic wings it didn't feel like they were flying on an enormous bird digimon.

"Are we there yet" asked Juniko, with everyone just ignoring her question outright, so she just kept asking over and over then stopped when the others still wouldn't respond, she then edged toward Takajin, and poked him.

"Ouch! Don't do that, it still hurts there" said Takajin wincing in pain from the poke, he slightly pushed her hand away.

A look of concern spread across Juniko's face, she let out a sigh "We should have waited for you to heal properly I will have to protect you more than I usually" said Juniko eyeing the area, where she knew the bruise from whatever had attacked Takajin, she was majorly worried about him.

"You don't need to protect me, I know you are worried but I am fine!" said Takajin starting to get frustrated of all the fuss everyone was doing about him.

"Ok I was just checking sheesh don't have to bite my head off, as Royal Guard in training, and your best friend most of all I will always protect you no matter if you need it or not" Juniko said as she placed her right hand on Takajin's shoulder.

"I am sorry I snapped at you, I shouldn't have done that, again I am sorry I understand your concerns and I will be careful" said Takajin reassuring Juniko with a small smile.

They sun was rising again by the time they reached the Infinite Citadel, its dark visage appearing in the distance, like an ominous black thorn reaching out of the earth its, it hovered over seemingly bottomless black chasm

"We are the Light and the Purifying Flame" Sorami said quietly to herself, while placing her right hand over the guardian emblem on her uniform, before bringing Thunderbirmon in for a landing, on the land mass the Citadel was perched on, right in front of them was a cave dark and foreboding "since it hovers over this chasm they don't ever think of having this entrance guarded my spies use it to gather information"

Mikuni was the first to disembark, Followed by Sorami, and the others, they all made their way to the cave entrance, it was silent and creepy, Hikaru nearly turned around and went back to Thunderbirmon, she mustered her courage and kept following. Sorami pulled out map and went over where they were going.

They continued down the cave passageway till they reached an obsidian corridor, that lead to a dead end, Sorami walked up and felt along the wall till she pressed something and the wall slid open revealing a Kurokami Brigade banner. They entered but this place didn't feel eerie something about it felt oddly comforting, the hall reverberated with harp music that was soothing but sad, they all made their way down the purple and Obsidian corridor leading to another dead end, Sorami did the same thing she did in the cave and another door slid open this time to a flight of stairs.

they walked in and headed upwards, the staircase seemed to go on forever in a spiral pattern, they had to stop a couple of times because Hikaru, Takajin and Juniko needed to rest, which Frustrated Mikuni, because of this it took them awhile to get to where they needed to, Sorami pressed another panel on a wall and yet another door opened into another corridor this one had statues of Lilithmon but these seemed to be in the process of being restored unlike the ones they have seen in the past.

Sorami now made a shushing gesture, she leaned slightly into the corridor looking both ways and then nodding to them that it was all clear, she let them all leave the passageway before she followed, while they weren't paying she entered another door as they went down further the corridor. Mikuni entered the room first that was marked on the map Followed by Takajin, Juniko, then finally Hikaru, brought up the rear not noticing Sorami absence because of their unease of being there, the room would have been dark if it wasn't for a glowing object at the farthest end of the room, it was the source of the harp music. it was pulling at them to come closer, it was entrancing, they got closer to it, it began to pulsate more revealing it was hovering over a man's chest, they got closer and saw Ankou's mask, they were now terrified but the sphere of light was soothing and wanted them to come even closer, it suddenly expanded knocking them all over, whatever had happened made them all feel dizzy. At that moment an alarm sounded, Ankou's opened, and the sphere of light entered into his chest.

The digidestined ran for it making their way to the cave, with the sounds of shouting people behind them, they ran as fast as they could fought through fatigue, they were now in the cave, Mikuni was in the lead, followed by Juniko, Hikaru, and Takajin. They saw the light at the end of the cave, and already was Sorami, she was helping to stand up, and he had the same color hair that she did, she turned to face the others, she mouthed some words to them, and then the end of the cave exploded before they could reach her. Juniko was hit in the forehead with a rock, and went down; Takajin helped her up, Juniko's face now a crimson mask, they now rushed back trying to avoid falling rocks only to come face to face with members of the Kurokami Brigade that included Scythe, Migoku, and Shiru. A wicked smile spread across Migoku's face, as the Takajin and his companions were surrounded.

-To be Continued-

Will the Digidestined get out of this situation, and who was this prisoner that was just rescued? To answer these questions, and more, please tune into the next Digimon digital monsters!