Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Digimon: Apocalypse ❯ The Book of Famine: Chapter 1 ( Chapter 12 )

My name is Maria Silvano, a Chosen from New York City, partnered to a Patamon. I am 19 years old, and I am dying. I apologize for being so straight forward, but it is the truth.

I became a Chosen in the winter of 2002, and along with Tatum Heany, Sam Anderson, Steve Williams, and Lou Proudstar, we joined with Mimi Tachikawa and Michael Barton and we became the New York Chosen. Mimi and Michael taught us everything we knew, and we became as good a team as the Odabia Chosen. We had so many adventures during that time, we grew up fighting and facing the choices no child should ever have to face. Mimi and Michael were married and went off to college, Tatum, Sam and I graduated from high school. I had not yet decided what I would do with my life, but it seems that I was never even given a choice.

It started with a simple computer virus, one that spread and infected countless computer systems around the world. It was annoying and dangerous, but no one knew how dangerous until it mutated into a serious virus that attacked the Chosen and Digimon population. As the original virus was designed to destroy the information on a computer’s hard drive, the mutated virus ate at the digital information present in the Digimon, and, because a Chosen has a high percentage of digital information in their bodies, the virus began to destroy the bodies of the Chosen and the Digimon. It was called the Second Black Death, of BD-2. Thousands of Chosen were infected, hundreds died within the first two years: Koushiro, Takeru, Daisuke, Miyako, Ken, Iori, Steve, Lou…all dead….

Before he died, Koushiro developed a possible cure, called the X-Antibody, and unleashed it onto the Digital World. However, it was only compatible with a few Chosen, Taichi, Hikari, Yamato, Jyou, Mimi, Michael, Dingo and Yuri were among those modified. They were completely cured of the virus, and their digimon became mutated, gaining different appearances and stronger powers.

But Tatum, Sam and I were infected, and the X-Antibody didn’t help us at all. We moved to the digital city, New Havenwood, and stayed with the other dying Chosen. Tatum and Sam both began to lose their fingers and toes, but I lost both of my legs. They just vanished before my eyes... We stayed there until the Church of the Digitalatri arrived there. They promised us that if we joined them, they could cure us. I was skeptical, but Tatum and Sam joined them. Mimi and Michael promised us that they would help us when they could, but Tatum and Sam always felt like they had abandoned us. I guess that’s why they joined with Digitalatri.

I didn’t join them, but I wanted to follow them. That’s when I met up with Noriko Kawada of the Odaiba Chosen. She was infected with the BD-2 Virus too, but her infection wasn’t as severe. Her teammates: Hiroshi Shibya, Keiko Shingu and Takashi Yuuske, all infected, joined with Digitalatri. We followed them to their main temple, when we discovered that their High Priestess, Chihi Miayag, gave them weird powers which made their partners evolve into former enemies of the Chosen: the Dark Masters, Archnemon, Mummymon and Skull Satanmon. To prove their loyalty to their Digital God, Miayag made them kill me and Noriko. They would have done it if Taichi hadn’t of saved us.

Things only got worse from then. It was hard for us to believe, but Digitalatri seemed to be the least of our worries, the Demon Lords were here. First was Karetu, the Demon Hunter. He looked just like the deceased Takeru. He attacked another Infected Chosen named Lynna Jeffry. Somehow, during that fight, Lynna’s Gizamon was able to evolve to his Adult form, something that should be impossible, since Infected Digimon are not able to evolve. Shiokuro, the Demon Vizor, who looked like Koushiro, was next. He attack Anna Danika, and her Penmon evolved to Unimon. The Demon Princess Amikyo, who looked like Miyako, and the Demon Watcher, Enk, who looked like Ken, attacked Iduia Ramiro, and her Kokuwamon evolved to Guardromon. Keeya Genet, Catherine Rupert, Sora Takenouchi, and myself, all Infected Chosen, were attacked and our digimon were able to evolve as well.

Yuri Rutskoy wanted our help to defend a city called Nightsun from Digitalatri. They claimed that it was an ancient city called Cer. During that fight, we met the last three Demon Lords, the Demon General, Seiduka, who looked like Daisuke, Asro, the Demon Queen, who looked like Sora, and the Demon King, Cahiti, who looked like Taichi. They attacked the X-Chosen, and we…that is, me and the other young women… used that strange energy that allowed our Child-level digimon to evolve, on Taichi and the others. Cahiti used a strange device he called the Soul Catcher, to steal some of that energy. The rest of that energy merged with the X-Chosen, and their digimon were able to reach the Fully Evolved level. All of us except for Sora and Catherine. The Demon Lords captured them to steal the energy they failed to give them.

Miayag was searching for two mysterious objects in the city. They were hidden behind a special barrier that, as she said, only those with the…”Blood of Yuushi,” could cross. Only she and Taichi were able to enter. Miayag took the Staff of Yuushi, but Taichi stole the Machina Codex. From that book, we learned that there was a terrible war in the past of the Digital World, and the digimon called the First Chosen to help them. They defeated their enemies and started an empire, the capital was the Holy Island in the center of the Digital World. They were led by the mysterious Yuushi, but the other eight each had a control over a specific element. We determined that me and the other young women had powers like them: Sora had Fire, Catherine had Light, Lynna had Water, Anna had Wind, Noriko had Darkness, Iduia had Metal, Keeya had Forest, and I had Earth.

Our problems only got worse. The Chosen Council, a group of Chosen who represent the different areas of the Digital World, decided that it would be safer to quarantine the Infected Children. Victor von Schmidt and Raven Osborn, the two leaders of the Council, teamed up with the Demon Lords and they began to classify and mark all Infected Chosen according to their Chosen team and level of infection. Since Iduia and I were at an infection level of 1, we were apprehended by the Chosen Council. I am scared as to where they are taking us, but I know Mimi, Michael, Taichi and the others will save us. I know they will….

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“Deception is a cruel act... It often has many players on different stages that corrode the soul” Donna A. Favors

---------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------------- --------------- ----------------------------------- The Book of Famine Chapter 1: ---------------------------------------

The Digital World was once a place of life and hope, a world where the most fantastic and wondrous creatures lived. Later, these creatures were partnered with humans, and the Earth was introduced to this place of happiness and joy. Even though evil existed there, the forces of life still triumphant. . Now, that time seemed so far and distant, an alien notion to this time of fear and hate.

Shortly after Chosen Council Executive Order #045, the classification of all Infected Children and relocation of all Chosen with an infection level of 1, the Digital World suddenly and mysteriously stopped, that is, all biological and planetary functions ceased. In the South, the waves of the roaring ocean died, in the West, the crops withered and perished, in the East, the wind crawled to a stop, while the North became covered with darkness.

Cahiti, the Demon King, was seated within a large lounge chair in one of the rooms in the desert temple that was currently serving as their base. Seated across his lap was the Demon Queen, Asro. With them was their somewhat suspicious new partner, the leader of the Chosen Council, Victor Von Schmidt. Their eyes were all focused on the television monitor, which was displaying the broadcast of the Digital World’s new station, which was covering the current crisis in the Digital World.

“Are you sure this is safe?” Schmidt asked, “I mean, you’re not causing serious harm here, right?”

“Of course not,” Cahiti grinned beneath the shadows of his hood, “We can reverse these changes at any time we wish, but as we discussed, it is necessary to gain the Chosen’s support for your extermination order. My partners will appear before the citizens of the towns you wish to turn into extermination centers, and they will use their powers to prove that the Infected Chosen are causing this crisis to this world. Then, you will have their support.”

Schmidt sighed deeply and crossed his arms. “You still haven’t told me what you hope to get out of all of this.”

“And I told you already, if you question our help, then it will be withdrawn. All you need to know is that we will rule this world together!”

Schmidt nodded. “Yeah, all right…”

Asro chuckled as she lightly fingered Cahiti’s shirt. Schmidt rolled his eyes. “Do you have to do that now?”

The Demon Queen shot him an evil glance that he could not see beneath her hood. Cahiti chuckled. “Why don’t we see how your assistant is doing?”

Asro leapt from his lap as the Demon King exited the room, followed closely by Schmidt. They traveled down a long corridor before arriving at a dungeon-like area, where their two prisoners, Sora Takenouchi and Catherine Rupert, along with their digimon partners, were confined behind a set of metal bars and grey concrete. Raven Osborn of the Chosen Council was just exiting the room as they approached.

“Oh, you’re finished?” Schmidt asked.

Osborn nodded. “Yeah.” She mentioned to the room, “You can see for yourselves.”

Schmidt slowly entered the room, followed by the two Demon Lords. Sora and Catherine stared at them with rage and hate in their eyes. Sora instinctively jumped to her feet, but she momentarily forgot that her BD-2 infection had eaten away at her left foot. She was off-balance and crashed to the floor.

“Sora!” Catherine shouted. She ran over and supported her weight as she rose to her right foot.

The redhead stared at Schmidt. “What the hell is the Chosen Council doing with them?” she asked, mentioning to the Demon Lords.

“We’re partners, at the moment,” he explained, “Now, I understand that my assistant has given you your new numbers…”

Catherine frowned. “I will not be referred to as a number!”

“What you want isn’t for debate,” he spat, “What is your number?”

Neither she nor Sora answered. Osborn sighed and mentioned to Osborn, who handed him a piece of paper. “Now…Takenouchi, Sora, Odaiba Chosen, Number JO223. Rupert, Catherine, Paris Chosen, Number FP312.” He smiled slightly, “You’re lucky, if either of you had an Infection level of 1, you would be sent to one of our Relocation Centers right now.”

“You’re not fooling us!” Sora sneered.

“Such a temper,” Cahiti chuckled, “You truly are the Daughter of Fire...” He turned to Schmidt, “Why don’t you check up on how our forces are doing? Asro and I have some business with Miss Takenouchi and Miss Rupert here.”

The Chosen Council leader nodded slightly and he and Osborn exited. Asro made certain to lock the door behind them. The Demon King removed his hood, revealing the face of Taichi Yagami.

“That’s better. Now…” he rubbed his hands together as he smiled at the young women, “Why don’t we finally get started…?”

“What do you want?” Sora demanded.

He pointed at her chest. “What?” she asked, “You’re planning on raping me or something?”

“No, no, no,” he said, “Nothing like that. No, what I want from you is your power, the energy you and the other Daughters of the First displayed.”

“You keep calling uz that,” Catherine said, “What does it mean?”

He gave them a curious glance. “You honestly have no idea, do you?”

“What’s that suppose to mean?” Sora asked.

“You are descended from the First Chosen.” He pointed at Sora. “You are descended from Hidieto and have the power of Fire...” He turned to Catherine, “And you are descended from Lucien and have the power of Light.”

“Hidieto…?” Sora gasped. She glanced over to Catherine, “Lucien?”

The French woman nodded. “Oui….”

“Now,” Cahiti said, “Noriko Kawada of Darkness, Lynna Jeffry of Water, Anna Danika of Wind, Maria Silvano of Earth, Iduia Ramiro of Metal and Keeya Genet of Forest have already given me their powers….”

“You stole them you mean,” Sora glared.

Cahiti shrugged. “How ever you want to say it, but the point is the same. I only need your energies to make my vision come true. Now give me your powers, give me the power of Fire and Light.”

Sora glared at him. “No.”

Catherine nodded in agreement. “We will not give you anyt’ing!”

Cahiti sighed deeply and rubbed his hands. “Very well. I am offering you the chance to surrender them, I will give you time to think it over.”

The young women and their partners stared at him as he exited the cell, closing the door behind him. Piyomon shivered. “He gives me the creeps.”

“You and me both,” Floramon responded.

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The Chosen Council had commandeered several cities and transformed them into Relocation Centers: Zeradza in the north, Ausata in the south, and New Havenwood to the west. These cities were filled with Infected Chosen of Level 1, the greatest and most infective level. Iduia and Maria, having been taken prisoner by the Council and their partners, the Demon Lords, were separated shortly after arriving in the Digital World. Maria had been sent to Zeradza, while Iduia was sent to Ausata. Anna had been marked as Level 1, and was sent to Zeradza, but managed to escape with Yuri seconds before Maria arrived.

The two Russian Chosen were now running for their lives through the southern portions of the Northern Continent, and had actually crossed into the Eastern Continent. Yuri and Kokuwamon X were in the lead, while Anna and her Penmon were trailing behind. Because the Russian woman had lost her eyes due to BD-2, she relied on her partner to guide her, but he could not see everything; while running, she tripped over a small root from a nearby tree. She instantly lost her balance and smashed into the ground.

“Anna!” Penmon cried.

Yuri and Kokuwamon X ran to her. “Anna, it’s me,” he said, lightly grabbing her hand.

“Yuri,” she said, “Just leave me here….”

“What?” he gasped.

“They’re after me,” she said, “Besides, what good am I? I don’t know this area, without someone leading me, I’m completely lost.” She lightly touched the bandage that was wrapped around her face.

“Stop that!” Yuri shouted, “I’m not leaving you here, no matter what.” He pulled her to her feet, “Now come on, if they went to all that trouble to put you in that place, then they’re sure to come after you. We’ve got to keep moving.”

She reluctantly agreed and continued to follow him.

As they marched through the thick forests, they knew they were being followed, but they thought they were doing a fair job of covering their path. They were not aware that no matter how good a job they did of covering their tracks, their predators would have found them.

Karetu, the Demon Hunter, paused momentarily to examine a small scratch on one of the tree trunks littering the forest. “They went this way?”

“You sure?” Samuel Sterns of the Chosen Council asked.

“Let me tell ya something,” he said, “If you wanna be a good hunter, ya got ta learn to examine your surroundins better.” He mentioned to the tree, “This scratch is too high to have been made by one of the digimon in this forest. It had ta come from Danika or Rutskoy.”

Sterns nodded. “I gotcha.”

“Good,” Karetu said, walking further into the forest, “Let’s get movin’…”

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Noriko and Yamato charged into the hospital room. “I’m sorry,” the blond man said, “We got here as soon as we… heard…” He trailed off when he noticed the Yagami family standing around the form of the unconscious Mrs. Yagami, who was lying in a hospital bed, eyes closed, and more then a dozen sensors attached to her body.

Taichi turned to him and nodded slightly.”Hey…”

The other two Yagamis turned and greeted their visitors. Yamato bowed. “Hello, Mr. Yagami.”

Taichi and Hikari’s father gave a forced smile. The worry was clearly visible on his face, his eyes were heavy and sunken and his skin seemed to be sagging. “Hi, Yamato.”

The blond man mentioned to his guest. “This is Noriko Kawada.”

“Yes,” he said, “Taichi told me you were coming…”

The young woman bowed deeply. “I’m sorry for what happened. I...I….”

Mr. Yagami nodded. “Thank you.”

There was a knock on the door and an elderly man entered. “Hello, I am Doctor Kazuyka. You must be the Yagamis?”

“I am Susumu Yagami,” Mr. Yagami answered, “How is she?”

The doctor sighed. “Well, we are still awaiting the test results from the MRI, but it is apparent that she is in a coma due to a blow to her head.”

“Is there any chance for serious damage?” Mr. Yagami asked.

“With any brain injury, there is always the chance for permanent damage, but we’ll have to wait for the test results.”

“When we she wake up?” Hikari asked.

Dr. Kazuyka sighed deeply. “It is really hard to say at this point. It could be a few days, or….it could be longer….”

Hikari gasped loudly and Taichi embraced her.

Dr. Kazuyka smiled. “But, the best thing we can do right now is stay positive.” He glanced down at the clipboard he was carrying. “Um, Mr. Yagami, I hate to pull you away from this, but there’s a few questions we need to ask you…”

His face paled even more. “W…what kind of questions?”

“Nothing serious, we just need to update our files…”

He nodded and exited the room. Taichi and Hikari turned to their mother, lying perfectly still in the hospital bed. Yamato placed a hand on Taichi’s shoulder. “I’m sorry man…”

Noriko stared at Mrs. Yagami placed a hand over her mouth. “I…if I didn’t leave her there….”

“What?” Taichi asked.

“I took Maria out of the apartment, but….but I didn’t think that she would…”

Hikari smiled and hugged her. “Oh Noriko, don’t blame yourself.” Her smile faded, “It’s Miayag, It’s her fault!”

The others blinked in surprise. “Hikari?” Taichi asked.

“It was her partner,” the young woman responded, “She did this to my mother, and she just left, she didn’t even stay to see if she was all right! Oh, how could I have been so blind? I thought she was a savior, but she’s worse then anyone we’ve fought before!”

Her older brother walked over and hugged her. “Easy, Hikari, easy…you’re starting to sound like me and Yamato…”

The blond man gave him a curious glance. “Hey, what do you mean me and Yamato?”

“Excuse me, Hikari?”
The small group turned their attention to the doorway, where a young man was standing. He had a crew cut of light brown hair and was dressed in a black business suit. Hikari’s face turned to a smile as she ran over to him. “Mitsuo, you didn’t have to come…”

“That’s her boyfriend,” Taichi whispered to Noriko and Yamato.

Hikari turned to the others. “Um, this is Mitsuo. Mitsuo, this is Noriko Kawada, Yamato Ishida, and you know Taichi.”

Her brother nodded slightly. Mitsuo nodded. “I’m really sorry about this. How is she?”

As Taichi began to explain, Noriko noticed that Hikari’s hand slipped into Mitsuo’s hand and squeezed tightly. The young women could tell by the expression on the younger Yagami’s face how much she truly cared for this young man, it could even be love.

She sighed and turned away, her mind filling her with memories…memories that stretched back nearly ten years ago…

Twelve--year-old Noriko stood nervously side-by-side with Hiroshi, Keiko, Takashi, and more then a dozen other children of similar age. At their side were their digimon partners, having received them three years ago. None of the pre-teens had yet been able to evolve any of their partners, so they came to the Odaiba Chosen for help. They were all wary of approaching them, as they were all former Dark Seed children, how could the Odaiba Chosen even think of helping them after what they did?

Each of the pre-teens straightened to attention as the Chosen Children, now teenagers, entered the soccer field that was being used for this meeting. Koushiro spoke first. “Okay, um, I’m not sure how to begin, so I think I’ll just get to the reason why we’re here. You came to us for help in evolving your partners. We discussed it, and we decided that in addition to helping your partners evolve, we will also teach you how to be Chosen and help protect and defend this world and the Digital World.”

“That’s the real reason we were following you for the past few weeks,” Ken smiled slightly, “Sorry if we kind of freaked you out.”

Koushiro continued, “We were watching you to see your individual strengths and weaknesses, to better determine what role you should be trained for, so to speak.” He produced a stack of paper and began to read it aloud. “Hiroshi Shibya, Noriko Kawada, you will both be going with Taichi and Daisuke for leadership training, Keiko….”

Noriko’s mind trailed off as she turned to Hiroshi with a smile on her face. The pre-teen was looking at Keiko, however, who had just been announce would be training with Sora and Miayko.

She could still remember the training that Taichi and Daisuke put them through. It was a grueling couple of months, but she failed to notice it, all that mattered to her was the time she was spending with Hiroshi. She thought their time together brought them closer together, and Noriko wanted their relationship to be deeper then that.

She planned to tell him on the last day of their training. She waited and waited throughout the school day, and once the final bell rang, she ran to his locker, but found that he was not there. She searched the entire school before locating him beneath the stadium bleachers. She giggled and was about to run to him, but stopped short when she noticed that Keiko was standing next to him…they were doing more then standing together….they were actually kissing.

Noriko stood in shock for a moment before slowly turning around and walking back into the school building. She had waited too long to tell him how she felt, and he developed feeling for Keiko instead. She kept it hidden, and over time it diminished, but she never did forget her first crush…the first-love that never happened…

Noriko frowned at her memory, but tried to hide it as she turned her attention back to the hospital room. Yamato and Taichi were talking, while Hikari and Mitsuo were off to the corner.

“I almost forget to tell you,” Yamato said, “But Mina called us. She found something in the Digital World that she thinks we should look at.” He glanced to the unconscious form of Yuuko Yagami, “But I can take care of this…”

“No,” he said, shaking his head, “I’m going to do everything possible to take that damn false prophet off of her perch!”

“Not to mention those Demon Lords,” Yamato said, shaking his head, “I’d like to rip that Seiduka’s head off of his shoulders! No matter what, we’ll get Sora and Catherine out of there!”

Noriko’s heart slowly slunk into her stomach. “Sora and Catherine…?”

“Dmn it!” Taichi said. He slammed her left fist into his right palm with such force that it caused Hikari and Mitsu to jump.

“What’s wrong?” Hikari asked.

“Me and Yamato have to check on something in the Digital World,” he explained, “But you don’t have to…”

She shook her head. “I’m going, I have to.”

“Going where?” Mitsuo asked. He glanced at Taichi and Yamato, then frowned. “This has something to do with that Digital World thing, right?”

Hikari nodded and lightly kissed him on the cheek. “Yes, and thank you for understanding.”

He was going to reply that she never gave him a chance to understand, but thought better of it.

“We don’t have to leave right away,” he said, “I’ll call Mina and let her know.” He looked over at Noriko, “Coming?”

“Yeah,” she said, “Yeah, I’m…right behind you….”

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Chihi Miayag, the High Priestess of the Church of the Seekers of the Digital Light, the Digitalatri, was even overwhelmed by the sight before her, the Temple of the First Chosen, situated on the Holy Island. It was a massive cube-shaped building, with a tall pointed tower in the center, and more then a dozen similar, smaller steeples attached around the main one. The corners were adorned with angel-shaped statues, and there were three larger statues resting on a small platform over the main entrance, statues of: Seraphymon, Ophanimon and Cherubimon.

“Amazing,” she said, “Simply amazing…” She turned to her General. “Where there any complications?”

He shook his head. Piedmon answered for him. “None. We simply sailed here and climbed the mountain side.

She nodded. “Excellent.” She walked the front door, double doors of elegant, strong, thick wood, carved with images of angels. She placed her hand on the thick metal handles and attempted to pull, only to find that the doors were sealed perfectly.

“Just as I thought,” she said, “It has been sealed.”

“Can you open it?” Witchmon asked.

She held up the Machina Codex, “This holy book gives us the power to do so.” She flipped open the book and searched through the pages until she found what she had been searching for. She placed her hand on the door and read from the book, “I hold the blood of Yuushi, I command you to open this door and allow us to enter the temple that belongs to us, allow us to enter the Temple of the First Chosen.”

The door glowed for a moment before a loud noise was heard, like a metal lock being turned. The twin doors creaked for a moment before slowly opening. Miayag grinned as she pulled the doors open with all of her might. She stepped through the entrance and into a hall that stretched into the distance. The walls were covered with elegant designs of angels and other holy digimon.

Miayag turned to her followers. “Come, our destiny awaits!”

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Noriko used the remote to continue to rapidly change the channels, desperately trying to keep her attention away from Yamato, who was in his room, Instant Messaging Mina via his desktop computer to her laptop. However, the programs being broadcast on the television were not distracting enough, as she kept casting glances to his bed room.

“Something bothering you?” her Plotmon asked.

“Nothing,” she said.

“I know something’s wrong…”

“Nothing’s wrong!” she snapped.

The puppy-dog digimon blinked for a moment, then a smile slowly crossed her face. “You’re thinking about Yamato again, aren’t you?”

She nearly dropped the remote. “W…what are you talking about?”

Her partner leapt onto the couch. “I know that you’re in love with Yamato.”

“W…I…I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about?”

She stared at her. “Come on, we’re partners, we’re connected, remember? The feeling I’m getting from you is the same feeling you were giving off when you had a crush on Hiroshi.”

She fidgeted nervously. “Okay, Okay, so maybe I do have feelings for him.”

“Then why don’t you tell him?”

“You heard what he said in the hospital! He’s focused on rescuing Sora and Catherine right now.” She frowned, “I mean, look at them compared to me, Sora’s got gigantic boobs, and even without hair, Catherine’s still a thousand times better looking them me.”

“Oh come on, you’re too hard on yourself,” Plotmon said, “There’s more to a person then just their looks, I thought you knew that.”

She sighed. “Yeah, well, that’s just what parents tell their ugly kids.”

“Just tell him…”

She turned to her. “You know, no offense, but what do you know about romantic relationships? I mean, digimon don’t…you know…”

“Come on,” her partner said, “You can say it, I think we’re all mature enough…”

Noriko nodded, “Digimon don’t…have sex….”

Plotmon started to giggle. “Heh heh heh…”

Noriko rolled her eyes. “Yeah, thanks…”

“Oh come on,” Plotmon said, “I’m just trying to make you laugh…”

“Well I don’t feel like laughing right now.”

“Look, I think you just need to tell him. And if you’re too scared, just show him, okay?”

She thoughtfully tapped her chin. “Hmm….” She ran into the small room where she was staying and grabbed her purse. She to the door and threw her shoes on. “Yamato!” she shouted, “I’m going out for a few minutes!”

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It was about an hour before Noriko returned to Yamato’s apartment, and by that time, he was ready to head into the Digital World. “Just keep your eyes on the others….especially Lynna and Dingo. Just…keep them away from the alcohol, I don’t think they really know how to stop.”

She smiled slightly. “You know, I remember you from the other day…”

He waved his hand. “We…don’t need to talk about that right now.”

She chuckled. Yamato placed a hand on her shoulder. Her knees nearly gave way from that touch.

“Keep your eye on Mr. Yagami too,” he said, “Just…check in on him, okay?”

Despite what she was feeling, she managed to nod.

“All right, I don’t know when we’ll be back. Especially with the whole Digital World just shutting down, we might be a while.”

She took a deep breath. “Um, before you go, there’s something I want to give you…”

He blinked. “Give me?”

She nodded and handed him a small box which was wrapped in a light blue paper. “What’s this?” he asked.

She knew she was blushing, and tried to force herself to stop, but knew that it was pointless, so she continued speaking. “It’s just something for…you know, letting me stay here and for watching out for me…and…well…you know…”

The blond man was speechless as he tore off the paper and opened the box. Inside was a silver medallion in the shape of a growling wolf. “Wow…”

“That looks really expensive,” Gabumon X said, staring at it.

“It…it wasn’t….”

Yamato shook his head. “I can’t accept this. I mean, I helped you because, well, you know…I wanted to…”

“Please,” she said, “Just…you know…think of me whenever you wear it…”

Yamato began to blush as he slid it over his neck. “Thank you.”

The two young adults stared at each other in silence for a full five minutes before Gabumon X lightly pulled on Yamato’s pant leg. “Taichi and the others are waiting….”

The blond man blinked a few times. “Oh…uh…right…Um, thank you for the gift, and…you know…”

“Sure,” she nodded, “Just…be careful…”

“I will,” he replied. He gave a final smile before exiting. Gabumon X gave his farewell and left as well.

Noriko sighed deeply and turned to her partner, who was grinning wildly. “What the hell is your problem?”

Plotmon shook her head. “Nothing!”

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Schmidt and Osborn entered the inner sanctum of the Demon Lords. The Security General of the Chosen Council entered with his hands behind his back, while his chief assistant was carrying a thick manila folder. Four of the chairs were empty, as the Demon Hunter Karetu and his Beelzebubmon partner, the Demon Vizer Shiokuro and his Barbamon partner, the Demon Princess Amikyo and her Leviamon partner, and the Demon Watcher Enk and his Belphamon partner were out with the Chosen Council, leaving only the Demon General Seiduka and his Demon partner, the Demon Queen Asro and her Lilithmon partner and the Demon King Cahiti and his Lucemon partner.

“Excuse me,” Schmidt said.

“Yes,” Cahiti asked, “What is it?”

“As per our agreement, you wanted all the information we had on the Digitalatri.” He nodded at Osborn, who handed the Taichi-double the manila folder.

He nodded. “Thank you.”

The two Chosen Council members nodded and exited the room.

“We’ve got the info on those religious mistakes?” Seiduka asked.

“Yes,” Cahiti said, “But for the moment I think it would be better if we focused on Takenouchi and Rupert.”

“We’ve got to get them to give up their energies, right?” Lucemon asked.

“Yes, Cahiti said, “And I think I have the perfect plan in mind. They resist because they have hope. We must break their spirits.”

“How?” Demon asked.

“We will bring them the heads of the X-Chosen.”

“Destruction and death?” Seiduka asked, “Finally?”

The Demon King nodded. “Yes. Only their deaths will do.”

“Oh please, Lord Cahiti,” Asro said, crossing her legs in her small seat, “Let me handle this.”

He nodded. “Go and don’t fail. We believe they are in the city of Namu, visiting Mina there.”

Asro licked her lips. “This will be fun.” She mentioned to her partner, “Come Lilithmon.”

Her digimon partner gave a similar smile as she stood behind her partner. Both females vanished in a burst of red light.

---------------------

The X-Chosen arrived in the Digital World an hour later in the Digital city of Namu, although it was hard for them to believe it was the same city. Where once there stood hundreds, if not, thousands of Infected Chosen, now the streets were all but deserted. “What the hell happened here?” Yamato asked.

“The Chosen Council’s Execute Order #045. They moved all of the Chosen in this city to one of their Relocation Centers.”

The X-Chosen turned around and saw Mina and her Candmon standing in the doorway to a decrepit building. “Hey, Mina,” Taichi said, “What’s up?”

She bowed in respect. “Good afternoon. I have something I think you should see, please follow me.”

They began to file behind her, and Hikari noticed that beneath her long flowing braid was a strange mark on the back of her neck. “Oh no,” she gasped, running over to her, “Mina, they marked you too?”

She nodded. “They marked all of us, every Chosen infected with BD-2.” She sighed deeply, “I just feel so….I don’t feel like Mina Ashiawayra, I feel like #DI397. I don’t feel like a human being any more, I just feel like a number.”

“You’re more then a number,” she said, “You know that!”

“Damn it,” Taichi swore, clenching his fists, “Once we get rid of Digitalatri and the Demon Lords, that Council’s going down!”

“The Council’s working with the Demon Lords,” Yamato growled, “They sold us out, and I want to know why.”

“And now the Digital World is dying,” Jyou sighed, “The Southern Ocean is moving anymore, all the plants in the West are dead, there’s no wind in the East and the North looks like is permanent night.”

“You know,” Gomamon X said, “Has anyone else noticed how quickly this happened? I mean, right after the Council started rounding up Infected Chosen.”

“Yeah, that is weird,” Michael said, “But do we really think the Council had something to do with that?”

“I bet it’s their partners,” Yamato sneered, “Seiduka and the others….”

Mimi turned to him, but instead of focusing on his face, she saw the medallion hanging around his neck. “Where did you get that?”

He grabbed it and lightly rubbed it. “This?”

“Wow, that looks beautiful,” Palmon X said.

“Where did you get that from?” Hikari asked.

Yamato was stammering for an explanation, so Gabumon X answered for him. “Noriko gave it to him.”

“Noriko?” Taichi asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Yes,” he said, blushing slightly, “So what?”

He raised his hands. “Hey, I was just asking…”

Mina chuckled. “Ah, it is good to hear such life in this city…” her smile faded, “If it is only heard by us….”

Hikari placed a hand on her shoulder. “Mina…”

The Indian woman smiled as they arrived at her home in the Digital World. “But, we will overcome this, no matter what. If from your optimism and kindness, if nothing else. Please, come inside.”

“Where is everyone else?” Yamato asked.

The Indian woman sighed. “They have been taken by the Council, to be marked and perhaps sent to a relocation center.”

“I’m sorry.”

She brought them into her home and led them through the halls until they arrived at a large room containing a multitude of artifacts of all shapes and sizes, statues and objects, paintings and books. She mentioned to a large tablet on the table. “Please, this is what I would like you to see.”

The table was a large, pool-table size, and the tablet was a little under half that size. It was covered with writing of odd symbols and characters. The upper portion was whole, but the bottom half was crumbling to dust. “What exactly is this?” Agumon X asked.

“Well,” Mina explained, “Keeya described the object on the Demon King’s arm and it sounded somewhat familiar to me, so I examined some of the legends I have collected concerning the Digital World and I believe I found an answer in this tablet….”

Her Candmon interrupted, ”It was found on the beach of the Western Continent. We think it even come from the Center Island.”

“Where the First Chosen were, right?” Mimi asked.

“According to the Machina Codex,” Taichi mumbled.

“Oh yes,” Mina nodded. “Yamato told me what had happened. I am sorry for your mother. How is she doing?”

“Okay for now,” Hikari smiled slightly.

“I am sure she will be fine,” Mina smiled. She turned her attention back to the tablet. “As I was saying, this tablet describes a device called the ‘Soul Catcher,’ which was used by a Murmixmon, who was the King of Ceria. He used it to steal the energy from the First Chosen, which made them easier to conquer.”

“And just so I understand,” Michael said, “Ceria was the capital of Cer, which was Nightsun, the place where we went to help Yuri, right?”

“Yeah,” Taichi said, “Miayag conquered the whole city just to get the Machina Codex and that Staff of Yuushi.”

“This tablet also mentions that Staff,” Mina said. She ran her finger along the symbols, “Here, To each of the Chosen, a weapon of might and bravery was given to them, A Katana of Fire for Hidieto, a Slingshot of Water for Amanda, a Bow of Wind for Alexi, a Shield of Earth for Adelio, a Rapier of Darkness for Fai, an Air Gun of Light for Zorion, Twin Swords of Metal for Zorion, and a Spear of Forest for Alem, and for Yuushi, the mightiest and bravest, the ultimate Staff was given, a weapon of power and energy, comprising the power of all other weapons. While the weapons of the other Chosen contained powers over the structure of the Digital World, Yuushi’s Staff held abilities far above the others, all mountains crumbled at his might, the earth shook and the heavens trembled…”

“Great,” Jyou sighed, “And this is what Miayag has?”

“We’ve got to level the playing field somehow,” Betamon X said.

“We need to get our hands on some of those other weapons,” Yamato said, “Where are they?”

Mina shook her head. “The passage I just read you was copied word for word from the Machina Codex, the tablet says so, but this tablet was meant to be a…list of sorts, for where certain artifacts were hidden.” She mentioned to the destroyed section of the tablet, “As you can see, most of the text is missing, so we don’t know where most of the weapons are, but the location of Hidieto’s Katana of Fire and Fai’s Air Guns of Darkness are recorded here.”

“Really?” Hikari asked, “Can you tell us where?”

Mina smiled broadly. “I can do better then that, I can take you to them.”

“You can?” Plotmon X asked.

Mina’s Candmon smiled. “We kinda figured you were going to ask for them, so we went and got them.”

“You did?” Mimi gasped.

“Yes,” Mina smiled, “We discovered the Katana hidden in the volcanic region of the Western Continent and the Guns in the caverns of the Southern Continent.”

“Cool,” Taichi grinned, “So, they’re here?”

“You bet,” Candmon said.

Mina mentioned to the door. “Please follow me.”

The Indian woman walked over to another table, this one containing two objects wrapped tightly in white tissue-like paper. She gently placed her hands on the objects. “Here, these are the weapons.”

Mina and her Candmon slowly removed the paper to reveal the ancient items. The Sword of Hidieto was a katana sword with an orange blade and red flames adoring the hilt. The Airgun of Lucien resembled a hand-gun sized double-barreled shotgun of bright white color.

“Wow,” Taichi said. He reached for the sword and lifted it in his hand. He executed a downward thrust with the blade, causing the other X-Chosen to jump back, covering their heads with their arms.

“Are you sure it’s a good idea for Taichi to get that?” Mimi asked.

“Oh calm down,” he said, swinging the weapon again, “It’s just going to take me a little bit to get use to it…”

“What about the other one?” Jyou asked.

The other X-Chosen glanced at each other, but it was Hikari who suggested what they were thinking. “Yamato gets the guns.”

“Me?” the blond man asked, “Why do I get them?”

“Because you just do,” she said.

“I think Hikari’s right,” Mimi said, “You and Taichi would look after them and use them to kick those Demon Lords’ butts!”

Yamato only shrugged and lifted the weapon in his hands. He glanced over at Taichi. “But what do they actually do?”

“Remember what Miayag did with that staff?” Agumon X asked, “She merged her digivice with it?”

Taichi and Yamato glanced at each other, then reached for the X-modified digivices. They held them over their weapons, and after a bright flash of light, the digivices and the weapons merged together. The Sword of Hidieto looked similar, except the digivice screen, along with the buttons, had appeared on the sword’s hilt, while Yamato’s digivice had become attached to the end of the barrel of the Airgun of Lucien.

“All right,” Michael said, grinning, “Now we’re talking.”

“We just need to figure out how to use them,” Yamato said.

“But what now?” Palmon X asked.

Taichi sighed. “Now we go topple some Relocation Centers

“Maria and Iduia?” Mimi asked, hopefully.

“That’s right,” Taichi nodded.

“What about Catherine and Sora?” Yamato asked.

The busy-haired young man sighed deeply. “There’s not much we can do about that until we know where they are.”

“But, we don’t know where Iduia and Maria are either,” Jyou pointed out.

“I know,” Taichi said, “But we do know that Zeradza and Ausata have been commandeered, so we should just start there.”

“I guess if that’s the best idea we’ve got…”

The young man nodded, then turned to Mina. “I think you should head to Tokyo, tell Noriko we sent you.”

She nodded. “Yes, thank you. Perhaps I shall do that.”

The X-Chosen exited house but stopped short when a burst of red light suddenly exploded a few feet in front of them, revealing two of the infamous Demon Lords. The X-Chosen gasped loudly, but only Taichi was able to speak. “Asro,” he sneered.

“And Lilithmon,” Agumon X said.

The Sora-double chuckled and ran a hand through her long red hair. “You remembered me? Well, then again, I didn’t really expect you to forget me.”

Hikari turned to Mina. “Use the Digi-port in the city to get to Earth. Go quick.”

The Indian woman nodded. “Good luck.” She and her Candmon ran from the battlefield and vanished into the abandoned city.

“What do you want?” Yamato asked, turning his attention back to Asro.

The Demon Queen pointed her finger at them. “I have been order by Lord Cahiti to destroy you and bring him your heads.”

“Where’s Sora and Catherine?” Taichi shouted.

Asro shook her head. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you, but…” She licked her lips, “If you really want to know…”

“You’re disgusting!” Mimi shouted, “I mean, seriously!”

“Oh really?” she asked, turning to her, “You’re one to talk. I heard you were sleeping around when you were 16.”

Michael stared at her, while his wife stammered out a reply. “Y...yeah, but it was with the man I’m spending the rest of my life with!”

“Well,” she grinned, “You’ve certainly got the body for it, if you’re bored with men, come and give me a call.”

Mimi shivered.

Asro crossed her arms, but slightly pulled up on them to make her large breasts even bigger. “So, I know this is a stupid question to ask, but you’re not going to surrender, are you?”

“Not a chance,” Taichi responded.

The Demon Queen shrugged. “I didn’t think so. Oh well, might as well get this over with…”

“Wait,” Yamato said, “I want to know something.”

“Go ahead, sexy, ask me whatever you want.”

“Seiduka told me that he had the Crest of Wrath, what about you?”

“You can’t figure it out?” she chuckled, “I hold the Crest of Lust.”

“Figures,” Mimi muttered.

“Lust?” Yamato asked, “When did Sora…”

Asro smirked. “I’m surprised you don’t know. It was Christmas of 2002, and it was with you.”

Taichi gave the blond man an angry expression, but Yamato did not realize it. He was too focused on Asro. “Me? What are you talking about?”

“Your Christmas Concert, Yamato. It was there that you and Sora began your two-year relationship. While she did care for you during those two years, that night she did not love you, but wanted you. She lusted for you, Yamato, stronger then anything she had felt before, and it was enough for the Crest of Lust to be created!” She through open her red cape to reveal that she was wearing a tight fitting black leather mini-skirt, a strapless red shirt, and fish-net stockings that were held by clearly visible garters.

“Wait a second,” Jyou said, “Each of you Demon Lords have a Crest too? And it’s a crest that’s been corrupted from our original ones?”

“That’s right, hunky,” Asro said.

“But, there are only seven of you,” Hikari said, “There’s no….no Crest of Darkness?”

Asro sighed. “Unfortunately, no. Dear Hikari, you have never had an evil thought in your entire life. You’re just too perfect. You’ve got a perfect outlook on life and…” She grinned, “Not mention the cutest body I’ve ever seen.”

“Stop doing that!” Mimi shouted.

She shrugged. “Well, let’s just get started, shall we?” She nodded at Lilithmon, who strode forward in a sexual waltz. The demon woman’s right hand was kept hidden within the folds of her purple robe, but she used her left hand to waved seductively. “Come on, come and get me.”

The X-digimon quickly evolved to their adult states and began to charge forward. Tylomon X, Tailmon X and Togemon X lead the attack, brimming with energy, ready for their next evolution. However, Lilithmon leapt into the air and breathed out a blast of blackness that enveloped the three X-digimon, causing them to instantly write and scream in pain.

“Phantom Pain,” she chuckled.

“Oh no!” Hikari gasped, “Tailmon!”

“Greymon!” Taichi shouted, “Watch out for that attack!”

“Evolve us again,” Garurumon X, “Quick!”

Greymon X, Garurumon X, and Seadramon X quickly evolved to their Fully Evolved forms. Lilithmon leapt into the air once again.

“She’s gonna use that attack again!” Taichi warned, “Get out of the way!”

Their partners instantly obeyed and scattered. Lilithmon’s attack struck the ground and the dark mist dissipated harmlessly. The demon woman did not stop to pause, she twisted her attention to Metalgreymon X and shot towards him, slamming her foot into his stomach.

Metalgreymon X hissed as a sharp pain shot through his abdomen. Lilithmon chuckled to herself as she pulled her fist out of his stomach. "I'm sorry," she said, “But it did give me a chance to feel that solid chest of yours…”

He roared at her and was about to attack with his metal arm, but she executed a back flip, striking him in the underside of the chin. She laughed, and was about to jab him with her decayed arm when Weregarurumon X appeared behind her and slammed into her head with his fists. She twirled around, smacking him with her leg. He was disoriented, but managed to get a decent punch into her face, knocking her backwards.

Megaseadramon X took this opportunity to attack by rolling his body into a ball and uncoiling with such force into Lilithmon’s back that she arched in pain. He batted his head into her back, then jabbed her with his horn, deep into her back.

“Nice job,” Michael grinned.

Lilithmon’s began to twitch, and, remarkably impossible, she twisted her head completely around. The serpent was in shock and she spewed out her Phantom Pain once more, effectively enveloping the water digimon. He screamed in pain and fell lifelessly to the ground.

“Megaseadramon!” Michael shouted.

Jyou, who was closer to the group of fallen digimon, could see the serpent twitching slightly, as was Tylomon X, Togemon X and Tailmon X. “Michael, he’s still alive!”

“Of course,” Asro chuckled, “Lilithmon’s Phantom Pain attack only curses her opponents, making them unable to fight,” Her smile turned to a wicked smirked, “And you haven’t seen her greatest power…”

The demon woman stood still while Metalgreymon X and Weregarurumon X jumped to either side of her. She glanced from side to side, humming a silent song in her mind, ending the final note on the large wolf. She shot at him, slamming her fist into his jaw. He stumbled backwards, but still managed to scratch her on her left hand with his own formidable claws. He attacked with the claws on his other hand, striking her face.

She jumped backwards, rubbing her injured jaw. She could sense Metalgreymon X sneak up behind her, and ducked just in time to avoid being slammed in the back of her head with his metal arm. She rolled out of the way, and used her arms to push herself into the air, where she attacked again by spinning her feet into Metalgreymon X’s head.

“Come on,” Hikari said, darting her attention from her injured Tailmon X, to her brother’s digimon, “Come on…”

While Metalgreymon X and Lilithmon continued to battle, Weregarurumon X snuck around to attack her from behind, but she once again realized the wolf was coming. She darted out of the way at the right time, and the wolf’s Kaiser Nail attack managed to hit the dinosaur in the chest.

“Damn it!” Yamato swore, pulling at his hair.

Asro yawned, obviously extremely bored. “Let’s get this over with, all right?”

Lilithmon grinned maliciously. “Finally.” She used her left hand to grab her robes and pull them aside, revealing her right arm. It was decayed, cracking and covered with gold webs of melting flesh, and long, webbed claws for hands.

Hikari had to turn her attention away, while Mimi placed her hands over her mouth. “I think I’m gonna big sick…”

“I don’t like the look of that arm!” Taichi shouted, “Stay away from it!”

The demon woman swung the decayed arm in front of her. “Take this, Nazar Nail!” She shot at Metalgreymon X’s chest, but he darted out of the way at the last second, and her claws slashed at his organic arm. He screamed in pain as his arm began to gangrene and turn a blackish yellow color.

“Metlagreymon!” Taichi shouted.

His dinosaur stumbled backwards and the demon woman turned her attention to Weregarurumon X. He narrowed his eyes, watching her movements carefully. It was his intention to leap out of the way to avoid her attack. However, her speed seemed to have surprisingly increased as she was able to dig her claws deep into his chest. There was an explosion of the same golden light and he roared with pain and aguish. When the light faded, Gabumon X was lying unconscious beneath her feet.

“Gabumon? Gabumon!”

Lilithmon smirked triumphantly. She heard a strange clicking noise from behind her and she realized that Taichi’s digimon partner had not regressed in any level, but was still at Metalgreymon X, and was about to fire his Giga Destroyer attack. She did not move and allowed the dinosaur to attack. However, once the missilies were close enough, she leapt into the air and grabbed both of them beneath her arms. She used the momentum of the attack to twist around and threw the missiles into Mina’s large house, destroying the front section, causing an explosion of wood, smoke and shrapnel.

The X-Chosen watched in horror as the large house began to teeter over. “Run!” Taichi shouted, even though he knew that it would be no use. The roof of the house simply reached too high, they would not escape in time.

After yelling the retreat, the bushy-haired young man stopped running was Asro appeared in front of him. Without warning she grabbed the goggles on his head and yanked them off, breaking the elastic.

“I’m taking these,” she chuckled before she and Lilithmon vanished in a burst of red light.

The house continued to teeter until gravity grabbed hold of it, and pulled it to the ground, burring the X-Chosen and their injured partner within a landslide of wood, concrete and debris. The sound was deafening, but was unheard as the entire city of Namu had been vacated by the Chosen Council.

--------------------

Inside of the Demon Lords’ base, Sora, Catherine, and their partners were dragged from their cell to a room containing only a simple table, and a few chairs. Cahiti and Asro were standing in this room, their arms buried beneath their colored cloaks. All four females stared defiantly at their captors.

“How are you feeling today, my dears?” Cahiti asked.

“How the hell do you think?” Sora spat.

The Demon King chuckled. “Yes…yes…well, this treatment can all stop very easily…”

“You want our powers, right?” Sora asked, “Well, we’re not giving them to you.”

He stared at her, and the redhead could not help but shiver at seeing Taichi’s face speaking to her like that. “You’re still expecting to be rescued, aren’t you?”

“We are going to be rescued!” Piyomon shouted.

He shook his head. “I’m sorry, but that is no longer true.”

“What are you talking about?” Sora asked.

Cahiti nodded at Asro. The Demon Queen fished her hands out from beneath her red cloak and threw an object onto the table. The four females stared in horror at the object-a pair of blue goggles, cracked and covered with blood.

Cahiti nodded slightly. “Taichi Yagami, and his X-Chosen, are dead.”

To be continued…..