He stood outside the Game Room, in the midst of the vast ôGardens of Babylonö. This was because, for this short moment, his soul was an untouchable fortress.
For this short moment, the Game Room did not exist.
ôI seeàö Takato muttered sadly, his hands reaching for a rapidly shriveling pink rose. ôSo this is really my soulàö
Brown leaves and dead petals were swept away by a chilling breeze. All around him, he could see the flowers, the fragments of his soul, the pieces of Matsuda Takato, rapidly falling apart. The Gardens had been in decadence for years already, ever since he first stepped in their once immaculate roads. He had just vastly accelerated the process.
It was the Degradation of his soul, the natural consequence of all the unnatural things he had done ever since he discovered the power within him.
ôItÆs okayàö he said to himself. ôSoon, the Degradation will not be an issue anymore.ö
There was a flicker of gold.
ôTakato.ö
His chest tickled at that beloved voice, and he cursed his weak mind for torturing him so.
ôGuilmonàö
Of course, this was but a projection. An image built on his precious memories of the one he had called partner.
ôTakatoàö the large Reptile Digimon purred as he rubbed his snout against the boyÆs chest. Takato did not hesitate to return his partnerÆs affection and placed his arms around GuilmonÆs neck, pushing him closer.
ôTakato.ö
It was a faint voice, coming from far away. Takato found her in the distance, vaguely distinguishable, standing near the horizon, her long ponytail dancing madly in the breeze. Even from so far away, he could see her hands planted on her hips. She stood as proud and strong as he remembered her.
ôOnee-chan.ö
Even from so far away, he could feel her smile.
ôI think itÆs the first time you call me by my name, onee-chan,ö he said as he chuckled.
He turned his attention briefly to Guilmon, finding bliss in the DigimonÆs enjoyment of his tender ministrations.
ôIàI guess in the end, IÆve done nothing but disappoint you two.ö
Takato shook his head, ignoring his rapidly watering eyes.
ôIÆm not the strong person you believed I was, onee-chan, Guilmon. I wasànot able to live the way you wanted me to.ö
His eyes sought that precious person in the distance.
ôBut I have to do this. To defeat Lucemon, once and for all.ö
Guilmon looked up at his TamerÆs teary eyes when he felt TakatoÆs tender touch replaced by a desperate grip.
ôIt has to be me! There will not be another player!ö
His head fell on the nape of GuilmonÆs neck.
ôSoàsoàö
What was he expecting? He did not know.
But he trembled when a hand fell on his hair, stroking it gently.
ôItÆs okayàö
Takato sobbed in GuilmonÆs neck. Her voiceàhe still remembered her voice.
Everything about her, heà!
ôUm! ItÆs okay,ö the Digimon echoed the girl, allowing his Tamer to cry on his hard skin. ôI believe in Takato, so itÆs okay!ö
ôAah,ö the girl with the beloved voice spoke over him. ôLive your life however you want to, Takato. Just live it with pride.ö
He snorted at the joke probably only he and she understood.
ôOur pride. Not his.ö
ôUmu!ö the girl assented passionately.
He wanted to laugh. He knew they were just fakes. They appeared because his soul called out to them, and their words were merely the words he wanted to hear. Still, he abandoned himself to this final delusion.
He was, after all, only human.
Takato hugged his partner desperately, and allowed the girl behind him to wrap him in her warmth.
ôIÆm sorry, GuilmonàI loved you, but I still used youàö
ôItÆs okay,ö the Digimon repeated. ôI believe in you. I was happy to be together with you.ö
ôIÆm sorry, onee-chanàI loved you, but I couldnÆt save youàö
ôItÆs okay,ö the girl whispered, tenderly, lovingly. It was a tone he had only heard in her last moments. ôI was happy to live the life I lived. Even if only you can remember meàthat is enough.ö
Takato sniffed, trying his best not to look any more pathetic than he did already.
ôIàI loved you, you know. Before Katou-san, you were my firstàö
The girl chuckled merrily.
ôàstupid shrimp. You were born too late.ö
Takato chuckled.
ôYou were born too early, onee-chan.ö
There was a pause, as Takato realized there was nothing more to be said.
ôI have to go.ö
ôUm!ö Guilmon nodded happily. ôDo your best, Takato!ö
ôNo biggie!ö the older girl added. ôBeat the monster, save the girl, fix the doll. You can do that.ö
Takato made a strange face at the choice of words, but said nothing before pulling away from the two figments of his imagination. Their shapes weakened and became faded as he allowed the power to course his body. The Lucemon data in the card was integrated with his own, finding matching sections of his own personal code and rewriting them.
Matsuda Takato was not Lucemon. However, his personal code was as close to LucemonÆs as it could be without it actually being LucemonÆs.
No.
It was the other way around, wasnÆt it?
ôBye-bye,ö he said, allowing himself one last smile. The two figures returned him eagerly before becoming nothingness, and then the Gardens, too, were flooded with light.
****************************************
Small flakes of glowing data bits floated around the clearing in the park; fragments of the shattered cocoon. It made for a beautiful sight, but the Tamers only had eyes for what had been revealed. First that earthquake, and now this.
ôOhàthisà.this is not goodàö Hirokazu muttered, and the others had to bitterly agree.
Three of them.
There were three of them now.
Justimon wondered just how they would get out of this one.
ôDamn it, Terriermon was right: where the hellÆs that Impmon when you need him?ö GuardromonÆs partner loudly insisted. Ryo thought it was rather annoying.
AntiramonÆs eyes were fixated on the three almost-identical figures, which allowed Shiuchon to scan them with her Analyzer.
ôChaosDukemon Red. A Dark Knight Digimon at the Ultimate Level. Virus Type. A ChaosDukemon that has been optimized for defense with a new armor of Red Chrome Digizoid.ö
ôChaosDukemon Blue. Dark Knight Digimon, Ultimate Level, Virus Type. A ChaosDukemon that has been optimized for speed with a new armor of Blue Chrome Digizoid.ö
ôChaosDukemon Gold. Dark Knight Digimon, Ultimate Level, Virus Type. A ChaosDukemon optimized for offensive power with a new armor of Gold Chrome Digizoid.ö
ôThey all have the same special attacks: DemonÆs Disaster and Judecca Prison.ö
Where once only black had been seen, highlights of their respective namesake colors covered parts of their entire armors, in addition to the parts which had been blue in the original ChaosDukemon. The sides of their breastplates, the pommel of their lances and the outer circumference of their shields had been re-colored in this way. Furthermore, the Zero Unit which adorned DukemonÆs Aegis had been replaced by the bleak and ominous radiance of the Crest of Pride.
Ryo was still pondering their next course of action when the ground under the three ChaosDukemonÆs feet wavered and distorted in a familiar way.
ôIs thatà?ö
ôItÆs a Gate,ö Ryo answered ShiuchonÆs incomplete question, but otherwise mutely watched as the three ChaosDukemon sunk into the ground as they were pulled into the foggy, murky depths.
It was a strange Gate; normally they would be able to see more on the other side besides fog and darkness. It was somewhat disturbing.
ôPhew!ö Hirokazu sighed as he slumped on the grass. ôWell, that was convenient.ö
ôToo convenient.ö
Of all people, it was Guardromon who said those words. MarinAngemon, who rested on the bulky robotÆs head, apparently chirped in agreement.
While Shiuchon seemed to be confused by the statement, Ryo could only agree. For that kind of threat to show up just to depart without doing a thing was not normal. This whole situation had never been normal. Something, or someone, was obviously behind this unusual script.
His thoughts traveled to Ruki and Jenrya. He had a really bad feeling about this, and his worry for the missing Tamers was increasing rapidly.
And then the eastern horizon shone with a radiant gold that filled the sky.
It was something Shiuchon, Hirokazu and their partners had seen once before, but the magnitude this time could not begin to be compared. The city, already mostly paralyzed by the latest Digimon crisis, reached absolute stillness as every single person with a means to watch the sky was almost blinded by the radiance.
ôRyo!ö Hirokazu exclaimed, eager to move but not willing to do so on his own.
ôNii-sanàö the small girl muttered achingly, suddenly fearing for her siblingÆs fate.
The Legendary Tamer nodded to himself. There was nothing else for them in the park.
ôLetÆs move.ö