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[shivdeeviant]

Shiv felt like he was being made a fool of. The tall Indian God Digimon spoke in such broken Old English that Shiv felt he had to be doing it on purpose to make fun of the chosen or something. He had read plenty of Shakespeare in his English class, and those words seemed to beautifully cascade off the lips. This, Asuramon (nice touch there, very subtle) was it, spoke in such unnecessary prose that it gave Shiv a headache. He was massaging the bridge of his nose when the air of the room suddenly changed. Inori, of all people, bolted out of the room, leaving the group in an awkward silence, which Wizardmon promptly broke with his condolences. He turned and chased after his partner. Almost as soon as he was out the door, Shiv was on the move as well.

Still without his shoes, Shiv took off after the errant wizard. Unfortunately, Wizardmon's speed and ability to fly coupled with Shiv's lack of traction rendered Shiv at a disadvantage in his pursuits. He slid around a corner, his hand over Yang's mouth to keep the mischievous blob silent. Shiv continued cautiously, slowly, his feet making nary a sound on the tiled floor. Shiv stretched his senses as far as he could, and he thought he could hear talking at the end of the hall. As he got closer, he could make out the words.

"...hate them all! Every one of them! All those horrible people who make me feel like this!" Inori's voice was pained and hurting, and Shiv stopped his progression, sliding over to the wall. He heard Inori's words, and a churning of emotion he long thought deadened by years of constant torture and abuse by those bigger than he. Sympathy that she had gone through similar crap as he. Joy that he wasn't alone in this world of bullies and victims. Anger that others had picked on her at all. She was a girl! Had they no honor or pride?! Yang started to turn blue, and Shiv realized that he was holding him too tightly. He let up slightly, just enough to let his partner breath again, but not enough for him to make noise. The slight distraction caused him to realize that the tone in the room had changed.

Wizardmon was in pain.

Shiv's curiosity and alarm suddenly hit the ceiling. He strained his hearing, Inori was not the kind of person who could probably cause Wizardmon physical pain, and there was a sudden drop in temperature as Inori ranted. It was proper to guess that her Digivice would react to such a thing as well. Somehow, her emotions were transferring to Wizardmon, and it was causing him a great deal of discomfort.

Inori gasped.

Shiv ran.

He barreled down the hall, feet padding softly on the floor. Tears burned his eyes. He turned in the general direction of where the chosen were, but he wasn't sure. When he stopped running and took stock of where was, he realized that nothing around him looked familiar.

He was lost.

[Atlas Jiruga]

Renal was staring at Asuramon as he spoke and then left. "Hey Atlas, i think we are supposed to follow him." Renal said stating the obvious. "Really? What was your first clue?" Atlas said. "Well-" Renal said but was cut off when Inori ran past him and Atlas. After her came Wizardmon and then Shiv.

"I'm guessing they're in a hurry." Renal said a little confused about what just happened. Atlas just shrugged and began to walk out. Renal followed. "What do you think he wants?" Renal asked. "I don't know that's why we are going to go see him." Atlas said.

[Usachan]

Usa had gone to change and blinked in surprise as when she came back there were three people gone, as well as digimon partners. She put her goggles back on her head and slipped the D-Touch into her pocket. "What did I miss?"

Vee looked at her. "Let's see, the other girl human ran out after yelling, the wizard digimon ran after her, the boy with the Motimon ran after them and then Renal and Atlas went out the door." He shrugged.

Mikemon tilted her head then shrugged. "If ye all would follow me, best not to keep Master Asuramon waiting." She turned and started to walk down the hall, opposite the way Inori had went.

Usa picked up her backpack, slung it on her shoulder, picked up Kulumon, and followed Mikemon.

[Teo Sage]

Mikemon led the group in the center room which was dark for the most part the room was insanely massive it looked to hold well over a capacity of 1,500 people, or well digimon it looked to have once been a church of some kind. The ceiling was held by massive pillars, ancient Greek styled, that just seemed to be endless as you followed them upward they were covered in a pale gold that in some spots still seemed to sparkle in the dim candle light. Only two were lit towards the front of the room.

The ceiling was just as impressive as it curved inward forming a pyramid shaped structure. It once held beautiful crystal chandeliers from the front of the room to the back, you could only tell that because their was only one that was still in tact, the others were all either broken or just a chain that held nothing at all well if they could see it through the dark.

The floor was tiled but there were cracks just about everywhere the pews where in rows but their was a reasonable gap between each row, to the naked eye about fifteen inches between each which defines the definition of the pure size of the room in total dark or not.

The pews though most of them collapsed others missing the ones that were untouched was a spiders paradise thick thick cobwebs that almost looked like a blanket covered most of them the others covered in dust.

As the group would make their way further into the room they can see what the candles were meant to be illuminating. The alter. That is where Asuramon could be seen kneel down at the base of the alter almost as if he were praying. The alter seemed to be the cleanest let alone newest looking section of the some what dark room. It had a white silk cloth covering the five steps that led up to a sort of broken pedestal with a vase of wilted flowers sitting a top it. Laid out down the middle of the silk cloth underneath the pedestal was a rug that appeared to be middle eastern in nature.

It was to dark to make out the walls and there did not appear to be any windows but what truly caught the eye was the stained glass that seemed to be the focus of the room just behind the altar it reached as far as the light would show. Within the light it appeared to be just a visible body of a golden snake? No it had legs and a set of claws to go with it and a tail perhaps a dragon? Just the lower body was visible in the dim light so it was hard to tell. That and the glass had cracks nearly reaching each end. Aside from the cruddy architecture through out the room was blood freezing cold in need of a warmth that seemed non-existent.

Teo was not so interested in the cold as he was to busy worrying about the creepiness of the room it just seemed like a ghost would come flying at them.

Yami was catching a ride on Teo's head and looking at what he could see "Gosh either something died in here or Teo you really need a bath.............I'm going to go with the latter." Yami looked ahead just as Asuramon began to speak.

"Dost thou wish me to anger? Why hath only fourth of the chosen come to bear an audience with me? We shall not begin till the rest come hither." Asuramon said with out turning once to face them. "Mikemon fetch the others so that we may begin." Asuramon ordered.

Teo looked at Usa then to the others then Yami popped his head in Teo's vision. "Geez, what bit his butt?" Yami said. "Quiet Yami! Don't start anything I don't want to make Asuramon angry at us!" Teo said.

Yami shrugged "yea yea." He said then went back to his perch on Teo's head.

[Dante]

Dante had followed the little calico silently, figuring that the sooner he figured out what the heck was going on, the sooner he could make an intelligent decision about it. He also figured that Inori needed to be left alone, even though Shiv was likely being dumb and following her. Deciding that once she thumped him they'd both be along, Dante followed without another thought spared over it.

When they entered a ruined cathedral looking room, he stopped. It was a bit impressive, to be sure. When the place had been in good repair, Dante was sure it would have been more impressive still. Most of the intricacies of the cathedral's design were lost on him, but what he didn't miss stopped him cold once more. Suddenly he recognized why Asuramon's bizarre layout had seemed so familiar. The guy was pretty much a straight rip from Hindu mythology. The irony struck him all at once. A Hindu deity knelt on a Persian rug praying before a Catholic altar to a Pagan symbol of strength. Holy culture smash, batmon.

All of a sudden, nary a single movement to announce its coming, Asuramon spoke, and he wasn't pleased. The little piece of crap digimon said what everyone was thinking, and was silenced by his partner. While Dante wasn't a fan of the little boy or his little piece of crap digimon, he had to admit that both of them had points. The big crazy unintelligible guy was irrationally angry at the moment, and they really should avoid making him angry. Dante somehow doubted they had sufficient power to take the guy down should he become hostile. It wasn't until the little calico started moving to go about whatever the big palooka had said that he started to realize what had transpired. Apparently Inori and Shiv were slow in joining them.

That's odd... he mused.

Salamon's thoughts were profoundly less...well, profound. The room was big and dark, and at the lit end was a very large digimon who seemed to reek of wisdom. The big guy wanted all the children present for whatever it was he was about to say, and to that end had dispatched her doppelganger, who was only just beginning to respond, to go fetch the others.

"Nickel for your thoughts, Dante?" she asked, aiming to kill some time.

"Penny," he responded absently while he considered the room.

"Who's Penny?" she asked, confused.

Dante chuckled in spite of himself.

"No, dear. You got the expression wrong. It's 'Penny for your thoughts.'"

"Oh," she said, pondering this revelation, "Penny for your thoughts?"

"Just looking around," he replied, "This is a very large room, and most of it isn't lit. What do you suppose it used to be for?"

"Used to be? What do you mean? Who'd want to use a room like this?"

"I'm under the assumption that it wasn't always dark and wrecked, although I admit in a world like this one that's not necessarily valid."

"True," she admitted. Her world was a strange one. "I guess people prayed here once upon a time. If I had to guess, that stained glass window is meant to represent one of the sovereigns."

The two continued to muse in this fashion until and unless interrupted by something more interesting.

[Inori]

"I told you it would work." Wizardmon's voice came from just outside the room not too horribly long after Asuramon sent Mikemon to locate the stragglers.

Inori stepped into the room, digivice in hand, and grinning sheepishly. Her digivice seemed to have served a very useful purpose in leading her to the others.

"I uh...needed to get something out of my system, so to speak." She stated to nobody in particular, shoving her digivice back into her pocket. "Sorry if I held anything up."

The girl looked to the others in the room, noting idly that Shiv was not in the room. She glanced to her partner, who shrugged and lead her over towards Dante and Salamon.


Alchemon meanwhile...was more then happy to remain outside the room, slinking about in the shadows like the creepy virus he was.

[shivdeeviant]

Shiv walked slowly through the dilapidated ruins of the corridor, unsure what might lurk in the dark recesses of the adjoining rooms. The tiles were becoming more cracked and worn as he continued on, as though something heavy walked before Shiv had. Dust caked every surface, turning Shiv's socks brown and dirty even as they billowed behind him. This placed smelled of age and abandonment, the old echoes of life almost visible in the dead air. The silence was oppressive, almost as if it sought out and consumed any sound it found. Shiv felt smothered, the walls, the silence was closing around him, pressing in on him.

"Hrk!" Yang said, turning blue again.

Shiv started, dropping his partner. The young in-training digimon fell to the ground with a squeak. He drew a deep gasp upon coming to a stop, followed quickly by a fit of coughing as he breathed in the inordinate amounts of dust that his landing caused.

"Jeez! Shiv! *cough* What did *Cough* you do that *Cough* for?!" Yang had difficulty talking, "This is *cough* the second time today! What's the deal?!"

Yang looked around, taking in his surroundings. He saw many things, most of them boring. But in the stillness of the corridor there was life of its own. He heard the skittering of tiny insects, the decay of the wooden timbers in the ceilings. The minor currents of air the moved the dust this way and that. It was like a great breathing beast of time, and the currents of the age passed around them all. Maybe the temple wanted to be his friend!

Yang grinned a wide, stupid grin. He looked left and right quickly, an idea coming to his mind.

"Hey Shiv!" cried Yang happily, "I just thought of a game!"

[Usachan]

Mikemon nodded to the girl as she left the room, going to find the other lost Chosen Child. At least now she only had to find one of them, it wouldnt take her as long.

After she had gone down the hall a bit, she looked around then went down on all four paws and started running. If one was listening closely, they would have been able to hear a sort of purr sound. Though she would never admit to it, Mikemon was having fun. She never got to run around on all four paws because, according to Master Asuramon, it was not dignified for a Maid to act like a Child.

She continued her fun for a little while longer before she heard coughing and then a voice talking about a game. She stopped and stood on her hind paws again, dusting herself off and then walked around the corner to see the Chosen Child and a Motimon. "Ah, there ye two are. Everyone is waiting for the two of ye. Now, lets get going before we make the Master any more mad." She nodded then turned and walked ahead a bit, looking back to see if they were following.

[shivdeeviant]

Yang's eyes glinted just as Shiv started lunging for him. Sadly, Shiv was not as fast as the little pink bundle of energy. Yang shot down the corridor in the opposite direction of the calico. Shiv landed in the dust layer with a grunt, causing a cloud to obscure his vision for a while. Eyes brimmed with tears, Shiv gave chase after the shapeless pink blob. Dashing around obstacles, Yang was dexterity personified. His malleable form allowed him to bend and squish around and between the crumbling ruins, staying just out of reach of Shiv's grasping hands. Shiv didn't even know if the calico was giving chase, but the odd cat seemed to be genuinely curious of Shiv and his partner.

"Yang!" Shouted Shiv, "We are needed elsewhere, Ghandi needs to talk to us!"

Yang was laughing maniacally.

"What's a Ghandi?!" cried Yang, not bothering to look behind. He was having too much fun!

As the pink blob ran through holes in the wall, Shiv struggled to keep up. Where did this come from? Where was the little blob taking him? Did he even know where he was going?

The apparent answer came when Shiv chased Yang through a gaping stone archway. A set of grand wooden doors stood ajar, one slightly off its hinges. As Shiv barreled through the door, he saw that Yang was standing still, probably catching his breath. Seizing the opportunity, Shiv tackled his partner, they slid together across the floor.

"Gotcha ya little tweeb!" cried Shiv triumphantly, "I win!"

Yin coughed. Shiv looked up, face blanching slightly. He had somehow chased the little pink blob around and through the ruins until they had come through the doors on the other side of the chamber from where the chosen had entered themselves.

Wait. Did he mean to lead me here?

Yin glared and tilted his head towards the center of the chamber.

"Oh," said Shiv, standing as respectfully as he could manage, "Ummm... Hi? I scouted the surroundings, all clear."

[Atlas Jiruga]

Renal watched as Inori and Shiv entered the room. "Well i guess everyone is here." Renal said. Renal looked at Shiv. "I rate your entrance a 10!" Renal said smiling. "Ok everyone is here, what do you want?" Atlas said looking at Asuramon. "Well someone is a little irritated." Renal said. "I'm not irritated i just want to know what he wants with us." Atlas said.

[Usachan]

Mikemon chased after the two. "Honestly, acting like kits." She muttered. She walked into the chamber and took her place by Asuramon.

Usa watched as the other girl in the group and her partner, then the other young boy and his partner entered. She looked at Asuramon. "Not everyone is here. Do you know what happened to Hewlett?" She bit her lip as she asked.

[Teo Sage]

Teo looked as Shiv made his way into the room he smiled at the boys aloofness. Yami cracked a chuckle as well then movement in front of the cathedral caused his attention to deter to Asuramon.

"Now that we are all here, we can begin." Asuramon said as he turned to face them. Asuramon spread out his arms his hands over the flames of the near melted candles.

Suddenly, the flames lifted off of their wicks and levitated below Asuramons hands he turned his hands so that the flames faced the ceiling. Asuramon then closed his hands the fire inside and the room became pitch black only the faint glow of the flames in Asuramon's hands could be seen but not for to much longer.

Asuramon arched his legs one facing left the other right he pulled his hands in towards his torso then in one fluent motion he threw them outwards one right and one left opening his palms at the peak of his motion. As soon as he did this hundreds of candles aligned on each side of the room lit up from one corner to the next.

Soon the entirety of the room was visible, behind Asuramon the rest of the stained glass was visible only the head was missing. On the left side there was two large stained glass same as the one in the center only the images were different a red phoenix was towards the back of the room while a tiger was towards the front.

On the other side a white dragon was towards the back and a turtle was towards the front. Parts of each stained glass was broken but they all were cracked to a degree that looked like the slightest touch would cause them to shatter.

"They are called the Harmonious Ones, once the guardians of our world who governed all. This cathedral is one of the last surviving in this world, in time of old this was used by the many angels to show respect towards them for their good graces. Alas, even they were poisoned by the war of old. For the sake of world their was one who realized the dilemma this world was facing and chose you for the purpose of returning our world to a time of peace." Asuramon said as he walked down the center of the cathedral his face had at some point turned blue.

"For those of you wondering why you came to this world that is your answer. In due time you will meet the one who called you but for now you must concentrate on the tasks at hand. Locate and defeat the remaining virus troops." Asuramon face then turned to yellow.

"I must apologize I hath growneth to wrath far to speedily. Lately, the pow'r' of the Sovereigns hath been fleeting from this place, I grew worried when thou hath vanished to a dark place. I found you only because of thine holy ring." Asuramon said referring to Salamon. Apparently the ring she wore around her neck was something Asuramon knew about.

Asuramon stopped in the center of the cathedral as Mikemon whispered something to him. Asuramon thought then began again "Ye must be hungry after thine long journey to the plains, I shall continue this in a more comfortable environment. Mikemon see them to the dining room I shalt join you in a moment." Asuramon then turned to look at Usa.

"Fear not, the one you call Hewlett is indeed safe you shallt see him soon." Asuramon said.

Teo looked at Yami who was sort of asleep "Yami?" Yami looked up "HUH!? I'M AWAKE!" He yelled. Teo shook his head at his partners lack of attention. "We are off to eat." Teo said "Now that sounds like the smartest thing I've heard all day." Yami responded.

Teo turned to look at Usa "Shall we?"

[Dante]

Dante noted the arrival of Inori and Shiv, but not with an incredibly keen interest. He knew they'd be along, after all. It wasn't so surprising that they met his expectations. Shiv had proven himself to be quite intelligent, and Inori could be surprisingly resourceful. So far, exactly as anticipated. In other news, interesting cathedral place. He continued wondering about the place until suddenly went dark. What little light there was in the place now rested between the palms of a mon with more faces than sense. Dante turned and faced the small glow that was all that was left in the room. With a single sharp motion, suddenly the room was filled with candlelight. What was a hint before was obvious now.

"Are these..." he began. Then Asuramon answered the big question that had plagued them for so long. They had been summoned. These Harmonious Ones Asuramon spoke of had called them from the human world. But for what purpose? Just as quickly, though, the helpful exposition was at its end. Dante wanted to call after the irritating digimon, to challenge him on being so damn incomprehensible, like right now. He was talking, but Dante couldn't understand a single word of it. So irritating, but a voice inside his head told him it would be a horrible idea to mouth off to someone like that. So he kept his peace.

Meanwhile, Salamon was elated when the lights came up and she was proven right. This was some kind of temple to the Sovereigns. It made her so happy up until Asuramon got to a particular point in his exposition. A single word was all it took for her to hear absolutely nothing of what came next.

"...used by the many angels..."

"...many angels..."

"...angels..."

Angels like me, right? she thought sullenly, the only indication of her change in mood a small spark in her eyes that went out. The direct indication in something or other Asuramon said a little later seemed only to confirm her thoughts.

I have news for you, you four faced freak. I am not your angel. You can't make me become that, and Sovereigns curse you if you try.

[Inori]

((this is going to be a super short post as I am packing to leave and wanted to get it out before my flight.))

Inori and Wizardmon kept rather silent during Asuramon's speech. Wizardmon seemed fairly indifferent overall...but Inori looked thoughtful. She wasn't quite sure how this group was going to bring peace when hardly anyone seemed at peace around each other. Sure the new group of chosen seemed to get along okay with each other...but if they all had to work together, there was a large rift that would need mending. That wasn't even accounting for the lack of trust Inori had in the others around her. A frown crossed her face briefly, but irregardless, she seemed ready to follow when the others started moving.

[shivdeeviant]

Shiv watched the godlike Digimon perform his parlor trick with the candles. While such an act would have impressed few in the real world, in a world where creatures could emit destructive energy with enough power to topple mountains, it impressed Shiv even less. Yang, however, grew excited in Shiv's grip, twisting this way and that trying to see the whole cathhedral.

Yin's eyes never left Asuramon. Such a powerful Digimon had exerted minimal effort to manipulate minute amounts of energy with razor accuracy. Any slob could throw around earth-shattering power, and Yin could tell that this mon indeed possessed that. They were only here by his good graces, and Yin didn't trust those graces to last. He set his shoulders to respond to anything as the powerful Digimon explained the children's presence in the world. Yin listened intently, trying to read malice or intent in every word Asuramon said. That he could not detect any did not sway his opinion on the matter.

Yang heard the God with an ear that already knew the words, and as it was spoken smiled up at Shiv with an attempt at cuddling.

Shiv heard the words and felt like he should be standing in a burning village in which everyone he had known and cared for had just been killed by a bandit warlord. This was all very stock video game opening. Shiv kept an intent mask on his face while within he started taking in his surroundings.

The Cathedral was big, no doubt about that, but its size was one of its greatest drawbacks. Such a place would not do for a defensive stand. Even if a barricade was built out of pews, enough small enemies could swarm the whole place and overwhelm whoever was inside. If Asuramon and Mikemon were the only two defenders here, this place was a lost cause, no matter Asuramon's purported power.

Just what kind of ramshackle organization were these 'harmonious ones' running?

Even now, Shiv could imagine how the battle would play out. The large doors at the end of the room would blow inward as droves of enemies pour in like a dark flood. As Asuramon would let his power fly at them, the second force, probably aerial in nature, would crash in from behind, breaking through the already weakened stained glass. As Mikemon would attack, Asuramon's focus would be momentarily divided, and the main force would sieze their main objective. Assuming that they didn't care about capturing Asuramon, the enemy would instead attack the already structurally weak supports, causing a collapse that not even Asuramon would be able to survive. And that would end one of the larger threats the viral dominance.

Didn't Asuramon notice?

The god finished his speech with another foray into broken Old English. Shiv shuddered through the translation and even managed to restrain the quip that came to mind afterwards, settling to follow the others. Yang squeed happily at the offering of food and waved his arms excitedly through the air.

"Yay!" Yang cried, "I'm so hungry I could eat a Centaurmon!"