Beware the stone statues on the ground or those ones that are perched on high buildings. Some are rumors to be monsters lurking at nightfall. Sleeping by the daylight and free to roam at night. What so you do if you encounter one? Digimon Ghost  Game! Gargoyle!

It was another normal night for Clockmon to be patrolling. Not many digimon were causing problems for humans. Say could be said about humans, no digimon were hurt by any acts human had to them. Perhaps it would be one of those rare nights that he would get to turn in early.

"Tired Soul~ Plagued by life exhausting struggles~ Even moving is such a waste of energy~ Stone is pure~ Stone is peace~ Allow yourself to become stone~" A song echoed from an unknown location. The owner was hidden in the shadows of the night.

"What the...?! Whose there?!" Clockmon ready his mallet. Ready to strike if an attack was going to occur. He was getting a bad feeling.

Just like how he felt around Gulusgammamon. He had the same kind of feeling around this voice.

Just then as he looked around. A figure appeared behind him. Two strong hands held him down before he could react.

"Do not be alerted my fellow digimon. It is with my holy power that I shall free you from the endless cycle of exchaustion. May you have a peaceful sleep as you become stone" The voice calmly spoke as if it were chanting a spell.

Before he could say something, Clockmon body became more stiff and even more heavier than usual. Slowly his legs of his lower half became stone. It soon spread to his chest. He started to panic, trying to thing of someway to break free. Sadly it was too late. The one who was known as Clockmon was now a statue.

"Rest my dear digimon. I must seek out more weary souls to free" The figure then left the statue.

Just as the figure left, Aegiochusmon came to join her  boyfriend on patrol. She was a bit late due to chatting to Reppamon and Kyaromon. She had hope that Clockmon wouldn't scold her for her tardiness like he usually did. However she couldn't find him. All there was in front of her was a statue of a Clockmon looking scared.

She blinked a few times before she realized it. That the statue was indeed Clockmon. After all, how many statues are made with scared expressions?

"I need to get those kids to help me. Don't worry Time Stopper, I will get you back to normal. I promise!" She gently kissed the statue before going to the  school dorms where Hiro and Kiyoshiro stayed in.

Hiro and Gammamon were passed on in bed. If looking into cases that involved digimon weren't tiring enough than it would have to be the heavy load of school work that laid half finished on his desk. Hiro decided to push the math homework to do in the morning. He just had to not let his adopted older brother Blues, not learn of this.

Just as it seemed that he would get a peaceful night of sleep without any interuptions. A loud bang on his window shattered those dreams.

"Ugh...." Hiro groaned before opening his eyes. He sat up to face the window.

Gammamon woke up with a yawn, rubbing his yellow eyes.

"Hey sleeping beauties! Hate to wake ya from your eternal sleep but we got a problem!" Aegiochusmon opened the window and let herself into the room.

"Thanks for not breaking my window this time. Not like you couldn't have do it the last ten times that you needed help with" Hiro could still remember cleaning glass from the last time Aegiochusmon visited.

Aegiochusmon ignored the sass and got straight to the point. "Someone or something is turning digimon to stone! Clockmon got turned too...."

If Hiro wasn't awake  then he was now. Sure Clockmon tired to hurt him and Gammamon in the past, but he was now a good friend to them. Plus Aegiochusmon really cared deeply for the former time thief. Horo couldn't just abandoned them.

"Any clues to who could have done it?" Hiro asked.

Aegiochusmon only shook her head. "I got to patrols late. Once I got there, he was a statue. Normally I be right there with you on this, but with Time Stopper out of the game.....I have my hands full on patrolling my rounds and warning digimon of this. It may be only a matter of time before it hits a human. So I am asking you to look into this. Please Hiro....Gammamon...the sake of digimon here depends on it" Aegiochusmon pleaded.

Hiro nodded. "I'll let Mei and Senpai know. Ruli and Angoramon are away on a trip for a week. It's just the three of us"

Well six if he counted their digimon partners.

Aegiochusmon nodded. "Thank you. Really I mean it. Thank you" She then turned around and left the room while smashing the window in the process.

That makes eleven times now. On how the school bpard would have a field day with him on this one.

The next morning, Kiyo and Mei were filled in. As per his usual self, Kiyo was scared out his mind. Humans were already defenseless against digimon. During the Moaning Bug incident, he was powerless against Jellymon. He never want to hurt her regardless but he doubt there was little he could do to harm her. So for something to turn digimon into stone statue was truly an awful thought. It reminded him about Phelesmon turning girls to statues for a wish.

It couldn't be him this time, right.

On the other hand, Mei seemed calm as she always did. If this had been like he first meeting with them. She would be quietly listening then go off on her own. Though since she had finally started to open up to them, she began to share her inputs and theories with them. Acting like a true member of the team.

"So Clockmon became stone completely. Like a statue?" Mei asked. Seemingly trying to confirm something she had in mind.

"According to what Aegiochusmon said. She said he is a complete statue now. We spoke to Reppamon too. He said that digimon are only being targeted at night." Hiro answered. "Is there a reason you asked?"

"Do you have a theory, Hoshi san?" Kiyoshiro also seemed interested in why Mei chose that question pacifically.

"Well despite our late of knowledge or clues. I think we may be dealing with a nocturnal force. For one, not many digimon roam the night. Even the digimon at the gatherings which  Shiramon and Angoramon only have the meeting for a few hours tops before going home for the night. Another thing that makes me believe it's an noctural source is based on what Gammamon told me one. Clockmon does solo daytime patrols. If someone were to attack him, then why not attack him during the time that he is guaranteed to be alone. Instead they attacked him during the night patrols. Sure the attacker caught a lucky break and mostly caught him without Aegiochusmon. Though it would have been smarter to attack him while he was alone. This shows that the whoever is behind all those attacks will only strike at night. Though why they are attacking is must less still a mystery" Mei finished. Only to be greeted with a pair of shocked expressions from Kiyo and Hiro.

"That.....makes alot of sense. No one you were good at hunting down digimon....no offense" Hiro quickly apologized since that topic was sore to the girl bebefore him.

"None taken. I just thought of the likely scenerio. Besides given how you all told me of your past encounters, it really did help me narrow down the list of likely suspects" Mei reassured. For once she didn't go straight to violent for  the mentioning of that subject.

"She may be a better leader than darling" Jellymon giggled

"How rude!" Kiyo felt insulted. Though Mei had her genius moments that rivaled his own.

"So if can figure out tigger for these attacks, then we can stop them, right Mei?" Shiramon, the wolf assassin digimon asked.

"That's the base of it. Though it's may be challenging" Mei nodded to her digimon partner.

"Gammamon and the othe others are targets to so we should be careful" Hiro didn't want Gammamon to be turned to stone.

"Maybe we can ask around. I'm sure that at least one digimon saw something that happenef" Shiramon insisted. "Jellymon and I can ask around while you all are busy. Then at before sunset, we can all meet up and share our findings. Only if that's okay" Shiramon offered

"You sure?" Mei asked

Shiramon nodded

"Can you help us too, Jellymon-sama?" Kiyo asked a bit nervously

"Of course! There is nothing I can't do" The jellyfish digimon boasted proudly

"Hiro! Me too!" Gammamon wanted to help to.

"Not this time" Hiro patted his head. "Next time okay?"

Gammamon pouted yet he nodded. He was going to keep Hiro to that.

With the plan set in mind, Hiro and Kiyo went to do their daily activities with class and other projects. Mei stayed home doing her supposed online classes. Shiramon and Jellymon went to many different places and talked to many different digimon. All said the same thing. That they did not know who was responsible for the attacks. Time was running out as it was just an hour and a half till they had to return back. Things seemed hopeless.

"I guess my plan fail...." Shiramon sighed

"Yeah, it was a pretty dumb plan" Jellymon didn't really care how hurtfully that sounded.

Shiramon was used to her behavior by now. Yet it was stuff like that that really ticked her off about Jellymon. Just when she was ready to say something back, her ears picked up on the sounds of distress.
Shiramon rushed to the source of the sound. There in the temple in the bamboo park was Kyaromon. She crying beside a statue of a Reppamo-  Wait a minute!

"Sensei....no....this is all my fault!!!" The little Kyaromon teared up, curling her tail around her body for some kind of comfort.

Shiramon motherly instincts kicked in and she immediately scooped Kyaromon in her arms for some much needed comfort.

"Shiramon....Sensei...last night he...he..." Unable to finish, the little one broke down into a sob. Shaking uncontrollably in Shiramon arms.

Had she been this way since last night?! Poor little baby.

"SHIRA! How dare you leave me behind?!" Jellymon caught up and was ready to shock Shiramon.

Shiramon turned to Jellymon with a cold expression. It was a well known fact that she would never allow anyone to harm a baby in her care. Even if she were the intent target herself. Even though Jellymon was a dear friend to her, Shiramon would turn her to a digitama if she so much as hurt this sobbing child.

Jellymon got the message and could see Kyaromon state. Then finally she noticed Reppamon statue. How she missed it the first time was beyond Shiramon.

"Reppamon too? Just who is doing this? Kyaromon please tell me you saw who did this? Anything would be helpful!" Jellymon pressured Kyaromon who just teared up more.

"Noo....I didn't see them" The little voice shook as she spoke

Shiramon and Jellymon sighed. Yet another dead end.

"Though I did heard him sing a song. He also said sensei was tired and needed to be freed from a cycle of exchaustion...." That was something new.

"So are you saying that the whoever is doing this is only going after digimon who are tired?" Shiramon ginally saw the pieces line up with Mei theory.

Kyaromon nodded slowly.

Shiramon placed Kyaromon near Reppamon statue. She hated to leave the little one alone but the sooner they stopped the one responsible then the sooner Reppamon and the others would be freed.

"We will stop the one responsible. I promise your sensei will be alright"Shiramon patted Kyaromon head.

"Ok...." The small intraining digimon nodded then watched the two leave.  "Please hurry" She whispered before curling up to the statue.

After discussing what they learn from Shiramon and Jellymon. The team thought up a plan to catch the culprit in the act. Since digimon were the only targets, Shiramon offered herself as bait. Being the motherly figure to forty baby digimon was tiring  ya know.

Shiramon whistled as she roamed the nearby rooftops. Acting as if she had finished a long tiring day.

Tired Soul~ Plagued by life exhausting struggles~ Even moving is such a waste of energy~ Stone is pure~ Stone is peace~ Allow yourself to become stone~" A song echoed from an unknown location.  Yet again, the owner was hidden in the shadows of the night

Shiramon paused. Looking around cautiously for the owner of the voice. Her kunai ready in hand.

Before she could even sense them, a pair of strong hands gripped on her shoulders. She winced in pain at how strong the grip was. Like being crushed by hands made out of rock.

"I sense you are very very tired, my dear digimon. Not only from physical larbor but also from mental stress of emotional trauma. Allow me to free you from this. May you finally have a restful slumber in your new life as stone" Like the figure had down before with Clockmon. "Feeezing Wing" It started to turn Shiramon into stone.

Well tried to. The Shiramon before him disappeared into a cluster of digits.

The figure gasped. "What in the world?" Never before had this happened to him. Did he just delete a fellow digimon?!

"Heya" The real Shiramon was now behind him. Holding his neck back with her kunai close to his neck. "Never let your guard down with an assassin like me" She warned

Shiramon kind and caring personslity always made her friends forget that she was a skilled assassin who has brought many digimon to their end. This moment before them was yet another grim reminder on why you shouldn't get on her bad side.

The other quickly came from their hiding place to see who the figure was.

A Gargoylemon. A digimon who can summon statutes to attack. Though it said that those who trained enough can turn their foes to statutes.

"Gargoylemon, why are you doing this?" Hiro asked

"From the moment I came to this world, I  seee my fellow digimon tired of from their daily struggles. So I thought that being turned to stone may finally free them from the shackles of exchaustion" Gargoylemon answered.

"That what sleep is for" Mei answered bluntly

"Not even sleep can cure them of the plague of exchaustion I have seen. You all claim to be allies of digimon yet look at you. Trapping me and putting a blade to my neck. You support the plague I try to cure. I will turn you all to statues!!" Gargoylemon roared before grabbing Shiramon and hurling her towards Mei.

Seeing how Gargoylemon could not be reasoned with. The team would have to force him to see reason! Kiyo activated the digital field. Evolution time!

"Gammamon digivolve to.....Kausgammamon!"

"Jellymon digivolve to.....Telsajellymon!"

"Shiramon digivolve to.....Hanshiramon!"

All digimon partners went to the champion level to face against Gargoylemon.

"Dual Soulstrike!" Mei ordered

Hanshiramon got out her katanas frome their holders. She rushes over to Gargoylemon as her blades illuminate with a light neon green flame glow. Then she dual slashes two energy slashes towards him.

Gargoylemon flew into the air.

"Punishune!" Kiyo spoke as the attack appeared in his mind

"I am super annoyed today!" Telsajellymon spoke before shooting electric towards Gargoylemon.

The attack made contact. However it was not enough to fully defeat Gargoylemon.  Though he was not fighting those two alone.

"Where is the third-"

"Lamberta Kick!" Hiro rode upon Kausgammamon back as the attack made a direct hit.

Gargoylemon hit the roof hard. Knocking him out close. A black data mist left his body

Mei noticed this. Though kept quiet for now.  This would be investigated later on.

After some time passed, Gargoylemon woke up. He looked around and seemed confused on why he was there. Hiro managed to convince him to turn all his victims back to normal. With that, the case was close.

The first of many to come.

#Inkobter