by: Aeris

Chapter Fifteen


Day Three


***Jessica***

I took a deep breath and wondered where I should start. We were all sitting around the campfire once more, nursing our wounds from the last battle. It had been against some crazy herds Digimon named Mammothmon and a huge swarm of the sick bug Digimon named Flymon and Snimon.

Mammothmon looked a lot like Wooly Mammoths from the Ice Age, but unlike Wooly Mammoths, Mammothmon had a metal helmetlike thing on their head and armor on their trunks. They had one large yellow design on their helmets that looked like eyes, but that was it. They had brown fur and huge hooves for feet. We'd all been hurt by their powerful Tusk Crusher attack.

And Flymon They were just sick! The Flymon were like huge yellow bees, with stingers the size of my arm and as thick as my fist. They really didn't have eyes, not any you could see, anyway. And they had these black lines on their butts. Not my favorite Digimon. But, I guess you could say Flymon sorta looked like a Digivolved Kunamon, but I couldn't ever tell him that.

On to Snimon. Another disgusting bug Digimon. They looked like an amazing large Praying Mantis on Steroids, but besides that.....They had these huge scythes that could probably cut through a Redwood tree one swipe, and their whole body was a sickening green color.

We'd taken care of them all pretty easily, but not without taking a couple hits ourselves. Jordan'd snapped pictures the whole time, and was now slipping a new roll of film into the camera. I just shook my head in disbelief.

"Tell the story, Jessica!" Jacob's call snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked down at the small boy in my arms. He hadn't felt well all day and blacked out twice, and so tonight he sat in my lap instead of Kari.

"Where'd I end last night?" I asked, though I knew full well where I'd ended.

"A.J. the rat stole the legendary jewels or light and darkness!" T.K. and Kari yelped.

"And some kid was having a nightmare in town." Tai stated, sounding as excited as the little ones. I smiled and tried not to laugh.

I took a deep breath and nodded. "Oh, yeah. Now I remember. Well......When morning came, the boy awoke. He blinked open his bright blue eyes and sighed, pushing a piece of his blonde hair out of his face. He got dressed for school, wearing a dark green vest over a white shirt, and brown breeches and boots. After he was done, he walked downstairs. He was surprised when his mother said he was up early this morning. "Jordan!" She said, ruffling his hair. "Sir Gennia has not been too happy about all these late timings." His mother said as he walked out the door.-"

"Hey, wait a minute!" Jordan interrupted me. "I'm that kid?"

I nodded. "That's right."

A.J. whooped with laughter. "Jordan's a blonde!"

I laughed with everyone else as Jordan grabbed a stick and chucked it at A.J., pegging him in the forehead with it. "You guys happy?" I asked, A.J. rubbing his bruised forehead.

"Good. Now sit back and listen to the rest of the story....."Jordan! Good luck at school!" Jordan's mother called as he set off. Soon he arrived at school. Two of his friends, Jessica and Joe there. Jessica had long dark blue hair, and light brown eyes. Her ears were pointy, as she was half elf. She was dressed in a dark brown robe, and all and all wasn't that bad looking. Jessica wanted to be a vicar. Jordan thought it was stupid for her to be a vicar, but he felt in time it would be a great thing. Right now she was a priest. As for Joe, well, let's just say he's strong in the body and not quite so strong in the head." Everyone hooted with laughter and Joe blushed.

"Joe never mastered any magic, but really kicked butt in a fight, and I mean that quite literally, because he was a centaur." More laughter. "Joe had light green hair and eyes and a white head band. He wore a light tan shirt, and his horse body was white with a gray tail. He's destined to become a paladin, but now he's a knight who can kick some serious tail. Getting tired of waiting for the teacher, Jordan went downstairs to find Sir Gennia. He was there, nose buried in a book. Jordan wasn't surprised... he's the King's Advisor and probably the wisest man in the world... wiser than Old Centarumon he bet. When he reached the bottom of the stairway, Jordan heard Gennia muttering to himself. "What? Is it? No it's not a..."-- "

"Gennia's our teacher?!" Joe cried. "That's horrible!"

I laughed, and then continued my story. "Jordan walked to Sir Gennia and the teacher looked up, surprised. "Oh, morning Jordan. Is it time to start school? I'll be up soon." He said. Jordan nodded, and then decided to look around the basement a bit. He searched a vase and found a medical herb, which he quietly put in his pocket. He then started to walk back upstairs, but before he took the first step up Gennia called him. "By the way, have you felt any omens?" He asked the boy. "No...." Jordan said, looking confused, and continued up the stairs."

"Why would Gennia want to know if Jordan'd felt any omens?" Kari asked quizzically.

I shrugged. "Listen and find out."


***Tai***

It was kind of weird how we all sat listening to Jessica's story. It was sorta like we were in a trance. Now I understand what Jordan meant when he said she was the best story teller he's ever known!

"After Jordan'd took his place next to Joe, Gennia came up. "I can't wait for Tai.. Now where did I leave off yesterday?" Gennia asked." Me? I wondered what character I'd be. "A soldier suddenly rushed in a split-second after Gennia'd said that. "Sir Gennia! The king has fallen and is in great pain!" The soldier cried. "The King? I'm coming!" Gennia replied."

"What's wrong with the king?" Mimi asked, concerned. She bit her lip and her eyebrows creased in a worried frown, making her look quite pretty.

Jessica smiled at her. "Oh....You'll find out. Just listen." She took a breath and then plunged back into the story. "But Jordan, Jessica and Joe didn't hear what was being said between Gennia and the soldier, so they were confused. Amazed by Gennia's lack of courtesy to at least tell the students where he was going, Jordan, Jessica and Joe started planning. They came to the conclusion that Gennia and the soldier must have gone to the castle, and so they followed." Uhoh......I wonder what's going to happen next?

Jessica stopped for a breath. " "Halt! Where are you going?" One of the guards asked when they got to the castle gate. "Sir Astral left a package behind and we want to deliver it to him," Jessica told him, smiling sweetly and showing him a package, which in reality was one of her school books wrapped in cloth.. "I guess it's all right. Be good while in the castle," The guard said, moving aside to let them through. Once inside the castle, they quickly found Sir Gennia in the king's bedroom. Sir Gennia, Princess Mimi-" There was a squeak that came from Mimi's direction at this, but nothing else. "-and the minister were there along with him, the king was in his bed, tossing and turning violently."


***Jordan***

I watched with pride as Jessica continued her story. Her eyes were sparkling with the struggle and the fun of making up the story, along with the mysterious effect she held on all of us as she told it. It was obvious she was enjoying the whole thing to the fullest.

I imagined Mimi in a princess' gown (probably pink, if she had her way) but in my idea, it was white. And a golden tiara was resting gently on her forehead. Her hair flowed down about her shoulders, and shone in the morning light....Her eyes were filled with concern, and she bit her bottom lip worriedly, making her look quite beautiful.

But, anyway. I stopped daydreaming enough to listen in again. " "Are you okay, Father?" Princess Mimi asked, looking at her bedridden father in concern. The king only groaned in response. Suddenly, Jordan shifted and caught Gennia's eye. Before he could move it was too late, Gennia had him in his gaze, staring at him... probing him. Gennia didn't get a chance to get angry, since the Minister got the first word in. "You must have a special reason for these kids being here Astral." He thought that Sir Astral had sent for them with some special purpose in mind! And that was how it all began... "


***Mimi***

We all listened to Jessica. She told how Gennia had to take Jordan, Jessica, and Joe to the Ancient Tower to look for something. Gennia went inside first to check and see if it was safe, and then he'd call for them to come in. Jordan found a cool looking rock while waiting that he put in his pocket and forgot about. "Okay kids, come on in!", came Sir Gennia's voice from within the tower after twenty minutes of waiting. Gennia stumbled upon a mark he thought he'd seen before, and was promptly on his hands and knees looking it over. The mark was black, and looked something like this."

Jessica bent down with a stick in her hand and drew a weird design in the dirt. After she was done, she continued with her story. "Strange tower," Gennia muttered to himself. Jessica, curious, walked over to join him. "Stay back!" Gennia warned her, in something close to a whisper. Jessica, being a goody goody, walked back to join Jordan and Joe."

We all laughed slightly at Jessica calling herself a goody goody, but we quieted down almost instantly so she could continue.

"I've seen this symbol before... I can't remember quite what -" But before Gennia could finish his sentence, the grim reality hit him. And it hit the students, too, when they knew what was wrong, for before them was something hideous. Despite it's repulsive appearance there was something about it that just made you want to keep looking at it. The thing was a sickly green-yellow color, and looked like a small demon. It had a pair of little wings, and razor sharp claws on it's hands and feet. It's eyes were red, and it had rows of sharp teeth. Despite it's repulsive appearance there was something about it that just made you want to keep looking at it. But the scariest thing of it was that it was transparent! And that meant only one thing..."A Gizmo! He's here to take the King's body!" Sir Gennia cried. Before he could do anything else, the Gizmo jumped on Gennia and stunned him, making the teacher fall to the ground, unconscious."


***T.K.***

At this point, when we all wondered what was going to happen next, Jessica stopped. She smiled and her eyes sparkled. "Should I stop here?" She asked.

"NO!!!!" Came the response from us all. We'd all shouted at once!

Jessica laughed. "Alright, alright! I'll keep going!" She smiled at us all and then went back to telling the story. "Well....After Gennia was knock out, Jordan and Joe realized it was all up to them. "Don't just stand there, do something!", cried Jessica, who was obviously scared. If there had been more, maybe Jordan and Joe would've been scared too. Jordan looked over his shoulder at her and gave her a reassuring smile. "We can take 'im!" He said with confidence. " 'Em." Joe responded. "What?", Jordan questioned, but as he spoke he saw fear in Joe's eyes. "Em." Joe said again, nervously, "You said: 'We can take 'im', but it's not just 'im anymore, there's loads of 'em!"

She looked up. "There. Now, off to bed!"

"WHAT!?!" We all cried, but this time Jessica was serious.

"No, I'm serious this time. Off to bed!" She crossed her arms.

"Ooooh!" We all groaned, and headed off to bed.


***Joe***

It was cold. I was tired. Izzy just sat there, typing away at his computer. I was bored. Oh, and did I mention I was tired??? Honestly, all this staying up is bad for my health!

"Prodigious!" Izzy exclaimed suddenly, I turned to look at him, annoyed that he was enjoying himself while I froze to death.

"What is it?" I asked, letting my voice reflect how bored I was.

Izzy smiled at me and shook his head. "Come look at this!" He said, and so I did.

"What is it?" I asked, staring at the screen. Both Jordan's and Jacob's Crests were shown on it.

Izzy grinned at me. "I think I figured out why they're Crests are different two different colors, while our are only one color?"

I shook my head, I really wasn't in the mood right now. "Sorry, Izzy." I said. "But I'm way to tired right now."

Izzy's smile faded. "Oh, I'm sorry, Joe. I forgot you don't like being up late. Let me explain." He clicked on Jacob's Crest, and a larger version of it popped up.

He clicked on the Crest symbol, and it turned a darker green then it was before. He clicked on the background, and it turned a lighter green.

I gasped. "That means Unity!" I said.

Izzy nodded. "He clicked on the background, and it turned back to the red color it was. He clicked on the Crest, and it turned a dark red.

"That means Faith!" I blinked. "But how--?"

Izzy's smile grew huge. "The Crest has two meanings!" He said, laughing quietly. He clicked on Jordan's background, turning it a deep golden color.

"Protection!" I said, my voice was quiet. "And if you turn it silver--!"

"It becomes Strength." Izzy finished for me, clicking on Jordan's Crest and turning it silver.

"What does it mean?" I asked, frowning.

Izzy shook his head and shut off his computer. "I'm not quite sure." He said. "But I think--I think it means that the Crest has two meanings!" He took a breath. "That they'll have to accomplish both meaning for their Digimon to Digivolve higher!"

I froze. "But--how?"

Izzy shrugged. "I don't know, Joe. I really don't know."


Day Seven


***Kari***

As I sat down to eat breakfast with Jessica, Sora, and Mimi, I looked at the new girl in excitement. "Will you tell me what's going to next in your story?" I asked hopefully. Mimi and Sora continued talking, but quieted down so they could hear.

Jessica laughed and shook her head. "No Kari, I can't. It's a surprise, and you know that."

I sighed, and then thought back on what had happened lately in the story. Jordan and Joe had to fight off all the Gizmo's, but Jessica was too scared to fight, so she used the Heal spell whenever they were hurt. After they'd beaten all but one, the first one they'd seen, Gennia woke up and tried to destroy it, but it slid through the floor and ran towards the castle! The four of them had rushed back, only to find that the Gizmo had taken over the King's body! Gennia cast a spell over the King and the Gizmo left, but not before promising it's revenge. The King had then told Gennia to go get Centarumon, an old man who knew a lot about the past and such, and who lived in a town called Yeel. But Gennia was too old to travel so far, so the kids had to go. They went and packed, told their parents, got supplies, and then headed out. On the way they met up with an old friend of theirs: Tai, the dwarf, He had an axe to fight with, and was pretty funny, if I do say so myself. They all traveled together and got to Yeel in only a couple days. They met up with Matt, Centarumon assistant. He had long blonde hair and bright blue eyes, and was training to be a Mage, which was a male magician. Matt and the kids stayed in town for a day to rest, since they were tired and it was a long way to Centarumon's house. When they got their, they saw five soldiers run out of the house, and Matt rushed in to find Centarumon almost dead! Before he died, though, Centarumon told them that they had to find the two jewels that were stolen and place them back into the Tower before the most evil demons in the world were unleased. They'd agreed for Matt to join their party and headed back home, but on the way they'd gotten attacked by the same men who'd killed Centarumon, this time led by a man in red clothes. They all fought fiercely, but in the end, the man in red hit Jessica on the head with the blunt of his sword, making her pass out. In fear of her getting hurt, they all surrendered, and were all knocked out and taken captive.

That's where she ended. She was so good at telling it! She kept us all wrapped around her finger at night, wanting to know what happened next. We almost always forgot the pain and hurt of the battles that'd happened earlier. We all wanted to know so much, I've actually seen Tai and some of the other boys on their knees, begging!


***Matt***

"Actually, me and Jessica hit it off great last night!" I lied to A.J., grinning. To tell the truth, Jessica and I had barely talked last night! I'd begged her to tell me what was going to happen next in her story, but she hadn't spoken a word. She'd just written in that dumb book of hers. Maybe if she didn't have it, we could "get to know each other better". Give A.J. a real reason to be jealous!

A.J.'s mouth didn't even twitch upward in the slightest. Instead, he gave me a look that could've killed Devimon, Etamon, Myotismon, all the Dark Masters, and practically destroy the entire Digiworld at the slightest glance. I swear I saw a nearby flower wither, and the grass definitely browned and drooped.

"Hey!" I said, holding my hand up in defense. "It was a joke! Jessica and I barely even talked to each other last night!....She was too busy writing."

A.J.'s glare lessened just slightly, and he stood and stormed off. Actually, he limped. His ankle'd been twisted bad in the we had yesterday against some wild Digimon. It was a flock of Megadramon and Gigadramon, led by a SkullMeramon. Boy that was a tough battle! Jordan, of course, had taken pictures of them all.

Speaking of Jordan....I stood and looked around for him. I quickly saw him, sitting on a log, head sagging, eyes closed and his hands were clasped together in his lap. His eyes still closed, Jordan rubbed a mangled thigh that he'd gotten in the fight.

I'd gotten hurt bad in the fight, as well. My leg was just about as bad as Jordan's if not a bit worse. I held it up and hopped over to him. "Hey." I said, plopping down beside him, breathless. "Whatcha thinking about?"

Jordan opened one eye to look at me. "Oh, nothing much." He said, "Just thinking."

I grinned. "I understand. Do it myself sometimes."

Jordan looked forward without lifting his head. "You got A.J. pretty mad, what'd you say?"

I chuckled. "I told him that me and Jess hit it off last night, and he got mad at me. But I told him it was just a joke after." I looked over at A.J., who was now talking to Jessica. She looked angry. "I don't think he believes me, though."

Jessica'd gotten hurt, like the rest of us, but not half as bad as we had. A long gash ran down one cheek, and her arms and legs were pretty cut up. She's sprained her wrist as well, but, unfortunately, not her writing wrist.

Jordan laughed softly. "No, A.J. definitely doesn't like you. But you shouldn't get him mad, he IS part of the Digidestined team, remember? If he doesn't like you, he may not help you in battle. And then you'll regret you were mean to him. Or, even worse, he'll save your life." He turned to look me in the face. "How would you feel about that?"

I sighed. "Yeah, you're right. I should try to be nicer, huh?"

Jordan nodded and stood up, dusting himself off. "Now, let's go see what's for breakfast, shall we?"

I stood with him. "Sure!"


***A.J.***

"Wow, a whole week since we came to the Digiworld! We've been here a week!" I heard Jacob shout happily, jumping around with T.K. and Kari. Kari squealed with delight, and T.K. shouted, and then they all rushed off in other one of their games of tag.

I grinned as I watched them run off screaming. Shaking my head, I thought about what Jacob'd said. A whole week! Wow! It seemed an wicked lot more then a week! But it was funny that, even though the three little ones were scraped and scratched and cut more then they'd ever been in their life, they still had enough energy to run around like that! I wish I was young like them again....

I looked at Jordan, who was eating breakfast with Matt, and he flashed his half-smile that he'd learned from Harrison Ford in Star Wars.

I limped over to the two of them and sat down. I hurt my ankle when the SkullMeramon whipped a chain at me. Joe thought it was either a wicked bad sprain or a brake, so he put it in a cast just in case. Great.

"You know what's weird about the Digimon Sara sends against us?" I heard Izzy ask Tai as I sat down. Izzy was beat up just as much as the rest of us.

"What?" Tai asked back. "Besides try to kill us?"

"Exactly my point!" Izzy exclaimed, startling us all into silence. "I've noticed that the Digimon Sara sends go for US! Not our Digimon!"

Sora nodded, then regretted doing so. Her face was practically all black and blue, and she had cuts, scrapes, and scratches all over her arms and legs. "Izzy's right. Sara HAS been going for us. Not our Digimon. Notice how they're practically fine while we take the majority of the blows? They're AIMED for 'us', not the 'Digimon'!"

Tai nodded, cradling his broken arm in it's sling. "Yeah. When we fought Devimon, Etamon, Myotismon, and the Dark Masters, they all went after our Digimon! Only Piedmon went after us directly!"

"And didn't Gennia say Sara was Piedmon's pupil?" Jessica joined in, cocking her head to one side. Her long brown hair fell over her shoulder as she pursed her lips and bit a fingernail in thought, making her look absolutely breathtaking.

I saw Matt noticed it, too. He stared wide-eyed at her as she furrowed her brow in concentration, her big brown eyes sparkling with the fun of an adventure. Oooh, if only I could have five minutes alone with him, I'd beat him sssooo bad!.....

Tai snapped his fingers. "That's right! Gennia did say that! She would've learned from him!"


***Izzy***

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw T.K. and Kari shudder. None of us really liked talking about Piedmon, but those two had gotten the worst of it. Being left alone to face him, with only Patamon to protect them....

"Do any of you know how long Sara trained with Piedmon?" I asked the Digimon

Our Digimon all shook their heads. "Sara and her brother were only young Digimon when we left for your world, Tai." Agumon stated. "Time travels differently there."

"Gotsomon?" Jordan asked his Digimon, while the other three cast inquisitive stares at their Digimon.

Gotsomon, shook his rocky head, a grating sound coming from it every time he moved it. Gazimon, from where he was lounging on the ground, shook his head as well. Peguinmon looked blankly at Jessica, but Kunamon stood straighter, obviously proud that he knew something the others didn't.

"Sara trained with Piedmon at "The Dark Master's Training School for Digimon" for four or five years. At age ten, she graduated and broke all the records in doing so. I must say, the girl has a brilliant mind!" He turned to me, raising an eyebrow. "Probably even more brilliant then you, young Koushiro."

I reddened at the comment.


***Peter, My House***

Sara groaned. Nick and I watched anxiously from our chairs as my mother, Katy, and May worked around her with cloths soaked with warm water, bathing her wounds. Sara was propped up in her bed, in only a nightgown. Her leg was torn horribly, cut, scratched, and mangled almost beyond recognition. Her face was cut and bloody, and so were her arms. Now beyond a single doubt that her brother was somewhere and somehow alive, I asked her to call off all future attacks on the Digidestined, in case he was somewhere near them and getting hit by the attacks, but she refused.

Right now she was conscious, but not in the mood for talking. She hadn't looked me in the eye ever since the coronation, and she was very cold and distant to me.

May, holding a bowl of soup in her hands, made her way gracefully over to Sara. May was in her Guardian form, and she had been ever since the coronation. She loved that form so much, said it made her look so much more like Sara.

Right now she lifted a spoon out of the soup, dried it on a cloth, and dipped it in again, pulling up a spoonful of sweet smelling soup. "Here, have this, Sara." She said, bringing the spoon carefully to Sara's spilt lips.


***Sara***

I winced as the hot soup touched my lips, but I held strong and drank it. "Thank you, May." I said, after I'd swallowed it.

"No, problem!" May smiled down at me. "It's mah pleasure ta help ya!"

I smiled at the girl. She looked up to me so much.

"Did ya hear tha news, Sara?" She asked, giving me another spoonful.

I shook my head, not knowing. From his place in the corner, I saw Peter start, and give May a stoney glance. She didn't see it, and continued on, feeding me yet another spoonful. "Tha Digamon in tha city say someone's attacked the Digadestined! Can ya believe someone'd do such a thang! And tha Digadestined tryin' ta help our world an' all!" She was so angry that the spoon clenched tightly in her fist shook. "Of all the coldhearted, no-good thangs ta do! Why, if Ah eva get mah hands--!"

"MAY!!!!"

May jumped as Peter and his mother stood and shouted her name at the same time. The soup bowl in her hands tipped and spilt all over the bed sheets, her clothes, and my nightgown. I yelped and moved out of the way quickly before the rest of the spilt broth could touch me.

Amid the chaos, I heard Mrs. Wisardmon shoo Peter and Nick out of the room. She shouted for Katy to take May upstairs and help her change out of those clothes, and then help bath her burns with cold water.

Once everyone was out, Mrs. Wisardmon gently helped me out of the bed, undress, and change into a dry nightgown before setting me on a couch and quickly and deftly changing the sheets on my bed.
"I honestly don't know what got into the gal! Rambling on like she did!" She exclaimed, helping back into the bed after all the sheets had been changed.

I smiled weakly. "Ma'am, I understand. She didn't know."

"Aye, ye can say that again! But she's got to learn to guard that mouth o' her's!"

Suddenly I felt a sensation like I'd just swallowed a stone. Looking pleadingly at Peter's mother, I asked, "Can you call Peter in for a moment?"

She looked searchingly at me for a moment, then nodded. "Aye. Just a moment."


***Peter***

I walked slowly into Sara's room. "Yes?" I asked.

Sara looked me in the eye, her gaze soft and sad. "Peter," She started, in a voice so gentle I started. This was the first time she'd talked nice to me since the coronation. "Go back to the castle and call off all further attacks on the Digidestined until I return."

I must've looked startled, 'cause Sara just smiled sadly and said, "You shouldn't be surprised. Just please. Go do it."