Mystery Encounter
Book III of the Guardian Angel Sequence
Prologue
The Digi Destined have faced more than one difficult challenge. So far, the most difficult has been facing a fight with the sisters of Gemini and the Guardians against Lucarinia and their fight against Entianmon. In their fight against Entianmon, they had to find new partners with strong powers because Entianmon had captured their original ones. They have been told of an upcoming quest that will begin when a mysterious Girl of the Mountain appears. The twins, Jenny and Julie, must leave for home immediately and don't say why. After the fight and triumph, they decided to rest and wait for the mysterious music of the Mountain Girl. When they hear it, they must follow its ever-changing paths to find the Girl…
"It's been a week and we still haven't heard any mysterious music." Kari said.
"Oh well, we can use the time to rest." Tai said with a sigh.
It was a week after the fight with Entianmon and the Digi Destined and their new and old partners were relaxing in a field surrounded by trees. It was morning, and Bronclovemon and Zudomon had gone to look for fish for breakfast. It wasn't long before they returned, successful with a large catch of fish. Not their particular friends, of course.
After they had eaten, Izzy spoke up.
"It is almost noon." He said. "Let's hope we hear the music."
"We have bad news." Siriusmon interrupted, rising from his council with the other Digimon that were the newer partners of the Digi Destined.
"What?" T.K. asked.
"We must leave." Cheribimon said sadly, lowering her eyes in a gesture of resentfulness.
"Oh, but why?" Sora asked, jumping up from her sitting position.
"We have to." Wingunimon said. "We have to return to our homes."
"Of course we'll come to help you with anything if you need it." Silverhornmon said.
"But I don't think that will be often because of the wonderful partners you have." Martialmon said with a rare smile.
"Are you sure?" Weregarurumon said.
"We would be very upset to see you leave." Lillymon said.
"We have a home." Dayinianmon said. "We made promises to go back."
"Well, I guess…" Tai said, looking at the ground.
"…This is good-bye…" Mimi said.
"We'll miss you." Matt said.
"All of us." Angewomon said.
Eight Digimon turned and flew or walked into the direction the sun was shining, towards the nine distant mountains. As they reached the forest line, they all turned. Each of them waved a farewell, and everyone else shouted:
"Good-bye! We'll see you again soon!"
"I'll miss them." Joe said sadly as the Digimon left and disappeared into the woods.
"We all will." T.K. said.
"Hey, listen!" Izzy said. A strange music had suddenly filled the air. It seemed to float by everywhere, coming from the west, directly away from the mountains. It sounded like a flute, and yet not a flute, maybe an oboe or a clarinet or a mix of all three. The notes resounded softly, singing a strange song, dying away after moments.
"We'd better hurry and follow it." Tai said.
"The music is gone, but we still know the relative location it came from." Izzy said.
"One thing I'm wondering," Kari said, "Is why is this strange music coming from the Girl of the Mountain, but the music is coming from opposite the mountains."
"Good point, but we should still follow the music instead of making assumptions." Izzy said.
"Let's go." Tai said. They started out away from the mountains, moving west.
A girl sitting cross-legged on a high rock on a hill lifted the strange instrument to her mouth and blew a slow stream of air through it, fingers drifting over the holes. After a couple of moments she stopped and brought the instrument down from her mouth.
Sighing softly, she put the instrument in a satchel at her side.
" 'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening…' " She said softly to herself. "What a disaster."
"Lord Rahomor, Aria's lake home is very close." A Gazimon said, looking up from the monitors. "Closing in…directly five hundred feet above target."
"Good, good." Said a sly, snaky voice. "Draw her to the surface, and capture her."
"No, sir," The Gazimon said, looking terrified. "She is very powerful and-"
"Do not question my orders!" Rahomor said, rising.
"Yes sir!" The Gazimon said immediately. "Code Blue 27! Three…Two…One… Now!"
A being that looked rather like a fish swam above the lake floor. From her waist down, a brilliant blue, rather long, fish-like tail whipped back and forth. From her stomach up was the torso of a human girl. A small tunic covered her chest and back, and her long bluish-purple hair waved like her tail.
Aria started in surprise when she heard/sensed a torpedo break through the surface of the water and scatter her fish friends. She was angry and started toward the surface, but caution held her back a moment. Men did this to try to capture her or just look at her. But after a second torpedo was shot, she shot like a rocket toward the surface and breaking it held a place just above it.
Concentrating the power of water into the palm of her hand, she loosed it at the great floating fortress in the sky. It barely rocked the fortress and the bottom of it opened up in retaliation. Circular rings flew out of it and burst towards her. She started to dive into the safety of the water but the rings were to fast. Two of them flew parallel on either side of her and closed in. Energy surrounded it and Aria found herself rising into the air again, heading into the ship.
"I demand you release me!" She said calmly, as if to the rings. Of course they didn't answer and she tried to fight her way out. No luck. Suddenly she was inside the fortress. The ball of energy and rings suspended itself above a platform with monitors at the side. A figure entered the room she was in.
"All too easy. The other two Titans will be reeled in and that will release the fourth. This is going better than I expected." The figure said.
"Now, won't you save me the trouble and tell me where your fellow Titans are?"
Aria folded her arms and held her head high, keeping her silence.
"Very well. I would gladly punish you for your threatening silence. But you are needed to get the final treasure." The figure, of whom was completely cloaked in black, turned, swishing his cloak.
"Put her in the water. Give her a minimal amount of food that she requests."
The Girl of the Mountain rose from her position on the high outcropping. She had played her noon music and had seen in her mind what had happened to the first Titan, Aria. Emily, a Guardian, had come and spoken to her. She had requested that the Girl start from a position opposite her home and circle around back to it when the Digi Destined were close to where she was.
"They are to be challenged into finding you, my friend, otherwise there is no lesson to learn on the way." Emily's words had been. "But once they make it to your mountain, try to let them find you."
The Girl had agreed and had settled into her current position. She knew the Digi Destined would come looking for her and must not doze or let her mind wander. She had been a little resistant in being told what to do, but Emily was being reasonable. She had played her flute-type instrument at noon and midnight ever since she had come here, which was only a couple of days ago.
" 'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening, lest the Titans let loose disaster upon the worlds in which they war.' " The Girl of the Mountain quoted softly. "Why is he such a fool?"
The Digi Destined were moving resolutely along when suddenly Zudomon froze in mid-step. He seemed to be listening to or for something.
"What is it, Zudomon?" Joe inquired.
"Something has happened in the waters. There has been an imbalance somewhere, from someone." He replied.
"Do you have any idea what it is?" Joe asked.
"It might be the water's guardian, Aria. Something could have happened to her."
"Who is Aria?" Kari asked.
"The guardian of the waters." Angewomon said. "She is linked with them in almost symbiosis. If something happens to her, it affects all waters. If something happens to the water, it affects her."
"Wow." Tai said.
"It's getting pretty dark, why don't we set up camp?" Izzy said.
"Sounds good to me." Matt said.
They happened along a cave and after making sure that it wasn't occupied already, they settled down to sleep.
"One of us should stay up to listen for the music to see if it changed course." Joe said.
"I will." T.K. offered. Magnaangemon quickly said he would stay up as well.
Around midnight, the two sat just outside the cave, silent. The music suddenly sounded in the same tune it had at noon. The whole song seemed to be the same, and it came from the same direction as it had at noon. The two listened in silence as the song drifted off.
"So…how can I put it? Beautiful. Haunting. Sad, and yet glad. It is so…strange. Different." T.K. mused.
"I agree." Magnaangemon said. "Different."
The two went in to sleep soon after.
The Girl of the Mountain sensed that the Digi Destined were very close.
"Time for them to 'learn the lesson' in this journey to find myself. I must move back to my mountain before they get here." She said to herself. She put all of her belongings in a satchel at her side and closed her blue eyes in concentration. She disappeared from the spot minutes from when the Digi Destined came close to the rock.
The Digi Destined traveled on, dealing with many hardships and always simply thinking, 'at the end of this trek west, we will have accomplished something big, from what the Riders say.' But on their fourth day out, after a long battle with Talomon in the morning, they settled down at a large outcropping of rock simply sticking out of the ground, and they saw signs that meant someone had very recently been here and residing here.
"As good a time as any to rest." Tai panted from the heat. "The music will be coming soon, we must be close to the Girl." They all sank to the ground thankfully to rest.
"Oh, look." Sora said, pointing. They all looked and saw in a field not far away a four-legged animal that looked rather like a horse, grazing. They squinted and saw folded wings at the creature's side. The winged- 'horse' looked up and turned. She was a tinge of blue and a long spiraled horn emerged from her forehead.
"It's Dancer." Kari said. Dancer- Renee's winged unicorn. The majestic blue unicorn seemed to be calling into a cottage near the field and then she turned and leaped over a fence and trotted towards them.
"It has been a while." Dancer said, standing some feet in front of them. "You look hot and tired. After the music, Renee will let you come rest in her temporary home."
"Renee?" All of the kids said together.
"Someone call?" Replied a voice. A girl with blue outspread wings came out of the house, some healing herbs she had been occupied with in her hands, came over to them.
"Oh, hello, everyone." She said, pocketing the herbs. "You're journeying for the Girl of the Mountain, right?" She asked just for conversation. They nodded. "Well, her music will be sounding in a couple of minutes. After that, you can all come inside and cool off."
"You don't have to do that." Matt said.
"You are all obviously hot and tired, so of course I will welcome you in." Renee said briskly. They suddenly all listened as the music of the Girl drifted by. But the kids and Digimon were completely bewildered as the song ended.
"There must be a mistake." Tai said in great surprise. Renee blinked.
"We can discuss this inside." She said quietly. They all followed her almost sullenly inside her house. The larger Digimon somehow got in and fit in without a problem at all. It was comfortable inside but warm.
Renee went to one of the many shelves on her wall and took down a blue bottle. She poured some of the contents into her hand, where it floated like a mist. She then blew it into the air and instantly everyone felt much cooler. She replaced the bottle, smiling.
"What do you think was a mistake, Tai?" Renee questioned once they were all comfortable.
"We have traveled all this way west, and when we get here the music comes from the east." Tai said, somewhat angrily.
"I know." Renee said.
"So all the way we have traveled is absolutely useless now." Matt said.
"In a way."
"Did you know this was going to happen, you and the other Guardians?" Tai demanded.
"We did." Renee's eyes seemed to have turned an icy blue and she looked at Tai, who glared back coldly.
"So why?" T.K. asked softly.
"Did you expect the Girl of the Mountain to come to you and have your quest be simple and easy?" Renee replied. "In every quest you go through, you must learn a lesson. Whether it is accept with joy or judge only when you know, you must learn it through hardships and pain. Sometimes the reward for accomplishing a quest is a harder one."
"I still don't see why you made us go through all this and then have to turn around and do it all over again." Mimi said.
"Fly. Take shortcuts. Swim. Run when you are up in strength." Renee said simply. Before anyone could say anything else she continued. "I suggest you rest here for today and you may spend the night. You have accomplished a lot and the Guardians and I are proud. The Girl of the Mountain will wait." With that, she turned and went outside. When they looked out one of her many windows they saw her mounted upon Dancer and they were galloping in a strange pattern that seemed like dancing.
They all felt angry, but it is hard to be angry with someone like a Guardian who has a perfect explanation for whatever they are angry about and are blaming the Guardian for it.
Renee stayed outside a lot of the day, sometimes working in a small garden, sometimes taking care of her unicorns and Dancer, sometimes riding. The kids and Digimon sometimes watched, sometimes they explored. Renee came inside in the evening and got them each a large dinner that was fit for each of their appetites. She showed them a part of the cottage that they could sleep in, and they got ready for sleep.
Renee had gone outside again that night, and none of them were sleeping from their anger and restlessness.
"Look at that." Kari said, pointing out the window. Ten figures could be seen. Five of them were winged unicorns in different shades of gold, orange, green, indigo, and violet. They were the Guardians' winged unicorns- Cheyenne (Adrienne's), Tierza (Emily's), Ivy (Nikki's), Dancer, and Amigo (Brittany's). They were all grazing and were almost glowing with their own light as their horns brushed the grass.
A couple yards from the winged unicorns, five of the should-be seven Guardians stood. The five were the partners of the winged unicorns mentioned above. The missing two were Katie and Arianna (to learn about them, read The Guardians.)
The kids and Digimon could hear their conversation, but just barely.
"I think that they a terribly angry with me." Renee said softly, looking at the ground, wings appearing to droop. "I didn't want to seem mean, but firm and not showing a weakness."
"That's all right." Adrienne said by way of comfort. "They are strong and can make the journey."
"Have you heard or seen the trouble with the Titans?" Brittany inquired, cocking her head.
"I saw Rahomor take Aria. He is after Rhian now." Emily said.
"Van will be soon after." Nikki put in.
"And then, the mysterious Titan." Renee said in a mysterious voice.
"Do you know what it is?" Adrienne asked. Each of them shook her head.
"Well, I suppose that's all, then." Renee said with a small sigh. "I should close up for tonight."
"Yeah, we had better go, too." Nikki said. Each of them whistled softly and the winged unicorns stopped grazing and trotted over. Saying farewell, the girls mounted their winged unicorns and left in separate directions. Laying her hand on Dancer's neck, Renee sighed.
The Next Morning…
"…I will send you about one-third of the way back. But not more because it would hinder your learning." Renee finished.
"All right." Tai said. He shifted nervously a moment. "Look, Renee, we're sorry about yesterday. I think it's fair to say that all of us were very tired and grouchy from our journey. We aren't mad at you or anything."
"Gracias," Renee said, smiling. "Or 'thank you,' in your language. I am sorry as well.
"Now, to be on your way." She poured the contents of a bottle in a circle around them, where they floated like a ring of fire. She closed her eyes in concentration and they each felt something like a jerk and they all suddenly appeared at a landmark that they had bypassed two days ago. The ring of fire disappeared and they collected their bearings.
"Wow, this is a long way from Renee's home." Sora said. "We have overcome three-quarters of a days worth of traveling in seconds."
"We can make it close to the mountains by evening if we really run, or fly or swim, whatever the case may be, full out most of the day." Joe said. They found an on-going river that went as far as the mountains as they knew for Zudomon and Joe. And together they all swam, flew, or ran at full speed towards the mountains, stopping for less than a half-hour for lunch, a break, and the music. They continued on and realized how little confrontations and battles they faced on the way back. As night began to fall- they had seen the tips and then the full of the mountains for a while- they stopped in the field where Entianmon's castle had been and settled for the night. They all stayed up to listen for the music and realized it came from the end of the line of mountains, from a mountain slightly apart from the others. Tai made a mark in the ground to indicate the mountain and they all fell asleep, happy from their achievements.
The next morning was one they anticipated as they burst towards the mountains.
"I wonder if we will run into any of our friends there." T.K. said. By 'friends' he meant their newer temporary partners.
They made it to the base of the mountain fairly quickly and began scaling the mountain. It was rough going and as they neared the top where there was flat ground all around, they heard the music, and it came from the mountaintop.
They landed on the flat ground and saw several large rocks assembled around two on top of each other. The rocks appeared to be set almost like Stonehenge.
On the center of the circle, on top of the two rocks was the center of attention as well. For on top of those rocks sat a girl with long silk purple pants and a small silk blue top. She held a flute-like instrument to her lips and was playing it, the music they had heard and chased. As her music ended she stood, long black hair cascading around her shoulders.
"I welcome you to my home. I am the Girl of the Mountain."
"Rhian is below, my lord." A Gazimon reported.
"Take her, then." Rahomor ordered.
The unicorn grazed quietly in the apparent safety of her home. Her sensitive ears heard the sound of whirring blades, like a helicopter. She threw her head up and saw a floating fortress in the sky. A sense of evil radiated from it and she leaped into the air, flying without wings. She trumpeted a challenge as the fortress drew near. She called the power of lightening into the tip of her horn and shot it at the fortress. No luck except the bottom opened up and square-like wires shot out and flew towards her.
Her power of lightening was no help as two flew parallel on either side of her, closing in and capturing her. They pulled Rhian into the fortress and she found herself suspended in the square of energy above a platform with panels on the side. Looking to her left she saw a fellow Titan, Aria, captured the way she was.
Normally she and the other two Titans got along well and did not war at all as long as they remained out of each other's territories, but Rhian and Aria felt a great anger toward each other now and their fellow Titan, Van. It wasn't that they were being territorial, but they wanted to blame each other for what had happened. Their anger was boosted greatly by an unknown source, as well.
At that moment, the figure that appeared to be the lord of the fortress entered.
"Well, well, my pets. Come tomorrow, I will have you all. And that will unleash the great treasure."
A slightly muffled and strange version of the Girl of the Mountain's song that was heard by no one but the singer filled part of the great ocean- kind of lake. The singer flapped water – and air – wings and swam slowly through the water, being awakened by the angered Titans.
"You have traveled long and hard, as I know." The Girl continued in her soft manner.
"No kidding, chasing you around all over." Tai said grumpily.
"As I know," The Girl said, sounding and looking reproachful, "Some friends went to the trouble and out of their way to hinder many obstacles you would have faced on your way back." Everyone looked surprised.
"The Guardians?" Sora asked. The Girl nodded slowly.
"I want to ask a question." Kari said thoughtfully.
"I am open ears." The Girl said.
"Well, I have two."
"Go on."
"First, is something happening in nature? Something seems to have happened in the water and with, how can I put it, lightening, I guess."
"Ask your second question. I have a feeling your first one will go with it."
"Well, we have followed your music and gone through these obstacles and the Guardians told us we would gain something from you. What have we gone through all this for?"
"Your questions go together, Kari, as I thought. There is a prophecy, which a lot of us go by prophecies, as you know; that tells about someone disturbing the harmony of the Titans and things going out of balance. Listen:
"Disturb not the peace of Fire, Ice, or Lightening,
Lest these Titans let loose destruction upon the world in which they war.
Though the great guardian of land, air and sea
Shall awaken to quell the fighting,
Alone its song will fail, and the worlds shall turn to its young Destined.
Chosen Ones, into your hands lay the fate of two worlds.
Unto thy hands, bring together eleven jewels,
The treasures combined tame the beast of the sea."
The girl cut off and closed her eyes, thinking.
"It has started happening, hasn't it?" Izzy asked. "There has been an imbalance in nature, but what has happened to the Titans to disturb them?"
"Rahomor is his name, a human more than Digimon. He captures, but he calls it adding to his collection. As if Digimon are simply things without life and feelings. He has no real interest in the first three Titans. He only wishes to have them combined to flush out the real treasure, the final Titan. He has the first two, which you will find out what and who they are later." The Girl of the Mountain said.
"I wanted to ask you a couple of things, too." T.K. asked.
"Go on."
"Do you have a name besides the 'Girl of the Mountain'?" He asked. The Girl seemed to get tense or nervous because and almost-ripple went through her body and she twitched once. She suddenly blinked and shook herself, loosing the tenseness on the outside.
"Yes, I suppose I do. Niera will do in your language. But I really prefer the Girl of the Mountain." T.K. nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed that he had disturbed the Girl.
"What do we have to do?" Tai asked.
"Go west where you tried to find me. The Titans battleground will be there. You have to calm them. There is a large lake, almost an ocean, there. You must start your trek west, and something will happen that will speed you on your way quite a bit. You will know what I mean when it happens, and I advise you not to do anything foolish, he won't harm you.
"Now, what was your other question, T.K.?" The Girl asked.
"I wanted to know if our newer partners that we had were near."
The Girl seemed to be thinking. Then she nodded to herself.
"If you go that way," She said, pointing, "The Mountains where your friends live are there." There were visible but slightly distant mountains that could be seen. "But I would suggest you continue with your current quest rather than go out of your way and delay your quest. By the time you are done, it may be too late.
"Listen closely: The person that disturbed the Titans is more human than Digimon. He knows of you, but I don't think he wants to harm you. Though he will be angry if…when you bring peace to the Titans. I don't think he likes you, though. I advise you to be careful.
"Also, I will meet you when you arrive at the battleground, some friends told me I play a small part in the peacemaking of the Titans." She stopped finally, as if to catch her breath. "That is all I can tell you." She placed the flute-like instrument to her lips and softly played the song, and now that they had achieved their quest, the music felt filling and peaceful to them, and suddenly the Girl disappeared.
"Well, let's go." Tai said, sounding happy. With a happy heart they started down the mountain. Before long they reached the base and continued, even in the night. Hearing the music after achieving their quest had changed their need for food and sleep. They found themselves needing it rarely and the Digimon found it easy to remain in their current forms.
They continued as dawn broke and they found themselves not as far as they had thought. A shadow blocked out the morning sun and they all looked up, seeing a flying fortress.
"Well, well." Rahomor said, smiling slightly in an evil way. "Let us capture these toys and see what they are."
"Yes sir."
Very large wire like circles spiraled toward them in the air at unbelievable speeds. Three surrounded them before they knew it and captured them all, taking them up to the fortress. Once inside they found themselves suspended a couple of feet off the ground. Across the room were two others. One was a mermaid with her arms folded and eyes closed, a look of anger on her face. The other was a unicorn that kicked out against the ball of energy holding her captive.
"Give it up, Rhian, Titan of Lightening." The mermaid snapped, spitting out the words of her name and 'Titan of Lightening. The mermaid opened her eyes, glaring. "He has us and we won't be escaping any time soon. So can it."
The unicorn reared as well as she could in her captive position. "I expect more respect than that, Aria, Titan of Water." Rhian trumpeted back, sounding just as distasteful talking about Aria as a Titan as Aria had about Rhian.
"This certainly is a pleasure." Said a cool, oily voice. "Witnessing the warring Titans and seeing the children and Digimon all together." The speaker was Rahomor. His cloak was actually gone and they could see him wearing a lab-type coat with badges and pockets with evil things in them. He had short, strange grayish-brown hair and a sneer played at his lips.
"I'm sorry, but I must be directing the ship for the third Titan's home. I simply stopped in to tell you that no one will stop me, prophecy or not." Rahomor paused. "You children and your foolish Digimon running about like you own the world, well, you will see what true power is when you witness my capturing of the Titans, greatest and most feared of them all." He looked furious and he stormed out of the room. The ball of energy released the kids and Digimon, but the Titans were still held captive.
"He let us go?" Sora asked skeptically.
"I did, but keep quiet." Whispered a voice. They looked and saw a small jet-black wolf-like Digimon.
"Who are you?" Matt asked.
"I was a 'pet' of Brittany's and I ran away and found myself here. I watched and learned how to free things in the energy balls." The wolf-like Digimon said, cowering in fright of the large Digimon. Kari walked over to the scared creature and picked her up.
"Why in the world would you run away from someone like Brittany?" Kari asked the Digimon.
"I'll explain it to you later, I want to free the Titans first." The black wolf jumped out of Kari's arms and went over to Rhian in the energy ball. The wolf touched several keys on the monitors by the platform Rhian was on, and suddenly, with a crackle, the energy ball disappeared. Rhian landed hard on all four hooves on the platform and reared, calling the power of lightening into the tip of her horn. She shot it at the ball of energy that held Aria, and it "blew up". When the smoke cleared, Aria was floating there, waving her tail like a wing to hold her in the air. She then called water into the pal of her hand and blew a hole in the fortress, rocking it. She and Rhian, who could fly without wings, flew out of the hole and began destroying the wings and things that held the ship in the air. By that time they were very close to what would be called the Titan's battleground and Van's lair.
The kids and Digimon were thrown out of the ship onto a cliff overlooking a great ocean. In the distance an island could be made out. To their right, there was a mountain not far away. A shape could be made out flying from the mountain. When it got closer, they could see it was a dragon. The three Titans began their warring, freezing the ocean and fighting above it, trying to strike a fatal blow against one another.
"'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening, lest these Titans let loose destruction upon the world in which they war.'" Quoted a voice. Turning, they saw the Girl of the Mountain standing in front of what looked like crumbling rocks like Stonehenge.
"What can we do to stop them?" Sora asked worriedly.
"Think of the prophecy. The guardian of land, air, and sea must rise first."
"How do we make this guardian rise?" Tai asked. Before the Girl could answer, the Titans brought their fighting very close to the cliff.
"Stop it!" All of the kids shouted at the same time. There was a whirl of wind and a tornado-like thing formed by water shot out of the ocean right in front of the cliff, crashing into the Titans. Van and Rhian floated back, Aria closer up because of her oceanic form. The water-tornado slowly stopped spinning and there was the creature that had formed it. It looked like a griffin, though with a longer neck and wings made of scales, clearly allowing it to swim and fly. Also, instead of a lion's rear, there was a horse-like one. The water-griffin flapped its wings slowly and flew in front of the three Titans.
"Who is that?" Joe asked.
"The great guardian, Norian." The Girl said. Norian opened her mouth (beak) and let out a strange stream of notes that sounded curiously like the Girl's song. Spiraling into the air, the fourth Titan dodged the attacks of the other three Titans.
"The prophecy says that the great guardian will fail alone, though." T.K. said.
"The Titan will try anyway." The Girl of the Mountain replied. They all watched as Norian dodged the attacks and flew in front of the cliff, surrounding itself with a protective shield, the attacks bouncing off of it harmlessly, but the Titan dropped his shield at exactly the wrong time and the other Titans hit it. Norian dropped like a stone to the frozen surface and broke it, falling under. The Titans all froze the part of the ocean that the Titan had fallen through and flew away from the spot.
"The song that the Titan was 'singing' is the same as yours." Mimi said. The girl nodded and, standing on the edge of the cliff, lifted the instrument to her lips. The strange song filled the air as she played a short version of it, and suddenly Norian broke through the ice and floated just above and in front of them.
"The song," he said, "The song has restored my strength. Now the world's Destined must calm the warring ones."
"But who are the world's Destined?" Tai asked.
"It's us, Tai." Matt said. "We are the Digi Destined, aren't we?"
"Only two of you go, and your Digimon cannot help you." The Girl said softly.
"But why only two of us? And why can't our Digimon help us?" Sora asked.
The Girl did not answer.
"Which of us will go? And what do we have to do?"
"You must use the prophecy to find out which two will go. Those who go must go to the island and get the treasure there." Norian said.
"Across there?" Kari asked, pointing across the frozen ocean.
"Yes."
"Then I'm going."
"No way, Kari!" Tai said.
"That means I have to go, according to the prophecy." T.K. put in.
"You're kidding." Matt said.
"The prophecy says the 'world's young Destined', and T.K. and I are both younger than all of you." Kari pointed out. T.K. nodded in agreement.
"It is too dangerous." Magnaangemon said.
"And we can't help you." Angewomon added.
"But we have to." T.K. pleaded. "Otherwise the world will be destroyed by the fighting Titans."
"We're the only ones who can do it." Kari put in. after a moment, the two angels slowly and luminously nodded their heads.
"How do we get over there?" T.K. asked.
"I'll help." Piped up a small voice. They turned and saw the black wolf trotting towards them. Behind him trailed two much larger wolves. One of the wolves had a sled like thing that she was dragging, the other a rope tied like a harness for the three of them.
"I heard what you were saying and brought some friends to help." The small black wolf said proudly.
"But," added one of the others in a husky voice, "We are filled with a magic so that in a while we disappear. But we will be able to get you to the island."
Minutes later they were at the base of the cliff at the edge of the frozen ocean. They worked the harness onto the wolves and sat on the sled- like object. At a word, the wolves shot off across the frozen ocean. Norian floated just behind and above them. As the other Titans closed in on them to attack, the wolves looked up. Aria shot water and Rhian lightening, and two of the wolves countered with their own, knocking it away. But then the dragon, Van, closed in and let a large stream of fire at them. Screaming and covering their heads with their arms, T.K. and Kari felt a surge of fear. But the fire never hit them and they saw Norian flying in front of them, shielding the fire away.
"Thanks!" They called as he peeled away. The wolves and Norian protected them as they got to the island. The wolves climbed a small hill and ran through tunnels and across a frozen bridge. As they entered a chamber that opened to the sky the wolves skidded to a halt and T.K. and Kari jumped off the sled.
"Look." Kari said, pointing as the wolves panted. There was a small platform with steps leading to the top. At the top was a table of ice, and on top of that were statue-like things of a mermaid, a unicorn, a dragon and a water-griffin. They each held a glass ball.
"The treasures." T.K. said. He and Kari exchanged a look and nodded. They went up to the statues and each took two of the glass balls. Pocketing the treasures, they turned back to the wolves to leave. Two of them had disappeared and the little black one looked hopeless.
"Already they disappeared." The wolf said helplessly.
"This way," Kari said, motioning them over to a climbable rock wall. Putting the little wolf in her backpack, Kari started up, with T.K. right behind her. They reached the top and looked down. It was a steep, flat way down to the frozen ocean.
"Let's just run down." T.K. said." We will be fine as long as we're careful." They began to run down, keeping their heads up so they wouldn't pitch forward. Norian suddenly flew up beside them and flew down at their speed.
"Do you have the treasures?" Norian asked.
"Got them." Kari and T.K. said. Norian nodded and flew lower, just above the ground.
"Get on." Kari and T.K. each jumped onto Norian's back just in front of his wings. Norian lifted off and began flying back to the cliff. Their progress was slowed by the other Titans and Kari and T.K. felt dizzy as Norian spiraled to attack and dodge.
"Hold on tight." Norian said as he shot strait up.
They were close to the cliff and the kids and Digimon could make out the forms of T.K. and Kari on Norian's back. There was a whirring sound and they saw five wire-like things shooting out from Rahomor's crashed fortress and burst towards Norian. They saw them close in on Norian and form a large ball of energy around him.
"Wait." The Girl of the Mountain ordered as the angels spread wings as if to fly out to Norian and their partners.
Norian angrily called an aurora beam into his mouth and shot it through the ball of energy at the fortress and it rocked. Norian, struggling with the wires aimed towards the water and closed the small wing- like things on his back as he shot into the water, fighting the wires.
As he finally destroyed them he floated down to the bottom of the ocean as T.K. and Kari floated up, kicking to get to air. As they broke the surface of the water, they heard Norian say:
"I…have failed…"
"Oh no." Kari said sadly, holding the wolf above the water to get air.
"We have to get to land before we get hit by the Titans." T.K. said, treading the freezing water. "And before we freeze." They started kicking their legs towards land, but they both felt that their legs were getting frostbitten and frozen. Kari's lips were turning blue as she weakly kicked towards land, T.K.'s as well.
Looking across the water worriedly, the Girl gasped when she saw the two kids nearly freezing. "Go, and hurry!" She said to the angels, motioning to the kids. The two angels hurtled through the air towards their partners.
"Kari?" T.K. said, turning back to look at Kari. She looked like she was loosing consciousness and she dropped under the surface of the water. "No, Kari!" T.K. shouted and he dived underwater, searching for her.
He opened his eyes and grabbed at her hand and tried to kick to the surface. He felt so tired and frozen.
He gave one more, and he knew it his last, kick to the surface and he felt a strong hand grip his arm and pull him to the surface and to air. Someone pulled Kari from his grip, but he felt as if his eyes were frozen shut and he couldn't think. He felt as if he was almost cradled in someone's arms and moving through the air. This somebody was warming him and keeping him from dying.
Kari was all but unconscious as she felt herself lain on the ground and the water pounded out of her lungs. She coughed and caught her breath, willing her eyes to open. As they slowly did she saw T.K. being warmed and helped by his partner, Magnaangemon. She saw Tai helping Angewomon wrap her up in blankets.
"I'm fine." Kari coughed out.
T.K. opened his own eyes and saw a gloved hand with a sword attached to the wrist wrapping him up in blankets. He jumped in surprise and realized it was his partner.
"I'm okay, but the treasures…" T.K. gasped out. "Let me just put mine where they need to be and then I'll rest."
"You shouldn't." Magnaangemon said in his deep voice.
"Let us just put them there, please." Kari said through chattering teeth.
"Have them drink this." The Girl of the Mountain said to the two angels, handing them each a gold cup with a clear liquid in it. The two kids each drank it, making faces at the taste but feeling much better at the feeling of warmth. They each struggled to their feet and walked up to the platform in the middle of the rocks and placed the treasures in each of their appropriate places. The platform glowed and turned a strange blue color.
"You have to play Norian's song." Kari said, she and T.K. stepping down. The Girl of the Mountain climbed to the top of the platform and suddenly light green water spilled from it and filled the circle in which the rocks were, and the rocks suddenly got a look upon them as if they were not so old.
The Girl of the Mountain lifted her flute-like instrument to her lips and began her song. It was different from last time because it was longer and after she had played for several moments different instruments joined in and formed a beautiful song.
They all watched as the three Titans broke apart from their warring and seemed to smile at each other. They stopped several yards from the cliff as a swirl of water shot out of the ocean and Norian appeared. The four of them floated in front of them and the light green water spilled from the platform where the Girl of the Mountain was continuing her playing.
As she struck each note, a different rock lit up. The water thawed the frozen ocean and melted away as the Girl ended her song.
Aria smiled at them and dived into the water, making for her lake home. Rhian reared, her horn lighting up, and galloped across the land for her own home. Van spread his great wings and took off for his mountain home. Now only Norian remained.
"I am very sorry for freezing your friends. I am afraid I cannot do anything to help. Give them my apologies." Norian said. He spread his wings, crying his song a last time. "The beast both above and below the sea has been tamed. The world could not have been in better hands." With that, he turned and closed the little wings on his back and dived into his ocean home.
The Girl of the Mountain climbed down from the platform as the green water disappeared and the rocks turned to an older look again. Her eyes seemed to dance in happiness.
"You all have done so much better than we ever thought." Said a soft voice. The Guardians emerged from the trees on their winged unicorns. Renee had spoken. She and the other Guardians had been the ones playing their instruments along with the Girl.
"What happened to T.K. and Kari?" Adrienne asked, she and the others dismounting.
"That man - what was his name - tried to capture Norian and he fell to the bottom of the ocean and T.K. and Kari had been on his back. They nearly froze to death and drowned." Tai said.
"Let me see…" Renee muttered, shuffling through a brown leather pack at her side. She pulled out two bottles triumphantly. She walked up to the Girl of the Mountain, giving her a bottle. They each held a bottle in their left hand and reached out, grasping each other's right hands. Their hands glowed with blue light, as did the bottles. Renee took the bottle from the Girl and poured the contents of each bottle into two cups.
"That should do the trick." Renee said, giving a cup to Kari and T.K. "It will taste nasty, but it goes down well and helps." The two kids made a face as they downed the potions.
"Better keep them warm in blankets and have them sleep and relax often." Adrienne said to the two angels. They nodded.
"I put a bit of a sleeping potion in there." Renee murmured to the two angels. "They won't get the sleep they need right away otherwise." The two kids blinked, eyelids heavy and slowly fell asleep.
"You have done well." Brittany told them. "More will happen. You have another quest coming up. It will be harder than your previous one."
"All we can tell you is expect the thing you think will never happen. It will be one of the things we know you fear most of happening." Emily added quietly. "It will not be our doing, but it will be horrible."
"All right. We'll do it. Together, we can do anything!" Tai said.
"I'm afraid you won't be together." Renee murmured quietly so they wouldn't hear as they mounted and galloped off.
"I have to go too." The Girl of the Mountain said.
"You've been great. Thanks for all your help." Matt said.
"You're the ones who have been a help." The Girl said, smiling. "You brought peace to the warring Titans, something many considered impossible. Congratulations. Relax for a while. Your quest is not too far away."
"Before you go," Sora said, "What was that thing that you and Renee did?"
"Oh, that." The Girl said, smiling. "We're 'long lost sisters', as you might put it. I'm almost the silver band of the rainbow, as they tell me." With that, she disappeared.
"Well-" Tai started to say, but Sora interrupted.
"We'll never really understand the Guardians, Tai, so don't try to. Let's just relax with that quest coming up."
And they did.
The End of Mystery Encounter
Book III of the Guardian Angel Sequence
Prologue
The Digi Destined have faced more than one difficult challenge. So far, the most difficult has been facing a fight with the sisters of Gemini and the Guardians against Lucarinia and their fight against Entianmon. In their fight against Entianmon, they had to find new partners with strong powers because Entianmon had captured their original ones. They have been told of an upcoming quest that will begin when a mysterious Girl of the Mountain appears. The twins, Jenny and Julie, must leave for home immediately and don't say why. After the fight and triumph, they decided to rest and wait for the mysterious music of the Mountain Girl. When they hear it, they must follow its ever-changing paths to find the Girl…
"It's been a week and we still haven't heard any mysterious music." Kari said.
"Oh well, we can use the time to rest." Tai said with a sigh.
It was a week after the fight with Entianmon and the Digi Destined and their new and old partners were relaxing in a field surrounded by trees. It was morning, and Bronclovemon and Zudomon had gone to look for fish for breakfast. It wasn't long before they returned, successful with a large catch of fish. Not their particular friends, of course.
After they had eaten, Izzy spoke up.
"It is almost noon." He said. "Let's hope we hear the music."
"We have bad news." Siriusmon interrupted, rising from his council with the other Digimon that were the newer partners of the Digi Destined.
"What?" T.K. asked.
"We must leave." Cheribimon said sadly, lowering her eyes in a gesture of resentfulness.
"Oh, but why?" Sora asked, jumping up from her sitting position.
"We have to." Wingunimon said. "We have to return to our homes."
"Of course we'll come to help you with anything if you need it." Silverhornmon said.
"But I don't think that will be often because of the wonderful partners you have." Martialmon said with a rare smile.
"Are you sure?" Weregarurumon said.
"We would be very upset to see you leave." Lillymon said.
"We have a home." Dayinianmon said. "We made promises to go back."
"Well, I guess…" Tai said, looking at the ground.
"…This is good-bye…" Mimi said.
"We'll miss you." Matt said.
"All of us." Angewomon said.
Eight Digimon turned and flew or walked into the direction the sun was shining, towards the nine distant mountains. As they reached the forest line, they all turned. Each of them waved a farewell, and everyone else shouted:
"Good-bye! We'll see you again soon!"
"I'll miss them." Joe said sadly as the Digimon left and disappeared into the woods.
"We all will." T.K. said.
"Hey, listen!" Izzy said. A strange music had suddenly filled the air. It seemed to float by everywhere, coming from the west, directly away from the mountains. It sounded like a flute, and yet not a flute, maybe an oboe or a clarinet or a mix of all three. The notes resounded softly, singing a strange song, dying away after moments.
"We'd better hurry and follow it." Tai said.
"The music is gone, but we still know the relative location it came from." Izzy said.
"One thing I'm wondering," Kari said, "Is why is this strange music coming from the Girl of the Mountain, but the music is coming from opposite the mountains."
"Good point, but we should still follow the music instead of making assumptions." Izzy said.
"Let's go." Tai said. They started out away from the mountains, moving west.
A girl sitting cross-legged on a high rock on a hill lifted the strange instrument to her mouth and blew a slow stream of air through it, fingers drifting over the holes. After a couple of moments she stopped and brought the instrument down from her mouth.
Sighing softly, she put the instrument in a satchel at her side.
" 'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening…' " She said softly to herself. "What a disaster."
"Lord Rahomor, Aria's lake home is very close." A Gazimon said, looking up from the monitors. "Closing in…directly five hundred feet above target."
"Good, good." Said a sly, snaky voice. "Draw her to the surface, and capture her."
"No, sir," The Gazimon said, looking terrified. "She is very powerful and-"
"Do not question my orders!" Rahomor said, rising.
"Yes sir!" The Gazimon said immediately. "Code Blue 27! Three…Two…One… Now!"
A being that looked rather like a fish swam above the lake floor. From her waist down, a brilliant blue, rather long, fish-like tail whipped back and forth. From her stomach up was the torso of a human girl. A small tunic covered her chest and back, and her long bluish-purple hair waved like her tail.
Aria started in surprise when she heard/sensed a torpedo break through the surface of the water and scatter her fish friends. She was angry and started toward the surface, but caution held her back a moment. Men did this to try to capture her or just look at her. But after a second torpedo was shot, she shot like a rocket toward the surface and breaking it held a place just above it.
Concentrating the power of water into the palm of her hand, she loosed it at the great floating fortress in the sky. It barely rocked the fortress and the bottom of it opened up in retaliation. Circular rings flew out of it and burst towards her. She started to dive into the safety of the water but the rings were to fast. Two of them flew parallel on either side of her and closed in. Energy surrounded it and Aria found herself rising into the air again, heading into the ship.
"I demand you release me!" She said calmly, as if to the rings. Of course they didn't answer and she tried to fight her way out. No luck. Suddenly she was inside the fortress. The ball of energy and rings suspended itself above a platform with monitors at the side. A figure entered the room she was in.
"All too easy. The other two Titans will be reeled in and that will release the fourth. This is going better than I expected." The figure said.
"Now, won't you save me the trouble and tell me where your fellow Titans are?"
Aria folded her arms and held her head high, keeping her silence.
"Very well. I would gladly punish you for your threatening silence. But you are needed to get the final treasure." The figure, of whom was completely cloaked in black, turned, swishing his cloak.
"Put her in the water. Give her a minimal amount of food that she requests."
The Girl of the Mountain rose from her position on the high outcropping. She had played her noon music and had seen in her mind what had happened to the first Titan, Aria. Emily, a Guardian, had come and spoken to her. She had requested that the Girl start from a position opposite her home and circle around back to it when the Digi Destined were close to where she was.
"They are to be challenged into finding you, my friend, otherwise there is no lesson to learn on the way." Emily's words had been. "But once they make it to your mountain, try to let them find you."
The Girl had agreed and had settled into her current position. She knew the Digi Destined would come looking for her and must not doze or let her mind wander. She had been a little resistant in being told what to do, but Emily was being reasonable. She had played her flute-type instrument at noon and midnight ever since she had come here, which was only a couple of days ago.
" 'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening, lest the Titans let loose disaster upon the worlds in which they war.' " The Girl of the Mountain quoted softly. "Why is he such a fool?"
The Digi Destined were moving resolutely along when suddenly Zudomon froze in mid-step. He seemed to be listening to or for something.
"What is it, Zudomon?" Joe inquired.
"Something has happened in the waters. There has been an imbalance somewhere, from someone." He replied.
"Do you have any idea what it is?" Joe asked.
"It might be the water's guardian, Aria. Something could have happened to her."
"Who is Aria?" Kari asked.
"The guardian of the waters." Angewomon said. "She is linked with them in almost symbiosis. If something happens to her, it affects all waters. If something happens to the water, it affects her."
"Wow." Tai said.
"It's getting pretty dark, why don't we set up camp?" Izzy said.
"Sounds good to me." Matt said.
They happened along a cave and after making sure that it wasn't occupied already, they settled down to sleep.
"One of us should stay up to listen for the music to see if it changed course." Joe said.
"I will." T.K. offered. Magnaangemon quickly said he would stay up as well.
Around midnight, the two sat just outside the cave, silent. The music suddenly sounded in the same tune it had at noon. The whole song seemed to be the same, and it came from the same direction as it had at noon. The two listened in silence as the song drifted off.
"So…how can I put it? Beautiful. Haunting. Sad, and yet glad. It is so…strange. Different." T.K. mused.
"I agree." Magnaangemon said. "Different."
The two went in to sleep soon after.
The Girl of the Mountain sensed that the Digi Destined were very close.
"Time for them to 'learn the lesson' in this journey to find myself. I must move back to my mountain before they get here." She said to herself. She put all of her belongings in a satchel at her side and closed her blue eyes in concentration. She disappeared from the spot minutes from when the Digi Destined came close to the rock.
The Digi Destined traveled on, dealing with many hardships and always simply thinking, 'at the end of this trek west, we will have accomplished something big, from what the Riders say.' But on their fourth day out, after a long battle with Talomon in the morning, they settled down at a large outcropping of rock simply sticking out of the ground, and they saw signs that meant someone had very recently been here and residing here.
"As good a time as any to rest." Tai panted from the heat. "The music will be coming soon, we must be close to the Girl." They all sank to the ground thankfully to rest.
"Oh, look." Sora said, pointing. They all looked and saw in a field not far away a four-legged animal that looked rather like a horse, grazing. They squinted and saw folded wings at the creature's side. The winged- 'horse' looked up and turned. She was a tinge of blue and a long spiraled horn emerged from her forehead.
"It's Dancer." Kari said. Dancer- Renee's winged unicorn. The majestic blue unicorn seemed to be calling into a cottage near the field and then she turned and leaped over a fence and trotted towards them.
"It has been a while." Dancer said, standing some feet in front of them. "You look hot and tired. After the music, Renee will let you come rest in her temporary home."
"Renee?" All of the kids said together.
"Someone call?" Replied a voice. A girl with blue outspread wings came out of the house, some healing herbs she had been occupied with in her hands, came over to them.
"Oh, hello, everyone." She said, pocketing the herbs. "You're journeying for the Girl of the Mountain, right?" She asked just for conversation. They nodded. "Well, her music will be sounding in a couple of minutes. After that, you can all come inside and cool off."
"You don't have to do that." Matt said.
"You are all obviously hot and tired, so of course I will welcome you in." Renee said briskly. They suddenly all listened as the music of the Girl drifted by. But the kids and Digimon were completely bewildered as the song ended.
"There must be a mistake." Tai said in great surprise. Renee blinked.
"We can discuss this inside." She said quietly. They all followed her almost sullenly inside her house. The larger Digimon somehow got in and fit in without a problem at all. It was comfortable inside but warm.
Renee went to one of the many shelves on her wall and took down a blue bottle. She poured some of the contents into her hand, where it floated like a mist. She then blew it into the air and instantly everyone felt much cooler. She replaced the bottle, smiling.
"What do you think was a mistake, Tai?" Renee questioned once they were all comfortable.
"We have traveled all this way west, and when we get here the music comes from the east." Tai said, somewhat angrily.
"I know." Renee said.
"So all the way we have traveled is absolutely useless now." Matt said.
"In a way."
"Did you know this was going to happen, you and the other Guardians?" Tai demanded.
"We did." Renee's eyes seemed to have turned an icy blue and she looked at Tai, who glared back coldly.
"So why?" T.K. asked softly.
"Did you expect the Girl of the Mountain to come to you and have your quest be simple and easy?" Renee replied. "In every quest you go through, you must learn a lesson. Whether it is accept with joy or judge only when you know, you must learn it through hardships and pain. Sometimes the reward for accomplishing a quest is a harder one."
"I still don't see why you made us go through all this and then have to turn around and do it all over again." Mimi said.
"Fly. Take shortcuts. Swim. Run when you are up in strength." Renee said simply. Before anyone could say anything else she continued. "I suggest you rest here for today and you may spend the night. You have accomplished a lot and the Guardians and I are proud. The Girl of the Mountain will wait." With that, she turned and went outside. When they looked out one of her many windows they saw her mounted upon Dancer and they were galloping in a strange pattern that seemed like dancing.
They all felt angry, but it is hard to be angry with someone like a Guardian who has a perfect explanation for whatever they are angry about and are blaming the Guardian for it.
Renee stayed outside a lot of the day, sometimes working in a small garden, sometimes taking care of her unicorns and Dancer, sometimes riding. The kids and Digimon sometimes watched, sometimes they explored. Renee came inside in the evening and got them each a large dinner that was fit for each of their appetites. She showed them a part of the cottage that they could sleep in, and they got ready for sleep.
Renee had gone outside again that night, and none of them were sleeping from their anger and restlessness.
"Look at that." Kari said, pointing out the window. Ten figures could be seen. Five of them were winged unicorns in different shades of gold, orange, green, indigo, and violet. They were the Guardians' winged unicorns- Cheyenne (Adrienne's), Tierza (Emily's), Ivy (Nikki's), Dancer, and Amigo (Brittany's). They were all grazing and were almost glowing with their own light as their horns brushed the grass.
A couple yards from the winged unicorns, five of the should-be seven Guardians stood. The five were the partners of the winged unicorns mentioned above. The missing two were Katie and Arianna (to learn about them, read The Guardians.)
The kids and Digimon could hear their conversation, but just barely.
"I think that they a terribly angry with me." Renee said softly, looking at the ground, wings appearing to droop. "I didn't want to seem mean, but firm and not showing a weakness."
"That's all right." Adrienne said by way of comfort. "They are strong and can make the journey."
"Have you heard or seen the trouble with the Titans?" Brittany inquired, cocking her head.
"I saw Rahomor take Aria. He is after Rhian now." Emily said.
"Van will be soon after." Nikki put in.
"And then, the mysterious Titan." Renee said in a mysterious voice.
"Do you know what it is?" Adrienne asked. Each of them shook her head.
"Well, I suppose that's all, then." Renee said with a small sigh. "I should close up for tonight."
"Yeah, we had better go, too." Nikki said. Each of them whistled softly and the winged unicorns stopped grazing and trotted over. Saying farewell, the girls mounted their winged unicorns and left in separate directions. Laying her hand on Dancer's neck, Renee sighed.
The Next Morning…
"…I will send you about one-third of the way back. But not more because it would hinder your learning." Renee finished.
"All right." Tai said. He shifted nervously a moment. "Look, Renee, we're sorry about yesterday. I think it's fair to say that all of us were very tired and grouchy from our journey. We aren't mad at you or anything."
"Gracias," Renee said, smiling. "Or 'thank you,' in your language. I am sorry as well.
"Now, to be on your way." She poured the contents of a bottle in a circle around them, where they floated like a ring of fire. She closed her eyes in concentration and they each felt something like a jerk and they all suddenly appeared at a landmark that they had bypassed two days ago. The ring of fire disappeared and they collected their bearings.
"Wow, this is a long way from Renee's home." Sora said. "We have overcome three-quarters of a days worth of traveling in seconds."
"We can make it close to the mountains by evening if we really run, or fly or swim, whatever the case may be, full out most of the day." Joe said. They found an on-going river that went as far as the mountains as they knew for Zudomon and Joe. And together they all swam, flew, or ran at full speed towards the mountains, stopping for less than a half-hour for lunch, a break, and the music. They continued on and realized how little confrontations and battles they faced on the way back. As night began to fall- they had seen the tips and then the full of the mountains for a while- they stopped in the field where Entianmon's castle had been and settled for the night. They all stayed up to listen for the music and realized it came from the end of the line of mountains, from a mountain slightly apart from the others. Tai made a mark in the ground to indicate the mountain and they all fell asleep, happy from their achievements.
The next morning was one they anticipated as they burst towards the mountains.
"I wonder if we will run into any of our friends there." T.K. said. By 'friends' he meant their newer temporary partners.
They made it to the base of the mountain fairly quickly and began scaling the mountain. It was rough going and as they neared the top where there was flat ground all around, they heard the music, and it came from the mountaintop.
They landed on the flat ground and saw several large rocks assembled around two on top of each other. The rocks appeared to be set almost like Stonehenge.
On the center of the circle, on top of the two rocks was the center of attention as well. For on top of those rocks sat a girl with long silk purple pants and a small silk blue top. She held a flute-like instrument to her lips and was playing it, the music they had heard and chased. As her music ended she stood, long black hair cascading around her shoulders.
"I welcome you to my home. I am the Girl of the Mountain."
"Rhian is below, my lord." A Gazimon reported.
"Take her, then." Rahomor ordered.
The unicorn grazed quietly in the apparent safety of her home. Her sensitive ears heard the sound of whirring blades, like a helicopter. She threw her head up and saw a floating fortress in the sky. A sense of evil radiated from it and she leaped into the air, flying without wings. She trumpeted a challenge as the fortress drew near. She called the power of lightening into the tip of her horn and shot it at the fortress. No luck except the bottom opened up and square-like wires shot out and flew towards her.
Her power of lightening was no help as two flew parallel on either side of her, closing in and capturing her. They pulled Rhian into the fortress and she found herself suspended in the square of energy above a platform with panels on the side. Looking to her left she saw a fellow Titan, Aria, captured the way she was.
Normally she and the other two Titans got along well and did not war at all as long as they remained out of each other's territories, but Rhian and Aria felt a great anger toward each other now and their fellow Titan, Van. It wasn't that they were being territorial, but they wanted to blame each other for what had happened. Their anger was boosted greatly by an unknown source, as well.
At that moment, the figure that appeared to be the lord of the fortress entered.
"Well, well, my pets. Come tomorrow, I will have you all. And that will unleash the great treasure."
A slightly muffled and strange version of the Girl of the Mountain's song that was heard by no one but the singer filled part of the great ocean- kind of lake. The singer flapped water – and air – wings and swam slowly through the water, being awakened by the angered Titans.
"You have traveled long and hard, as I know." The Girl continued in her soft manner.
"No kidding, chasing you around all over." Tai said grumpily.
"As I know," The Girl said, sounding and looking reproachful, "Some friends went to the trouble and out of their way to hinder many obstacles you would have faced on your way back." Everyone looked surprised.
"The Guardians?" Sora asked. The Girl nodded slowly.
"I want to ask a question." Kari said thoughtfully.
"I am open ears." The Girl said.
"Well, I have two."
"Go on."
"First, is something happening in nature? Something seems to have happened in the water and with, how can I put it, lightening, I guess."
"Ask your second question. I have a feeling your first one will go with it."
"Well, we have followed your music and gone through these obstacles and the Guardians told us we would gain something from you. What have we gone through all this for?"
"Your questions go together, Kari, as I thought. There is a prophecy, which a lot of us go by prophecies, as you know; that tells about someone disturbing the harmony of the Titans and things going out of balance. Listen:
"Disturb not the peace of Fire, Ice, or Lightening,
Lest these Titans let loose destruction upon the world in which they war.
Though the great guardian of land, air and sea
Shall awaken to quell the fighting,
Alone its song will fail, and the worlds shall turn to its young Destined.
Chosen Ones, into your hands lay the fate of two worlds.
Unto thy hands, bring together eleven jewels,
The treasures combined tame the beast of the sea."
The girl cut off and closed her eyes, thinking.
"It has started happening, hasn't it?" Izzy asked. "There has been an imbalance in nature, but what has happened to the Titans to disturb them?"
"Rahomor is his name, a human more than Digimon. He captures, but he calls it adding to his collection. As if Digimon are simply things without life and feelings. He has no real interest in the first three Titans. He only wishes to have them combined to flush out the real treasure, the final Titan. He has the first two, which you will find out what and who they are later." The Girl of the Mountain said.
"I wanted to ask you a couple of things, too." T.K. asked.
"Go on."
"Do you have a name besides the 'Girl of the Mountain'?" He asked. The Girl seemed to get tense or nervous because and almost-ripple went through her body and she twitched once. She suddenly blinked and shook herself, loosing the tenseness on the outside.
"Yes, I suppose I do. Niera will do in your language. But I really prefer the Girl of the Mountain." T.K. nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed that he had disturbed the Girl.
"What do we have to do?" Tai asked.
"Go west where you tried to find me. The Titans battleground will be there. You have to calm them. There is a large lake, almost an ocean, there. You must start your trek west, and something will happen that will speed you on your way quite a bit. You will know what I mean when it happens, and I advise you not to do anything foolish, he won't harm you.
"Now, what was your other question, T.K.?" The Girl asked.
"I wanted to know if our newer partners that we had were near."
The Girl seemed to be thinking. Then she nodded to herself.
"If you go that way," She said, pointing, "The Mountains where your friends live are there." There were visible but slightly distant mountains that could be seen. "But I would suggest you continue with your current quest rather than go out of your way and delay your quest. By the time you are done, it may be too late.
"Listen closely: The person that disturbed the Titans is more human than Digimon. He knows of you, but I don't think he wants to harm you. Though he will be angry if…when you bring peace to the Titans. I don't think he likes you, though. I advise you to be careful.
"Also, I will meet you when you arrive at the battleground, some friends told me I play a small part in the peacemaking of the Titans." She stopped finally, as if to catch her breath. "That is all I can tell you." She placed the flute-like instrument to her lips and softly played the song, and now that they had achieved their quest, the music felt filling and peaceful to them, and suddenly the Girl disappeared.
"Well, let's go." Tai said, sounding happy. With a happy heart they started down the mountain. Before long they reached the base and continued, even in the night. Hearing the music after achieving their quest had changed their need for food and sleep. They found themselves needing it rarely and the Digimon found it easy to remain in their current forms.
They continued as dawn broke and they found themselves not as far as they had thought. A shadow blocked out the morning sun and they all looked up, seeing a flying fortress.
"Well, well." Rahomor said, smiling slightly in an evil way. "Let us capture these toys and see what they are."
"Yes sir."
Very large wire like circles spiraled toward them in the air at unbelievable speeds. Three surrounded them before they knew it and captured them all, taking them up to the fortress. Once inside they found themselves suspended a couple of feet off the ground. Across the room were two others. One was a mermaid with her arms folded and eyes closed, a look of anger on her face. The other was a unicorn that kicked out against the ball of energy holding her captive.
"Give it up, Rhian, Titan of Lightening." The mermaid snapped, spitting out the words of her name and 'Titan of Lightening. The mermaid opened her eyes, glaring. "He has us and we won't be escaping any time soon. So can it."
The unicorn reared as well as she could in her captive position. "I expect more respect than that, Aria, Titan of Water." Rhian trumpeted back, sounding just as distasteful talking about Aria as a Titan as Aria had about Rhian.
"This certainly is a pleasure." Said a cool, oily voice. "Witnessing the warring Titans and seeing the children and Digimon all together." The speaker was Rahomor. His cloak was actually gone and they could see him wearing a lab-type coat with badges and pockets with evil things in them. He had short, strange grayish-brown hair and a sneer played at his lips.
"I'm sorry, but I must be directing the ship for the third Titan's home. I simply stopped in to tell you that no one will stop me, prophecy or not." Rahomor paused. "You children and your foolish Digimon running about like you own the world, well, you will see what true power is when you witness my capturing of the Titans, greatest and most feared of them all." He looked furious and he stormed out of the room. The ball of energy released the kids and Digimon, but the Titans were still held captive.
"He let us go?" Sora asked skeptically.
"I did, but keep quiet." Whispered a voice. They looked and saw a small jet-black wolf-like Digimon.
"Who are you?" Matt asked.
"I was a 'pet' of Brittany's and I ran away and found myself here. I watched and learned how to free things in the energy balls." The wolf-like Digimon said, cowering in fright of the large Digimon. Kari walked over to the scared creature and picked her up.
"Why in the world would you run away from someone like Brittany?" Kari asked the Digimon.
"I'll explain it to you later, I want to free the Titans first." The black wolf jumped out of Kari's arms and went over to Rhian in the energy ball. The wolf touched several keys on the monitors by the platform Rhian was on, and suddenly, with a crackle, the energy ball disappeared. Rhian landed hard on all four hooves on the platform and reared, calling the power of lightening into the tip of her horn. She shot it at the ball of energy that held Aria, and it "blew up". When the smoke cleared, Aria was floating there, waving her tail like a wing to hold her in the air. She then called water into the pal of her hand and blew a hole in the fortress, rocking it. She and Rhian, who could fly without wings, flew out of the hole and began destroying the wings and things that held the ship in the air. By that time they were very close to what would be called the Titan's battleground and Van's lair.
The kids and Digimon were thrown out of the ship onto a cliff overlooking a great ocean. In the distance an island could be made out. To their right, there was a mountain not far away. A shape could be made out flying from the mountain. When it got closer, they could see it was a dragon. The three Titans began their warring, freezing the ocean and fighting above it, trying to strike a fatal blow against one another.
"'Disturb not the peace of Fire, Water, and Lightening, lest these Titans let loose destruction upon the world in which they war.'" Quoted a voice. Turning, they saw the Girl of the Mountain standing in front of what looked like crumbling rocks like Stonehenge.
"What can we do to stop them?" Sora asked worriedly.
"Think of the prophecy. The guardian of land, air, and sea must rise first."
"How do we make this guardian rise?" Tai asked. Before the Girl could answer, the Titans brought their fighting very close to the cliff.
"Stop it!" All of the kids shouted at the same time. There was a whirl of wind and a tornado-like thing formed by water shot out of the ocean right in front of the cliff, crashing into the Titans. Van and Rhian floated back, Aria closer up because of her oceanic form. The water-tornado slowly stopped spinning and there was the creature that had formed it. It looked like a griffin, though with a longer neck and wings made of scales, clearly allowing it to swim and fly. Also, instead of a lion's rear, there was a horse-like one. The water-griffin flapped its wings slowly and flew in front of the three Titans.
"Who is that?" Joe asked.
"The great guardian, Norian." The Girl said. Norian opened her mouth (beak) and let out a strange stream of notes that sounded curiously like the Girl's song. Spiraling into the air, the fourth Titan dodged the attacks of the other three Titans.
"The prophecy says that the great guardian will fail alone, though." T.K. said.
"The Titan will try anyway." The Girl of the Mountain replied. They all watched as Norian dodged the attacks and flew in front of the cliff, surrounding itself with a protective shield, the attacks bouncing off of it harmlessly, but the Titan dropped his shield at exactly the wrong time and the other Titans hit it. Norian dropped like a stone to the frozen surface and broke it, falling under. The Titans all froze the part of the ocean that the Titan had fallen through and flew away from the spot.
"The song that the Titan was 'singing' is the same as yours." Mimi said. The girl nodded and, standing on the edge of the cliff, lifted the instrument to her lips. The strange song filled the air as she played a short version of it, and suddenly Norian broke through the ice and floated just above and in front of them.
"The song," he said, "The song has restored my strength. Now the world's Destined must calm the warring ones."
"But who are the world's Destined?" Tai asked.
"It's us, Tai." Matt said. "We are the Digi Destined, aren't we?"
"Only two of you go, and your Digimon cannot help you." The Girl said softly.
"But why only two of us? And why can't our Digimon help us?" Sora asked.
The Girl did not answer.
"Which of us will go? And what do we have to do?"
"You must use the prophecy to find out which two will go. Those who go must go to the island and get the treasure there." Norian said.
"Across there?" Kari asked, pointing across the frozen ocean.
"Yes."
"Then I'm going."
"No way, Kari!" Tai said.
"That means I have to go, according to the prophecy." T.K. put in.
"You're kidding." Matt said.
"The prophecy says the 'world's young Destined', and T.K. and I are both younger than all of you." Kari pointed out. T.K. nodded in agreement.
"It is too dangerous." Magnaangemon said.
"And we can't help you." Angewomon added.
"But we have to." T.K. pleaded. "Otherwise the world will be destroyed by the fighting Titans."
"We're the only ones who can do it." Kari put in. after a moment, the two angels slowly and luminously nodded their heads.
"How do we get over there?" T.K. asked.
"I'll help." Piped up a small voice. They turned and saw the black wolf trotting towards them. Behind him trailed two much larger wolves. One of the wolves had a sled like thing that she was dragging, the other a rope tied like a harness for the three of them.
"I heard what you were saying and brought some friends to help." The small black wolf said proudly.
"But," added one of the others in a husky voice, "We are filled with a magic so that in a while we disappear. But we will be able to get you to the island."
Minutes later they were at the base of the cliff at the edge of the frozen ocean. They worked the harness onto the wolves and sat on the sled- like object. At a word, the wolves shot off across the frozen ocean. Norian floated just behind and above them. As the other Titans closed in on them to attack, the wolves looked up. Aria shot water and Rhian lightening, and two of the wolves countered with their own, knocking it away. But then the dragon, Van, closed in and let a large stream of fire at them. Screaming and covering their heads with their arms, T.K. and Kari felt a surge of fear. But the fire never hit them and they saw Norian flying in front of them, shielding the fire away.
"Thanks!" They called as he peeled away. The wolves and Norian protected them as they got to the island. The wolves climbed a small hill and ran through tunnels and across a frozen bridge. As they entered a chamber that opened to the sky the wolves skidded to a halt and T.K. and Kari jumped off the sled.
"Look." Kari said, pointing as the wolves panted. There was a small platform with steps leading to the top. At the top was a table of ice, and on top of that were statue-like things of a mermaid, a unicorn, a dragon and a water-griffin. They each held a glass ball.
"The treasures." T.K. said. He and Kari exchanged a look and nodded. They went up to the statues and each took two of the glass balls. Pocketing the treasures, they turned back to the wolves to leave. Two of them had disappeared and the little black one looked hopeless.
"Already they disappeared." The wolf said helplessly.
"This way," Kari said, motioning them over to a climbable rock wall. Putting the little wolf in her backpack, Kari started up, with T.K. right behind her. They reached the top and looked down. It was a steep, flat way down to the frozen ocean.
"Let's just run down." T.K. said." We will be fine as long as we're careful." They began to run down, keeping their heads up so they wouldn't pitch forward. Norian suddenly flew up beside them and flew down at their speed.
"Do you have the treasures?" Norian asked.
"Got them." Kari and T.K. said. Norian nodded and flew lower, just above the ground.
"Get on." Kari and T.K. each jumped onto Norian's back just in front of his wings. Norian lifted off and began flying back to the cliff. Their progress was slowed by the other Titans and Kari and T.K. felt dizzy as Norian spiraled to attack and dodge.
"Hold on tight." Norian said as he shot strait up.
They were close to the cliff and the kids and Digimon could make out the forms of T.K. and Kari on Norian's back. There was a whirring sound and they saw five wire-like things shooting out from Rahomor's crashed fortress and burst towards Norian. They saw them close in on Norian and form a large ball of energy around him.
"Wait." The Girl of the Mountain ordered as the angels spread wings as if to fly out to Norian and their partners.
Norian angrily called an aurora beam into his mouth and shot it through the ball of energy at the fortress and it rocked. Norian, struggling with the wires aimed towards the water and closed the small wing- like things on his back as he shot into the water, fighting the wires.
As he finally destroyed them he floated down to the bottom of the ocean as T.K. and Kari floated up, kicking to get to air. As they broke the surface of the water, they heard Norian say:
"I…have failed…"
"Oh no." Kari said sadly, holding the wolf above the water to get air.
"We have to get to land before we get hit by the Titans." T.K. said, treading the freezing water. "And before we freeze." They started kicking their legs towards land, but they both felt that their legs were getting frostbitten and frozen. Kari's lips were turning blue as she weakly kicked towards land, T.K.'s as well.
Looking across the water worriedly, the Girl gasped when she saw the two kids nearly freezing. "Go, and hurry!" She said to the angels, motioning to the kids. The two angels hurtled through the air towards their partners.
"Kari?" T.K. said, turning back to look at Kari. She looked like she was loosing consciousness and she dropped under the surface of the water. "No, Kari!" T.K. shouted and he dived underwater, searching for her.
He opened his eyes and grabbed at her hand and tried to kick to the surface. He felt so tired and frozen.
He gave one more, and he knew it his last, kick to the surface and he felt a strong hand grip his arm and pull him to the surface and to air. Someone pulled Kari from his grip, but he felt as if his eyes were frozen shut and he couldn't think. He felt as if he was almost cradled in someone's arms and moving through the air. This somebody was warming him and keeping him from dying.
Kari was all but unconscious as she felt herself lain on the ground and the water pounded out of her lungs. She coughed and caught her breath, willing her eyes to open. As they slowly did she saw T.K. being warmed and helped by his partner, Magnaangemon. She saw Tai helping Angewomon wrap her up in blankets.
"I'm fine." Kari coughed out.
T.K. opened his own eyes and saw a gloved hand with a sword attached to the wrist wrapping him up in blankets. He jumped in surprise and realized it was his partner.
"I'm okay, but the treasures…" T.K. gasped out. "Let me just put mine where they need to be and then I'll rest."
"You shouldn't." Magnaangemon said in his deep voice.
"Let us just put them there, please." Kari said through chattering teeth.
"Have them drink this." The Girl of the Mountain said to the two angels, handing them each a gold cup with a clear liquid in it. The two kids each drank it, making faces at the taste but feeling much better at the feeling of warmth. They each struggled to their feet and walked up to the platform in the middle of the rocks and placed the treasures in each of their appropriate places. The platform glowed and turned a strange blue color.
"You have to play Norian's song." Kari said, she and T.K. stepping down. The Girl of the Mountain climbed to the top of the platform and suddenly light green water spilled from it and filled the circle in which the rocks were, and the rocks suddenly got a look upon them as if they were not so old.
The Girl of the Mountain lifted her flute-like instrument to her lips and began her song. It was different from last time because it was longer and after she had played for several moments different instruments joined in and formed a beautiful song.
They all watched as the three Titans broke apart from their warring and seemed to smile at each other. They stopped several yards from the cliff as a swirl of water shot out of the ocean and Norian appeared. The four of them floated in front of them and the light green water spilled from the platform where the Girl of the Mountain was continuing her playing.
As she struck each note, a different rock lit up. The water thawed the frozen ocean and melted away as the Girl ended her song.
Aria smiled at them and dived into the water, making for her lake home. Rhian reared, her horn lighting up, and galloped across the land for her own home. Van spread his great wings and took off for his mountain home. Now only Norian remained.
"I am very sorry for freezing your friends. I am afraid I cannot do anything to help. Give them my apologies." Norian said. He spread his wings, crying his song a last time. "The beast both above and below the sea has been tamed. The world could not have been in better hands." With that, he turned and closed the little wings on his back and dived into his ocean home.
The Girl of the Mountain climbed down from the platform as the green water disappeared and the rocks turned to an older look again. Her eyes seemed to dance in happiness.
"You all have done so much better than we ever thought." Said a soft voice. The Guardians emerged from the trees on their winged unicorns. Renee had spoken. She and the other Guardians had been the ones playing their instruments along with the Girl.
"What happened to T.K. and Kari?" Adrienne asked, she and the others dismounting.
"That man - what was his name - tried to capture Norian and he fell to the bottom of the ocean and T.K. and Kari had been on his back. They nearly froze to death and drowned." Tai said.
"Let me see…" Renee muttered, shuffling through a brown leather pack at her side. She pulled out two bottles triumphantly. She walked up to the Girl of the Mountain, giving her a bottle. They each held a bottle in their left hand and reached out, grasping each other's right hands. Their hands glowed with blue light, as did the bottles. Renee took the bottle from the Girl and poured the contents of each bottle into two cups.
"That should do the trick." Renee said, giving a cup to Kari and T.K. "It will taste nasty, but it goes down well and helps." The two kids made a face as they downed the potions.
"Better keep them warm in blankets and have them sleep and relax often." Adrienne said to the two angels. They nodded.
"I put a bit of a sleeping potion in there." Renee murmured to the two angels. "They won't get the sleep they need right away otherwise." The two kids blinked, eyelids heavy and slowly fell asleep.
"You have done well." Brittany told them. "More will happen. You have another quest coming up. It will be harder than your previous one."
"All we can tell you is expect the thing you think will never happen. It will be one of the things we know you fear most of happening." Emily added quietly. "It will not be our doing, but it will be horrible."
"All right. We'll do it. Together, we can do anything!" Tai said.
"I'm afraid you won't be together." Renee murmured quietly so they wouldn't hear as they mounted and galloped off.
"I have to go too." The Girl of the Mountain said.
"You've been great. Thanks for all your help." Matt said.
"You're the ones who have been a help." The Girl said, smiling. "You brought peace to the warring Titans, something many considered impossible. Congratulations. Relax for a while. Your quest is not too far away."
"Before you go," Sora said, "What was that thing that you and Renee did?"
"Oh, that." The Girl said, smiling. "We're 'long lost sisters', as you might put it. I'm almost the silver band of the rainbow, as they tell me." With that, she disappeared.
"Well-" Tai started to say, but Sora interrupted.
"We'll never really understand the Guardians, Tai, so don't try to. Let's just relax with that quest coming up."
And they did.
The End of Mystery Encounter