Renamon lightly landed on her feet, followed a few moments after by Roland in
his lupine form. They looked around at the grassy plains that spread to the
horizon. They had just arrived from the real world.
"Where to?" asked Renamon, "I'm unfamiliar with this part of the Digital World."
Roland looked around for a moment before spotting a small black dot in the
distance. "There. I think I know that village."
As if someone had fired the starting gun, they shot forward at full speed
toward the first stop on a long journey.
* * *
They slowed to a walk as they came to the small village of thatched huts.
Roland signaled to stop.
He said, "They know we're here already."
Sure enough, several reptilian noses poked themselves out of small doors. One
or two Agumon stepped out and looked suspiciously at the pair. Then three more
came out, then four, and soon there was a rush of Agumon like the bursting of
a sturdy, tall dam onto the plains surrounding the small village.
"They built tunnels underground," he whispered to Renamon when he noticed her
shock at the massive number of digimon, "The huts are just for show."
Renamon couldn't get a good reading of the group's mood as a whole. Some
Agumon looked happy that there were visitors, some were visibly frightened, and
some looked like they were about to attack.
"We can't fight this many," she whispered back to Roland.
He didn't respond to her, but spoke loudly to the Agumon. "Bring forth your
elder."
A current of surprise ran through the mass of Agumon. The rustling leave sound
of whispers were blown about by a sense of questioning wonder. Who was this
strange digimon, that he knew about their elder?
The crowd parted to make way for an honor guard decorated with red sashes.
On their shoulders they carried the most wizened, oldest digimon they had ever
seen, seated in an ancient throne.
The strong, young guards-digimon carefully lowered the seat to the ground. The
decrepit Agumon rearranged carefully rearranged himself upon the cushions.
Blinking with old bleary eyes, he examined them with a wisdom born of long
experience.
Roland dropped to a knee and bowed his head, gesturing to Renamon to do the
same. "I bring you greetings on behalf of the human Tamers, Old One."
The Agumon's eyes went misty for a moment as he reached back through time to
dredge up a memory of this strange creature.
Finally he said, "Ah, yes. Roland. You look different now than when you helped
us fight off the herd of Monochromon, but I recall the same voice and a similar
manner. Greetings, and well met."
"You did not need to be carried the last time I was here."
The feeble digimon sighed, a sound like the rustling of dry leaves. "You have
struck upon my greatest shame: that I grow old and cannot lead my tribe as I
once was able. But I am not so old that I am totally blind. Who is this
stranger you have brought with you?" The tone sounded merely inquisitive, but
something about it set Renamon's stomach churning with fear.
Roland stood. "She is Renamon, a Tamer's partner, and as courageous a digimon
as I have ever met."
Another Agumon stepped forward and whispered something in the elder's ear. He
was not as old as he leader, but old enough to have gained considerable respect
by the other digimon.
"Quite so," murmured the enthroned Agumon, who turned his head back toward
Roland, saying, "While I would gladly accept your word for her bravery, the
council would not agree to an untested stranger in our midst. Therefore, she
must face the Challenge."
Renamon stood and turned her head to look up at Roland, her eyes full of
questioning. Roland shook his head, then mouthed, You'll do fine.
The Agumon leader waved his hand at the guards, who quickly snapped to attention.
"Bring forth our greatest warrior, O Guardians," intoned the old digimon
ritually, "Bring forth our greatest hope."
The guards bowed and spoke in unison. "We shall seek our greatest warrior, O
King, we shall seek our greatest hope."
Somewhere in the crowd a voice rang out. "I am the greatest warrior, King, I
am the greatest hope." A bubble in the masses formed around the voice as it
pulled apart to let the digimon through.
Renamon watched curiously. Why was there this long ritual for something as
simple as a challenge, and who was the champion of the Agumon tribe? She could
not see him through the crowd.
The digimon stepped forward into view. Renamon gaped at it. It was easily the
most massive Agumon she had ever seen! Its bony head came all the way up to
her chest, and its hard, corded muscles rippled as it moved. A slow, plodding
step spoke of a martial readiness that was cautious, but prepared to move quick
as lightning. It snorted at her as it glared across ridged nostrils.
"Our greatest warrior has come forth," the old digimon said, "our greatest
hope has been found." He turned his tired head back to the guards. "Prepare
for us the battle ground, the place of strife and pain."
The guards quickly and efficiently cleared an oval area about a football
field long of the all digimon. The giant Agumon plodded to one end and stood
ready.
The Agumon elder turned back to Renamon. "Stranger to the tribe, you are
Challenged to a battle only to end in submission. Do you accept?"
Catching Roland's slight nod, she spoke a single word. "Yes."
She passed through the crowd to the other end of the oval. Her tail swished
in nervous anticipation. Renamon prepared to tense muscles that had not been
vigorously exercised in nearly a year.
In unison the four guards shouted, "Let it begin!"
Renamon stepped slowly to seek more room in the middle. The Agumon stood stock
still, watching her through narrow eyes.
Renamon gulped. She hadn't had a fight for an entire year, and this guy was
obviously very experienced. Sweat dripped into her eyes. She blinked.
Sensing a momentary faltering in Renamon's defense, the Agumon rushed forward,
bone-white claws gouging up turf as he pounded the ground.
Only Renamon's reflexes saved her. When the Agumon was right on top of her, she
dropped onto her back and tossed him head over heels.
Roland watched in concerned silence. She isn't as fast as she used to be, he
thought, not as fluid. It has been a while since she last fought.
Roland winced as Renamon took a bad hit. She was down, the Agumon was high in
the air, it was going to land on her!
Renamon's instinct took over. She leaped up to meet the digimon, grabbed him.
She spun face-down and let go to send the Agumon tumbling head first into the
ground.
"DIAMOND STORM!"
High speed shards of crystal slammed into the ground, kicking up a prodigious
dirt cloud. A claw reached out and tapped the ground once, twice.
Polite applause congratulated Renamon as she landed gracefully. The crowd
began to break up and head back underground. The jumbo-sized Agumon stood up
unsteadily and gave Renamon a toothy smile and a thumbs-up before some smaller
friends rushed up and helped him teeter unsteadily to the door.
"Come," said the elder, "You and Renamon must lunch with me."
* * *
They sat in wooden chairs at an ornate wooden table underground. Quiet servants
brought in platters of fruit of all kinds, bread, honey, and some sort of light
poultry.
"How are things, elder?" asked Roland as he placed food on his wooden plate.
The old digimon sighed. "Things. As I said, I grow old. I must be the only
digimon left who remembers the time when Enemy first became a threat. I am so
low on energy, I can hardly stand, now. Ah, to be young again, and lead my
tribe by example as well as words." He smiled wistfully for times past. "But
enough of my complaining. Tell me what brings you to this desolate place."
Roland exchanged glances with Renamon. She said, "One of the Tamers has been
kidnapped. We think it may have been a digimon who did it, so we came here to
look for her."
The Agumon's ancient face took a grave look. "I see. That is not good news.
How may we help?"
Roland said, "We need information. We need news of anything odd that goes on,
anything unusual. She may have been kidnapped by someone who wants power,
like the secret to digivolution. If so, he or she probably has some kind of
organization to help."
The elder chewed thoughtfully on a piece of fruit. "I heard a rumor a few months
ago that a tower was under construction. To the east."
"Thank you. We'll look there."
For quite some time, everyone was too busy eating to speak, then Renamon said,
"What would you have done if I lost?"
The elder looked up from his meat with a twinkle in his eye. "Nothing. The
Council insisted on that silly ritual for no one knows what reason, but every
time a stranger comes by, they insist on it. The young folk do enjoy the fight,
though. Yours was particularly spectacular, by the way. It's only the second
time he lost to a rookie."
"Thank you."
Some time later, they were shown to a pair of rooms where they could spend the
night, if they wished. The pair of escorts bowed politely, then rushed off to
whatever Agumon do before bedtime.
"You've been much quieter than normal this evening," said Roland, "What's
wrong?"
Renamon looked down at her feet. "I almost lost that fight. It was against a
mere rookie, and I almost lost it."
"Hey, don't feel bad; he beat plenty of champions. I heard some of the younger
Agumon talking about it."
Renamon shook her head. "That doesn't matter. It took a Dokugumon to beat me,
a year and a half ago. My skills are rusty now."
Roland's brow furrowed. "I see. What good are you going to be to Rika if you
can't even beat a rookie, even a strong rookie."
"Exactly."
"In that case, maybe we should use tomorrow to sharpen those rusted skills,
So you can help Rika when we find her. We'll set out at first light and find
the first good spot, then start training."
Renamon nodded and opened the door to her room.
his lupine form. They looked around at the grassy plains that spread to the
horizon. They had just arrived from the real world.
"Where to?" asked Renamon, "I'm unfamiliar with this part of the Digital World."
Roland looked around for a moment before spotting a small black dot in the
distance. "There. I think I know that village."
As if someone had fired the starting gun, they shot forward at full speed
toward the first stop on a long journey.
* * *
They slowed to a walk as they came to the small village of thatched huts.
Roland signaled to stop.
He said, "They know we're here already."
Sure enough, several reptilian noses poked themselves out of small doors. One
or two Agumon stepped out and looked suspiciously at the pair. Then three more
came out, then four, and soon there was a rush of Agumon like the bursting of
a sturdy, tall dam onto the plains surrounding the small village.
"They built tunnels underground," he whispered to Renamon when he noticed her
shock at the massive number of digimon, "The huts are just for show."
Renamon couldn't get a good reading of the group's mood as a whole. Some
Agumon looked happy that there were visitors, some were visibly frightened, and
some looked like they were about to attack.
"We can't fight this many," she whispered back to Roland.
He didn't respond to her, but spoke loudly to the Agumon. "Bring forth your
elder."
A current of surprise ran through the mass of Agumon. The rustling leave sound
of whispers were blown about by a sense of questioning wonder. Who was this
strange digimon, that he knew about their elder?
The crowd parted to make way for an honor guard decorated with red sashes.
On their shoulders they carried the most wizened, oldest digimon they had ever
seen, seated in an ancient throne.
The strong, young guards-digimon carefully lowered the seat to the ground. The
decrepit Agumon rearranged carefully rearranged himself upon the cushions.
Blinking with old bleary eyes, he examined them with a wisdom born of long
experience.
Roland dropped to a knee and bowed his head, gesturing to Renamon to do the
same. "I bring you greetings on behalf of the human Tamers, Old One."
The Agumon's eyes went misty for a moment as he reached back through time to
dredge up a memory of this strange creature.
Finally he said, "Ah, yes. Roland. You look different now than when you helped
us fight off the herd of Monochromon, but I recall the same voice and a similar
manner. Greetings, and well met."
"You did not need to be carried the last time I was here."
The feeble digimon sighed, a sound like the rustling of dry leaves. "You have
struck upon my greatest shame: that I grow old and cannot lead my tribe as I
once was able. But I am not so old that I am totally blind. Who is this
stranger you have brought with you?" The tone sounded merely inquisitive, but
something about it set Renamon's stomach churning with fear.
Roland stood. "She is Renamon, a Tamer's partner, and as courageous a digimon
as I have ever met."
Another Agumon stepped forward and whispered something in the elder's ear. He
was not as old as he leader, but old enough to have gained considerable respect
by the other digimon.
"Quite so," murmured the enthroned Agumon, who turned his head back toward
Roland, saying, "While I would gladly accept your word for her bravery, the
council would not agree to an untested stranger in our midst. Therefore, she
must face the Challenge."
Renamon stood and turned her head to look up at Roland, her eyes full of
questioning. Roland shook his head, then mouthed, You'll do fine.
The Agumon leader waved his hand at the guards, who quickly snapped to attention.
"Bring forth our greatest warrior, O Guardians," intoned the old digimon
ritually, "Bring forth our greatest hope."
The guards bowed and spoke in unison. "We shall seek our greatest warrior, O
King, we shall seek our greatest hope."
Somewhere in the crowd a voice rang out. "I am the greatest warrior, King, I
am the greatest hope." A bubble in the masses formed around the voice as it
pulled apart to let the digimon through.
Renamon watched curiously. Why was there this long ritual for something as
simple as a challenge, and who was the champion of the Agumon tribe? She could
not see him through the crowd.
The digimon stepped forward into view. Renamon gaped at it. It was easily the
most massive Agumon she had ever seen! Its bony head came all the way up to
her chest, and its hard, corded muscles rippled as it moved. A slow, plodding
step spoke of a martial readiness that was cautious, but prepared to move quick
as lightning. It snorted at her as it glared across ridged nostrils.
"Our greatest warrior has come forth," the old digimon said, "our greatest
hope has been found." He turned his tired head back to the guards. "Prepare
for us the battle ground, the place of strife and pain."
The guards quickly and efficiently cleared an oval area about a football
field long of the all digimon. The giant Agumon plodded to one end and stood
ready.
The Agumon elder turned back to Renamon. "Stranger to the tribe, you are
Challenged to a battle only to end in submission. Do you accept?"
Catching Roland's slight nod, she spoke a single word. "Yes."
She passed through the crowd to the other end of the oval. Her tail swished
in nervous anticipation. Renamon prepared to tense muscles that had not been
vigorously exercised in nearly a year.
In unison the four guards shouted, "Let it begin!"
Renamon stepped slowly to seek more room in the middle. The Agumon stood stock
still, watching her through narrow eyes.
Renamon gulped. She hadn't had a fight for an entire year, and this guy was
obviously very experienced. Sweat dripped into her eyes. She blinked.
Sensing a momentary faltering in Renamon's defense, the Agumon rushed forward,
bone-white claws gouging up turf as he pounded the ground.
Only Renamon's reflexes saved her. When the Agumon was right on top of her, she
dropped onto her back and tossed him head over heels.
Roland watched in concerned silence. She isn't as fast as she used to be, he
thought, not as fluid. It has been a while since she last fought.
Roland winced as Renamon took a bad hit. She was down, the Agumon was high in
the air, it was going to land on her!
Renamon's instinct took over. She leaped up to meet the digimon, grabbed him.
She spun face-down and let go to send the Agumon tumbling head first into the
ground.
"DIAMOND STORM!"
High speed shards of crystal slammed into the ground, kicking up a prodigious
dirt cloud. A claw reached out and tapped the ground once, twice.
Polite applause congratulated Renamon as she landed gracefully. The crowd
began to break up and head back underground. The jumbo-sized Agumon stood up
unsteadily and gave Renamon a toothy smile and a thumbs-up before some smaller
friends rushed up and helped him teeter unsteadily to the door.
"Come," said the elder, "You and Renamon must lunch with me."
* * *
They sat in wooden chairs at an ornate wooden table underground. Quiet servants
brought in platters of fruit of all kinds, bread, honey, and some sort of light
poultry.
"How are things, elder?" asked Roland as he placed food on his wooden plate.
The old digimon sighed. "Things. As I said, I grow old. I must be the only
digimon left who remembers the time when Enemy first became a threat. I am so
low on energy, I can hardly stand, now. Ah, to be young again, and lead my
tribe by example as well as words." He smiled wistfully for times past. "But
enough of my complaining. Tell me what brings you to this desolate place."
Roland exchanged glances with Renamon. She said, "One of the Tamers has been
kidnapped. We think it may have been a digimon who did it, so we came here to
look for her."
The Agumon's ancient face took a grave look. "I see. That is not good news.
How may we help?"
Roland said, "We need information. We need news of anything odd that goes on,
anything unusual. She may have been kidnapped by someone who wants power,
like the secret to digivolution. If so, he or she probably has some kind of
organization to help."
The elder chewed thoughtfully on a piece of fruit. "I heard a rumor a few months
ago that a tower was under construction. To the east."
"Thank you. We'll look there."
For quite some time, everyone was too busy eating to speak, then Renamon said,
"What would you have done if I lost?"
The elder looked up from his meat with a twinkle in his eye. "Nothing. The
Council insisted on that silly ritual for no one knows what reason, but every
time a stranger comes by, they insist on it. The young folk do enjoy the fight,
though. Yours was particularly spectacular, by the way. It's only the second
time he lost to a rookie."
"Thank you."
Some time later, they were shown to a pair of rooms where they could spend the
night, if they wished. The pair of escorts bowed politely, then rushed off to
whatever Agumon do before bedtime.
"You've been much quieter than normal this evening," said Roland, "What's
wrong?"
Renamon looked down at her feet. "I almost lost that fight. It was against a
mere rookie, and I almost lost it."
"Hey, don't feel bad; he beat plenty of champions. I heard some of the younger
Agumon talking about it."
Renamon shook her head. "That doesn't matter. It took a Dokugumon to beat me,
a year and a half ago. My skills are rusty now."
Roland's brow furrowed. "I see. What good are you going to be to Rika if you
can't even beat a rookie, even a strong rookie."
"Exactly."
"In that case, maybe we should use tomorrow to sharpen those rusted skills,
So you can help Rika when we find her. We'll set out at first light and find
the first good spot, then start training."
Renamon nodded and opened the door to her room.