Chapter Three: The Ceremony Begins
After a quarter of an hour of editing and rehearsing Gennai's speech to the people of the realm, a bell rang throughout the city, signaling the time for the ceremony to begin. Gennai stopped in the middle of the room he had been pacing in, tension ripping through him like water rapids flowing down a stream at top speed. He wasn't ready. There was no way he could go out there in front of all those people...
Wizardmon stood up with the help of his staff and looked at Gennai who's fear was evident in his eyes. He was sympathetic to the teen who's destiny had weighed heavily on his shoulders since he was merely a boy. At the same time though, pride swelled within him. Gennai /was/ ready to take position of Wise One. He walked swiftly over to the teen and put a comforting hand on the his shoulder.
"It's time Gennai." He spoke softly. Gennai swallowed nervously and nodded his head and the two started their way out of Gennai's chambers.
As the two descended the staircase, Gennai felt as if he was being led to his execution, chained and shackled. He closed his eyes, hands following the smooth staircase railing, and tried taking in deep breaths to calm himself. It wasn't working. As when he first arrived at the castle, his legs were turning into jelly and by the time they reached the bottom of the stairs, Gennai felt so rigid and shaky with fear that he could've collapsed right there and then.
"You're going to be fine." Came Wizardmon's stern voice from behind. Gennai nodded and forced himself to walk down the large echoing hall where they were to meet the eight Sages that accompanied him to the castle.
When Gennai saw the eight Sages, four on either side of the large oak doors, and heard all the commotion outside, he knew it was now or never. He had thoughts on turning his back and running as far away as he could with no intention on ever coming back, but the firm hand that belonged to Wizardmon clamped on Gennai's shoulder held him in his place. This was it. This was the real thing.
The teenager started to fidget with his outfit and looking anywhere but the door and the Sages. He tried to remember his speech, but everything came up blank. What if he went out there and nothing came to him? What if he couldn't think of any promises to make to the Realm? Was it possible for a soon to be Wise One to be booed off stage? What if----
"Get all those what ifs out of your head!" Wizardmon ordered. Gennai snapped to attention eyes on the doors.
"..I-I can't... I'm not ready!" He whispered scared to his advisor.
"Nonsense!" His advisor hissed, not bothering to lower his voice. "You /will/ be fine! Just go out there and be yourself!" With that he pushed Gennai ahead and walked close behind him.
Gennai stumbled, but did not fall. His cheeks were rather hot. He wondered what his Sages thought of him. "What a joke I make," He thought depressingly to himself. "I really /don't/ deserve to be Wise One..." A whack on his head made him yelp in pain. He turned sharply around, hands holding his head, as if they could dissolve the pain.
"WHAT WAS THAT FOR!?" Gennai yelled at his glaring advisor.
"You /must/ stop doubting yourself! Think positive!"
"How do you expect me to think at all if you keep smacking my head with that stupid staff!?" The boy argued. He eyed all the Sages who were eyeing him with peculiar expressions etched on their faces. "Note to self: Sentence Wizardmon two months of watching Destiny Stones." The young Gennai thought to himself sourly before turning slowly around and taking his hands off his aching head.
"I'm sorry you all had to see that." Gennai apologized to his Sages before straightening his posture and putting a serious expression on his face. He sighed nervous before responding, "It's time... I'm ready."
The Sages bowed before the two closest to the doors opened them, allowing the last hour of sunlight to pour into the castles interior. The eight walked out slowly descending the stairs to the lower stage where they would stand guard. Trumpets sounded as they took their positions. Wizardmon stepped out from behind Gennai and looked into the boy's eyes.
"Once I go out there, you will follow at the second trumpet sounding. There is no more delay, it's now or never." He nodded encouragement to the boy. "Just be yourself and you'll be fine."
Gennai nodded to his advisor, his stomach turning in every which way possible or impossible. As Wizardmon left him there alone he knew he couldn't leave. He just had to go out there and get it over with. He looked behind him to see nothing but empty rooms and halls and then outside to the light where he could see nothing, but only hear cheering. The trumpets sounded a second time, cuing Gennai to make his way out the doors. He closed his eyes and swallowed.
"Now or never.." He breathed, making his way to the light and cheering of the crowd.
~*~
Near the shade of the trees sat a flower-fairy type humon waiting for some friends to join her. Her skin was a light shade of a peachy pink and she had leafy green hair that flowed down her back in vine like braids. A headband made out of daisies kept the braids out of her face and eyes, which were such a dark green that some mistook them for black. She was sitting lazily on the grass filing her long fingernails and had her legs crossed, sandals flipped off and to the left side of her petite feet. She was wearing a light pink backless dress that ended at her upper thighs like a tulip. The backless part allowed her, if needed, to release her leaf like wings.
When the second trumpet sounded and Biyomon and Gomamon had still not arrived, she worried if they had gotten lost in the crowd. It was an easy task to do so since just about the entire Realm had showed up to see the Wise One's crowning. She frowned and wondered if she should fly around a little to see if she could spot them.
There was no need however for a rumble of little Yokomon girls and the constants "Shh!" from their baby-sitter let the humon know that Biyomon had arrived.
"Lillymon! Sorry we're late!" Biyomon yelled and waved to her friend. Behind her was the unmistakable Gomamon ushering the Yokomon girls along.
"There you are! I was getting worried!" Lillymon told the golden blonde.
"Lillymon!" The five Yokomon squealed in delight at the sight of the flower-fairy humon. She smiled and waved.
"No hello's for me? Okay, I understand." Gomamon rolled his eyes.
"Sorry Gomamon." Lillymon smiled apologetically before saying her 'hello's and 'how you been's. It had been awhile since the three of them had got together, each had been so busy with their part of preparing for the chosen Wise One's arrival.
Gomamon had conducted in building the stage and doing most of the other hard labor in that area, where as Biyomon offered her services in baby-sitting at the Yokomon Village. Lillymon was the director of the decorating for the ceremony.
"It looks like all our hard work paid off." Lillymon said approvingly. "I wonder what the soon to be Wise One thinks of the decorations..." She trailed off as the crowd became quiet when two large screens lit up emitting a picture of a young handsome man with bright emerald eyes.
"Wow, he's rather nice looking." Lillymon pointed out.
"Hey! That was the guy that was at the hot springs earlier!" Gomamon exclaimed at the same time Biyomon said,
"He's the guy the Yokomon were bothering!"
"Are the Sages presenting the Wise One to us?" Gomamon asked Biyomon.
"I don't know. How do you even know he's a Sage?" Biyomon asked the young man standing next to her.
"At the hot springs he said 'perhaps'." Gomamon explained.
"Oh." Biyomon replied. "Then why is he up there?"
"Beats me."
"Shh!" Lillymon and the little Yokomon hissed at the two talking humons.
"Sorry." Biyomon and Gomamon apologized. After a minute or so of silence the young man began to speak.
"People of the Realm," he started, "I am Gennai, son of the deceased Wise One, Azulongmon..."
"/He's/ the chosen Wise One!?" Biyomon and Gomamon exclaimed shocked.
"Shh!!" Lillymon hushed them.
"Sorry!"
"...After nine long years, I come to you prepared to take the position of Wise One. I am honored to take such a position and promise on the graves of all those before me, to guide the Realm through whatever peril that may come. But for now, let's hope none of that is shot my way." He smiled and there was a murmur of laughter through the crowd. "I know I am young and to some I don't qualify to be chosen Wise One, but I will do my best to serve for the best of situations and......"
"Wow, he's pretty bold, eh?" Gomamon said a bit awed.
"Yeah." The two girl's replied.
~*~
Gennai was saying whatever came to his mind. He completely forgot what his speech promised to the people, and the witty little notes he was going to make- something about Numermon's cooking and how he could help make it better- he also was going to throw in quotes from Wise Ones before him... He mentally sighed. All that hard work down the drain. He was running out of ideas on what to say so figured he'd rap up the speech.
"...And this concludes my speech. Let us all now celebrate, not for my benefit, but for /yours/. This is all possible because of /your/ hard work. Thank you." He bowed and the screens shut off with a burst of light. He sighed and slouched. He lived to see the end of the speech. Oh thank the Wise Ones before him!
"See, you lived after all." Wizardmon's voice came from behind him.
"I wasn't sure I was going to. I forgot everything I had written down... All that work down the drain." Gennai sighed.
"Yes, but it's done and over with." His advisor responded. "Now, let us celebrate! You could use a bit of fun after these tension stricken months." Wizardmon concluded.
"I would like nothing more than to lay down and sleep for eternity." Gennai proclaimed.
"Nonsense!" Wizardmon chuckled. "You have far too many people to entertain."
"You said something about fun?" Gennai smiled as the two made their way off stage and to the outside ball room.
"Yes, you get to twill all the pretty ladies around for the next four hours or so." Wizardmon replied slyly.
"Joy." The now youngest Wise One in History replied sarcastically. "I can't wait."
~*~
Once at the banquet, Gennai took his seat once again on a stage. On his left side there were four seats and five were on his right. They were all smaller and less decorative then his, he assumed it was to distinguish the Wise One from the Sages and, in Gennai's case, an advisor. Wizardmon took the seat on Gennai's right eyes twinkling a smile.
"Isn't this remarkable?" He asked the teenager. "I haven't seen something littered with so many flowers and colors since... Hmm, since when is a good question." Gennai laughed, he too was awed by the many colors and flowers.
"You know, your mother used to have ceremonies like these." Wizardmon gestured with his free hand to the banquet. "Or not really ceremonies, more like get togethers, parties. She would litter the place with flowers and mingle with the guests, thanking them for coming."
"...But not many were respectful to her were they?" Gennai said a little bitter. Wizardmon lowered his hand to his side, expression of happiness now gone.
"No. No they weren't."
"Why though?" Gennai asked his advisor.
"Some things we will never understand." Wizardmon replied before changing the subject. "Let us not dwell on that. I think you should go mingle with the realm. Get acquainted."
"Like my mother did..." Gennai muttered.
"Yes, like Andracia did." Wizardmon replied. "She was a great woman you know. She broke the barrier in which humons and humans could not cross. Inviting both to parties all those years ago... It was unheard of back then. Now it isn't such a big deal, but back then..."
"I know." Gennai replied. He did know indeed, people had shunned her because she was human.
He remembered a year before his father died, there had been a boy a year or two older than him staying at the castle for awhile. Distantly related to them or someone else in the castle somehow, Gennai never really cared to know the details. He recalled he had been a snide boy, always a mischievous grin on his face. He was of old humon blood, with ashen gray skin, dark slate blue hair, and Gennai distinctly remembered an 'x' located on the older boy's left cheek. His name was Demidevimon.
It was the year Azulongmon had created the Destiny Stones. Gennai at the time didn't understand the purpose of them. All he knew was that there were going to be eight of them and would be placed all over the realm. Gennai remember walking down the hallway where he ran into a mad giggling Demidevimon. Usually he tried to avoid the snide boy at all costs. He hadn't expected to run into him down the corridor where Gennai's room was.
"So the Destiny Stones have been put to order?" The older boy had giggled.
"What's so funny about that?" Gennai had asked holding books close to his chest.
"Oh nothing really..." Demidevimon had grinned mischievously. Gennai took a step back unconsciously. "...Just that this means he's trying to avoid having more humans enter the realm. They're nothing but trouble you know."
"That's not the reason!" Gennai argued with the humon. Demidevimon looked surprise.
"It's not!?" Demidevimon gasped. "Then what is the reason?" Gennai was quiet, he truly didn't know the reason.
"I-I don't know..." The boy replied quietly. "But I know that's not it!" He yelled. Demidevimon had walked over to the young Gennai.
"Who's to say my reason isn't true? You don't know the reason." He had replied snidely to the younger boy. "And I /know/ it's to keep accidents like you and your /human/ mother from happening." With that said, Demidevimon walked away laughing all the way down the hall.
The laughter echoed, covering up the tears from the young boy that dropped to the floor...
~*~
Amidst the crowd of laughing and dancing people, two stuck out with their knee length, free flowing hair. Among humons, they were well respected. The woman, was dressed in a spaghetti strapped white dress that went past her waist, ending a few inches above her knees. She had a long silverish see-through duster on that tied at the chest and flowed down to her ankles freely. Her skin was a light peach that brought out the dark blue in her eyes and her light yellow hair complimented her figure with how it blew about her in a carefree fashion.
The man standing to her right wore an outfit much like the now pronounced Wise One's, but with distinct differences. The white robes parted in a triangle at the waist under a light blue belt revealing loose light blue pants and black shiny boots. The top of the robes sagged at the v-neck revealing slightly tanned peach shoulders. He had a kind smile and light, crystal blue eyes. His golden blonde hair flowed about him giving him an air of elegance.
"So he is truly Azulongmon's son?" The woman said skeptically, eyeing the young man sitting on his thrown chair.
"You now he is, why do you sound so skeptical?" The man replied.
"He's too young. Is it really wise for him to take this position?" She replied to her companion before taking a sip of her fruity drink.
"I hear doubt in your voice Angewomon. You judge far too quickly." The man replied, sympathetic for the new Wise One. Angewomon glared up at the laid back man.
"You are too lax Angemon. And I wasn't judging, merely speculating." Angewomon retorted. Angemon shook his head with a smile and turned his crystal gaze to the happy people roaming about.
Though both of the angel humon's were alike in appearances, their attitudes were very different from another. Angewomon was incredulous, judgeful to many, and some thought of her to appear cold, but on the other hand, Angemon was a more laid back and lighthearted type of guy. Perhaps that is why they got along so well. They were opposite to each other, thus, they balanced each other out.
"I think we should congratulate him on becoming Wise One. I'm sure it is no easy task getting in front of the entire Realm." Angemon suggested. "What do you think?" She nodded her approval and put her glass down on the table behind them.
"Yes, I am curious to see if he is capable of being Wise One." Angemon shook his head and the two elegant humons made their way through the crowd to where the Wise One was.
~*~
Down by the water, away from the celebrating stood a young man. He wore baggy pants that were ripped at the knees and he wore no shirt, which showed off his fine toned torso and arms. On his two biceps were purple tiger like stripes that wove around his arm like a tattoo; they were also on his cheeks and almost reached his nose. He had narrow eyes like a wolf that were a deep yellow (or light, depending on his mood), and he had white hair that stood up at odd angles before drooping down with purple tips.
"Garurumon?" Came someone's voice.
"Hmm?" Garurumon turned around to see a male his age with vibrant orange hair and forest green eyes. His attire was much like his own, shirtless, shoeless... The only difference between their wear was that the man before him was in dark brown pants.
"What are you doing down here? Did you get lost on your way to the celebration?" The orange haired guy asked. Garurumon chuckled a little at his friend's attempt at a joke before turning back around to look out at the water.
"No, I didn't get lost Agumon. I had this... Strange feeling." Agumon raised his eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm not entirely sure... But I think something big is about to happen..." Garurumon replied quietly. After a moment's silence Agumon spoke again.
"Stop with the drama! You know, I think you've been spending way too much time by yourself lately..." Garurumon smiled at his friend's comment and replied,
"Well, they don't call me the 'Lone Wolf of the Realm' for nothing."
"Oh come on! This is supposed to be fun! It's not every day we're around to actually /see/ the Wise One appointed!" Agumon exclaimed.
"You have a point..."
"Besides, if anything bad happens the Wise One's Sages can take care of it. That's their job."
"Okay, okay, I'm coming." As the two headed back to the ceremony they were unaware of the pair of dark mischievous eyes watching them. A snide smile played on their face.
"So it is true... The hafling did live long enough to become Wise One... But for how long?"