Me: Another chapter, ready for reading!

BWG: Yippee.

Grani slowed down and landed on the beach of a large island, formed mostly of stone cliffs and a mountain that rose high into the sky. Ominous-looking clouds obscured the top of the mountain.

Guilmon hopped off of Grani's back. "That was cool!"

"Yes, it's been quite a while since my last flight. It felt good to be in the air again!" said the pleased dragon boat.

Guilmon looked up at the towering spire. "So, what do we do now?"

"This place is called Dragon Roost Island, which is fairly appropriate because there's a huge dragon at the top of the mountain."

"A real dragon?"

"Yes. Her name is Skydramon. She is the Sky Spirit and patron deity of the bird Digimon who dwell here." Grani gazed up at the ominous clouds and frowned. "Those shouldn't be here. Anyway, on this island lies one of the three objects we need to open the path to the sleeping power that will defeat Lucemon. It is a relic of the goddesses that created our world called Cherubimon's Pearl. Skydramon possesses it, therefore you must climb to the top of the mountain to obtain it from her."

Guilmon looked back up at the mountain with dread. "I'll have to climb up THAT?"

"Fear not, the birds will help you get up there."

"Guilmon frowned. "But why would this Skydramon give me the Pearl anyway? What's to stop her from roasting me and eating me alive?"

"If any trouble should arise, tell the dragon I sent you. That will clear up any misunderstanding that may occur."

Guilmon eyed his transport. "If you say so." He started to walk away from Grani.

"Wait! I almost forgot! Come back, I have something to give you!" The reptile paused, then came back. Grani's mouth opened, and a small white baton slid out and onto the sand. "This is the Wind Waker! It is a baton of sorts that was used long ago when the people played music in prayer to the gods."

Guilmon picked up. "How does it work?"

"It is used to conduct the winds themselves to play music if no instrument is available. Here, allow me to instruct you in a few practice songs. Focus your will on the Waker. Close your eyes and command the wind with your mind! Make it listen to you!" Guilmon held the baton and closed his eyes. At that moment, all wind blowing around ceased. There was an eerie calm in the air. "Now, move the baton to your left." Guilmon jabbed the Wind Waker to the left. The wind suddenly blew in that direction, making a distinct musical tone. "Move it to the right." Guilmon jabbed the baton to his right. More wind. Another tone. "Now, point it down." The baton almost struck the ground. The wind blew down, making another tone. "Good, that was your first practice song. Let's try one that's four-beats instead of three. Move the baton in the following sequence: ^v." Guilmon frowned momentarily, then moved the baton up, right, left, then down. "Perfect! Now, let's see if you can learn a song with actual power. Move the Wind Waker like this: ^."

Guilmon moved the baton up, left, and right. As the wind played its music, Guilmon suddenly saw the image of a spinning compass in his head. Out of impulse, he commanded the compass to point south. As the vision vanished, Guilmon suddenly felt a great gust of wind moving past him to the south. He opened his eyes. "What was that?"

Grani looked extremely pleased. "Guilmon, you have just learned the Wind's Requiem. It is a simple, yet extremely powerful song than can cause the wind to blow in any direction you choose. It can also cause magical things to happen if you play it while standing on a pad with the symbol for wind embossed on it."

Guilmon looked at the small baton in awe. "You mean I can now control the wind itself? I can make it blow north south, east, west…any direction at all?"

Grani nodded. "Correct. The fact that you are able to use the baton at all indicates that you are truly the new Wind Waker, the one chosen to play the baton and command the winds to his heart's desire. Congratulations. Now, I suggest you get going and find those bird Digimon. Time's a-wasting, after all!"

Recovering from his shock at learning he was supposed to be some chosen hero, Guilmon put away the Wind Waker and started off to explore the island. He noticed a pathway on the cliffs leading to the other side of the island, but the ramp leading up to it was blocked by several large boulders. Fortunately, Guilmon found some special plants nearby known as Bomb Flowers. He had learned about them back at Outset. They were plants that grew flowers that exploded only seconds after being plucked. They were often used for demolition purposes. Guilmon plucked a bomb and hurled it at the first boulder blocking the ramp. As he ducked for cover, the bomb exploded, destroying the rock. He used a second flower to destroy the next boulder, and was able to use yet another one to destroy the boulder blocking a ledge leading across to the first part of the cliff pathway. He sidled across the ledge and found his way blocked by another boulder. Fortunately, he was able to find another Bomb Flower he could use to destroy the boulder and proceed. He passed through an archway and found himself on the other side of the island. He continued up the path and found himself on the first of four launching platforms. Standing on the launching platform was none other than Silphymon! "Hey, Silphymon!" Guilmon cried, running over to his friend the postman.

The Animal looked up in disbelief. "Guilmon? Good lord, is that really you?"

"Of course it's me, do you know any other red lizards with black markings?"

Silphymon laughed. "It is you! The last I'd heard of you, you got tossed out of Forsaken Fortress! For a kid without wings, I'm surprised you've made it this far!"
"Yeah, well, I got help from a flying dragon/boat/horse." Silphymon stared at him. "Never mind, it's not important."

Silphymon cocked his head. "So, what brings you here?"

"I've come to this island to look for something."

"Really? Well, perhaps our chieftain can help you find it. Actually, we're sort of having a problem of our own right now. Maybe you can help…"

Silphymon took Guilmon into a nearby cave, which turned out to be the Central Post Office for the Great Sea and the aerie of the Dragon Roost Island birds. In the middle of the large chamber, a worried Owlmon was giving news to a regal Valkyrimon. "She is still angry, then? Hmm, this is definitely trouble." He noticed Silphymon and waved the Owlmon away. "Ah, Silphymon, our best postman! How may I help you?"

Silphymon pushed Guilmon forward. "This is Guilmon, sir. The boy I told you about."

Valkyrimon looked impressed. "Then you are the youngster who went all the way to Forsaken Fortress in an attempt to rescue your sister? Silphymon has told us much about you."

"Yeah, so I've gathered." Said Guilmon.

"We high-flying bird Digimon admire courage in all creatures. One who would journey to the most dangerous place in the sea for his sister is truly worthy of admiration. If there is any way at all that my aerie can help you, anything at all, don't hesitate to ask. We will help you in any way we can."

"I need an audience with Skydramon."

"Anything but that." Amended Valkyrimon.

"Huh? Why not?" asked Guilmon.

Silphymon frowned. "Guilmon, do you recall when I said we birds currently had a problem? Well, this problem involves Skydramon."

"For some reason, Skydramon has become extremely angry. We can't figure out why." Said Valkyrimon. "She shakes the mountain, causing earthquakes that threaten our lives. An even worse result of her fury is that my son has become disheartened."

Guilmon stared at him blankly. "What does a dragon's fury have to do with your son?"

Valkyrimon flapped his wings. "As you can see, we bird Digimon are blessed with the power of flight. We do so by the graces of Skydramon the Sky Spirit. When a bird reaches adulthood, he or she journeys to the top of Dragon Roost to receive a scale from the great dragon. This scale grants the power of flight."

"But since Skydramon has become so angry nobody can approach her, Prince Hawkmon was terrified by her when he went up to get his scale and hasn't left his bedroom since." Said Silphymon.

"And he isn't the only one. None of our children will ever learn how to fly unless Skydramon can somehow be calmed down." Finished Valkyrimon.

"Maybe I could help." Guilmon offered.

Valkyrimon raised an eyebrow under his helmet. "Guilmon, venturing into a dangerous and heavily-guarded fortress is one thing, but climbing up a volcanic mountain agitated by an infuriated female dragon? There is a reason they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Going up there would not be courageous, but foolishness. However, there might be another way you can help."

"How?"

"As I said before, my son has become extremely disheartened. He was already depressed due to the recent death of his grandmother, but Skydramon's wrath made it even worse. What I ask of you is simple. I left a letter to him in the care of a girl named Biyomon. Get the letter from her and give it to my son. Share some of your courage with him, and he may be encouraged to try the trek up Dragon Roost once more. Do you think you can do this?" A little disappointed at being given such a paltry task, Guilmon nodded. "Thank you. Now, we must take our leave. I must see what I can do about appeasing Skydramon. Come Silphymon, let us be off!" Valkyrimon and Silphymon flew out of the room through a hole in the ceiling.

Guilmon quickly set off to accomplish his task. He asked the postal workers where he could find Biyomon, and they directed him to a chamber with a balcony overlooking a small valley. In the chamber was a pink Biyomon with a beautiful golden harp on her back. She was sitting on a perch when Guilmon came in. "Oh, you look new. Who are you?"

"My name is Guilmon. The chief sent me to get his letter for Prince Hawkmon from you."

Looking startled, Biyomon almost fell off her perch. "Oh my! You're Guilmon? The one who went to Forsaken Fortress in search of his sister?"

"Yep." I'm starting to think I'm quite popular around here! He thought.

"Is it really true that you hitched a ride with bloodthirsty pirates to get to the Fortress?"

"Well, I wouldn't exactly call them bloodthirsty…"

"Even so, that's so cool!" she said eagerly. She paused. "What was it that you wanted again?"

"The chief's letter?"

"Oh, that thing!" Biyomon pulled out a letter and handed it to him. "I'm sure the Prince will be happy to receive word from his father, the chief's been so busy lately what with the great Skydramon going wild and all that he hasn't had time for his son."

"That's sad." Guilmon put away the letter.

"Yeah, it is…hey, do you think you could do me a favor?" she asked.

"Sure, what?"

"After you deliver that letter to the Prince, meet me in that valley." Said Biyomon, pointing off the balcony. "I might need your help…"

"Okay, I'll meet you later."

"Thanks!"

Guilmon left the room, then came right back in. "Uh, where can I find Prince Hawkmon's-"

"Down the hall and to the left."

"Right!" He left.

The prince's room was small but richly adorned with patchwork rugs, wall hangings, and bookshelves with odd-looking carved bird heads. Hawkmon was lying on his back in bed, holding a large red orb with a gold stripe around it. He didn't even bother looking up when Guilmon came into the room. "Delivery for the prince!" he said as he handed the letter to the despondent bird.

Hawkmon grabbed the letter, tore it open, and read it. He scowled and tossed it away. "Oh sure dad, easy for you to tell me I have to be strong! You can fly; you don't have to climb up a dangerous monster-infested mountain being shaken apart by a mad dragon god! No, I'm not going to see Skydramon until somebody calms her down!" He sulked for several seconds, then looked at Guilmon. "What are you looking at?"

Guilmon blinked. He had been staring at the large orb. Something about it seemed important. "Where did you get that?" he asked, pointing to the ball.

"Oh, this? It's something my grandmother gave to me before she passed away. She was Skydramon's old attendant and claimed the dragon herself gave it to her for a lifetime of service."

Guilmon's eyes widened. Could this be the pearl he had been sent to find? "What's that thing called?"

"Cherubimon's Pearl. Grandmother said that Skydramon got it from the goddess Cherubimon some time ago."

"…Do you think I could have that?"

Hawkmon glared at him. "What, and give up the one piece of comfort I have left in this world? This is my grandmother's last gift to me! It makes me feel warm and safe, just as if she were still here beside me…" He nuzzled the pearl affectionately. He paused. "In fact, it's the one thing that makes me happy, since I can't fly yet and I won't be able to until Skydramon cools off. Oh, how I would love to fly…" he said wistfully.

Guilmon got an idea. "What if I could get you to fly?"

Hawkmon looked up sharply. "What do you mean?"

"If I could get someone to calm down Skydramon so you could go up there and get the magic scale you need, would you give me that Pearl?"

Hawkmon thought a moment. "IF you could somehow find somebody to calm down Skydramon and IF she is actually calmed down, then I would give up my grandmother's heirloom in an instant for the chance to fly."

"Okay then! Don't you worry Prince, I'll go up to Dragon Roost and calm that dragon down!"

"Wait a minute, you mean YOU'RE volunteering to go up there? Why?"

"Partly because I need the pearl, and also because it's the right thing to do. You should have the chance to fly like the bird you are, not stay ground-bound like the rest of us. I swear I will do whatever it takes to get you your wings, Prince Hawkmon!"

The royal bird actually looked impressed. "Who are you, anyway?"

"You can call me Guilmon. Yes, the same Guilmon who went to Forsaken Fortress! And if I could survive that place, then I bet I can survive this mountain of yours and the angry dragon atop it!"

Hawkmon looked at him for a moment then lay back down on his bed. "Good luck then. You'll need it."

Guilmon walked out into the canyon. He stood on a large ledge overlooking a shallow pit. At the other side of the pit was a ledge and path leading into the mountain. There was a bridge leading across the pit, but it was broken and lying about in the pit. There was also what appeared to be a small spring in the pit covered up by a big boulder. Five withered Bomb Flowers grew on the ledge near the edge of the pit. Standing near the other side, down in the pit, was Biyomon. Guilmon jumped down and ran over to it. "Hey Biyomon!"

"Hey. Did you deliver the letter to Prince Hawkmon?"

"Yep!"

"Was he rude?"

"Well…"

Biyomon sighed. "You shouldn't blame him. He's really a nice boy; he's just suffering from too much stress what with the loss of his grandmother, the prospect of never being able to fly, his father being too busy to see him…" She trailed off, then sighed again. "In a way, it's my fault."

"What do you mean?"

"Hawkmon's grandmother used to be Skydramon's attendant. When she died, I took her place. I'm not nearly as skilled at serving the dragon as she is. I'm not worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as my predecessor. I have only the vaguest knowledge of Japanese, the language that Skydramon speaks. If the old attendant were still here, she'd be able to figure out what the problem was right away and solve it!"

Guilmon frowned. "You shouldn't blame yourself. It's not your fault that you're inexperienced."

Biyomon shook her head. "That's no excuse. I am Skydramon's attendant, and it is my responsibility to calm her down! But I can't even do that if I can't get to the top of the mountain! That's why I need your help."

"Me?"

"Yes. You see, I haven't gotten my flying scale yet, but I am able to glide with the wind. This pit used to be a pool of water with a bridge across it, but Skydramon caused boulders to fall that broke the bridge and plugged the spring, drying up the water. Because there's now no other way across, I've been attempting to glide to the other side. But I can't get the right altitude to glide that far. I was hoping that you could pick me up and throw me across! That should get me high enough to glide to the other side!"

"You want me to pick you up and throw you?" asked the dubious Guilmon.

"Yes!"

"Well, okay…" Guilmon picked up Biyomon, aimed for the ledge across the pit, and tossed her. The bird spread her wings and started gliding. At first it looked like she was going to make it, but then the wind changed directions and sent her right back at Guilmon! She knocked him over, causing both of them to hit the ground.

"Darn, the wind's all wrong! How am I supposed to get across now?" she complained.

Guilmon had an idea. "Hold on. I think I can fix this." He pulled out the Wind Waker and played the Wind's Requiem. At his command, the wind blew north, towards the other side of the pit! He picked Biyomon up again. "Okay, here we go!" He tossed her at the edge of the pit.

With the wind under her wings, Biyomon glided through the air and landed on the ledge. She looked back at him, surprised. "How did you change the wind?!"

"Magic." He said grinning.

Shaking her head in wonder, she pulled something out. "Here. Before I go up, I want you to take this." She threw the object down to Guilmon. It appeared to be an empty glass bottle. "This bottle can hold all kinds of neat stuff! I'm sure you can find some use for it." At that moment, a horrendous roar could be heard from the region beyond the clouds. Biyomon looked up at the mountain. "Uh oh! That doesn't sound too good. I've gotta go! Bye Guilmon!" She ran off into the passage.

Guilmon tried to figure out what he could do with the bottle. Recalling the withered Bomb Flowers, and noticing the water around the plugged spring, Guilmon had an idea. He scooped up some water in the bottle, climbed back up to the valley entrance using some of the remaining bridge planks hanging from the wall, and poured the water on the Bomb Flowers, causing them to bloom once more. He plucked a bomb and threw it down into the pit, striking the boulder. It exploded, causing the spring to overflow and fill the pit again. Within a few minutes, there was a huge pool of water that Guilmon could swim across to reach the other end of the valley. He swam across the lake and entered the passageway against the wall.

He immediately found his way blocked by a huge pool of lava. On the other side of the pool was a set of stairs leading into a cave entrance. Lining the walls of the lava pool were a pair of bird statues holding pots. Noticing the Bomb Flowers nearby, Guilmon got a sudden inspiration. He plucked one bomb and threw it into the closest pot. It exploded, causing the statue to tip over and fall into the lava, making a stepping stone for Guilmon. He plucked another bomb, jumped onto the fallen statue, and tossed it into the second statue's pot. It exploded and the statue fell over, providing Guilmon with another stepping stone. He hopped across the statue and out of the lava pool. He climbed up the stairs and ran into the darkness of the cave.

Me: Wow, I didn't think so many people would make guesses about the king!

BWG: You shouldn't have given them a hint, idiot.

Me: Be that as it may, I won't give out anymore hints about the king. You'll all have to wait and see for yourself who he is.

BWG: I know! The king is-

Me: SHUT UP!