As promised, the twenty-two humans and digimon left the palace two days later, set for a trip south the elven forests. The day they left was warm, but dark clouds were hovering in the sky and everyone drew their cloaks tight while Taichi and Yamato gave the crew a short lesson in the basics of the elven tongue and etiquette so they would know how to act when presenting themselves.
The first night passed without event and they marched on shortly before dawn. It was approaching nightfall when they stumbled upon a dark scene. Several covered wagons lay on the road over-turned and ruined. There were footprints everywhere, several arrows stcuk in the ground and trees, broken weapons, and a myriad of bones lay scattered about. Everyone stared in horror. "What happened here," Miyako asked. "Were the people in the convoy attacked by bandits? Or wolves?"
"No, not wolves," Mimi said. "A wolf wouldn't do something like this even with its pack. I fear it's something much more sinister."
Takeru walked up to the scene. He placed his boots within a set of tracks of similar size and began stepping through them, reenacting the movements of whoever made the prints. "There was a struggle here. They fought back, though unsuccessfully it would seem." He scanned the ground and each print. "There were five people... and four attackers. The attackers were bipedal, wore no footwear, and had claws on their hands and feet." TK then began reenacting the possible movements of the attackers, taking jerking, hapazard steps trying to follow the tracks. He surveyed the scene further. "These bones belong to humans, probably made by wolves who decided to capitalize on the travelers' misfortune. Unless..." He grabbed a handful of the sandy earth from one of the attacker's footprints and holding it in his fist, sniffed twice. He scowled and threw the soil to the ground.
Everyone stared at TK, waiting for his answer. They were not surprised by his skill, as they all knew he was one of the best trackers alive. The tension in the air was mounting. Everyone dreaded the grim look on the blonde lord's face, but also wanted to know what was going on.
"These poor souls. This attack was made not by a pack of wolves, but of ghouls," he said solemnly.
A collective gasp rose from everyone else. Of all of them, only Taichi, Augumon, and Patamon had ever seen and fought ghouls before besides Takeru. Everyone else had only heard how vile and evil the undead were.
"That's not the half of it," Takeru said grimly. "The attack was made this morning. Four ghouls of about the same size and weight as Tai, two of them armed. They're probably nearby."
"Then let's get out of here," Patamon squeaked. "I've fought ghouls before, and I have no desire to do it again any time soon."
No sooner had Patamon spoke, than the four hideous ghouls leaped forward from the underbrush, apparently lying in wait for more victims. They were terrible to behold. Thin and gaunt, looking emaciated with skin stretched tight over their bones and the same disgusting purple color as a severe bruise. Their eyes were black, but full of feral cunning nad hunger. They wore only tattered clothes and no footwear showing the gnarled talons on their feet that matched the ones at the ends of their fingers. One of them had a few patches of dirty white hair on his scalp while the others were bald. They had long sharp teeth and snakelike black tongues that kept flopping and slithering around outside of their gaping mouths. Two of the ghouls held a rusty dagger each.
Taichi was the first to react, drawing his longsword and lopping off the armed hand of the hgoul closest to him with a quick upward slash, causing the undead to howl in pain.
Gatomon lunged forward at another. "Lightning Claw," she shouted launching her attack. The swipe of her claws sent the ghoul flying back into a tree with a sickening crack as its spine broke. The creature fell to the ground bent in an unnatural angle, dead.
Sora took the handaxe Tai had given her that morning, took aim, and let it fly at the second armed ghoul. The blade spun rapidly through the air before landing in the creature's face with a sickening thud. The ghoul didn't even have time to cry out before it died. Dark blood began flowing from the undead's split face before it could even hit the ground.
Biyomon was about to go over and help Tai defeat his adversary, when her legs were grabbed from behind by the fourth ghoul. She felt its talons sinking into her wing as he tried to fly away. The bird digimon cried out in pain and fell to the ground.
With a quick lash of another axe, Sora beheaded the one-handed undead she and Tai were fighting and turned to see biyomon in trouble. "Oh no! Biyomon!"
Everyone turned to face the scene just as the ghoul's chest erupted forward in a spray of dark, rotting gore. As the monster fell dead, everyone was shocked to see Augumon standing there behind its body with his claws still extended forawrd and soaked in blood. "No one hurts my friends," the digimon said dangerously.
Taichi was the least surprised, but still stunned. Augumon rarely showed his violent side unless he had digivolved to Greymon. But there the little lizard digimon was, glaring at the ghoul's corpse, wiping the creatures rotting flesh from his claws. And as quickly as Augumon's violence appeared, it faded as he gently helped Biyomon up, looking sadly at her injured wing.
Sora rushed up and looked at her digimon partner's wounds. "Oh, Biyomon are you alright?"
"Yes, Sora," Biyomon said. "I'm alright now. Thank you, Augumon."
Augumon simply smiled as only he could. "You would have done the same for me."
"Hey," Takeru called out. "We better get moving. Where you find a pack of ghouls, there's bound to be more undead lurking around. Getting killed isn't a very big priority on my list of things to do."
"My sentiments exactly," Miyako said.
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Two days later, the group arrived in a grand forest of silver trees with lush golden leaves. They had reached the forest of Dulhai, home of the high elves. The sun refelcted off the silver and gold trees with aching beauty while the underbrush glittered like emeralds. According to the elven legends, this forest was created millennia ago by the gods. They created Dulhai from the purest gold, gems, and the beaitful elven silver called mithril. It was easy to believe. The forest itself possessed not just this dazzling beauty, but a sense of life radiating from it. As the humans and digimon stepped into the forest, it was like bathing in joy and life, like a warm blanket had been wrapped around them and touched their very souls with the wonders this ancient forest held. A small breeze rustled through the treetops, creating a pleasant sound as the leaves shuffled and danced on the wind and the many tiny birds took flight. The immersion in natural beauty was intoxicating, especially for Mimi, Palmon, and Takeru, who all seemed to be off in a dream world.
Suddenly, a tall figure appeared dressed in pastel blues with a flowing deep purple cape, seemingly from nowhere. He had long silver hair like the trees and skin pale as the moon. Long, delicately pointed ears poked out from his hair and his amber eyes seemed to be smiling just as his lips were. There was no mistaking who this individual was. Only one race of people were so fair and graceful. He was a high elf of Florisenn'Dulhai, the long-lived people of the forests. "Welcome, travellers," he said. However, only Taichi and Yamato understood him, as they were the only ones in the party who understood the complex and melodic elven laguage.
"We are from Odaiba. I am Lord Taichi Kamiya, but introuctions must wait," Tai said in fluent Elven. "We have come to see the King Luusullis. Can you take us to the palace?"
The silver-haired elf bowed deeply. "Certainly," he said, this time in common speak which everyone could understand. "I am one of the royal scouts. You may call me Amrufel. Please, follow me." The elf turned and began striding through the woods so quickly, it took everyone an extra effort to keep up. They were all amazed with the other-wordly balance and grace the elf possessed, as one must see these qualities which all elves are born with before you can believe them.
In a little longer than two hours, they finally reached a grand city built in the trees. Platforms high in the mithril and gold trees stretched wide with bridges and walkways connecting them. The buildings atop were crafted entirely of wood with very little stone. Dozens of elves walked through the raised city, engaging in their daily business. Had it been any other day, many more of the fair folk would be seen, but today was the day each week when elves left their jobs early to stay home with their families. Amrufel led them to a large platform at the base of the nearest tree. He sounded a small gong on one end of the platform and it lifted them all up into the city. "Come," their guide said as htey walked into the city. "The palace isn't far."
Amrufel was right, since a grand palace of mithril, marble, and the silver wood of the trees came before them after a short walk. They went past the guards into a grand hall with stone-tiled floors white as snow with many beautiful tapestries hanging on the wall depicting scenes from elven lore. "Stay here in the entrace hall until the guards call you into the throne room to meet with his majesty Luusullis." With that, the silver-haired elf left, his purple cape streaming out behind him.
Yolei giggled as she watched the retreating elf and turned to Kari. "I see those stories about elves being so handsome are true."
Kari giggled in return and glanced over at TK who gave her a playful look of mock jealousy.
It wasn't much longer before an elven guard, taller than Amrufel, at least six and one-half feet, with chain armor and a sword came walking in. Like all elves, he grew his hair very long, but kept it tied back in a ponytail to make fighting easier. "The King will see you now," he said in Elven. He turned, gesturing for them to follow him and walked down the halls to a pair of enromous red double doors. Two other guards stationed there opened the doors to reveal a grand white room full of fountains, statuary, paintings, tapestries, and potted plants. At the other end of the room sat King Luusullis. He was about the same height as Taichi clad in royal purple robes. He had golden hair grown down to his ankles and braided with silver ribbons. He had sky blue eyes and fair skin, and like most elves he looked perpetually youthful, though the length of his pointed ears indicated that he was coming to the final centuries of his life span, for elves live over a millennia and never show any physical aging. The only way to guess an elf's age without asking is to check the length of hteir ears. The longer, the older they are.
Taichi, Yamato, Augumon, and Gabumon walked into the hall first. Tai had told the others to proceed when he called them forward for introductions. "Your majesty," the two humans and two digimon said, down on one knee. They said the words slowly, drawing out the syllables as was proper when standing before elven royalty.
Luusulis rose from his throne, gestured for them to do the same, and walked to the four in front of him. He embraced them all in a single hug as if they were family "Welcome my friends," he said warmly in common speak. "Lord Taichi and Yamato. I haven't seen you two since Lady Hikari and Lord Takeru were born. My you two certainly have grown quickly. And of course Augumon nad Gabumon. Last I saw you two, you had only just matured to your present forms."
"King Luusulis," Tai began, "I would like to introduce you to friends and family. You know my sister, the Lady Hikari with her bonded digimon Gatomon."
"And my brother," Matt continued, "Lord Takeru with Patamon."
The four stepped forward towards the elf king, kneeling down and greeting him as their older brothers and their digimon did.
"Oh you can dispense with the formalities around me," Luusulis chuckled. "The royal houses of Odaiba and any of their friends will always be welcomed in the court of Florisenn'Dulhai as long as I rule." He bid everyone to rise and embraced the four younger siblings and digimon. "I haven't seen you four since you were but babes in your respective mothers' arms." He pulled away a little and looked them over. "Yes. Takeru, you are becoming a fine young man like your brother. Is it true that you are betrothed to Hikari?"
Takeru nodded with a faint blush, hoping that his silence would not be taken as an insult.
However, the elf king simply turned to Hikari and smiled. "You are quite a lucky man. It is very rare that a human woman is born so clsoe to elven fairness. And if half the sotries I have heard are true, then she is every bit as compassionate and kind as she is lovely."
Hikari smiled and looked away as her face turned the same shade of red as her robes. "Thank you, your majesty."
Luussulis then knelt down and stroked one hand over Patamon's back and scratched Gatomon behind her ears. "I never got a chance to know you two. A digimon is always welcome in the royal court and I hope during your visit I can get better aquainted with you."
The two digimon smiled as they looked up at the king. "We would be honored, sir," Patamon squeaked.
"Your majesty," Yamato said. "Taichi and I have several more people and digimon to introduce to you."
They next brought in Sora, Biyomon, Mimi, and Palmon. The girls were complimented similarly to Hikari and their digimon were also treated like old firends instead of new aquaintances. Then came Daisuke, Jyou, Iori, and their respective digimon partners who were given warm greetings. Luusulis embraced them all one by one like family. "So," the elf king said, "what is the nature of your visit?"
Tai stepped forward. "We have recently read an ancient prophecy by the old soothsayer known as Gennai concerning the fabled city of Digita."
Luusulis raised his hand. "Say no more. I know now of why you are here. We will discuss it over a banquet tonight. In the meantime, you look a bit scuffled so let's get you cleaned up."
No one had time to ask what Luusulis meant or how he knew of the prophecy before two dozen elven servants came in and guided the humans and digimon to changing rooms in the east wing of the palace.
End of Chapter 5
In Legacy of Digita Chapter 6- First Crests Discovered, Taichi goes off with Yamato and Daisuke to find the crests of Courage and Friendship hidden within the forests of Dulhai. Will they find them, or will they get more than they bargained for? And are the assassins ready for another round at Taichi's life? The only way to find out is to keep reading.
Back to the First Part of Chapter 5
