Chapter 5: Prophecies
Taichi awoke to see the sun rising outside his window. The first thing the young lord noticed was the absence of pain. He looked at his bare chest and saw the discoloration was gone. When Tai looked at his arm where the arrow had struck, the wound was almost completely healed. In a few days it would be just another scar. The memories came back to him as he looked around the room. He saw his mother, his best friend Matt, his sister Hikari, Takeru, Mimi, Augumon, his squire Davis, Jyou; all asleep sitting in chairs and leaning on each other in various odd positions. To his immediate left, he saw her. Sora. She was sititng beside his bed with her head resting against the wall, sound asleep. Gradually, everything came rushing back. The night of the masquerade, his dance with Sora, the attack... Lord Kamiya's murderer. Taichi got up out of bed, trying not to wake anybody. He slipped on his boots and an open buttonless vest. He needed a moment alone.
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Sora woke up to find Taichi missing. At first she panicked. Where did he go? What happened to him? Then she noticed his boots were missing. "He must have woken up and left," the amazon thought out loud. At first, she couldn't help but smile at the thought that Taichi was recovering, but then Sora got up and frowned. "Stupid Tai. He should still be in bed. Doesn't he know to listen to the doctor's orders?" She quickly left the room to go look for the brown-haired lord, several different reasons going through her mind.
It wasn't long before she came out to the palace gardens and saw Lord Taichi by the statue of Jubei Yagami. He was practicing with two handaxes, apparently only having been doing so for a short while as he hadn't broken a sweat. Sora was about to walk up to him and give him a tongue-lashing (AN: Get your mind out of the sewer!) for getting out of bed in the middle of the night when one of his axes was loosed from his hand and imbedded itself in the trunk of the tree she was standing next to.
Tai's eyes widened in horror as he realized Sora was there and how clsoe he had come to accidentally killing her. "S-sora?" He dropped his other axe to the ground and ran to her. "What in the world are you doing here?"
Sora got over the shock and turned to scowl at Taichi. "I could ask you the same question," she shot back.
"What," he asked.
"What are you doing out of bed," the amazon demanded.
"I-"
"Don't interrupt me! That was a rhetorical question."
"But-"
"No excuses! You haven't fully recovered. You've been asleep for three days, but you aren't completely healed yet."
"Wha-"
"And just what do you think you're doing, leaving your room without telling us? Another assassin could attack you!"
"Well I-"
"Look me in the eye when I'm scolding you!"
"But i jus-"
"And another thing-" This time Sora was cut off as Taichi placed two fingers upon her lips. She was too surprised to react.
"Shut up for a second and let me apologize," Tai smiled. He lifted his fingers from her lips. "I'm sorry. I just needed some time to myself, and I guess I acted without thinking."
Sora just smiled back. "Stupid Tai," she said affectionately. "What was it you wanted to tell me the other night?"
"This." With that, the brown-haired knight dipped his head down and gave Sora a soft kiss on the cheek, causing both of them to turn bright red. Tai was mentally kicking himself, as he had meant to kiss her on the lips. Why had he stopped at the last second and kissed only her cheek? Still, it was a start.
"Lord Taichi!" Cray's voice sounded throughout the gardens, causing Tai and Sora to groan in frustration at the strange deja vu.
Cray came running up and hugged Tai like a son. "Lord Taichi, you're alive! You had everyone scared to death!"
Tai tried to realease himself from his servant's suprisingly strong arms. "Cray, relax! I'm alright now. I'm going back to my chambers. Please have my mother sent to my room as soon as possible. I must speak with her." The young knight finally managed to free himself and sighed as he left without another word.
Sora watched him go, remembering the events from the battle the other night. She couldn't blame him for being upset, but he was being foolish to go wandering around after an attack was made on his life.
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Taichi was laying face up in his bed, his father's shield amulet clutched tightly in his one hand.
Lady Kamiya began speaking. "It began long ago when Odaiba was first made a kingdom by Jubei Yagami," she said. "One of Jubei's greatest friends was the prophet Gennai. Gennai said one day that there would be twenty-four, twelve humans and twelve digimon, who would be blessed upon birth as 'digi-destined.'
"Of course, no one knew what he meant at the time. Gennai said the digi-destined would find the lost city of Digita, birthplace of the first digimon. Legends have always spoken of Digita and the mysterious Legacy it contains, but no one ever found it. Some people even called Gennai a false prophet for speaking of such a 'faery tale.'
"But Jubei believed Gennai. In a hidden area of the palace, the two inscribed the prophecy in its entirety and hid it. The shield amulet that has been handed down through our family for generations is the key to unlocking the hidden chamber containing the prophecy."
Taichi looked to the metal amulet in his hand. It displayed the crest of Odaiba: a sun, crescent moon, and eight-point star in a triangular pattern underneath an arch which was inscribed with nine runes representing courage, love, friendship, sincerity, knowledge, reliability, kindness, hope, and light, in order. "Mother, I don't understand." Tai traced his finger along the amulet and looked back to his mother.
"Well," Lady Kamiya began. "Your father said that he had read the prophecy once himself, and he believes that you, Hikari, and the sons of Ishida are four of the digi-destined. He never explained it to me, but that is what he said."
Taichi lay in bed, speechless, trying to take all of this in.
"To see the prophecy," Lady Kamiya continued, "insert the amulet into the crest at the foot of Jubei Yagami's statue."
"I think I'll do just that."
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Taichi stood in front of the statue of his ancestor, Jubei. At the base of the statue was the kingdom's crest. He inserted his father's amulet upon it, and a click was heard. The young knight backed up as he heard a grinding noise. Soon, the statue shifted away, revealing a hidden staircase. Taichi gulped nervously and descended.
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Izzy and Yolie were in the palace library reading over their notes on digimon when Taichi came. "Izzy, Yolei. I need some help. Do you understand ancient runic Draconic?"
"Of course," Yolie replied.
"Good. come with me."
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It was a similar story with Yamato, Takeru, Hikari, Daisuke, Sora, Mimi, Jyou, Iori, and all the digimon. Taichi guided them all down the stairs underneath the statue into a large underground chamber. The room was lit by a strange phosphorescent moss, giving it a dream-like appearance. On the far wall was a giant inscription in ancient runes. "This is the prophecy I told you about on the way here. I only understood a handful of the runes, but I knew enough of them to get my suspicions up. When Izzy and Yolie translated for me, I knew just how my father felt."
"What do you mean Tai," Cody asked.
"Koushiro, please read the prophecy."
Izzy cleared his throat and began reading the runes which were arranged going top to bottom. "Twenty-four in all, twelve humans, twelve digimon; Shall find Digita, they'll be the ones." Izzy looked up. "Rather interesting how they made this so that when it is translated into the common dialect it forms a rhyme, but I digress."
"Go on," Taichi urged.
"First is the Bearer of Courage, the master of blades; A natural leader and lord of flames.
"The Bearer of Love, amazon of the winds; Will capture the leader's heart and show the fury of wind.
"The crest of Friendship shall belong to; The loreweaver who commands song and the icy blue.
"Sincerity is the virtue of the woodlands girl; Friendship is her mate, her ally the natural world.
"The Bearer of Knowledge is a genius young man; Quick-thinking and resourcfeul, he always has a plan.
"Reliability is the strength to a healer of men; He who never gives up, and always shall mend.
"The Bearer of Hope comes forth with spirit and blade; His will of steel shall not be unmade.
"Bearer of Light is always with Hope shining bright; She casts her magic where once there was plight."
Izzy paused at this time. "The rhyming could have been better, but I suppose it is difficult to try and write something in one laguage so that the translation in a particular language rhymes."
"Well, take a moment before you continue," Tai said. He turned to the others. "Does any of this sound familiar to any of you?"
There was a long silence. No one spoke up. They knew what the brown-haired knight was talking about, but they didn't dare say anything. It was just too outlandish to be real.
"This prophecy just described eight of us," Taichi finally said, getting annoyed by the silence. "'Master of blades.' I'm a master-at-arms. 'Amazon of the winds; capture the leader's heart.' If that doesn't describe Sora, please tell me what does." The brown-haired lord then turned pink slightly, realizing what he had just said. He looked over at Sora who was also blushing, though with a smile on her face and her thoughts running faster than lightning with joy.
"Tai, as much as I would love to have a little fun with what you just blurted out, I think you're right. This is serious." Matt folded his amrs over his chest and glanced at Mimi. He was turning her section of the prophecy over in his head 'Friendship is her mate,' he thought. 'I do feel rather attracted to her, but this is just a touch... confusing. And besides, that statement in the prophecy could mean any number of things. I'm not sure what is going on anymore.'
Mimi was trying hard not to look at Matt. She was having a similiar line of thought and didn't know what to think. 'Yamato really is a wonderful person, but am I really growing to like him like that? I wish I could be anywhere but here right now.'
"I guess you could describe me as reliable," Jyou said. He felt the tension growing in the air, and decided that if no one else was going to break the silence, he better do it. He was certainly reliable.
Everyone saw the irony of the situation and couldn't help but smile as things seemed less heavy on their shoulders.
"Finish reading the prophecy, please," Tai said. This time, Miyako picked up where Koushiro left off. "A second generation will come to bear; The crests of all, three holding a pair.
"The warrior of Friendship and Courage stands tall; He has much bravado, but a good heart after all.
"Love and Sincerity to a girl who speaks with the sky; She never fears to spread her wings and speak her mind.
"Knowledge and Reliability belong to a small boy with a pure heart; He never disappoints and from his friends he will never part.
"The Bearer of Kindness will have a fall from grace; Living an outlaw, he handles the world at his own pace.
"With digimon to bind them as one, the world shall be spared; When darkness falls and all living things are scared.
"The digi-destined together they shall be; These twenty-four shall find Digita and its Legacy." Yolie turned to the others, knowing as well as they did the gravity of the situation.
Taichi folded his arms and looked around. "The prophecy continues to tell us where the crests of these virtues can be found. Unfortunately, Courage and Friendship are said to be in Florisenn'Dulhai."
Matt looked over at Tai. "Marvelous. This just keeps getting better and better," he said sarcastically.
"Isn't that an elven kingdom south of here," Cody asked. His normally quiet voice was maginified a little by the cave and everyone could hear him.
"Yes," Tai replied. "Ever since Odaiba was founded by Jubei Yagami, the elves and our people have shared a shaky alliance. Ever tried talking to an elf before?" The question was rhetorical so the young knight continued. "They're very arrogant, aloof, and regal. You really have to know what you're doing to talk to one."
"They're not an easy audience to please, either," Matt added.
"Well what are we waiting for," Davis practically shouted. "If we really are destined like the prophecy says, then let's go!"
"It's not that simple," Koushiro said. "We're missing one digi-destined: the Bearer of Kindness. And besides that, how can we be entirely sure we are the ones the prophecy describes. You have to admit, it is rather vague."
"Izzy has a point," Yolie said out loud. "Although it looks like we're the ones, we can't be entirely sure."
"Well," Sora started, "we may never know unless we try." She then smiled. "Besides, I'd like to meet some elves. I hear they have the finest bows in the world."
The digimon had all been quiet up to this point. They knew of the prophet Gennai and when they heard the word "Digita" they all fell silent.
"Are you alright," Tai questioned them.
"Sorry," Augumon said, snapping out of his trance. "But we all were staying silent to show respect to Digita."
"I understand," Mimi said, pulling Palmon into a hug. "You digimon must feel a certain reverance toward the lost city."
Gomamon nodded. "That's right. I think there's something to this prophecy and I want to go see if we really are the digimon who will rediscover Digita."
"It's a little hard to swallow," Armadillomon said, "but I'm willing to put all bets on it at the flip of a coin."
"Then it's settled," Tai said firmly. "In two days we leave for Florisenn'Dulhai."
