Scav and RD make it to the land of the North in search of the Crest of Reliability that RD was instructed to receive. Kiya and Blade make it to the East, traversing the large mountainous region on their way to his home village of Blue Chrome.

Kiya belongs to  dragonsurfer

RD belongs to  rainbowdragon

Scavenger and Blade belong to me.

Digimon belongs to Bandai

---

Ebonwumon's request



The rocking motions of the oceans waves put Scav at ease as he rested against the edge of the ship. Watching the Gomamon swimming along while also keeping an eye on RD who was sleeping not too far away from him. At least the cool breeze was nice. Made everything seem almost right in the digital world.


RD snapped awake. "No that's my cheeseburger you can't have it!" He shrieked while grabbing out with one paw


Scav blinked, bursting into laughter as he stared at RD on the side. "I think you were having a dream there pal." He blinked as one rough wave made the ship jump in the air for a second


That sent poor RD into the air "ouch!" RD suddenly rubbed the back of his head and discovered the bump on it "Ok why am I on a boat and where did this bump come from?!?"


Scav sweatdropped, looking at RD and smiled "That would be from when Lyle accidentally dropped you off his back as he was preparing the boat. We're heading to the North continent."


RD groaned "He dropped me? Ok I'll believe it" The blue Dracomon growled, then blinked. "That puts me in a bad mood wait we're going north?"


Scav nodded a few times "We tried to convince him to wear a saddle but he refused. Saying it made him look like a horse than a prideful lion." Scav sighed, stretching out a bit. "And yes. Smithy told us to bring you to see Ebonwumon. Apparently you have a crest that you need awakened and he's the one to do it. Be happy we're sailing on a proper boat and not in the belly of Leviamon."


RD blinked as he heard this "Erm, I was told to see Ebonwumon actually" RD said rubbing the back of his neck.


Scav nodded, taking him into the cabin where Lyle was standing awkwardly on two legs. Forepaws gripping the wheel of the ship "You're awake...Erm sorry about that. I hadn't meant to knock you off of me."


RD blinked "You knocked me off of you? I'd ask how but I've stopped caring past this point, really need to see Ebonwumon"


Lyle chuckled a bit, claws firmly gripping the wheel. "I had you resting ontop of me...But when I brought you and Scav to my masterpiece I got a bit excited. We'll be there shortly. You've been sleeping for half a day now on board."


"Well I needed to rest otherwise I wouldn't be at full strength" RD said nodding as he did so his eyes looking outside.


Lyle nodded in agreement "I'd advise staying close by when we hit land...The North is a mass of trees and jungle. And the first time we came here plenty of wild digimon wanted us as snacks. We'll get to Stingmon village and hopefully Flash will let us in..."


Scav laughed, nodding in agreement as he could already see the tallest trees reaching their horizon "Flash is the guardian of the North. He may not be as strong as Smithy or Blade but he's a lot faster than any of us."


RD blinked a few times and nodded "Alright then, can't wait to get there and see what he looks like. I think...he's the only guardian I've yet to meet."


Lyle nodded, he had already handed Scav back his digivice, and after a few several minutes left at sea, they managed to dock on the side of what looked to be the only beach on this side of the continent. "Scav, would you mind storing our ship into your digivice?" Scav took a deep breath as he hopped off the boat, and digitized it, pulling it's data into his digivice, practically filling up it's space.


RD was already off when they did this, he was smiling quite openly "We're going to be getting close to the last fight huh?"


Lyle blinked, sweatdropping "Yeah we're near the finish line..." he brought a paw to his face as if clearing off his frustration then smiled, which was rare for him. "Needless to say I won't be coming with you guys in the Dark Network." With that he started leading them through the jungle.


"Well that goes without saying, it's a dangerous place in the worst possible way" RD said nodding "Kind of like a nightmare land"


Lyle nodded a few times, padding forward and following the direction of the tallest tree in their vicinity "Leopardmon used to mention it frequently back when the royal knights were still a tight knit group. He's never been, but it's supposedly the worst possible place for normal mons to visit. Not necessarilly the strongest beings inhabit that world but definitely the nastiest. The type of people that would kill you first with no questions later."


"That is frightening, but the question then becomes how do we get there, we know Daemon wants us to go there but he knows what the place is like and holds all the cards." RD said cringing as he thought about it.


Scav shrugged his shoulders "He's been goading me to go there since our encounter in the East. I still haven't paid him back for deleting Azulongmon. But I think we already have our tickets."


Lyle smirked at that, approaching the thick log posts that made up the Stingmon villages borders "We have Jesse who can control the darkness, same with Triceramon. If they put their powers together we should be able to create a path that can take you straight to the other side."


"That would work, thankfully we have help for that" RD said nodding "So we have a plan then?"


Scav nodded "Right. But we need to take everything into consideration. Which is why we're coming out here. In a place unknown like the dark network despite how morbid this might sound...I think the chances of everyone coming back in one piece is very remote at best. Arkadimon being a prime example. It's a digimon that can reduce any digimon to zeroes and ones. Practically devouring our data itself. And he's only one of many adversaries we'll have to encounter."


"That guy again, I was told about him before, he is beatable though." RD said but sighed "We'll need to take him out too.


Lyle gave a few careful knocks on the wood before the villages doors opened to greet them. Scav sighed softly. "Chronomon mentioned him to me too. Course at the time I was drowning in darkness and on my way to corruption. Arkadimon is one of the few digimon in existance that has managed to achieve the rank of super ultimate."


Flash greeted them almost instantly, the red colored Stingmon zipping towards them in a bright light, hence his name. "Lord Ebonwumon's been expecting you."


RD blinked as he jumped when Flash showed up, not wanting to be mowed down by mistake. "Lead the way"


Flash nodded, starting to lead the group through the village. Lyle looked happy when he took note of some of the buildings having been rebuilt. "You guys finally did some redecorating around here."


Flash nodded softly, leading them to the base of the tree trunk where they large spiral of stairs led upward "The attacks from flying digimon became more and more common after you guys first arrived to our land. So we've been reinforcing the village. No Kuwagamon or Kabuterimons are going to destroy our homes now."


"That sounds like a major problem though, I wasn't here so did something happen?" RD asked wincing


Lyle nodded a few times "Last time we were here...a Kuwagamon followed us into the village and destroyed a few houses. A couple digimon were harmed in the process. Had Lyle not taken initiative, the village could have taken much more damage. At the time I was in my digiegg...but Kiya kept me informed."


"Wow so that's what happened, those kuwagamon are always so aggressive. In any case it's a good thing they stopped" RD said nodding as he looked around


Lyle nodded, pushing RD forward up the staircase. "Climb on my back...and now that you're awake...hold on tight. Cus I'm gonna get us to the top in a jiffy."


"You plan to run us up there?" RD asked as he got on, gripping Lyle's fur firmly but not too tight that he'd cause the mon any discomfort.


Lyle nodded, grunting as Scav hopped on too. "Last time it took us an hour to get to the top. I'll get us up there in ten minutes." With that, Lyle took off, dashing up the stairs, which was amazing givin he had to keep circling around thanks to the staircase design.


RD blinked as this was being done "Wow you are fast" He kept his head low against Lyle's back to lessen the wind pulling at them.


Lyle nodded, growling a bit, using up most of his attention on keeping balanced so they didn't fall. Scav nodded in agreement, smirking "Those leg muscles aren't for nothing. I think all the years working as a builder really paid off."


RD laughed at that as they went up the stairs. "Yeah i'll say it did, we are cruising"


It didn't take them much longer. As Lyle predicted, they made it up to the top in ten minutes flat. After when he laid on his side panting a bit "You two go on ahead. It's you he wants to meet anyway. I'll just...take a nap." Scav laughed, nodding a bit as he looked about. The landscaping was about the same, they were at the top of the great tree, the branches and leaves at the top holding them together despite their combined weight. The tree's top expanded for miles. Making it difficult for them to judge the end of the roof's coverage.


RD shook his head as he got off "He has speed but his stamina needs a little work, oof I hope he's alright"


"He just traversed at least two or three miles up those stairs. His stamina is fine but those twists are probably hell on his limbs. Just keep in mind the discomforts he sets on himself for us is his way of asking us to save his home." Scav pointed out as Lyle was already snoozing "Though given how cats love to take naps..."


RD sighed "Sorry I didn't even realize he got us up that far." He apologized to the sleeping Liamon, giving him a small pat before looking at the wide expanse infront of them. "Off to Ebonwumon.."


Scav laughed, crossing his arms "He bumped you on the head so I think you're both even at this point."

The tree limbs around them started rustling as Ebonwumon dug himself out of his hiding place. A cheerful smile on both of his heads "Are you gonna jump off the roof this time like you did last time youngin?" The left head addressed Scav.


This got the Orange and blue scaled Agumon to shake his head, blushing "What can I say...your light pumped me with so much energy after digivolving I had to burn it off somehow right?"


RD blinked "You jumped, off a two mile high roof?!" RD looked over the side and cringed "When I was a human I had a really bad fear of heights and elevated open air places."


Scav laughed, nodding a bit as he scratched his cheek with a claw. "To be fair...I'd just hatched from my digiegg..."


Ebonwumon nodded, his right head turning to face RD. "As a Geogreymon no less. His Dracomon friend gave him a bit of a scolding before following him down as a Coredramon. Though you're a different color pattern than he was. So you're the other natural light wielder."


RD nodded, smiling a bit. "Yes, I use light naturally but my understanding of it....is muddled at best and mishandled at worst, I'm practically learning as I go along."


Ebonwumon let out a happy laugh, smiling "Without a proper teacher I'd imagine having to learn as you go is the only way to go! Most light wielders of the past used to come to the four of us. And study under our wing until they had complete mastery over the light."


RD sighed, nodding in agreement as he listened to Ebonwumon. "Considering there's two souls in this one body, one soul knows how to use it, the other only knows that it can be used in certain ways"


Ebonwumon nodded a few times "If I had the time, if WE had the time. Then I would gladly tutor the two of you. YOu want the crest of Reliability I'm sure but it's not something I can just give away. And given your final destination, it would be wrong of me to deny you one final write of passage. If you can't overcome this obstacle, then you would be better off staying home and leaving the rest to your friends."


RD blinked as he heard this "What obstacle would that be?"


"No doubt, you already know of the shrines of Zeedgarurumon and Victorygreymon. We may not have as grand a history as the East and West, but we have had our good lick of it. There's a shrine deep in the jungle. A monument to Digidestined of the past. We've had word of some...dissapearances around there lately."


RD's eyes narrowed, not liking the news one bit. "You're thinking something or someone bad is down there? I'd go to both North and South lands if I thought it would help our cause"


Ebonwumon shook his head "To get to the North to south in as short a time you have would be a wasted effort. Besides as far as I'm concerned, Zhuqiaomon can handle his own territory with Chronomon's aid. I however am unable to leave the safety of my sanctuary. I do believe something is going on there. Mysterious things always seem to occur in places of reverance."


RD folded his claws, already set. "I'm going there, there has to be something going on, be it good or evil we can help with it."


Ebonwumon nodded a few times. Flash stepping over to Ebonwumon's side and whispered something to him, RD could faintly hear, "What if something happens to HIM" Ebonwumon only gave a faint nod in affirmation "Yes that could be a problem...I want you to accompany him. Scav will remain as my Guard until you return."


"Shouldn't scav come with me in case it's some being possessed by the darkness? I know this could be dangerous. I'm not debating that but it has to be done." RD had fairly good hearing. And thought his reasoning was sound.


Scav nodded in agreement, then thought on it before rubbing his chin "This is your write of passage like Ebonwumon said...if I go along with you given my ability to digivolve to mega it wouldn't really be a fair trial...I'm more in a position to protect Ebonwumon to prevent what happened to Azulongmon from happening again. And Flash knows the layout of the land better than I would. I've only come to this part of the region."


RD blinked then nodded "Alright, let's go then, I need to get this done....I also want to enter the shrine if it's still standing when the fighting is done"


Flash nodded, picking up RD "It'll be easier if I fly us out of the village." With that he took off, RD would have to close his eyes just to keep the wind from slashing at him


RD kept his eyes shut to help protect them since they were going so fast. Ridiculously so.

---

Just now arriving on the coast of the East. Kiya and Blade were stepping out of Leviamon's jaws, The latter of which groaned and complained about the leviathans breath. The great beast simply snorted in amusement before sinking into the oceans depths.


"Heh...considering you were speaking to a demon lord...You probably could have been a bit more polite." Kiya suggested, scratching his cheek, though a frown formed over his Dracomon muzzle. "You might not have quite the reunion with your fellow villagers that you'd expect...Just a fair war-"


"I know." Blade wiped himself off, looking up to the mountains rising high above them. He already knew which path they had to take. "Azulongmon's gone. And the village was in disarray when you arrived. Still...We're going back. I was selected by Azulongmon as his Guardian. And before I can take his position as the next lord of this land, I need to ensure my village's safety. Only after that will we go to Victorygreymon's shrine."


Kiya sighed, looking saddened. "If it makes you feel any better...Lyle, NO we... didn't feel right until we helped rebuild the houses that Daemon demolished."


Blade nodded solemnly, taking his first step through the rough terrain and leading Kiya along. "Thank you. When everything is over and done with...I'll invite you all to my home. Without having to worry about everyone elses problems. You were outsiders, yet you came to this world anyway to try and save it. The sentiment isn't lost on me..."


Kiya only nodded, following Blade up small hills, and from there, taking short cuts up to the taller mountain ranges. It was definitely different than their previous route, whereas Kiya and Scav had to fly directly to the village. "Is there some reason we're traversing this maze of mountain instead of simply flying? We'd be able to get there much faster."


"Oh...They never told you about our customs during your last visit?" Blade looked baffled, taking the Dracomon into a cave in the center of one such mountain. "Even the flying dragon types in this region are forbidden to use their wings to traverse the region. If you can accomplish what you need to on solid ground then you don't need to use your wings. Now...if one of these mountains turned out to be a volcano...and suddenly erupted THEN you could digivolve. Come..." His, crest lit up the dark cavern for them to see. "Once we get through this cavern we'll be at the foot of the mountain that Blue Chrome village rests on. It'll be quite a trek though so I hope you've been saving up your energy for the climb."


It took them several minutes to navigate the caverns. All made easier thanks to Blade's crest. But soon enough, they found themselves back outside, to the base of a mountain that was several miles in diameter. When Kiya tried to look up, he couldn't even see the top and whistled. "I...didn't know the place was so large last time we were out here."


For once during their whole trip, Blade grinned wide. "It's easy to misjudge distance when you're flying. Not to mention the severity of your mission kept you from looking around. There are so few mountains this large. And falling off one like this would be the death of you. REGARDLESS of what level of digimon you are. Besides...it's only these great behemoths that the greater villages reside on. They oversee the rest of the land. There ARE villages on the hills we've walked through, and even in the caves! but not nearly as big or prominant as those above."


"Sounds like a metropolis of sorts..." Kiya commented, chuckling. "Well...This might take a day all on it's own to scale. Good thing we have a week."


(To be continued)