Chapter Seven: Back to the Northern Realm

"Can you believe our luck?!" Gomamon asked as the three teenagers ran eagerly into the village.

"I know, I was sure we were goners!" Lillymon exclaimed excitedly. "I mean, who would have thought we'd end up going to the Northern Realm!?"

"I know!" Biyomon chimed in. "Who knew just how nice the Wise One could be?"

There wasn't much time for idle talk as the three sped into the Yokomon Village. The village wasn't just the home to Yokomon though. It had been named after Yokomon the First, who according to legend, had been a great Sage to the Wise One of his time. It was because of this that so many Yokomon had flocked to such a place in great numbers and the place became a popular city, rather than a village. And to the dismay of the three teens, the city was very crowded today.

Gomamon let out a frustrated sigh as the trio came to a halt. "Why does this place have to attract so many tourists!?"

"Don't worry about it, just go get your stuff." Lillymon ordered already heading off in the direction of her house. "I'll meet you guys back at the castle!" Gomamon and Biyomon nodded at each other before setting off to their own homes in great anticipation of the events to come.

~*~

Gennai made his way up the winding staircase to where Wizardmon's chambers were. He suspected his advisor was still sound asleep, especially after the events of the night before. He hadn't seen Wizardmon use some of those attacks since he was a child and suspected that they were of some powerful magic. Even so, Wizardmon was not one to rise early and would probably use any excuse for a little extra sleep.

Gennai rapped on his guardian's door a few times before it opened. There stood a grumpy looking Wizardmon who obviously had just rolled out of bed. Gennai smiled amused. "Good morning." He said.

Wizardmon yawned and allowed the young Wise One to enter his chambers. The room was scarce of any sign of it being lived in and Wizardmon's baggage was lined up against the wall closest to the door. "Packed late last evening I see." Noted Gennai as his advisor dressed.

"Well, you know I'm not one for manual labor in the wee hours of the morning." Wizardmon yawned, straightening his robe. Gennai chuckled a little, but said no more on the subject.

"We're having six more people accompanying us on our journey back." Gennai told.

"Six!?" Wizardmon exclaimed. "How did we go from two to six?!"

"Well, there's the guy who claims to have information on Demidevimon, as well as his companion. Then there's my pathetic excuse for a cousin in his bowling ball form, as well as three curious teenagers who I found impostering as my Sages." Gennai explained.

"I can understand and allow the first three." Wizardmon said, now fully awake. "But I cannot allow, nor understand, the last three to accompany us."

Gennai frowned, but he had known Wizardmon would say this. "They're not going to do any harm to anyone except possibly 'Oh!' and 'Ah!' the splendors of the Northern Realm." Gennai replied amused by the image of the three teens doing such a thing. "Besides, I got a weird feeling like they're supposed to come..." He went on to add a little quieter.

"Well alright, but I have to meet them first." Wizardmon stated. "I'm permitting two others to come with us too after all."

"Angemon and Angewomon, right?" Gennai asked. His advisor nodded before muttering an incantation while flicking his hand in the direction of his suitcases. Suddenly the suitcases lifted themselves of the ground and made their way out the door of the room.

Gennai wasn't the least surprised by this having grown up with the man, but it appeared that several of the castle maids were for shrieks echoed throughout the hallways. Wizardmon chuckled as he picked up his staff and made his way to the door. Gennai shook his head entertained by his guardian's actions, and followed the man out of the room.

~*~

"I'm stuffed!" Exclaimed Agumon as he and Garurumon made their way out of the dining room. Agumon patted his belly, exaggerating how full he was. Garurumon rolled his eyes.

"Where exactly are we supposed to be going? Outside?" Garurumon asked his companion.

"Yup. That's where I was told to go." Agumon replied. The two teens exited the extravagant castle in silence.

Agumon had become accustomed to the silence in their relationship and he also knew that Garurumon was thankful that he didn't pry into his life. If he had something that was bothering him he would tell Agumon when he was ready. It didn't always stop the orange haired boy from chattering away and asking questions, but this was probably what made the two teenagers so compatible. One could fall silent while the other went on to talk not really looking for anything to be gained.

Upon opening the heavy doors sunshine poured into the drab darkness making the two boys squint. Garurumon shielded his eyes, scanning the area for the carriages that would be leaving for the Northern Realm.

"There." Garurumon pointed down a small hill.

"Let's go." Said Agumon with smile.

~*~

Angewomon and Angemon were already at the carriages when Gennai and Wizardmon arrived. The two angel humons were conversing with two others. Gennai recognized one of the others immediately. It was the one who said he knew something about Demidevimon. He looked well refreshed, but had few things to say. His companion on the other hand chatted contently with Angemon.

Gennai smiled noticing how similar the four were to one another. Angewomon and the teen with white and purple hair were more of the silent type compared to Angemon and the orange haired teen.

"Good morning everyone." Wizardmon spoke as we neared. The talk abruptly stopped as they in turn greeted the Wise One and his advisor.

"It is an honor to meet you Wise One." Spoke the aloof teen. Gennai had expected his voice to be somewhat gruff, but to his surprise it wasn't. It was actually gentle, but with a little edge to it. "My name is Garurumon. I was sent from the School of Martial Arts and Power Up Techniques

under Leomon's strict orders to give you information regarding Demidevimon and a few other choice topics."

Gennai nodded. "I understand. Once we get back to the Northern Realm an immediate council meeting will be in order. You can tell us of Leomon's finding then."

"Yes, sir." Garurumon nodded curtly.

"Are we all ready to go then?" Angemon asked cheerily.

"No, it appears that our three other visitors are late getting back..." Wizardmon noted. Angemon raised an eyebrow.

"Three others?"

"Wise One's invitation." Wizardmon explained before situating himself in one of the carriages. Angemon nodded looking about for any new comers.

"Ah, there they are." Gennai noted a moment later seeing three teenagers hurrying to the conveyance.

"Sorry.... We're... Late..." Gomamon said bending over to catch his breath. It was obvious the three had been running very hard.

"I'd say we're ready to go now." Said Gennai. "So, everyone chose a carriage and we'll be on our way."

~*~

The trip was hardly tedious as the carriages themselves were magnificent. They were much like a train, each connected to each other with sliding doors on either side of the small room that led out to a narrow aisle way. There were five rooms in total: One that the carriage engineers worked in (which was off limits to the passengers), two rooms for the Wise One's Sages, one room that held the Wise One, Wizardmon, Angewomon, and Angemon, and the last compartment was for the tourists whom had never set foot in the Northern Realm.

"Isn't this exciting?!" Lillymon exclaimed to her fellow passengers. "I never thought I'd leave File Island to go somewhere as extravagant as the Northern Realm!"

Garurumon was amused at the three friendly teens who accompanied him and Agumon, but at the same time rather shy. That was usually why he was so quiet, he was actually very shy. Being around groups of people who asked him questions and wanted his opinion on this and that was very new to him. Throughout the loner's life he had never really been accepted amongst his peers. Garurumon always knew there was something different about him that set him apart from others...

It bothered him at times, but he would find other things to think about to forget about the differentness he felt. As he sat amongst these four he felt inadequate in so many ways, yet at the same time... It was weird, but at the same time he felt as if he was accepted by them because they shared that differentness that he has been plagued by for all his life.

What that differentness was he didn't know.

"Hey you! Why are you so quiet!?" Demanded the red haired teen, Gomamon. "Do you think you're better than us or something?"

"Huh?" Asked a startled Garurumon. "N-no..."

Agumon laughed; Garurumon glared.

"Nah, he's just shy." Agumon went on to say in a more serious tone. "Actually, I think this is the first time in a long time that this many people have talked /to/ him."

Silence reigned amongst them for a moment while Garurumon glared at his supposed best friend, a slight blush creeping onto his cheeks.

"Is that true?" Quietly asked the girl with leafy green hair. Garurumon glanced at her to see a saddened face on the normally cheerful girl.

He shrugged, as if it was no big deal. "It doesn't matter."

"Don't let him fool you. This is actually a big ordeal for him." Agumon whispered with a wink.

Garurumon slapped him upside the head before continuing to stare out the window with a faint trace of a blush on his cheeks, leaving Agumon to glare at him while rubbing the sore spot on his head. Lillymon giggled a little before turning the topic of conversation back to the Northern Realm. This was much to Garurumon's relief. He never was one for the spotlight.

~*~

Someone was poking him. He could feel it at the far ends of his consciousness that it was time to wake up. He wasn't ready to however and decided to continue to seem immune to the prodding. A restless sigh escaped the person who had been poking the sleepy boy.

"Come on Gennai, don't make me use my staff..."

"I'm up!" Gennai shouted, opening his eyes quickly. His head had had one too many smacks within the last few days to last him a year at least. Wizardmon laughed, his violet orbs twinkling.

A small chuckle escaped Angemon's throat and he smiled amused at the young Wise One. "It appears we've arrived. The castle looks much bigger than I remember." The angel like humon said casting a gaze out the window.

"Oh, you used to visit?" Gennai asked straightening up in his seat, feeling embarrassed under Angewomon's disapproving stare.

The golden blonde nodded. "Yes, I used to quite often. My father's brother used to be a Sage for the great Azulongmon, who was distantly related to us in one way or another." The man looked thoughtful for a moment, "If that's the case then you and I are also related somehow."

"Perhaps, I'm sure the family history is recorded in the library." Wizardmon told the two before standing. "I'm going to let the noisy ones next door know we should be there in a few minutes."

Gennai nodded as his advisor left their compartment and suddenly found himself nervous in the presence of the two humons. Or maybe not them both; Angemon made Gennai feel a bit more welcome with his cheerful nature, but Angewomon was another matter. Gennai was told she was actually a very nice person, but it took time to understand her.

"Yeah, maybe, but does she have to be /this/ cold toward people?" Gennai thought, glancing at her from the corner of his eye.

She sat legs crossed, elbow propped on her knee, chin resting on her fist. She looked lost in thought, maybe even a bit depressed. Edgy the young Wise One may be within her presence, he couldn't help but be intrigued by her. She was exceedingly beautiful, but the intrigue went past that. There was just something about her. Something different...

A great deal of clapping and shouting startled him from his thoughts. He looked to the door as Wizardmon reappeared, rolling his eyes, muttering under his breath.

"Did you honestly /have/ to bring those other three with us?" Wizardmon asked Gennai with a sigh. "They'll cause a lot of ruckus at the castle, and with the circumstances at hand we can't afford to play baby-sitter."

Gennai frowned slightly. "Just... Just trust me on this one, okay?"

True, Gennai wasn't really sure exactly /why/ he decided to allow Gomamon, Biyomon, and the other one--Lillymon he thought her name to be-- to come along, but he just had this feeling. And try as he did, that feeling wouldn't leave him alone.

Wizardmon shook his head a little, but remained silent and sat down as the carriages made there way up to the castle gate.

When the carriages stopped at the gates it was no surprise to see a Sage waiting to escort the Wise One in. What was a surprise however was the Sage's age. He could be no older than the Wise One himself, perhaps even younger. You could tell right off the bat that he was a humon.

The first thing you noticed about him was that he had two, thin, light red antenna protruding from his head of spiky, light red hair. They moved around on their own accord too, as if tracing something. He was fairly short when compared to the other Sages (and the Wise One himself) and his cloths seemed a bit baggy. His skin was fairly light, a bit on the pinkish side, and he had big, lime green eyes full of wonder.

"I'm glad to see your safe return, Wise One sir." The humon greeted as Gennai stepped out of the carriage door, followed by Wizardmon. His voice was somewhat nasally and had a high pitch ring to it.

"Shouldn't you be in the laboratory?" Wizardmon asked with a stern look. The young Sage looked a bit indecisive before replying,

"Well, you see, I--"

"Don't tell me, let me guess." The tired advisor sighed. "You were kicked out of there again."

Half offended and half apologetic the boy nodded. "Yes, but you see I was onto something quite extraordinary--"

"As you always are." Wizardmon interrupted as the others who had accompanied him and Gennai pilled out of the carriages. At this remark the Sage gave a look of indignant hurt and shut up as the older man gave directions to the other Sages.

"Tentomon, is that you!?" Came a surprised squeal from behind Gennai. The teen turned around to see a wide eyed Lillymon gaping at his fresh-out-of-training Sage.

At his name the young Sage looked up from the ground and at the girl who spoke. She ran towards him, her leafy green hair bouncing as she did, and engulfed him in a hug that knocked him back a few steps. He flayed his arms, trying to steady himself and looked at the girl bewildered. Who the heck was she?!

"I can't believe it's you! It's been so long since I last heard from you! I thought something happened-- Why didn't you write me!?" The girl cried releasing the boy from her bone splitting hug with a look of confused fury on her face.

Tentomon blinked a few times before registering the girl's face. "L-Lillymon?"

"Who else did you think it was?" she yelled with her eyebrows furrowed from annoyance. "You didn't write me or anything! Then you end up as a Sage and not tell me! What's wrong with you!?"

Gomamon and Biyomon were baffled. Lillymon was usually a very calm, even slightly quiet, girl. To see her this angry and loud was surprising, though they had to admit it was amusing.

"Do you know this guy?" Gomamon asked Biyomon curious. Biyomon shook her head. "Then how does /she/ know him? We've all known each other for practically our whole lives! You'd think we'd know about this guy..."

Biyomon smiled and couldn't help but wonder if Gomamon was slightly jealous of the short red head. "Well, maybe she knows him from where she used to live."

"Maybe, but she's never mentioned him before." Gomamon said with a frown as Lillymon continued to rant at the poor Sage.

"I hate to interrupt, but perhaps you could finish this lover's quarrel at a later time." Wizardmon said with finality. Tentomon and Lillymon turned bright red and hastily backed away from one another. "Now, let's get settled in, shall we?"

Tentomon, regaining his composure, nodded, "If you'll follow me."

As everyone followed the red headed Sage up the mountain of steps leading to the castle, Garurumon couldn't help but stay behind and watch as the sun began to melt into the horizon of trees. He had made it to warn the Wise One as his teacher had instructed. He found himself unsure of the future events, but portrayed a mask of composure.

"Garurumon! Come on!" Agumon shouted atop of the steps as the others still walked steadfastly up them.

The aloof teen took one last glance at the setting sun before turning and walking towards the steps to join the others. He didn't know what lied ahead and what role he'd play in the future events, but he knew he had to be strong.

"Stand your ground and don't back down." Leomon had ordered him before his departure to File Island.

"Don't worry Master, I won't let you down." Garurumon vowed as he took the first step up to the castle.