Episode Ten: Play Time

*Wandering around.*

Spadamon: "You're gonne get more lost if you do that!"

Being total knobs and the forest changing sporadically much like IceDevimon's domain, they get more lost. Hunger and the forest's humidity begin taking its toll on them.

They blindly stumble into a section of the forest that is either incredibly dark due to the thick canopy above or they've been lost for so long, the sun has set. The only source of light comes from faintly glowing moss growing around the bases of the trees which echo with the sound of buzzing wings and the clicking of mandibles. Also cicadas.

*Biyomon creates a small flame and then looks around*

This either reveals the cold rainbow assortment of eyes watching them curiously or does a whole lot of nothing and the attack disturbs the forests inhabitants, the clicking and buzzing not stopping.

Taiyo grabs Euryale's hand, squeezing it. She squeezes even harder when a mess of thread shoots down from the canopy above and snatches up Aroma & Lilamon, the assailant quickly making its way deeper into the forest.

The buzzing and clicking cease, but the cicadas and staring eyes remain.

*Kylie screams*

<Aroma?>

*Eve checks her digivice for Aroma's signal while Cameron swears under his breath*

The signal is moving rapidly away from them. On another note, Roatha's is stationary some ways in the opposite direction, but I only say this to show I didn't forget about him.

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The last thing Aroma and Lilamon hear is the heavy scuttling of multiple sets of feet when they're dumped in some dank old cave. Much like the forest outside it's barely illumimated by faintly glowing moss growing on the rocks.

A hot, really gross gust of wind hits the two of them, damn near knocking them over followed by a deep raspy voice that sounds likes whomever it belongs to has been smoking for the last fourty years.

???: "Child of Purity, I apologize for any discomfort you two may have experienced during your trip. I have a favor to ask of you."

*They don't answer because they would be knocked out from the G forces required to pull this bullshit off. They begin to stir.*

A"Wh--what's going on?"
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E"What just happened?"

D<More nonsensical bullshit. Let's fly.>

Biyomon:<I think we need to eat first.>

Azuma: "I get nervous when people watch me eat."

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???: "My apologies. Dokugumon do not know when to handle things with care."

In front of Aroma appears an ethereal green glow as an [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.] appears and lights up the cave showing TyrantKabuterimon in all its terrifying stature.

TyrantKabuterimon: "I have a favor to ask of you."

*Aroma sits up & looks around like she's not sure what she's supposed to be looking at.*

A"Um...okay?"
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*He Digivolves, if possible.*

Terriermon:<Wait, what?>

*So do Terriermon and Biyomon*

Whole lot of nothing happens for reasons stated many times and in the case of Dorumon, his evolution battery is nowhere to be found.

Azuma: "We should continue on foot."

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TyrantKabuterimon: "There will come a time when a new keeper of the Plant-Insect DigiMemory must be chosen. But in order to do that, a successor must be deemed worthy."

The DigiMemory glows brighter, showing another figure behind TyrantKabuterimon.

TyrantKabuterimon: "Destroy the Lord of the Deep Forest who poisons the mind of all it comes into contact with."

"...What?"
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D<Well, there must be SOMETHING around here to eat!>

E"Shouldn't we be going that way?"

*She points to where Aroma was taken.*

Eve:<We must not forget about Roatha as well.>

Azuma: "So far none of these guys are hostile. Maybe they can help us with all of those things."

Azuma steps up to some shrubs where a set of eyes stare coldly at them.

Azuma: "Hello....?"

The set turns into many as a KoDokugumon pops out and shrieks like one of those hissing bastard spiders, Azuma falling backwards in both surprise and fear.

Azuma: "Not this one, not this one, not this one."

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The second form moves in closer the light of the DigiMemory showing it to be AncientBeetlemon, TyrantKabuterimon backing up somewhat.

AncientBeetle: "Perhaps you should explain your request further. We can't just expect her to fell one of Puppetmon's minions without a little background. She's not nearly as boisturous as some of the others."

TyrantKabuterimon: "Yes, Ancient One. The Lord of the Deep Forest is an invasive Digimon. It appears in the realms of others and uses its abilities to poison their minds, altering it beyond recognition. One of the Chosen Children has already fallen prey to it not including others within the realms of myself and Ornismon. It is Baihumon's will that the DigiMemory be safeguarded by someone that can be trusted to lord over the forests in a just manner. Showing compassion to those that do not mean to harm the forest and exacting justice on those who oppose that."

"Uh, I don't know what a--Deep Lord or a DigiMemory is, but I think you have the wrong girl. Euryale is the knight."

*She twists her finger through a lock of her hair.*

"You were probably confused because we both have red hair. But she's this tall--"

*Holds Lalamon above her head.*

"And dark, and sexy, and--you should probably--forget I said that--last part."

*She hides her face behind Lalamon as it grows red. Lalamon waves at them timidly.*

L<(Psst! Aroma! You know these are giant bugs, right?)>

"(What?! I just thought they were some of those Royal Knights, in really fancy armor!)"
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E"...Oh yeah."

*Euryale raises her fists like she's going to kickbox the spider. Guilmon slumps low & growls at it with his ears back. Dorumon flips it off.*

Kylie:<Hi there!>

*She waves at the spider*

Azuma rolls away from it as the KoDokugumon scitters away still shrieking like a damn banshee.

Azuma: "Someone else try talking to them."

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TyrantKabuterimon: "A Royal Knight has no business possessing a DigiMemory that it no affiliation with nor does a Knight have any business lording over any one domain. The duty of the Royal Knights is to protect the entirety of the Digital World."

E"What do you want me to do? Click my mandibles & show off my swollen thorax?"
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"(They know we're talking about them! Are they going to try to eat us?)"

L<(I don't know!)>

Terriermon:<No one here is a spider.>

Azuma: "Most things speak like we do."

At that point a trio of JewelBeemon drop down around them.

JewelBeemon 1: "I wouldn't go that far. Even some of the more primal inhabitants of this domain are much more well versed than you lot."

Salamon: "Are you just here to insult us?"

JewelBeemon 2: "Nay, young one. The King of Bugs requires the assistance of one of your own and it would reflect quite poorly on our lord if her allies were to fall in this domain."

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AncientBeetle leans closer to TyrantKabuterimon speaking in some insect tounge. TyrantKabuterimon responds in a similar manner before AncientBeetlemon moves deeper into the cave.

TyrantKabuterimon: "Will you lend me your assistance or not?"

"(That means we won't be eaten, right?)"

L<(We can't do anything for them if we're eaten, so I guess we're safe for now.)>

"(Okay. Do you know what we're supposed to do?)"

L<(Something involving a DigiMemory & I think you said Euryale was involved...I don't know, there were a lot of references I didn't understand?)>

"Uh, we'll take the job, Mr. uh Bug King, but...do you have...maybe...a bulleted list of what you want us to do...? Or something?"

*She grins sheepishly. Lalamon maneuvers her stubby arms over her mouth & clicks them like pincers.*
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*Euryale steps forward, glaring at them coldly.*

E"And what EXACTLY are you doing with Aroma? And if you're spying on us, where's Roatha?!"

Eve:<Was he taken by the king as well?>

Terriermon:<Do you have any food?>

*Eve glares at him*

<Once we eat, we can digivolve.>

JewelBeemon 2: "Our Lord requires the assistance of her and a descendant of AncientTrojamon. No harm will come to them from our end."

JewelBeemon 3: "And we are here to assist you."

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TyrantKabuterimon: "It is a simple task, find the Lord of the Deep Forest and destroy it."

A"Okay...what's he look like? Is it Puppetmon?"
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*Euryale turns slightly & crosses her arms, but still eyes them warily.*

E"Alright. Let's say I trust you. You can help us by telling us where our friends are."

G<The food sounds nice, too.>