DREAMCAST

by: Dol Daughter of Light

~Tekeru~Hikari~Taichi~Yamato~Sora~Mimi~Joe~ ~Izzy~











"This is a good place for camp." Tai said. The digidestined and digimon were in a clearing, next to a stream and the forest. The sun was starting to set, and the group was pretty tired.

"Good. My feet hurt." Mimi whined. "You wouldn't believe these designer boots have no support."

"Oh Mimi." Palmon sighed. They quickly made a fire and gathered ferns for beds. Kari and TK were already struggling to stay awake, though they were fighting it pretty well. Matt couldn't help but chuckle.

"Okay. Let's get some sleep. It's been a long day." Gomamon yawned. Joe picked him up and settled down with the digimon on his lap. They sighed contently.

"Hear that. Sleep." Matt said to TK and Patamon. TK yawned.

"I'm not tired." He said.

"Sleep." Matt repeated. TK Layed down, Patamon curling up on his shoulder. Kari layed beside him, their backs touching. Gatomon lied beside her. Tai looked at them for a bit, then he to laid down. The group soon were in deep, ever-so-needed, sleeps. Gabumon blew out the fire, and settled beside Matt.

Matt woke. He was in a weird place, like a room made entirely of white light.

"Where am I?" He asked the empty room. His voice echoed.

"Matt?" A familiar voice asked. A figure stepped out of the light.

"Tai, it's you." Matt stated.

"I think it's me. Where are we?" Matt shrugged. Mist was rolling out and into view, and the air was stale and chilly. "Can we say weird?"

"Si." Matt agreed. They walked aimlessly, coming to a dead end, a cliff. Total drop of, in which you couldn't see whatever was below.

"Hello?" A voice asked.

"Helloooo?" Another chimed. "I don't think anyone is here."

"Someone hasta' be." The other voice answered. The boys recognized the voices instantly. It wasn't the company they were expecting, but it was a little relief to not be alone.

"TK? Where are you?!" Matt asked.

"Kari?" Tai echoed.

"Matt?" TK asked. Their voices were kind of faint, Tai noticed. "Told ya we weren't by ourselves."

"Where are you guys?" Kari asked. "Where's every one else?"

"Stay where you are. We'll come to you." Tai shouted. He and Matt started walking in the direction of the voices.

"Don't worry Kari. We'll find them soon, or they'll find-Aahh!" TK suddenly screamed.

"TK!" Kari saw why. He had walked over the edge of a cliff, and was hanging on for dear life. "Hold on, TK!" She grabbed his hands and pulled him. He was heavy, but the small girl managed to pull him to safety. They sat there, panting, their hands on each other's shoulders. The looked over the edge, seeing it was a long, long way down. They looked at each other.

"That was close." Kari commented.

"Guys, what happened? Are you all right?" Matt's voice rang out.

"Answer us!" Tai added.

"We're okay." TK answered. "But hurry up and find us!"

"We're next to a cliff." Kari added. There was a large sound behind them. Both children turned. There stood the weirdest thing they had ever saw.

"Ew." TK said under his breath. It was tall, slimy, and had no eyes at all. Green hair covered the slime in some places, others it wasn't. On top of that, it smelled awful. Kari pulled TK back, stopping at the edge of the cliff. "What is it?" TK asked. Kari shrugged, standing at his side. The creature stepped closer.

"Boy, they sleep like logs." Patamon commented, indicating TK and Kari. They were still asleep, and the sun had been up for at least four hours.

"Really." Sora agreed. "Matt and Tai, too." She sighed. "They usually don't sleep this long. Heck, Mimi was up before them."

"Don't worry so much, Sora." Biyomon told her companion.

"Sorry Biyo. Old habit, I guess." Sora laughed.

"Well, I'm going for a swim. If their going to sleep all day, that's their choice." Gomamon declared, jumping into the stream, splashing Joe.

"Gomamon!" Joe yelled. They had a splashing war, Izzy and Tentomon getting hit. Both the ten year old and digimon attacked Joe and Gomamon with water. Sora and Biyo laughed at the sight. Mimi ran out of the way, not wanting to mess up her hair. Agumon and Gabumon returned from their search for food, and had piles of leaves and berries. They sat them down.

"They're still sleeping?" Agumon asked.

"Oh. If Matt doesn't get up soon, I'll get him up myself." Gabumon grumbled to himself. They sat next to the fading fire. Sora got up.

"Come on Biyo . Let's walk around." She said. Biyomon nodded and they walked into the woods. It was a beautiful day, and the air was crisp and cool.

"Wow, it is beautiful out, huh Sora?" Biyomon asked.

"Yeah." Sora agreed. "This reminds me of the park, near where Tai and some of the others live. I wish we were home now." A hint of sadness was in her voice.

"I'm sure you will get home, somehow." Biyo reassured. "I'll miss you, though."

"Oh Biyo, I'll always remember you." Sora said, feeling bad. "But we're here now and I'm happy." Suddenly there was shouting in the direction of camp, and they weren't because of a water fight. Both of them ran down to the camp, skidding into the clearing.

"What is it?" Biyomon demanded.

Matt and Tai were still asleep, but Kari and TK totally not. TK was pale and silent, Kari was covering her ears. Izzy was kneeling beside her, his hand on her shoulder.

"What is wrong?" He asked. Sora came into the clearing with Biyomon.

"What is it ?" Biyomon demanded. TK remained silent, swallowing. Kari uncovered her ears slowly.

"It was-was a dream?" She whispered. Izzy nodded, and Gatomon put her furry paw on the small girl's arm. "No, a nightmare."

"Come on Kari, it was just a dream." Joe told her. Gomamon noticed the group and exited the water.

"What's up?" He asked. Patamon hovered over TK's head, watching. Kari shook her head, and TK remained as silent as ever. No one really noticed him as they soothed the frightened Kari. He was fighting the urge to cry, and the urge to talk about how scared he had been seconds ago.

"She had a nightmare." Tentomon explained. Matt sat up abruptly, followed by Tai. Matt shook his head and Tai stood up.

"Finally, you guys have decided to join the living." Agumon commented.

"Sorry." Matt grumbled. The weird dream was fading quickly. Kari looked down at the dirt, embarrassed that she was causing such a fuss over a nightmare.

"You okay?" Gatomon asked her.

"Yeah, silly. I'm fine." She answered, giving her warmest smile.

"Okay. Since we slept in, we better get moving." Tai said, groggy and shaky. The whole group got up, getting ready to move out. TK sighed, getting up. Patamon noticed he was being awfully quiet. Patamon landed on his head.

"TK," He asked. "What's a nightmare?"

"A nightmare is where you go when you sleep. Like a different world, I guess. Nightmares are when bad things happen in the dream place." TK explained. "Don't you dream?" He asked.

"I think so." Patamon quirked. They trailed behind the group by a few feet. "Is dreaming normal?" He asked after a few minutes.

"Yeah, at least for us. I think everyone dreams." He answered. Patamon nodded, and started to fly ahead, in loops around the group. Then he stopped. Something was wrong. The digimon could feel it. He took a sharp turn back, and saw as TK fall to his knees, his hands pressed to the ground. He flew toward him, and landed beside him.

"TK!" He exclaimed. The others were to far ahead to hear.

"It's all right, Patamon." TK reassured. "It was just a dizzy spell."

"TK, are you sure? You don't fall for no reason." Patamon asked. In real life, TK didn't really know what had happened. All he remembered was falling down.

"I'm fine. We better catch up." They began to jog till they were closer to the group. The forest had stopped, and they were standing in front of a shakey-looking rope bridge. Matt looked back, making sure TK hadn't fallen behind.

"TK, what's a 'dizzy spell'?" Patamon asked.

"I'll tell you after." TK answered tersely. Matt heard, but brushed it as one of Patamon's normal questions.

"We have to cross that?" Palmon asked.

"Well, it's the only way across." Tai replied.

"It's rather high up." Izzy commented. He looked down the side, down at a tiny stream. "And a long way down."

"Well, I guess we have to take it." Sora informed. "Come on." She mounted the thin rope, her hands holding the two 'railings'. Biyomon watched closely. The others watched till she was about one third across, then Tai started, followed by Agumon. Gatomon, Kari, Izzy, Joe, Matt, Gomamon and Gabumon followed, TK a little bit farther back. Patamon, Tentomon, and Biyomon watched the group closely, incase someone lost balance.

Sora jumped onto land. She sighed in relief, then turned back to help the others. She took Tai's hand, helping him.

"Oh man, it's a high way up." Joe grumbled. Gomamon who was ahead of him, stopped. "What is it, Gomamon?"

"The rope. Look." The digimon answered. It was starting to fray, and about twenty or thirty strings were left.

"Oh no." Joe moaned. "GO!"

"What is it Joe?" Tai yelled, reaching to help Gatomon on to the land.

"The rope is fraying!" He answered. Tai's jaw dropped.

"Hurry!" Sora yelled. The seven remaining of the group traveled at a feverish pace, but kept as careful as possible. Kari and Gatomon were pulled to safety, and Joe and Gomamon close behind. Matt stopped, looking back.

"Hurry up, TK." Matt urged. He started again. The bridge swayed a little at their speed. Joe grabbed Gomamon and jumped onto the edge. Gabumon and Matt did the same, and they turned to TK. He was hurrying, but still was a good twelve feet from the land.

"Hurry TK!" Patamon yelled. The boy obeyed, and as the bridge began to fall, he took a leap of almost four feet. He was caught by Matt and Joe, who fell to the ground at his weight. They watched as the bridge fell apart, slamming the sides of the ravine with a defiant clap.

"That was close." Matt panted. "TK, are you okay?" The boy nodded feverishly.

"Remind me to never do that again." Joe stated. After the shock faded, the digidestined began to travel once again. The forest became more dense as they walked. TK sighed, and Kari slowed to his side. Their brothers looked back at them, and continued walking.

"TK, you've been acting quiet all day. What's wrong?" She asked, sincerely worried.

"Nothing, Kari." He lied. He was nervous about the nightmare he had that night, and how he hurt where it he was injured in the dream.

"Your lying." She replied.

"Am not."

"Don't start fighting." Sora called. She was happy that they were acting like normal kids their age, but she didn't want any fighting.

"We weren't." TK answered. An uneasy silence fell over them. They pretended to be interested in their surroundings. Patamon landed on TK's head. The boy strained at the added weight, ignoring the pain he believed was only in memory.

"TK, what is it?" Kari repeated. He shook his head no. She felt he was lying, and that something was really wrong. Not knowing what to do, she remained silent beside him.

At noon, they stopped and ate at a quiet clearing. TK didn't eat anything, which Matt found odd. He usually is always was hungry. But he didn't pry. Both TK and Kari had been touchy about their independence lately.

"Okay, let's get going." They started again, chatting quietly. This time TK was in the lead, Kari beside him, the older kids taking their sweet time. Patamon flew ahead, scouting. Sora noticed TK's back-pack was red on the bottom, instead of the plastic green. She shook her head, thinking she was seeing things. It was still red, actually a crimson. It's mud, she told herself.

TK was getting weaker. The 'dream' pain was getting worse, and he was so tired. All he wanted to do was sleep. But he was too scared to sleep, and didn't want to whine to the others. He really didn't feel well. He stopped, leaning against a tree. Kari stood at his side.

"What's wrong?" She whispered.

"I don't know." He answered in an equal tone. He couldn't help but tell someone.

"Guys, what are you doing?" They looked up. Sora stood behind them, hands on her hips. The others also were starring. They gave each other looks. TK was desperate to not be a problem, and Kari could tell.

"Nothing." She said meekly. TK stood up, and they began walking again. Sora shrugged.

"Their either up to something, or hiding something." Tai said to the others. Gatomon nodded.

"I'll go see if I can figure it out." She volunteered. She ran up to the two children, Patamon following. They wanted to know what their companions were doing, and wondering why they were hiding it in the first place.

"TK! Wait up." Patamon called. He landed on his head, his usually perch. TK flinched slightly.

"What are you guys up to?" Gatomon purred. Kari sighed. "Come on Kari, I won't tell."

"Me either." Patamon pipped. The children slowed their pace, their stamina breaking.

"Well. . .. . . . .." Kari started. "TK, are you sure?"

"Hmm-hmm." He answered. "I don't know what's wrong though." He explained about the dream, and how it was effecting him. Gatomon and Patamon shrugged, not really understanding.

"Don't tell the others." He added. "You gave your word."

"But what if something is really wrong?" Kari asked. "You might get sick again."

"I haven't been sick for almost four weeks." He replied. "I won't get sick again."

"TK, how do you know?" Patamon asked. Patamon and Gatomon were the most immature out the group in their rookie stage, and didn't really have mature judgement. "I don't want you to get hurt."

"I won't. I hope it's just me." He answered. They started to walk quickly again. Matt and Tai gave them a suspicious stare, then glanced at each other. When their siblings are involved, both Matt and Tai are over protective. Call it brotherly intuition.

"I hope whatever their hiding won't get them into trouble." Matt said under his breath. As if to answer him, TK fell to his hands and knees. That was enough for Kari. She had to tell now. TK didn't get up this time. The others ran over. Matt kneeled beside his brother, resting his hand on the boy's back. He slowly lifted his hand to his face. Blood covered his palm.

"Oh my god, what is that?" Mimi asked. She knew the answer, but prayed she was wrong.

"TK, what happened? When did it happen?" Tai asked in a soothing voice, not wanting to scare him. He didn't answer, just breathed deeply. His hair hung down, covering his face. Kari kneeled beside him, opposite of Matt.

"He said it started this morning." She told them. "When we woke up." Her eyes were wide with fear. "He said he did it in the nightmare. It was the same one I had."

"TK, why didn't you tell us?" Sora asked. The boy slowly slid off his back pack, exposing his blood covered back. They gaped at it.

"I didn't know." He whispered. "I-it really hurts."

"Oh TK, this is why you were quiet all day." Kari said softly. She placed her hand on his, on her hands and knees beside her companion.

"Oh, Tekeru." Matt whispered. They pulled him to his feet and lead him into the woods a little ways, Mimi, Kari, and Sora staying on the path with their digimon.

The boys helped TK with his shirt. Across his back was three long, clean cuts, as if done carefully with a razor blade. He flinched as Joe and Izzy carefully tried to clean them, as Matt, Tai, and the digimon tried to keep him calm.

"Hang on, TK." Gabumon said calmly.

"I didn't want to be a problem." TK repeated. Sweat rolled down his forehead, flinching in pain.

"Next time your hurt, tell us." Tai emphasized. "I don't care if we get frustrated, I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Guys, it looks pretty gruesome." Izzy stated. Matt continued to squeeze his brother's arm, as the others moved around to TK's back. His back had stopped bleeding, but was red and vibrating with heat. The cuts looked as if they would split if he moved too much.

"Oh TK," Tai sighed. He knew the little boy had been in pain all day, and didn't say anything. If cuts those size, on a boy that size, get infected, there was a chance he'd die. Joe gently wiped the boys back.

"Aa-mmh." TK stifled a cry. Patamon nuzzled against his leg.

Tai returned to the girls, holding TK's bloody shirt. Kari was sitting, holding her knees. She looked up at her brother, dim-eyed.

"What is it?" Mimi asked.

"We don't know. Three marks on his back, diagonally across." He answered. He handed Mimi the shirt, asking her to take Kari down to the river to wash it. They left with their digimon. He turned to Sora.

"We're making camp over there. We can't chance moving him." He said softly. "An infection would kill him. We can't let him die." Sora placed her hand on his shoulder. "He said he didn't want to be a bother. It happened this morning, and he didn't tell because he didn't want to agitate us."

"Tai, he-he'll be okay." She tried to reassure. She wasn't sure at all.

"Both Kari and TK had the same dream. They didn't tell anyone, because they didn't want to bother us. We're the ones who are supposed to take care of them, their not supposed to take care of us." He said, kinda angry, mostly sad. "Their under five feet tall, and their trying to take care of us. TK might die, just like Kari almost did when we were fighting the Dark Masters."

"He is not going to die." Sora said sternly. "He didn't when Perromon attacked him, he didn't when Devimon went after him. He won't now."

"But, there's always a chance." Tai answered. "He's still a little kid." Kari walked over, and handed the damp shirt to her brother. Her eyes were empty, afraid. What if TK really get's sick and dies?, she asked herself. He can't die, can he? He's littler than me.

"Thanks, Kari." Tai gave Sora a glance and walked into the woods. Agumon met him, and they walked together.

"TK can't die now, can he? I mean, after all we've been threw?" Kari asked softly. Sora looked down at her.

"He won't die, Kari. We'll make sure of that." She answered.

TK was slowly getting worse. He caught a fever, and his back seemed to get redder and redder. They had to force him into eating, and he didn't want to sleep at all.

"Come on, TK." Patamon encouraged. "You need to sleep."

"I'm not tired. Hmm." TK answered, trying to sit up. Matt had him lay back down.

"You don't want your back to split, so stay laying down." His brother informed.

Night was coming, and the air was getting colder. TK's shirt was still wet, so they had it hanging over the fire to dry. Kari sat next to TK, wide awake and unwilling to leave her friend's side.

Izzy and Tentomon were sitting on a log near the fire. Izzy sighed, trying to figure out what had happened.

"He doesn't want to sleep, and neither does Kari. Both she, TK, Matt, and Tai slept in a lot later than usual, and Kari woke up at a nightmare. Maybe it wasn't Kari that woke TK, it was the nightmare that woke him, and he just didn't complain." Izzy listed aloud.

"But, Izzy, what does that mean?" Tentomon asked. Izzy snapped his fingers. He walked over to the weak boy.

"TK, can I see you digivice?" He asked. TK nodded, pointing his book bag. He slid it off and popped it into his laptop. A various assortment of digimon facts came up on at least thirty digimon. Izzy went from one to another, looking for any unfamiliar one. Finally he found one.

"Hangsamon?" Izzy said aloud. "A digimon with three metalchrome claws on each arm. In a permanent bad mood, few have survived an encounter." He sighed. Is this the one? he asked himself. The chrome claws match TK's injury. An image of the Hangsamon striking TK entered his mind. He shuddered in return. He could barely picture little TK being struck.

"Kari," He asked. She looked up from TK. He waved her over. She took a seat beside him, close enough to feel his body heat. "Is this the digimon from your dream?" She looked at the monitor. After a few seconds she shuddered.

"Yeah. How'd you find him?" She asked slowly.

"I got it from TK's digivice." Izzy sighed slowly. "It wasn't a nightmare. It was something else."

"What?" Kari asked. A cold sweat slid down her spine. She grasped her crest tightly, a habit.

"Don't be scared." Izzy told her. "It's just a theory." Kari nodded, and returned to TK's side. TK looked at her, his bare skin sweating. She tried to smile bravely.

"What is it Kari?" He asked, seeing threw her mock bravery.

"Nothing. Just worried." She told him. He sighed, wheezing.

"Don't worry." He told her. "It won't. ." He stopped, flinching. Matt saw and walked over.

"TK, bro, you should sleep." He coaxed. "It'll help a lot." TK shook his head no. Matt sighed, scared. TK was his little brother, and he really loved him. It killed him, seeing TK in so much pain.

"It's getting late. Both you and Kari should get some sleep." Tai agreed.

"I'm not tired." TK whined. Tai noticed both him and Kari were a little tense. It was weird, considering they were usually happy-go-lucky. He sat next to the two of them and sighed. Matt was tense too. So was Sora-everyone was. They all were stressed over TK. He already felt guilty that he told in the first place, so what if he does something stupid? Tai thought. Most likely he'll get hurt. TK wheezed, and Kari looked frightened. Tai placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Is he supposed to wheeze like that?" Gomamon asked. Joe shook his head no. The digimon were more curious than worried, not really comprehending. Matt wiped the sweat from TK's forehead, sighing. He felt guilty, that he should have been watching his brother more carefully.

"When will he stop being 'sick', Sora?" Biyomon asked, looking up at her.

"Depends on how sick he is." Sora answered. She had her hands on her hips, starring at the ailing boy. He was staring at the sky, trying to ignore the pain, and wasn't doing it very good.

Patamon sat beside him, close to Matt's side. He was confused and unsure. TK had gotten sick a couple times, but never this bad. What was a digimon to do?

Sora pulled her hat of her head, letting her hair hang loosely. Sighing, she went to get some water from a near by stream.

The moon was full and if reflected from the water beautifully. The air was still, and it was surprisingly calm on the water. Sora dipped the hat into the cold water. Once it was full, she started to head back. Suddenly, she became dizzy. Really dizzy. . .

"Have you seen Sora?" Biyomon asked Tai. "She went to get some water, and I don't know if she came back yet." Tai shook his head.

"No. When did she leave?" He asked.

"About twenty minutes ago." Tai looked over at Kari and TK. They had lost their battle with sleep, and were almost on top of each other. Matt also had fallen asleep, and was beside them. Joe and Gomamon were asleep next to the tree, and Izzy and Tentomon were about twenty feet from them, asleep. Gabumon, Agumon, Gatomon, and Patamon were watching the sleepers.

"I'll go look for her." Tai told the worried digimon.

"I'm coming too." Biyomon pipped, following Tai. The walked down to the stream. It was vacant, except a blue object floated in the water. Tai pulled it out. Sora's hat.

"Sora!!" He shouted. "Sora!?"

"Sora, come out!" Biyomon echoed. The water rippled at their voices. Tai's heart began to pound. "Tai, over here!" He ran over. At his feet, Sora appeared unconscious, and her side was blood soaked. Tai's palms began to sweat.

"Biyomon, go get the others. Get them over here quick." Tai said tersely. The digimon took off. Tai kneeled beside her. "Sora, Sora, wake up!" He stated. He shook her slightly. She groaned, blinking open her eyes. She groaned softly. "Sora, are you okay?" He asked.

"Where am I? Oh, my side." She answered groggily. She looked up at him, confused. "What happened?"

"I don't know. Hold on, Sora." He answered, placing his hand on her arm. Joe, Izzy, and Matt arrived with their digimon. Mimi watched with a torch for light.

"What happened?" Izzy asked. They ran over and saw Sora. "Whoa."

"What happened?" Mimi asked. She squeezed Sora's hand, then shooed the boys away. Amazingly, she was able to check the cuts without shrieking at the sight of blood. Three clean incisions, diagonal. They were small, but bled a lot. Mimi wrapped them and called the boys over.

"There's three cuts on her side, about four inches. Their diagonal and pretty deep. And may I say it was gross." Mimi informed.

"What happened, Sora?" Biyomon asked her best-friend.

"I don't know." Sora stammered. "I just remember getting really dizzy." She stood up, wobbly. Tai put his hand on her shoulder, steadying her. "And a weird dream." Her voice was foggy. Izzy smacked his forehead.

"You really shouldn't do that." Tentomon told him. Izzy pulled out his laptop and asked for Sora digivice. He placed it in the adapter, and sorted threw the digimon, till he reached the one he was looking for: Hangsamon.

"Sora, was this guy in your dream?" Izzy asked. She nodded.

"Yeah. He swiped me." She answered, "How'd you know?"

"TK saw the same digimon in his nightmare. Same with Kari." Izzy explained. "Tai, Matt, come and take a look at this." The boys walked over and looked at the screen.

"Da ja vu." Matt mumbled.

"That guy was in my dream last night." Tai stated. "Come to think of it, so was Matt, Kari, and TK."

"Ditto." Matt agreed.

"Kari and TK were in my dream." Sora stated. They looked at each other.

"If they're still asleep, who knows what could be going on." Izzy stated. "That's why they wouldn't go to sleep!" Izzy concluded. Matt and Tai looked at one another, and took off for camp, followed by their digimon. The others helped Sora along.

"Patamon! Wake up TK and Kari!" Matt yelled.

"Gatomon, wake up Kari!" Tai repeated. They skidded into the opening, and found a battle in place of the peaceful camp. Angewoman and Angemon were fighting a Kuagumon. It growled ferociously as Angemon threw his Hand Of Fait at it. Agumon quickly digivolved to Greymon and joined the battle. Kuagumon was history. The digimon returned to normal. Matt caught Patamon, and with a leap, Tai caught Gatomon.

"Where's Kari and TK?" Tai asked her.

"Oh, they're over there, still sleeping." Gatomon purred. Tai sat her down and walked over as Agumon filled her and Patamon in on their discovery.

"Kari, wake up. Come on Kari." Tai encouraged his sister softly. He turned to TK. "TK, buddy, wake up." Kari sat up, groggy.

"Oh. What is it Tai?" She asked. Good, now for TK, Tai thought.

"TK, wake up. Wake up, buddy. Come on, TK!" Matt came to his side. "He won't wake up." Tai informed.

"Come on, TK. Wake up. TK?" Matt told his little brother, gently shaking him. "Please, TK, get up!" Then, in a lower voice. "Tai, this isn't working."

"This is bad." Tai said in an equal tone. "Tekeru, wake up!!" No response. TK continued to lay lifeless, breathing heavily.

"Guys?" Kari asked. Tai looked over. She held up her hand, which was burned in the centre of the palm. "What's happening?"

"Kari," Tai gave the unconscious TK a look, and then his sister. He didn't know what to do.

"Go on." Matt told him. "TK, come on, wake up." His tone was shaky. Tai lead his sister to the stream, passing the others. He told them to head back to camp, quick.

"Come on." Tai lead her to the water's edge, and dipped her hand in the water. She inhaled, quickly as their digimon arrived.

"Hey, you go, we go." Agumon stated.

"Soory." Tai mumbled. Kari looked away, trying to not shake her hand. The blister looked incredibly painful.

"Come on, we need to get back to camp and bandage this up." Tai stated. Agumon suddenly froze. "What is it, Agumon?"

"Someone. . . .close by." Agumon said, sniffing the air. Gatomon gave the air a dainty sniff.

"He's right." She agreed.

"Take Kari back to camp." Tai ordered.

"No, Tai, I'm going with you." Kari stated. Tai looked down at her. He knew from the look on her face she wasn't about to take no for an answer. "I'm going with you. I want to know who's playing with us."

"Kari," He started. Suddenly, Joe and Izzy, and their digimon stepped into the clearing.

"You guys better get back to camp." Joe stated, his tone more worried than usual. Tentomon and Gomamon quickly picked up the scent of the intruder, but didn't say anything. "TK...." His words trailed off. Tai knew it was serious, and the four of them headed back to camp.

"Where'd everyone go?!" TK shouted. The white light room was empty, and everyone, including the bad digimon, had disappeared. He was all by himself. His back seemed to be better, but he knew it was swollen. His crest and digivice had disappeared, and his shirt was also missing. "Hello?" His voice echoed against the walls.

Scared, he sat against the wall. The silence seemed to ring in his ears in triumph. "Where is everyone?"

"Come on, TK." Mimi said tearfully. The boy seemed to be in a coma, he just wouldn't wake up. Kari and Sora knew what it was like in the 'dream world', and it wasn't fun. Kari regretted being woke up. "Please, TK."

"Mimi." Sora sat her hand on her shoulder. Matt kept his emotions hidden, but kept by his brother's side. Kari stood back, acting as if he would hurt the others if she got too close. TK was out, looking like he was in a deep sleep. His back was red, and hot. Sora side looked similar, but smaller.

"Don't worry. I'm sure he'll wake up soon." Joe tried to sound confident, though he wasn't. Patamon sighed, sitting on Matt's head, flattening the wild blond hair.

"This is boring." TK said aloud, sick of the silence. He looked down at his feet. Suddenly a cold wind swept over him. He looked up at a familiar form. "Izzy?"

"Where are we?" He asked. Then it dawned in him. "I'm asleep, aren't I?"

"I don't think so." TK answered. "You look awake."

"Oy. This is amazing." Izzy took out his laptop and began to type. Another wind ripped into the room. Hangsamon suddenly appeared.

"Izzy?" TK started.

"Not now, TK!" Izzy snapped.

"Yes NOW, Look!" TK shouted. He looked up, straight into the face of the fowl digimon.

"Uh-oh."

It go even later, and even darker. TK still slept, and the digimon and digidestined struggled to stay awake, especially Kari and Izzy, the youngest.

"We should pair up, it'll be easier to keep each other awake." Sora suggested.

"I'll go with Kari." Tai stated. He looked down at little TK. "I guess we'll have a group of three."

"I'll go with Mimi." Sora offered.

"Then I'll go with Joe, Mimi, and TK." Matt concluded. They paired off, then realized something.

"Mimi is in two places. So someone is missing." Sora realized. "Izzy." She and Matt looked over the group. "He's gone."

"Where could he be? He wouldn't leave camp, at least without Tentomon." Matt said, indicating the flying digimon that seemed to looking for something.

"I don't know. Joe, Tai, have you seen Izzy lately?"

" I saw him about fifteen minutes ago. He was typing next to the woods." Joe answered. "I told him to get closer. That's all I've seen him."

"I haven't seen him at all. Why?" Tai asked.

"He's missing." Tentomon had crept up on them. "Izzy's gone." The digimon's voice wobbled.

"We'll find him. We need to, before he falls asleep." Joe told him.

"Mimi, stay with Kari and TK. Keep her awake and encourage TK to wake up." Tai ordered. "Let's go."

"Izzy!" Matt shouted. He and Gabumon went into the woods in search. Tentomon went off in another direction, and Sora another. Tai headed down to the river, Agumon beside him.

"Izzy!" He shouted. "Izzy?"

"Where could he have gone?" Agumon asked. Tai shrugged. They reached the stream, which sparkled. They saw a familiar backpack next to the water's edge. Izzy's!

"Oh man, if his bag is here, where is Izzy?" Tai exclaimed. They ran over, picking up the bag. To Tai's dismay, the laptop was still in the bag. He never goes any where without it. "Izzy!!"

"Tai, look!" Agumon pointed to the closest clump of trees. A yellow light was coming from it. Cautiously, Tai walked over.

"Uh-oh." Izzy stated. He quickly backed up, pushing TK along. The digimon approached. "TK, I propose we run." TK didn't understand what he meant by propose, but he knew run.

"Let's go!!" They ran back, Izzy pushing TK. They came to a wall. "Uh-oh."

"We say that to much." Izzy grimaced. He turned and watched the approaching monster. They pressed to the wall.

"Him, again." TK stated. Izzy looked over at him, then the creature. Oh man, he thought. There's a chance I'll wake up, but he won't! He's still in a coma, At least I think.

The creature growled ferociously. It's claws were bigger than TK! It was a gross green, and smelled horrible. It swiped at them, hitting the wall. A huge piece came out of it. They ducked, TK being hit by debree.

"TK!!" Izzy cried.

"I'm okay!" He yelled. Then his eyes widened. "Izzy-LOOK OUT!" Izzy looked up, and ducked. The digimon's lower paw grazed his head with hard impact. "Izzy!"

"TK, stay back!!" Izzy yelled, holding his head.

"Oh-my-god, Izzy!" The boy was unconscious, his head turned far to the side, definitely not natural. A streak of blood was across his upper lip. His crest was glowing. Tai shook him, pulling him into the sitting position. Slowly, but surely, he woke up. His reddish-brown hair drooped, and he held his head loosely. "Izzy, come on, we need to get you back to camp." Tai got up, and pulled Izzy to his feet. He stood awkwardly for a few seconds, then began to fall. Tai quickly caught him. "C'mon. Your heavy."

With Tai's support, Izzy made it back to camp. He kept shaking his head, as if shaking away something.

"Izzy!" Sora saw them coming. She ran over, and helped with Izzy. Tentomon flew over.

"Oh, Izzy!" He cried. The ten year old seemed to be not understanding anything being said. His head was pounding, and it just wouldn't stop. They sat him on the ground near the fire.

"Izzy, come on. Answer me!" Tai shook his shoulders as the other's looked on. "Izzy!?" Suddenly, it was like he woke. He covered his ears for a few seconds, groaning. He looked up.

"Tai?" He asked. "Oh, my head. What happened?"

"He's okay!" Tai declared. "He's already asking questions." The other's smiled meekly. Kari sighed, struggling with her tiredness.

"My head is pounding. That was the weirdest thing. They're not dreams, they're something." Izzy mumbled to himself. Matt looked over at TK, who hadn't moved, or improved. Tai was still concerned for Izzy.

"Are you sure your okay?" He asked. Izzy nodded. Then shook his head. "Oh man, TK!" They gave him questioning looks. He explained the dream , and how he feared the little boy was in extreme danger. Patamon wings drooped in dismay, as Mimi held him in her arms. Kari looked over at her friend. How can he look so peaceful, yet be in so much trouble?, she asked herself.

"We need to wake him up somehow." Joe stated quietly. "I mean, we've been in worse fixes than this. It should be simple to wake him up."

"Oh, Joe." Gomamon stated. All fifteen sets of eyes focussed on TK, and the shadows the fire made on his pale flesh.

"This should work. If we sleep for over an hour, wake us up." Tai stated. Joe sighed.

"I can't believe I got the short grass." He stated.

The night had passes, and TK hadn't improved. So they drew grass on who would stay awake. Joe got a short, and so did Mimi. So their staying awake with their digimon.The rest are going to sleep, to hopefully 'save' TK.

"I guess we just get comfortable, and we'll fall asleep." Matt said, his voice already tired. Patamon had TK's crest , digivice, and shirt, for when they get there, where ever 'there' was.

They got comfortable, holding each other's hand(or paw). Slowly, each person dosed off.

"Whoah. Da Ja Vu." Sora commented. The white room was filled with the digidestined and digimon. Tk stood up, looking at them.

"Finally!" He exclaimed. "Where were you guys?" He and Matt hugged, then he quickly pulled his clothes on. After clipping his digivice to the belt of his bag, he gave Patamon a hug.

"Where have we been? Where have you been?" Biyomon asked him. Kari stood beside him, as if to make sure he wasn't going to disappear again. TK didn't mind at all. He had been lonely.

"So this is what 'Dreamland' looks like?" Tai asked.

"It isn't always like this." Tk, Sora, Kari, and Izzy stated in unison. The looked at each other and gave weak laughter.

"Sometimes it's scary. Like nightmare scary." Kari told her brother. TK nodded in agreement.

"Now that were here, now we need to get Joe and Mimi to wake us up." Izzy said calmly.

"They'd had better hurry, cause he'll come again." TK said softly.

"Who?" Tai asked.

"Hangsamon." He, Kari, Sora, and Izzy answered, this time solemn.

"Don't worry TK. I'll protect you." Patamon told him. He smiled, placing the digimon at his perch on the boy's hat. They waited silently, huddled together. Gatomon purred softly.

"Great. Now he's not going to come to make me a lier." TK puffed. Matt placed his hand on his brother's shoulder.

"As I've said before, you never know in a place like this." Kari told him. He took her hand, and tried to smile bravely.

"I think this room is made of light." Izzy stated. "The floor seems firm, but it still moves."

"Thanks for your insight, Izzy." Tai said sarcastically. "Joe and Mimi better wake us up. Soon." A cold wind blew over the group. TK looked up, and as he expected, there stood Hangsamon. He pulled on Matt's shirt.

"Whoa." Matt pulled TK back, and the digimon jumped infront of them.

"He smells." Tai commented.

"Hangsamon is the sewer dweller of nightmares." Agumon stated. "His three claws can slice threw anything."

Hangsamon let out a ferocious growl. The kids uttered cries of surprise as their digimon digivolved to ultimate.

"Hand Of Fate!" Angemon hit the digimon. In response, the digimon threw him across the way, hitting the wall with a sickening thud.

"Angemon!!" TK cried. The fight continued, and Angemon returned to Patamon.

"I tried, TK." The poor digimon panted.

"Of course you did. Good one, too!" TK picked him up and sat him on his hat. They turned to the battle. Waregarurumon swiped at Hangsamon, then was hit with the three metal claws. Metalgreymon, and Zudamon's attempts also failed. Angewoman hit the smelly digimon with her arrow, and he acted as if it didn't affect him. She went down.

"Umh. . . . .. " TK and Kari stood, indifferent. TK didn't know what to do. If I hadn't told about my back, none of this would ever had happened. Everyone would be safe. A hot tear slid down his cheek. It's got to end! Kari bit her lower lip. If I would've told about TK, we all would be more prepared, and nobody else would of gotten hurt. She clenched her fist into a tight ball. We need to stop this! Suddenly a vast white light filled the room. All eyes turned to it. Patamon and Angewomon felt the imense strength fill them.

"Patamon, Warp Digivolve to . . .. . Magnangemon!"

The small digimon turned into an eight winged angel. Angewomon stance strengthened, and she took her spot beside Magnangemon.

"Wow. When he does that, he does it good." Gomamon commented.

"Go Angewomon!" Palmon cheered. The others watched TK and Kari, and that battle symotaniously. Angewomon and Magnangemon were quick and strong, calm going against Hangsamon. Angewomon struck him with he Celestial Arrow, knocking the digimon off his feet.

The others watched as a vine of yellow light entangled itself around TK's crest, pulling at it. Kari's began to be wrapped by a magenta light vine, pulling. Their arms and legs were easily wrapped around, and the two children wiggled their fingers as the vines delicately entwined them.

"Destiny's Gate!" Magnangemon opened the gate, and the Hangsamon flew in. The gate flew into hundreads of pieces, and disolving into the world of data.

TK and Kari seemed to be in another world. The fines lifted them from the floor, and the vines began to bud with blue and white flowers. Kari giggled as a vine brushed her face, and she turned to TK. They faced their palms outward to each other, and pressed them together. The light seemed to brighten, and the yellow and magenta vine became one.

"What is it?" Tai murmured. The digimon returned to rookie form. Suddenly the vines began to move more quickly. A lot more. They began to wrap TK and Kari tightly. No longer serene, TK cried out in surprise. They both began to look around, alarmed. It was if the vines were going to wrap them entirely, as if to build a cacoon of a butterfly.

"What's happening?!" Matt exclaimed. Both children looked down at the vines as they approached their waists. TK's blue eyes widened, and Kari grabbed his arms for balance. The vines wrapped and wrapped, going higher and higher. In minutes they were entirely wrapped, and the bundle disappeared. The digidestined stood open mouthed.

"TK." Mqtt finally uttered. Izzy's laptop suddenly threw itself from his backpack. Izzy cautiously opened it up, finding they had mail, from Genaii.

"Guys, we have mail from Genaii. He says there's a force in our relative area of unknown actions, good or evil." Izzy read. "He says it huge, and that we need to stop it if it is evil. He also says that it might be a passer by, and that it may be no problem."

"Why do these warnings come late all the time?" Joe asked.

"Well, it's evil Genaii. Noow what?" Sora asked sarcastically. Then, "Poor Kari, and TK."

"We'll get them back." Tai said sternly. His eye were strong with reasurence. Matts were as equally strong.

THREE HOURS LATER



The group was exhausted, andJoe and Mimi still hadn't woke them up. They had given up hope on finding TK and Kari and their digimon. Matt and Tai, for once, were sitting side by side with their digimon, both scared and paranoid. It was alarming for the others, for the boys had always been the strong and courageous ones.

I should of been watching him more close, Matt thought. It was obvious something was wrong. Tai was thinking the same guilty thoughts. They were quiet all day. Eight year Olds are not quiet, unless their scared!!

Suddenly an explosion filled their ears. They stood up, and found a door of light opening before them. The digimon leaped in font of their children, ready to fight. The light got larger and larger, as big as a round door. Something began to climb out.. . . .. TK and Kari, and Patamon and Gatomon!!

"Matt!" TK cried. He and Kari slammed into their siblings, hugging.

"Where were you guys?" Izzy exclaimed.

"Are you okay?" Matt asked.

"We're fine, Matt." Kari told him.

"We were watching them, anyhow." Gatomon added, Patamon agreeing.

"Yeah! They were really nice." TK agreed.

"Who?!" Tai asked.

"Us." The group turned, facing the light door with vines pouring out. The soothing voice seemed to be coming from the vines.

"Who are you?" Sora asked, in awe at the beatiful sight.

"We are sorry to frighten you. We had to take them, they were in danger." The voice said in an apologetic tone.

"What do you mean?" Matt asked.

"It is to hard for you to understand." It answered. They looked at each other confused looks, completly confused.

"You must return to your world soon." The voice continued. "It is best."

"We don't understand. Can you explain to us?" Izzy asked. The vines began to head back into the light.

"You all have us in you, you just need to reach out to us to understand." The voice was getting softer. "The children will explain." That was the last thing they remembered.....................



"Come on guys, wake up!" Joe shook Izzy arm. He slept on. They were still asleep, an hour after Tai had told them to wake them. Joe was worried something went wrong. Suddenly Izzy's eyes snapped open. They all sat up.

"Oy, that was weird." Tai commented.

"TK, what was that thing talking about?" Matt asked his brother.

"Huh?" TK gave a blank face.

"Kari?" Tai asked. She was equally confused. They had no memory of the 'dreamworld'. Once again, the older children were left in the dark, as TK and Kari had another private adventure.