The Video Game

"Hold on tight, Bloommon!" Payton yelled as they were flying toward the ground.

"You too, Payton!" the flower-digimon replied as they were soaring toward the ground. The two clung to one another as the bed they were on went sailing toward a grassy hill. When it hit, they were thrown off the bed and began to roll down the hill.

Payton stumbled a bit once she stopped rolling and tried to stand. Bloommon caught Payton when the brunette girl almost fell over.

"Now I remember why I hate roller coasters," Payton said, bending forward a bit, breathing deeply, and trying not to throw up. Considering the last food she had eaten had been a figment of her imagination, she managed to keep what little bit of food in her system down.

"And I remember why I'm glad to be a ground-bound digimon," Bloommon agreed. She shook her head, her petals ruffling and unruffling as she did so. She then turned to see their surroundings. "I hate to say this, but I don't know where we are."

Payton stood straight to have her own look around. "Look, over there," she said, pointing into the distance. "It's a building. It's only..."

"Miles and several large hills away," Bloommon said. "Shouldn't take more than a few hours to get to."

Payton sighed deeply. "If there is anyone there, they may be able to help us," Payton said. "It's our best bet right now. We don't know where the others are."

"Where would you head if you were one of the others?" Bloommon asked, turning toward Payton as the girl began to walk.

"Well, Landon's gonna be searching for Alex... Alex will hopefully be running for his life from Mefistomon... Damien is probably complaining about why he has to move... Mitchell will be looking to gather us all up... or possibly he'll just try to take Mefistomon on with just him and Lagartomon. You know, I really don't know where the others could be or what they might be doing. I just know that I don't want to be out in the complete open, and that that building might be a good place to rest." Payton sighed and began moving forward with more determination. Bloommon stuck by her side, not saying anything as she understood that the young artist was not in a mood to talk.

-0-0-0-

"Buzzmon, we have a problem," Doug yelled as the bed they were on was about to hit a tree.

"Hold tight," Buzzmon said, grabbing Doug's wrists and jumping off the bed, wings buzzing. The two dropped a foot at first, but then Buzzmon's wings proved to be strong enough as the two hovered in air. The bed hit the tree and shattered, making Doug cringe knowing that it had almost been him.

"That was a little too close for comfort," Buzzmon said as he lowered to the ground. He waited until Doug's feet were planted before he released the eleven-year-old from his grip.

Doug looked around, but couldn't figure out where they were. "This is... not what I was expecting today... at all."

Buzzmon looked at his partner from where he had landed on a boulder. "What did you expect to come of today, exactly?" the insect digimon questioned.

"I don't know," Doug shrugged. "Probably facing off against Trollmon again, and driving him off... or freeing Tigmon of his black disc's control."

"We managed to do that already," Buzzmon reminded the tall boy.

"Yeah, after Mefistomon dug his hands into our business and almost killed us," Doug said. "Now we're all separated and he's probably going to come after us one by one, pick us off." He pounded a fisted hand into his other hand. "We have to find the others. No question about that."

"How do you suggest we go about doing that?"

"Fly up and see what's around," Doug said.

"And how will that help?" Buzzmon asked, lifting a bit into the air.

"Once we know what's around, we can decide what our next move will be," Doug said. "Let's not travel blind, for once."

Buzzmon flew up above the treetops and began looking around. "Hey, look over there," he said suddenly, pointing.

"I'm tall but I'm not that tall," Doug replied. "I can't see."

"It's a building," Buzzmon said. "And I think this one actually exists."

"How about we head there," Doug said. "If I know the others, they'll try to find shelter first."

"Good thinking," Buzzmon said, gliding down next to Doug and began in the direction of the building.

-0-0-0-

"We've been walking for hours and the building doesn't look any closer," Payton complained when they were at the top of the third hill they had walked. Apparently the building had looked a lot closer.

"Not to mention I'm starved," Bloommon said. "When was the last time we had any food?"

"I honestly can't remember," Payton said. "But let's not stop here in the middle of no where. At least if we keep moving we might find some food."

The two began walking again, but suddenly, the ground below them caved and they fell into a hole. After rubbing her aching back, Payton looked up to see two what appeared to be two potatoes with eyes and ears staring down at her and Bloommon.

"And what do we have here?" One asked, a smirk forming on what had appeared to be a crack but Payton saw was actually a mouth.

"It looks like it's a pair of trespassers," the other said.

"Who are they?" Payton asked Bloommon quietly.

"They're a pair of Prátaímon," Bloommon said. "Also known as the spuds of the Digiworld."

"I can see that," Payton sighed.

"Do you know what we do to trespassers?" The second one asked, catching their attention again.

"Let them go with a snack and some helpful directions?" Payton asked, hopeful but doubting that she was right.

"No, we make them pay," the first said. They both began laughing manically.

Payton frowned and then stood up. She was not about to allow a pair of potatoes walk all over her. "Oh yeah, and how to do plan to do that? You're a pair of potatoes! You don't even have any arms or legs! How about I cook and eat you!"

Suddenly, arms and legs sprouted from the two digimon. "Wanna repeat that?" They asked in unison.

"Let's get going," Bloommon yelled, grabbing Payton and running into the tunnel they had fallen into. The two Prátaímon went after them.

However, tired from all the walking and no food or rest, Payton soon tripped. As the spuds had about stood up, Payton threw her hands up to guard her face, exposing the digivice clipped to her hip. It shone and the two spuds stopped in their tracks.

"They stopped," Bloommon said, amazed.

The two shook off a moment of shock.

"That was refreshing," the first said.

"I know," the second said. They both turned to Payton and spoke in unison again, "We owe you a debt. What may we do for you?"

"We're trying to reach a building that we spotted in the distance," Payton said.

"But climbing the hills is exhausting us," Bloommon said.

"And we're starved," Payton said.

"Well, keep going straight down this tunnel," one said. "It'll have an opening right in front of the building."

"And all the roots hanging down in front of you are edible," the second said.

"Thanks," Bloommon said and the two began down the tunnel.

"Allow us to escort you," they said, once again in unison.

"Oh, that is so not happening," Payton said, glancing at Bloommon.

"On it," Bloommon announced. "Pollen Punch!" The attack hit the ceiling above the spud-digimons' heads and the ground caved in, blocking the tunnel.

"I guess we have to keep going," Payton said, turning down the tunnel. She produced the tiny flashlight she had gotten from the store a few days earlier, glad that Mitchell had insisted that everyone human had one. The two grabbed random roots as they went, nibbling a bit, but not really enjoying the taste. However, their stomachs stopped growling.

-0-0-0-

"Whoa, is this heaven?" Doug questioned as the two walked into the building finally reaching it after just a few hours of walking.

"I'm not sure what heaven is," Buzzmon said, "But this place seems to be... I'm not sure what."

"It's a giant video game console," Doug said. "And if there is one thing I'm good at, it's wasting my life away on video games!" The 'building' as it was, was a television about the size of a large house, and connected to it was a console about the size of an tank as well as a controller about the size of a kayak. Doug was just tall enough to move the joystick with his arms and press the 'A' and 'B' buttons with his right foot.

"And this is a high achievement in the human world?" Buzzmon asked.

"To a select few," Doug said. "Most people don't understand them the way I do. Now, where is the power button... Aha!" He pressed a large button on the console and the television turned on. Within a few seconds, pictures of all sorts of digimon appeared, along with the words, Pick Your Character.

"Oh, I've never played this game," Doug said, smiling brightly. He began scrolling through the different digimon that he could play as until he finally came upon one that he knew. "Hey, isn't that Bloommon?"

"It is!" Buzzmon agreed. "Interesting, considering most of the other choices are evolved higher."

"Well, that just means playing as her makes it a challenge," Doug said, smiling. He kicked the A button, selecting to play as Bloommon. "And, I do enjoy a bit of a challenge in a videogame."

-0-0-0-

Payton and Bloommon could just see a bit of light coming through the tunnel, indicating that they were near their desired exit. They sped up, until Payton's digivice began to go off again, glowing brightly.

"Bloommon, what's happening now?" Payton asked, a bit of panic evident in her voice.

"I'm not sure," Bloommon replied. However, before any more words could be said, the digivice disappeared, taking Payton wherever it went with it.

-0-0-0-

On the screen, a red digivice appeared next to the Bloommon character, flashed a few times, before Payton appeared.

"Whoa, that is so awesome that Payton is a character in this game," Doug said. "I wish I could be a video game character."

Payton looked around, panicked. "What's wrong with her?" Buzzmon asked.

"Oh, it's just the set-up scenario," Doug said. "All video games start out that way so that the player has a reason to be playing."

"Where the heck am I?" Payton asked, still looking around. Suddenly, she seemed to focus on the screen. "Doug? Buzzmon? What are-" She had tried to walk toward them, but had crashed into the screen.

"Uh, Doug, I don't think that she's just a character," Buzzmon said as Payton was rubbing her nose. "I think that's the real Payton."

"Of course I'm the real Payton," the brown-haired girl snapped. "Now, where am I and... how did I get my shoes back? I thought they were destroyed with the rest of our camping gear."

"Yeah, that's the real Payton," Doug sighed.

"Okay, where are we and why is there a glass wall between us?" Payton asked, hands on her hips.

"Um, I think you're in a video game," Doug said, throwing a hand behind his head. "That's okay, I think I can get you out." He pressed the menu button. From the selections he was given, he chose 'Quit.'

All data will be deleted. Are you sure you want to quit?

"Deleted?" Payton yelled, seeing the screen somehow from where she was. "I don't want to be deleted!"

"Okay, won't do that," Doug said. He returned to the game. "I guess to get you out, we have to win."

"Win what?" Payton asked.

"We're not sure," Buzzmon said.

"Well find out and get sure because I do not want to be stuck in a video game the rest of my life!"

A moment later, the ground behind them began to fall, and out popped the real Bloommon. "Payton!" she called out upon seeing her partner and ran past Doug and Buzzmon, before smacking into the television screen. "Payton, are you trapped?"

"Yeah, because of those two," Payton said, nodding her head towards Doug and Buzzmon.

"I'll get you out of there," the flower-digimon said. "Pollen Punch." The attack hit the screen, but bounced off and came back, hitting Bloommon.

"Don't worry, Bloommon," Buzzmon said. "Doug has this under control."

"Maybe if I win the game, you'll be released," Doug said. He moved the joystick and the Bloommon began to move. Payton sighed and followed. Within a few seconds, they were attacked, and by hitting A and B a few times, Doug learned how to control and shoot off Bloommon's different attacks and defenses.

Soon, however, they were attacked by a larger Digimon and this time, the Bloommon couldn't defeat it. "This is looking bad," Buzzmon said.

"Payton, hold out your digivice," Doug yelled.

"Why?" Payton asked, grabbing it and holding it out anyway. Doug jumped off the controller and hit a front button, which made the Bloommon evolve, like he had predicted. By the time he was back on the controller, the evolution was finished, and Doug quickly won the fight.

"You know, considering you're smaller than the controller, you're scary good at this," Payton said.

"Eh, games are a bit predictable," Doug said. "Usually, there's a lot of exploring, but we're headed straight for the mountain."

"Why the mountain?" Bloommon asked.

"Because that's where the bad guy always is," Doug said.

Payton sighed, but had no other choice but to follow the Fleurmon character as Doug seemed to know what he was doing.

Soon, and a few more enemies later, they were at the top of the mountain. Payton seemed exhausted, and Doug looked a little tired. "Maybe you should pause the game and recuperate," Payton said, looking at him. "You know, it must be difficult moving more than your thumbs."

"I'm good," Doug insisted. He led the digimon into a circle and suddenly a dark shadow appeared. "Hold out your digivice," he called to Payton. She did as told. "Now, Bloommon, I need you to hit the button on the front. Just press and hold. And Buzzmon, take over A and B. Hit them when I tell you."

"Right," the two digimon said and took position.

Bloommon hit the button and the digivice began to glow. The Fleurmon seemed to have renewed strength while the shadow seemed to lose points. Doug began shouting "A," "B," and "Both!" at seemingly random, but it was hitting the shadow and the point scales showed the shadows life decreasing. Finally, it was defeated.

After that, digivice disappeared from Payton's hand, appearing outside the screen, and then Payton rolled out.

"I am so tired," Payton said. "And starved."

"Agreed," Doug said, jumping off the controller and taking a seat.

"Sorry to disappoint, but you've got to battle me now," the voice of Trollmon said, and they all looked to the top of the television to see the ugly digimon. The digimon jumped down. "Now, which of you do I destroy first?"

"Evolve!" Payton and Doug shouted to their digimon partners at the same time, each grabbing their digivice.

"Bloommon evolve to... Fleurmon!"

"Buzzmon evolve to... Hornetmon!"

"Petal Blaster!" Fleurmon cried and shot off the petal bullets at Trollmon.

"Stinging Slugger!" Hornetmon attacked once Fleurmon's attack had finished.

Trollmon, however, simply swung a punch at both of them and knocked them both down. Both Champion digimon were back on their feet within moments, but Payton knew that neither had eaten since she had been in the game. She looked at the controller, and then the set, seeing it was ready for a new character to be chosen. She ran to the controller.

"What are you doing?" Doug asked, following her.

"It's a long shot, but, how do you choose a character?" Payton asked, still scrolling.

"Press A, why?" Doug asked. "Because this is so not the time to be playing this."

"Press it!" Payton said, her eyes lighting up.

Doug pressed it as if by instinct. Trollmon, who was just about to pounce on Hornetmon suddenly glowed and disappeared.

"Hey, what happened?" Trollmon's voice sounded and they all turned to the screen.

"You chose Trollmon as your character?" Doug asked.

"Well, now he's stuck in there until he wins, right?" Payton asked.

"Oh, Payton, you're genius!" Fleurmon cried, and devolved to Bloommon before hugging the brunette.

"Let's get headed back toward the mountain," Doug said. "I think we'll probably find the others that way.

Payton nodded. "For once, I think you're actually right."

"So... you're not mad at me for getting you stuck in the game?" Doug asked.

"No, I'm still mad about that," Payton said. "But your innate ability to play video games apparently came in handy for once, so I won't kill you just yet.

I feel like this chapter might be shorter than other chapters. And less descriptive. You can probably tell at what point I got lazy and just began typing whatever came to mind until I had it finished. Sorry if it sucks. Please review anyway.