"Tai! Matt!" same a distant cry.
"That sounded like Sora," said Tai in alarm.
Matt was running off instantly, with Tai close behind. There was another cry for help, closer this time, and Matt saw Sora running towards them with something chasing her. He picked up a large stick and Tai grabbed a rock.
Sora was in danger and he was not going to let any digimon hurt her.
"Hey, leave her alone!" shouted Tai, throwing the rock and hitting Sprimon directly in the head.
He felt self satisfaction as Sprimon stopped running and held it's head.
Instantly, Sora ran to her friends and hid behind them.
"You'll regret that," promised Sprimon, raising it's hand in anger. "No one hits me and gets away with it."
"Water Blast!" he shouted, and water shot from it's hand into Matt, Tai, and Sora.
All three screamed as they were blasted back into trees.
******
"That sounded like the others!" exclaimed Joe, stoping and making everyone grow deathly quiet.
Izzy looked at his digivice, "You have to be right Joe."
Agumon, Gabumon, and Biyomon promptly took off, leaving the other's behind.
'Hold on Matt.' thought Gabumon. 'Be careful Tai.' thought Agumon, knowing Tai would fight.
'Sora, please don't get hurt.' thought Biyomon, her heart beating quickly as she thought about her friend.
******
Matt stood protectively over Sora, while she held an unconscious Tai in her lap. He looked back at them and then back at Sprimon. He was going to pay back Sora and Tai for trying to help him. Especially Sora.
"You're not going to take Sora," said Matt defiently, his stick raised.
"You have no choice," said Sprimon with an evil smile. "You aren't going to be able to fight me."
"Maybe he won't but I can," said a familiar voice.
"Gabumon!" exclaimed Matt with a smile.
He watched as Gabumon leaped out of the bushes, right in front of him. Gabumon winked at Matt briefly before looking at Sprimon.
"Gabumon warp digivolve to ----- Metal Garurumon!"
Sprimon retreated a step and then smirked, "It'll take more than your friend to defeat me."
"Then I can join," said another familiar voice.
Tai, now waking slightly grinned as he saw his dino pal. Sprimon was going to get it for messing with Sora and them.
"Agumon warp digivolve to ----- War Greymon!"
Sprimon looked worried, but put on a confident front, "Since you like to stick together, I'll help you out."
"Tar Blast!" he shouted and shot a white substance at the two Mega's.
"Terra Force!" shouted War Greymon parting it's hands and revealing the glowing sphere. He threw it at Sprimon with a growl.
The two forces collided and canceled eachother out. Sending a bright light bathing over the battle scene.
"Metal Wolf Claw!" shouted Metal Garurumon, taking Sprimon off guard with his misciles.
Sprimon froze where he stood and then shattered, with a scream of rage and pain as it deleted upwards in a spiral of data.
"Sora, are you ok?" asked Biyomon in concern as she appeared beside Sora.
"I'm ok," said Sora with a soft smile.
'Matt was so brave.' she thought looking at him. 'He was willing to take on Sprimon, even though he knew he couldn't win.'
Tai sat up fully, "So what happened?"
"You were knocked out by Sprimon," said Matt looking down at him while Koromon and Tsunomon hopped over to them.
"But we beat his butt," said Koromon enthusiastically hopping into Tai's arms.
There was a frozen silence and then they broke into laughter.
"Tai!"
"Matt!"
Both boys found themselves assailed by hugs from their younger siblings. Kari latched firmly to Tai where he sat and Matt's legs held together in a vise like grip from Tk.
"We were so scared," said TK in a tearful voice lookg up at Matt's smiling face. "We thought you might have been killed."
"Are you ok?" asked Kari in concern.
"Yeah, we're fine," said Tai hugging her. "Nothing Matt, Sora, and I couldn't handle."
"Well, at least we're together again," said Joe leading Mimi, Izzy, and the other digimon.
"You can say that again," said Sora with a grin.
*******
"Hey Sora, can I talk to you about something?" asked Tai quietly.
Sora looked away from her sleeping friends to Tai and nodded. He waved his hand and she followed him off towards the tiny lake they'd found.
"Sora, there's been something I wanted to talk to you about for a while, and well.." he blushed and cleaned his throat.
Sora also blushed slightly, "What about?"
"Um... How do you feel about me?" he asked.
Sora bit her lip before answering.
"I see you as a really close friend. Someone who I can rely on."
Tai thought he would have been hurt to hear her say those words, but for some reason he didn't. He looked at her, her eyes filled with worry and concern, and smiled.
"I'm glad," he said honestly. "I thought I was having feelings for you, but what I must had been feeling was something more like a brotherly affection."
Sora hugged Tai happily, "I'm glad that's how you feel."
In the shadows, another figure watched, unnoticed. He'd seen the two leave and had followed them. He listed as the two talked a while longer, both obviously relieved and then vanished.
****** The next day as they began to walk again Sora noticed that Matt had fallen back. She dropped back and looked at him quietly.
"Are you all right?"
Matt looked at her in surprise, not realizing she'd joined him.
"Yeah, just thinking."
"About what?" asked Sora, feeling bold.
Matt didn't answer immediately, his face turning a slight shade of pink.
"You," he murmured.
Sora faltered a moment and she looked at Matt who was looking at her carefully.
"Me?"
Matt nodded, trying too look cool.
"Yeah."
Sora didn't know what to say and then smiled at him, "The way you stood up to Sprimon was really brave. Thanks." Matt gave a small smile, "You would have done it too." "Maybe." said Sora, not so sure she'd have the courage to do what Matt had done.
Matt looked at Sora with hidden love. He had to tell Sora, before he lost his nerve. She needed to know or this moment would be lost.
"Sora, there's something I want to tell you." said Matt at last, looking staight into her eyes.
"Yeah?" asked Sora, hiding the excitement that seemed to rise. Was Matt going to say something she suspected?
"Sora, I love you." said Matt, almost to quiet to hear. "What?" asked Sora, stopping, her eyes shining as she looked at him. Matt stepped closer, feeling bolder, "I love you Sora. I love the way you care for everone. I love the way you look. I love every aspect of you. Your ups, your downs, your highs and lows."
Sora blushed, pleasently embaressed by his confession. Matt took her hands gently. "Sora?"
Matt felt like he'd just poured out his soul. He hoped Sora felt the same way, or he was certain he'd die from shame.
Sora looked at him, waiting, almost forelorn with pure hope written on his face.
"I love you too." she found herself saying, and found that within her, it was true.
A looked of pure joy passed over Matt's face and he looked deeply into Sora's eyes that seemed to radiate with a love all for him. He began to lean forward, towards her face and she met him at half way and they kissed eachother.
******
"Where's Matt and Sora?" asked Mimi in surprise.
Everyone stopped and looked back.
"I saw Sora stop while talking with Matt," said Gatomon. "They looked like they were talking seriously about something, so I didn't say anything."
"Oh," said Tai, having a good idea about what they were talking about. "I'll go get them, stay here, and I'll be back in five to ten minutes."
Everyone nodded and Tai sprinted off. He slowed at the sound of Sora being asked something and took to the trees.
"I love you," said Matt's voice, sounding happy.
Tai peered out to see Sora being held in Matt's arms, looking up at him with a smile.
"I love you too," she answered, looking at him with adoration in her eyes.
Tai half smiled and back away from his hiding place as Matt kissed her.
"You're my Sora," he heard Matt tell Sora. "I'll always be near you."
Tai moved off and waited a few moments before he began to walk towards the couple shouting for them.
"We're coming Tai!" shouted Matt.
Tai smirked, as a mischievous idea crept into his mind. Matt and Sora walked up, and Sora's lips were a little redder than normal.
"Come on lovebirds. Everyone's waiting," said Tai teasingly.
"What?" exclaimed both in surprise.
Tai laughed, "Don't worry. I can keep a secret."
Sora blushed but smiled, "Your not upset?"
"Hey, you're my best friends," said Tai and ruffled Matt's hair. "Besides, Matt needs someone to keep him cooled off."
Matt looked ready to argue, but Sora elbowed him slightly. He smiled and Sora giggled and hugged him.
"Thanks Tai."
Tai smiled and began to walk towards the place he'd left the others.
"Lets move it before they think we were sucked into another hole." he called over his shoulder.
Matt smiled at Sora and took her hand as they followed Tai to their friends.
THE END?
Credits : All digimon related characters are not mine, but belong to those at Fox Kids. Sprimon was not truly harmed in this production, a computer generate image was used. Fight scenes were directed by Spielmon, famous producer from Digiwood, producer of the great hits such as Digi Wars, Darthmon Strikes Back, and Return of the Gennai.