Dolphina: Well, if you're reading this I guess it wasn't that bad ^_^ Here Wiccamon encounters an old enemy and the digidestined are seperated........no, not from each other *AGAIN!* but from their digimon >-)
Wiccamon opened her eyes to find she was tied to a wall. Her staff and belt were laid aside on a table.
"What is going on here?" Wiccamon wondered, trying to break from her bonds.
"After all these years Wiccamon. You forget me so easily?"
Wiccamon's senses were on full alert after hearing the dark voice.
"No chance of forgetting you Shadowmon. It's a curse that plagues me." Wiccamon snapped.
The dark figure that wavered before her held the essence of an evil grin. He was a shapeless creature who you have an evil feeling to.
"You thought you could escape me Wiccamon? The only Digimon that has escaped me is Wizardmon by bringing about his own death. You should have done the same." Shadowmon said.
"Leave Wizardmon out of this." Wiccamon snarled. "He gave his life for a good cause."
"The only cause worth giving up your life is to not work for me."
"Don't flatter yourself so."
"Don't push your luck with me Wiccamon."
"And don't push your luck with me."
Wiccamon's eyes began to glow green.
"Ah ha ha, no my dear," Shadowmon seemed to raise a sort of hand. Wiccamon screamed and shut her eyes tightly. "We will have none of that here."
Wiccamon struggled to open her eyes. They were starting to water from the sting Shadowmon gave them.
"Wizardmon gave up his life to escape me." Shadowmon said.
"He gave up his life for one lesser than himself."
"How do you know? Did you ask him before he met his death?"
"I know him. I know Wizardmon well."
"Hmmm, do you now?"
Shadowmon disappeared in the darkness. When he reappeared, he held a small chain with a pendant swinging from it. Wiccamon's eyes widened upon seeing it and struggled once more to free herself.
"No resistance." Shadowmon said. He placed a hand on Wiccamon's forehead. "You must save your strength my dear."
Wiccamon screamed louder than she had before. Her body shook, racked with pain until it finally subsided.
"A black gear," Wiccamon whispered. "How, how did you get one?"
"You like it? We may not be in the digital world now, but you are still digital Wiccamon." Shadowmon said, swinging the necklace like a pendulum.
"I know you hate me, why not just destroy me now?"
"I have a proposition. You can be my slave, wear this little jewel around your neck and defeat all my enemies until I dispose of you. Or, you could join me willingly. You know I'm stronger than you are Wiccamon."
"If you're so much stronger, then why do you need a black gear?"
"Because you aren't much on my powers of persuasion."
"You have nothing. I don't care what you do to me, you can't make me evil. I will resist you and survive."
Shadowmon lost his temper. He pummeled Wiccamon with every attack he could think of. The ropes and chains that held her to the wall broke, but they weren't needed. Wiccamon was too weak to move.
"I, I-" Wiccamon forced herself to say with that last of her strength.
"What?" Shadowmon asked. He put what seemed to be his head near Wiccamon. "You surrender?"
"No. I am stronger." Wiccamon whispered. Her body relaxed, she laid still.
Shadowmon took on the form of a human draped in a dark blue cloak. He smirked and fastened the black gear necklace around Wiccamon's neck.
"We'll see who's the stronger my dear." Shadowmon murmured darkly.
The children and Digimon ran through the garden, but it seemed to stretch on forever.
"Kari, how much further?" Tai asked.
Kari slowed to a stop. She looked around and scratched her head.
"I don't know." Kari said.
"What?" Sora asked.
"I, I don't remember from which direction I came from." Kari replied. "I was in a house, I ran down a set of stairs and out a door into the garden. Then I found you guys."
"Now we're in a never-ending garden." Joe muttered.
"At least it's pretty." Mimi said.
"Hey, it's getting darker," Izzy said.
They all looked around them to see a shadow darkening the garden slowly. Tai, Matt and Sora looked up intently. Izzy and Kari observed the phenomena in silence as the others held on to their Digimon like security blankets.
"What's going on?" Mimi asked.
"I haven't a clue." Izzy whispered in reply.
Along with the shadow, the mist that had covered them in their unconsciousness also grew thicker. Soon, all of them were huddled together in the dark, thick mist.
"I'm getting cold," T.K. whispered.
"Yeah, me too," Matt said, rubbing his arms.
"This is scary" Gabumon said. The other Digimon nodded in agreement.
"Hey, am I beginning to imagine things?" Mimi whispered shakily.
"I don't know. Why?" Sora asked.
"Not unless we're imagining too." Palmon, Biyomon and Salamon said.
"What's up with you guys?" Tai asked.
He looked to where the others stared. Something was walking towards them. Then slowly, Wiccamon appeared out of the mist.
"Hey! You're okay" Kari cried happily. She jumped up and ran to Wiccamon.
Wiccamon's eyes narrowed and she held up one hand. Kari fell back as if she had run into a wall.
"Huh?" Kari said, confused.
Wiccamon waved her staff at the huddled group. Suddenly, they were all tied together with their arms behind their backs.
"Hey! What gives?" T.K. cried.
"Who are you?" Izzy asked.
"I am Wiccamon. I am the forese-er of your doom." Wiccamon raised her arms. "Graymalkin!"
A gray creature resembling a panther appeared next to Wiccamon.
"Your wish, mistress?" It asked in a light voice.
"Whirlwind blow, heavens steer, I'll take care o' th' children here. Graymalkin take the human's friends, sweep their Digimon to their ends!"
The group was frozen in horror. The panther leapt into action. It sailed over the tied up bunch then disappeared. The Digimon had disappeared with it.
"What?" Matt cried.
"Impossible!" Sora exclaimed.
"Patamon!" T.K. called.
"Where's Salamon?" Kari demanded.
"Bring them back Wiccamon!" Tai yelled.
"No Tai. You all have some time on your own."
As Wiccamon talked, Tai noticed something around Wiccamon's neck. But it didnÕt register until after the digimon disappeared. The ropes that bound them dissolved. The others stood, Tai sat staring at the space where Wiccamon once stood.
"Everyone okay?" Sora asked.
"Yeah. We gotta find our Digimon!" Joe said.
"I agree." Izzy added.
"Let's get going." Matt said. Tai hadn't moved. "Tai? Yo, Tai! You all right?"
"Wiccamon had a black gear around her neck." Tai whispered.
"What? A black gear?" T.K. asked.
"She didn't have it before." Kari said. "I'm sure of it."
Tai sighed and laid on his back, his arms spread out.
"This is too much for me." He whispered.
Salamon's eyes snapped open. She remembered crying out as the panther named Graymalkin swept over them.
"Is everyone all right?" Agumon asked.
"Uh huh," Biyomon said with a nod.
"Yeah, I guess." Gomamon said.
"I've been better." Gabumon muttered.
"Where are we now?" Palmon asked.
"What do we do without our friends?" Tentomon wondered, obviously worried.
"Yeah," Patamon agreed. "Without the Digivices or crests we can't digevolve."
"Okay guys, let's just calm down." Salamon said.
"Salamon's right. First let's figure out where we are. Then we'll worry about the others and if we need to fight." Agumon said.
They began walking. They hadn't a clue where they were or which direction they were going. They also were silent, each lost in their own thoughts.
Gomamon was hoping Joe would stay strong. Joe had developed a lot more bravery when they started.
"Of course," Gomamon thought. "As many times as he's been in the water he could have learned how to swim."
Agumon worried about Tai's nightmare.
"What if his dream comes true?" Agumon wondered. "Then we'd have to turn against our friends and each other."
Tentomon looked around as they walked, wishing he could figure out where they were.
"If Izzy were here, he'd know. He figures these things out faster than me!" Tentomon thought.
Gabumon was extremely worried about Matt.
"If I know Matt, and I believe I do, he'll blame himself for this. Then he'll get down about it, then he and Tai might start fighting. Oh boy," Gabumon sighed.
"This is kind of nice," Palmon thought. "No fighting or bickering, I'm in my element. But poor Mimi, she'll probably be freaking."
Salamon felt she let Kari down by letting Wiccamon take her before.
"But Kari's a big girl. She took care of Myotismon," Salamon tried reasoning. "But I can't help thinking I didn't do my job by protecting her."
Patamon was also thinking about his human friend.
"T.K. will be brave, I know we'll find them soon." Patamon thought. "He doesn't have the Crest of Hope for nothing."
"Why is everyone being so quiet? Is everyone that worried or upset?" Biyomon wondered. "Hmm, what would Sora do?"
Biyomon stopped walking for a second and thought about this. Slowly the others stopped and looked at her.
"You okay Biyomon?" Agumon asked.
"I was wondering the same about you guys. We're all being so quiet and I know something's wrong. I can feel it." Biyomon said.
"I was just worried about Joe. I mean, is it me or is he braver than when we first met him?" Gomamon asked.
"I think so." Agumon said.
"Well I haven't known him as long as you guys, but his attitude before we left the real world was one I liked." Salamon said.
"Yeah." Patamon agreed.
"Okay. Gomamon spoke up, what about the rest of you?" Biyomon asked.
"I was wondering how Mimi is. She not much of a nature person." Palmon said.
"I'm sure she'll survive. SheÕs gotten this far." Tentomon said.
"Yeah, you're right." Palmon said, smiling. "Now I feel better."
"I think Matt will blame himself for this. He gets pretty harsh," Gabumon said.
"I have to agree there." Biyomon said.
"I think they'll be just fine." Patamon said. "I know T.K. will help Matt out."
"Yeah, that's true." Gabumon said.
"Yeah, and Kari'll be all right, if she could face Myotismon without screaming then she can face anything!" Salamon cried happily.
"What's bothering you Biyomon?" Tentomon asked.
"I was worried about you guys. Like Sora would be with the others. I'm just trying to be like Sora I guess." Biyomon replied. She looked over and saw that Agumon had turned away. "What's bothering you?"
"I'm afraid Tai's dream coming true. What if we were under the power of a black gear then we later found out that we hurt someone?" Agumon said.
They all looked at each other.
"That's a problem we'll face when we have to." Biyomon said. "Right now we have the problem that our friends are missing and so are we. If we stick together and look out for each other then we'll be fine. Right everyone?"
"Right." Patamon said.
"Right!" Tentomon, Gomamon, Palmon and Salamon exclaimed.
"Yeah!" Gabumon cried.
Agumon smiled. "Right."
Shadowmon stood on Wiccamon's balcony. The door to the room swung open. Wiccamon walked in with Graymalkin at her side.
"How did it go?" Shadowmon asked as Wiccamon bowed down on one knee.
"We separated the Digimon from the Digi-destined." Wiccamon said. "It's only a matter of time before they can be destroyed."
"What?" Shadowmon asked. "Why didn't you just destroy them straight off?"
"Graymalkin, go." Wiccamon ordered softly. Graymalkin nodded and disappeared. "I don't know Lord Shadowmon."
"What do you mean you don't know?!?" Shadowmon exploded.
"I do not know." Wiccamon said.
Shadowmon made a wave at Wiccamon and knocked her down.
"Go and destroy them!" Shadowmon screamed.
Wiccamon slowly stood up.
"Y-yes Lord Shadowmon." Wiccamon stammered.
She slowly walked out of the room and down the hall. She came to a stairway and slowly climbed them. She walked to a room and went inside. She fell to her knees and gripped the carpet tightly with her fingers. The black gear dissolved slightly.
"No, Shadowmon," Wiccamon stammered in whispers. "I will never let you win. You made me hurt them once, don't make me do it again!"
The black gear glowed strong. Wiccamon fell to the side with an exhausted sigh. Two tears escaped her eyes before the black gear took over her once more.
"Finding shelter is a joke here," Joe said. "It's just one large flower garden."
"Joe has a point Tai," Matt said.
"Yeah, I know." Tai said.
"If we build a fire and each of us keeps watch every hour," Kari suggested.
"One person can't watch alone." Mimi said. "What if Wiccamon comes back?"
"Kari and I can take the first watch," T.K. said.
"Are you sure you can handle it all by yourselves?" Matt asked.
"Sure." Kari said smiling.
"I don't know, someone older should be watching you two." Tai said.
"Look Tai, if I could watch myself when mom and dad went to grandma's then T.K. and I can keep watch for an hour." Kari said.
Tai sighed then nodded. "Okay. IÕll take the second watch."
"I'll take that one too." Matt said.
They all agreed on their watches, and so the night started. T.K. and Kari sat on one side of the fire they built while the others slept.
Tai couldn't sleep. He glanced over at Matt, who pretended to be asleep for a while but was now sitting up.
"You okay Matt?" Tai whispered.
"Oh, uh, yeah Tai. I'm okay." Matt whispered back.
"I thought you were asleep."
"I thought the same of you."
"What's keeping you awake?"
"I just can't sleep, that's all. What about you?"
"My dream still bothers me." Matt nodded and sighed. Tai raised an eyebrow. "Come on, what's wrong?"
"I told you, nothing."
"Yeah right." Matt didn't answer. Tai look at the grass. "Hey Matt?"
"Hmm?"
"When Izzy told us that Angemon and Angewomon had to shoot us with their arrows, were you really scared?"
"What?"
"I just want to know the truth."
"Why? What about you?"
Tai clutched his crest. "A little. I was afraid I would lose a friend."
Matt touched his own crest. "I was afraid of losing T.K.. And you."
"You're a cool guy Matt. A little strange, but cool."
"Thanks Tai."
The two smiled at each other then sat in silence, waiting for their watch to start.
Wiccamon watched in her large crystal ball as the Digimon had set out to do the same as the children, building a fire and having two on watch as the others slept.
Wiccamon's lower lip shook, she clenched her eyes closed as she struggled with an inner conflict. Her true spirit fought the dark, evil powers of the black gear.
With once glance at the crystal sphere, the true Wiccamon could see that those who stood watch were starting to doze.
"By the night and fire's light, with natures might, protect from evil sight the two teams of eight ere it be too late for me to speak." Wiccamon said. She repeated this chant, struggling to keep the evil powers from over taking her once more.
Wiccamon's words seemed to reach the Digi-destined and their Digimon, though they were apart.
"Did you hear something?" Biyomon asked.
"Kind of," Tentomon said. "There's something strange going on, I can feel it."
Mimi was dozing off. It was hers and Joe's watch.
"Mimi, hey Mimi!" Joe whispered, shaking Mimi awake.
"Huh? What?" Mimi protested. Then she looked up. "Who's that?"
"You hear it too?" Joe asked. "Whew, at least I'm not crazy."
"Yeah, I hear it, but I'm not feeling well," Mimi said with a yawn.
Joe swayed slightly. "I don't feel so good either."
Soon, the two lay in the grass and were asleep like the others.
Biyomon and Tentomon had awoken the others.
"Huh? What is it?" Palmon asked, rubbing her eyes.
"We don't know yet," Biyomon said.
"It sounds close," Gabumon said.
"Whoa," Patamon said, suddenly stumbling.
"Hey," Agumon said as Patamon bumped into him. "What's up with you?"
"I don't feel good Agumon," Patamon answered weakly.
"Me neither." Biyomon said.
"I'm feeling kind of sleepy," Salamon said with a yawn.
"Funny, me too," Gabumon said.
Soon the eight Digimon slept as well.
They all woke up in a place that was dark and misty, but they were together.
"Izzy, have any idea where we are now?" Sora asked.
"I don't even have my laptop with me," Izzy said.
"You're never without your laptop Izzy! Where'd it go?" Tentomon asked.
"How should I know?"
"This is weird," Palmon said.
"I wonder if anyone's around?" Matt wondered.
"Hello? Hello! Anyone out there?" Kari called.
"Yes Kari. There is." WiccamonÕs voice said. She stepped forward out of the darkness. The sixteen gasped.