CHAPTER 14: Understanding

Rick stumbled backwards. "What'd you do that for?!"
"I was trying to knock some sense into you, but it doesn't seem to have worked," she said dully. But the anger and pain were shown on her face. She hadn't wanted to hurt him, she really hadn't. But she had to. So she'd slapped him, letting her anger control her. She hung her head. "I'm sorry," she whispered.
"No, I'm the one who should be sorry. I didn't realize... I wasn't thinking. This digital world is all so much, and I'm so confused. I just don't know how to show it. And you have the right to be worried. Both of you. You've got family out there. I'd be worried too." Suddenly, a glow could be seen ahead of them, coming from the direction of the castle. It floated through the trees toward them, and landed in Rick's hand. "It's your crest!" Tai yelled.
~*~
They saw the glow from far away. It was bright, even through the fog. Joe grabbed Mimi's hand and took off running. "C'mon, let's go check it out!" Mimi was surprised at Joe's sudden interest in the thing. "But Joe, what if it's Jakimon, or some other evil digimon? Palmon, where are you?"
"I'm right here, Mimi!"
"Yeah. Hey, slow down Joe!" Gomamon yelled. "You don't know what's out there!" So they slowed down a bit. Then, the light disappeared. "Darn it!" Joe screamed. "That could've been the others!" Mimi put her hand on his shoulder. "Maybe it wasn't, Joe. It could've been a trap." He sighed.
"I guess you're right. We've got to keep looking." The group set off looking. "Mimi, stay close to me, there's no telling what's out here." She nodded. Palmon and Gomamon were walking behind them. "Where do you think they are, Joe? Do you think they're ok?" Gomamon asked.
"To be honest, I dunno..." Palmon looked tired. Mimi noticed. "What's wrong, Palmon? You look pale." Palmon didn't answer.
"It's the lack of sunlight. She's a plant, and plants need sunlight to grow and remain strong. This fog, and the trees too, are blocking it." Joe replied, matter-of-factly. Mimi stopped. "Here, let me carry you. You need to save what little strength you have." She picked up her digimon, and Palmon de-digivolved into Tanemon. "Thanks," she said, right before she fell asleep. Mimi smiled. "Anytime, friend," she whispered.

~*~

They'd found Shouri's crest a few minutes before they saw the light. Gabumon had led them right to a wall with some weird crest on it. Placing his hand on the wall, the whole stone crest had disappeared, and Shouri had fallen through into a large room. "Wow..." he'd said, getting up and shaking the dirt off of his jacket. Matt had followed him in, and, seeing the crest, had picked it up and handed it to the other boy.
"Here. We finally found it," Matt said with a hint of relief in his voice. Hazukashiimon jumped for joy.
"Yea! I can digivolve now!!!" he'd said. Both boys had laughed, then they'd left.
Present Time...
"What was that light?" Shouri asked. Matt shrugged, but kept his eye in that direction.
"I dunno, but whatever it was, it was close to us." Gabumon got into his battle position.
"Want me to digivolve?"
"No, not yet," came the reply. "We don't know what it was. For all we know, it could've been-" Matt stopped short.
"It's your crest!!!!!" they heard Tai yell. Both boy's faces lit up. "Guys, hey guys! Over here!" The group ran towards their friends.
"Matt?" Tai high-fived his best friend. "Where've you been?!"
"Shouri?!" Akira flung her arms around him and squeezed hard. "Oh my gosh, I thought I'd never see you again! I was so worried, and..." She babbled on and on. Girls, Matt thought. Shouri felt awkward, and his face was showing it.
"Um, Akira, I'm fine. You can let go now." She blushed.
"Oh, uh, sorry." Shouri just smiled back weakly. Hoping to change the subject, Matt asked:
"so what's this about a crest?" Rick started beaming.
"It's mine! I finally found it!!!" He looked ready to jump for joy.
"Really? How?" asked Shouri. Rick looked down uneasily.
"Well, you see... Um, I mean..." Akira leaned closer to her friend.
"We'd rather not talk about it," she whispered. Shouri nodded solemnly. Matt finally spoke up.
"We found Shouri's too."
"REALLY?!" Tai, Akira, and Rick chorused.
"That means we have four crests!" Akira exclaimed. "Maybe now we can defeat Jakimon!" Tai shook his head.
"It'll take more than four Ultimate digimon to take HIM down. If only..." His face lit up. "Yeah, that might do it..."
"Well WHAT?" Matt asked him impatiently.
"We have to break in and get OUR crests back!"
"But how're we gonna do that?" Akira asked skeptically.
"Yeah," Rick added, "we haven't even found the others yet, much less get back to that creepy old castle."
"I know, I know. We have to find the others. But it's our only chance."
"I agree with Tai. We have to get our crests back. The fate of the world's at stake. We can't just give up!" Matt continued. "We need to find the rest of the group, and soon. Who knows, Jakimon may have already gotten them. But if he hasn't, then we still have a chance. We've got to defeat this guy!"
"You're right, we have to get those crests!" Rick said. Shouri nodded.
"Let's go find the others!"

~*~

Jakimon had given up watching them long ago. "All they do is wander around like blind pigs. I can't stand it any longer!" He sank into his chair, facing away from the window. "Fetch me my whip, and bring up one of the prisoners. I feel like beating something."
"Yes, my lord," his right-hand-mon replied. The Bakemon flew away as swiftly as he could.




I know, I know, short. This one was rushed. Oh man! *slaps self in head* I forgot the little ones!!!! Darn it all!!! *sigh* I guess I'll just have to do double next time. -_-' Anyway, please review! I'm sorry this one took so long. I just kind of forgot about it... -_-' Forgive me, loyal fans, er, I mean fan (-_-')... Thank you to Blue Knight for all those nice reviews!!!!!! ^_^ *bows Japanese style* I appreciate it! ^_^ Please tell me what you think!