The Illness

by N i g h t W a v e

The rest of the digidestined have fallen ill but little TK. WIll he be able to help them?

3. The Story

THE STORY

by: Dol Daughter of Light

*This is occurring one year after TK and Kari have returned home, in which Kari and TK are nine years old. *

Prologue

~*~

"Come on, guys. It was a long time ago." TK whined. Matt sighed, turning to Kari.

"Will you tell us?" He asked.

"I don't know. TK has a good point that you guys will worry." She said in a logical tone. She sat at the foot of TK's bed.

The whole group was sitting in the Takaishi household. Matt recently moved closer to the other digidestined, so he and Gabumon could bike to the others. TK's room was small and the sixteen people/digimon barely fit in there.

"It was in the past. Why would we worry now?" Patamon asked.

"Come on guys, tell us!" Sora whined. "Please?"

"We never found out what happened to Perromon." Joe stated. " I wonder what happened to him."

"Tell us already!" Izzy said from his laptop. TK and Kari looked at each other. Kari nodded slightly. TK shrugged.

"Okay." They said finally. They gathered round, Tentomon and Patamon hovering. . . . . . . .

Chapter One

~*~

"You start." Kari told TK.

"No, you. I don't remember the beginning." He answered.

"First, was you know who?"

"Uh-huh." They both shuddered.

"I have no clue what their talking about." Mimi whined. "Talk normal."

"Oh, okay." Kari inhaled deeply.

~*~

"No, Kari No!" Gatomon dove, but it was to late. Kari had drunk the whole vile, and immediately passed out.

"Where am I?" Kari asked. She woke in a weird place, with walls of bright colours and large, black windows. It was empty, but the air was almost to thick to breath. She felt incredibly alone. " TK? Where are you?!"

"Oh?" A faint groan came from behind her. She quickly turned. TK was laying on the ground.

"TK!" Kari ran over, helping him sit up. He looked at her with wide eyes.

"Where are we?" He asked.

"I don't know. I drunk that elixir." She told him.

"Here? Again?" TK asked in a wobbly voice. "Oh boy." He stood up, looking around.

"You've been here before?" Kari asked him.

"Every time I pass out. It's scary here." He told her. "It's different every time." He took her hand. "Come on." They walked slowly.

"So what happens?"

"Nothing. Not till it happens." TK said softly. "It's always a different digimon."

"Digimon?"

"Last time, it was Etemon." He told her. "It was horrible. That's how I got this." He showed her a slice on his left arm, near his elbow. It was about twelve inches long, going up.

~*~

"This is believable. NOT!" Izzy said, laughing. Matt rolled his eyes. The others tried to mute their laughter. TK, mad at their sarcasm, rolled up his sleeve, holding out his arm. A scar was across his arm, twelve inches long, going up. They immediately silenced. Matt looked closely at it.

"Now do you believe us?" TK asked.

"How come I haven't seen that before?" Matt asked him.

"I didn't show you." He answered. Kari sat Indian style on the floor.

"Keep going." Sora urged.

~*~

They walked for about an hour, but nothing happened. TK felt like a moron. Why did it happen before and not now? Once again, I've dragged Kari into it, he said to himself.

"I guess it's not going to happen." TK stated.

"You never know in a place like this." She whispered. "They always wait till you don't think it will happen."

"True." A new voice cackled. They turned.

"Devimon!" TK gasped. Kari held his hand tightly.

"Yes, young digidestined." He said softly.

"Now what?" Kari whispered. TK shrugged.

"What, are you frightened?" Devimon taunted. TK palms began to sweat. Kari looked at him, expecting orders of some kind. Devimon came closer.

"What are we going to do?" Kari repeated.

"Running comes to mind!" TK told her. They took off.

"Who was that guy?" Kari demanded as she ran.

"On of the first guys we defeated." TK told her. "Her really didn't like me or Patamon. Angemon defeated him." He stopped running, looking around. "The longer we're passed out, the more digimon show up. The worst so far was five."

"Oh my." Kari commented.

"It's what scares you." A gentle voice soothed.

"Genaii?" Kari asked,

"Yes, Kari." He answered. "The digimon are your deep down fears that you never expressed. Your crest is wanting more hope, TK, not negativity."

"You mean if I stop thinking bad things, this will all go away?" TK asked.

"It isn't that simple, I'm afraid."

"What?" Kari asked. "What does he have to do?" Suddenly, a loud explosion filled the air.

"Uh-oh." TK stated. A familiar digimon came into view.

"Machinedramon!" Kari cried. She stepped behind TK. "Stop thinking bad."

"I'm trying. I'm trying." He murmured. He stamped his feet. "Happy thoughts aren't working!" He yelled. Kari grasped his hand and began to run. Running right into another digimon.

"Aaah!" They screamed.

~*~

"TK!" A voice yelled from the hall. TK woke from the horrid memories quickly.

"Yeah, Mom?"

"It's getting late. I think your friends should go home now." She replied.

"But Mo-om!" Both TK and Matt whined.

"Yamato, Takeru," She answered in a stern tone. " now."

"Can't they spend the night?" TK asked, opening the door. She stood in a perfect motherly stance. "Please?"

"Please?" They echoed in pleasant tones. Matt raised his eyebrows. She was softening.

"Please Mrs. TK and Matt's Mom?" Palmon begged.

"Oh, all right." She said. "Go call your parents." They ran out of the room, except for TK and Matt. "You two owe me." She told her children.

"Don't ya love us?" Matt laughed.

Chapter Two

~*~

"Pizza's here!" TK's Mom entered the living room with two boxes. The pizza quickly was divvied out to the sixteen hungry stomachs. They had practically destroyed the living room, and only after a half an hour. The parents were arriving in a few hours with clothing and other necessities.

"What do you want to do now?" Kari asked. They all stared at her and TK. "Still?"

"Come on!" TK whined. "Do we have to now?"

"Do we have to answer that question?" Matt asked. "Continue." TK rolled his eyes. Matt nudged him in the back.

"Okay already!" TK sighed.

~*~

"Umf!" The children collided with another digimon, falling back. They looked up at. . . .

"Uh-oh." They said in union. Standing in front of them was Perromon. TK stood up, pulling Kari to her feet.

"We're trapped." Kari whispered. TK shook his head slightly, unwilling to except it.

"What to you want?" He asked.

"Revenge, TK. Revenge." Perromon cackled.

"What do you mean?" The boy repeated. A sharp wind ripped threw the vast hall, adding a chilling atmosphere. Kari noticed that the other digimon had disappeared. She moved close to her friend.

"I'm scared." She told him.

"Don't be. It's gonna be alright." He told her. Perromon stepped forward. TK wanted to back away, but knew he had to stand up to this monster. Kari shuddered against him.

"Well, revenge against you dishonouring our deal." He said simply. TK couldn't help but give a questioning look. "It was part of our deal that you die. Your still alive, aren't you?"

"No. Our deal was I'll take the others illnesses into my body, and if I die, I die. It wasn't part of are deal." TK snapped.

"You should of read the fine print." Perromon growled.

"We didn't even write it down." TK reminded him. He growled again.

"He got the better half of ya, huh?" A new voice laughed.

"I really wish they would stop doing that." Kari said, turning. There stood. . . .there stood . .

~*~

"Kari, your repeating yourself." Izzy told her. She and TK were sitting side by side on the carpet, and each had lost a little colour.

"Oh, I was?" She asked. TK sighed, looking up at Patamon. He looked down at him from atop the boys head.

"I'l-I'll take over." TK said. Both of the children were scared, and their older siblings could tell. But they were dying to find out what happened.

~*~

There stood Piedmon. He was as cruel as ever, at least by looks. He laughed at their surprised expressions. He raised his eyes from TK, to Perromon, to TK, as if he didn't even see Kari.

"How did you get here?!" Perromon demanded.

"Same as the others. His~ " He sat a hand on TK's shoulder, but he jumped away. "fears. But I'm smart enough to keep myself here."

"This is my world. Your not part of it!" Perromon yelled. "He is, they are, but your not!"

"They fight more than me and my brother." TK whispered to Kari. She nodded. While they fought, they ran. Ran till they found a place to hide, a small space behind a rusty old staircase.

"I don't think they see you." TK told Kari. His tone was soft and fast. "I think I did something right."

"What are you talking about?" Kari demanded.

"Well, I feel safer when I'm not by myself. So your not a bad thought, so you don't show up. I don't know how you got here, though." He explained. He kept looking around, expecting a evil digimon to suddenly appear.

"So if you think of me in a bad way, they could see me?" Kari asked, intrigued.

"I don't know. I don't know anything." TK sighed. He pulled his knees to his chest.

"TK, stop it! Your thinking bad again. What happened to the 'Happy' TK that I used to know?" Kari reprimanded. "Come on. You didn't get the crest of Hope for nothing." TK smiled slightly.

"I guess not. But I don't try to think about the bad side of everything, it just happens." He told her. She sat beside him.

"Well, what changed it?" Kari asked. A familiar cackle hummed in their ears. Both children n froze, hoping Piedmon wouldn't see them. The staircase pressed down, pieces of rust falling down on them. Kari began to talk, but TK slammed his hand over her mouth. Their breathing was shallow and short lived. They watched as a shadow swept across their bodies as the evil digimon crept up the stairs.

"If I were vermin, where would I hide?" Piedmon said to himself. He acted as if it was a huge game. A fun game, at that. Kari watched as TK's crest began to glow softly. She grabbed it, hiding it's light from above. As she did, TK did the same to her. Both their crests were glowing. TK moved his hand from Kari's mouth slowly.

~*~

"Guys!" The door suddenly opened. All of the digidestined jumped, yelping. Seeing it was only Joe's mother, they laughed nervously.

"Sorry if I scared you." She apologized. "Here Joe." She gave him a book bag and gave him a kiss on the cheek. He turned red.

"Mom," He said sheepishly. Sora and Mimi laughed. Another parent came in, Izzy's mother.

"Oh, hello Wyomi." She said to Joe's mom. "Izzy." He got up and took the bag from his mother. She sighed, adoringly. "Izzy, you behave."

"Yes, Ma'am." He answered. Both the mothers left, and two fathers entered.

"Hey Daddy." Mimi said sweetly.

"Hello cupcake." Mimi blushed. He sat two suitcases down beside the group. He gave her a kiss and immediately left. The other man, Tai and Kari's father, tossed a bag to each of his kids.

"Thanks, Daddy." Kari told him. He squeezed her shoulders.

"Your welcome." He told her. "So what are ya kids up to? Planning to drive Matt and TK's mother nuts?" He asked.

"I heard that!" TK and Matt's mother called as she passed the door. He chuckled, leaving. The only parents left are Sora's and Matt and TK's Dad.

"So, what happened?" Izzy asked once it was clear. TK swallowed. The door opened once more. His and Matt's father walked in.

"Hey guys." He said cheerfully. He tossed Matt a bag. "Clothes." He stated. Matt nodded. The man came up behind TK, picking him up. "Hey, squirt." Then, after a few seconds "Why are you shaking?"

"I'm not shaking." He told his father, though he was. The others held their breath.

"Yeah, you are. Come on. Let's go see Dr. Mom."

" But Da-d!" TK whined. They went into the hall.

"We shouldn't of pressured them into telling." Sora whispered. Tai came up behind Kari, setting his hands on his shoulders.

"Your shaking, too." He stated.

"Am not." Kari whined, pulling away. "It was a long time ago. Why would it affect me now?" She was lying threw the skin of her teeth. "I'm older than I was then. I'm no longer eight years old."

"We know, but~" Joe started, but he was at a loss of words. They all still considered TK and Kari the 'babies' of the group.

"Hey, look." Izzy pointed to the slightly ajar door. They could see TK and his parents. The concerned looking woman sat a hand on TK's shoulder. TK moved away, saying something they couldn't hear. His mother said something back. He protested, but went down the hall. The parents chatted.

"Uh-oh." Mimi stated. "I think we just got him in trouble." The mom came in.

"TK's sick. I sent him to bed, so keep the noise down." She told them. They nodded, feeling guilty.

"Yes ma'am." Matt answered. She gave them a funny look, then left. They all sighed. Feeling guilty, the group decided to watch a movie then head to bed.

~*~

Chapter Three

~*~

Tai woke in the middle of the night with a, ya know, "call of nature". After doing his duty, he reentered the living room and layed down. He did a head count, something he learned from their adventures in the digital world. He recounted the sleeping companions. He was two short: TK and Kari. TK was in his bedroom, but where was Kari?

"Hey, Matt." Tai kicked him. Matt groaned, rolling over. Tai kicked him again. Matt sat up.

"What's your problem?" He asked.

"Kari's missing." Tai said, as if explaining it all.

"I give you two guesses where she is, and the first one doesn't count." Matt said sarcastically. Tai shrugged. Matt rolled his eyes. "TK's room."

"Which room is that? I just want to check." Tai said in a 'Big-Brother' tone. Matt got up, leading the way.

"Your paranoid, ya know that?" Matt asked him, annoyed. "If I can't get back to sleep, I'll" He grumbled. They came to a door with, in big stencil letters, :Takeru.

"Was that so hard?" Matt asked Tai. He opened the door. The floor was bare. The bunk bed was empty.

"So where are they?" Tai asked. Matt lead the way to the back of the room, to a red inside tent, the doors tied open. Inside was TK and Kari, asleep. TK was in pale blue pajamas, and Kari in the same exact ones, but pink. A flashlight lit the tent at their feet, and a pile of paper and pencils sat beside it. They looked very peaceful.

"Happy now?" Matt grumped. Tai grabbed a blanket from the floor and approached the tent, then bumped into something.

"Huh?" He asked. He pressed his hands up against an invisible wall. Matt walked over, and did the same. Their was a force field around the tent! "What is this?"

"I have no clue." Matt stated. "What is making this?" He pressed on the invisible wall, then jumped back, shocked. "Ow."

"It shocked me." Tai said in amazement.

"No duh." Matt sneered. Tai rolled his eyes. "Go get the others." Tai left. Matt sighed, pulling his hands threw his messy blond hair. "TK! Kari!" Matt said softly, hoping to not wake his mother. "Guys,"

"What's going on?" Patamon flew in, followed by the others. Matt sighed, stopping the group a couple feet from the invisible wall.

"Oh, joy. Their sleeping." Mimi said groggily. "Can we go back to sleep now?"

"We're not showing you that their sleeping." Tai said shaking his head. "We're showing you this." He tossed the blanket at the tent, and it landed on the field. After a few minutes the sides began to sizzle. He pulled the blanket of with a yard stick.

"What is that?" Izzy asked. Both boys shrugged.

"It shocks, and that's all we know." Matt told him.

"Hey, Kari!" Tai said loudly.

"My Mom," Matt reminded. Then, in a loud whisper, "TK, Kari, wake up!" Both children groaned, opening their eyes. "Guys,"

"Kari, get up. You too, TK." Tai coaxed. The rest of the group watched, half asleep.

"Kari!" Gatomon said as loud as she dared. The girl sat up, groggily. TK followed, getting to his feet. Kari looked around, and immediately burrowed her head into her pillow.

"TK!" Matt whispered. TK, now wide awake, shook Kari and pulled her to her feet. They walked out of the tent, staying close to it.

"What's going on?" Kari asked.

"Guys, just stay in the tent." Gatomon told them.

"You woke us up for that? Thanks." TK whined. "Tell us, what is going on?" They took a few steps forward. Suddenly TK's bedroom door opened. The digidestined turned to the door.

"Guys, what are you guys doing in here?" Matt's mother demanded.

"Ow!" and " Hmm!" Suddenly filled the room. Both Kari and TK had walked into the force field, and were thrown back by the shock. They were on their butts on the hard wood floor, cradling their arms. Red marks cris-cross marks were across them.

"TK!" Matt cried.

"Kari!" Tai echoed. The panting, frightened, children looked up with looks of bewilderment.

"What was that?" TK finally asked. They remained on the floor, holding themselves. Mom turned on the light.

"What is going on?" She asked, walking over. Tentomon flew over to the woman.

"Um, well, you see," He stammered, stalling. "Patamon will tell you."

"I will?" He asked. "Oh, yeah, I will." He hovered their nervously. "Matt?"

"Okay, it's like this, Mom," He started. "Their kinda stuck."

"Stuck?" Tai grimaced. They all nodded obediently.

"Stuck?" She asked.

"Yeah. Um, you probably want to know how, huh?" Matt asked. His mother nodded, placing her hand on her hips. "Well, would you believe a force field?"

"Matt, it's in the middle of the night." She said in a level tone. " And you know I'm not a cheerful person till at least three cups of coffee. What. Is. Going. On?"

"Tai, buddy." Matt said, handing it off.

"She's your Mom!" Tai hissed.

"That's the point. I'm closer for her hurting advantage." He hissed back. Tai turned to the woman, and chuckled nervously.

"Look, I'll do it. There is a force field around the tent, and if you touch it, you get shocked. They're stuck." Mimi finally stated. "Don't know how it got there, don't know how to get rid of it."

"Yeah. Pretty much." Matt said, rubbing the back of his neck. She walked over, sighing. She approached the tent. Matt grabbed his arm before she reached the tent. "Mom, it shocks."

"It does." TK and Kari agreed.

"You guys are serious?" She asked, almost in shock. They all nodded solemnly. She gave a questioning squeak. They continued to nod. " Yamatto, call your father and tell him to get over here now." She said softly. Matt started to protest, but in the end he and Tai went to call their parents. Gatomon paced in front of the tent. Patamon sat on top of Izzy's head, as Izzy typed on his laptop, researching. TK and Kari watched their worried friends silently, holding their knees to their body's. It was freezing in their little bubble, but they didn't complain.

"Should we call the police? 911?" Mrs. Takaishi asked, panicking. Sora sighed.

"I think we should wait a while. It's probably Digimon-oriented." She told her.

"I'm not made to take this kind of stuff." She said under her breath. TK's heart felt a pang. He ignored it, setting his head on his knees. After about ten minutes. . . .

"Hikari!" Kari's mother rushed in, followed by her father. Tai followed.

"Mommy!" Kari exclaimed. She stood up. "What are you doing here?"

"Takeru!" TK's father entered the room, Matt at his side. TK looked up, and briefly smiled. His father and brother were really protective over him, and that made him feel special.

Suddenly, light came from the back of the tent, and the electricity went out. TK and Kari stood up, facing the light. The light was sucking in air, and pulled at their pajamas. The parents pulled the kids back, ignoring their protests.

"What is it?" Tai shouted over the loud wind. TK pulled his digivice from the belt of his pants, seeing it was activated. Kari did the same. Both Patamon and Gatomon ran up to the force field. The light brightened.

"TK!" Matt yelled. The two children backed up, still facing the light. They seemed pale against the bright white light. They almost ran into the force field, but stopped.

"TK!" Kari said loudly. She grasped his hand, afraid. Their eyes met, then returned to the light. The wind was so strong. All the digidestined yelled the youngest member's names.

"Matt! Dad!" TK cried out.

"Tai!" Kari echoed. A burst of pulling force knocked both of the helpless kids to the ground. TK stood up, pulling Kari. They stood close together, scared. Matt and Tai moved to the force field, behind Gatomon and Patamon.

"Hold on TK!" His father yelled. Both children shuddered as the light to intensified.

"Patamon!" TK suddenly yelled loudly, as if in pain. Kari cried Gatomon's name. The light was getting closer to them. All the occupants of the room was yelling to TK and Kari.

"Someone help us!" Kari shrieked.

"Stop!" Izzy yelled out of pure terror. Light engulfed the two children, then the room exploded.

Chapter Four

~*~

"Ohhh." Izzy groaned, rolling over. He was stiff and cold on the hard floor. He slowly open his eyes to a swimming picture. He woke himself from a dream state, sitting up. He and the other kids were on the floor of TK's room, but in a cage. Their parents were gone, and so was their digimon. Izzy shook Sora awake.

"Sora! Hello, Houston, we have a major, major, problem." He said loudly. She sat up.

"Izzy, what are you babbling about?" She asked. Then she looked around. "Um, Tai." In a matter of minutes, they all were awake. TK and Kari were missing. Both of the brothers felt dread within.

"It looks like TK's room, but it isn't." Mimi commented the obvious. Soft laughter suddenly filled the room. They looked around, alarmed. A man walked in, dressed in luxurious clothing. He laughed.

"What's so funny?" Joe demanded. He continued to laugh.

"I'm Intelectmon." He finally said. "And welcome to the games."

"What are you talking about?" Matt demanded. The man-like digimon ignored him.

"You, girl in the pink." He said.

"Me?" Mimi asked.

"Choose a letter: T or H." He asked her.

"Why?" She asked.

"Just do it." He growled.

"Choose, Mimi." Tai confirmed.

"T, I guess." She told the digimon, confused. He nodded.

"Okay then. You just decided the fate of two souls. One you bought to the next level, the other is at your, you children's, mercy." He told them in a deathly tone. "You ready to play?" He asked.

"What do you mean?!" Sora demanded.

"Are you ready?" The man demanded. They all turned to Matt and Tai. Tai nodded. Matt inhaled.

"Okay." Tai told him. Intelectmon laughed. He left the room for few minutes, then shouting echoed in the hall. He stood in the doorway.

"Meet your torture-ee." He told them. He shoved a familiar boy inside, who fell to his hands and knees. The boy froze.

"TK!" Matt yelled. The others did the same. TK looked up. A large bruise was on his forehead, and dry blood on the sleeve of his pajamas. Intelectmon snapped, and TK suddenly was in a cage. He finally regained his voice.

"Matt!" He yelled, getting to his feet.

"Let the game begin!" Intelectmon yelled joyously. "The rules: Answer the questions, if you get them right, nothing happens to little Takeru. If you get more than three questions wrong, let's say we'll need a new victim."

"If you even try to hurt TK, I'll~" Sora threatened, then let her words die off. Mimi squeezed her shoulder in comfort.

"Novice round." Intelectmon stated. "Question number one: What is the crest of Takeru?"

"Hope." They said in unison. TK leaned against the bars of his cage.

"Very good. Question number two: who's younger, Takeru, or Hikari?"

"Takeru." Matt said confidently. They all agreed.

"Right again." Intelectmon applauded. "Question three: What is the exact day, time, and month of Takeru's birth?"

"Um," Tai turned to Matt.

"April 13, at umm . . ." Matt stammered.

"What time?" Tai coaxed.

"Do you know what time Kari was born?! Let me think." Matt said tersely. "Twelve-thirty something."

"More specific, please." Intelectmon said, approaching TK. TK backed away.

"Matt?!" He yelled.

"Twelve-Thirty-seven." Matt concluded. The others quickly agreed, trusting Matt.

"Lucky guess." He growled, reluctantly moving away from TK. "The end of the novice round. Game is in rest for exactly two hours, in which you are to read this." He opened his coat, and pulled out an old, torn up book. He snapped and it was suddenly in the cage. The group glanced at it and returned their eyes to Intelectmon. The digimon returned the glare and snapped, and he and TK were gone.

"What are we going to do?!" Mimi finally wailed. Joe pushed his glasses up his nose, turning to the book.

"I don't know. But he has TK and Kari." Tai said softly.

"Well, I think we better read this." Joe told them.

"Really." Izzy agreed. "If this Intelectmon is really playing with their lives, we need to win this game. Or~" He didn't finish his sentence. Sora kneeled in front of the book, opening. Inside was children's writing. Small cursive in some spaces, large print in other. It took her a second to actually see what it was.

"This is TK and Kari's writing!" She told them. "It's- it's the rest of their story." She hesitated, then began to read.

~*~

The children sat, quivering, holding each other's crests. Their eyes locked, alarmed. Neither could speak, but Piedmon went back down the stairs, standing in front of them.

"What now?" Kari mouthed. He shrugged, gulping.

"So, that's where you are?" Piedmon turned to face them. They both uttered low moans. TK shoved Kari to the left, sliding behind the stairwell.

"Run!" He told her. She already had. They ran as fast as their legs could stand, turning random corners and entering and exiting rooms. They finally reached a dead end, a total drop off of floor.

"T-TK, what now!?" Kari whimpered. Piedmon had them cornered. TK, telling himself to be brave, got in front of the girl. He was a little shorter than her, and looked funny protecting her.

"Nice chase, digidestined, but it's over now." Piedmon cackled. "Clown Trick!" He sent a burst at them. They both dove, barely missing it. It's over, a voice in TK's head declared. No! We need to survive! The real TK argued, the TK the digidestined knew and loved. Anything can happen, and it can be good!

"TK! Your thinking good!" Kari said happily. "Alright!" Piedmon took a step back as the whole room shook.

"What are you doing!?" Piedmon demanded. "Who is that?!" Kari was becoming visible to him. Kari's crest shined against her shirt, and TK's was even brighter. The world was getting dark. As the universe Perromon created collapsed, the children passed out, returning to the digital world.

~*~

"Is that all it says?" Izzy asked.

"No, there's one more page. Look." The group gathered round, staring down at an old piece of paper.

Hikari	Takeru	Both
Myotismon	Devimon	Piedmon
Machinedramon	Puppetmon	Perromon
Seadramon		Etemon

"What is it?" Matt asked in a weary voice.

"It's says on the bottom that it's the digimon that scare them." Sora informed.

"How much time do we have left?" Joe asked. Izzy looked down at his watch.

"We have a half an hour left." He stated.

"Memorize all you can." Tai ordered. "Even if you think it's stupid." Then, under his breath, "We have to win, TK and Kari are counting on us"

They quietly studied the pamphlet, sweating and nervous. The time quickly died.

"I'm back." Intelectmon said, coming in. He was jolly and annoyingly calm. Matt and Tai both fumed at him.

"You. Short boy." Intelectmon snapped. Izzy's ears flushed. "Choose, A or T."

"Um. . ." Izzy stammered. He was to scared of the consequences. Sora gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze. "T?"

"Okay. I'll be back." The digimon went into the hall. He reentered in minutes, pushing both TK and Kari in. They got up, and backed away from Intelectmon.

"Kari!" Tai yelled. Both he and Matt moved to the bars. Their younger siblings looked at them, then the cruel digimon approaching them.

"Tai! What's going on?!" Kari cried. She had her hands grasping TK's arm. They reached the wall. Intelectmon snapped. They were in a cage.

"Matt, Sora, guys?" TK asked, frightened. Kari was at a similar condition, torn pajamas and bruises. Both of the children sat, facing the opposite cage.

"Question one." Intelectmon called. "Why did Takeru and Hikari connect?" They all froze.

"Um, because Kari saved TK in the first match with Perromon." Izzy said nervously. They all agreed.

"Good." Intelectmon cooed. "Question two: What is the digimon that scares both Hikari and Tekeru second most?"

"That's-uh-oh." Izzy stammered. "I don't remember."

"Isn't it Perromon?" Mimi asked.

"Twelve more seconds." Intelectmon chimed.

"It's either Etemon or Perromon." Joe stated. "I go for Perromon. He less tough than Etemon."

"But were looking in TK and Kari's point of view. Did Etemon ever aim for them?" Izzy reasoned.

"Has Kari ever seen Etemon?" Tai asked. Neither of them knew.

"Well, we need to choose now." Matt said shakily.

"Etemon?" Four raised their hands. Matt and Tai nodded, unsure.

"Etemon." Joe answered. Intelectmon tsk-tsked.

"I'm sorry, that's incorrect." He laughed. TK stood up, nervous. Kari remained sitting, looking up at him. Intelectmon turned to TK and Kari. He walked till he was about a yard from the cage. "Cerebellum Wave!!" Suddenly he let out a slicing gold ray, striking TK in the stomach. He fell back, holding himself. You could tell it hurt immensely.

"TK!" Kari yelled, pulling him back. He was shaking, whimpering under his gasps.

" No-TK!" Matt yelled. Fear raced up his spine, watching his brother shuddering in pain. Tai's first thought was relief it wasn't Kari, then he could of slapped himself. Poor TK! That kid was like the little brother he never had, and he was just relieved he was hurt.

They watched wide eyed as the boy tremored and whimpered, trying to hide his pain from them. He looked like a toddler, his knees touching his forehead. Kari kept asking if he was okay, but he wouldn't answer. His blond hair covered his face. Kari sat next to him, her arm on his shaking shoulders.

"Hold on, TK." Sora yelled. "Hold on."

"Question number three: When was the first time Takeru and Hikari were on their own?" Intelectmon asked.

"When we were fighting Piedmon and I sent them ahead." Sora answered. They all agreed.

"Okay. End of the Round. We have survivors. One is wounded, aw." He cooed. " Does it hurt?"

"Leave them alone!" Tai exclaimed. "Pick on somebody your own size."

"That would be no fun. No one here is as tall as me." Intelectmon mocked.

"How about me?" A gruff voice asked. They all turned.

"Togemon!" Mimi yelled happily. The digimon entered the room, followed by Gomamon, Gabumon, and all the others.

"It's great seeing you guys!" Izzy exclaimed. They all ran over as Togemon confronted Intelectmon.

"I'll get you out!" Tentemon said. He quickly digivolved to Kabuterrimon. The cage was gone in seconds.

"Thanks Kabuterrimon!" Izzy said, climbing onto his back. Matt and Tai ran over to their siblings, where Angewoman had ripped away the cage and Angemon had picked up TK. The boy seemed small in the angel's arm.

"You will never defeat me!" Intelectmon screamed.

"Get him, Togemon!" Mimi cheered.

"Needle Spray!" Togemon spread her needles at the digimon. He barely missed them. Angemon saw the fighting. Then he looked down at barely conscious TK. He knew he needed to help, but TK needed him.

"Look out, Matt!" Matt dove, missing a golden ray. That was the last straw. He layed TK down near the wall, next to Kari and Tai, and joined the battle.

"Oooh." TK wheezed as Tai picked him up, moving him from danger. His waist was red with blood.

"Hang on TK." Tai ordered. All but Gomamon had joined the battle, and Gabumon had digivolved to the warp level, Metalgarurumon.

"Look!" Izzy exclaimed. There was this window of light right in the middle of the room.

"What-hmm-is it?" TK asked, trying to see. He was in a slouching position in Tai's arms. Matt walked over, relieving Tai. TK sighed. The digimon returned to rookie form. Intelectmon laughed.

"It's the way home!" Joe realized. They began to run over.

"Stop!" The digimon ordered. They ignored him, the digimon already reaching the window. They stopped.

"You sure?" Sora asked. "This is the way home?"

"I say let's try." Tai demanded. He stepped threw the window. After a few seconds, he stepped back. "Come on!" They quickly climbed threw, Tai taking TK so Matt could climb over. TK let out a cry of pain. Patamon and Gatomon slid threw as the window closed.Chapter Five

~*~

"We're home." Joe gasped. They all sat in a pile on the floor.

"Technically, only Matt and TK are." Izzy gasped in reply. They gave meagre chuckles. Patamon sat on Matt's head, looking down at TK.

"Is he alright?" Kari asked. TK coughed, looking up. Matt looked at his stomach. TK lifted his shirt a little.

"It's gone." Matt said, amazed and relieved. TK got up quickly and went into the bathroom. "TK?" The others walked in as TK began to vomit.

"EW." Palmon and Mimi stated in unison. Kari sighed, then pushed past Matt and Patamon, and vomited. "I repeat ew." The older kids watched for a few minutes, then they felt it too.

"Two of you go to the downstairs bathroom, two in the guest room, the rest come with me." Matt ordered. They split up, and Matt lead the way to his mother's room. He, Tai and Izzy entered the bedroom, rushing into the bathroom.

"Matt?" Mrs. Takaishi asked, groggy. All three boys began to, ya know. All eight digidestined were vomiting, as their digimon watched, commenting unhelpfully.

~*~

"It turns out we all ate bad food. Food poisoning." Matt said. It was a week later, and they all were at the Tai and Kari's place.

"No way." Tai exclaimed.

"The pizza. All us kids ate the first one, and the digimon the second. That's why we got sick and they didn't." Matt continued. "It was a hallucination."

"It was too real!" Kari exclaimed.

"It certainly didn't feel like a dream." TK said softly. Then, he got a questioning look on his face. "The blanket."

"Huh?" Sora asked.

"You threw the blanket on the thing around the tent. It's still burnt." He recalled.

"So it wasn't a hallucination?" Gomamon asked.

"I don't think we will ever know." Izzy sighed.

~*~