-Howdy! It's been a while, but I'm finally finished with part 3! It turned out a lot longer that I thought it would be, as long as the first two chapters combined. I thought about splitting them in half, but I felt nether chapter would've worked unless it was all together. Well, I hope you enjoy this. Thanks for reading!

To Hell With Destiny!

Friends Forever.... Aren't We?

A portal of light ripped through the air signaling Gennai's arrival for his daily visit to Alzulamon's lair. Genai looked ahead of him to find his colleague, with his large eyes transfixed on the mirror attached to the mountainside. Genai giggled, wondering what in the world could've been so interesting.

"By the stars Alzulamon! I haven't seen you stare that hard at anything since Tomamon's last all you can eat noodle buffet. What's the big deal? Did you finally discover a way to get the WWF on that thing?"

"No! That would be nice, but this is more important. I believe that I've discovered the true purpose of this thing."

"Really? I thought we already knew that? What did you find out?"

"Well, when I took a second look at the mirror this morning I noticed that the images they displayed had changed drastically from the day before," Alzulamon answered.

Genai nodded his head. "I guess we should've expected that. It may only be able to show us one set day in the future, but we forgot to consider that the events of that day would change once things began occurring differently in the present day. So how do things look? Are they getting better or worse?"

"I can't tell," Alzulamon sighed. "Weirder most definitely, but positive or negative I haven't decided yet."

"What kind of images have you seen?"

"Well first off Davis loses everything when he's sued by customers when some kind of new form of flesh eating bacteria spreads world wide found to have originated in his noodles! Believe it or not Tai somehow wins the noble prize for physics, Izzy accidentally blows up half of Cambodia when one of his experiments goes horribly wrong, and oddly enough Matt is still an astronaut..."

"That is odd..." Genai scratched his bald head. "I wouldn't get use to those particular images. In my estimation the future's probably going to change by the hour as things progress."

"Let's just hope the children can pull through, and set the future back the way it's supposed to be. Until then I guess all I can do is stand here, and watch..."

********

"So is that what happened?" Ken asked TK, leaning up against the lockers behind him.

"Yes, that's exactly what happened!" TK snapped, as he played with the junk inside his locker. He wasn't really sorting through anything, just kind of tossing things around out of frustration. "What's the matter? You almost sound like you don't believe me."

"It's not that. It's just that your story is almost a completely different story from the one Kari told me."

Of course it's completely different! Kari drastically misunderstood the situation, and she thinks it's a completely different story from what it actually is! I tried to explain things to her, but she doesn't want to listen! What can I possibly do about it if she doesn't want to talk to me?!"

"I guess that's understandable," Ken muttered, trying his best not to say anything that would offend TK. TK had obviously been upset since he walked into school that morning, and Ken worried his friend might pop a blood vessel at any moment.

"You guess that's understandable?!" TK scoffed. "Try telling that to her! I'm tired of getting blackballed by all this! I haven't done anything wrong!!! Still, somehow she's got me looking like some kind of heel over this entire situation! Of course Yolie immediately took her side so she won't listen to me either, and I guess you have too huh?! Well, that's just fine! If I'm going to get railroaded over this you guys could at least have the decency to let me know so I can get the hell off the tracks before the train flattens me!"

"Hey, I haven't taken anybody's side!" Ken yelped defensively. "I can understand that your upset TK, but there's no need to get an attitude with me! I just wanted to see if I could help!"

The tall blonde sighed, as his head disappeared into his locker. "I'm sorry Ken, I didn't mean to take it out on you. It's just that... I hate it when Kari's mad at me!... She means a lot to me Ken. How can I make things right between us if she doesn't even want to listen to me?! I don't know what to do..."

Ken's heart sunk into his stomach. He had jumped to conclusions after speaking with Kari, and now he felt guilty because of it. He should've known better than anyone that there is always two sides to every story. "Everything will be fine TK. Give her a little time to be angry, and she'll get over it. She can't hate you forever TK. You guys have been friends too long. She's not going to let one little fight end all that."

TK stared at Ken blankly for a moment, and then smiled slightly. "I hope your right. This is just different somehow from when I fight with Matt or Davis. I really don't know what to do to make things better. For the first time I'm really worried over what might happen if things don't work out. Maybe because I'm not use to Kari being angry with me, or just because I'm so use to fighting with Matt and Davis. I really don't know."

"I'm sure that's it. Like I said, she'll get over it soon enough. She always does when she gets mad at Davis, so I don't see why it wouldn't work the same way for you..." Ken blushed as he realized what he was saying. He'd forgotten that Kari's relationships with TK and Davis were much different, though he wasn't about to mention that to TK. "At least I would assume she would... It is true that I've never seen you two fight before this, but I guess she'd get over it pretty soon... Maybe. I'm pretty sure..."

TK frowned. "Your not helping anymore Ken."

Ken sweat dropped. "I'm sorry... I'm really not good at this sort of thing am I? Well, class is starting soon, so we'd better hurry or we'll be late."

"You go on ahead. My first class is just down the hall, so I'll be fine. The warning bell hasn't even rang yet."

"Alright. I'll see you later then, TK."

TK sighed as he slammed his locker door shut. He half-way jumped out of his shoes at the sight of Amber's face appearing behind it. To his surprise, a nasty looking frown took the place of her normally giddy expression. "Oh... hello, Amber... How are you doing this morning?"

"Don't even start with that act, Takashi! I know all about the little games you try to play, and they're not going to work on me!"

"Games? What are you talking about?!"

"You know exactly what I'm talking about!" Amber snorted. "I know all about you now! Now I know that during the same time you've been trying to play me, you've been running around with half the other girls in school too!"

TK let out a disgusted laugh. "Amber, I haven't been running around with any girls, and I've already told you that I never agreed to go out with you! Davis set that up not..."

"That's not what I'm talking about!" Amber cut him off. "The whole school knows how you really are now. The sweet and proper little gentlemen act you've been trying to disguise yourself with isn't going to work anymore! Playing hard to get was a nice cover, but now I know that's just your cover when your trying to get into a girls pants! Don't you think your kind of young for that, or are you just trying to get a head start?!"

TK nearly fell over. "WHAT?! I've never in my life!... I'm not like that! Where in the world would you get an idea like that anyway?!"

"Why don't you ask your little friend Kari?"

TK glared a hole through Amber. "Just what are you suggesting?! Kari would never say anything like that about me!"

"Don't be too sure about that Mr. Playboy. She blew the whistle on you big time! Now the entire school knows about you, and I'm sure not going to wind up another notch on your bedpost! I guess I'm just one last girl you have to worry about playing, because I've completely washed my hands of you! I want nothing more to do with you from this point on TK!"

TK made a mock hurt face, and clutched at his chest as Amber walked away. "I assure you, my heart is breaking!" TK slung his bag over his shoulder, and headed for class.

----------

Kari sat alone in first period with her face planted against her desk. "Maybe I should just forgive him, and forget this entire week even happened... I hate fighting with him... I just want things to be back to normal... But he still shouldn't have lied to me!" she frowned, as she picked her face up off her desk. "I did get even with him though. I told Amber all about how he'd been flirting with her and the other girls even though he wasn't serious about any of them, and she didn't seem happy about it at all. Maybe I should just call it even then."

Kari jumped when a soft touch on the shoulder startled her. She turned her head back to find two of her friends from school standing over her. "Hey girls. What's up?"

"We just wanted to see if you were alright," the girl on the right said.

"Yeah we're really sorry," the second continued. "We've heard all about what TK did to you."

"You did?" This was news to her since she hadn't told anyone about it outside of her really close friends that were all in the digidestined circle. *Either Yolie or Davis must've opened their big mouths.* "Thanks guys, but don't worry about me. It's no big deal really."

The two girls gave each other bewildered looks. The girl to Kari's right spoke first. "No big deal? Even after all the horrible things he's been saying about you?"

"Excuse me? What horrible things?!"

The girls looked at each other again as if to ask each other what to do. The girl on Kari's left reluctantly elected to answer her. "You mean you don't know? You don't know that TK's been bragging to everyone that the only reason he even bothered to get close to you was because he thought he could get what he wanted out of you. Lately he's been getting frustrated now that he's found out he can't have his way with you, and now he's been telling everyone he's sick and tired of having to deal with you."

"He's also been telling people he's not sure why he even went after you in the first place," the other girl continued where her friend left off. "He said that you're not even all that attractive or even that fun to be around, but he thought you're easy and gullible enough to take advantage of. Now he's complaining that you've got some kind of strange idea that you two are really good friends, and now he's stuck with you hanging around him all the time when he really rather not be bothered with you. The only reason he doesn't trample you underneath his feet is because he's afraid it would ruin his reputation with the other girls..."

"What?..." Kari cracked ready to burst into tears at any second. "TK would never say anything like that about me! Where would you even hear lies like that?!"

"I'm sorry, but they're not lies Kari. Apparently that's what he told some of the guys, and it wound up trickling down to everyone else."

"We're really sorry Kari. We thought you already knew. When we saw you sitting over here all alone looking so depressed, we figured that's what it was about..."

"No... No! TK would never talk about me that way! I don't believe you!" Kari bolted out of her seat, as her friends backed away from her. Forgetting all about the time and where she was, Kari raced for the door and fled out of the classroom.

"Miss Kamiya where are you going?! Class is going to start in less then a minute!" the teacher called after her. He looked at the two girls she was talking to, and they simply shrugged their shoulders. "What in the world was that all about?"

----------

*Don't let her get to you TK! You know Kari would never spread a rumor like that about you!* TK tried his best to convince himself. *Sure she's mad at you, but she wouldn't stoop that low! She's still your best friend. Amber's just trying to get under my skin that's all.*

TK's sensitive ears picked up a conversation taking place between two young ladies that were sitting behind him. It particularly caught his interest since the topic of conversation was focused on him.

"Have you heard the rumors?"

"Yeah, I couldn't believe it! I never thought TK was like that! He always seemed so sweet and polite whenever I talked to him."

"Yeah, well it just goes to show you he's just another typical guy! I use to think he was different from other boys, but I guess it shouldn't surprise me that he turned out to be nothing but a porn-dog just like the rest of them."

"I wonder if it's really true though?..."

"Come on, it has to be! It came from Kari's mouth herself if you can believe that!"

"Hardly! I can't believe her! Despite what he was doing you shouldn't stab your best friend in the back, and rat him out like that! Not that I can really blame her after all he'd been doing to her..."

TK had heard enough. He sat up from his seat, and shouted at the girls clearly, catching both of their attention. "First of all none of it's true, but if your going to talk about it anyway then can you please keep it down! Not all of us are death up here!"

TK grumbled something to himself, as he turned to face the front. The two girls blushed, and stared at each other dumbly. TK stared up at the clock waiting for class to begin, but he knew that didn't matter. He wasn't in any type of mindset to learn anything that morning.

********

It wasn't long after first period when TK would run into Kari in the hallway. They both stopped, and stared each other down cautiously without saying a word. TK was reluctant to approach her despite wanting desperately to talk to her concerning what Amber had told him earlier. He was convinced Kari would never spread rumors about him like that, but he wanted to hear it from her own lips. Kari was thinking the exact same thing TK was except she was still angry with him, and decided that he would have to approach her if anything was going to be resolved that morning. Lucky for her TK did, or so she thought TK did. Little did either of them know what was about to blow up right in their faces.

"Kari..." TK began nervously.

"TK..." she cracked.

"I have something I want to ask you about, that is unless your still not speaking to me."

"I'm listening. I'm still not very happy with you, but go right ahead."

"There's something I have to ask you about..." he paused, and rubbed at the back of his neck. "I know you'd never do anything like this to me, but I wanted to hear it from you. Amber seemed pretty mad at me this morning. In fact she said she wanted nothing else to do with me, and she claimed it was because of something you said to her... You didn't actually tell her anything did you?"

Kari giggled, and smirked evilly. "Oh what's the matter? Did poor Takeru lose his little friend? Your damn right I told her! Hey, she came to me after all."

TK's mouth hung open, and his body went cold. She might as well have plunged a dozen different daggers into his back because that was how painful it felt to him. The thought that she out of all people would do that to him... Only his brother possibly could've caused a worse affect. He didn't want to believe it, but here she was admitting it with her own words twisting his heart into knots until she pried it lose from his chest. She seemed so proud of it too that it nearly made him cry, but he was too angry for that at the moment. "Kari... How could you do this to me?! Why?! Over one damn ice cream cone?! Why?!"

"Well excuse me! I didn't know you liked her that much! What's the big deal anyway?! You have half a dozen more just like her who still worship the ground you walk on!"

"What?! I don't care about that! I really don't give a damn if Amber never speaks to me again at the moment! Actually, you probably did me a favor by doing that, so thank you!"

Kari was a little disgusted to hear that. She was really hoping she had gotten under his skin with that one. "If you don't care then why are you blowing up at me for?!"

"You know damn well what I'm angry for! It's what you told her to get her mad at me, and the rumors

you've been spreading around school about me! You know I haven't been trying to fool around with Amber, or any of those other girls! You know I'm not like that! How could you tell anyone something like that?! Why?!"

Kari's eyes widened. "What are you talking about?! I didn't tell Amber anything like that! I just told her that you've been flirting wi..."

"Don't even try to go back on it now!" TK yelled into her face causing Kari to backpedal. "You just admitted it! How could you spread rumors about me like that Kari?! We're supposed to be friends! Now you've got the entire school thinking I'm some kind of whore!"

"HOW ABOUT YOU TK?!" she shouted back even more forcefully into his face, surprising him. "You want to talk about rumors TK?! How about the one I've heard from five different people today that have been telling me what you really think of me?! Are we really as close as we've appeared to be, or are you just pretending because you think you'll get lucky?! Are you getting sick of me, and are you just afraid if you distance yourself from me you'll ruin your chances with your little groupies?! IS THAT IT TAKERU?!"

TK was speechless. Something about that look on her face told him she was telling him the truth about that, and at the same time he didn't want to dare accuse her or lying for fear of the repercussions it might bring on. Still he wasn't about to sit back, and let her win. "Your insane Kari! The only thing I'm sick of has been your attitude over the past few days! Who's been telling you blatant lies like that anyway?! How can you even suspect I'd ever talk behind your back anyway?!"

"WHY SHOULD I BELIEVE YOU, WHEN YOU WON'T EVEN CONSIDER BELIEVING ME!"

"I'd been telling myself you couldn't have done it all day, until you stood here AND ADMITTED IT LESS THEN A MINUTE AGO!" TK glared at her hatefully, but his face dropped when he noticed something for the first time hiding in her eyes. "Kari... Have you been crying?"

Kari opened her mouth, but nothing else came out. She fought hard to keep any further tears from pushing out from behind her eyes, but that was becoming increasingly difficult by the minute. She didn't want to give him the satisfaction of seeing it, nor did she want his pity. She wasn't sure which one she'd get at the moment. "No I.... YES I'VE BEEN CRYING, BUT WHAT DO YOU CARE?! WHAT DO I CARE?! KISS MY ASS TAKERU! BELIEVE WHAT EVER YOU WANT TOO! I'M THROUGH ARGUING WITH YOU! I'M THROUGH!"

TK hollered back at her as she stormed away. "GOOD, YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU WANT TO TOO! I'M SICK OF FIGHTING WITH YOU MYSELF!" Kari ignored him, and kept on walking forcing TK to fully realize what was happening. "Kari!... Kari... What are we doing?!"

Lucky for them not too many students were present to witness the little shouting match between the two struggling friends. The few that did, however, would have to admit it was the best fight they'd ever seen that didn't end with any blows being thrown.

"Man, they sure were pissed!" one boy commented. He was leaning against some lockers from a hallway not to far away from the scene. He looked at the spiky haired boy standing next to him. "Pretty cool huh?"

"No it's not cool!" Davis barked at him. "How can you even say something stupid as that?!"

"Hey chill! What's your problem anyway?! Your the one who started spreading those rumors in the first place weren't you?"

"I didn't spread anything!" Davis flared. He really wanted to rip the annoying brats head off of his shoulders, but he held back. "I was talking about what was happening between them with some of my friends, when I guess a loud mouth or two overheard us. I didn't want to believe it, but I guess..."

"Well you have to believe it now! You just saw it with your own eyes, and heard it with your own ears!"

"Yeah... Whatever..."

********

Davis stared at the food on his tray not hungry in the least. In fact, no one at the table seemed particularly interested in their meal during lunch period that afternoon. Even Cody had sat down with them for the first time in a few days. Davis had insisted that he sit with them that afternoon since he had something he wanted them all to hear. He shot Cody a menacing glance from time to time to let him know nothing had changed between them. It broke his heart to do it, but he had to stick with his game plan. Needless to say Cody wasn't feeling all that hungry himself. Yolie and Ken spent more time worrying about TK and Kari rather than their food. The two had refused to speak, or even look at each other throughout the entire meal. They even sat on separate sides of the table for the first time in anybody present's recorded memory. Normally they sat right next to, or straight across from one another. Finally tiring of stalling, Davis finally summoned up the courage to make his announcement to his straining group of friends.

"Guys... If I can have your attention please, there's something important I need to talk to you guys about. I think it may have something to do with the Digital World, so I need you guys to listen close."

The mere mention of the words Digital World was more than enough to grab everybody's interest. Ken looked all around at his surroundings. "No one's really close enough to overhear us... Okay Davis go ahead."

Davis sighed. "Alright... Here it goes... I've kept this to myself for a while, but I think it's finally time I let you guys in on it. The last few weeks I've been having this reoccurring nightmare where I find myself stuck in the Digital World watching everything around me being devoured by some kind of black cloud..."

Yolie gasped. "Did you say black cloud?!"

"You mean like the one Izzy and Tai mentioned the other day?" Ken asked quickly.

"Yes... That's the reason I've decided to bring this out into the open... I never thought much about it until I heard about that."

"You shouldn't have kept this to yourself for so long!" Yolie scolded him. "Do you have any idea how important this might be?!"

"I know I'm sorry..." Davis scratched his head. "That's not the important thing right now though."

"Is there anything else you can remember from your dream that might be important?" Kari asked.

TK rolled his eyes at the mere sound of Kari's voice. "If he did don't you think he would've told us already?!"

"Well excuse for being inquisitive TK! I don't see you being any help over there!" she snapped, purposely making light of the recent change in seating arrangements.

Yolie and Ken both sweat dropped. "Guys, guys!" Ken begged. "Can you please wait and fight later?! This is really important!"

Both TK and Kari grunted, and turned their heads away in disgust. Davis cursed himself, and continued speaking. "Actually there was something else. Something major. My dream always ends after I read some kind of big stone tablet with some kind of prophecy written on it. The only problem is I can never remember most of it by the time I wake up."

Yolie frowned. "You can't remember any of it?"

"Bits and pieces here and there," Davis altered his story. "There's always some voice that comes out of thin air telling me if I don't figure out what the prophecy means both worlds are doomed to be devoured by the dark clouds. The voice also said I'd be able to remember all of the prophecy when the time was right. I have a feeling that's coming up really soon since I've been remembering a little more of it everyday. I just have to piece the rest together... What I want to do is get the original digidestined together, and explain what's going on to them too. Once the time comes I think they're going to play an important role in this as well. I want them to be ready when the time comes."

"That's good thinking Davis!" Yolie complemented. "Your really starting to use that head of yours for once aren't you?!"

"What is that supposed to mean?! I always used my head! It just never really worked out all that well in the past..." Davis joked, drawing giggles from everyone except Cody and TK. That was the big difference between Davis now, and the Davis from little more than a year earlier. Much like Tai before him his experiences in the Digital World, especially his role as leader of the new Digidestined, had aided Davis in maturing a lot in a short amount of time. One of the biggest lessons he had learned was that he was far from perfect, and had grown up enough to laugh at and overcome his own short comings. He had also come to learn that you can't always get what you want no matter how much you may want it. A lesson Kari had taught, and he'd learned to accept. Despite all his experiences nothing could possibly have prepared him for what he had been thrown into.

"When did it ever work?!" Yolie cracked. "Seriously speaking now that that's settled... Maybe now we should move on to our other little problem."

"What would that be?" Davis asked.

Yolie pointed at TK and then Kari. "I want to know what's up with you two today. You guys have looked all but ready to snap each other's head's off since you sat down at the table!"

Hurt and angry TK was quick to snap. "You want to know what's wrong Yolie?! I can't speak for her, but I can sure tell you what's wrong with me no problem! I'm sure you've all heard the rumors floating around school about me! I know most everyone else has."

Yolie and Ken simply blushed, while Davis lowered his head to hide the guilty look on his face. "Well... Yeah..." Ken stammered. "I can see why you'd be upset about that. I wouldn't worry too much about it though. Rumors don't usually hold much weight around this place, and they normally fizzle out and are forgotten in a few weeks. We didn't think much about them at first, because we knew they weren't true."

"Yeah, but some of the things I heard were really nasty!" Yolie commented. "I wondered how those got started anyway?"

"You really want to know Yolie?!" TK snarled. "You know the person who's been spreading them rather well! Hell, she's sitting right next to you!" TK pointed at Kari causing both Ken and Yolie's eyes to widen.

"I have not!" Kari shouted, displaying the first signs of life she'd shown in a while. "I would never do anything like that to you! How can you even accuse me of that?!"

"You admitted it! I asked you straight out if what Amber told me was true, and your exact words were your damn right I told her! You've been trying to go back on it ever since!"

"I misunderstood you! Sure I told Amber some things, but they were all the truth! I had no idea she was going to blow it all out of proportion like that! If you would've given me time to explain myself..."

"I don't want to hear any lame excuses!" TK screeched. "I've heard more than enough from you as it is! You've changed your story so many times as it is how could I possibly believe you?!"

"I haven't..." Kari chocked, and her eyebrows sunk low. "Then why should I believe you then?! Maybe all the things I've heard you've been saying about me are true after all?!"

"Guys please! People are staring!" Ken worried.

TK ignored him. "Don't give me that crap! Those rumors are simply something else you made up in case you needed to cover your back! Well, I'm not buying it one bit!"

"No, she's telling the truth TK!" Yolie backed her up. "I've heard those rumors too!"

"So have I," Ken added. "I don't really know what's going on here, but someone sure seems to be slinging some serious mud at you two."

Davis found it increasingly difficult to pay close attention, and keep a straight face at the same time. TK grunted with disgust.

"That's what I've been trying to get at!" Kari snapped. "But somebody wouldn't even give me one minute to listen so I could explain myself!"

Without a word TK glared at Kari in a way that nearly made her blood run cold. His normally bright blue and shining eyes were, at the moment, ice cold and threatening. He remained silent for a moment before throwing Kari's last comment right back in her face. "So tell me Kari. How does it feel?"

Kari knew full well what he was talking about. She'd gotten angry with him on several occasions as of late, and not once was she remotely willing to listen to what he had to say. Unable to think up anything to come back with, she stared down at the table without saying another word.

"Doesn't feel all that great does it?!" TK punctuated his final point. "There's no way I can eat right now. I'm out of here!"

TK sat up, and walked away from the group without a one of them even making an attempt to stop him. Yolie looked over at Kari who looked exactly like a scolded puppy at the moment. "Kari..." She whispered. "I know you've been a bit jealous and all, but don't you think that's going a little too far?"

"I DIDN'T START THOSE RUMORS YOLIE!"

"Of course I know you didn't! That's not what I meant Kari!... Not exactly anyway..."

"Forget it Yolie," Kari sniffed, as she started to tear up. "I don't want to talk about this anymore."

Kari sat up, and exited the lunchroom quickly. Yolie and the others decided it would be best to let her be at the moment. They all kind of stared at each other dumbly for a couple minutes, before the dismissal bell rang signaling the end of their lunch period. As the students began to file out of the lunchroom Cody looked up at Davis with nervous eyes.

"Um Davis..."

"What do you want now?!"

Cody stepped back. "Well... I'm sorry to bother you, but when you said you wanted everyone to meet later did you mean me too?"

"I said all the digidestined didn't I?" he snipped. "I can't help it if your one of us."

"Okay... I was just checking," Cody whimpered weakly before putting some distance between him and Davis.

Davis's stern expression soften as Cody left his line of sight. "He use to stand up to me... Did I really shake him up that badly?"

********

The soothing trickling sound of the river was all he could hear besides the faint swooshing sound Gomamon made with his flippers as he moved. Gomamon swam ahead cautiously, concerned by the thick dark fog that had blanketed the river. He peered inside hoping his eyes were deceiving him, but they weren't. Inside the fog was a virtual gallery of flying and water Digimon, all frozen solid in their stone cases.

"What in the world?!... It looks like an art museum in there, and all the exhibits just happen to be Digimon! Either someone's been on a serious sculpting binge, or something strange is going on here... My bet would be it has something to do with that fog! It's probably not a good idea to go inside, or I might end up like the rest of them... Hey! I've got an idea!"

Gomamon took a deep breath, and dived underneath the water. He swam downward until he was sure he was a safe enough distance away that he wouldn't receive any type of potential side effects from that fog. The fish swimming around safely all around him boosted his confidence. He swam underneath the fog examining the undersides of each of the fossilized Digimon. Since not a one of them were fully underneath the water, Gomamon determined he probably had to submerge at least part of his body above the surface into the fog to be effected. Gomamon gasped as his eyes feel across the belly of an old friend. "Whalemon," he mumbled into the water. Satisfied, he swam back out to what he was sure was a safe distance away from the cloud before he swam back up to the surface.

"This isn't good. Just what do I tell Agumon and the others about this... HEY!" Gomamon shouted, as a large wave below him almost hurled him into the air. "Watch where your going you overgrown sardine! There's other Mon swimming up here you know!"

"What did you call me?!" a familiar voice rumbled from underneath the water.

"Uh-oh..." Gomamon's face melted, recognizing the voice. The long and slimy blue neck of Seadramon emerged from below the water confirming Gomamon's worst fears.

"Did you just insult me boy?! Who are you to tell me where to swim in my own territory?! Maybe I need to teach you a little lesson in manners!"

"Oh crap..."

"Are you absolutely sure about this Palmon?" Gabumon asked, as she drug him by the arm.

"I know what I saw Gabumon!" she swore to him. "There's an entire herd of Digimon that have turned into stone inside of that fog that spread out over the river the other day! I'm telling you I saw it!"

"I believe you Palmon! I believe you, so you don't have to rip my arm out of the socket! I thought it was kind of strange that the fog just kind of stayed there without spreading but..."

The Digimon were distracted by the muffled sounds of someone screaming through the sounds of water being cut through. A little ways upstream from them, they saw Gomamon coming at them at high speed with an angry Seadramon right on his tailfins.

"Gomamon!" they both shouted.

"Heyguys!Beenlookingalloverforyou!Howdoyoudoing?!Bye!" He managed to spit out, as he rocketed past them.

"Hey guys, nice afternoon isn't it?" Seadramon belted out, as he pursued Gomamon.

"What do we do?!" Palmon asked.

"You wait here, and I'll go try to help him!"

"Come on Seadramon! Can't we talk about this like adults?!" Gomamon huffed, flapping his flippers as fast as he could. "Come on buddy! Can't you take a joke?! Can't we just forget this ever happened, and be friends?!"

"No, no, and hell no! I'm going to have you for lunch!"

"This is not how I envisioned my day…"

Gomamon was tiring fast, and knew he had to think of something quick. With no other options at the present time, Gomamon did the only thing he could think of. Gomamon dived underneath the water, swam underneath the serpent Digimon, popped out on the other side of him, and fled in the opposite direction.

"Trying to be cute now hey? That might've bought you a few seconds, but I can still swim you down whenever I feel like it!" Seadramon turned himself around, and continued the chase.

A high pitched howl turned out to be sweet music to Gomamon's ears. Before Seadramon knew what hit him, Garurumon was latched on to the serpents scaly back swatting at him with his powerful claws. Assuming everything was going to turn out okay, Gomamon used this time to take a much needed breather.

"You again!" Seadramon snarled. "I remember you all too well... Your not going to get the best of me this time!"

Seadramon wrapped his powerful neck around Garurumon, and squeezed the holy hell out of him. The serpent Digimon uncoiled, and sent Garurumon flying a long ways upstream where he landed with a thud on the shore. Garurumon stirred slightly before falling back to the ground. Seadramon turned his attention back to Gomamon who, for some reason, was still floating in the same spot. Seemingly void of common sense he hadn't tried to run or anything, and seemed shocked that Garurumon was defeated so quickly.

"So your ganging up on me now hey?" Seadramon growled. "I was only intending to scare you at first, but now I'm going to grind your little bones into algae!"

Needing no second warnings, Gomamon gulped and was then off to the races. It wasn't long before Gomamon passed Garurumon who was still struggling to get to his feet. "I appreciate the effort buddy, but you really weren't much help back there!"

"Sorry..." he mumbled right before converting back to Gabumon.

Gomamon paddled his little heart out, and before long found himself nearing the dark fog again. Instinct took over, and he came to a skidding halt right before running into the fog. He dived back underneath the water to avoid the fast approaching serpent Digimon. Unfortunately for Seadramon he wasn't near as nimble as the smaller Gomamon, and by the time he was able to stop himself he found himself surrounded by the dark fog that had covered up a good chunk of his river.

"What the?... I feel strange all of the sudden..." Sedramon gasped at the feel of his skin tightening up, and parts of his body hardening. "What's happening to me?!"

Gomamon submerged just in time to get a close up view of Sedramon converting to a statue. Gabumon and Palmon, who had arrived just at that time, witnessed the display as well.

"Whoa," Gomamon gasped. "I'm sorry to say this, but better you than me buddy."

"I told you so," Palmon sighed.

"Sorry I doubted you. I wonder if this is going on anywhere else?"

"Unfortunately it's happening all over the Digital World," Gomamon said, as he splashed out of the water onto the shore. "Except most of them are appearing as dark clouds in the sky. That's why Agumon sent me down here to find you guys. I'm not sure he knows just what they are capable of doing yet, so we better get word to him and the others and fast!"

"Right," Gabumon agreed. "Umm... Gomamon. I don't mean to be nitpicky after the fact, but why didn't you just jump ashore while Seadramon was chasing you? He couldn't chase you on land, and you could've gotten away much easier."

Gomamon sweat dropped. "Well... It just didn't cross my mind. Hey, I was under a lot of stress at the time if you didn't notice!"

Gabumon and Palmon fell over. "Same old Gomamon..." Palmon sighed.

"Never mind!" Gabumon moaned. "Let's just go meet up with Agumon and the others..."

********

"Come on! Not this again guys!" Veemon groaned, noticing the other Digimon faltering behind him. "You can't be tired already! Keep them butts moving! We're bound to find something if we keep moving!"

"But we've been going without a break since sunrise!" Biyomon panted. "It's nearing sundown now! We've got to take a break and regroup sometime!"

"How are we supposed to accomplish anything sitting on our duffs?!" Veemon argued. "You agree with me don't you Agumon?"

"No, Veemon they're right," he disagreed. He continued before Veemon had a chance to argue with him. "Your spirit is admirable, but your not thinking straight right now. Your still thinking with your heart while as for the rest of us, our feet and wings have convinced our heads we need a breather. I know your worried things might get worse if we take it easy, but it's not going to be good for us in the long run if we're exhausted when and if something happens."

Biyomon grinned at him. "Whoa Agumon! Where did that come from?!"

Agumon scratched his head. "I'm not sure... Hey! Why do you sound so surprised?!"

"Well I still think..."

"Well, there's our problem right there," Tentomon said abruptly. "That's what happens when Veemon tries to think. It causes nothing but trouble!"

"Hey, that was uncalled for! I'm merely trying to point out that..."

"I'll handle this," Gatomon whispered to no one in particular. She snuck around to Veemon's side while he was still shooting off his mouth. She slid her paws around his arm, and stared into his eyes seductively. "Veemon we all know how strong and courageous you are, and I know you can push on all night and still take on any evil Digimon toe to toe. I'm sorry, but the rest of us just can't keep up with you. It would mean a lot to me if you'd humor us just this once, and take a rest with the rest of us. I'd really appreciate it."

Veemon blushed. "Well... If you really need to... Ha, ha!.. Break time!"

"Thank you Veemon," she cued, as she let go of his arm.

Wormmon shook his head, as Veemon stumbled over by him grinning from ear to ear. "You know she was just playing with you to get you to do what she wanted don't you?"

"Yeah I know," he sighed. "What can I say? I'm a sucker for a pretty face. It's my one weakness."

"Your one weakness?"

"He's too easy," Gatomon snickered falling in back of the rest of the group next to Patamon.

"Humph!" Patamon snorted, as turned his head away in disgust.

"Patamon what's the matter?" she asked, as Patamon flew away from her. "Patamon!"

Hawkmon was flying above the rest of the group, so he was the first to notice the sky suddenly turn dark. His friends below didn't think much of it at the time because they were expecting night to fall sometime soon anyway, so none of them wondered why some small streams of sunlight were still flickering off the ground. However, Hawkmon knew full well that the sun wasn't supposed to set fully for another hour at the least, and it never did so that quickly. He looked above him, and sure enough another cloud of mist had spread out across the sky blocking out the sun. "Oh this is just fantastic!"

"Hey does anybody hear that?" Armadillomon asked stopping in his tracks.

"I don't hear anything," Tentomon announced.

"I think I do," Hawkmon concurred. "It sounds like a large flock of birds flying nearby. In fact it sounds like their just over our heads. Umm..."

"What's the matter Hawkmon?" Agumon asked. "Is something wrong."

"Well Yes... It seems that sound is coming from that cloud up there..."

Now everyone was aware of the dark mass of mist hanging above their heads. As if on cue, a flock of bird type Digimon flew out of the cloud into an open part of the sky that was still tinted with sunlight. They were hard to make out from so high in the sky, but Gatomon could determine that they resembled something like a large falcon similar to the ones on earth she'd seen in pictures. On close view, the leader of the group could easily be pointed out due to the long single lens pair of sunglasses he wore on his face.

"Attention Rageramon squadron! Fall into formation!" the head Mon ordered. Ten other lower rank digimon filed in behind him with pin point timing, forming a giant V formation in the sky. "We have our orders men! Our targets are located directly below, and our only objective is to eliminate them at all cost! On my signal everyone dive, and execute attack sequence Delta B! Okay! 3, 2, 1. Everybody move out!"

Each Rageramon locked on to a specific target they were assigned to at an earlier time, and made a beeline for Agumon and his friends. Several members of the group broke formation, and veered off to the right for some unknown destination. Agumon looked over his friends, realizing no one was in any real shape to fight. All they could really do at the moment was wait and let them make the first move, but the mere idea of that tied his stomach in knots.

"Well guys. I don't know about you, but I'm not waiting around here for them to attack us! Everyone scatter!"

They all did just that, and if they succeeded in anything they managed to make it that much more difficult for the Rageramon to lock in on their targets. "Hey guys, I guess our reputation proceeds us. They're already running around like scolded dogs! Don't allow them to fan out to far apart men! Commence attack immediately!"

His followers obeyed his command. Each one closed their wings shut and reopened them, each one releasing half a dozen dagger like projectiles from their wingspans. They fell to the ground like hot rocks of magma spewing from a volcano redirecting, and tormenting their enemies below.

"Not this again!" Armadillomon shouted. "Don't they have anymon that fights on the ground?!"

"We've got to digivolve quick!" Veemon said, as he dodged in-between several of the dagger shots raining down on him. The Rageramon poured on a relentless assault firing one blast after another.

"We can't, we're all too low on energy!" Agumon lectured, as he was avoiding shots nearby. "That's exactly why we shouldn't have exhausted ourselves!"

"Okay, okay! I was wrong! So sue me!"

"I'll keep that option in mind if we make it out of this with our skin !" Agumon cracked. "You've got a lot to learn Veemon!"

"Hey, wait a second?..." Tentomon stopped in midair, and nearly got blasted because of it. "Whoa, I better keep my wings flapping! Still, why do they always seem to attack when most of us are low on energy, and aren't able to digivolve? I wonder if they know something?..."

"Hey, what's going on up there?!" Gatomon shrieked noticing her friends were under attack. Her and Patamon had drifted a considerable distance behind the others. "Oh no, we've got to help them!"

They both darted towards the battle scene, but Patamon noticed something circling in the sky to his left. He nudged his head around only to find four more Rageramon heading straight for them! The normally focused Gatomon, who was fixated on what was going on ahead of her, failed to notice her approaching assaulters who were already launching their attack.

Patamon gasped sensing Gatomon had no clue what was headed for her. "Gatomon look out!"

"Huh?!" Gatomon came to a screeching halt, which was probably the worst thing she could've done. Patamon managed to knock her out of the way just in the nick of time, but as a result was nailed right in the gut with two of the six oncoming daggers. Patamon was sent flying right back into Gatomon, knocking them both to the ground.

"Patamon! Are you okay?!" Gatomon cried, as she tried to shake some life back into him.

"I'm fine..." he moaned. "That hurt a little more than I though it would though…"

"What did you do that for?! You should've let them hit me! I could've taken those shots a lot better then you can!"

"Hey, don't worry about it... What else was I going to do? We're friends aren't we?..."

Gatomon's ears flattened, but then she smiled. "You little... Quick, let's get out of here!"

Gatomon scooped him up in her arms, and fled the scene as the Ragedramon continued to attack them. She hadn't made it very far when one of their shots exploded right at her feet, tripping her up and sending Patamon flying out of her arms. They landed on what looked like a normal patch of grass, but as soon as they hit they fell through the ground and slid down disappearing for the view of their attackers.

"Where did they go?"

One of the Ragedramon examined the hillside nearby. All he saw was a good hundred foot drop with a winding river barely in the line of sight below. "There's no way they could've survived that. Our job here's done! Let's get moving!"

Worried about his friends that had lagged behind, Wormmon scampered behind the group to see if he could find any sight of them. He found them, but just in time to watch them hit the ground only to disappear underneath it. Wormmon hid himself underneath the bulk of a large tree, and waited until the Ragedramon left the area. Wormmon scampered over to the spot he saw his friends land, only to find a huge hole where the ground should normally be. He peered down inside the hole, which seemed to go straight down with no end in sight.

"Well... I guess there's only one thing I can do... I hope I don't live to regret this." Wormmon readied his legs, all ten of them, and jumped into the hole after them. "Geronaimo!"

"WHOA!" Gatomon and Patamon screamed, as they slid down the seemingly never ending tunnel. Finally, the light at the end of the tunnel appeared, literally, and they popped out of it landing with a thud against the moist earth. They could already hear the gushing sound of water even with their faces still inspecting the mud. They shook the cobwebs out of their heads, and discovered they had crash landed in the back of a small waterfall.

"You okay Pata?..." Gatomon winced.

"No, but I'll live." The pain in his gut was still sharp, but he managed to take flight regardless. "Where are we?"

"Your in my home away from home I guess you could say," a familiar voice echoed through the cavern. "Sorry I had to invite you in so abruptly, but things were getting a little sticky up there."

Gatomon's ears perked up unable to believe what they were hearing. The sound of a ghost from her past that she never expected to hear again. She turned her head around slowly to see if her eyes could confirm what her ears were hearing, and sure enough they did. "Wi... Wizardmon?! How... Is that really... Your alive?!"

"Last time I checked," Wizardmon joked, as he patted himself down. "What's the matter? No hug for an old friend?"

Gatomon's original state of shock turned into avid jubilation in less than a second. She charged her old friend and embraced him, stretching her small arms as far around his waist as she could. Her heart soared to heights she couldn't begin to explain. Still unable to believe he was actually standing there in front of her, she patted him down with her paws making sure he was actually solid.

"It's good to see you again as well Gatomon," Wizardmon giggled. "Well, from the living side of the spectrum anyway."

Patamon, who was much more wary, approached Wizardmon cautiously. "Wizardmon? But aren't you... I mean weren't you a ghost?"

"There's no need to be afraid Patamon," Wizardmon assured him, as Gatomon let go of him. "I'm as alive as you and Gatomon are."

"Yeah but how?!" Gatomon asked enthusiastically.

"There'll be plenty of time to explain that a little later, but right now..." Wizardmon stopped in mid-sentence, and looked back in the direction of the tunnel Patamon and Gatomon had entered the cavern through with sunk eyes.

"What's the matter?" Gatomon wondered.

"Someone else is coming through the tunnel... I wasn't expecting any other visitors, so brace yourselves. I have no idea who it might be."

Patamon's ears stretched out on the sides of his head. "Expecting?"

"Look out below!" A voice screamed from inside the tunnel. Within a matter of seconds, Wormmon came tumbling inside the cavern, and landed face first in the dirt right underneath where Patamon was flying. "Oh... Now I know why Ken hates roller coasters so much..."

"Wormmon? What are you doing here?" Gatomon asked him.

Wormmon shook the cobwebs out of his head, and picked himself up. "I saw you and Gatomon fall through the ground, so I came after you to see if you guys needed help."

"So your Wormmon?" Wizardmon scratched his chin looking rather inquisitive. "The bearer of Kindness's digimon? I've been wondering about you?"

"Huh? Who are you?" Wormmon asked, noticing the scarecrow looking digimon standing beside Gatomon.

"My name is Wizardmon, and I'm an old friend of Gatomon and Patamon's. Gather around with us, and I'll try to explain things to you with a little more clarity."

Everyone gathered around, and gave a basic run down of everything that had been happening in the Digital World in recent days. Wizardmon educated Wormmon on his history, and when Wormmon finally seemed satisfied it was time to get down to the current matters at hand.

"So Wizardmon..." Gatomon started. "How is it possible that your here? I thought that since you died in the human world you were stuck there as a wandering spirit, and couldn't return to the Digital World and be reconfigured like you normally would."

"I was for a great deal of time," Wizardmon explained. "However, a new friend of mine, I guess we can call him, opened a gate for me that my spirit was able to cross through and reenter the Digital World. When I did my body was immediately reconfigured like I normally would've been if I had died in the Digital World, and so here I am. I'm sorry I didn't contact you sooner Gatomon, but I was put under strict orders not to contact you until the time was right."

"Strict orders from who?" Gatomon asked, sounding slightly irritated.

"I'm sorry but I can't reveal that at this time. Please understand my friend."

Gatomon was disappointed, but she didn't argue. Patamon followed up with a question of his own. "Umm... Pardon me Wizardmon, but what exactly did you mean when you said you were expecting us?"

"Oh that," Wizardmon continued. "Once again I can't go in to much detail, but let's just say I have a way of sensing when Gatomon is close by thanks to her tail ring. Wherever Gatomon is I assumed you wouldn't be too far away Patamon."

"What is that supposed to mean?!" They both asked simultaneously.

Wizardmon purposely ignored the question. "Anyway, that's what I meant when I mention I was expecting you. However, I wasn't really planning on anyone else dropping in."

"I'm sorry, I crashed your little party uninvited didn't I?" Wormmon asked sounding guilty. "If you want me too I can leave the area while you guys go about your business."

"Don't be silly, that won't be necessary," Wizardmon said with a wave of his forearm. "This was meant for all of you to hear. I was simply planning on having Patamon, and Gatomon relay the message to the rest of you. I merely have a larger audience then I was expecting."

"So, what is it you have to tell us?" Gatomon questioned, eager to begin.

"Listen closely my friends, for this is of the utmost importance." Wizardmon motioned with his hands signaling the others to move in closer. "I'm sure you've all noticed some unnatural events occurring in the Digital World as of late."

"If you'd call that strange mist, and those strange Digimon flying around everywhere unnatural then yes!" Patamon squeaked.

"Do you know something about this Wizardmon?" Gatomon hoped.

"Indeed I do Gatomon," Wizardmon sighed. "There's a great evil lurking behind those clouds of mist poised to unleash devastation on both this world, and the human world."

"There always is," Patamon mumbled under his breath. "So what else is new?"

"Don't get me wrong Wizardmon. I'm really glad to see you again and all, but if you stand there and tell me Myotismon is behind this I'm going to have to claw your eyes out!" Gatomon threatened.

"That's one thing you won't have to worry about," Wizardmon assured her. "This guy would have Myotismon bent down on his knees kissing his butt. His name is Satamon, and he's been the biggest threat any world has ever seen for the past 1000 years."

Patamon's ears perked up. "Satamon?! That's the name Waspmon used when he mentioned his master!"

"So I see some of his minions have already slipped through their inter-dimensional prison..."

Wormmon looked confused. "Inter-dimensional prison?"

Wizardmon turned his head towards Wormmon. "I'm afraid that's just a short page of very long story. Have any of you heard the legend of the Dark Fog War?"

"No," Patamon answered, as his friends simply shook their heads.

"I'm not surprised. Most Digimon don't. There are only two I know of personally who do, and they passed the story down to me. There's only so much I can tell you, but what I can will at least give you a basic explanation of what's going on."

"That's fine with us. Anything you can tell us will be more then we knew when we crashed in on you," Gatomon said.

"Good." Wizardmon coughed into his hand. "Everyone listen closely, and try to remember as much as you can of what I have to say. It'll be up to you three to relay this message to the others."

Wizardmon took a seat on the smoothest part of the cavern floor he could find, and the other's followed suit sitting down in front of him as he began his story. "Many, many years ago, an extremely powerful Digimon appeared in the Digital World. This Digimon represented everything that was divine and righteous in the world, and made it it's own personal responsibility to protect both the Digital World and the human world. This Digimon would simply be known later as the Guardian. The Guardian created a strict set of rules for himself, the most important being never to interfere with everyday life in either world. The human world was already flowing along nicely, so the Guardian spent most of the time looking after the Digital World where life was still in it's early stages. Remember at this time, the flow of time in the Digital World was much faster than in the human world. You must remember that where ever a great good exists, an equally great evil exists as well. This evil came in the form of Satamon who practically arose from the depths of hell itself. With him he brought a hoard of his own soulless minions, and the source of his power came in the form of a black mist that he and his minions spread wherever they went. This mist, in any form it might take, would turn any living matter into solid stone. Only Satamon's minions who are believed to have been created from the mist itself, were immune to it's effects. Soon after Satamon first appeared in the Digital World an enormous battle ensued between him and the Guardian. The Guardian managed to defeat Satamon, but was so weakened after the battle it hadn't the power to rid the world of him completely. Instead the Guardian imprisoned him inside an inter-dimensional prison for what the Guardian hoped would be the rest eternity. The Guardian soon realized the battle had taken more of a toll on it than the Guardian had thought. Knowing it wasn't long for this world, the guardian used the last of it's power to split his body into nine different entities that the Guardian felt were most important in the making of a righteous living being in hopes that they could be used to protect both worlds if the need ever arose. The Guardian left the story in the form of a prophecy inscribed on a stone tablet hidden in the mountains to the north. As of late, cracks have developed in the prison the Guardian locked Satamon in, and some of his dark influence has snuck back into the Digital World as you've seen. If the situation continues on the path it's on, Satamon himself will escape from his imprisonment soon enough. That's the entire story guys. Well, at least the basic run-down of what I can give you." Wizardmon looked directly into a wall of blank stares aimed towards him. "I can see by the expressions on your faces your a bit confused. Ask me any questions you deem necessary, and I'll answer them for you if I can. One at a time now please. Wormmon, why don't you go first?"

"Umm... Okay. I just have one question... What?"

Wizardmon face faulted. Gatomon waved her paw in front Wormmon in order to grab his attention. "Don't worry about that right now! I understand perfectly, and I'll try to re-explain it to him later. Right now we have more important things to discuss. The more time we waste talking down here the worse things are going to get up there! First of all, let's hear more about this prophecy thing you were talking about. Do you know where we might be able to find this stone tablet, so we could at least attempt to decipher it. I don't care if it's difficult to get to or not because I'm all for trying anything that may help us out right about now."

"No need for you to worry about that Gatomon," Wizardmon informed her. "Your human partners will be responsible for that. Your biggest worry will be making sure your ready to fight whenever it may be necessary, and you will find the need quite often. Trust me. In other words, the same old same old."

"I see..." Gatomon pondered her next question. "What about these nine entities of the Guardian you spoke of? You said he created them to protect the Digital and Human worlds, and I think we need them right now if we ever did! Is there anyway we can take advantage of them... I mean are they really capable of beating this Satamon guy?"

"That's another part of the prophecy that will have to be solved in due time. However, I will tell you they are right underneath your noses, and yes they are the key to defeating Satamon. That's all I can tell you on the topic though."

"Umm... I have a question," Patamon spoke up. "Whenever you brought up the Guardian why did you keep referring to him as either it or just 'The Guardian'?"

"Ah, so you picked up on that," Wizardmon beamed. "I commend you Patamon. It's a rather interesting story. You see according to legend the Guardian was apparently neither male or female, but a combination of both."

"How is that possible?" Wormmon asked.

"Was the Guardian like what the humans call.... What was that?... A hermafferlite or something?" Patamon wondered.

"I think you mean hermaphrodite Patamon, but no I think it's quite different than that," Wizardmon responded. "I really don't like referring to the Guardian as it, so I prefer to refer to him as the Guardian as much as possible."

"You've just reminded me of another problem we're facing Wizardmon," Gatomon started. "You've mentioned our human counterparts already, but we have no way of contacting the human world as it is right now..."

"Stop right there Gatomon," Wizardman ordered. "I know exactly what your going to ask, and this is something I can actually help you with. I've already open you a digi-port to the human world, and it's not that far from here. A little bit to the northeast actually. All you have to do is find it."

"No problem!" Gatomon enthused. "Let's get going guys! Our friends probably still need our help!"

"Not so fast guys!" Wizardmon stopped them. "There's one last thing I need to tell you. Your friends in the human world are facing some of the biggest tests in their young lives right now. They're going to need your support more than they ever have before once you reunite with them again. Keep that in mind."

"We will," Gatomon smiled. "Thank you. Are you coming with us?"

"No, I've got other responsibilities I need to tend to, but I'll be in touch though. Oh, and Wormmon. You most of all need to keep a close eye on Ken. He hasn't done as well of a job with putting his demons behind him as he lets on. He could really use you to help remind him how far he's come since his days as the Digimon Emperor."

"I'll do my best."

"I know you will."

Wizardmon waved good-bye to them as they turned to leave. He called Patamon back to his side for a moment while Wormmon and Gatomon started to climb up the tunnel. "What's up?" Patamon asked him.

"Just one quick thing. I know I probably don't need to remind you of this, but please keep an eye on Gatomon for me. Not that you don't normally do already, " Wizardmon winked at him.

"Uh... Sure. If you say so..." Patamon peeked at Wizardmon through the corner of his eyes, as he flapped after the others. "Weirdo."

Wizardmon laughed sadly as Patamon disappeared into the tunnel. "Take care my friends... I wish I could've been more help, but this is something your friends have to deal with on their own. I'll be watching you."

********

Sora sat on the curb with her chin resting on her knuckles. She sighed sadly, as she watched two small white birds fly above her head. Tai despised seeing her like this, and he hated knowing there was nothing he could do to help take her pain away. All he could do was be there for her like he'd always been, and hope he could do at least a little to help cheer her up. Tai crept up to her silently, and sat down next to her.

"So here's where you ran off to." Tai put his arms around Sora, just like your best friend would, and squeezed her shoulders gently. "You sure your okay?"

Sora smiled weakly, and squeezed his hand with hers. "Yeah, I'm fine Tai. I just wanted some air..."

Tai sighed, and let his arm fall back to his side. "I know you've been hurting Sora, and your going to hurt for a while. You've got to remember though Sora, your still young yet and it's not like your never going to fall in love again. I just don't want to see you let this one setback keep you down for too long."

"It's not really that anymore either Tai," Sora sighed. "I've pretty much accepted it's over with Matt, and I can live with that... It's just that he's not only dumped me, but now he doesn't seem to want anything to do with me whatsoever. I had hoped we would at least still be friends if anything ever happened between us, but from the looks of things I won't even have that anymore. What I've been doing lately wasn't trying to get him back as much as I was just trying to smooth things over between us, but it's just not working I guess."

Tai listened attentively as Sora finished repeating the exact reasons Tai never went after her in the first place. He felt a slight tug at his heart, as she wiped a tear from her eye. "Don't worry too much about it Sora. I'm sure Matt's hurting just as much as you are, but just in a different way. I'm sure he's going to wake up one of these days, and realize what a horrible mistake he's made and that he really does still love you. Until then you just say what, and I'll do whatever I can to help you feel better."

Sora's smile brightened slightly. "Thanks Tai. Just keep on doing what you've been doing. You've been more then a help, and a real sweetheart."

"Hey, I'll always be here for you Sora. You'd do the same for me."

Sora's expression dimmed, but picked up slightly soon after. "I guess so, but I've never had the opportunity. How come you've never had a girlfriend Tai? Your an attractive enough guy, yet your sixteen years old and never even been on a date!"

"Eh.. I haven't found anybody worth bothering with"

"Oh come on!" Sora pried. "You've never been interested in anybody?"

"I never said that," he smirked. "I fell in love once before, but she didn't want me. It just happens that way some times. I dealt with it, and I moved on."

Tai's choice of words must of hit an invisible off button, because nether one of them could think of anything to follow up with. They sat there silently for a few minutes, simply staring at the cars as they passed by. Their attention did not divert elsewhere until a noticeably upset Kari streaked by them without noticing they were there.

"Kari," Tai called out to her. She either couldn't hear him, or was ignoring him since she kept on walking towards the entrance to their apartment complex.

"We better go check on her," Sora said, feeling the same sense of worry Tai was experiencing.

Tai and Sora followed Kari through the door, up the stairs, and through the Kamiya's apartment door all with Kari none the wiser. She didn't even notice they were there until she found them standing behind her after she slammed her book bag down against the kitchen table.

"Let me guess," Tai sighed. "You and TK had it out again didn't you?"

Go figure. The first words out of her brother's mouth dropped one thin little strain of hair onto a dangerously hypersensitive trigger. It set her off immediately into a river of tears that winded their way to her room, and continued beyond the door as she slammed it behind her.

Sora glanced at Tai like she could kill him. "What did you do that for?! How can you be that insensitive?!"

"How was I being insensitive?!" Tai bellowed defensively. "I just asked her a question!"

"It was the way you asked it Tai! Like your ticked off she was still upset with him! You know they've been having problems, and giving her an attitude about it isn't going to help anything!"

"I didn't ask her like I was ticked off!... I will admit it does annoy me a little bit because they're fighting over the stupidest things! She's letting things bother her that wouldn't normally, and that just isn't like her. Personally, I think if she really likes the boy that much she should just tell him, and get it over with it!"

"Do you really think it's that easy Tai?" Sora asked almost coldly.

Tai practically stared a hole through her. "Actually, no I don't. I still wouldn't let it bother me like that. She either needs to tell him, or live with the fact that he's eventually going to be dating other girls. What she's getting upset with him over isn't worth losing your best friend over. I know I didn't let it get to me like that."

"What do you mean by that?" Sora asked quickly.

Tai turned his back, and walked into the kitchen so Sora couldn't see him blush. "What I meant was I wouldn't have let it get to me like that if it happened to me."

"Oh..." Sora's voice drifted off slightly. "What makes you so sure she likes TK anyway?"

Tai laughed, as he opened one of the cupboards over the sink where his Mother kept the cups and drinking glasses. "I don't think like's a strong enough word. Think about it Sora. You bear the crest of Love don't you? You should've been the first to notice that Kari and TK are obviously more than just best friends despite what they might want to claim. It's obvious what her problem is. She's jealous, and she doesn't know how to handle it. She's had TK's undivided attention since they were eight, and now that it's drifting somewhere else she's finding out she's not to fond of the competition. I don't blame her for it one bit, I just would've hoped she knew how to handle herself better. Besides, I think her real problem is that she's upset with herself for letting all that time pass by without doing anything, and now she's afraid it may be too late."

Sora was shocked. She had thought something along those lines as well, but Tai made it sound so obvious she felt stupid for not thinking that herself sooner. "Well, if that's the case then why don't you go talk to her? Your her brother, and she could really use you right now."

"No, I'm staying out of it," he said, as he located his favorite glass, and pulled it off the shelf. "This is between her and TK, and they need to sort it out themselves. I'm not getting involved."

"Your not going to do anything?!" Sora sounded appalled. "Your sister is locked in her room right now crying buckets, and your not even going to check to see if she's okay?! What's wrong?! Did you grow out of your overprotective stage, and stop caring what happens to your sister?!"

Tai nearly crushed the glass in his hand. It was a well-known fact that Tai adored his baby sister, and any mere insinuation that he didn't care or look out for his sister as much as he could set Tai off like a volcano. He knew Sora hadn't meant that exactly the way it came across, but he still couldn't manage to hold his temper completely in check. "I appreciate your opinion Sora, but I think I might know my own sister a little better than you do! I know when and when not to bother her, and when she needs me to comfort her or not! There's no point in me going to talk to Kari right now. With the mood she's in at the moment, she isn't going to want anything to do with me! When she wants to talk she'll come to me, cry into my shoulder for an hour, complain about what a jerk TK's been, say some more nasty things about him she doesn't really mean, then she'll cry some more about saying those things about him, ball to me about how much she cares about him, and then everything will be back to normal until tomorrow."

Sora turned her head away looking defeated. "Fine... Do whatever you want..."

"I've got to let her handle this her own way Sora," Tai said, as he turned on the faucet. He held his glass underneath it until it filled with water. "It doesn't matter how close you are to a person, your going to have a disagreement now and then. They're best friends, and they'll work their way through it. You and I have had more than our fair share of fights, and we've made it through all of them okay."

"Their relationship is a little different from ours like you said before," Sora reminded him.

"Yeah..." Tai took a sip from his glass, masking a sorrowful expression on his face. "To tell you the truth I think it's the frustration building from them not being able to accept it that's got them at each other's throats. Kind of ironic isn't it?"

"I guess..."

"Look, if you're really that worried about her why don't you go, and have a talk with her," Tai suggested. "She might actually be willing to talk with you at the moment. I wouldn't have a prayer."

"Okay..." Sora's eyes shifted towards the hallway where Kari's room was. "I think I'll go do that."

Kari's pillow was soaking wet from crying into it, but she barely even noticed. She was laid out across her bed on her stomach when Sora walked into the room. "Go away Tai! I'm not in the mood right now!" she shouted through the muffling sound she made caused by her pillow.

"It's me Sora Kari. I was just wondering if you might need a little... Girl talk you know."

Relieved that it was Sora and not her brother, Kari lifted her face off her pillow and sat up. Sora sat down on the edge of the bed next to her. Her face was beet red, and her pupils were surrounded by a sea of red. "Oh Sora... I can't... TK's being such an ass! I can't believe he'd think I do this sort of thing!"

Sora's eyes widened, caught off guard by Kari's choose of words. "Whoa! This should be good..."

Sora listened closely as the tendered hearted child of light poured her heart out to her, and to say what she heard shocked her would've been an understatement. She let Kari have her say without interrupting her, and once she was through gave Kari some of her almost sisterly advice. Though Sora herself was a little lost on what to make of this dubious situation, she did managed to cheer Kari up somewhat. Kari thanked her with a quick hug, and smiled weakly as she wiped a tear from her eye.

"Thank you for listening Sora... It's nice to have another female around to talk to every once in a while. I love my Mom, but she's really not much help when it comes to things like this."

"No problem Kari," Sora smiled. "I know I've been here a lot lately, so I might as well make myself useful."

"Yeah, I love it! It's just like old times. I remember when we were younger you were over here all the time, or Tai was at your place. It's just like the way things use to be before you started dating Matt..." Kari cringed realizing she just might've hit a soft spot.

Sora's expression drooped. "Umm.... Yeah..."

"I'm sorry Sora, I shouldn't have mentioned that! I know half the reason you've been here so much is because your trying to get over him. What I mean is... I'm just sorry it didn't work out between you two," she lied. In fact, she was more than happy when she'd heard Sora and Matt had broken up. It wasn't that she was happy to see her upset, she hated that, but she saw it as a possible opportunity for her brother to finally... No. She realized Tai would never have the nerve to play off it even if he was sure he had a chance. She didn't want to see anyone miserable. She just wanted to see everyone happy, and of course her brother in particular.

"Don't worry about it Kari." Sora flashed her a reassuring smile. "I'm getting better with every passing day. Don't you worry about this thing with TK either. We both know that deep down he knows you would never spread a rumor like that about him. He is your best friend after all. He's upset just like you are, so give him a little time and he'll realize what a mistake he's made. By the end of the weekend he'll come running back to you begging your forgiveness."

"I know that, but it's just the fact that he'd actually think I'd do something like to him that really bothers me. Just the thought that he actually believed I spread those rumors really hurt me. Worse than anything I ever felt before... It was horrible. I'm not sure what I reacted the way I did, but all I wanted to do was cry every time he accused me of it... I thought he knew me better than that..."

"You know he does Kari," Sora said, as she wrapped a reassuring arm around her back. "He was upset too, and people are pushed into doing and saying things they don't really mean when they're upset. Just like you've been doing over the past few minutes. You didn't mean all those hateful things you said, and you regretted them almost as soon as you said them. Try to look at it from his point of view Kari. Think how badly he must feel to think you would actually do something like that to him. He has to be hurting just as bad as you are, if not worse. Remember, your hurting over something that you know isn't true while he's hurting over something he actually think is true, and that's usually much worse. You both need some time to sort things out. It's just like that with those rumors you've heard about what supposedly TK's been saying about you. You know they're not true. You know him a lot better than that."

"I don't know Sora," she sobbed. "Maybe I don't know him as well as I thought I did. Maybe I really don't know him at all."

"Kari..." Sora could sense Kari was slipping away from her again. Now Sora realized just what Tai meant about Kari needing to be ready to face her own problems. "I really wish you wouldn't think that way. I see you do need some time to think things through by yourself. Try to consider what I said okay?"

"I will Sora," Kari sighed, as she sprawled back across her bed. "At least I'll try..."

Tai held his hands together over his mouth, and stared at them nervously from his seat on the living room couch. It wasn't like things weren't already bad enough since he was worried about his sister, but now he feared that Sora may be angry with him now as well. He sat there hoping he hadn't been to brash with her. He was supposed to be helping to cheer her up, not making her upset over something else entirely. Tai hadn't meant to do anything to offend her, but his sister had always been Tai's hot button. Then again, Sora's opinion of him meant a lot to Tai as well...

Over anxious, Tai nearly leapt off the couch when he heard the door to Kari's room open. Somehow he managed to keep calm, and keep his butt in his seat. He inched his eyes to the corners and watched Sora approach him reluctantly, but she seemed to have something serious on her mind. "Something up?" he asked trying to sound like nothing had happened just minutes before.

"Yeah..." She said after a brief pause, and sounded slightly relieved. She'd been really worried she might've offended him with her earlier comments. "I think you really need to hear this. It isn't the silly stuff they've been fighting over like before. They actually have a good reason to be mad at each other this time. A damn good reason."

Tai's eyebrows furrowed with concern. "What is it?"

"Well, apparently there's been some rumors circulating around the Jr. High School that TK's kind of gaining the reputation as a young Casanova...."

"So what's wrong with that? I mean the kid practically is. You've seen the way those girls swarm around him at his basketball games. It's not like he can help it."

"That's not what I meant," Sora cringed like she was reluctant to say what was on her mind. "Personally, I think they're a little young to be dealing with this yet, but apparently people have been saying TK's been putting on the nice guy image just to... How do I say this? Scratch off another mark on his bedpost."

Tai didn't need any clarification on what that meant. "That's ridiculous! TK's one of the most straight up kids you'll find! You can't possibly mean Kari actually believes that!"

"No, of course she doesn't. That's not the bad thing... The thing is that TK misunderstood something Kari told him, and he believes that Kari's been spreading those rumors about him..."

"WHAT?!" Tai's jaw dropped. "Kari would never! Why would that idiot even think something like that?!"

"I don't know, but Kari's really upset about it," Sora said.

"That little idiot!... I'll have a talk with him, and set him straight! Even if I have to knock some sense into him!"

"That's not all," Sora cut in. "Apparently there's also been some rumors going around that TK's been bad mouthing Kari really bad behind her back. Of course you know that's not true, but Kari's so upset right now she's inclined to believe it since TK's been so quick to believe the worst of her."

"So what do you think is going on?" Tai asked.

"I don't know, but I think it's too much of a coincidence that these rumors have spread so quickly and at the same time. I think there may be another party involved with a grudge against them that's trying to stir the pot. Probably the same person."

"But who would possibly want to do something like that to them?! As far as I know nether one of them has any enemies so..." Tai's head jerked as if he'd just been slapped in the back of the head. "Unless..."

"Unless what?" Sora asked intrigued by why Tai had stalled to finish that thought.

"Well... The only person I can think of that would benefit from TK and Kari fighting like this would be Davis but... No, that can't be it. Davis and TK have been getting along fine lately anyway. Besides, that doesn't even sound like something Davis would've done even a year ago."

"Yeah your right," Sora agreed. "Come on, we don't need to stoop so low to suspect our friends now do we?"

"No, it was just a thought. That's not an option," Tai decided. "I'll tell you if I do find out who's doing it I'm going to rip their lying tongue right out of their mouth!"

"Unfortunately, even if we find out who it is the damage has already been done. Rumors hurt, and with all the gossip already floating around their school, poor TK may never get his reputation back."

"I didn't even think about that... So, how was Kari doing?" he asked, quickly changing the subject.

Sora took a deep breath. "She's really upset right now. Mostly because TK really seems to believe she's been spreading those rumors. TK's lack of faith in her really hurt her. I can't blame TK though either. A lot of the evidence has pointed in her direction, and she has a motive since she's been mad at him a lot lately. When I think about it I guess you were right. This is something they'll have to work out on their own."

"It really is," Tai smiled. "We can tell them what we think and what they should do until we're blue in the face, but in the end none of it really matters. They're going to have to hope their friendship is strong enough to pull them through this on their own."

"I guess... I know we can't force them to kiss and makeup, but there has to be something we can do to help them."

Tai thought it over a moment, as he ran his right hand through his hair. "Tell you what. I know Kari's going to come to me soon enough like she always does. I'll give Matt a call, and make sure he knows what's going on. I'll have Matt talk to TK about it, and maybe we can get those two together so they can work out their problems."

"Thanks Tai." Sora's eyes widened, as she suddenly remembered something important. "Oh, I almost forgot! Kari mentioned that Davis wanted everyone to meet at our usual spot in the park by the school tonight. He has something really important he wants to tell us concerning some sort of dream he had. That's all Kari told me, so that's all I know."

"No problem. I'll be there," Tai said.

Sora blushed, and sat up from her seat. "Well... I guess I better get going now. Thanks for being so hospitable to me, but I think I've imposed on you long enough. I don't want to waste anymore of your time…"

Tai looked at her like she was crazy. "What are you talking about Sora?! Your not imposing at all, and your certainly not wasting my time! Your always welcome here. How long have we been friends?"

"I appreciate you being there Tai, but under the circumstances it's probably best if I just leave," Sora said, as she flashed Tai an unconvincing smile. "Your sister really needs you right now, and I..."

Sora was headed for the door, when Tai stopped her with a touch to her shoulder. Tai had known Sora way to long not to know when she was trying to hide something that was bothering her. "If you need to go then that's fine Sora, but I wish you'd tell me what's bothering you before you go."

Sora turned her head, and looked at him with near pleading eyes. "Tai... I'm really sorry for what I said about you not caring about your sister... Your not mad at me are you?"

"No, of course not... I know you didn't mean it. Why would you think that?"

Tai waited for a response, and was surprised by what he got. Sora lunged at him, wrapping her arms around his waist, and practically cried into his chest. Shocked, Tai didn't deem hugging her back proper so he just let his arms fall to the sides. He just listened wide-eyed to what she had to say. "Tai I'm so sorry! You've been so nice to me for all this time after my breakup with Matt, and then I go and blow up at you like that! Your all I have right now, and I don't want to lose you too..."

"Hey, hey!" Tai couldn't believe what he heard. "You said a couple things that hurt me, but you didn't exactly blow up either... Your not going to lose me! We've been friends to long for me to let one little fight ruin our friendship. Don't worry about it. We worked it out, just like best friends do."

Kari was listening in on them from her bedroom. She took in everything they were saying, and tried her best to relate it to her own situation. "Work it out... Just like best friends do... I wonder..."

"Thanks Tai... That means a lot to me," Sora smiled through a few scattered tears. "I really do have to be getting home now. At least I won't have that load on my mind. I'll see you tonight."

"Your welcome, good-bye Sora," he said, as Sora opened the door then disappeared behind it. "Anytime Sora. Anytime you need me..."

********

The sun set slowly over Odabia, slowly squeezing whatever sunlight was left out of the day. Matt rested his arms on the railing of the apartments terrace staring at the sunset blankly. At this juncture of his life he just couldn't see what he use to find so awe inspiring about a big orange ball falling out of the sky. That thought was merely a brief reprieve from the troubles plaguing his mind at the moment.

"What's the point of my life?... If I wasn't a Digidestined would there be any meaning to it at all? Would I have done something with my life without the Digital World, or will that always be the one thing in life that makes me different from everybody else? Even that's reduced to nothing just because I happened to be lucky enough to watch two overgrown stuffed animals tare a small chunk of town apart! Not that being a Digidestined hasn't been great, but is that really all there is to it? Luck? Anyone could've seen that fight if they just happened to be in the area, or if the fight started just a few seconds sooner or later. The eight of us weren't nothing special. We won the luck of the draw, and it's as simple as that." Matt turned his back to the setting sun and leaned his back on the railing, turning his head upward towards the darkening sky. "It just as easily could've been somebody else besides me, and then my life would've remained meaningless. Just like it is now... At least I've been blessed with some really good friends, and I know those are really hard to come by nowadays. Still, what good am I to them? What can I offer them? I can't motivate people like Tai can. I'm not trustworthy and dependable like Joe is. I can't help people whenever they have a question like Izzy can. I can't lift people's spirits and inspire them like Kari can. I can't even cheer people up, or give someone a kind word for no reason like TK can. I've just never been good with words. I'm certainly not gentle and loving like Sora is… Sora… Are you always going to be a complete mystery to me? I was in love with you once wasn't I? I just don't know anymore. Your a very sweet attractive girl, and I know Tai's right when he says I probably couldn't find anyone better... I just don't feel the same tug at my heart when I see you like I use to... I use to think that was love... Whatever it was now it's completely gone. I remember a time when I couldn't wait to be with her, and my entire body seemed to light on fire. Now that fire has completely burned out, and I don't know how that excitement turned into this feeling like she was just there..." Matt turned back around, and rested his chin against the railing. "Maybe it's just me... Maybe I've forgotten how to love... Maybe I never knew how to in the first place. Maybe I've just forgotten how to care... Then again, I know I still care about her, and it hurts me to see her hurt. So what is it then? I know she deserves a lot better then the way I've been treating her... Maybe I should just say the hell with it, and try to work things out with her. I know she still cares about me for some strange reason. If she doesn't she's putting on one hell of a show. It's not like I'm ever going to find anybody else. Not that would want me anyway. No one that isn't blinded by the stupid teen idol thing, or that can get past the way I look. I still don't know why she wants me. I'm not even sure what I want to be me anymore..."

Matt picked his head up, and walked back into the inside of his apartment. Paying little attention to his surroundings he failed to notice something was sprawled across the couch, and when we went to take his seat.…

"I wouldn't sit down here if I were you unless you want to get bit there!"

Surprised, Matt jumped in the air, and looked down to find his younger brother lying across the couch. "TK! You scared me! What are you doing here anyway?"

"Well, it definitely wasn't to get smothered by your butt!" TK joked trying to sound his normal cheerful self, but failing miserably. "I wanted to stay close to the area since Davis is having a Digidestined meeting later tonight. By the way, your invited too."

"I see... So is this a good or bad thing?"

"I'm not sure yet, but I'm leaning towards bad. It's about some sort of dreams Davis is having about the Digital World. He thinks it might involve all of us."

Matt listened to his brother, but he was more focused on TK's expression. The cheerful glint in his eyes that was normally present on an everyday basis was gone, and his regular ear to ear smile struggled to make it past his nose. "Okay, spill it TK. You and Kari have been fighting again haven't you? Flirting with the cheerleading squad again huh?"

"No!" TK said gruffly. "This one was all her, and she went way to far!"

"What did she do?"

TK's face cringed like he wanted to cry, and then he turned his head away. "I really don't want to talk about it Matt. I wish it was something that never happened, but it did and now I have to live with it."

Matt wasn't about to give up that easily. With his brothers troubles newly set on the table, Matt's own problems immediately became a distant irrelevance. This is what he'd been wanting anyway. Some sort of sizable meaning, and who else was there that could be a brother to TK? "Oh no, your not getting out of here until you tell me what's going on. Come on, you know you can tell me anything. I know your not one who gets upset that easily, so I know this has to be serious. I also know your the kind of person who only starts to feel worse when you keep things to yourself for to long. You know your going to tell me eventually, so why don't you just get it over with now? You know you can trust me."

TK felt himself beginning to cave. He did desperately want to vent his frustrations to someone, but he had his reasons for not wanting that someone to be his brother. "Why should I trust you Matt? After all you can't seem to trust me with your own problems when I ask. If you don't feel you can come to me with your problems, then how can I possibly feel I can come to you with mine? Or is that just the old double standard? Big brother knows everything, and little brother knows nothing?"

Matt was taken back. "No it's nothing like that! What makes you think I'm having problems I'm not sharing with you?..."

"Give me a break Matt!" TK scoffed. "That cold attitude you try to throw around may be able to fool most people, but it doesn't work with me. I know you haven't been yourself lately, and I know it has more to do than with just Sora."

Matt darted his eyes around like he was looking for a way out. "Maybe... What exactly do you want from me TK?"

"I want to know what's troubling you Matt. It kind of bothers me that you won't share your troubles with me, and I'm sure it's probably not easy for you to have kept it inside for this long either. Tell you what. If I tell you what happened to me today, will you tell me what's been going on in your world?"

"I guess that sounds fair," Matt said after a brief pause. If he could trust anybody it would be his own brother wouldn't it? "You go first though."

"Okay." TK's body tensed up. Matt could read the pain TK's was feeling in his face, and quite nearly felt it for himself. Whatever happened he knew it was going to bad. "Of course you know Kari's been upset with me lately, and I don't feel like repeating the reasons why. Apparently she decided she was going to get even with me, and so my so-called best friend started spreading a nasty rumor about me around school. She's been telling some of the girls who have had an obvious interest in me that I've been sizing them up for the soul purpose of getting underneath their skirts. To sum it all up, now she's got the entire school thinking I'm a whore!"

Matt's eyes widened to the size of hubcaps. "What?! You can't honestly believe that! I can't see Kari doing that to anyone let alone you TK!"

"Believe it?! She admitted it?!" TK barked. "I went right up to Kari and asked her if what Amber told me she said was true, and her exact words were 'Your damn right I told her!' Right to my face! Of course she tried to retract her statement later, but it was a little late for that!"

"Are you sure you didn't just misunderstand her?" Matt wondered. "That's what this sounds like to me. Maybe Kari did tell Amber something, and Amber blew it up into something more than it actually was? She's your best friend after all TK. Shouldn't you at least give her the benefit of the doubt, and consider all the possibilities before you jump to conclusions?"

"Don't you think I'd like to Matt!" TK shut his eyes tightly, but that couldn't keep his tears from leaking out of them. "I don't want to believe she'd do this! I want to believe she had nothing to do with it! She's my best friend! If she'd do this to me then who can I trust?..."

Matt placed his hand on his brother's back, as TK began to sob softly into his hands. Finding no more words necessary, Matt sat there with him silently as his baby brother let it all out. Matt sat with him for no more than five minutes when the ringing of the phone called his attention away from TK. "Excuse me a minute bro. That might me dad, so I better get it."

Matt darted over to the phone certain he was going to hear his father's voice. He usually called this time of night to tell Matt he was either working late, or going out on the town with some of his friends. In reality the only real contact they had on a daily basis anymore. He was more than surprised to hear Tai's voice on the other end. Knowing full well Tai only ever called him when there was trouble, it didn't take Matt long to figure out what he was calling for.

"Oh, hey Tai... Let me guess. Your calling about TK and Kari right?"

"So you know all about it already?" Tai asked.

"Yeah, TK told me all about it," Matt confirmed. "I don't know what to make of it yet. The best I can figure is Kari said something she probably shouldn't have, and somehow it got twisted around somewhere and TK took it the wrong way."

"Maybe..." Tai considered it, but he was more content with his own theory. "Sora thinks it might be somebody who may have a grudge against them that's been spreading the rumors about them."

"Sora was over there again?" Matt asked suddenly.

It was lucky for Tai that picture phones hadn't been invented yet. Worried what Matt might be thinking, his face darkened into a stunning lava red color. "Umm... Yeah. She's been over here a lot. We've been friends since we were in diapers after all."

Matt's cheeks reddened slightly as well, right before shaking some sense back in his head. Just the mere mention of her name still had quite an affect on him, but now it was more of a remorseful feeling than a happy one. "Of course! I know that... So, how did Sora come up with this theory?"

"Well, she has some good points. I know rumors spread fast, but this was ridiculous! It's also kind of convenient that the rumors about both of them leaked out at the exact same time."

"Whoa, whoa, hold on a second! Both of them? I thought the rumors were all surrounding TK?"

"Well no,..." Tai thought it over a second. "Well, in a way yes. What I mean is that some people have been telling Kari that TK's been putting her down really bad behind her back. You mean he didn't tell you?"

"No," Matt said intrigued by this new revelation. He looked over at his brother who was still in the same position on the couch he had been when Matt had left him. "Probably just slipped his mind. He cried his eyes out for a good five minutes. He's really miserable over this. He doesn't want to, but he can't help but believe Kari has been spreading those rumors about him, and it's really tearing him up."

"Figures," Tai grunted. "Kari's upset because he believes it. She came through the door in tears, and she's been locked in her room ever since. I wouldn't worry much about it though. They're going to fight like this from time to time I guess. We use to all the time, but we always worked it out. It's just a family tradition I guess!"

"I think this is just a little different then us though Tai," Matt hinted.

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean. I can't say the words because I promised a certain someone I'd never tell a soul. Like I have too, but they still think they're fooling people."

"Yeah..." Tai grumbled in confirmation. That's the second time he'd heard that in the last hour, but he didn't mind hearing it from Matt as much for obvious reasons. "I was just wondering if you had a chance to talk with TK yet? I just want to make sure I know all the facts before I jump to any conclusions."

"Oh yeah!" Matt laughed. "Who are you, and what have you done with Tai?! Is this the same guy I knew that would punch someone's face in just for giving Kari a dirty look?!"

"Of course I am!" Tai screeched half irritated. "I'm not that big of a heel that I'd go after one of my own friends! I know TK well enough to know this was all a big mistake because I know how close he and Kari are... I will give one thing to you though. If it was anybody else besides TK I'd probably be dragging them up and down the street by their legs by now. Trust me, when I do find out who's behind this I do plan on tearing them a new hole... Oh by the way. Did TK tell you about the meeting Davis set up tonight?"

"Yeah, I'll be there. So, what should we do about those two?"

"I don't think we should get involved," Tai answered quickly. "If we did we'd probably just make things worse. I think we should leave them be, and let this run it's course."

"I'm not sure I agree ..." Matt shot another look at TK. "I don't know about you, but I don't want to see my brother like this for any extended period of time. Maybe after the meeting we can toss them in a room somewhere, kicking and screaming if we have to, and lock them in there until they work things out."

"Um... Do you really think that's a good idea?"

"What's the worse that could happen? They kill each other maybe," Matt answered. "It's Friday night, so we have some extra time. We might as well try. What would it hurt?"

"Alright..." Tai submitted, clearly not all that keen on the idea. "It could hurt any number of things, but them killing each other is the least of my worries. I'm warning you Matt, if we walk in on them and catch them making out or something it'll be you I'm dragging around town by the ankles."

"Bring it on Taichi! I assure you I'm shaking in my boots as we speak," Matt teased.

"I can hear your knees knocking from here. I'll see you tonight Matt. Bye."

"Goodbye."

For a few brief moments Matt actually felt some remnants of his old self seeping through the surface, but that faded away as soon as he clicked off the phone. The gloomy reality he'd created around himself invaded his body once again, but that disappeared as soon as it reappeared when his attention diverted back to his brother. He retook his seat next to him, and patted his brother on the back. "You going to be okay bro?"

"Eventually," TK sniffed, as he picked his head up revealing a pair of bloodshot eyes, and tearstained cheeks. "Who was that on the phone?"

Matt figured TK, most likely, wasn't paying attention to a single word he had said. "That was Tai. He was making sure I knew about the meeting tonight."

TK shook his head. "Please don't lie to me Matt. If that was Tai, I know you two were talking about me and Kari. If you two are planning anything then just forget about because I really don't want anything to do with Kari at the moment. It's bad enough I'm going to have to see her at the meeting."

"If you say so," Matt said with no intentions of honoring his request. "So when is this meeting anyway?"

"We still have a couple hours... So I guess it's your turn now Matt."

"My turn?" Matt played dumb. "What do you mean?"

"You agreed that if I told you my problem, you'd tell me yours remember?" TK asked, not buying his act. "Your not wiggling out of it that easily."

"Okay, okay," Matt gave in.

"So, what's the matter Matt? I know you've never exactly been the most happy-go-lucky person around, but I've never seen you depressed like you have been lately."

Matt sunk back into the couch. "Well TK... How can I put this? It's just that... I lost it."

"You lost it?" TK asked clearly confused. "Lost what?"

"That's the part I don't know... My heart? My soul? My identity? My way? Whatever it is I lost it, and now it's gone. I just have to find out what it was..."

********

Davis charged towards the school yard wide eyed, sporting a broad smile. He looked at his watch, and noticed he was almost an hour late for his own meeting. Not the best example to set for the others, but that was the farthest thing from his mind at the moment. He finally remembered. The words slapped him right in the face not long after school let out. He finally managed to remember the strange prophecy from his dream word for word, and he was absolutely ecstatic about it. He wondered if this was what the old man meant when he told Davis he'd remember it when the time was right. He could finally do something worth his time that didn't involve hurting or tormenting one of his friends. For him the prophecy might as well have been in French for how much he understood it, but he hoped it might make a little more sense to one of the others. Mainly Yolie or Izzy. He would've made it to the meeting in more than enough time, but he spent close to three hours sorting out all the details without even realizing it, making sure he had everything straight and perfect in his head, at least to the best he could remember the words anyway. Finally satisfied, he headed off to his meeting already twenty minutes late. If he hadn't gotten sidetracked he would've been there in plenty of time, since he had nothing much else to do that afternoon but sit around and dread over what he'd have to do to whom next. He was certain he was going to hear it from the others for being so late, but that was of little concern to him at the moment.

Like a lighthouse appearing over the horizon to the sailors on a lost ship, the school finally popped into Davis's view. He skidded to a stop in front of the school yard and, as he expected, found the other eleven Digidestined already waiting for him. Even Mimi who Davis had just learned was in town that afternoon. "Hey guys! Sorry I'm late! Did you miss me?"

"Almost!" Yolie snapped. "We were getting tired of waiting for you, and we were about to leave! What took you so long anyway?!"

"I'm sorry, I had to straighten out a few things in my head before I got here, and I lost track of time," Davis explained.

"Oh, I guess we lucked out then. That could've taken days!" Yolie snipped. "We all know it's a complete mess in there!"

Ken sweat dropped. "Calm down Yolie! The important thing is he's here."

Tai sat up from the bench he was sitting at. "Well personally I'm glad we have him around. Before he came along I was always the last one to show up to these meetings."

"If he'd been here five minutes earlier you would've been," Sora giggled. "You were about fifty minutes late yourself weren't you?"

"Well Yeah..." Tai sweat dropped. "But I actually had a legitimate excuse this time! It was all I could do to drag Kari out here with me with the mood she's in! We're lucky we weren't here later than that!"

"Let's not worry about that right now!" Matt barked. He didn't like the way TK snarled the second Kari's name was mentioned. "Just get to the point Davis! I understand you want to tell us about some dream you've been having about the Digital World?"

"Sure do. I can see some of you are kind of antsy, so I'll get right down to it."

Davis took a seat on an empty park bench, drawing everyone in close to hear him. He retold the entire story, recapping for the new Digidestined, and filling in the older generation for the first time. Davis studied the faces around him to see if everything was as it should be. As he expected, at least half of the group had at least some part of their mind elsewhere other than the words coming out of his mouth. Cody and Joe were standing towards the back seemingly withdrawn from the rest of the group none to Davis's surprise. The only person who seemed to notice at all was Mimi who looked back at them on several occasions. TK and Kari both looked a strange combination of pissed off to high hell, and ready to burst into tears at any second. Both had their heads turned in opposite directions obviously disinterested with whatever Davis had to say, and refusing to so much as even look each other's way. Davis could tell Matt and Tai were listening to him, but he noticed them throw a concerned eye towards their respective siblings from time to time. On a less important note, he noticed Sora was sitting right next to Tai instead of Matt but he found it interesting none the less. He wondered what they all must've been thinking at that moment.

Tai knew he should be giving Davis his full attention, but he would've been lucky if he was managing a quarter of it. As leader of the Digidestined it was his responsibility to know and be ready to act on anything that could happen that might affect the group in some way. He knew how important that was and felt strongly he owed that to the rest of the group, no matter what might be going on in his personal life. Still, there were just too many other things on his mind to give Davis the attention this situation deserved. He was much more concerned with his sister and Sora's problems at the moment. They were just much more important to him then anything Davis had to say at the moment.

Matt tried to focus on what Davis was telling them, but he had other concerns that made that increasingly difficult. Mostly his younger brother who was Matt's biggest worry at the moment. He also felt an added sense of discomfort with Sora being so close by. Oddly, he didn't feel any sort of discomfort or anger to see her near Tai, and it actually relived him for some odd reason. He would peek back at her from time to time, and even caught her looking back at him once or twice. He could see the pain in her eyes whenever he looked at her. He wondered if she could see his too.

Sora tried her best to listen, but she missed out on half of what Davis was saying. She knew she shouldn't let her own personal problems get in the way of something potentially vitally important, but that's easy for someone who has never gone through what she was experiencing right now to say. She tried everything she could possibly think of to distract herself, but that heartache still loomed there. When your hearts been broken, it's near impossible to concentrate on anything else. Tai had been a big help for her with that though. She felt a lot better whenever she was with him, but having Matt so near by nullified that. She was lucky she could still manage to care at all about anything else that may be going on.

TK for one couldn't of cared less to hear what Davis had to say. He already heard the story anyway, so he wasn't paying an ounce of attention to him. He didn't care about any of that right now. He would just as soon of pissed on the Digital World for the mood he was in at the moment. His mind was instead focused completely on the very last thing he wanted to think about, and that of course was Kari. Hell, she was all that had been on his mind since that morning. It was hard to explain but in one instance he wanted to believe she was innocent and beg her forgiveness, but at the same time couldn't bring himself to believe her and cursed her very existence. It's funny how quickly someone you cherished and worshiped can turn into someone you loath and despise. However, it was because of how much he cared for her that made the pain so great. Almost to a point where he could barely take it. Now just looking at her filled him with so much rage when he thought about what she'd done to him. He never would've fathomed looking at Kari in that way before tonight. Never in his life.

Kari attempted to give Davis her full attention, but bless her heart she just didn't care. All she could think about was TK, and wonder if things would ever get back to the way they were. That night she finally admitted it to herself. She was jealous. She hated watching those other girls constantly flirting with TK. Hell, she wanted to claw their eyes out, and strangle them with that hideously died hair of theirs. She had always accepted it as something she'd have to put up with, but when TK started to flirt back that just sent her over the edge. Every time he'd giggle at one of their jokes. Every time he'd hold one of their hands, whisper something into their ear, or carry their books for them. It seemed like he was dancing around her heart, tossing daggers around the outline of her heart just waiting for one to pierce it. When he lost his trust in her, he might as well of drove that final steak into her heart. She lost something that morning, and it wasn't just her best friend. She just wasn't sure what it was yet. What reason did the poor girl have left to care anyway?

Cody and Joe listened to Davis talk, but didn't hear much of what he had to say. They were too busy wondering if anyone had even noticed they were there. Did anyone even care? One person did. Mimi kept looking back at them from time to time, obviously more concerned with them than Davis's little story. Joe and Cody shot each other a cross look from time to time wondering if the person standing next to them was really the person they thought they were.

Personally, Davis was sweating bullets. He was nervous and antsy, simply hoping things weren't turning out the way he feared they were. It wasn't succeeding in getting his message across to the other Digidestined that was bothering him. He knew he could handle that just fine. There was another nagging problem that was worrying him. He worried if he was doing his job to well. How could he possibly be fooling these people as easily as he seemed to be? Why did he seem to be so good at it? He realized he was taking advantage of their friendship, whether he wanted to do it or not. They trusted him, and had no clue what Davis was up to behind their backs. He thought back to that little voice that played with his mind the day before. Was it right? Was he secretly enjoying this deep down inside? This job he'd been drafted for seemed almost impossible for him to handle emotional wise 99% of the time, but when the time came to get the job done he preformed it flawlessly. He wasn't enjoying this was he… Was he?

"And that's what's happened to this point," Davis finished. Little did he know only three of the other eleven present were paying full attention.

"So, you think this dream you've been having has something to do with that cloud that's appeared in the Digital World?" Tai asked half excited, half worried.

"Best I can think of," Davis answered.

"And this figure that appears in your dream keeps telling you these dark clouds will eventually lead to the destruction of both the Digital World and this one?" Izzy looked for clarification. "And this prophecy you've been seeing in your dream is somehow the key to stopping it?"

"Right."

"The only problem is Davis can't remember any of the prophecy once he wakes up," Ken spoke remembering what Davis had told him earlier that afternoon.

"So a lot of good that does us!" Yolie huffed with her chin resting on top of her hands.

"Ah, but that's where things have changed my dear Yolie!" Davis beamed. "I don't know what happened but this afternoon I suddenly remembered the corny thing word for word! That old man from my dream told me I would when the time was right. Maybe the time became right when I decided to have this meeting I guess. That was the reason I was so late. I spent too much time making sure I got the damn thing straight!"

That caught the attention of everyone. Cody and Joe's eyes widened, and even TK and Kari actually seemed interested in something other than wallowing in self-pity.

"Well what are you waiting for?!" Tai pushed him on. "Spill it boy! This will give us a definite place to start!"

"I'm getting there! I haven't had any luck making heads or tails of it, but maybe one of you can. Technically speaking I mean you Izzy."

"Way ahead of you Davis," Izzy said, his laptop already sitting firmly in his lap.

"Okay... here goes nothing. This isn't going to be word for word exactly, but it's the best that I can remember at the moment."

Davis by all means should've given himself more credit for he recited the prophecy near perfectly. He could tell right away that the majority of the group was just as baffled as he was. Izzy, on the other hand, seemed determined as he keyed the last of the information into his laptop. "Hmm... Fascinating. I can't promise you anything right away, but I'll get on it as soon as possible."

"Take all the time you need," Tai sighed. "Whatever you find out, it's not going to do us any good until we can find a way to get to the Digital World."

"I'm still working on that too," Izzy said. "However, I'm afraid unless the D-3's magically begin functioning again there's really nothing we can do but hope that, if there is a problem, we'll be pulled back into the Digital World like we have been before."

Everyone seemed to be in agreement over both subjects, but there was still a runway of questions sitting on everyone's lips. Mimi was the first to roll one off. "What is this Guardian Davis was talking about? Has anyone ever heard anything about him before? It may be a legend, but you'd think Genai would've mentioned something like that before."

"I wonder what those nine entities are?" Yolie added. "If they were meant to protect both worlds, maybe we could find out what they are, find them, and use them to help us."

"Once again we have to find a way to get to the Digital World before we can do that Yolie," Joe reminded her.

"The light shines strong, but the foundation could crack easily..." Sora began reciting bits and pieces of the prophecy she picked up on. "When it does the light will begin to fade, and the world will succumb to darkness... I wonder what that means?"

"This entire prophecy is one gigantic riddle with a bunch of miniature ones scattered around inside of it," Izzy began to answer all their questions at once. "Just like most prophecies. We'll just have to solve them one at a time if we have to. If we could succeed in cracking one of them, that might make the rest a lot easier."

"Well, we have no way of answering any of them right now," Tai announced. "I'm more interested in all that stuff towards the end. It's pretty obvious all that talk about Courage, Friendship, Love, and all that obviously has something to do with us. The only questions left are they talking about us ourselves, our crests in general, or our Digimon? Maybe all three, or something else. Also, what is this prophecy telling us we have to do?"

"It's especially hard to figure out since some of us represents more than one crest," Ken pointed out.

Yolie nodded her head. "Yeah, as I recall only Friendship and Courage were mentioned twice weren't they Davis?"

"I think so... Yes."

"They're all things we need to consider. Everyone take some time, and think it over for the next day or two. We'll see what we come with, and see if we can piece together anything. Twelve heads are better than one after all..." Izzy determined.

Tai didn't appear to thrilled, but he was understanding none the less. Patience never was his strong suit. "I guess that is the best route to go... I'm sure the wait will be horrendous though. Davis, Is there anything else important you can remember that you may be neglecting to tell us?"

Davis gritted his teeth, as he thought that over in his head. *Oh no, nothing much Tai. Just some weird old man telling me if I don't make your lives hell before we get back to the Digital World, both worlds are going to collapse on themselves! And the thing that makes me the sickest is I seem to be pretty good at it..." With those thoughts circling through his mind of course he answered. "No, Tai. Nothing important."

"So, where do we go from here?" Yolie asked. "Shouldn't we converse amongst ourselves over it for a while?"

"We could sit here and talk about it all night, and still get nowhere," Izzy responded. "It would be difficult enough as it is without twelve different voices all with different opinions chiming all at once. We all need some time to sort things through, and think them out on our own. We should probably meet back here same time tomorrow, and discuss whatever we come up with. What do you think Tai?"

"Yeah, that's fine I guess," Tai said somewhat disgustedly. He hated the idea that he would have to wait another twenty-four hours for answers, but he had grown mature enough to understand you couldn't rush things like this despite how much he hated to wait. "How about you Davis? Your the biggest piece we have to this puzzle after all."

"No problem," Davis nearly stuttered.

"So, can we call it a night then?" Ken asked.

"If you guys want to then go ahead," Tai said referring to most of the group. "Matt and I have something to take care of, but there's no reason to keep the rest of you here. Let's go Kari."

"Go where?!" Kari grimaced. Tai motioned with his hand, and Kari reluctantly followed. Sora more discretely followed after them.

"We better be on our way too," Matt started off. "Come on TK."

"You go on, I'm going to stay here a while longer," TK said, a sinking feeling in the pit of his gut to what his brother and Tai were planning. "We have to go in different directions to get home anyway."

"I know that, but we're not going home just yet. We've got something to take care of before we call it a night." Sensing his brother had an idea to what he was trying to do, Matt grabbed him by the arm and dragged him off behind him. "Now get moving!"

"Matt! Let me go! I'm coming, I'm coming!"

Davis held on tight to his position on the bench he was sitting at as the group of Digidestined started to dismantle around him. Yolie, Izzy, and Ken quickly departed in one direction while the others exited the school yard in the other direction. He watched on curiously, noticing Mimi appeared to be tailing Joe.

"Hey Joe, wait up a second!" Mimi called after him.

Joe turned his head slowly. "Huh?... What's the matter Mimi?"

"Well, that's what I was going to ask you. You seemed a little... I don't know. Spaced out during the meeting. I mean you didn't complain about a single thing, and that's not like you. Nothing's wrong is there?"

"I don't complain about everything," Joe said almost coldly. "Nothing's wrong. I just have a lot on my mind."

"Your lying to me," Mimi frowned. "Your not fighting with Tai or anyone are you? You can talk to me if something's bothering you. I know I've been away a while, but I am still your friend you know."

"I know..." Joe stammered, doubting that for the first time in his life. Even the Digidestined of Sincerity seemed hard for him to believe at the moment. "Don't worry about me. I've got to get home. I'll talk to you later Mimi."

Mimi grunted but didn't bother to follow after him. Her attention turned to Cody who was just then trying to sneak around her. "Cody, do you have a minute?"

Cody groaned, as his hopes he wouldn't have to talk to anyone that evening were dashed. "Not really... I have to get home too. Mom should have dinner on the table any minute now, and she doesn't like it when I'm late."

"I won't take long, I promise. You don't happen to know what's bugging Joe do you?"

"No clue."


"Well then how about you?" Mimi asked worriedly. "You haven't seemed yourself either this evening. You'd tell me if something was wrong wouldn't you?"

"Yeah sure, but since nothing's wrong there's really nothing to tell," Cody spoke rapidly. "I've really gotta go, so goodbye for now..."

Mimi growled her displeasure, as she rested her fists against her sides. She scanned her eyes around the school yard to see if anyone was left, but the only person remaining in her line of sight was a nervous looking Davis who's butt was still plastered to the same seat he'd been at for most of the night.

Davis moaned as Mimi approached him. He was really hoping everyone would just leave, and he'd get the night off from this little task he'd been assigned. Now presented with the perfect opportunity alone with Mimi he knew he had to take it.

"Hey Davis, what are you still doing here?" she asked, as she sat down next to him.

Davis replied with the first thing that came to his mind. "No reason really. I'm just not ready to go home quite yet. I've got a lot to think about..."

"I can understand you must have a lot on your shoulders." Mimi looked down on him sympathetically. "Being the only one with any real clue to what's going on in the Digital World, and still not really able to use it and all. Don't worry, I know your not the sharpest knife in the drawer or have the best fashion sense, especially with your hair style, but if anyone can handle this it would be either you or Tai."

Davis smirked. She always had to be the sincere one didn't she? He wondered if she could tell when other's were being sincere with her or not? He was going to find out soon enough. "Thanks Mimi... I think. So what was that all about? With Joe and Cody I mean? Not that it's any of my business or anything. Please let me know if I'm being to nosey."

"No, not at all... Well, maybe a little, but that's okay," Mimi smiled. "That's something I wanted to ask you about anyway. I know I've been gone way to long, so I really have no clue what's going on anymore... Nothing bad has happened to Joe or Cody lately, or anything like that has there?"

Davis put on his best 'What are you talking about?' face, and gulped nervously. "No, not that I've heard of. Why do you ask?"

"Well... Did you notice that Joe and Cody seemed a little despondent during the meeting? Neither one hardly said a word, and I don't know... They seemed kind of depressed even."

"No, I haven't noticed anything like that," Davis lied. "I talked to them earlier this afternoon, and they acted just like their normal selves."

"You think so? I wonder... Maybe it's just my imagination, but I'm really starting to feel like people are avoiding me intentionally. Tai and Sora have been too busy to talk much. TK and Kari have been at each other's throats, and want nothing much to do with anyone right now. To tell you the truth your the first person I've actually sat down with and talked to one-on-one since I came back to town! Except for Matt... He seemed happy to see me, but then I slapped him and now he's mad at me."

Davis bit his lower lip. Did she really have to make it this easy? It wasn't where he originally planned on heading, but when your given a fastball straight down the middle you swing. "Mimi... I'm not sure how much you meant it, but if I were you I'd think long and hard about what you just said."

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"Well... I like you Mimi, so this is kind of hard to say. Are you sure you want to know?"

Mimi frowned. "Yes I want to know! Tell me!"

"Well, that's just the thing Mimi. Everyone has been avoiding you. I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you haven't exactly ever been popular with the rest of the group. If fact, nobody really likes you much at all. What was it Tai called you? Oh yeah! A self-centered whiney snob. He told me once that nobody was all that sad to see you go when you moved to America. They even threw a going away party the day you left that of course you weren't invited too."

Mimi stared at him looking stunned. "But... They said they weren't going to have a party or anything because it would be to depressing..."

Davis shook his head. "The only thing that's depressing is how they've been playing you for a fool behind your back. Think about what's been going on. There isn't anything wrong with Cody or Joe. They brushed you off because they didn't want to bother talking with you. I heard Joe saying earlier today that he'd been lucky enough to avoid you so far, but he was sure you'd corner him sooner or later and then he'd have to hear your snotty voice ramble on for hours."

"He... He did speak kind of coldly to me but..."

"That's not it at all Mimi," he interrupted. "Sora and Tai haven't been busy, they're just trying to hide from you too. No one really wants any type of association with you what so ever. Hell, whenever you announce your coming into town ahead of time, all I hear the day or two before is everyone complaining that the snob's coming back again. They try to act nice and pretend they're your friends, but that's not because they don't want to hurt your feelings. It's because you just happen to be a Digidestined, and they know they have to pretend to get along with you for the sake of that. I'm sorry Mimi, but that's the way things really are. If you ask me I'd say your probably better off staying in New York."

"What, what?... No that can't be true... can it?" Mimi didn't want to believe him, but she had admit he had so valid points. She just said it herself, they did seem like they were avoiding her, and some of her so-called friends had even appeared cold to her. She hadn't exactly felt welcome since she'd arrived there. Was she welcome? It sure didn't sound like it. Had this been going on a lot longer then she thought? A mixture of feelings clogged her thinking. She felt hurt. Betrayed. Lost. Afraid that Davis might be right. Confusion. Her mind and heart were at odds with each other. Her heart kept telling her that her friends would never think ill of her like that, but something in her mind kept asking 'What if it's true?' Tears pushed against her eyelids, as she tried to sort everything out. "But why would they?... I'm not saying I believe you, but if what your saying is true, what have I done to make them think that way?..."

"Well, it's kind of obvious Mimi. You act snooty, and you put down everyone. You always seem to have some sort of smart ass remark to make about the way someone's dressed, wear their hair, or the way they present themselves. People get tired of being criticized all the time!"

"But I'm not trying to put anyone down," Mimi whimpered. "I'm just saying what's on my mind like I always have... No one seemed to have a problem with it before..."

Davis rolled his eyes, and made sure Mimi saw him do it. "Get a clue Mimi! There's a difference between being sincere, and just flat out being rude you know! We all know that that's just you, but people are tired of it! They're tired of you."

"I don't believe you!" Mimi shrieked, as she leapt up from the bench. "I thought you grew up a little, but your still just a self-serving little punk aren't you?! I don't know why your telling me these horrible lies, but I know my friends would never talk about me that way! Matt didn't seem upset to see me at all when I visited him a couple days ago!"

Davis wasn't offended at all. In fact, he felt he probably deserved it. He didn't know much about what happened between Matt and Mimi except for what he overheard in several various discussions, but he was willing to use that little incident to the best of his ability. "You really have no clue do you Mimi? Matt's been the worst of them all! Especially after you slapped him the other day. What were his exact words? I think he said not only does she have the nerve to invade my home, but then the spoiled bitch has the nerve to slap me just for speaking my mind! I guess it's okay for her to say whatever she wants, but when anyone else opens their mouth... I wish she'd just stay in New York, instead of irritating us every six months or so."

Mimi opened her mouth, but nothing came out but a high pitched moan. "He wouldn't..."

"Yes he would, and everyone else feels the same way. Don't believe me if you don't want to, but reality's going to come crashing down on you sooner or later. Face it, no one's perfect. That includes you Mimi whether you think you are or not! I don't care how much class you think you have or about that so-called sense of style you have, but none of that makes you better than anyone else! You walk through life with your nose up in the air looking down at everyone else, and then you wonder why people feel that way about you?! You say your just speaking your mind when your cutting people down, but you don't stop to think how your making that person feel do you? But why should Princess Mimi care about how the rest of insignificant us feel? I'm sorry, but I'm getting pissed off just sitting here listening to myself! Please forgive me, but I think I'll excuse myself and leave you alone with your favorite person, yourself of course!"

With her mouth hanging open, Mimi's eyes followed Davis as he stormed out of the schoolyard but they couldn't really focus on him. To stunned to cry, fight back, or do much of anything else but think and try to determine if that had really just happened. Normally your emotions do get the best of you at first and win out over common sense nine out of ten times, and now Mimi was facing insurmountable odds. Not only that, but now a little voice had suddenly started tweaking with her head making it close to impossible for her to do anything but believe Davis.

*"You know he speaks the truth don't you Mimi? The way you treat people is deplorable, so is it any wonder why they want nothing to do with you? You leaving Odabia was the best thing that could've happened for all of you. Don't you feel silly now for coming all the way out here. Think about it, while your getting all excited over coming home and seeing your friends again, they're dreading and cursing the mere thought of your arrival. It's kind of ironic actually isn't it? Getting so worked up over seeing the same people you put down, and look down upon. How can you help it though? You are so much better then them. Your merely speaking the truth, and your so-called friends just can't seem to accept that. They should be on their knees kissing your feet! Not berating you for merely blessing them with the light of truth!"*

"But I never tried to act like I was better then anyone..." Mimi sobbed, and covered her ears with her hands. "None of this can possibly be true!" Realizing she couldn't even trust her own thoughts anymore, she toned them out and cried all the way to her uncles house.

----------

"Let go of me Matt!" TK hollered, as he pulled his arm out of Matt's clutches. "I know what your trying to pull, and you can just forget it! I have nothing to say to Kari right now that's very pleasant to the ears. It's not like any of this is any of your business anyway!"

"When I see my brother hurting I make it my business!" Matt barked. Realizing that dragging his brother, who had grown nearly to eye-level with him over the past year, wasn't working he got behind him and pushed him forward instead. "Now get moving! If you don't I'm going to tell Davis and the others you spent half the afternoon on my couch crying over her!"

"Frankly I don't give a damn right now Matt!" TK snapped in all sincerity.

"Just drop it Tai!" Kari sobbed, as she paced around in front of him and Sora. "I don't want to talk to TK! He probably doesn't even want to see me right now, and that's just fine with me! Who are you to meddle in my business anyway?! This is between me and TK! It has nothing to do with you!"

Tai nodded his head. "I know, but since you two apparently aren't mature enough to settle this on your own someone has to help you along don't they? Hey, it's your choice. Either you two talk amongst yourselves and settle this thing tonight on your own or do it with myself, Matt, and everyone else watching. It's your call Kari, which would you prefer?"

"For you to stay out of it all together!" Kari exploded, growing more irritated by the second.

Sora groaned in frustration, not at all liking Tai's approach to a very tender situation. Fearing he might make things worse before they got better, Sora stepped in between them. She rested a comforting hand on Kari's shoulder, and looked her in the eye as she spoke. "Tai just doesn't want to see you upset Kari, none of us do. You know deep down you don't really want to be fighting with him, and the sooner you resolve this issue the better you'll feel. I'm sure TK's feeling the same way too. This is the perfect opportunity

for you two to settle this, so you might as well give a shot okay?"

"I'll try..." Kari sighed, reluctantly giving in.

"That a girl!" Sora encouraged, as she pushed Kari forward. Kari reluctantly walked out ahead of them.

"You know you have a really good touch when it comes to things like this," Tai complemented.

Sora frowned. "I can see you don't. You can't just force her into something like this Tai! She's your sister, and you should know better than anyone how sensitive she can get!"

"Hey, I did what I could! I'm sorry I'm not as skilled in that departments as you are!"

They stared one another down each with a slight grimace on their face. After a brief moment or two, they realized what they were doing. They turned away blushing, each still wearing a slight frown. They stood there without exchanging another word to each other for the time being. Sora jumped slightly, as a loud clap of thunder rang through the night.

"Looks like rain," Tai mumbled.

"Sure does... We better take cover before it starts."

"I don't want to do this!" Kari whined to herself. "What if he never does forgive me?... But I didn't do anything! I don't know what I'm going to do..."

Kari's ranting ended when something came out of nowhere, and knocked her to the ground. When Kari looked up she found a slightly blushing TK standing over her. Instinctively, he held out his hand to help her up before remembering just who it was he was helping up. TK frowned and let go of her hand, causing Kari to stumble back on her butt to the ground.

"What did you do that for?!" Kari yelped angrily.

"Well, I can't afford to be too nice can I?" TK said, as he folded his arms. "I wouldn't want anyone to think I was trying to get into your pants or anything."

Kari's heart wrenched. "Don't start that already! I had nothing to do with that!"

"TK rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever. If you want someone to help you up then ask Matt. He's the one who pushed me into you anyway!"

"TK BEHAVE!" Matt barked for solace behind some tall trees.

"I thought you were going to leave us alone!" TK snorted.

"I was, but it didn't take you more than ten seconds to start acting up!"

"Forget about him!" Kari ordered, as she pushed herself to her feet. "I want to know why you won't believe that I didn't spread those rumors about you! They're all lies TK!"

"I know they're all lies, and you spread them!" TK smirked arrogantly, as he looked back in the wooded area behind the schoolyard to see if he could spot his brother. He couldn't, but assumed he was still back there ease dropping. "Since we're on the subject of rumors maybe I should start a little one of my one. The only difference is this one is true. Hey Matt, you might be interested in this one! I just thought that you might like to hear it! You remember all those times I was visiting you and dad, and sweet little Kari here would just happen to show up. Well, I have news for you! It wasn't to see me, she was only using me as an excuse! She would come over because she wanted to see you, and she was too embarrassed to come on her own! She's had a huge crush on you for months! I know it, she told me herself!"

Kari's jaw fell to the ground, nearly taking the rest of her head with it. "TK! What are you talking about?! I never once told you that I had a crush on your brother!"

"Yes you did! A long time ago! I remember it rather clearly actually," he rambled. He remembered it so well because it just about broke his heart when she told him. "We were talking one afternoon in my dad's apartment remember? I asked you if you had a crush on anybody, and you said yes. You told me he had blonde hair, blue eyes, and he was in the apartment at that very moment. Matt was the only other person there, so if you were trying to fool me it was pretty obvious it was him!"

Matt, who of course had been ease dropping, slapped himself in the forehead. "I didn't just hear that! There's no way I can be related to that idiot! That's it, I've heard enough! I'm out of here!"

Kari stared TK down in wonder. Part of her wanted to laugh, part of her wanted to cry, and another part wanted to slap that stupid smirk right off his face. In the end she settled for laughing. "Your actually serious about that aren't you?! How stupid are you TK?!"

"Of course I'm serious! I know you weren't talking about me!" TK flinched as he felt a raindrop splash against the bridge of his nose. He just then noticed the light drizzle that started to trickle down from the sky, but chose to continue to ignore it. "What's so funny anyway? You know friends aren't supposed to laugh at, and insult each other you know!"

"Well, friends aren't supposed to think the worst of each other either!" Kari fired back, as a bright flash of lighting illuminated the night sky. "They're supposed to be supportive and understanding, but you can't even begin to understand that can you?! How long have you known me, and you still think I'd do something like that to you?! I'm your best friend Takeru, and we should've been able to work this out like young adults if you wouldn't have twisted my words around and blow everything all out of proportion!"

TK's anger flared as the rain began coming down even harder, but nether child seemed to even care they were getting drenched. "Well, it would've been easy to work it out if you weren't being such a...."

Kari lunged closer to him just waiting for him to say it. Just knowing what was coming lit a fire inside her, and not hearing him say it made her almost as angry as she would've been if he had said it. "If I wasn't being a what TK?! A BITCH?! IS THAT THE WORD YOUR LOOKING FOR?!"

TK's face ran cold. "I don't think that's a strong enough word."

Kari's face fell, as her fire was abruptly put out. "So... Is that what you really think of me TK?"

"Over the past couple days I have," TK said cruelly. "You say friends aren't supposed to think the worse of each other. As I recall they're not supposed to spread rumors about each other, and make their lives hell either!"

"Well, maybe that's our problem TK! Maybe we're not friends anymore!"

A loud clap of thunder ripped through the air, and may have been the only thing that kept TK from hearing his own heart break. Right there all the hope inside him died as the seemingly impossible finally happened. "Fine Kari... If that's what you want. That's just fine. I guess there's no reason for me to be standing here getting soaked is there? I guess I'll see you around."

Kari could've sworn she felt her heart stop, or maybe it was just time. It took her a moment or two to finally realize what she had actually done. "TK... TK wait! I didn't mean that! TK!..." Kari started off after him when she lost her footing, and fell to her knees into a freshly made mud puddle. "JUST GO THEN! I DON'T CARE! I DON'T NEED YOU!... sniff... I DON'T NEED YOU!"

Kari looked up into the sky, barely noticing the stinging raindrops crashing into her face. It didn't matter how big the tears she was crying had become, they were still no match for the large rain droplets. She squeezed the mud at her hands in-between her fingers, trying to understand why this was happening to her. All because of two separate occasions, and some of the worst chosen words of her life, the light inside of her faded as she let what was before impossible happen.

----------

Alzulamon's head jerked back, as he heard a cracking sound coming from behind him. It didn't take his keen mind long to realize where the noise was coming from. His eyes immediately fell upon the spheres of Hope and Light that he had dedicated his life to protect. As he had feared, the pedestals supporting the spheres were cracking to the point of collapse and they finally did. Within seconds, the spheres themselves began to crack until they exploded into tiny pieces spreading all over the mountainside. Alzulamon instantly felt a chilling aurora of evil fill the air that made the skin covering his body crawl.

"That wasn't good… So… I guess this is where it truly begins," he sighed, as he watched dozens of dark figures starting to flow free from what looked like a crack in hell's floor itself. They were followed by one final much larger figure, covered within a cloudy mist and cackling evilly through the night sky.

End.

-Here's a short preview for part 4!

Some of the Digimon finally make it back into the human world, but find their human partners are not the same people they use to be. Izzy tries to unlock the riddles in Davis's prophecy, while TK and Kari try to cope after their incident in the park. Sora and Tai start asking questions about their own relationship, and somebody finally discovers what Davis is really up to. All this and more when this story continues in Part 4: which I haven't come up with a title for just yet. Until then, good-bye for now!