***Disclaimer: Digimon and all it's char.'s belong to Bandai and Saban, etc.
***Like I said in the summary, this part is considerably shorter than the others. It's now reaching it's climax, sorry it took so long to post it. I hope you like it!
Can't take Nothing For GrantedMatt walked thought the dismal woods. Despite the sun shining brightly over head, it was still dim beneath the trees. He had cooled off a bit and his pace had slowed, but he was still miserable. The first girl he ever really cared for said she couldn't be with him, and he had yelled at, and basically ditched, his partner, his best friend. On top of all that, he didn't know where he was going or how to get to Tai. If only he hadn't blown up like that, if he could just control his temper.
He was alone now, again, and had time to really think. He had that feeling of déjà vu, and he knew why. This was just like the time he was alone before battling Piedmon. This time though, he felt worse about it. Could this mean he was warming up to the idea of actually wanting to be with other people. But if he weren't careful, he may end up like Tai. At least if that happened, he'd find Tai, he could apologize, and together they'd be able to figure something out.
He lost complete track of time and how far he had traveled while contemplating his life and all the mistakes he had made. He was just thinking of how he couldn't stand when he would mope around, wallowing in self-pity for no good reason, when he realized it was getting dark. He had been walking all day with no real direction. He didn't know where he was, where the others were, or if he were anywhere near Tai. He stopped to try to decide the best way to go when he noticed a cave in the side of a mountain. If nothing else, he at least now he had a place to spend the night.
He wandered in, now wishing more than ever he hadn't told Gabumon not too follow; he could've used his Blue Blaster to start a fire. He decided to explore farther back in the cave while there was still enough daylight to illuminate it.
He knew once he had trouble seeing his hand in front of his face, he should've stopped, but he felt a little safer being farther back. He walked a little further when his crest began to glow. It was shining so brightly he could now see several feet ahead of him.
As he continued on, it seemed the light of his crest was concentrated on one particular point of the stone wall. He tried to move in that direction, and as he did, the lighted area shrank and a spot on the wall grew brighter. It was as if his crest were trying to lead him to that spot, like there was something important there. When he took a closer look, he realized part of the stone seemed to stand out a little more. The shade of the rock was slightly different and it seemed to protrude out a little farther.
He felt it to try to get a better idea of what it was, and it pressed in like a button. The floor beneath him began to shake and then slowly split open. He screamed as he realized he was falling, falling, falling into darkness…
* * * * *
The Digidestined walked in silence. They were growing less confident and morale was low. They all had the same questions on their minds; Would they be able to find Tai and Matt?; Was Tai even still alive?; Would Agumon and Gabumon be able to warp digivolve without their partners? If not, would they be able to fight off Ariesmon if he attacked again?
T.K. and Kari, both worrying about their brothers, found comfort in each other, Mimi and Biyomon were frequently trying to console Sora, and Gomamon occasionally broke the silence with poor attempts to say something funny to lift the spirits of his friends.
As they settled down to make camp for the night, no body spoke one question that plagued them most; Could there be a chance that they would fail this time?
* * * * *
"You will be very helpful to us, boy", Tai heard the malevolent voice say as he stared at its owner in fear.
"I'll die before I help you, you disgusting waste of data!", Tai yelled back fiercely.
Wardevimon laughed wickedly. "Oh, but you already have. You've done exactly what I wanted you to do."
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't worry, you'll see soon enough."
"My Lord", said a Garbagemon, walking into the room with his head bowed, "there's been a disturbance in the South entrance."
"Ariesmon, go with him and take care of it. I trust your judgment in handling the situation."
"Right away, sir", Ariesmon replied, leaving the room with a bow. While watching Ariesmon leave the room, Tai saw the orb behind Wardevimon begin to glow brightly.
"Ah, their nearing the castle", Wardevimon said, walking to the orb. "Oh, what a shame, they seem to be stopping for the night. And they're so close to reaching us too. No bother, I'll just send them some…entertainment to keep them on their toes. "Redvegiemon!", he cried loudly.
A Redvegiemon immediately entered the room and stood at attention. "You called for me, sir?"
"Yes, I need you to take your troops and visit the Digidestined. They're just East of us."
"Do you have anything particular in mind? Any specific orders?"
"No, not really. Do what you see fit just as long as you leave them at least slightly alive. I want to be the one to crush the life out of them."
"As you wish, my Lord." With those instructions the Redvegiemon left, intent on creating violence and spilling blood.
* * * * *
Matt sat up slowly, shaking his head groggily. He wasn't sure, but he thought he must've passed out for at least a few minutes. There was the faint metallic taste of blood in his mouth so he spit and wiped his split lip with his hand. He rubbed his right arm gently and judging from the pain, that's what he landed on.
To his dismay, his crest had stopped glowing and he was once again surrounded by darkness. A dank, musty odor filled his nostrils and the only thing he was sure of was that he was still inside of a cave. After falling as far as he did, he didn't think he would be able to climb back out, so his only choice was to start walking, though he wasn't sure which way to walk. He just chose the direction that felt right to him and began on his way.
He hadn't gone far at all when he felt the presence of someone else in the cave with him. Goosebumps spread across his skin as he tried to convince himself it was just his paranoid imagination. He continued moving forward (or maybe backward, he wasn't sure) when he walked into something large.
A strong hand clamped around his neck and lifted him into the air. He tried to scream but no sound could escape through the force being applied to his throat. Not sure how much longer he could last on the limited air supply he was receiving, he prayed he would be put down soon.
* * * * *
"Sora, do you think Tai and Matt'll be alright?", Kari asked, her voice full of worry.
Sora looked around at the dozing digimon, glad they were able to get some rest. She stalled a moment, not sure what to say. She didn't think she could say anything truly comforting through her own fear. "I hope so Kari."
"Don't worry", Joe said reassuringly. "They're both strong and smart. If anybody can survive in the Digiworld, it's those too."
"Hey, did anybody hear that?", Izzy asked, looking out into the trees.
"Hear what?", Mimi asked.
"That sound, that rustling noise. Something's out there."
They all grew quiet, listening, now alert, to the sounds they heard them. They heard nothing other than the usual things that went bump in the night.
T.K. began to ask, "Are you sure you hear-", when he was suddenly hit in the back of the head by a large wad of pink digisludge.
The next thing they heard was the battle cry of a Redvegiemon. "ATTACK!"
"Look out!", Izzy yelled to Mimi as she was jumped by a Vegiemon. The Digimon woke to the sounds of the screaming kids and began to fend off the attackers. The kids took cover behind the trees, watching as wave after wave of Vegiemon came at their Digimon partners.
Though Vegiemon weren't particularly difficult enemies to defeat, there were so many of them that the Digidestined weren't sure of their Digimon would be able to overcome them.
* * * * *
Tai could just make out his friends in the floating orb. He was struggling to see past Wardevimon to watch them when Ariesmon returned. Tai gasped when he saw him holding Matt in the air.
Ariesmon threw a barely conscious Matt on the ground, sending him to his knees gasping for air. "Well done", said Wardevimon, sounding pleased. "You've caught another of the Digidestined. Before you know it they'll all be here." Ariesmon looked pleased with himself.
"You know", began Wardevimon, "I really don't see the use of holding to of them here. I can't be sure, but after watching these Digidorks, I don't think they even know we've got this blonde one. As long as we have the leader, that will be plenty of bait to lure them here." Tai now realized what Wardevimon meant about him helping them.
"Are you suggesting we get rid of him now?", Ariesmon asked, a glimmer of hope crossing his face.
"Yes, I think that would be best, but if you don't mind, I think I'll take care of this one myself. I haven't had the blood of another on my hands in sometime. I almost forget what it feels like.
"Whatever you say, sir", Ariesmon replied, very obviously looking disappointed.
"I think I'll shall make this quick and messy. I'll save the long, drawn out, more painful death for his brother, the one who defeated me the first time. Keep him down on the floor."
Ariesmon did as he was commanded on pinned Matt against the ground on his stomach. Matt's cheek was pressed painfully against the hard, cold floor. Wardevimon raised one large, clawed foot over Matt's head. Not knowing what to do, Tai could only watch with horror.
***Well, there's part 4. I hope I'm keeping you in a little bit of suspense. I'll try to have the next (maybe the last) part up soon. Please, please, please R&R so I'll wanna keep writing. Thanks!
