Fire and Ice
Realisation
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon OR the Norse Gods.
Wow, this fics almost been going for a year! I really have to get a move on!
I really hate this story.
"How much further?" Matt muttered.
"I'm sure we'll be there soon," Sora said soothingly.
She wasn't. They'd been flying for hours and so far, they hadn't seen any of the others. And she was worried about Matt. He had been steadily getting woozier and he was only just managing to hang on to Birdramon's leg. Sora didn't know why and she was worried.
"It's going to be okay," she said soothingly "I'm sure we're nearly there."
Matt nodded, tightening his grip.
"I feel sick," he muttered.
"I know," Sora said "But you look okay. Just hold on okay?"
Matt nodded. Sora sighed and shifted Tsunomon on her lap. When Matt had first started getting woozy, she'd grabbed Tsunomon off him in case Matt dropped him. She looked around unhappily.
'Where ARE you guys?'
* * * *
"How's Kari doing?"
Izzy sighed.
"Exactly the same as she was two minutes ago," he said "Still asleep."
Tai ran his fingers roughly through his hair. Kari looked a little better. Her cheeks were pinker.
"I hope there others are okay," he muttered.
"I'm sure they are," Izzy said.
Ken and Davis sat a little way away, watching silently.
"Tai, she's fine," Davis said "Look at her, she's okay, she's fine."
"Yeah," Tai said weakly.
He couldn't help worrying. A vague nausea was gnawing at his stomach and his head kept spinning. Not only that, he was frightened.
He sat down with a thump and rested his head in his knees. Ken leaned over and gently patted his shoulder.
"Tai, I know that it's all going to be all right," he said "We've been through worse."
Tai nodded.
"I hope Joe's okay."
"I think he is," Izzy said, not looking up from Kari.
"I hope you're right," Tai said.
"TAI! GUYS!"
Startled, Tai looked up.
"Sora! Matt!"
Birdramon landed with a thump and Sora ran towards them.
"Kari! Is she okay?"
"We think so," Tai said "Matt?"
Matt was still leaning limply against Birdramon's leg. He looked in the direction of Tai's voice and smiled limply.
"I'm great," he said.
The nausea in Tai's stomach had increased. He moved uncertainly towards Matt.
"You look sick."
"I feel sick," Matt muttered "TK?"
Sora looked around and frowned.
"Where are the others? What's happened?"
Tai swallowed.
"Something attacked," he said "Big snake-dude. It kidnapped Joe. Mimi, TK, Iori and Yolei had gone to rescue him. If they can."
"Big snake-dude," Sora said slowly "Jourmungardmon."
"Yeah," Tai said "I'm guessing. What are you lot doing back?"
"Helmon attacked us," Sora said "We've found out some important stuff."
"Like how to kill them?" Tai asked.
"We defeated Helmon," Sora said "She's not dead but she was defeated. Tai...they're gods!"
"Gods!"
Sora relayed what she and Matt knew.
"Of course!" Izzy said "Norse Gods! I knew that! Loki - he was the God of Fire and Tricks. Fenrir, Hel and Jourmungard were his children."
He frowned.
"Fenrir was a male though."
Nobody else particually cared about the helpful lesson.
"The others!" Davis said "They're going after Joe! They'll never defeat him alone!"
"We have to follow them."
They all looked round. Kari was sitting up.
"I'm fine," she said before anyone could say anything "The others may not be. I think we should go."
"Hang on a second," Ken said "What about Matt? He can't see, he's sick."
"I can stay back," Matt said "Tsunomon can take care of me."
"We can't just leave you alone here!" Tai said.
"I'll be fine Tai."
"No!" Tai said fiercely "I'm not going to just leave you alone here! No!"
"Tai, we don't have a choice!"
There was an awkward pause.
"Kari, stay with him," Tai ordered tersely "You're still too sick to help. The rest of you - come with me."
There was a moments pause. Then they did.
"We'll wait for you," Kari called as they left. She crawled over to Matt and touched his clammy forehead anxiously.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Strangely better," Matt said with a smile "God I hate being this weak."
"There's nothing wrong with sometimes being weak," Kari said quietly.
"It feels that way to me," Matt said.
Kari rubbed his forehead again.
"Matt, I know this'll be okay soon," she said "Just you wait."
She looked after the others and bit her lip.
'I just hope that everything works out okay for everyone else' she added mentally.
* * * *
"This looks like the end of the line," TK said.
They were standing at the edge of a steep cliff that dropped into the sea.
"It must have taken Joe down there," Iori said slowly.
"Into the sea?" Yolei suggested.
Mimi bit her lip.
"TK, go and check out near the bottom," she said "If it's safe, the rest of us will follow you."
TK nodded.
"Patamon?"
Patamon armour-digivolved into Pegasusmon and TK sprang on board. They dropped down.
"Hey!" TK yelled "There's a tunnel here!"
Everyone looked at each other.
"What are we waiting for?" Iori asked. He was already lowering himself down.
"Don't be crazy," Mimi said, grabbing him "You can't just lower yourself down like that! And we can't just wander down a tunnel, we don't know what might be there!"
"Joe!" Iori snapped "You don't have to come but I'm going!"
Mimi and Yolei looked at each other. Iori was normally so cautious. It was a little scary to see him so reckless.
"Let's go then," Mimi said "TK! Come up here and grab Iori! Yolei? Digivolve up Hawkmon would you? And Palmon?"
Palmon nodded and in a moment, Lillymon was hovering there, smiling cheerfully. In a few moments, they were hovering around the tunnel entrance. Mimi licked her lips nervously.
"Let's go," she said.
They flew down the corridor. Mimi clung to Lillymon's shoulders, biting her lip nervously. She really, really didn't think this was a good idea at all.
"Look!" Iori whispered, pointing.
The tunnel was opening up into a huge cave. Mimi gestured for them all to stop.
"Lillymon and I will go and look," she said softly "You lot wait here."
They flew to the entrance and peered inside nervously.
The cave was huge. It had to be.
For a moment, Mimi didn't realise what she was staring at. She thought it was a pile of very smooth, slightly shimmery rocks, made into a sort of wall. Then she realised what it was.
It was the bulk of a long, very large snake.
Mimi gulped.
"Lillymon? Move up a little. I can't see over the snake."
Lillymon fluttered up a little, frowning. Mimi peered closer into the darkness.
The snake was curled around a floor of spiky rocks. The ceiling was equally as spiked. The snake's head was raised, but with it's back to Mimi. It moved slightly as she watched.
Joe was hanging from the ceiling.
"Back to the others," Mimi whispered.
"Right," Lillymon agreed.
They flew back to the others and explained what was happening.
"What do we do now?" TK asked.
"Distraction!" Iori said promptly "We should distract Jourmungardmon and the others can rescue Joe."
"That'll never work," Mimi said slowly "That snake must have thought of that. He'll be expecting a distraction. Besides, you don't know how big it is. We'll never manage that."
"Then you think of something!"
"Iori, will you calm down?" Mimi snapped "I'm trying to think."
There was a pause. Mimi closed her eyes, biting her lip. She really, really needed to think of something. They couldn't just leave Joe there but they couldn't just burst in. They needed a plan.
"Digmon!" she said suddenly "If Armadillomon becomes Digmon, he can burrow under Jourmungardmon and make the floor cave in beneath him. Hopefully, that will give us enough time to grab Joe."
Everyone nodded.
"Okay. TK and Yolei, you two wait near the tunnel entrance. When Digmon's finished, go straight back to the others. Lillymon and I will grab Joe."
"Did he look okay?"
Mimi frowned.
"I think he was okay," she said quietly "I don't know though. He was too far away."
Iori swallowed.
"Let's go," Mimi ordered "Iori, Armadillomon? You're up."
She and Lillymon went back to hovering by the cave entrance. Jourmungardmon was still lying there, unmoving, watching Joe. Mimi watched him unhappily.
"Hang in there Joe," she whispered, then smacked herself at the stupid statement.
It seemed to take an age before the ground suddenly buckled beneath Jourmungardmon. He gave a screaming noise as he tumbled.
"Lillymon!"
Lillymon shot forwards, Mimi clinging on.
"Joe!"
Joe's eyes flickered open slightly.
"Mimi?"
Mimi looked at what Joe was hanging from. It appeared to be some sort of liquid.
"Lillymon, can you get him loose?"
The flower-Digimon grinned.
"Wipe it off Mimi!" she ordered "I'll catch Joe!"
Mimi frantically rubbed her hands over the liquid. To her amazement, it came straight off onto her hands. Joe screamed as he nearly fell. Lillymon grabbed him.
"Hold on tight Mimi!"
Mimi gripped. Or tried to. Her hands were numb. Then Jourmungardmon reared up.
"Digidestined!" he spat "You little fools!"
"Flower Cannon!" Lillymon shouted.
Jourmungardmon snarled as the attack hit him. Lillymon flew straight towards the exit as fast as she could. Jourmungardmon whipped round faster than anything Mimi had ever seen, his neck and head now blocking the exit.
"Little flower-petal!" he spat "You would aim to remove my prey from me?"
Lillymon glowered. Mimi swallowed.
"You leave us alone!" she shouted "Don't you dare try to hurt Joe again or I'll make you sorry!"
Jourmungardmon laughed, revealing long fangs. Joe whimpered.
"I mean it!" Mimi shrieked "You come any closer and I'll pulverise you!"Lillymon looked slightly doubtful over this but was obviously squaring herself up for a fight, rearranging Joe in her arms. Joe was holding on as tight as possible but he was showing the same symptoms as Kari, weakness, sickness and the beginnings of fever were already showing on his face. Jourmungardmon leaned in.
"You are powerless against me flower-petal," he said "If it weren't for the fact that Bartlebimon would be very angry if I killed you, I would swallow you now. As it is..."
He swiped at them. Lillymon dodged. Mimi nearly fell off her back. Her hands HURT.
"Little flower-petal blowing the breeze!" Jourmungardmon laughed. He lunged again, then stopped. For a moment Mimi was confused until Jourmungardmon shrieked in pain and jerked away and she saw Digmon. Iori was standing behind him, jumping up and down and shouting bravely at Jourmungardmon, obviously pretending not to be scared. Lillymon shot out of the entrance and down the tunnel.
"Iori!" Mimi shrieked.
"Mimi! Joe!"
She blinked. The Digidestined - bar Kari and Matt - were gathering at the entrance. Lillymon flew down.
"Mimi are you okay?"
That was Sora. Her eyes anxious, she helped Mimi off Lillymon's back, then blinked.
"Mimi! Your hands!"
Mimi looked at her hands. They had strange blue tinges on them.
"I had to free Joe," she explained "This liquid stuff...I think..."
"No time!" Tai said tersely "We need to go NOW."
"But Iori!" Mimi began.
"That's what I meant!" Tai said "These Digimon are gods. Iori can't handle this alone. Come on gang!"
The Digimon were already fully digivolved up. They headed down the tunnel at a rapid pace. Mimi would have followed Lillymon but Sora grabbed her arm.
"No!" she said firmly "Your hands need tending to."
"Not now!" Tai snapped "We don't have time for anything right now. We need to get ready to run as soon as we've got Iori!"
Mimi and Joe had to be helped climb up the stiff cliff face. There was a path there that hadn't been there before.
"Where's this come from?" Mimi asked.
"Stingmon made it," Sora explained "We didn't have time - woah!"
The ground was heaving beneath their feet. Jourmungardmon suddenly exploded out of it, wooshing up into the sky to made a huge tower.
"INFIDELS!" he roared.
Lillymon squeezed out from the hole he'd made. The other smaller flying Digimon were doing the same thing. Mimi supposed that the others would be coming back through the tunnel.
If they weren't dead.
"You dare attack ME in my cave!" Jourmungardmon thundered "I will crush you like ants!"
"Just you try!" Tai yelled "We aren't afraid of you!"
"Speak for yourself!" Joe muttered. He was half unconscious, supported by Izzy and Davis but he was obviously conscious enough to know that Tai was talking nonsense again. Tai ignored Joe completely, glaring at Jourmungardmon.
"Tai's right!" Davis yelled "We'll fight you every step of the way!"
Jourmungardmon seemed to frown. Suddenly he vanished back into the earth.
"This isn't the end Digidestined!"
"He's gone!" Izzy said, looking startled.
"Maybe not for long," Tai said grimly "Come on! Hurry!"
They set off for the place where they'd left Kari and Matt at a run.
* * * *
Matt was dozing uneasily when they got there. Kari was awake and talking to Gatomon and Gabumon. She waved when she saw them and stood up.
"Tai!"
Tai gave his sister a hug, then looked at Matt.
"He's fine," Kari said quickly "He's just weak is all. He's napping."
TK dived over and hugged his brother. Matt started from his sleep, alarmed, but grinned when he heard the familiar voices around him.
"Hey TK."
"Can you see me?" TK asked hopefully.
"No," Matt said "But I'm feeling much better - or I will be when you stop choking me!"
TK giggled and let his brother go. Izzy was busy going round applying the antidote to Joe. He looked at Mimi's hands, then gave her some of the anitidote.
"We're running low on this," he said quietly "I don't like it."
"We should move on from here," Tai said "The Gods know we're here."
"Gods!" TK said, startled.
Tai had forgotten that he didn't know. He quickly filled Mimi, Yolei, TK and Iori in on the situation.
"That sucks!" Yolei said "We'll never win if they're Gods!"
"We beat Helmon!" Sora said "And Jourmungardmon retreated."
"But we've not killed any of them!" Tai said.
Yolei and Iori both winced. They understood the necessities but neither liked it. Yolei still protested if anyone even hurt the Digimon. It annoyed Tai sometimes. You did what you had to do and if that was killing the Digimon to stop them destroying the world, then that's what you did. Davis had never seemed to show any particular problems with doing what had to be done, Ken hadn't either. Kari and TK had been in the old Digidestined, in the days when they hadn't understood. It was just Yolei and Iori who caused problems. And Mimi sometimes. Tai personally didn't have any such problems. It was simple to him. If the Digimon were going to cause harm and perhaps destroy whole worlds, then they had to be stopped. It was that simple.
He was opening his mouth to say this much to them when he heard Matt saying distinctly.
*And now Yolei and Iori are going to freak and Tai will shoot his mouth off and we'll all end up arguing again. Great.*
"Hey!" Tai snapped "That was uncalled for!"
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at him confusedly. Matt didn't react at all. Tai frowned.
"What was uncalled for?" Sora asked.
"What Matt just said!" Tai said.
"I didn't say anything," Matt said.
"But I heard you!" Tai protested "I heard you talking..."
He frowning, thinking. When they'd been being attacked...he'd heard Matt's voice in his mind. Or he'd thought he had...
"Matt," he said "This is going to sound freaky but I want you to think something okay? Like a phrase or a word...something like that."
Matt's forehead creased but he did as Tai instructed. Tai strained himself, listening. He didn't hear anything.
'Rats' he thought 'I'm going insane.'
"Too right you are," Matt muttered dryly.
"WHAT?" Sora demanded.
"Huh?" Matt said.
"What's going on?" Izzy asked patiently.
"I heard Matt's thoughts!" Tai said "I couldn't just then but he heard mine!"
"I didn't!" Matt said "I can't have done!"
"What did I just say then? Which made you say 'too right'?" Tai demanded.
"You said you were going insane," Matt said.
"No he didn't," Sora said quietly "Tai didn't say anything like that."
There was a long pause.
"Tai and Matt can hear each others thoughts?" TK said at last "How'd that happen?"
"How curious," Izzy muttered. He was already drifting off into the little Izzy-dream-world he lived in when he was trying to have theories. Tai groaned.
"Let's get moving people!" he said sharply "We can figure this out later. Let's go, go, go."
They set off, Matt being helped by Sora while Mimi helped Joe. Tai walking in front, frowning.
He could hear Matt's thoughts. Matt could hear his. Sometimes at least.
Tai did not like that at all.
* * * *
"What do you think it is Ken?"
Ken looked at Davis. Davis was walking along beside him, hugging the dozing Chibimon to his chest.
"What is?" Ken asked.
"Matt and Tai being able to hear each others thoughts?"
"I don't know," Ken said "How should I know that?"
"You know everything," Davis said, giving his friend a sly sideways grin.
Ken rolled his eyes.
"Whatever Davis," he said "I don't know this. I've never heard of anything like it before."
"I think it's DNA Digivolving."
Ken looked at Davis properly. Davis was frowning pensively but looking like he was serious about his idea.
"Why?" he said "Matt and Tai don't DNA Digivolve."
"They did once," Davis said "On the Internet remember?"
"I remember," Ken said slowly "But why should that have anything to do with this."
"Ken when Ex-Veemon and Stingmon DNA Digivolve, I can hear your heart beating," Davis said quietly "That's like hearing thoughts right?"
"I guess..." Ken said slowly. He frowned.
"No it isn't," he said "Anyone can feel your heartbeat just by feeling your pulse. Your thoughts...no one can feel your thoughts. It's just not possible, even with DNA Digivolving."
"Oh so suddenly you're an expert?" Davis muttered. He looked sulky, probably because Ken had stepped on his idea.
"Hey a minute ago you said I should know all the answers," Ken teased gently "Now you're suggesting I don't. What's it going to be?"
Davis scowled.
"Ken I think it's possible!" he said "Sometimes...I know what you're thinking!"
"Everyone can do that," Ken said "If you're close enough to a person - close enough friends I mean - you can work out what they're thinking."
"NO!" Davis said angrily "I mean exact thoughts!"
"Davis, that's silly," Ken said.
"Why are you so anxious to crush this idea?"
"It's not that!"
"Yes it is!"
Not thinking about their surroundings the two boys stopped and glared at each other. Davis was scowling.
"You just don't like it 'cause I had this idea!" he accused Ken angrily "You're just jealous."
"Rubbish!" Ken snapped "It's nothing like that!"
"Then why are you so determined to tell me my idea is rubbish?
Ken turned his face away. How could he explain to Davis that it was because he didn't like where the idea was going to take them. If Matt and Tai could mind-speak because they'd DNA Digivolved once a very long time ago then it meant that Ken and Davis should be able to mind-speak. Davis would be able to hear his thoughts. Davis would be inside his mind. All Ken's secrets...things about Osamu he'd never told anybody. Things he'd done as the Kaiser that he'd never told anyone...any lies he'd ever told. Uncovered. What if it worked that way? He'd loose everything that made him...well him.
"Ack!"
He'd forgotten Davis was waiting for an answer. Impatient, Davis was making annoying noises. Ken sighed.
"Davis, it's not jealousy okay?" he said "I just...don't like it."
"Why?"
Ken shook his head wordlessly. How could he possibly explain this to Davis?
"Forget it," he muttered "Just tell Izzy and he'll agree or disagree, I don't care."
He turned and blinked.
"Er...where did the others go?"
Davis looked round too.
"Oh."
They were completely alone. None of the others were anywhere in sight.
"Oops," Ken said "They must have gone this way. Come on!"
Davis didn't move.
"Come on Davis!" Ken said impatiently "It's not safe here."
Davis still didn't move. Ken looked at him and frowned. Davis's eyes were completely blank and he looked....confused.
"Davis? Dai? What's wrong?"
"I'm what's wrong Kindness!"
Ken whipped round. Fenrirmon was crouched there.
"Come here CourageFriendship," she murmured "Come here."
Davis blinked. To Ken's horror, he took a faltering step forward.
"No! Davis, what are you doing?"
"I...I can't help it," Davis said, not sounding worried, just dreamy and vague "I have to obey."
"NO!"
Ken grabbed his friend, knocking Chibimon out of his arms.
"Minomon! Chibimon! Quick!"
Minomon digivolved up immediately but Chibimon shook helplessly, unable to Digivolve while Davis was in this state. Ken gave Davis a shake.
"DAVIS!"
Fenrirmon smiled her wolf smile and stepped towards them calmly.
"There's no point," she said to Ken "I'm going to drain everything from you and I'm going to take your little friend away from you and you can't stop me."
"My friends will stop you!" Ken shouted.
"They aren't here."
Ken wanted to kick himself for being a fool. Why, why, WHY had he let himself and Davis get separated from the group? He pulled Davis back with him and shook him.
"Davis!"
There wasn't even a twitch. Fenrirmon leaped towards them and was intercepted by Stingmon. Ken knew that Stingmon could hold her for long and pulled Davis back into the undergrowth, still shaking him.
"Dai-chan please snap out of this! Please!"
He heard Stingmon roar with pain then Fenrirmon's voice saying silkily "Kindness? CourageFriendship? Come on out wherever you are..."
Davis tugged at Ken's arms, trying to escape. Desperate, Ken closed his eyes and thought at Davis with all his strength.
[DAVIS!]
Davis twitched in his grip. The blank look was replaced by one of confusion.
"Ken?"
Ken shushed him but too late. Fenrirmon knocked the foliage, sending them both flying. As Ken struggled up, Fenrirmon reached him, planting her paw firmly on his middle.
"Stand still CourageFriendship!" she snapped "I'll deal with you in a minute!"
She looked down at Ken.
"You've been a pain," she said very softly "But now that's over. You're mine."
"No!" Ken gasped, trying to wriggle away "NO!"
Fenrirmon closed her eyes, her claws digging into him. Ken repressed a cry of pain.
[Davis help me! DAVIS!]
He didn't realise he was still thinking it until a faltering voice replied.
[I....I don't know how. I can't move. Ken-chan....]
The voice sounded like Davis but there was something fundementally different about it which was hard to explain. It gave Ken a feeling like the taste of oranges and the glow of the sun on bare skin.
[Davis...we're TALKING.]
To Davis, Ken's mind-voice felt like the taste of milk and spearmint toothpaste. It was stupid thinking about a sound feeling like a taste but it did.
[I know. Ken, try and escape!]
Ken couldn't. His body was inexplicably limp. Terror and confusion was running over him in waves, paralysing him with every bad thing, every little bit of pain that he'd ever experienced. He cried out hoarsely, then began crying helplessly. He hated crying in front of people but he couldn't help it. He could feel something being drained from him and with every bit that was drained, more pain filled him.
[Davis...]
Then he fainted.
Davis stood there, crying helplessly. He was trying to move his legs but they just wouldn't move. They felt like rocks, cemented to the floor. He couldn't move, couldn't do anything, anything...
Fenrirmon removed her paw. Blood ran from the tiny wounds on Ken's body. He lay unmoving, silent. Unbreathing?
"What have you done?" Davis screamed at her "If you've killed him, I swear I'll...."
"You'll what?" Fenrirmon enquired "Kill me? Yes I'm sure."
She put her face to his. Davis shook with fear and loathing.
"You won't be capable of doing anything when Bartlebimon is done with you," she whispered "You think I'm powerful? Just wait."
Then she lifted him - almost gently Davis thought muzzily - in her jaws and ran with great strides. All Davis could do was stare helplessly at Ken's limp body until it was no longer in sight any more.
End of Part 9.
Realisation
By the Empress of the Eclipse
Disclaimer - I don't own Digimon OR the Norse Gods.
Wow, this fics almost been going for a year! I really have to get a move on!
I really hate this story.
"How much further?" Matt muttered.
"I'm sure we'll be there soon," Sora said soothingly.
She wasn't. They'd been flying for hours and so far, they hadn't seen any of the others. And she was worried about Matt. He had been steadily getting woozier and he was only just managing to hang on to Birdramon's leg. Sora didn't know why and she was worried.
"It's going to be okay," she said soothingly "I'm sure we're nearly there."
Matt nodded, tightening his grip.
"I feel sick," he muttered.
"I know," Sora said "But you look okay. Just hold on okay?"
Matt nodded. Sora sighed and shifted Tsunomon on her lap. When Matt had first started getting woozy, she'd grabbed Tsunomon off him in case Matt dropped him. She looked around unhappily.
'Where ARE you guys?'
* * * *
"How's Kari doing?"
Izzy sighed.
"Exactly the same as she was two minutes ago," he said "Still asleep."
Tai ran his fingers roughly through his hair. Kari looked a little better. Her cheeks were pinker.
"I hope there others are okay," he muttered.
"I'm sure they are," Izzy said.
Ken and Davis sat a little way away, watching silently.
"Tai, she's fine," Davis said "Look at her, she's okay, she's fine."
"Yeah," Tai said weakly.
He couldn't help worrying. A vague nausea was gnawing at his stomach and his head kept spinning. Not only that, he was frightened.
He sat down with a thump and rested his head in his knees. Ken leaned over and gently patted his shoulder.
"Tai, I know that it's all going to be all right," he said "We've been through worse."
Tai nodded.
"I hope Joe's okay."
"I think he is," Izzy said, not looking up from Kari.
"I hope you're right," Tai said.
"TAI! GUYS!"
Startled, Tai looked up.
"Sora! Matt!"
Birdramon landed with a thump and Sora ran towards them.
"Kari! Is she okay?"
"We think so," Tai said "Matt?"
Matt was still leaning limply against Birdramon's leg. He looked in the direction of Tai's voice and smiled limply.
"I'm great," he said.
The nausea in Tai's stomach had increased. He moved uncertainly towards Matt.
"You look sick."
"I feel sick," Matt muttered "TK?"
Sora looked around and frowned.
"Where are the others? What's happened?"
Tai swallowed.
"Something attacked," he said "Big snake-dude. It kidnapped Joe. Mimi, TK, Iori and Yolei had gone to rescue him. If they can."
"Big snake-dude," Sora said slowly "Jourmungardmon."
"Yeah," Tai said "I'm guessing. What are you lot doing back?"
"Helmon attacked us," Sora said "We've found out some important stuff."
"Like how to kill them?" Tai asked.
"We defeated Helmon," Sora said "She's not dead but she was defeated. Tai...they're gods!"
"Gods!"
Sora relayed what she and Matt knew.
"Of course!" Izzy said "Norse Gods! I knew that! Loki - he was the God of Fire and Tricks. Fenrir, Hel and Jourmungard were his children."
He frowned.
"Fenrir was a male though."
Nobody else particually cared about the helpful lesson.
"The others!" Davis said "They're going after Joe! They'll never defeat him alone!"
"We have to follow them."
They all looked round. Kari was sitting up.
"I'm fine," she said before anyone could say anything "The others may not be. I think we should go."
"Hang on a second," Ken said "What about Matt? He can't see, he's sick."
"I can stay back," Matt said "Tsunomon can take care of me."
"We can't just leave you alone here!" Tai said.
"I'll be fine Tai."
"No!" Tai said fiercely "I'm not going to just leave you alone here! No!"
"Tai, we don't have a choice!"
There was an awkward pause.
"Kari, stay with him," Tai ordered tersely "You're still too sick to help. The rest of you - come with me."
There was a moments pause. Then they did.
"We'll wait for you," Kari called as they left. She crawled over to Matt and touched his clammy forehead anxiously.
"How are you feeling?" she asked.
"Strangely better," Matt said with a smile "God I hate being this weak."
"There's nothing wrong with sometimes being weak," Kari said quietly.
"It feels that way to me," Matt said.
Kari rubbed his forehead again.
"Matt, I know this'll be okay soon," she said "Just you wait."
She looked after the others and bit her lip.
'I just hope that everything works out okay for everyone else' she added mentally.
* * * *
"This looks like the end of the line," TK said.
They were standing at the edge of a steep cliff that dropped into the sea.
"It must have taken Joe down there," Iori said slowly.
"Into the sea?" Yolei suggested.
Mimi bit her lip.
"TK, go and check out near the bottom," she said "If it's safe, the rest of us will follow you."
TK nodded.
"Patamon?"
Patamon armour-digivolved into Pegasusmon and TK sprang on board. They dropped down.
"Hey!" TK yelled "There's a tunnel here!"
Everyone looked at each other.
"What are we waiting for?" Iori asked. He was already lowering himself down.
"Don't be crazy," Mimi said, grabbing him "You can't just lower yourself down like that! And we can't just wander down a tunnel, we don't know what might be there!"
"Joe!" Iori snapped "You don't have to come but I'm going!"
Mimi and Yolei looked at each other. Iori was normally so cautious. It was a little scary to see him so reckless.
"Let's go then," Mimi said "TK! Come up here and grab Iori! Yolei? Digivolve up Hawkmon would you? And Palmon?"
Palmon nodded and in a moment, Lillymon was hovering there, smiling cheerfully. In a few moments, they were hovering around the tunnel entrance. Mimi licked her lips nervously.
"Let's go," she said.
They flew down the corridor. Mimi clung to Lillymon's shoulders, biting her lip nervously. She really, really didn't think this was a good idea at all.
"Look!" Iori whispered, pointing.
The tunnel was opening up into a huge cave. Mimi gestured for them all to stop.
"Lillymon and I will go and look," she said softly "You lot wait here."
They flew to the entrance and peered inside nervously.
The cave was huge. It had to be.
For a moment, Mimi didn't realise what she was staring at. She thought it was a pile of very smooth, slightly shimmery rocks, made into a sort of wall. Then she realised what it was.
It was the bulk of a long, very large snake.
Mimi gulped.
"Lillymon? Move up a little. I can't see over the snake."
Lillymon fluttered up a little, frowning. Mimi peered closer into the darkness.
The snake was curled around a floor of spiky rocks. The ceiling was equally as spiked. The snake's head was raised, but with it's back to Mimi. It moved slightly as she watched.
Joe was hanging from the ceiling.
"Back to the others," Mimi whispered.
"Right," Lillymon agreed.
They flew back to the others and explained what was happening.
"What do we do now?" TK asked.
"Distraction!" Iori said promptly "We should distract Jourmungardmon and the others can rescue Joe."
"That'll never work," Mimi said slowly "That snake must have thought of that. He'll be expecting a distraction. Besides, you don't know how big it is. We'll never manage that."
"Then you think of something!"
"Iori, will you calm down?" Mimi snapped "I'm trying to think."
There was a pause. Mimi closed her eyes, biting her lip. She really, really needed to think of something. They couldn't just leave Joe there but they couldn't just burst in. They needed a plan.
"Digmon!" she said suddenly "If Armadillomon becomes Digmon, he can burrow under Jourmungardmon and make the floor cave in beneath him. Hopefully, that will give us enough time to grab Joe."
Everyone nodded.
"Okay. TK and Yolei, you two wait near the tunnel entrance. When Digmon's finished, go straight back to the others. Lillymon and I will grab Joe."
"Did he look okay?"
Mimi frowned.
"I think he was okay," she said quietly "I don't know though. He was too far away."
Iori swallowed.
"Let's go," Mimi ordered "Iori, Armadillomon? You're up."
She and Lillymon went back to hovering by the cave entrance. Jourmungardmon was still lying there, unmoving, watching Joe. Mimi watched him unhappily.
"Hang in there Joe," she whispered, then smacked herself at the stupid statement.
It seemed to take an age before the ground suddenly buckled beneath Jourmungardmon. He gave a screaming noise as he tumbled.
"Lillymon!"
Lillymon shot forwards, Mimi clinging on.
"Joe!"
Joe's eyes flickered open slightly.
"Mimi?"
Mimi looked at what Joe was hanging from. It appeared to be some sort of liquid.
"Lillymon, can you get him loose?"
The flower-Digimon grinned.
"Wipe it off Mimi!" she ordered "I'll catch Joe!"
Mimi frantically rubbed her hands over the liquid. To her amazement, it came straight off onto her hands. Joe screamed as he nearly fell. Lillymon grabbed him.
"Hold on tight Mimi!"
Mimi gripped. Or tried to. Her hands were numb. Then Jourmungardmon reared up.
"Digidestined!" he spat "You little fools!"
"Flower Cannon!" Lillymon shouted.
Jourmungardmon snarled as the attack hit him. Lillymon flew straight towards the exit as fast as she could. Jourmungardmon whipped round faster than anything Mimi had ever seen, his neck and head now blocking the exit.
"Little flower-petal!" he spat "You would aim to remove my prey from me?"
Lillymon glowered. Mimi swallowed.
"You leave us alone!" she shouted "Don't you dare try to hurt Joe again or I'll make you sorry!"
Jourmungardmon laughed, revealing long fangs. Joe whimpered.
"I mean it!" Mimi shrieked "You come any closer and I'll pulverise you!"Lillymon looked slightly doubtful over this but was obviously squaring herself up for a fight, rearranging Joe in her arms. Joe was holding on as tight as possible but he was showing the same symptoms as Kari, weakness, sickness and the beginnings of fever were already showing on his face. Jourmungardmon leaned in.
"You are powerless against me flower-petal," he said "If it weren't for the fact that Bartlebimon would be very angry if I killed you, I would swallow you now. As it is..."
He swiped at them. Lillymon dodged. Mimi nearly fell off her back. Her hands HURT.
"Little flower-petal blowing the breeze!" Jourmungardmon laughed. He lunged again, then stopped. For a moment Mimi was confused until Jourmungardmon shrieked in pain and jerked away and she saw Digmon. Iori was standing behind him, jumping up and down and shouting bravely at Jourmungardmon, obviously pretending not to be scared. Lillymon shot out of the entrance and down the tunnel.
"Iori!" Mimi shrieked.
"Mimi! Joe!"
She blinked. The Digidestined - bar Kari and Matt - were gathering at the entrance. Lillymon flew down.
"Mimi are you okay?"
That was Sora. Her eyes anxious, she helped Mimi off Lillymon's back, then blinked.
"Mimi! Your hands!"
Mimi looked at her hands. They had strange blue tinges on them.
"I had to free Joe," she explained "This liquid stuff...I think..."
"No time!" Tai said tersely "We need to go NOW."
"But Iori!" Mimi began.
"That's what I meant!" Tai said "These Digimon are gods. Iori can't handle this alone. Come on gang!"
The Digimon were already fully digivolved up. They headed down the tunnel at a rapid pace. Mimi would have followed Lillymon but Sora grabbed her arm.
"No!" she said firmly "Your hands need tending to."
"Not now!" Tai snapped "We don't have time for anything right now. We need to get ready to run as soon as we've got Iori!"
Mimi and Joe had to be helped climb up the stiff cliff face. There was a path there that hadn't been there before.
"Where's this come from?" Mimi asked.
"Stingmon made it," Sora explained "We didn't have time - woah!"
The ground was heaving beneath their feet. Jourmungardmon suddenly exploded out of it, wooshing up into the sky to made a huge tower.
"INFIDELS!" he roared.
Lillymon squeezed out from the hole he'd made. The other smaller flying Digimon were doing the same thing. Mimi supposed that the others would be coming back through the tunnel.
If they weren't dead.
"You dare attack ME in my cave!" Jourmungardmon thundered "I will crush you like ants!"
"Just you try!" Tai yelled "We aren't afraid of you!"
"Speak for yourself!" Joe muttered. He was half unconscious, supported by Izzy and Davis but he was obviously conscious enough to know that Tai was talking nonsense again. Tai ignored Joe completely, glaring at Jourmungardmon.
"Tai's right!" Davis yelled "We'll fight you every step of the way!"
Jourmungardmon seemed to frown. Suddenly he vanished back into the earth.
"This isn't the end Digidestined!"
"He's gone!" Izzy said, looking startled.
"Maybe not for long," Tai said grimly "Come on! Hurry!"
They set off for the place where they'd left Kari and Matt at a run.
* * * *
Matt was dozing uneasily when they got there. Kari was awake and talking to Gatomon and Gabumon. She waved when she saw them and stood up.
"Tai!"
Tai gave his sister a hug, then looked at Matt.
"He's fine," Kari said quickly "He's just weak is all. He's napping."
TK dived over and hugged his brother. Matt started from his sleep, alarmed, but grinned when he heard the familiar voices around him.
"Hey TK."
"Can you see me?" TK asked hopefully.
"No," Matt said "But I'm feeling much better - or I will be when you stop choking me!"
TK giggled and let his brother go. Izzy was busy going round applying the antidote to Joe. He looked at Mimi's hands, then gave her some of the anitidote.
"We're running low on this," he said quietly "I don't like it."
"We should move on from here," Tai said "The Gods know we're here."
"Gods!" TK said, startled.
Tai had forgotten that he didn't know. He quickly filled Mimi, Yolei, TK and Iori in on the situation.
"That sucks!" Yolei said "We'll never win if they're Gods!"
"We beat Helmon!" Sora said "And Jourmungardmon retreated."
"But we've not killed any of them!" Tai said.
Yolei and Iori both winced. They understood the necessities but neither liked it. Yolei still protested if anyone even hurt the Digimon. It annoyed Tai sometimes. You did what you had to do and if that was killing the Digimon to stop them destroying the world, then that's what you did. Davis had never seemed to show any particular problems with doing what had to be done, Ken hadn't either. Kari and TK had been in the old Digidestined, in the days when they hadn't understood. It was just Yolei and Iori who caused problems. And Mimi sometimes. Tai personally didn't have any such problems. It was simple to him. If the Digimon were going to cause harm and perhaps destroy whole worlds, then they had to be stopped. It was that simple.
He was opening his mouth to say this much to them when he heard Matt saying distinctly.
*And now Yolei and Iori are going to freak and Tai will shoot his mouth off and we'll all end up arguing again. Great.*
"Hey!" Tai snapped "That was uncalled for!"
"Huh?"
Everyone looked at him confusedly. Matt didn't react at all. Tai frowned.
"What was uncalled for?" Sora asked.
"What Matt just said!" Tai said.
"I didn't say anything," Matt said.
"But I heard you!" Tai protested "I heard you talking..."
He frowning, thinking. When they'd been being attacked...he'd heard Matt's voice in his mind. Or he'd thought he had...
"Matt," he said "This is going to sound freaky but I want you to think something okay? Like a phrase or a word...something like that."
Matt's forehead creased but he did as Tai instructed. Tai strained himself, listening. He didn't hear anything.
'Rats' he thought 'I'm going insane.'
"Too right you are," Matt muttered dryly.
"WHAT?" Sora demanded.
"Huh?" Matt said.
"What's going on?" Izzy asked patiently.
"I heard Matt's thoughts!" Tai said "I couldn't just then but he heard mine!"
"I didn't!" Matt said "I can't have done!"
"What did I just say then? Which made you say 'too right'?" Tai demanded.
"You said you were going insane," Matt said.
"No he didn't," Sora said quietly "Tai didn't say anything like that."
There was a long pause.
"Tai and Matt can hear each others thoughts?" TK said at last "How'd that happen?"
"How curious," Izzy muttered. He was already drifting off into the little Izzy-dream-world he lived in when he was trying to have theories. Tai groaned.
"Let's get moving people!" he said sharply "We can figure this out later. Let's go, go, go."
They set off, Matt being helped by Sora while Mimi helped Joe. Tai walking in front, frowning.
He could hear Matt's thoughts. Matt could hear his. Sometimes at least.
Tai did not like that at all.
* * * *
"What do you think it is Ken?"
Ken looked at Davis. Davis was walking along beside him, hugging the dozing Chibimon to his chest.
"What is?" Ken asked.
"Matt and Tai being able to hear each others thoughts?"
"I don't know," Ken said "How should I know that?"
"You know everything," Davis said, giving his friend a sly sideways grin.
Ken rolled his eyes.
"Whatever Davis," he said "I don't know this. I've never heard of anything like it before."
"I think it's DNA Digivolving."
Ken looked at Davis properly. Davis was frowning pensively but looking like he was serious about his idea.
"Why?" he said "Matt and Tai don't DNA Digivolve."
"They did once," Davis said "On the Internet remember?"
"I remember," Ken said slowly "But why should that have anything to do with this."
"Ken when Ex-Veemon and Stingmon DNA Digivolve, I can hear your heart beating," Davis said quietly "That's like hearing thoughts right?"
"I guess..." Ken said slowly. He frowned.
"No it isn't," he said "Anyone can feel your heartbeat just by feeling your pulse. Your thoughts...no one can feel your thoughts. It's just not possible, even with DNA Digivolving."
"Oh so suddenly you're an expert?" Davis muttered. He looked sulky, probably because Ken had stepped on his idea.
"Hey a minute ago you said I should know all the answers," Ken teased gently "Now you're suggesting I don't. What's it going to be?"
Davis scowled.
"Ken I think it's possible!" he said "Sometimes...I know what you're thinking!"
"Everyone can do that," Ken said "If you're close enough to a person - close enough friends I mean - you can work out what they're thinking."
"NO!" Davis said angrily "I mean exact thoughts!"
"Davis, that's silly," Ken said.
"Why are you so anxious to crush this idea?"
"It's not that!"
"Yes it is!"
Not thinking about their surroundings the two boys stopped and glared at each other. Davis was scowling.
"You just don't like it 'cause I had this idea!" he accused Ken angrily "You're just jealous."
"Rubbish!" Ken snapped "It's nothing like that!"
"Then why are you so determined to tell me my idea is rubbish?
Ken turned his face away. How could he explain to Davis that it was because he didn't like where the idea was going to take them. If Matt and Tai could mind-speak because they'd DNA Digivolved once a very long time ago then it meant that Ken and Davis should be able to mind-speak. Davis would be able to hear his thoughts. Davis would be inside his mind. All Ken's secrets...things about Osamu he'd never told anybody. Things he'd done as the Kaiser that he'd never told anyone...any lies he'd ever told. Uncovered. What if it worked that way? He'd loose everything that made him...well him.
"Ack!"
He'd forgotten Davis was waiting for an answer. Impatient, Davis was making annoying noises. Ken sighed.
"Davis, it's not jealousy okay?" he said "I just...don't like it."
"Why?"
Ken shook his head wordlessly. How could he possibly explain this to Davis?
"Forget it," he muttered "Just tell Izzy and he'll agree or disagree, I don't care."
He turned and blinked.
"Er...where did the others go?"
Davis looked round too.
"Oh."
They were completely alone. None of the others were anywhere in sight.
"Oops," Ken said "They must have gone this way. Come on!"
Davis didn't move.
"Come on Davis!" Ken said impatiently "It's not safe here."
Davis still didn't move. Ken looked at him and frowned. Davis's eyes were completely blank and he looked....confused.
"Davis? Dai? What's wrong?"
"I'm what's wrong Kindness!"
Ken whipped round. Fenrirmon was crouched there.
"Come here CourageFriendship," she murmured "Come here."
Davis blinked. To Ken's horror, he took a faltering step forward.
"No! Davis, what are you doing?"
"I...I can't help it," Davis said, not sounding worried, just dreamy and vague "I have to obey."
"NO!"
Ken grabbed his friend, knocking Chibimon out of his arms.
"Minomon! Chibimon! Quick!"
Minomon digivolved up immediately but Chibimon shook helplessly, unable to Digivolve while Davis was in this state. Ken gave Davis a shake.
"DAVIS!"
Fenrirmon smiled her wolf smile and stepped towards them calmly.
"There's no point," she said to Ken "I'm going to drain everything from you and I'm going to take your little friend away from you and you can't stop me."
"My friends will stop you!" Ken shouted.
"They aren't here."
Ken wanted to kick himself for being a fool. Why, why, WHY had he let himself and Davis get separated from the group? He pulled Davis back with him and shook him.
"Davis!"
There wasn't even a twitch. Fenrirmon leaped towards them and was intercepted by Stingmon. Ken knew that Stingmon could hold her for long and pulled Davis back into the undergrowth, still shaking him.
"Dai-chan please snap out of this! Please!"
He heard Stingmon roar with pain then Fenrirmon's voice saying silkily "Kindness? CourageFriendship? Come on out wherever you are..."
Davis tugged at Ken's arms, trying to escape. Desperate, Ken closed his eyes and thought at Davis with all his strength.
[DAVIS!]
Davis twitched in his grip. The blank look was replaced by one of confusion.
"Ken?"
Ken shushed him but too late. Fenrirmon knocked the foliage, sending them both flying. As Ken struggled up, Fenrirmon reached him, planting her paw firmly on his middle.
"Stand still CourageFriendship!" she snapped "I'll deal with you in a minute!"
She looked down at Ken.
"You've been a pain," she said very softly "But now that's over. You're mine."
"No!" Ken gasped, trying to wriggle away "NO!"
Fenrirmon closed her eyes, her claws digging into him. Ken repressed a cry of pain.
[Davis help me! DAVIS!]
He didn't realise he was still thinking it until a faltering voice replied.
[I....I don't know how. I can't move. Ken-chan....]
The voice sounded like Davis but there was something fundementally different about it which was hard to explain. It gave Ken a feeling like the taste of oranges and the glow of the sun on bare skin.
[Davis...we're TALKING.]
To Davis, Ken's mind-voice felt like the taste of milk and spearmint toothpaste. It was stupid thinking about a sound feeling like a taste but it did.
[I know. Ken, try and escape!]
Ken couldn't. His body was inexplicably limp. Terror and confusion was running over him in waves, paralysing him with every bad thing, every little bit of pain that he'd ever experienced. He cried out hoarsely, then began crying helplessly. He hated crying in front of people but he couldn't help it. He could feel something being drained from him and with every bit that was drained, more pain filled him.
[Davis...]
Then he fainted.
Davis stood there, crying helplessly. He was trying to move his legs but they just wouldn't move. They felt like rocks, cemented to the floor. He couldn't move, couldn't do anything, anything...
Fenrirmon removed her paw. Blood ran from the tiny wounds on Ken's body. He lay unmoving, silent. Unbreathing?
"What have you done?" Davis screamed at her "If you've killed him, I swear I'll...."
"You'll what?" Fenrirmon enquired "Kill me? Yes I'm sure."
She put her face to his. Davis shook with fear and loathing.
"You won't be capable of doing anything when Bartlebimon is done with you," she whispered "You think I'm powerful? Just wait."
Then she lifted him - almost gently Davis thought muzzily - in her jaws and ran with great strides. All Davis could do was stare helplessly at Ken's limp body until it was no longer in sight any more.
End of Part 9.
