Episode 8

"Come on. The only way to get them now is go forward." Snyper knew this, and so did the others. They started forward again. Something caught TK's eye. He directed his light beam in that direction. There was a pile of broken swords, shields, and burnt bones. He dug his way through the debris to find a book underneath. Snyper picked it up and brushed the dust off. The others huddled around him. The title of the book was 'The War to End Wars'.

"Now is not the time to read this. But soon, when all the other Digi- destined have gathered, will be the time to read it." Snyper told the others as he put the book in his bag. They walked on, following the ever- growing passageway. They came to a fork.

"Where from here TK?" Tai asked, looking at the two ways they could go.

"I-I'm not sure." Takeru faltered. Tai whipped his head around.

"You're not sure? Kari, Sora, and Mimi are gone, and you're not sure?!" Tai asked, approaching TK.

Matt stepped in between them. "And are you helping things? We split up. Snyper brought headsets. You, Izzy, Joe and Iezer go right. Me, TK, and Snyper will go left."

"I approve. Iezer's carrying the guns. Take some and we'll take the rest." Tai ordered as he looked down the left tunnel. The wolf shrugged off the gun pack. The three bent down and grabbed what they could. Tai then went off, stopping only to grab the headset that Snyper offered. Snyper put on his headset and led his group down the tunnel.

"Tai, found anything yet?"

"What the hell do you think Snyper? It's been only forty minutes since we split up. Now, is it just me, or are you thinking that Matt's idea was bad?"

"Probably just you."

"I'm not thinking that anymore. We just found an opening. I see the Digimon. I think we came out behind Venomon's castle. They are being guarded, both by humans and Digimon. Iezer can take care of the Digimon, can't you?" Snyper smiled as he heard growling come over the headset.

"Take that for a yes. We'll follow this tunnel for a little ways longer, see where it leads."

"Okay Snyper. I suppose we should wait for your signal to attack?"

"If you don't want to be slaughtered, yes. Snyper out." Snyper reached up and pushed a button.

"What was that all about?" TK asked.

"They found an exit. I guess they went right under Venomon's castle and came out behind it." Snyper related what happened.

Matt looked around. "Which makes me wonder where we are."

"We can only go forwards and hope we make it." Snyper told them. They walked through the narrow passageway they had come to. They could walk shoulder-to-shoulder, but there wasn't much more room then that. Matt suddenly stopped.

"Footsteps." Was all he had to say. Snyper dove into the little recess in the rock on the right, Matt ducked into the shadows on the left. Soon, they heard voices.

"I can't believe you led us down there."

"Hey, it's where we left the castle."

"Yes, but Venomon also saw us off. That should have tipped us off that he wasn't expecting us to come back. He opened it for us, but he never said he would let us back in."

"And did you see how much magic he had to use on it before it did open? He was worn out. Well, one piece of good luck is that the shadow creature isn't here."

"And don't forget we didn't run into that Snyper guy. Is that shadow creature a Digimon, or just a beast from hell?"

"Probably both. At least the boss has it under control."

"Yeah, but that doesn't stop it from attacking our men." They finally came into view with the last statement. The two men in the lead were the ones talking, while about twenty followed behind them.

"Unfortunately no. Has it attacked any digimon?"

"I don't know. Probably not. It probably only wants humans."

"Hold it, before we go any further, do you know the way out?"

"Yes. We go up here for a ways, then we come to a crossroads. We turn left, and that should bring us out behind the castle."

"Should? I don't like that."

"You lead them then. I know where we're going." Was the last statement as they rounded the corner. Matt and Snyper came out. Matt checked his weapon as Snyper loaded another magazine.

"Where's the Rookie?" Snyper asked.

"Rookie? Even after the explosion?" TK asked, suddenly appearing behind them.

"What ex-" but Matt wisely stopped, "I think I'll just wait and find out." He finished. TK nodded. An explosion blew from the direction that the soldiers had walked.

"Snyper! What the-"

"We are alright Tai. We just ran into a few soldiers."

"That probably alerted them." Tai angrily told Snyper.

"Possibly, but I wouldn't count on it. Even though I wouldn't have suggested an explosion in a cavern, TK seems to have used just the right amount of explosives. I'll report back in when we have found something." Snyper ended the conversation by pushing the button on his headset.

"Where'd you go to when you pulled that vanishing act?" Matt asked his sibling.

"I can't reveal all of my secrets." TK replied.

"But you can tell us how you made that explosion?" Snyper asked.

"Well, okay. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else how I do my magic." TK exaggerated, waggling a finger at them.

Matt raised an eyebrow. "Not even Kari?"

"He said nobody Matt. We can't risk a leak of his magic." Snyper told him with a deadpan.

"Well, maybe I was a little hasty. You could tell her. I dropped two plastic explosives in the first guys bag, then I attached a charge to the last guys belt, which was also holding grenades."

"Nice magic Merlin. Let's keep going." Snyper ordered. They walked ahead a little ways more, coming to an ice wall.

"This must be where Venomon let them out." Matt observed, trying to find an opening.

TK was on one side of the passageway, brushing away the frost. "Over here!" Both older boys walked over. There was a handprint, originally covered by the frost. TK and Matt looked at Snyper meaningfully. Snyper looked at the glove that covered his right hand. He pulled it off, revealing the ice hand it hid. Snyper put his hand into the handprint. There was a click, then the handprint depressed into the wall. The ice ahead of them melted. They walked cautiously through.

"Mind to explain what caused the ice to melt?" TK asked.

"One thing I learned Merlin, never question something that happens in your favor." Snyper informed TK as he grabbed him by the shirt and started to drag him forward.

"Where did they go?" Tai hissed. He had lost contact with the others near to two hours ago. He peered out of the hole again. There was a forest immediately to the right. The back of the fortress was straight ahead. It seemed to be made of crystal. Totally. No other substance at all. But the crystal was thick, not allowing him to see through to the other side. He could also make out the Digimon in a cage at the foot of the fortress. The cage seemed to stun them, not allowing them to get too strong. There were some guards and other Digimon around, but not as many as before. Tai looked back at Izzy, Joe, and Iezer. Izzy seem to have formed a fast relationship with Iezer, and vice versa. Joe was calm, which surprised Tai considering their situation. He turned back toward the tunnel where they had come through. Tai wasn't sure whether they should go after them, or just stay here. For the latest time of many, Tai wasn't sure what he should do. He could split them up, but they would have no way to keep in touch. The young leader decided to wait. However, if too long passed, he would have to do something. Most likely, he would be forced to attack. Besides, Matt, TK, and Snyper could take care of them selves, couldn't they?

"Anybody want to tell me where we are?" TK's voice echoed off of the ice walls.

"No, and I don't think any of us want to know." Matt answered, looking around at the intricately carved walls.

Snyper shined his flashlight ahead. "This tunnel is still leading upward. I hadn't thought that we had gone down too far."

"Either that, or we're inside the castle right now." TK suggested. "But he couldn't have made a castle entirely of ice."

"You're the one with the magic. This shouldn't be too hard to imagine, especially in the Digital World." Snyper answered. They continued up the corridor, until light finally filtered through. Where the light was coming from, they couldn't tell. They walked on, passing crystal doors. They turned a corner to a hallway, and at the end was a door. At first, they weren't sure what it was about this door that they thought so strange. Then it dawned on Matt. It was made of metal. They had seen ice for so long, ice walls, ice floor, ice ceiling, ice stairs, ice doors, that they had thought that was the only material. Cautiously, the trio drew their weapons, Desert Eagle pistols, and approached. The door welcomed them by sliding aside. It seemed to be a guard post of some kind. There were monitors all around. And there were three other doors. There were three monitors on, each showing one of the three missing girls, totally unharmed. However, they were all in separate rooms and in clothes different from the outfits they were wearing before. Kari was wearing a long, billowing black skirt, a black tanktop and a pair of black platform sandals.

Mimi was wearing something similar, the only difference being the color; she was clad in silver.

Sora had the most complex outfit of all. She was wearing a golden, strapless dress, with an intricate black design winding it's way down the dress. On closer inspection, Snyper came to realize that it was a story that Venomon had created; one that told of their downfall. Wrapped around her head was a shimmering band of gold. Crowning the band was a diamond nestled in the center of her forehead. A small tear was glistening in her eye and at the sight of it, Matt growled.

"Lovely, aren't they? I'm so glad that they could be present." They turned to see Kimua on one of the monitors.

"Yes, don't they look beautiful, especially the fiery haired girl. Such a temper she has. So beautiful, a shame her heart is taken." Matt's ears perked up.

"What do you mean?" Snyper asked. Matt glanced at him.

"Why Snyper, you of all people should know." This statement caught the warrior completely off guard.

"What?" He asked quietly, though the anger in it could not be mistaken.

"You heard me. Imagine, betraying your only living friend. Can you imagine that Yamato?" Kimua asked, making a tsking sound.

"I would never do that." Snyper answered, his voice growing in volume.

"Yes, I'm so sure. Is that why you were so close to making love to her a few nights ago?" Snyper nearly choked.

"WHAT?!" Snyper roared. He quickly glanced at Matt, trying to tell him through his eyes that this was a lie. He did not meet Matt's eyes, as they were closed, trying to sort through everything racing through his brain.

"Snyper," he started, his voice tinged with anger. "Is this true?" Matt opened his eyes, a fire there that Snyper hadn't seen since Hunter was still a part of him.

"Of course it is." Kimua answered, shrugging in a nonchalant attitude. Matt clenched his fists.

"I didn't ASK you Kimua." Matt told him, pointing his finger at the monitor. "I asked him." Kimua fell silent. Matt turned back to Snyper, waiting for an answer.

"No." Was all Snyper had to say. Matt nodded.

"I believe you. Kimua, you had better start running, because if I catch up to you, I will kill you without hesitation. Oh and Snyper," Matt threw a sideways glance at his friend, "guess who's back." Snyper looked at the blonde boy. Matt wore a reckless grin and a fire in his eyes.

"Hunter."

"Snyper." They both lifted one pistol. Snyper shot the monitor Kimua was on, and Matt shot the camera that he was watching them on.

"Ready Merlin?" Matt asked. TK looked at his sibling, wondering briefly if he had forgotten about even having a brother.

Merlin nodded. "Snyper?"

Snyper nodded. "Hunter?"

Hunter nodded. "I'll get Sora."

"You get Kari, Merlin." Snyper ordered.

"You got it." Each of the warriors stepped to a separate door. They looked at each other, then stepped in.

Tai looked at his watch. It had been six hours since he talked to them last. He had to do something. And it looked as if his chance was coming up. Tai looked at the others and motioned forward. He grabbed one of the guns that they had taken and cocked it. He had to attack. Now.