Chapter Nineteen- A Short Reunion
Jesi held tightly onto Ken's arm as they all walked through the digital world.
"This is so strange, the whole sky is black just like Tentomon said, but there are no stars." Izzy said while looking up at the dark sky above them.
"It's just like the black forest where we first fought Shadowmon, only now the darkness has enveloped the entire digital world." Ken said.
Kasurymon and Stingmon flew above, keeping a look out for Shadowmon.
"This is my fault..it's all my fault!" Ken thought. He felt so guilty, so angry that he had built those control spires. He felt a world of burdens on his shoulders. Ken's eyes started to water and he clenched his fist.
"Ken, what's wrong?" Jesi said. She looked into his troubled face.
Ken simply looked back and her a forced a smile. "She's the only one holding me together right now," he thought.
At the back of the group, Yamato clutched the hand of his beloved Taichi.
Matt smiled at Tai's sweet and face head of big, tussled hair. "Who would have ever thought we felt the same way about each other?" Matt said to himself.
"I wonder where Kari and the others are," Tai said suddenly. Matt snapped out of his gaze.
"I hope they're all right," Tai said.
"Don't worry," Matt replied. He squeezed Tai's hand. "They'll meet up with us soon."
Tai sighed and they all continued walking, searching for Shadowmon or whatever was causing this darkness.
Across the Digiworld, the other Digidestined were walking in the same direction.
"And then, we're gonna blast him, BAM! Then I'll do some heroic thing and save everyone, especially Kari, and we'll kick all their butts!" Davis rambled on as they walked.
"Does he ever shut up?" Yolei mumbled.
"Nope," Cody smirked when he heard what Yolei said. Yolei looked down at Cody and smiled back.
TK held Kari in his arms as they walked along, afraid if she left his sight for moment she might vanish.
"TK," Kari said quietly.
"What is it Kari?"
"I'm scared.."
TK stopped walking and hugged her and buried his face in her light brown hair.
"Me too Kari.."
Kari gripped his shirt and pressed her face against his chest.
"Hey are you two coming?" Yolei's voice interrupted the tender moment. Kari glanced up and nodded. TK and Kari continued to walk with the others, arm in arm.
The group of six walked along and began approaching the position of the others.
"Hey what's that?" Sora said when she heard a faint voice.
"Hey I'd recognize that voice anywhere," Tai laughed "That's Davis's babbling!"
"Hey is that you!?" They heard Yolei call through the trees.
"It's us Yolei, we're right over here!" Tai called back. In a minute they spotted Yolei, Davis and Cody running through the brush towards them with TK, Kari and Joe close behind.
When Matt saw them coming he quickly let go of Tai's hand.
Tai looked at him with confusion, "Why did you do that Matt?"
Matt looked down at the ground and nudged a rock with his foot. "I... don't know if we should. I mean, what will they think?" Matt said quietly. His pale face twisted up with worry.
"Yama.... You were the one who said we don't have to hide it. They'll accept us, except maybe Davis but who cares?" Tai took Matt's hands in his to comfort him.
Matt glanced up at Tai with a weak little smile. He felt a little better.
Jesi walked up to Kari when they reached the others. Kari looked up at her and she could see the dread in her brown eyes. Jesi took Kari's hands.
"Can, you feel it too?"
Kari nodded slowly but didn't make a sound.
"Kari..." TK said to himself. He held his arm around her shoulder.
Ken walked up and stood next to Jesi and placed his arm around her waist.
"Ken, it's close, very close."
"When it comes we'll be ready for it..." Ken said with hate in his voice. He knew the evil Arukenimon had created with his help was coming closer, and that it was stronger than ever. "At least I hope so..."
The 13 Digidestined walked quietly through the woods. Jesi and Kari stayed close to each other near the front of the group with TK and Ken at their sides. Patamon sat perched on TK's head as usual.
"Hey TK, what's that?"
TK looked up and saw several small figures coming towards them in the distance.
"I don't know, but be ready to digivolve in case it's someone dangerous."
As the figures got closer the Digidestined could hear them shouting.
"Tai!!"
Tai's eyes lit up and he started running at the voice. Tai kneeled down as an orange lizard digimon jumped into his arms.
"Agumon! It's great to see all you guys." Tai said as he hugged his friend and looked around as the others greeted their digimon.
"Tentomon told us you were coming and we came to help." Agumon said. "And we have a surprise for you!"
"Surprise?"
"It's great to see you Beiyomon," Sora smiled. "It's been a while."
"It's good to see you too Sora, I missed you."
Matt kneeled down next to Gabumon away from everyone else.
"Tai and I finally hit it off old buddy," he grinned.
"You mean you told him? Good for you Matt, I'm glad you finally let him know." Gabumon replied.
"Joe you make me feel even shorter than usual, you've grown." Gomamon said.
"Hey what can I say? I eat my vegetables."
"Everything would be like old times if Mimi and Palmon were here." Tai sighed as he stood up.
"That's the surprise!" Agumon said.
"Huh?"
"Hey everybooooddddyyy!!!!!! Don't forget about us!!!"
The Digidestined turned to see Mimi and Palmon racing through the forest.
"Mimi!" Tai shouted.
Mimi and Palmon stopped to catch their breath when they reached their friends.
"When I got word from Tentomon boy was I surprised! I finished my lunch and headed here right away."
"Lunch? But Mimi it's night time." Tai said with a puzzled look on his face.
"Not in New York!" Mimi giggled.
"Oh yeah!" Tai scratched the back of his head and the others laughed.
"Wait!" Kari shouted, who was looking worse every minute. "This is no time for laughing something's very close."
TK supported Kari who could barely stand up anymore.
Then, they heard it. An evil laughing coming from the trees. It seemed to surround them and echo from every direction.
"What a touching reunion."
Ken held Jesi close to him. "Arukenimon.."
"Oh how thoughtful of you to remember me." Arukenimon leaped down from the trees with Mummymon by her side.
Kasurymon and Stingmon quickly landed and got ready to defend the Digidestined.
"Tai should we digivolve?" Agumon said looking up at Tai.
"Just wait.."
Arukenimon smiled at the 13 children and their digimon. "While you kids have been busy having fun we've been working very hard here in the Digiworld, but none of you seemed to notice."
"We're awfully sneaky aren't we?" Mummymon chuckled.
"Even your beloved little pets who are supposed to be guarding this world didn't suspect anything, until it was too late that is."
"It's never too late Arukenimon." Ken said as he glared at her. "We're going to beat you right here, right now."
A huge smile formed on Arukenimon's pale face. "You think so," she said slowly. "Well how can you beat us...if you're asleep." With a snap of her fingers, the ground opened up, swallowing all the children but leaving their digimon standing alone on the forest.
"Tai!!!!" Agumon shouted, as they all vanished from sight.
