Matt skipped around from boulder to boulder, not concerned where he was going. When he finally found clear solid ground he started to run. Run he did, as the wind whizzed past his hair and whistled in his ears. He grinned and laughed like he was possessed by the mind of small child.
"Woohoo!" He laughed out, letting himself go, he felt happy.
He had kept in this feeling he had for what seemed like forever to him. He had wanted to cry in joy the moment he saw Mimi alive and in his arms again. Mimi, he thought. Matt felt his legs suddenly stop; he was so tired that he had to lean his hand against the tree to keep him from collapsing. He stared at the ground for a while, breathing heavily when he caught sight of a tiny spec of light at the floating around at the corner of his eye.
It was a small firefly. Matt slowly reached his hand out to touch it when it flew away into the darkness, "Hey, wait up!" Matt yelled after it. He ran after it for about ten minutes when he started getting tired again, he hadn't really gotten the feeling back in his legs yet. He stopped short when he caught sight of where the creature had taken him that completely took his breath away.
It was a small lake. A perfect, charming little lake that stood perfectly where no trees grew and where the moon and the stars can shine down upon it, the leaves from the high up trees slowly fell down and landed softly onto the shallow waters where the small frogs can gather and collect their meal, the dragonflies, that seemed to hover about above the lily pads floating around. Little trinkets of water seemed to flow down from the glass moon and gently touch the surface of the water that would wrinkle as the droplets hits. The water, looked so clean and pure that you could see every shiny pebble at the bottom as each one glistened to the moonlight. And the stream of stars that streaked across the sky was like magic, words couldn't describe how beautiful it was-how beautiful it all was.
It was like a dream.
The firefly flew around Matt's face, Matt shook his head as the firefly flew away and over to the water to join the rest of the kind dancing around the lake. Matt slowly crept over the water and looked at his reflection. He stared hard and deep into himself. How much had he changed since they arrived, how he felt about everything; people, his friends and family in general, and the whole world around him.
Matt suddenly saw another face in the water, right beside his. He looked up to see Mimi bent down, her beautiful face staring at his.
"You sure are hard to track down, Ishida." She smiled, "What are you doing?"
Mimi looked at Matt, she could see his feelings flowing down his cheeks and he slowly stood up and wrapped his arms around her which she greatly accepted as tears of her own fell down her cheeks. They stood there bathed in the moonlight for a long time, Matt just couldn't seem to let her go, scared that if he did she'll just slip away again.
Mimi laid her head close to his heart as he cradled her in his arms, "I missed you," She whispered.
"I missed you," Matt said, ending the sentence with a kiss they've both been longing to share.
The little specs of light swiftly flew around the two flashing their lights upon them. Mimi let go of Matt and gazed upon the little things. They seemed to share the same joy she felt inside her and she started to dance and twirl along with them. Mimi abruptly stopped when she saw Matt's blue eyes staring into her hazel ones, he threw her a smile, and she threw one back.
As if they knew what was on the other one's mind, they quickly reached out and held each other's hands and stood there.
His red eyes widened seeing the two; he looked over at the girl with honey-colored hair like he has seen her somewhere before. The wind suddenly blew the leaves of the trees, and with that, he was gone.
Palmon quietly hummed to herself as she tended the fire. "Palmon?"
She turned around to see Tai, Agumon, and Gabumon walking towards her. "Where are Matt and Mimi?" Agumon asked.
"Oh them," Palmon started, "They're off in the fore—" She stopped when Gabumon made a small shriek and twitched his ears. "Gabumon, what is it?"
Gabumon narrowed his eyes, "Someone's here," They all looked around the screening leaves but saw nothing. Looking at every direction, Tai was about to question Gabumon when he suddenly growled and looked at Tai, "Shh…We have to wake everyone up, now!"
They heard a scream. It was Sora. Before anyone could've said anything they saw the rest of the group running towards them in horror. Sora's arm was gravely damaged and Joe was limping.
"What's wrong?!" asked Tai.
"D…Do-ku-go-mon!" hollered Gomamon.
A slightly huge Dokugomon presented himself from the trees and stood over the Digidestines, its red eyes watching their every move.
"Agumon! Digivolve!"
"Biyomon!"
"Tentomon!"
Suddenly all the Digimon were standing in front of their partners; Angemon, Greymon, Kabuterimon, Ikakumon, and Birdramon.
"At-tack!" one yelled as they all attacked each string of web the Digimon shot out.
"Tai!" Izzy yelled, "This isn't doing anything, where's Matt and Mimi?!"
"I don't know!"
After a long restless battle the Digimon started getting tired and couldn't go on. The Dokugomon just laughed and laughed saying how pitiful and weak they were.
Then he started going after the children. "A little welcoming present from our Majesty," He said.
"Who are you?!" Yelled Tai.
"Who am I? Why, I am the forever destructive Kaoru," The creature humbly said.
"You're the Dokugomon King?!"
Kaoru laughed at this remark, "Sadly, no. But I will be once I throw that poor excuse for a queen. And then I, will rule the Digiworld and all other dimensions!"
"So, where were you all this time?" Matt asked as he threw pebbles down the lake. Mimi hugged her knees, her two strands of hair sitting peacefully on her shoulders and her eyes staring deep into the water. "Mimi?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. I…I don't exactly remember much, it was all like a blur. "
Matt chuckled, "Mimi, how can you not remember where you've been? Can't you at least remember what happened after that Dokugomon?"
"I walked alone…I—Dokugomon everywhere," She mumbled off and began shaking her head, grabbing hold of herself and groaning.
Matt rushed to her side, "Mimi? Mimi, what's wrong?" she muttered a reply and continued shaking her head, violently now. "Maybe we should get you back—"
"No…" She grabbed his arm, showing a hint of a smile, "No, I'm fine really. It's okay, just a small headache."
"Doesn't look that small to me," Matt looked at her with concern as she stood up and staggered before him, but Mimi forced a smile and tagged him on the head.
"Tag. You're it!" She exclaimed and began to run, giggling.
"Hey! No fair!" He ran after her leaving their conversation behind. Mimi laughed about as she darted through the forest in escape from Matt, "Mimi, wait up!" They ran through the forest laughing and with ease. Mimi looked back at Matt who was gaining speed and catching up to her when she looked back and saw what lied ahead of them. She stopped. Matt stopped to when he saw Mimi and tried to catch his breathe, speaking between each take.
"Wow…You, sure…run fast." He stood up when he saw her and looked up to see what she was looking at. After a glimpse of light spewing from their campsite the two didn't hesitate to question the other and ran towards the flashing lights and screams and when they got there they couldn't believe what the were seeing. Their friends were in peril as a huge Dokugomon fought persistent with the Digimon.
"Palmon! Gabumon! Digivolve!" They said as they caught sight of their friends. Togemon and Gururumon charged at the Digimon and helped their friends while Matt and Mimi helped the others.
"Come on, we have to get outta here now!" Mimi quickly fell to her knees again and Sora rushed to help her. "You okay, Mimi?" her friend asked as they stood up and ran for cover. The Digimon wouldn't go anywhere. They still were fighting back Dokugomon with all their strength. Tai ran back for Greymon.
"Greymon! We have to get out of here! Please!" he pleaded.
"Tai look out!" A huge tree collapsed. Tai blinked to see if he was dead and looked up to see that MetalGreymon had been there to save Tai. "This one's for Tai!" He yelled as he strikes him with his GiGa Blaster and Kaoru fell down to the ground.
They all cheered for MetalGreymon.
After they had cleaned up their wounds and the place they started to head off. For some reason, they actually knew where they were going and had no plans to stop till they reach their destination.
Mimi and Palmon were walking with Sora and Biyomon, giggling and talking the whole time. Sora hadn't been able to talk to her friend about stuff for like ages!
"Hey, Tai, Can we stop for a second? My feet are still hurting! We've been walking for like 15 point something minutes now!" she yelled.
Tai's jaw dropped and walked up to Mimi, "Eh, Mimi," he scratched his head, "We're all pretty glad you're alive but, do you really have to start that again? We've only been walking for what? 10 minutes. And what's with the 15-point smart stuff?"
"15.5 minutes to be précised." Corrected Izzy. Matt couldn't help but laugh.
"Mimi's right," Joe smiled, "It wouldn't hurt to just casually take a break for a while." Mimi grinned.
"But Tai, I haven't eaten yet! You expect me to fight something with an empty stomach?!" Takeru and Patamon giggled at Mimi joke.
"Mimi come on! Cut it out!" Tai stormed back up to the front of the line but looked back.
"It's great to have you back, Mimi." Mimi looked up and smiled at Tai.
"It's good to be back."
Mayumi banged her fists down hard on the ground. "Damn you, Kaoru!" She had just received word at what had gone on and wasn't too pleased about it. Mayumi had ordered her soldiers to get into battle position and to get ready for when the children arrive.
"Your Highness. The troops are now in position like you have asked. Is there anything else?"
"No, no you may go," Mayumi clutched her head in deep thought.
"I knew you couldn't do this by yourself," Mayumi looked up. A very weakened and defeated Kaoru limped at her side. She smiled.
"I thought you were dead."
"Nothing can keep me from your side, My Queen. I am here to guide you the whole way," Mayumi smiled. At least she's not completely alone.
"Sit tight, Kaoru. This is just the beginning. The beginning of the end."