Believe none of what you see

Chapter IX

Paranoid Swamps

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, never will.

"What?" Mumbled a high pitch sweet voice groggily.

"Where am I, what is going on?" Mimi rubbed her eyes.

"You don't want to know", Izzy said hastily, rapidly typing on his lap top.

"Know what?", Joe said disjointedly getting up. "Where are we?"

"And where is everyone else?", Mimi added.

"And what is this, and who is that, and what is going on here and- ".

"Izzy relax", Mimi yelled. "Sorry for getting you frustrated". She gave Izzy a small hug.

"Relax…".

"Now tell us what's wrong", Joe said carefully not wanting to refrustrate Izzy.

Izzy took a deep breath.

"Since the explosions threw us all to different ends of the Digi-world, the collective power that you get when all the Digi-destined are together is split up. Where we all are together , or at least a large group of us, we protect each other!

" And since the darkness is constantly spreading and growing, we are all now potential targets. Especially the strongest Digi- destined. As well as", Izzy paused before he said the rest.

"Especially Kari. The darkness apparently needs her life force. We accidentally gave them to opportunity to take it. T.k. strengthens her life force, making it very hard for them to seriously hurt Kari while he's around… and vice versa".

"So they basically strengthen each other", Mimi summarized. "That's sweet."

"Except for the fact that the darkness already began to drain Kari, she would of been fine in a couple hours…then the explosion spilt them apart". Joe calculated.

"Not only that, but they are at the furthest points from each other. "Izzy explained." We can only hope the explosion stopped what the darkness was doing. But Kari is still weak, she's an easy target!"

"We all are", Joe nodded.

Mimi finally took time to take in her surroundings.

"The swamp", she shivered.

"You hate the swamp", Joe continued before she did.

There eyes locked , but then she looked away.

" I think that we should all head back to the original meeting place", Joe said. "I think that's where everyone else would be headed".

"I think that when we meet up with everybody you will be needed the most", Izzy grimly said.

"I have that feeling to".

"Its so yucky here", Mimi said completely off topic. A breeze flew through the swamp, Mimi wrapped her arms around herself.

"and kind of cold".

Suddenly someone's arms were around her. "I'm kind of cold too", Joe said quietly to her. "How about we warm each other up".

Mimi blushed.

"Um, It's alright Joe", Mimi said slipping out of his arms.

"It was probably just a breeze".

Joe just shrugged and gave her a little space, carefully masking his slight hurt.

Joe didn't understand it, well not really. He logically made just as much money as Matt. Not saying Mimi was shallow or anything. So maybe he wasn't a part time vocalist that had great relations with the media. But still, he could of sworn they had something going on between them, and he knew he wasn't wrong. He could tell she felt it too.

"Um, Izzy, how long do you think it will take us to get there?"

"The rest of the day, or a really, really long time. So if you feet hurt now, enjoy the feeling because in a couple of hours, that will be nothing."

"And how long will it take to get out of the swamp?"

"About half of the rest of the day!" Izzy answered shortly.

"Why?" Joe suddenly asked. There had to be a reason Mimi was asking those questions. She wasn't one to repeat herself.

"Oh nothing, its just that those nasty swamp monsters are following us again".

"Again?"

"Yeah!"

"And?" Izzy asked.

"The one who had a crush on me looks kinda evil!"

"Really" Izzy said rudely. He was frustrated by all the things Mimi complained about and was going to complain about. Maybe that's why he didn't realize. …that and maybe because he never looked behind him.

"And now would you describe evil Mimi", Izzy asked sarcastically, choosing to indulge her with her little game. Or that's what he thought it was.

"Right now Id say red glowing eyes, weapon in hand and an organized army of swamp Digimon".

"Izzy, Joe said after turning around and seeing what was behind them. "I think Mimi's right.

"" I swear this… is…," the words died on Izzy's lips when he saw what Mimi was talking about. A petrified look developed on his face. Joe noticed the look and said, "By that I think you mean running not going to help us."

"We cant run!" Mimi said tiredly.

"Because?"

"We are ambushed", Izzy answered Joe.

Where the hell are our Digimon, Izzy thought frustrated as the swamp Digimon began to close in.

"Where did they come from", Izzy snapped.

" I think they had us surrounded for the whole time", Mimi mumbled. "You must of been distracted with other problems", Mimi added almost sympathetically.

'she has to survive…', Izzy thought .

"Where are our Digimon", Joe voiced one of Izzy's earlier thoughts.

"I was searching via my lap top, as well as formulating theory. All in all I have no idea. I just hope they're all safe."

"So do I, "Mimi thought as the swamp Digimon finished closing in, trapping the all in a circle.

"We cant!"

"We have to", Agumon decided for everyone. "We have to get to the strongest first and do whatever is necessary".

"Just because the strongest is now the biggest threat to evil doesn't mean we have to destroy them, quite the opposite!" Gatamon countered.

"Yes, but they could bring on the destruction of the Digi-world". Agumon argued.

"But they could also save it", Gabumon countered.

"But we don't know for sure", Palmon sighed.

"You guys seem to think that where not in prison here!" Gomaman said.

" Yeah", Veemon added. "What he said".

"Tentamons working on it", Hawkmon drawled.

"Five minutes," Tentamon replied referring to how long it would take him to break out of their prison cell.

"If we have to take the strongest by force then so be it, I know they wont understand but what can we do!"

"What if we don't get the strongest first", Armadillimon asked.

"We regroup for plan B". The Agumon though to himself, "forgive me Tai… and whoever the strongest Digi-destined is.

Then the leader stepped out, not that they hadn't noticed him before. It was the one who had a crush on Mimi. Joe suddenly felt a flame of anger.

Before the swamp Digimon were small and little, but now each stood about six feet. Which made Joe wonder, 'how did they get so tall'.

"Sukamon", Mimi said coldly to the now seven foot Digimon. "What is the meaning of this?"

"Where taking her", Sukamon said roughly to Izzy and Joe, completely ignoring Mimi. Another noticeable change was Sukamon's voice. In plain English, Sukamon no longer sounded like an idiot.

"Like hell you are!" Mimi spat, step further from him and closer to Joe.

"You keep thinking that", Sukamon smirked.

"Over my dead body," Joe angrily hissed stepping in front of Mimi.

"No problem", Sukamon agreed airily. Suddenly the Digimon attempted to grab them. Joe quickly punched the one that came up to him and began to fight.

" I'd stop now", Sukamon smirked.

"Looky what I've got." Joe stopped and glanced around. It seemed like Izzy put up his own unsuccessful fight as well. The evidence was the bruise forming on his face, his bleeding lip and his heaving breathing.

But that's not what Joe noticed. Sukamon had Mimi with a knife pressed to her throat. Another Digimon had a knife pressed to her back and yet another one had a knife to her heart.

"Now, if you try anything, she dies, in more ways then one!" Sukamon began to back away, signaling for all his followers to leave.

"I could of sworn he was an idiot", Joe mumbled under his breath angrily.

"Best of disguise, don't you think!" Sukamon yelled apparently hearing them." And by the way I think she said bye!"

"Great, just what I needed", Izzy said as Sukamon left with Mimi.

Joe swore. He had to get Mimi back!