Z: ah...another chapter. this is beating the orignial by a few chapters. like i've said...i think i just like to drag it out this time around...

Disclaimer: don't own them. i wish though...

don't forget to review! they make me happy. flames will be fed to my monkeys. so go you.

Chapter 13

"So, where did Gabumon go off to, then?" Mimi asked, after Davis had retold his tale for the third time. She frowned. "It isn't like him to go off disappearing without saving Matt or helping."

"No, it isn't." Tai agreed. He made Davis retell it his tale only to make sure that he had all the facts; so he could figure out what went wrong and what they were going to do next.

"Was there a wall or an opening when you shoved Matt out of the way?" Izzy suddenly asked, as he glanced at Davis.

"You know, that I'm not sure. I'm sure it was a wall. I don't think I remember an opening there. At least not until I noticed Matt falling and him calling out my name." Davis replied, slowly.

He frowned. And without saying anything, spun around and walked to the wall in which Matt had fallen into. He held out a hand to it, touching it lightly, looking for some sort of a clue to let him in.

"It isn't your fault, Dai," Tai told him gently, as he approached the other. "You did what you did because you were helping him. In times like these, sometimes we don't notice everything until it is too late."

"Tai's right." Tk agreed. He also touched the wall. "We all know how Matt is so it wasn't a surprise when you told us he froze."

"I thought he'd get all angry and do something." Davis admitted. "But the more I think about it, the more I realize that Metal-Panthamon terrifies him and that was why he froze."

"I do wish I knew what had happened to Gabumon," Patamon said, as he sat on top of Tk's hat. "Maybe he fell into a trap as well."

Davis blinked. "Fell into a trap. . .That's it!" He said, and rushed past everyone and around the next corner. He skidded to a stop and dropped to his knees.

"Dai, what--" Tai asked as he came around the corner.

"Watch out, Tai!" Davis warned, as his eyes searched the ground. "I remember seeing Gabumon in front of us. Matt ran into him and that was when I ordered Veemon to digimon. But now I remember, Gabumon had started to digivolve and was running towards Metal-Panthamon. . .And I think he fell into a trap around here. I think he managed to get a swipe at the other but then was forced to go over here. . .and fell."

"You think?" Izzy asked, both of his eyebrows raised.

"I'm not sure. I honestly didn't pay attention. I was too preoccupied with Matt and him disappearing to notice. I didn't even know that Veemon had de-digivolved and was forced down a level." Davis answered. He felt the ground, having a strong feeling that Gabumon was indeed near him. "Just help me find a switch or something, will you?"

Tai nodded and dropped to his knees and Izzy did the same, while the others stood there, staring. They just came around the corner, missing the whole conversation and hadn't a clue as to what they were doing.

"Found it!" Izzy cried out triumphantly. "It's well hidden, of course."

"But seeing how this is Metal-Panthamon's castle. ..he'd know it was here." Tai said, rolling his eyes.

Davis smiled despite the situation. He leaned forward and nodded at Izzy, who flipped the switch.

"Tai? Davis? Izzy?" Came Gabumon's voice as he appeared in front of them, in a door way that just appeared. "Where's Matt?"

The trio exchanged glances and it was Davis, who answered, although a little uneasily, "We thought you'd know. . .?"

"I don't." Came the answer.

"Ah. This is not good." Tai muttered.

"What else is new?" Joe moaned from behind them.

---------

"So, what exactly is your status around here?" Matt asked, as he pushed himself off of the floor and faced himself. "I kinda get the impression that you are high up on the ladder of importance."

Matt Two grinned and circled Matt. "You are a reasonable detective." He admired. "But of course I am rather important. I am Metal-Panthamon's, ah, friend and I help coordinate how things are running."

Matt's face paled and shook his head, as he tried to get the thought of his head and didn't want to think of it as that. But Matt Two's grin grew wider and Matt held his stomach, sick.

"You and Metal-Panthamon---that kind of 'friends'?"Matt replied, uneasily. "That, that's just disturbing and wrong!"

"Of course you'd think of it that way." Came the reply. "But he's been waiting for you. I have no problem sharing, of course."

"I will not sleep with him!" Matt cried out angrily. "I'd rather die than to that."

Matt Two gave him a thoughtful glance. "When the time comes, that may very well happen." He warned.

"I don't care. It won't happen because my friends will find me in some way or some how." Matt declared with confidence.

"Too bad you can't yell for help. They're right outside this very wall." Matt Two informed him. "Don't bother yelling, they can't hear you."

Matt didn't care. He wanted out and couldn't stand this other self of him. He ran up to the wall, and started to pound and scream. "Guys! Tai! Davis! I'm right here! Please!"

Suddenly, Matt was pulled away and thrown across the room, and slammed against the wall, hard. Matt hit his head--again-- and slumped to the ground, groaning. He held his head and peered up at the angry Matt Two.

"I told you they cannot hear you. Are you dense or what?" He snarled.

"I don't care!" Matt exploded. He jumped up and tackled the other only to be thrown off and slammed back into the wall.

"You are dense." Came the reply. "Don't do that again. Why can't you be easily control like the digimon?"

"What?" that caught Matt's attention and Matt Two grinned, knowing that it would.

"Don't you know that the digimon have been captured and held captive? Made into slaves? Working under me? I command them."

"You. . .you bastard!" Matt snapped, truly pissed off. He stood up only to sit back down as a wave of dizziness swirled around him. He closed his eyes and said, quietly, "You are going to pay for this, you do know that, right?"

"I don't know that, but I don't think I will. As far as I am concerned, you'll be mine and Metal-Panthamon's slave and soon."

---------

Mimi blinked and shook her head, telling herself that she just did not hear Matt's voice. It would be impossible. She sighed and leaned against the wall, watching her friends discuss their current situation and how to go about solving it. She leaned back and rested her head on the cold stone wall and bit her lip.

"Meems?" Sora asked, quietly, as she sided up to her friends side and rested her hand on Mimi's arm. "Are you okay?"

"I could've sworn I hear Matt's voice from behind here." Mimi answered, as she turned around, placing both hands on the stones. "But that couldn't be possible, could it?"

"Anything's possible. . ."Sora said, slowly and then grinned. "I've an idea." She turned and whistled to Tai, who looked up and grinned.

"Yeah, Sora?" He asked, knowing that grin. "What's the idea?"

"That isn't freaky." Yolie commented, rolling her eyes. "Knowing one another too well, I take it."

Sora lightly pounded her fist on the stone wall. "Well, let's just say. . .that maybe Matt is still behind this wall. And that maybe we can get to him with a little help." She glanced down at the digimon.

"Wait, before we even consider that, what if Matt is unconscious?" Ken asked, holding up a hand. He glanced at Izzy. "Is there a way to, I don't know, locate him?"

"What about the digivices?" Kari ventured.

Izzy beamed. "Great idea, guys. Let's see what I can do." He replied back and pulled out his laptop and opened it. He started to tap it, and for a few minutes that was the noise that the group heard.

"Okay, I think I've figured a way to find him by the digivice. Let's see if this works," He said as he tapped in a few more keys. "Hmmm, Sora, you're correct. He is still in that room."

Mimi gasped and gave Sora a small thank you smile. Sora simply nodded and then said, "Well, is he near the wall or no?"

Izzy frowned. "Wait, there is someone else in there with him. . .Two people, actually. . ."He glanced at Tai and then Cody. "Your digimon are probably the best choices to get through the wall. So. . .?"

Tai grinned and turned to Agumon. "Let's do it, buddy!" And Cody turned to his and said, at the same time, "You up for this, Armadillimon?"

The digimon nodded their heads excitedly and digivolved.

"All right when I tell you to, start blasting the wall but let mesee if I can give Matt a warning. . ."Izzy instructed as he fiddled with the laptop some more. "I think I've found a way, after all. . ."

-------

Matt Two smiled as he watched the original crumble slowly. He shook his head, thinking that just maybe he will crumble completely and succumb to him and Metal-Panthamon. Of course, he knew that once Metal-Panthamon had the original Matt, he would be somewhat pushed aside. . .Yet that didn't matter. As long as he had power.

"We're going to have a visitor soon, Matt." He told his prisoner. "A visitor eager to see you."

"Right. Leave him a message--I wish he'd die already." Snapped Matt.

"Tell him yourself." Challeneged Matt Two. "He's here." He turned around and just then a hidden door open and walked in Metal-Panthamon.

"Hello, Matt and ah. . .my Mattie." Metal-Panthamon purred seeing Matt leaning agains the wall. "So long has it been since I've seen you, tasted you."

"Fuck off, and leave me out of your sick demented world!" Matt snapped angrily. "My friends will rescue me and we will destroy you. Again."

Metal-Panthamon slinked over to Matt and gently caressed his cheek; Matt flinched and took a step back, only to realize he already had his back to the wall.

"Now, now, don't do that, Mattie." Scolded the dark digimon.

Just then Matt's digivice started to beep and flash.

Matt leaped up and grabbed his digivice from his pocket, hope gleaming in his sapphire eyes. He glanced up and ducked just in time from Matt Two's angry attack. Metal-Panthamon growled and leaped at Matt as well.

But Matt was quicker. He ducked and rolled away from the two and away from the wall, just in time to hear a message from Izzy.

"Matt! Move away from the wall!" Came Izzy's voice over the crackling static.

"Hit it, already!" Matt screamed, hoping that Izzy could hear.

Just then the wall crumbled. Dirt and rocks went flying and Matt ducked again, coughing. He squinted through the dust to see who had broken through. He grinned as soon as he saw Greymon and Digmon. He ran towards the two digimon only to get tackled by Matt Two.

"You are not leaving!" He screamed.

"Hell I am!" Matt retorted and punched his twin, hard. "And I'm taking you down with me, asshole." He then stumbled to his feet and grabbed his twin by the arm. "I have to destroy you somehow and without destroying myself."

"You'll never figure that out," Matt Two laughed madly. "I'll never tell!"

"Well, if you came from me. . .we have the same thought process. I'll figure it out, with my friend's help, of course," Matt snapped and dragged him roughly. He pushed him cruelly through the opening.

"Matt! Mattie! I'll come back for you!" Screamed Metal-Panthamon as he disappeared, avoiding the battle for now.

"Nah, only for one of us. . .and it won't be to get me," Matt muttered under his breathe.

"Matt. . .are you okay?" Came Tai's concerned voice as he grabbed for Matt Two thinking that it was his friend. He didn't see Matt behind him.

"Of course, but you're talking to the wrong one, Tai," Matt chuckled and Tai gasped as he stared from the two Matt's his mouth open. "I'll explain in just a second, but can we just get out of here, please? At least somewhere a bit. . .safer."

"Um, of course." Tai managed to say and gave everyone a look that said to be quiet. "Iz?"

"Follow Tentomon. I showed him a spot." Came the reply.

"I will not follow you!" Matt Two shouted.

Matt rolled his eyes and bent down, picking up a rock. "You are. . .Either you obey me or I knock you out, and drag you? Which would you like to prefer?" He asked gritting his teeth.

Matt Two sniffed angrily. "Fine but you won't figure it out." He said and after that stayed silent as Matt grabbed his arm angrily and started to herd him after the group.

"Yes, I will, because I don't want another one of me, especially when its dark and evil." Matt retorted.

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i think i like matt too much. i torture him far too much. and i was told that if you have a favorite character ...you tend to torture them a lot.

eh. or something.

thanks for reading! happy days!