Mark screamed loudly. The figure moved closer. Mark screamed louder. He screamed until his voice couldn't make any louder noise.
"Ah, please Buckaroo!" whimpered the figure. "Please stop with the screaming. I ain't gonna hurtcha..."
"Huh," Mark stopped screaming. He opened his teared up eyes. The figure in front of him looked like a giant round snowman. He was a deep chocolate color with red buttons down his front. Large coal eyes looked down at the child. "You aren't going to hurt me?"
"Nope," smiled the figure, "contrary to popular belief there are still good digimon in these here parts. Name's Mud Frigimon."
"Mark..." said the boy and indicated to himself.
"Markmon..." Mud Frigimon narrowed his eyes, "Elecmon really should keep a roster of the new digimon..."
"No, not Markmon!" giggled the child. "Just Mark, I'm a human...a-a digi-destined..."
"Ah..." Mud Frigimon gave a little smile. "Wait...if you're one of them dig-destined, then where is your digimon?"
"He got sick," said Mark and his eyes looked down, "and then he went all crazy and went up that mountain. I'm trying to find him."
"All by yerself?" asked Mud Frigimon. "These here parts aren't as safe as they used to be..."
"I thought you were a big monster!" said Mark. He looked up. "I'm sorry if I screamed in your face..."
"Naw, it's ok, trust me, the Alraumon sing much worse!" chuckled Mud Frigimon. "I could help you...I mean, I could at least keep ya company...like I said...tisn't safe in these here parts..."
"Ok!" Mark was so happy just to have some one to talk to. He ran up and hugged the large digimon.
"Right, well let me jus'," Mud Frigimon lifted Mark up onto his shoulder. "We're set to go now! Hi ho Mud Frigimon Away! Err...which way are we going?"
"Up the mountain..." said Mark.
"Right, Mud Frigimon Away!" Mud Frigimon ran up the mountain side with Mark riding on his shoulder.
888
Stephen hopped up. He could have sworn he heard Mark's screaming. Ryuudamon looked up.
"Is something wrong?" asked the lizard.
"I could have sworn I heard Mark..." replied the boy.
"It could have been any number of creatures..." said Tapirmon.
"The Alraumon that live in this area have a choir..." said Labramon. She furrowed her brows, "but they are truly awful."
"I think you are just over reacting," said Ryuudamon. "You are getting so upset, Mark isn't dumb he's probably some where safe.
"Don't worry, Stephen," Michelle walked up next to Stephen. "We'll find him."
Stephen nodded slowly.
"We'll find him," said Brendan. He was working on that code thing he found the night before, "but we should think about getting ready to turn in for the night. It's getting dark."
Stephen looked up at the stars that started to peek out of sun's fading glare. "Be ok, Mark, please be ok...."
The others looked up and shared a similar prayer and then laid down against a tree.
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Demi Devimon flitted through the trees. That little boy was faster than he had expected. He grumbled to himself. Impmon had put the master in a foul mood. Now, Demi Devimon had to tail this twerp so the master could send some one to get rid of him.
He dove into a clearing. He gasped and backpedaled into one of the trees. He grimaced. Mud Frigimon had just made things complicated. The bat closed his eyes.
"Master..." thought the bat quietly as he attempted to gain a mental link.
"What!?" growled the unhappy voice of Boogeymon. "Have you found the boy!?"
"You should see this," Demi Devimon opened his eyes.
"Drat, that pile of mud!" growled the voice. It sighed. "I'll dispatch some one...you must come back, some how those digi-brats have started tracking me back to Infinity Mountain. I need some one to keep an eye or two on them..."
"B-but what about Demi Mamon?" simpered the bat.
"He was deleted," replied the voice coldly.
"Oh..." Demi Devimon turned and took to the air.
888
It was difficult to believe but they stood at the base of the northern mountain. The Island was much smaller than it appeared.
"Well, we're here," said Jason. He looked up the steep unforgiving sides, "Now what?"
"We climb the mountain?" offered Kevin.
"Or...you could stay in our village for the night," said a feeble voice. The kids and their digimon jumped and spun around to be met by a man, about the same height of the children but he was made completely out of rock.
"A Gotsumon!" said Penguinmon. The blue bird stepped forward, "They are usually friendly rock digimon."
"Yep, a group of our men saw you coming, and so I thought I'd come out and ask you in for the night," said the old man quietly. "It isn't everyday we have the heroes of the Digital World stay in your village."
The children blushed. Amy walked up. "I think that's just perfect. We need to rest anyways, it's nearly night fall, and if we're so close to the nasty part of the island, it may not be wise to climb tonight."
"The girl is correct," said Gotsumon. The kids conceded. The rock digimon led the children and their partners to a small village at the base of the mountain. The small buildings were lit by small fires.
"Elder, elder, you've returned," a group of smaller Gotsumon ran up to the old digimon.
"Aye, I've returned, with guests," said the elder. He laid his hands on the smaller Gotsumons' heads. "Go tell the older Gotsumon, that we have guests, and that they are hungry..."
"Oh, no we couldn't impose," started Amy.
"It is no imposition," said the old man. "We have been honored by your presence."
"If the guy wants us to eat," said Kevin. He looked at the others, "We can't just say no!"
"Umm..." Janet looked at Kevin. "That was kind of rude..."
"No rude is turning some one down, when they gratefully offer you some food," said Kevin. Kevin followed the elder.
"Actually boy..." said the elder. "I would like to have you go to the patrol; they are going to scout around..."
"Why me?" asked Kevin disappointedly.
"Because you seem to be a boy of great courage!" said the elder enthusiastically.
"I think I'm going to go look for some fruit," said Janet and turned to go off.
"Not alone," said Jason.
"The boy is correct," said the elder, "Head matron, take your women with this child and assist her gather fruit."
"I think I should check out this mountain and see if I can find some sort of trail..." said Jason. He walked off with Otamamon before anyone could complain.
"And you young lady?" said the elder to Amy.
"I think I would just like to rest..." said the girl. The elder nodded with a smile and led Kevin off with much protest by the young man.
888
Demi Devimon panted heavily. He had winged it a quarter of the way around the island in a couple of hours. It was no mean feat and his wings felt like overgrown fern leaves. He could barely keep them stretched out enough to keep him aloft.
He complained to himself. It was insane. Why did Demi Mamon have to get himself deleted, the fool. Impmon was a fool as well; he was far too liberated for his own good.
He looked down. An evil smile cracked across his face. The old Gotsumon village drew up into his view. He dove down. The voices of that prattling elder intermingled with the children's voices.
"Master..." whispered Demi Devimon's voice. "I found them...That old coot of a Gotsumon is going to welcome them into the village."
"I will send the Bakemon..." murmured Boogeymon's voice.
888
Amy had been with the other females of the village. They were talking quietly. The female Gotsumon were very interested in Amy's hair and clothing and of course extremely interested in Penguinmon. They asked hundreds of questions.
"What does Penguinmon digivolve to?" asked one.
"How are you going to defeat Boogeymon?" asked another.
"Is that your natural hair color?" asked a third.
"Umm..." Amy looked from one to the other. "Well I don't know, I don't know, and yes it's my natural color...."
They looked at each other and made an 'ah' sound and then giggled. The girl Gotsumon were not unlike the girls back at home. They giggled and talked and acted just like some of Amy's friends. All was going so well, and then there was a loud smash.
"Bakemon!" shouted a voice, it sounded like a male Gotsumon.
"No, they have come," whispered one of the girls. "They're here for you, Amy and the others. We have to hide you; maybe they'll go away..." The girl Gotsumon grabbed Penguinmon and Amy by the hand. She placed them in one of the storage huts and hid them behind several bales of grain. "You have to stay here, we'll deal with the Bakemon...they aren't the brightest and we usually can trick them into leaving...but stay here, if they find you they'll destroy you..."
Amy nodded quietly. She was now far too worried. The others were out of the village still. Janet and Renamon hadn't returned yet, neither had Jason and Otamamon. Kevin was still out their, but at least he had a whole patrol of Gotsumon with him.
Penguinmon's fin laid quietly on Amy's leg. "Don't worry. The Gotsumon know what they are doing."
Amy nodded quietly. She strained her ears and could make out the argument outside.
"We know the children are here," growled one of the non-Gotsumon voices. It was a normal monster growl like voice you'd hear on kid shows. "Hand them over..."
"I have no idea what you're talking about..." said one of the male Gotsumon. "The Elder and the patrol went out, that's the only thing that is odd here. I don't know why you are here..."
Amy looked down at her feet. She was so guilty. Something was wrong. Her worry had fogged her thoughts but she realized something was wrong. It was then she realized, that she had taken off her shoes and that they were outside in the square.
"If there is nothing wrong," growled the voice of one of the non-Gotsumon, "then you won't mind if we have a look around..."
"No way, we don't want your slimy hands touching our stuff!" shouted the Gotsumon.
"Oh, but I think we'll have a look around any waysssss." Hissed a different voice.
"Soulmon!" yelped one of girl Gotsumon.
"I have one quessstion though..." hissed the voice.
"Hey where are you going!" shouted the male Gotsumon.
"If there are no children here..." rasped Soulmon's voice. "Then why are there shoesss here....?"
Amy let out a small gasp. Penguinmon held the girl's mouth and shook her head.
"You have tried to lie to usss, Gotssssumon," hissed the voice. "We don't like being lied to...Bakemon, sssearch the village, if you find the owner of thisss shoe an extra portion of gruel," The voice paused, "After we find the children, dessstroy the village."
"No!" shouted the male Gotsumon, "We won't let you!"
"You have no choisssssce," chuckled Soulmon's voice.
"Oh yeah! Everyone, let's get these over grown pillow sheets out of here!" shouted the voice of the male Gotsumon. "Rock Fist!"
"Rock Fist," chorused the others.
Amy heard the growly voices of the Bakemon groan in pain. It made her smile briefly, but all good things come to an end.
"Necro Magic!" hissed Soulmon's voice. A sharp electrical crackling was heard, followed closely by the sound of yelps of pain from the Gotsumon. "Raze the village, desssstroy these pathetic foolssss!"
"Dark Claw!" growled the Bakemon. Amy heard several more Gotsumon scream in pain.
"No," tears formed around the edges of Amy's eyes. "We have to do something..."
"We can't, those Bakemon and that Soulmon will chew us up and spit us out..." said Penguinmon. "The Gotsumon told us to stay here."
"Necro Magic!" hissed Soulmon.
"No! The Elder's son!" yelped one of the Gotsumon. "You monster you deleted the Elder's son!"
"Now to delete you..." hissed Soulmon's voice. "Necro Magic!"
"Aya!" shouted the Gotsumon.
Amy stood. She started to walk towards the exit of the storage hut. Penguinmon hopped up and held her leg.
"We can't let them fight for us, it is not right, they are dying to protect us," said Amy with out turning her head, "If I give myself up, then this will stop, you don't have to come with me Penguinmon, I couldn't ask you to make that decision."
"That's the thing," said Penguinmon, "The decision is already made, I'll go anywhere with you, Amy, and I'll protect you till the end."
Amy smiled and walked out of the building with her digimon partner. She saw them. Ghostly sheets with long demonic claws were hunting down the Gotsumon. One of them was slightly larger and had a huge witch's hat on its head. It turned slowly. An evil grin cut across its sheet face.
"The human..." It drew closer, "Lord Boogeymon will be pleased to have you to feed to his Fangmon," It lifted his hands, "Necro Magic!" The black lightning sliced into the ground. Amy fell backward; Penguinmon leapt forward.
"Penguinmon digivolve to Saberdramon!" The blue penguin morphed into a giant raven bird. Its large black wings unfurled shielding the girl. The bird dove into the sky. She wheeled around. "Black Saber!" a black blade sliced downwards. Several of the Bakemon were cut down in the strike.
"Fool, Necro Magic!" Soulmon sent a strike of black energy up at the bird.
Saberdramon dodged the attack and swirled around and flashed her wings open. "Mach Shadow!" Black streamers rained down causing small explosions as they hit the ground.
"Wild Thunder!" Shima Unimon galloped in slicing the main street with a stream of blue lightning.
"Jaenryuu!" A pair of twin dragons twisted in from the forest as Youkomon glided through the air on her small flaming paws.
"Bakemon, retreat!" growled Soulmon. He turned to Amy. "Child, this is not over, we will be back, with reinforcements..."
The ghosts faded back into the forest. A silence and peace fell over the village. It was an unpleasant feeling. They hadn't truly won, and many Gotsumon were injured, or worse.
"Where's Jason?" Janet leapt down from Youkomon.
"Yeah, I'd have thought he'd be here by now," Kevin dismounted from Shima Unimon. The three champions de-digivolved to their rookie forms.
Suddenly a small creature staggered on the scene. The small tadpole was burned and cut and bruised. Janet ran over to the tadpole.
"Otamamon!" Janet scooped up the digimon.
"The Bakemon..." coughed Otamamon. "They came out of no where, I tried but they caught us off guard. They took him..."
"Jason," Janet whispered quietly.
888
Oh my dear Jason is in trouble...guess we'll find out how much next time....