Here's chapter thirteen, just like I promised. Through thick and thin I got it here. I just hope you guys like it. If you remembered, I mentioned Impmon was chained to the wall a couple chapters ago. I changed that. Also, I wrote a better description of the cathedral-like room.

Reviews:

Saith-chan: lol, thanks for reviewing! I hope this is soon enough for you!

between-the-stars (aka Salpheon): Thanks for all the support, Salph! I added you to my fav authors list! Now get a story up girl!

Disclaimer: I have never owned digimon, I do not own digimon, I never will own digimon.

DEDICATION: I dedicate this chapter to my two reviewers. Do you know how depressing it is to find out that the hits on this story went from 92 to 470 yet only two people reviewed? Saith-chan and between-the-stars, this chapter's for you!

Chapter 13

To Fear or Not to Fear

Inside the house, the battle wasn't going so well. Not even the ultimates seemed to faze Owikawa. The man just stood there and took whatever they threw at him.

He laughed, "Are you done? To think you gave us so much trouble before. I'm insulted, really. Ah well, I have a schedule to keep so I'm afraid playtime's over." As he spoke, a dark energy expanded out from him. Everyone drew back fearful, desperately trying to come up with some way as to stop the attack.

In a corner, behind Stingmon, Ken sat very pale. If someone didn't do something, this next attack could very well be their last. "Wait!"

Owikawa paused, his eyes locked with Ken's. The man smirked in triumphant.

"No Ken!" Kari shrieked.

"You idiot, we can take it!" TK shouted over at the dark haired boy, even as the digimon moved to block Ken from Owikawa.

"Ken has made his own decision," Owikawa said evenly. "Get out of my way." The digimon stood firm. He sighed and raised a hand, pointing it at them.

"NO!" Ken struggled to a stand, his pained eyes on the digimon. "I have enough on my conscious without adding your deaths to it. Please, for me, step aside."

With obvious confliction in their faces, the digimon, one-by-one, stepped aside, leaving the path for Owikawa clear. He strode forward to the pale youth and placed two fingers on each temple. Ken's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body fell limply forward into Owikawa's arms.

"Ken!" Stingmon went into attack mode but Owikawa, almost carelessly, tossed a ball of dark energy at him. At contact, Stingmon de-digivolved to back to Wormmon.

Flames ignited on Agunimon's knuckles; however Lowemon put a hand on his shoulder halting the attack. "It's useless, we're too weak."

From the far side of the room, Jeri watched helplessly, Calumon cowering in her arms, as Owikawa exited via the doors, Ken in his arms.

"Izzy! Izzy! Izzy!" Tentomon cried as he flew back into the thicket.

Izzy looked up abruptly, "Hush, Tentomon! You want to give away our position?" Tentomon shook his head. "Then be quiet! Did you find any water?"

"But–?"

"Did you find any water?"

"Yes, but–"

"Give it here."

Izzy soaked a scrape of material in the water held in an abandoned plastic container. The redhead gently placed it on Joe's brow.

"Izzy–"

"What?" hissed the occupied teenager.

"Owikawa's heading this way."

Izzy's head snapped up so fast, it was a wonder his spinal chord didn't break. "He's heading this way?"

Tentomon nodded.

"Why didn't you say this before!" Izzy cried as he made sure Joe was completely hidden from view.

"I tried to."

Izzy waved this fact off impatiently. "He's going through the portal, no doubt. This way." Izzy dashed out of the thicket with Tentomon flying right behind. Gomamon looked off in their direction.

A soft moan brought his attention back to his partner. The blue haired boy stirred slightly causing the wet material to slip off. His brow was furrowed.

"Joe!"

Joe groaned and his eyelids slowly flickered open. He blinked up hazily into Gomamon's eyes. "Gommon?" he slurred after a moment.

"JOE!" Gomamon grabbed the startled boy around the neck and squeezed. "YOU'RE ALIVE! YOU'RE REALLY ALIVE!" There was an odd choking noise that clearly announced 'not for much longer'.

Gomamon released his victim in shock. "Oh Joe! Are you okay? I didn't mean to strangle you!"

Joe rubbed his bruised neck and grimaced. "At least I know you're not a dream or hallucination," he rasped.

Impmon shook on his bars angrily. Some human locking him up in a cage like one of their dumb animals was infuriating and immensely degrading. With a low growl, he lit one of his gloved fingers. "Badda Boom!" His growl intensified. Not even a singe!

Some distant explosions drew his attention to the only doors in the cathedral-like room. The doors were carved out of a pale wood and were at least forty feet tall. They were riddled with the same gold carvings as the rest of the room. Looking closely, Impmon could make out digimon in the carvings. The room was at least three or four stories, was built of bleached stone. In one corner was what Impmon would classify a portal. However, it did not resemble any portal he had encountered before. For one thing, it seemed someone had ripped the air haphazardly. For another thing, it was half violet, half dark blue, and it swirled together.

Impmon's cage stood in the middle of the room on a pedestal of the same bleached stone as the rest of the room. This position gave him a clear view of everything.

The explosions were growing louder. Suddenly the doors flew open at such a force that they banged against the walls. In sprinted an unfamiliar blue dinosaur-type digimon and two humans. One of the humans was a male with messy brown hair and a pair of cracked goggles. He was helping an obviously hurt female with long blonde hair.

"C'mon! We're almost there!" the boy shouted they ran towards the portal. At that moment, Lucemon appeared in the doorway. Impmon had already met Lucemon and hated the other digimon's guts already. Just who did that overgrown rookie think he was? No one ordered Impmon around! He was a rogue and a loner and proud of it! No human was ever going to command him much less some strange digimon!

With these thoughts, Impmon took aim and fired, "Infernal Funnel!"

The attack was no more annoying than a gnat to the fallen-angel digimon, but sufficiently distracted him from his intended prey.

"Ha! Take that Lucymon! Not so tough now, huh?" Impmon crowed.

With great effort, Lucemon turned his attentions back to the humans and digimon. They were almost home-free. Angrily, Lucemon spat out, "Grand Cross!" The attack missed and his quarry jumped threw the portal.

Davis leaned on his knees gasping. Zoe held onto a tree for support as her legs trembled violently underneath her, threatening to give out. Veemon was dancing about under their noses.

"C'mon! We got to get out of here before he catches up! Are you listening to me!"

Davis gave him an incredulous look. "How…can you be…so hyper?"

"Davis!"

The brunette boy didn't even have a chance to glance up before he was hauled into the undergrowth.

"Izzy? Tentomon?" piped Veemon's voice.

"Hush! Owikawa's coming!" answered the familiar voice of Izzy. Davis felt Zoe lower herself next to him and peer through the foliage.

Within moments they heard soft footfalls and then Owikawa came into view, but that wasn't all.

"KEN!" Davis would've exclaimed if Zoe hadn't slapped her hand across his mouth in time. Owikawa walked through the portal obvious to the five pairs of eyes glued to his cargo.

As soon as Owikawa was through, Davis struggled out of Zoe's grip and turned to Izzy. "We have to go back! Who knows what that creep'll do to him!"

"Wake up, Davis! The only one that stands a chance is Zoe! Our digimon are stuck at rookie level, remember!" Izzy snapped. "Besides, Joe needs our help right now as well."

"We'll be no use to Ken behind bars," Zoe added placing a comforting hand on Davis' shoulder. "We need back up."

Davis scowled bitterly, "Fine, where are the others?"

Izzy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, "Well, we kind of arranged for someone to come back and help me with Joe seeing how the digimon couldn't wait to get back to their partners."

Davis stared at him. "So, we're lost?"

"Not lost exactly…"

"But you have no idea as to where we are or as to where the others might be?" Zoe finished staring at the older boy piercingly.

"He doesn't, but I do," said a rather hoarse voice behind them. They turned around.

"Joe! You're walking!" Davis exclaimed.

"I hadn't noticed," Joe answered sarcastically. There was a loud thump as Izzy sat down, eyes bugging out and mouth hanging open. Joe raised an inquiring eyebrow at the redhead.

Zoe rolled her eyes and stepped forward, holding out her hand. "Hi! I'm Zoe. I was in the cell next you. It's great to see you awake and feeling better."

Joe shook her hand, "It's nice to meet you. I'm not sure if you know or not, but I'm Joe." He motioned to the digimon peeking over his shoulder. "This is Gomamon."

Zoe smiled at Gomamon saying, "We've met. You said you knew where the others are?"

Joe nodded, "Probably at Rika's house. It's this way. Coming, Izzy?"

Izzy scrambled to find his feet with a little help from Tentomon. "OUCH! Tentomon! That hurt! You just don't go around shocking people!"

Well, that's the end of chapter thirteen. Chapter fourteen is finished and will be updated next week. Review please! Even if it's just a 'job well done' or a 'you suck'. I'd really like to know what you think.