Okay, people, I'm back with another chapter! And, yes, Tim is back, but I'm sorry to say that he's leaving again. (Dodges rotten tomatoes from angry readers) Yaa! Sorry! I had this planned from the beginning! (splat from a tomato) Yuck. Anyway, before we get to the chapter, let's answer reviews.
Flame Extinguisher: Great! Another review and a freshly cleaned flame box! Thank you!
BlueSakuramon: Glad you liked it, but I'm not sure I like where you're siding…looks at review again Never mind, I take that back. Neutrality rocks.
Dark Qiviut: Glad you like the chapter, I'm hoping this adds to what you suggested. As for your second review, I'll try to be civil with Aerol, but no promises. For your third, Yes, I did do the revisions, but then FF.N took them off. Great. Maybe I'll take your advice and set up a website for them.
Xtremequeen666: Glad you liked it!
Digi fan: They meet up with him, but it's not what you think.
A to the S'taaw: Okay, I promised the others that I'd be civil with you, so here goes. I understand that you think this is unnecessary, and I understand that season four does not need anymore characters, especially Tim and Kayla, but please understand that I want to do this because 1), it's fanfiction, and 2), it's fun. So please, stop. Like I said, I know what I'm doing. And as for that crack about you and Cloaked Fox, sorry.
That's it, other than a review for the first chapter that I'm not going to acknowledge, but that's okay. On to the story! I do not own Digimon or "Godspeed (Sweet Dreams) by the Dixie Chicks. Follow the RRE rule!
Chapter 4: Two Nightmares in One Night
The reunited group traveled through the forest with renewed hope. They were following Kayla, who was tracking Tim with her "twin sense." Yes, she finally told Takuya, Koji, and Tommy about Tim, and their reaction was just the same as the others.
"So, Kayla." Takuya had said as they were walking. "Where are we going?"
Smirking, Kayla had replied, "Looking for Tim."
Koji and Tommy had heard as well. All three of the boys had stopped and stared slack-jawed at Kayla as JP, Zoe, Bokomon and Neemon, who really should have know better, walked into them and knocked everyone but Kayla to the ground. Kayla then stopped and laughed.
After a couple minutes, during which Kayla explained how she knew her twin was alive, they had started moving again, with no encouraging speech, but a silent hope to meet Tim soon.
Small chatter filled the air, mostly the arguing of Bokomon and Neemon.
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No."
"Are we there yet?"
"No! How many times do I have to tell you! We'll get there when we get there!"
SNAP!
"Ow!"
That was the sound of an irritated Bokomon snapping the elastic band of Neemon's pants and Neemon crying out in pain. Bokomon then turned to Zoe. "If he says that again, I'm going to scream."
"…Are we there yet?"
"ARGH!"
When they finally stopped, they set up camp in a clearing at sunset. The clearing was full of green grass and surrounded by apple trees. But when JP reached for an apple and bit into it, he spat it out immediately.
"What was that!" he demanded in apparent horror.
"That, my dear boy, was a meat apple." Bokomon said, flipping through his ever-present book. "They taste like any kind of meat, but like meat, you have to cook it before it edible.
"Well, it looks like we're gonna need a fire." Takuya said, looking around. "We're gonna have to find wood and clear out some grass."
"I've got a lighter in here somewhere." Kayla said, searching her pockets. "I know I have it…where is it? Hey, my CD player."
Everyone sweatdropped as she pulled the device out of her pocket and opened it. Looking inside, she scowled. "Fate would have it that Tim put his Dixie Chicks CD in my player."
"Who?" Zoe asked.
"An American band." Kayla replied "I like a couple of their songs, but I'm not crazy about them like Tim is."
She began to search her pockets again, but apparently she had lost it at the Digimon School. "Well, there goes that thought." She said. "I guess we'll have to make a fire without a lighter."
"That's okay." Takuya beamed. "We'll do it the old fashioned way."
"And do you know how?" Kayla asked.
Takuya opened his mouth to answer, thought about it for a second, then closed it and shook his head.
"Thought so." Kayla smirked.
They split up. Takuya and Koji began looking for wood as JP and Tommy began clearing a space for a fire. Zoe, Kayla, Bokomon and Neemon gathered meat apples. When the boys got back, Kayla went to try to start a fire.
"Okay…a little more…" she said, rubbing two sticks together. "Blow Tommy…more gently…a little grass, Takky…more air…there!"
A spark caught the grass and burned. Kayla added some twigs, then some bigger sticks, and soon had a good fire.
They stuck the meat apples on sticks and held them over the fire. Finally, Koji hazarded a taste.
"Well?" Takuya asked. The others leaned closer to hear the answer.
Koji's answer was neutral. "I'm starting to feel like I'm at a campfire weenie roast." He said. "I've got hotdog."
Everyone laughed and took a bite of their apples. A couple minutes of laughter and good times, then the moon came out from the clouds. When the silvery light came out of the trees surrounding the kids, parts of the trunks began to glow.
"What's going on?" JP asked.
"This is the TV Forest." Bokomon said, flipping through his book. "When the moonlight hits the trees, the trunks turn into TVs that look into another world, but none have recognized it yet."
"So," Kayla said, getting up and headed toward the closest tree. "Let's take a look."
She looked into the tree screen and her jaw dropped. "Mien Gott!" she swore. "NYC!"
"What?" Tommy asked as he looked at the screen.
"New York City!" Kayla said, mouth agape. "Tim and I lived there for two years after we moved from Japan!"
Excited by this discovery, the group spread out and looked into screens.
"Check it out! Tokyo Tower!"
"The Leaning Tower of Pisa!"
"Look! The Eiffel Tower!"
Everyone found something they recognized, mostly Kayla since she and Tim lived almost everywhere in the world. Bokomon was amazed. "So the TV Forest looks into the human world." He mused. "I say, this changes everything."
"Mama?"
Everyone (except Neemon) stopped what they were doing and turned to Tommy, who was staring at another TV. In it was a woman with short, curly brown hair. When Tommy called to her, she turned to face them slightly.
But then, as though the world wanted to tease Tommy, the clouds covered the moon. Tommy's cry of anguish could be heard for miles. "MAMA!"
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Several minutes later, the kids were back at the fire, trying to cheer Tommy up.
"Here, buddy." Takuya said, handing Tommy a meat apple. "It's hotdog."
But though the boy took the apple, he did not take a bite.
Zoe took a different tactic. "Hey, JP." She called to him. "Show Tommy your magic."
Everyone did a double take. "You can do magic?" Takuya demanded.
"Yeah." JP said. "Since I was a kid myself. Watch." He pulled to scarves, one blue, one yellow.
"Watch now as I double these two scarves." He said. He balled the two scarves and rolled them around in his hands. "And…hocus pocus!" he pulled the scarves apart—and there were two blue scarves and two yellow ones, tied together from by the top corners.
Everyone was slack-jawed, even Koji. "Now how did he do that?" Bokomon asked.
JP looked sheepish. "Um…" he stammered. "I don't even know."
Everyone laughed. Kayla, however, noticed that Tommy wasn't laughing and was still depressed.
"Tommy," she said, sitting against a tree and pulling out her CD player. "Come here."
The little boy came, and Kayla pulled him into her lap. She slipped the headphones around her neck, pressed "Play" on the player, and turned up the volume.
Guitars came from the headphones in a beautiful intro before Kayla began singing with the lead singer.
"Dragon Tales and the water is wild.
Pirate sail and Lost Boys fly.
Fish bite moonbeams every night
And I love you."
The guitars still playing, Kayla smiled at Tommy, whose eyes were beginning to droop.
"Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh, my love will fly to you each night
On angel's wings.
Godspeed.
Sweet dreams."
Tommy, asleep now, snuggles closer to Kayla as she sings. A cello joins the guitar as she sings the next verse.
"Rocket racer's all tuckered out.
Superman's in pajamas on the couch.
Goodnite Moon will find the mouse
And I love you."
Zoe leaned into Takuya, both smiling at the sight. Koji at another tree is entranced by Kayla's voice.
"Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh, my love will fly to you each night
On angel's wings.
Godspeed.
Sweet dreams."
JP, Bokomon and Neemon all gaped in amazement as Tommy fell into a deeper sleep. The guitar and cello played an instrumental solo before Kayla began singing again.
"God bless Mommy and Matchbox cars.
God bless Dad and thanks for the stars.
God hears Amen wherever you are
And I love you."
Silence filled the air before the guitar, cello, and Kayla started again in unison.
"Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh, my love will fly to you each night
On angel's wings.
Godspeed.
Godspeed.
Godspeed.
Sweet dreams."
As Tommy slumbered on, the unified voices of the Dixie Chicks lulled him into deeper sleep until, with a last strum of the guitar, the song ended.
Kayla carefully got up and placed the sleeping boy next to the fire. Then she looked up and found everyone gaping at her. "What?"
"Since when could you sing?" Takuya asked in awe.
"Since I learned to play the violin and banjo." She replied.
They were silent for a couple minutes before Takuya said, "You know, he reminds me of my younger brother."
"How is Shinya?" Kayla asked. "I haven't seen him since he was a year old."
"He was turning eight the day we came here." Takuya said. He paused for a second, thinking about something. "Aw, man! I totally missed out on cake and ice cream!"
Everyone laughed.
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In the trees above the camp, a shadow lurked. It watched as the kids laughed, but especially had its eye on the sleeping form of Tommy.
It smirked. "Nightmare Cloud."
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Elsewhere, on the other side of the TV Forest, Tim and the guardians were resting. The wind blew in the trees and Shurimon raised his head.
"What is the matter, Shurimon?" Yasyamon asked.
"The trees tell of uncertainty." Shurimon said.
"What?" Tim asked, looking over to them. "Trees don't talk."
"They do." Shurimon said. "You just don't know what to listen for. Tonight they tell of treachery in the forest."
As he said that, Tim became aware of a nagging feeling in the back of his mind. He thought about it. It felt like…fear?
He jumped to his feet. "Kayla!"
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In Tommy's dream world, the dream had become a nightmare.
"You're pathetic." Takuya was saying. "I've had to take care of you ever since we got here."
"What kind of a person are you?" JP sneered. "A teddy bear? Come on."
"I always told them you were a loser." Koji said. "Better late than never, I suppose."
Zoe said something snide is Italian. Tommy turned wide eyed to Kayla. "Kay?"
"I can't believe that I have such a wuss of a cousin." Kayla said. "Just to let you know, Yutaka was always my favorite."
Tommy stepped back, stunned and hurt.
"Aw, is the baby gonna cry?" Zoe taunted.
"Maybe we should change his diaper." JP suggested evilly.
"Go ahead, I'm not getting near him." Kayla said. "It's bad enough I'm related to him."
As the taunts became worse, Tommy found a way to take revenge. "Spirit Evolution."
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Back at the camp, the others were still talking.
"Poor baby." Zoe said as she leaned against Takuya. "Stuck here in this world without his parents."
"I know." Kayla said. She looked at Tommy and to her surprise, he was awake and sitting up. "Tommy? Hey, how're you feeling?"
"Shut up."
Everyone's jaw dropped. No one expected that.
Tommy got up. "I'm tired of you teasing me."
"Tommy, what—" Kayla cut herself off when she saw he glazed eyes. She felt a stab of fear. "He's dreaming!"
"I'll show you." Tommy said as Fractal Code wrapped him into a cocoon. "Spirit Evolution."
The Fractal Code fell away and revealed Kumamon, but the bear's once cyan eyes were now black as coal.
"Oh man." Takuya moaned.
"Hit the deck!" Koji yelled as Kumamon took aim.
"Blizzard Blaster!" Kumamon's ice pellets hit the tree Koji was leaning against and froze it.
"We have to stop him!" JP shouted.
"We might hurt him!" Zoe retorted. "It's not his fault!"
"You're right." JP agreed. "Don't Spirit Evolve. Easy enough."
"Crystal Freeze!" The breath of cold air hit the spot that Takuya, Koji, and Kayla had been standing on a few seconds before and froze it.
"Easy for you to say!" Takuya retorted. "You're not getting shot at!"
Kayla narrowly dodged another Crystal freeze and slammed into a tree. Looking up, she saw a creature in the branches, but it jumped into another tree before she could get a good look at it.
"Guys, there's something in the trees!" She called.
"How can you worry about that right now!" Koji shouted back.
"Bokomon!" Kayla shouted as she ran to where their guide was hiding. "What kind of Digimon has a cloudy lower torso and a nose ring?"
"I don't know!" Bokomon said frantically, pulling Neemon behind a tree. "Why?"
"Because I saw one in the trees!" Kayla answered, dropping to the ground as another Blizzard Blaster attack flew over her. "It might be the cause of this!"
"Give me a second." Bokomon called. He opened his book and began to feverishly turn the pages as Kayla rolled to dodge a Frozen Tundra attack.
"Got it!" Bokomon shouted. "Tapirmon! Keeper of dreams and nightmares!"
"That's it then." Koji said, taking out his D-Tector. "Take out Tapirmon and stop this mess."
Takuya nodded. "Guys, get ready! If Koji finds it, we'll take it out!"
Zoe and JP, however, heard none of this conversation. They just saw Takuya, Koji, and Kayla take out their D-Tectors.
"Hey!" JP shouted. "I thought we agreed not to Spirit Evolve!"
The image of the Spirit of Light appeared on Koji's D-Tector as he thrust his free hand forward, a ring of Fractal Code appearing around his fingers. He brought up his D-Tector and scanned the Fractal Code, putting both hands above his head.
"Execute! Spirit Evolution!"
Armor pressed against him, and Koji leapt out of the Fractal Code cocoon that had surrounded him. He slashed his lightsabers, then shot his blaster into the woods. "Lobomon!"
Lobomon grabbed one of his lightsabers and ignited it. Holding it into the air, he shouted, "Ancient Spirit of Light!"
A bright light erupted from the energy beam and illuminated the entire clearing. Kayla's sharp eyes just barely caught Tapirmon trying to flee. "There!" she shouted.
Takuya nodded. "Right!"
The images of the Spirits of Fire and Hope appeared on Takuya and Kayla's D-Tectors. As Takuya held out his free hand and Kayla crossed her arms, Fractal Code formed rings around their fingers. Takuya began to swing his arms wildly and Kayla straightened her arms until Fractal Code met D-Tector.
"Execute! Spirit Evolution!"
Takuya punched out twice. "Agunimon!"
Kayla slashed a sword and blew a kiss. "BlueSakuramon!"
"Where'd he go?" BlueSakuramon asked.
"That way!" Lobomon roared, pointing into the woods.
Agunimon and BlueSakuramon ran into the woods after the fleeing Tapirmon.
"He's too fast!" Agunimon panted.
"Not for long." BlueSakuramon said. "Hope's Kiss!" She blew a kiss and three golden-blue rings leapt from her hand and wrapped around Tapirmon.
"Nice job!" Agunimon grinned, stopping. "My turn. Pyro Punch!"
His fireballs hit Tapirmon and caused his Fractal Code to appear. BlueSakuramon took her D-Tector.
"You made my family turn on me." She spat harshly. "I already lost most of my family and I'm not going to lose anymore. Fractal Code, Digitize."
She scanned his Fractal Code, making his shake his head. "What happened?" he asked.
"You made one of our group attack us." Agunimon told him. "Stop him."
Tapirmon paled. "I can't!" he wailed. "The only way to stop him is to wake him up!"
"Oh no." BlueSakuramon whispered. They raced back to the campsite.
Kumamon was causing chaos as Zoe, JP, Lobomon, Bokomon, and Neemon dived for cover. When Agunimon and BlueSakuramon appeared, Kumamon turned and aimed his blaster at them.
"Kumamon, stop!" BlueSakuramon shouted. "Please, wake up!"
"Come on, little buddy." Agunimon said. "Don't do this."
Kumamon said two words. "Blizzard Blaster!"
Agunimon and BlueSakuramon's eyes widened as the pellets got closer. But before they could hit, a new voice filled the air.
"Tempest Wing!"
A blast of wind hit the pellets and blew them away.
Thirteen Digimon walked from the forest, led by a tall Digimon in a hunter green cloak. Any guesses who?
"Be careful, Elfmon." Said a hawk-like beast.
"I'll be fine, Halsemon." Said Elfmon. He stepped forward as Fractal code surrounded him. When it dispersed, Tim stood before Kumamon's blaster.
"Tommy, wake up. It's me, Tim."
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In Tommy's dream world, Tim had just shown up too.
"Tim?" Tommy asked. "Tim! Don't…don't be against me too!"
Tim gave an evil grin. "Why not? Haven't you wondered why Kayla and I have been gone as long as we were? You drove us crazy when we were younger, what's to prevent you from going it again?"
Anger and rage coursed through Tommy's veins as he aimed his blaster.
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"Tommy, don't do this. We want you back." Tim said. "Come back to us."
Kumamon hesitated. The others held their breath as he seemed to struggle between his feelings. Finally, he spoke.
"I hate you."
Tim blinked. "That's new." He commented.
"Blizzard Blaster!"
Flamedramon leapt in front of the projectiles. "Flame Shield!" He burst into flames so hot that Tim had to back off and the ice melted before it hit the fire dragon.
"I was afraid of this." Tim said sadly as he pulled out his D-Tector.
The image of the Spirit of Black Magic appeared on Tim's D-Tector as he crossed his hands over his head. A ring of Fractal Code appeared around his free fingers, and he swung his arms until Fractal Code met D-Tector.
"Execute! Spirit Evolution!"
Tim grabbed his newly formed staff and stamped it on the ground, a dark aura around the white orb. "Orcmon!"
Flamedramon backed off and Orcmon stepped forward. "Don't do this Kumamon." He said. "I don't want to hurt you."
"Crystal Freeze!" was the answer.
"So be it." Orcmon said as he slammed his staff into the ground. "Orb of Saruman!" A shimmering bubble shield appeared around him. The wind hit the shield, but did nothing else.
"I'm sorry, Kumamon." Orcmon whispered as he grabbed both of his orc scimitars. "Poison Blade!"
Lobomon, eyes wide, rushed to meet him with and active lightsaber, but Magnamon stopped him. "Stay, Lobomon." He said. "It is the only way."
Orcmon charged, ignoring the shouts of JP and Zoe. He leapt into the air, somersaulted over the snowbear, kicked his legs out from under him, and slashed the exposed belly.
Everyone stood still and held their breath as Kumamon was wrapped in Fractal Code. When it twisted away, everyone was relieved to see the wound made by Orcmon was gone. Tommy stirred and slowly opened his eyes. "Tim?" he asked.
Fractal Code surrounded Orcmon and when it was gone, Tim picked up his little cousin. "I'm so sorry, Tommy." He said. "So sorry that the Pacific Ocean isn't gonna be enough to hold my sorrow."
Tommy, Agunimon and BlueSakuramon smiled. "What happened?" Tommy asked.
"You don't remember?" Tim asked.
Tommy shook his head. "I remember having a dream where you and the others were being mean to me, and then I woke up with a tummy ache."
Tim smiled but still looked guilty. "Sorry."
But before anything else could be said, Lobomon trained his blaster on Tim's head. "Put him down and back away," he said harshly, "Or so help me, I'll blow your brains out."
"Lobomon!" BlueSakuramon yelled. "What are you doing!"
"Stopping him from hurting your cousin." Lobomon answered.
"Put your blaster down!" she shot back.
Tim stared down Lobomon. "You honestly think I enjoyed that?"
"Yeah." Lobomon spat. "Why else would you use a dark Spirit?"
"Yes, that is a good question, young Tim." Yasyamon said. "Why did you use Orcmon instead of Elfmon?"
"Because, on my own as Elfmon, I would never have had the strength to do it and he could have killed us." Tim said calmly.
"Bull!" Lobomon retorted.
Tim turned to the others. "Zoe? JP?"
Zoe's lip trembled. "I'm not sure what to think." She said.
JP was different. "Koji's right. I'll bet he's been planning this ever since he got that Spirit." He sneered. "That Spirit would make it easy."
Tim turned to Agunimon and BlueSakuramon. "Takuya? Kayla?"
"I'm with you all the way." Agunimon grinned. "You really had no choice."
"Oh, please." BlueSakuramon scoffed. "Like you had to ask?"
Tim sighed and put Tommy down. "Okay." He said. "I'm going."
"What!" Tommy, Agunimon and BlueSakuramon yelped.
"Kay, you should know better than anyone else." Tim said with a sad smile. "What did sensei say about group distrust?"
Fractal Code surrounded BlueSakuramon. When it spiraled away, Kayla stepped forward. "That if even one person distrusts another, the group will not function as smoothly as before." She said, tears in her eyes. "You're right. And I'm coming with you."
"So am I." Agunimon agreed.
"And me." Tommy put in.
"No." Tim said to all three. "You're needed here."
"But we just found you!" Tommy protested.
"I'm sorry." Tim said. He went back to the guardians. "Later, guys."
They turned and walked away. When they were about to walk into the woods, Tim turned back. "And for the record, JP, that was the hardest thing I've ever had to do, aside from watching my family die."
And he turned and walked away, leaving the others to watch him go in silence, his last words hanging in the air hauntingly.