"KARI?!" Tai called for the fortieth time.
"Tai they aren't here." Sora told him and she put a hand on his arm. Tai exhaled he wasn't aware Sora had followed him.
"KARI?!" Tai called again ignoring Sora.
"Just let him be Sora. I remember the last time I got in the way of Tai looking for Kari." Tai could hear Izzy and he remembered Machindromons city. He shuddered at the memory and turned and faced Izzy and Sora.
"We have to find them." He said harshly. Sora scoweled,
"that's what we were doing! But then you..." she stopped and looked to Izzy. Izzy put a hand on her shoulder and narrowed his eyes.
"Tai, something's wrong." Tai agreed,
"Someone has kidnaped our partners!" He replied and Izzy shook his head,
"No with you!" Izzy yelled and Tai was silent a moment.
"It seems to have disappeared. But, Tai. You were covered in darkness." Izzy spoke quietly. Tai's mouth opened slightly. He looked at his hands and feet. He was wearing his school uniform minus his jacket. He seemed fine. He looked at Izzy and scowled,
"like you said Izzy. Don't get in my way." Tai said darkly. He turned and continued walking. A part of him felt that he shouldn't have said that. That he was threatening his friend and this wasn't right. He thought about the blood on his hands and didn't care any longer. He continued walking.
Kari felt warm. She sunk deeper into the comfort, grateful for it. She started thinking about Gatomon, her brother, she then smiled picturing TK. Then she woke up. She quickly opened her eyes and could see a fire in front of her.
"Matt?" She asked and Matt came into view.
"Feel better?" He asked and Kari sat up. She nodded and slowly stood.
"Easy kid, let's not push ourselves." Matt put a hand on Kari's shoulder and steadied her. Kari sighed, she figured Matt and Tai were one in the same. Always fussing over their siblings. She closed her eyes a moment and saw something green. Her eyes snapped open,
"Mimi." Matt looked at Kari's eyes and squinted,
"What?" He asked and Kari moved away from him towards the cave entrance.
"Mimi, she needs us." Kari informed and Matt moved next to her.
"How do you know that?" He asked and Kari got a look of determination on her face,
"I just do." She then stepped out of the cave and onto the snow,
"Blue blaster!" Suddenly Kari was knocked over. Her body slid in the snow and she felt the shock of cold through her body. Kari looked up seeing Matt holding her down. She looked seeing Gabumon. Kari gasped,
"Gabumon!" Matt yelled and he released his hold on Kari and stood. He stood in front of his partner.
"Gabumon, it's me! Matt!" He yelled. Kari squeezed her eyes shut and she saw the green light dim. Her eyes shot open, Mimi was in trouble. She quickly stood and quietly backed away from Matt and Gabumon. She didn't want to leave Matt but figured he wouldn't leave Gabumon. Kari needed to find Mimi. She turned and started running in the snow. She wasn't sure where she was going but just felt the pull of Mimi's crest and followed it. She gasped and skidded to a hault Frigimon were in front of her. They were attacking something. Kari stepped to the side hoping not to be seen. She then gasped seeing Palmon leading the Frigimon.
"Poison Ivy!" Palmon cried and Kari put a hand to her mouth seeing darkness surrounding Palmon.
"No." Kari whispered. She then heard a scream and quickly Kari ran forward,
"MIMI!" She yelled as Palmons attack made contact with Mimi. Mimi fell face first into the snow and Kari pumped her legs faster.
"Palmon! Please!" Mimi begged, Kari sprinted,
"Mimi! Move!" She yelled and she dove on top of Mimi. Palmons vines slashed Kari's back and Kari yelled out in pain. She felt the cool air stinging her back and figured the vines had sliced through her shirt. She tried to ignore the pain and she moved off Mimi and hauled the older girl to her feet.
"Go!" Kari instructed and Mimi started running with Kari close behind.
"Subzero Ice Punch!" Frigimon yelled and they started attacking the girls. Kari covered her head as she ran hoping she wouldn't get hit. She looked up and then to the left.
"Subzero I've Punch!" A Frigimon yelled and Kari screamed seeing it was headed right for Mimi. Mimi was hit and she was thrown sideways.
"Mimi!" Kari yelled and she ran to her friend. Mimi was laying on the ground. She had a bruise on her face and she was unconscious. Kari held Mimi's head in her lap. She turned and looked at Palmon.
"Palmon! Please! You have to fight the darkness! This is Mimi!" Kari pleaded and Palmon stopped and stared at Mimi in Kari's lap.
"She interfered." Palmon spoke robotically. The Frigimon stopped there attacks and Kari inhaled wondering what would happen next.
"Kari?" Kari looked down at her lap and could see Mimi coming to.
"Help Palmon, she needs help." Mimi said weakly. Kari nodded and Mimi slipped out of consciousness. She then gently removed Mimi's head from her lap and lightly placed her on the snow. Kari then stood.
"Palmon. Look at me!" Kari demanded as she stood with gust in front of the Frigimon and Palmon.
"This isn't you. Try to remember Mimi. The times you fought together, the times you spent! You're partners for life! Remember that!" Palmon's mouth opened slightly Kari could see the darkness fading. She stepped forward.
"Don't let the darkness win. Don't let it control you!" Palmon blinked and Kari felt she had gotten through to her
"Mimi. Run." Palmon said suddenly and Kari went wide eyed. She looked up as the wind picked up and quickly shuffled back towards Mimi as Pythmon descended from the sky.
"You think you can change her? You think you can get through to her?!" The evil digimon laughed.
"She's under my control light. Don't forget that." Pythmon snapped his fingers and Palmon screamed. Kari could see the darkness increase around the digimon and she started to cringe feeling the darkness. It hurt and Kari put her hands to her head.
"I didn't realize how much this hurt you!" Pythmon laughed. Kari closed her eyes shaking from the pain.
"Oh how fun. I think this will be easier and sadly quicker then I anticipated." Kari opened her eyes and looked at Palmon. She was on the ground and the darkness was still swarming her.
"Let them go!" Kari tried to yell but it was strained. Pythmon laughed and Kari was annoyed how much fun he was having from their suffering.
"I think I'll take you light. You seem to be a slight inconvenience." His bony hand started reaching for her.
"Blue Blaster!" Pythmons outstretched hand was hit and he yelled out in pain. Kari turned seeing Gabumon. She went wide eyed seeing Matt walk confidently behind his partner.
"How?!" Pythmon exclaimed and Kari saw Matt smirk,
"You underestimate our bond." He said threateningly. Pythmon growled and Gabumon attacked again,
"Blue Blaster!" This time Pythmon moved and avoided the attack. He then snarled and grabbed Palmon in his hand, then he and Palmon disappeared. Kari looked at the Frigimon. They were frozen as if they were deactivated. She ignored them and moved to Mimi.
"Mimi?" Kari gently pushed on her friend. She heard the snow crunching and could feel Matt standing next to her.
"What happened?" Matt asked and Kari quickly answered.
"Frigimon hit her with their attack." Matt nodded and then bent over and scooped Mimi up into his arms.
"Come on Kid, Let's move." He turned and walked with Gabumon. Kari was close behind. She looked at Matt who looked a little more beat up.
"How'd you do it Matt? How'd you get through to Gabumon?" Matt sighed and continued walking,
"I don't know. I think he was ready to kill me." Kari saw Gabumon flinch. Matt continued,
"I was going to let him. I stopped fighting him and just accepted it. I told him it was okay. I felt warmth in my chest and thought he attacked me. I opened my eyes and he was frozen. Then he wasn't covered in darkness anymore. He was back." Kari looked to Gabumon who looked sad.
"Gabumon?" Kari asked the digimon. He shook his head,
"Matt I-" Matt then cut him off,
"It's not your fault Gabumon. Stop blaming yourself. You're back and I'm never gonna let you out of my sight." Kari could see Gabumon blush,
"Promise?" The digimon asked and Kari felt the tension Matt was holding release,
"Promise." He said and Kari smiled. The group walked for a while. They walked through the trees and Kari stopped noticing the snow was receding.
"The snows is melting?" Kari wondered aloud. She looked to Matt who was looking around them.
"We must be moving away from Frigimons territory." Kari nodded. She could feel her back starting to ache. She tried to ignore the pain focusing on following Matt. The snow faded away the more they walked. They found a dry patch of grass and Kari felt her body warm up a bit.
"Let's stop here. I'm gonna go see if I can find some food or water for Mimi." Matt stood after placing Mimi gently on the ground. He looked at Kari then to Gabumon.
"Gabumon, stay here and protect the girls. I'll be back." Kari quickly protested,
"No Matt wait! You look exhausted! You need a break. I'll go look for food and water." Kari stepped towards Matt her face hard so he wouldn't dismiss her protest. Matt suddenly smirked and shook his head,
"God you look like Tai." Kari scowled,
"No I don't." She countered and this time Matt chuckled,
"And you have his stubbornness too. You Kamiya's." Kari purses her lips and then took a step passed him.
"I'm going. Stay with Mimi." She instructed. Matt then called to we
"Hold it short stack! You're bleeding!" Kari stopped and Matt came up behind her,
"You really have a knack for getting hurt. Your back is slashed." Kari quickly turned so she was facing Matt.
"I'm no worse off then you or Mimi. Let me try to be helpful Matt. All I've done is lay around. I want to help." She pleased and Matt put a hand on her shoulder.
"Your tough like Tai too." He smiled and her and Kari couldn't help but smile too.
"Be careful. Something happens to you and Tai will kill me." Kari's smile grew and she nodded. Matt removed his hand from her shoulder and Kari started walking to find some food and water.