"What's going on?!" Cody yelped.
"I'm getting a headache from all this." Kari groaned.
"Wha...?" Sora felt her head in disbelief. "My helmet! Where'd that come from?"
The light slowly lifted and cleared like clouds returning to the sky. Breathing heavily, they all looked around. They weren't in the parking lot anymore in fact there were in a place completely void of people. Instead they stood on a grassy hillside that was outlined by an odd forest that held the colors of the rainbow. Water could be heard, coming from a stream somewhere near the bottom of the hill. Not far off, the ground stopped and dropped off into a canyon. On the other side the land was covered with trees. While the scenery was quite peaceful, everyone had a look of horror on their faces. The sight that had them so horrified was Tai and Matt…they were 11 again.
Slowly they each realized that those two weren't the only ones, everyone was young again. They looked exactly the same as they had when they first arrived in the Digi-World. Even Tara and Nicki were young. Tara was in her old denim overalls and yellow t-shirt, her sunglasses perched on her head and gloves on her hands. Nicki too was in her old pair of blue jeans and green t-shirt, her hair up in a messy ponytail.
Eyes were huge, filled with fear and shock, however, quickly the mood was lightened with one little word spoken by two people.
"Prodigious!" Izzy and Tara exclaimed in unison, and some couldn't help but laugh.
"Hey Tai!" Davis said excitedly. "Now we can be on the same soccer team!"
Tai rubbed his head in amazement. Davis, Yolei, and Cody hadn't change at all! They were still their regular age. "Don't get too used to it Davis," Tai replied smugly. "I still can outplay you!"
"Hey, where's Kari?" Davis asked, looking around.
"Um...down here," Kari answered, embarrassed.
"Holy mac and cheese!" Davis gasped. "How'd you get so young?"
"I want to know the same thing," TK said, frowning.
"What?" Davis spazed, "You're small too why are you and Kari always doing things together? I should be small too!"
"Shut up Davis," Yolie stated, "What I want to know is why us three weren't effected."
"Good question," Cody agreed. "But maybe we should start with this one. Where are we?"
"That one's easy, we're in the Digital world." Izzy said. "My theory is we've gone back in time," Izzy explained.
Matt gasped. "Oh no, you mean like a real life flashback?" Izzy nodded. Matt sighed. "Makes sense...wait, wait. No it doesn't! Well what do you know?"
"Okay, Izzy, I don't mean to step on your theory or anything," Joe jumped in. "But if it's some sort of 'flashback' then why would Cody, Davis, and Yolei be here?"
"Don't forget Nicki and Tara!" Yolei pointed out motioning to the two girls that stuck close to each other as they searched there surroundings.
"They most likely got caught in the wave--" Izzy started. But Tara, who had been enjoying the scenery, wanted to add her two cents however she still wasn't brave enough to do it on her own. Nicki however didn't have a problem with it.
"Um...Izzy, I don't mean to bust your bubble but...you're wrong." Nicki stated bluntly.
"What do you mean he's wrong? It's Izzy!" Tai stated, but Nicki roughly pushed Tara forward and she reluctantly stated what was on her mind.
"No," Tara corrected. "She doesn't mean he's wrong, it's just his theory is."
"How so?" Izzy inquired. Calling Izzy wrong was not how she wanted to be known to him but if they were ever going to figure out what was happening they couldn't do it without her.
"Well if it were some kind of flashback to when you were first in the digital world, then most likely everything would be the same. Right?"
"Yeah," Izzy agreed.
"Even time and date?" She asked motioning to Tai. Surprisingly he caught the hint and glanced at his watch, as did Nicki.
"She's right Izzy," Tai said, holding up his watch so that he could see. "It's still breakfast." Kari giggled remembering that morning's conversation.
"Wow, she's right," Izzy smiled. "That's amazing."
Tara put her hands on her hips and glared at Izzy, she didn't want to be known as a genius but she also didn't want to be thought of a useless paperweight. "What is that supposed to mean?" she said accusingly.
"No, no, not like that Tara," Izzy panicked. "I mean how did you figure that out so fast?"
"I had a great teacher." She winked at him, and turned back to Nicki. Izzy's face turned red with embarrassment, and he quickly changed the subject.
"So, what happens now?" Izzy asked. "How do we get back to normal?"
As they talked Tara and Nicki got caught up in the scenery and ran to the edge of the cliff. It was beautiful and completely unfamiliar. Tara's heart began to beat faster and a small pain ached in the place she had been burned last. Was all this connected to her through Ken or was it connected to Tigramon? There were too many things going on at once to know for sure who was manipulating there lives now.
"What are you not thinking Tara?" Nicki asked, "There's something you're not telling me."
Nicki knew this days ago, Tara picked her thoughts more carefully and she never cared before what Nicki knew. But she didn't look like she was ready to say anything just yet.
"Do you think we should tell them?" Tara asked instead,
"I don't know," Nicki sighed, "This doesn't seem like the same world, is it possible that were confused?"
From the bottom of the hill, Veemon's shouting echoed on the wind. "Hey guys I found them!" A flock of digimon ran up the hill towards the Digi- Destined.
"Patamon!" TK shouted happily.
"Hey, Biyomon!" Sora called out, smiling. The excited digimon stopped cold when they saw the Digi-Destined. "What's wrong, aren't you glad to see us?"
"Glad yeah," Biyomon said slowly. "But you're not you, you're the young you."
Wow." Veemon shook his head. "How'd that happen?"
"We're not sure ourselves," Joe shrugged. "But hey, look at me. I look great!"
"Sadly, you didn't get so lucky, Davis." Veemon laughed as Davis lunged at him.
"Kari!" Gatomon ran up to her. "I'm glad you all are here, there have been a lot of strange things happening lately."
"Tell me about it," Kari stated, indicating their younger states.
"But this is nothing compared to the other stuff," Gatomon replied, shaking her head.
"What do you mean?" Kari asked, just as Agumon and Gabumon came over the hill and into view. Gabumon had his paw around Agumon, and they walked very slowly.
"Gabumon!" Matt shouted worriedly, realizing his digimon was injured. He ran to his side, gently laying the digimon onto his lap. "You alright? What happened?"
"It's a long story!" Agumon answered for Gabumon. "And...why are you so young, Tai?"
"That's an even longer story that doesn't have a plot yet," Kari answered. "So you go first."
Everyone gathered around Agumon and Gatomon, eager to hear the story. "Not long ago, there was a huge earthquake," Agumon began. "Then all of a sudden, several good digimon were seen attacking other good digimon."
"And then this Tigramon showed up and was kidnapped," Gatomon explained. "That's when we met the real reason for the change."
"That's right," Cody said with a nod. "His name is Merlockmon."
"He said that was his name, but I don't think it was," Gatomon replied, shaking her head. "Some of the new digimon we met said that the real Merlockmon was destroyed years ago by the first digi-destined."
"The first digi-destined?" Tai questioned
"So we know he's hiding something," Agumon added in agreement. "And he's evil."
Davis stood up, a look of determination on his face. "Well," he said. "We only have less than an hour to find out who exactly this thing is, and what we can do to stop it. And I'm not gonna wait around here."
"Davis is right!" Kari stood up. "We need to start looking now."
"Hold up." Matt looked around. "We're missing the tag-alongs."
"They're over by the cliff," Joe said, pointing over his shoulder. Izzy quickly ran over to them. It took some time, but when he returned both girls were with him.
"Tag-alongs?" The digimon all perked up in curiosity.
"Nicki," Matt waved her over, a look of concern on his face. "You really need to stay with the group. It's dangerous to be alone."
"Sorry dad," Nicki mocked, but she shot him a quick smiled.
"There's someone I want you to meet," Matt motioned to the weak digimon that relaxed on his lap. "Nicki this is Gabumon. Gabumon, this is Nicki." Nicki knelt down beside Gabumon and took his paw, shaking it softly.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you, Gabumon," Nicki said, a warm smile on her face. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"I was just in a fight," Gabumon said weakly. "But I'll be alright."
"A fight?" She looked to Matt for an explanation. "With..?"
"With the evil digimon we didn't want to tell you about earlier," Matt explained. "He was saving Tigramon." Nicki smiled at Gabumon appreciatively.
"Tara," Izzy guided her over to Tentomon. "This is Tentomon! Tentomon, Tara."
"Hello Tara," Tentomon said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Tara squatted down to shake his claw. "And I yours, she said with a smile. But as her glove and his claw touched, something sparked. Startled, Tara jumped back.
"Wow!" Tentomon exclaimed.
"Oh man, are you okay Tento?" Tara asked in concern.
"I think so," Tentomon assured her.
"Sorry about that..." Tara clenched her hands shut. "Are you sure?"
"We should be asking you that," Izzy stated, placing his hand on her shoulder but something else caught Izzy's attention. As her hand relaxed, something lining her palms caught the sun. Tara felt his gaze and curiously followed his line of sight to figure out what he was examining. Immediately, she shoved her hands into the big pockets of her overalls and took two giant steps away.
"Tara what's wrong?" Nicki asked, watching as her friend cautiously walked backwards.
"What was that?" Izzy asked in deep interest. Tara shrugged, but wouldn't say a thing. "No, that's amazing! You had some sort of digital--"
"Izzy," Nicki interrupted him, suddenly growing concerned. But his gaze remained locked on Tara.
"Where'd you get those?" he asked.
"The 99 cent store," Tara suggested. Nicki thought fast, knowing it was important to change the subject, but nothing seemed to come to mind.
'Nicki!' Tara thought desperately. 'Help me out here!'
'I'm thinkin', I'm thinking!!' Nicki thought back, panicked. 'I think I have some sort of block'
'Oh great!' Tara thought in disgust. 'Couldn't you have had a block when you were watching Early Edition yesterday?!'
'I could have, but then I wouldn't have understood anything!'
'Just do something, Izzy hasn't even asked me out yet! And I want him to at least consider it.'
Not knowing it, Nicki started to laugh out loud. She held her stomach and leaned forward, gasping. "Look at you!!" she blurted out between laughs. "You're 10 years old! Do you even know what you're saying??" She collapsed to the ground and began to roll about. Tara smirked, but attempted to hold control of herself.
"Nicki get a grip," Tara replied, looking at Izzy and the others. "Even though you do have a point." Tara smiled, reaching down and helping Nicki to her feet.
"Are you done?" Tai asked, pushing himself into the center of the three. "Because it's time to figure out what in the world happened, and how to make it un-happen."
As Nicki stood up, something began to glow from underneath her pant leg. Her eyes grew big as the white light grew brighter.
"Are we changing back?" Yolei asked.
"I don't think so," Sora answered, shielding her eyes from the bright light. "What is it?!"
Back in the real world Mimi walked down the sidewalk, past the basketball courts at the park. As she looked past the chain link fence, and recognized four boys on one of the courts.
Russ Mikayo, the skater brother of Tara Mikayo, stood out from his friends with his Fox Racing shirt. Robie Miyagi, the local baseball legend, could be easily picked out by his trademark: a baseball hat worn backwards. Luke Romana, twin brother to one of her best friends was the obvious basketball junkie as he was the only one wearing a basketball jersey. And Mike Tamiya, a bookworm like Joe, sat on the sidelines doing homework while the other three played a brutal round of horse.
Giggling, Mimi slid up to the fence. "Now that's one group you don't see everyday, A Jock, Skater, Rebel, and a School Boy all on the same court."
"Are you making fun of us?" Mike asked, lifting his head from his books.
"Yeah Mike," Robie nodded sarcastically. "I think that's what she was shooting for."
Russ shrugged. "Callin' me a Skater is only stating the truth."
"So where are you headed, Mims?" Luke asked, ignoring Russ. "I really hope its home, because Era's been there since school let out hoping to go shopping."
"Oh no!" Mimi gasped. "I completely forgot! I hope she won't be mad at me."
"I doubt it," Luke replied, shooting the basketball into the hoop.
"Is that just what you think, or is that the twin-telepathy talking?" Mimi asked, half joking half serious.
"Both," Luke smiled.
Just then, Mimi's pocket let off a bright light, making them stumble back as they shielded their eyes.
"Whoa, what'cha packing, Mimi?!" Russ shouted.
"I...I don't know!" Mimi reached into her pocket and pulled out Tigramon's tail ring. As she held it out in her hand, the glow slowly faded and the ring came into focus. "That was weird."
Russ came closer to Mimi and peered into the palm of her hand. Suddenly his mouth dropped wide open.
Guys...guys come here!!" He waved them all closer. "Now call me crazy, but--"
"I've been calling you crazy for the past five years," Robie interrupted.
"I didn't mean literally," Russ said, smacking him in the back of the head. "Look!!"
"Okay, okay." Robie looked at the small silver tail ring in Mimi's palm. "It's...wow, for once you're not entirely insane."
"Thank you."
"Where'd you get that?" Luke asked Mimi, pointing straight at the ring.
"I...I found it...on the street," Mimi replied, stammering a little. "Why?"
"I believe she's lying," Russ stated.
"What?" Mimi gasped.
"Think about it," Russ explained. "Mimi just picking something up off the street. That's not possible."
"Okay," Robie agreed. "Russ, I know what you all are thinking and it's not possible."
"How so?" Luke demanded.
"The fact it's here would mean that she would have to be here too," Robie explained. "And seeing as she's a digimon and this is the Real World, she couldn't possibly be here!" Mimi's eyes grew wide.
"Robie's right," Mike said, approaching the group.
"Thank you!" Robie gestured in appreciation, then paused. "Why?"
"If that were really Tigramon's tail ring then that would mean she somehow came through some sort of gate. And we know the gate was destroyed a long time ago." Mike replied.
"Don't be so sure, Tara did help Ken out with something related to the digital world its logical she'd look for information on the others."
Mimi's mouth now hung down to her ankles. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Um...guys," Luke said. "That was all out loud!" He pointed to Mimi's shocked expression.
"OOPS!" They all cringed.
"Smooth," Luke laughed, shaking his head at his friends.
"She's not blinking," Russ said. "Should we be worried?"
"Maybe, I don't know," Luke replied, shrugging his shoulders.
"Hey," Robie jumped in, suddenly excited. "Let's grab a garden hose and soak her down!"
"I don't think she'd appreciate that," Mike said.
Luke snapped his fingers in front of her eyes. "Hey Mimi! Mims, there's a sale at…" He paused. "Quick, what's the most expensive place she shops?!"
"How should I know?" Robie shrugged. "I don't shop with her."
"I ain't no freak!" Russ shrugged, backing away. "Try Zumies!"
"She ain't no freak," Luke retorted. Suddenly, Mimi slowly blinked and came back to reality, though she still held an awkward look on her face.
"You okay?" Mike asked.
"Yeah, I think so," Mimi replied, dazed. "I'm just seeing bright lights now." Suddenly a bright, white light that flooded like thick fog surrounded them.
"I don't think you're seeing things!" Robie shouted. The group vanished into the light, leaving an empty basketball court behind. Tigramon suddenly pranced around the corner, frantically looking around.
"Got to find Nicki," Tigramon mumbled. "Okay, remember what road you took last time you were with Nicki? Think Tigramon, think!" As she came around the corner, she collided with someone. She looked up at a very tall man, who stepped over her and continued on his way. Many more people stepped over and past her, and she began to panic. Tigramon ran down the sidewalk, maneuvering around the people as fast as she could.
Across the street, Aubrey and Jay were walking toward the park.
"Nicki and Matt won't tell me what it's all about," Jay said in disgust. "Matt has a secret and Nicki knows it. And I hate being left in the dark."
"Well you know you could always try reading her diary."
"Aubrey!" Jay shook his head.
"No, those little books hold secrets you couldn't believe! I read Char, my roommate's once and man did that baby have some good stuff."
While Aubrey rambled on about her roommate's private life, Jay's eyes wandered until he noticed something odd across the street. People were jumping and yelling at a cat running full-speed down the sidewalk. But it didn't really look like a cat.
"Of course you could just ask her instead of going through all that trouble...did you ever think of just...asking...that's not a real cat, is it?" They stopped walking and stared across the street. The cat continued to run, so Aubrey and Jay turned and walked in the same direction.
"That can't be who I think it is," Aubrey said in disbelief.
"You thinking that's Tigramon?" Jay asked. The two looked at each other and without a word they made a mad dash after her. "Tigramon!" Jay shouted. "Tigramon wait up! It's me Jay!"
Tigramon took a quick glance in their direction, and a happy expression came over her face. "Jay!" she shouted, relieved, and blindly jumped into the street.
"Tigramon, watch it!!" Aubrey shouted as she took off after Jay.
Cars swerved and honked like crazy. Frightened, she staggered backward, becoming fear stricken. She froze stiff in the center of the road. A car sideswiped her tail, and she stumbled a few feet before she was picked up off the ground.
Jay and Aubrey slowed to a stop as a tall man approached them with the frightened digimon in his arms. "This your cat?" he asked.
"Yes sir," Jay sighed with relief. The man held the cat out and set her in Jay's arms.
"You might want to keep her inside for awhile, she's really shaken up," he said.
"Thank you sir," Jay bowed in respect. "My older sister thanks you as well."
"Well, just get her home safe," the man replied with a smile. "And you get better." He patted Tigramon on the head, then turned and continued on his way.
"She looks really worn out," Aubrey observed. "Let's take her to Zowie's, she knows all sorts of things to do to animals to make them feel better. And we can call Nicki from there."
"But Aubrey, Tigramon's no ordinary animal," Jay said.
"I know, that's why I recommended Zowie and not some vet," Aubrey explained. "Plus it's only three blocks down. Come on!"
Mimi opened her eyes and reached up to check her hair, always Mimi's first thoughts after a startling occurrence, is my hair okay. Instead, she felt her old pink hat. "Wha…my hat! Where'd this come from?!" Then, looking down, she was in for an even bigger surprise. "My old dress?! What's going on here?"
Robie sat up, and shook his head they had all landed on there backs like they were thrown from a moving car. Cracking his neck back into place Mimi was the first person he saw. And how could he not she was dressed head to toe in pink.
"Whoa, Mimi!" He choked on his gum. "You're really...well, I mean, you're young!" Then he looked at Russ and the others and busted into laughter. "Wow, talk about one heck of a joke!"
"What?" Russ felt his hair. "Is my hair messed up? Do I have something in my teeth? What?!!"
"Are you kidding? You're...you're..."
"You're 12 years old," Mike finished. "And so are you and you and me," he added, pointing at Robie and Luke.
"What happened to us?" Russ asked, looking around at everyone. They looked like exactly like they had in an old picture from summer camp.
Russ was wearing his old striped shirt, cargo vest, jeans and sneakers. Luke was in his favorite outfit from his childhood: a basketball jersey, shorts, and tennis shoes. His old sweatband kept his hair up and out of his eyes. Robie was wearing his Dragons little league baseball shirt, jeans, and his old green baseball hat. Mike had his old glasses, button down shirt, shorts, boots. Mimi shook her head. They all looked about the same as they had been before.
"How'd we..." Russ started, then paused. "Did we go back in time?"
"I doubt it," Mimi spoke up. "Unless you've been to this place before, which isn't very likely." Without a word the boys exchanged glances.
"Well," Luke began climbing the grassy hillside. "We might as well have a look around to see if we can figure out what's up."
"Yeah, great idea," Russ smiled.
"Thanks Russ?" Luke sounded shocked that Russ had actually agreed.
"No, not you! I mean that's what Nicki would say," Russ reassured him. Luke nodded in agreement, and they made their way up the hillside.
"Mimi, you coming?" Mike asked. Mimi took a step closer and the ring in her hand began to let off a faint glow. Startled, Mimi stumbled backward and the ring stopped glowing.
"I get it!" Robie exclaimed sliding to Mimi's side.
"What?" Mimi asked.
"It's like a compass," he explained not taking it out of her hands but lifting them so that they were straight out in front of her. "It's going to lead us where we need to be."
"Great!" Russ shouted excitedly. "Mimi, you're in front!" He pushed her ahead and insisted she keep walking.
The light from Nicki's ankle slowly died back down until it was totally gone. Dumbfounded, Matt and the others stood still, not knowing what to say.
"What was that?!" Tai finally blurted out. Tara and Nicki knew the answer to that question, but really didn't want to explain it. Luckily for them, Tara spotted someone running over the horizon. It was obvious that they'd been seen but they couldn't tell by who.
"Hey look, who's that?!" Tara shouted, pointing to the girl dressed in pink from head to toe running toward them.
"It's Mimi!" Joe exclaimed, suddenly looking happy. "And she's brought some friends." Four more people could be seen now running along with Mimi.
"Tara!" Robie shouted, waving from the horizon.
"Robie?" Tara questioned doubtfully. Then she recognized her best friend's backwards baseball cap and Dragons shirt. "Robie!" she shouted excitedly as she ran across the grassy ground toward him. Izzy held his breath and ground his teeth, trying to hold back his jealousy, and he managed to stay put.
Tara was halfway across the clearing when something black and powerful swooped out of the sky.
SAMONI STRIKE
"Look out above!" Mimi cried, but a little too late. The creature's attack hit Tara hard, knocking her three yards face first into the grass. The dark creature flew up high into the air and hovered in front of the sun, throwing a shadow over the Digi-Destined.
"Tara!!" Robie and Izzy shouted, rushing to her side.
END: Who is this dark creature and what does he want from the Digi-Destined. OR what would he want from their friends? Will they possibly get out alive? Find out later when I write under another file