Soon only Robie, Aubrey, Mimi, Luke, Tara, and two unhappy campers were left standing on the hill. Yolei had her hands in two fists held firm at her side and starred after Nicki. Beside her Russ had his arms folded across his chest and he too was glaring in the direction that Nicki had disappeared in, but he wasn't glaring at Nicki.

"Who does she think she is?" Yolei gripped "She thinks she can show up and just tell us what to do. Just 'cause she got sucked into the digital world by accident, she doesn't even know what she's walking into. I hope she gets attacked by a . . . "

"Relax Yolei," Mimi said

"Ya, you better close your mouth before you say something you'll regret." Aubrey said "Believe me especially in a place like this, it could come true and then you'll be sorry you ever said anything at all." Mimi nodded in agreeing and added

"Plus staying can be just as great!"

"What do you mean?" Yolei asked not knowing what to expect.

"Well it's our job to build a shelter." Mimi smiled in excitement "We can build a beautiful Tree house to stay in, Like on the Swiss Family Robinson."

"With a swing for a bed?" Yolei started to get excited too and they both giggled.

"Um, I don't mean to rain on your little parade," Luke said "But considering the resources I think we'll have to stick with a simple "A" frame."

"Party Pooper!" Mimi frowned.

"Hey Mimi," Palmon tugged at her dress "It's getting hot out here don't you think we should move into the trees?"

"That's not a half bad idea." Mimi agreed.

"If you will just follow me, "Hawkmon said "I can lead you to a place just inside the trees, we passed it on our way here."

"Ya, it has a spring." Palmon smiled

"Oh water? Oh yes, I'm dyeing of thirst!" Aubrey exclaimed, as they began to walk for the forest. The traveling was strangely quite, so Hawkmon decided to begin the introductions.

"I am Hawkmon, Yolei's loyal friend and companion." He bowed his head, "And this I…."

"I can do my own into." Palmon smiled "I'm Palmon! Mimi and I have been together sense she was…well the same age she is now which doesn't sound like much but has it's been longer than it looks…"

"It's great to meet you both!" Aubrey smiled "I'm Aubrey. I wish you could call me something else, that name is so boring and dull. I've been called that all my life and I don't have a nickname, but I'm okay with that I think that someday…."

"Brey, if you don't mind we'd like them to know our name's before were old and gray" Luke said.

"Your Lu-Lu," Palmon smiled. Luke balled his hands into fists, and clinched his teeth together.

"No! I'm Luke!"

"Whoa, take a breath man." Robie laughed "It's just the first thing they heard you called."

"Sorry Luke," Palmon apologized softly. Aubrey spotted Russ sneaking away out of the corner of her eye.

"Russ Mikayo get back here!" she cried out. Startled Russ spun around.

"I'll be back." He said

"Where are you planning on disappearing to?" she asked

"If you absolutely must know, the big boys room." Russ shouted back, walking in backwards.

"I don't believe you!" Aubrey shouted back "But if you don't show up soon Yolei will have to call Cody and Nicki won't be too happy!"

"I'll be right back." He growled disappearing into the trees.

"Well that's the last we'll see of him for awhile." Aubrey sighed.

"He said he'd be right back." Mimi said

"That's what he said,"

"That boy just wants to be where the action is." Luke stated

"Or just where Nick…ugh" Luke elbowed Robie in the ribs, and Tara stirred from the disruption.

"Okay, he's going to look for trouble." Robie restated "We need to go find that spring Hawkmon."

"But what about…" Hawkmon began

"He'll be fine," Luke insisted, Hesitantly they continued on into the trees.

"By the way Mimi," Palmon broke the silence "I love that outfit."

"I thought I'd never fit into this dress again." Mimi giggled

"You look great! Did you drop a few inches?" They giggled in delight.

"Here we are." Hawkmon announced.

"You call this a spring." Yolei said smugly "It's more like a puddle!"

"It's the best we're going to get Yolei," Luke said trying to control his anger, which I have to say he was doing better then usual. "Let's work with it!" Robie laid Tara down by a tree and took a comfortable position between her and the water.

"Your sure quiet Robie," Aubrey said sitting beside him "What'cha thinking about?"

"I'm trying to figure out what's going on," He explained lowering his voice into a whisper. "We defeated Merlockmon, how'd he come back?"

"It's confusing but he seemed just as surprised to see us so I don't think that was him," Aubrey agreed "Besides I'm sure JIZ will be able to explain everything."

"Have you known JIZ to explain anything?"

"No come to think of it,"

"Well he'd better explain this," Luke exhaled dropping down by Tara, "My heads hurting from all this thinking."

"It would, thinking was never one of your strong points." Tara groaned slowly propping herself up against the tree.

"Looks who's awake!" Luke said in sarcastic delight "It's about time. I thought you were going to sleep through all the excitement."

"Speaking of excitement, where is everyone?" She asked curiously glancing at her new surroundings and running her fingers through her hair.

"Off exploring," Aubrey smiled "Hopefully finding the way to change us back."

"Oh, we're still young?" She sighed with despair then quickly changed her mind, "Cool!"

"Alright, the smart one of the group is awake and back to normal!" Yolei interrupted "I was beginning to wonder if we were going to survive without you."

"What do you mean? I was doing just fine!" Luke insisted.

"You most likely wouldn't have." Tara laughed

"Here Tara, thought you might want some water." Palmon held out a shell full of fresh spring water, and Tara eagerly took it.

"Gracias," Tara exclaimed "Um…"

"Sorry," Palmon laughed "You weren't awake for the Introductions. I'm Palmon Mimi's digimon and that's Hawkmon over there. He's Yolei's."

"Pleased to meet you, Palmon." Tara smiled

"I think I might have found something worth examining." Hawkmon said approaching Mimi, behind him drug a large bag. Mimi picked it up, unzipped the pack and gasped in delight.

"A computer! Izzy must have forgot all about it. But I don't remember it being Yellow and White. Where did you find it?" She asked Hawkmon.

"It was just sitting over on the grass," Hawkmon stated. Mimi flung it around her shoulder and ran to the group sitting quietly under the tree.

"Hey look what Hawkmon found!" She exclaimed happily "I think Izzy…"

"Rut Roe! My Laptop." Tara smiled with enthusiasm reaching into the air and retrieving it off of Mimi's shoulder.

"You're Lap Top?" Yolei questioned "I think I need to get Izzy!" She pulled out her D-terminal and flipped it open.

Tara Flipped open her Yellow laptop and dropped it into her lap. It fit just like it always did, 'Like a glove' she thought to herself, as she softly ran her fingers over the keys. She stopped on the small disk like opening on the side, then she spied Yolei's D3 out of the corner of her eye.

"Can I see that?" Tara asked reaching for the device. Yolei immediately pulled back out of reach.

"I think not! Are you crazy?" She shouted, "That's my D3!"

"I just wanted to see if I could find out more about it," Tara said innocently "There's a lot we don't know that might help us get out of this mess."

"Izzy already examined it," Yolei stated. As Yolei held her nose in the air Mimi graciously handed Tara her Digivice. Tara smiled and slid it into the slot. "I doubt YOU of all people could possibly find anything that Izzy couldn't. I mean he's the president of the computer club and no school skater skipper could find anything different."

"Um … Yolei, you're thinking of Russ my brother." Tara stated still concentrating on the computer "I am not a Skipper or a skater. Though at times I do agree I can find the time to study and practice on the half pipe at school. But my specialty is not on the insignificant wheels of the skater community."

"What do you mean by that?" Yolei asked

"She's a hacker." Robie and Luke said in unison. Yolei laughed.

"Tara Mikayo? Don't make me laugh."

"You already are." Aubrey stated. Tara kept her eyes locked on the screen in front of her, and slowly a grin formed on her face and her eyes grew wide with delight. "You'll soon come to find out everyone has at least one deep dark secret."

"What'd you find?" Luke jumped to his knees when he saw Tara's expression change. Yolei looked confused and ran to see what they were eagerly looking at.

'Nicki, you won't believe this!'

'Try ME!' Nicki thought exhausted, she and her group found a trail and decided to follow it. The trees were slim and provided very little shade. 'Tara this place is not at all familiar but yet I feel like I've been here before, it's not funny! We're so lost, If you would just wake up you'd…'

'Nicki…stop and think about that.'

"I can't. If I stop then Joe stops and then we won't be able to move for another hour.' Nicki slightly laughed out loud 'Tara?'

"What is that?" Luke asked,

"It's some kind of color swirl," Mimi suggested "Tie-dye I think."

"It's a portal," Tara stated entering some codes into the computer "Palmon did you…."

"TARA!' A voice yelled loudly in her head. So loud it made Tara jump back and covered her ears. It startled her so bad she didn't realize she also let out a loud high-pitched scream of pain. Everyone jumped back and starred at Tara scared and confused.

"DON'T DO THAT NICKI!" Tara shouted, "Ouch." She opened her eyes and nervously smiled at the faces starring at her. She could hear Nicki laughing in her mind. Growling at Nicki she thought, 'You don't know how much I want to kill you right now!'

'Do I get a 10 second head start or should I just start running now?' Nicki thought back while laughing out loud.

'I think you'd all better run right now' Tara smiled 'I don't see Russ anywhere.' Nicki's smile disappeared and her pace quickened slightly.

"Sorry." Tara smiled sliding back into her comfortable position under her computer. "Bee got me. Palmon did you ever run across something strange these last few days?"

"Wait a minute," Yolei said sarcastically "What kind of a question's that? When were all sitting here 5 years younger then…"

"Yol, Not now!" Robie sat back on his hands. "Palmon?"

"You mean something that looks like that?" Palmon replied "Not that I remember."

"Hum," Tara thought, "Where's that figure coming from?"

"Izzy could probably find out what it is with his eyes closed." Yolei boasted Tara glared up at her, while Robie and Luke laughed.

"I'd love to see Computer boy hack into the digital world system with his eyes closed."

"I can only imagine all the…."

"Twiddle-De and Twiddle-Dumb," Tara looked at them "As much as I love the mocking you're giving Yolei. Do not deface the intelligence of the computer boy the process please." The two bit back there lips and tried to stay quiet. "But not even Izzy could find out anything more about it unless Lei would let me us her stupid D3!"

"Not on your Life!" Yolei said turning up her nose; Mimi leaned over to Luke.

"What does she mean by, deface the intelligence of the computer boy?" She whispered.

"Don't Diss Izzy," Luke whispered back, fighting the back the giggles. Out of the corner of his eyes he saw Tara ball her hands into fists and push herself up in Yolei's general direction. He and Robie grabbed her by the arms and held her back, while Aubrey held the laptop until Tara stopped fighting the two boys.

"You done?" Luke asked still holding tight to her shoulder. "If your not I'll gladly throw you into the spring to cool you off." Robie's eyes quickly lit up.

"Let's do!" He shouted excitedly pulling her toward the water.

"I go, and you're coming in with me." Tara threatened grabbing a tight hold on his wrist.

"The same way you pulled Tigramon into that mud pit?" Luke laughed at the thought.

"I wouldn't have fallen into that chocolate pudding if you hadn't been so anxious to get your hands on that scrawny little digi-mouse!" Tara laughed back "that poor guy, he didn't even know why you were mad at him."

"How could he not know he…."

"Tigramon!" Aubrey jolted to her feet. "I totally forgot!"

"Where's she?" Luke asked

"Tigramon?" Mimi asked curiously "How is it you all know that escapee digimon's name?"

"You had her tail ring." Robie pointed out.

"I still do," Mimi stated holding out her finger. The silver ring was wrapped around her middle finger.

"Mimi's claimed it, she's never going to get it back." Luke mumbled.

"There it is," Aubrey said "She was scared stiff without it." Aubrey reached for Mimi's hand; Mimi pulled the ring off and gripped it in her hand refusing to give it to her.

"What did I say," Luke shrugged quietly.

"Where is Tigra anyway?" Tara asked placing her lap top back in it rightful place on her lap.

"Well, Jay and me found her running like crazy on the street," Her rambling spirit shifted into gear. "We couldn't tell if it was her at first but Jay decided to shout her name which made things worse. When she recognized us she jumped into the street and about got transformed into a digi-pancake…."

"Aye!" Luke shook his head "Where is she now?"

"I'm getting to that!" Aubrey said

"Could you get there a little faster? This Mary-go-round is making my head spin." Yolei complained from a far off tree.

"If you would kindly not interrupt!" Aubrey shot back "Goodness you expect a girl to tell you a story and you'll hardly let her get a word out, Just talk, talk, talk, talk, that's all anyone ever does…"

"Brey!" Luke stopped her "Tigramon."

"Oh," She jumped back on topic "Well after a nice man saved her we took her to Zowie's. 'Cause she was really beat up and shaken up so we figured a digidestined would be our only hope…"

"Did you just say digidestined?" Yolei asked wide-eyed. Mimi caught it too and her mouth dropped open.

"Don't stop her." Luke warned softly "Not yet."

"She patched Tigramon up," Aubrey continued without being phased from the interruption. "And forced her to take a nap. Not long after she'd fallen asleep this bright light filled the room and we found ourselves here looking like this. So my guess is Tigramon's still asleep in Zowie's room."

"That won't make Nicki too happy," Tara stated "She's gonna want her here."

"So this Tigramon," Hawkmon butted in "Is this Nicki girls digimon?" The four nodded in sync.

"How could Zowie be a digidestined?" Yolei asked, "She doesn't have a digivice.

"It could be like those in America," Mimi suggested "They weren't fighting with us, but they had digivices and digimon."

"Something like that I guess," Robie shrugged

"Then what's the key?" Mimi asked, "Merlockmon said something about … he wanted the digidestined of strength. That was just before Tigramon came through the computer."

"Tigramon came through the computer?" Luke asked

"That's it!" Tara shouted

"What?" Luke asked

"Mimi, you did say that Tigramon came through the computer portal," Tara clicked excitedly on her computer "That means that the Portal can still be accessed on this side from a specific location."

"But from where?" Yolei asked

"It would have to be a place where a computer was developed in the digital world, an unknown place that was forgotten that could be repaired." Robie said "Like…"

"The Digital Emperor's old hide out?" Mimi suggested

"That's it the digital Emperors home base," Robie said "That's the only logical location!"

"Now who's sounding like the Tech-no nerd?" Tara said mockingly.

"Who's the Digital Emperor?" Robie questioned but Tara shot him an I'll tell you later look.

"But Yolei," Mimi entered into the conversation "Didn't you say that Ken and you all blew it up after you found Ken's crest?"

"That's right!" Yolei said proudly.

"Did you see it turn into Data?" Tara said quickly,

"Well," Yolei hesitated, "No,"

"Then it's still there but not in one piece. Just a big enough chunk to function properly."

"Wait a minute," Yolei stopped "Who's the digi-destined of strength?"

Nicki sighed, tiredly tightening her ponytail and placing her hands on her hips. "Haven't we seen this already?" Joe whined as you see Nicki laughing.

"I think Joe's right," Cody stated "This fork in the path seems really familiar."

"Well I didn't mean just that," Joe mumbled

"Well then what do we do?" Matt sighed finding a comfortable stump to sit on.

"We don't seem to be getting anywhere." Joe said sliding down a tree. "We keep going in circles."

"Then we are getting somewhere." Nicki smiled everyone shot her strange looks.

"I need to rest my feet." Joe sighed

"Man you'd think Mimi was with us." Nicki joked

"How can you be so happy Nicki?" Matt asked, "You're in a completely strange place…"

"Wait," Gabumon stepped in "Have you been here before?"

"Now what kind of a questions that?" Gomamon asked.

"Just a question," Gabumon stated. "That should be answered."

Nicki had just spaced out as an unknown figure snuck up behind her. It moved in the shadows and reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Rajah!" It shouted, screaming Nicki jumped forward and spun around swinging her arms. The figure ducked to dodge her arms, she stumbled backwards into Matt. He grabbed her shoulders and the digimon jumped into attack position.

"Ha, Ha, Ha!" Russ laughed rolling on the ground "It finally worked! All these years and I finally got you!"

"Russ?!" Nicki shouted confused and frustrated.

"Russ?" Matt let go of Nicki and stepped in front. "You were told to stay behind with the others."

"HEY!" Russ shot up off the ground and faced Matt with an angry scowl "No one tells ME what to do!"

"You're going to get somebody hurt!" Matt scowled back "This place is no joke, we thought you were an evil digimon!"

"Then why didn't you attack?" Russ scoffed "To slow? I say, if I were really an evil digimon you'd all be deleted!"

"You're just lucky we did hesitate!" Matt was shouting at the top of his lungs now "Or you'd be the one deleted!"

"Okay guys!" Nicki stepped calmly between them

"One of these times there really gonna go at it." Cody softly told Joe.

"Russ," Nicki turned and looked straight into his face, "Why didn't you stay?"

"Because," Russ sounded as if it should be obvious, "I wanted to be where the action is!" Matt rolled his eyes in discuses.

"Well sorry to disappoint you Russ but you're the only action we've seen in two hours!" Joe, smirked, Russ just shrugged.

"Alright! You can be with us, BUT don't be surprised if your thoughts and comments don't count for anything." She said with a warning tone.

"Whatever," Russ shrugged "So where are we headed?"

"In circles!" Cody said

"Sounds like fun." Russ said starring at Matt "Let me guess whose been leading the bandwagon." Without a word, glaring at Russ, Matt sat down on his log across the clearing.