This took me awhile to write. If all goes the way I plan, there will just be 2 or 3 more chapters to go. And soon, there will be a BIG surprise for Ken and the other Digidestined. I hope you like it...
Again, don't give me any flack for any tiny spelling mistakes. I don't always catch them.
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They had walked and walked. But they never seemed to get anywhere. Ken was getting frustrated. No matter where they turned, it all looked the same.
"We could be going round in circles and we wouldn't know it!" Tai scowled.
Ken shook his D3 in a vain attempt to get it to work. With a sigh of long suffering, he shoved it back in his pocket.
"No luck?" Wormmon asked from Ken's shoulder. Ken shook his head.
"Nope."
"What do we do now?"
"Wing it?" Tai wrinkled his nose.
"I don't think we have a choice," Izzy sighed."Come on, let's try and figure this out.
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Hours passed. Ken was begining to lose hope of ever finding the flower. Or even a way out of that blasted plain. He dropped to his knees. His eyes tightly shut against a barrage of frustrated tears. He balled his fists and punched the ground.
"Hey now," Tai said, startled."Don't do that; we'll find a way out of here."
It's no use, I know it!Ken thought.I don't even think we've even moved, no matter how much we've walked today. And if we don't get anywhere, we won't get the flower, and Deeanna will...She'll...
Tears began to roll down his cheeks. An image of laughing, grinning Deeanna appeared in his mind. His lovely, smiling Deeanna. His other half. He'd be lost without her.
Deeanna! his mind screamed.No! I can't give up yet! Deeanna! I'll find a way to save you! I WILL!
The mist began to shift and clear. A path appeared in front of them. Izzy and Tai were startled.
"Whatever you did, Ken," Tai said, looking at the younger man."I think it's helping."
"Think about Deeanna!" Ken said, getting up."Think about helping her!"
The 3 young men and the Digimon concentrated their hardest on their friend. The path became clearer.
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Deeanna woke slowly. The dark blue of twilight could be seen through a gap in the curtains.
I must have slept all day, she thought, blinking sleep from her eyes. Her cheek was resting on something warm. And soft.
"Comfy?"
Deeanna looked up. She was cuddled up to Kari, with her arms around her waist, her head in her lap. Deeanna's face slowly went from sleep-flushed petal pink to mortally embarassed crimson in 3.5 seconds.
"Ahh! Kari!" Deeanna jumped up, or tried to. She ended up in a tangled heap of sheats and blanket on the floor. Kari leaned over the edge of the bed, giggling.
"You finally got to snuggle with me!"
"Not exactly how, why, or the same circumstances as I originally wanted to," Deeanna grimaced, detangling herself."It's about 6 or 7 years too late for that. I really did like you Kari. Then. And don't say it was puppy love, 'cause it wasn't. Then, that is, not now..."
"I know, but it was still kind of sweet," Kari grinned at the embarassed and rambling young woman, propping herslf up on her elbows and resting her chin in her cupped hands."I was reading, and the next thing I knew, you were cuddling up to me like I was your favorite teddy bear."
Deeanna, to say the least, was mortified.
"No way!"
"Oh, but you did," the Child, nay, Woman of Light said with a fiendish grin."You wrapped your arms around me, pulled me closer, and nestled your head in my lap!"
Deeanna groaned and burried her face in her hands. She would never, ever live this down...
"Don't be upset," Kari said, patting her friend on the shoulder."It's okay. I didn't mind. You looked so cute and peaceful, I didn't want to move you."
"The Digimon didn't see any of that, did they?" Deeanna demanded.
"Nope," Kari shook her head."They're out in the living room playing video games."
"Good."
Kari felt Deeanna's brow.
"You're much cooler than this morning," she said."Do you feel any better?"
"A little. At least, I don't hurt anywhere," Deeanna shrugged.
"Hungry?"
"Not really."
"You should eat, anyway," Kari said, getting up."You haven't eaten since...what, last night? You need to keep your strength up. Dr.Joe's orders."
"Dr.Joe, huh?" Deeanna said, amused. She and Kari grinned at each other, but when Deeanna tried to get up to help her friend, Kari shooed her back into bed.
"No you don't," Kari scolded."You're sick. Stay in bed and rest, I'll manage dinner with Gatomon."
"Stay in bed and rest!" Deeanna cried in exasperation."I've been resting all day! I don't want to rest anymore!"
Her protests fell on deaf ears as Kari waltzed out of the bedroom, and shut the door.
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Ken, Izzy, and Tai followed the path. It lead them away from the misted plain, and to a small forest. Staring at the darkness and gnarled trees, the 3 young men became apprehensive, almost unwilling to enter.
"Hey, it's a sign!" Tai said.
"What?" Ken stared at him, wondering if it was devine intervention Tai was talking about."Where?"
"There," Tai pointed."On that tree."
They clustered around it.
If you wish to walk through straight,
Sorely mistaken you may be.
A test within to challenge fate,
So venture forth bravely.
Whether it be friend or foe,
Or precious loved one dear,
Through this forest you must go,
And face your greatest fear!
"You know," Ken said after a moment."I don't quite think I like the sound of that."
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Kari had made Deeanna ramen noodles and chicken broth. Deeanna has on her third helping when the others showed up.
"You look a little better tonight," Matt said by way of greeting. Deeanna, her mouth full to bursting with noodles and broth, merely nodded and swallowed.
"Did you..." T.K hesitated, not wanting to upset Deeanna but still overly curious.
"Did I what?" Deeanna asked, draining her bowl.
"Dream?"
The others held their breath, not knowing what Deeanna's reaction would be.
"Not very much, and not about anything in particular," Deeanna replied almost indifferntly, setting aside her empty bowl. She shook her head at Kari when the other girl reached for it questioningly. She was stuffed."Did you guys find out anything about Yolei?"
Everyone else looked at each other. They had, but...
"Well, you see..."
Deeanna crossed her arms, waiting.
"She might be missing."
"Might be?" Deeanna arched one eyebrow.
"Yolei's parents don't know where she is. She wasn't in her room this morning, didn't show up for work at the family store, didn't come home for dinner. No note or anything," Cody explained.
"So either she's run away or kidnapped or captured in the Digital World-" T.K fretted.
"Or," Sora interupted."She's switched sides, and is up to no good. I don't want to sound pessimistic, but I really don't trust her anymore. And it's not because of Deeanna's dream, either. Or the way she's been treating her."
They began to bicker about the Why For's, How's, If's, and But's. Deeanna grew swiftly bored with the whole affair, and decided to have another nap. Maybe they'd settle their arguements before she woke up.
"Wake me up when you come to a conclusion," Deeanna said exasperatedly, flopping down and covering her head with a pillow.
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Ken, Izzy and Tai entered the forest. It was dark and, not to sound too cliche, creepy. There was no sound anywhere, or any signs of life.
"You know, I'd just be happy to hear a creepy Owlmon hoot right about now," Tai said nervously, his voice echoing slightly. Agumon cowered behind him. He was a brave and courageous Digimon. Most of the time. This was not one of those times.
"Would ya stop crowding me!" Tai cried as Agumon huddled against his partner's knees, almost knocking him over. Tentomon was no better.
Ken sighed, lost in thought. They had wasted so much time on the plain. He couldn't wait to leave the forest. He didn't notice that he was still walking, and far away from Tai and Izzy.
A cold chill stopped him in his tracks. A keen feeling of dread made him tremble. He began to feel a terrible fear.
"Ken?" Wormmon asked, feeling his partner's trembles.
"Ken!"
Ken and Wormmon turned.
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Deeanna dreamed. With so many people who loved her nearby, her dreams were light and pleasant. She relived happy past memories. She ran through the forests of the Digital World with Veemon, and laughing, they rolled in a sunlit meadow together, watching butterflies and birds fly overhead. Then, her dream changed.
She saw Ken sitting on a mossy rock in a patch of sunlight, holding a tiny bundle. He rocked it gently
"Sammy..." he crooned lovingly. He looked at her and held out a hand to draw her closer. The bundle was gone, and both of his hands caught hers in a tight grip. His eyes said 'come'. As he walked backwards, still holding her hands, Deeanna was forced to follow.
He led her playfully back to the meadow from the first half of her dream.
"Look," Ken whispered, pointing. Deeanna looked. A young boy of about 5 years was chasing a butterfly with his partner Digimon, a little DemiVeemon. His light auburn hair stood up in small spikes, and his dark blue eyes glittered with childish delight. And he wore Deeanna's old goggles.
"Who-?" Deeanna gasped. Ken looked deep into her eyes, his own shining with intense love, joy, and pride.
"Sammy."
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Ken stared.
Deeanna stood there. She smiled and took a step toward him. All of a sudden, her eyes widened with shock and pain. She sagged and collapsed into his arms. Ken swallowed had against the acid taste of bile as he stared at the gaping hole in his wife's chest.
"Ken!" she choked. Blood dribbled out of her mouth, down her face, and onto the ground. She sobbed in agony. It wrenched at Ken's heart.
"No!" Ken whispered, dropping to his knees."Oh God NO!"
Ken grabbed Deeanna's hand. He knew it was too late. The few short minutes that followed flet like an eternity to Ken. He held her close and felt the life drain out of her body with each passing second, with each laboured breath she took.
"Please no," he choked out."Not now. Deeanna, NO!"
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"NO! NO! NO!"
"Ken!" Wormmon pleaded."Wake up! It isn't real!"
Ken blinked, breathing heavily. His cheeks were wet with tears. Wildly, he looked around. There was no sign that Deeanna had ever been there. No body, no blood.
"What-?"
"Deeanna isn't dead!" Wormmon said.
"But I saw her..." Ken frowned."She was there, and she died-"
"It wasn't real!" Wormmon replied. There was a pause."It was your greatest fear, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Ken said, averting his eyes.
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Deeanna woke, feeling cool, refreshed and better than she had in months. Her dream lingered in her mind.
"Sammy..." she murmered reflectively. One hand unconciously touched her belly."Sammy?" she sighed gustily, her eyes dreamy.
Morning sunlight shone through the curtains, and her stomach growled. Her normal appetite was back with a vengence, but she didn't feel like cooking.
Kari was still asleep beside her. She wandered out into the rest of the appartment. Deeanna saw that the other Digidestined had stayed the night. They were strewn all over the couch and floor. She looked for someone she could coerce into providing her wanted nourishment.
Matt turned over with a sigh. Yes, he would do, Deeanna decided.
She cleared her throat. Matt woke up with a start.
"Oh!" he tried to jump up, but his legs were tangled in a blanket. He fell instead, whacking his head on the coffee table."Ow, dammit! Deeanna! How are you feeling?"
"Better."
"Shouldn't you be in bed?" he frowned, rubbing his throbbing face.
"No. Feeling better," Deeanna said, not wanting to waste energy with more than small talk."Food. Now."
"Maybe you should-" Matt started to say, searching her eyes for the unnatural brightness of lingering fever.
"FOOD. NOW!" Deeanna, eyes smoldering, crossly stamped her foot like a small child. Matt kicked the entangling blanket from his feet and mad a mad dash to the kitchen. He knew better than to argue with her.
The others woke as Deeanna was finishing her third plate of pancakes in celebration of her fever breaking. DemiVeemon was on his fifth.
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Ken was trying to control his tears when Tai and Izzy stumbled up to him and Wormmon.
"Did you-?" Tai asked in a hesitent, nervous voice, his eyes hollow.
Ken nodded, and wiped her palms quickly across his eyes.
"Us too," Tai slumped down beside the younger man.
"I heard you scream," Izzy said, twisting a corner of his shirt in his hands without noticing."I was going to see what the matter was, and then..." Normally cool-headed Izzy looked like he was going to bolt out of sheer terror.
"Same here," Tai muttered.
"I-it seemed so...so.." Ken gestured helplessly.
"Real?" Tai asked quietly.
"Yeah..." Ken dropped his head into his hands, shaking. The image was burned into his mind. Would he keep seeing it every time he closed his eyes?
"Hey hey hey, now," Tai dropped an arm around Ken's shoulders."Easy, little buddy."
"You used to call Davis that," Ken sniffed. Tai smiled.
"Yeah, I did, didn't I..."
He got to his feet, and offered Ken a hand up.
"Come on, we'd better get going."
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By the time all the Digidestined had roused and eaten, Deeanna was showered and dressed. The others marveled at the change in their friend. She was energetic, and and seemed to glow with health.
Suffice to say, Joe was stumped.
"It's Kari," Deeanna explained in an off-hand manner, smling a soft, secret smile as she cleaned up the breakfast dishes.
They accepted that. But did Kari really cause Deeanna's bright, determined eyes, and skin that seemed to shimmer luminously?
Deeanna, though hardly daring to hope, knew in her heart why. It lifted her heart beyond illness, beyond yearning for Ken, and beyond staring death in the face. And right then, it was enough for her. She was entirely happy.