Saturday

"We'll walk around 'til we stumble into the bad guys! Come on, it'll be just like old times!"- Tai took a look around at his friends, all either glaring at or completely ignoring one another- "…Kinda."

After discussing things with Matt yesterday, he decided what the group needed now was a reunion. Despite recent events, the group hadn't been pulled any closer together, and if they were expected to deal with a new Digital problem, that had to change.

That's why Tai called everyone to meet near the edge of File Island, in the wooded area, so that they could figure things out together.

The majority having not been to the Digital World in quite some time, the reunion between the humans and their digimon was very heartfelt and joyous, not to say there was no hesitation before the partners fully embraced one another, but the digimon weren't nearly as tense as the humans were, and the partners quickly fell into their old routines.

The digimon were taken aback by the thick, troubled aura of the humans while they were surprised by their partner's rugged and weary demeanors from all of their recent battling. None the less, both groups didn't bring attention to these things. Instead, they focused on Tai's proposition and the reason they were gathered there.

Izzy was the first to voice his doubt. "Tai, I really don't think that's a reliable way to find the source of the attacks."

Izzy couldn't tell you why he didn't just inform the others of the sovereigns' part in this whole charade and his suspicions that they also had something to do with the attacks. Maybe it was because he didn't have proof or didn't want to anger anyone else with information he had previously kept from them, either way he kept his mouth shut.

"Reliable's not his thing now is it?" Gomamon joked lightheartedly while nudging Joe. His partner was dumbfounded as to why reliability had anything to do with him. After that, Gomamon dawned a downcast expression. With no knowledge of the pill, he was unaware as to why Joe was so distant and forgetful.

"No one asked you, Izzy," Mimi blurted causing more than a few heads to turn in her direction.

"What's with all of you?" Gatomon whispered to her partner. "You all are more wound up then a cat trapped between a dog and a hard place."

Kari silently watched the boy across the circle who was quietly conversing with Patamon. "…Things have changed."

Her words came out louder than intended, and Matt muttered sarcastically, "No kidding," earning him a disapproving look from his girlfriend who desperately wanted to deny how right he was.

"Do you think all of us together is going to help anything?" Sora asked carefully. She wanted to believe all the group needed to do was talk, but it was more likely they needed to have time to cool down.

Matt grimaced. "No but at least he's trying." He glanced at Tai who had just stood up.

The brunette stood tall and addressed his team with a confidence that he hoped came off as genuine. "Trust me; it'll be just like before! Now Izzy, type mumbo-jumbo into your computer, Matt, put your hands in your pockets, and Mimi, start talking and don't ever stop."

"I did not always keep my hands in my pockets!" Matt objected while slowly sliding the hand that wasn't around Sora's shoulders out of his jeans pocket.

Sora raised an eyebrow but continued grinning. "Yeah right, you liar."

He smiled slightly and helped her off the ground as everyone else began to stand up. Reluctantly, the group headed in a random direction Tai had pointed to.

Izzy, with Tentomon tagging along, caught up to the goggle-head at the head of the group. His curiosity getting the best of him, he asked, "Why are you talking to me again? Aren't you mad?"

"Oh I'm mad," Tai confirmed though his voice didn't show it. "But keeping the group together right now is more important than your betrayal."

Izzy wanted to cringe at how casually the other could use that word. Tai continued, "Besides I think my opinion of you is the least of your worries." Tai's eyes led Izzy to Mimi who was only partly focused on Palmon's chipper rambling.

The redhead was just about to comment when Biyomon shouted above their heads, "Look over there!"

Needless to say, a hostile digimon could be seen not far away, an angel digimon that wielded a sword and appeared to be waiting for them to come to her.

"Darcmon," Patamon informed from atop TK's head. "She's not that tough, but I'd watch out if it's close combat."

A concentrated scowl crept its way onto Izzy's face. Angel type digimon were always rare, and it was odd to find one hanging around File Island. Tai on the other hand, jumped into action.

He ordered, "A few of us can fight. The others can keep searching for clues." There were a few nods of agreement then he rattled off, "Me, Kari, Sora, and Mimi will deal with the sword lady. The rest of you go on."

The group split off in their separate directions but not without a quick comment from Matt: "Splitting up, rushing into things. Now this is the good old days."

000

"Are we ever going to stop walking?"

"No."

The answer to Joe's question came from both Matt and TK as Izzy was too busy fussing over his laptop.

Matt observed, "I'm pretty sure our first trip here was five percent resting, ten percent fighting, and eighty-five percent walking."

"Do you remember any of that?" TK asked Joe hopefully.

"Maybe…." Images came to his mind of miss-matched foliage, furry beasts, and gleeful laughter, but none of them fit together into one solid thought or memory. Over the last couple weeks, Joe had honestly been trying to recall information about his so-called friends and this digital world, but the more he reached into his mind the more the memories escaped him, almost like they were running from him. He knew there was something to remember, he just didn't know what something was. All this recall had done was cause him frustration and guilt for not being there for the others.

"Hey, I'm going to do a quick scan of the area to get are bearings," Izzy informed. The group stopped, and the redhead propped his laptop onto a somewhat flat rock. All of the digimon gathered around him as Joe sat off to the side, uninterested in seeing the map.

TK took a seat leaned against a nearby tree. He was doing his best not to focus on the negative, in other words the pill, the attacks, or Kari which was hard to do when your occasionally overbearing brother decides to have a talk.

"Alright, what happened?" Matt started casually as he took a seat on the dusty ground.

"What do you mean?"

The elder merely gave him a sideways glance that caused TK to roll his eyes. Matt just always had to know when something was wrong.

"You know how Kari was mad at me?" TK began tentatively.

"Yep."

He winced. "I kind of accused her of not taking the pill before we knew it was Izzy."

Matt raised an eyebrow. "Kind of?"

"Well I did," TK corrected, "but I didn't mean to!"

The elder scratched his head. This was by no means a good thing but could be easily solved. "Well now you know it wasn't her and can apologize for how completely wrong you were."

"Not exactly." His eyes never left his twiddling thumbs. "She won't talk to me and went on a date with Davis yesterday."

Matt blinked. "Motomiya?"

His brother nodded, and Matt had to hold in laughter as he thought back on that boy's failed attempts with Kari. "…Why?"

TK shrugged. "To get back at me I guess."

Matt nodded knowingly. "So you're jealous. Is it because you like her or she's your friend?"

TK's head shot up, eyes wide. "What? I'm not jealous! I never said that. We're not- we're only friends."

"So you like her," His older brother concluded, and he knew there was no use in protesting no matter how wrong Matt was. Matt continued, "It was a date. It's not a binding contract. By tomorrow she'll realize it's Davis and never go out with him again."

TK sighed deeply. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

He smirked. "Don't be so surprised."

A beam of light and feathers came shooting in between the brothers, narrowly evading TK's shoulder.

After a few astonished seconds, TK asked, "Can I be surprised now?"

The two sprang up as both of their digimon partners rushed over to them. Joe, visibly awestruck and terrified, stared upward while Izzy's gaze continuously shifted from his laptop to the sky above.

Floating above the group was none other than what appeared to be an Angemon if he weren't missing a few wings and had a pink ribbon wrapped around him.

"That's Piddomon, a champion level" Patamon explained. "Mind if I take this one?"

No one objected since the little orange digimon was the most logical choice. He knew how a creature like this fights and with his most likely superior experience could take him down easily.

"I'd say digivolve to Magnaangemon just to be safe," TK suggested, and Patamon happily obliged.

A few words and a flashy light show later, Magnaangemon flew into the sky ready to fight.

"Fire feather!" called Piddomon as feathers coiled around a string of fire came spewing out of its hands.

Magnaangemon evaded the attack, but Piddomon didn't let up.

"Fire feather! Fire feather!" The digimon kept attacking paying no mind to quality or accuracy. The fire went everywhere. Magnaangemon would've been worried about it catching onto the trees or the people below if he weren't more worried about it catching onto himself.

'If he'd let up for a minute I could get on the offense.' He flew the equivalent of a few leaps back as he hauled his golden rod behind his head.

"Angel rod!" He hurtled his rod at his fellow angel digimon. Luckily, Piddomon had been so busy shooting fire he didn't have time to move. The rod hit him square in the chest bringing out a short cry of pain.

"No defense is not a very good strategy," Magnaangemon taunted while catching his rod which seemed to only anger the other digimon more.

"Fire feather!"

Magnaangemon flew to the left. "Is that all you can do? Is that all he can do?" he called down to the others.

Izzy promptly informed, "That and move really fast, but he's not the evading kind and judging by the distance doesn't want to fight close combat."

"Hmm…" Magnaangemon flew towards Piddomon who swiftly flew back. "What are you, scared?" He bolted forward.

"Piddo speed!" Piddomon went flying away at twice the speed the other digimon moved.

Magnaangemon pulled out his sword. "Get over here and fight like a Mon!"

From below, Matt rolled his eyes. "Yeah because that always works. 'Come here, so I can hit you with my sword!'"

Despite all logic, Piddomon did fly over. It seemed his pride or temper got the better of him. He blindly charged at Magnaangemon who instead of using the sword fought with brute force. The two slammed into one another, throwing a few punches here or there. It was obvious Magnaangemon was the better fighter, but Piddomon wasn't through yet.

"Fire feather!" The attack missed horribly and shot at the ground below.

"Move, watch out!" Matt shoved Joe out of the way as the attack came down almost directly where he once stood. Joe stumbled to the ground and looked at the scorched ground in awe.

"Excalibur!" Magnaangemon stabbed at the other digimon with its sword and slashed him right in the chest.

Piddomon yelped, "Piddo speed!" and fled the scene instantly.

Magnaangemon dedigivolved with a less than amused look. "He left? He must never fight if he thinks that was bad!" Patamon returned to TK's arms who assured him he was just glad he was alright.

Joe, awestruck, attempted to get back up off the ground. So this was what he'd forgotten?

Matt took a deep breath giving himself time to let his blood pressure drop. He breathed, "Joe, you've gotta pay attention."

"I was paying attention!" He protested while slowly regaining his footing. "What was that?"

The blonde was two seconds away from making a snide remark before realizing the other was truthfully oblivious.

Instead he carefully explained, "That was a fight because that digimon attacked us."

"Why would it do that?" He asked incredulously.

"That's what I want to know." Matt looked to Izzy hoping he had come up with some sort of answer.

The redhead shook his head in as he typed a few notes onto his laptop. "Nothing yet although I do have a theory. There's been a pattern with the attacks."

"You mean this happens repeatedly?" Joe screeched incredulously. He couldn't handle the danger surrounding them. It seemed so unnecessary.

"Joe, we've done this a million times," TK informed with obvious pity for his forgetful friend.

"How am I supposed to know that?" He spat his words to the younger who took a step back in pure shock. He couldn't recall Joe ever snapping at him before.

"Hey! Guys, we're here!"

The four boys turned to see Tai, Sora, Kari, and Mimi walking their way with digimon in tow. Demonstrated by Tai's wide grin, they had easily defeated the Darcmon.

There were a few hellos (and a couple noticeable lacks of hellos) as the two groups morphed back into one. Once that was done, Izzy spoke up for the others' attention, "Since we're all here, I'd like to inform every one of a few things I've discovered."

"So now you'll tell us everything?" Those harsh words from Mimi pretty much silenced any side conversations that were going on.

Izzy cleared his throat to help him successfully ignore the comment. "As you may have noticed, Darcmon as well as the digimon my group ran into, Piddomon, were both angel digimon. Whereas before the attacking digimon appeared simply random, today there's a pattern, a connection."

There was a silence where some of them had nothing to say while others refused to talk because it was Izzy. Finally TK questioned, "You think the angel digimon are behind all this?"

"All of them? No, like the ones we saw today, most are simply cronies or decoys, but I think one of the higher ranking angel digimon must be involved, like Cherubimon or-"

"How can you all listen to him?" Mimi interrupted.

Izzy placed his hands to his hips. He was fed up with everyone going against him. He explained haughtily, "Because, Mimi, I actually know what I'm talking about."

"Well maybe we'd know what you were talking about if you told us stuff and didn't keep secrets like we're some snot-nosed kids who can't handle it!" She said just as haughtily.

The redhead took a step closer to the girl pushing everyone else around them to the back of his mind. "I have my reasons."

"Well why don't you tell us?" She growled while leaning in towards him.

"I'm trying to protect you!" Izzy practically shouted in her face, but she never flinched.

"I don't need protected!" She yelled back. "I can take care of myself."

His voice descended to a low volume and his words came out in dangerous hisses. "You don't understand. I did what was necessary."

She scoffed, "Lying to your friends is necessary? Sorry, I must have missed something!"

Tai took a step towards the two but didn't dare come between them. "Right, we're all friends, so you both need to stop."

"You all don't act like friends," Joe observed watching the group with a critical eye. "It's like this world is the only thing connecting you. Once it's gone, well…" He nodded to Izzy and Mimi.

"And whose fault is that?" Mimi spat. "Whose fault is it that we're losing all our memories? Each other? Our partners?" Her and Izzy's eyes stayed locked.

Tentomon asked curiously, "Izzy, what is she talking about?"

The other digimon turned to their partners searching for the same answer, but the humans stayed quite out of guilt and shame. Their partners still didn't know about the pill.

"Nothing, Tentomon," Izzy lied. His voice stayed as harsh as when he was talking to Mimi.

As soon as those words left his lips, a soft hand whipped against his cheek leaving an undesirable sting. A shock set in as he brought his hand up.

"And after all this, you're still a liar," Mimi whispered. She dashed in the direction of the nearest TV, and he was too stunned to try and stop her.

Thanks for reading!