Chapter 22
That had been a couple of days ago, and they'd been walking around for a few hours. Yumi hadn't said much the whole time, though Miharumon and Gabumon talked most of the time. She was starting to get tired, but walked beside Matt, trying to keep up with the pace. The sun was beating down on them, and, for a moment, she was temporarily blinded, and tripped on a rock. Her senses were temporarily distorted, and she held out a hand. Matt grabbed her hand, but he wasn't ready to hold her up, and fell, too. When he had grabbed her hand, she had ended up falling on her side, and then back.
He accidentally fell on top of her, and when both their senses snapped back into focus, they realized their faces were only centimeters apart. They were both frozen, their faces a bright, vivid red. Miharumon and Gabumon watched in interest as Matt got off, and Yumi sat up. Neither had said a word, but the bright color in their cheeks and the strange look in their eyes told Miharumon and Gabumon how they felt. Matt stood up, and helped her up. Miharumon ran to Yumi's side, and nuzzled Yumi's hand. Gabumon went up to Matt, and, after a moment of silence, asked, "When are you going to tell her?" Matt's face was a bright red, and he asked, "What are you talking about?"
"You know what I'm talking about." Miharumon could hear the conversation, but Yumi couldn't. They kept walking, and only stopped when the sun began to set. They found a place near a river to stop, and rested against some trees as Miharumon and Gabumon went to look for food. It was getting colder, and Yumi started to shiver. She hugged her arms, trying to get warm, when she felt something warm around her shoulders. She looked to her left to see Matt's arm around her shoulders, and blushed. She leaned on him a bit, feeling warmer, and Matt started blushing even more. They stayed like that for a while, keeping each other warm until their Digimon returned.
She said, after thinking for a while, "Matt…I-" before she could say what was on her mind, Miharumon and Gabumon came back with food. Matt took his arm off of Yumi's shoulder as Miharumon lay down on her lap. They cooked their food, and ate in silence. It got warmer, and Miharumon went to sleep. Gabumon went to sleep leaning on Miharumon, and everything was silent. After a while, Matt asked, "What were you going to say before?" Yumi looked at him for a moment before saying, "Remember when you said…that I meant everything in the world to you?" He was blushing, and nodded.
"I've thought about it, and…I've realized that you mean everything in the world to me, too." He was blushing fiercely, and she said, "I've really thought about it, and I've realized…that you mean more to me than the others do."
Both their faces were a bright red, and Matt said, "I've…always felt that way." She looked at him questioningly. "Really?" He nodded, his face still red. She smiled, but sleep was beginning to shadow her mind, and she closed her eyes. She put her head on his shoulder and went to sleep. He was blushing fiercely, but he didn't want to wake her, so he put his arm around her shoulders and put his head on hers. They went to sleep like that, and were only awoken by their Digimon. They looked at Spiral Mountain to see that a third strip of the mountain was being reconfigured. "Now all that's left it Piedmon." Yumi said, uncertainly. Miharumon said, confidently, "We can take him!"
Yumi looked at her uncertainly. "Yumi, I'll protect all of them with my life, including you. You don't have anything to worry about." Yumi smiled weakly, saying, "Of course you would! It's just…" Will I be able to do it…when the time comes? She thought. They ate a quick breakfast before heading out again. They ended up walking through a dark tunnel, and it made everyone but Matt feel uncomfortable. In fact, he was acting strangely. After a while, he said, "I've been living a lie." "What do you mean?" Yumi questioned, stepping towards him. "I always thought that my one purpose in life was to protect my little brother, but…he doesn't need me to protect him, anymore. And Tai was always better at acting like a big brother than me."
"But he's not T.K.'s big brother, you are!" "He's never treated him like a little kid, which is how I've always treated him." "Matt, what's wrong?" "I've always thought that Tai didn't care about anybody but himself, but that describes me a lot better." "Matt, you're wrong! Matt, snap out of it!" But Yumi's words couldn't get through to him. A strange black smoke surrounded him, outlining him in black, and he said, "I can never go back to being friends with them." "But, if we're not all together, we can't save our world or theirs!" "Leave me alone." "Matt…" his eyes were glazed over, and Yumi didn't know what to do to wake him up.
"Matt…if you really want to be left alone…I'll leave, but only if that's what you want." "No, I don't want you to leave…I'm sorry." "It's okay…" Miharumon was standing next to Gabumon, wondering what was going to happen now. "I've never let anyone get close to me…ever since my family split up. I thought…that since my family didn't want me, I'd just keep to myself. I swore to myself that I'd never let anyone see me cry." "It's okay, Matt. You're not alone, anymore." She hugged him comfortingly, a light blush on her cheeks, but the dark aura disappeared from Matt, but was swirling in the air. "What's that?" Matt questioned.
"You didn't see it? It started growing…every time you started talking about being alone." Matt seemed to understand, and the cave disappeared. The next thing Yumi knew, Joe was running towards them. "Joe?" She questioned, standing. Miharumon barked happily when she saw Gomamon, and Joe gave Matt back his harmonica. Soon, Miharumon heard a cry, and she started running towards it, with everyone behind her. She saw T.K. and Patamon next to a large hole in the ground. "Patamon! T.K.!" Miharumon said, running up to them. After their greetings, T.K. told them that a black thing had dragged Sora into the hole.
They climbed down carefully, and soon found Sora. Biyomon was worried, since Sora wasn't talking to her. Matt and Joe were able to break her of the dark aura, and the cave disappeared. Miharumon, Gabumon, and Biyomon Digivolved to Haramon, Garurumon, and Birdramon. They were heading for Spiral Mountain as fast as they could go. Yumi was gripping Haramon's fur tight, worrying, when Haramon said, "Yumi, we can do this. But we can only succeed if you believe we can." Yumi understood, and nodded, trying to think positive. They reached the top, only to find Wargreymon beaten down. Yumi jumped off Haramon's back as she ran to Tai.
Matt's crest began to glow, and it healed Wargreymon. Garurumon Dedigivolved to Gabumon and then Warp-Digivolved to Metalgarurumon. Everyone else ran for cover with the others. Haramon Dedigivolved to Miharumon, saving her energy. "If he hurts them…!" "We'll get payback!" Yumi finished for her partner. At first, Piedmon was only playing around, but Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon caught him off guard. They got a good shot in, but before everyone else could Digivolve, he held up a white handkerchief. "What's up with this guy?" Yumi questioned. He threw it over Wargreymon and Metalgarurumon, and it looked they'd disappeared.
Matt and Tai ran out, but another handkerchief was thrown over them. When Piedmon lifted them, he revealed that he'd turned them into key chains. "You turn them back right now!" Yumi demanded, Miharumon snarling beside her. "Now, how much would that be?" Everyone was running towards a cave that Andromon pointed out, and he said he'd hold Piedmon off. "I'm not leaving you!" Yumi said, but everyone pulled her into the cave. Miharumon didn't like it, but followed Yumi. She soon saw a strange trapeze, and Yumi asked, "How are we supposed to get across?"
They got across by the swings, but only Sora, Biyomon, Kari, Gatomon, T.K., Patamon, Gomamon, Obana, Akiramon, Yumi, and Miharumon didn't get turned into key chains on the way. They ran down the exit, and hid under the floor. Suddenly, swords started trying to hit them, when Angewomon, Garudamon, and Takumimon stopped him. Obana refused to leave without Takumimon, and all four of them were turned into key chains. "Obana!" Yumi cried out, but Sora held her back. "You need to protect T.K. and Kari. Now go!" Yumi nodded, and led the younger kids down a different hallway. Sora threw Matt's key chain, and Yumi caught it. She gave it to T.K. and tried to open the door.
Piedmon was right behind them, and Miharumon said, "You guys run, I'll hold him off." "I won't let you! You'll be turned into a key chain, too!" "Just go, Yumi!" "But…" Yumi's crest began to glow, and Miharumon Digivolved all the way to Endohmon. "I promise I won't become a key chain, and neither will you." Yumi nodded, and ran with T.K., Kari, and Patamon. Endohmon turned to Piedmon, saying, "I won't let you hurt them!" She used Leaf Hurricane, but he dodged. He almost made it to the door, but she nearly cut him down with her shuriken. "I said I wouldn't let you hurt them." She said with an emotionless tone. "Maybe you're stronger than you look." "Is that supposed to be a compliment?" Endohmon asked in a dangerous tone.
"Maybe you'd make a good henchman, once those fools are gone." "Like I would help you!" She growled, using Leaf Hurricane. Outside, Yumi was helping T.K. and Kari up the rope, when there was an explosion, and, through the dust, Yumi saw Piedmon with his foot on top of Miharumon. "MIHARUMON!!" She yelled, not moving to climb. Patamon Digivolved to Angemon, who fought hard. Unfortunately, he wasn't strong enough. He cut the rope holding up T.K. and Kari, and they started falling. "T.K.!!! KARI!!!" Yumi cried, looking over the edge of the balcony. She glared at Piedmon, saying, "How could you?! They're just little kids!"
Miharumon was on her feet, shaking slightly. She snarled savagely, giving Yumi confidence. T.K.'s crest began to glow, and Angemon Digivolved to Magnaangemon.
He caught T.K. and Kari, and was about to attack Piedmon when he said, "You wouldn't want me to hurt your friend, now would you?" He held a sword and casually pointed it at Miharumon. Miharumon was too beat up to dodge, and was breathing heavily. Magnaangemon tried to attack him, but only knocked the key chains off his belt. Piedmon was standing over Miharumon, and was about to stab her. "MIHARUMON!!!!" Yumi yelled, running forward. She threw herself over Miharumon, her crests light almost blinding. Before the sword touched her back, Miharumon began to glow, and she Warp-Digivolved to Ayumimon. Ayumimon was a woman with long, light brown hair, and a white sash over her eyes. She wore a white, strapless priestess dress, with sleeves that start at the elbows and fan out as they go towards the wrist. She had a brilliant white light around her, almost blinding, and it had distracted Piedmon long enough to get Yumi out of the way.
She said, her voice sounding like the tinkling of bells, "Magnaangemon, bring back the others." He went down to T.K. and Kari with the key chains. Piedmon was speechless with…fear? Yumi asked, "Ayumimon?" Her partner nodded. "But…how?" "You're loyalty was strong, and gave me enough strength to reach my Mega form." "But, if you're always one level above others, how strong are you now?" "I'm one of the strongest Mega's in the world. I'm actually an old legend, but let's talk about this later." Yumi nodded. Ayumimon turned to Piedmon, and said, "For hurting my friends, I'll have to destroy you." She raised a hand to the sky.
She used Lightning Bolt, making a bolt of Lightning come down and strike him. She used Ice Sword, and slashed at him with the frozen weapon. Suddenly, he summoned Vilemon, but the others came, including Mimi and her small army. "You can't stop me that easily, Piedmon." Everyone was looking at Ayumimon in awe. "Who's that?" Tai questioned. "You don't recognize her? That's Miharumon." "But…how?" "She's a Mega." Yumi said with a smile. Ayumimon used Water Whip, pinning Piedmon's arms to his sides as she made a huge fireball over her head. The attack was called Fire Bomb. It blew up on contact, and Piedmon came out of the dust beaten and tired.
"Not much fun, now is it, Piedmon?" She plunged her fist into the ground, using Rock Fist, and punched him in the face. Magnaangemon used Gate of Destiny, sucking in the Vilemon, and Ayumimon took off her sash. Her eyes were white, but had a blue glow to them. She used Mind Paralysis. "Hurry, I can't hold him for long! Blast him into the gate!" Metalgarurumon and Wargreymon blasted the paralyzed Piedmon into Magnaangemon's Gate of Destiny, and the gate disappeared as the last strip of Spiral Mountain started getting reconfigured. Ayumimon sighed, tying the sash lightly over her eyes, and turned to the other Mega Digimon, smiling. "How did you become a Mega Digimon?"
"I don't know. I felt Yumi's loyalty, and it was so strong I Warp-Digivolved." As the small army left, Izzy got an e-mail from Gennai, saying that there was an even bigger evil left to fight. It had actually created all of the villains they'd already fought! Yumi asked, "Who is it?" Before Izzy could read it, the floor cracked, shaking the mountain, and the sky turned pitch black. She thought, Great, what now?