The Digidestined were in a familiar scene. That was walking. They'd always been walking. Ever since coming to the Digiworld, for some reason, they had always been traveling from one spot to another.
Mimi just couldn't stand the aches in her feet. They made her feel like an army of fire ants had swarmed over her legs and set up a colony there. Mimi lagged behind everyone, even Jyou, who generally brought up the rear. Next to her Palumon tried to stop Mimi's high-pitched whines (author's note: At this point you may be thinking, well, gee, wasn't Mimi supposed to have gotten over this phase? The answer is, I really can't stand Mimi so I'm bringing out the worst in her. This goes with Yamato and Taichi, too, both of whom I absolutely despise ). "Cheer up, Mimi" Palumon offered lamely. Mimi sobbed. "Oh, Palumon" she whined, "I just can't stand it. My feet feel awful. . . " Mimi began to sob uncontrollably. "I don't wanna walk anymore! I'm hungry and tired, and my feet are killing me and no one seems to care how I feel, waaaaah!" Twin fountains gushed from Mimi's eyes.
Taichi sighed and rolled his eyes. "Mimi we couldn't have been walking more then two hours, will you please try to shape up?!"
"Actually, by my calculations we have been walking exactly two hours, twenty seven minutes, thirty seconds right. . . now!" Izumi cut in from somewhere near the middle of the troop.
"Oh, who cares?" Palumon defended her partner's complaints.
"To be honest," Sora moved in to break up the arguement that loomed over the band, " I was thinking maybe we SHOULD stop. I mean, I'm kinda getting tired too."
Izumi nodded, "I agree. It would be nice if we could sit down and rest. I myself am somewhat fatigued from the day's trials."
Mimi smiled, "you see? Sora agrees and so does Izumi. . . I think." Mimi gave Izumi her version of a quizzical look (which was to stare at himsideways).
Taichi shook his head. How was he expected to work with such a bunch of slackers? "Alright, team," he finally gave in. "We'll get some R&R over by that boulder." Taichi pointed to a large rock a few meters away.
While they were moving towards the boulder, Palumon turned to Mimi. "So you really were tired, neh?" Palumon grinned from petal to petal.
"Yes! Of course!" Mimi cried, "why did you want to stop?"
"To be honest, because I couldn't stand to hear Jyou **ATTEMPT** to sing another marching song. Honestly, he sounds like a cat cought in a bike chain." That analogy made Mimi chuckle a little.
* * *
Way up high in the trees, two different sets of eyes watched as the Digidestined made ready to catch some Z's. One set of eyes were wide and alert, as if always waiting for something. The other set was small, bright and beady. It glowed with a dull fire, this set. Dull, but burning and penetrating none-the-less.
"Samumon," a voice whispered, "I believe if we are to strike, the time isnow."
"Yesssss" another voice hissed, "you are right, Zith. Let us do this with speed. We do not want to risk a full-blown battle."
"Okay. . ." Zith had positioned himself in the tree right on top of the Digidestined. Holding onto his back was Samumon. "NOW!" Zith yelled. Zith flew off the tree, landing right next to the Digidestined he had selected as his target. . .
* * *
The Digidestined all sprang up in shock. All except Yamato. The seven standing Digidestined gazed at. . . a human!? He was older then the Digidestined, judging by his height. But his looks said that he couldn't have been over sixteen. He wore baggy black pants and a blue sleeveless shirt (kinda like Yamato's). This was held together by a red karate belt. Over this were bits and peices of armor. He wore a black scarf over his neck. He had short, black hair simaler to Jyou's. He wore kneecap-high leather boots. His most noticable feature, however, was the long scar that trailed from his chin to the tip of the forehead. The scar ran through his right eye, which was milky-white with no pupil or iris. That, and that he had a sword drawn from a scabbord slung behind his waist like Leomon's. This sword was pointed straight at Yamato's throat.
Yamato looked up at this newcomer, fear and confusion running through his blue eyes. Tai was the first to react to this development, "who are you?!" He yelled.
The stranger smiled thinly, " my name is not important. What IS important is that if you don't give me your tags, crests and digivices I'll be forced to stick my sword into your friend's neck. And I don't think that would do much to improve his looks, do you?"
"Let go'a my brother, you jerk!" Takeru yelled. The young boy began to run at the sword-bearer but Sora and Biyomon restrained him.
Realization entered Yamato's skull. "Don't do it!" He yelled at theothers.
The stranger sneered, "pathetic. Your tags. Your crests. Your Digivices. Now." He inched his sword nearer and nearer toward Yamato's throat. "Hey!" Said Gomamon suddenly, "I know you!"
The guy cocked his head at an angle and looked at Gomamon, "oh, really?" His lips drew back in another smile."
"Yeah, your name is Zith!" Gomamon yelled, "but everyone calls you 'The Terror of the Digiworld' because you're supposedly the best theif in the Digiverse."
"Guilty as Charged," Zith replied in a singsong voice.
"And you're not a human! You're one of those. . .those things we saw back when I was possessed and we saw into the past!" To everyone's suprise, this time is was Hikari who spoke, "I remember from when that entity entered my head. You're one of those hooded factory workers! The same thing asGennai!"
"Quite correct, little girl" Zith replied.
Gomamon spoke up again, "don't worry guys. If I remember my local folklore correct he won't hurt us."
"What?!" Everyone turned to Gomamon in shock.
"Yeah, I remember! Zith usually steals from people while they're asleep so that he doesn't have to get his hands dirty by fighting!" Gomamon wasbeaming.
Zith growled, a low bestial sound.
"Alright then, Mr. Zith, go ahead and kill Yamato." It was Taichi who began to speak now, "I don't think you will, but if you do, oh well. I never really like Yamato anyway." [authors note: remember when I said I wanted to bring out the worst in Taichi? Well, don't worry, this isn't it. Taichi's bluffing.]
Zith brought his sword down until the tip of the blade was resting on Yamato's jugular. Sweat began to pour down both Zith's and Yamato's faces.
Finally, Zith pulled the sword away and popped it into its sheath. "Okay, Digidestined, so maybe I won't. But rest assured, I'll be following you. And the very instant you let your guard down, fall asleep or get seperrated I'll know. And don't think I won't take advantage of it. You blasted baka kids." Zith scowled and cursed the Digidestined. He jumped, litterally *jumped* about fifteen feet into the air to land on a tree branch. Then, he disappeared into the darkness.
* * *
It was three days later. Time for Zith's annual proggress report. He was supposed to have the tags, crests and Digivices by now. And he didn't. And Lord Tetsmon was coming. Zith could hear the giant footsteps of the huge Mega Digimon thunder through the woods. When Tetsmon arrived in the small clearing, Zith was scared enough he was on the brink of wetting his pants.
"Have you recovered the Digidestineds' tools?" Lord Tetsmon thundered. Tetsmon stood at 20 feet tall. He had a round head with two yellow, glowing eyes. His mouth was in the shape of a jack 'o' lantern's. This too, glowed. Tetsmon was a giant robot, his arms and legs thin cables, suppourting rediculously big hands and feet. Surrounding the commanding Digimon was a long, tattered, red cloak. "N-no, my Lord" Zith whimpered.
"AND WHY NOT!!!?" Tetsmon roared.
"I-I'm sorry sir," gasped Zith, " the Digidestined are more clever then I thought. They have somehow managed to evade me for the past three days."
"I see," Tetsmon regained his composure, "so they've evaded you."
Tetsmon held out the open palms of his hands toward Zith. "SHOCKWAVE CANNON!!!! He yelled. A giant ball of glowing red force fired from Tetsmon's outstreched hands. The cannon hit Zith, who was knocked to the ground, his clothing torn, blood seeping from his chest, arms and legs. "Fail me and you will beg for death, understand?" Tetsmon growled.
"Y-yes sir" Zith huddled into a ball on the ground.
"Good. I'll be back in three days to check up on you again." Said Tetsmon. The Mega Digimon rose to walk away. "S-sir?" Choked out Zith.
"Yes?" Tetsmon said sweetly.
"If I suceed and bring you the Digidestineds' tags, crests, and Digivices, will you grant me my freedom, as well as my old tag, crest and Digiviceback?"
Tetsmon paused, "your own? Oh, yes you *own*," he said Jovially, "the crest of Justice, wasn't it? You're a theif, Zith, you know your crest will never glow."
"I-I know" Zith said miserably, "but I'd like it back anyway. Please."
"Very well. If you do this for me I will consider giving back to you your tag, crest and Digivice. But your freedom is out of the question. You're far too valuable a servant to me to lose."
"Domo Origato Gozaimas [translated from Japanese: Oh, thank you EVER so much], Tetsmon Sama ["sama" is what you put on the end of a person's name in japanese to show your respect and awe for them]." Whispered Zith.
"Think nothing of it." Tetsmon turned around and walked out of theclearing.
* * *
Like my story? Hate it? Have any ideas? Send them to: hettle@open.org My story will be continued very soon!
