The next morning, Matt opened his eyes and yawned. The night had been a long one and he only managed to get a couple of hours of sleep. "Wake up Gabumon, " Matt said as he shook the sleeping Digimon. Gabumon groaned than cracked his eyes open a bit. "C'mon, we have to head out soon," Matt said as he placed some food next to him. "But where are we going?" Gabumon asked as he began to eat."I'm not sure Gabumon, but I'll tell you when we get there."
"We'll be sure to find him in no time if we stay with this speed," TK said as he led the way. "TK! Slow down! Not all of us want to run the whole way," Tai yelled as TK slowed down a bit. "So, any readings on your digi- vice yet Izzy?" Joe asked. "Nothing yet, but I'm sure we'll track him soon," Izzy said looking on the bright side but deep inside he didn't believe that. "Tentomon, Biyomon, Patamon, do you guys see anything yet?" TK asked, voice full of hope as he looked up at the flying Digimons. "Nothing yet but we'll be sure to keep you informed the minute we do," Tentomon acknowledged him. "Hey Tentomon?" Patamon said. "Yes?" "Who are those Digimon?" Patamon asked as he pointed to two Digimon in the clearing ahead of them. "Those are Syncmon, a couple of evil Digimon. Their attack is 'Sting of Death' so they're not exactly the best Digimon to try and mess with," Tentomon told the group. "I'm not scared of any big ol' Digimon, let's just go around them," Tai said as he quietly led the group out of the woods.
Matt and Gabumon had only been walking for a few minutes when they heard shouts in the distance. "What's that?" Gabumon asked, ears perked up. Matt listened for a moment than recognized one of the voices. "TK!" he yelled as he fled towards the shouts with Gabumon behind him.
Matt burst through the woods and studied the scene in front of him. All of the Digimon had digivolved into their Ultimate forms (except Angemon who was still a champion). Joe, Izzy, Sora and Mimi were all huddled together behind a large boulder and TK and Tai were standing just a little way away from them. All the Digimon were busy fighting the two evil Digimon so they were too distracted to notice the third Syncmon who was sneaking up behind Tai and TK.
"TK, Tai! Watch out behind you!" Matt yelled as he dashed towards them. The two of them quickly turned around, only to come face to face with the largest of the deadly Syncmon. "TK, quick get out of here," Tai told him as he pushed him into the arms of Joe, who had come to help out. "But what about you?" TK asked worriedly. "I'll be fine, go!" he yelled as he watched Joe and TK run back to the boulder. Tai turned around and looked over at the angry Syncmon. "Why don't you just leave us alone, huh?" he yelled and he ushered for it to go away with his hand. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that!" it said. "Sting of Death!" it screamed. "Tai! Watch out!" Matt yelled as he threw himself in front of Tai and took the shot, sending him and Tai flying backwards.
"Giga Blaster!" Metal Greymon called out as he destroyed the Syncmon who attacked Tai and Matt, than di-digivolved back to Agumon. "Hand of Fate!" Angemon called out as he and the rest of the Digimon took care of the few remaining Syncmon. They all de-digivolved back to their Rookie forms and congratulated each other on the great fight. "Gabumon! When did you get back?" Patamon asked. "Matt and I arrived just a little after the fight started," Gabumon informed them. "That's great! So I'm guessing you two won't be running off again?" Tentomon asked. Gabumon nodded, a slight smile on his face. "Hey! What's happening over there?" Palmon asked, noticed all of the children in a large group. "Let's go check it out!" Gomamon said and he started over.
"Matt, are you ok?" Tai asked as he crawled over to him. He gently shook him but received no response. "Matt?" Tai said more urgently and shook him harder. "It's no use Tai," Izzy said from behind him. "What do you mean?" Tai said. "That shot that Matt took for you was a deadly one Tai. If we don't find some type of cure soon, I'm afraid he's a goner," Izzy told him. "And just where did you hear that?" Tai asked. "From my Digimon Analyser, that's what it said when I researched Syncmon's attack," Izzy said. "But, where will we find a cure?" Sora asked. "I guess we could try to summon Gennai up and see if he has an answer for us," Joe suggested. "That's a great idea, I'll do it now," Izzy said.
"Tai? Will he be ok?" TK asked as he held onto his brother's hand. "Yeah, of course he will be," Tai said, forcing a smile on to his face. TK smiled, but squeezed Matt's hand a little harder. "Umm, guys?" Izzy interrupted. "So, did you contact Gennai? What did he say?" Tai asked. "That's the problem, according to an email that he sent me yesterday, we won't be able to contact him over my computer for awhile because his computer system crashed. The only way is to go to his house." "Than that's what we'll do!" Tai said. "I don't think it would be a good idea to move Matt, Tai," Joe pointed out. "I suggest that a few of us go see Gennai while the rest of us stay with Matt," Izzy said. Tai nodded solemnly. "Fine, but I'm gonna be the one staying. I want the rest of you to go to Gennai." "I wanna stay too," TK piped in. "No TK, they need you to help in case they get attacked my evil Digimon. Anyway, I'll have Agumon and Gabumon here with me in case I get in trouble, so it's up to the rest of you to help Matt." Tai said seriously. The group nodded and decided to leave that very day.
"But what if something happens while we're gone?" TK asked, still a bit worried that he left his brother in his condition. "Don't worry TK, I'm sure that Tai won't let anything happen," Patamon said from a top his head. "I sure hope you're right," TK said, wiping a few tears away with his sleeve.
"Matt, c'mon, please wake up," Tai urged as he tended to him. Just before the others left, they had found a cave for them to stay in until they returned. "Gabumon, Agumon, did you have any luck finding some water?" Tai asked as he watched the two Digimon trudge into the cave. "Yeah Tai, right here," Agumon said, handing Tai a canteen full. "Thanks buddy." Tai gently poured some water onto Joe's vest, which they decided to use as a compress and pressed it against Matt's burning forehead.
Later that night, Matt's condition didn't improve a bit and it was starting to get cold out. Agumon started a fire while Gabumon tried cooking up some fish. Tai sat in the corner with Matt lying next to him still unconscious." Maybe you should try to catch a few z's before the fish is ready," Agumon suggested. "Yeah, I guess," Tai said as he allowed his eyes to close. Tai's sleep was brutally interrupted by a loud rough cough.
"Matt! You're up!" Tai exclaimed. Matt looked up at him weakly, and smiled. "Sure am," he said quietly, trying to get up. "Don't, just stay put," Tai told him, gently pushing him back down. "Where's TK?" he asked. "TK and the others went off to find Gennai," Tai told him. "Why?" "To find a cure for you." "Me? Why? What's wrong with me Tai?" Matt asked, grabbing Tai by the shirt and pulling him close. "Because that shot that you took for me from that Syncmon was a deadly one Matt," Tai said. "It was?" Tai nodded and Matt let go of him. "Tai, at least answer me this." "Yeah, anything," Tai said. "Am I going to die?" Tai just shrugged and fought back that the tears that threatened to flow from his eyes.
