It was almost nightfall before Gomamon arrived back at Rosemon's castle.
It had taken longer than he had expected to round up Izzy, Mimi, Kari
and T.K., and all their Digimon. They had already eaten their dinner and
didn't seem too pleased at the prospect of a long walk through the
forest. Only Agumon was eager to go, and seemed very happy at the
thought of seeing Tai again. He ran ahead, using his Pepper Breath
attack to light the way.

  Gomamon trailed behind with the rest. "Where is this castle, Gomamon?
And how did you and Joe find it?" Gatomon purred.

  "We went to find berries, to go with the fish Sora was catching,"
Gomamon explained. "We kept going farther and farther, but Joe couldn't
find any good-tasting berries. And then I just happened to look up and
there was the castle, right in front of us. Of course, Joe wanted to go
inside, just to see who lived there. I told him it was stupid, but-" He
shrugged his stubby shoulders.

   "You don't seem overly happy to be going back," Izzy observed.

  "I guess I'm not," Gomamon admitted. "Everyone seems to want to stay
there for months, and I'm worried that we'll lose a lot of valuable
time! Who wants to stay at a castle when you could be fighting Digimon
and saving the world?!"

   "I do!" Mimi said, twirling her pink hat by the string. "Oooh, that
would be fabulous, wouldn't it Palamon? Imagine - a hot bath every day,
perfume, pretty clothes, manicures, facials - I could live like a
princess again!"

   Gomamon sighed. "It's more than that, Mimi. Everyone is acting
strange at Rosemon's castle. I watched it happen to Joe, and I'd bet
it's happened to all the others while I've been gone."

   "What happened?" Mimi asked. "Joe actually began to act civilized?"

   "No - he - well - to be candid, he fell in love!" Gomamon furrowed
his brow worriedly. "It's the strangest thing I ever saw! You know Joe
isn't the type to go crazy over a pretty face. But the moment Rosemon
introduced him to Jennifer, the castle librarian, he doesn't think of
anything else. He's obsessed with her!"

  "What's wrong with that?" Mimi asked indignantly. "Romance is the best
thing since waterproof mascara! It's about time Joe let his emotions
show! Now maybe he'll forget doctor books and medical kits."

   "And me," Gomamon said with a sigh.

   Patamon flew up to him, sensing his sadness. "Don't worry, Gomamon.
Joe could never forget you. You two are best buddies, right? Just like
me and T.K.!"

   "You bet!" T.K. said. "Gee, I hope Matt fell in love, too. It would
be funny to see my big brother kissing a girl!" He chuckled, and Kari
laughed with him.

   Only Izzy agreed with Gomamon. "I knew it!" he said excitedly, his
eyes lighting up. "My research led me to believe that falling in love is
one of the most lethal acts a human being could perform! If what you say
is true, Rosemon could be an evil Digimon. She could be forcing Joe to
fall in love just so he'll lose any minimal amount of common sense he
posessed in the first place! We'll have to engage her in combat! And -
OW!"

  Mimi whacked him over the head with her hat. "Be quiet, you walking
micropedia!" she snapped. "That's enough of that! Don't you dare try to
fight Rosemon - from what Gomamon has told us, she's just my kind of
girl! I bet she has all sorts of fashion tips!"

  Izzy rubbed his head. "I'd watch my back if I were you, Mimi. There's
something about this whole situation I don't understand."

   "Yes, and it's called sophistication," Mimi said. She grabbed
Palamon's hand. "Come on, Palamon, let's join Agumon. I can't wait to
get to the castle!" They went dashing ahead together.

   The castle looked just as beautiful in moonlight as it had in the
sunshine. The golden walls had a silvery tint, and there was a candle in
every window. Sweet smells wafted towards them on the breeze. By the
time they reached the gates, Mimi and Palamon were speechless with
delight, and even Kari seemed impressed.

  "It's so pretty," she said. "Isn't it, Gatomon? Do you think we could
live here?"

   "Hmm, I don't know," Gatmon said doubtfully. She twitched her
whiskers. "Something just doesn't smell right-"

   "I agree, those flowers are overpowering," Tentomon said, covering
his nose with one of his pinchers. "Let's get inside quickly!"

   "It's no better inside," Gomamon warned them as they walked into the
front room. From the door at the end of the hall, they could hear the
sounds of laughter and music. "I guess they're in there," he said,
leading them towards it.

  "Sounds like they're having a party!" Kari said.

  "Oh, boy! With pizza? And those funny little things that you eat off a
stick?" T.K. licked his lips. "Even after all that fish I'm still
hungry!"

  "Oh, stop being childish," Mimi said. "All I want is a good disco
dance and then I'll be happy!" She hummed a snatch of a song.

  The door at the end of the hall swung open abruptly. Framed by the
bright lantern light, his auburn hair gleaming like a penny, stood a
tall, handsome boy. He smiled at Mimi, showing off very white teeth.
"You like disco?"

  "Why, yes!" Mimi said. She was goggling at the boy. He was dressed in
a glittering golden suit, and on his feet where the highest platform
shoes in the entire Digital world. "Do you?"

  "Naturally!" The boy struck a pose. "I'm Derik, but all the cool guys
call me the King of Disco! It's alive again, baby!"

   Mimi batted her eyelashes. "Ooh, I believe it. Would you like to
dance with me?" Without another glance at Palamon, she took Derik's hand
and they disappeared inside the room. A few moments later the sound of
Night Fever came over the stereo system.

  Palamon's lips were trembling. "I - I don't believe it! Mimi wouldn't
desert me for that cheesy has-been, would she?"

  Gatomon flicked her tail. "You're right, Gomamon. I don't like the
feel of this place. Let's leave as soon as we can." She stalked
cautiously into the room, followed by the rest of her group.

   Even Gomamon wasn't prepared for the sight that met their eyes. Sora
was sitting on a couch, holding a bouquet of roses and looking adoringly
at a dark-hair boy who had his arm around her shoulder. Tai and a girl
in a maid's outfit were snuggling together on another couch, while Matt
was sharing the last few sips of a sundae with a mysterious girl with
spiked hair. Joe and Jennifer sat poring over a book, their heads and
hands touching. In the center of the room, Derik and Mimi were dancing
crazily, looking as if they were having the time of their lives.

   Izzy's jaw dropped. "Holy Digivices! This is even worse than I
anticipated! Every last one of them has been assimilated into Rosemon's
plot!" He whipped his laptop off his back and began typing frantically.
"I have to save them! It's my duty!"

   Joe looked up and noticed them for the first time. "Hey, everybody!
Welcome to Rosemon's castle!" He turned to the others. "Tai, Sora, Matt
- it's them! They've gotten here at last!"

   Agumon ran over to Tai, full of relief at seeing him again. "Tai, old
buddy! Who is this you're sitting with? Can we be introduced?"

  "Not now, Agumon, we're busy!" Tai snapped, and turned his back.
"Anyhow, as I was saying, Marcy, I just ran at the doors and pounded
them with my fists, but they wouldn't open! So then I-"

   Agumon stepped back, looking hurt and shocked. Palamon went over and
put her arms around his shoulder sympathetically. Kari stared at her
brother in disbelief. "That's a lot of nerve my big brother has, being
rude to Agumon! I've never seen him behave like that before! Maybe it's
something he ate . . ."

   "Care for a chocolate?" A voice interrupted her.

   Kari turned around. A little boy just her age stood there, with the
cutest hair and sweetest smile she'd ever seen. A few freckles dusted
his nose. "A chocolate?" she said, feeling her knees grow weak.

  "Sure! One has coconut filling, the other has strawberry. Since you're
allergic to coconut you should take this one." He handed her a candy.
"Wanna see my toy train collection?"

   "Wait a moment!" Gatomon snapped. "Listen to me, buster. How did you
know Kari's allergic to coconut?! You just met a few moments ago! We
don't even know your name!"

   "Gatomon, you're not my mother!" Kari said nastily. "Just back off
and stop whining!" She smiled at the boy. "I'd love to see it. Ignore
that cat - she's such a busybody." They started walking towards the
staircase. "What is your name, anyhow?"

   "Clark," the boy said, disappearing around a bend with his hand in
Kari's.

  Gatomon stared after them, looking dazed. "I don't believe it! Kari
never acted that rude before, ever!"

  T.K. scowled. "I don't like that boy. He's not nearly as nice as I am.
Someone should go get Kari and bring her back. Who cares about a lot of
stupid trains and chocolates, anyway?" He kicked at the carpet.

  "Now, now, don't get worked up," Patamon said soothingly. "Why don't
you say hello to Matt? I'll bet he's been worried about you!"

  "Good idea," T.K. agreed, and started walking over to his older
brother. Just when he was about to reach him, however, a little girl
popped out from behind the couch and blocked his path. She was very
pretty, with curly pink hair and wide green eyes. T.K. liked her ruffled
dress so much that he could barely speak for a moment.

   "Hi! I'm Koteri." She didn't wait for him to say anything, just
grabbed his hand and began pulling him towards the kitchen table. "I bet
you're hungry, huh? I'm the cook around here, even though I'm so young.
I work all day and make the yummiest food I can! Cookies, pies, cakes,
muffins, scones, hot dogs, souffles - anything you want! Just ask for
something and I'll make it. We're going to be such good friends, T.K.!
Hey, let's see the kitchen. I have a lot of treats in there! Maybe you
could even help me make a fudge pie." At the kitchen door she turned
sharply, suddenly sounding very bossy. "I'm sorry, but that flying
creature can't come in the kitchens. It's against my rules of hygiene."

  "What?!" Patamon asked indignantly. "T.K. and I are best friends! We
can't be seperated!"

   "Oh, shut up, Patamon," T.K. said, gazing lovingly at the powdered
sugar on Koteri's apron. "Stay out, I don't need you with me all the
time." They walked through the doors, talking happily about recipes for
pudding and leaving a very bewildered Patamon behind them.

  Izzy looked around sharply. Agumon, Gatomon, Patamon and Palamon were
all drooping around looking depressed, Tentomon was sitting beside him,
and Gomamon was snoozing under the table - two were missing. Which two?

  "Sora! Matt!" he said sharply.

  They looked around, seeming slightly annoyed. "What is it, Izzy?" Matt
asked tiredly. "Another research paper?"

  "Where did Biyomon and Gabumon go?"

   For a moment they both looked very blank. Then Sora gave a small
laugh. "Oh, them! They went out to the gardens with Rosemon about an
hour ago. They're good friends with her - she says she has a special
place to show them."

  "I'm glad they're having fun," Matt said, and turned back to his
spiky-haired friend.

  Izzy frowned at his computer screen. Gone...? With Rosemon...? This
was very suspicious. He would have to keep an eye on the other six
Digimon. He could remember the time Patamon got kidnapped by the
followers of an evil group of Gazimon. He wished they could just leave
the castle before anyone else fell in love . . .

   "Hey there!" said a voice behind him.

   Izzy tensed. "I don't care how pretty you are, I'm not falling love
with you!" He turned around. It was Kari.

  "Oh, hello." He relaxed. "What do you want?"

  "Clark is getting some trains down from the attic. I was just checking
on Gatomon. Have you seen her?" Kari smiled at him.

  Izzy looked around. Gatomon was gone. "I don't believe it!! She was
here just a second ago, I saw her myself!!" He typed his keys furiously,
feeling too confused to do anything else.

   "Don't worry, Izzy!" Kari was unconcerned. "Clark said Rosemon likes
to show Digimon around the gardens and courtyard. That must be where
Gatomon went. Isn't it nice that everyone here is so friendly?" She
giggled and went back up the stairs.

   "Hmm, yes, very friendly," Tentomon buzzed. "I don't like this,
Izzy."

  "Neither do I," Izzy said. He pressed a few more keys. "Just keep a
sharp watch, OK? I'll do the rest. Don't worry, Tentomon. No pink-haired
girl is going to charm ME. We'll be together, I promise."

   "I don't doubt you," Tentomon said.

   The night passed slowly. Sora, Matt, Joe, Tai, Kari, T.K. and Mimi
didn't leave their new friends once. Izzy worked on his computer,
feeling bored and useless, until it got so late that he was sure the sun
would rise any moment. He folded up his laptop and cleared his throat to
catch the maid's attention. She was still talking to Tai.

  "Excuse me! I'd like to go to bed now!"

  The girl looked over and reluctantly left Tai's side. "My, an early
bird! All right, come this way." She led him up the stairs, down a long
dark corridor, and finally into a large room with gold wallpaper. Izzy
gazed at the canopy bed and dozens of mirrors, feeling slightly ill.

   "Could I have something less fancy?" he asked.

   "Don't be silly, this is the plainest room we have," the blonde maid
said, and she left the room, obviously in a hurry to be with Tai again.
Izzy sighed, pulled off his shoes and shirt, and climbed into the bed.
Tentomon curled up on the pillow next to him.

  "I feel very uneasy," Izzy confessed. "By morning, maybe ALL the
Digimon will be gone. I should be watching over them."

  "There's nothing you can do," Tentomon comforted him. "Gatomon
disappeared behind your back, remember? We just have to leave this
spooky castle as soon as we can." He sighed. "At least you know I won't
disappear."

  "That is a relief," Izzy agreed. His eyelids were very heavy. After a
moment, he was fast asleep . . . .

   The next morning, Izzy woke up, blinking in a flood of brilliant
sunshine. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and sat up, gazing into the mirror
opposite his bed. Somehow the castle didn't seem as disturbing in the
daylight.

  "Mimi would have fits if she could see how messy my hair is," he
remarked groggily. "I guess I should comb it, huh, Tentomon?
Tentomon...?" Suddenly Izzy was wide awake. He felt panic rising up
inside him.

  The mirror reflected Izzy, sitting all alone in a huge bed.

  Tentomon was nowhere to be seen.


                                        TO BE CONTINUED!