The Kindest Heart

Since Myotismon was a vampire, he wouldn't attack in broad daylight. That didn't mean any of the heroes were safe, however. Since he was their new threat, he would continue to send his forces to attack the Digidestined.

Thankfully, everyone was able to find a place to rest after feeling weary from their travels. They came to a village with tree houses. They weren't the kind people build in trees. Rather the trees were houses. The inhabitants were floral Digimon called Floramon, Palmon, Lalamon, and Sunflowmon. The floral Digimon were happy to have guests after a long time because of all that had been going on. They were going through a difficult time because there was a battle going on.

Just outside the village was a meadow where all the floral Digimon liked to go to synthesize and gather plants for remedies until they were all driven out by another floral Digimon called Blossomon. Blossomon used to be a kind Digimon who helped to make herbs for the villagers, but then she turned violent and claimed the meadow as her own territory. The village leader, Lilamon, had been trying to reason with Blossomon, but it all started turning into a fierce war of plants.

The village was in a rough position. They were running short on herbs and they needed to make medicine that had to be delivered to merchants across the continent.

It saddened Serenity to hear about the village's troubles. "Blossomon used to be friends with the villagers," she was muttering to herself. "I wonder what could have caused her to become so hateful towards them."

Lunamon was just as concerned. "You don't suppose Myotismon has anything to do with it, do you?"

That was exactly what Serenity was thinking. She always hated whenever someone took pleasure into taking advantage of someone else's feelings and caused anger and hate. It made her think of Malik. She suggested, "Maybe if we go to the meadow to see Blossomon and ask what's wrong, we can help her make peace with the villagers."

Lunamon wasn't too sure. "Lilamon's been trying to do that for days. Blossomon won't listen to anybody."

"We've got to try, Lunamon. Think of all the poor Digimon who need those remedies. Besides, the Floramon said that only Blossomon can make the remedies perfectly." The auburn stood up and began walking.

Joey saw his sister walking outside and asked, "Where do you think you're going?"

"I'm going to see Blossomon," she answered.

"No, you're not," he said sternly. "A Lalamon just warned me that Blossomon is fighting with Lilamon right now. I'm not gonna let you get caught in the middle of their fight."

"But we can't let them keep fighting," his sister protested. "Joey, these Digimon used to live happily together and besides, the villagers need Blossomon to help make medicine from the plants and herbs of the meadow."

Joey understood and said, "I want to help the villagers too, Serenity, but right now, it's too dangerous. We should wait until Lilamon comes back. Maybe then we can think of a plan to help her and Blossomon stop fighting with each other."

Serenity didn't want to wait that long, but she knew her brother was right. The best thing to do would be to wait for Lilamon.

A few hours later, the village leader finally returned. Serenity was astonished with Lilamon's appearance and thought she was beautiful. She looked like a pink and green flower fairy. She also looked at Lilamon's information on her digivice. She was an ultimate Digimon that resembled purity and was also even-tempered.

"Blossomon's forces have increased," Lilamon warned the villagers. "She's brought Digimon from the marsh to help take over our meadow."

"The marsh," Kaiba asked. "Isn't that where Blossomon is originally from?" He looked up Blossomon's information on his digivice and learned that she preferred wet climates and hated places that were too dry. Also, she was an ultimate Digimon like Lilamon.

It's true that Blossomon came from the marsh, but she moved to the meadow to help the villagers make medicine from the herbs and plants that grew in the area. "During our fight, Blossomon went on about saying we used her like a slave and did nothing to repay her for her labors. I allowed her to stay in our meadow and I made sure we would make her stay comfortable, but now I feel bad for having taken her away from her home. And now that I think about it, I can understand why Blossomon would feel underappreciated. I haven't taken the time to celebrate Blossomon's hard work or even do much to repay her."

"And you think that could be the reason she doesn't want to help you anymore," Bakura asked, "why she wants to take over your meadow?"

"I can't think of any other reason," Lilamon answered. "I guess we couldn't make a good compromise. I want Blossomon to be happy and be given what she needs to satisfy her comfort, but not if it means giving up our meadow."

"I want to help," Serenity offered. "I don't like seeing friends fight, so I want to help you and Blossomon get along again like you always did."

"You would do that for us?" Lilamon asked. The auburn nodded. The village leader was grateful and kindly accepted her help.

Blossomon warned Lilamon that she would return tonight with an army. This was hardly enough time for the heroes to prepare for battle. Lilamon and her villagers had been to the marsh before, so she was familiar with the Digimon in Blossomon's territory. Her soldiers were champion Digimon called Gekomon, green amphibious Digimon with horns around their necks. There were also rookie Digimon called Otamamon, purple tadpoles with arms and legs and tail fins. These amphibians actually served another Digimon who ruled the marsh, but he graciously allowed his soldiers to fight for the plant Digimon.

Just as anticipated, Blossomon was in reach of the village. She had a yellow head that was surrounded by purple petals and her body was a mass of stems and she had arms with flower hands that had faces for eating victims and turning them to mulch. "The meadow is mine," Blossomon declared. "I will also destroy this village and use your trees to be made into dams for the marshlands."

"Our village is a peaceful place," Lilamon announced. "The plant Digimon depend on these trees for shelter and housing. Also, this forest produces plants and herbs needed for medicine. The same medicine you kindly help us to make for sick Digimon near and far."

Blossomon scoffed and spat. "I will not harm those plants. I'll still be using them to make medicine, but only for the marsh Digimon! I will not be your slave in making medicine anymore!" Both leaders cried out for their forces to attack.

"Remember, these Digimon are just soldiers following orders, so we can't be too rough on them," said Emily.

Serenity agreed. "You guys take care of the Otamamon and Gekomon. I'll help Lilamon deal with Blossomon." Without waiting for anyone to say anything, she ran off with Lunamon next to her.

Viximon digivolved into Renamon and attacked the Otamamon with her Diamond Storm. Patamon helped out by launching his Boom Bubble. Gatomon smacked the Gekomon with her Lightning Paw. Agumon helped out by attacking with his Pepper Breath and Guilmon attacked with Pyro Sphere. Terriermon and Lopmon helped their partners carry the wounded to safety.

"Are you ready?" Serenity asked her partner. Lunamon nodded and digivolved into Lekismon. The auburn cried out to the opposing leaders, hoping to get their attention. "Stop fighting right now!" Lilamon and Blossomon stopped attacking each other and gave the auburn their attention. "You two are friends. You used to live happily together and there's no reason why you should have to stop now. Blossomon, the villagers need you. There isn't another Digimon who can make medicine like you can and they know it. That's why they kindly let you live with them and Lilamon always made sure you would have everything you would need. Please don't destroy this village, Blossomon. If you do, you'll only destroy your friendship with the villagers. Also, you won't be happy either."

She approaches the plant Digimon and holds out her hand. "I know you can live together in harmony again. And we can be friends too. If humans and Digimon could live together, work together, be friends with one another, well, I think that would be nice, wouldn't you?"

Lilamon smiled in agreement and released a few tears. She hoped her message would reach Blossomon. But the plant Digimon snarled and pushed her away. "Do not interfere, you little brat!"

Serenity's digivice began glowing and its light began to envelop Lekismon, filling her with energy. "Lekismon, digivolve to… Crescemon!" She grew larger and her armor had changed. She wore a blue armored vest and purple ribbons flowed from her helmet where her ears were covered. She also wore armor-like shoes on her feet and she carried a crescent-shaped shield and sword in her hands.

Serenity checked the information on her digivice. "Crescemon - ultimate level. Special attack: Lunatic Dance." She marveled at the sight of her newly digivolved partner. "Awesome! You digivolved!"

"All thanks to the kindness you displayed," Crescemon praised. "Your wish to reach out to Blossomon as a friend and help her remember her friendship with the floral Digimon made it possible for me to digivolve." The auburn looked down at the screen on her digivice. It projected the symbol of kindness. "But you haven't seen anything yet," said Crescemon. She raised her arms and moved elegantly on her feet, attacking and dancing at the same time. "My signature attack may have a funny name, but its display is quite graceful." She was right. She was moving like a dancer and still attacking with her sword called Noir Luna.

Blossomon was so dazzled with Crescemon's display, she didn't realize she was being attacked. That was the effect of her Lunatic Dance. Crescemon would leave her enemies confused when attacking them. Blossomon fell in defeat, dazed and confused. Crescemon also degenerated back into Moonmon. Serenity cheered for her partner and praised her.

The next morning, Blossomon woke up trying to remember what happened. It started coming back to her. She was in her workshop making medicine for the marsh Digimon until a dark figure came and convinced her to hate the villagers and feel like she was being used for labor. Blossomon tried to fight back, but the intruder managed to place her under his control. "I must have been under that Digimon's influence when I started getting hateful towards all of you," said Blossomon. "I'm so sorry for what I did."

"Well, you're back to normal and that's what counts," said Lilamon.

Blossomon still felt ashamed of herself for her actions. "But I admit I did feel underappreciated. And I allowed that Digimon to take advantage of my feelings. Still, that's no excuse for what I did. I even pushed aside someone who was trying to be so kind to me."

Serenity knew Blossomon was referring to her. "It's okay, Blossomon."

The plant Digimon couldn't believe it. "How can you all continue to be so nice to me after the way I mistreated every one of you?"

"Because you are our friend and we care about you," Lilamon answered. She smiled and added, "I also think Serenity's right. It would be nice if people and Digimon could live together in harmony. The truth is, the Digital World needs people like Serenity and her friends and we can learn a lot from them by following their examples. I won't deny that humans can be so complex and mysterious, but the things that make them different from us Digimon are things I believe are worth learning about. And I think that's one way to bring harmony to the Digital World." Her fellow villagers agreed.

Blossomon was happy to hear everyone's words of kindness. She felt like she had to agree. Once more, she apologized to the Digimon of the village and offered to make medicine again. The floral Digimon liked the sound of that. They also promised to recognize Blossomon's work more often and make sure she was happy and comfortable.