A/N: Well I hope you all liked 'The Price of Fame', if you haven't read it please do its for TK Takaishi's contest so any input is great. As for this story I ran into severe writers block and it took me awhile to fight my way out of it. Keep the reviews coming and enjoy the show.
Disclaimer: See chapter 1.
A Mothers Love:
Matt closed his eyes as Metalgarurumon soared toward their home that now lay under siege in Primary Village. His thoughts were focused solely on his brother and small family, Piedmon's targets with only an injured Izzy to guard them. His thoughts then turned to anger as he blamed himself for walking right into the obvious trap with eyes wide open. Behind him he could hear Joe trying to consol a frantic Mimi as she whimpered her sons name over and over.
"Almost there" Joe said his voice wavering as the smoke became darker and thicker the closer the came. Tai let out another snarl as the carnage became all to clear. The once colorful blocks had been toppled and charred, the green luscious trees dead with no hints of their former glory. The baby digimon were scattered throughout the village hiding in the shadows crying with fear.
Genni didn't want to believe what he was seeing, if the viral digimon had done this to innocent digimon what would had they done to the digidestined themselves. He looked to the four digidestined with him feeling his heart go out to them; the fate of their families was unknown. It was then they came around the final bend leading to their home and the fate of the others was revealed.
The digimon landed and their passengers disembarked in silence pure terror running through their veins. The first sight they were greeted with was a large wooden pole with Izzy tied to it. The bearer of Knowledge was alive, but had seen better days. Blood stained his clothes from a few minor cuts on his arms and legs; one of his eyes had been blacked while he had been quieted with a gag.
Mimi ripped away from Joe and ran into the broken house. 'No' ran through her mind over and over as she stepped over broken dishes, pieces of door, and shattered pictures. Her heart stopped as she neared the back of the house, the damage was more severe here and Sora's arrows littered the hallway, her arrows were the last line of defense. Finally she entered the room that was to be the baby's nursery letting out a heart-wrenching scream when she entered.
The cribs had been trampled, walls slashed, and Sora tied up and thrown into the half open closet. The Bearer of Love was fighting against her bonds and screaming against the gag only to burst into tears when she caught sight of Mimi. Mimi rushed forward freeing her friend taking one look into her eyes to find what happened. "They took them didn't they?" she said crying pulling the gag out.
Sora let her tears fall "All of them…I think they killed Izzy" she said her eyes falling on her sons teddy bear. Mimi put a hand on her friends shoulder to get her attention "Izzy's fine…" she wasn't able to finish because two frantic husbands were barreling down the hall and into the room at that very moment. Tai and Joe tripped over the debris countless times before making it to the room.
As Tai's chocolate eyes fell on Sora a wave of relief washed over his face, only to have the worry return when their son wasn't in her arms. He pulled her into his arms afraid to let go feeling her cry into his chest "Its okay we'll get them all back besides TK and Kari are there to take care of them". Sora's sobs suddenly stopped as her amber eyes met his full of shock "But TK and Kari got away".
The trio looked at her with wide eyes with Joe speaking first "What do you mean?" he asked.
Sora took a deep breath "When I heard Piedmon and Lady Devimon get in I sent the digimon to see what was happening, when they came back they said that Piedmon had taken out Patamon and Gatomon as well as Izzy". She paused taking a deep breath knowing the next bit of news was going to be a shock "So I told Biomon and Tentomon to digivolve and get them out of here…all I know is they got them out".
"That's why you didn't have the digimon to protect you" Mimi whispered "or the babies". Sorrow filled the bearer of Love's eyes "I thought I could hold them off until you got back" she them broke down in tears "I thought that once their targets were gone they would leave".
Tai pulled her close trying to comfort her, helping her slowly to her feet "Shh, you did the right thing honey" he soothed leading her out the door.
Matt felt unbelievable joy shot through his body as Birdramon and Kabuterimon landed outside the destroyed residence with their precious cargo in hand. The giant bug held Takeru's still form laying him carefully one the ground next to Kari's unmoving form. He ran forward looking to the now Tentomon for answers, yet the digimon had other thing in mind "Izzy, is he okay?"
"Yes, Genni is taking care of him, where's Aiko and the others, are they okay?" Matt demanded gently looking over the youngest of the digidestined. Tentomon's green eyes misted over with tears and they sent Matt's heart plummeting. "Aiko was taken, Kari was in hysterics when we took her and TK away and once we took off they both just passed out".
Matt shook his head just this morning he thought they were on top of the world and now they had fallen back down. Their three precious treasures were gone and he had no doubt that this could possible destroy Mimi as well as Sora. "Kari" Tai called emerging from the rubble with Sora cradled in his arms the relief evident in his eyes as the fell upon his sisters sleeping form.
"Are they okay?" he asked torn between comforting his wife and sister. Matt nodded turning his full attention to his brother as the mirror blue eyes fluttered open in a daze. He stared up as the events came flooding back with a vengeance.
"No" he stammered turning to Kari confirming his fears before returning his gaze to Matt "Please tell me it was a dream". The elder cradled the younger "I'm sorry Squirt". TK gave a quick cry before burying his face into Matt's soft shirt seeking the comfort "But don't worry we'll get them back".
Mimi shook her head, forcing herself not to think of what the viral digimon could do to her son. Yet she took comfort in the fact that it was TK and Kari's baby they needed for their master plan not Cody. Her heart went to the youngest of their group finding it hard to believe what they had been put through in their young lives "We don't even know where to look for them" she finally said sadly bringing the harsh reality to the front of everyone's minds.
"Yes we do" Izzy said coming out of the rubble bandaged up once more. "Remember they need TK and Kari along with the baby for this to work and knowing we would come they made sure we would come…see" he finished pointing to what used to be Infinity Mountain. On top of the craggy peak the sleek black floating castle belonging to Piedmon and Lady Devimon had parked for all to see.
Kari who had quietly awakened and made her way to her husbands arms gathered Gatomon and stood up "Then lets get going, I don't want to give them a chance to do to Aiko what they did to us".
High a top Infinity Mountain Piedmon had other things besides brainwashing on his mind; at the forefront was how to get the three screaming babies to stop for longer than two seconds. In his arms he cradled the one called Alexander the son of Courage and Love. The digimon had a hard time comprehending the fact that human babies tended to take after their parents, but from the decuples coming from the child Piedmon discovered he was truly his fathers son.
Lady Devimon was coddling over Aiko seeing TK and Kari in her arms. The little girls blues eyes were continually shooting around the room as if searching for her parents, her wails getting louder with every pass.
Finally Myotismon held Cody at arms length his ice blue eyes full of frustration. "Tell me again why you took these two, I thought you only needed the girl," he asked with a scowl. Lady Devimon rolled her eyes, they had already explained this twice, perhaps the third time would be the charm "Takeru and Hikari got away and we needed a little extra insurance".
Myotismon nodded turning his attention back to the baby as his cries stopped and a smile formed on his face. The other two digimon looked at him in shock "You didn't bite him did you?" Piedmon demanded.
The vampire looked insulted "No" he snapped as the little color in his face began to drain "I thought you said that they didn't have any attacks". This confused the ruling pair waiting for him to add to his comment "It's emitting some sort of noxious odor…it better not kill me…I don't want to die again".
Being inexperienced in taking care of children it took the trio awhile to figure out where the odor was coming from and then after an additional twenty minutes of arguing who had to fix it Cody was again screaming in the vampire's arms.
Devimon entered the room with his hands clasped firmly over his ears "They are coming I suggest you get ready" he shouted over the noise. Piedmon allowed a devious grin to spread across his face he knew they would come and once he had his children back no one would be able to stop him and he would rule the digiworld. The devil type digimon noticed the smirk and rubbed his hands together for his revenge would be sweet.
TK tightened his grip around Kari as they made their final approach on the castle they used to call home. He couldn't help but notice that their garden was just as they had left it, the roses in full bloom with two more bushes added around the bench. Pink and yellow, he assumed for he and Kari. His attention them focused on Patamon secured next to him eyes forward and determined his mind set on a little payback.
Tai's voice broke the silence "Everyone get ready we're going in". The digidestined had decided on a head on attack, go in get the kids and get out before Piedmon had a chance to do anything about it. Sora was seated in front of him on Wargreymon's shoulder her eyes fixed on the stained glass window, their method for entering the castle.
Metalgarurumon soared past with Matt on his back as he powered up his attack ready to create the door for everyone else to go through. Joe and Mimi fell in behind, followed by himself, Izzy, and finally TK and Kari being flanked by the digivolved angels. "Metal Wolf Bite" the guardian of friendship called shattering the panes of glass as if they were eggshells.
One by one the flew through the opening landing in the middle of the throne room ready to split up, only to find Piedmon was waiting for them. He stood with his allies at the front of the hall. He still held Alexander, Lady Devimon had Aiko, and Myotismon Cody. Devimon just stood off to the side clapping his hands "Now that was an entrance" he said amused.
Tai leapt to the ground fire in his eyes "You know what we want so just give them back and we won't have to hurt you" he screamed his entire body shaking as his sons cries reached his ears.
The jester was silent as they assembled his eyes resting on TK and Kari who in turn were staring at their daughter. "I have every intention of giving them back, that is for a price".
Sora was the quickest on the draw "Anything" she shouted her voice on the verge of hysterics. Lady Devimon laughed while adjusting the baby in her arms "I was hoping you would say that…now we'll make it an even trade Cody and Alexander for TK and Kari. I get my children back and you get yours".
Before anyone could gasp let alone answer TK and Kari stepped forward speaking in unison "Done". Matt's face turned bright red and his eyes filled with tears as he rushed to his brothers side in an attempt to talk some sense into him "You can't…" he began only to be cut off by his brothers hand as the younger spoke directly to Piedmon "If we come you are to leave the others alone as long as they live you understand, no attacks, no attempts to kill, and you will never touch the children again".
Piedmon smiled and for he knew that he had won "Agreed, but you two will agree never to escape and stay with your daughter here forever as my heirs" he said moving forward motioning for Myotismon to follow. They made their way to the center of the room before speaking again "Mimi and Sora may come collect their babies, but TK and Kari are to come along and keep walking to my love as the exchange is made…now say your goodbyes the chefs have a feast prepared for the return of our prince and princess".
TK and Kari nodded hugging their brothers tightly for the last time "I love you" they whispered letting go slowly leaving the two strongest digidestined at a loss for words as their siblings began to walk away forever. As they walked hand in hand Kari's eyes widened halting "Patamon and Gatomon" she said looking to Lady Devimon knowing that she was the better one to ask.
The dark angel looked at her crying counterpart sobbing into Angemon's arms as her digidestined was taken away…she knew that feeling it was how she felt when the digidestined had taken TK and Kari back and as evil as she was she couldn't cause another living being that much pain. Her pleading eyes turned to those of her mate seeing his hardened resolve melt as he looked at her. He bowed his head and nodded "They may stay as long as they don't cause any problems".
Angemon and Angewomon looked at each other and dedigivolved moving to their digidestined sides as the resumed their walk. Mimi held her head high as she approached a being that had haunted her since he first attacked. Myotismon looked down upon her, her arms outstretched for the screaming baby in his arms. He watched as Piedmon handed Sora her little boy, tears streaming from the mothers amber eyes. He then relinquished his hold on the son of reliability and sincerity.
The cries stopped as their mothers arms wrapped securely around their tiny forms. Sora and Mimi moved back refusing to turn their back on the enemy. From this vantage point they could also see when Kari took Aiko from Lady Devimon cooing to her softly letting her know everything was okay. "It is done" the dark angel said "now leave and go on with your lives…"
Piedmon turned when she stopped a look of confusion on her face as Devimon pulled out a long twisted dagger and put it to his loves throat. Overwhelming fear ran through his veins, fear that was quickly turned to anger "What so you think you are doing?" he demanded his voice booming off of the walls causing all inside to jump with fear.
"What does it look like" Devimon shot back "taking over, you've gone soft. Look around you, you have the digidestined in your lair, you had their children they would have done whatever you wanted and what do you do? You use them to get your heir's back". As Devimon spoke TK moved in front of Kari putting himself between the two, a move the digimon took notice of. "Now little hope where are you going? Did you know that if we sacrifice the child of hope and light to the powers of darkness it will grant us anything we wish".
Kari nearly passed out and pulled her baby closer as Gatomon digivolved once more joining her counterpart as the wall of protection. Piedmon hissed as Myotismon pulled his own dagger "There are other ways of getting that power and you know it". The vampire laughed "But this is so much more entertaining and after the kid we can kill the others one by one…I have dibs on Courage and Light".
Piedmon had enough he let out a fierce battle cry plunging his own hidden dagger deep into Myotismon's arms getting a shriek of pain in reward. The jester flipped back as the destined guardians charged forward. Devimon tossed his prey to the side in order to meet the coming attack; she was now weak and could be eliminated at any time.
Lillymon was the first upon the vampire while the angles took on Devimon. The flower child had a new fire in her eyes, a fire fueled by the fact the creature before her had put her newly extended family in danger. She fired her cannon quickly hoping to catch him off guard; it failed yet thankfully Zudomon had fired another round catching the recovering digimon in mid fall.
As the battle unfolded Piedmon carefully approached the leader of the digidestined knowing that the ice he was walking on was thinner than plastic wrap. Tai noticed his approach and pushed his wife and son farther behind him and brought Matt to his side. The leaders chocolate brown eyes were narrowed with hate as he came closer to the digimon that had caused him so much pain than he had ever been before.
Piedmon spoke first "It seems we have a mutual enemy". The emperor carefully studied Tai's face for any indication of what his answer would be "Any why would we help you?" he asked in an amused tone "you hurt innocent digimon, destroyed our home, kidnapped our children, and have forced our siblings to stay with you by blackmailing them. Now taking all that into account, I ask again why should we help you?"
"Because if we join forces here and now we can stop them" Piedmon said. Matt smirked gesturing to the heated battle "It seems that our digimon are handling everything just find on their own". The bearer of Friendship was right, Devimon and Myotismon were indeed having trouble dealing with the eight attacking digimon. The jester was about to retort with a threat when Lady Devimon screamed grabbing his full attention.
It took him only seconds to see what she was so upset about. Devimon had moved from his battle with the angles and had turned his full attention to TK and Kari. The two had huddled in the corner protecting their baby with their bodies, TK's blue eyes locked on the approaching evil. The angles had been trapped under a pile of rubble with the others had their hands full with Myotismon.
"Takeru" Matt screamed running as fast as he could across the immense room with Tai at his heals. Izzy took up the job of watching over Sora his dark eyes wanting to close as Devimon shot his dark attack at the huddled family. There was no way that Matt or even Angemon (once free) could get there in time.
TK looked down at his wife, his love with adoring eyes "I love you" he said kissing Aiko before Kari. Tears streamed from her eyes blurring the approaching darkness "I love you too" she whispered to her treasures.
Lady Devimon let another scream out of her throat as she noticed that neither their beloved siblings or digimon would make it to them in time. It was then that the stirrings of her heart began again, the desire to protect them; they had been her children for nearly ten years. She had nearly failed to protect him from Vademon and in her opinion failed when the digidestined took them. Her eyes lit up and her dark wings spread for she wasn't going to fail them now.
She took flight racing time, racing fate, she closed her eyes and gave one last burst of speed. The sounds of Piedmon's heart wrenching screams barely reached her ears and the immense pain ripped through her body and the attack missed their intended target, striking her instead.
Kari stifled a scream as one of digimon who had cared for and protected her since the age of eight made the ultimate sacrifice. TK pulled her again his chest to spare her the sight whispering in her ear fighting tears of his own. Piedmon however had a different reaction. After his scream faded off into the stone he drew his glistening blades and flew at the traitors dealing two fatal blows with two swings of his sword.
Before the viral digimon's data had dissolved he was at his mates side holding her tenderly in his lap. The digidestined had too moved to her side only their goal was to reach TK and Kari, yet their hearts were touched by the scene, good or evil love was love. The jester had tears streaming down his cheeks as he pleaded with her softly not to go.
It was too late; her last breath was coming all to quickly as the light in her eyes began to slowly fade. She looked up with a faint smile on her face "Are they all right?" she asked weakly. Piedmon stroked her heard gently "Yes my love they are fine, thanks to you". Her small smile widened once again as she fell back "I love you" she said as the light in her eyes went out.
"Please no" Piedmon begged holding her tight feeling his heart tearing apart. A hand on his shoulder caused him too look up and see Joe with a needle and syringe in hand. "There is a way he said calmly, but you may not like the consequences".
Piedmon jumped at the chance "What consequences?" Izzy stepped up "The serum was developed by Genni, a way of giving digimon a second chance. If we inject Lady Devimon with it she will be sent back to Primary Village and reconfigured. The only drawback is she may not come back as Lady Devimon…but her soul will be reborn".
Piedmon looked at his love and then to the various digidestined couples. Tai held Sora in a protective hug, Mimi had a tight grip on her husbands hand, and finally TK and Kari still sat on the floor with the girl enveloped him the protective cocoon of TK's arms. They were soul mates, just like him and Lady Devimon and he knew he couldn't go on without her. "Can you give it to both of us?" he asked his voice finally cracking under the strain.
Joe nodded pulling another syringe from his pocket "I can but you will lose everything, your power, kingdoms. I will however guarantee you will be reborn together if I do this at the same time".
"Do it" he replied without second thought taking on last look at his one-time enemies and heir's. Joe handed the other needle to Izzy and approached rolling up the sleeve of his elaborate costume. "I promise we'll make sure your eggs are together," Mimi said adjusting her slumbering son.
As Joe prepared the area TK and Kari approached leaving Aiko with her uncle Matt for a few seconds. Their eyes met with his "We just wanted to thank you for taking care of us all those years" TK said quietly. Kari was next "If it weren't for you Vademon would have killed us that night and we may have never found each other or had our little angel".
He offered them a smile "You were worth it…you may have started out as pawns but you were our family and I would die for you several times over". With that he took Lady Devimon's hand and allowed the two men to inject the serum. The last image he had was his angel of darkness, his love, and his soul mate.
The End
A/N: Okay there you go its about one if the morning so I hope you enjoyed it and hope the plot twist got you. Nick I got what you wanted in so let me know what you thought. Please don't forget to review and read my contest entries 'The Price of Fame' and 'Unlikely Savior'. I'm already working on the next story and any imput on what you would like to see would be appreciated.