Author's Note: I apologize for how long this has taken to be finished. I lost the disk, then found it, then lost it agian. It's only when Cynthia Harrell decided to have this fic done for her Midwinter's gift that I decided to get off my butt and find the disk. She's the big one to thank for this being done.
Attributes Regained 2:
Gathering Courage
by: KrazieKat
Piedmon watched as Drajumon replied to his question about MachineDramon's latest doings, and mentally sighed. Drajumon had been his greatest creation, taking a whining, terrified child and turning him into a strong young mon worthy of being called Myotismon's heir. But Takeru meant more to the clown Digimon than some creation. Wearily, he reached out and snapped the bonds keeping Drajumon in control. Then something unexpected happened.
Sharp, agonizing pain ripped through Piedmon's chest, stealing his ability to breathe. A gloved hand clawed at his heart and his head snapped back, his eyes rolling in their sockets as the pain went on and on. The world greyed around him, and by the time Piedmon fully returned to reality, his son and the other freed Digidestined were around him, Jyou checking Piedmon over as he gasped for air.
Yamato sighed and eased Jyou aside. "I was afraid of this," he said. "He's just exhausted, near the edge of his power. All he needs is rest, food, and a lot of painkillers, in that order."
"It did take nearly two years to put controlling personalities in all of us, but he's removed all of them in two hours, all which have had at least eight years that to get rooted," Koushirou commented.
"I can see why he's exhausted, when you put it that way," Mimi said.
Yamato helped Piedmon to his feet, and Jyou took the other side of the Dark Master. "His bedroom is this way."
"No!" Piedmon gasped. "Not.... there..... please.... Not... until.... Take-chan.... is returned....."
Yamato blinked, frowning, then realization dawned. "All right." To Jyou, he commented, "There's more empty bedrooms in the family wing. C'mon." The two helped the elder Mega into an empty bedroom, and laid Piedmon down onto the bed.
Takeru blinked as he opened his eyes, and for a second thought that he was blind. Then he realized that he wasn't blind, there just wasn't any light to see by. Taking in a deep breath, he reached for his throbbing forehead, then jerked as his hands stopped not even an inch from their original position, jerking his legs higher. What the fuck!? he wondered. Then he realized that his wrists and ankles were tied together, so that pulling on one would pull on the other.
Just great. This means I'm kidnapped again. Let's see.... last time it was Jeramon, the time before that, Apocalymon.... who is it this time? The Vaccine Council? He sighed and settled back, expecting his captor to come gloat shortly. But that "shortly" turned into an endless stretch of time before light slowly growing in the middle of the room filled the area, and preceeded the sound of a door being unlocked
"Oh, goody, you're awake," Puppetmon said. "Hungry?"
"Puppetmon?" Takeru blinked, his eyes dazed by the lights, even with the care that had been taken to keep him from being hurt. "You kidnapped me? Why?"
"Because I can't let Piedmon have you."
"Why? Why now? Why not before I made the deal to marry Piedmon?" Takeru demanded angrily.
"Because he was taking you from me," Puppetmon replied, as if it should be obvious. "He won't let you play with me any more."
"You make me sound like a pet or a toy," Takeru replied, feeling a little hurt. "Is that all you think of me as?
"You're my friend!" Puppetmon protested.
"A friend doesn't kidnap someone after said person made a deal to get his family back!" Takeru snapped. "I agreed to marry Piedmon because I want my brother and friends back! Now, for all I know, he's torturing them all, to see if their controls have slipped! If any of my friends are hurt, I'm going to hate you for life, Puppetmon!"
Puppetmon didn't appear to be bothered by that at all. "You don't mean it."
"Do I? You know how I feel about being made to break my promises," Takeru replied. Puppetmon flinched at the harsh tone. "I may not like it, but I've had the past ten years to get used to the idea that Piedmon is my soulmate. Take me back, Puppetmon."
"No! You don't need him, Takeru!" Puppetmon wasn't going to give up easily. He'd put a lot of effort into this, risked so much, and he was not going to tamely let his playmate go.
Takeru wasn't having any of it, though. He'd given his word and that was all there was to it. "Let me go, Puppetmon. I don't belong here, I belong with Piedmon."
"No. I'm not gonna let you go," the wooden Digimon replied, then looked down at the tray in his hands. "Here's something to eat. The ropes binding you will let you go when I leave and the lights will stay on." Puppetmon put the tray down, then left, leaving a fuming human behind him.
Takeru glared at the tray for a moment, and considering just dumping the tray, ignoring his hunger, then decided it would be better if he ate. Puppetmon wouldn't have drugged it, he doesn't need drugs to keep me caged, and we both know this. I may as well eat to keep up my strenght. Takeru sighed, and hoped that he would be rescued soon.
Taichi waited. But his nerves wouldn't let him wait in one place, so he was bouncing around the bedroom he had spent ten years sharing with an abusive bastard named Miymon. He was waiting for Yamato to return from checking on his father. But is it really Yama-chan? Or is it just that bastard, waiting for me to trust him? Taichi wondered, feeling a faint shiver at the thought of Miymon. I know what Piedmon claimed, but still.... how do I tell?
His mental rambling was cut off by the sound of the bedroom door opening, and he jumped to his feet as the blonde son of Piedmon entered. Anxious brown eyes met exhausted blue, and in that instant, Taichi could feel the question of it being Miymon or Yamato in control go flying out the window. Taichi hurried over to Yamato's side, and wrapped his arms around his soulmate's waist, snuggling in. "What's wrong, Yama-chan?" he asked softly. The two words that followed shocked Taichi to speachlessness.
"Piedmon's dying."
Taichi helped Yamato over to the bed while he tried to reconnect his brain and mouth again. He knelt down to remove the young Mega's shoes, and felt his speach return. "What do you mean, Piedmon's dying?" Taichi asked.
"Something or someone is sucking away his power. And it has something to do with being seperated from Takeru. I didn't want to tell the others, but I could sense it even as he freed Jyou from Drajumon's control. It's fairly minor right now, but if we don't reunite Piedmon and Takeru soon, we may loose Piedmon," Yamato explained. It was hard for him to even think about that. Piedmon might not have been always the nicest Digimon, but that was his father, and after all this time, he was almost more of one than the human he'd spent years with on Earth calling 'dad'.
"And then we lose Takeru either to insanity or death," Taichi added softly, noting the look of pain that flashed through Yamato's eyes at the thought of the loss of his brother.
"Yeah." Yamato said nothing more, refusing to even consider giving up. Whoever had taken his brother was definitly going to pay for it.
For a moment, there was silence except for the sounds of Taichi urging Yamato to stretch out on the bed. The brunnette tucked a blanket around the exhausted Mega, then stretched out beside his mate. "We'll get Takeru back, Yama-chan. I have faith in that. Although it would help to know where our partners are, and the Tags and Crests."
"Piedmon's already sent out orders that our Digimon be sent back here... he sent it about the time that I was out collecting the others from the Dark Master," Yamato replied. "As to the Digivices, Tags, and Crests, Piedmon has already shared where they are, and how to get them, with Jyou and myself." There was a long pause, then Yamato whispered, "I just hope they still work for us. It's been so long-" A finger on his lips cut the blonde off.
"We just have to trust that they do. Gennai said they were made for us, Yama-chan, so only we can use them. We just have have the courage to try, the faith to trust in the crests, the hope that we haven't changed that much, and the knowledge that tehy were made for us. We just have to believe in our attributes."
"When did you become the thinker of this relationship, Tai-chan?" Yamato asked jokingly.
"Mmm.... when I realized that you'd be blaming yourself over everything that's happened to us. If anyone, I'm at fault, Yama-chan. I'm the one that decided we should head back right then."
"We all chose to come back, Tai-chan, it's not your fault."
"Then who does the fault belong to?" Taichi shot back sharply. "You didn't know Piedmon was your father, you certainly couldn't help what he did to you. We were out-classed, out-manuvered, and out of luck. Takeru's still alive, and when we get him back, we'll all be together."
"And what about Miymon did to you?" Yamato whispered. The mere thought that it had been his body that had hurt the one he loved more than any other was enough to promise nightmares for centuries.
"That in and of itself should answer the question, Yama-chan. Miymon abused me, not you. You would no more hurt me than you would Takeru." Taichi smiled sadly at Yamato. "I love you, Yamato... and if it means embracing your dark half to keep you with me, forever, then so be it. Especially now that I'm not bespelled to be submissive and obedient. I'll fight for you, Yama-chan."
"And I'll fight for you, Tai-chan."
Jyou stood on the balcony of his assigned bedroom in Piedmon's palace, and watched the sun rise for the first time since his unwilling transformation into Drajumon. Almost ten years now since I last saw a sunrise. I wonder why I can stand sunlight, while it hurt Drajumon. I'll never take a sunrise for granted again, though. A faint noise turned the half-breed towards his bedroom doorway, and smiled at his own soulmate, Koushirou.
"I thought I would find you here, Jyou-chan," the redhead said, and came over to snuggle with him. "Trying to prove Drajumon is gone?"
The bluenette shook his head a tiny bit. "Just admiring something I never thought I'd see again," Jyou said. "How are you feeling?"
"Like my body grew up and changed without me," Koushirou said. Of all of the breeds, he was the most changed, after ten years as Koumon. He had been kept in a feline form by Piedmon's magic, and now the redhead would never be able to pass as human for long. His eyes were permanently shaped like cat's eyes, and whenever he opened his mouth, tiny fangs showed through. The retractable claws, he could hide naturally, but the eyes would need contacts to hide. But Jyou wasn't repulsed by his partner's feline qualities.
"I know how you feel," Jyou said softly. His changes had been more subtle, but just as permanent. He'd never be clutzy Jyou ever again, there would always be a hint of the hunter in his movements, and if he weren't careful, his vampire strenght and speed would take over. In addition, Jyou's need for food was almost non-existent, the half-breed vampire was able to live for weeks with only his weekly blood from Koushirou to sustain him. "We'll never be able to go home," Jyou said wistfully. "We've grown up, and everyone else is still living that same day we left."
"It's not so bad," Koushirou responded. "I mean, things could have gone better.... but as they are, things aren't so bad. They could be a lot worse."
Jyou had to smile at that. "True. Things could be a lot worse. But there's one thing that would make things a lot better, Kou-chan. At least for me."
"What's that?"
The vampire got down on one knee, much to Koushirou's shock, and asked, "I don't have a ring, but I made a promise to myself that if I ever got a chance, I'd ask you, not matter what. Would you marry me, Kou-chan, and be my lifemate as well as soulmate?"
The Child of Knowledge worked his mouth, shocked to speachlessness. But he didn't have to say anything, for his eyes held his answer to Jyou's question. Finally, he managed a fervantly whispered, "Yes, Jyou-chan, forever yes!" before their lips met in a very passionate, and very loving, kiss.
Sora snuggled into the warm shape before her, and smiled gently as Mimi purred in her sleep. They hadn't done anything more than talk, but they had talked most of the night through. The Child of Love figured that the other breeds would be talking to their soulmates. She smiled as a glint of light caught her eye, drawing her attention to the ring around her finger, and the matching ring around Mimi's finger. The first question out of both girls' mouths, asked at the same time, had been "Will you marry me?"
When the laughter and the kissing had stopped, and the girls slid their matching rings onto the other's finger, the pair had snuggled, discussing various things, mostly what they would like to do with the rest of their lives, now that they were free. When Mimi pointed out that they weren't sure that Piedmon would let them remain free, Sora pointed back that if Piedmon hadn't meant to keep them free, he wouldn't have destroyed the controlling personalities.
"Why undo all that work, if he didn't mean for us to be free, Mimi-chan?"
"I guess. I hope you're right, Sora-chan." The Child of Sincerity paused, then, "You're sure Soranamon is gone?"
"Completely, Mimi-chan. Well, maybe not completely. Once a month she'll be rearing her ugly head."
"Her head wasn't ugly. It was her attitude."
Sora blushed, then asked, "What do you think of us continuing to work with MetalSeadramon, Mimi-chan?"
"I like him," Mimi replied. "He's willing to take suggestions from us. And, as silly as this sounds about a Mega, he needs us."
Sora nodded, understanding. "We take care of things he'd never notice. We know where everything is, or at least the general area of where to look. Those living in his realm aren't afraid to come talk to us."
"So we're decided? After the wedding, we go back to help MetalSeadramon?" Mimi asked.
"We go back."
Hikari curled around Gatomon and purred, nuzzling her mate. Ten years since she had been turned into a feline, modeled after GoldenKoumon, Koushirou's Mega form. Hikari sighed, then licked Gatomon's ear. Ten years since she last saw Angewomon. Eight years since Hikari and Gatomon had been handed over to Rosemon as pets. Seven years since Rosemon's soulmate, Cynthia arrived.
"What's wrong, Hika-chan?" Gatomon asked.
"It's been ten years," Hikari mewled. "I don't even recall what it feels like to run on two legs, or to feel the wind on my face any more."
"We'll find a way to get rid of Piedmon, Hika, and then Rosemon can remove the spell on you," Gatomon said. It was the same promise they made to each other every night.
"I know, I know, Gato-chan, it's just that-" Hikari cut off as agony surged through her. She yowled in agony, and pulled away from Gatomon, curling up. The agony surged through her again, and Hikari suddenly remembered the last time she had felt like this: ten years ago, when Piedmon turned her into an attack feline.
"Hika-chan?" Gatomon asked worriedly. Hikari screamed again, wishing she could reassure her mate. The white haired Digimon stared in horror as Hikari's body twitched and convulsed, then the horror turned to hope as a familiar, humaniod form began to take shape under the light brown fur that covered the Child of Light.
Hikari let her head drop as one surge of agony faded away, panting, only to lift her head again as another surge came in. Before Gatomon's fascinated eyes, the fangs in Hikari's mouth slowly shrunk, and the pupils of her eyes rounded out, becoming human. After seven agonizing minutes, which to both Hikari and Gatomon seemed to go on forever, the agony passed, and Hikari lifted her head, pushing her hair out of her face with one hand.
"Gatomon?" her voice croaked, unused after ten years of yowls, mewls, meows, purrs, and other feline vocalizations.
"Hika-chan?" Gatomon asked, hurrying over to her mate's side. "What's going on?"
"I... I don't know..." Hikari swallowed, trying to moisten her mouth. "I think Piedmon finally released me from the spell." A knock on the door interrupted them.
Rosemon had long ago spelled the door to open when commanded by either Hikari or Gatomon, so when Gatomon told the person outside to enter, the door swung open silently. The human who entered had clothes over one arm, and Gatomon blinked, confused.
"Cynthia-sama, do you know what's going on?"
Rosemon's consort and soulmate smiled. Hikari recalled that she had always been nice to them, even before finding out who they really were. "You're wanted in the throne room."
Hikari smiled, and commented, "Your accent is still lousy." Even after seven years of nothing but Japanse, the American girl never quite lost her accent.
Cynthia smiled. "I'll live." She came over with the clothes, and helped Hikari to her feet. She seemed happy for Hikari and Gatomon when she smiled at the Child of Light and said, "You're welcome."
Hikari slowly got dressed, struggling with the bra. Cynthia helped with the former feline, knowing that this was the first bra Hikari had ever put on, and Hikari glanced down at her chest. "When did I get these?"
"It's all a part of growing up. You'll probably notice a few other changes as you get used to being human again."
Hikari shuddered. "Periods."
"Maybe. Ready?"
"As I'll ever be," Hikari replied.
Cynthia grinned. "Let's go." Gatomon and Hikari followed Rosemon's consort to the throne room. When they entered, Rosemon had eyes only for her soulmate, but a new voice made Hikari's turn to the people beside the throne.
"Hikari?" Taichi asked, shocked.
"Taichi?" Hikari's eyes widened, filling with hope, but a part of her didn't dare hope. That part was squashed when Taichi ran over and hugged his little sister with all the strength of their years apart.
He stepped back and eyes Hikari from head to toe. "You look wonderful!" he proclaimed, before hugging her again. She really had grown up well.
"It...it's really you?? I can hardly believe it." Hikari stared at him in shock. Though it had been years, she still could recognize him; he was her brother after all. Was the nightmare finally over? Had they finally won?
"It's really me. Piedmon freed all of us. He sent me and Yamato to collect you from Rosemon."
Hikari smiled. "Really?" This was unexpected, but a part of her sensed just how right it was.
Taichi nodded, then became serious. "Takeru was kidnapped while he was getting ready to marry Piedmon. Only a Dark Master could have taken him."
Hikari's eyes widened in shock. "Who?" Who would have dared do something like that? It was unthinkable. She wasn't all that fond of Piedmon, but anyone with a grain of sense respected his power.
"We don't know."
"Oh." Hikari's eyes fell to the floor, her heart aching for Takeru. She hadn't known him all that long, but she had sensed a great friendship in the making. He had to be hurting, wherever he was. Being away from one's soulmate was not a pleasant thought.
But we're going to find out and get Takeru back." Taichi paused. "Yama-chan and I are both going to stay here, with Piedmon, after this is over."
Hikari eyed Taichi, then nodded. "Earth isn't home anymore." After all the time away, everything that had happened, she knew in her heart they'd never be content anywhere else.
Taichi nodded in agreement. "Besides, Piedmon isn't such a bad guy, once you get to know him."
Rosemon finally spoke up. "If you two need a place to stay, after the wedding, I'll happily prove the both of you with a home. You've spent seven years protecting my soulmate when I couldn't, it's the least I can offer you."
Hikari looked at Gatomon, who spoke for the both of them. "Thank you, Rosemon-sama.... but I think we want to stay closer to our family." Gatomon really wanted the chance to get to know the others. She felt partially cheated that she'd escaped Myotismon only to become one of Piedmon's prisoners, but now that that was over with, she had friendships to get caught up on.
Her partner-mate nodded in agreement. "But we'll come visit." Rosemon and Cynthia were their friends, and Hikari was never going to lose another friend.
Rosemon smiled. "You'll always be welcome here." As far as she was concerned, they were family, not captives. She'd only kept them all this time because her kingdom wasn't really in shape for a war against Piedmon. There had also been a part of her which had known the bonds of love he shared with Takeru would mellow him greatly. It had finally happened, too.
"Thank you," Hikari replied. Rosemon smiled back. Today was definitely a day of great things.
Taichi put a hand on Kari's shoulder. "Let's go home, guys."