A Change Of Heart
I awoke the next day with a yawn and a smile. I looked down to see Vixen asleep, hr head resting on my mane. I couldn't help but stroke her head lightly.
She began to stir, awaking and looking up at me.
"Good morning." She smiled.
"Morning my love."
We exchanged a kiss before standing up.
"We should get back." I suggested.
"Can we teleport this time?"
"Yeah."
We needed to get back quickly. It was early morning, and we wouldn't be missed yet, but we needed to return. We had to return.
Instantaneously we were back in the den at the castle.
We hadn't been back five minutes before Phantomon appeared.
"Excuse me, Mr and Miss BlueRenamon."
"We moved towards him.
"Mrs." Vixen told him, smiling at me.
I smiled back.
Phantomon looked from her to me and back again, "Sorry, Mrs. The Master requests your presence."
"Okay, tell him we'll be there in a…"
Phantomon clicked.
"…bit."
We were back in the dark chamber – the Master's chamber.
Doesn't anybody walk around here? I thought.
The Master stepped out from the shadows.
"Hello you two." He began happily, "I have a message for you: the invasion will begin today. I want you two to start on your battle plans as soon as you get to the human world."
"Um, sir… we can't… we can't fight for you." I stuttered.
I felt Vixen take my hand, making me feel a bit more confident.
He looked at me, but I couldn't read his emotions.
"It is as I suspected." He said.
I felt confused.
"Why the confusion? I knew you would not fight."
"Then why train us up?"
"I thought I could change your mind, but I can see your doubts, and your suspicion."
"You can read my mind?"
"Yes." He laughed, "And your newfound mate's."
He began to grow in size gradually.
"I know that she now plans to warn the humans, which I cannot allow."
"How will you stop us?" I asked with false arrogance.
"I will simply kill you both." He stated bluntly, "But I will kill your mate first." He stepped forwards.
I could feel Vixen tremble. She was scared. I squeezed her hand gently to reassure her.
I moved forwards between the Master and Vixen, "I cannot let you hurt her."
This felt familiar.
"You know that you cannot defeat me." The Master pointed out.
"That doesn't mean I won't try." I said defiantly.
"So be it." He dismissed my threat, "I will take pleasure in your destruction, though only a little."
He drew his arm back, and then hit me with surprising force. I fell to the floor, winded.
"You will still watch the female die."
I watched as he approached her, knowing full well I couldn't help her.
He pulled his arm back once again, preparing to punch with knuckles each the size of my own fist.
In an instant, a moment of pure clarity, I could see what I had to do.
Concentrating, I drew on all the energy that I could muster. I could feel the force flowing through me. I channelled it as best as I could, hoping my plan would work.
A fraction of a second before the Master hit Vixen I unleashed the power. In an instant Vixen and I were back in the fog. We were once again in the human world.
"Vixen?" I turned around, looking for her, "Vixen?!"
Panic began to set in. Had I failed?
"Vixen!"
"Blue, I'm over here!"
I ran towards her voice, and soon enough I found her. She was on her knees, crying.
"Vixen, what's wrong?" I asked her softly.
"He was so close…" She whimpered.
I knelt in front of her, pulling her into a hug. She had been shaken by the ordeal, "Shh, it's okay. We're safe now."
I heard a snap to our right. We both looked.
"Blue? Vixen? What are you doing here?"
"Hey Renamon." I stood up, helping Vixen to her feet, "Get your friends together. We've got some bad news."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We were in the park, near what Renamon referred to as "Guilmon's house". There were eight of us there; Rika, Renamon, Takato and Guilmon, who we'd met already. There was also a boy called Henry and a Terriermon who we hadn't met, and then there was Vixen and I.
Together, Vixen and I warned them of the upcoming invasion.
"So this Master, who you used to work for, is planning to invade earth?" Rika clarified.
"Yes." I nodded, "We were supposed to be in charge of the Japanese invasion force, but decided we didn't want to fight. So, The Master tried to kill us."
"Why did you change your mind?" Terriermon asked us.
"I'm not a pacifist, but I didn't want Vixen to get hurt in any battles. Besides, we have friends here."
"So, what do we know about this invasion force?" Takato asked us.
"How many Digimon are in it?" Rika directed her question at me.
"I'm not certain, but I think a few hundred pairs?"
"We can't fight that many." Henry sighed.
"Maybe we can." Vixen got excited.
"Huh?" I looked at her questioningly.
"Look," She began, "Where did the Master get his army from?"
"He made it up from evil Digimon, but how does that…"
It clicked…
"Oh… OH! You're a genius!" I kissed her.
"Eh? What?" Takato asked.
"There are thousands of good Digimon he didn't recruit!" I pointed out, "That's out army!"
"What if they don't want to join?" Renamon inquired.
"They'll have to," I put it bluntly, "Or both worlds are in trouble."
"Um…" Takato raised his hand, "How do we recruit that many Digimon?"
"Ah… Well…" I was stumped.
"I can help there." Vixen stepped forwards, "I have an old friend who may be able to help us. If we can find him, that is…"
"Well, we'd better hurry then." I pointed out, "Time's going faster in the Digital world. Out defect will buy us some time, but maybe only a human week at best."
"Shouldn't we warn the world?" Rika asked.
"Only as a last resort. We should try to win this battle before they get a chance to attack humanity as a whole."
"Well, it sounds like we have a plan." Renamon smirked.
"Right." I nodded, "Vixen and I will go find her friend. You guys stay here in case any of the Master's invading Digimon decides to show up. We'll be back before you know it."
A sudden beeping sound filled the air.
I watched Rika reach for her belt. She looked at a small device, which I figured was some sort of Digivice.
"Ah, our first visitor."
"Let's go." Takato said.
The group of six left.
"Well, I guess I'll be taking us?" Vixen asked.
"You'll have to. I don't have a clue where we're going." I pointed out.
"Okay then. Hold on."
Vixen took my hand and the world around us instantly began to change. I blinked, and the next thing I knew we were in some form of temple. I could tell this from the markings on the walls - prophecies and other predictions. There wasn't a door though.
I looked to Vixen, "You okay? You look a little queasy…"
"Yeah, just give me a minute." She took a few deep breaths.
I nodded, "So, where's your friend?"
"You see that rope on the wall?" She pointed.
"Yes?"
"Pull it once."
I shrugged and headed over to the wall. I yanked on the rope, but nothing happened.
"What's this supposed to do?"
"Try again. You'll know when it's worked."
I pulled the rope again, a bit harder than before. Still nothing. I gave it three really hard tugs, but to no avail.
"What am I doing wrong?" I asked, "I'm pulling it as hard as I can…" I then realised, "oh."
I pulled on the rope gently.
Dong!
"Well done, you're learning." Vixen smiled.
"Now what?"
"We wait." Vixen told me.
We didn't have to wait for long. There was a sudden burst of intense light, and a large Digimon appeared.
"Hello Azulongmon." Vixen spoke.
"Vixen?" He seemed surprised, "I wasn't expecting you so soon." He looked at me, "Aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"
"Oh yes, sorry." She apologised, "This is Blue, my mate."
"So, you finally found someone?"
"Yeah."
"Glad to hear it." The old dragon smiled warmly.
I looked towards Vixen, hoping to remind her why we were there. I guess it worked.
"Listen, Azulongmon, we're here because we need your help."
"Ah yes." He nodded, "The Master."
"How did you know?" I asked him.
"The other Guardians and I have been watching him. Now, you want us to help you raise an army against him?"
"Yes." Vixen nodded.
"It is a good job we already started."
"You have an army? Why haven't you stopped the Master yet?" Vixen demanded.
"Because we want to fight him in the human world, where he is at his weakest. Unfortunately we don't know when the invasion was to begin, so we kept our forces hidden in the Digital World to keep them strong. All they need now are leaders."
He looked at us hopefully.
"We may as well." Vixen interpreted his meaning.
"Good. You must return to the humans now to prepare. I'll contact you soon, when we start moving our army."
There was another flash of light, and, as quickly as he had arrived, the great Guardian Digimon was gone.
"Even the good guys just vanish." I mumbled.
"That was a stroke of luck." Vixen pointed out.
"I know. Let's go back and help the others."
"Can you take us back? I don't feel up to it."
"Okay."
All of the travelling between worlds must have been tiring her out, so I took us back.
We were once again in the fog, which accompanied an appearance into the human world.
A loud roar caught my attention.
"Did you hear that?" I asked Vixen.
"Yeah." She sounded a bit groggy.
I listened, hearing the roar of a battle.
"Come on." I took her hand and ran, practically dragging her through the mist.
Soon enough we found the fight. It was Kyubimon, and she was up against a Babamon, mega level.
"We've got to help her!" Vixen cried.
"How? We're only rookie level."
"Well, she's only champion! Come on, we've got to try!"
I knew she was right.
"Empress Haze!" Babamon attacked.
Kyubimon dived out of the way, just in time.
"Need a hand?" I asked.
"If you could." Kyubimon answered.
"Leave it to us. We'll sort it out."
I phased out, reappearing next to Babamon.
"Hello." I grinned.
"Huh?"
I quickly delivered a barrage of kicks and punches to Babamon's abdomen. It proved to be quite unsuccessful.
The Mega simply flung out its arm, sending my flying. Still, with a little twist, I managed to land on my feet.
I ran at the monster, leaping into a flying kick. Unfortunately my unsuspecting opponent turned out to be not so unsuspecting. Acting fast, Babamon grabbed my leg, swung me around once and let me go. I flew face first into the dirt.
I looked up to see Kyubimon, "Didn't work, huh?"
"No." I groaned.
I realised something.
"Where's Vixen?"
The two of us looked around.
"There!" Kyubimon indicated.
I looked. Vixen was no more than ten meters away from Babamon, her back turned. She seemed totally out of it.
Babamon saw her.
I was on my feet in an instant, "Vixen!"
I watched in horror as Babamon charged up an attack. Vixen was doomed, and I couldn't help her.
I felt rage fill my mind and soul. And then, energy.
"BlueRenamon Warp Digivolved to…"
My body began to twist and morph, forming my new shape.
"MegaCelestrimon!"
It was done. I now looked like a Taomon, only wearing a dark, midnight blue suit with silver stars on. I was also a Mega.
I broke into a run, diving towards Vixen and managing to block the oncoming attack.
"What the…" Babamon hadn't been expecting this. I could hear its thoughts, my psychic powers magnified in this form.
"Blue Fox Helix!" four blue coloured fox spirits flew at my opponent.
"Interesting… Like Taomon with modified Sakuyamon attacks." I heard Kyubimon's thoughts.
I watched as the spirits tormented my opponent, weakening the evil creature. Eventually they faded, leaving a weak and panting Babamon.
"No mercy." I growled, "Arctic Orb!"
I raised my hands into the air, summoning up the energy needed for my attack. A small blue ball appeared in the space between my hands. I grabbed it with both hands and threw it at Babamon. It hit her and simply vanished.
"Hah! It failed" Babamon gloated.
I grinned and shook my head, "No."
I clapped my hands and Babamon literally exploded into data. I let it dissipate. I didn't need it.
I DeDigivolved back to my original form.
"Well done." Kyubimon congratulated me before shimmering in a bright light and returning back to Renamon.
I bowed my head.
"Vixen!" I remembered.
I looked around and found her stood to the side. I walked over to her.
"Well done Blue." She smiled weakly.
"Vixen, what's wrong?" U knew something was up.
"Nothing. I just feel a little tired, that's all."
"You sure that's all?" I asked worriedly.
"Don't worry about…"
She stopped mid sentence. She seemed to sway for a moment, trying to get her balance, until her eyes closed and she fell forwards. I caught her easily in my arms. She had fainted.
I laid her down on her back gently.
"Vixen?" I shook her lightly.
She didn't stir, but she was still breathing.
Softly, I scooped her up into my arms.
"Renamon, we need to get her some help. Something's not right."
"Let's find the others first, they'll know what to do." She suggested.
"Where are they anyway?"
"Fighting another battle. I sensed a more powerful presence and came here to confront it."
"I bet Rika's worried." I said.
"She won't be happy with me, but I had to do this."
"Can you take us to them?" I asked.
"Sure, follow me."
As fast as we could, we left the already dissipating fog. We seemed to be in the park. Renamon led me through a small wooded area. The others were on the other side, battered and bruised, but they were all there.
Rika noticed Renamon, "Renamon! There you are!"
She ran to her partner, hugging her. Renamon hugged her back.
"Don't scare me like that." I heard Rika whisper.
"I went to fight another Digimon." Renamon said so that everyone could hear.
"It was a Babamon – Mega level." I stepped forwards.
"Blue here Warp Digivolved and beat it."
Only then did anyone notice I was carrying Vixen.
"Is she okay?" Takato asked.
"I don't know. We need to get her some help though." That was all I knew.
"There's a doctor I know of who treats Digimon. He's the only non-Tamer who truly knows about Digimon, I think." Rika offered.
"Can you take us to him?" I requested.
"Sure, it's about three minutes from here."
"I can take them." Renamon offered.
"We'll stay here and save the world" Henry sighed.
"I'm going with you." Rika told Renamon.
"Okay." Renamon picked Rika up, "Let's go."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We hid in an alleyway, the three of us Digimon, whilst Rika left us to get the doctor. From where we were we could see her cross the road, walking up to the front steps of a rather large house.
She knocked on the door a couple of times. When the door finally opened an old human man with grey hair stepped into view. He seemed surprised yet pleased to see Rika. They talked for a bit until he invited Rika inside. She waved back for us to follow her. We teleported into the living room of the house where Rika and the doctor were waiting. He didn't seem at all surprised by our sudden appearance.
"Ah, is this our patient?" He stepped towards Vixen who I still held in my arms.
"Can you help her?" I begged him.
"Lay her down on the sofa."
I did as he asked, ensuring she'd be comfortable.
The human doctor pulled out a black suitcase from under the sofa and took out a stethoscope. He placed it on her thorax.
"Hmm." His old brow wrinkled.
I watched as he did a few more tests on her.
"Well doc?" I asked.
"I can't find anything physically wrong with her, which would simply suggest low blood sugar. But…"
"There's always a but."
"But I would like to do an ultra scan. I believe I could hear a slight heart murmur."
A heart murmur? How could she have a heart murmur?
"Okay."
"Good. Can you bring her down to the basement?"
I picked her up, willing to carry her around the entire human world if I had to, "Just lead the way."
"Follow me."
He led me down a flight of stairs and into a large room. There were seats around the walls and back to back in the middle. It looked like a waiting room.
"What is this place?" I asked him.
"This is my surgery. I'm a vet."
"Oh."
We entered one of the many rooms branching off the waiting room. The door had a sign on it reading 'diagnosis'.
There was a large machine in the middle of the room with a screen. It was on the opposite side of a bed to us.
"Lay her on her back." He instructed me.
Whilst I busied myself carefully placing Vixen on the bed he turned the great machine on. I pulled up a nearby chair and sat by the bed. The doc held a part of the machine and brought it towards Vixen.
I held her hand, hoping on some level she knew I was there.
Maybe I was wrong.
To my amazement she opened her eyes.
"Hey." I said softly with a smile.
"Hi." She looked left to right, "Where am I?"
"In a surgery." I told her, "You fainted and I didn't know what to do."
"You may also have a heart murmur." The doctor reminded.
"Just lay there for a bit. He's going to do an ultra scan to check."
She didn't object, so the doc got on with what he was doing. He ran the machine up and down the length of her chest, watching the screen intently.
"Hmm…"
"What is it?" I asked.
"I can't find anything wrong… I'm gonna do a full scan."
He moved the machine down the entire length of her body. A look of surprise crossed his face. He scanned again and rubbed his eyes.
"What? What is it?" Vixen asked.
"Um, how do I put this?"
"Just tell us!" I practically yelled.
He looked to Vixen, "You're pregnant."
I fell backwards off my chair.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Blue…Blue…" I heard a soft, far off voice.
I opened my eyes.
"Vixen?"
I sat up slowly, looking around. We were still in the diagnosis room.
Vixen backed away, giving me room to stand up.
"What happened?"
"This time, you fainted." Vixen smirked.
I thought back, "I'm gonna be a daddy…"
Vixen smiled warmly, "Yeah."
She kissed me.
"Ahem…" The doctor coughed.
"We should tell the others." I suggested.
Vixen turned to the doc, "Am I free to go?"
"Yes, just don't forget to eat, and don't over exert yourself!"
"That means no fighting." I told her.
"What? So when all those monsters appear and start kicking your butt, I can't come and save the day?"
"Nope." I grinned.
She laughed, "Am I still okay to phase and teleport?" She asked the doctor.
"You should be."
"Thank you for all your help. We are in your debt." I bowed, then teleported.
Renamon and Rika were still in the living room of the large house, awaiting our return. It was Rika who noticed me first.
"How is she?"
Vixen appeared next to me, "I'm fine."
"But we need to tell you and the others some news." I told them, "So we need to get back to them."
The doctor appeared from the basement, "I'll show you out." He escorted us to the door.
"Thanks again." Vixen said gratefully.
"You're welcome. Any time you need help, just contact me."
"We will." I assured him, "And if you ever need our help, just call us."
He nodded, "Well, bye then."
The three of us Digimon phased out of reality, leaving Rika to make her way back alone.
We didn't go far, the three of us Digimon appearing back in the alleyway to wait for Rika. She caught up with us soon enough. We could now return to the park.
"I wonder if they've had any trouble." Rika though out loud.
"Hopefully the invasion hasn't begun yet." Renamon said what we were all thinking.
"Speaking of invasion," I looked at Vixen, "I don't think you should fight."
"Aw, come on Blue." She protested, "I'm not an invalid!"
"But what if you faint again? And what if you're in battle when it happens?"
"Now that I know, I can prevent that from happening."
I didn't reply. I couldn't win this battle.
I noticed that Renamon was watching the two of us with curiosity. It was surprising how much detail her expression was revealing to me. She was getting close to figuring out what was going on.
Surprisingly the others were still in the same spot we had left them in. At least that meant that there had been no sudden appearances by evil Digimon. But was that bad or good?
"So?" Takato asked once we were in earshot. Guilmon was by his side.
Henry moved closer to us, Terriermon on his head.
"We have news." I stated simply.
"Spill!" Terriermon yelped.
"I'm pregnant." Vixen said proudly.
"Way to go!" Terriermon again.
"Congratulations." Renamon added.
Each one of the others gave us their congratulations as well.
"Well, now that's out of the way, anything happened here?" I asked.
"Oh, yeah!" Takato suddenly realised, "The army arrived."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Henry sounded depressed, "Bad news."
"Why?" I asked, "What's up?"
"Turn around and see for yourself."
I turned around, and there stood less than one hundred small Digimon.
"Is this it?" I demanded.
"Yes." Henry answered.
"Where are the rest?"
"The Master found them. He destroyed them. Azulongmon saved all that he could."
I looked back to the tattered remnants of what would have been our army. They were battered, bruised and hurt, but I knew they were not yet beaten. Not yet.
"Okay then." I clapped my hands together and rubbed them, "Let's get training."
We didn't have any ideas as to when the Master and his forces would appear, so we had to make the most of the time that we had left.
We decided on a training rotor: Takato and Guilmon would help the recruits to improve their attack and defence, hopefully making our forces stronger. Henry and Terriermon were teaching ways to relax under pressure, and how to focus. Rika and Renamon worked on speed and evasion, as well as the occasional martial arts tip from Renamon. Vixen, reluctantly, taught battle tactics to those who wanted to help lead the defence. It took me a while to convince her not to expose herself to too much physical exertion, and I eventually got my way.
This left me to be the 'all rounder', helping wherever I possibly could.
We had to be careful how long we spent training because there was the possibility of an attack at any moment. Surprisingly things remained uneventful for a week.
It was the end of a long days training, exactly one week since the visit to the doctor. Vixen and I were sat in a tree, our legs hanging down below us, watching the sunset over the human city of Tokyo, holding hands. Her head was rest lightly on my shoulder.
"You know," I whispered into her ear, "This could be our last sunset."
She looked up at me, "You've said that every day this week."
"I know. It makes it all seem more romantic, knowing I could be spending my last few moments of existence here, with you."
She smiled lovingly at me before resting her head on my shoulder again. I felt her tail find my own, the two entwining.
I looked her over. There was very little sign she was carrying our child. That would change over the next few weeks, and we would share the whole experience, together.
The rules for things like this had always confused me. Even now they did. If we had remained in the Digital world until now, we would have had an egg to take care of. But, we were in the human world, so, I guess, human rules. But there is an exception to every rule, even if this wasn't it.
Huh, rules… Myotismon had once told me, long ago, that rules were made to be broken. But I had learned, over time, that rules aren't made to be broken; they are made because they can be broken. But that doesn't mean they have to…
I remember thinking, that night, of our future. In two human months, or maybe less, Vixen and I would have a child to love and to raise.
If we were still alive…
That night, the two of us slept peacefully, high up in the tree, hoping to get enough rest for another day's training. We had a long way to go.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I was back outside the den. It was the same one as before, but something felt different.
I knocked on the door.
A male BlueRenamon opened it. He was, I guessed, a bit younger than I. A young adult, both physically and mentally.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Is Vixen in?" I asked him politely.
"Hang on." He left the door.
A moment later Vixen appeared, "Yes?"
"Vixen?"
The Digimon I saw before me looked like she used to be the Vixen I knew. She looked older, and her blue fur had lost its magnificent shine, appearing slightly grey and dull.
"Blue? Is that you?"
"Yes, it's me."
She pulled me into a hug.
"What's happened to you?" I asked once she had released me, "You're old."
She nodded with a slight smile, "It's been twenty years since I last saw you… I'm an old woman now."
"But Digimon don't truly age."
"We do, in this world."
I looked around, "Earth?"
"Home." She nodded.
"And was that your son?"
"Our son." She corrected, "He's quite a young gentleman, isn't he? He often visits me, especially now."
"What do you mean?"
She looked me in the eye, "Many reasons… Come in and see for yourself."
I followed her into the den. It looked just like the one we had in the castle.
Vixen led me into one of the side rooms.
I saw our son, Blue, sat on a sofa. There was a heavily pregnant Renamon laid with her head on his lap, sleeping. He stroked her head softly.
"Is that…?"
"No." Vixen knew what I was thinking, "She's the daughter of the Renamon we knew. She's called Rika, in honour of her Tamer…"
I didn't inquire further. It sounded as if it was something she didn't want to talk about.
"Blue?" Vixen spoke to our son, "This is… a friend of mine…"
He nodded a hello, so as not to wake his partner.
"Come," Vixen took my arm, "I need to talk with you."
We left the room, closing the round door behind us. Vixen went and sat down in a rocking chair. I sat down in the chair opposite her.
"Blue…" She sighed, "I'm dying…"
"What?!"
"My data can no longer remained configured in this world. I have maybe five days left, a week at most."
"But…' I thought frantically, "What if you go back to the Digital…"
"It would make no difference," She interrupted me, "My time is up. And I've had a good innings."
She stood up, walking towards a wall with photo's hanging on it. I stood up and followed her.
"I've seen a lot in my life, Blue, and I've done a lot. Some bad, some good, and some I regret, but I know I wouldn't change it."
I looked at the pictures. They showed an amazing life. Friends, both human and Digimon, sharing life with Vixen.
There was one of Vixen, me by her side. She was laid in a bed, holding a small version of herself and me, born in BlueRenamon form.
I saw another – just Vixen and I, watching the stars in the sky.
"At least I get to see our son start his own family. They'll return to the Digital world and spend an eternity together." She turned to me, "And when I die, I can spend my eternity with you, my love, as it was meant to be, and then I'll know it wasn't all in vain."
I saw a tear form in her eye, and then fall to the ground. But before it hit, I was gone.
I awoke back in the tree.
I now knew what I had to do, and how I had to prevent a future of hurt. I would stop it all.
But there, and then, beneath the starry sky, I cried.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"Blue… Blue…" someone shook me gently.
"Ugh… just five more minutes Vixen…" I murmured.
I rolled over, and off the branch.
I fell the few feet to the ground, "Oof!"
Vixen dropped from the tree, standing beside me.
"You okay?" She asked.
"Yeah." I climbed painfully to my feet. I rubbed my banged forehead, "It's gonna leave a mark…" I sighed.
"Here, let me take a look." She insisted.
I removed my hand and knelt down. Vixen inspected the damage.
"It's okay – nothing vital damaged." She joked.
"It still hurts."
"Aww… let me kiss it better."
She planted a kiss on my forehead.
"It hurts here too." I said, pointing to my cheek.
She kissed it softly.
"And here." I pointed to the other one.
She kissed it again.
"Anywhere else?"
"Yeah, right here." I pointed to my lips.
With a smile she kissed me on the lips. I returned it with all the love I held for her.
"Mmm…" As we broke the kiss I held her by the waist. Lifting her into the air, I swung her around. She giggled happily until I stopped and put her down.
I took her hands in mine and rubbed my nose on hers, closing my eyes.
"Your lips taste gorgeous on a morning." I told her.
"I love you." She said.
I reopened my eyes and found myself staring into hers. That was the first time I had actually heard her say it.
"And I love you."
It was one of those moments in life where everything seemed so perfect, so peaceful. I was there, with my mate, my chosen, and we were expressing our love for one another. But, in an imperfect universe, perfection cannot exist for long.
"Ahh!" Vixen winced in pain.
"What is it?" I asked her worriedly.
"I don't know, it… Agh!" She rubbed her abdomen, "I think it's… Argh!"
I could see pain and fear in her eyes, and it made me begin to panic. But I did realise one thing…
Without an explanation, I picked her up as I had done when she fainted, and I teleported with only one destination in mind.
We materialised in the diagnosis room with the sonogram in it. The doctor was at a nearby desk, working.
He looked up, "What are you two doing here?"
I quickly laid Vixen down on the bed. The pain seemed to have stopped intensifying, but it was clearly still there.
"You've got to help her…" I pleaded, "Something's wrong."
He quickly came over to the bedside. He got the briefcase from under the bed and opened it. He withdrew a syringe.
"This will tingle, but it should ease the pain."
"W-will it… hurt our… c-child?" Vixen asked.
"No, it won't"
He injected it into her arm. Vixen relaxed almost immediately.
"Now, let's see what's wrong…"
He held the sonogram, as he had done last time, over Vixen's stomach area and looked at the screen. It was out of Vixen and my view, so we had no idea at all as to what was going on.
"How can that be possible?" He muttered.
"What's wrong?" I demanded.
"Nothing." He told us.
"Then what just happened?" Vixen asked, somewhat shaken.
"Your child… there's nothing wrong with it… It's just…"
"Just what?!"
"It's developed surprisingly fast… If it continues like this… it'll be born within a week or two!"
"How can that be possible?" I demanded.
"I don't know." The doctor admitted, "What's the regular time period?"
"Three to four Digital months." Vixen enlightened him.
Suddenly, it clicked in my head, "That's it!"
Vixen and the doc looked at me strangely.
"Digital months!" I declared, "It's because of the time difference the Master has created. Two weeks here…"
"Is three months in the Digital world." Vixen finished as realisation struck.
"And because your child isn't born yet, it hasn't been exposed to this time frame yet, so its growth rate has defaulted to that of its natural world… amazing." The doc marvelled.
"But what was the cause of the pain?" I inquired.
"The pain Vixen felt will be because of her body trying to keep up with the child's. Hopefully, now she's adjusted, it won't happen again."
I smiled, relieved.
"That leaves one question…" Vixen stated, sitting up.
"What's that?" I asked her.
"Why is the Master taking so long to appear? I mean, it must have been at least one Digital month since we left the Digital world."
"That's a very good question, and it needs to be answered." I sighed. We had to return to the Digital world, and we had to go as spies.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
We left a message with the doc, telling the others where we had gone, and that they weren't to follow. I had been reluctant to let Vixen come with me, but in the end she got her way. I couldn't control everything she did, and I knew I shouldn't. At least this way I could keep and eye on her.
We appeared in the depths of the jungle of the Digital world.
"I was expecting the mountains." I mumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing." I took her hand, "Come on."
I led her through the dark undergrowth. We needed to be at the castle, but we had to arrive after dark, to avoid been seen by any of the guards.
"Hey." Vixen broke my track of thought, "Isn't this near the little town we passed through before we met DarkTyrannomon?"
I looked around, "Yeah, but something's different…"
We continued walking beneath the humid canopy. I kept my eyes forwards and my ears alert. Something felt strange…
"Blue, can you hear that?"
"What?"
"Anything."
I stopped and concentrated, listening closely. The entire jungle was mute.
"Where's all the noise?"
I didn't have an answer.
"There's a clearing up ahead." I spoke, "It's where the town is."
We headed for the town, knowing, after our last visit; we probably wouldn't be very welcome.
We broke into the sunlight.
"Oh god!" Vixen stepped backwards, he hand over her mouth.
"What happened here?" I whispered.
The entire area had been decimated, every building razed to the ground, the wooden buildings burnt, charred and snapped like matchsticks.
We stepped cautiously towards the nearest pile of wood.
"The saloon…" I heard Vixen whisper.
Suddenly the top planks began to move. Someone was still alive amidst this wreckage. As quickly as I could I began to help dig them out.
"Taipirmon?"
"You…" he wheezed.
I pulled him from the rubble and into the open.
"What happened here?" Vixen asked him gently.
"Your Master." He spat.
"No, he isn't… Did he do this?"
He nodded weakly.
"How?" I asked.
"An army… came… killed the others…" He panted, "No chance…"
"Is this the first attack?" I needed to know.
"No… first a village… Gazimon… wouldn't join him."
"He did this because they wouldn't fight for him?"
He nodded, "Massacre… absorb data."
"Where are they going?"
He pointed, "File city."
He blew into data.
I stood up slowly, "We have to get the army to the city."
"Why go there, when we're all right here?" a sinister voice asked.
Vixen and I turned on our heels.
There were a thousand Digimon lining the perimeter of the clearing, led by none other than the Master himself.
"Take them." The Master ordered with a grin of satisfaction.
Two pairs of BigMamemon approached us.
"Blue…" I heard Vixen whisper. I could hear fear in her voice.
"Don't worry. Just do as they say, but we can't say anything." I whispered back.
Especially about the child… I thought.
I didn't want to think what the Master would do if he found out Vixen was with child.
One pair of the BigMamemon grabbed me by the shoulders, the other pair doing the same to Vixen.
I fought the urge to defend her. I wouldn't have stood a chance against an entire army, and I couldn't help Vixen if I was dead…
"What shall we do with them?" One of our captors asked the Master.
"Lock them in the castle." The Master ordered, "I can deal with these traitors later."
He clicked his fingers and the six of us were in a dark corridor back in the castle.
"Come on, move it!" one of them pushed me.
We began to walk. I noticed we were in the corridor with all the transparent doors along its length.
"Hurry up!" One of the BigMamemon pushed Vixen. She stumbled to the ground, unable to catch herself as she fell.
I growled at the BigMamemon as I helped her to her feet again. He grinned at me cockily.
"You okay?" I asked Vixen.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
"Come on!"
We resumed walking. That corridor felt like it went on for all eternity. Eventually we came to a halt outside one of the see-through doors, labelled BlueRenamon.
One of our captors opened the door.
"In." was the order.
Vixen went through the door first, and I followed her in, close behind.
"Stand back against the wall." One of them addressed me.
Before I even had time to consider complying I was thrust backwards. Two of the BigMamemon chained me up, one doing my legs and the other my arms. I looked like I was trying to do a star jump.
Now it was Vixen's turn, one doing her arms and the other her legs, as they had done to me. Hey were being rough with her.
"You harm her, and I swear I'll…" I growled.
"You'll do what?" One interrupted with a mocking tone, a grin on his face. He stepped closer.
Without warning he punched me, my wind leaving me.
I watched him head over to Vixen. He stepped close to her.
"Your friend say's I can't do anything to you." He told her.
"He's my mate." She told him, pride in her voice.
"Really?" he marvelled
He licked her cheek.
I bucked against my chains angrily, but the bonds held true. I was helpless.
"Not very good at protecting you, is he?"
I growled at him with contempt.
"He's better than you think." Vixen said without emotion.
BigMamemon backed off, "We shall see."
The four of them began to vacate the room. As the last one of them reached the door, he stopped and turned around to face us, "I'll be back later." He promised.
He slammed the door shut.
"Are you okay, Vixen?" I asked her.
"Yeah." She sighed.
"When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna…" I looked her in the eye, and found I had to look away, "I'm sorry."
"What for?"
"Not being able to help."
"Blue…"
I didn't look up.
"Blue, look at me."
I looked up.
"Don't worry about it. You couldn't do a thing." She tried to assure me.
"I'm still going to get his data. He touched my mate." I noticed Vixen was doing something with her bound hands, "What are you doing?"
"Conducting an experiment." She replied. There was a loud click, and her hands instantly came loose, "There.'
"How did you do that?' I asked, awestruck.
"Practice." She said, starting to free her legs. Soon enough they were free too. She came over to me and began to free my hands.
"I thought you didn't get caught?" I pointed out.
"Okay, maybe once or twice, but not for long."
"Long enough to learn to pick a lock."
There was a familiar click, and my hands were free.
"Well, when they chain you up with metals that stop you being able to teleport, what other choice do you have?"
"I'm glad you did learn." I smiled.
Vixen returned the smile.
"We need to get out of here." I stated, changing the subject.
"And we can't teleport out of this room…" Vixen added.
We needed to get out, but I didn't know how.
"How do we get out?" I asked after a few moments.
"Leave this to me." Vixen smirked, walking towards the door.
"What can I do?" I asked, eager to help.
"Stand back against the wall near the door, but out of sight." She instructed.
I did as she asked, watching her with curiosity.
"Hey, guard?" She called through the bars in the door, "My chains came loose!"
After a few moments a voice from the other side of the door could be heard, "What the…? How did you get out?"
I heard keys being turned in the door lock. Vixen stepped back and the door opened. In stepped the Tsukaimon that had been on guard the other night, when Vixen and I had gone outside. Once he was fully inside the cell I stepped up behind him.
"What are you doing?" He asked Vixen, oblivious to my presence.
"Well, my chains fell off." Vixen said innocently.
"Don't be an idiot! Chains don't… Agh!"
He fell to the ground, unconscious.
"Nobody calls my Vixen an idiot." I mumbled angrily.
"Come on." Vixen grabbed my hand.
We left the holding cell, and this time we teleported. I didn't know for certain where we should go, so I let Vixen guide me. I followed her consciousness until we re-materialised. We appeared amongst the shattered remains of a building I didn't recognise. The way the surrounding area seemed to have recovered from whatever had happened here, I guessed that it had been destroyed about a week earlier.
"Where are we?" I asked Vixen.
"Not where we should be…" She looked around, "I wanted to go to Azulongmon's temple."
"That is where you are." Came a tired old voice.
"Azulongmon?" Vixen asked in disbelief.
"Yes, it is I…" he sounded weary, almost depressed.
The great dragon appeared before our eyes, dwarfing us.
"Where are we?" Vixen asked him.
"This is my temple… what is left of it."
"What happened here?" Vixen's concern was very clear.
"The Master." I answered for Azulongmon.
"Yes. He began his conquest some time ago, nearly a month now… He went after small villages at first, destroying, taking only what he needed, and then moving on. The other Guardians and I didn't think we needed to do anything because the 'good' Digimon organised. They fought bravely, but the Master defeated, slaughtered, them. He went on to primary village before we found out about the loss, and there wasn't anything he needed, so…"
"Oh my god…" Vixen gasped, "The eggs, and little ones… Elecmon?"
"All gone." Azulongmon was saddened.
"Then what happened?" I demanded.
"The Guardians and I, we organised an army of our own to fight… we were ten thousand strong… but just like the others, our forces were obliterated… And then the Master found out it was us who had tried to oppose him. He began to search for temples, and when he found them, he destroyed them. There was nothing any of us could do. We did too little too late. What was left of the army I sent to you in the human world, as a last resort… And you must stop him. We have lost everything here…"
"We haven't lost File City." Vixen said optimistically.
"File City has long since been abandoned. All have fled to the furthest reaches of the Digital World to escape the Master's wrath."
"All is lost." I looked to the ground.
"No." Azulongmon said forcefully, "There is the Human world. Until the human's fall, there is still hope for our world."
"How are we supposed to save the human world? You were defeated with thousands of troops, we have barely a hundred!" I demanded.
"You will find a way. The two of you are strong in ways that you cannot hope to understand. When the Master paired you up, he quite possibly began his undoing, and I think he knows it."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Azulongmon hadn't let us stay longer than we needed to. Having decided that he would try to rally what strength was left in the Guardians and the DigiWorld, he sent us back to earth.
"You must not return to the Digital World until you are summoned. The energy used to travel between the worlds will be needed if we are to rebuild primary village so that those who have been deleted can be restored."
We returned, uncertain as to when we would be returning, if at all. Azulongmon managed to send us back to the park, in Guilmon's house. Surprisingly enough the Tamers were there.
"You two have returned quickly.' Renamon stated calmly.
"And with bad news." I told them.
"The Digital World has fallen to the Master." Vixen finished.
All of them looked downhearted.
"Don't worry, we can shave the Digital World. All we have to do is beat the Master." I encouraged with fake confidence.
"You say it like it's going to be no problem." Henry sighed.
"Momentai, Henry!" Terriermon smiled his goofy smile, "We can do it!"
Henry seemed to cheer up a little.
"I don't want to be the pessimist of the group." Takato began, "But what if we can't pull this off on our own?"
"Let's just hope we can, and, if we have to, we can leap off that bridge when we come to it." I said.
It caused a few smiles. Human hope, I had discovered, was easy to dampen, but all but impossible to extinguish.
"So, back to training?" Renamon asked.
"No. It's getting late. The troops could do with a rest." I decided, "Let's start again tomorrow."
They seemed satisfied with that, and began to leave for home. We vacated Guilmon's little house, all except for Guilmon of course. Takato headed off with Terriermon and Henry. Rika headed off towards her own home as well.
"Renamon, you coming?" Rika asked her partner.
"Yes Rika. I will be there in a minute."
Rika shrugged before continuing to walk away.
The three of us Digital foxes remained in the park, alone.
"You can fool the others, but I can sense that you're not as confident about all this as you're trying to make out."
I sighed, she was right.
"What's wrong?"
"It's this whole thing… I can't see any chances we may have with a hundred Digimon army when the Master managed to destroy an army ten thousand strong."
Renamon was silent. What could she, or anyone, say to something like that?
"Our entire army is composed of Rookies…" I went on, "The Master has everything up to Mega level, and all that added to his own more than formidable powers!"
"Renamon, Guilmon and Terriermon can Digivolve." Vixen pointed out.
"And you did too." Renamon added.
"So that's three possible Mega's, freshly evolved, and one other if, and only if, I can Digivolve… against who knows how many natural and permanent Mega's?"
"Well, I can think of one advantage we have that they don't" Renamon told me.
"What's that?"
"Tamers."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of the unpolluted fresh day. And who was to say what that day would bring?
Though vastly overpopulated with greedy, toxic humans, their planet somehow managed to still display an amazingly dazzling amount of natural beauty.
I found that, in it's self, to be a comfort. The seemingly weaker force of nature was standing up defiantly against technology, despite the fact that technology grew stronger and stronger with each day. It was an age-old battle, and I could only hope it was a premonition of our own immanent battle.
"What ya doing?" A young voice asked me.
I turned around to see. It was a small white Digimon with purple tipped ears and feet. He had a strange marking imprinted on his forehead.
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I'm Calumon. Wanna play?"
"Play?"
"Sure, you know, have fun. Play!"
I watched as the strange little creature performed a parody of what I could only guess was a game.
"You are very eager to have fun." I observed.
"Sometimes he's too eager."
It was Rika.
Calumon smiled happily from ear to ear, proud of himself.
"All he ever wants to do is play." Rika continued.
"Why would I ever want to do anything else?"
I smiled. It had been a long time since I had seen anyone so blindly happy. It was refreshing.
"So, are you gonna play?" He squeaked.
"Sorry, I've got stuff to do." I explained.
The little creature looked saddened, his ears shrinking.
"Maybe Renamon will play with you?" Rika suggested.
"Yeah!" Calumon ran off happily, Rika and I watching him until he vanished.
"Renamon will love me for this." Rika chuckled.
I smiled, "So, why are you here?" I asked.
"Well, there's a…"
Her voice seemed to fade off. I wasn't paying attention to her. My ears had picked up something, out of place and strange. A strange feeling of unease grew within me.
"Hey, are you listening?" Rika demanded.
I raised an arm to silence her; "There's something not right…"
Rika remained silent, the only sound was the breeze running and playing amongst the trees. I turned around slowly, looking into the shadows of the woods, hoping to see past them.
"Vixen…" I heard the breeze whisper into my ear.
The next thing I heard was Rika's D-Power beeping.
"There's a Digimon in the woods…" She sounded surprised, "Yet no digital field…"
My eyes went wide, "No!"
I ran into the small woods of the park, heading for the tree Vixen and I had slept in; the tree I had left her in.
"Please be there…" I prayed into the wind as I ran.
Soon enough I was there, stood at the base of the tree.
"Vixen!" I called up into its branches.
There was no reply.
I looked around frantically. She had to be there!
A small white envelope caught my attention, placed between two roots of the tall tree. Seizing it in my hands, I ripped it open, finding a piece of paper within it. A letter. I didn't hesitate to read it.
Rika appeared behind me, panting for breath.
Anger boiled within me. I crumpled the letter in my fist.
"The Digimon's gone…" Rika panted, "What happened?"
I threw the letter to the ground, "He's got her, and he wants to make an exchange for her life."
"An exchange? What for?"
"She will live, only if…"
"If what?!"
"If I give him the human world…"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
I sat on a long dead tree stump, contemplating, my head resting in my hands.
The earth, or my mate… How could I chose?
Six billion strangers, or the one I loved?
A few weeks ago the decision wouldn't have posed too much of a problem.
A few weeks ago… that was all.
"What will you do?" Rika asked me.
"I don't know." I sighed, "I really don't know…"
Rika whispered something, but I wasn't paying attention to what. I did hear Renamon appear, and the two talked, but I was too busy thinking to listen.
I had to find a way.
"Blue!"
Renamon's voice tore me away from my thoughts. I shook my head to clear it.
I looked up. Rika was gone.
"Blue, you have to do something."
I didn't answer her.
"Did you just hear me?" Renamon demanded.
My anger boiled over.
"Yes, I did! Do you not think I know I have to do something? I have to chose between an entire species, and entire planet, or Vixen!"
I breathed deeply.
"Now, tell me, how am I supposed to chose? Hm?" I demanded of her.
"I don't have any of the answers." Renamon told me.
"That's my problem! Only I'm supposed to know, only I make the choice! How am I supposed to do that?" My voice softened, "How can I be expected to make a call like that on my own?"
"Only you can make the decision," Renamon agreed, "But you'll make the right decision, and do what you have to. I know which choice you will make."
"I need more time." I pleaded with her, though I knew it was out of her power.
"But you already know your answer?"
I did. Deep down inside, I knew what I would do. And Renamon could see that in my eyes.
"Don't worry… When you've saved her, we can help this world. It's never too late."
Her wisdom surprised me.
"Thank you."
I vanished into nothingness. I needed to see a man about a fox. An old friend of mine.
I would save my chosen.