Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon or any of the associated franchises. I am just using them to entertain the masses with a good story. I only own the characters, plot, and other story elements that I had to create.

Chapter 9

Change

It was 7:30 when the rest of the house's residents woke up. After a breakfast of cold cereal the family began their usual Christmas Eve tradition. As they packed the boxes down from the houses small attic, Seiko and Mukino both began to hum some Christmas carols. Usually, Rika didn't get into the Christmas spirit, but with Renamon helping getting the main attraction, The Christmas Tree, set up she couldn't help feeling a bit of that Christmas cheer. The family had switched from using real trees a couple years before, and had used the same artificial tree since then. Back then, the artificial or fake trees were made different. Now a days, you had to put each branch into place. This tree, which was showing the signs of its age, had all its branches permanently attached. All they had to do is set the tree in the stand and give it a gently knock. The force of the knock would shake the limbs out of their storage positions and they would all open up like a flower as the tree's limbs spread out.

They put the tree in the house's living room. Usually, the task of moving the furniture around was a bit of a hassle, but with Renamon's help it went a lot faster. Once the tree was up Seiko left to start cooking Rika and Mukino's favorite Christmas recipe, her delicious sugar cookies. This left Rika, Mukino, and Renamon to finish decorating the tree. The next step was to put the light on the tree. After digging through the storage boxes they found they had ten strings of Christmas lights. Knowing that Christmas lights were some of the least reliable things in the world, they tested each string of lights. Of the ten, five of them lit up. Of the five, two strings were only white lights while the other three were colored lights. After a bit of debating the trio decided to hang up the colored light, and began to string them on the tree. Usually, Rika would place the lights and Mukino would hold them as they circled the tree. This year was different. Renamon was actually able to spin the tree in its stand. So, while Renamon made the tree spin at a very slow rate Rika and Mukino were able to put the lights on with out having to make themselves dizzy in the process. Next, came the ornaments.

Most of the family's ornaments were simple glass spheres of multiple colors. They did, however, have a few special ornaments. One was an ornament that had a tiny couple kissing in front of a just as tiny Christmas tree. Mukino said that it was a gift from her ex-husband one Christmas. Another was a little ornament that looked like it was made by a kindergartener, and in truth it was. It was an ornament Rika had made in kindergarten as an arts and crafts project.

There were other ornaments like the first two, but the last one they put on was the most special. All it was a picture that had a little metal frame and hung on the tree by a thin string. Renamon looked at it, and saw Rika, Mukino, and Seiko standing in the picture. Rika looked very young. Renamon guessed that she was about 5 or 6 when the picture was taken. The biggest importance of the picture was with the three girls was one man, who Renamon assumed was Rika's father. She had to admit, this was the first time she had seen the man. When she asked Mukino about it, she said it was a picture of the last Christmas before her husband divorced her. Renamon suddenly regretted ever asking about it.

As the final touch, Mukino pulled one last thing out of the Christmas storage boxes. It was the Christmas tree's star. Rika brought a stool from the closet, the tree being too tall for anyone to reach the top with out one. Mukino was about to go up on the stool and put the star on the tree, when she changed her mind. She stepped down, and handed the star to Renamon as she said, "Go ahead, I think that since this is your first Christmas with this family, you should have the honors."

Renamon, though slightly surprised by the offer, nodded her head. She got up onto the stool and with a gentle touch the star was securely fastened to the top of the tree. Rika put the stool away before she went back behind the tree, found the power cord, and plugged it into the wall. When the lights on the tree lit up, Mukino smiled and Renamon was slightly in aw. It was a very beautiful sight. Rika and Mukino left to check on the sugar cookies Seiko was making while Renamon stood their a second and memorized every detail of the tree. Planning to remember how the Christmas tree looked on her first Christmas with Rika and her family.

Renamon turned from the tree and headed to the kitchen where Rika and Mukino had disappeared to. When she came in Mukino and Rika were sitting at the table, watching Seiko as she put the finishing touches on the family's favorite Christmas treat, the sugar cookies. Seiko finished frosting 4 of the 60 or more cookies she made before she put them on a small plate and walked over to the table. Seiko took the spot beside Rika and then offered both them the first sugar cookies of the season. Mukino smiled as she took one of the cookies and took a small bit out of it, savoring the flavor. Rika did the same, but before she took her bite she noticed Renamon standing there. She turned and said, "Renamon, you can come over and sit down."

Renamon nodded her head and took the seat beside Mukino. Seiko smiled and then held the plate out to Renamon, which only had two cookies left on it. Renamon looked at it a second, and then with a gentle paw she picked up the cookie nearest to her. Seiko nodded her head as she pulled the plate back and took the last of the four cookies in her hand. She took a bit out of it, smiling at the delicious yet familiar taste. Renamon looked at the cookie for a second. It was just a simple round cookie with green frosting. She didn't know what was so special about it, until she took a bit of it. When she did, her taste buds began to dance in her mouth. It was really good, and was still soft and warm from the oven. Renamon swallowed the piece that was in her mouth and took another bite of the small cookie.

As they enjoyed the first cookies at a nice slow pace Mukino looked over to the kitchen and said, "Shouldn't we make something for Roy to eat?"

Renamon almost coughed u up the piece of cookie she was chewing. She looked over at Mukino and asked, "How long have you know about Roy?"

Mukino smiled as she said, "After we had our chat last night, my mother told you to get some wood and a knife for someone. Now, I know that neither Rika nor my mother would ask for stuff like that. So, I asked my mother about it. She knew I would find out eventually, and decided to tell me everything she knew about Roy. I then asked Rika to fill in some of the blanks about what was controlling him."

Renamon had a bit of a scared look in her eyes as she said, "So, what do you want to do with him?"

Mukino just continued to smile as she said, "Don't worry. He can stay here as long as he wants or needs to. Who ever is hunting him sounds like an evil person, and I don't intend to put someone out on the street who is hurt and being hunted like some common animal."

Renamon bowed her head slightly as she said, "Thank you."

Mukino grabbed the one plate and stood up, planning to take it to the sink. As she walked around the table she walked beside the bookcase, and saw something that wasn't there last night. She turned, and saw the beautiful little figurine. She turned and took the plate to the kitchen for eventual washing, and then came back into the dinning room. She went over to the book case and gently picked the little wooden figurine. She turned to the other three ladies and asked, "Hey, whose little figurine is this?"

Rika, Renamon, and Seiko turned there head in unison, but Rika and Seiko had curious looks on their faces while Renamon had a slightly worried one. Rika saw the little figuring and stood up. She took it from her mother and held it in her hand. She smiled as she said, "I think it's a little statue of Renamon, but who made it?"

Rika handed it to Seiko and she looked at it with gentle eyes. She then turned it over and saw the inscription on the bottom. She then smiled as she said, "I believe this is yours Renamon."

Renamon nodded her head as she took the figurine, and looked at it again. Even if it was the second time she had seen it, it still held the same beauty as the first time she saw it. Seiko saw Renamon looking carefully over the statue as she said, "I saw the inscription on the bottom. Did Roy carve that with that knife and piece of wood last night?"

Renamon nodded her head as she set the figuring down on the table for the other three to look at. Rika picked it up again and felt the smoothness of the figuring. It was a perfect likeness of Renamon, yet it look like it had been sanded smooth. Roy must have put a lot of effort into the little wooden figuring to make it look so life like. Rika handed it back to Renamon as she said, "I can't believe that was carved with just a knife. It feels and likes like it had been sanded. The curves are all so smooth. Anything I have seen carved with just a knife is no where near as smooth, and it has lots flat surfaces that work together to make the shape."

Mukino nodded as she said, "Yeah, it must have taken a very precise and confident hand to make this so perfectly and in such short time."

Seiko nodded as she said, "You really should read the inscription on the bottom; that is if Renamon doesn't mind."

Renamon nodded her head, knowing it was better to get it out of the way now rather then later. Mukino turned the figurine over in her hand and read the inscription. She just smiled as she handed it to Rika and she read it. Though Rika wasn't as impressed, she still thought it was a nice little trinket. She handed the figuring back to Renamon and asked, "So, where should we put it?"

Mukino and Seiko thought for a second before Seiko smiled as she said, "Well, I think it would be best if it was somewhere in Rika's room, since your futon is in the same room."

Mukino nodded her head as she said, "Yeah, there is that really short end table. It would be a perfect home for the little statue, and Renamon could probably use an end table like that. I mean you, Rika, and I all have one for our futons, why shouldn't Renamon."

Seiko nodded as she said, "Renamon, would be kind enough to go up into the attic and get that old futon side table. It is should be in the corner beside the ladder that leads up there." Renamon nodded as she disappeared for a second. She soon reappeared with the very short table in hand. Rika took the figurine off the table, and the duo walked to Rika's room. Rika opened the door and walked over to the corner of the room where Renamon's futon was. Renamon, after closing the door, followed Rika over and set the futon side table a few inches away from the futon near the top end. Rika set the figurine on the table, and gave Renamon a satisfied smile as they both turned to leave. Rika looked back at the table and smiled a little wider as she thought, "That will be a perfect place for Renamon to keep my present." With that the digimon tamer and her partner left the room.

Lunch time came and went, the three ladies and fox digimon enjoying a very light simple lunch of some salad. After the few dishes were cleaned, Mukino went off to the attic while Renamon helped Rika and Seiko put the dishes away. Mukino came back into the room as Renamon put the last dish in one of the kitchens cupboards. She was carrying three pairs of ice skates. Renamon gave her a quizzical look and asked, "What are those for."

Seiko smiled as she said, "Its something we haven't done in a couple years. If the weather is cold enough, the lake in the center of Shinjuku park freezes solid, the ice thick enough to skate on. It hasn't been cold enough for the past three years, but I think Mukino has the right idea. The constant snow and the short blizzard yesterday are a sure sign that it is plenty cold for the lake to freeze solid. You want to join use for a bit of Nonaka family fun."

Renamon sighed as she said, "I think it sounds like a wonderful idea, mostly because I haven't ever been ice skating before. The problem is I can't hide myself in the open. I would draw some unwanted attention."

Rika shook her head and said, "Why don't we just dress you up in some clothes like the day we went to see Roy. You would surely be able to hide then."

Renamon turned to Rika as she said, "But I don't have a pair of ice skates, I would only be able to stand on the side of the lake and watch."

Rika smiled as she said, "Trust me, I have an answer to that, but I have a question for you. Feel like watching dino boy and that obnoxious bunny fall flat on their faces?"

Renamon thought about it a second, able to read between the lines of what Rika said. She then nodded her head, and Mukino smiled as she said, "Well then, let's get you something nice to get dressed in. Oh, I know just the thing." With that, Mukino took Renamon's hand and dragged her out of the room. Rika and Seiko looked at each other before chuckling a bit, finding the whole thing quite funny. They soon were digging out there own cold weather clothes. The snow was still falling outside, but just barley. The sky had cleared. After calling Takato and Henry to have them met her in the park, Rika began to dig in the nearby closet when she heard foot steps on the outside patio. She stopped looking and peered down the covered walkway that led past her bedroom door and to the guest bedroom. The source of the foot steps was Roy. He stretched as he walked down the walkway. He noticed Rika looking at him, and he smiled.

Rika looked him over. He had gotten dressed in the clean clothes that Seiko had left in the room when the first brought him to the house from the mall. It was just a simple pair of blue jeans with a grey long sleeve shirt. Roy was wearing his own shoes, which showed the sign of being in a bloody battle, but he didn't seem to take notice of them. A he walked, he looked perfectly healthy, and was smiling with out a care. The only sign he might have been hurting was as he walked, he limped. His left leg the only thing that was hurting at all. When he got closer to Rika he said, "Well, what time is it."

Rika checked the clock and said, "About 12:30, but shouldn't you be in bed resting."

Roy smiled weakly as he said, "Can you blame a guy. I am getting stir crazy, I need to get out. So, where are you going that you need heavy winter coats?"

Rika looked at it and said, "We are going to Shinjuku Park to go ice skating on the lake in the center of the park." As Rika talked, Seiko came up behind her. When Rika finished she gave Roy a weary glare before she sighed and said, "I guess you can't keep a warrior down forever. If you feel up to it, you can come with us."

Roy nodded his head as he said, "Sounds like a wonderful time. I don't think I will be skating though. I was never able to learn, but it is at least an excuse to get out of this house. It is a beautiful house, but I can't stand to be inside for another minute."

Seiko nodded as she said, "Fine, but shouldn't you get a jacket on. You'll catch a cold standing out there with out some heavier clothes."

Roy nodded his head. Seiko walked back into the house and Roy followed her, looking for a suitable jacket. In fifteen minutes, the group was ready to go. Mukino had gotten Renamon dressed in a pair of loose dark blue jeans and a thick brown jacket with a hood. The hood would be enough to hide Renamon's head from prying eyes, but enough to let her breath. To say the least, having these clothes on and her own fur coat was making her overheat. The jacket Seiko had found for Roy was an old black snow jacket that used to belong to Rika's grandfather. Seiko herself had bundled up in some jeans, a long sleeve sweater, a hand made winter hat that covered her ears, and a heavy white jacket she had used for several winter now. Rika was in her usual blue jeans, but she wasn't foolish enough to go out in a T-shirt. She got dressed in dark red long sleeve shirt with a white broken heart in the same place as the one on her T-shirt. She then had a dark blue medium weight winter jacket on over top of that with a matching winter head band that covered her ears.

Mukino was dressed the most extravagantly of the whole group, but what do expect from a famous model. She had designer pants on, a designer long sleeve sweeter, and a designer winter jacket on. The only thing she was wearing that didn't have some famous label on it was a winter head band like Rika's that served as protection for Mukino's ears against the cold air.

Soon, the group of five left the house, and began to walk down the streets. They were not the only souls out in the cold crisp winter air. Some kids down the block were having a snowball fight, and the foot traffic of the city continued to flow, if only being slowed down by the snow fall. As the group passed the snowball fight, a stray snowball came flying and smacked Mukino right in the head. To say the least the group had a good laugh about it until Roy got hit with another stray snowball. Now he shared in Mukino's fast attempt to clear the cold snow off the side of his face to the amusement of Seiko, Rika, and Renamon.

They reached the park a few minutes later, and were surprised to see the group of people already skating on the ice. Takato, his parents, and Guilmon and had come down. While Takato's mom and dad skated together Takato was on the edge of the ice. Guilmon was a little hesitant of getting on the ice, having falling on his face ten times trying to walk on the slick ice. Henry had brought his family and Terriermon. They were all skating, Henry carrying the small rabbit digimon on his shoulder. They seemed to be the only ones in the park, which suited Rika and Renamon just fine. Renamon had been to warm in all that clothing, and was glad to get out of it and be able to depend on her own fur.

While Seiko and Mukino were putting on their skates Rika pulled out her digivice and a single card. Renamon looked at the card and saw it was a pretty rare card call IceSkatermon. An ultimate level digimon who was a master of ice skating. Rika smiled as she swiped the card and said, "Digimodify, Iceskatermon's ice skates activate."

Renamon looked down at her feet as they were cover with a quick light. When the light went away she was standing in a pair ice skates that fit her feet perfectly. Mukino and Seiko began to skate about that time while Rika put her skates on. Roy walked over to a park bench, and gently cleaned the snow off it and took a seat, a chill running up his spine when he came in contact with the cold bench.

Renamon waited for Rika to get up on the ice, showing she had some decent skills before she took her first few tentative steps on the ice. None of Iceskatermon's skating ability had been transferred, so Renamon was having a little trouble keeping her balance. In a few minutes she had the basics down, and was able to keep up with Rika as they skated around the frozen lake.

Henry caught up with Rika and Renamon after a few minutes. As he skated beside them he said, "I am amazed you were the one who suggested this Rika."

Rika glared at Henry a second before she said, "Can't I lighten up once in a while. It is the holiday season after all."

Terriermon stood up on Henry's shoulder as he said, "Look, it is the Icy Digimon Queen. She only warms up when it is below freezing outside."

Rika glared at Terriermon as she said, "Watch it bunny boy. The ice is always thin in the center of the lake. If throw you out there you will probably fall through the ice and become a digicicle. "

Terriermon thought about being frozen in a block of ice like one of the cartoon's he had watch with Suzie once, and shivered at the thought. Henry chuckled as he said, "I better go. Either Terriermon is cold or you got him thinking about that icy plan you thought up. Either way he is getting heavy and I think Suzie would like cuddle him a bit."

Terriermon eyes widened as he said, "No, please, Henry don't make me endure the tortures of Suzie. I just got away from her Miss Pretty Pants routine before we came here."

Henry shook his head as he said, "Then can you at least go onto my other shoulder." Terriermon nodded and quickly went to Henry's other shoulder. He gave Rika a quick nod before he began to speed up a bit and caught with Takato who was just getting Guilmon out onto the ice. The three families skated for another fifteen minutes, enjoying the beautiful day when all three tamers digivices suddenly went off.

A digital field appeared on the frozen ground beside the lake, and then quickly dissipated in the cold air. A few feet away stood an Icemyotismon. He looked like a basic Myotismon, but his coloring was a mix of light blue and white. Icemyotismon looked at the large group of people skating on the ice, licking his lips at the feast of blood he could get off of them. He was suddenly thrusted back to reality when one of Guilmon's Pyro Spheres struck the ground beside his foot.

The tamers were skating toward the new digimon, but they stayed on the ice. With there ice skates on they would be slow on frozen ground, and their normal shoes were on the other side of the lake. Seiko and Mukino soon got everybody else off the ice. Terriermon and Guilmon rushed up and got into defensive positions in front of the artic vampire. Renamon was soon with them after Rika deactivated the Iceskatermon card's effect. Icemyotismon looked over them as he said, "I guess a little exercise will help build up my appetite. All this human blood in the area will be a fine feast."

Takato shouted as he said, "Get him Guilmon." With that Guilmon ran up to Icemyotismon as he launched another Pyro Sphere. This one hit Icemyotismon in the chest, but it didn't leave a scratch. Guilmon realized it would take more then that since Icemyotismon was an ultimate while they were all at the rookie level. Terriermon and Renamon jumped into the fight as they launched there special attacks. Icemyotismon covered himself with his cape, and once the attacks were gone he came out from behind it smiling. He then formed a ball whip of lighting, and struck out at Guilmon as he said, "Frozen lighting." He hit Guilmon right on the foot, and in an instant a thick casing of ice trapped everything except Guilmon's head. Guilmon struggled to free himself while Takato sifted through his deck for something to free him. Terriermon was the next one to be frozen, and Icemyotismon turned his attention toward Renamon. At that moment Rika found a rare blue card, and with a quick swipe Renamon digivolved into Kyuubimon.

Icemyotismon stepped back a bit as he saw the flames glowing at Kyuubimon's feet and the tips of her tale. He then stood firm as he said, "My power is increased by the snow, and I doubt you can even hurt me."

Rika smiled as she said, "With a little help she can. Digimodify, Power Activate." The flames on Kyuubimon's tales surged with a new energy as she charged at Icemyotismon. She spun around a whipped him with her tales, leaving some damage. She then quickly got her footing and launched a Dragon Wheel attack. Icemyotismon was now hurting from the series of flame based attacks, but as a last effort he launched his own Frozen Lighting attack at Kyuubimon. The attack was only half successful. He was able to freeze Kyuubimon's feet in place, but her tail remained free. She lowered her head a bit and launched a fox tail inferno. The attack his Icemyotismon right in the chest and as his data began to break apart he said, "I may be defeated, but I will make you pay." He then turned on the tamers and launched an Artic Wing attack. The frozen bats rushed toward Rika, and pushed her back until she was standing in the center of the lake.

Rika stood there for only a second before the ice in the center, which wasn't as thick as the ice around the rim, cracked under her weight. Icemyotismon broke into his last bits of data as he laughed a dark evil laugh. Rika feel through the ice a few moments later and she began to sink from the weight of her clothes and skates. Kyuubimon struggled against the ice that trapped her, trying to get free so she could save Rika. Unfortunately, she need more time, and it was time that Rika didn't have. She closed her eyes as she tried to break free of the ice until she heard a splash. She turned, and saw a jacket lying beside the hole in the ice. It was the jacket Roy had on only moments ago.

The freezing water felt like needles against Roy's skin, but he kept swimming. He saw Rika slowly sinking into the depths of the lake. He was beginning to fall prey to the cold water. His body began to shut down, and he started to fall behind Rika. Then, he felt his heart skip a beat. In that moment, he felt a surge of something flow through every cell in his body. The pain in his back suddenly grew, and he heard something rip a hole in his pants. He felt the small amount of hair he had on his legs suddenly change. It felt like he his head, like it was completely covered in hair. He also felt like something was different with his legs in general, but his mind couldn't dwell on the thoughts. He suddenly had the energy he needed to save Rika. He swam down till he caught up with her, and he took hold of her hands. He then quickly put his legs underneath him, and began to kick with all his force.

A few moments later they both burst forth from the surface of the icy lake. An ambulance had already arrived, and was waiting beside the lake when Roy hauled Rika up onto the thicker ice. The ambulance workers soon got her into the ambulance, and began to warm her up. It had to be done at the right rate, because it could be deadly if she warmed up to quickly. Roy's body was still in the cold water as he panted and tried to catch his breath, but for some reason his legs didn't feel cold. Mukino, Seiko, and Renamon were the first to be standing beside the ambulance, with everybody else soon behind them. It was Takato who finally offered to help Roy get out of the water. Roy took his hand and Takato heaved him out of the water. Takato then caught sight of something that wasn't there before, and he stood there speechless. Roy stood up and grabbed his jacket of the ground. He put it on in a second, feeling some of the residual heat flow into his body. He gave his head a shake to get some of the water out of his hair before it froze. Doing this made a chill go down his spine. It started at his neck and went all the way down to his butt, and then it kept going. Roy felt the chill keep going as if it was traveling down his leg. He then turned around to figure out what had happened, and his eyes bulged at the sight. Sticking out a fresh whole in his pants, was a long, sapphire blue, thick furred, tail.

Takato and Roy stood in silence for a few seconds until Henry came over from the ambulance as he said, "Well, the ambulance guys are praising you. Rika will be able to go straight home. They are about to leave, are you going to ride with Rika and her family in the ambulance." Henry stopped there as he saw Roy's new appendage. He looked up at Roy who seemed to have gone into shock as he stood on his feet.

Roy finally snapped back to reality and said, "Tell them I will walk home. Those things only have room for a few people, if I rode it would be a bit to crowded."

Henry knew that Roy was just giving something for Henry to tell Rika, but he decided to tell Rika, Renamon, Seiko, and Mukino exactly what Roy had said. As Henry skated back toward the ambulance Roy looked around to make sure nobody had seen his new tail before he took it in his hand and gently stuffed it into his jacket. He then began to walk, and before anybody realized it he was already leaving the park. He walked down the streets toward Rika's house, and as he walked he saw the ambulance pass him by, with Renamon riding on the roof. Roy saw her tail flying in the wind, and then went wide eye as he noticed something. His new tail was a blue version of hers. Roy stood perfectly for a few seconds, before continuing his walk. What ever happened to him could wait until he got back to Rika's house where he could warm up and dry off a bit.