Kitty looked curiously at the Digimon, her eyes sometimes traveling to look over the seven turtles that had landed on the couch in the lair.
"So you're all Digimon?"
They nodded, smiling.
"So…which one's Raphie's partner?"
Tsunomon jumped forward, and she picked him up gently.
"I'm Tsunomon."
"Tsunomon…has Raphie been okay? He didn't get hurt or anything, right?"
"Maybe, but I've take care of him."
Patamon flew to her side, looking up at her cutely.
"Are you Kitty?"
She nodded, placing a gentle hand on the Digimon's head.
"Mikey's said so many good things about you." He chirped.
"Don, too." Motimon added.
"Raph really missed you…" Tsunomon stated.
"…I guess this was hard on all of us…I want to go, too…so I can protect them…"
She smiled slightly as the Digimon grouped around her, a comforting feeling, really. They started talking all at once, either about their adventures in the Digital World or their partners.
Soon, Kitty heard someone stir, and turned around.
"RAPHIE!!!!!"
She hug/tackled her largest brother, smiling hugely up at him as he lay on his back.
He blushed, still surprised.
"Kitty…"
A smile crossed his face as he hugged her back.
'We really made it home…'
The two turtles woke up the others, and two turtles were met with hug/tackles as well.
Leo turned to the girls as Kitty got off Mikey.
"This is our younger sister, Kitty."
The white-banded turtle smiled.
"Hi! You must be the girls the Digimon were talking about."
Gio nodded.
"Probably. I'm Giovanna, but you can call me Gio. Palmon over there is my partner."
Rach crossed her arms over her chest.
"Name's Rachel, but call me Rach. The goofball over there's my partner, Gomamon."
Elisa smiled softly.
"I-I'm Elisabetta, but you can call me Elisa or El if you like. Biyomon here is my partner."
Kitty nodded.
"My real name's Caterina, but everyone just calls me Kitty."
Koromon, in Leo's arms, looked confused.
"Why don't they call you Cat?"
"'Cause me and Mikey reasoned that, since I'm not an adult, I can't really be a cat. So, since baby cats are kitties, we thought everyone should call me that." Kitty explained, the childish logic actually making sense.
Kitty looked at the door after a moment.
"Sensei will be coming home, soon…"
The girls stiffened.
"Uh oh! SENSEI!"
Kitty tilted her head in innocent curiosity.
"Shouldn't you head home then?"
Gio nodded.
"Come on, Palmon. We need to go."
"We'll walk you there." Leo offered.
Don looked at him a moment, saying, "Actually, I have something Gennai gave me…"
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"Donatello."
The purple-banded turtle turned to Gennai.
"You'll need these."
Gennai held out eight silver watches, the faces decorated in their mask colors, the last one being white.
"It'll be hard to look for the eighth child among humans when you don't look like one, so I made these. They're hologram machines that make you look like you would've if you were human. They even make you feel human, but you must be careful. Keep them fully charged, or they'll fail on you."
Don nodded, gently taking the one with a purple face and putting it on his wrist experimentally.
"Thank you, Gennai. We'll use them well."
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"You'd better not be kidding…" Gio stated with wide, excited eyes.
"I don't kid about cool tech, Gio." Don assured, taking out the watches.
"GIMME-GIMME-GIMME!!!!!!!!" Mikey whined, jumping up and down.
"Okay, okay! Calm down!"
Don chuckled, taking the one with the orange face and put it on his brother's wrist. Don pressed a button, and the watch worked its magic.
Standing before them was a blonde-haired, blue-eyed boy, his hair tinted slightly orange.
He grinned hugely.
"COOL…"
Patamon landed on his head.
Mikey wore an orange t-shirt with a white stripe across the chest and beige cargo pants.
Raph smirked.
"My turn."
Don put the watch on his larger brother's wrist, pressing a button.
Now there stood a dark red/black haired boy with crimson brown eyes.
"Whoa…"
Tsunomon jumped into the boys arms.
Raph wore a dark red shirt and black jeans, unlike his brightly colored brother.
"Who's next?" Don asked, smiling.
Gio stepped forward, and Don put it on her wrist, pushing a button.
A brown-haired girl, green streaks in her air that matched her eyes, stood in surprise. Her rather…matured form was covered by a white t-shirt, a green flower design on the chest, and a jean skirt. Palmon stood next to her, smiling.
"…This is AWESOME…"
Elisa nodded, and Don gently took her hand, smiling reassuringly, before putting the watch with the pink face on her slender wrist.
He pressed the button, stepping back as the watch came to life.
An eleven year old girl with blonde hair, pink streaks matching her eyes, looked at herself in surprise.
Biyomon jumped into her arms to reassure her.
She was smaller and more slender than her older sister, and wearing a white tank top with a hummingbird design in pink on the chest and jeans.
"…A-Amazing…"
Leo was ready to go next, and Don took the watch with the blue face and strapped it to his oldest brother's wrist, pushing a button.
He was a bit taller than Raph, with dark blue/black hair and familiar brown eyes.
"…Whoa…"
Koromon jumped into his arms.
He wore a black t-shirt with a blue flame design on the chest and jeans.
"…These things are cool…" Rach said with a smile, taking the watch offered her.
She put it on, pressing the indicated button on the grey-faced watch.
She was more developed than her sisters, but not by much, and her long dark black hair shimmered slightly silver as they contrasted with her smoky eyes. She wore a black tank top, a silver tear drop design on the chest, and dark jean shorts.
Gomamon climbed onto her head, and she smiled softly.
"Your turn, Donnie." Kitty stated, smiling as she watched from her seat on the couch.
Don put on the purple-faced watch, and pressed a button with only slight hesitation.
A black haired boy with purple streaks in his hair, hazel eyes still the same as ever.
"…Whoa…COOL…" Don muttered as Motimon stood beside him.
He wore a dark purple shirt and dark jeans, and kept his amazed look as he picked up Motimon.
"Cool! Can I come?" Kitty asked, looking excited.
"I don't think so, Kitty…" Raph answered gruffly.
"But RAPHIE…" She whined, pouting cutely.
Elisa smiled, sitting down next to the white-banded turtle.
"Kitty, where we're going…its very dangerous…the last thing we want is for anything to happen to you…"
Kitty looked at her curiously.
"…If I had a Digimon, could I come?"
Elisa blinked in surprise.
"That's not likely…but if you did, I suppose…"
Mikey smiled.
"You can share mine, Kitty!"
The female turtle smiled, saying, "Sure!"
Leo smiled at the innocent childishness that could be their sister.
"We've gotta go. Kitty, you stay here. Tell sensei we went to our rooms." Leo ordered, giving his sister a goodbye hug.
She nodded, and turned serious.
"You'd all better come back in one piece! You don't want me going out and beating up whoever did it, right?"
The four brothers smiled, nodding before heading to the door.
Patamon flew over, looking up at her with a smile.
"Goodbye, Kitty. I hope you'll be okay."
She nodded, hugging him.
"Please keep him safe…" She whispered before releasing him, and the Digimon flew to Mikey.
She watched them leave, and one thing kept passing through her head…
'They're in danger…they're in danger…'
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"It's weird to walk around like this…" Rach noted, looking around.
"I know…but we'll get used to it…eventually…"
Gio muttered the last part.
They'd walked through much of New York, when Elisa stopped.
"El?" Don asked.
"…This place…it looks…familiar…" She answered softly, looking around.
Don nodded, feeling the déjà vu.
Everyone else seemed to feel it too, when the ground seemed to shake.
"What's goin' on?" Raph asked.
They all looked down the road, and saw a large wooly mammoth-like Digimon charging down the cement street.
Don took out his laptop, turning on the Digimon Analyzer.
"It's Mammothmon. His attacks are Tusk Crusher and Freezing Breath."
The Digimon headed towards them.
"Biyomon…" Elisa started worriedly.
The small pink bird Digimon flew into the air.
"Biyomon, Digivolve to…BIRDRAMON!!"
"Be careful…Birdramon…"
Leo stopped, pictures flashing through his minds eye.
'Night…ball of fire…'
"Meteor Wing!"
'Brothers…sister…'
"Tusk Crusher!"
'…Different Digimon…which ones?'
The others had the same thoughts, when Birdramon grabbed Mammothmon's trunk.
"Freezing Breath!"
It blasted the Champion Digimon in the face, and she fell back into the street.
"BIRDRAMON!!"
Elisa ran forward, Don not far behind, and Raph followed both.
"El?" Birdramon said weakly.
"Birdramon…"
Elisa's crest glowed.
"Birdramon, Digivolve to…GARUDAMON!!"
"Tusk Crusher!"
The attack hit the wall of a building above them, sending deadly debris down. They shot down, Garudamon shielding them.
Once the rocks stopped falling, Raph opened his eyes.
He was shielding Don, who in turn was shielding Elisa, her Digivice vibrating.
It sent a spark through his brain as he looked up at Garudamon.
'…Leo and Kitty…two Digimon fighting…one shot fire…the other flew…'
He wracked his brain for the rest.
'GREYMON!!!!!'
It seemed to have hit the others as well, and Garudamon stood up.
She jumped onto Mammothmon's back, riding him away from them, and flew up into the air with the heavy Digimon with powerful beats of her wings.
She dropped him, his back making a crater.
"Wing Blade!"
Mammothmon disappeared, and Garudamon Dedigivolved back to Yokomon in the air.
"Yokomon!!"
Elisa ran forward, catching the In-Training Digimon.
"Thanks, El!" The Digimon chirped.
Police sirens reached their ears, and Don grabbed hold of Elisa's hand.
"We've got to go!"
The seven ran, ending up in Central Park.
"I knew there was a reason we were chosen to be the Digidestined, out of everyone out there. We're linked by a common event."
"When the Digimon came to New York." Leo added.
"The night Splinter was out and Koromon came in through Don's laptop." Raph grumbled.
"And he Digivolved and fought that big bird Digimon, and protected you two and Kitty." Gio stated, looking at Raph and Leo.
"THAT'S how Kitty knew Koromon. She met him that night!" Mikey exclaimed, Patamon on his head.
"So it stands to reason that whoever else saw that fight is the eighth child!" Rach said, glad she'd figured it out.
"Yeah. But what if Myotismon has already found the eighth child? I mean, he's been looking all this time…" Elisa stated.
"I don't think so. Mammothmon wouldn't be making such a scene if they'd found the eighth child." Motimon reasoned.
"So let's go find them!"
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They were nearing the harbor, and the only thing they needed to do now was get across, get in the sewers, and walk in the front door.
But this wasn't exactly the best part of town, and it was inevitable that something would happen…
"Hey, sweetie."
Rach glared as an unfamiliar arm wrapped around her waist.
"Why don't ya come with me?"
She glared, and her elbow shot out, getting the pervert in the stomach. She whirled around, kicking the guy in the chest.
He was at least four years older than her, for God's sake!
"Perv!" She growled, Gomamon having jumped to the ground beside her.
Don seemed to have noticed something was wrong, and stopped.
"Why ya little-!" The man ground out, lunging at her.
She dodged the brunt of it, but he grabbed hold of her wrist, holding her over the edge, over the water.
'…Shell…'
"Time ta sleep with the fishes, girly!"
She snarled, spitting in his face.
"That's it…"
"Leave her alone!!" Don shouted, moving from the right to try and help.
"Back off, little man!!"
Don was smacked back, and his footing slipped, sending him towards the water…
"DONNIE!!!!!!!" Elisa yelled as her and the others ran up, having noticed what was going on.
"Motimon, Digivolve to…TENTOMON!!"
He caught the disguised turtle by the ankle, and Don jerked slightly.
"Whoa! Thanks, Tento!"
The boy, surprised, loosened his grip, and Rach kicked him in the knee and twisted, landing on the ground.
There was a large splash, a mighty roar, and everyone looked up.
"…What's that?" Mikey asked.
"It's Gesomon!" Tentomon answered, flying up with his partner.
"Go get 'im, Gomamon." Rach encouraged.
Gomamon nodded, jumping into the water.
"Gomamon, Digivolve to…IKKAKUMON!!"
The large, shaggy Digimon swam towards the other, charging and ramming him.
The boy ran off in fear, and Raph cursed when people started gathering.
"We've gotta go!" He urged.
"Harpoon Torpedo!"
Gesomon was blown apart, and everyone jumped onto Ikkakumon's back, getting away in the smoke.
Rach sat on his head, holding onto his horn as she directed him.
"…We're magnets for trouble, aren't we?" Elisa asked sheepishly.
"…Most likely…" Don answered with a smile.
"We're here!"
Everyone got into the sewer tunnel poking out of the ground, and Ikkakumon Dedigivolved before they headed further inside.
Elisa stopped, pushing a brick into the wall, and it opened, showing a computer screen and keyboard.
"El designed the whole thing herself." Gio said proudly.
Elisa typed something into the computer, pressing the Enter key.
The computer and more bricks moved aside, showing a rather spacious living room.
"We're home!" Rach exclaimed, running in and jumping on her couch as everyone deactivated their watches.
"Yeah…" Gio said softly, moving more inside.
"My daughters."
The three girls jumped, turning to the elderly female rat.
"Sensei!"
The three girls hugged the elder around the waist, and she turned her black eyes to the four turtles standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Who are these young ones?"
"They're friends. Good friends." Gio assured, hiding Palmon slightly behind the couch with Gomamon.
Her and Rach weren't known for liking stuffed animals, unlike their younger sister…
"Really? When did you meet them?"
Gio froze, unsure how to answer.
"While you were gone." Elisa answered, hugging Yokomon tighter.
"Yeah…um…I need to give you guys something…"
Don took out a Shell Cell, giving it to Elisa.
"Call if there's any trouble. We'll do the same."
She nodded, blushing lightly.
"Okay…be careful, guys…"
Gio smiled, hugging Leo.
"Don't push yourselves, or I'll be calling Kitty and telling her all the crazy stuff you've pulled."
"She'll tie me to a chair and never let me go." Leo joked, smiling.
Rach gave Mikey an affectionate noogie.
"Take care 'a yerself, buddy. Don't want Kitty ta worry."
Mikey nodded, grinning.
Raph shrugged, saying, "We'll meet up tomorrow, right? At Central Park?"
The girls nodded, and the boys headed out.
'We need to find that eighth child…and soon…'