Disclaimer: Digimon is the property of Toei, Bandai, Saban and Disney (It might be back with Saban for all I know).

Reconciliation

by

The Analyzer

Hikari gazed at Falcomon, standing next to Gennai triumphantly, before returning his gaze to BigAgumon. BigAgumon looked as though his whole world was crashing down. Hikari was experiencing similar feelings as Falcomon's pronouncement sank in. BigAgumon was the tool of their former nemesis, Vamdemon? Hikari couldn't accept it.

"No." she said. "No, it isn't true. BigAgumon can't be like that, he just can't!"

"Unfortunately, it's true." Gennai said. "He has similar digital signatures to the ones some of Vamdemon's servants possessed. In addition, the photos Hikari sent had characters that matched the readings of Digieggs Vamdemon influenced before. Vamdemon had a hand in his creation."

"It was a weapon against the very first Chosen Children." Falcomon said. "Vamdemon was a great force even then. He threatened to unleash it upon the Real World if they didn't stop their fight against him. The Chosen Children of that time couldn't decide and Vamdemon dropped him into the Real World just to be vindictive. As one of the forces of good, I was assigned the job of preventing that creature from wreaking havoc in the Real World. And well…you know the rest."

"This is nuts." Taichi said. "What makes you think we would believe you?"

Falcomon smiled. "Still can't see the truth, eh? Well, ask yourself this. Has it acted in any way abnormal? Has it shown signs of uncontrollable consumption? Or processing the mission of its master while unconscious? It would remember the procession and be very nervous about its true identity being exposed. I've seen it in some of Vamdemon's other minions. If any of that is true, then I'm right."

Hikari hated to admit it, but Falcomon had a point. As a Koromon, BigAgumon basically admitted he couldn't remember anything while eating. And hadn't Hikari witnessed last night the very procession Falcomon described? She recalled Taichi having a faint memory of a similar scene in Hikarigaoka as well. She looked in BigAgumon's green eyes. Terror filled every millimeter of them, but there was an absence of any disbelief or denial.

Tailmon's eyes were no longer filled with disbelief, but realization.

"That explains it." Tailmon whispered. "That explains the feeling I've had around him. I've been among Vamdemon's minions and could sense that kind of presence in my sleep."

"That also explains why Agumon – BigAgumon, I suppose – has been so nervous around me." Ken said. "The Dark Seed. Vamdemon had no involvement in its creation, but he possessed Oikawa when he transferred it to those other children. He must have left some faint residue that BigAgumon can sense. And when I tried to help him as Koromon, that residue made him evolve painfully."

Hikari looked around. Almost every face among the Chosen Children and their partners showed shock as the pieces began to fit together. It was impossible, incredible…but it made so much sense.

"It seems you all see the truth." Falcomon said. "Now that we have that out of the way, why don't we take care of the business at hand?"

"No." BigAgumon said. "No!"

He was shaking as though he was in a cold tundra. The wild, desperate look of a cornered animal filled his eyes.

Then the veins in those wild, desperate eyes turned black.

"I won't die." he whispered. "I won't die!"

Faster than either of them could blink, Hikari found herself in the tight grasp of BigAgumon's muscular arms. A gasp from the right told her Taichi was in a similar position.

"What the-" Agumon exclaimed.

"No!" Tailmon cried.

The Chosen Children and their Digimon started to converge, but stopped when BigAgumon flexed his claws near his hostages' necks.

"Don't come any closer." BigAgumon said slowly.

"Ah," Falcomon said, "showing your true colors, are you?"

"Shut up!" BigAgumon snarled. "You won't hurt me! You won't! I don't want to do this, but if you make any sudden moves, I don't know what I will do."

"BigAgumon, don't do this!" Agumon begged. "Let's talk this out!"

"What's there to talk about?" BigAgumon said desperately, the black spreading through his veins even further. "You've already made your decision, haven't you?"

"No, we haven't!" Tailmon shouted. "We weren't going to hurt you, so don't make us do it by harming your friends!"

"Friends?" Falcomon said incredulously. "That thing doesn't make friends! Its purpose is to cause destruction!"

"You're not helping!" Tailmon snapped.

"Stop making him think we're going to destroy him!" Agumon said.

"Why not? It's true, isn't it?"

"Not see here-" Agumon began angrily.

BigAgumon reached a breaking point. "You won't get me!"

"Wait, don't, BigAgumon!" Taichi shouted.

"Think this through!" Hikari said.

The only response she received was the rushing sound of an oncoming attack. There was an enormous explosion. Hikari's world went black…

Everyone else was rocked by the combustion of an almighty Baby Flame. Agumon and Tailmon were flung into the air by the shockwaves and many were thrown to the grass. The ground rumbled long after the attack dissipated. When they finally looked up, an brown crater was in the place where BigAgumon, Hikari, and Taichi had stood.

There was a stunned silence. For a while, everyone's eyes were fixed upon the crater as though they couldn't believe what transpired.

Then a cough broke the spell.

"Now what?" Daisuke asked.

BigAgumon crashed through the underbrush with a speed that was surprising for his size, his unconscious hostages held closely to him. He felt guilty that Taichi and Hikari had been knocked out by his powerful Baby Flame attack, but he needed to do something dramatic so he could get away.

He didn't want to die. He didn't know if it was the program or his own survival instinct, but he wanted to live. However much he cared for his friends, he didn't want to go through the unpleasant process. He didn't want to go back to the primordial databank, staying there for who knows how long until he was reborn. Who knew if Hikari and Taichi would still be around by the time that happened?

But that didn't matter now. The Chosen Children all knew the truth, about how he was originally Vamdemon's weapon. They would most definitely not forgive him for originating from the enemy they have fought twice before. In BigAgumon's panicked mind, Falcomon had convinced them he should be executed and there was no going back. Tailmon was taken in after she was born and had been able to resist Vamdemon's powers. BigAgumon had been born into evil.

It was sad because it was Hikari and Taichi who swayed him from that path. His first memory from that time in Hikarigaoka was being in little Hikari's arms and the affection she and Taichi showed him kept his programming at bay. Vamdemon's voice had haunted him the night he evolved into BigAgumon in their apartment. It was their concern for him that caused him to evolve into Greymon so he could protect them.

He wouldn't be given a second chance like Tailmon, though, not when Vamdemon's voice followed him through his every waking moment. Not to mention he took two of their own hostage. He had been thinking rather desperately they wouldn't follow him if he had two of their lives in his hands. As his legs began to become sore, he saw how foolish that decision was. He should have left them there the minute he fled and they wouldn't be in such a hurry to follow him. Now the Chosen Children would stop at nothing to rescue Taichi and Hikari. With Falcomon as their ally, BigAgumon's death warrant was pretty much signed.

In his desperation to survive, his mind became more vulnerable to the programming, twisting his thought processes. BigAgumon's survival became paramount. Perhaps he would no longer have friends, but at least he would still exist. He could use the Yagami siblings as bargaining chips to make sure he lived. Then he would be in the Digital World, eating and living. And if anyone showed any inclination toward threatening his life? He would ensure in their destruction, even if they were his former friends.

"I will live." BigAgumon said. "Even if the rest of the world has to die!"

His eyes blackened and his dark veins began to pulse.

"This is turning out to be quite an unbelievable weekend." Hawkmon mused.

They were all gathered in Gennai's computer room. It echoed with typing as Gennai and the more technically-minded Chosen were at each console, swapping information in a language the rest could barely understand. The awakening of the dark programming caused Taichi and Hikari's Digivice signals to be blocked, so they had to pursue the complicated process of tracking down BigAgumon's signature. After having been treated for their injuries, Agumon and the others could do little more than sit back and watch, fidgeting nervously.

"You're sure right, buddy." V-mon said. "First Hikari is reunited with a cute Digimon she hasn't seen in years, then she and Taichi are kidnapped by that same Digimon when he becomes gigantic. Now we find out Parrotmon was one of the GOOD GUYS and Greymon was sent by Vamdemon!"

"Next thing we'll find out is Vamdemon created all of the bloodsucking bugs in the world." Daisuke muttered. "Have you found anything yet?"

"Hold your horses." Miyako said, typing rapidly. "Finding one digital signature in the entire Digital World is complicated stuff, even for someone as unique as BigAgumon."

"And the dark programming he has inside him is making the process difficult." Koushirou said from his own console. "Have you been able to account for that in the digital signature, Gennai-san?"

"Not yet." Gennai replied, eyes fixed on screen. "It's a very complicated program and BigAgumon's digital signature is unique enough to make it almost impossible."

"Maybe I can help you with that." Ken said, moving over. "My Kaizer days might actually come to some good now."

Gennai scooted over so Ken could take over. Agumon tuned out the computer lingo and looked at Tailmon, who looked grief stricken. Agumon knew how she felt, still kicking himself for not being cautious enough about BigAgumon's mental balance or persuading him to calm down. But Tailmon's blue eyes told him she was beating herself up with more intensity. There was something about older individuals that made them berate themselves even more for their mistakes.

"It'll be alright." Agumon reassured Tailmon. "We'll find our partners."

Tailmon tried to smile. "I know. But if only I'd been quick enough to tell Hikari and all of you about what I saw, then maybe this wouldn't have happened."

"Hey, what's done is done. All we can do now is find them and smooth things over without anyone getting hurt."

Tailmon nodded, looking marginally better. There was a derisive sniff, and Agumon turned to glare at Falcomon. He had been hanging back from the group silently with a "I told you so" look etched on every millimeter of his face. His wings had been crossed patiently as the technically-minded people did their work. Now he returned Agumon's glare with an amused look of incredulity.

"I thought a veteran partner Digimon wouldn't be so naively optimistic." Falcomon said.

"What are you saying?" Agumon growled.

"I'm saying that someone who has fought great menaces for years like you have should know that the path of nonviolence won't lead to a good conclusion."

"I'm not going to kill BigAgumon!"

Falcomon gave him a look of disbelief. "Don't tell me you've forgotten what you found out about it? That it's the tool of your oldest enemy?"

"I don't need you to remind me of that. I admit, I was a bit shocked, but after thinking it over, I haven't changed my position."

"You mean you still love it?"

"Yes, and I'd prefer if you wouldn't call BigAgumon it."

"It's nothing but a tool of evil!"

"Stop calling him it!"

The rest of the conversations stopped. All eyes and ears were on the bird and dinosaur glaring angrily at each other. Even those at their consoles glanced back in spite of themselves.

"What makes you think BigAgumon is evil?" Agumon demanded.

"How many times do I have to repeat myself?" Falcomon said, exasperated. "The creature was created by Vamdemon, it has the demon's evil program inside him."

"Yes, BigAgumon has the program inside him and that's really bad. But does that make him bad?"

"Well really, it's too complicated to explain-"

"I said, does that make him bad?"

Falcomon balked. His eyes seemed to stare around before he reluctantly admitted. "No, in theory, the one holding the evil program doesn't make one evil. However-"

"That's BigAgumon. He fits that category. He bonded with Taichi and Hikari all those years ago. He loves them, and he's a good Digimon for it. You're a good Digimon, so I can't understand why you can't see it."

For the first time, Falcomon's didn't look so confident. His eyes flipped back and forth, as though a battle was forming inside him, before he reacted angrily.

"Look! Even if you are right – and that's highly dubious – you can't reason with it peacefully! The program will soon take over and your 'friend' will be gone."

"We could remove the program." Tailmon said, looking up. "As Angewomon, I could find a way to destroy it. Purify BigAgumon."

"No one knows how the program was placed into it in the first place!" Falcomon snapped. "I tell you, it can't be done!"

"Nothing's impossible for the Chosen Children." Daisuke said. "Taichi-san and the others fought the Dark Masters and we beat Vamdemon when it looked impossible. I think we can deal with a dead vampire's computer project, right guys?"

There were nods and calls of affirmation from the Chosen Children and the partner Digimon. The ones at the consoles made no motion, but their postures showed their approval. Falcomon looked furious.

"I've had enough of your idiotic optimism." he stamped over to where Gennai and Ken were standing. "Have you found where it's located?"

"Of course." Gennai pointed to a blinking light on the screen. "He's over there. Though you might want to-"

Faster than one could blink, there was a blur of color and the spot where Falcomon stood was now an empty metallic floor. There was a pause.

"-rethink your position on this." Gennai finished.

"He didn't listen." Agumon said, frustrated. "Why won't he listen?"

"I surmise he dedicated himself so much to his duty that it blinded him." Gennai said. "You're quite correct, Agumon. The program inside BigAgumon's a major problem, but he himself wasn't bad. It's corrupting him, but if we could find some way to remove it, he would return to his normal self."

"That's nice of you to say." Mimi said. "But why didn't you say that before the bird zipped off in the first place?"

"I doubted he would have believed me. Which is why while he and Agumon were arguing-"

Gennai typed lightly and the blinking light suddenly appeared in a totally different location.

"-I gave him a false trail."

The Chosen Children and their partners stared.

"That's…excellent foresight." Jyou finally said.

"It was simple enough." But Gennai looked flattered nonetheless. More seriously, he said "You might want to hurry though. I bet it wouldn't take long for Falcomon to figure out I gave him the wrong location."

"Right. Let's go, everyone." Yamato called, waving for the group to follow him.

"I'll be configuring the antidote for the program." Gennai said, typing fervently. "I would prefer to apply it here, but if that isn't possible, delay BigAgumon and contact me so I can mail it to you."

As they all crowded out of the door, Tailmon hung back thoughtfully. Agumon glanced back.

"Aren't you going to come?"

"Not yet." Tailmon said slowly. "There's something I've got to do. Something I've got to retrieve."

"What is it?" Agumon asked, puzzled. "Can't it wait until we rescue our partners?"

"No. This might help us get through to BigAgumon. I've got to get it." Tailmon gave Agumon a serious stare. "I'll come back as soon as I can. Please hold down the fort for me until then."

Agumon nodded carefully. "I don't exactly get what you're saying, but I trust you. Good luck!"

"Good luck to you, too. Make sure no one gets hurt."

Tailmon waited until Agumon left and the steps of her friends' feet quieted. Then she hopped onto a terminal and began typing.

"What are you doing?" Gennai said, pausing from his work to stare at her.

"Finding my cave of three years." Tailmon said seriously. "There's a gift I need to retrieve from there."

Hikari groaned. A pounding head wasn't the first thing one wanted to experience while regaining consciousness. Where did that come from, anyway? She thought she left her ill days behind her.

Shifting position, she discovered her limbs were a bit stiff and she had a crick in her neck. That was strange, her bed generally didn't allow for much opportunity for neck cricking. And was she feeling fresh grass poking at her back?

Hikari's eyes snapped open. Her brother lay unconscious opposite to her, sprawled unnaturally. They were in a clearing the size of a bedroom, the enormous bushes forming a circle around them. The canopy providing shade whispered in the wind and munching sounds echoed behind her. Judging from the light level, it was a couple hours after noon. For a moment, Hikari lay there.

*How did I get here?* she wondered fearfully.

"You're awake." said a deep and strangely young voice. "I can smell that you're awake."

Hikari froze. The familiarity of the voice was the trigger and the events of early that morning all came back to her. She whipped around.

BigAgumon sat there. He lived up to his name, taking up a significant portion of the clearing, the Yagami siblings' bodies close to his feet. BigAgumon stared down at her, absently munching on the red berries adorning the bushes.

"Don't move too quickly. I'm faster than I look. And eat these." He shoved a bunch of berries into her hands. "I'm afraid we won't get a chance to eat your mom's cooking anytime soon."

Hikari's hands slowly moved the berries to her mouth of their own accord. She was too busy staring at BigAgumon. The darkness had spread to the rest of his veins, making him look like a strangely-patterned creature from the dinosaur era. Hikari was quite used to seeing odd or even scary Digimon and learned not to judge by appearance. But she was a sensitive child and she picked up something unpleasant from him, something that reminded her of poisonous smog. Plus she didn't like the way BigAgumon looked at her. Gone was the warmth and compassion in his green eyes. His darkened gaze now watched her as though she were a vaguely uninteresting television program.

"Eat them. They're not poisonous. You two won't be any use to me dead."

The way BigAgumon spoke those words so indifferently awakened something in Hikari.

"What do you mean we wouldn't be any use to you?" she whispered.

"You're my bargaining chips. If I make sure I keep you two close to me, I will stay alive. Your friends won't hurt me if they know I have you."

"What are you saying?" Hikari asked, slowly straightening up. "We won't hurt you. You're our friend."

"Don't lie to me." BigAgumon's eyes flashed in anger. "You all know the truth now. I'm from one of your past enemies. I'm the servant of Vamdemon, the servant of a tyrant! You hate me now and you sided with Falcomon. You were going to kill me. I had to save myself!"

"That's not true. If you gave us a chance to speak, we could have worked this out!"

"If I had stayed there, I would be dead!"

There was a groan. Hikari and BigAgumon turned to find the third person in the clearing finally stir.

"Ow. I feel like I got run over by a Monochromon." Taichi massaged his forehead and looked around bleary eyed. "Hikari? What's going on?"

"BigAgumon kidnapped us because he thinks we're going to kill him." Hikari said before BigAgumon could say anything.

"BigAgumon…kill him…what?" Taichi's gaze slowly adjusted and realization shot through him, and he sat up with a start. "Wait, don't tell me he thinks that-"

"Stop playing around!" BigAgumon snapped, startling Taichi. "I know you're just trying to fool me so you can run back to the others and tell me where I am."

"That's because you need help." Taichi said, appraising him worriedly.

"The only help I need is for all of you to go away and let me live."

"We want you to live, too." Hikari protested.

At that moment, there was the sound of many pounding feet and Koushirou's voice was heard.

"I found the signal. They're close."

BigAgumon glared at her. "I knew you were lying."

The bushes rustled. In that moment, BigAgumon seized the Yagami siblings as Agumon pushed back the foliage, revealing the rest of the Chosen Children and their partners behind him.

"Wait!" Agumon shouted.

"Don't come any closer or they'll get it!" BigAgumon growled, flashing his claws near their necks.

"BigAgumon, please don't do this!" Hikari said.

"Quiet!" BigAgumon snapped, returning his gaze to the group. "So you're hunting me down, are you?"

"Of course we are, you are holding two of our friends hostage." V-mon said.

Daisuke glared. "V-mon! You're not helping."

V-mon looked sheepish. "Oh. Hehe. Sorry."

"What my tactless friend meant to say was we were looking for you in a nonfatal way." Hawkmon said.

Miyako nodded. "He's right. We come in peace."

"Lies!" BigAgumon hissed. "You sided with Falcomon, didn't you?"

"Well, we did find out he was telling the truth." Jyou said sheepishly. "However, we don't agree with his methods at all."

"You don't?" BigAgumon's uncertainty was only momentary. "Why should I believe you?"

"Look at our friends." Hikari said. "Tailmon used to be part of Vamdemon's forces. I believe my brother told you about it. She was raised evil, but came to our side when Wizarmon told her the truth."

For once, BigAgumon didn't tell Hikari to be quiet. She took the opportunity to send Agumon a questioning look regarding Tailmon's absence. Agumon shrugged and subtly pantomimed that Tailmon had something to do. Fortunately, BigAgumon didn't notice one of their number was missing.

"And Wizarmon would have been a great ally if Vamdemon didn't decide to kill him." Taichi said bitterly.

"Pumpmon and Gotsumon too." Yamato said, clenching a fist. His brother and partner touched him sympathetically.

"BlackTyrannomon seemed nice once we got that virus out of him." Palmon said sadly.

"Too bad Vamdemon had to show up." Mimi said, laying a hand on Palmon's shoulder.

"There was Oikawa-san." Iori said. "He was a friend of my father. He was so sad when my father died and Vamdemon took advantage of that. Who knows, if I had been strong enough to carry him for treatment, maybe he would…"

"It's alright, Iori." Armadimon said. "He healed the Digital World. He said he would always be with us."

BigAgumon was staring at them wondrously before shaking his head. "They're all different. They weren't made evil like I was!"

"I wished you could have met BlackWarGreymon then." Agumon said. "He was wholly created to do evil, but he was just confused and wanted to turn around. Who knows what the three of us could have gotten into?" he added, smiling sadly.

BigAgumon stared disbelievingly. "You mean, that BlackWarGreymon guy became good despite being created to do evil?"

"Yeah." Agumon spread his arms out in an inviting manner. "If we can settle this peacefully, you won't have to die like him and all the others. We can get that program out of you and you can be free."

"And then maybe you and Tailmon can start the 'I Recovered From Vamdemon Club.'" Gomamon piped in. "Who knows, maybe some of them would be reborn and join, too."

"Gomamon!" Jyou said. "Where is your tact?"

"Hey, I heard support groups are supposed to be good!"

There were chuckles and amused shaking of heads. Even BigAgumon's hostages were smiling. BigAgumon himself was still staring at the group, not comprehending, and Hikari found hope when she saw some of his veins were no longer as dark.

"Come with us." Agumon said. "Destroying the program may hurt. It might not. But I swear I'll be by your side when it happens. All of us will."

To Hikari's delight, she wasn't mistaken. The darkness was slowly receding from BigAgumon's veins. The claws were no longer being held dangerously close to their necks and hoped shined in those green eyes. He took a step forward.

"There you are!"

Hikari's heart sank at the unwelcome voice, further compounded by the familiar blur rushing BigAgumon's way.

Then she realized Taichi was also in the direction of the attack.

"Look out!" BigAgumon covered them roughly between his arms and turned. He gave a cry of pain when the blur slashed at his back.

"BigAgumon!" Hikari cried.

BigAgumon stood grimacing and pushed them toward the group, where they could see Falcomon perched on a branch, looking mutinous.

"So you tried to trick me." he growled. "I should punish you all severely for aiding and abetting a weapon, but I'll take care of it first."

Falcomon crouched, ready to do another Falco Rush.

"Oh no, you won't!" Agumon said. "You aren't going to hurt a scale on my friend."

"Why not?" Falcomon said.

"Because," Agumon said, "Gennai's got the antidote ready and he's waiting to remove the evil program inside him."

"It is the evil program." Falcomon said, flashing his feather-like claws.

"Then why did he save my partner from your attack? Or shove them off the battlefield?"

Falcomon opened his beak, but no sound came out.

"If you can't think up an answer, then I'll tell you. Because BigAgumon has a heart. All he needs is for the program to be removed and he'll be a completely good Digimon, free of the taint of Vamdemon. You would no longer have to kill an innocent Digimon."

Was it Hikari's imagination or was Falcomon beginning to look uncomfortable? Agumon pressed his advantage.

"Though I guess that wouldn't make you happy. You've been at this mission for so long, and have been so obsessed, that you didn't think twice about murdering a baby Digimon."

Unfortunately, that was the wrong thing to say.

"Don't you dare soil my intentions!" Falcomon shouted, discomfort completely absent in his rage-filled expression.

Before anyone could do anything, he moved to dive bomb BigAgumon. BigAgumon turned to meet him, expression feral, the darkness in his veins returning.

There was a flash of light when they made contact and the ground vibrated as the light grew brighter and brighter, until even the Child of Light couldn't handle it…

Then it was gone and so were two of the battling Digimon.

"Where did they go?" Yamato asked, whipping his head around.

"They've vanished!" Takeru exclaimed.

"Anyone else get déjà vu when that happened?" Sora asked.

A few from the original eight nodded in a dazed manner, but Koushirou was already sending a message to Gennai and Taichi was marshalling everyone into order. Hikari just stared at the place where BigAgumon had stood, feeling her hope drain away. No, they were so close, it couldn't possibly end like this…

"Hikari!"

Her trance was broken Tailmon's voice. Hikari turned and saw her partner running toward them as fast as she could. Tailmon leaped and Hikari opened her arms to embrace her.

"Hikari, thank goodness you're alright. You too, Taichi." Tailmon added, nodding to Taichi. She looked around. "Where's BigAgumon?"

"He was over there." Hikari said miserably, nodding at the clearing.

"Yeah, and we were just going to settle things with both him and Falcomon until I opened my big mouth." Agumon said bitterly. "I know I shouldn't have riled him up and he's good, but after all he's done, I couldn't stop myself from saying…"

Taichi rubbed Agumon's head reassuringly. "It's alright, buddy. I probably would have said something stupid, too."

Tailmon's eyes were wide. "What happened to them? Are they-"

"No!" The cry came from Koushirou as he shut his D-Terminal. "They're both still alive. The power of both of them evolving just took them elsewhere."

"Where did it take them?" Takeru asked.

"The desert where Paildramon was born. Or…"

Koushirou stared at Ken with concern, but the latter just continued. "The place where my reign as Kaizer was put to rest. There's something ironic in this turn of events."

"Back to the situation at hand." Daisuke said, though not unkindly. "How are we going to stop those two from killing each other?"

Tailmon raised the item in her paw. "With this."

Hikari slowly took the item and let it dangle from its string. A light kindled in her eyes, a light mirrored in seven other pairs of eyes.

"Yes." She whispered. "Yes, this might work. It won't end it all, but maybe…"

"…it would start the beginning of the end of this entire fiasco." Taichi finished. "C'mon gang, let's give two of our childhood buddies a wakeup call!"

The sun cast an orange glow upon the desert as it moved toward the western horizon. The only shapes breaking the monotony of endless sand were two enormous figures of avian and dinosaurian appearance.

Parrotmon stared into his opponent's scarlet eyes, not daring to hope it would come to this. After spending eons in the Primordial Databank and waiting months for the weapon's rebirth, he was going to finish his mission. Some doubt had sprung in his mind he would never complete the mission which had been such an important part of his existence – that was simply impossible. Now the weapon was before him and in the Greymon form he adopted all those years ago in the Real World. There was something poetic about the similar situation, but Parrotmon was determined to make the outcome of this one different. At last, he was going to end it!

"You've been at this mission for so long, and have been so obsessed, that you didn't think twice about murdering a baby Digimon."

Parrotmon flinched. Despite his angry reaction, Agumon's statement had hurt. He prided himself on being a good Digimon, always on the side of justice. He put all of his efforts in combating the evil in the Digital World and didn't expect any congratulations. Sure, Parrotmon wasn't considered the friendliest of sorts, but he saved Digimon from tyranny and even nixed it before it could take shape. He would never threaten an innocent Digimon, much less move to kill a heroic one. When Greymon was in its Child form, it moved to protect Taichi when Falcomon attacked. Could the Chosen Children be right on the weapon's morality? Was Greymon Digimon enough to be called "he?" Was Parrotmon wrong?

Parrotmon shook his head. *What am I thinking? The Chosen Children are heroes, but they are CHILDREN. They are foolish and easily swayed by emotion. The weapon could easily manipulate their sympathies. I'm the right one here. I have to be, for the good of this world.*

Parrotmon glared at Greymon with determination. This look made the latter make the first move. With a tooth-bared roar, Greymon charged, several blue fireballs preceding him. Parrotmon slashed through each of them and unleashed his Mjolnir Thunder attack, striking Greymon's neck. Greymon swayed, stunned, and almost fell on his side. But he resumed his dinosaur-like charge, and the fight turned physical.

Claws and talons clashed as Greymon and Parrotmon fought for the opportunity to exchange blows. Parrotmon slammed his head into his opponent's neck, Greymon losing his sense of balance. Parrotmon took the opportunity to rack his claws across Greymon scaly chest. Greymon let out a bellow and collapsed in the sand. Parrotmon loomed over his opponent.

*This is it. This is my opportunity to destroy the last remnant of one of the great evils of the Digital World. My destiny will soon be complete.*

Parrotmon spread his wings and splayed his claws. Energy crackled as he powered up his Sonic Destroyer. The attack reached its bright peak. The fear in Greymon's eyes was paramount.

Just as the attack was about to be unleashed, something closed over those scarlet eyes. Greymon roared and launched itself at Parrotmon. Greymon head-butted into Parrotmon's neck and the Sonic Destroyer was launched harmlessly into the air. Greymon let out another savage roar and raised his claws. Parrotmon moved to defend himself, but one of his injuries from an earlier battle with the partner Digimon seized his leg. Parrotmon couldn't move fast enough as Greymon took turns ramming his head against him and slashing at his chest. He found himself tiring sooner than usual, the strain of having more than one battle in a day.

Then Greymon thrust a particularly powerful ram into Parrotmon, who fell to the ground with a spray of sand. Parrotmon found a growling Digimon on top of him, eyes fierce and bestial, pupils shrunken to pinpricks. Now Parrotmon saw his hope of completing his mission vanishing. He should have retreated and healed his wounds before this confrontation. Parrotmon understood, but that wasn't going to save him from Greymon, whose maw glowed ominously blue…

It was like something out of the past.

A shrill, piercing sound cut through Greymon's consciousness. It broke the spell of battle and bloodlust that had blinded him. Greymon found himself blinking down at Parrotmon, who was tense, as though bracing for an unpleasant end. They stared at each other for a moment before Greymon turned to look for the source of the shrill sound.

Hikari's cheeks were flushed as she continued to blow into her white whistle. The rest of the Chosen Children and their evolved partners were gathered around her, looking worried and battle ready. The whistling sound gradually died down and Hikari's lips parted from the tiny object.

"Don't do it!" Hikari panted. "Stop fighting."

She took a moment to catch her breath as she held the attention of the two monsters. It had been a uneasy journey to the desert. The Digimon evolved into forms where the Chosen Children could be flown or carried, guided by Koushirou and Gennai's map. Every second riding with Taichi had felt like an eternity. What if they were too late? What if someone died? When Koushirou exclaimed over the energy spike in Greymon's signature, Hikari was so grateful they were close. When they ran the last meters to see Greymon ready to destroy Parrotmon, Hikari brought the whistle to her lips and blew with all her breath.

"Please, Greymon." Hikari said. "Don't do this. Don't take anyone's life."

Greymon stared at Hikari's tiny but pleading figure. Hikari watched as he returned his gaze to Parrotmon. She could read the guilt flitting through Greymon's eyes at the thought he was going to take another life. Even though it was likely the programming that influenced his behavior and even though Parrotmon was the source of much of the recent heartache, she could see the shame that twisted inside him. Greymon slowly stood back from Parrotmon, who wore a strange expression of astonishment on his face. Greymon turned to Hikari.

"Please," Greymon pleaded, his voice deep and warped, "get rid of what's inside me."

Hikari never thought a Greymon could look so scared and desperate, especially this one's very dinosaur-like form. But he did, and the look tugged at Hikari's heart strings.

"We will." Hikari said comfortably. "Don't worry. It's all going to end really soon."

Greymon smiled, a truly relieved smile. Hikari returned his smile as she stepped forward.

At that moment, red and black flashed across Greymon's eyes, and he screamed.

Hikari stepped back, eyes wide at Greymon horrible screams. He swayed his head back and forth desperately, but the roars of anguish weren't diminished in the slightest.

She glanced urgently at Koushirou. "What's happening?"

"The program is trying to take over." Koushirou replied, gazing at his laptop. "The program probably knows we're trying to destroy it and is trying to stop that."

"The voice!" Greymon cried. "He is speaking to me! He won't stop!"

"What is he talking about?" Taichi asked.

Tailmon's mouth thinned. "If I know anything, it's Vamdemon. Even from beyond the grave, he is too vain to not leave his voice behind."

Greymon continued screaming, gripping his head. "He wants me to kill you, Hikari! He wants me to be a destroyer!"

"Don't listen to him!" Hikari shouted. "Fight it!"

"He's too powerful. You're…you're going to have to destroy me before he takes over! Please!"

"We're not leaving you!" Taichi yelled. "Koushirou will have the vaccine uploaded in a minute. C'mon, just hold up for a little longer!"

"I can't!"

Just when things were looking bleak, an orange figure charged forward. It slammed into Greymon and gripped him with all of the strength it possessed.

"Don't let him get to you, Greymon." said the deep voice of Agumon's Adult form. "Fight him!"

"I'm trying!"

"Keep trying! Remember, you're not alone!"

Hikari watched as Taichi's partner embrace of Greymon became more supportive. Greymon's eyes widened and he appeared to be in less pain. But his flailing didn't relent, particularly on the side that Taichi's partner didn't hold. The other Greymon gritted his teeth as tried to keep his grip on his counterpart.

"Is that program ready yet?" Taichi's partner shouted. "I can't hold onto him much longer!"

"Nearly done!" Koushirou replied. "Just a few more seconds…"

But it was clear even from Hikari's viewpoint that Taichi's partner couldn't wait a few more seconds. She could see him tiring from the strain of holding someone so strong and unwilling to be held down. Even Taichi was watching with worry. If the Chosen Children didn't hurry, Greymon would wrestle out of that grip and charge down upon them. Their partners would protect them, but they were injured from the fight that morning and who knew how strong Greymon was.

Just when Taichi's Greymon arms became so weak that the inevitable would occur, something completely unexpected happened.

They watched in astonishment as Parrotmon rose to his feet and slammed into Greymon's other side. His bird-like arms clung tightly around Greymon and his blue eyes were fierce with determination.

"Fight him, Greymon!" Parrotmon said. "Fight the demon!"

"Parrotmon?" Taichi's partner said, stunned.

Parrotmon smirked. "You're right. Your friend is cute and nice."

Taichi's partner laughed. "It's about time you listened!"

Hikari felt like laughing too, though with relief. With two Digimon holding Greymon, his struggling seemed to slow a bit, further compounded by the encouragement he continued to receive.

"Fight back, Greymon!" Parrotmon said.

"We're with you!" Greymon's counterpart said.

The Chosen Children and their partners were also shouting, encouraging Greymon to fight, offering their support.

"Fight back, Greymon!" Taichi said.

"Vamdemon is no longer your master!" Tailmon shouted.

"We're with you all the way!" Daisuke and XVmon cheered.

"No ugly vampire's going to control your mind while we're around!" Mimi exclaimed.

"You said it, Mimi-senpai!" Miyako agreed.

"Greymon, I'm here!" Hikari said. "We're all here!"

The encouragement appeared to be working. Greymon seemed to be doing no more than occasionally twitching violently and his eyes were not as clouded.

"Alright, I've received the program!" Koushirou said triumphantly.

"Great!" Hikari said, raising her D3. "Go for it, Tailmon!"

"Right. Tailmon, evolve…Angewomon!"

Hikari could see Greymon was in awe of Tailmon evolving into her angelic form. His attention was completely on Angewomon as she hovered over him and spread her arms out.

"Let's see if I can make the job easier for you two." she said. "Saint Air!"

A colorful fog appeared around Greymon and his holders. Greymon stopped struggling and hung his arms limply, looking relaxed.

"Hey, what is that?" Takeru said, pointing.

Something round and made of swirling shadows was slowly wiggling its way out of Greymon's forehead. He didn't appear to notice it.

"My guess is its Vamdemon's program." Koushirou said. "The Saint Air attack must have filled Greymon with so much good energy that the program had to escape."

"Well, it's not escaping to anywhere." Angewomon said as she formed her bow and arrow. "The program, Koushirou!"

Koushirou nodded and typed quickly. His computer glowed and a light green light flashed from it, enveloping Angewomon's arrow.

Angewomon smirked. "This will bring back pleasant memories. Holy Arrow!"

Angewomon pulled the pale green arrow back and its aim was true when released. It struck the swirling ball of shadows and green cracks started appearing.

There was a moment of ominous silence.

"May you be free from Vamdemon's taint." Angewomon said.

There was an enormous, but silent explosion. Darkness burst in every direction, obscuring the desert and the setting sun with thick, velvety black, but not before Hikari glimpsed Greymon falling limply to the sand…

"BigAgumon? Are you alright? BigAgumon!"

BigAgumon twitched and groaned. He felt as though he was covered in suction cups and the area around his forehead throbbed unpleasantly. He slowly lifted his eyelids to see Hikari's worried features.

"Hikari?"

"Oh, thank goodness!"

Hikari hugged BigAgumon as best as she could. Since he was still quite large and had various wires attached to him, it was an impressive feat.

"Hikari, I'm so glad you're here too." BigAgumon beamed, hugging Hikari back as best he could through the wires.

"Careful there." Gennai said from his terminal, though he smiled. "You don't want to mess with my configurations, do you?"

BigAgumon blinked and looked around. He was in a high-tech room made of shiny metal, full of strange objects that resembled medical equipment. The Chosen Children and their partners stood in the back, giving Hikari and BigAgumon some space. They were staring at him with as much relief as Hikari, though BigAgumon noticed some of the Digimon were cradling injuries.

"What is this place?" BigAgumon said slowly.

"You're in my home." Gennai said. "More specifically, in my infirmary. We have been monitoring your condition ever since you were carried in."

"I did it as Greymon." Agumon said cheerfully. "After you devolved, I put you on my back and Hikari watched you closely as we ran back to Gennai's house. It took a little while to figure out how to get you into the house, but Gennai got a stretcher and I had to stand awkwardly on the stairs while sliding you off of my tail."

"Did you really have to make that joke about you piggybacking the Digimon who piggybacked Hikari?" Taichi asked. "That one was really bad."

Agumon looked sheepish. "Well, I wasn't thinking clearly when I made the joke, but I was just trying to lighten the mood. At least give me some credit for that."

"Nope." Taichi said, lightly bonking his partner's head while the others laughed. Agumon looked sulky.

BigAgumon smiled at the scene before grimacing down at the wires. "This doesn't bring back pleasant memories."

"Sorry." Gennai said. "But we had to make sure your systems were clear of Vamdemon's programming and there were no negative side effects from its removal."

"Removal." BigAgumon blinked and carefully touched various parts of his head. "You mean…it's gone."

"Angewomon took care of it!" Daisuke said. "Some creepy ball of squiggly lines came out of your forehead halfway and she hit it with her vaccine'd arrow."

"Yeah, it exploded weirdly too, almost quiet-like but not." V-mon piped in. "And then you were devolved and back to normal except for the unconscious part."

"So…I'm free." BigAgumon said slowly.

"Well, you will still bear your large size and your unique features as Greymon." Gennai replied.

"And we don't mind your size. It's your charm point." Hikari poked his muzzle, smiling. "You're no longer under Vamdemon's control, BigAgumon."

BigAgumon was dazed. For a moment, Hikari looked as if she wondered whether she said the wrong thing. Then BigAgumon smiled widely.

"I'm free…I'm free!" BigAgumon cheered. He tried to spread his arms out in celebration, but the wires held them down. He paused to stare at the wires before turning pleading eyes on Gennai. "Can you get rid of these so I could dance happily with my friends?"

Gennai hesitated, then sighed. "Very well. I guess I should be grateful you asked before possibly ruining the equipment."

Gennai typed a few buttons and the wires sprung away from the patient.

BigAgumon wasted no time in jumping to the metal floor, grabbing Hikari's arms, and proceeding to dance, exclaiming "I'm free! I'm free!" Hikari laughed, and everyone else laughed too, egging the dance on. Then BigAgumon abruptly switched Hikari for her partner, exclaiming "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"

"It was nothing." Tailmon managed to say, looking bemused as she was swung around. "Koushirou uploaded the vaccine and I just aimed it in the right direction."

"Still, thank you!" BigAgumon shouted happily.

After a few more seconds, BigAgumon put Tailmon down to dance with Koushirou instead. Koushirou looked embarrassed as he was showered with thanks, but fortunately BigAgumon moved onto the next person. He seemed determined to dance with everyone in the room, doing a silly jig with Daisuke and trying to waltz with Palmon while they were trying to keep their faces straight.

"Ahem."

BigAgumon paused from a number with Agumon and everyone else followed his gaze. Falcomon was standing stiffly. BigAgumon watched warily as Falcomon came into prominence, shuffling his feet and looking socially awkward.

"Um…I hate to break up the celebration, but there's something I must say." He shifted his blue eyes around before continuing. "I wish to apologize to all of you for not listening to your words of wisdom. If I had listened, I wouldn't have put you in such danger. But I owe my deepest regrets to BigAgumon. For making you look over your shoulder and wonder if that second would be your last…for not believing in your innocence until I saw the remorse in your eyes for nearly killing me…I'm sorry."

Falcomon bowed. For a moment, BigAgumon stared him as though he couldn't believe what he was seeing. Then BigAgumon recalled who else held him down and encouraged him to fight on. BigAgumon smiled.

"That's alright. We all make mistakes. The things you tried to do were pretty scary and I didn't like you for that, but it's over now."

Falcomon raised his head to reveal his astonishment. "You mean…you forgive me?"

"Of course. We're all friends now, aren't we?"

Falcomon look stunned for a few seconds. Then he relaxed.

"Yes. I believe we could be…friends." he said, his stiff tone wavering.

"We don't mind being friends with you either, Falcomon." Sora said.

"Really?" Falcomon said.

"Yeah." Yamato said. "There's just one thing you need to do for us."

"What's that?"

"Well, to start, maybe pay for all the property damage." Koushirou said. "I would hate to see how the authorities would react if they discovered you and BigAgumon were the source of the Hikarigaoka incident."

"And the trauma." Jyou said. "Definitely the trauma. I had nightmares for weeks."

"Y'know, I still want my stuffed teddy bear back." Mimi added.

"My left buttock hasn't been the same ever since my Mom snapped from bringing up you and BigAgumon one too many times." Takeru said.

Falcomon was alarmed. "But…but that isn't possible!"

There was a pause.

"Of course it isn't." Taichi said. "Because it's a JOKE!"

"Oh." Falcomon said. "I guess my sense of humor is rusty after a few eons."

There were laughs all around. BigAgumon joined in until his eyes fell on Ken.

"Ken, can I talk to you? I want to say I'm sorry."

"For what?" Ken said, looking bewildered.

"For being so cold to you. You had Vamdemon's scent and, even before I remembered him, it made me nervous, so I avoided you. That was mean of me, so I apologize."

Ken shook his head. "It's not your fault. I would probably not react well either if I could smell one of my old enemies on someone."

BigAgumon smiled. "Thanks Ken. And speaking of not reacting well…Hikari, I wonder if your mom still has saved lunch for me. I won't react well if she hasn't."

"Most likely." Hikari giggled. "If we hurry home, maybe it will be still in good condition."

"Getting you through the doors is going to be a challenge." Taichi said, eying BigAgumon's size. "And as much as Mom likes you, she may just want you as an occasional guest. I can only imagine the appetite you have now."

"Oh. That's understandable." BigAgumon said, though his face fell.

"Hey, maybe BigAgumon can live with me." Agumon said encouragingly, still in his arms. "I'm his Oniichan after all."

"I wouldn't mind that." BigAgumon replied, brightening. Then a mischievous thought popped into his mind. "Though you're forgetting one thing."

"Oh. What?"

BigAgumon slowly raised Agumon to eye level.

"I'm the Oniichan around here."

Agumon stared as he apparently realized the size difference between them. He smiled nervously.

"Umm…maybe we can take turns?"

"We might…little brother." BigAgumon said, turning his fist against Agumon's head in playful affection.

"Oh, this is going to be good." Taichi snickered.

Tailmon smiled. "I have a feeling things will become interesting with the two of them around."

"You can say that again." Hikari said. "When you're a Chosen Child, life is always interesting!"

The End

I'm on time for once. Hurray! Again, I must thank my mom and Higuchimon for proofreading this story. All of you reviewers and readers are also thanked for reading my first multichapter story. My next one would be a Tamers story focusing on Juri, Minami, and Alice. I don't know when I would post it. Maybe in one or two months at the earliest?

At any rate, I hope to see you all in my future stories!