Chapter 3

By:

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, or anything else that may appear in this story (except for the characters that you don't recognise, that is...) Here's part three, folks! ^_^ Comments and criticisms are fine. But NO flames.

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Ken's eyes flew open to find Davis shaking him awake. "What is it?" Ken asked, seeing his friend's worry and fear. "Its Jun!" Davis answered. "Ken, she's been kidnapped!" "What?!" Ken jumped up, all thoughts of Tessa and Tara leaving his mind as he felt his friend's pain. "When did you last see her?! What happened?!" "I only saw her yesterday, when she was going out to meet with her friends. Apparently, she didn't turn up to meet them. She wouldn't have run away, so she must have been kidnapped!" Ken rubbed his head. He was starting to get a headache. "We'd better tell the others," he commented. "Maybe they can help us to find her..."

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"How did I let you talk me into this?" Tara asked Tessa when they were in the real world. Tessa allowed a faint smile to creep across her face. "Because I'm a great arguer," she replied. "You couldn't argue with me any more, so you HAD to give in." "You wish," Tara grinned. But the smile soon faded from her face, and she sighed. "Tessa, I hope that you and Demitruthmon are right about Matt now knowing the truth about me. I don't think that I could stand it if he continued to hate me." "Of course I'm sure," Tessa lied, crossing her fingers behind her back. Actually, she wasn't that sure. Demitruthmon had told her that Matt knew the truth about Tara, but she hadn't actually said HOW she knew that he did. Tara had insisted on Tessa coming with her into the real world. Tessa hadn't wanted to at first, but Tara was her friend, and friends always did things for each other. And, besides, Demitruthmon really wanted ice cream. The last time they had come into the real world, Tessa had taken Demitruthmon to an ice cream parlour because they had both been hungry, and the fairy Digimon had loved the ice cream there, and had been really upset when they had to leave again. "ICE CREAM!!!!!!!" Demitruthmon yelled, seeing the ice cream parlour ahead of them. Tessa, Wizardmon, and Tara nearly jumped out of their skins. "Does your Digimon HAVE to shout so loud?" Wizardmon asked Tessa. Tessa made a face, and rubbed her ear. "It looks like she does," she muttered. "But put it this way. I got the worst of the shout. Demitruthmon's sitting on my shoulder, right next to my ear!" "Not any more, she isn't," Tara pointed out mildly. Tessa spun, and, with a groan, saw that Demitruthmon had lifted off her shoulder, and was flying towards the ice cream parlour. Tara was grinning. "Looks like we'd better follow her, Tessa," she commented. "Its just as well, really. I've been away from the real world for so long that I've forgotten how good the food here tastes! And I'm sure that Wizardmon will love the ice cream here as much as Demitruthmon does!" Wizardmon immediately looked worried. Tessa and Tara both giggled at his expression, and then all three of them walked into the ice cream parlour, Tessa and Tara arm in arm.

The owner, a fat, jolly man named James, was behind the counter, frowning in concentration as he counted some money. But, as Demitruthmon, Tessa, Tara, and Wizardmon walked in, he looked up, and the frown instantly changed to a huge grin. "TESSA!" he roared, walking round the counter, and pulling the young teenager into a big bear hug. "And Demitruthmon as well, so I see." Tessa sweat dropped mildly. "Um, hello, James," she said in a low voice. James put her down again. "Well, I haven't seen you two for a while!" he exclaimed. "We went back to the Digital World," Tessa answered. "Lynsdria and Lightamon did as well." "Well, its good that YOU'RE back," James smiled. "This is Tara, and this is Wizardmon," Tessa told James. "Wizardmon is Tara's Digimon." "Ok," James said. His face brightened. "I guess that means your friend is a Digidestined as well as you, then?" Tessa smiled and nodded. Demitruthmon was flying around, repeating over and over again, "Ice cream. Ice cream." James grinned. "I have her favourite flavour ice cream here," he whispered to Tessa. "Do you want me to give it to her?" "I think you'd better," Tessa laughed. "Demitruthmon's been looking forward to having ice cream ever since she found out that we were coming to this world." "Why don't you go and sit down, then?" James suggested. "I'll bring your ice cream over." He then turned to Tara and Wizardmon. "And what flavour ice cream would you two like?" he asked. Tara thought for a moment, then grinned. "Chocolate, please," she answered. "I guess I'll have the same as Tara, then," Wizardmon answered. "All right. Go and sit down. I'll bring your ice cream over." Tessa and Tara found a good table next to one of the windows with four seats. Thankfully, there was no one else in the ice cream parlour. Tessa didn't know how she would explain to other people how she and Tara had toys that could move and talk without any help. Demitruthmon stopped flying around, and flew down to perch on Tessa's shoulder. The teenager pulled affectionately on her wings, having learnt early on that her partner enjoyed having her wings gently pulled. While they were waiting for the ice cream to come, Tessa thought back to when she and Demitruthmon had first met.

*** Flashback ***

It had been just after Tessa's good side had taken over again from her bad side. After Lightamon had made Tessa see the pain and suffering and death she had caused. Tessa was just walking along one of the paths. She felt unhappy and worthless and terribly guilty about all she had done. Part of her just wanted to kill herself and end it all. But that was cancelled out by the part of her that thought that killing herself wouldn't work. She had to make up for all that she had done. Just then, Tessa came across a Digiegg and a crest lying in the middle of the path. Of course, she didn't actually KNOW what it was. She didn't know anything about the Digidestined or destiny. As far as she knew, she had nothing left. Tessa looked around, but couldn't actually see anyone who the strange things might belong to. So she decided to pick up the Digiegg and the crest and take them with her in case she met the owner or owners of them. The moment Tessa's hands closed around the Digiegg, it began to glow. Then, the Digiegg disappeared, and a small fairy Digimon with long white hair and dazzlingly brilliant blue eyes appeared in its place. Her slender golden and white wings kept her in the air fright in front of Tessa's face. It took some time for Tessa to find her voice. "Who... are you?" she asked. "My name is Demitruthmon," the Digimon answered in a sweet voice. "I am your Digimon. You are a Digidestined." "A Digidestined?" Tessa repeated. "What's that?" "It is your destiny," Demitruthmon explained. "It means that you are part of a team, and that sometimes you have to save the world. Your crest is the crest of Truth." "Truth?!" Tessa gasped. "That's the last thing that should be my crest! And, anyway, I am NOT a Digidestined! You must have made a mistake! Find someone else!" "Destiny doesn't make mistakes," Demitruthmon replied. She picked up the crest from the floor, and placed it around Tessa's neck. Then, she perched on Tessa's shoulder, her tiny hands plaiting the girl's hair. "I'm your partner now, Tessa. I'll always be with you."

*** End Flashback ***

Tessa smiled to herself as she remembered that Demitruthmon's personality had become more obvious over time. The little Digimon's loyalty and caring had been proved time after time. Though she was only a Rookie level Digimon, Demitruthmon would fight any Digimon, no matter how big and powerful they were, who dared to threaten her beloved Tessa. At just that moment, James came over with the ice cream. Demitruthmon's ice cream had a tiny spoon in it to make it easier for her to eat it. Demitruthmon flew off Tessa's shoulder, and sat on the table. She then started to eat her ice cream. Tessa brought her spoon about halfway up to her mouth. The door to the ice cream parlour opened, and someone walked in. "Hello, James," a voice said. Tessa froze. She KNEW that voice! She turned round in her seat, and saw Tai standing there, and... "Agumon," Tessa whispered. "Tessa," Agumon replied. "Who's this, Agumon?" Tai demanded with a frown. "Tessa," Agumon answered. "You know, Tai. I told you about her."

*** Flashback ***

"Do you want to find Tai, Agumon?" Tessa asked, stepping out from behind a tree. Agumon's eyes narrowed. "Who are you?" he demanded. "And how do you know where Tai is?!" "My name is Tessa," Tessa answered. "And I know where Tai is because I've seen him. Now, if you want to see him, then please come with me." And, with that, Tessa turned, and walked away. After a few moments, Agumon decided to follow Tessa. Agumon hadn't gone forward more than two or three steps when the ground suddenly started to shake beneath him. Then, the floor cracked open, and vines came out. One of them whipped around Agumon's neck. Almost immediately, Tessa, returned. She had a tiny dagger in her hand that she used to stab at the vines. Eventually, they released Agumon. The Digimon stared at Tessa in shock and horror. "You got those vines to attack me!" he cried. "No, I didn't," Tessa replied. Agumon ignored what Tessa had just said. "I'll find Tai on my own!" he snapped, leaving the clearing. Tessa stared after him, biting her lip, trying hard not to cry.

*** End Flashback ***

"No Digivolving or fighting in my parlour," James told the teenagers and their Digimon. "That's all right, James," Tai replied. "We'll just go outside and fight instead." James shot Tessa a worried look, and the young princess realised that James had only said that because he didn't want her or Demitruthmon to get hurt. She smiled at James to reassure him, but wondered who was going to reassure HER. Tessa stood up. Her ice cream forgotten, Demitruthmon flew off the table, and landed on her friend's shoulder. The two then walked out of the door. Wizardmon and Tara followed them like lost puppies. "Agumon, Digivolve!" Tai yelled. "Agumon Digivolve to... Greymon!" Demitruthmon flew off Tessa's shoulder, and started forward. Then, she paused, and looked back at her friend. Tessa looked away, and Demitruthmon sighed. Tessa still didn't want her to Digivolve and risk getting hurt. "NOVA FORCE!" Greymon shouted, sending a blast of fire at the fairy Digimon. Demitruthmon dodged. "FEATHER WING!" she yelled, her sweet voice sounding sharp. Gold and white feathers fell over Greymon, blinding him. "TRUTH BLOW!" Demitruthmon screamed. She blew a gust of air at Greymon, sending him reeling backwards. And then vines came out of the ground, and whipped around Greymon's ankles and the rest of him. Demitruthmon flew forward to help, but one of the vines slapped her out of the air. Demitruthmon fell to the ground, and lay still. "Demitruthmon!" Tessa cried. She was torn between running to Demitruthmon to see if her Digimon was all right, and going to help Greymon. Greymon was dragged slowly towards the crack in the ground. "GREYMON!" Tai yelled. Tessa pulled her dagger out of her belt, and leapt over to Greymon's side. Without a word, she started to cut at the vines holding Greymon. But there were too many of them, and they were too thick... And then, one of the vines hit the back of Tessa's head really hard. The girl's vision went black, and she dropped the dagger, falling to her knees. Another vine went around her throat, strangling her. Stars filled her vision, and she began to choke, her hands scrabbling at the vine around her neck. "Magic Glove!" (Sorry, I don't know his attacks...) Wizardmon had stepped forward, and was hitting the vines with a glowing fist. The vine around Tessa's neck released her, and she collapsed, coughing violently. "HOWLING BLASTER!" Garurumon leapt forward, blue ice coming out of his mouth and destroying more vines. Finally beaten, the vines retreated back through the crack in the ground. But a voice said in Tessa's mind, -Don't think that you have won. I WILL be back.- "Tessa?" It was Agumon, shaking her. "Tessa!" "She'll be all right." Demitruthmon, who had regained consciousness, flew down, and touched Tessa's cheek. "Tessa? Can you hear me?" "I guess I made a mistake," Agumon said softly as Tessa groaned and sat up. "I'm sorry." "It wasn't your fault," Tessa whispered, her voice hoarse. "What we're dealing with here is extremely powerful. It has the ability to control minds..." "Matt!" Tai said. "You came just in time." He looked down at Tessa. "Tessa... Are you all right?" Tessa slowly nodded, and got to her feet, rubbing her neck. Matt walked over to Tara, looked at her, then hugged her really tightly to him. "Tara... I'm sorry. Please forgive me." "I told you so," Tessa said smugly. Tara nodded, smiling. "Oh," Matt said. "Izzy sent me to fetch you, Tai. He's got something..."

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So what's Izzy got? Find out in part four! Comments, please! ^_^