Maximize this window for best effect.
*A.S.D.A(All Standard Disclaimers Apply).

Perfect Flaws

by Nefertanya Dragongurl Ahhotep

Part 2

Chapter 5-A Force To Be Reckoned With
>>indicates a switch to and form Pal's p.o.v, **indicates a switch to and from Gab's.

"ATTACK!!"

"Huh?" Sixteen heads swiveled suddenly, all arguments ceasing. Thirty-two eyes widened in stunned terror as Wasabimon charged into the clearing atop a very mean-looking, *very* large Gorillamon moving at a dead run. Behind him ran six other Gorillamon, grunting, snorting, and baring their teeth.

"What the-? Agumon, digivolve!" screamed Tai in panic.

"Agumon-warp-digivolve to...War Greymon!"

The muscular dragon digimon quickly threw his arm shield in front of Tai and Kari, fending off the attacker's temporarily. One by one, the digital defenders transformed to protect their friends.

"Gabumon-warp-digivolve to...MetalGarurumon!"

"Biyomon-digivolve to...Birdramon!"

"Tentomon-digivolve to...Kabuterimon!"

"Gatomon-digivolve to...Angewomon!"

"Patamon-digivolve to...Angemon!"

"Gomamon-digivolve to...Ikkakumon!"

"Palmon-digivolve to...?" With a sickening clarity, the little flower realize she wasn't able to digivolve!

"**Palmon-digivolve to...!" With brown eyes wide with fear, Mimi turned to me.

"What's going on? Why haven't you digivolved yet?!" she wailed in terror.

"I'm *trying*!" I wailed back. Something was wrong. Why can't I digivolve?!

"Palmon--pretty *please* digivolve to..."

But it was no use.

On the other side of the meadow, MetalGarurumon, Matt, and the others were desperately trying to keep their senses as the shrieking Gorillamon ran about, darting every which way, throwing large rocks, fallen and uprooted trees, energy bolts, and anything else they could get their hands on. One energy blast made a direct hit on Birdramon, and she found herself being flung into Ikkakumon, knocking the both of them into the trees. Unconscious, they dedigivolved to they're rookie forms.

"This isn't working Tai!" Sora cried as she ran to comfort her injured friend. "they're too strong!"

"I'm not giving up! War Greymon, you can do it!"

"They can't get the best of us!" agreed Matt. "Metal Garurumon, use your Metal Wolf Claw!"

The two Megas leapt side-by-side and unleashed their powerful attacks. Several gorillamon, panicked by the sudden display of force, screeched loudly and turned tail. Promises of fruit were obviously not worth this.

"Yeah! I *knew* we could do it!" Matt and Tai hi-fived each other with glee as the others cheered.

"I wouldn't celebrate yet, destined ones."

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888

Chapter 6: Hold The Mustard, Please

With clenched fists, Matt challenged the newcomer. "Who are you?"

"My name is Wasabimon." The wild-maned menace crouched into an attack position. "And my master has plans that he doesn't want you to interfere with!"

"What kind of plans? I thought we destroyed all the Dark Masters!" Joe cried, protectively cradling the still unconscious Gomamon.

Wasabimon chuckled evilly. "That's true. My master is not one of *them*. He has much higher standards. But he doesn't want you to go and ruin things, so you'll get no information from me!"

"We'll see about that. Electro-Shocker!" crowed Kabuterimon, unleashing a giant bolt of ball lightning at the stranger. Wasabimon leapt to the side, deftly avoiding being turned into crispy critter, and the voltage plummeted 'harmlessly' into the trees. He dropped on all fours, his coarse hairs standing on end like a porcupine's quills, head tucked between his front paws. "K.O Spray!"

Almost immediately, streams of a yellowish gas hissed from the spikes, forming a viscous cloud that completely enveloped the destined ones, burning their lungs and eyes. The Champion digimon were forced to dedigivolve to their rookie forms, followed quickly after by the Megas.

"My legs!" screamed Sora. "They're going numb!"

"I can't breathe!" T.K choked, tears streaming down his face. "What is this stuff?!"

"It appears to be some kind of paralyzing gas! Cover your mouths and try not to breathe it in!" wheezed Izzy. But try as they might, they could not escape the gas's effects, and slowly but surely each succumbed to it's paralyzing effects.

<<"Mimi?! MIMI?!*cough cough* Where are you?" I blinked furiously, searching for any sign of my pink-clad friend.

"Palmon?! Where are you? Palmon!"

"Mimi! Over here! Over he...." I felt my stomach hit my knees as the blackness overcame me. Before I was completely out, I felt the sensation of being bodily lifted and slung over something hard.

"Gabumon...?"

8888888888888888888888888888888888888 888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Chapter 7:Aftermath

**"ohhhohhh......." I groaned hoarsely. My body felt like it had been run over by the entire population of Monochromon.

"Gabumon?" Matt spoke up weakly from nearby.

"I'm right here, Matt." I answered, forcing my eyes open. The sun's glare burned into them, swelling them with more tears, and I had to blink hard several times before I could see clearly. I forced my protesting body into a semi-standing position, and half-walked, half-crawled to my friend's side.

"Matt, are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah." he coughed. "I'm fine. You too?"

I nodded and helped the teen to his feet. Together we surveyed the damage from the battle. Who knew one little digimon could be so much trouble? Tai, Sora, Agumon, and Biyomon were also groggily trying to get to their feet-but TK, Kari, and their digimon were still prostrate on the battle scarred ground.

"TK!"

"Kari!"

Apparently forgetting the pain in their own bodies, both brothers rushed to their respective siblings sides, quickly joined by Sora and us digimon.

"Oh my goodness! Tai, are they all right?" I watched her mouth a silent prayer in the hopes that the answer wouldn't be as bad as we feared.

"I-I don't know Sora. Kari? Kari, can you hear me?"

Matt gently patted his little brother's cheek. "C'mon TK. Wake up!"

I looked over to Agumon helplessly. He looked worriedly back at me, just as clueless as to what to do. Big scary monsters we can deal with, but this? This-just isn't good.

"Hey guys! Guys!"
We all turned towards the familiar male voice. "Joe? JOE! Get over here quick!" Tai cried out in panic. The blue-haired teenager limped up still carrying Gomamon, Izzy and Tentomon just behind. "What's wrong Tai?"

"It's Kari! She won't wake up!"

"Neither will TK!"

"Probably due to prolonged exposure to that gas cloud we experienced." Izzy croaked out as Joe checked the little ones vital signs.

"Wow, whatever made you think of that, genius?" quipped Matt sarcastically. "The question is, how do we wake 'em up?"

I moved over to Gomamon and Biyomon as Joe rummaged through his medical bag. "Now where did I...Ah! Here it is!" He cried as he pulled out a small object. I craned my neck to see, but he turned his back before I got a good look.

"What is that?"

"Smelling salts." replied Gomamon softly. "Joe used them on me to weak me up. I think they might do the trick." I nodded hopefully and turned back to the crisis at hand. As he put the salts under Kari's nose, a high pitched screech of pure abject terror ripped through the air.

"Mimi?" we all asked at once.

She ran up to us looking for all the world as if Devimon himself was chasing her. Her bloodshot eyes were as wide as the plates I used to have to bus at Veggimon's Diner. I hated that job...

"Where is she?!" She screamed hysterically at the top of her lungs. "Where is she?!"

The fortunate side effect of Pink's screaming was that it *did* manage to awaken the sleepers.

"Uhhnn.....Matt? Whas' goin' on?" slurred TK. Matt cradled his brother's head in his arms. "Shh, lie still little bro."

By this time, Joe had managed to grab hold of Mimi, who was babbling incoherently to him, and was trying to soothe her.

"Matt, what's wrong with her?" TK asked as well all stared numbly at the hysterical girl.

"I think she's in shock or something. Here Joe!" I watched as Matt slipped off his jacket and held it out. "Put this on her!" I grabbed it out of his hand and ran it over to Joe, who slipped it over her shaking shoulders. He rubbed her back in a calming fashion, allowing her to lean on him for support.

"It's okay now, Mimi. We're here. You're safe now." The pink-clad girl still sobbed, although much quieter than before. Sora stepped around Tai and came over to us as well.

"Mimi." She cooed sympathetically. "What's wrong? What happened?"

She looked up at Sora, and I was surprised to see how red and soulless her eyes were. Staring dully into space, she spoke. Her voice was flat and monotonous, and her words chilled me to the core:

"Palmon's gone."

88888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 88888888888888888888888

Chapter 8: MIA
a/n-from this point until further notice, the pov is in 3rd person, w/the occasional slip into Gab's pov when deemed appropriate(by me !)

"What do you mean, she's gone?" Tai shrieked indignantly as he leapt to his feet. "Where did she go?"

"I think that should be pretty obvious Tai." Kari spoke matter-of-factly as she petted Gatomon. "Whoever it was that attacked us must have taken her."

"Maybe." agreed Gatomon with a purr. "Or maybe she just got disoriented inside that gas cloud and is just lost in the forest.."

"I *hic* looked *hic* all o-over for her," Mimi sobbed against Joe's shoulder. "I don't-I don't know where she is!"

Matt walked over and pulled Mimi away from a grateful, sopping wet Joe and hugged her gently. "Don't worry Mimi. We'll find her."

"The most logical solution would be to split up into two groups and each group search the clearing for clues." Izzy spoke up, resting his chin on his hand in a thoughtful manner.

"Good idea Izzy. Matt, me, Agumon, and Gabumon will search this way," Tai gestured off to one side of the meadow, "Sora, Izzy, Biyomon, and Tentomon will search the other side. The rest of you-stay here!"

He held up his hands in defense as the "stay-there" group voiced their displeasure. "C'mon guys, be reasonable! We all agree that we have to search for Palmon, right?" They all nodded. "Well, what if she comes wandering back here? Someone should be here in case that happens. Besides, Kari, TK, and Mimi are in no shape for travel."

"That does sound reasonable enough." Joe said thoughtfully. "But why do I stay? Er-no offense guys!" He blushed apologetically back at the annoyed glares.

"You're the only doctor we've got if she comes back injured."

By the time Tai realized what he'd said, the damage had already been done.

"Do you really think she's injured!?" wailed Mimi, breaking into fresh sobs. "Oh Palmon!" The others all turned to glare daggers at Tai.

"Way to go Tai." Sora snapped icily. The leader chuckled nervously as he threw an arm behind his head in embarrassment.

"Well, I uh...eh hehe...that is....um..."

"Forget about it. Let's just go." Matt glared one last time, then motioned to his digimon and Tai's. Sora's party walked away as well. The brown-eyed teen watched her leave for a few moments, then moaned audibly and jogged off to catch up with Agumon and Matt. The seven remaining digidestined sat in silence for a long time, Mimi breaking the stillness with the occasional sniffle.

"Do you really think she's hurt?"

The question startled Joe so much he nearly yelped, and ended up kicking Gomamon in the stomach. The seal *did* yelp, and grumbling, moved off. Joe quickly regained his composure, flashing a smile of apology to Gomamon. He then leaned over and patted her knee, the closest body part with in reach.

"Don't worry Mimi. She's a strong digimon. She'll be fine!"

The tear stained face of Mimi Tachikawa smiled wistfully and nodded just a bit before looking away. Joe returned to his original position.

"I hope." he whispered softly.

Go On!

Back