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*A.S.D.A(All Standard Disclaimers Apply).

Perfect Flaws

by Nefertanya Dragongurl Ahhotep

Part 10

Chapter 37- MERLIN???

The chosen children stared, completely dumbfounded. What amazing marvels they'd been witness to today. First the discovery of a digimon ruler who had the power to steal souls, then the discovery of Palmon's transformation, then Mimi's surprising(if slow) recovery from MarquisDemon's blow. Then Palmon had somehow been able to access some source of power even her new human form, and had used this power to attack the handsome castle lord.

And *now*, the teens all looked on in amazement as Ladymon lay dying in his arms. Before her beautiful form had been shattered beyond repair, she had called her lord by name-Merlin.

"My dear lady. Hang on, I will find a way to heal you."

"Hush Merlin. We both know I shalt not see the dawn."

"Nimue. What will I do without you?"

"Give up this silly quest! Your true love's soul is not within her." she nodded weakly at the humamon. "Nor is it anywhere on this plane. You knew that."

As if strangled by it, MarquisDemon/Merlin tore off his half helmet. Tears were pouring from his deep blue eyes as he gently stroked Ladymon/Nimue's cheek. "Yes, I-I did know, it's true. I....I just didn't want to believe....."

Come with me, brother. We will rejoin our friends, our family, our loves, together. Like we should have all those many years ago."

Merlin stared silently at her, hesitation evident in his eyes as he tried to come to grips with his fate. Finally, he carefully laid Nimue down, stood and walked over to the Chosen Ones.

"Serenamon...Palla...Please forgive this lost soul for the damage it's done. Many years ago, I lost my beloved to most unfortunate circumstance. I lost myself in my grief, and in my madness I believed I would find her soul reborn into another as pure hearted as her.

I learned that in order to keep control over another, you must hold within yourself a part of their soul. And so great was my fear of being left forever alone, I could not bring myself to release those parts, even when I knew my love did not inhabit that contained soul. But now....now my nightmare is ending. Serenamon, you are as noble as you are beautiful. Take care that the fires that drew me to you are never extinguished.

And Palla...."

He stepped over to her and kissed her hand regally. "You, out of all my searches, came closest to the ideals my beloved held most dear. May your heart always remain pure and forgiving, and may you never want for lack of love."

Palmon blushed at his words, still to surprised to actually speak, and simply nodded. Merlin looked at his gardens one last time before walking back to Nimue. Gently he picked her up and kissed her forehead.

"Dear Sister. I am ready to leave this realm."

She smiled reassuringly, any last trace of her icy demeanor slipping away. Exhausted, she rested her head against his chest. "Yes."

It was to be her last affirmation as a blindingly white glow engulfed the two figures. When it faded, they were gone.

"Oh." said Mimi softly, tears brimming in her brown eyes. "How sad."

"Tragic endings were always a part of *their* story."

The familiar scratchy voice scared the pants off them. Wasabimon stood behind them, staring sadly at the spot where Merlin and Nimue had once been. "Still, he was a *damn* good boss though. Great severance packages, too."

The spiky brown digimon waddled up to Palmon. Remembering what had started this whole misadventure, Gabumon and Agumon immediately flanked her sides, every sense alert to any 'funny business'. Wasabimon glanced at them, and shot out a stubby paw and grabbed Palmon's hand before the fighters had even had time to blink.

"I'm sorry for all the trouble, miss. I was only following orders, earning my keep, if you will. Maybe someday you'll learn more about their tale, and you'll pity him like I do. Anyways, it's best you leave now. The castle won't stay together much longer without them." He turned and waddled off towards the gate.

"Wait! How can you defend him? Pity him, even?" Serenamon burst out. The mustard colored digimon paused, and looked darkly over his shoulder at her.

"I lost someone I loved too, once."

He disappeared through the shadows, leaving behind a rather guilty virus.

"I-I'd no idea.....I'm sorry." she whispered after him.

The double D's meditated in quiet reflection, imagining their reactions to losing one so close to them. Unconsciously, some began to step closer to others members.

And so, lost in such profound thought, the first weak tremors went unnoticed. But the stronger ones that followed weren't.

"Wah! Oh man, the whole place is shaking apart!" Joe wailed as he picked Gomamon up quickly.

"Let's get out of here!" Agumon ordered shakily as he pushed Gatomon and Kari away from a falling trellis.

"Follow me!"

With Serenamon leading, they took off at top speed. Even over the added din of the falling castle, Izzy and Tentomon were still able to help her open the door. The digidestined bolted through as fast as their legs/wings would let them, but the pale girl paused.

"Serena! C'mon!" Izzy demanded as the doors began to shut.

"I-I can't!" she replied with a hoarse wail. "M-my soul..."

"The doors are closing! Get out, get out!" Tentomon buzzed frantically, going so far as to fly back inside and try to push her out.

"Look, everyone else is gone! If they've all left, they all have their souls back in one piece and so do you!" Izzy reasoned. Behind her, the castle was literally falling to pieces. If the doors shut with her inside, she'd be deleted forever.

"I......I....."

The black eyes of the Digidestined of Knowledge suddenly set. He knew what needed to be done. Throwing aside caution, he leapt over the lower doors.

"Koushiro!" she cried in anger. "What are you doing?!"

"Take my hand."

"What??"

"Trust me!" he hollered as he grabbed the appendage and, with Tentomon pushing from behind still, yanked her forward and through the door, second before it sealed shut and disappeared for eternity.

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Chapter 38- Endings
and u thought it would never happen! BTW, this switches in and out of Palmon's pov.

Amazing. Simply Amazing. A grand structure, several stories high, had simply vanished from the Digital World without leaving so much as a nail behind. The only other place where something so miraculous could happen was Las Vegas!

"It's over." Tai said in awestruck tones. "It's really over!"

"Though we didn't exactly 'win' that one, did we?" Matt replied.

"Mm."

"AHH!! OH NO!"

Palmon was yanking at her neckline, weeping furiously. "I didn't <sob> change back! It's not fair! Serenamon got her soul, but how come I'm still human?!" she demanded at high volumes.

"Oh, oh Palmon! We'll think of something!" Mimi reached over to comfort the inconsolable girl.

"Palmon, what's that in your hand?" Gabumon asked softly, tapping the hand in question.

"Huh?" she pulled away from Mimi and looked at the mysterious vial, wrapped in parchment paper.

'Drink contents slowly. Do *not* spill any!' was written on the parchment in beautiful calligraphy.

>>"How did...?"

"Wasabimon must have given it to you when he grabbed your hand." Gabumon was sniffing it intently, so I held it closer to him, knowing full well his sense of smell was the best on the team's.

"Is that...could it be....the cure?" Serenamon wondered aloud.

"It's possible. MarquisDemon or Merlin or whoever released all his other captives, so why wouldn't he release Palmon by giving her the means to return to her true form?" Izzy theorized. "But we don't know this to be true for sure, so Palmon, it's up to you to decide. The ball, as they say, is in your court."

Yeah, I knew that. I stared at the small container that quite possibly make everything normal again(well, as normal as life for a digidestined could get, anyway). Carefully, I unscrewed the cap, lifted it to my friends in a kind of silent toast, and slowly began to drink. Which wasn't easy, seeing as it tasted the way TK's socks smelled after a long hike. Jeeze, was it that hard to make an antidote that tasted somewhat decent??

I forced it to stay down somehow, shuddering at the icky aftertaste, and looked up at Mimi. She was looking back at me expectantly. So I hadn't changed then, I drooped miserably. I was to be stuck in this form forever.

Suddenly I began to feel very lightheaded...

"I don't feel so good." I whispered, holding my head in my hand

"Palmon, you're glowing!" Mimi shrieked.

"I am?"

Indeed I was. A soft gentle glow at first, it intensified quickly, forcing the team shield their eyes.>>

Once the light had subsided, Mimi blinked away the flashspots and gasped.

"Oh Palmon! You're back!" she squealed excitedly, clapping her hands in glee.

"Huh?" Looking down at herself, Palmon saw Mimi was right! The dress that had fit so perfectly in human form now pooled around her legs, the neckline around her elbows.

"I'm me again!"

"You sure are!" Gomamon cheered, trying unsuccessfully to casually push the awestruck Gabumon into saying something.

"All right!"

"Prodigious!"

Way to go!"

"Whoo-hoo!"

The cheers poured on as the team surrounded their 'prodigal digimon' in a group hug. Blushing happily, Palmon giggled and hugged them all back, extending her vines.

Finally they broke apart, and Kari suddenly gasped. "Oh, look!"

The field where MarquisDemon's castle had stood was now filled with fragrant orchids and lilies in a breathtaking carpet of color.

Above it, still visible in the now-morning sky, two stars side by side twinkled their farewell.

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Go On! I wanna read the Epilogues!

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