Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ Remembrance ❯ Recovery ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3

By Time Lady

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Disclaimer: Digimon is owned by Toei, not me.

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Author's note: The events of this story would take place at the end of the events of episode 50, but replace the original epilogue. In essence, this is an alternate future story. Only the DigiDestined have digivices and Digimon partners, not everyone in the world.

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According to the history, Gennai led the DigiDestined and their Digimon to the Primary Village. At that time, it was one of the few surviving places of any substance. Gennai had also reasoned that the humans might feel more comfortable once they realized that Digimon were babies once too.

The DigiDestined and their partners mingled with the humans as they trickled in. The idea was to acclimate the people to the fact that humans and Digimon could coexist. Though they wished to mourn further, the DigiDestined realized that these scared, displaced humans needed help to understand their new home and the creatures inhabiting it.

Not all of the DigiDestined were active though. Hikari lay in a bedroom in one of the buildings. After a week, she still hadn't awoken. Holy Angemon hovered over her anxiously. He refused to leave her side.

---

"How is she?" asked Derek. Ganimon hopped in at his heels.

"No change," replied Holy Angemon, a sad note to his voice. "I should have pulled away when I saw the glow spreading."

"Don't start blaming yourself," said Ganimon.

"He's right," agreed Derek. "While you two were doing whatever that was, Gennai went into some long explanation of how essential it was for you two to forge some sort of bonds. Mina wanted to stop it, but Gennai wouldn't let her."

"What good is it if Hikari never wakes up?" returned the angel.

"She will," said Ganimon. "She's just totally drained of energy. With what she went through, if she were a Digimon she'd probably revert all the way to baby form."

Holy Angemon repressed a shudder and forced back the urge to gather Hikari into his arms protectively. He never had forgotten the time he had faced Devimon. It took every last ounce of his energy, to the point that he returned to a Digi-egg.

"Benjamin believes she is in a coma," said Derek. "People wake from comas all the time." He didn't add that people also might remain in comas for years, and that without proper medical treatment, Hikari might starve to death before she could wake. "We should get back to mingling. Jackie was supposed to be bringing in another group this afternoon. Do you want me to bring you anything?"

"No thank you. Rosa brought some things earlier."

Nodding, Derek turned and walked to the door. "You should take a break and let someone else take care of Hikari for a while," advised Ganimon. "Staying shut in like this isn't healthy for you."

"I'll be fine," returned Holy Angemon.

Once Derek and Ganimon were gone, Holy Angemon turned to the pale figure in the bed. "I'm failing again," he whispered. "I failed to protect Takeru, and now I am failing to keep my vow to Angewomon." A tear rolled from beneath his visor. "If only I could return to you the energy you gave me. . ." He stared at the disc that hung as a pendant resting on Hikari's chest, directly above her heart. At some point the disc turned so that the symbol for peace faced up. Through the crystal, he could see the dim images of hope and light as well.

Hikari had been holding the pendant, trying to energize it. Perhaps it could work both ways. Tentatively he touched it. The disc was warm to the touch. Holy Angemon laid his hand on top of the disc. He felt Hikari's chest move as she breathed. Concentrating, he could also feel her heartbeat. The angel kept one hand on the disk and Hikari's chest. With his other hand, he took one of Hikari's limp hands and placed it against his chest. "I felt your heart beating with mine as you gave me your energy. Now feel mine as I try and return the energy."

Holy Angemon closed his eyes and concentrated. Under his hand, Hikari's heart beat weakly. By controlling his breathing and willing his body, Holy Angemon tried to slow his heart to beat in synch with hers. His personal fears made this difficult. His heart raced with anxiety. "I can do this," he told himself. "I have to do this." Gradually he felt his own pulse slowing. After what seemed like an eternity their hearts matched beat for beat. Instinctively he knew this was integral to the energy. "Take what I offer," he whispered. "Take every last bit of my life force if you have to."

There was no pink glow. There was nothing to the casual observer to suggest that anything unusual was occurring. But the increasing strength of Hikari's heartbeat was enough to tell Holy Angemon that his idea was working. He opened his eyes and watched her face intently. After a few long, nerve-wrecking minutes, Hikari's eye lids fluttered, then gradually opened. "Hikari. . ." said Holy Angemon anxiously. He moved his hand from the disc on her chest to stroke her cheek gently.

Barely conscious, Hikari's mind tried to register her surroundings. Only one thing clicked. "My angel," she said in a weak whisper. Then she closed her eyes. Holy Angemon leaned forward and brushed his lips across her forehead. Then he moved to the chair next to her bed. He knew now she would recover. Leaning back in his chair, he closed his eyes and let his body relax. Willing energy to a human took a lot out of a Digimon. Holy Angemon didn't hear the sound of someone trying to tiptoe away from the door.

"Oh my aching back and feet," complained Monochromon as he collapsed to the ground beside a long, food laden table. "If I hear 'can I have a ride' one more time today, I'm going to scream!" The exhausted Digimon devolved to Gotsumon.

"At least the children are accepting their new situation," said Derek as he began setting up a grill. "Better than most of the adults."

"Yes, but I still think Andromon is having trouble dealing with people asking for his autograph and calling him Robocop," said Michael.

"I don't get that one," said Derek.

"Old American movie from the 1980's," explained Michael. "My father claims he was an extra in the movie, but I've yet to find him in it and I've watched the DVD at least a hundred times. It's about a police officer who is given a robotic body. Andromon does look a lot like him."

"I am so tired," said Betamon as he collapsed next to Gotsumon. "I've been giving human children and Punimon rides in the river."

"Hey, is that grill set up yet?" asked Digitamamon. Somehow the egg Digimon had been found among the survivors and was now organizing food distribution to the growing camp.

"Almost," said Derek. "Hey Meramon, could you light a fire in the barbie?" he said as the flaming Digimon approached with Mina.

Meramon rolled his eyes. "Now I'm being turned into a glorified cigarette lighter." The fire covered Digimon put his hand on the charcoal.

"Thanks Mate."

"Where is Rosa?" asked Mina.

"Rosa went to check on Holy Angemon and Hikari," returned Michael.

At the mention of her name, Rosa came running out of the house, her pigtails flying behind her. "Hikari woke up!"

"Really?" asked Mina.

"It was only for un poquito," explained Rosa. "I hear her say something, then she go back to sleep." Rosa told the others what she had seen happening in the room, but omitted the part where she saw Holy Angemon kiss Hikari's forehead. "I think Holy Angemon fall asleep in his chair."

"Sounds like he tried to return some of the energy Hikari used," mused Betamon.

"We probably should leave them both rest," advised Mina. "I will bring some food in a little while."

It began as a slightly gnawing feeling. The more it was ignored, the more urgent it grew. It came to the point where she could ignore it no longer. Hikari's eyes opened slowly. At some point, she had been carried to a room somewhere. Her whole body ached. But her growling stomach forced her to try and sit up.

"Unnnggghhh. . ." she groaned as she fell back against the pillows.

Holy Angemon's eyes flew open, though no one could see them behind the visor. He turned to see Hikari struggling to sit up. The angel was by her side in a flash.

"Hikari," he said gently, "you shouldn't try and move too much." As he tried to prop her up against the pillows, she studied the changes in the Digimon. "MagnaAngemon?"

"Holy Angemon now." He pointed to the disc she wore by way of explanation. "How do you feel?"

"Awful," she replied hoarsely. "Like I've been asleep for a month and it wasn't enough."

"You _have_ been unconscious for over a week," said Holy Angemon as he poured her a glass of water from a pitcher on the end table. "Drink. We tried to get you to swallow some water so you wouldn't dehydrate."

"Thank you," whispered Hikari. The cool water soothed her parched throat and tempered her growling stomach. "Where are the others?" she asked

"Waiting outside anxiously," said a voice. Holy Angemon and Hikari turned to see Mina in the doorway, a tray in her hands. "We thought it might be too much if a whole crowd jammed in here at one time. Digitamamon sent you some of his special soup."

"Digitamamon is here?" asked Hikari.

"Several Digimon we know survived and are here at Primary Village," explained Holy Angemon. "Kentauromon, Digitamamon, Andromon, Monzeamon. . . ."

"Another one arrived with a group yesterday, or so he claims to know DigiDestined," interjected Mina. "This one is rather strange, green, carries a large club. But all his bravado seems a façade."

"Ogremon," said Hikari with a giggle as she took a spoonful of soup. "He may be a virus Digimon, but he's one you'll always want on your side." She sipped the soup, then set down the spoon thoughtfully. "He was very loyal to Mimi and Jyou. He helped us when we fought Piemon and the other dark masters." Hikari fell silent, lost in sad memories.

"How did you know Hikari was awake?" asked Holy Angemon, trying to redirect Hikari's thoughts.

"Apparently Rosa has a very bad habit of listening at doorways," said Mina. "Once things have settled down, we will have to cure her of this habit."

---

Hikari spent about another week recovering her strength. In that time, several thousand more humans arrived.

The history describes Primary Village as resembling a huge campsite. Tents covered the countryside. Younger humans took to the idea of living with Digimon instantly. Some of the younger adults accepted the idea easily. Older humans were harder to convince. A few simply thought that it was just plain weird. Others thought the Digimon were demonic creatures and tried to avoid them all, even the cutest Yukimibotmon. These humans moved to the outer fringes of the encampment. Some went so far as to preach to the other humans that they were now in some sort of limbo between heaven and hell.

Looking back from my point of view, these people seem incredibly silly. I think they must have run into some virus Digimon before they came to Primary Village. And then, some of the nastier viruses. I mean, Gazimon and Veggimon are really okay, once you get to know them. Even Ogremon looks worse than he really is. Actually, he's one of the sweetest Digimon I know. But don't let him hear anyone say that.

Nowadays there aren't those kinds of feelings. People and Digimon live together peacefully. On rare occasions some Digimon goes mad and rampages through one of the villages, but the other Digimon work together to get the rogue under control.

Back then, I guess there was a lot of fear. A huge, climactic battle destroys your world as you know it and forces you to rebuild from scratch. Your new world is populated by strange, sentient creatures totally different from anything you've ever experienced. You really can't blame anyone. Except the dark lords, and they're now gone.

---

"Are you sure you're up to this?" asked Holy Angemon.

"Yes," returned Hikari. "I'm tired of being cooped up inside. And I'd like to see some of the other people who have arrived." While Hikari had been recovering, only the DigiDestined, their Digimon, and a few of her old friends visited. Holy Angemon hovered over her the entire time. If he felt someone stayed too long and tired Hikari out, he made sure they left. Even if they weren't ready to leave. After a couple days of Holy Angemon's attention, Hikari began to realize how guilty the angel Digimon felt for both Takeru's and Angewomon's deaths. It was an issue they would have to discuss at some point.

Rosa and Gotsumon met them outside. "Could you come with us this morning por favor?"

"Is something wrong?" asked Holy Angemon.

"No. I'd like you to meet a nice lady who came with the first group here. She live in one of the tents at the end of the camp. Derek went to talk to her," said Rosa. "She is un poco stubborn. She met everyone and our Digimon, but she still no like Digimon. I think she need friends, but she try to make more people not like Digimon. Maybe you talk with her and she understand."

"We can try, I guess," said Hikari with a shrug. They began walking down a row of tents. Holy Angemon took flight and followed from above. "How many people are here now?" she asked.

"Muchos! Jose tells me around eighty thousand so far," returned Rosa.

"So where have all the tents come from? I didn't think there were ever that many in the Digital World before."

"Gennai, and Jose, and Benjamin, and Ilya, and Jackie, they all bring them. Mina asked where the tents were from, but they not say where."

As the DigiDestined and Gotsumon walked through the encampment, Holy Angemon flew. It felt good to stretch his wings after nearly two weeks confined indoors. Rosa noticed people looking skyward and pointing. A few of the older ones knelt down as if in prayer. "Interesante," she thought.

They stopped at a tent way out at the edge of the encampment. Ganimon was lounging on the ground a short distance away from the tent. "That woman is crazy," said Ganimon. "When I came close to the tent, she started chanting and throwing things at me. I don't even want to know what she's been up to with poor Derek."

Rosa led Hikari to the tent while Betamon remained with Ganimon. From inside they could hear Derek saying "Mrs. Bambata, I am not possessed of evil spirits!"

Hikari looked at Rosa questioningly. "Mrs. Bambata is a religious older lady who say she from Haiti. She think Digimon are demons."

"You don't think. . ."

"I do not know. Every time we tried to talk to her, she tries to make the 'demons' stay away from us, pobre Digimon. From what I see, she think Digimon partners are creaturas del Diablo, who are control our souls. I think she sorry for me though. I tell her it is possible that I never see Mama and Papa again."

"Great," muttered Hikari as she followed Rosa into the tent. Inside, Derek was sitting on a chair. He had been draped with wreaths of garlic and strange herbs. A Haitian woman in her late 50's walked around him, praying.

"Am I glad to see you Mates," muttered Derek.

Mrs. Bambata finished her prayer, then looked up. "Rosa," she began. "This boy comes up here on his demon trying to plant all sorts of evil nonsense in my mind. I have been trying to purge the demons from him." Hikari coughed to hide a laugh. It was then that Mrs. Bambata saw her. "Rosa, you did not tell me we had company." Mrs. Bambata hurriedly smoothed her hair back. "Welcome."

"Thank you," returned Hikari.

"Mrs. Bambata, this is Hikari Yagami," said Rosa. "She is one of the DigiDestined."

"Oh really?" Mrs. Bambata drew herself up to her full height.

Outside, Holy Angemon lost track of time. His wings spread wide, he glided high in the sky, feeling the wind on his face. He would not admit to anyone how cramped his wings felt after staying indoors for as long as he did with Hikari. _Hikari_. Looking around, he realized the others were nowhere to be seen. "Where are they?" he thought. After a few minutes he spied Gotsumon sitting under a tree with Ganimon.

"Where are Rosa and Hikari?" asked Holy Angemon as landed.

"In there," said Ganimon, gesturing to the tent a short distance away. "Trying to talk to some crazy old human woman."

"Crazy woman. . . HIKARI!" Holy Angemon took off at a run towards the tent.

"Is it my imagination, or is he being a bit overprotective?" asked Gotsumon. Ganimon responded with a shrug.

"And so where do creatures like the platypus and the echidna come in?" said Derek, trying to throw Mrs. Bambata off guard.

"They prove the good Lord's sense of humor," returned Mrs. Bambata.

"I should have stayed in bed," thought Hikari as she listened to the theological discussion. "Nothing is going to convince her the Digimon aren't demons short of a miracle. . ."

Suddenly, the flap of the tent flew open. "Hikari!" shouted Holy Angemon as he ran into the tent.

"OH MY LORD!" Mrs. Bambata took one look at Holy Angemon and fainted.

"This isn't exactly what we had in mind," said Derek.

Holy Angemon gently picked up Mrs. Bambata and carried her to a cot while Derek explained what had been happening. Hikari poured some water into a basin on a table, then wet a cloth and set it on Mrs. Bambata's forehead. Rosa held the unconscious woman's hand. The older woman didn't awake for about 10 minutes. When she opened her eyes, they immediately fell upon Holy Angemon.

"I always knew leading a clean life would get me into heaven," she said.

"You're still alive Mrs. Bambata," said Derek. "You fainted."

"Well, then the good Lord is sending me visions, because I am seeing an angel before me," returned Mrs. Bambata.

"Mrs. Bambata, meet Holy Angemon," said Hikari.

"He is Hikari's Digimon," added Rosa.

"Hikari's Digimon". . . the phrase sounded strange to Holy Angemon after being referred to as "Takeru's Digimon" for the last few years. But he knew it was true, from the incident with Hikari's strange abilities and the disc. "Yes Mrs. Bambata," said Holy Angemon. "Just as Ganimon is Derek's Digimon and Gotsumon is Rosa's Digimon. Digimon are just beings created of data."

For the first time since she arrived in camp, Mrs. Bambata listened as Derek and Holy Angemon explained about Digimon and the Digital World. They talked for about a half hour. The more Mrs. Bambata learned, the more curious she became about the Digimon themselves.

"It seems as if I have greatly wronged many creatures," said Mrs. Bambata softly.

"You've been thrust into a strange situation. You reacted the only way you knew," returned Hikari.

"Si," said Rosa, twirling her braid. "It just took a lot longer for you to understand."

"Well, if there are angels among the Digimon, then they can't be all bad." Mrs. Bambata hesitated. "Do you think they will be angry with me?"

"There's only one way to find out," said Holy Angemon. "Ganimon and Gotsumon are probably still outside."

"Ganimon is the one that looks like a mutated blue crab, right?" asked Mrs. Bambata.

"Yes. He's my Digimon," said Derek.

"I hope he'll forgive me for throwing those things at him," returned Mrs. Bambata, looking somewhat embarrassed.

"He's been hit with worse." Derek smiled.

Mrs. Bambata walked outside with the DigiDestined and Holy Angemon. They could see Gotsumon and Ganimon dozing in the sun. "I guess I should go apologize." As they walked towards the two Digimon, they heard crying next to a tree. Under the tree a Yukimbotamon was sobbing. "What - what is it?"

Hikari knelt down. "This is a Yukimibotamon - a baby Digimon," she explained. "What happened?" she asked the fluffy white Digimon.

"I - I was playing tag with Nyokomon and Punimon and I fell and rolled down and hit the tree!" it sobbed.

"Oh, pobrecita!" exclaimed Rosa.

"A baby Digimon," said Mrs. Bambata as she knelt next to Hikari. "Well I never. . . " The older woman took out a handkerchief and dabbed at Yukimibotamon's tears. "There's a nasty bump on the head, and a small cut. Can. . . I pick it up?"

"Baby Digimon are very light," said Derek.

Cautiously Mrs. Bambata picked up the baby and walked back to the tent, followed by the humans. She set the Yukimibotamon on her cot, then bustled about with herbs. Then Mrs. Bambata wet down the herbs and tied them into a cloth, then put the cloth on the place of the Yukiminbotamon's injury. "Hush little one," cooed Mrs. Bambata. "Even Digimon have babies?"

"They come from Digi-eggs, but yes, all Digimon start out as babies," explained Hikari. "Elecmon takes care of all of babies in Primary Village."

"We have a lot to learn about this new world," admitted Mrs. Bambata. "It will take time, but I believe we all will begin to accept it." The Yukimibotamon, now that the compress was easing its pain, yawned and curled up next to the woman.

"You're nice," it murmured. Mrs. Bambata smiled.

-to be continued-

Thanks to Renegade, Canopy4, donJaime, Beth, Jack, Ryuuoojo, and Gothic Zephyr for beta reading.