Well! It looks like the gang survived their trip back(Spectrum series). But what's all this about? Who are these voices, and what did they all mean when they swore themselves to the human's sides? Is it really all a test? If so, for what? And where the hell is Gabumon? Maybe know we can find out.....

A.S.D.A

Reunions and Revelations

by Nefertanya dragongurl Ahhotep

Mimi Tachikawa stared ahead as if in a trance. As a matter of fact, she was, in a way. Palmon tugged her along, chatting, asking questions. But even though she replied to them all, Mimi had no idea what those responses were or what the little plant was asking.

She was far too focused on the new sensations around her. Little whispers came from all around. The branches actually seemed to be reaching out, to stroke her face and arms with their leaves. And a trail of little pink blossoms followed her every footstep.

"MIMI!!"

The sharp tug on her arm managed to bring her back to reality, and she stared in surprise at her digimon. "What's wrong with you?" the plant-girl barked. "You outta your gourd or something?"

"I am not!" Mimi indignantly replied. 'I was just..." at was she doing? Why did it feel like a part of her was occupied somewhere else? "D'oh! I was just thinking! Now, come on, the beach is over here."

Now it was Palmon's turn to look surprised. "How did *you* know? You've never been to this part of the Digital World before now!"

Mimi couldn't explain it, but it was like someone had just whispered the direction in her ear. "I just do, okay? Now, let's go!"

She turned in a huff. Now that she was fully aware, past events were beginning to terrify her. At what point did dreams stop being dreams?

Palmon blinked a few times. "Well!" she huffed as she took a step after her tall friend. Then she noticed something and stopped. Why were little flowers following Mimi?

"Uh, Mimi?" she croaked. "Oh, MEEEEMEEEE!!!!!"

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"I told you, it's complicated!"

` "But Joe!" Izzy complained, "How could the voices be one person and a whole lot of people at the same time?"

"You said you were in a roomful of Izzies. " Tentomon offered.

"Yes, but they all had their own voice, even if it was the same as my own."

"Well, I-hey!" Joe leapt up. "Someone's coming! Maybe it's one of the others!"

"Ah, prodigious!"

Six heads turned expectantly. But nothing emerged from the woods bordering the beach. Five heads turned back to Joe.

"Uh...Joe..."

"I'm sure I saw something! Here, hang on!" He took off at a smooth lope towards the trees. All the old forebodings filled him as he slipped in between them. He smiled-a weird reaction to be sure, but just feeling them felt good.

"Joe?"

His head snapped up, and eyes widened in amazement. "M-Mimi?!"

Male instinct made him do a slow pan over his old friend. It had been five years since he'd last seen her, and she'd certainly changed.

Her legs were longer, shapelier, and stronger looking. Her figure had become, ahem, shapelier as well. Her skin was bronzed, her hair lighter, obviously from the hours spent in the Texan sun. And she was giving him a *very* icy glare.

"Um....wow....Er, hello! Ha-ha, hoo! Long time no see!" he stumbled as his face reddened.

Mimi's features softened with affection. "Yeah."

She was pleased to see the years had been very kind to him. Gomamon must have dragged him into the water-his shirt looked still wet. She didn't mind, though, it showed off his well-built chest and arms. Was this really the lanky little thing she'd grown up with? He body was lean and trim-gone was the awkward gangliness that had plagued him during adolescence.

She decided she liked the stripe of blue in his hair, though what would possess him to do something like that was beyond her. Then she remembered her own stripe of green, placed there by mysterious circumstances.

"Oh Joe!' she wailed as she glomped him, "I missed you guys so much!"

"We missed you too, Mimi. Now will you let me breath?" Joe choked out. She quickly let go and giggled in embarrassment.

"Hey, Izzy's down by the water." he said as soon as he stopped wheezing. "So are the digimon. Serenamon too. Do you remember here?"

"I do!" Palmon piped up. "She was a prisoner of MarquisDemon., like I was!"

"Well, come on down!" Joe merrily grabbed the brunette by the elbow. He knew how guilty she still felt about the whole MarquisDemon/kidnapping thing, even though she understood it wasn't truly her fault.

Joe chuckled as he watched Izzy's jaw hit the sand when they beach 'club' saw them returning. As expected, Mimi immediately broke loose and began to fawn over the now much-taller man genius.

She laughed in delight as she examined the small gold hoop dangling from one ear, received in a teenage dare.

"I know, I know! What was I thinking!" he groaned.

Warmly, the bronze-skinned woman greeted the pale-skinned womon, who for some reason wasn't too enthusiastic to see her.

"Well," Mimi sighed, attention now on the digimon creatures. "I see you all got bigger."

Joe turned in surprise towards the sea lion pair. "Well, I was *wondering* when you'd notice that." Gomamon quipped dryly. Selkie was still the smaller, but both had increased at least a couple of inches in both length and height. Selkie was much sleeker looking, while the muscles around Gomamon's chest, forepaws, and neck were thicker. No wonder that slap had hurt so much!

"Well, sorry, but I was a little preoccupied." he quipped back.

"I wasn't aware that you could still grow in your Rookie form. I guess I just assumed that you'd change into your Champion forms when you gained enough energy." Izzy mused as he looked over the super-sized metalbug.

"You have any idea how much *time* that would take?! No, we just get a little bigger, the way you did." Tentomon buzzed over to Serenamon, who still looked pouty.

"You got bigger too, Serenamon."

"Aye, but it's not like anyone would notice." she growled bitterly.

"What?"

"Never mind..."

Palmon clasped her hands and smiled. "I think she likes him!" she squealed softly. How cute!

"I'd be inclined to agree with you." Gomamon drawled as he ambled up to her. "So...how're 'things' with you?"

Palmon's lower lip trembled along with her smile. "I'm not sure what you mean." she said, pretending that she had no clue what the sea lion was referring to.

"I think you do." he teased knowingly. "But, if you don't want to-"

Palmon had bolted off towards Serenamon and Tentomon, practically leaving the sea lions behind in a sand storm.

<"Is she the one you were telling me about?">

"Yeah, that's her. Doesn't seem like they made any progress. Jeeze, I don't get it! How can their feelings be so obvious to everyone, but so oblivious to the two of them?"

Selkie watched him mournfully as he waddled back to Joe. <"You'd be surprised.">

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"Does anyone have *any* idea where we're going?" Kari whined again.

"Kari, please! We're doing the best we can!"

"I know Tai. I guess I'm just cranky because my foot's starting to hurt."

TK immediately turned his attention on Kari, forcing Patamon to quickly grab onto his neck. "Which one? The one you hurt before?"

Kari blinked and giggled. "You mean you remember that?"

"Sure I do! I even helped carry you, like this!" He ducked under her arm with a flourish, causing her to laugh.

"I remember Sora pulling Tai by his hair." Agumon offered, making the two teens laugh harder. Sora and Tai blushed, causing Biyomon to giggle. But she stopped when Agumon cast her a hopeful glance. He cast his eyes downward, crestfallen.

Tai chuckled as he watched TK cheering Kari up. He wondered if the younger blonde was trying to hit on her? He looked around to she if Matt had noticed.

Matt was trailing behind, idly bleating a note from his harmonica. Tai used the opportunity to size him up. Matt had never been big in the muscle department, but he had filled out since the first time they'd landed here. And he was fast. Unless you caught him off-guard, you were in for one hell of a fight.

Tai smirked as he rubbed his jaw in remembrance. But when they'd found Matt....he'd looked so frail. Worse than when Devimon had split File Island and forced brother from brother. Then, it had been an emotional crack, an admission of the deeply caring boy concealed behind the shell of ice.

But this had been a gaping maw that had consumed him physically and emotionally. It had taken a full day before he was strong enough to walk unassisted. He seemed to get better, especially after they found Kari, but he still seemed lost.

Like he needed a friend.

"Hey man, nice tune!" Tai chuckled brightly. Matt stared and stared ahead.

"Why didn't he come?"

"Huh?" Tai stared cautiously at his despondent counterpart. "You mean Gabumon? I'm sure he'll be here soon enough."

"He abandoned me. I insulted him, and now he doesn't want to be here."

"Why do you think that, Matt?"

"I told him he probably looked funny without his fur. And he only just saved my life by covering me with it."

"Matt, are you talking about when you and me got into that fistfight over TK? Back when Devimon split up File Island?"

Matt winced visibly. "I was mad at myself for insulting Gabumon, and I was worried about TK, and I took it all out on you because I was too proud to admit I was wrong."

So that's what was bugging him! Tai tapped the blonde's shoulder. When he looked up questioningly, Tai obliged by giving him a good shot to the gut.

With a twinkle in his embered eyes, he leaned over the wheezing man. "There, we're even."

"TAI!! What *are* you doing?!" Sora came barreling at the duo. The air shimmered around her, eyes ablaze, and Tai pulled back in spite of himself.

No, Sora, it's okay!" Matt choked.

"It is?"

"Yeah, I needed that." the paler man allowed the darker man to help him up, tightening his grip suddenly. "But if you *ever* pull a stunt like that again, I'll kill you."

The trademark grin broke across Tai's face. "Deal!" he laughed, the odd couple strolled past Sora, who just rolled her eyes.

"Boys."




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