The Digi-destined are reunited and have resumed their roles as the Digital World's Saviors once again. But things have taken a twist, since Gennai claims he knows nothing of the mysterious email 'he' sent, nor of the reason behind the traumatic ordeals they gone through, not even of Selkie!

The destined's only answers may lie in a forgotten legend of an ancient power desired by an ancient evil....

Those 2 arrivals didn't turn out to be so helpful after all. Now Gabumon's been exposed as a Sun House! But what does that mean, anyway? Maybe Gatomon can explain...

A.S.D.A

Secret Shames

by Nefertanya dragongurl Ahhotep

~The truth is never far behindYou kept it hidden wellIf I live to tellThe secret I knew thenWill I ever have the chance again~
~Madonna, Live To Tell


"Wow!" TK and Patamon cried. The team had reached the edge of the Forest Clan village. It really was a surprise, as it was so different from all the villages they visited before. Instead of lots of In-training level digimon living in tiny grass huts like the Yokomon, or in adobe structures like the Koromon, the dwellings consisted of cavern-like structures, some with ornately carved wooden fronts.

Matt thumbed his harmonica unconsciously as they passed through the travel-worn streets. He barely paid attention to his surroundings, he was too caught up with Gabumon. Why had they called him 'Sun House', and with such contempt? Gabumon was the gentlest, loyalist, friendliest creature he knew. How could they judge him so quickly by the random pigments on his stomach? Anger coursed through him, but before it could boil over, another four-legged gabumon with crescent shaped stripes on her furry paws galloped up.

"Ooo, you poor thing!" she crooned as she fussed over Gabumon's wound. "What happened?"

"He's a Sun House." Scarstripe told her matter-of-factly.

"Yeah! A stinking Sun House!" Razor and Sawgrass shouted as they ran up, attracting the attention of the other residents. They quickly began to whisper among themselves about this new arrival.

"Well, *that's* something we didn't need." Scarstripe quipped dryly. With a deep growl, he chased the two smaller males away squealing. "Quickly boy, before this thing blows out of hand!" he shoved Gabumon into motion. Walking between the injured sub-adult and the increasingly agitated crowd, Scarstripe directed the frightened digimon into a very old, very ornate looking building.

Matt began to follow, but the female leapt into his path. "You mustn't go in, my dear. I sense your concern, but nothing will happen to him in there-other than a mild humiliation. But I fear that will probably be nothing compared to what he's been through today."

"What kind of 'mild humiliation'?" Matt asked.

"Hm? Oh, it's nothing. Just he must have his pelt removed-"

"His fur? You're going to take away his fur?!" Matt shouted in fury.

The female's tail twitched in annoyance. "It's a sign of respect to our Alpha. And it's *not* like he won't get it back!"

Tai pressed his hand into his best friend's shoulder. "Cool it, Matt."

"But-"

"Remember Matt, we're dealing with another culture here." Izzy said soothingly. "We have to respect their ways, because ultimately their Gabumon's ways too."

"I know, I know. But I can't stop thinking about how they attacked him earlier. And how helpless I was to help him."

No one could think of anything to say. Mimi walked over and hugged him, glancing over his shoulder at Palmon, who hadn't spoken a word since the one-sided battle.

"I can't believe *he's* a Sun House!"

Every head whipped towards the little white cat.

"Gatomon! You mean you know what that means?" Kari gasped. Gatomon looked at her sorrowfully and nodded.

"Yes. And it's not good." Getting in a comfortable sitting position, she began to fill them in on all she knew....

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888888 8888888888

"I don't know much about gabumon, me being feline and all, but I know there are five houses, or clans: Forest, Snow, Mountain, River, and Sun. Of all the clans, none is more reviled than the Sun House."
"But why?" Matt asked, ashamed that there was so much about his best friend he didn't know.
"Because they are considered the vilest, meanest, bullies ever to have a file code. and, they were the only clan willing to follow Myotismon."

"WHAT?! Gabumon's clan joined up with that jerk?!"

"Mm-hmm. they often acted as his goons, bullying villages that wouldn't comply with Myotismon's demands."

"So what happened to them after we destroyed Fang-Face?"

"They never made it that far. They began to get too cocky, and eventually decided to challenge his authority. Myotismon demanded they be slaughtered."

"They're all gone?!" the female gasped in horror. Gatomon jumped a little-she'd forgotten the female was there.

"To the best of my knowledge."

Those gathered bowed their heads in silence as they contemplated Gatomon's story. Even the winds seemed to still as if to ponder the mournful tale.

Urgent whisperings brought them back to the here and now. Gabumon was meekly limping out of the entrance of the cave-hut, Scarstripe not too far behind. Judging by the heavy blush, they had indeed 'encouraged' him to remove his heavy pelt. Palmon felt her heart break. How could they do this to him? How dare this Alpha guy humiliate his subjects to stroke his ego! Half-consciously, she started to run towards him, only to be stopped by the seemingly omnipresent female gabumon.

"No, dear. Not yet."

The pair made their way over to the team. Joe discreetly knelt before Gabumon and silently began inspecting the injury, mindful of the digimon's fragile sense of esteem. Scarstripe left Gabumon's side in favor of the female, and the began a hushed conversation, barely overheard by Palmon.

"What did the Alpha say?"

"Not much. Just stared, mostly."

"That can't be good, can it? He's always so chatty."

"Hmph."

"...."

"Doesn't even have a 'call'."

"None?!"

"No. Seems his village *really* disliked him. Interestingly enough."

"Why's that?"

"Long story. I'll tell you later."

"All right. Oh, poor baby..."

"No."

"What?"

"You heard me. No."

"But Scarstripe-"

"Moonpaw. *NO*."

Moonpaw looked pleadingly into her mate's impassive face. Realizing he would not be budged, she snorted angrily and turned away from him. Palmon watched his face soften for an instant before he growled and stormed off.

What was that all about?





Yea, what was that all about? Guess we'll have to hear about it another time. Now we know why 'Sun House' is spoken about with such contempt. How did an outfit like that get a sweetie like Gabumon? Fate can be just weird.

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