Part Four

Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon, and I don't want to be sued.

Whew! Here's part four! Looks like I might actually end up with this finished. ^_^ Well, I'd better get it finished soon, as I've already started to think up another Digimon story. Enjoy!

* * *

"What's Izzy got, Matt?" Tai asked.

"I don't know," Matt answered, frowning. "He just told me to come and find you. But whatever it is has REALLY got him worried. I don't think that I've ever seen Izzy so worried before."

"I guess we'd better go, then," Tai nodded.

"Um, Matt," Tara commented in a mild voice, sweat dropping slightly. "You know that you can let go of me now, don't you?"

"Not a chance," Matt replied firmly, holding Tara even tighter to him. "I'm NEVER going to let you go again."

Tara looked at Wizardmon, who was grinning. "You know, you're going to have problems going through doors and other things," Wizardmon commented. "Besides, Tara will need to go home to let her family know she is all right. You weren't planning on staying at her house every single night... Were you?"

"No..." Matt answered. "But, while she's here, I'm not going to let her go."

Tara raised her eyes to the sky, but didn't say anything.

"I think that maybe we should go now," Tessa whispered to Demitruthmon.

Demitruthmon nodded, subdued for once, which was unlike her. Tessa frowned, worried, but didn't say anything else. Instead, she began to back away.

Without looking behind him, Agumon reached out, and snagged the end of Tessa's trouser leg, stopping her from leaving.

Tai looked behind him. "You're NOT going anywhere," he told Tessa and Demitruthmon.

Tessa sighed, but gave up.

* * *

"So, what have you got, Izzy?" Tai asked the moment he, Agumon, Tessa, Demitruthmon, Tara, Wizardmon, Matt, and Gabumon got through the door. Matt had been forced to release Tara while they stepped through the door, but he had grabbed her again the moment they were through.

Izzy looked up, and frowned in surprise at Tessa and Tara and their Digimon. "Wait a moment... Who are they?"

"This is Tara," Matt told Izzy. The girl in question was looking extremely embarrassed, and was trying her hardest to make herself as small as possible, which wasn't working very well.

"And... And this is..." Matt began. Then, he stopped, and gave Tessa an apologetic look. "I'm sorry... I've forgotten your name."

"Its Tessa," Tessa replied.

"And I'm Demitruthmon," Demitruthmon added from her usual perch on her partner's shoulder.

"Demitruthmon..." Izzy repeated. He placed his laptop on the table, and opened the Digimon Analyzer. "Hmm..."

Name: Demitruthmon

Type: Vaccine

Level: Rookie

Attack: Truth Blow

Second Attack: Feather Wing

Other information:

Demitruthmon is a fairy Digimon. With her Truth Blow Attack, she can make other Digimon see the real truth. She can make them remember things, and realize things that they might not have known before. Her second attack is extremely powerful for a Rookie.

Demitruthmon is a sweet Digimon who usually prefers to play rather than fight. But watch out if you threaten one of her friends! If made really angry, Demitruthmon will take on the Digimon trying to hurt her friend, no matter WHAT level they are.

Tessa smiled faintly. "We already knew that," she murmured to Demitruthmon, who giggled and nodded.

Izzy turned to Matt. "Shouldn't you let go of Tara now, Matt?" he suggested. "Its not like she's going to run away or anything."

Matt hesitated, then loosened his hold on Tara, but kept his arm around her shoulders protectively. Tara didn't seem to mind, though. She rested her head on Matt's shoulder.

"Have you e-mailed the others and told them to meet us here?" Tai asked Izzy.

Izzy nodded slowly. "Yes. But I think that you should read the e-mail I received first, though. Perhaps you could help me make head or tail of it. I really don't understand it at all."

"Something that Izzy the computer genius doesn't understand?" Tai laughed. "It really must be difficult, then!"

"Just read it, Tai," Izzy replied soberly.

Hello Digidestined (the e-mail read)

By this time, you will have realized that Jun has gone missing. The exchange for her return is quite simple: I wish the Digimon Princess in return for her life and freedom. I will e-mail you again with more information about the exchange.

Tara, Wizardmon, and Demitruthmon all looked at Tessa, who was pale. She closed her eyes. NO! It couldn't be happening! Just as she thought she was going to make up for what she had done, she was now required to give up her life for someone else.

There was no question about not going through with the exchange. If Tessa could save someone else by giving up her own life, then she would do it. There was no question about it.

"I don't understand what it means by the Digimon Princess," Izzy was saying, his voice puzzled. "Even if I knew who she was, I wouldn't give someone else's life. But who is this Digimon Princess?"

"I am the Digimon Princess." Tessa spoke without opening her eyes.

"What?" Everyone else except for Tara, Wizardmon, and Demitruthmon all looked amazed.

"My father and mother were the King and Queen of the Digital World," Tessa explained. She didn't bother to explain that they were now dead, or that she had been adopted. It didn't matter that her real mother was the goddess of the Digital World. That still made her the Digimon Princess. She had had a duty to the Digimon, which she had failed...

Tara moved away from Matt, stepped towards Tessa, and slapped her hard.

Tessa blinked.

"What was THAT for?" Tai asked.

"I know what Tessa is thinking," Tara explained. "She'll go through with the exchange. She's so filled up with guilt about what she's done to the Digital World that she can't even think that her being here may be meant."

Demitruthmon nodded slowly. "Yes. Just like it was when we came into the Digital World that last time. When Patamon called for help..."

Tentomon understood what Demitruthmon was saying. "You mean that you and Tessa were the ones who helped TK see the truth," he said.

"Tara's right, I think, Tessa," Izzy said. "You going isn't going to help at all. It'll just make things worse. Once the kidnapper has you, there will be no reason for him or her to give back Jun."

"Perhaps you're right..." Tessa agreed reluctantly.

"Of course he's not right!"

Tessa went completely still as she recognized Ken's voice. Oh, no! Of all the times that he could show up!

"Hi Ken. Hi Wormon," Demitruthmon commented cheerfully. But the little Digimon's voice sounded strained. She was still weak from battling, but if Ken tried to hurt Tessa, then she WOULD stop him.

"Wizardmon!" Gatomon cried.

Wizardmon bowed. "Hello Gatomon. Hello Kari," he said quietly.

Tiffany stared at Tara, shock in her eyes. "Tara... You're a Digidestined too!" she cried.

Tara nodded.

Tiffany stepped forward, and hugged her sister tightly. Tara hugged her back, her own eyes filling with tears.

Ken glared at Tessa, who looked away.

"Do you two know each other?" Izzy asked Ken and Tessa.

"You could say that." Ken's voice was cold.

Tessa struggled to stay calm. If she really wanted to, she could make Wormon remember what had happened when he had followed her away from the castle that night. Demitruthmon glanced at Tessa, wondering if she would decide to do that with her powers.

Tessa did nothing. -I won't use my powers any more to make Digimon do what I want,- she thought to herself. -I don't care if it means that Ken won't ever learn what really happened. I WON'T use my powers in that way ever again.-

Demitruthmon sighed, guessing, correctly, what Tessa was thinking. But she said nothing. Ken would never believe her unless Wormon remembered on his own. And with Tessa refusing to use her powers to make him remember, Ken never would learn the truth.

-I could always use my own Truth Blow Attack to make Wormon remember,-Demitruthmon thought to herself. -But that would just make Tessa mad at me. I'll stand by her decision. For now.-

Unaware of what Demitruthmon and Tessa were thinking, Ken continued to glare at Tessa, who found something more interesting to look at on the floor rather than meet his eyes.

"So..." Yolei shifted uncomfortably, aware of the tension here, and continued, "What was it that you received, Izzy?"

Without saying anything, Izzy showed the others the e-mail. Ken was the first one to finish reading it. He lifted his head, and stared at Tessa until the teenager shifted uncomfortably and turned away.

"The Digimon Princess..." Wormon said.

Tessa and Tara exchanged glances. Tessa had her right fist clenched, and the nails were digging into the palm of her hand. But she paid no attention to it.

"I was just saying to Tessa that her going wouldn't work at all," Izzy was saying. "I mean, once the kidnapper has her, then there is no reason for them to give back Jun."

Davis nodded reluctantly. "You're right," he agreed.

"Where's TK?" Matt asked Kari.

"He said that he would be here in a moment," Kari replied. "He and Patamon wanted to go for a little walk in the park."

Tessa breathed an inaudible sigh of relief. She didn't want Patamon seeing her yet. Once he did, she wouldn't get a moment's peace. And, besides, she didn't want anyone knowing what she had done the last time she had been in the real world.

"Maybe we should just give Tessa up anyway," Ken suggested, his voice cold. "If nothing else, at least it'll mean that I don't have to see her anymore."

Tessa refused to rise to the bait. She knew that Ken was just trying to get her mad enough for her to lash out at him. Never mind that it was working. But, if she started, then she would say what had really happened, and, at that point, Ken would call her a liar.

-No,- Tessa thought to herself. -I don't care if it'll mean Ken finally forgives me. I am NOT going to tamper with Wormon again!-

"Shut up!" Demitruthmon snapped at Ken, defending her friend. She opened her mouth to use her attack, then caught sight of Tessa's face, and closed it again. No. Not now. Wait until Tessa REALLY needed Ken.

Tessa shrugged. "You may as well give me up," she replied.

Izzy looked at her. "Why?" he asked.

Tessa just looked at the ground, not saying anything.

Tara stepped over to Tessa. The younger girl tensed, expecting another slap. But the older teenager just smiled a little sadly. "Tessa... Stop running away from your problems." She peered into her friend's eyes, and Tessa could hear her voice say in her mind, -Remember what you told me, my friend? Never ever give up. No matter what happens. Giving up is easy. Its holding onto hope that is hard.-

Tara waited until Tessa nodded slowly. Then, she smiled faintly, and stepped away from the teenager.

"Wow," Matt commented. "Looks like your peacemaking skills have been brought into full force, Tara."

Just then, a voice called, "Hey, guys! Sorry I'm late!"

"Hi TK!" Cody said.

Patamon was sitting on TK's head, as usual. The young teenager grinned round at everyone, then stopped dead as he saw Tara. "Tara... Hello!"

"Hi TK," Tara smiled.

"I'm really glad that you're here," TK said. "I didn't think that you'd come back, and I was really worried... Hello, Tessa."

Tessa nodded a hello. She didn't have time to say anything, because Patamon then yelled, "TESSA!" And flew and landed on Tessa's head.

"So much for you forgetting me," Tessa muttered. "Listen, Patamon," she continued. "I'm sorry about what I said when I was here last. I just didn't want to risk you getting hurt."

"That's ok, Tessa," Patamon replied, smiling. "I realized why you had done it after I left you."

Tai scratched his head. "So," he said. "Out of all of us here, who HASN'T met Tessa before, just out of interest?"

Kari, Matt, Sora, Mimi, Yolei, Joe, Tai, Tiffany, Izzy, and all of their Digimon (except for Agumon, of course) raised their hands. Davis and Veemon put their hands half up.

"When did you three meet her before?" Joe asked Ken, Cody, and TK. It was kind of obvious that Tara already knew Tessa, and how.

"Tessa and Demitruthmon came into the real world some time ago," TK explained. "When I'd been made to hate Patamon. Somehow, Tessa and Demitruthmon realized what had happened, and came here. Demitruthmon's attack made me realize how wrong I was."

"I met Tessa then too," Cody commented. "She gave me some advice on how I could beat my grandfather."

"Repetition," Tessa murmured. "He was using the same moves over and over. I just told him to vary his attacks a bit more, and showed him some moves he could use to surprise his grandfather the next time he had a lesson."

Izzy looked at Ken. "Ken?"

Ken just looked away.

Wormon glanced over at Tessa and Demitruthmon, then looked up at Ken. The little Digimon looked worried.

Davis jumped up and down, waving his hand in the air. "ME! I want to say!"

"Go ahead, Davis," TK sighed.

"I saw Tessa," Davis said. "When she and Demitruthmon were looking for Patamon. I saw them hunting in the bushes. I was the only one who saw them, I think."

"You did?" Tessa was surprised. "But I thought that I made sure that no one could see me and Demitruthmon, except for Patamon."

Turning back, Ken was the only one who saw that Demitruthmon had a smug look on her face, and he immediately knew how Davis had managed to see Tessa when no one was supposed to be able to.

"Hey, guys," Izzy said then. "I've got another e-mail..."

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Yay! Part four's finished! In part five, Tessa and Ken get into a really big argument, and Demitruthmon finally digivolves. Comments, please! ^_^  Email me at: sjbriggs@royalmanor.freeserve.co.uk