#(Koushiro HELPED THEM FIND THEM BACK THEN TOO!!!!!)

[cal-writes]

I feel like in a lot of your stories, your zoro exudes abandonment issues 🥲 Is that a conscious thing on your part? Or am I projecting lmao

I’m loving the little snippets of fic you post btw always brightens my day 😃

he does. it sorta happened subconsciously i think. im not sure if it started from my interpretation of his character in canon or from myself projecting lol

i think it might be a mixture of both like. the juxtaposition of zoro as a character who is very confident in exactly one area of himself and that is fighting and his strength. like zoro doesnt tend to get jealous until luffy implies someone might be stronger than him. i always think of something the youtube quinn curio said in a video about the umbrella academy talking about the character played by elliot page.

so i often read zoro as someone who thinks he needs to be the strongest so that has value or is allowed to be there

and another part i think is that zoro is a very lonely character. like we learn about kuina and that she died when she was 11 and that shook him so fundamentally that he's essentially living his life to fullfil that promise he made to her. we've seen koushiro and johnny and yosaku but they were very utilitarian. koushiro was his trainer, i dont think zoro ever mentioned him again since the flashback in like what chapter 5? and johnny and yosaku were a good way to bring arlongs bounty up and show the necessity of having a cook on board. sure they care of zoro and he cares about them but there isnt the sense that they are particulary close. zoro doesn't have a family like nami, or someone who seems to have raised him like family like luffy and sanji. if we take movie canon into it as well he'd have another friend from the doji similarly to kuina who he later thought had died due to him not being strong enough

and even now in the more recent manga chapters we see it implied twice that zoro is "a burden" on his crew, both from an antagonist but then also from a crew member. and unlike when sanji and zoro usually bicker, zoro doesnt respond. we have a panel of him flinching about the comment before he grits his teeth and continues.

addtionally during water seven when everyone is falling apart bc of whats going on he's not allowing himself to be vulnerable. we dont see him miserable or angry or sad because he sees his duty as having to hold it together and make sure everyone gets through this. like zoro was just as affected by merry's fate as everyone else but he couldn't show that (or he felt like he couldnt). its an incredibly isolating experience.

there is that manga panel which i might be misinterpreting bc the speech bubbles make it hard to tell who is actually saying it

like "huh you saved me" like he's surprised someone would do that.

but even if in that panel its not zoro saying it we still see himself punishing himself after getting injured in a fight even if he ultimately won. after little garden he trains until his feet bleed again, after the fight with mr one not only does he carry nami around for hours and gets shot while injured already he doesnt let himself recover, and then of course after thriller bark.

i always get the sense that zoro puts an enormous amount of pressure on himself as if he has to justify being there and has huge expectations for himself that he needs to meet.

and not to forget that on shabaody, he had no idea what happened to everyone else. he was the first to leave and for all he knew until they got the message from luffy, everyone died bc he was injured. i think that definitely festered.

like (its probably not that deep but you are reading this so far so youre in too deep now)

i thought it was curious. that zoro is the first one back. that he asked perona for help to find the way. as if he was worried. that if he came to late they wouldn't wait. so he made sure he was the best, the fastes, the first. he made sure to show off his new skills immediately. tried to show them off to luffy immediately despite it being a dumb idea to cut their bubble underwater.

so anyway yea i do end up writing zoro as someone who has abandonment issues tied in with his self esteem issues.

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x12 - Adventure! Patamon and I / DigiBaby Boom

Previously on Digimon Adventure: Jou conquered the Lord of Halloween by doing homework at him while Sora questioned the life choices that brought them both to this point.

Six kids are now on their way back to Infinity Mountain. That leaves only one, all on his own with no one but his Partner to help him.

We open on Takeru's bed crashing into the ocean near one of the island shards. While Patamon rescues Takeru from the crash, we cut over to Devimon.

Last episode I brought up that the dub seems to think these episodes are happening sequentially rather than simultaneously. Here we see why, as the original offers a scene that makes absolutely no sense in context: Devimon tearing into Ogremon and Leomon for their failures.

(With Ogremon, it could be assumed that this is after he rowed himself back to Infinity Mountain from the crate. But it was unquestionably Day 6 in broad daylight when Leomon attacked Mimi and Koushiro. There's no way for Devimon to now be yelling at Leomon over it on the night of Day 5.

It was the original anime that screwed up the timescale, so the dub is absolved of that. They learned it from watching you, senpai.)

Leomon and Ogremon apologize for their failures - in advance, in Leomon's case. Devimon picks up Ogremon by his throat. Ogremon pleads for forgiveness, and then Devimon drops him.

(I like how he targets Ogremon alone. He's like, "Leomon's a zombie; I only expect so much from him. You actually work here.")

In the original, just before he drops Ogremon, we get this exchange.

Ogremon: W-What are you doing sir!? Devimon: I don't want to hear your excuses! Ogremon: Forgive me, Devimon-sama! Please forgive me! Devimon: ... (cruel grin, then drops Ogremon) Ogremon: (pained) ...thank you.

The dub punches it up with an oldie but a goodie.

Ogremon: No, wait! I can explain! Devimon: Spare me your pathetic excuses! Ogremon: Yes, master! Please! Please, just put me down! Devimon: ... (cruel grin, then drops Ogremon) Ogremon: (pained) Thank you, master....

Classic. I would have gone with "let me go" but "put me down" still works.

Back on the island shard, Patamon carries Takeru safely to shore. Takeru gets dressed, but then starts to cry as he realizes the severity of his situation.

Patamon: What's wrong, Takeru!? Takeru: W-We got separated from Onii-chan and the others! (bawling)

The dub needs to fit in a commercial break here, so they play the footage of Takeru starting to cry twice - Once before and once after the commercials. For the before version, he delivers a parting quip.

T.K.: Look at all that water! Somebody must have let the bathtub overflow! I just hope it didn't wash out our way of finding the others!

He's facing away from the camera so they can disguise him breaking down. You can still see his head shaking from the sobs if you know what you're looking for, but it's easy to overlook.

Then, upon return from the commercial, the footage repeats but T.K. starts crying in earnest.

T.K.: D-D-Don't worry about me, Patamon! I'm not scared of being separated from the others! And being lost and being homesick and... (bawling)

While Takeru's crying, Patamon looks up the waterfall and thinks about what Piyomon would do if she were here. He plays through her Birdramon evolution stock footage, but with Patamon's actor reciting "Piyomon SHINKAAAAAA!!! Birdramon!" followed by an imaginary shot of Birdramon flying up and above the waterfall.

Sadly, the dub does not follow suit. They use the standard audio clip of Biyomon's Digivolution.

It's at this point that Patamon begins crying as hard as Takeru is. Hard enough to surprise Takeru and shake him out of it.

Patamon: But why... Why can't I evolve? (bawling) Takeru: ...what's wrong, Patamon? Patamon: Why!? Why!? I want to evolve and fly high in the sky too! Takeru: Evolve? What kind of Digimon do you evolve into, anyway? Patamon: What kind? I won't know until I evolve into it. Do you know, Takeru?

The dub matches this dialogue almost verbatim, adding in some quips.

Patamon: I want to fly high in the sky too but somehow I can't seem to Digivolve! (bawling) T.K.: ...hey.... Patamon: I wanna fly too! I wanna Digivolve! T.K.: To what? Patamon: Huh? T.K.: I mean what will you Digivolve into? Didn't they tell you at Digimon School or something? Patamon: Oh. Well, I won't actually know until I do Digivolve and find out what I am. T.K.: Wow! So it's a mystery!

I like the addition of "Digimon School". XD That feels like something a kid Takeru's age would say.

From there, Takeru provides rundowns of his own ideas for what Patamon's evolution might be.

This is TabunKonnamon, an Adult-stage Imaginary-type Digimon. His name, though spelled phonetically in katakana like most Digimon names, is a homophone for "Tabun Konna", meaning "Perhaps something like this". Takeru fills in for the Narrator to give us his rundown.

Takeru: TabunKonnamon. Its special attack is Buubuu Attack! Buu!

"Buubuu" being the Japanese term for oinking.

The dub calls it Porkymon.

T.K.: Porkymon! With super-strong oink attack and the power to... um... oink!

Patamon is not impressed. That's okay. Takeru has other ideas.

This is KittoKonnamon, an Adult-stage Imaginary-type Digimon. Its name is a homophone for "Kitto konna", meaning "Certainly something like this". Takeru's pretty sure he's got this figured out now.

Takeru: KittoKonnamon. Its special attack is Hippopota VACUUUUUUM!!!

As he explains this, KittoKonnamon demonstrates its Hippopota Vacuum by snorting the entire intro blurb up into its nostrils. What a powerful attack!

T.K.: Hogmon! Super hog smell and the power to snort up enemies in a single sniff like this!

T.K. doesn't give its attack a name, but he does add that it has a super hog smell. That's a powerful defensive ability that shouldn't be forgotten.

Patamon's even less impressed by this one.

Patamon: NO WAY! Takeru: Then-- Patamon: Forget it! Stop thinking about it! It doesn't matter. I just won't evolve ever!

Takeru rolled a nat 1 on that diplomacy check.

Over in the dub, they pay off the different naming theme they used for these two forms, picking up on the noticeable similarity between them.

Patamon: I am not a pig, T.K.! T.K.: It's okay to be a pig. Patamon: I'm sure it is, especially for pigs, but that's not me!

Nobody tell Patamon but I'm pretty sure he's a guinea pig. T.K. was right. Justice for T.K.

Alone on this shard of File Island, Takeru and Patamon come across a train crossing, which forces them to stop and wait.

For a solid fifteen seconds, the only sounds are the ringing of the crossing's bell and the wind rustling through the grass. No train ever goes by, and eventually the crossing stops ringing and raises its gates.

(A chilling metaphor for the menacing isolation these boys are experiencing. A vast, empty crossroads stretches out before them.)

In a somber moment, devoid of music or sound beyond their tiny voices, the boys quietly discuss where to go from here.

Takeru: Where should we go? Patamon: Anywhere. I'll follow you wherever you choose, Takeru. Takeru: Then... This way. Patamon: Okay.

Bit of a tonal whiplash there right after the whole ProbablyThismon bit. "Hahaha, we like to have fun here. Anyways, doom." But again, that fits the scenario of a child this young being stranded like this. Takeru is 8.

Over in the dub, they add the sound of a train rumbling through to this scene and use those fifteen seconds to let T.K. talk over it.

T.K.: Hey! I hear a train coming! I bet you we can jump on and ride the caboose all the way back to summer camp!

They also play sad music to break up the silence. Then, as the train (that is somehow making train noises) fails to materialize, the boys discuss.

Patamon: I think I felt something! T.K.: Um, maybe it's an invisible train. Patamon: Did a train go by? T.K.: If it did, it's the most silent-est, most invisible-est train ever! Now come on, let's go. Patamon: Go where? T.K.: Not sure. But I guess we'll know when we get there.

I wouldn't call it that silent, T.K. We clearly heard both its horn blowing and the sound of it rustling on the tracks.

This scene is a major victim of that common trend in anime localization of its day: Localizers were reluctant to let a quiet scene sit for fear that the kids watching will get bored and change the channel. Nonetheless, though the original is far superior, I do appreciate that they still try to capture the somber tone of the scene's intent at the end there.

Then they find the happiest place on File Island.

Takeru: It's so pretty. Patamon: Yeah. Let's go look inside! Takeru: Okay!

Seizing on a perfect opportunity to insert some gags, the dub spices this exchange up.

T.K.: WOW! Let's find a snack bar and get some cotton candy! Places like this always have cotton candy. Patamon: They make candy from cotton!? T.K.: Ooh, I bet there's popcorn and snow cones and soft pretzels and ice cream and candy! Patamon: Oh boy! Let's go see! T.K.: Last one there is a rotten egg!

At a certain point this devolves into just listing American cultural stuff 'cause we're American now, but I love Patamon's confused response to cotton candy. That's exactly the kind of culture shock gag that even the original's been peppering throughout the File Island arc. It fits in perfectly with bits like "Is a snowball fight edible?"

It takes no time at all for them to discover that the ground is bouncy and soft, good for both playtime and naptime. They bounce and they play and then they stop and rest, enjoying the calmness and joy of this place.

Exploring further, they come across a whole field of baby cradles. Inside are Baby-stage Digimon. Takeru immediately starts poking infants.

Of note: These aren't Baby-stage like Koromon or Mochimon or Tanemon. Baby-stage, oddly, comes in two stages? Baby I and Baby II. Those were Baby II, while this Botamon here is Baby I. It will need to evolve once before it can become a Koromon, or possibly something else because Digimon have branching evolution paths.

Speaking of eggs, the boys explore further and discover a field of Digitama. It's a conjunction of the English "Digital" and a phonetic homophone for the first two syllables of "tamago", which means "egg". Tamago often gets shortened to "tama".

The dub calls it a Digi-Egg, which is an accurate literal translation. Speaking of accurate translations:

Takeru: Digitama? Patamon: A Digimon egg. Takeru: Oh, so Digimon are born from eggs? Like chickens? Patamon: Yep, that's right. Takeru: Even Devimon? Patamon: Yeah...

This exchange comes through completely faithfully in the dub, with the only change being T.K. mentioning, "I like the pretty paint," referring to the Digi-Egg's color scheme.

Patamon finds an envelope on the ground with a note inside, which simply reads "Rub me".

Hilariously, in the Unimon episode, Jou left a note for the others before climbing Infinity Mountain telling them to wait for him. The note's written in the sand in Japanese lettering, of course, but the localizers edited it to be English instead.

With the "Rub me" note, they didn't even bother. The note in its original katakana is displayed in the dub, but Patamon explains that it's "written in Digi-code". Oh boy, the Americans are pretending that real languages are fantasy things they made up again!

(Maybe that's a little harsh but Disney scarred me by subtitling Xhosa words as "speaking Wakandan" and now I'm sensitive about it.)

Takeru decides the note must be referring to the Digitama themselves, and so rubs the one in his hands.

Sure enough, rubbing it makes it hatch into a newborn Poyomon, the Baby I stage of Patamon. They need a crib for Poyomon, so Patamon prepares to go look. Suddenly, the unbroken parts of the Digitama transform into the crib, solving that problem.

Patamon: Oh, so that's how it works. Takeru: You didn't know about this? But you're a Digimon. Patamon: I don't remember being a baby. Do you, Takeru?

Takeru stops to think about that question, and we flash back on his earliest memory.

We see a much younger Takeru playing with blocks, punctuated only by the sound of Yamato's harmonica. Suddenly, he accidentally falls and knocks over the little houses and stuff he's built.

The harmonica cuts out, with Yamato realizing what's happened a moment before Takeru starts to cry. Yamato makes his way over, picking up and embracing his brother with a smile. He says something, but we don't hear his words; We only see the love on his face.

As with the train scene, the dub talks over this with dialogue to avoid letting a quiet moment stand.

T.K.: Well, these pretty shapes and colors do remind me of something from a long time ago. It was real sunny; I was playing with blocks but I fell over or something! And I remember I was crying. But there was someone there with me. Someone... I don't know exactly who. Maybe my brother Matt! Anyway, somebody picked me up and I stopped crying. Matt: Attaboy!

...attaboy? Of all the possible things he could have been saying there, you picked attaboy? Okay.

T.K.'s dialogue drowns out Matt's harmonica, and music keeps playing even after Matt stops. As a result, the effect of Yamato's music swiftly cutting to silence is lost.

Back in the present, Takeru admits that Patamon's right; He doesn't remember infancy either. With that settled, the boys race off to go rub some more Digitama.

Meanwhile, we're introduced attack-first to a new Digimon: Elecmon, using his Sparkling Thunder to catch fish from a stream.

Elecmon is a Child-stage Data-type Mammal Digimon.

(The subs I'm watching misidentify him as Adult-stage, incidentally.

It says "Adult" up there in the English translation. However, the kanji onscreen in his data block clearly spell out 成長期 which is Child-stage, as opposed to 成熟期 which is Adult-stage. Everyone makes mistakes; Can't always trust the subs.)

Narrator: Elecmon. A very inquisitive mammal Digimon who enjoys pulling pranks. He threatens his enemies by spreading his tail like a peacock.

Over in the dub, they call his attack Super Thunderstrike. He's forced to handle his own diegetic rundown, for lack of other characters nearby to do it.

Elecmon: I am Elecmon, caretaker of baby Digimon. Don't cross wires with me!

Elecmon zaps the stream with his Sparkling Thunder, frying countless fish. Then he picks out a spot and lets the water carry his catch right to him, plucking them out as they come. Pleased with himself, he announces that this will be plenty to feed all those little baby mouths.

Back at the nursery, Takeru and Patamon are running themselves ragged trying to take care of these babies. Many of the babies have started crying and they can't figure out why. Patamon's doing everything he can to cheer them up, while Takeru notices that one of them defecated.

Meanwhile, caretaker Elecmon is on his way back to the nursery with a net full of fish when he happens to hear the babies crying. Leaving his catch behind, he races to the nursery to find two things: A bunch of crying babies and two newcomers he's never seen before.

Naturally, he makes some assumptions.

Before Takeru and Patamon even know what's happening, Elecmon races in and lets off a Sparkling Thunder.

Patamon shoves Takeru out of the way of the bolt, then furiously whirls on Elecmon.

Patamon: WHAT ARE YOU DOING!?!? THAT'S DANGEROUS!!! Elecmon: Of course it is! I was aiming at you! Patamon: WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT!? Elecmon: Because you were kawaigaru (adoring) my babies! Takeru: Well, we did kawaigaru them, but what's wrong with that? Elecmon: Tsk tsk tsk. Your ignorance is troublesome. Listen, the word "kawaigaru" not only means to "be affectionate to" someone, but it can also mean to "abuse" them as well! Patamon: But those both mean completely different things! That's weird! Besides, we weren't abusing them; Just looking after them. Elecmon: Well, nobody asked you to look after the babies in the first place! Patamon: You tell us off but what are you to these babies anyway!? Elecmon: What am I? I'm their guardian, their housekeeper, their food provider-- Wait, who cares about that, you brat! Patamon: YOU'RE A BRAT TOO!!! Elecmon: Oh, NOW I'M MAD!!!

Poor Takeru. This is his first encounter with words that ironically mean the opposite of their definition when used in common parlance. I guess you could say he's literally been taken to school!

The subtitle up there tries to make this work with "coddle", but there simply is no English equivalent for the precise linguistic usages of kawaigaru driving this exchange.

Elecmon is accusing Patamon and Takeru of being the reason the babies were crying. That's the point here. He thinks they were doing something to hurt the babies.

Obviously, the dub didn't have a snowball's chance in hell of accurately translating the kawaigaru discourse. So they had to go their own way with it.

T.K.: Hey, watch where you're aiming that thing! You could hurt somebody! Elecmon: Of course I could have. That's what I was trying to do! Patamon: But why would you want to do anything to hurt us? Elecmon: Because I saw you playing with my babies, you interlopers! T.K.: Sure, we played with them. But what's that got to do with you? Elecmon: Ah ah ah ah. You barbarians. Always making the same mistake! I'm not some ordinary Digimon who just happened to come along and catch you. This is the Primary Village Hatchling Ground and Nursery. A very special place where all Digimon start their lives! And I am a very special Digimon entrusted with caring for each and every one of them! Patamon: Well, you don't have to play Mr. Bigshot and fry us! Elecmon: I was only trying to protect my babies. Now, I think this conversation has lasted long enough. I am in charge and you two are trespassing. You must leave! Patamon: Now, now. Don't get all puffy! Elecmon: DON'T CALL ME PUFFY!!!

To fill the space where the impossible-to-adapt kawaigaru discussion would go, Elecmon instead monologues about the importance of the nursery, which the dub names Primary Village.

A consequence of taking this long walk around the untranslatable discourse is that Dub Elecmon, despite being less aggressive in tone, is more unreasonable in accusation. The original altercation was a misunderstanding because he thought the boys were harassing the babies; Here, he thinks they were playing. He's being territorial by attacking.

However, he will start acting territorial shortly, so that's a valid way to play him here.

Patamon and Elecmon lunge for each other, both giving as good as they get. Elecmon reveals that he can electrocute anything that touches him, but then only does it the once so Patamon can keep fighting back.

While they brawl, Takeru screams at them to stop, getting increasingly agitated. We keep cutting back to his Digivice; The meter steadily filling up.

He doesn't know what that means but we do. Something about this angry fistfight is pushing Patamon towards the brink of evolution.

In the dub, T.K. does notice this. He remarks "This is very bad! He's Digivolving!" He also observes, "They're fighting worse than Matt and me, and they aren't even brothers...."

Finally, Takeru lets out one last, furious scream at them to stop. Everything seems to freeze just for the moment. And the meter on his Digivice slowly drains.

Takeru reads them both the riot act for the way they're behaving. They're scaring the babies.

This gets to them both, and they separate. Patamon picks up a nearby Poyomon to console them.

Patamon: Sorry for scaring you. Elecmon: Hey, don't start acting familiar with my babies, you brat! Patamon: Hey, did you guys know that the ones who think they're grown-ups are actually the biggest brats of all. Isn't that dumb? Elecmon: What!? If you've got a problem, say it to my face! You're the type to put on a nice face but then talk about people behind their backs, aren't you!? Patamon: Takeru, let me at him! I want to settle things with this guy! Elecmon: So do I! Bring it!

Even after separating, Patamon and Elecmon are chomping at the bit to resume fighting each other. Over what, at this point, is basically nothing anymore. A bad first impression has their blood boiling.

If they must fight, then Takeru insists on doing it the right way.

A tug-of-war hilariously styled as if it were a sumo match. Right down to the sounds of the hyoshigi clacking for those iconic high-pitched tones, and with Takeru playing the role of yobidashi and introducing the wrestlers by song.

(Fun fact, there is presently a popular yobidashi named Takeru. It's not a reference, though; He hadn't even been born yet when this aired.)

Takeru: ~From the East / Elec of the Vast Sea / Elec of the Vast Sea! / From the West / Pata of the Large Mountain / Pata of the Large Mountain!

Naturally, the dub plays this like a pro wrestling announcer.

T.K.: AND NOW!!! In that corner: The defending champion ELECMON!!! AND NOW!!! Over in the other corner: The challenger and most excellent Digimon, PATAMON!!!

Nice cultural transition.

In a moment of supreme humiliation, Patamon wins.

Not only outmuscling Elecmon but flinging him across the nursery. Pata of the Mountain wins!

Conceding defeat, Elecmon formally accepts Patamon and welcomes him to the nursery. He also gives us its Japanese name: Hajimari no Machi, which means "Village of Beginnings".

Explaining his behavior, Elecmon says:

Elecmon: I'm sorry about all that. Weird things have been happening around here. On top of that, the island breaking apart... It made me paranoid of outsiders. Well! Guess this all goes to show I'm still too much of a brat! Takeru: Fighting between friends is okay because you'll make up soon. ...but when adults fight.... Elecmon: You're stronger than you look! Patamon: Than I look? I don't like being judged by the size of my appearance. Elecmon: Heh, my bad. But it's like they say... Uh, how's it go? 'Sansho wa kotsubu de (Sansho pepper is tiny) but it's sharp on the tongue.' Or something like that. Patamon: 'Sanshikisumire (Pansies) are sharp on the tongue'? Have you eaten pansies before!? Elecmon: ...huh? Did I screw that up?

Takeru suddenly went into PTSD flashbacks about his parents' divorce and we're over here doing more wordplay. Welcome to kindergarten.

Over in the dub, we have:

Elecmon: I'm really sorry, Patamon. There's no good excuse for the mean way I acted when I first saw you, but I've been so upset about things around here. Ever since the island broke apart, I've been expected a fight. I guess I just took it out on you. I apologize. T.K.: At least kids make up pretty fast. My parents are still mad at me for the time I painted our kitty cat. Elecmon: You know, you're a lot stronger than you look, kid! I'm impressed! Patamon: You know, they say you can't tell a cover by the size of its book or something like that. Elecmon: Sure. Well, forget about the sayings; You're great at tug-of-war! Hey, take a look around. Some day all of this will be yours, Patamon my boy. You'll raise up some fine young Digimon here, just like your old man-- Patamon: Elecmon, I am not here to raise babies! Elecmon: You're not? Oh, I mean, of course you're not! I was just... Well, I guess I was just daydreaming!

Props for at least trying to do a linguistic joke here. It's a lot shorter, though, so they have to add in this Lion King bit for the runtime.

Biggest change is, of course, T.K.'s line. Instead of a somber reference to his parents' divorce, it's replaced with a laugh line about his parents being mad at him. I don't remember if parental divorce was on the list of Cartoon No-Nos but I wouldn't be surprised if it was. They did earlier change Matt and T.K. being brothers split by divorce to being half-brothers, so this change feels consistent with that.

With that settled, Takeru has a question for Elecmon: How do we get to Infinity Mountain?

Elecmon: You want to climb that mountain!? I really suggest you don't! Devimon is over there! Takeru: I know! I have to go ask him where my brother and the others are. Elecmon: He's not just gonna tell you. After all, he's an evil Digimon. If you really want to know, you'll have no choice but to defeat him. Takeru: I don't want to fight! Elecmon: Even if you don't.... Patamon: Maybe there's another way. Some way we can settle things without fighting. Elecmon: If there was-- Takeru: Think back to what you felt a moment ago. We were all laughing together, remember? I think something will happen when our hearts come together.

Elecmon takes inspiration from this talk, settling on a new plan of action.

Elecmon: I'll be away a bit in Gear Savannah! You passed through the Pyocomon Village there, right? I'm going to tell them what happened here! Maybe if we can bring our hearts together, the island will join back together again in one piece! Patamon: Then the island will be back to normal! Elecmon: It's just a feeling, but it's what I want to believe.

As Day 6 comes to a close, we return to Devimon, watching through a magic observation gear as six of seven children make their way back towards Infinity Mountain. Dub T.K. fills this space with narration.

T.K.: Maybe [Elecmon] can help us. And maybe I'll get back together with my brother. I just know Matt's out there somewhere. I can almost see him! But I've got this yucky feeling that a lot's going to happen between now and then!

That yucky feeling is called "having read the script for the next episode during the localization process". :P

Backed into a corner, Devimon plots to kill Takeru and Patamon.

Devimon: I didn't expect it to go this way. I was unable to put a stop to them before they evolved, but no matter. I only need to kill the one Digimon who has yet to evolve. As long as I kill one Chosen Child, my victory is ensured. Leomon! Leomon: Sir! Devimon: I leave this to you. Leomon: Understood. Ogremon: Whaddya-- I mean, what shall I do? Devimon: Nothing, for now. But the final battle isn't far off; It wouldn't hurt to stack the odds in our favor. Ogremon: Yes, sir! I'll strangle the life out of them this time!

As we move away from Devimon, the narrator takes over.

Narrator: As the time drew near, the destiny of File Island-- No, of the entire Digimon World was put at stake as justice and evil, light and dark, surged towards each other. Yes, it wouldn't be long before the fight between these two sides would commence.

As he says this, several white feathers suddenly float up onscreen and rushes towards the camera. Completely with an audible shing to make sure you notice them.

(Spoilers, geeze.)

Over in the dub, Devimon is chewing the scenery per usual.

Devimon: All but one of their Digimon have Digivolved. I must destroy this last one before it is too late. Urgh, I cannot believe it has come to this. Still, as long as even one of those cursed children is lost, I am pleased. Leomon! Leomon: Master. Devimon: I leave this to you. Leomon: As you wish, my lord. Ogremon: What shall I do, Master? What task do you have for me? Devimon: Nothing for the moment, my loyal servant. But soon a battle will rage and you must be prepared! Ogremon: I understand, my lord! This time, I will not fail you! Devimon: Heheheheh.... No, this time there will be no failure! This time I SHALL BE VICTORIOUS!!! AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

It hits pretty much every point from the original beat-for-beat. I wouldn't bother bringing it up except for one thing: Devimon's last line extends beyond the end of his scene and into the narrator's, replacing the narration.

This means there's nothing to call out the foreshadowing of the white feathers. They come and go with little fanfare, though they do still have this sort of mystical wooshing sound applied as they pass by. It's not nearly as noticeable as the shing though.

Back in the Village of Beginnings, a Botamon in Takeru's lap suddenly evolves into Koromon. While everyone celebrates the new Koromon, Patamon revisits his anxieties from earlier in the episode, but now from the opposite perspective.

Patamon: I'm also going to evolve one day. I don't mind, but... Will I be able to stay friends with Takeru after I evolve? Takeru: Hm? What's wrong? Patamon: Oh! Nothing.... Takeru: Do you want to evolve too? Patamon: No! Not at all! I'm fine staying like this. I'll stay in this form forever, right by your side, Takeru. Takeru: Yeah! It's a promise. We'll be friends forever!

Dub Patamon has a much harder time putting his thoughts into words.

Patamon: Remember, I'm your Digimon, T.K. and some day I'll Digivolve too! T.K.: Huh? Why? Is that bad? Patamon: No! But.... T.K.: You wanna Digivolve? Is that what you're saying? Patamon: I'm just saying it might happen, but I don't really want it to. I wanna stay like this forever, always by your side! T.K.: Mmhmm! That's so awesome. We can be best friends forever and ever.

First he's like "Don't forget I'm gonna Digivolve!" and then suddenly it's "I don't wanna Digivolve!" Getting your wires crossed here, Patamon.

Also, "That's so awesome," is a way shittier response than "It's a promise!" If I told someone I liked being their friend and they replied, "Uh-huh, that's awesome," I'd feel super rejected.

We close on another white feather whisking by, assuring us that everything's gonna be alright.

It's all gonna be just fine.

Assessment: As the youngest youngest of this group, Takeru is defined by his innocence and his optimistic heart. This is his first spotlight episode since, as noted, he didn't get an evolution episode in the first set. Watching him navigate this situation with Elecmon makes for a solid contrast against what Yamato's been saying: That Takeru is incapable of doing things on his own.

He's young and naive, but he isn't helpless. We see that here, as he's forced to act independently for the first time in the series.

The dub of this one is a little rough in spots, especially when filling in dialogue for quiet scenes that drew their effectiveness from the reserved and careful use of audio. As with the previous episode, there's also places where the dub was screwed from the get-go, such as the two scenes that directly involve Japanese linguistics, but they did a decent job going their own way on those.

Overall, I'd call this dub an improvement over the previous episode, to be sure. Despite some jank in places, they did their best to stay on-script as much as possible and match the tone of the original, while also adding onto it in certain areas.

[that-green-haired-swordsman]

Found this on Pinterest and it's not meant to be taken too seriously, but yeah, I get where this comes from. Usually you see Zoro being pictured as either a sex machine or as aromantic/ace, and literally never anything in between, and I personally believe that either of these takes is true. It's a manga of the shonen genre and follows the respective, genre-based rules. My interpretation of the character is that he undoubtedly puts his goal(s) on top of everything else. Luffy gets to become the pirate king. Zoro himself is going to be the world's strongest swordsman. Period. BUT. These ambitions go hand in hand with a sacrifice, at least to Zoro. This is going to be a long read and I have to digress a bit so please be patient lol.

Zoro has lost the person most important to him and there was nothing he could do to prevent it. He couldn't protect Kuina. Now, we don't know his own knowledge of his parents, but I always assumed that his desire to become stronger and stronger is a direct result of the loss of his parents, something he witnessed, but couldn't do anything about it either. So he chose to follow his father's footsteps and became a swordsman, trained in Koushiro's dojo, driven by anxiety. He made friends with Kuina who died too. And then he swore to himself that never again he would anyone ever become close to him. He traveled alone and at first and kept his distance to Luffy, Nami and the others.

But there's no way to fight human nature. Slowly, he allowed himself and them to get closer and he found it comfortable to be around them, but accepting that they're his friends also multiplies his anxiety and ultimate weakness: losing someone again. He not only wants to become stronger to be the WGS, he also thinks it's the only way to protect his loved ones. When he struggles with an opponent, he can be seen training even harder afterwards. He takes the night's watch. He guards the ship. He only sleeps when someone else is awake. He tells the others to escape when it's dangerous. He tries to take incoming damage alone. He refuses that anyone sacrifices themselves and knocks them out should they try (Sanji @ Thriller Bark). He keeps things a secret. He holds back emotions to remain collected and supportive. The further along they travel, the more of his humanity he has to lose in order to keep them all safe.

Back to the original intention of this post. Zoro has kind of a soft spot for women who need help with something. They just trigger his protective instinct. But he also tries to keep away from any woman because they'd weaken him. And he can't afford to be weak. A woman by his side would mean he'd have to look after her, provide for her, protect her, make sure she's alright, take better care of himself in order to be there for her, all things he simply can't afford and which distract him from his goal (he would think that way, being a bit traditional). Maybe he doesn't trust himself to remain as determined as he was once he's in a relationship. Maybe he's afraid that his partner would try to talk him out of his goal and stand in his way. Which leads me to think how a woman has to be in order to be a good match for him?

We've covered that a woman often triggers his protective sense, I'm not sure though if that is what he finds an important trait. I like to imagine that a woman he'd be interested in has to be similar to himself - independent, strong, able to defend herself, not afraid to put him in his place, self-confident and courageous and most importantly be supportive and understand how he rolls. He wouldn't have to worry about her as much then (he'd still be worried though of course lol). So yeah, ZoTash all the way!

However, even if they'd fall in love during the series, he'd not give in to his feelings before he would have reached his goals, due to the above mentioned reasons. He'd ask her to wait or he wouldn't open up to her until he's the WGS, and then reunite with her and be like "Hey sorry you had to wait" and you know how loyal he is, he'd stay with her until the end of his days. And I think that's another reason why he's not dating a woman - he wants to make sure that she's THE ONE. He's not interested in an affair or something not serious. He's there for the long run. He doesn't give away his heart so easy. He could even play hard to get, to check if his love interest really means it. He wants to protect himself from heartbreak and loss, afraid to experience it ever again.

He wouldn't be a perfect lover, but try hard to be the best version of himself.

[bagerfluff]

Maybe Prom Isn't So Bad

Older Izumi Koushirou x Non-Binary Reader

Prompt - Prom

“No Taichi. I’m not going to prom”, Koushiro said.

This was the fifth time Koushiro’s said it and if he has to say it again Koushiro is going to hit Taichi over the head. As you may have guessed tonight was the most valued and anticipated night of a high schoolers life, prom.

Well, most valued and anticipated is you weren’t Koushiro. Koushiro had no plan to go to prom. Why would he? He had no date, not that it matters.

Koushiro would much rather spend time at home with his laptop. Just the thought of spending an entire night with people with bright lights and drunk kids made Koushiro shiver.

So no, Koushiro had no plan to go to prom.

But Taichi had other plans. He wanted Koushiro to go, why, because apparently Koushiro couldn’t ‘stay at home during this monumental moment’. Koushiro thought he could.

Nothing really important happened during prom. That’s what Koushiro’s data said. Nothing was going to happen and the things that happened weren’t going to be anything more than laughs in the future.

It’s not like you met a life partner during prom.

But no matter how many times Koushiro said no, Taichi kept trying to convince Koushiro to go. Taichi had a habit of putting his mind to something and never stopping till he dies trying or it works.

That was something Koushiro admired about Taichi, just not right now. ‘“Come one Kou, what's the worst that could happen?” Taichi asked from his position on Koushiro’s bed.

Taichi was laying on Koushiro’s bed with a fake sad smile that Koushiro couldn’t see because his gaze was on his laptop. Taichi got up from laying to sit crisscrossed in the middle of Koushiro’s bed.

“Come on Koushiro, everyone's going to be there” “Why does that mean I have to be there”, Koushiro countered. It wasn’t like the team didn’t meet every Friday to hang out.

“Because it will be fun to hang out”, Taichi was whining now. “But we did that yesterday. Yesterday was Friday. And since there was no school that means Koushiro could spend the entire day on his laptop.

A perfect day if you ask Koushiro.

“Maybe if you go you’ll see Y/n”, Taichi teased. Koushiro blushed but he refused to let Taichi see that. Who was Y/n? They were a student in Koushiro’s home room.

They talked everyday and Koushiro liked talking to them. They were one of the few people to listen when Koushiro started rambling. They were pretty too. That’s how Koushiro developed a crush on Y/n.

How Taichi found out was a mystery, but Koushiro didn’t like it. Just the thought of seeing Y/n made Koushiro’s heart thump in his chest. Y/n were kind, funny, pretty, and confident.

Also all of the things Koushiro wasn’t

Koushiro now wanted to say yes, but that was illogical. There was no way to find out if Y/n was going to the prom. “There is no way to know if Y/n is going”, Koushiro said as he got back to typing on his laptop.

He hadn’t even realized he had stopped when Taichi mentioned Y/n. “You could ask them”, Taichi asked in that stupid teasing voice. No. That was stupid. Koushiro couldn’t and wouldn’t ask Y/n.

That would look weird. Plus, why would it matter if Y/n was going to prom. It’s not like anything would happen. Plus if something did happen it would make things awkward when Koushiro saw Y/n on Monday.

So no, “I’m not going”, Koushiro thought and said.

Taichi sighed and got up off Koushiro’s bed. “Well I have to leave, but at least think about it. It starts at nine so if you are going make sure to get a suit or something”, Taichi said before leaving.

The last thing Koushiro heard was Taichi closing Koushiro’s door. Koushiro sighed, finally, Koushiro could work in peace. But when Koushiro looked at his screen he found he couldn’t focus.

He kept thinking about the prom and Y/n. Koushiro let out a groan and smacked his head on his desk.

Guess Koushiro was going to have to find a suit.

“Omg yes I’ll help you”, Mimi yelled and Koushiro wished she didn’t.

Koushiro didn’t need the world knowing he was going to prom. After Taichi left, Koushiro found that he couldn’t stop thinking about prom. So Koushiro decided that he was going to go, but he was going to leave if anything didn’t happen.

Which means Koushiro was going to leave within the first hour. But Koushiro didn’t have any suits or something, as Taichi said. So Koushiro thought about who could help him.

He didn’t want his mother or father knowing that would be a problem. Koushiro couldn’t do it, no way, talking to the store clerks got Koushiro nervous. So Koushiro went to his friends, and that led him to Mimi, and that led to Koushiro standing outside a suit store or something with Mimi.

“Just leave it to me”, Mimi said with a grin that scared Koushiro. Mimi then grabbed Koushiro’s hand and started dragging Koushiro though the store. Koushiro could only notice a few things as he was dragged at the speed of light.

There weren’t many people in the store. Most of them were around Koushiro’s age. Koushiro knew that they were also shopping for prom stuff.

This store sold just about anything a teenager needed for any formal gathering. Dresses, makeup, shoes, and suits. When Mimi finally stopped, she and Koushiro were standing in front of a bunch of suits.

Everywhere Koushiro looked there were suits.

They looked different from each other. Each suit had a different look, one or two things that made them different from the other. It all made Koushiro nervous. Koushiro felt his palms sweat and his face got a little red.

Mimi dropped Koushiro’s hand and started looking through suits. It was all still a little much from Koushiro. He was thinking about seeing Y/n in whatever they were wearing.

And Y/n seeing Koushiro in what he was wearing. Koushiro’s face got more red. This was all too much. Koushiro wanted to leave, this was a bad idea. Koushiro should just go home and go on his laptop.

And maybe make Mimi promise not to tell the others about this. Koushiro turned around and tried to walk out. Koushiro felt something touch his shoulder.

Koushiro didn’t have any time to do anything before he was turned around and a suit was pressed in front of him. Mimi was looking at Koushiro and the suit with a quizzical look on her face.

It made Koushiro more nervous.

Koushiro couldn’t see the suit that well, but from what he did see, he didn’t like it. It was too formal. Koushiro preferred more comfortable clothes, clothes that flow.

Koushiro knew that would be a problem. “Nope!” Mimi yelled again, catching the attention of more people. That just made Koushiro's hand sweat more.

Mimi put the suit back on the rack and went back to looking through them. Koushiro sighed and glanced to the left. That’s when something caught Koushiro’s attention.

It was a suit, obviously.

But what really caught Koushiro’s attached was the vest that was on the suit. It had a V cut that was showing off a tie. One side was folded over the other and the side that was folded over was cut to kinda look like a triangle.

There were four pockets. Two on one side, two on the other. One was placed near the top and the other was near the bottom. Each side looked the same as the other.

The vest was a dark red, a maroon red if Koushiro was remembering correctly. The dress shirt under it was white and the tie was black. Koushiro liked it. Koushiro liked this vest.

Koushiro walked over to it and stood in front of it. Koushiro heard Mimi make a sound of confusion when she realized Koushiro wasn’t there. But she found Koushiro and walked over to him.

Koushiro felt Mimi look over his shoulder at the vest. Mimi gasped and reached over to take the vest off the rack. Mimi pulled it to her and put a hand on Koushiro’s shoulder so she could turn Koushiro around.

Mimi pressed the suit to Koushiro’s chest and this time Koushiro was a little happy about it. After a few seconds of staring at Koushiro and the vest Mimi looked up at Koushiro and smiled. “It’s perfect”, she yelled. Koushiro didn’t mind that she yelled, he smiled.

Maybe prom was going to be fun.

This was a bad idea.

Koushiro was standing outside the school and nine ten. Koushiro was kinda looking forward to this after he got his suit. Koushiro was wearing it and Mimi was right, it did look good on him.

Koushiro knew why he was here, he really wanted to see Y/n. That made Koushiro’s face go red, he started fidgeting with his bowtie. But what was Koushiro going to do when he saw Y/n?

It’s not like Y/n or Koushiro would confess. Koushiro didn’t even know if Y/n liked him. Oh how did Taichi talk him into this? “Koushiro!” Speaking of Taichi.

Koushiro turned around and looked at Taichi. He was walking towards Koushiro with Yamato by his side. Taichi had a big smile on his face while Yamato had a small one.

Once Taichi reached Koushiro he wrapped his arm around Koushiro’s shoulder and continued walking into the school. Dragging Koushiro into it against his will.

Yamato said nothing and Taichi said everything. “So you did come, I knew you would after I mentioned Y/n”, Taichi whispered the last part and Koushiro was glad for it.

Koushiro blushed more but he was thankful for the fact that the school was dark. They were using the gym as the spot for the dance. Everything was dark, except for the lights on the walls and roof.

They were dim and colorful, but they gave Koushiro a little headache. Koushiro could barely see anything but he saw the crowd of teens. They were dancing to the music that played in the background.

Koushiro didn’t know the song but he didn’t really like it. Koushiro looked around. There were tables on the right and a table full of drinks and food on the left.

The long table with the food and drinks had some teachers standing there giving out food and drinks. There to hand out stuff and to make sure kids don’t spike the drinks.

Koushiro might not go out much but he has watched TV. That was really it for the prom. Koushiro still had no idea why people found this ‘cool’ or ‘amazing’.

Taichi patted Koushiro on the back, “Hope you find them”, Taichi said before leaving. Koushiro glared as Taichi left. Koushiro stood there for a good few seconds before deciding to sit at one of the tables.

The tables were small circles, only a few chairs. Koushiro didn’t mind, he sat and placed his head in his hands. Then Koushiro did what he always did, he watched people from the corner.

It was boring, Koushiro wanted to leave.

His friends found him a few times. They talked to him for a bit before leaving. Koushiro was mostly daydreaming, was it daydreaming if it was night, or was it still daydreaming since you weren’t asleep?

“Never thought I’d see you here Izumi”, Koushiro looked to his left to see Y/n standing. You had on a normal suit, but you looked perfect.

With a small smile on your face and confidence radiating off you as you walked to Koushiro. Koushiro had to look away so you didn’t see his blush.

“Well I am”, Koushiro said. You sat down in a chair, “Looks like you’d rather be anywhere else than here”, you said. Koushiro nodded. You were right, but Koushiro couldn’t leave. Koushiro had found you, or more like you found him.

But still, it wasn’t like Koushiro was going to do anything. “Come on”, you got up and stuck your hand out to Koushiro, “I know the perfect place”. Koushiro looked at your hand.

Were you asking him out? Did you like him? What was happening? Was Koushiro thinking too much about this? You let out a laugh. “You're thinking too much Koushiro. Just come on. I know you want to leave”, Koushiro grabbed your hand.

His palm immediately started sweating. You started walking out of the school and Koushiro followed you. The stars and moon were out and it looked beautiful.

It was more peaceful outside and Koushiro immediately kept better. His headache was going away and he relaxed, despite the fact that you were still holding your hand. You took him to the beach, or near the beach.

You took him to a walkway that stood near the beach. There was a railing that allowed you to look at the beach and the sea. You stood and leaned against the railing and let go of Koushiro's hand.

Koushiro felt sad that you let go, then he felt awkward that he felt sad. You looked out on the sea and Koushiro did the same. The sea moved with the moon and the wind moved with the sea.

It was much better than the prom.

“So why did you go?” You asked. Koushiro looked confused at you. You looked at Koushiro, “You didn’t like the prom, so why did you go?”

Koushiro looked away and blushed. It seemed like the blush never left Koushiro's face since he got here. “I wanted to see you”, Koushiro whispered the last part.

You smiled and moved closer to Koushiro, “What was that darling”, Koushiro looked at you with side eyes and an even deeper blush.

Koushiro was sure that he matched his vest by now. “I wanted to see you”, Koushiro whispered but you heard it this time. You smiled, “go thing I wanted to see you too, how about a date tomorrow”, Koushiro smiled.

“Yeah”, Koushiro stuttered. You laughed, “You're cute when you blush Kou”, Koushiro blushed again. Koushiro looked back at the sea. Koushiro felt your hand on top of his.

Maybe prom isn’t so bad.

[sloanerisette]

Digimon Secret Santa 2023 Gift!

So I was @bacomon-art-blog's Secret Santa! I know how much you love Iori and Jou, so I wanted to write something with them for you! I hope you have a merry Christmas, and I hope you enjoy! I had a lot of fun writing this and a ton of fun coming up with this fic!

---

For some reason, Iori felt a bit out of his depth for this celebration. According to Takeru and Hikari, August 1st was a big day for the original eight Chosen Children, being the day that they went to the Digital World and came back. As a result, the eight Chosen Children were joined by him, Miyako, and Daisuke to celebrate. They were Chosen Children now, so they had been welcomed wholeheartedly in the group. But while Miyako was quick to find friendship with Sora and Mimi thanks to her exuberant nature, and Daisuke had already been close with Taichi and had recently become closer with Yamato after a he received the Digimental of Friendship, Iori felt… well, a bit out of place.

It wasn’t that he felt unwelcome by any means, but it was a bit different. Everyone was so much older than him, and compared to the other new Chosen Children, he felt he hadn’t gotten nearly that close to any of his seniors. His own Digimentals were Knowledge and Reliability, and while he greatly respected both Koushiro and Jou, his relationship with them wasn’t nearly as close as Miyako was with Mimi or Daisuke was with Taichi.

Still, he was grateful to come along. The heat wasn’t too bad, they had a picnic together, and he had been enthralled by all the stories of that first trip the others took into the Digital World. He couldn’t imagine the idea of being stuck there for so long… it merely made his respect for them all grow so much more. Every so often that day he looked down at Upamon, each time with a fond, if small smile. He and his Digimon partner had already become incredibly close friends, and Upamon had done plenty to get him to lighten up just a bit more than usual. All he could hope was that their bond would continue to grow and grow.

By the mid-afternoon, the humidity had grown quite a bit, and Iori found himself needing to fan himself a bit more.

“Water?”

He snapped from yet another bout of thoughts about what being a Chosen Child meant and he looked up to see Jou offering him a bottle of water. He blinked.

“Ah, thank you, Jou-san,” he said with a bow of his head before taking it.

“I’m surprised the summer hasn’t been rougher,” Jou said as he cracked open his own bottle and took a long drink. Iori opened his bottle and offered some to Upamon before taking a sip himself.

The group of Chosen Children had split up a bit, with all of them splitting up into their own small groups. Miyako had dragged Hikari over to Mimi and Sora, while Daisuke was listening to Taichi and Koushiro, and Yamato and Takeru were standing next to each other, laughing about something one of them said.

“Don’t worry, I made sure to pass water out to everyone else. You just seemed to be in such thought I didn’t want to interrupt you, but considering everyone else got their own by now, I hope you don’t mind,” Jou said lightly. Iori shook his head.

“No, I appreciate it, thank you.”

Things stayed quiet between the two as they sat down on a bench, watching their friends socialize. It was nice to spend some quiet time, but with the oldest of their group there, Iori couldn’t help himself.

“Jou-san, do you mind if I ask a question?” he asked, voice serious as ever. Jou’s eyebrows raised and he let out a gentle chuckle.

“Of course, fire away.”

Compared to the few times he had seen Jou in the Digital World, he seemed a lot more easygoing now. Well, not necessarily easygoing, considering this was the guy who had made sure everyone was staying hydrated on a warm summer day, but he definitely wasn’t as stressed as he was making sure their friends didn’t die or in helping temporarily stop the Digimon Kaiser.

And, really, there were some questions that Iori floated in his mind. Even if Taichi had been the leader in Jou’s group and Daiuske was the leader in theirs, he still wanted to do his best to help out. Frankly, out of all the people to ask, from what he knew and the stories he was told, Jou was the only person to really ask.

“How did you do it?” he asked. Jou blinked and tilted his head.

“Do what?” he asked as Iori gave Upamon another drink of water.

“Keep them all under control,” Iori said simply, before taking another gulp for himself. Jou scratched his cheek and grimaced.

“Ah, well… that was more Taichi’s job than mind…” he trailed off.

“I understand that, but you were the oldest one. Your crest is Reliability, and I share that too through my Digimental. Mimi talking about how you stayed with her to make sure she stayed safe when you went back to the Digital World a second time, the story about making sure Taichi didn’t get in over his head while trying to rescue Sora, making sure Takeru didn’t get hurt… even if you didn’t lead the group, you still did everything you could to keep everyone safe.”

Jou placed his hand to his chin and hummed quietly, in deep thought. Iori focused his attention on him, waiting for what he had to say. He wanted to do his best to keep everyone safe with how dangerous the Digimon Kaiser was dangerous. Ever since they had to fight Metalgreymon, it felt like the stakes were being raised more and more. It wouldn’t be easy, and they needed to do all they could. Iori had to keep an eye out and make sure they all stayed safe. He wouldn’t let anything happen to any of his friends.

“Well, to be honest with you, Iori… I think a lot of it happened by accident,” he said with an awkward laugh. Iori’s jaw dropped.

“Huh?”

At his bewildered expression, Jou waved his hands and shook his head.

“No no no, don’t get me wrong! I worked as hard as I could to keep everyone safe, even if Taichi took the lead of the group,” he said. He paused again and pursed his lips, trying to best figure out how to better word what he meant to say.

“A lot of our group is pretty impulsive. Sora-kun and Koushiro are probably the only others who could keep as much of a level head, and there were plenty of times where I still needed to do what I could to help them out, too. Working with a lot of people isn’t always easy, especially when a lot of them are so headstrong.”

Iori glanced over at Daisuke and then to Miyako. He could definitely understand that pretty well.

“In a way, you sort of have to be an anchor for your group.”

The anchor for the group…

Iori had a hard time thinking of himself that way. While he had been raised with a good head on his shoulders thanks to his family, being the “anchor” felt like something else entirely.

Jou set a gentle hand on Iori’s shoulder, his own gaze having followed towards Iori’s friends.

“Daisuke and Miyako-kun are both pretty energetic, aren’t they,” he mused with a soft chuckle, “They really are like Taichi and Mimi-kun.”

“Jou-san, you really think I could be the anchor to our group?” he asked. He always appreciated the advice, help, and knowledge he received from Koushiro-san, and the few times Jou-san had offered it had been a boon, too. He still thought about what he had said when he needed to call on him in order to help save the group.

“I wouldn’t say think, I would say I’m sure you could be,” Jou said, offering Iori a smile. To Jou, it was almost funny how different the two were. Here Iori had taken helping out the Digital World in stride, doing everything he could in order to help fight against the Digimon Kaiser, while Jou had been so anxious and hesitant during his first trip there. Granted, they were in completely different situations, but he was always impressed by the boy’s convictions and strength.

“Takeru and Hikari-kun may have the experience from being in the Digital World with the rest of us, but you have an incredibly level head. You know when to take action and you focus on the right thing to do.”

Hearing Jou-san say that… really did mean a lot. It wasn’t always easy being the youngest, but…

“Thank you, Jou-san. Going against the Digimon Kaiser hasn’t been easy. Sometimes I wonder if it’s a battle we can entirely win,” Iori frowned. He wrung his hands together as he watched the others. He didn’t want to see them get hurt. He still thought about how his friends had nearly died, had a few nightmares about it. If it wasn’t for him being able to get Jou-san, then…

“I know we can’t help you all out too much, but we’ll always do what we can. You’ll always have our support.”

Upamon looked up at Iori, with that same adorable smile that he always held. It brought warmth to his chest, and enough relief to cause the knot that had slowly been forming in his stomach to unwind.

“Iori,” Upamon squeaked, “If I get what Jou is saying, then I know you do that for me, too!”

“Upamon?”

Jou smiled in silence as he watched the the pair.

“You always help me out! And if it wasn’t for you, there’s plenty of times I would’ve had way more of your mom’s food than I should!” Upamon said as he wiggled in his place.

And there were a lot of times that he had gotten seconds (and thirds) to give to his partner after a long day in the Digital World.

“Sounds a lot like a seal I know,” Jou said, before pausing for a beat, “Well… a lot less sarcastically than said seal, at least,” he said before adjusting his glasses.

“Thanks. Both of you,” Iori nodded as he held Upamon a little closer. “I hope one day I can be as close with Upamon as you are with Gomamon.”

Jou set a reassuring hand on Iori’s shoulder, patting it a few times before he reached for his bottle of water and took another drink.

“I don’t think you’ll have anything to worry about on that front. You two are just as much anchors for each other as Gomamon and I are for each other.”

“Hey, Iori!” Miyako shouted out with an exaggerated wave, “Get over here! Daisuke is buying us ice cream!”

“What!? I didn’t say I was gonna do that!” he shouted, his voice booming through the park.

“Sounds like you have to now!” Takeru said, his laughter mingling with Daisuke’s continued cries of refusal.

“B-But I was talking to—” Iori started, but was stopped by another hand on his shoulder again.

“Don’t worry about me, I’m sure I can find someone to talk to,” Jou said, mirth clear in his voice as he nodded towards his group.

“And I want to get ice cream, too!” Upamon said.

“Hey, wait! If I start buying ice cream for all you guys I’m gonna be broke!” Daisuke shouted.

“Oh! I want ice cream, too!” Chibimon squeaked out happily as he danced around his partner’s feet.

“Me, too!” Patamon said as he flew in circles.

The two stood up and started to walk forward. “Thanks for all of your advice today, Jou-san. It’s really helped me out.” Iori stopped in place and offered his senior a half bow.

Jou smiled, “I’m happy to help.”

“Hey! If you don’t hurry up then you and Upamon aren’t getting any ice cream!” Daisuke shouted over to them.

“Iori come on!” Upamon said, nearly flying from the boy’s arms to secure his frozen treat.

“Oh, and Iori? I think you’re already on the right track to being the anchor for your group,” Jou said, shooting the younger boy a thumbs up before heading over to talk to Mimi and Koushiro.

“Fiiiiiiiinally,” Daisuke said, putting his hands behind his head as Iori approached, Upamon practically buzzing in Iori’s arms as his little eyes darted around to try and find ice cream.

“I thought we were gonna have to leave ya behind,” Daisuke grinned. Miyako flicked his ear, leading to him shouting “Ow!” and rubbing his ear with a grumble.

“He wasn’t going to leave, I wouldn’t let him,” she said as she folded her arms. It caused Hikari to laugh, putting a hand in front of her mouth to cover it.

“Iori, Iori, how many ice creams can I get?” Upamon asked as he finally popped out of his partner’s arms, bouncing on the ground with Chibimon.

“Just one!” Daisuke said with a huff, pouting out his lower lip, “I’m not made of money.” Despite his grumbling, he couldn’t help the way the edge of his mouth turned upwards into a half grin before he led the charge towards a small convenience store, the rest of the group following close behind.

Despite the fact that Upamon ended up having an extra half a popsicle after begging Iori for some more, the tiny Digimon still ended up scarfing down a whole plate of food he had taken to his room after dinner. Iori watched with a mix of wonder and terror as the Digimon chowed down face first on a large pile of rice.

“You know, I still can’t help but wonder how many stomachs you have.”

“I dunno but not enough! I’m still hungry!” Upamon said between bites.

Iori smiled to himself as he leaned back in his chair. His partner was certainly something else. Not that he would ever complain.

“Hey, Upamon?” Iori asked after a few minutes. Upamon looked over at him, chewing on a piece of fish. Iori reached forward and wiped away a few grains of rice that were on his cheek.

“Yeah?” Upamon asked, finally swallowing the massive mouthful of food he had.

“We make a pretty good team, don’t we?”

“Of course we do! We make the best team ever! Ever ever!” Upamon cheered as he bounced in place. Iori chuckled gently.

“I think so, too. I’m glad and I’m grateful to be your partner.”

Upamon couldn’t stop himself from continuing to munch as he watched Iori with wide eyes and rapt attention.

“I won’t lie, I’m a little nervous about taking on the Digimon Kaiser… it won’t be an easy fight. But I want you to know I’ll always stand by you. As long as you’re able to fight, then so will I.”

Upamon suddenly launched himself into Iori’s arms, the force of which caused his chair to nearly fall backwards. Iori barely managed to get his feet planted on the floor in time while Upamon nuzzled into him. Iori grimaced as some soy sauce started to stain his shirt.

“I’ll be your anchor if you’ll be mine, Iori!”

Iori smiled, closed his eyes, held his partner tight, and gently set his forehead against the top of Upamon’s head.

“I will.”

[detectiveichijouji]

Case 23 - Kido Joe’s strict rules of madness

[AO3 version]

Briefly, Ken and the others found Noel around Taichi’s university. But the moment his eyes encountered theirs, Noel decided to run away. Maybe he was still scared?

“Ken.”

Daisuke stopped walking and glanced at Ken, “Noel had a fragment, but he got it stolen from him. He was going to give it to me so we could keep it in a safer place and without hurting anyone.”

“... I see.”

“I told ya, Noel is a good guy. You gotta apologize to him.”

“... I will, but next time ok? I have to go home.”

And then Ken left. The group went back to their own homes after that too. But Ken wasn’t going home… He really found odd Noel Leblanc being there, right there… Casually and all of a sudden… He was kinda curious about Noel’s alibi to being there…

… But he didn’t find Noel.

… Noel Leblanc was definitely there -- Ken was musing as he returned home. The moment he arrived at the Ichijoujis residence, he realized his parents weren’t at home yet so he just walked to his room and started musing about the information gathered so far.

“... Something does not sound right…”

“Hm?” Wormmon blinked, “What’s wrong?”

“Noel confirmed he’s a distant relative of Arsène Lupin’s creator,” he was reading the messages Takeru sent to him. 

It felt like Ken and Takeru had become some kind of Sherlock Holmes and Watson for this mystery. Funny though, because of the Lupin books having its own take of the most known British detective as ‘Herlock Sholmes’.

“Huh, is it?”

“Well, it can be possible… But it might mean we’re on the right path,” Ken rested the phone on the desk and looked at Wormmon, “It could mean the hypothesis that Noel Leblanc created Arsenemon is plausible.”

“Hmm…Ah, I see!” Wormmon nodded, listening to Ken’s musings quite interested.

“Maybe he sent Arsenemon to help us out. Noel was present when Hikari-san received Koushiro-san’s phone call…”

“Hmm… True true.”

“This means… Espimon might not be Noel’s only digimon partner.”

“Oh??”

“He’s Arsenemon’s partner too.”

Joe and Gomamon usually go home late, because of the activities at the medical school and his internship there. Also, they were still helping the Digimon Arena -- which changed its localization to a better place, and kept training and challenging digimon and tamers. Except this time King Shoutmon had legit real prizes for them, from their village’s cuisine and crafts after all.

“Soooooo… Do you think I can beat TeslaJellymon next time and win the all-you-can-eat ticket from Delumon’s cafe?”

“It would’ve been nice, but don’t forget we’re not there to just compete,” Joe smiled, “we’re helping to keep everyone safe and treat their wounds.”

“Of course! But… Ah… I’d like to try out the Village of the Smiles’ cuisine someday…”

They laughed lightly, walking in the streets. Until they found the eyepatched Impmon… lying on the sidewalk.

“Huh…?” they blinked.

“Help… Me…!!”

In the morning…

“Aaaah I can’t believe I’m turning 17 soon!!” Daisuke seemed pretty… excited?? “Just a few more days… Uh… 18 days!!”

“Why? Do you want to get your presents already?” Hikari giggled.

“N-nope! I mean… Takeru, Ken and you are already 17! I’m always the last one of the 1991 kids to get older!”

“True…” Takeru smiled, “I’m the oldest. You can call me ‘Takeru-san’ now”

“No way!” he pouted.

Noel was also walking with them to school, again. At least this didn’t feel tense this time.

“... Ah! Noel,” Daisuke grinned, “When is your birthday, dude?”

“... June 15, but why?” The boy looked back, directly to Daisuke and with some curiosity about what Daisuke would do with that info.

“Oh! So you’re…”

“16 years old already. I was born in 1992… I think.”

“Makes sense…”

June 15…? -- Takeru thought, but this time he kept quiet. To not make Daisuke mad at him again. But why was that date interesting for him…?

“This makes him a Gemini!” Hikari commented, “Like Miyako-san!”

“Hm? Inoue-san… is a Gemini…?”

“Yes, her birthday is on May 30th though”

“Oh…”

“Mine is December 1st!” Daisuke added, with another grin, “This means I get presents twice in a month!”

“Oh… Christmas presents too…”

“Well, there’s the ones who just give only one present for two dates” Hikari teased Daisuke with a giggle, “Right~”

“H-hey…! Don’t remind me of that!!”

The classes were completely normal for them all. But something kept bugging Takeru… Something wasn’t right… Something… was off.

Then, after class he just witnessed (by sheer accident of fate) Lune talking with Noel and Soleil:

“You shouldn’t be befriending those punks!” She said, “Remember, we have a goal.”

“...” Noel, however, did not say anything in return.

“Well… Let him be, Lune.” Soleil sighed, “Soon or later he will stop.”

“I made predictions, they won’t stay on your side at all!” she continued, “If you keep trying to be Motomiya Daisuke’s friend… You’re fated to misfortune.”

Takeru wanted to intervene and defend Daisuke, they were saying something so awful about his friend! And now saying Noel couldn’t stay friends with Daisuke?!

But Takeru’s phone rang, and he had to leave before the other three noticed him there. It was Miyako, asking him and the others to gather at the karaoke booth.

He, Daisuke and Hikari (plus their digimon) left the school and went to the usual karaoke booth. There, Miyako explained them the details:

“King Shoutmon said… Joe-senpai had gone crazy and took control over the Digimon Arena. Then, Izumi-senpai sent me a message saying he detected another fragment and a bizarre amount of data around this area here,”

She pointed to a marked area in the map of her laptop.

“Then, I went to check which area is and… Bingo. It’s the new place our friends picked to host the Digimon Arena’s activities.”

“Another fragment…” Takeru clenched his fist.

“Now they chose to attack Joe-san…” Hikari frowned, “First Sora-san, then Taichi… What are their goals now?”

“... I can’t see the pattern here” Iori commented, trying to connect the cases to each other, “Only that Arsenemon was right to warn us about the enemy targeting us now.”

“Hmm…” Ken mused.

“Did you notice something, Ken?” Tailmon asked.

“Miyako-san, please search for Ornismon data. I need to check a little detail.”

“Hmm??” They all looked at Ken, and then Miyako started checking the database about Ornismon.

“Hmmm… It is an ancient bird, possibly linked to… hatred?”

“Hatred??” Patamon repeated, “So this means…”

“They were exploiting our Crests’ power negatively” Hawkmon added, “isn’t it what you were thinking about, Ken-san?”

“Yes, as I suspected… Previously they were enabling the seven deadly sins, but now…”

“They’re goin’ after us and using our Crest power wrongly…” Armadimon mused, “So, this means… Takeru and Patamon can be targeted again, dagya?”

“... We need to catch those remaining pieces as soon as possible” Daisuke clenched his fists, then asked: “How many shards are left?? How many do we have? And How many Arsenemon have?”

“Whoa whoa, calm down Daisuke” Miyako said, “Hmmm… 7 for us, 9 for Arsenemon, and there’s only 4 left.”

Iori was recapping all the previous incidents with the fragments: “Taichi-san’s case was possibly exploiting the Crest of Courage. So if Joe-san has one…”

“Well, he was kinda acting cowardly don’t ya think?” V-mon commented, “So, what’s the opposite of Reliability?”

“Hmm… Deceitful, disloyalty, dishonesty, treachery, unsteadiness…” Wormmon answered.

“I think we shouldn’t go too literal here,” Daisuke sounded annoyed, “Let’s go stop Joe-san before things get worse.”

“Alright!”

But someone else was listening to them… And before they could catch him , the one spying on them left quickly, not even meeting with the group when they left the booth and headed to the Digimon Arena.

The Digimon Arena was covered by… water!? At least it was a bubble filled with water shielding the building. The 02 group were confused about it though -- would they need to swim to get inside? Should they just send Iori and Submarimon?

But…

Sending Iori alone sounded too troublesome…

So Ken had a strange feeling and approached the water barrier. He examined it for a second and then put his head inside it for a few minutes. Miyako and Daisuke gasped in horror and they were ready to go there when Ken took his head off the barrier and looked at them, deadpanned. 

“It’s not real, we can breathe inside.”

“NEXT TIME DON’T DO SOMETHING THAT RECKLESS!!” both Miyako and Daisuke hissed.

“A-anyway… Let’s go,” Takeru tried to interrupt their fight. They all nodded and got inside the building.

And then they just met Joe and what was supposed to be Gomamon, perhaps? A Neptunemon was next to him and they watched the Arena, TeslaJellymon and other competitors like Tenno Yuu’s Sparrowmon were… writing something on paper sheets!?

“What, is this a cram school now?” Daisuke blinked “Everyone’s doing homework??”

“No, it’s not homework it’s…” Iori commented as they approached the arena. Then he just glanced at one of those sheets and realized what they were, “... a contract.”

“A contract?!” The others (but Ken) exclaimed.

Daisuke immediately took a paper from one of the kids filling it and read it, “Huh…? It’s about the arena rules?? Wait, you have to agree with ALL OF THOSE to be able to participate in the battles!?”

Ken yanked the paper from Daisuke’s hand, and the others read it over his shoulder, “... ‘No running, no using projectiles, no weapons, no shouting, no chatting, no singing, no rough play, no drinks or food, no swearing, no tossing junk, no diving’… ‘Don’t break the equipment/building, use the stairs, play safely, use slippers’... ‘Please inform your phone, Digimon Arena ID, blood type, digivice type, digimon type, digimon field, digimon category, allergies, goals’…”

“What is this, a public pool??” Daisuke squinted his eyes. (※ he clearly didn’t read it at all)

“I think this is going too far,” Iori commented.

“Joe-san, please stop!” Miyako ran towards her, but suddenly a horde of Marching Fishes came in, blowing a whistle and wearing security hats.

“DON’T RUN INSIDE THE BUILDING!!” Joe shouted from a high lifeguard chair.

“A-ah!!” Miyako stopped immediately. The others came in, but walking calmly. Then she looked at the group and whispered, “How can we do something without breaking the rules?”

“... Have Imperialdramon deck that fish-like digimon?” V-mon commented.

“That’s Neptunemon,” Tailmon clarified, “I didn’t expect to see one here…”

“The rules didn’t say we can’t fly, so…” Daisuke grabbed his digivice, “Let’s go, V-mon!”

V-mon nodded and then… “V-MON EVOLV--”

“NO SHOUTING!!” Joe ordered, shouting again; then he snapped his fingers. 

“W-WHAT?!” The Marching Fishes came in swarms and then dragged Daisuke and V-mon outside -- “AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaah, helppppp…!!” they shouted until their voices faded. Then the fishes left them outside the building.

Daisuke and V-mon tried to get inside, but… no success. Now the barrier was made of water and they couldn’t dive into it -- “DARN IT!!” Daisuke punched the barrier.

The other five couldn’t even react to that… Oh no, they’re in real serious trouble. If they can’t snatch the shard from Joe and Gomamon…

“Joe-san,” Hikari frowned, and then walked calmly there, “Why are you doing this?? Weren’t you helping King Shoutmon and TeslaJellymon to get stronger? Weren’t you here because you wanted to help the contestants to not get badly hurt??”

“Those fights ARE dangerous, so I put an end on them. If they follow the rules, no one will be hurt. I’m doing it for them, but I won’t allow anyone to disobey my rules.”

“That’s wrong!” she snapped, but still not raising her voice, “You know deep down that you’re setting too many rules to the point there’s no fun anymore! Yes, you’re preventing someone from getting hurt, but you’re also not allowing no one to do anything!!”

“You’re like them, disobeying norms and running amok in this place!”

“Aren’t you disobeying the rules too, at this point?” Iori said, deadpanned.

“H-huh?!”

“You clearly said ‘No shouting’ while shouting,” Takeru commented.

“Kh--!!”

“He also shouted when telling Miyako-san to not run too,” Wormmon nodded.

“The rules say no weapons, but Neptunemon is wielding that big spear right next to you,” Patamon added with a shrug.

“We can do those things! We’re keeping this place in order!!” Neptunemon hissed.

“That’s a lie, you just want to drop a ton of rules on us to ruin the fun” Miyako squinted her eyes, “How can the Digimon Arena work if you can’t even battle?!”

“Yeah,” Armadimon wagged his paw, “Bet y’all can’t beat us fair and square here, dagya.”

“You all are--!!”

“Checkmate, Joe-senpai” Ken smirked, “You know we’re right. You broke the same rules you made.”

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!! I… I…!!!”

“Should we go retrieve the fragment from him now?” Hawkmon asked them.

“Mhm! Miyako-san!” Hikari grabbed her D-3.

“Ok!”

Hawkmon evolves to… Aquilamon!Tailmon!Jogress Evolution! Silphymon!!

Silphymon then used their visor to pinpoint where the shard was, so they could get it from Joe-or-Gomamon. They identified it as the whistle on Joe’s necklace.

“There” Silphymon shouted, but Neptunemon attacked. They dodged the spear and stared at the opponent, “Miyako-san, The Digimental fragment is the whistle” They (Aquilamon side) said.

“I won’t let you get him and ruin our dominion!”

“Since Joe-san broke the rules…” Takeru nodded, then used the Digimental of Hope to evolve Patamon into Pegasusmon.

“No!!” Neptunemon shouted, and then threw the spear at the boy and Pegasusmon. Everything was starting to get extremely BAD when…

“Un, deux, trois~”

Someone snapped the fingers and teleported Takeru & Pegasusmon out of the range of the spear.

“WHAT?!” everyone exclaimed.

“C'est l'heure du spectacle” Arsenemon appeared in the middle of the arena, “ Pardon, I’ve been appearing too early recently~”

“Arsenemon!!”

“STOP RIGHT THEREEEEEEEEEEEEE!!” Daisuke and V-mon came in, running after they had been unblocked from the barrier.

“Oh, my favorite Chosen Detective was outside this time,” then he snapped his fingers and a calling card popped in front of Daisuke, which was caught by the boy:

Hello, mon ami. I’m here to steal the wicked fragment from Kido Joe. Enjoy the show~

“I won’t sit and let you steal it!” Daisuke growled.

Then suddenly, Kido Joe started to laugh. Quite scary, to be honest.

“Ah, you want this?” Joe showed them the whistle in his hand, “Well, I’ll give you if you could beat Neptunemon.”

“?!?”

“What? Do you think I’m not a trustworthy person?”

“Ken… We have to use Imperialdramon right now” Daisuke whispered to the other, who nodded in response.

“Then I will--” But suddenly a robotic arm sneaked in and stole the whistle from Jou’s hand “W-WHAT!? HOW?!”

“You’re all bark but no talk!” Miss Espimon appeared from the ceiling, “Now go back to normal!!”

“… He let it be caught,” Armadimon blinked.

“?!?!?! HOW COULD YOU--”

“He might not wake up like this. So allow me to help you, fine gentleman…” Arsenemon shrugged, “Oeil de Chat” he snapped his fingers and a small black cat with green eyes magically popped in front of Joe, having the glowing cat eyes synchronize with Joe’s and then making the man fall asleep.

“I… um… Sleepy…” Joe fell asleep, and with this Gomamon returned to his original form.

“H-huh?!” Gomamon blinked, “Ah I’m back to normal…?”

“ You. tried. to. kill. us.” Pegasusmon appeared behind Gomamon with a deadly glare. He was already charging his Silver Blaze when Takeru patted the back of his head.

“GAAHAHAHAAAA SORRY SORRY SORRY!! 💦” Gomamon hid behind Daisuke. 

Daisuke took Gomamon with his two hands and lifted the digimon, “So, you we’re really into it huh…”

“I’m soooooooooorry!! That Impmon inserted one of those shards on Joe and it also corrupted me!!”

Everyone stared at Gomamon, “Suspicious…”

“D-do you really think I’d try to hurt y’all!? I’m a good digimon!! B-Besides… There was something else that night…”

“Huh?”

“A pair of eyes… They definitely cough Joe and me into some hypnosis spell… I recognized it… It was… Dracumon’s eyes.”

“Dracumon?”  The kids and the digimon exclaimed, but not Ken or Tailmon (neither Epimon and Arsenemon) (※ Silphymon jogress has undone and both Tailmon and Hawkmon were back to adult and child forms, respectively)

“Dracumon… that name…” Ken mused, “It surely sounds familiar…”

“Dracumon are vampire-like digimon, probably one of Vamdemon’s old acquaintances” Tailmon explained, “Might be… related to… That one digimon we met before…” 

“Hmm…”

“Ugh… I felt like I had a hangover…” Joe woke up, kinda dizzy though… “But I didn’t drink…”

“Are you okay now, Joe-san?” Hikari asked him.

“Yeah… Thank you guys… And sorry everyone…”

“Oh don’t worry you’re fine now right, Big J??” TeslaJellymon grinned, “we gotta catch those two digimon and snap their necks!!”

“No neck snapping!” Daisuke said, then he looked around and… “GAH, ARSENEMON AND ESPIMON ARE GONE!!”

Ken didn’t mind the lost fragment though… He was mostly interested in the fact that Espimon came out of nowhere. It only reinforced his theories that Arsenemon is linked to Noel, as partner or as some accomplice.

As for now, Arsenemon has acquired the 10th shard, while Team 02 has only 7. Only 3 are yet to be found, or to be used by Impmon and Dracumon.

[ladyofthecastleproject]

The Awakening Of The Hurricane Sincerity

[AO3 version]

Summary:

The 02 group start searching for Daisuke and V-mon, who had disappeared suddenly from the last battle against Ranamon and Frostmon. Palmon mentions seeing Fladramon and a mysterious human-sized hooded creature in a village and led them and Mimi there. But... The place had been taken by the vile DarkSuperstarmon and his troops. In the heat of the battle, Miyako's pure desire to help those digimon and her friends grants her a wish.

[Note: this takes place in 2008]

It had been a while since the group went to the Digital World to help Mimi and Palmon. Koushiro and the 02 group had planned carefully all the details of such an adventure beforehand: Him, Taichi and Yamato had used the ol’ excuse of camping with the group to justify why a bunch of teenagers would pass a few weeks in the Digital World. But now, the golden trio being young adults could take responsibility for them. Well, the only non-adult in the meanwhile was Koushiro, but next year he will hit his 20s.

Anyway… Mimi had met the kids quickly and explained to them what had happened before. Ken Hadn’t been familiar with Gummymon and vice-versa, but that hadn’t been a problem at all.

Though, there had been a question in Ken’s head:

“When we tried to open the gate after Daisuke disappeared… It was locked. But we were able to come here in the end.”

“Uh… Maybe it was a malfunction?” Palmon replied.

“Or someone had unblocked it,” Iori mused, stroking his chin, “Maybe… Daisuke-san?”

“Hmm… Before the D-3 being created, the gate only opened at random occasions” Tailmon mused, “Maybe something blocked the D-3’s signal...”

“You think that could be the reason...?” Patamon asked.

“Whatever is the reason…” Miyako whispered, but due to the silence they all heard if  “It’s my fault Daisuke disappeared” and she avoided looking at the rest of the group, she kept sitting with them, inside Palmon’s house, looking at the teacup. Hawkmon frowned, and then said:

“It’s not your or Hikari-san’s fault. We got caught off guard… Sorry.”

“I’m sure he’s fine” Mimi tried to cheer Miyako and Hikari up, those two were completely engulfed in regrets at the moment “We just need to find him.”

“I have sent him a message since we came here,” Hikari said with an annoyed tone, “But he didn’t respond to it.”

They all frowned. If it weren’t for Mimi there, they could start feeling the weight of not having a leader. Not that Daisuke is a lead by nature, he just managed to keep them all together and… Sane? Determined? Ken seemed cool, but deep down he was… Worried? Scared? Not even himself knew.

“What should we do now?” Iori had a deadpan face.

“We get out and look for Daisuke-kun?” Takeru replied, “Or we should check if there’s some enemy around?”

“No, let’s focus on searching for Daisuke-kun” Hikari’s voice was serious, she finally set her foot on this, she wanted so badly to find him first “He was a target, remember? If he’s alone… He will need our help.”

“Then it’s settled. Let’s find Daisuke first, dagya.”

After leaving Palmon’s house, the group started planning a route to take and start their search. During their walk to the closest village, Mimi heard someone’s voice and waited for the best moment to leave the group and meet…

“Ah you’re around…!”

… A mysterious figure with a Lighdramon-esque armor. Except said armor details were cold colors instead of the yellow and red tones.

“Have you discovered something?” Mimi chatted with the stranger, while Palmon watched around to make sure no one would find them “Ah I see… No idea where Wallace is…”

“Mimi-san?” Miyako’s voice was heard.

“O-oh, I need to go…!! Please be careful!!” and she walked back to where the 02 group were, “I’m fine don’t worry Palmon thought she had heard something but it was just a fruit falling on the ground.”

“It’s not good to separate from the group” Miyako commented, “If you disappear too we’ll feel worried and panicked.”

 “It’s okay, it’s okay” she giggled, “Ah, there’s a town in this direction. We can ask the digimon if they saw Daisuke-kun or Wallace.”

“Yes, I noticed it by the D-terminal map Koushiro-san sent to us,” Ken pointed at the device on his other hand, “I didn’t get any message from Daisuke though.”

“The digivice has no reaction either” Iori added, “He’s not in this area… Or left it already.”

“Huh strange… I was sure I saw something moving around” Hikari raised an eyebrow, “Could it be Daisuke-kun but…”

“Maybe he’s in the village?” Wormmon wondered.

“Let’s go then” Palmon replied with a nod, “I will take you there, follow me!”

“Good, they’re moving” the masked shadow said, then looked back as if he was looking at someone “We need to move now.”

“Hurry up!!” he heard from a distance “The next village must be conquered at all costs!!”

“... We got one more thing to do here, I guess” and he and his ally left in the direction of the mysterious voice.

They followed in the opposite direction of the kids, going farther from there reaching a new area and town, which was under the eyes of this digimon army’s general, Frostmon.

“Ugh… stupid lizards” she wasn’t having a great time, seeing the Tyrannomon troops moving slowly “Can’t you walk more fast!?”

“You know, Tyrannomon species are not fast runners” she heard a voice.

“W-who’s there!?” and Frostmon looked around “Show yourself!!”

He jumped from the tree branches and landed in front of her. He was smaller than Frostmon and the Tyrannomon army, quite the size of a human teenager. But None of those digimon had much contact with humans so… They couldn’t tell the difference.

“Who are you!?” Frostmon interrogated him, “Why are you spying on us!?”

“I’m just a digimon passing by, relax” he chuckled, “besides… The town you’re trying to take control of has a guardian and a curse.”

“A… A curse?” The army looked at each other, and you could hear them rambling something.

“What kind of curse?” Frostmon squinted her eyes, “I never heard of it before.”

“You know, anyone who tries to take the town’s control is smashed by the town’s guardian” he shrugged, “I’d rather not risk facing said guardian. But you do you.”

More noise was heard by the troops, and he could see Frostmon’s face grimacing at that information. While none of them could see his face, he was smirking.

“That’s nonsense, soldiers! Let’s move on, don’t listen to a pipsqueak digimon and those fairy tales!”

“Who are you calling pipsqu-- *AHEM* sure let’s go with that”

“Hmph, stupid child level” and the army proceeded their march.

“It didn’t work…” he muttered, annoyed.

A small shadow was visible in the branches, but not a face except for two big red eyes.

“I know you’re going to say” the armored digimon sighed, “I should be more careful…” and then he looked at the town’s direction “Can you be a convincing god-like guardian, buddy? We will need that right now.”

But… This wasn’t only the mysterious masked digimon’s problem. In the meantime…

Mimi’s group had arrived in a destroyed village. None of them expected it to happen and Palmon even remembered that two strangers had helped them to save villagers and beat Cyberdramon.

“But now it seems… No one’s here, dagya” Armadimon frowned, and the group started examining the area.

“Strange…” Palmon frowned, “It was saved from the invaders…”

“Huh, someone was here?” Hikari blinked.

“Yes, and I saw Fladramon and a hooded human-size creature.”

The group’s eyes widened, “Fladramon and a hooded creature!?”

“Then… this means Daisuke was here before” Miyako said, “If he and V-mon were here, they’re alive and fine…? Or in danger, if Daisuke was wearing a hood…”

“Don’t be afraid, Miyako-san, everyone” Hawkmon called their attention “He’s with V-mon at least. It’s only a matter of time until we find them.”

“Hawkmon is right,” Ken said, but his eyes were focused on something he just found on the ground, “Daisuke is with V-mon and we know that idiot can survive alone.”

“What’s this Ken-chan?” Wormmon pointed at Ken’s hand, which had something looking like…

“Seems like a Starmon was here. This is a fragment from the Meteor Squall’s meteorites.”

“Wow! Sharp eyes, Ichijouji-kun” Mimi exclaimed, impressed.

“So whoever attacked this village might not be that far from here” Tailmon mused.

“Let’s be cautious,” Takeru added with a serious tone, “the residents of this village might be captured and hidden somewhere in this area.”

“In this case, what if we slip up?” Miyako suggested, “We keep contact via phones and D-terminals. Once we find either of them, we gather everyone again.”

“It’s a good idea,” Iori nodded, then picked Armadimon from the floor, “Armadimon and I will check this direction. If we don’t find anything, let’s meet here again and come with a backup plan.”

They went to different directions, to find the prisoners and the bad guys quickly. But… One by one, the group were captured, somehow. All they remembered was about a black hole popping out from somewhere and sending them to… Somewhere.

“Miyako-san” Hawkmon called her, and then looked behind him but saw nothing. So he looked back at her “Are you feeling okay?”

“Huh, why do you ask?” she babbled “Ken-kun’s right Daisuke can--”

“You seem nervous, is it because of Ranamon? It wasn’t your fault, Tailmon and I didn’t expect her to appear from nowhere and capture you two.”

“Argh, okay I’m worried!” she threw her hands up in the air. She could not think straight right now and Hawkmon was pretty aware of it, “We know Daisuke had been chased by Ranamon and that blue bird-like digimon! We let our guards down and it happened! Now… Now he’s missing and while you say it’s not my fault, not even Daisuke appears in front of me and says that will make me feel less guilty!”

Hawkmon frowned, he approached her quietly. He was about to say something but it got lost because he saw a black hole appearing in mid air. Then, he jumped on Miyako and both ducked on the floor, having the black hole pass through their heads.

“W-what’s that!?” she babbled.

“Hoho, you’re tough human girl” a digimon that looked like a Starmon, but with a darker color and wearing sunglasses appeared in front of them, “Can’t say much about your friends.” He showed the digivices of the group to her and Hawkmon, to make sure they couldn’t call for help.

“M-My friends!? T-those are...!!” Miyako gulped. Was her idea and now…

“I won’t let you guilt-trip her!” Hawkmon got up from the floor and threw his Feather against DarkSuperstarmon. But it didn’t work, and the villain hit him with a punch “GUH!” which followed by Hawkmon falling on the floor.

“H-Hawkmon!!” Miyako screamed, “I… I won’t let you hurt anyone anymore!”

“Miyako-san…” he got up from the floor, “Please, lend me your strength.”

“OK!” she grabbed her digivice, “Love Digimental Up!!”

Hawkmon armor-evolved to Horusmon and stood in front of DarkSuperstarmon with an intimidating glare at him. The enemy didn’t feel much intimidated though, but acknowledged the girl and digimon were tough opponents.

“Very well, then let’s get this party started” And the black star digimon attacked Horusmon, but now the hawk-like digimon had gotten more speed and dodged. Then, Horusmon spinned his body to generate a tornado, forcing DarkSuperstarmon to step back.

“This digimon seems stronger than a regular Starmon… ” Miyako mused, “Uh… don’t underestimate him, Horusmon!”

That battle was still on a draw, with just dodging from both ends. The enemy was tough, but willing to play dirty. DarkSuperstarmon opened a black hole right behind Miyako and she was swallowed by it. Luckily, he couldn’t steal her digivice due to Horusmon blocking his way.

“M-Miyako-san!!” Horusmon stared at him “What did you do to her!?”

“She’s with her friends now, and you… You will be dead soon.”

“OOF!" She fell on the floor and the digivice slipped from her hands, hitting someone “A-ah, I’m sorry!!” She got up and went to retrieve the slippery D-3.

“That’s okay” it was Ken!? “I guess we’re unable to leave this place now…” he laughed nervously, but stopped and handed her the red D-3 back.

“Horusmon is fighting! I need to help him but… how!?”

“He got our digivices...” and she heard Hikari’s voice; Iori, Takeru and Mimi were also there alongside their digimon and more residents from the town, “We can’t escape.”

“W-where are we?” Miyako asked.

“This is still inside the town” and now a digimon appeared, it was a Muchomon “One of the abandoned buildings. I was hoping for someone to save us again but… Our hopes are gone now…”

“Don’t lose your hope!” Mimi looked at the digimon and clenched her fists, “We still have a chance!”

 “... If… If I could do something else but I’m useless!” Miyako shouted, “I only commit mistakes! I want to help fix them! I want to help Horusmon and this entire town!!”

The digivice in her hands beeped and turned on the screen, which sent a light from it. The Digimental of Sincerity appeared in front of her and its form mutated to a big Shuriken like the one on Shurimon’s back. The only difference from Shurimon’s was the Crest of Sincerity being engraved on its surface.

“What is this??” other villagers, and the group exclaimed, watching Miyako hold it with her other hand.

“I… I don’t know!?” she babbled, “But… maybe this is the answer to my dilemma.”

“Uh, isn’t it very dangerous using that here” Patamon asked.

“Miyako-san please… Don’t do something dan--” But Takeru was interrupted by Miyako throwing the shuriken at the bars blocking their way.

… It definitely cut the jail bars. It surprised everyone, since they didn’t know if it wouldn’t reflect the shuriken against them.

“Whoohoo, I knew it would work!” she chirped and looked back “So, everyone go out and let’s take down those bullies.”

“Miyako-chan is scary sometimes…” Mimi whispered to the others, who nodded sagely.

The troops hadn’t yet arrived, so the mysterious Lighdramon-esque armored digimon managed to reach the town quickly and talk with the digimon living there. Despite doubting him at first, one of the residents of the town confirmed the masked-mon’s information.

And then… They gladly accepted his plan. The hooded digimon with him shrugged in disapproval, but couldn’t do much. Also, this cape made a ton of villagers curious about the digimon’s appearance.

“You can’t talk, just do some screams” the armored digimon said to the small one, “Like, unleash your inner beast!”

They were in the front of a temple, the perfect spot to bring this story into reality. The villagers were hiding in a safe part of the town. He was so sure this would work with no actual bloodbath that it felt like a harmless kid’s prank. The partner-in-crime wasn’t too confident about this though… But if no one might see the prank but the soldiers and Frostmon…

“Shush, get ready. Show your best AncientGreymon’s impersonation.”

The other sighed, and tried to roar but it didn’t feel intimidating…

“No, no you need to scare them! Focus on being like a terrifying Qinglongmon who hates everyone stepping on their yard!”

“The troops are coming,” the smaller digimon said, “I can sense them. Do you think this will work?”

“Don’t worry, bud. It will work.”

Horusmon was on the ground being stepped on by DarkSuperstarmon, who was laughing and toss juggling the digivices. While distracted, he didn’t see the Chosen Children approaching, or Tailmon jumping behind him and grabbing all digivices in midair.

“HEY, YOU STUPID POINTY HEAD!”  

“Huh!? Who’s calling my pointy hea--”

Miyako threw the giant shuriken against DarkSuperstarmon, hitting him and making him fall on the floor.

“GAH!”

Horusmon escaped from the enemy and met them. Miyako hugged him tightly and whispered “I’m sorry Horusmon… I won’t let them catch me again!”

“Ugh, you agai-- Wait how did you escape-- It doesn’t matter, without these you can’t--”

The group showed their digivices and angry faces. They were ready to fight. DarkSuperstar screeched and then snapped fingers summoning a group of DarkTyrannomon, “TROOPS, GET THEM!!” and flew away.

“Miyako-san” Iori said, “Go after him. We will take care of his lackeys.”

“Ok! Let’s go Horusmon!” and she looked at him “Are you okay though?”

“I’m fine, get on Miyako-san.”

She got on his back and they flew after the troop’s leader. The enemy wasn’t that fast as they thought and it was easier to watch it after all. Horusmon shot laser beams from his eyes (Red Sun) and hit the running star. But it didn’t work because the enemy's body was indeed resistant.

They stopped on a dead end and faced each other.

“Look, we can negotiate--”

“No, we can’t!” Miyako snapped, pointed at him and continued “You took control of this town, captured its people and later captured my friends! I have no time to make a deal with you!”

“Very well, then--”

“Horusmon, let’s go!” She pointed the digivice at her partner and its form changed to a bipedal hawk, with wings sprouting from his back and Egyptian God motifs -- Fauermon.

“W-wait, have mercy I will leave!!”

“... Will you really leave?” she asked.

“I will don’t worry!” he nodded, “But can we shake hands to make it a deal?”

“Fine, I guess.” she was still mad though, and approached calmly, until that shuriken appeared in her hands and she used it as a blade to slash DarkSuperstarmon in the face. Fauermon was holding her to not fall on the black hole that vile digimon had done.

“W-what!? How did you!?”

“I noticed you set a trap right when we cornered you!” she said angrily “You’re a vile monster!”

Horusmon then put Miyako away and summoned his rod, “Red Sunburst!”

DarkSuperstarmon screamed and then got destroyed by the laser beam coming from the sphere at the top of the rod.

“Miyako-san” Fauermon glanced at her, “I’m sorry I had to--”

“It’s okay. He wouldn’t stop anyway… And he can be reborn I hope so” then she looked at the shuriken in her hand “But… Where did this come from? And why did the Digimental of Sincerity turn into a weapon…?”

“Beats me…” he devolved to Hawkmon form, then looked at the others coming in “Everyone, are you okay?”

“Yeah, we managed to beat all the troops in town,” Tailmon said, “Now we can leave.”

“But where should we go now?” Miyako asked.

Meanwhile, Frostmon’s troops invaded a deserted town with the exception of a hooded digimon. Said digimon made sure to be seen by the enemies and ran away. The soldiers and Frostmon chased them and when the invaders found them in front of the temple…

… A wild wall of fire ignited from the floor, preventing them from reaching the creature, and a bigger one appeared through the flames roaring loudly and throwing fire against the Tyrannomon army.

An eerie voice came from the wall of flames, “I’m the great Ancient Digimon who protects this town. LEAVE OR PERISH”

The enemies panicked and ran away, including Frostmon. So the strange child level digimon she had met previously was right!? Better not mess with that town then. Their screams were heard until they faded in the distance.

The fire stopped and then the digimon from the flames turned small and covered himself with a cape thrown by the mysterious masked one.

“Did you see their faces!!?” and this armored digimon was delighted by the prank, “They were so scared that I guess they might not return here that early hehe~”

“Sigh, get the villagers back and let’s get out of here.”

“Fine fine~ At least laugh a bit… You used to find funny those pranks…”

“I’m busy now!” the hooded one growled, “no time for pranks!!”

“... Oh. You’re right.” he blinked. Behind the helmet he had a deadpan face “Let’s do it…”

Once they got the entire villagers out, the mayor of the town shook hands with the masked one.

“My young’mon,” Sorcerimon the mayor said, “We will be eternally grateful for your help. I have absolutely no idea what you and your friend did, but we’re thankful that it worked.”

“H-Haha, it was… a dumb thing I learned from human’s videos” he chuckled nervously and scratched the back of his helmet.

“What does that deity digimon look like?” a young Blucomon asked, “We will draw it and spread through the town, and write stories about it to keep mean spirited digimon from invading us.”

“Oh, that’s a good idea!” he said, “Let’s see… It's a flame element digimon, looks like Fladramon but with wings, and got hair, big terrifying claws and wonderful fangs! Maybe… AncientFladramon feels like a good name? What do you think, bud?” and he looked at the hooded digimon.

“Yeah, let’s go with that” and the small one shrugged.

“Cool!” Blucomon and more child level digimon around exclaimed, “Thank you mr. uh…”

The masked digimon then posed like a tokusatsu hero and said:

“I’m the warrior of the night, the silent knight… Lightnimon!”

The villagers' reactions were full of “ooooh!!” and some applause and cheers.

The hooded digimon shook his head.

“But I need to go now, more of those bad guys are coming and more towns, cities and villagers need me and… uh… Buddymon.”

“Alright, thank you Lightnimon and Buddymon” Socerimon and the villagers thanked them once again.

“Heheh~” Lightnimon grabbed Buddymon and ran away, leaving the town quickly.

Who’re that mysterious digimon duo and would they be a menace to the Chosen Children?

[canisblack]

Faking It Till They Make It (5)

Koushiro was vaguely aware of his door opening and somebody entering his room, but his attention was entirely absorbed in the task before him. The program he was building had failed to work properly and as such he was examining the code line by line looking for the problem. Eventually though he had to look away. He couldn't be rude and ignore the person patiently waiting to talk to him, so with a sigh he saved his progress, minimized the window, and turned to address his visitor.

"Hello, and thank you for waiting."

The bushy haired brunette standing by his door waved it off with a gesture and a smile.

 "It's fine, it's fine. I'm the one that dropped by without calling ahead after all."

 Koushiro returned the smile to one of his oldest friends.

 "Still, I've been a poor host Taichi. So what did you drop by for?"

The other boy chuckled and rubbed the back of his head nervously.

"Two reasons I guess. One I haven't seen much of you lately, thought I'd drop in and see how you were doing."

Koushiro didn't realize it, but he pouted a bit at the question. He was actually having a bit of a rough time.

"I'm okay mostly, just this program I'm working on is being fussy and seems to not want to work."

 "Oh? What's the issue?"

 Koushiro ran his hand through his hair in a gesture of frustration as he leaned back in his chair and blew out a frustrated breath.

"Every time I fix something, something else breaks."

Taichi grimaced on hearing that.

"That's not good. How long have you been working on this?"

"About a month or so."

Taichi looked thoughtful as he pondered Koushiro's words.

 "Just the whole 'fix one thing, break another' aspect? Or the program as a whole?"

 Koushiro didn't know where Taichi was going with his question, but was willing to play along. Even if Taichi wasn't very knowledgeable about programming it was another perspective and Koushiro was approaching a level of frustration that had him contemplating throwing his computer out the window.

"The entire program. I've been stuck on trying to fix the code for about two and half weeks though." Taichi frowned. "Have you considered redoing it from scratch?" Koushiro slumped in his chair when his friend said that. He had actually, but that had felt entirely too much like admitting defeat. "I have. I guess...I just didn't want to admit I'd messed up like that." Taichi walked over and put his hand on Koushiro's shoulder in a gesture of support. "Hey, it's okay to mess up every once in a while, and I mean I'm not suggesting you can't fix what you've already got just that if you're having so many problems maybe starting from scratch will refresh your perspective and help you find what's really causing them." Koushiro smiled. Trust Taichi to try and encourage him when he was feeling down. "I get it Taichi. I was just being prideful I guess." Koushiro then remembered something. "You said you'd dropped by for two reasons?" Taichi grinned again though Koushiro detected a bit of nervousness from him as well. "Well I was wanting do something nice for Sora and I was thinking she'd like to see Piyomon so I was wondering how you were coming on figuring out how Takeru and Hikari's Digivice upgrade worked? I mean it's fine if you haven't figured it out yet, I can just get Hikari to help, but..." Taichi trailed off and Koushiro wasn't sure if it was just because the other boy had run out of words or seen something in his own face because Koushiro was mentally kicking himself. Hard. "How could I forget?" "Koushiro?" Koushiro looked up at Tai meeting his gaze. "Taichi, I figured it out within a week of it happening. I set it aside because...because...beacuse...Taichi, I can't remember why I set it aside!"

That was worrying, both boys knew it and neither would bother trying to deny it but Taichi seemed more focused on calming Koushiro.

"Hey, hey, calm down Koushiro. You probably set them aside because providing us with D3s back then would've been worse than useless. We would've felt compelled to take a more active role than we did and with the Dark Spires and our being limited to our partners Champion forms we would've been more hindrance than help."

Taichi's words did seem to reach Koushiro and help as the boy seemed less visibly distressed, but he still wasn't able to let it go.

"Then why did I forget?"

Taichi had an answer for this too.

"Out of sight, out of mind. And with the way so many people seemed to be able to forget the Digital World because they didn't want to remember? I wouldn't be surprised if whatever effect that caused that caught you up in it too. I mean can you tell me that knowing you could give us the ability to go to and from the Digital World on our own but that you were sitting on it for our own sake wouldn't have bothered you?"

Koushiro turned Taichi's words over in his mind. They were, surprisingly logical in a sense. There was no way to test it though as while there had to be something more than just willful denial of reality in people's ability to suppress and forget their memories of the various Digital World incursions over the years, nobody had managed to isolate or identify exactly what it was.

"I suppose that makes some sense of it."

Koushiro wasn't really happy with it, but like he'd just admitted aloud it made some sense of things.

"So you wanted to see if you get your Digivice upgraded?"

Tai grinned and nodded his head.

"Yeah, if you can."

Koushiro smiled and moved his chair over a bit, reaching down and opening a drawer and pulling out his old Pineapple laptop. Tai, on seeing it couldn't resist asking.

"You still have that old thing?"

Koushiro laughed softly.

"Yeah, after the upgrades Gennai installed it's actually better than my desktop in a lot of respects, but that makes it a little too valuable to be using day to day."

Tai seemed to chew on that for a bit while Koushiro quickly cleared his desk and turned on the computer. Once it was fully booted he loaded a couple of programs, opened a few files to check on some things, and then turned to Tai.

"Everything seems to be as it should. If you give me your Digivice I can load the upgrade package."

Taichi wordlessly pulled his Digivice out and handed it over. Koushiro took it and inserted it into the the only visible alteration Gennai's upgrades had made to the laptop and then pulled up yet another program and began the process of upgrading his friend's Digivice. As the progress bar started its slow but steady crawl towards 100% he turned to Taichi and grinned.

"So you're going to take Sora to visit Piyomon in the Digital World huh?"

Taichi's blush was hilarious.

[patamon]

Takeru Takaishi Week [Day 1 prompt: Patamon Angemon]

This was supposed to be posted yesterday but like....yeah...life is hard

Title: Lost Character: Takeru Takaishi (for @takerutakaishiweek​ ) Word Count: 4017 Rating: G Summary: A disastrous turn in event left Takeru isolated and alone in an unknown part of the Digital World. But he insists he doesn’t need help, not even from his own Digimon partner...

Cross-posted on AO3

Read below the cut 👇

Lost

These days, Takeru rarely feels the grips of fear as he wanders through the unknown terrains of the Digital World. It’s not that he was particularly brave, that title he would gladly hand over to Taichi or Daisuke, but the possibility of certain death at the hand of a ruthless monster no longer shook him the way it used to when he was eight. Perhaps he’s gotten too comfortable, too used to the adrenaline coursing through his veins, his fight-or-flight instinct has become a comforting friend. 

But still, on days like these, Takeru is slammed with the reminder that things could go wrong, that hiccups could still occur during mundane missions like these. 

It started with the six of them, the group of younger Chosen scouting out a suspicious data packet Koushiro detected in the Digital World. It was Takeru that found the packet first, and it was Takeru that discovered their peculiar purpose of transporting anyone that came in contact with it to a random part of the Digital World. Takeru learned this all the hard way after he tumbled hard into the depth of some digital forest, where the trees around him towered high into the atmosphere, the trunks of each the size of apartment buildings he grew up with in Odaiba.

He’s only seen pictures of settings like these, like the Amazon rainforests he stumbled across while flipping lazily through his mother’s National Geographic magazines. The forest ground was slick with moss, and climbing up and over fallen logs left him breathless, but still, he forged on, guided by a silent Angemon before him, impassive and serious as he hurried through with a desperate urgency.

Without warning, Angemon turned to face him sharply, the abruptness startled even himself. But he gathered himself back when he noticed Angemon extending his hand towards him, and before them, another log decomposing on the soggy forest ground, albeit this one possessed a girth he hadn't seen before.

“Come, Takeru,” Angemon beckoned, “I can help you over.”

But Takeru squared his shoulder and walked forward, straight past Angemon to seize up the obstacle. Finally, he nodded.

“I can handle it on my own,” Takeru asserted, then scaled the barrier without waiting for a response.

The going was tough, his feet slipping a few times as he struggled to find a divot to anchor himself in. At times, he felt Angemon’s sturdy hand on his back, or on his arms in an attempt to help him through, but he shrugged it all off in a huff.

“I’m fine…I don’t need help” he wheezed.

Until at long last, his feet landed on the slick forest ground on the other side. He was panting and in a mess, but satisfied that he did indeed make it over on his own.

Of course he could handle it on his own.

After all, he wasn’t the same scared little kid clinging to his older brother when they found themselves lost in the Digital World the first time, nor was he the overly cautious adolescent surrounded by a gaggle of new Chosen. He had cut his teeth on the most jagged of adventures to earn his place amongst the veteran Chosens. He was grown and experienced. He definitely didn’t need anyone, or any Digimon, to constantly dote on him like a lost child.

He turned back to find Angemon frozen in place, his wings wilting slightly before he flew effortlessly over the log. They exchanged gaze for a mere second, but long enough for Takeru to pick up on the tight frown on his lips. He could sense it in the air, the pensive sadness leaking through the tight-fitting mask. He felt a surprising tug in his heart at the subtle defeat in Angemon’s stance, but he ignored it and pushed forward. 

It’s not real, Takeru chanted in his head, it was my imagination. 

But deep down, he knew it wasn’t the case. Only he could pick up hints of Angemon’s hidden expression and buried feelings, and likewise, Angemon could read him like no other. Not even Patamon could compare to Angemon’s intuition. They shared an unparalleled bond.

They were family.

It didn’t take long for Angemon to catch up, unsurprising because Takeru’s stiff muscle had begun to drag him back like friction on carpet. But instead of overtaking him, Angemon hung back, keeping pace with Takeru as he laboured hard to even his breathing in the angel’s presence.

“Takeru, I think you should rest.”

“I’m fine,” Takeru responded shortly.

“But…”

“I said I’m fine,” Takeru repeated, but this time, with enough force to convince Angemon to drop the subject.

At least for now.

A few steps further brought them across a rushing stream, the water dyed a murky brown. Angemon halted first, prompting Takeru to do the same. He watched as his partner kneeled down and surveyed the water, dipping his fingers in tentatively to test something Takeru could not guess.

“Takeru,” he finally said, “Are you okay?”

Takeru forced a strain smile, “I’m fine,” he assured his partner.

“Are you really fine?” the angel pressed.

In response, Takeru clicked his tongue and turned away. In spite of his best effort to keep a level head, he felt the irritation creeping up slowly from the tips of his fingers to his aching head. He knew he was being irrational, but knowing doesn’t stop him from experiencing it all. 

The fact is, he had become accustomed to Patamon and his innocence. Often, especially as he got older while Patamon remained static and carefree, he took on the caregiver role between the two of them, doting and tending to the small Digimon, making sure he didn’t get himself in a mess too sticky to disentangle himself from. For once in his life, he was the older and more mature one, he was the one watching over and not being watched. 

Truth be told, he liked it.

But Angemon was not Patamon, and this ordeal drove home that fact.

“Yes, yes I have told you hundreds, if not thousands of times that I am fine. You don’t have to ask me every five minutes if I’m fine…because I really am fine.”

If Angemon was taken back by Takeru’s tirade, he would not show it. Instead, he stood up to his full height, the tips of his wings brushing against a lower branch as he turned to face him fully.

“Forgive me, Takeru, but you seemed irritated by my presence.”

Takeru faltered, he averted his gaze to the ground. All of a sudden, he felt like he was eight again, explaining his transgression to his mother in their living room. 

“No…no…it’s just…this is stressful, that’s all”

There was a rustling of feathers, and when Takeru looked up, he saw that Angemon had moved close to lay his gloved hand on his shoulder.

“I know it is, but trust me. Takeru, I will get you back as soon as possible. I will protect you, I promise”

Takeru nodded in understanding. After all, he was still a vulnerable human in a dangerous world. Despite his insistence that he didn’t need help, he would be in grave danger if attacked by a feral Digimon without Angemon around.

But still…

He looked up and surveyed the feathers on Angemon’s wings. Despite the close bond the other Chosen shared with their own Digimon, he could not recall the others being coddled by their partner the way Angemon did with him. Even Hikari and Angewomon were on a more level playing field, unlike the hierarchy Angemon placed himself above in a bid to play the role as guardian and protector.

Often, on quiet evenings or lonely afternoons, Takeru wondered about the rationale for their chosen partners. Why was Yamato assigned a wolf Digimon, while he was blessed with what seemed like a guardian angel. Was the answer as simple as their crest, or was it more complicated and mysterious?

Or maybe…it was because he needed that protection, because he was the weakest Chosen and will always be weakest amongst the group.

Lost in thought, Takeru’s feet caught something wedged on the ground. The floor disappeared below him, the sensation flipping his stomach upside down. He squeezed his eyes shut and anticipated the pain from the fall, but instead, he landed in familiar arms. He opened his eyes to find Angemon standing over him, a concerned look painting his features.

He separated himself immediately, brushing away imaginary dust as he fought the heat creeping across his cheeks.

“Sorry…I…I wasn’t looking.”

“Takeru,” Angemon snapped. He stood to his full height once again, his staff in his hand as he skewered Takeru with hidden eyes, “It’s time for you to rest.”

“I’m fine,” Takeru repeated, enunciating each syllable with more force than he should have, “I said I’m fine. Now come on, the quicker we go, the quicker we can get back to the others.”

“Takeru…”

“I said I’m fine,” Takeru screamed out. He wheeled himself around to return Angemon’s expression, his breathing hard as he struggled to form his words, “Why won’t you believe me when I tell you I’m fine?”

“Because, Takeru, I can see you’re not fine. We’ve been walking for a good two hours, and you’ve had no rest and nothing to eat or drink. Even if you weren’t my partner, I understand human biology enough to know it is hard for anyone to keep up that pace without rest.”

“Well then, you’re wrong,” Takeru snapped, “Because everyone else can keep going without help from their partners. I’m no different, I can do this. I’m not weak.”

“Takeru, I’m not saying you’re weak, I’m saying it’s okay if you need rest. I’m worried about you…”

“Well you DON’T have to worry about me.”

“I’m your Digimon partner, how can I not worry about you?”

“I get it, you’re here to protect me, it’s your duty. But I don’t need you to dote on me like I’m eight. If I tell you I’m fine, then I’m fine. I don’t…I don’t need you to be my father. ”

The air sharpened between them exponentially, Takeru watched Angemon backtrack, bit-by-bit until there was a good three feet between them. His stomach sank to the sole of his feet, this was not where he wanted to take this conversation.

“I wasn’t trying to be your father,” Angemon finally offered in a low voice.

Takeru remained quiet, studying the twigs by his feet as if it was the most interesting thing he had ever seen in his life.

“Perhaps…perhaps you would prefer Patamon’s company in times like these,” Angemon continued.

Takeru’s eyes snapped up, panic worming its way through his innard while Angemon lowered his gaze.

“I’ll be back…if and when you want me to…”

Then with a flash of bright light, he was gone. Takeru looked up to find the smaller form of Patamon before him, his eyes wide with confusion as he surveyed the surroundings.

“Takeru? What happened?”

Takeru shrugged, then bent to pick up the much smaller form of his partner.

“Nothing,” he mumbled, “I don’t need him anyways. We’ll be fine, Patamon, just you and I”

—

He wasn’t fine. Not by a long shot.

The more he walked, the more lost he seemed to be. He was hungry, and thirsty, and his muscles ached like never before. Every tree, every rock, every shrub around him began blurring together in an incoherent smudge. He swore he passed by the same tree stump at least five times now. Pretty soon, he was certain he would pass out from exhaustion.

“Takeru, I think we’ve been here before.”

Takeru looked towards the squeaky voice and found Patamon straddling mid-air as he surveyed a particularly mangled tree.

His heart dropped. Patamon did have a point, he’s definitely seen this tree before. He remembered joking with Patamon that whatever creature made those marks better not find them.

Takeru sucked in a hefty breath, the despair threatening to topple him over. But yet, he adjusted the strap on his backpack and moved ahead.

“That’s fine…we’ll keep going,” he mumbled, “We have to be close to getting out of this forest, we have to be…”

“Unless we were just walking around in circles,” Patamon piped up.

Takeru sighed, but bit his tongue and watched as Patamon circled higher and higher up, before dipping low to hover beside him.

“Isn’t it better if we try to find our way out by going up?” Patamon asked.

“Angemon tried that, but…all he could see around us was trees, trees, and trees. Whatever forest we’ve landed in, we seemed to be right in the thick of it.”

“So…why didn’t he fly us back?”

“He thought it would be safer if we travel by foot since there’s too much exposure in the air.”

“Oh…that sounds like a good idea”

Takeru nodded, feeling a little abashed as he watched Patamon flit a few feet higher from where they stood.

“Yeah…it was…but, it’s okay. We can still find our way out…on our own.”

Patamon wheeled around suddenly and studied Takeru with his large eyes, the blue so innocent it left him on edge.

“Are you two fighting?”

“What? Who?”

“You two. You and Angemon.”

Takeru flinched, but nevertheless turned his back on Patamon and walked forward.

“We’ll try this way,” Takeru narrated, “We ended up where we were when we walked the other way, so we’ll try this way…”

“Takeru, wait!” Patamon called out, and skidded up beside him, “So does that mean you two are fighting?”

Takeru rolled his eyes, but this time, he did not attempt to hide it. He made sure the gesture was grand enough that even Patamon took pause in the air.

“Hey, that wasn’t nice,” Patamon commented.

“What wasn’t nice?”

“That, the thing you did with your eyes. I know what that means.”

“What does it mean?”

“It means you think I’m stupid”

“Shut up, you don’t know anything”

“Why don’t you shut up?”

“How can I shut up when I wasn’t the one talking? You are the one that won’t shut up. In fact, you haven’t shut up since you appeared so why don’t you shut up?”

In response, Patamon rammed his round body into Takeru’s shoulder, nearly knocking him off his feet.

“Ow! What do you think you’re doing?”

“Takeru, I’m your partner, you can’t talk to me like that.”

Takeru ran his fingers through his hair and drew out a shaky sigh. The quivering puff of air was all that held him back from a nervous breakdown. He squeezed his eyes shut, but even beneath shuttered lids, he could hear Patamon’s ears flapping, telling him the little Digimon had not moved from where he was. 

Under normal, stress-free circumstances, he would know Patamon stayed because he would never abandon him. But now, lost in the heart of an unnavigable forest, where his ire fought with exhaustion to drown the last of his hope underneath an ocean of despair, Takeru fell victim to the most sinister of intrusive thoughts.

He’s mocking me.

Without thinking, he swept his arms forward to knock Patamon back, before stomping hard like an impetuous child. He could feel the ridiculousness of his actions, pushing him towards the valley of shame he would fall into once the dust has settled. 

But yet, he didn’t care.

“Why don’t you do something useful for once in your useless existence?” he demanded.

Patamon gasped, tears welling up in his blue orbs.

“I HATE YOU,” Patamon screamed, “You’re…you’re the useless one. I hate you, I hate you, I hate you.”

They froze, each one staring the other down with murderous glances. Between the two of them, when the going gets good, nothing could drive a wedge between them. But the flip side of it was the storm their fights whipped up. Their worst moments were as bad as their best moments were good. 

Out of all the Chosens and their partner, Takeru did not know any other pair that fought the way he and Patamon did. Even if they rarely fought, when they did, it was a spectacle to behold. At times, Takeru wondered if the ensuing war was the result of Patamon being a perfect reflection of his most immature side. The side that felt everything all too much, from the joy of discovering happy news, to the anger when incited, to the sadness of his depressive spells.

Takeru forced himself away to march forward, but it seemed his biological need had finally caught up to him. The sky spun sideways in the most violent manner, and splotches of darkness overtook his senses.

Takeru? He heard a familiar voice called out, one he recognized as Patamon’s.

Then, a flash of light, and just as the world pulled away from him, he heard his name called out again. This time, the voice sounded hollow, but with a firm command to its tone.

Takeru! 

In spite of himself, he smiled. Somehow somewhere, he knew…

He was going to be fine.

—

The first thing he noticed when he woke up was the splitting headache he somehow acquired. That, and the fire crackling merrily before him, ignorant of the harm it could do if it gave away his position to some flesh-eating digital monster.

He stirred, one hand clutching his temple while the other wrapped around his hollow stomach.

“Easy there,” a familiar voice instructed.

He didn’t need to open his eyes to know who the voice belonged to.

“Angemon?”

The word grated his throat like sheets of sandpaper, drawing forth a tortured cough. Almost immediately, something cool pressed against his lips, then something sloshing wet. His heart leapt with joy. 

Water, glorious lifegiving water. 

He gulped it down without thinking, his instinct taking hold as it compelled him to swallow and swallow and swallow, until he felt put together enough to pry his eyes open.

“Angemon,” he greeted.

Angemon placed the thermos down and turned his body away, eliciting a slight moment of panic within Takeru. But luckily, the angel turned back almost immediately to press something moist on his forehead. He reached up to take hold of the item, surveying the thick leaf drenched with dew.

“Where did you get the water?” Takeru inquired.

Angemon shrugged, “I found a stream nearby,” he responded without looking up, then moved to retrieve something close by the fire. When he brought it to Takeru, he saw that it was a thin branch with a fish speared through it, the outside charred by the fire before them.

It made sense now why Angemon would risk their location with a fire.

“I guess it came from the same stream?”

Angemon did not respond, but offered a knowing smile instead.

Takeru gladly took the fish and bit into it. Before he could stop himself, he moaned, emitting a deep satisfied grunt as he bit into the fish again. He wasn’t exactly a fan of fish, but at that moment, it tasted like the fanciest meal at the most expensive restaurant.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying my cooking,” Angemon commented with a smug smirk.

Takeru rolled his eyes, but kept silent as he continued devouring the fish.

It was quiet for the next few minutes, save for the continual crack of the fire and the sound of Takeru’s hearty chewing. He watched Angemon poked at the fire as he ate, his wings angled at him with his head bent low.

A wall.

He knew it was him that had put it up, and it’s up to him to break it down.

“Have you eaten anything?” Takeru ventured.

“Would it make a difference if I said no?” Angemon responded.

Takeru gulped, his stomach dropped as if he was on a rollercoaster, not surprising, because here was the valley of shame he predicted he would fall into, and he was falling headfirst with nothing to slow down his plummet.

He moved closer and offered the half-eaten fish to Angemon, all the whilst training his eyes hard on the ground.

He heard wings rustling, then soft motion pushing the fish back towards him.

“Don’t worry, I ate already.”

Takeru nodded, not sure if he believed his partner, but glad he could have the rest of the meager fish to himself.

“Umm…about before…” he began in a low voice.

Angemon waved it away, but kept his face turned so Takeru could only see his side profile.

“You don’t have to explain anything to me, Takeru. I’m your Digimon partner, I’ve been with you long enough to know…”

“Know what?”

Finally, Angemon turned to Takeru, a soft smile dappling on his lips.

“Know that there will never be hard feelings between us.”

Takeru’s throat closed. Suddenly, the fish in his hand didn’t seem appetizing anymore. Unlike Patamon, Angemon never fought back in all their disagreements. They didn’t disagree much to begin with, but when they did, it felt like oceans swallowing up their space, suffocating the air - and life - out of them. Angemon would concede, but Takeru could feel his discontent. It was palpable, and uncomfortable.

If Patamon was a reflection of his most childish self, then perhaps Angemon would encompass the version of himself he was growing into. Like Angemon, he found comfort in hiding his real feelings from others, and ingratiating himself by bending to conform to their will, no matter how uncomfortable it made him. It was his coping mechanism, building walls and hiding himself behind it.

It was a mask.

“Well…I…I still want to apologize…so…I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the way I acted.”

He watched Angemon’s jaws clenched, his hands balled into fists as he maintained his effort to avoid Takeru’s eyes.

“I owe you an apology as well, Takeru…”

Takeru almost scoffed, but somehow held it back, replacing it with a question instead.

“For what?”

Angemon was silent for a while, when he finally spoke, his voice shook in a way Takeru had never heard before. It made him weak, knowing Angemon could be this vulnerable.

“You’ve grown so much, Takeru, enough to be fine on your own. I knew that. But…knowing that made me feel…”

Angemon sighed, the grip on his wrist tightened as he lifted his chin in the air.

“...useless.”

Takeru clutched his chest. He moved closer until he could make out the distinct feathers on Angemon’s wings by the fire light. He thought about making contact, perhaps a firm grip of his shoulder, or a gentle touch on his forearm, but decided against it. Instead, he let his words cross their distance to hopefully break through Angemon’s defenses.

“You are not useless. You are the closest thing I had to a father, Angemon. No matter what, I still need you in my life, in more ways than you know.”

At long last, Angemon turned to Takeru, his expression as stoic and impassive as ever, but Takeru caught a hint of something bright behind it. It was a spark only he could detect, and it made his heart swell.

It was all he needed to know that the walls had come down between them.

“Rest up, Takeru. We’ll continue in the morning,” Angemon instructed, his words disturbing the silence between them.

The urge to return to sleep was overwhelming, but Takeru chose to remain still. He tilted his head up to the sky, expecting to see stars, but instead saw the tree canopy blanketing the heavens. He shivered at the sight, at the thought of how the forest dwarfed everything it encompassed in this world.

“Will we ever find our way out?” he asked.

Angemon stood up and flexed his wings. It took a while, but at long last, he turned to Takeru and nodded, a firm smile on his lips.

“Have hope, Takeru.”

Takeru’s heart lightened. He nodded and looked back up at the sky. It was still the same starless black, but somehow, the universe seemed to have shifted.

Without a doubt, he knew they were going to be fine.

[koushirouizumi]

D02's "The Beginning" if Toei let 02 Chosen think this through even more Rationally

02 Chosen: (*seeing a YOUNG TAICHI & HIKARI*, VERY Confuse) Someone like Daisuke or Hikari: But HOW do we get back HOME?? ? Ken: If Taichi-san and the younger Hikari-san are here, then *the rest could be*, too. Ken: Which could *also mean*, *KOUSHIRO*-SAN... We *could* 'LOOK' *for Koushiro*. Hikari: I remember where Koushiro-san's {place} is!! Miyako, worried: But wouldn't Koushiro-san be *very young* here?? Ken: *Maybe*... but it's *worth a try*. DAISUKE: HOW would it be *worth a try* if Koushiro-san is like a 5-going-on-6 year old?!?? KEN: Koushiro-san probably had at least a *starting* computer setup *even back then*. EVERYONE: !!!!! Iori: Koushiro-san's computer might be able to open up the Digital Gate to take us back home!! Takeru: That's right!! Even *at a young age*, Koushiro-san had an interest in gathering knowledge, and *may* even have had a computer - or the laptop - even back then!! KEN: If *I* try to go back home and use *ours*... KEN, HESITATING: (OSAMU would likely find me.) KEN: (If Osamu found us, it could turn out BAD.) Ken: (Because Osamu would likely *instinctively* Know it's Me, somehow...) Ken: ... It wouldn't be good if someone from "our time" sees and recognizes us, but Koushiro-san *doesn't know us Yet*. Hikari: Koushiro-san is very dedicated to our cause, if it came to it, Koushiro-san would keep our secret! Miyako, getting kind of excited now: So it's settled! Let's *look for Koushiro-san* then!! DAISUKE: I can't believe we're seeking the help of a *five-going-on-six year old* Koushiro-san... Rui: If it means we can *find and HELP* Ukkomon, I'm willing to try, even if I don't know Izumi. (They reach the Izumi household...) Young Koushiro, upon outside the Izumi household already, looking at them as if they're SUSPICIOUS (because They Are): Who are YOU??? DAISUKE: (*ERK*...) (To Be Continued, Maybe...!!)

[writingpaperghost]

From the Future With a Miracle (Chapter 6)

Chapter 6: The Miracle We Longed For Will One Day Change Form

The time has come to fight Diablo.

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/45877396/chapters/119756356

The Riders were split between five foes, that was determined quickly. Jeanne had sent word (a letter appeared, somehow), that she and Aguilera would be facing the Himiko Crisper. It was decided that two of Mr. Kamiyama’s friends, Ms. Shindai and Ms. Sophia, would join them. Revi was facing the Edison Crisper, and he would be joined by Mr. Kadota and Mr. Kamiyama’s friend, Mr. Fukamiya. The Khufu Crisper would be fought by four of Mr. Kamiyama’s allies, Mr. Yuri, Mr. Ogami, Mr. Daishinji, and Mr. Akamichi. Up against the Leonidas Crisper was Tamaki, aided by Mr. Kamiyama’s friends Mr. Shindo and Mr. Shindai, the brother of the one who was fighting the Himiko Crisper.

That left Mr. Kamiyama and Makoto himself to fight Diablo.

While Makoto didn’t particularly like the odds of just the two of them against such a powerful demon, there wasn’t much getting around it. All the others would be needed elsewhere, and as it were, Koushiro wasn’t ready to fight.

Before they leave, Karizaki calls Tamaki over, “I’ve got something for you,”

Tamaki blinked, confused, “You… do?”

“I do,” He holds out the Driver he’s been working on to Tamaki, “Just be careful, it still needs some adjustments, but it’s good enough for something as bad as this.”

Taking the Driver, Tamaki nods, “Got it.”

Makoto would be honest that he feels a little better that Tamaki has the Driver, since there’s no getting around fighting like this. Anything to protect Tamaki even just a little more. It makes Makoto even more glad that Hana was safe and likely far away from any fights. Especially given how Hana was when it came to fights.

Yet as everyone began to file out, Makoto couldn’t help how tense he was, the nerves building in him. Fighting the Deadmans felt… easier, than a demon like Diablo. The Deadmans never seem too dangerous, to him, even though he knows they are. But if they wanted him dead or otherwise out of the way, they had plenty of opportunities. Diablo, he suspects, is a different story. Diablo, from all he’s heard, likely wouldn’t hesitate to kill them.

“We don’t have long,” Daiji declared, surveying the Riders. “Whatever Diablo’s up to, it’s going to be completed soon, that much we can tell. So, it’s now or never.”

Mr. Kamiyama frowned, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Mr. Koushiro?”

“I think he’ll find us if he’s ready,” Makoto said, pleased that he sounded confident in that statement. He really wasn’t sure whether or not Koushiro would make his way to them. In a way, it depended on Koushiro. On if he could work out whatever was holding him back – Makoto didn’t know what it was, despite his suspicions.

“Like you said, we have the aid of Mr. Kamiyama and his friends,” Daiji reminded, “I’m sure we’ll be fine without him.”

Everyone was preparing, it seemed. Ms. Sudo and Mr. Shindo were speaking, it’s obviously something important. Makoto gets the impression the two are close, and they’re both clearly aware of the danger that Mr. Shindo was about to go into. It could easily be the last time they see each other. He notes that Daiji has found his way to where Hiromi was, just the slightest worry leaking into his expression. They were friends, that was for certain, and Daiji was concerned. Makoto couldn’t blame him.

If something does happen to anyone, though, Makoto hopes it will be him. Or even, in a more selfish way, anyone other than Tamaki. He doesn’t think their parents fully understand what they’re about to go do, and Makoto doesn’t want to be the one to tell them Tamaki was hurt, or worse. And, of course, Makoto would prefer no harm comes to his brother. It was selfish, certainly, but Makoto didn’t really care. He saw no harm in being selfish when it came to his family.

Still, the possible fate of humanity, that was a lot. Makoto is no fighter, he never really has been, so this was… a lot. More than he’d ever really wanted to take. But at the end of the day… he’d put himself in this position, and while he’ll never really be a hero, this is good enough. If his parents have at least one of their sons come home, that’s all he can hope for.

“You look tense,” Mr. Kamiyama notes.

He was a kind man, at least that was the impression Makoto got. He knew more about all of this, about being a Rider, than Makoto. Which was a strange thought, mostly because Makoto didn’t really know many other Riders. Just Mr. Kadota, and more loosely, Aguilera. In a way, it all made Makoto feel a bit bad knowing he might lie to him. Knowing that he might fudge the truth, like he did with everyone. But Mr. Kamiyama was far less connected to him than any of those other people.

And so Makoto answers, it’s not a lie, but it doesn’t feel like the whole truth. “Diablo is a bit different than what I’m used to fighting.”

“Unlike Captain Kadota there, or even your brother, you haven’t trained for this.” Mr. Kamiyama nodded, “so having the weight of protecting people isn’t an easy one to bear. Isn’t something you’re prepared for.”

It’s almost a surprise that Mr. Kamiyama had described it so easily. “Yeah,” he said, “it’s a little out of my league.”

“Maybe not that. You seem to be doing pretty well, and I can see you’ve made an effort to improve yourself. To make up for the lack of preparation.”

“You’re giving me too much credit,” Makoto insisted. The last thing he wanted was for Mr. Kamiyama to get the wrong idea. “I just want my family to be safe. I really don’t care about much else.”

“And that’s reason enough to fight,”

“There are plenty of people who would disagree, Mr. Kamiyama.”

If one was going to fight, it would probably be better to have some big goal, or at least some desire to help people. Like Tamaki, who wanted to protect people. Makoto had no desires like that, no big goal to save anyone other than his family. It didn’t bother him, really, but he didn’t want anyone to think he was better than he was.

It didn’t matter much, anyway. Soon they’d be too busy fighting to really focus on that. Really, Makoto preferred it that way.

---

Hana could only wait on the Riders who were aiding Fenix, out of sight of the Himiko Crisper with Sakura. She really hoped that whoever was coming were people who didn’t know her – keeping quiet around her brothers especially wasn’t easy. But there were other Riders involved, now, and they didn’t know her, so she wouldn’t have to worry so much about not saying anything if it were them.

Then the two appear, one red and one purple, out some strange portal that Hana rather quickly decides not to question. Sakura smiled at the sight of them – not happy, exactly, more a smile of relief that they’d arrive and a smile to help her slip into her persona as Jeanne. The two’s arrival just made Hana happy to have to stop hiding.

Standing, Sakura hurries over to the two, as they’d caught the Himiko Crisper’s attention anyway, with Hana hurrying behind. “I hope you’re ready for a fight,” Sakura says to the two, only slightly hesitating to place herself behind Hana. “Aguilera will be your main aid, but I’ll do what I can.”

The other two nod and all four dodge out of the way of the attack, Sakura keeping her position behind Hana. While Sakura was perfectly capable of fighting, Hana had seen that for herself, she was obviously being careful here, when it came to the Himiko Crisper. Then again, the only thing remotely like a demon Hana knew Sakura had fought before was Tamaki.

Pushing the red Rider away, the Himiko Crisper attacked, the red Rider already just barely out of the way, the purple Rider was off to the other side and safe. Hana and Sakura were a different story, Hana grabbing Sakura and letting her wings bring them up and out of the way. When they land, regrouped with the red and the purple Rider, Hana lets go of Sakura.

“I really don’t like her,” Hana said, resting the back on her hand on her hip.

Sakura sighed, “I think it will be best that I leave this to you three,” she didn’t seem too pleased. But the look she gave Hana filled Hana with a certain confidence. “Still, I’m sure you three can handle it. You have the aid of my queen, after all.”

Hana nodded, “I won’t lose!” Quickly, she decided it was time to test out the Vistamp that Sakura had gotten earlier, pulling it out and activating it.

Sounding curious, the red Rider asked, “What will that do?”

“We’re about to find out,” Hana declared, pressing the Turtle Vistamp against her Driver. Then her kunai morphed into a bazooka. “ooh,” She couldn’t help but laugh a little.

Barely, she can hear the purple Rider say, “Oh dear…”

And then Sakura laughed.

---

Ikki only recognizes one of the Riders that arrives to help fight against the Edison Crisper, that being Demons. The other one was yellow, and he must be one of those other Riders that was aiding in the fight against Diablo. Well, with something like Diablo, Ikki was pretty happy to have the help, anything to make sure this gets dealt with.

Not that he thought he was going to avoid the consequences of this, there was no way something this big avoided notice, and since Diablo’s awakening was Vice’s fault… yeah, Ikki wasn’t looking forward to that. But they had to deal with Diablo and the Crispers, first.

“Revi,” Kadota greets.

“Demons,” Ikki doesn’t see the point in wasting much time on pleasantries, pulling out the T-Rex Vistamp. “The Edison Crisper is very… well electric, as I’m sure you can imagine.”

The yellow Rider that stood beside Kadota responded, “Well so am I.”

An electricity-based Rider, then. Well yellow was a fitting color, in that case. Not that Ikki thinks learning much about these Riders will do much good, since it would probably be unlikely that they’d ever encounter them again. Certainly, at least, they wouldn’t be fighting against them, the only place where it would likely be all that important to take note about them now.

“You know, you could let me out and I could help,” Vice suggested, hovering nearby and sounding a little too eager.

“No, it’s your fault we’re in this mess.” Ikki was quick to answer, then stamped himself with the T-Rex Vistamp, transforming into the T-Rex Deadman.

Though he can no longer see Vice, and Vice’s mouth was hidden anyway, Ikki just knows he’s pouting. “Aw…”

---

Though Tamaki had used a Driver and the Wolf Vistamp to transform before, this would be the first time he actually did anything while transformed, let alone fight. Still, he tells himself it won’t matter, because he’s trained plenty, and he’s fought enough with the Vistamp that even with the difference of the Driver being involved he thinks he’ll be okay. Besides, he has Mr. Shindo and Mr. Shindai fighting with him, so it would be fine.

That didn’t change that he may or may not be a tad tense. Being stressed was not an uncommon state for him, but it still didn’t make it any more pleasant. To some degree, though, he found that being transformed like this did comfort him, not entirely, but enough.

And then they go through the weird portal thing and find themselves in view of the Leonidas Crisper. He noticed the three quickly, leaving Tamaki little time to think too much about his feelings, and next thing they knew they were fighting. Quick enough, Tamaki finds himself focusing on the fight more than his own worries.

There was, after all, a lot to focus on that mattered far more than his skill at messing up.

---

Makoto and Mr. Kamiyama were the only ones who didn’t have to travel somewhere far to confront Diablo. Diablo and the center of his star were at Mt. Fuji, so while not just down the street, was at least in the same country. Not that Makoto really cared how far it was, the only real important part was that they knew where Diablo was and were ready to fight.

And sure enough, upon their arrival, there was Diablo.

“Are you ready for this, Makoto?” Mr. Kamiyama asked, sending a concerned glance towards Makoto.

Already reaching for his Driver and the Squid Vistamp, Makoto answered, “Ready enough. Worst case scenario, I die.” That was a lie. As it were, him dying – and only him – was the best-case scenario. Worst case was… well a lot worse.

“Don’t say that,”

Shrugging, Makoto placed the Driver on his waist, “I’m afraid I don’t have a very good sense of humor.” He activated his Vistamp, “Now, it’s probably best we get on with this.”

He didn’t have high hopes for their fight against Diablo. They hadn’t fared particularly well before, and nothing really had changed to give them an advantage. Still, they had to do all they could to defeat Diablo, unlike the demons Makoto had faced before, he would certainly cause a lot more damage. If Koushiro was right, he’d pretty much end humanity.

The two transformed, Makoto let the armor settle over him with the knowingly vain hope that it would make much of a difference, let his weapon appear in his hand. Mr. Kamiyama holds his sword, ready to fight. And now they’ve gotten Diablo’s attention.

“I see you’ve come to fight me again.” Diablo said. There was this energy gather around all of them, the energy Diablo was obviously trying to get from whatever he was planning. Who knew what would happen once it was done.

“This will be the last time,” Mr. Kamiyama responded, and Makoto really couldn’t argue with that. Either they defeat Diablo or they die.

Diablo didn’t seem all that concerned, “Because this will be your last fight.”

And then the fight begins. It’s all Makoto can do is manage to keep up, despite limbs that were already sore from the previous fight and the exhaustion that was setting in from getting into multiple fights in one day. He wasn’t really a fighter, he couldn’t take this much exertion. Mr. Kamiyama, at least, seemed to be faring better, though he certainly had more experience.

It was unfortunate, really, that it was only the two of them fighting Diablo. Makoto could already tell that they weren’t going to be able to defeat him, let alone keep fighting for much longer. From Diablo’s attacks, Makoto knew he’d be covered in bruises and cuts, a familiar problem to be dealt with later – provided he even survived. Not that Makoto had high hopes for that, even with Mr. Kamiyama’s aid.

What good was defeating the Crispers when they couldn’t even defeat Diablo?

They’re knocked down by one of Diablo’s attacks, sending both of them out of their transformations. Not a good sign. Especially not as Diablo loomed over them. Well, it wasn’t like he’d expected to live.

Then a dark purple blur shoves Diablo away, and standing in front of Makoto and Mr. Kamiyama was Koushiro’s demon, wings spread as though to further protect the two. Running up beside him came Koushiro, looking at Diablo with a new fervor in his eyes. “Good job!” He cheered, raising a hand in the air. It held a Vistamp, though it had a different appearance to Koushiro’s Dragonfly Vistamp.

“We’re here to defeat Diablo, after all, and it would be unfortunate for any other Riders to fall at Diablo’s hands,” His demon said.

Koushiro nodded, “Right!” He turned to look at Makoto and Mr. Kamiyama, “We’re here to help.”

Pulling themselves up off the ground, Makoto commented, “You seemed to have figured it out.”

“Thank your mom for that – she’s really amazing you know.”

“I know,” Makoto laughed a little, though his lungs were frankly still heaving a little from the fight. “though I think we have more important concerns.”

“Oh, right,” Koushiro turned his attention back to Diablo. “I think we can take him for a bit, but if we’re going to defeat him, we’ll probably need your guy’s help.”

Mr. Kamiyama nodded, “Of course, we’ll do what we can.”

Then Koushiro cheered, pulling out his Driver and placing it on his waist, “Great!” then he activated the Vistamp – the Emperor Dragonfly Vistamp, Makoto was right that it had changed. As the two transformed, both gained armor – the demon had already had some, effectively, but now his matched with Koushiro’s, similar to before but different. Particularly, Koushiro’s own wings were present, and seemed to function in someways as something of a cape. “Now… it’s time for the Riders created by your own actions, Diablo! Kamen Rider Hawker!”

“Kamen Rider Tombo!” Koushiro’s demon, apparently named Tombo, declared alongside him. The two hurry to fight Diablo.

Makoto reached for his Vistamp again, “Well, I think that’s our cue.”

Mr. Kamiyama nodded, “I think so too.”

Like Tombo and Koushiro’s own appearance, though far brighter and harder to miss, there’s a flash and a different sword comes flying to Mr. Kamiyama’s hand. Unlike the sword he usually had, red and at times burning, this one was blue and seemed to sparkle. It had come from the sky, it seemed, and were it not for the fact he’d seen so many transforming sword wielders today, Makoto would probably have questioned where it came from more. But he wasn’t so crazy as to try to question magic swords.

Around them, that building energy dissipated – Makoto’s best guess was that the others had managed to defeat the Crispers. He wondered if that had something to do with the appearance of this new sword, perhaps whatever the Crispers were doing was blocking it.

Well, anything to stand a better chance against Diablo, though Makoto’s hopes were a bit higher now that they had Koushiro and Tombo’s help. Transforming, he and Mr. Kamiyama begin to aid Koushiro and Tombo in their fight. Makoto was certainly the weakest of the four, between his exhaustion and that both Koushiro and Mr. Kamiyama had gotten a form stronger than what they were using before. Though he’d likely never say it out loud, he didn’t mind letting them take the lead.

Soon enough, Diablo seems suitably weakened and Makoto can recognize the movements that the other three make as preparing to finish him. Thus, he figures he should probably help them, just to be safe. Besides, he thinks he has enough energy to do that much, at least.

So the four of them launch into the air, Koushiro and Tombo first, followed by Mr. Kamiyama and Makoto. Then they kick, an action just familiar enough Makoto doesn’t question it, but foreign enough he wonders if Koushiro’s instinct for it comes from stories.

Even Diablo couldn’t survive that, it seems, as he explodes and then there’s nothing left.

Knowing he’s gone, their armor disappears, Tombo along with it. Koushiro stares at where Diablo once was, Emperor Dragonfly Vistamp still in his hand. “It’s… over. Diablo’s… Diablo’s gone.”

“He is,” Mr. Kamiyama agreed, “You did it.”

“You did what you set out to do, Mr. Koushiro.” Makoto nodded. “Though I suppose the question for you from here is: now what?”

Koushiro laughed, joyful and sad and bitter all at once. “It really isn’t a question, Makoto. It never was.”

That didn’t sound right. “I don’t follow.”

“The reason why I was always so single mindedly focused on Diablo, on defeating him no matter what happened to me… was because no matter what, I wouldn’t live past today. Not really.” Koushiro looked down, staring at the Vistamp in his hand. “If I died, that was that, but if I lived… well, sooner or later I’ll disappear.”

“Oh,” Makoto’s eyes widened, realizing what Koushiro was saying. “your timeline doesn’t exist anymore.”

He nodded, “Exactly. Even if I’m still born… removed from Diablo and the hellscape created, from his life raised by my Kari-papa… that Koushiro wouldn’t be me. And he’d never travel back in time like this, for this specific event.” Koushiro sounded resigned. Then again, it sounded like he’d known for a while that this would happen. That he’d accepted it regardless of how he felt.

Makoto could understand that feeling.

“No matter what, you’d effectively die.” He can’t help but sigh, “so now it’s only a matter of time.”

“Only a matter of time.” Koushiro repeated with a nod. He glanced at his own hand, which began to shimmer and fade. “Though it seems that time is already upon us.”

Taking a step towards Koushiro, Mr. Kamiyama said, “You did good.”

Koushiro responded with a smile, “Thank you.” Then he turned his attention to Makoto, “Makoto, if I could… I have a couple favors to ask of you.”

Since this was the end for Koushiro, Makoto felt an obligation to at least hear him out. “I’ll do my best.”

Digging through his jacket pocket, Koushiro began, “Firstly, I’d like you to give this to Karizaki. It’s from my Kari-papa.” He pulled out a crinkled and slightly torn envelope. Makoto took it, curious but not willing to pry. It had no label of any kind, but maybe it didn’t need it.

“I take it there’s something else, too?”

“Secondly,” Koushiro held out the Emperor Dragonfly Vistamp, “I’d like you to hold on to this, since it’ll be of no use to me. If possible, I’d like it to go to the me of this timeline, maybe it could help him one day.”

Taking that too, Makoto regarded it for a moment, “That one might be a little harder. I’ll have to find you, and I don’t even know how old you are.”

“About forty… uh, forty-eight, I think. If I’m born around the same time, it should be in the next year or so.” Koushiro answered, “And as for finding me, well… You won’t have to look far. Thanks to you… I got to meet my parents, and my big brothers too! I got to meet family that I hadn’t dreamed of meeting in a long time.”

Brow furrowed, Makoto began, “You mean…?”

The fading and the shimmers have grown, Koushiro was nearly gone at this point. He smiled, bigger and more genuine than Makoto had seen him smile. It looked like it might hurt his cheeks to hold it for too long. He might even had begun to cry. “Now, Koushiro Igarashi can disappear, and he can be happy. Thank you, Makoto.”

Koushiro Igarashi fades away, shimmering out of existence. Any further words that Makoto might have had were stuck in his throat.

Mr. Kamiyama stands beside him, “So he was your brother.”

“So it seems,” Makoto choked out, “I… wasn’t expecting that.”

“That’s understandable. We should probably head back, though.”

Makoto regarded the Vistamp he held in one hand and the envelope he held in the other. “Yeah, I guess we should. Ah, thanks for the help, Mr. Kamiyama.”

“Of course,” Mr. Kamiyama smiled.

---

“Aguilera and Jeanne told us to return this to you,” Sophia (Kamen Rider Calibur) said, as Reika Shindai (Kamen Rider Sabela) held out the Turtle Vistamp to George. Obviously that they were talking to them and the crisis now appeared to be averted was alone enough to make George nearly vibrate with excitement. He needed to get as many autographs as possible.

Of course, there was also the Vistamp they had gotten back from Jeanne and Aguilera, something that George was a little surprised by. “Oh, they actually gave it back. Well, that’s good.” He examined it for a moment before asking, “What did it do when Aguilera used it?”

Sophia paled and Ms. Shindai answered with a slight hesitance, “It… gave her a rocket launcher.”

“Oh,” George blinked, “well, it worked as it should have, then. Still, we should probably try our best to keep this one from her.”

The only Riders that hadn’t come back were Makoto and Touma Kamiyama (Kamen Rider Saber, the Kamen Rider Saber!), but since it appeared Diablo was defeated, they should be back soon. George would be excited to hear how the fight went.

Tamaki had already returned the Driver to George, it seemed even he was able to notice that the Driver wasn’t quite finished – then again he’d helped George with testing the Driver Makoto had. George would put the finishing touches on after all this had settled down and then Fenix would have three Riders.

Finally, Makoto and Mr. Kamiyama return, looking a bit worse for wear and tired – or downright exhausted in Makoto’s case – but otherwise more or less fine. Daiji greets them first, “Congratulations on defeating Diablo,”

Mr. Kamiyama gave a smile, “We couldn’t of done it without Koushiro.”

“Speaking of,” George noted the absence of said person with them, which was strange if he had been fighting Diablo with them. “if he helped you, where is he now?” George was curious as to if he would try to keep up his time travel story.

“Gone,” Makoto answered, an unusual tone in his voice. He sounded… perhaps a little sad. “with Diablo defeated, his timeline doesn’t exist anymore, so he disappeared.”

A silence falls, a degree of uncertainty in the air. Tamaki glanced around before asking, “You mean that… he was telling the truth about being from the future?” he looks between Makoto and George, as though to try to verify the thought.

Thus, George groused, “I guess if he was from the future, then yes, he wouldn’t exactly exist as he was anymore,” he still didn’t fully believe the story, though.

“We saw him disappear,” Mr. Kamiyama said, “I think that’s answer enough.”

From there, everyone begins to settle down and leave, particularly Mr. Kamiyama’s friends. George is in a hurry to get as many autographs as possible – a quest that was being interrupted by Daiji insisting that his behavior was going to give everyone second hand embarrassment, not that George cared. Though as the last of them leave, Mr. Kamiyama himself alongside Mr. Shindo and Mr. Fukamiya, Makoto approached George.

Maybe it’s to gloat about being right to believe Koushiro. Even though Makoto played the role of quiet and mostly obedient, George didn’t believe that’s how he truly was. He was certain that Makoto was a lot more like him than he let on.

“Mr. Karizaki,” Makoto said, and that sadness hadn’t quite been shaken from his voice. How foreign. He produced an envelope and held it out to him, “Koushiro asked that I give this to you. I believe it’s from the version of you from his future.”

George may be skeptical still, but he can’t deny that he’s curious, so he takes it. Though instead of asking about it further, he asked, “Something’s changed, what’s got you so sad about that Koushiro?”

Makoto’s expression shifted and he looked uncertain, for a moment, before he answered. “Well Koushrio was- is- will be our brother.”

Overhearing that, Tamaki pulls a face, “Wait, our brother? You mean – like adopted, right?”

“He didn’t say, but I don’t really think so…”

“You mean mama and papa- ugh nope! I don’t want to think about that!” More than a little redness creeped across his cheeks. Makoto laughed, clearly amused by this reaction.

Interrupting, but giving Makoto and Tamaki a small smile, Hiromi told them, “You two should head home, now, we’ll finish up here. Get some rest, especially you, Makoto. You look almost as bad as Daiji can get.”

Daiji made an indignant sound, “I don’t get bad,”

It didn’t even look like Makoto believed that statement, but he and Tamaki leave anyway. Soon enough Hiromi and Daiji leave too, to finish all the paperwork left over. That left George alone in the lab, as usual, though this time he wasn’t too focused on his work. Instead, his focus was on the unlabeled envelope that seemed to have come from Koushiro. From the future.

His curiosity gets the better of him and he opens the envelope, pulling out a worn and crinkled paper with smudges of dirt. It looked old, perhaps written a while ago.

“To my younger self,”

The handwriting certainly looked like George’s own, that much was certain.

“Hopefully you’ve gotten this letter from Koushiro, or he somehow found a way to get it to you. He’s a good kid, even if he sometimes gets a little single minded. I think he learned that from me. Us. Anyway, I know you probably won’t believe that he’s from the future, I know I wouldn’t have, back before all of this, but it’s true. He was entrusted to me by Yukimi and Genta Igarashi, so I did all I could to ensure that he stayed alive. I knew, after a certain point, that it wouldn’t be me who could stop Diablo, no matter how much I wanted to, that it had to be Koushiro. He’s an Igarashi, after all, and I think if anyone could do it, it would be him.

“Thus, I hope that now, when you’re reading this, you’ll never see the future I’ve seen. But that’s not exactly why I’m writing this. What I have to say is simply that you should cherish what you have, the people who do in fact care about you. When everything went to hell, I realized I’d lost more than I thought. And while I wouldn’t trade Koushiro for the world, I do hope that you don’t have to raise a child on your own during an apocalypse. I hope that you still get to be a part of the life of the Koushiro of your new timeline.”

As if the Igarashi family would want him anywhere near their child, if they weren’t left with any other option. That was, of course, assuming they even had another child in this timeline.

“I think, even in the new timeline, he’d adore you. Us. Or however you feel like calling it.

“Now, moving on, while there’s a lot I could try to say… I think this is enough. So much has happened, but none of it will ever really happen to you. I hope. Which means I think it should be about time for my closing statements… wait there is one thing. Keep an eye on Makoto Igarashi, I saw what happened when he snapped.

“Other than that, I think my letter has come to a close.

“Your future self, George Karizaki.”

Clipped to the letter was a picture, somewhat faded but clearly well cared for. He recognized when it was taken, a week or so ago when he’d stopped by Happy Spa to pester Makoto and Tamaki. It was him, with the Igarashi family, Tamaki barely hiding his annoyance and physically holding Hana back from launching herself at George, though to anyone who didn’t already know it would look more like a hug.

His future self kept it for so long, clearly did his best to keep it in the best condition he could. George wasn’t really sure what that said.

Pulling a drawer at his desk open, he returned the letter and the picture back into the envelope and shoved it in the drawer.

---

“I can’t believe you got to meet our little brother!” Hana lamented loudly, something of a pout on her face.

Makoto did wish she’d have saved it for a later time, preferably when they didn’t have a group of Riders at Happy Spa that day. They’d invited Mr. Kamiyama and his friends over. Still, he could understand why Hana was at least a bit upset, since she was the youngest.

“You could have stuck around,” Tamaki answered, “though really I think I preferred you being with Sakura and far from any trouble.”

Hana rolled her eyes, but moved on, slipping through the room before stopping to stare at Mr. Yuri, who sat in one of the chairs in the lobby. “…Why do you have a cactus?”

“Because he does,” Tamaki responded again, “Don’t you have something better to be doing?”

“Don’t you have that comic to get around to reading?” Hana shot back.

A slight blush comes to Tamaki’s face, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

With a sigh, Makoto comes out from the counter, broom and rag in hand, “If you two would prefer, you can both clean.”

In response, Tamaki sighed and took the broom. Hana recoiled a little and crossed her arms, huffing something about how she’d been asked to run to the store for Mama anyway and left. Well, that got the two to calm down pretty easily, Makoto found that it usually did.

Since Tamaki was out front, Makoto didn’t feel too bad about slipping into the house for a minute. He stops at the shrine for the missing Igarashi children, now with a new addition. There, nestled next to the picture of the three children, was the Emperor Dragonfly Vistamp. Though they’d barely known Koushiro, and all Koushiro had asked was that Makoto give the Vistamp to the version of himself in this new future, Makoto had thought it would be a good place to keep the Vistamp, in the meantime. Besides, Koushiro deserved to be remembered, even if the future he was from may be better left forgotten.

---

In a future not too far away, a little boy runs up to the shrine, now absent of any items save for the Emperor Dragonfly Vistamp. The boy has dark and messy hair, a pair of slightly too big glasses on his face. He stares up with curiosity.

“Big bro! Big bro George!” He called as footsteps approached. “Why is there a Vistamp there?”

Beside him, George arrived, answering, “It belonged to someone very brave, but he never knew his family,” He reached down, picking up the boy, who couldn’t help but giggle. “So we remember him here. After all, this is the family that will take anyone in, Koushiro.”

[digitalgate02]

Part two of that AU setting.

( PLEASE DO NOT ADD ANTI-▽ COMMENTS/TAGS ON IT. Like i said before, i do not like fix-it attitude, i prefer AUs instead. AUs are valid and free to our own interpretation. If i see any hate on this or on ▽ you will be immediately blocked ^_^💢 )

[Part one here]

Here's the next five pages.

The group’s reunion

Hikari and Takeru told Taichi and Yamato about the incident. Iori and Miyako told Koushiro instead. The group decided to gather somewhere as soon as possible, but Daisuke was too upset to come. They left Ken to handle this, since he’s Daisuke’s best friend after all.

In this emergency reunion, the remaining 02 group explained what happened. Koushiro was aware of the investigations on this lady, Himekawa at least. What made them wary was the anonymous message of someone mentioning a mysterious partner digimon, and the younger kids deduced it meant Meicoomon. But… who is Meicoomon? They left the cat digimon with Koushiro, in his office – handed by a very rich developer friend from Europe, with all the equipment he needed for his own personal server. Miyako has access to this place, as if she was a co-owner of it. The digimon was on a special data realm inside this server, including Meicoomon (Or else it would’ve been too crowded, like 10 kids and 11 digimon in the same space… oh no).

None of the seniors were happy with the news of the 02 group losing a 50ft dragon who can destroy an entire country with one move. Yeah, they weren’t angry though, it wasn’t the younger six’s intention. But now they have a big problem in their hands.

To change the gloomy mood, Hikari then went back to the discussion about Meicoomon being not a lost wild digimon and yes partnered with someone. Which means they have yet to find whoever is her partner. Meicoomon was a little nervous surrounded by the kids’ partners in Koushiro’s experimental server, but she hadn’t snapped yet. Perhaps because they weren’t a threat to her? Maybe her nervousness was just social anxiety…

The seniors decided the best they could do is seek for anyone in Tokyo who had lost a digimon, but this is something unusual – Digimon partners don’t go wandering anywhere like an earthling pet cat. They would rather stay and wait for their human partner than running around the town. Then… Meicoomon spoke.

And she said she was at home waiting for her partner, Mei, but… Something hostile came. Meicoomon had severe social anxiety apparently, so she spoke with pauses and shuttering. After all, she only knew Meiko for so long and had almost zero contact with other digimon or people. This was her first time talking to “strangers”.

Now they got some idea of what happened, and a hint to whom to look for. Mimi gently assured Meicoomon they would protect her, and find her partner Mei. Though Koushiro’s silence meant he was analyzing the information he got from the kids and Meicoomon.

“A digimon coming after another… A strange ink leaking into Imperialdramon… This mysterious woman called Himekawa Maki sent a request for data of something not elaborated. An anonymous message about an unknown partner digimon on the loose…”

Yeah, all of those… Could they be related to each other?

Meeting Meiko

With the 02 group down to 4 digimon and 4 kids (Daisuke was still upset, Ken was trying his best to lift his spirits up, but felt like Daisuke was not in the right shape to be involved with this case), the older six had to find time to help with their search. At this point, the number of Chosen Children around the world was at the 2,048 mark and doubling year by year. Someone somewhere in Tokyo had lost their digimon, after all!

Taichi’s group searched in places they go more often, at school, in their buildings and residential complexes, meanwhile Miyako tried the luck online. Iori, Takeru and Hikari tried their best at the same spots they went and were at least one of two kids with a digimon in public.

The groups were almost hopeless when Taichi met this girl looking for a “Mei-chan” at the ferris-wheel area. He, a very awkward dude around girls who’re not Hikari-Sora-Mimi-and-Miyako, took time to say something. He just blurted “I FOUND YOUR CAT” and she stared at him in confusion. First, how did he know “Mei-chan” is a cat? And two, what is he doing with her cat!? Before he could explain, she walked til him and asked to take her to Mei-chan. Fine?? Well, that was a very awkward first encounter.

Taichi then brought her to Koushiro’s office, where she got reunited with Meicoomon. Agumon, who watched Taichi be a complete idiot in front of a girl, just asked why he screamed ‘I FOUND YOUR CAT’ out of the blue. Taichi blushed in shame and told Agumon to forget it. Meiko then started asking how did Taichi know about her cat, why was he with her and most importantly if no one got hurt. Koushiro raised an eyebrow at that last question though.

Taichi just… Told her his little sister and her friends found the cat. That it was under attack. Koushiro added that they received an anonymous message warning them about a lost partner digimon. Meiko’s reaction was a vague “Oh” and then she looked at the duo, revealing it was her the one who sent an anonymous message. Tentomon then asks why she sent it anonymously and she just replies that Meicoomon is a special digimon.

Suspicious…

They introduce themselves and only now Taichi realizes she lives around his building complex, and that she’s from his class. It’s just he never thought someone else from his class would have a digimon or a digivice. Koushiro sighs and “Then you didn’t ask no one at school?” “SORA ASKED FIRST! It would annoy them being asked again!!” to only Meiko apologize for not being at class the time they were looking for her. They assure her it was okay and that at least everything is fine… At least for now.

But Koushiro was still curious about Meiko’s third question – Sure, no one got hurt, but why would she ask that? Was she involved with what happened to Imperialdramon anyway? And seemed like she was hiding something else from them. Once she left, Koushiro and Taichi discussed a little more about this first meeting. Meiko is suspicious, he concluded. Taichi frowned, she never was the kind to be shady at all, at least she was pretty straightforward and honest with everyone until now. Was something happening to her and she didn’t want to involve them?

Poison

The seniors decided to take the case from their juniors, at least until they could solve Imperialdramon’s issue. But, this didn’t mean they couldn’t assist in small activities, like… Keeping them informed about Daisuke’s current status.

Not that he was “worse” but it wasn’t that “well” either. He never experienced something like this, he only witnessed it happening to Wallace and Taichi though. Ken kept trying to cheer him up, but somehow the one who once didn’t think too hard on things… Was completely doomed by fears of never seeing V-mon again or even… If they have to put Imperialdramon down. Those thoughts were haunting Daisuke like his shadow casting on the floor.

He just became completely broken at this point. But was trying to keep it to himself, and it wasn’t working at all. They all knew. They all could see it. Miyako tried to tell him Koushiro and her were searching for whatever was that, according to their own witnesses. Daisuke tried to smile but yeah, he was all mopey yet. Concerning.

This was all what someone wanted to happen. A strong partner in hands, one of the bravest Chosen Child broken and vulnerable… It was the perfect moment to attack.

Yet… Said person felt lonely. A deep loneliness, and seeing this kid sitting on this coffee shop table with his friends, trying to hide his pain from them… Ah, it felt so… familiar.

Now that Meicoomon was behaving nicely, and Meiko started communicating with Taichi and Koushiro, who also introduced them to the others, life felt a little better. At least Daisuke was relieved that the lost digimon partner had found her human. He wasn’t jealous of it at all, he was just too concerned with his own digimon (also Ken’s) that jealousy was such a waste of time for him.

The moment he left alone, heading home, some woman in a black suit intercepted him. At first he’s all wary and nervous since he has no digimon to protect him, but she just handed him a visit card. He takes it and reads the name in it:

Himekawa Maki.

He felt butterflies in his stomach. It was the same person he and his friends had received a request to recover some data, the same woman they investigated and discovered she was working for a government department. The one who claimed to be a “former Chosen Child”.

He doesn’t know what to do: to run and call for Taichi’s help, or to keep it cool and try to discover what is this data she wanted so hard. His choice was to just refuse to talk to her, he kept walking, and she came after him. She was indeed shady and he didn’t want to talk with that person at all. Until she pushed the right buttons about “knowing that feel” of losing a digimon. He stopped and glanced at her: V-mon wasn’t dead (he hoped so) and even if he were dead he could just wait for him to be reborn in a DigiEgg (which he also hoped for).

Then, the final attack: “What if the egg never hatched?” And that question just made him silent. This is not possible, he believed. He wouldn’t want that to happen, he would… He would NEVER forgive himself if V-mon and Wormmon never come back. Ah yes, he was so vulnerable right now… Almost there.

“What if I could help you? What if you get me certain data I could prevent this from happening?” she said with a smirk. It’s like he would accept it, she could feel it… Until he snapped and said she would never help her. He’s not sassier like Ken or good at sick burns like Iori or passive-aggressive like Takeru, so he was just blunt.

It was when another man, wearing a star-stamped shirt, shorts and pink crocs popped from somewhere and stood for him. Telling that woman to leave him alone. That man was Nishijima Daigo. She bit her lips but left, and then Daigo asked if the kid was okay. Daisuke said yes, and thanked the man. He then revealed that that woman was his ex, and she used to be nice. Daisuke frowned, and then the guy said to him to not worry about it.

Daisuke asked him if she ever talked about having a digimon or digivice… Only to have Daigo show a digivice, though this one was older than Taichi’s model. Surprised, the kid exclaims and then asks where his digimon is, and Daigo’s answer is that his partner is protecting the Digital World. At first Daisuke thinks it’s Qinglongmon, but he learns it’s another kind of Holy Beast they never had met before. Anyway, that’s cool huh!?

A few meters away from there, Maki just whispers that that kid will come to ask for her help soon.

Rampage

The first alert Koushiro got on his system was a huge cloud of data covering Odaiba. He expected this meant one thing – Imperialdramon. He warned Taichi immediately, and asked everyone to come. But by Ken’s request, they asked them to not warn Daisuke for some reason. Why leave Daisuke out? He wasn’t ready to watch them fighting Imperialdramon themselves and would be risky for their friend. Ken also asked to not take part of it, he was just assisting in another sub-case they were on. But Ken just said to be careful because of that strange “ink”.

Somehow Meicoomon told Meiko she wanted to help. Meiko asks why and the cat digimon says they have to help, which is not a good answer except Meicoomon wanted so hard to retribute to those children for helping her out against MetallifeKuwagamon. Meiko knew her partner couldn’t evolve but…!! She went to her dad’s office in the apartment and searched for the papers about Meicoomon. She remembered hearing that Meicoomon had a special power, but they never told her what it was. At this point, Meiko thought they made Meicoomon in order to help the digimon, but she didn’t know the real purpose for them in that project. Meicoomon keeps insisting they should go help them, and then Meiko leaves without checking the folder with details of “Project Mei” she was carrying with her.

Miyako and Iori were about to go, but for some reason, Ken called them for another mission. One about researching that top secret project they found out.

Mimi, Jou, Sora, Yamato, Takeru and Hikari came immediately to try to bring Imperialdramon back, at least to make Daisuke less worried. And at most to prevent a good amount of casualties. Koushiro went there with his laptop. Even if he and the rest weren’t strong enough to fight Imperialdramon, they could assist by investigating the mysterious “ink” and escorting people to a safer area while Omegamon handled their friend.

And it was exactly like that: The remaining 6 were escorting and shielding innocents. Omegamon was right there in the battlefront, fighting Imperialdramon. Koushiro was with Taichi and Yamato instead, and Tentomon (as AtlurKabuterimon) was helping to keep other people safe, securing their exit.

Omegamon dragged Imperialdramon to the same spot Vamdemon had made its headquarters in Odaiba, because no one would interrupt them there and everyone would be safe. However, Omegamon had the hard task to prevent Imperialdramon from shooting laser beams against the buildings.

It’s impossible to hide a 50ft dragon from the public. News networks were already making news reports and warnings. It would be impossible to prevent Daisuke from learning that. It wasn’t at all. And he was on his way to do something stupid as the usual. Jun went with him and brought Pulsemon, her partner, just in case.

Meanwhile, Ken, Miyako and Iori were searching for anything about that mysterious top secret project they had found out before. Anything that could lend them a hand. Why was Ken so interested in it? Because some things weren’t clicking – Meicoomon being a target, a strange request for data coming from Himekawa, them losing Imperialdramon to some weird ink-like substance… 

Meiko and Meicoomon came, talked to Koushiro about them being able to stop Imperialdramon, and they tried to join the battle without their approval. Meicoomon then changed forms to Meicrackmon (normal) and joined the fight.

The rest of the digimon returned back to the battle spot, now trying to keep the news reporters away from the battle. Daisuke arrives with his sister and Pulsemon, tries to break into the battle, but Angemon and Angewomon try to keep him outside. Jun tells them maybe they should go home, but he insists he can make Imperialdramon come back to his senses. Takeru tries to assure him Imperialdramon will be fine, that they can bring him back.

Meicrackmon was not strong enough to face a big and powerful digimon as Imperialdramon, but she could at least make things harder for him. Omegamon focused on attacking and the other digimon kept protecting the news reporters and their partners. 

The kids tried to tell the media to leave, but they were too stubborn. Then, Jun left Daisuke in the hands of Sora and Jou, and tried to lure the news reporters to another place: By telling them there was some other breaking news in another place. It didn’t work quickly, but Jun showed them a video of the Tokyo Tower – there was another digimon on the loose and Momoe & Chizuru were there, on live, reporting that. Of course all of those people followed Jun and Runnermon, so the area got free from those people. Except for Yamato’s dad, he was mostly worried about lending them a hand in keeping that area restricted from the populace.Said video was fake, of course, but the Inoue sisters were on board in helping their little sister’s friends. 

Daisuke kept asking them to let him talk with Imperialdramon, but they knew it wasn’t possible to approach the giant dragon at the moment. To him, he would only want Imperialdramon to be taken down if there’s no other option. But he believed that could be avoided.

Koushiro then shouts telling them to NOT approach Imperialdramon and that he probably identified something like a parasite digimon in the opponent’s body. Taichi and Yamato gasp, but pass the order to Omegamon immediately. Though it was too late as Meicrackmon is too close to Imperialdramon right now. Something like a blob of ink jumps from Imperialdramon to Meicrackmon, who starts suffering a mutation. She becomes Vicious Mode and attacks Omegamon and Imperialdramon mercilessly. Meiko is in shock, Daisuke fears for the worst.

Imperialdramon jogress breaks and two Digieggs fall on the ground. Meicrackmon then disappears in a strange distortion caused by her immense power and leaves. The kids reunite with their digimon, and Taichi lends Daisuke one of the eggs. The boy is still petrified, but he knows this means V-mon and Wormmon will come back, right?

Takeru takes the other egg, with heart patterns, and decides to deliver it to Ken. Daisuke asks if he could go with him and Hikari says she’s going with them.

The seniors now try to reach Meiko, but she was in shock. What was happening to them all?

The truth

Ken and the other juniors finish their investigation and they send the results to Koushiro. Seems like Meiko was holding a big secret but couldn’t give them details. Then, Koushiro asked her to talk with him about that. Taichi was curious about it somehow, Yamato declined in order to prepare for a new concert of his new band, and Daisuke was actually babysitting V-mon and Wormmon’s eggs.

Meiko accepted speaking the truth, and revealed to Koushiro, Taichi and the other five kids from 02 group, about Meicoomon’s origin. An experimental artificial digimon project. Ken then mentions that the project started after their showdown with BelialVamdemon, and that it lasted for 3 years at least and then it was canceled. Meiko then handed Koushiro the papers she had “borrowed” from her dad’s office and they took a look at them.

Koushiro raises an eyebrow. Then Miyako asks if she knew something about it. Meiko says no, and they look at each other. Yeah, there’s more than that.

Taichi asks “Huh, what else is in it?” and Koushiro explains that Meicoomon is a weapon made to restrain the digimon from attacking, and even destroying them. Basically, she corrupts their data and corrupts them til they’re destroyed. Meiko gasps loudly, and then refuses the idea her sweet Meicoomon would kill a digimon.

Iori takes a look in the papers and recognizes one of the scientists related to the project: Himekawa Maki. The same person who was trying to ask them to do some dirty job. Also the same person Daisuke had commented to have met before until a man told her to leave him alone. Meiko then comments that she knew the project’s staff, so that name wasn’t strange at all.

Taichi asks if Omegamon and Imperialdramon are safe or not, since they saw Meicoomon attacking but it didn’t seem to have a huge effect on them. Ken explains that, according to those papers they’re reading right now, Meicoomon isn’t supposed to take her opponents down immediately and yes by poisoning them until their systems stop working. “Ah, that makes sense– Wait–” And then Koushiro adds that they can scan Agumon and Gabumon in order to check if they were corrupted. Taichi seems uneasy but he’s sure they need to do that. Ken calls Daisuke and asks him to bring the eggs to Koushiro’s office.

Meiko is so ashamed of all of this, but Hikari assures her they’re not mad and she hasn’t known that until now. But Meiko wanted to ask her father about this so hard, and why he didn’t tell her that at all. Miyako reveals more details hidden by the government, like an incident involving Meicoomon years ago, which made Meiko want to interrogate her dad even more.

Daisuke left the eggs with Koushiro, to scan them and was hoping they’re fine, and tried to distract himself with something else. Then, he asks Koushiro what they could do if their partners had their data corrupted, making the older boy suspect of him knowing something else. Daisuke is a bad liar, so he was definitely trying to not worry everyone.

The results are in – their data were corrupted at least, but some strange numbers were showing. Taichi, Yamato, Daisuke and Ken were a little concerned now, but Koushiro believes this can be fixed, he only needs to know how first.

Daisuke then decides to share the details he heard from Himekawa. Meanwhile Meiko confronts her dad.

[Final part here]

[tobiasdrake]

Digimon Adventure 01x25 - The Sleeping Tyrant! TonosamaGekomon / Princess Karaoke

Previously on Digimon Adventure: A curious thing happened on the way to Gennai. Koushiro was offered a self-help seminar that turned out to be a scam, so he filed suit and was awarded a new computer program by the arbiter.

Now, only two members of our group are still out there, though one seems to be lurking around. By process of elimination, there can be only one person Taichi and Jou are on their way to collect.

(That's right, fuckers; It's finally time to talk about my kid's Crest! I have been waiting for this episode since this project began. This is one of my most anticipated episodes!)

While Yamato and Takeru left on foot, Taichi and Jou seem to have doubled back to grab Yamato's swan boat. We find them pedaling their way across the great lake while Agumon and Gomamon confirm the reason that Gabumon couldn't have gone to get Takeru himself way back when.

Agumon: What beautiful weather! Gomamon: The water's sparkling! It feels great! Agumon: Keep it up, you two! Gomamon: We've lot to trade places with you.... Both: But we're too short to reach the pedals, ahahahahaha! Taichi: You weren't going to switch with us anyway! Agumon: Was that obvious? Taichi: Blatantly.

Absolute dicks, the both of them.

In his second line, Agumon playfully tells them to "Ganbare", a conjugation of ganbaru previously discussed in the WereGarurumon episode. This is particularly asshole of him. Considering recent circumstances, I think Jou's had quite enough of ganbaru to last a while.

This is a perfect spot for the dub to add a little spice.

Agumon: Hey, what's wrong, you guys? Can't you make this bucket go any faster? Joe: What are you doing to help? Agumon: Watching for icebergs. Gomamon: We'd gladly trade places with you but-- Both: --unfortunately our little legs won't reach the pedals! Hahahahahaha! Tai: Hey! We could go faster if we threw you off! Agumon: You wouldn't! Tai: It's tempting! Gomamon: ...better not.

The central gag this exchange is built around is preserved perfectly. Tai's comeback in particular is a lot stronger in the dub. He even scores a hit, as Gomamon sounds a little nervous in his final line.

As their boat makes shore, they look upwards in the direction of the signal to find their unexpected destination.

Taichi: That's... Jou: A castle! Taichi: (checks Digivice) The signal is coming from inside!

Pretty basic utility dialogue.

Most of this scene is sweeping shots of the landscape so the dub's able to start the boys talking much earlier, giving them more time to fill in longer lines.

Joe: That palace is huge! Everyone: Woooooow.... Tai: And way up there! As if my legs weren't tired already.... (checks Digivice) But there's no doubt about it; That is Mimi. So up we go!

Tai, how do you know that from a blip on a radar? We, the audience, know that to be Mimi because we know where Sora and Izzy are right now, but why do you know that? That could be one of three separate people.

I appreciate him bringing up the exhausting boat ride, though.

The boys make their way up a staircase carved into the cliff to reach the castle. Since there's no guards outside and the doors are unlocked, they're able to crack the door open and peek in.

There they find two new kinds of Digimon racing about in a panic.

Taichi: Frogs and tadpoles? Jou: What are they doing?

In the dub, Joe raises a valid question on the way up the stairs.

Joe: How do they get their mail!? (The boys peek inside) Tai: Is this a palace or some kind of looney bin? Joe: Seems like it's both.

While the boys spy in, the narrator comes in with rundowns for both of these new Digimon. The frogs are Gekomon, Adult-stage Virus-type Amphibian Digimon, while the tadpoles are Otamamon, Child-stage Virus-type Amphibian Digimon.

It probably goes without saying but they share an evolutionary lineage. Their line is in the same veil as Vegiemon, Numemon, and Scumon. A neglected Mochimon will evolve into Otamamon, while a poorly cared for Otamamon will then evolve into Gekomon.

(Mimi sure does have a way with bad evolutions. At least these ones aren't throwing poop at her.)

Gekomon: Busy-gero! Busy-gero! Narrator: Gekomon. You might not be able to tell but he loves music. With the three holes on the tip of his tongue, he uses the horn around his neck to perform his special attack, Crash Symphony. Otamamon: Busy-tama! Busy-tama! Narrator: Otamamon! An amphibian Digimon. Their special attack, Lullabye Bubble, lulls one to sleep.

Gekomon's name comes from the onomatopoeia for a frog's croak, of which there's a few variants. Gerogero, kerokero, and gekogeko are commonly used. Adventure uses gerogero and gekogeko interchangeably for the involuntary croaks that Gekomon add to their dialogue.

Otamamon comes from otamajakushi, the Japanese word for "tadpole". It's also worth noting that Japan often associates tadpoles with music, even to the point of using otamajakushi to also mean "musical note". I'm not 100% but I believe it's because of their similar shapes. This is why Otamamon sprout musical horns when they grow into Gekomon.

Over in the dub, the Partners deliver the diegetic rundown together.

Gekomon: Her Highness is getting angry! Gomamon: Oh, these are Gekomon? I've heard of them! They really love music. Not surprising since they're born with those horns. Otamamon: Hurry! Before she blows her top! Agumon: And I've heard of the other Digimon! They're called Otamamon!

Agumon, you told us nothing. You are bad at rundowns. Gomamon, meanwhile, told us bald-faced lies. They aren't born with those horns. The horns grow naturally when they evolve.

This is why Tentomon usually handles these.

Seeking more information, the group trespasses right the hell in and interrupts these feudal servants to find out what the hell's going on.

Gomamon: Hey, hey! Why are you in such a rush? Gekomon 1: The princess said she wants gomoku chahan right this minute-gero! Group: Gomoku chahan!? Gekomon 2: No! The princess said she wants cold yaki udon-gero! Group: Cold yaki udon!? Gekomon 3: What are you saying? The princess said she wanted Mediterranean-style okara miso soup-gero! Group: Mediterranean-style okara miso soup!? Gekomon 1: No! Gomoku chahan-gero! Gekomon 2: Cold yaki udon-gero! Gekomon 3: Mediterranean-style okara miso-gero! Taichi: Now, now... What if you made all of that and gave it-- Otamamon 1: They're all wrong-tama! Jou: What now? Otamamon 1: The princess wants a gaudy polka-dotted dress-tama! Otamamon 2: No-tama! She wants an antique ring-tama! Otamamon 1: Polka-dotted dress-tama! Otamamon 2: Antique ring-tama! Jou: If this princess jerks her servants around like this.... Taichi: She must be incredibly selfish. Agumon: Hey, didn't you guys say you were in a hurry? Servants: That's right! (scatter)

I mean. She probably does want all of those things. They're making this big argument over which one she really wants but. Like. A polka dot dress and antique ring are not mutually exclusive. Nor do they contradict her food order.

Which, yeah, Taichi's right: Just make all the items she asked for. Stop trying to figure out which one's the real food order. She probably wants all of them. She's a princess; They tend to be wasteful.

Over in the dub, those Japanese food items are unexpectedly swapped out.

Gomamon: Um, hello? Can you help us? We're looking for someone. Gekomon 1: About time you got here! Where's the triple hot fudge sundae we ordered for delivery to the princess? Group: That's not us! Gekomon 2: Then you must be delivering her bacon chili cheeseburger with fries and a super-sized milkshake. Group: That's not us either! Gekomon 3: Of course not! They're delivering the garden-fresh salad with low-fat dressing without dessert! Group: We'd like to ask a question, if you don't mind. Gekomon 1: Her Highness asked for a fudge sundae! Gekomon 2: No, she wants a bacon chili cheeseburger! Gekomon 3: Excuse me, she said she wanted a Greek salad! Tai: Hey, excuse me! Have you seen a girl in a hat-- Otamamon 1: Hey! We're ordering lunch here! Joe: Oh. Well, then I'll have a burger-- Otamamon 1: All the princess really cares about is that polka-dot party dress she ordered! Otamamon 2: Old news. Now she wants pink leather pants with matching boots and accessories. Otamamon 1: No one told me that! Otamamon 2: Oh, get with the program! Joe: It sounds to me like this princess of theirs is extremely picky. Tai: She sounds kinda spoiled if you ask me! Agumon: I wonder what happens if they don't do what she says? Servants: Here she comes! AUGH!!! (scatter)

No lie, I adore this version. Huge improvement over the original scene. First, by replacing "what we're getting" with "what you're delivering", they incorporate the to-them unexplained presence of random children into the conversation.

In the original, nobody questions the trespassers tromping all over the palace. But in the dub, they make an assumption and barrage the kids with it.

It also explains why they're just uselessly running around instead of, like, preparing the things that were requested. They're waiting on deliveries. They can't physically do anything to contribute, and are instead forced to stand around watching time tick by while the princess's impatience grows. I'd be stressed out too.

Finally, while he still seems inexplicably psychic about that blip's identity, I like that Tai stays on-topic and pushes the issue of their missing friend rather than getting caught up in the Otama Drama.

Suddenly, the Gekomon sound their horns! The princess has arrived!

Look at how happy she is. That is the happiest Mimi has ever been since the day she set foot on File Island.

Geckomon: The princess has ARRIIIIIIIVED!!! Gekogeko.... (Mimi emerges into the foyer) Taichi: Ah!? Mimi-chan! Jou: (simultaneously) Ah!? Mimi-kun! Mimi: (disappointed) Oh, it's you. (pleasant smile) It's been a long time! Taichi: What the hell are you doing here!? Mimi: (proudly) What am I doing here? I'm being a princess. Can't you tell? Agumon: Then the selfish princess around here-- Group: --iS YOU!?!? Mimi: Who are you calling selfish!? How rude!

Mimi veils herself in politeness and decorum befitting a princess but she's lying. Her initial kneejerk reaction upon seeing Taichi and Jou betrays her subsequent attempt at acting regal - A mask that falls right back off the second Agumon insults her.

In the dub:

Gekomon: Presenting Her Highness, the princess! Tai: Cool! We're gonna get to meet the princess! (Mimi emerges into the foyer) Tai & Joe: Huh!? It's Mimi! Mimi: (disappointed) Oh, bummer.

The dub inserts a commercial break here. So we leave off on Mimi's disappointment, then replay Tai and Joe's reaction upon return so we can pick the scene back up.

Tai & Joe: Huh!? Mimi: (pleasant smile) What a surprise. Tai: You're telling me! What are you doing up there!? Mimi: What do you think? I'm being a princess, of course. Agumon: So you're the spoiled princess we've been hearing about! Group: We should have known it was Mimi! Mimi: Don't call me Mimi anymore! That's Princess now!

At this point, Dub Mimi is so used to being spontaneously insulted by this group that I guess it's like water off a duck's back. Instead, they have her throw a fit at the use of her name? Weird.

In any case, this commercial break has a disruptive effect on the flow of the scene. Are you really going to remember that she said "What a bummer" after getting up to make a Hot Pocket in the microwave while ads for Sailor Moon play in the background?

The stark transition between those two lines is kind of important, but here that transition got eaten by the Hamburglar.

Elsewhere, PicoDevimon reports on the situation at the castle.

PicoDevimon: An honor, as always. This is PicoDevimon. Vamdemon: How are the defenses? PicoDevimon: Everything is going well. Vamdemon: What about the situation at the castle? PicoDevimon: It's good. The Gekomon are treating her like a princess. If they keep this up, the Crest of Purity will never activate. Vamdemon: You understand what will happen if you repeat your mistakes? PicoDevimon: (cowering) O-Of course! Vamdemon: (vanishing) I expect results.

Over in the dub, Myotismon is the kind of boss where it's our project if it's working but your project when there's setbacks.

DemiDevimon: Don't you worry, almighty wickedness! This time we cannot fail! Myotismon: "We"!? You'd better not fail! DemiDevimon: It's in the bag! Piece of cake! Myotismon: Is the plan at the palace working? DemiDevimon: Couldn't be better. The Gekomon are spoiling her rotten and she's eating it up! If she keeps this up much longer, her Crest of Sincerity's going to be useless, Master! Myotismon: Do you know what will happen if you disappoint me again, DemiDevimon? DemiDevimon: (cowering) I've got a big idea! Myotismon: (vanishing) Good. Then see that you don't.

In these two exchanges, we get the official name for Mimi's Crest. Though the dub already spoiled Mimi's in an episode title. It's the Crest of Purity, which the dub calls Sincerity. This might seem like a significant change but that's actually a pretty faithful translation of the idea behind Mimi's Crest.

The concept of purity in Japan is different from American purity. In the U.S., purity means. Like. The purest essence of goodness. To be pure of heart means you are virtue personified. Above all flaws or sins or vices.

But in Japan, purity isn't a moral judgment. It means you wear no masks. Nothing you say or do is ever social performance; You are, at all times, the truest expression of yourself. You wear your heart on your sleeve, say what you mean and express what you feel. Honestly, without reservation.

The opposite of U.S. purity is being corrupt. The opposite of Japanese purity is being two-faced.

Mimi, for better and for worse, is always honest about herself. She might throw a tantrum about how hangry she is or inadvisably open a Numemon den wanting Cola. She can be childish and is often guided by her feelings more than anything else. It'd sound weird to call her Crest attribute "Purity" from an American perspective.

Switching language to Sincerity does a good job of conveying the idea behind Japanese Purity. She isn't exactly Virtue Personified, but every word out of her mouth is a heartfelt expression of her truest self.

Except here in this fucking castle.

Jou: Anyway, it's good to see you safe! Taichi: Yeah, hurry up and change! Let's get going! Mimi: Huh? Jou: Is something wrong, Mimi-kun? Mimi: Why do I have to change? Agumon: What do you mean, why? It'll be hard to walk in that dress. Mimi: Why do I have to walk!? Jou: We can't travel while carrying you on our backs! Mimi: I'm not going. Boys: EHHHHH!?!? Mimi: There's no reason to believe we'll ever make it back to our world, so why should I bother traveling out there where it's dangerous? Jou: Hey, Mimi-kun-- Mimi: Besides, I have everything in here! A bath, a soft bed, and good food! What's more, I'm the princess of this castle!

The dub plays this pretty much word-for-word. Even Jou's line about carrying Mimi is translated completely faithfully. No jokes added or removed.

That smile up there? That is the ecstatic smile of despair. Mimi gives the game away when she says, "There's no reason to believe we'll make it back." That's it. That was her nugget of truth. As much as Jou's constant refrain has been "Maybe there's humans", Mimi's was "I want to go home."

Being here in this castle offers Mimi enough material contentment that she can pretend she's happy here. That she can pretend to be her favorite character Otohime from the fable of Urashima Taaro that she once chatted with Jou about. It's better than being out there.

But she's not happy. If she were really happy, she wouldn't be running her servants ragged trying to find the thing that will satisfy the despair in her heart. Mimi is lying to herself out of fear of this awful place she's trapped in.

Suddenly, the voice of salvation arrives. Palmon calls out from the other room. As a subtle moment, we actually see Mimi's mask fall off just for a moment when she hears Palmon's voice. Her confident, almost malicious grin falls away and her sincerity momentarily emerges.

She honestly looks like she's about to cry. She is terrified of what her life's become.

Palmon: Mimi, is something wrong? Agumon: That strange voice.... Gomamon: It's Palmon! Jou: It's great having you here, Palmon! Come talk sense into her!

Palmon enters the room wearing a similar dress to Mimi's.

Palmon: About what? Boys: AUGH!!! (comical face vault) Jou: PALMON, YOU TOO!?!? Taichi: Hey, Mimi-chan and Palmon, we can't waste time playing along with your jokes! Hurry up and get ready. Mimi: I'm not joking around! Taichi & Jou: Huh!? Mimi: I'm serious about staying here! If you don't have anything else to say then HURRY UP AND LEAVE!!! Palmon: Hey, Mimi, why are you mad? Mimi: Be quiet, Palmon! Taichi: No, you must be joking! You think we'll just agree to that and leave!? Jou: He's right! Do you have any idea what we went through to get here? Mimi: (turns away and folds her arms in a huff) I don't want to know!

Despite the funny moment of Palmon's arrival, she actually does seem concerned. We see little of her in this exchange, but she does seem bothered by Mimi's behavior in her one line. This should be a happy reunion, but the boys present a threat to Mimi's illusion.

Again, the dub plays this almost word-for-word. There are only two notable changes. One is that the dub continues the "Don't call me Mimi" thing with Palmon's line as she enters the room.

Joe: Finally, a voice of reason. Palmon, come talk some sense into Mimi. Palmon: (enters in her dress) As in Princess?

They also remove the part where Mimi snaps at Palmon.

Palmon: Wait, Mimi. Don't be mean; They're our friends. Mimi: IF YOU WANT TO GO, BE MY GUEST!!!

Which is unfortunate. The show often uses characters snapping at their loved ones, usually their Digimon partner or Yamato at Takeru, to convey that they're freaking out and not in their right mind. Mimi ordering Palmon to shut it is another chink in her mask.

Mimi doesn't typically talk to Palmon like that. Remember in Gear Savannah when she exposed herself to the harsh elements so that Palmon could wear her shade-bestowing hat? As usual, snapping like this is a meaningful point of uncharacteristic dialogue.

With Mimi being so stubborn, Taichi decides he has no choice but to stage a sit-in protest right here in her bedroom.

It does not go well.

Taichi: Oh, that's it! Now you can never make me leave this place! (sits down) I will not move from this spot until Mimi-chan comes with us! Agumon: (sits) Me neither! Gomamon: (does his best impersonation of cross-legged sitting for a quadruped) Me neither! Mimi: Is that so? Well, I have an idea.

Mimi rings a bell to summon her Gekomon entourage.

Gekomon: Princess-sama! Is there a problem-gekogeko? Mimi: These people want to leave! Show them to the exit!

The Gekomon grab the boys, carting them out of the room. As they're removed, they shout a variety of things drowning each other out.

The dub goes all in on Mimi's fake regality for her last line.

Gekomon: Your highness! What is it that you desire? Mimi: I desire these rude and bothersome peasants to be removed from my boudoir at once!

Strong line. The dub's been going hard with this one.

Dragging away the boys, the Gekomon lower the front gate and hurl them out.

Agumon: Oww.... Gomamon: Treat your guests more courteously! Jou: In any case, I wonder what happened to Mimi-kun? Taichi: These frogs are spoiling her rotten, that's what! Gekomon: It's exactly that-gero....

The dub adds a quip to the boys getting thrown out.

Tai: I won't dissect frogs in biology, okay!? (The Gekomon throw the boys out) Gomamon: If that's the way you treat your guests, we're never coming back! Joe: Now what are we gonna do!? She's totally into this Digi-Fairy Tale! Tai: I wonder what she could have done to get them to wait on her hand and foot like this? Gekomon: You really want to know? Tai: Uhh, sure.

Joe and Tai basically swap roles here, with Joe being frustrated and accusatory while Tai's calm and inquisitive.

The dub version also has a subtle tonal shift, as the original accuses the Gekomon of doing this to Mimi while the dub accuses Mimi of doing this to the Gekomon.

As we'll later learn, there's blame to go around. The Gekomon unwittingly provoked this personality shift in Mimi, who is now taking advantage of and coercing them for admittedly sympathetic reasons. So both accusations are fair and unfair all at once.

That said... the dub's accusation implies that this is normal behavior for Mimi, which is the opposite of the intended takeaway. They dub's been writing her as a pampered rich girl from the start, and unfortunately that's going to have some knock-on effects for her character arc in this episode.

Now that they've completed their task of throwing the boys out, the three Gekomon and two of the Otamamon guarding the gate promptly lead them back in to show them the truth of this princess situation: A karaoke stage with a secret to reveal.

(There were three Otamamon guarding the gate but only two come with them. So I guess it takes Five Guys Burgers and Fries to escort the kids and only one tadpole kiddo to protect the place from intruders. That's fair, one of the boys is Taichi and he might pull shit if not properly supervised.)

Gekomon 3 (counting from left to right): This is our lord-gero. Taichi: Whoa! That's a pretty big statue. Gekomon 3: It's not a statue-gero. It's our lord himself-gero! Boys: HUH!?!? Agumon: That thing is alive!? Otamamon 2: Yes-tama! Gekomon 2: He's been like this for the last 300 years-gero. It's said that the shock of losing a karaoke match put him in this state-gero. To bring back our lord, it's said that a voice even more lovely than the one that defeated him must sing to him-gero. So we've held a karaoke competition every year-gero but our lord never so much as twitches-gero.... Gekomon 1: Of course, this led us to think the legend was just a lie-geko. Otamamon 1: Right at that moment, we heard of a human girl who's an amazing singer and brought her here to the palace-tama!

You get three guesses who told them that and the first two don't count. A flashback shows us PicoDevimon persuading the three Gekomon and three Otamamon at the gate to go get Mimi.

On the way into the karaoke hall, the dub adds some dialogue.

Joe: You're not taking us to an evil Digimon, are you? Gekomon 2: Uh-uh! Tai: What if Mimi catches us? Gekomon 3: She won't.

From there, the dub version of the story starts by giving the Gekomon's lord a name.

Gekomon 2: (possessing Gekomon 3) Here is our master, Lord Shogunmon[sic]. Tai: Whoa! Somebody's had a few too many donuts! Joe: Is it a statue or what? Gekomon 3: No, it's not a statue. He's very much alive. Boys: Huh? Agumon: Hey may be alive but he's not lively, is he? Otamamon 2: He's sleeping. Gekomon 2: He's been this way for over 300 years. You see, Lord Shogunmon was proud of his voice and entered this singing contest but he lost. He felt so bad, he fell into a deep sleep from which he's never recovered. It's said only a voice as beautiful as the one that beat him can wake him. For centuries, we've tried but every song's failed. Gekomon 1: We Gekomon love music but unfortunately not one of us has a voice that would be considered beautiful. Otamamon 1: Then we got a break! A strange little Digimon spoke of a girl with a pretty voice. He told us where to find her and we did!

They flub the first line by having Gekomon 2 speak, even though it's Gekomon 3 that's gesturing to the stage and moving his lips. You can see him in the wide shot above still gesturing, before he returns to neutral position. But the line's delivered in close-up on just the one Gekomon so I guess they overlooked that and just picked one.

Tai immediately makes a fat joke upon being introduced to actual authority, forcing Joe to keep us on-script by delivering his line instead. Rude. But also fitting for Tai. And Joe, for that matter.

We'll talk more about "Shogunmon" when we get to his official Digimon Analyzer entry but it's certainly an unexpected translation choice for multiple reasons. Here in this unmistakably Japanese palace, it seems like they're finally starting to give up on localizing this as an American-based series.

I do take issue with how the "singing contest" is described. Not with the fact that they shun the word karaoke. Japan loves karaoke but American kids might not know what that is. Rather, I don't like that they say he "entered a singing contest" when the stage is right here in his house. He's clearly the one hosting the singing contests.

Lastly, they cut the part where Gekomon 1 expresses doubt that the legend's even true. Instead, he shit-talks the Gekomon species as universally having bad voices; Apparently that guy has some internalized racism to deal with because he's judging his own people by the cultural standards of humans.

In flashback, we see Mimi take her shot at the stage.

Appropriately enough, since Mimi's actress sings the ending credits theme for the show, Mimi gets up on stage and actually sings the ending credits theme "I Wish".

Mimi: When I wish on a star with my pride riding on the wind / I can see a tomorrow that can't be erased by today! / I'm sure of it.... (long pause) Mimi: I'm sorry, I forgot the rest!

I'm not 100% but I think "I Wish" was written specifically for the anime. So Mimi is paradoxically karaoke-singing a song recorded for her own show. That's fun.

As she's singing, the Gekomon Lord's head-tail-antenna thing starts lifting upwards, responding to her voice. But when she drops the song, it falls back down.

To try and help Mimi remember the lyrics, the Gekomon present her with a huge feast. Then she's back on stage for a second attempt.

Mimi: When I wish on a star with my pride riding on the wind / I can see a tomorrow-- (speaking normal) Hmm.... Since this is karaoke, we should have a mirror ball here to get more of an atmosphere going. Also, the interior decorating in this room is gross!

An ambiguous number of attempts later, Mimi is onstage in her princess dress with the mirror ball spinning and several Gekomon serving as backup dancers behind her. This time, she doesn't even start.

Mimi: No more. I'm sleepy.

With Mimi's attribute being Purity/Sincerity, the second attempt could be excused as a sincere expression of "Wait, why is this karaoke stage bad?" Purity's like that. But it could just as easily be the opportunism of Princess Mimi kicking in, having been triggered by that feast.

By that last bit, however, she's unambiguously begun lying. Making excuses to keep a good thing going. Burying herself in an escape from her ugly reality at the Gekomon's expense.

Just as PicoDevimon planned.

Dub Mimi skips the paradox of singing her own show's anthem by adlibbing her own original song.

Mimi: I wanna sing a song / A song that'll wake you up / And when you hear my voice / You'll call me your sweet buttercu-oo-up! / Just give me a listen.... (long pause) Mimi: Sorry, I forgot the words!

I... sincerely hope Shogunmon will not call Mimi his "sweet buttercup". She's been harassed enough in Digi-World.

For Mimi's second attempt:

Mimi: I wanna sing a song / A song that'll wake you up / And when you hear my voice / You'll call me.... (speaking normally) Hmm... You know, this place is too dark. How about we get a disco ball and some spotlights, huh? And of course we'll need hair, makeup, and some costumes!

They add all the extra stuff from Mimi's final attempt into her request here. All that extra stuff in the original had implied a couple more tries inbetween, but here it's clearly just her third try.

As an aside, the animation doesn't really suit the dialogue at the end. She says "We'll need hair, makeup, and costumes!" in a cheerful voice while making the disgusted gesture from "The interior decorating is gross."

Her final attempt ends the same way as in the original.

Mimi: Oh, I'm tired. Let's pick it up tomorrow.

Though Dub Mimi at least promises further attempts.

The Gekomon and Otamamon finish their sad tale of mistakes and trauma-induced selfishness.

Otamamon 1: Over time, this is how things ended up-tama. Gekomon 1: At first, the princess would sing for us every three days-geko. Now she holds it over our heads to get what she wants. Otamamon 1: When we try to refuse her demands.... (flashback to Mimi) Mimi: Ehh, are you sure? I won't sing for you anymore.... (present) Otamamon 2: We can't talk back at all when she threatens that-tama! Jou: (angry) So that's how Mimi-kun became so selfish! Gekomon 1: That's why we have a request for you-geko! Otamamon 2: Can you get the princess to sing for us-tama? Agumon: I doubt she'll listen to us--

But Taichi's fist clenches, listening to all this. Suddenly, boisterously, he smacks his chest and makes a declaration.

Taichi: I've got this. Leave it to me! Group: EHHHH!? Gekomon 3: You'll ask her for us-gero!? Both Otamamon: Hoorah! Jou: (freaking out) Hang on, Taichi-- Taichi: So you're saying we just need to wake this big guy up, right? Then I'll do the singing!

The rest of the group has some concerns about Taichi's plan.

Over in the dub, we again see the unfortunate interaction of how they've written Mimi with what is intended to be unusual behavior from her.

Otamamon 1: And that's the way it's been. One excuse after another! Gekomon 1: We've done all she's wanted! We even redecorated the entire palace for her! I used to like pink but now I can't stand to look at it. Otamamon 1: And if any one of us complains to her.... (flashback) Mimi: Whoa! Be careful... You wouldn't want me to lose my voice now, would ya? (present) Otamamon 2: So we're in a terrible position, you see? We're totally hopeless. Joe: Unfortunately, you've given Mimi the life she's been accustomed to and then some. Gekomon 1: Well, since you're friends of hers.... Otamamon 2: Could you please reason with her? Please? We'd be so eternally grateful. Agumon: I don't think she knows what 'reason' is! Tai: (fist clenched, slaps chest, volunteering) Just leave it to me, guys! I've got it! Group: Whuh!? Gekomon 2: (possessing Gekomon 3 again) I knew it! I knew you'd come through! Both Otamamon: Yay! Joe: What are you thinking, Tai!? Tai: Well, who says you need Mimi to wake up Jumbo? Crank it up and let me take a shot!

Again, a line meant to indicate a change in Mimi's behavior has been altered to suggest she's normally like this. The change in Joe's dialogue then turns Agumon's follow-up line, which had been a fair assessment of how their last encounter went, into a potshot at her personality.

Similarly, the dub drops the mention that Mimi did keep making attempts every three day for a while, but then eventually stopped. This, again, highlights the gradual transformation of the Mimi we knew into Princess MImi. But since the dub's selling Princess Mimi as her true colors, that part got cut and replaced with a laugh line.

Following up on Taichi's bad idea, the boys take turns making. Just. The worst attempts at matching Mimi's elegant singing.

What follows is a bit of absolutely untranslatable comedy predicated on the boys badly singing homonyms of the lyrics from "I Wish". As a reminder, the lines are:

"When I wish on a star with my pride riding on the wind / I can see a tomorrow that can't be erased by today!"

Instead, the boys deliver:

Taichi: When I wish on a star and scoop pudding in a bowl! / I can take tomorrow if I don't grab today! Jou: When I wish on Chinese eels with fried potatoes in the wind / I can see no option but to cool off my sweat! Agumon & Gomamon: When I see stars in the wind, things are going pretty good / I can get rid of tomorrow so today won't arrive!

Taichi's attempt at least draws some meager applause from the Gekomon, but Jou just gets dead stares while Agumon and Gomamon drive everyone to cover their ears.

Though, for me, Jou knocked it out of the park with his homonym set including the English fucking words "fried potatoes". Jou, what possessed you to think those were the lyrics? XD

Despite their best attempts, the boys come to a solid conclusion.

Taichi: No good, huh? Jou: It won't be possible to wake him without Mimi singing.

For their part, the dub kids are under no obligation to match Mimi's song because they aren't doing karaoke. But they still try their best to put their own badly sung spin on her original lyrics. Uh. Despite having never heard them.

Tai: I'm gonna sing aaaaa soooong! A song that will wake you up! / I'm gonna belt it OUT! Shogunmon, it's time to get UUUUUUUUP!!! Joe: (monotone) I'm attempting to sing a song, a song that will waken you and aid all the Gekomon that are loyal to your worldview and the idea of you being in charge. / I'm attempting to sing a song, a song that will waken you and aid all the Gekomon-- Agumon: (with Gomamon doing backup groaning) I croon this song to you! A tune from now until June! / When you hear us sing, you'll call us singing buffoons! / We just wanna wake ya! / So don't close your ears / Or you could sleep for years!

From there, they too agree that this isn't going to work.

Joe: it's no use. Tai: After that, he might not wake up for another 300 years!

Though, funnily enough, they once again kinda swapped lines. Joe makes the short and simple assessment followed by a longer summary of their failure by Tai.

Joe takes it away with his song again. I unironically love Joe's song derailing into political exposition. It's so perfectly Joe. No matter the language, Jou/Joe is the MVP of terrible karaoke.

In any case, since they can't do the homonym gag, they instead use these songs as an expression of raw, unbridled personality and it works.

While the boys are mulling over their failures, Palmon finds them at the karaoke stage.

Palmon: Everyone! Taichi: Palmon! Palmon: I was worried about you. What happened? Agumon: What do you mean, 'what happened'? Haven't you noticed that Mimi's been acting weird? Palmon: Weird? (folds her arms and considers for a moment) Oh, you think so too!? I've been thinking that!

Palmon's body language doesn't match her words because she's meant to be full of shit here. She just realized that Mimi's behavior is off for the first time and is trying to pretend she suspected it all along.

Tai: (disappointed) Really. Gomamon: (disappointed) At least figure it out for yourself.... Palmon: (nervous) Ehehe....

Over in the dub, they finally acknowledge that this behavior is unusual for Mimi... sorta.

Palmon: Hey, guys. Tai: Palmon! Palmon: Why did you all disappear like that? It's like you weren't even happy to see us. Agumon: What are you talking about? In case you hadn't noticed, Mimi's gone nuts. Palmon: Yeah? (folds her arms and considers for a moment) Now that I think of it, she has kinda gone off the deep end. I mean, even for her! Tai: (disappointed) Oh, you noticed? Gomamon: (disappointed) You're so observant. Palmon: (nervous) Ehehe....

Palmon, you were in the room when the Gekomon took them away. Did you black out?

In any case, we've made it from "Typical Mimi" to "Mimi's worst traits have been exaggerated by the situation." Which is, at least, closer to where we're supposed to be: "Mimi is uncharacteristically lying and faking contentment as a defense mechanism."

Conspiring with Palmon, the boys bug Mimi's room to try and get a recording of her singing voice.

Presumably the equipment for this came from the karaoke studio.

Jou: A recording, huh? Great idea! Taichi: I can be pretty smart when I want to be. (sound of a door opening) Gomamon: Here she comes. (everyone takes cover)

The dub decided that this plan needs to be explained in more detail.

Joe: So she'll be performing and won't even know it! Tai: Yeah, and we'll get the whole thing on tape! (sound of a door opening) Gomamon: Watch it! (everyone takes cover)

This comes at the cost of giving Tai props for being the one who had this smart idea. Poor Tai.

As the boys hush up, Palmon steps up to play her role inside the room.

Mimi: What's this? Palmon: A karaoke set. Mimi: (irate) I can see that. What's it doing here? Palmon: I-I just suddenly wanted to hear your beautiful singing!

This is the same in the dub; They even correctly identify the equipment in Mimi's room as a karaoke set. But the dub adds some extra dialogue at the end.

Palmon: Now, feel the music! Feel the music! Joe: (whisper) Tai, is she falling for it? Tai: Mmhmm....

Joe, we're doing crime here! Don't talk during crime unless you have something important to say! (He would be bad at crime....)

Without any further questioning, Mimi falls for it. The scowl on her face melts away into a genuine smile and she starts bouncing to the music. But then she sees it.

Instantly, the mask comes right back on. Her face hardens into the cruel visage of Princess Mimi and she screams into the microphone at full volume, nearly deafening Taichi outside.

There's no dialogue in this bit, but the dub adds a line from Mimi.

Mimi: Hmm? What's that cord for? ...I see....

You'd think this would have tipped off Palmon that their cover's blown, but I guess not.

Princess Mimi has them all locked away in the dungeon for this. Even Palmon.

Mimi: I'm pretty sure I can guess what your plan was. Taichi: Mimi-chan, come to your senses! Agumon: Mimi! Jou: Do you realize right now what you're doing? Mimi: (condescendingly pretends to think) Yeah? Am I doing something wrong? Taichi: You can't even tell anymore!? Don't you feel anything from doing this to your nakama!? Agumon: It's not just us! You're making a lot of trouble for the Gekomon too!

Mimi looks down at the Gekomon as if to confirm that they, too, resent her. They cower under her glare, shrinking down into themselves but saying nothing.

There's Taichi with nakama again. As a reminder, nakama is a group of people who form around a shared activity, interest, or goal and develop a powerful social connection from their mutual pursuit of it. We're a sports team, a project group, a military squad. Siblings-in-arms against the dangerous evils of the Digimon World.

Using it here is kind of a slap in the face, as Mimi's made her intention to break from their mutual activity very clear. Even if the others did think of themselves as nakama (which, right now, it's just Taichi using that word), Mimi doesn't want to be nakama anymore.

In the dub, for the sake of setting up the worst comeback in history, Mimi abruptly forgets that she's not supposed to be called Mimi anymore.

Mimi: So, you thought you could pull a fast one on Princess Mimi, did you? Tai: That's Princess Meanie! Agumon: Yeah! Joe: Who do you think you are, anyway!? Don't you remember that we're your friends!? Mimi: (condescendingly pretends to think) I remember you tried to trick me. Tai: We tried to trick you because we're trying to save you! Have you completely forgotten about the Crest of Sincerity!? Agumon: Have you completely forgotten it's not nice to lock people up in your dungeon!? Where's your manners!?

As usual, references to Mimi's behavior being unusual for her have been removed.

Having to talk around the fact that Mimi's behaving out-of-character makes this whole exchange janky. Tai brings the Crest of Sincerity into this but it's not super clear what he's talking about. Or where he learned that terminology, for that matter.

(Sora once name-dropped his Crest of Courage in the dub too, so I guess Gennai sent them an email with all the Crest names for their convenience back when they landed on Server.)

It ends with Mimi furiously turning her gaze on the Gekomon, but the dub exchange gives her no reason to be angry at them.

Mimi furiously storms off. But as she passes Palmon, her Partner calls out to her.

Mimi: Hmph! (storms off) Taichi: Mimi-chan! Jou: (simultaneously) Mimi-kun! Palmon: Mimi! (Mimi stops walking, turning to listen to Palmon) Palmon: This is too horrible of a thing for you to do! (Mimi scowls at Palmon, but she's listening) Palmon: When you act like this... (crying) When you act like this.... (Mimi turns towards Palmon to hear her) Palmon: I HATE YOU!!!

Mimi gasps, her eyes quivering as if about to cry, and she quickly turns away from Palmon.

Mimi: (quiet, vulnerable) I see....

Then she slips her mask back on and turns on Palmon.

Mimi: (furious) WELL, I HATE YOU TOO!!!

Mimi exits the dungeon, followed by her Gekomon followers. Palmon, in her cell, lowers her head and mourns their relationship.

In the dub, Palmon's outburst comes off a bit more rehearsed.

Mimi: Hmph. (storms off) Taichi: Wait! Palmon: Uh... (Mimi stops walking, turning to listen to Palmon) Palmon: Before you go, I have something I want to tell you. (Mimi scowls at Palmon, but she's listening) Palmon: Nobody likes you more than I do. (crying) It hurts me deeply to have to say this, but.... (Mimi turns towards Palmon to hear her) Palmon: YOU'RE A SPOILED BRAT!!! (Mimi gasps and turns away from Palmon) Mimi: (angry) Oh!? Is that a fact!? (Mimi turns on Palmon) Mimi: WELL, IT'S NICE TO KNOW HOW YOU REALLY FEEL!!!

Again, this take on the scene sucks. They don't even let Mimi have her moment of vulnerability in the middle of the fracture. Palmon also comes across less torn up by what she's saying; In fact, she very matter-of-factly stops Mimi on purpose so she can say it, where the original Palmon is drowning in her feelings and word-vomiting those emotions in Mimi's direction.

We leave the others to their fate here, but the camera closes in on the window against the back wall - with a familiar looking silhouette of a girl in a helmet looking in on the boys' and Palmon's plight. In case it wasn't clear who that is, the dub gives her a line.

Sora: What can I do?

That night, Mimi has a full-blown PTSD nightmare. Fun!

Etemon and Devimon emerge from the abyss. Mimi frantically calls out to the Gekomon and Otamamon to save her.

Mimi: Gekomon! Otamamon! Save me! Gekomon/Otamamon: No-gero/No-tama! Mimi: Eh? Fine! Then I won't sing for you anymore! Gekomon 2: That's fine-gero. You won't sing for us even if we do help you-gero. Gekomon 1: We're going home to sleep-gero! Mimi: Wait! I'll sing! Please help me!

They leave her to her fate. As Etemon and Devimon close in, Mimi suddenly sees Taichi, Jou, Agumon, Gomamon, and Palmon all appear.

Mimi: Everyone! Help! Taichi: You're not part of our nakama. Agumon: It serves you right. Jou: Did you forget what you did to us?

The boys leave, abandoning Mimi too. Only Palmon remains.

Mimi: Palmon-- Palmon: I hate you!

Then she, too, walks away. As Etemon and Devimon close in, there's nobody left to protect Mimi.

In the dub, the Gekomon and Otamamon's rejection is identical to the original. However, the rest of the group uses softer and less accusatory language in telling Mimi to go fuck herself.

Mimi: Oh! Mm, help me, please? Tai: Sorry, but we only help our friends! Agumon: What's wrong, Mimi? Joe: What's the matter? I thought you were having the time of your life. Mimi: Palmon-- Palmon: I've gotta go now, Mimi; Goodbye.

What, did Palmon leave something in the oven? Also, Tai, that is a bald-faced lie; You've helped plenty of randos since arriving at File Island.

I probably don't have to say it again, but the boys' jovial mocking and Palmon's unexplained departure do not land with the same emotional intensity as their assertive rebukes in the original.

Someone may or may not come to visit her that night.

Mimi: Taichi-san... Agumon... WAIT!!! Palmon-- Sora: Mimi-chan? Mimi-chan! Mimi: (wakes) Sora: Mimi-chan! Mimi: Sora...-san? Sora: You know what you've done is wrong, don't you? Mimi: I... (crying) I'm so sorry! Sora: Then you know how you can fix things, right? Mimi: Yeah.... Sora: (takes Mimi's hand) That's good. You really are a good kid, Mimi-chan.

In the dub, Sora interprets Mimi's sleep-talking so she can browbeat her with it.

Mimi: Oh, won't anybody help me? Please! Palmon! Don't leave me! Sora: Hey. Hey! Mimi: (wakes) Huh? Sora: Hey, Mimi. Mimi: Where am I? What? Sora: Do you have any idea what that horrible dream was trying to tell you, Mimi? Mimi: (crying) I'm sorry! Oh, I really am! Sora: Well, then you know what you have to do to make things right. Mimi: Yes. Sora: (takes Mimi's hand) Thattagirl! I knew you'd find yourself again.

Hey, we're finally acknowledging that her behavior's meant to be a departure from normalcy! Now that it's over!

Mimi wakes again, as if her talk with Sora was a dream too, to the brilliant green glow from the Crest of Purity.

Sora isn't there, but Mimi's balcony door is hanging open, implying that she really was here in person.

Mimi takes action immediately, right there in the dead of night. Instructing the Gekomon to retrieve Taichi and the others from their cell, and calling everyone into the karaoke hall.

Gathering in the karaoke hall, the Gekomon express their frustration.

Gekomon 1: What does she want from us so late at night-gero!? Gekomon 2: She's probably going to give us even harder orders-gero.

While, in the dub, Tai and Joe discuss an alarming possibility.

Tai: Is she gonna chop off our heads!? Joe: (somber) Don't even joke.

Once everyone's gathered together, Mimi makes her appearance; Rising up from a stage lift in front of the mic, dressed in her normal clothes.

Mimi: Gekomon and Otamamon... Taichi-san, Jou-senpai, Agumon and Gomamon... And Palmon... Everyone. I'M SO SORRY!!! (Miscellaneous murmurings from the crowd) Mimi: (crying) I know that an apology may not be enough, but I've come to my senses. I realize how horribly I've treated all of you! So... So...! Palmon: Mimi, sing for us! Gekomon: We want to hear you sing, Princess-gero! Mimi: (wiping tears from her eyes) Everyone.... Palmon: Start the music!

Though clearly directed at the Gekomon and Otamamon, Dub Mimi's apology only name-drops her friends.

Mimi: First of all, there's something I have to say to everyone here. Tai and Joe, Agumon and Gomamon... Palmon... All of you've been so nice! I'm so sorry! (Miscellaneous murmurings from the crowd) Mimi: (crying) I've been such a little idiot! If you can find it in your hearts to forgive me, and I don't know why you would, but if you can then I'd be honored to sing for you one more time! Palmon: We forgive you! Gekomon: Of course we do! Sing, your highness! Mimi: (wiping tears from her eyes) Thank you! Palmon: Hit the lights and cue the music!

Palmon, don't speak for the group like that. You weren't on the receiving end for most of Mimi's transgressions. You can't forgive her on someone else's behalf. That's not how forgiveness works.

Mimi sings the song, this time continuing on instead of stopping early. The Japanese version is "I Wish", while Mimi sings a different version of her song that thankfully removes the buttercup line.

Mimi: I want to sing a song / A song to bring Shogunmon arou~ound! / When he hears my voice / I hope he likes the sound. / He has to listen. / Listen to my sincere heart. / I've learned that friends are friends / Even when they're apart! / I've asked my friends to forgive me / From the bottom of my he~eart! / If it's my choice / His eyes will open wide. / And the Gekomon will be cheering / Cheering with pride!

Again, using the character-adlibbed song to express personality, here conveying where Mimi is emotionally right now.

Mimi's music gets through to the Gekomon's lord. He rises to his feet, interrupting her song with his awakening.

Before their lord has even done anything, the narrator jumps in with the rundown.

This is TonosamaGekomon, a Perfect-stage Virus-type Amphibian Digimon. Tonosama means "feudal lord". To my understanding, the term is colloquial and doesn't refer to any one specific lordship title. You might address a lord with the honorifics -dono or -sama, thus tonosama. I'm not 100% on that though.

Narrator: TonosamaGekomon. As his name says, he is the Gekomon's tonosama! The low frequency waves from his horn unleash his special attack, Kobushi Tone!

In keeping with the tadpole/musical note thing, TonosamaGekomon's attack name is a pun. Spelled コブシ on the Digimon Analyzer, kobushi is a word for "samurai". However, its homonym 小節 kobushi is a type of musical flourish.

In the dub, the Gekomon handle the diegetic rundown. Unlike tonosama, the word shogun does refer to a specific title. A shogun was the supreme leader of the military and effectively governed Japan, though subordinate to the role of the tennou (heavenly emperor).

Gekomon: Don't panic! It's our lord and master Shogunmon! Finally restored to us after so many centuries!

The Digimon Analyzer for the dub also reveals another "Animation team and writing team apparently didn't exchange notes" moment: TonosamaGekomon, the Digimon we've been calling Shogunmon all episode - including in dialogue for this very rundown - has his name rewritten as "SHOGUNGEKOMON" on the English Analyzer screen.

Again, I swear they did not actually watch the finished episodes one time before publishing them. This stuff keeps happening.

Awakened from his centuries-long slumber, TonosamaGekomon demonstrates his gratitude by fucking opening fire.

TonosamaGekomon: I was having a wonderful nap. Who woke me up-geko!?

He stomps around and kicks in the walls, nearly stepping on Mimi in the process. Everybody flees for their lives.

Gomamon: WHAT THE HELL!?!? HE'S A MONSTER!!! Jou: NO ONE TOLD US HE WAS A TYRANT!!! Gekomon: WE WOULDN'T HAVE WOKEN HIM IF WE KNEW ABOUT THIS-GEKO!!!

But they don't get away. TonosamaGekomon fires his Kobushi Tone, using a short bit of karaoke to send a sonic blast through his horns. The shot blasts Taichi, Jou, Agumon, Gomamon, and the Gekomon and Otamamon through the wall behind them. They and the debris plunge into the lake outside the castle.

A valuable lesson in the perils of romanticizing historical figures. Maybe we should have written down more details about TonosamaGekomon than just "He sure did love to karaoke." A three-dimensional image of an important but flawed person could have saved us a lot of trouble.

In the dub, the would-be escapees use their lines to quip.

Joe: And I thought I was cranky when I first wake up! Gomamon: GIMME THE MEAN MIMI BACK ANY DAY!!! Gekomon: Who's idea was this!? Remind me never to listen to him again!

The Gekomon line may be a cliche but it still got me. The implication that this implied-to-be-long-ass search for a heavenly voice was just one dipshit's stupid idea. XD

Only Mimi is spared the blast from Kobushi Tone, though Palmon manages to cling to the floor and withstand it. However, a chunk of debris crumbles from the ceiling, threatening to fall on top of her. Palmon evolves to protect her.

Togemon: (fucking punches the debris away) Are you alright, Mimi? Mimi: Togemon, I'm sorry. Togemon: It doesn't matter anymore. Mimi: I... (hugs Togemon's fist) I love you, Togemon. Togemon: I love you too, Mimi. Mimi: Togemon....

Before anyone gets weird about this moment, the words Mimi uses are "Watashi... Togemon daisuki". The word daisuki is a relationship-neutral way of expressing a strong affection. What that means is that you can safely say it to your lover, but it's also used among friends. The Japanese equivalent of a dude shouting "I love you, bruh!"

The way to say "I love you romantically" would be "Aishiteru".

This doesn't hit as hard in the dub since they didn't have the "I hate you!" moment earlier to contrast against it. But they still convey affection for one another.

Togemon: That was a close one! Mimi: Can you forgive me? Togemon: Of course I can! Mimi: Togemon... you're the best! (hugs Togemon's fist) Oh, thank you! Togemon: I'm just glad Old Mimi's back! Mimi: Really? You mean it? Then let's take care of this out-of-tune goon!

Again, we're finally acknowledging that Mimi changed now that she's changed back. Well, better late than never.

With her momentary reunion with Togemon over, Mimi grabs up the mic from the floor and turns on TonosamaGekomon.

Mimi: HEY!!! YOU UNGRATEFUL SWINE!!! TonosamaGekomon: Ehh? Mimi: Don't you even know who woke you up!? TonosamaGekomon: WHO CARES!?!?

In the dub, Mimi's copping an attitude rather than screaming blood fury.

Mimi: Hey you! How about some gratitude! Shogunmon: Huh? Mimi: I sang you out of your 300-year-nap, you wannabe crooner! Shogunmon: All that racket!? It was you!? Mimi: Uh-oh....

As an insult, I like "ungrateful swine" the best. But the way Dub Mimi keeps shit-talking his singing like they're rival artists is pretty funny.

Mimi vs Shogunmon Rap Battle when?

TonosamaGekomon stomps forward, about to attack when a Harpoon Vulcan flies right over Mimi and Togemon and explodes right in front of him. The artillery cannon has entered the battle.

Turning his attention from Mimi, TonosamaGekomon bounds to the hole he made in the wall to see who dares. Greymon and Ikkakumon are down on the beach next to the swan boat. They open fire on him together with Mega Flame and Harpoon Vulcan.

But this is a Perfect-stage Digimon. TonosamaGekomon lets off another shot of Kobushi Tone, obliterating their shots and laying both of them out.

Taichi: I can't believe it! Jou: He looks stupid but he's actually really strong!

Just because we're getting our asses kicked, that doesn't mean we can't stop to roast a dumbass monster design, okay? XD

Over in the dub, Joe quips out a pun.

Tai: Did you see that!? Joe: Yeah! He gives new meaning to the term 'flat note'!

Back into the dungeon with you, Joe.

With the Digimon on their backs, TonosamaGekomon goes for the children with his "Tonosama Jump" attack. It consists of jumping on top of his opponent and trying to crush them under his body weight.

It does not go well.

Greymon super-evolves into MetalGreymon and hurls his ass right back up into the theater. He follows up with an incredibly well-aimed Giga Destroyer, sending his two missiles straight down both of TonosamaGekomon's horns.

The explosion collapses the entire theater, burying TonosamaGekomon in the rubble.

Mimi: Sleep for the rest of your life! Everyone: (laughs) Narrator: After being honest with herself and recognizing her mistakes, Mimi's Crest of Purity attained its light. However, why won't Sora reveal herself to the others? The only thing we could know for sure was....

PicoDevimon: AHHHHHHHHH HOT HOT HOT HEEEEEELP MEEEEEE!!! Narrator: ...that PicoDevimon was getting his just desserts.

Those Giga Destroyers exploded inside TonosamaGekomon's horns. If DIgimon didn't disintegrate into pixels upon death, I would totally peg him for dead here. But we see his tail-antenna-thing sticking out of the rubble, so he's alive.

As usual, the dub cuts the narrator out of this denouement.

Mimi: He deserved to hear that last flat note, don't you think? Everyone: (laughs) Tai: Well, ready to go, Mimi? Mimi: Yeah! Do you think I could take some of my princess clothes with me? Tai: Mimi! Mimi: Well, it just seems such a waste! The jewels at least? (Cut to Myotismon's castle) Myotismon: Didn't you say you knew what would happen if you failed? DemiDevimon: Well, when I said that I "knew", I didn't really mean that I "knew" knew, y'know what I mean? But now that I do know, if it's not too much trouble sir, COULD I BOTHER YOU FOR A GLASS OF WATER!?!?

Given the "Don't make me sit in a tree all night" last episode, I totally thought they were going to cut the firepit torture. Nope! They do change DemiDevimon's dialogue to be a lot more casual about it, however.

Mimi, we already made a "flat note" joke.

Assessment: This is one of my all-time favorite episodes. When I think of Digimon Adventure, this is one of the episodes that sticks out most firmly in my memory.

Most Mimi episodes stick out in my memory. She's my kid. I wanted so badly to be her when I was a child. So I'm sorry, I can't be fair and impartial. This episode rules and haters can jump on a Togemon needle.

The dub of this episode is so good when Mimi isn't in focus but absolutely butchers Mimi's character arc. Which unfortunately means it starts out strong but then gets weaker once the plot arrives, though it still has its shining moments.

It really doesn't do a good job of portraying the central idea, however: That Mimi's princess guise is fake. A mask she is wearing in violation of her Crest attribute, which is complete emotional sincerity. The dub's disdain for Mimi as a character sabotages its ability to properly tell her story here.

[bokura-no-digital-world]

Jou Week 2022 - Day 3: Gomamon

Days: [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Title: My Duo Characters: Jou Kido, Taichi Yagami, Gomamon, Takeru Takaishi, Hikari Yagami, Himawari Mizushima (OC). Summary: 5 moments of Jou and Gomamon throughout the years. I let my pencil fall on my desk for what seemed to be the hundredth time that afternoon. It had been almost a month since we came back from the Digital World and school was about to come back, but I just couldn’t focus on my homework. So I stood up and walked to my window, unable to stop thinking about Gomamon. I couldn’t help but wonder how he was. I had no idea how long I had been sitting there, but at some point Shin knocked on my door saying someone called me. “Hello?” I grabbed the phone and went to sit by my window again. “Hi, Jou.” “Taichi, is everything okay?” “Yeah. I mean, no. I miss being at the Digital World. I miss Agumon and getting into new adventures with him and all of you.” I took a deep breath. So I wasn’t the only one after all. I mean, I knew I obviously wasn’t, but I hadn’t talked to them for about three weeks, because I was studying literally all day. “I feel the same way. But we can only hope they are okay. We don’t know how or if we’ll ever be able to go back there someday.” “That sucks.” “It does, but there’s nothing much we can do.” “I would love to have Agumon here with me. Wouldn’t it be amazing if they could live with us forever?” I have thought about that every single day since we came back to Odaiba. “That would be perfect.” “We should talk to Koushiro, maybe he can find a way to get the portal to open again.” “Taichi, they don’t need us anymore.” I managed to say, though the words hurt me as they came out of my lips. Still, I forced myself to keep on. “The Digital World is at peace right now. Maybe the best thing right now is to just leave our partners as beautiful memories.” “I don’t like that idea.” “Me neither, but there’s nothing else we can do.” “Yeah.” I glanced at my desk and looked down for a moment. “I should go back to studying.” “Me too. I have homework, but I can’t concentrate at all.” “Me neither. I’ve spent the whole day sitting on my desk, but only managed to write two pages. I will try one more time.” “I should do the same. Alright, I’ll talk to you later. I just wanted to see how you were doing.” “Thanks for checking on me, it meant a lot to me.” “Of course. Don’t be a stranger, okay?” I couldn’t help but smile. “I promise. I’ll talk to you later.” “Bye, Jou.” I lowered my hand after the call was ended and stared at the horizon, wishing we could find a way to back to the world that taught me so much. Suddenly, a boost of confidence took over me. There was no way it would be the end of my story with Gomamon. A smile appeared on my lips as I fixed my glasses. I knew we would meet again someday. Wherever he would be in the Digital World, I knew he was thinking of me. I walked back to my desk and finally was able to do my homework.

About fifteen minutes later, Koushiro was standing in front of the bathroom mirror taking a final look at himself after he fixed his tie. Then he returned to his bedroom and grabbed his two favorite colognes. “Tentomon, can you help me with something?” “Sure.” The Digimon landed beside him. “What do you need?” “Which one do you think it’s better?” He sprayed the perfumes on his partner and he immediately started sneezing. “Oh my God, I’m sorry! I didn’t know you were allergic to perfume.” “The smell is very strong.” “I think so too. I’m very sorry about this.” “Don’t worry about it.” Tentomon said tearful. “I get so emotional seeing you getting ready to go out on a date. I’ve been waiting for this moment so long.” “Oh no, don’t cry, Tentomon. It’s not a big deal, really.” “To me, it is. I’m so happy!” “Silly.” Koushiro couldn’t help but laugh. “So which one?” “The second one, for sure. Where did you get it?” “That’s my favorite one too. Takeru gave me for my birthday last year. I didn’t enjoy the scent back then, but now I think it’s not so bad.” He sprayed some of the cologne on himself and turned to Tentomon. “So, how do I look?” “You look great, Koushiro!” “Do you think it’s too formal? Maybe I should take my tie off.” “Maybe a little, but if you’re comfortable about it, that’s what matters.” “I am, but I want to try something more casual.” “Like leave the top button open like Taichi does sometimes?” “That’s a little too much for me.” The man laughed and removed his tie. “What do you think?” “Definitely without tie.” “I think so too. It’s settled then.” Koushiro put it back on a hanger and put it away. “Are you ready?” “Can’t I really go with you? I promise I’ll stay outside and won’t bother you.” “It’s safer if you stay with Jou while I’m out. I promise I will pick you up when the date is over.” “Okay.” “Come on, it will be fun with him and Gomamon.” “I know, I just really wanted to meet your girlfriend.” “She’s not my girlfriend, Tentomon.” “But she will be.” “You’ll get to meet her soon, I promise. Let’s go, I’m already late to meet her.” “Alright.” Tentomon followed his partner closely out of their apartment and then to the garage.

Keep reading it on FFN or AO3

[beginningobserver]

[RE:CONNECT - blog v.] Link 10- Very Berry…?

[AO3 version]

It was just what Daisuke said: Ayame and Hiroomi were worried and thinking Rui was lying and hiding something from them. Maybe the lie was half-assed that made things obviously fake.

Rui did not seem to be good at lying at all, but he just tried to cover things up, like trying to fix a crack in a water tank by putting a sticker on it. Sooner or later, the crack will get bigger and the tank will break apart.

But besides that, he kept getting saved by those new friends he made thanks to Ukkomon’s ‘big birthday present surprise’ event.

It was just what Daisuke said: Ayame and Hiroomi were worried and thinking Rui was lying and hiding something from them. Maybe the lie was half-assed that made things obviously fake.

Rui did not seem to be good at lying at all, but he just tried to cover things up, like trying to fix a crack in a water tank by putting a sticker on it. Sooner or later, the crack will get bigger and the tank will break apart.

But besides that, he kept getting saved by those new friends he made thanks to Ukkomon’s ‘big birthday present surprise’ event.

“MOTOMIYA-SAN, D-DID YOU SEE THE NEWS?!”

Hiroomi shouted as he shoved his phone on Daisuke’s face by impulse. A few months later.

“H-hey, step back!!” the other complained, and stepped to the side, and since Hiroomi had basically ‘catapulted’ himself to reach the other side of the counter, he just… Lost his balance and fell on the floor.

“ACK!!”

“Sigh… Koyama you need to respect the space from the others, ya know?” Daisuke pouted, but helped the other to get up, “Are you ok tho?”

"Y-yeah, I'm used to that!!!" the other said with a tear in his eye, "I’ve fallen from my scooter a ton of times before…”

“What did you want to show to Daisuke, Hiroomi?” V-mon asked, now that he and Daisuke were aware that the younger boy wasn’t badly hurt.

“Some greedy music publishing company was trying to sue Ukkomon from singing their copyrighted song, But Ukkomon is a digimon and you can’t sue a digimon, right?”

“Ah… I see…”

“Turns out a young recently graduated law student found it suspicious and investigated the case. Of course, he had the help from a few lawyers and that politician guy who fights for the digimon, and the head of the Izumi Corp. here…”

“Did they find something?” V-mon asked out of curiosity.

“Yeah, they found there was a public domain version of it, from 1922. The copyrighted version from that company trying to sue Ukkomon is from 1935. The company accidentally submitted evidence pointing this out and then it makes the copyright useless if I read it correctly ?”

“Hmm…”

“Like, you can’t say which version Ukkomon was singing, right?? So…They couldn’t sue Ukkomon at all. And more things happened and now the Happy Birthday Song is in public domain again.”

“Oh that’s cool…! So Iori, Taichi-san and Koushiro-san made it!” Daisuke grinned, only to make Hiroomi gasp.

“W-wait… you know those guys?!”

“Have you never seen them coming here, Hiroomi?” V-mon blinked, “Iori is also part of our group, he’s a Chosen Child too. All of those three are.”

“Y-you really are a celebrity, Motomiya-san!” Hiroomi's eyes were shining with excitement, making Daisuke and V-mon completely confused.

“I… I don’t get why, we’re just a bunch of people with digimon” Daisuke frowned, “We’re just doing our best for everyone.”

“But you can’t deny that Taichi and Koushiro are getting big tho,” V-mon shrugged.

“But you guys are basically legends--”

“You didn’t come just to talk about that, right?” Daisuke interrupted Hiroomi’s flattery, “Also coming all buddy-buddy like this… Something you wanna ask?”

“You see… Rui was sounding a little weird in the last months, but… Suddenly he feels more… comfortable around us? Still, something is bothering me.”

“If you’re going to ask me to talk about what Rui told me when we first met, my answer is ‘no’. Ask him instead.”

“No, it’s not that…” Hiroomi’s tone of voice got a little serious now, “He sounds like he doesn’t trust Ayame and me anymore.”

“Huh?” V-mon blinked, “Why?”

“I dunno… I sense there’s something not right. He doesn’t seem like the same person I met before… Again.”

“Again…?” Daisuke raised an eyebrow, “Whaddya mean, Koyama…?”

“It’s a long story, but…” he sat on the ramen shop’s stool and rested his arms on the counter, “Rui used to be bullied at school, and to always wear long sleeves and pants even in the hottest days of summer when we were kindergarten students.”

“...”

It’s probably because of the abuse he suffered from his mom, apparently. Or, it’s what Daisuke was aware of.

“But then, Ukkomon appeared and… he changed. Ukkomon would fight the bullies, and he started to wear short sleeves and shorts. Also a few more happy colors too. He cut his hair and it felt like he was another person…? Ayame and I didn’t like to see him getting bullied since the beginning, but we couldn’t do much.”

“You couldn’t…?” V-mon repeated.

"I was a coward, that's why. I had seen him being bullied in kindergarten and felt I had to do something, but my body didn't move. I was unable to intervene or help him.”

“But when Ukkomon appeared… He changed, is what you mean?” Daisuke asked.

“Yeah, He didn’t get into fights but… he had Ukkomon next to him and it made him get courage to talk to the others, everyone liked Ukkomon, he was a funny creature. And thanks to Ukkomon’s presence, Ayame and I became Rui’s friends. We lived in the same building too, so we saw each other on a daily basis.”

“Hmm…”

“Before Ukkomon I think Ayame and I heard him crying in the balcony from time to time. But we were scared… But then everything changed for him, even his parents changed.”

“You think it changed because of Ukkomon?” V-mon asked him this time.

Hiroomi nodded in silence.

“Ukkomon was his only friend until you met him,” Daisuke explained, vaguely and without giving enough details, “he saved Rui’s life.”

“Yeah, I think the same… But then… 10 years ago, something happened and both of them disappeared after the mysterious murder case. Rumors were spread that something killed Rui’s family, and that he had a monster eye in the face.”

Daisuke and V-mon raised their eyebrows, they really know what that meant.

“Ayame and I never believed in those rumors. We looked for him, we wanted to know the truth. And then when we finally met… He just felt… different again. Sure, not that bad like he was before Ukkomon appeared, but… He seems more…”

“Isolated from the others? Not wanting to bother anyone else?”

Hiroomi glanced at Daisuke in awe.

“Yeah… That.”

“He went through a lot of traumatic things,” V-mon commented, “things beyond your control, so give him time.”

“Rui and Ukkomon confirmed the rumors though… But it still makes no sense to me, something sounds… incomplete.”

“Koyama I’ll have to tell you to quit it and trust them,” Daisuke said with a serious tone, “V-mon’s right, this is out of your reach. If you don’t trust Rui, he won’t be able to trust you.”

“But… It sounded like a lie, I don’t like to feel like i’m untrustworthy--”

“Leave it to them. Besides… Would you really want to know if it is a lie or not? What if the answer is something that could put your friendship at risk?”

“W-what…??”

“Do you really want to know the truth even if it hurts?”

“You know something, don’t you?”

“Answer my question, please.”

“...” Hiroomi looked down, and sighed, “If you know and think it would be bad for all of us, then… I think it means they’re lying but in order to spare us from whatever happened that day.”

“Bingo,” V-mon replied with a nod.

“Everyone has secrets that we don’t want to tell everyone,” Daisuke smiled, and gave Hiroomi a head pat, “It’s not your fault. If Rui and Ukkomon feel comfortable enough to tell you two something about that case, then they will.”

“Otherwise,” V-mon added, “It’s better to move on and let it be.”

“I know, it’s still… He mentioned that he and Ukkomon had done bad things, and I don’t understand what this means.”

“He hasn't gathered enough courage to explain it yet,” V-mon said, shrugging, “Again, he had been dealing with a ton of stressful stuff so don’t mind him and Ukkomon.”

“Yeah, be patient with them,” Daisuke added, agreeing with V-mon.

“Ok then,” Hiroomi smiled and nodded, “Thank you two for helping me out here!”

“You and us are Rui’s friends so I guess this means we’re friends to some extent?” Daisuke chuckled, and then went back to his activities at the ramen shop (it’s not a Tuesday so he couldn’t just be chatting like that…!)

"A-are we friends?!" Hiroomi exclaimed, looking at them with puppy eyes.

V-mon and Daisuke sighed.

Maybe that conversation with Hikari months ago helped him regain control of his life. It felt like he had just gotten rid of those haunting thoughts and his mind was finally clear .

It was definitely noticed by Yuna and Makoto too, but they were still trying to get used to the ‘ups and downs’ in Rui’s life.

“You baked those for a special occasion?” Yuna asked, noticing that Rui had just taken something off the oven and she asked him about what those were.

“Yeah, I made them as a test,” Rui nodded with a smile, “I tried to not make them taste too sweet or too bitter.”

“How did you get the right amount if you… Don’t like sweets?” Yuna blinked. She asked that out of curiosity, but there was a bit of concern as well.

“Ukkomon helped me,” and he gently gestured to the digimon, who floated towards her and did a polite bow.

“Yup~ I like sweets so… I can be Rui’s beta tester!”

“That isn’t the correct term…” Yuna giggled, “You meant a ‘taster’, Ukkomon.”

“Ah… But I did think Daisuke called Rui like that…” Ukkomon scratched the top of his head.

“Oh, about that…” Rui said, “He didn’t mean the food. It’s a theory from Izumi-san I guess. Not everyone has a digimon and if everything started with us, maybe we were part of a ‘beta test’ program?”

“Ah I see, I see!” Ukkomon nodded, “Yeah! The big thing I’m part of said I was the first to be partnered with a human being! But they did say they wanted to… Make more humans get in touch with the digimon.”

“All this talk about the digimon and such and you’re still not explaining what kind of ‘special occasion’ those cupcakes were made for…” Yuna sighed, she was a little impatient due to her curious nature. That curiosity sometimes was kinda invasive…

“T-those are for my friends…!” Rui babbled quickly, yet afraid of making his cousin mad, “I… I think this is what the book said about keeping a healthy relationship with people.”

“Baking things…?”

“A gift… A-and I do want to… Find my own way too.”

“Huh…?”

“Rui wants to find something he wants to do for life too,” Ukkomon explained immediately, “He does like to work here, but he thinks this is your dream and not his.”

“Oh… W-well, I’m not going to kick you out!” Yuna answered, trying to fix her behavior immediately, “If you want to find your own dream, I’ll support your decision. You can still work here while you’re pursuing that…! So you don’t run out of funds to pay rent and to keep you fed.”

“Yuna is also bad at talking…” Ukkomon commented, noticing the girl just having a few hiccups on her answer.

“H-hey, I’m not that b-bad…!!” she babbled defensively, “It’s just… Rui was a little difficult to talk with, I don’t know what happened before, so… I’m always afraid of hurting his feelings and making him think I’m mad at him.”

“Thank you…” Rui said shyly, “Thank you for helping me this whole time.”

“...!!”

"Y-yeah, there were some things I'm not ready to tell you... But... But you're kind to me, and you care about me a lot. So, thank you very much."

“Ok, you don’t need to talk about the things you’re feeling afraid to tell me,” she smiled in relief, “I’m just happy that you’re feeling well lately.”

“You should try one of these!” Ukkomon clasped his fins, “Right, Rui?”

“Yeah, you should…!”

“Oh, ok…!” and she took one of those fresh baked cupcakes, giving it a better look at them, “So, you made them all purple…?”

Rui and Ukkomon nodded.

“They’re blueberry flavored,” Ukkomon explained.

“Purple is a color of nobility and mystery…--” Rui added, trying to sound serious.

"And was the only food dye left after all the work from yesterday's batches!" Ukkomon added cheerfully.

“... and what he said,” he pouted embarrassedly.

Yuna chuckled, “Oh right… We have to buy new supplies…”

She took a bite next, and didn’t say anything for a moment. Rui and Ukkomon gulped, did they really bake something awful ?! But Yuna wasn’t grimacing or giving signals of have disliked it.

She just ate another bite. And another. Once she finished it, she just looked at them:

“It was…” Then she just blurted something in English, though accented “ Very berry …”

“... Berry berry?” Rui and Ukkomon tilted their heads in sync.

“Very berry, I meant.”

“Very berry…” The boy and the digimon looked at each other.

“It’s not bad, I can notice you put vanilla, berries and whip cream here.”

“Very berry…” Rui blinked, “Huh, we… could call it like that.”

“ ‘Rui and Ukkomon’s Very Berry Cupcake’, right?” Ukkomon mused.

“Yeah.”

“You really like fruits, then?” she mused, “I’m glad you’re able to tell me what you like and what you dislike, because this makes things easier to keep you comfortable.”

“I’m still getting used to that…” he said, looking away from her discreetly.

“Hm? What do you mean?”

“It’s… Nothing, It’s nothing.”

“Oh well, You should take notes on your own recipes too. If you don’t do that, you risk forgetting them someday. But if you have them written down in a notebook, you can keep the future next batches consistent with your first one.”

“Sooo, you have to write them?” Ukkomon asked, curious. Then he turned to Rui, “Did you write it yet…?”

“Uhh… No? I didn’t expect it to be… Good?”

"Have more confidence in yourself, Rui!" Yuna said in a serious but not at all harsh tone.

“R-right!” Then he turned to Ukkomon, “Do you remember the exact quantity and spoons we used for each ingredient…?”

“Seems like you forgot them already…” Yuna sighed.

The idea of gathering Daisuke’s group and his childhood friends for a proper introduction sounded tempting, but Rui was troubled.

His apartment is small, and wasn’t a place to gather eight people and seven digimon. It would be too cramped for them all, even if some of those digimon were smaller (and Ukkomon is very tiny at the moment) -- so he just opted to meet them separately, again.

First, he met Ayame and Hiroomi, after everyone’s shifts were over that day.

“You baked those for us?” Cutemon asked, looking at the cupcakes her partner and Hiroomi had in their hands.

“Yeah, we did,” Rui replied, a bit nervous though.

“They’re purple…” Hiroomi pointed out, vaguely.

“Do you have any problem with them being purple?” Ukkomon pouted, crossing his arms.

“N-no, it’s not a problem I swear…!”

“I think what Hiroomi-kun meant is that they’re purple like you, Rui-kun,” Ayame giggled.

“Y-yeah! I didn’t mean to insult them… Or you or anything!”

“Well, I am purple” Rui teased him, “I read somewhere that purple is the color of the nobility, also means mystery and--”

“We ran out of food dye so there was only purple left,” Ukkomon said, deadpanned.

“Y-yeah… We ran out of options…”

They all laughed lightly.

“Hmmm…!!” Ayame, Cutemon and Hiroomi took a bit of those cupcakes and felt like they were hit by something right in the crest. They were silent for a moment and made both Rui and Ukkomon concerned.

“Is… Is it bad?!” Ukkomon gasped but Rui kept quiet, yet in his mind he was just asking himself what he had done wrong, UNTIL THEN…!

“THAT’S SO GOOD/TASTY!!” the other three exclaimed with excitement. Heart eyes and such.

“Eh?!”

“I want to know what  this is made of!!”  Ayame babbled immediately.

“B-blueberries…?” Ukkomon started reciting the ingredients again “Whipped Cream and Vanilla…?”

“Oh! I see!” Hiroomi nodded sagely.

“Lots of berries…” Cutemon commented out of the blue.

Then, he met with the 02 group. They greeted him and Ukkomon and thanked for the cupcakes… Once they all tried…

“It tastes like… purple.”

Daisuke had a very Daisuke-on-brain response.

“Huh?” they all blinked, but Rui just nodded in agreement.

“What do you mean?” Miyako raised an eyebrow, “purple is a color, not a flavor!”

“It’s purple, so it’s very purple!”

“But Daisuke, you can’t taste a color!”

“Technically he can taste a color” Takeru said with a serious tone.

“How is that possible?!” Miyako glanced at Takeru next.

“I mean, oranges taste exactly like oranges .”

The others were holding back their laughter.

“Takeru-kun what the--”

“I think he’s making a pun,” Hawkmon said out of his sheer innocence.

“Look, it’s very purple!” Daisuke defended himself, “The color is purple, there’s berries on it! It’s basically eating a purple flavored cupcake!”

“But why does the name of it is blue- berry and not purple- berry?” V-mon asked.

“Because they look blue for humans’ eyes,” Ken explained while raising his index finger, “blue fruits and flowers are too rare in nature, but what our eyes perceive as blue in nature might nor be exactly blue.”

“Do the digimon have different color perception though?” Rui asked, out of curiosity, to the digimon.

“Hmmm…” the little critters were thoughtful right now.

“W-wait, are you saying V-mon and the others see colors differently from us?!” Daisuke babbled, “Like dogs and cats and other animals…?”

“I don’t get it… Why are you surprised, (dagya)” the digimon were all confused.

“Hey, just eat the purple dessert!” Ukkomon pouted, “Rui and I worked hard on those!”

“S-sorry, Ukkomon!” They all said awkwardly.

“You didn’t need to do that…” Rui chuckled nervously, “I’m glad they liked it too.”

“But why did you bake those…?” Hikari asked, gently, “Is there anything behind it?”

“To be honest… Yes, it has.”

“Hm?” Wormmon blinked.

“We made this to… thank everyone for the help.”

“Oh…” some of them said while the others just kept quiet.

“Since we met last year… You were helping me and, I think this is all I could do to return the favor,” Rui blushed a little.

“Well, you needed help,” Daisuke began, “We couldn’t leave you behind. And in the end we became friends too. Friends help each other, Rui.”

“Y-yeah… you guys taught me that…”

“Besides being a Chosen Child like Daisuke and the others, you’re our friend now,” V-mon nodded sagely, “So don’t hesitate to call us!”

“I… I’m still getting used to… Have more help than I used to have in my childhood” and he just scratched his cheek, “Ukkomon had been the only one helping me out, until we had that petty fight…”

“But you’re not alone anymore,” Tailmon said, “Just like V-mon said, you can count on us too.”

“Thanks…” the boy chuckled lightly.

“I’m grateful that you all could help him until now” Ukkomon did a polite bow, “Thank you for taking care of him.”

“I… I’m not a kid anymore…!” Rui babbled quickly, “T-the way you say it makes it sound I was just giving people problem--”

“It’s not that bad” Patamon smiled, “Ken had given more trouble to us than you and Ukkomon together!”

“I totally did,” Ken nodded in agreement.

“It’s kinda weird how you just confirm that though…” Rui blinked.

“No, Patamon is super duper right!” Daisuke said, “Ken tried to kill us, committed more murders than you, tortured me into thinking our friends were captured because of me, diginapped Agumon from Taichi-san, and…”

Daisuke just kept counting up Ken’s sins.

“A-all of that!?” Rui and Ukkomon exclaimed, shocked.

“Good thing there’s no law for Digi-crimes, haha” Wormmon laughed nervously.

“Yet,” Hikari rolled her eyes.

“Y-yet!?” the hornworm digimon looked at her and gulped.

“But Ichijouji-kun was a kid when he had done those, right?” Rui asked, innocently, “So he wouldn’t get arrested for those, right?”

“Well, that is he had committed such crimes in our world” Iori replied with a poker face, “However, all of those crimes should’ve been judged under the Digital World’s laws.”

Wormmon was not sure if Iori was teasing them or not.

“To be honest, I’d gladly take digi-community service if we’re going back to that discussion again,” Ken sighed, “Just don’t tease Wormmon like that, guys.”

Rui was speechless. Oh he wished he was this bold and courageous like Ichijouji Ken right now.

“But you’re already doing digi-community service!” Miyako protested, “Hey, it’s past ten years now! Can we just move on?”

“Sorry--” Daisuke apologized but Takeru interrupted:

“But Ken-kun is fine with it though. He knows we love him and he’s not the same bad guy we fought in the past,” the hat boy smiled, and while the others were aware of what that meant, Rui and Ukkomon just looked at each other, more and more confused.

“We have a lot of things to tell Rui and Ukkomon, right?” Patamon grinned, innocently (?)

“Uh… Why does it sound like it would take… several hours to tell me all of those stories?” Rui frowned, he wouldn’t like to keep everyone stuck with him in a room again… Especially if they are busy people, of course.

“Not today, tho” Daisuke said immediately, “Rui wanted to thank us and give us a treat, so it’s rude to simply dump a bunch of information on him like that!”

“I agree,” Iori said, “That could take hours if we need to elaborate a few details, so it would be preferable to leave it to another time.”

“But… Is Ken okay to talk about said evil lord phase?” Ukkomon asked, tilting his head, “I mean, he admitted those crimes… And we know a few summaries of them…”

“Don’t worry about me,” Ken replied a chuckle, “That’s my past and I cannot erase it, and I’m fine now.”

“He used to be more gloomy and emo-ish about this tho” Daisuke teased Ken with a smug, “But now he even uses said evil persona for stupid things.”

“Daisuke, I don’t think you should tell Rui and Ukkomon about this,” Ken stared at him. Yup, the legit Digimon Kaiser deadly stare.

“Stupid things?” Rui blinked.

“It’s nothing!” Miyako shoved Daisuke aside, immediately, “Don’t listen to Daisuke, sometimes he says things that are completely nonsense!”

“Ok…?”

Rui and Ukkomon were not allowed to ask what Daisuke meant and everyone just avoided the subject or changed the topic. So Rui and Ukkomon decided to not dare to ask about it anymore.

[love-for-yamato-and-sora]

There are too many parts of Yamato and Sora in the official novel. I never knew where to start, so after thinking about it for a long time, I decided to continue to publish it according to the plot. In Tokyo, the parts of Yamato and Sora have increased. This part is the same as that in TV version. There are some differences, so I will post them for comparison.

There are still some small easter eggs in the adventure in the early novels. After I update all the main plots, I will talk about the small easter eggs that only belong to Sorato.

the first part: https://at.tumblr.com/love-for-yamato-and-sora/in-fact-according-to-the-booklet-of-the-unsigned/81qlm4djfnre

the second part: https://at.tumblr.com/love-for-yamato-and-sora/digimon-adventure-official-novel/i5ctg94gtlny

the third part: https://at.tumblr.com/love-for-yamato-and-sora/i-will-then-post-the-official-novel-section-sora/su4ut9ay9hca

In TV version, Sora was arrested because he participated in extracurricular football activities, and then escaped from the place with the help of his mother and Mimi, and then met Taichi and said where Yamato and Hikari were,and then Sora Just meet Yamato.

“Sora, I need to talk to you.” She wasn’t expecting her mother to be home already. “Please don’t think that I’m saying something stupid, but… Could you tell me where you were this afternoon?” She saw Birdramon. Her mother’s tone of voice wasn’t accusatory. She spoke hesitantly, as though she was unsure and confused. That only made it harder for her to find a more ideal moment to talk to her mother about Piyomon. If I knew this was going to happen, then maybe I should have brought her in with me instead of telling her to come through the window. What would be the best way for her to tell her Mom what was going on without giving her too much of a shock? Sora thought about it, but immediately got overwhelmed. She got the sense that it would be best if she told her mother everything from the top, and then had Piyomon come in at the end to meet her. “Mom… It’s kind of a long story, but will you hear me out?” Piyomon was left spending more time waiting outside the window.

https://digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org/7967#:~:text=%E2%80%9CSora%2C%20I%20need,outside%20the%20window.

The Bakemon atta cked them just when Sora had more or less described how they had gone to the Digital World, their adventures, and then had invited Piyomon to come into her room through the window. “Is this… Piyo-san?” “Pleased to meet you. I’m Piyomon.” Sora’s mother Yoshiko timidly stretched out her hand just as the door flew open behind her and Bakemon swarmed in. At first, Piyomon’s “Magical Fire” drove them back. But gradually, the number of Bakemon surging in was too great. Piyomon flew out of the window and evolved. “Piyomon, evolve! Birdramon!” The Bakemon closed in around them even as she evolved. Yoshiko pushed Sora towards the windows, then turned to face the Bakemon herself, pushing for time. “Run, Sora!” Sora clung to Birdramon’s legs, and when she turned around to look, Yoshiko was already surrounded by the Bakemon. There was no way to retrieve her from outside the window. “Mom! I’ll come back to save you, I promise!” As Yoshiko was dragged away, Sora thought that she saw her mother smile.

https://digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org/7967#:~:text=The%20Bakemon%20attacked,her%20mother%20smile.

Hikari hid herself in its dark belly. Yamato, Gabumon, Yamato’s father Hiroaki, Sora, Piyomon, and Koushiro were also with her.

https://digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org/7967#:~:text=Hikari%20hid%20herself%20in%20its%20dark%20belly.%20Yamato%2C%20Gabumon%2C%20Yamato%E2%80%99s%20father%20Hiroaki%2C%20Sora%2C%20Piyomon%2C%20and%20Koushiro%20were%20also%20with%20her.

Koushiro eluded the Bakemon wandering aimlessly around the area, and followed the reactions on his digivice to reach the construction site. In turn, Taichi left Big Sight. Tentomon went alone to check their surroundings. Piyomon and Gabumon needed to rest and recover the energy that was spent on their evolutions, so he was the only one capable of moving at the moment.

○

When Tentomon returned, he made his report. “I didn’t see anything that looked like an exit anywhere. The fog is so thick that no one can get through. However…” Tentomon pointed directly above him. “The fog up above is thin and I could see stars. It’s pretty high up, but we might be able to get through if I evolve to AtlurKabuterimon.” But it was also highly likely that Vamdemon would spot them along the way. “Satellite communication!” Yamato’s father, Hiroaki, murmured. “We might not be able to send regular radiowaves, but if we use satellite communication, it’s possible that we can communicate with the outside.” Naturally, Fuji TV had a facility for that. The possibility of it was low, but it was worth a try. Tentomon could evolve to Perfect level and force their way out after if they had to. Hiroaki, Koushiro, and Tentomon left the construction site and snuck into Fuji TV station.

The only ones left were Hikari, Sora, Piyomon, Yamato, and Gabumon. Somewhere in the background was the sound of water dripping. A wind gently lifted up one end of the cloths covering the building under construction. Without anyone noticing, two streaks of red lightning extended through that gap. They hit Gabumon and Piyomon directly. The wind rose into a gust, blowing the cloths wide open to reveal Vamdemon waiting for them outside.

https://digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org/7967#:~:text=Koushiro%20eluded%20the,for%20them%20outside.

Because Zudomon was now evolved to Perfect level, Jou’s digivice unlocked the ability to detect his friends’ digivices and thus their locations. “If only I had this earlier, then I wouldn’t have had to make Takeru-kun and you two wait so much.” Jou laughed, but it didn’t work at relaxing everyone’s nerves. The digivice showed that three of their friends were in one spot, while the other three were off at a distance. “But this direction looks a little different from where we live…” Jou tilted his head in thought. The three closest dots didn’t look like they were at the condominiums, as he was expecting, but closer to Fuji TV station. Zudomon headed that way. As he did so, the three dots that were further away looked to be heading their way. One of the dots from the three closest to them broke off from the group. Jou didn’t know that the three dots at a distance were Taichi and Mimi, with Taichi holding Hikari’s digivice, while the one dot that separated was Koushiro. From the ocean, they saw a building in front of Fuji TV station that was under construction. They could see a dark, caped shape ascending from inside. “It’s Vamdemon,” Patamon said in a low voice. Luckily, Vamdemon had his back turned to them. Vamdemon disappeared at the top of Fuji TV station at the same time that Zudomon reached the shore. They also heard sounds of destruction inside the construction site. After Zudomon let Jou and the others off his back, he hurled off the cloths covering the building with one flick of his hammer. Yamato and Sora were inside. They were each holding Gabumon and Piyomon close to them. With them were a giant praying mantis, Snimon, and a dinosaur with two giant horns like those of a bull protruding out from its shoulders, Tuskmon. Snimon’s scythes easily cut through steel beams, and the power from Tuskmon’s charges could easily bulldoze Digimon of the same level. What’s more, Vamdemon’s earlier attack prevented Piyomon and Gabumon from moving, so they had no way of defending themselves. But for a Perfect level like Zudomon, they were no threat. “Hammer Spark!” Zudomon struck the Thor Hammer in his right hand at the closest steel beam. Sparks flew. The real power of Zudomon’s attack was neither from the hammer nor the destructive force that came from his arm strength. With one focused swing, the sparks that were created when both the Chrome Digizoid and his force of will combined could destroy the data composition of Digimon itself. The steel beams of the building stood in lines so close that Zudomon couldn’t slip through them, but the sparks became a dazzling striation that flew and hit Snimon and Tuskmon directly. The two of them were paralyzed, breaking down into particles in the next moment.

Yamato and Sora turned around slowly. Next to a large Digimon that they’ve never seen before was Jou, running towards them waving one arm. Takeru, Patamon, and Natsuko were there too. “Mom…” Yamato was dumbstruck. “Thank goodness we made it!” Jou said, beaming. It was Sora who recovered first. “Vamdemon has taken Hikari-chan!” Jou learned that he hadn’t made it.

https://digitalscratch.pmsinfirm.org/7967#:~:text=Because%20Zudomon%20was,hadn%E2%80%99t%20made%20it.

In the novel version, Sora's mother was arrested at home from the very beginning, Sora fled directly at home and joined Yamato directly.

Mimi became a person fighting and facing all these things, and then Taichi came and rescued Mimi. Then it was the same plot, all protecting Hikari, but it failed. So this part is different.