The Union tournament is finally here, and I couldn't be more excited. The history behind it has always fascinated me! From what Mr. Patamon said this tournament is a type of deterrence to the rest of the digital world as it's broadcasted in every region under union protection. Although I read a book located deep within the union's library that the original purpose of the tournament was to win back the good favor of the four sovereigns after humans lost their trust. Anyway Babamon I hope this letter safely reaches you. I miss you so much, but I know you would want me not to worry and continue learning all I can. When we meet again, maybe I'll teach you something you don't already know.
"Are you guys excited for the tournament!" I ask with enthusiasm.
Pulsa groans as he hugs his stomach. "I would be lying if I said I'm not extremely nervous."
"I'd trade places with you in a heartbeat! I'm going to win today easy with a champion level in the normal tournament!" Koh pouts with his arms crossed.
Komachi slaps Koh upside the head. "Don't get cocky! There are probably other tamers with champion level Digimon in the normal tournament!"
Pulsa clenches his stomach even tighter and squats to the ground. "And if there are champion levels in the normal tournament they'll probably be ultimate levels in the bronze tournament!"
Koh rolls his eyes at the statements. "Why should we be afraid of tamers who can't pass the promotion exam, no matter what their level is?"
Komachi puts her hands on her hips visibly annoyed at what Koh said. "You're hopeless!"
"Come on guys enough arguing, the tournament will start soon!" Patamon flies over and announces as he lands on Koh's head.
"Crap you're right!" Koh heads to the warp pad faster than I've ever seen him run before. "I will not be late this time!"
"Wait for us!" Pulsa and Komachi quickly follow behind trying their best to keep up
We're back again for the third time at the coliseum arena, and surprisingly much has changed. There are a variety of food stalls as far as the eye can see! Digimon and humans of all shapes and sizes are happily walking around and chatting as if this was a festival.
"This place is more crowded than usual," Komachi scans the Coliseum with a super scary look.
"That's because members of Night crow are also here," Koh says with a smirk as he puts his hands in his pockets. "More people to witness my greatness!"
"Who's Night Crow?" I ask with genuine curiosity.
"Night Crow is also members of the union, but unlike Light Fang, they operate at night. That is the reason we usually don't see them," Patamon explains. "They specialize in sneak attacks and hit & run tactics."
"Oh wow! A whole other organization built upon the time of day! No wonder their Digimon look more nocturnal based and scary!" I try my best to spot the humans I assume to be Night Crow. Most of them are wearing sunglasses or very dark clothing, unlike Light fang that has more of an upbeat style with bright colors.
"Ugh, we should have the advantage since they're used to fighting at night but," Pulsa looks as if he's about to throw up. "Who knows what strategies they came up with for the tournament."
"Dude you look like crap!" Koh hands me his digivice. "Coronamon go get Pulsa something to drink."
"Yes sir," I head to the food stalls mesmerized by the smell alone, but I had to stay focused. I go towards a stand with Takoyaki a human snack ball made of octopus that I've always wanted to try. "Excuse me can I get a drink please!"
"Sure thing kid we have-" The cook turns around from flipping the Takoyaki and happily responds until he gets a good look at the black digivice I was holding up over my head. "Sorry I just remembered we're all out of drinks. Come back later when we get refilled." The human boy goes back to the grill and finishes up his batch of Takoyaki.
"But..."
"Excuse me..." A white rabbit Digimon bashfully mutters as she twiddles her thumbs. "Are you sure there isn't any left?"
The boy looks at the purple digivice with white outlines and then straight at me before grabbing a cup from beneath the counter. "We have one more left now that I recall."
"Could I also get some Takoyaki?" The rabbit Digimon looks up with her big pink eyes.
"Of course!" The cook smiles as he hands the rabbit her meal.
The rabbit Digimon looks deep into my eyes for what seems like an eternity before she twirls her large purple ears and walks off. "Wait!" I chase after her.
"Yes?" She turns around to look me in the eyes once again, tilting her head curiously as to why I stopped her.
"Do you mind if I have your drink?" I bow my head politely to ask. "My tamer needs it."
The rabbit Digimon stares at her drink and bites her lip. She then looks at her Takoyaki with tears in her eyes. "Um..."
"Ah, you don't have to give it to me!" I frantically wave my hands in an attempt to get her not to cry."Just thought I'd ask!"
"No you can have it," she hands me the drink and Takoyaki. "Sharing is caring."
"Oh, I only needed the drink!" I try giving her the Takoyaki, but she pushes it back to me.
"I saw you were looking at it," She gives me a kind smile.
"Thank you!" I beam brightly back. "My name is Coronamon, and I hope we can meet again!"
"I hope so as well," Lunamon backs into the crowd of Tamers and I immediately lose sight of her.
"Sorry I took so long!" I hand Pulsa the drink and watch him suck it down.
"Takoyaki?" Komachi takes a piece for herself. "No wonder it took a while."
Koh also takes a piece of Takoyaki and plops it in his mouth. "If you wanted a snack you should have just asked. I was getting worried about you."
"Come on no time to slack off! The preliminaries for the tournament is about to start soon!" Patamon tries saying in a serious tone, but Koh jokingly shoves a Takoyaki in his mouth.
"We'll be fine. I'll blow through the preliminaries!" Koh says with a confident smile.
We all walk into the packed Light Fang waiting room and see small arenas scattered throughout. They're over two hundred Tamers here, each striving to participate in the official tournament against Night Crow. "Oh? What's up you guys!" Litton notices us out the corner of her eye and smiles.
Koh's face brightens up as he runs up to the Vice Chief. "Hey! What are you doing here?"
"Just thought I'd check out the preliminaries to see if you Tamers have been training properly!" Litton happily ruffles Koh's hair.
"Then prepared to be blown away because Pulsa, Komachi and I have been training like crazy!" Koh puffs out his chest with pride.
"Speaking of," Litton walks up to Pulsa and holds out her hand. "Congratulations on making bronze. I heard you won with a rookie level."
Pulsa's mood changes goes from a sickly child to an ecstatic kid before shaking Litton's hand. "Thank you, but I honestly couldn't have done it without the shield Komachi made! It blocked Stingmon's attack!" Pulsa pushes a reluctant Komachi forward.
"Oh really?" Litton scratches her chin.
"I didn't do much. Pulsa is just exaggerating!" Komachi slightly flustered glares at Pulsa.
"To increase the defense of a rookie so much that it can deflect a champion level is impressive." Litton slams both her hands on Komachi's shoulders. "I think someone with your skills should be working for the weapon shop."
"No way!" Komachi shouts, her face now completely red. "I'm not even a Tamer, I couldn't!"
"It's not like I'm giving you the job," Litton laughs as she slaps Komachi on the back. "You have to prove to the shop you're worthy. I'll set you up with an appointment after the tournament is over."
"Thank you," Komachi bashfully holds out her hand.
Litton shakes it with more passion than what Komachi was expecting, and she gets pulled up and down like a rag doll. "No problem!"
"The preliminaries for the normal tournament are about to begin! All Tamers please head to your respective blocks!" A woman's voice announces over the intercom.
"Alright, it's time to show my skill!" Koh rolls his shoulders, eager to get started.
"One more announcement there have been a few last minute changes so check your digivices and double check what block you are in!" The lady explanation causes Koh to fall over because he was already running to his original block.
"Ugh! Where'd they change me too!" a slightly annoyed Koh pulls out his digivice on the ground. "Block A? Alright, there better be no more changes!" He hops back on his feet and heads to his arena.
A man with blonde hair and a bow tie steps to the center of Koh's Arena with a microphone. "Alright the first battle of Block A will be Koh vs Cheetah!"
Koh stretches his legs left and right determined to prove himself in this battle. "Let's go wild Greymon!"
Greymon is realized into the arena letting out a roar that shakes the room when he's let out. "It's about time! I've been waiting all day for some new opponents to test my strength!"
Meanwhile on the other side of the Arena Cheetah is laying on the floor with his headphones on, bobbing his head to the music. The gigantic turtle-like Digimon with blades on its armored shell is fast asleep while it's being used as back support. "Um, are you ready to battle Cheetah?" the referee asks confused at what the young boy is doing.
"Tsk, that Cheetah must be getting cocky because he has a champion level Digimon!" Pulsa angrily bites his lower lip. "Koh, wipe that cool demeanor away!"
Cheetah calmly removes one side of his headphone.
"What's with all the yelling?"
Koh crosses his arms and taps his foot. "We're about to fight in the first round of the preliminaries, so hurry up and stand!"
"Oh, is it finally time for that?" Cheetah looks around the room with a dopey expression. "Tortomon and I surrender."
"What!" Everyone shouts in Unison.
"The winner of the first round of block A is Koh!" The referee shouts as he points at an angry Koh.
"He will proceed to the round 2!"
"What was the point of entering then?!" I can see the vein on Koh's head about to burst when he asks this question.
"I had no choice. All Tamers have to enter the tournament whether we want to or not," Cheetah puts his headphones back on. "Tortomon and I were just looking for a chill place to relax, and I don't want to fight."
"How did someone like you reach champion?" Koh shakes his head in disappointment.
"Cause I'm always down to go on missions with my boy Tonpei, and sometimes he wants to spar," Cheetah chuckles. "Of course I'm going to help in any way I can, and before you know it Kamemon evolved into Tortomon!"
"Can we start the next round please," Koh asks the referee as politely as he could, without directing his anger towards him.
"Yeah I'll go somewhere else to jam out," Cheetah sucks Tortomon back in his digivice. "Try to calm down hothead. Maybe you should listen to some music and relax? I could recommend something for you."
"I'll be your opponent Black digivice!" a girl with blond curly hair that touches her neck says as she skips into the arena. She's wearing an orange ascot with a pink frilly dress that's just long enough to reveal her shiny red tap shoes.
"Alright, looks like Mary Ann has entered the ring and is ready for a battle!" The referee spins his free arm like a helicopter.
"Finally someone willing to throw down!" Koh happily gets into a battle stance. "Pleasure to meet you Mary Ann. I hope this is a good fight!"
"Don't get friendly with me Black digivice!" Mary Ann gives Koh a look of disgust. "This isn't going to be a fight it's going to be a beat down! Monochromon realize!" Out of the girl's pink digivice comes an Ankylosaur-like Digimon who's massive body is covered in iron like armor. On top of its nose is a sizable sharp horn that's half the size of Greymon.
"If both participants are ready then let round 2 begin!" The referee rings the bell initiating the battle.
"Monochromon use Guardy Tusk!" Mary Ann sticks out her tongue to the side as she gives her Digimon the order. Monochromon charges at Greymon with his horn.
"Coming straight at us from the beginning, I like it! Greymon you do the same with Great Antler!" Greymon attacks with his horn as well, and it doesn't take long for the two to clash in the middle.
The two don't struggle for long as Greymon begins to be slowly pushed back. He tries gripping his claws into the arena, but he still can't hold his ground and is knocked down by Monochromon. "Heh, I told you this would be a beat down! Tomahawk slash!" Monochromon slashes downward at the fallen Greymon, but the T-rex narrowly rolls out the way and dashes to the other side of the ring to get some distance.
"Looks like I'm fighting an attacker class," Koh cups his chin and ponders the situation at hand.
"Great observation Einstein, but I'm not going to give you a chance to think! Guardy Tusk!" Mary Ann sarcastically complements Koh as she gives her command.
"Great antler!" Greymon goes head first into battle once again and clashes against Monochromon with similar results, but this time the horn on Greymon's head cracks.
"Looks like you're not looking too good black digivice!" Mary Ann gives a mocking smirk.
Greymon gets back up and gets his distance. "Great Antler!" the dinosaur Digimon looks back at his Tamer before they give each other a slight nod.
"Wow, you are an idiot! This match is as good as mine with another Guardy Tusk!" Monochromon sweeps the ground beneath him getting ready for his final assault.
"Now!" Before the two Digimon clash Greymon twirls behind Monochromon with a grace not expected from the large dinosaur. "Tail Crash!" Greymon Slams it's tail into Monochromon's back making him fly out the arena.
"Winner by Ring out is Koh!" The referee points at the orange haired tamer who gives a smug smile.
"You coward!" Mary Ann crumples up her frilly dress. "You should have fought me head on like a man!"
"Why would I do that when you are stronger than me?" Koh tilts his head. "This is a tournament setting, so you have to use the rules to your advantage.
"To lose to the owner of the black digivice, how disgraceful Mary Ann?" A boy with a round face and an all-white suit walks into the arena as if he owned the place.
"Shut up Fernando, I almost had him!" Mary Ann grits her teeth.
"Almost only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades," Fernando pulls out his digivice from his suit's breast pocket with elegance. "Tyrannomon realize." A deep crimson Tyranosaurous Digimon materializes in front of Fernando.
"He has the same build as Greymon, is he an attacker class or balanced class?" Koh examines his foe's Digimon from head to toe.
"If both contestants are ready then let's start round three shall we!" The referee twirls his microphone with enthusiasm of a child before ringing the bell.
Greymon leaps back to the edge of the arena. "Whatever class you are we're in no shape to duke it out with you," Koh says as he stares intensely at Tyrannomon, awaiting his next move.
"Do you think I'll attack up close like some barbarian?" Fernando slicks back his hair. "Fire breath." Tyranomon spews out an intense flame the same color as his body.
Greymon easily rolls out the way of the attack and begins to charge forward. "You shouldn't waste your special moves like that!" Koh smirks.
Fernando nonchalantly fiddles with his digivice. "Use Fire breath three more times." A continuous string of fireballs hits an unsuspecting Greymon dead center on his body leaving black burn marks.
"How!" A shocked Koh asks. "How were you able to use your special so many times!"
"If you must know peasant," Fernando lets out a sigh as he shakes his head. "Tyrannomon is a Technical type, which means he has an abundance of stamina to use his special moves."
"Tsk, that's not even fair!" Koh bites his lip. "Greymon are you okay?"
"I've had mosquito bites that hurt more than this," Greymon wipes his chest, but the burn marks remain. "It just looks worse than it is."
"No power, but even still with enough of those in the exact spot even Greymon will fall," Koh crosses his arms to ponder the situation fully. "We can't get close, and if we fire a special of our own, he'll cancel it out and counter while we're drained."
"If you know the futility of the situation why don't you give up? Time is money after all," Fernando pulls out a stack of cash and starts counting it. "Tyrannomon use Fire breath until he's defeated."
"Got it!" Koh snaps his fingers at his statement. "Greymon use Fire Wall!" Greymon spits out a stream of flames on the ground that shoots up into a towering wall that blocks all of Tyrannomon's attacks.
Fernando stops what he's doing to hold up his hand halting Tyrannomon's actions. "What is this, a shield? You won't be able to attack either, and the attack won't hold for long?" He tries to understand Koh's thoughts finally paying attention to the battle at hand.
"You may be able to use your specials a lot, but I like my moves with a little more power!" Koh smiles at a befuddled Fernando. "Like Mega Flame!"
Fernando looks at the burning wall still confused, but then he notices something just above it "What!" It was Greymon firing off an impressive ball of fire twice the size of anything Tyrannomon made so far. Before the enemy could even react, he's engulfed in the flames that burn him to a crisp.
The referee waits for Tyrannomon to get up, but it's obvious he's not moving. "Winner by knock out is Koh!"
"Having enough strength to jump over the wall..." Fernando falls to his knees so fast his money flies out his pocket flying everywhere. "Truly a barbarian!"
"Who's next!" Greymon pants heavily as a bead of sweat rolls down his face.
"You're doing great partner!" Koh slaps Greymon on the leg. "One more win and it's off to the actual tournament!"
"You're not going anywhere black digivice," An all too familiar boy wearing a yellow cap walks into the arena. Behind him was a golden-haired ape that wielded a bone the size of his body.
"To fight four champions in the preliminaries for the normal tournament is unheard of!" Pulsa clicks his tongue in annoyance.
"You seem familiar," Koh squints his eyes.
"Because he was the bronze Tamer who was watching our exam the first time!" Komachi snarled. "The one who told everyone about the black Digivice!"
"Oh what's up! I almost forgot about you," Koh waves. "How did you get in the regular tournament? Did you get lost?"
"What are you an idiot!" the yellow capped Tamer chuckles. "I'm not lost, I planned to be here. Can't have a black digivice representing Light Fang."
"Huh?" a confused Koh tilts his head.
"I rigged the matches so that you'd fight the other so-called bronze Tamers and me, but they were a disappointment!" the yellow capped tamer glares at the defeated Mary Ann and Fernando. "At least they weakened you enough for me to deliver the final blow. Maybe things would have turned out different If Cheetah would have agreed to fight as well."
"Despicable cheater!" Komachi charges to the arena but is held back by Pulsa.
"He should be disqualified !" Pulsa looks up to the vice chief as he takes an elbow to the face from Komachi.
Litton closes her eyes in thought as everyone waits for her response. "The match will continue, and the winner will proceed to the normal tournament as planned."
"What!" Komachi and Pulsa scream.
"The point of the preliminaries is to select eight Tamers who truly embody what it means to be members of Light fang!" Litton smiles.
"Even the vice chief agrees with me!" The yellow capped Tamer laughs hysterically.
"Can we get this started already, all this talking is getting annoying!" Greymon interrupts.
"I'm ready to take revenge of all the Digimon your predecessor deleted, slave of the black digivice!" Apemon points his bone aggressively at Greymon.
"If both contestants are ready let's start!" the referee leaves the ring so quickly he trips and stumbles out.
"I hope you're not too tired to put up a fight! Ruyi Bone!" Apemon strikes with his extendable weapon so fast a flurry of afterimages appear all headed towards Greymon.
"Well, he's not a speed type. Greymon uses Horn impulse." Koh nonchalantly commands with his hands in his pockets. Greymon attacks with his cracked horn creating an equal amount of afterimages for Apemon.
When the two attacks collide, Apemon's bone shatters on impact leaving the monkey angrier than before. His pale blue face turns beet red. "Demonic monkey fist!" He shouts as his hand is engulfed in black energy giving him the confidence to once again charge at Greymon.
"Fire horn!" As the name implies Greymon's horn burst into flames. He runs at Apemon, with the two ending up on the opposite sides of each other.
"How could I have..." Apemon mutters before falling to the ground.
"The winner is Koh!" The referee climbs back into the arena to scream at the top of his lungs gaining the attention of everyone else in the room.
Koh puts his hands behind his back and gives the yellow capped tamer a bewildered look. "Ah, no wonder you set all this up; you're pretty weak."
"Looks like the Tamer who embodies Light fang was chosen!" Litton walks up and gives a cold stare you would ever expect from such a kind person. "And there's no reason for people like you in Light Fang or even the digital world for that matter! You and you're accomplices are dismissed!"
Komachi snickers at the three Tamers all distraught. "Bye," she winks.
"Good job on making it the tournament!" Pulsa playfully punches Koh on the shoulder.
"You better make it to the bronze tournament!" Koh slaps Pulsa's back harder than he should have, knocking him forward a little.
"I don't have to worry about that until tomorrow, please don't bring it up," Pulsa clenches his stomach and squats to the ground.
"I hope the tamers from Night crow are stronger than this," Koh sighs.
The outcome of the preliminaries has been decided. I realize not all humans like my tamer or his spiritual past, but I'll stand by him because I know any lover of history is the right person. Hopefully one day he can prove that to everyone else as well. I'm excited to see how he tackles the actual tournament, and I know he'll give you a good show Babamon so stay tuned!