Getting Used To It…
Chapter 13: The return…
Digital World – Southern Quadrant – Mechanised Level.
"Gogglehead, get up we have to meet the others in the lobby." Rika said as she moved her wristbands to a more comfortable position. She looked at the figure of the sleeping boy and walked over to him.
"GET UP NOW GOGGLEBRAIN!" She yelled.
"Waaah…Oof!" Takato moaned as he picked himself up off the floor. "What was that for?" He complained.
"Aren't you the one who told us all to meet at 9:30?" She asked.
"Yeah, I did… Crap, what time is it?"
"Its 9:50 Takato, I tried for ten minutes to get you up quietly, then another few being a bit louder, then I just got sick of it and yelled in your ear." She explained. "Now help me get up bread-for-brains." She ordered.
"Bread?" Guilmon asked as he quickly shot out of his coma like sleep.
"That was easier than I originally anticipated it would be." Renamon said as she seemingly appeared from out of nowhere.
"Let's go, we've only got ten minutes and I told everyone else to go ahead." Rika said.
"Okay, so where do we meet them?" Takato asked.
"Just outside of the northern gate, it's not that far at all." Rika told the goggled boy.
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!" Takato yelled as he ran out the door, Rika and Guilmon following close behind as Renamon had disappeared once again.
The two Tamers and Digimon took off at a sprint through the glistening city at a sprint. They had only a few minutes to make it to the Ark and Rika would be damned if she almost missed it again. As they were running through the marketplace, the north gate came into view. Guilmon yelled out something inaudible as he ran past with a mouthful of ramen and an angered DigiTamamon chasing him, who quickly gave up after realizing the saurian was too fast for him.
Guilmon didn't realize that the DigiTamamon wasn't chasing him anymore and ran right past Takato and as he passed Rika, his tail swung out and hit her in the back of the knee, causing her to collapse.
'Argh…wait, where's the pavement?' Rika thought as she opened her eyes and looked around. She found that she had stopped just before hitting the ground as Takato had grabbed hold of her around the waist and pulled her back to her feet.
"Thanks goggles, I owe you one." Rika said.
"I'm holding you to that." Takato replied jokingly.
"Can you still run?" Renamon asked as she appeared from nowhere.
"I don't think I'll ever get used to that…" Takato muttered.
"I can but it hurts." She answered.
"I'll carry you then." Renamon said as she scooped Rika up in her arms.
Guilmon had stopped after knocking Rika down and felt really guilty for hurting a friend and stumbled over to apologize.
"I'm really sorry, Rika. I didn't mean to knock you down but that mean egg-thingy was chasing me because I ate some of his food." He explained and waited for her to berate him.
"It's okay dino-boy, I know you didn't mean it. But, to make it up to me, you have to let Takato ride you so he can keep up." She said.
"Okay, climb on Takatomon!" He yelled cheerily, his usual attitude returning.
-
"C'mon, they can't miss it this time." Henry said as he stared off towards the gate, looking for any signs of Rika and Takato.
"Relax; they'll turn up in time." Impmon reassured.
"You underestimate Takato and Guilmon." Terriermon mocked.
"Great way to reassure Henry, Terriermon." Lopmon said, giving Terriermon a stern look.
"I could go look for them if you want?" Yamaru offered as he walked over to Henry.
"Looks like you won't need to!" Guardromon shouted from above. "They're coming this way now!"
"Well, that changes the story dramatically." Ryo stated with a large smile dominating his features.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Henry inquired, confused as to what Ryo was talking about.
"Usually, the prince wakes up the sleeping princess, not the princess wakes up the sleeping gogglehead." He explained as Yamaru began to laugh.
"I think Takato could be a princess…" Terriermon said between laughs.
"Don't let Rika catch you saying that." Henry warned his brown haired friend.
"Catch who saying what?" Rika asked, hands on her hips while she tapped her foot rhythmically on the golden sand.
"Ah… Nothing!" Ryo said awkwardly.
Ryo's awkwardness caused Yamaru to fall down laughing and Terriermon to fall off Henry's head, laughing at not only Yamaru and Ryo, but a mental image of Takato dressed in a frilly pink dress, being carried down a flight of stairs by Rika.
"What's so funny?" Guilmon asked.
"Just another one of Terriermon's bad jokes that Yamaru thought was funny." Henry lied.
This caused Terriermon to stop laughing completely and evil-eye his Tamer. "You better check yourself before you wreck yourself old pal." He warned in a joking manner.
"How could you have possibly come up with something as bad as that?" Rika mocked.
"Aww, c'mon! That was funny!" Terriermon complained loudly.
"Sorry to break it to ya dude, but that was pretty bad." Yamaru said after he picked himself up and dusted the sand from his clothes.
"Aw, nuts." He whined.
"Pipipuhpi!" MarineAngemon chirped.
"If only Kenta were here to translate for us." Takato noted.
"I think he'd be saying how bad Terriermon's comeback was." Guilmon stated causally.
"Aw, Guilmon, not you too!" Terriermon complained.
"I think MarineAngemon was telling us to look up." Renamon said as she gestured upwards with a slight movement of the head.
"It's the Ark!" Takato exclaimed.
"Really? I thought it was your mum. Thanks for clarifying that." Terriermon said sarcastically.
"Terriermon!" Henry said sternly.
The Tamers and Digimon watched as tracks came down from a white light in the sky and something resembling a big steel elevator slid down them and touched down on the sand.
"It sure looks a lot more different than last time…" Terriermon said.
"It doesn't need to be fancy, just able to get us back." Yamaru noted.
The Tamers and Digimon walked to the elevator-like ark and peered inside to see the same look on the inside as it was on the outside with the exception of rows of seats lining the side and back walls.
"Yep, Yamaki really went all out." Terriermon said as he walked in and sat down.
Everyone else followed him in and sat down. Yamaru and BlackAgumon went to sit down and noticed a larger seat that could fit two people on it. "Guardromon, I think Yamaki gave you a personal seat…" He said to the rust coloured robot.
"Oh, how nice of him." He said.
Takato and Henry had sat on either side of Terriermon and Guilmon beside his Tamer. Terriermon looked across to Takato and pulled on his sleeve to get his attention.
"Hmm? Yeah Terriermon?"
"It's almost time Takatomon…" Terriermon said to the boy using Guilmon's nickname for him.
"Almost time for what?" Asked Ryo.
"Uh, to leave and go back home." Takato lied.
"Yeah, I can't wait!" Monodramon exclaimed excitedly.
The lift made a long droning sound before the Tamers and Digimon could feel movement, signalling that they were on their way home from the Digital World once more.
Somewhere unknown.
"You think we should give them a little welcome home party?" Lucemon asked, still staring intently into the orbs that reveal the Tamers actions to him and his company.
"I think we should, but what Digimon do we send?" Belphemon answered with another question.
"How about we send more than one, I mean, how many Tamers will be there at one time? One just isn't enough." Lilithmon interrupted.
"I think I have an idea. I want to test Ryo and Yamaru." Daemon said as he laughed menacingly quiet.
"I shall also send the younger dark one his partner." Lucemon said.
Digital World – Southern Quadrant – Swamp Level.
"It's always the same routine day in and day out. Go out and wander around for a while, fight stuff, win, go back to cave and sleep. There's got to be something else, something besides fighting for our lives."
A flash of white that faded into a dark glow exploded near the little Digimon that had been talking to himself and knocked him off his feet. He got up slowly, cradling his sore arm.
"Gee, I wasn't actually expecting anything to happen." He said.
"Ahh, I've found you." Said a deep voice.
"You were looking for me? Specifically?" He asked.
"Yes, in fact I was, BlackGabumon. Let me introduce myself: I am Lucemon." He started with a bow. "You are about to play an epic part in events to unfold in the future. You could even go as far as to say that you're part of a, how to put this… prophecy, if you will." Lucemon said.
"Wow." BlackGabumon said, stunned that something exciting was actually happening to him, ironically after he had just complained about it never happening.
"But, you're adventure won't be in this world, no. I will take you to the human world and introduce you to someone," Lucemon begun before an excited little virus Digimon interrupted him.
"You mean I get to be a Tamed Digimon?" He asked, the excitement in his voice plainly evident.
"Yes. Now are you ready to go?" Lucemon asked.
"Hell yeah!" BlackGabumon shouted.
"Okay, take my hand and we'll be off." Lucemon said, extending his hand out to BlackGabumon who gladly took it. The moment their hands made contact the dark light returned and flashed white before disappearing.
West Shinjuku – Streets of Shinjuku.
'So this Government dude said to get to the fountain in the middle of Shinjuku Park, right? It better have not been prank callers…' A young boy thought as he made his way to the park where the famous Tamers had gathered almost every day until their Digimon had been sent back to the Digital World.
He flicked his head to the left quickly to move his hair out of his eye as he rounded a corner and surveyed the shops. 'A tailor. A butcher. A Bakery. Wait; didn't one of the Tamers live in a bakery? Yeah, that Takato one, the leader I think.'
He continued through the street until he got to another corner and turned right. By now the park had come into view and the boy had decided to check his watch to see how much time he had.
"Crap, it's five to. I better hurry." He said aloud as he took off into a run towards the park.
-
"Seems like everyone is here." Yamaki said as he scanned the surrounding area of all the people standing around, waiting for the return of the four Tamers. Ai and Mako's mother had dropped them off at Hypnos for Yamaki to take them with him to be reunited with Impmon. Kenta, Kazu and Jeri had turned up alongside Takato's parents, Mie and Takehiro. Rika's mother, Rumiko and grandmother, Seiko had been picked up by Janyu Wong, Henry's father who had also brought Henry's sister Suzie.
'Well, almost everyone. Ryo's father couldn't make it and the Tadanoka boy hasn't arrived yet, assuming he believed me.' Yamaki thought as he clicked his lighter in an annoyingly rhythmic pattern.
"Sorry…I'm late." Panted a voice from behind.
Yamaki turned to see a boy with shoulder length black hair dressed in a long sleeved, white shirt with small tribal patterns down the arms and blue jeans held up by a belt with the buckle resembling a skull and cross-bones.
"I presume that you are Yamaru's brother, Tahu?" He asked.
"Yeah, that's me. What's this all about anyway?" He questioned the taller, blonde man wearing a suit and shades. "And could ya stop clicking the damned lighter? It's annoying me already."
"Well, aren't you a brave one? Standing up to a government official. What this is all about my dear boy is the Tamers. You know of them right?" Yamaki smirked.
"No, they aren't the group of twelve year olds along with a fourteen year old that saved the world years back or anything." Tahu replied sarcastically.
"Well, anyways, the Tamers recently went to the Digital World to bring back their partners and what they found may surprise you." Yamaki said.
"Why would it have anything to do with me?" He asked as he flicked the hair out of his eye again.
Yamaki was about to answer before a flash of light came from the ground in front of the fountain. He knew that he didn't have to explain anything as Tahu was about to find out very, very soon.
"You're about to see." He said.
Tahu watched on as, out of the ground, a silver lift rose slowly. As it came to a stop, steam flowed out from the bottom and they heard the opening of and closing of doors. Five human-like figures could be made out from the steam and as it cleared, they were identified as Ryo, Yamaru, Henry, Takato and Rika. Everyone was happy for their return for a few moments before realizing that there was no-one else.
"At least you four…uh, five, made it back safely." Yamaki said as he walked over. If one was paying close enough attention, they would have able to notice the smirk on Takato's face. The sound of opening doors was heard again followed by a voice.
"Did you miss me YamYam?" Terriermon giggled as he jumped onto Henry's head.
At the same instant, Renamon materialized by Rika's side and Guilmon walked over to Takato with BlackAgumon, who stood next to Yamaru. The sound of jet engines could be heard as Guardromon descended from the sky. He didn't have time to make a proper landing before Kazu jumped onto him and gripped his cold, metallic body tight.
Guardromon unscrewed his chest compartment and out flew MarineAngemon, straight into a waiting Kenta's arms. The familiar cry of 'nose kisses' was all that Jeri heard before long white ears had wrapped themselves around her face and Calumon started to rub his face against hers, both of them giggling. A small purple imp that had been standing on Gaurdromon's head had been tackled by two objects that he later realized to be his twin Tamers, both of them saying how much they missed him.
"YOU'RE A TAMER?" Tahu yelled, causing reunions to cease and making everyone stare at him. Tahu and Yamaru both walked over to meet each other before Tahu started talking again.
"That's so cool! How come you never told me? Now you get to go and battle evil Digimon and blow stuff up! What's you're mega level? Can you even reach it? What evolution line does your BlackAgumon have?" A multitude of question flew out of Tahu's mouth, excited that his older brother was a Tamer.
"I will answer each question as it was said; you know what mum would say about it unless I thought of a smart way to break it to her. Our mega level is BlackWarGreymon and yes, we can reach it. It goes; BlackAgumon, DarkTyrannomon, SkullGreymon then BlackWarGreymon." He finished.
"Well that was a mouthful!" Terriermon exclaimed.
"Where's Lopmon, Henry?" Suzie said as she tugged her older brother's vest.
"Look behind you." Henry replied.
Excited, Suzie turned around to notice nothing. No-one was there and he had lied to her. She turned around to yell at her brother but instead saw Lopmon sitting on Henry's shoulder.
"Lopmon!" She exclaimed. As soon as the rabbit had jumped down she pulled her into a gentle hug. "Look Lopmon, I don't choke you when I hug you know." She said.
"I missed you so much, Suzie." Lopmon said.
"While we are on the subject of missing, Takato, aren't you missing something in this picture?" Terriermon asked as he moved from Henry's head to the ground at Takato's feet. Takato knew what Terriermon was talking about and made his way over to Rika, who had sat down against the Ark so she could rest her leg.
"Uh…R-Rika?" He stammered.
"Yeah Goggles?"
Different shades of red crossed Takato's face while he tried to put what he needed to say into a coherent sentence. "I was… Would you… Do you want to…?" He stammered once again before he was interrupted by beeping noises coming from D-Arcs all around him.
"No, not now of all times." Henry sighed as he turned to Yamaki. "Get the parents and Yamaru's brother out of here." He ordered.
"No way! I wanna watch." Tahu objected.
"No way, dude. You have to get a safe distance away." Yamaru said.
"Fine." Tahu huffed as he followed Yamaki reluctantly.
"So where's the Digital Field?" Kazu asked as he looked at his D-Arc, which was still beeping.
"I'm not sure. Usually it would've appeared by now." Rika said.
Two bright white lights appeared in the sky before bursting and revealing two figures, a green insectoid with a human figure and what looked to be a yellow armoured Digimon. Ryo gasped when he saw what they looked like.
"Yamaru! Get over here!" He called out to his friend.
"What is it? Do you know these Digimon?" He asked.
"You could say that." He replied as the two Digimon floated down to meet the Tamers.
"We are looking for Ryo Akiyama and Yamaru Tadanoka." The yellow Digimon replied, causing BlackAgumon to growl.
"Well looks like you found 'em, let's go home now…" Terriermon said.
"We have been sent to destroy you both, along with your pathetic Digimon." The green insect Digimon said.
"Looks like my hunch was correct then. Yamaru, the green one is a Stingmon and you already know who the other is." Ryo said.
"Yeah, WarGreymon." He replied.
"You are the Tamer with the BlackAgumon. The only chance you have of defeating me is to Digivolve; now hurry up before I get bored." WarGreymon commanded. Yamaru did as he was told and brought his D-Arc to his chest and fell back onto BlackAgumon as he turned to data and their forms combined,
"BlackAgumon, Biomerge to…
The familiar sight of BlackWarGreymon started to take shape as the data of Yamaru and BlackAgumon reconfigured itself. The Dramon Destroyers were clutched in his fists and his Brave Shield that lacked the crest of courage, unlike his opponent's, appeared on his back and split into wings.
BlackWarGreymon!"
WarGreymon simply cackled and flew off, making BlackWarGreymon growl and take off after him.
"Monodramon, can you make it to Cyberdramon?" Ryo asked.
"I don't think so Ryo." He replied.
"Okay, we'll just have to Digivolve you into someone you haven't been in a long time then." Ryo said with a smirk as he pulled a Digivolution card out of his deck and slashed it through his D-Arc.
"Monodramon, Digivolve to…
A purple and blue data sphere encased Monodramon as a wireframe covered his body and reshaped him to fit his new form, adding data where it needed to go. The sphere broke and in its place stood a tall, purple dragon man wearing green cargo pants. He had a helmet that covered the top half of his head, leaving his mouth and neck exposed. Shoulder length orange and black hair flowed out from under the helmet while metal plates appeared on his hands, feet, pants, shoulders, tail, ankles and upper arms, all of which also had blunt spikes protruding off of them. To complete the commando style look, an orange tribal pattern was printed onto his white chest.
Strikedramon!"
"Are you ready, Strikedramon?" Ryo asked.
"As I'll ever be." Strikedramon growled.
"So what do we do?" Kazu complained.
"Nothing, this is their fight; we leave them to it unless they really need our help." Henry said.
"Aw, nuts." Kazu whined.
End Chapter 14.