Reboot

Chapter 8 - Destiny

Location: Shinjuku

Time: 20:37

Having dealt with Veemon Rika slumped against the wall of her room. The dragon digimon was sleeping in her bed, at its insistence, so she had nowhere to sleep. She had missed dinner because the food left for her went to Veemon as well, her cooking skills were very lacking so all she managed to do for herself was a sandwich - a far cry from a proper meal. Initially when she saw the digimon and heard it's proposal she had felt excited about being a Tamer, but with how she was being treated already in the partnership she began to wonder if it was worth the trouble. She also wondered if all Tamers were treated the same as her, for it felt unlikely she was the only one chosen if digimon did exist. And they did exist, Veemon was proof enough.

Sat with her back against the wall Rika allowed her head to process her day as a whole, from the dull championship to the eventful meeting with Veemon. Her thoughts raced about what she could do about her future given the recent developments, and as she began to make plans for that her eyes drooped closed and she fell asleep, restless and planning.

After an unpleasant broken sleep Rika found herself dealing with more demands from her partner digimon, fetching breakfast and the like. She at least got to eat properly as Veemon ate its food, and used the time to think further about what she was going to do with her situation.

Then it hit her. She didn't have a digivice. In what she saw on the show the chosen Digidestined each had a digivice, proof of the bond between them and their digimon. Even though she was a Tamer and not a Digidestined Rika believed the digivices still applied in the same way. She had no such device, therefore Veemon - despite its insistances - was not her digimon partner. Therefore she was not its Tamer.

Given the mood she was in because of the small dragon creature Rika was glad she hadn't seen her mother since the morning before. She couldn't handle another lecture and she really didn't want her to find Veemon, the panic that would cause would be chaotic. This meant she could confront the digimon without anyone else overhearing and investigating. Having finished her breakfast she went to check on her so called partner.

She spotted it lounging on her bed having finished the food she fetched for it, uncaring that the remnants were close to spilling onto her sheets. She stood in the doorway and cleared her throat, grabbing its attention.

"Ah, Tamer. Good you have returned. You can clean up now, I am done with this meal."

Rika made no moves from the doorway, narrowing her eyes and settling her nerves. "How about instead I remove you from my house?"

Veemon sat up and narrowed it's own eyes. "What did you say?"

She simply pointed past her, out of the room. "Get out. I'm not your Tamer and you're not my digimon. If what you said was true, I would have a digivice."

Veemon made to stand, but stopped. "Digivice? You're making up words to justify yourself."

"No I'm not." Rika stood her ground, she had it on the back foot. "All Digidestined have a digivice, being a Tamer is the same as a Digidestined. Digivices connect Tamers to their digimon and prove their bond, as well as allow humans to help their digimon. We do not have one, which means we are not partners in any sense. So get out."

Veemon did stand at that, getting off the bed and moving slowly towards her. "If you're trying to reject our partnership, human, remember what I said. If I cannot have you then no one will."

"Threaten me all you want, it just makes you a bully. I want nothing to do with bullies, least of all you. So yes, I reject your partnership. I reject you!"

Before Veemon could respond Rika's garden erupted in a pulsating blue beam. Both turned to look at it as a thick fog filled the area around her home, and from within formed a dark bipedal shape.

Rika could only watch as it strode forward, barely registering Veemon charging towards it. "This is my human, you will not take it from me."

"Foolish digimon, you are selfish beyond belief. Desensitized from the damage your words and actions cause." The tall figure spoke, male, regal and strong. A long tail swept behind it while ears swivelled on its head. Veemon's shape diffused into a dark silhouette as it drew further into the fog, Rika could make out when it jumped at the taller figure who simply knocked it aside.

"This is my human! Leave me alone!"

"She belongs to no one, Veemon. Your misguided perception of Tamers has rendered you blind and ignorant. Be gone, before I remove you myself." The shadow never stopped walking as he spoke, but Veemon - after a few seconds of hesitation - broke into a run and disappeared from view.

Rika watched as the shape gained colour and further definition, black becoming blue. Closer still she could pick out the yellow claws and eyes, the strong form and canine appearance. Four fingers and toes on its paws, powerful digitigrade legs, toned stomach, taught chest. The head regarded her with openness and a warm expression.

It stopped a respectful distance away, not even examining her like she thought it would. It bowed its head and lowered to one knee. "Rika Nonaka, bearer of the championship title Digimon Queen. I am Lycamon, manipulator of lightning and your protector digimon, should you accept my partnership."

Rika looked at it, Lycamon, dumbfounded. First Veemon had demanded she was its Tamer and proceeded to walk all over her with demands and expectations. Now Lycamon had appeared in her garden, scaring off Veemon in the process, and was now treating her with a level of respect she didn't understand she deserved.

"Lycamon? Could you, like, stand up please? It seems awkward for you to bow like that." At her request Lycamon stood up, easily six feet tall or more. "This is all too confusing for me. First Veemon, now-"

"I understand Rika," Lycamon interjected. "Veemon was a selfish digimon who sought power by any means necessary. These are the type of digimon we should be weary of, they are dangerous and volatile. I'll admit I was not the strongest male in my pack when the Alpha chose me to make this journey, I didn't believe I was ready much like how I think you might feel now. But trust in yourself Rika, I have seen your potential and you are as ready as you'll ever be. Should you accept a partnership with me I will serve you at all times."

"Does it have to be so one sided?" Rika asked. Veemon had demanded things of her, and now Lycamon was allowing itself - himself she realised - to be her slave. It didn't fit well for her.

"It will be however you wish Rika, if you wish for more even terms they are yours to make. Not mine."

Lycamon looked down at her, still warm and open, as she looked up. She nodded softly and stuck out her hand. He noticed and gently took her hand in his paw, shaking formerly.

"I accept Lycamon, but as equals. As friends."

Upon her words a white light shone from between their interlocked hand and paw, neither could break their grip. Rika looked worried until she saw Lycamon's still calm face. If he was calm he knew what was going on, but before she could ask she felt an object in her grip that wasn't his paw.

The light faded and he retracted his paw. Inside Rika's hand was a rounded egg shape device with buttons and a neck strap. A small screen was set in the middle with a blue circle border. What appeared to be a card reader sat on one side.

A digivice.

Rika examined it as Lycamon overlooked her. "Our digivice, its appearance means our bond has formed and is now active. I will protect you from harm Rika, stay the chill on cold nights, and be by your side against loneliness. I am your digimon Rika Nonaka, and you are my Tamer."

Rika slung the device around her neck using the strap, settling it in place. "Together, for better and for worse."