I don't own digimon.
Session 101
The place that calls to you
Alice and Elena were on top of the world.
And I don't blame them. It's not everyday that you get to see a marriage proposal that gets right to the point.
"So now what?" the gambler remarked and watched her fiancee check her phone.
"We could go get something to eat." Elena suggested as she shifted her gaze back to Alice. "We haven't really eaten anything in a long time. And while we've held up quite well, better safe than sorry."
Alice gave a nod and focused her attention on the ring hanging onto the gale's corsair finger. It felt a tiny bit odd seeing it there, a reminder of how far they had come.
"Any suggestions?" she remarked and got a confused glance from Elena. "I guess we can look around."
The two girls then headed off, unsure of their potential destination amid the skyscrapers. Thankfully, all it took was a right turn to break free from all the tall buildings and reach the coast of all things.
"I think I know where we are." Elena remarked. "It's just a couple blocks to my apartment.
"You have an apartment?" Alice answered and watched her partner switch forms, allowing the lucky gambler to get on. What followed, was a short flight over the game store where this story began oh so long ago and to an average building being based in twilight light.
"This is it." Elena announced as she made a quick descent, making sure to land in such a way to not buck her passenger off. Once Alice had gotten off, she switched back and pulled her keys out.
Inside, the lobby was still in the same general state of just being there. It that was it the room's particular it would be getting both overtime pay and a bonus. They chose to take the stairs up, giving the wall around them very little attention as they climbed. Once they had reached the necessary floor, Alice and Elena made their way into the hallway and began searching for the gale corsair's apartment.
"Here it is." Elena explained as she slipped her key into the lock and gave it a turn, pushing the door open.
Inside, the room hadn't changed from the last time it was described. Which was sometime during the opening chapter of this story. But since it's been so long, I guess a refresher is in order.
The apartment in question was decorated mostly with plushies. They varied in all sorts of shapes and sizes, with the largest cluster located in the living room. For some reason, the TV was on and Sesame Street was playing.
"Sunny day, Sweepin' the clouds away…" Alice began to sang as Elena looked on. "Come on, sing it with me."
Elena gave a nod and walked over to her fiancee.
"On my way to where the air is sweet." Elena continued and took a deep breath, a smile forming on her feet. "Can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?"
The rest of the song was a mix of Alice guiding her and the two singing. Yet, neither would have it any other way.
"I can cook you something now." Elena whispered and Alice gave a nod, picking up the idol pikachu doll. "That's Pretty Idol Vannesa."
"Would you mind if I took Vanessa with me as I looked around your apartment?" Alice inquired.
"Go on ahead."
The gale corsair made her way over to the kitchen, choosing to start with the fridge. Inside, things were far from perfect. The fridge still had power, but that meant very little to the contents inside.
"Probably should throw that stuff out." she thought and began grabbing the remains of the food inside. It made its way
While she was doing, Alice continued the tour of the house. She started with the desk that held a simple computer along with the box of Digital Adventures Online. But, that was not what she was currently focused on at the moment.
Behind the case was a toy silver ring. If one were standing at the other side of the apartment, they would probably think that it was the real thing. Maybe.
She set Vanessa down and picked the ring up, getting the urge to slip it on. Normally, she would've ignored that urge. But something about it just seemed to call out to her.
"What do you think?" Alice called out and got a thumbs-up from her fiance. Her attention turned to the case itself. "Let's see..."
The front cover art looked like something made in an old version of Microsoft Paint or maybe even KidPix, consisting of an orange background with blue letters that looked quite free-form. The back was only slightly better, with
"Be a part of a hardcore multiplayer adventure where you make vital, possibly life-changing choices! Find your soulmate and save the world from the evil order."
"Did Alice enjoy that accurate description?" a voice announced and Alice turned around, finding Jestery floating before her.
"Uh… sure." Alice answered as her gaze focused on the jester. "But did you have to go with the orange and blue text?"
"Jestery wanted to keep her media consistent." Jestery answered and got a shrug from the lucky gambler. "Fine then!"
Silence then fell over the jester, who decided to scram. It was probably for the better, since Alice was ready to throw Vanessa at her.
Her next stop was the bedroom, which was just a mattress on the bed with a lamp. It wasn't quite what Alice had expected to find. When Elena had told her outside, she had visions of a something grand or at the very least functional. But this apartment could just barely be called a home. But what did she know? The gambler had grown quite used to jumping between hotel rooms, only staying for the various tournaments. She hadn't seen her childhood in who knows how long.
"It's ready!" Elena shouted and Alice took a deep breath, making her way back to the living room. There, the gale corsair had brought out a pair of plates with a sandwiches on them. "I wasn't sure if the stove or microwave were working."
"This will do." Alice answered and the two sat down, biting down into their sandwiches. While not the best meal either girl had, it was a close second. Especially when you consider how long it has been since "What should we do next?"
Elena gave her fiancee a confused glance and debated her options. On one hand, the park sounded nice right now. But by the same token, they could look for a way out of here.
"I'm not sure." she answered and grabbed the now empty plates. "I was thinking we could go to the park and walk around."
"Sounds good to me." Alice answered and watched Elena put the plates in the sink. She then got up and joined the gale corsair, with the two making their way to the front door and heading out.
Outside, the cityscape was still the same as before. Yet, the atmosphere felt off. It was as if they weren't the only ones.
Scream Leech!
Loud noise filled the air, as what appeared to be the despair version of GamblerNekomon came into view. Its rider though, appeared to be a harpy for some reason.
"Uh… hi?" Elena greeted as she and Alice switched to their infusion forms. "We're not sure who you are, but could you not scream at us?"
The harpy gave her mount a slight kick to the side and it came to a stop.
"Good kitty." the harpy remarked and gave both girls a quick look over. "Oh. It's more of you people."
Alice and Elena returned to normal and gave the bird a confused glance.
"Welcome Alienaland." the harpy continued, only for an awkward silence to fall over the area. "You try to think of a better name."
Point taken.
"This is a refuge for the Alice and Elena's along with their families who lost their worlds."
"Wait, what?" both woman shouted as they attempted to process the words their ears had heard. It sounded ridiculous, even in the face of their adventures and all that had happened up to that point. Of course, this place could just be the result of the mess that is infinite timelines. "Do we even want to know?"
Not really.
"Can you take us to your leaders then?" Alice inquired and got a sigh from the harpy.
"I guess." their guide remarked and kicked her mount again to head off. While she was doing that, Elena switched to her infusion form and Alice got on.
The flight to this place's supposed leaders passed in silence, leaving the gale corsair with some time to think. She wasn't entirely certain what exactly went into a wedding, outside of wearing of wearing a large white dress and saying some words in front of a group of friends. While it sounded stressful, it was the final step in the process.
For the lucky gambler, a different sort of internal monologue was occuring. While her knowledge of weddings was far better than Elena's, it was more focused on something else entirely. She had chosen to look back on it all, searching for the point where it had all changed, if at all. If Alice wanted too, she could've continued this mental debate. But her thoughts shifted back to the wedding. For the moment, it was possibly best to wait until they had gotten everyone together to decide on a date. It would also help to have an actual calendar to go off of, but beggars couldn't be choosers in these sorts of situation.
"Here we are." the harpy explained and kicked her mount to stop. Elena made a soft landing and let Alice off, switching back afterwards. "Welcome to our humble abode."
This 'humble abode' appeared to be a bunch of cardboard cut-out with absolutely little effort put into them.
"Let me guess, you plan to attack us once we step inside?" Alice inquired and pulled her guns out. "I wouldn't recommend that."
After the lucky gambler had said that, Elena pulled her kris out.
"Now, now, we could've handled this like civil folk…" their opponent remarked as her face twisted about. "But you people were too smart for your own good."
Scream Leech!
Once more, loud noise threatened to sap their energy. Though it was more of an annoyance than anything else this time.
Spiritflare!
Instead usual combo Alice normally did, the lucky gambler chose instead to fire her left gun off twice and follow it up by throwing a rock she found on the ground. While not as threatening as before, it fulfilled the role in that particular moment.
Despair Draw!
A pair of cards appeared, being the two of spades and hearts respectively. For some reason, this corresponded with what appeared to be a ghost and a large guy holding a sandwich.
"Okay…" both Elena remarked as it began raining down sandwiches. After, the gale corsair then mumbled something to her partner and charged forth.
Gale Strike!
As her kris slammed into the harpy's skin, Alice provided cover fire.
"Enough!" the harpy screamed and jumped off her mount, kick Elena a swift kick to the groin. Alice then switched to her, unloading at least one full magazine on her (possibly two). "Oh, did I hurt someone you gave a shit about? Too bad."
Yet, Alice didn't listen. Instead, she chose to run over to the gale corsair as their pulled their leg back for round two.
Fury Swipes!
As she reached Elena, the harpy unleashed her claws upon the two. Yet, that wasn't enough to faze them. Though, that could just be the result of the adrenaline coursing through their vein at this particular moment.
"Are you alright, honey?" Alice whispered and helped Elena up. "Ready to finish this."
"Absolutely." Elena remarked, following it up with a deep breath.
Unity: Gale Revolver!
Once more, the two felt their bodies charge up with energy, bringing forth their usual whirlwind of air and bullets. Had she not been the one taking the attack, the harpy probably would've been amazed by their teamwork along with being reminded of what she had done oh so long ago. But I doubt you care that much about her story.
"I yield." she whispered and got back on her cat. "You might want to check out the place anyhow. There might be something in there for you."
With that, she headed off.
"Wait!"
The cat stopped and the harpy turned around.
"What now?"
"Can you least give us your name?"
"Lyra Verde." the harpy snarled and headed onward. "Not sure why you would even care."
The duo then made their way inside, finding a door amid the cardboard.
"This is it." Alice remarked and the two headed through, finding their friends awaiting on the other side. "Hey guys, we're engaged!"
A mix of surprise and excitement filled the cabin, only for a whimper to pierce through.
"Suiko?" the gambler screamed and ran over to a closed door, firing both of her pistols at the lock and watched it open. She and Elena pushed on through, finding her younger sister sitting on the floor. "There you are!"
Suiko let out a deep breath and got up, only to wrap her arms around Alice. Strangely, her body was starting to slowly grow pale and translucent.
"Thanks for everything, guys." the schoolgirl whispered as she closed her eyes, only for a lavender butterfly to enter Alice's body. "I wish I could see this to the end with you, but this is all I can do."
"No…" Alice responded and got one more hug. "You're a part of me! You can't just go now!"
"I promise that I'll find you, no matter where I end up." Suiko whispered as her body gave way. "That, and I trust you'll be a wonderful wife to Elena."
And with that, she disappeared. Alice then turned her attention to her ring, finding the toy ring replaced with one with a butterfly on it. In a way, it seemed fitting.
"I will Suiko." she whispered and took a deep breath. "I guess I should check anyhow."
Spiritflare!
She went through the motions once more, only to have a blast of butterflies instead of the usual shotgun blast.
Once that was said and done, the author went for an offscreen walk.
Notes:
Just for context, the final 'quarter' of Tri Abridged happened in between Session 100 and 101.
'Lyra Verde' is based a bit off the original plan for Elena's, which was supposed to be more of a cultist-like character.
Also, the title of the chapter is in reference to one of the insert songs from Precure Dream Stars. Which is very much a romance song, of a certain 'type'. ;)
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Next Time: Olrumon and Fatemon, at a restaurant. What could go wrong?