Me: Okay, you guys are lucky I got this done the night before Thanksgiving, which, incidentally, is the day I got hit by a truck three months ago. Takato, could you do the honors?
Takato: Right-thanks. Our mutual friend doesn't own Digimon. Why? Beats me-he just doesn't.
Rika: If he did, who knows where we'd be today?
Me: Ha, ha. Very funny. Seriously, let's get to work. Happy Thanksgiving, people!
Digimon Tamers-Tamer V.S. Tamer
Chapter I: Attack during sunup!
"You are worthy, Tamer. Thank you, for fighting by my side." –WarGrowlmon
"I didn't do anything, but trust you, and I guess…myself. Looks like we're gonna need a lot more peanut butter!" –Takato
Morning arose too quickly for Henry Wong. As he got up, he noticed that it was only 7:30 A.M.-way too early in his case, for a weekend.
"If Susie changed the alarm on my clock, I'm gonna give her a piece of my-"
"Terrier Tornado!!" A gigantic gust of wind suddenly picked Henry up only moments after he'd gotten dressed and carried him out of his room.
"This is strange. Normally, Terriermon's attacks aren't this efficient, nor can they carry me this far!" Henry thought to himself as he was carried to a spot in the park, quite far from Guilmon's home. Through all that, nobody noticed a white Digimon flying off into the distance.
"All right, who are-Terriermon?" Henry barely managed to catch his partner and gape in surprise as he looked at a Digimon who looked exactly like his Terriermon!
"That's right. And if that's Terriermon, then I must be you!" Henry's jaw dropped in shock-as did Terriermon's!-once the sunlight suddenly shined on a young boy who looked exactly like Henry!
"What-but-how?" Henry managed to croak out.
"You can call me…Lee. And, if you're ready, I suggest you fight while the day's still young." Henry finally snapped himself out of his stupor to see that he had some cards on him. He picked up his Digivice and prepared to do battle with himself.
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Power, activate!" Henry and Lee chorused.
"Bunny Blast!!" Henry's Terriermon yelled out as his attack was tripled, yet Lee's Terriermon not only avoided it, but he launched his own attack.
"Bunny Blast!!" WHAM! Henry's Terriermon was sent flying backward and hit the ground hard! Henry ran over to him and helped him up.
"Terriermon, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Henry. His attacks are like mine, but they're twice as powerful! I don't think we can take him on alone." Henry nodded, and looked around for a phone. Of course, there wasn't one near him.
"If only Calumon was here at a time like this! Where is he?"
"Wake up, Takato! We've got problems-a big one!" Takato groaned as he looked up to see Calumon hopping up and down at the foot of his bed.
"Calumon, what do you want? If you're here for playtime, I'm going to send you to Rika's house via airmail! Trust me-I wouldn't pay for your trip; it would all be free."
"But Henry's in trouble! He was carried in the direction of the park by a Digimon who looked just like Terriermon." Calumon insisted. That jolted him up within seconds.
"What?! Are you serious? We've gotta get over to him, but first I should call Rika. She'd kill me if I left her outta the action!"
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Digivolution, activate!"
Digivolution!
At that instant, two Terriermon chorused, "Terriermon Digivolve to…GARGOMON!!!"
Digimon!
"All right, you wanna-be Champion Digimon! You ready for a dance? Gargo Laser!!" Henry's Gargomon let loose as he fired off round after round until smoke kicked up and surrounded them. When it faded, Lee's Digimon was still there!
"Wha-? But, he should either be deleted or seriously hurt after that!"
"Gargomon, quit talking and keep attacking!" Henry pleaded, but Lee's Digimon suddenly raced forward and struck Henry's Gargomon hard on the side.
"Let me show you what a true Champion's attack should feel like. Gargo Laser!!"
"Gargomon!" Henry cried out as his partner was repeatedly hit over and over again by his own attack! Yet, he still found the strength to stand up again.
"That was just luck. Now, here's where it gets deadly! Bunny Pummel!!" Even Gargomon's main attack had no effect on his double.
"I've said it before, and I'll say it again-that didn't have quite the impact I thought it would!" Gargomon cracked to Henry as Lee's partner glared at him.
"Guess you've got a death wish. I'd be too happy to grant it to you. Gargo Laser!!"
Digimodify!
"Digimodify! Hyper Speed activate!!" Takato and Rika chorused as Guilmon and Renamon raced in and accomplished their tasks. Guilmon tackled Gargomon and saved him from his clone's attack, and Renamon took the clone down with one move!
As Lee took notice of Takato, Rika, their Digimon partners and Calumon, he couldn't help but smile.
"I should've known-you tangle with one member of the team, you tangle with everyone. Fortunately for me, I didn't come alone." Within seconds, Takato and Rika both facefaulted in amazement as duplicates of themselves appeared!
"Since we don't want to confuse anybody, with the exception of your leader, we'll call them Ruki and Takato."
"Just when I was getting used to having one Gogglehead around-now we've got two to deal with?!" Rika sputtered out. Takato was too stunned to rise up to Rika's bait.
"Excellent. So far, they've met their doubles. Now, it's time for a change of plans." Yamaki pressed a button and Takato's clone replied, "What?!"
"Plans have changed. Retreat for now and attack when one of them is at their weakest."
"Understood. Out."
The Tamers were confused when their clones suddenly turned and left.
"What gives? Gargomon was easy pickings, especially when your clones came in." Henry said.
"I'm still confused. How'd those guys get created, anyway?" Takato asked.
"Elementary, dear Takato. Remember those beams of light that hit us yesterday? Apparently, whoever hit us with those colors of the rainbow used that to create our clones who are beating a hasty retreat." Rika explained.
"Actually Rika, blue isn't a color of the rainbow. Just green, red, purple, and orange…"
"I get the picture!" Rika retorted impatiently to Henry.
"Question is this: since they know about us, when's the next time they'll strike again?"
Henry, Rika, Guilmon, Renamon, Terriermon and Calumon all turned to Takato in surprise.
"I'm serious. We've got to be prepared for the worst! If something happens, we should always make sure we're near a phone-in Rika's case, you should keep your cell phone on you at all times-so we can contact each other and help out. Got it?" Henry and Rika could only nod. "Good!" A second later, Takato leaned against a tree for support. "I thought the Devas were tough. Taking on people who are supposed to be you and know your every move-that's 10 times worse!"
As the day droned on, Takato couldn't shake the fact that there was someone out there that had his face, capable of so much evil and destruction!
"Since we don't want to confuse anybody, with the exception of your leader, we'll call them Ruki and Takato."
Takato was, once again, so immersed in his own thoughts and worries that he didn't even notice Rika until he saw the soles of her shoes.
"Careful, Takato. One more step, and I could put you in the hospital for a while." At that moment, he was convinced it was her.
"Sorry. I'm troubled. We've got the Devas to deal with, and now these clones! I'm not sure if I can handle this." Takato was close to breaking down, so Rika self-consciously moved over to him and cupped his chin into her hand.
"Don't you break on me yet. As much as I hate to admit this to anyone, least of all you, you've shown potential as a Tamer, and as a leader. You listen to me. You listening to me?" Takato nodded, a small smile showing on his face.
"We need you to keep us strong. Who was it who managed to help Guilmon fight Mihiramon? You. Who was it who tried to convince me that Digimon aren't just bits and pieces of data? You. Who was it who had the courage to keep fighting Indramon when the rest of us had thrown in the towel? You." Rika had one last thing to say, but didn't say it out loud. Instead, she thought it to herself.
"Who's the one boy I've given my heart and soul to within the course of a few days or weeks? You…"
"Thanks, Rika. Even if you don't want to hear it, I'm gonna say it anyway: you're a good friend." Takato declared as he stood up and cautiously hugged her. Smirking, she pulled him close and hugged him tightly.
"Thanks. So are you. Just don't mention it to anybody, even Guilmon."
Nighttime had fallen, and Rika was making her way home as quick as she could.
"I wish I could stay out and observe the stars, but I've got a double out here who could cause some trouble for me…big trouble!"
"Diamond Storm!!" Multiple diamonds were sent flying in front of her and she barely was able to move out of the way!
"Renamon, was that you?" A second later, Rika's partner entered in and was prepared to leap into battle.
"Well, are you ready for the biggest battle of your life, Rika?" Holding in her amazement, Rika and Renamon turned to see Rika's clone-otherwise known as Ruki-make her appearance alongside her Renamon, more powerful than Rika's Renamon and twice as deadly!
Just great! Rika's being forced into a showdown with her clone! Can she call Takato and Henry in time, or has our Digimon Queen met her match? Don't miss a second when the next Digimon: Digital Monsters pops up!
