Hey. This is Carl. Last time, the dark cloud that appeared over the island started dropping Dark DigiEggs all over the place. We wound up fighting a nutcase called DarkShadramon, who blinded us with his Flash Buster attack. But when Kokuwamon digivolved to MechaNorimon, Dizzy was able to use his sonar to guide him to victory and destroy the Dark DigiEgg of Courage. Nice moves, flyboy, but there are still more Dark Eggs.
"Family Values" by Chet "Tech" Weaver
Gatomon stepped out of the showers, dropping a towel into a nearby hamper. She walked down the hall on the way to the monitoring room.
"First the boss calls and shortens our schedule," Gatomon reviewed to herself. "Then Leo gets on a suicidal streak and launches the Damocles, and Wizardmon almost leaves. Things are getting serious. With Damocles on the lose, we'll have to be on our guard. The last thing we need is more surprises."
The door slid open as Gatomon entered the monitoring room. Everyone was at their posts, doing what they were supposed to be doing. However, they seemed distracted. She supposed that being on the edge of catastrophe can do that to a 'mon.
Gotsumon was the only one not working. His chair was turned away from her, and it was large enough to hide the rocky Rookie entirely. But the tell-tale edges of a magazine peeking out over the top of the chair as its occupant closely studied the centerfold suggested to Gatomon that he had found something a little more interesting than four anthropomorphic animals lost on an island at the moment.
"Hey!" she scolded. She leapt onto the back of the chair, snatching the publication away. "I thought I told you not to read these hentai mags while you're on the... Sweet Jeebus!"
The sight of what was seated in the chair startled Gatomon. She toppled over forward, falling head-first into the soft lap of a creature that was definitely not Gotsumon. It was small and humanoid, like Gotsumon, but instead of a hide made of rough, craggy stone, its flesh was smooth an peach colored. It wore an outfit of large, green leaves that closely resembled a Japanese school girl's uniform had a vine-haired head topped with a crown of flowers.
"Oh, Gatomon," the new creature said with a charmed smile. "What a simply pleasant surprise."
"Sakuramon!" Gatomon exclaimed. She leapt off Sakuramon's lap. Seconds later, she was clinging to Leomon's back and peeking out from behind his head. "What are YOU doing here!?"
"I just heard about your problem and thought I'd pay you a visit," Sakuramon said innocently. She stood up and daintily dropped the magazine. Gotsumon grabbed it before it hit the ground and got back into his chair where he began leafing through the pages.
"Hey!" Gatomon shot out. "What'd I just say?"
"I'm on my break!" Gotsumon replied.
Growling in frustration, Gatomon turned her attention back to Sakuramon.
"I know you," she said. "You never go anywhere for just a visit."
"Unless it's conjugal," Wizardmon added.
"For real?" Gotsumon eagerly asked. "Are you here to visit me? C'mon! Say you're here to visit me!"
Sakuramon laid a hand on Gotsumon's chair and flung it into a rapid spin.
"Leomon," Gatomon commanded.
"Huh?" Leomon replied. "Oh, uh, Sakuramon?"
"Yes?" Sakuramon cooed.
Leomon blushed slightly. He attempted to scratch the back of his head but Gatomon was in the way.
"Heh," Leomon said. "Does, um, the boss know you're here? It's kinda dangerous, what with Damocles over the island and all."
"What daddy doesn't know won't delete him," Sakuramon said, leaning on the control panel.
"Watch the hardware," Gatomon said. "That's sensitive equipment."
"Don't worry, I got my eye on her," Wizardmon said.
To Gatomon, that was the problem. They were watching her but not watching what she was doing. Few males could ignore her physical beauty, much less resist her alluring demeanor. Gatomon knew from personal experience that she wasn't interested in any of them, but she couldn't say if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Just what do you want?" Gatomon demanded, practically hissing.
"Like I said, I heard about your problem with daddy's deadline," Sakuramon explained. She leaned back more, resting her arms where she figured they wouldn't touch anything important, and slid her legs forward. "I may just offer you some help, if you make it worth my while."
"I'm not going to dance with you!" Gatomon refused.
"I will!" Gotsumon accepted.
"Don't get yourselves too excited," Sakuramon said. "No one's dancing with anybody." After a bit of thought, she added, "Not yet, at least."
Sakuramon got off the control panel and spread her butterfly-like wings. She floated up to Gatomon's perch and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. Before Gatomon could respond Sakuramon was whispering softly into her ear. When she had heard enough, Gatomon swatted her hand away and landed on the ground.
"Is that all you want?" Gatomon asked. It was more like a command than a question.
Sakuramon gave it a moment of consideration before nodding.
"Fine," Gatomon accepted. "But the moment I find it, you're outta here. Got it? Wizardmon, you're with me."
"What? Me?" Wizardmon replied.
Gatomon just gave an annoyed grunt and dragged him out of the room by his collar.
"Don't let her distract you, Leo," Gatomon warned on her way out. "Believe me, it ain't worth it."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Carl? Carl? Where are you, Carl?"
Tapirmon floated around the forest, poking his nose into various trees and bushes. His partner, Carl, had ditched him and the others yet again. Perhaps it hadn't occurred to Tapirmon that the bat wanted to be left alone, but regardless he wasn't about to let his partner stay that way for long.
"Caaarrrrrlllll..... Where'd ya go, Carl?"
Carl burst out of a nearby bush, looking as menacing as possible. He stretched out wings as wide as possible and let out feral screech as red liquid dripped from his fangs. Tapirmon was startled but unafraid. In fact, he burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" demanded Carl. "Aren't you scared of me?"
Tapirmon recovered from his laughing fit and said, "Of course I'm not scared of you, silly! I know you'd never hurt me. I'm your friend!"
"I'm nobody's friend!" Carl insisted. "Now leave me alone!"
Carl turned and walked off. Tapirmon followed, hovering at shoulder level.
"C'mon, Carl," Tapirmon beseeched. "Don't be like this. We need each other."
"I don't need anyone," Carl said. "Now go away."
"But..."
"Go away."
"Carl..."
"Go. Away."
"Carl!"
"What part of 'go away' don't you understand!?"
"WATCH OUT!!"
Carl took off into the air, barely avoiding a stampeding heard of Monochromon, and landed in a tree.
"Those rhino-creatures again," Carl noted. "You don't think Dokugumon's close by, do you?"
"Dokugumon may be a dork, but he's not stupid enough to mess with us again," Tapirmon said. "He probably tried to get as far away from us as possible."
"Whatever. I'm not sticking around to see what spooked those Monochromon."
"What? We're running away?"
"No, I'M running away. You can go stuff a turkey for all I care."
"Are you getting the others?"
"Screw the others! I'm getting the heck outta dodge!"
"You're not being much of a team player, Carl."
"Are you brain-dead or something? Read my lips: I. Work. Alone."
"You can't be alone forever, Carl. Everybody needs somebody, sometimes."
Carl paused for a moment. In that moment, it seemed as if Tapirmon's words have hit their mark. Then Carl turned away from him.
"Just shut up, all right?" Carl said as he spread his wings and glided off.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So your name's Veemon, huh?" Skeet said.
"That's right!" the little blue creature shaking his hand said. "But everyone calls me 'V-mon.' And this is my brother Veemon and my other brother Veemon."
The other two simultaneously put out their hands and said, "But you can call me 'V-mon'."
"It's good meeting you guys," Skeet said. "I'm Skeet, and these are my friends Kelly and Dizzy."
"Hey," Kelly greeted.
"But you can call me 'Dizzy'," Dizzy added.
"You know, you sound a lot like our adopted brother, Guilmon," V-mon noted.
"Really?" Dizzy inquired.
"Yeah, except not as stupid," the other Veemon said.
"He's such a baby," the third added. "And he keeps eating all the food."
"So we kicked him out," Veemon said.
"That's terrible," Kelly said.
"That's what mom and dad said when they found out," V-mon said. "Then they sent us out to look for him."
"Maybe we could help each other, then," Skeet suggested.
"We're missing a friend of ours as well," Hawkmon explained. "He's big, brown, and has wings, and he has a Tapirmon with him."
"Well, we haven't seen him, but we'll keep an eye out for him," Veemon offered.
"Thank you," accepted Kokuwamon. "That'd be very much appreciated."
"Carl probably doesn't want to be found, though," Dizzy said. "I think he has his own agenda."
"Well, unfortunately for him, our agenda includes him," Skeet said. "Now lets get moving."
"A Digimon no one wants to find and a bat that doesn't want to be found," Kelly sighed.
"This could take a while," Floramon added.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"What's your beef with Sakuramon anyway?" Wizardmon asked as they searched the storeroom.
"Nothing," Gatomon snapped. "Its personal, okay?"
"Okay, sorry."
Gatomon opened a box and began digging through it.
"You're married, aren't you, Wiz?" she asked.
"Yes," Wizardmon answered. "We have a child and another egg on the way. I regret that I may never see them again."
"And you love them?"
"Of course."
"How do you know?"
"Excuse me?"
"How do you know when you're in love?"
"That's a difficult answer. I'm sure its different for everybody, but if its the real thing you'll know it. If it isn't, you'll figure it out eventually."
"I thought I knew what love was once, but then Sakuramon went and ruined everything."
"So you two have a history then?"
"Yeah. A long history. We were... friends once, but then she..."
Gatomon trailed off. She moved on to another box and began digging through that.
"She what?" Wizardmon asked.
"It's too personal," Gatomon replied. "I don't want to talk about it."
Gatomon continued to examine the box's contents silently.
"She stole your boyfriend, didn't she?" Wizardmon attempted.
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" Gatomon roared. She leapt out of the box and marched to the door carrying a blue card. "I got what we're looking for. Let's go."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"This is some good fruit, Carl," Tapirmon said. "Sure you don't want some?"
"I'm not hungry," Carl replied.
"Suit yourself," Tapirmon said, scarfing down another piece of fruit.
"Can I have some too?"
"Sure, knock yourself out," Tapirmon said, passing some fruit.
"Oh, thank you."
"You're... Hey, who are you?"
"Huh?" the red reptile looked up from the fruit he was eating. "I'm sorry. The name's Guilmon. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Tapirmon," Tapirmon said. "And this is my partner, Carl."
"Partner?" Guilmon remarked. "You mean like..."
"No, no," Tapirmon replied, feeling a bit self-conscious now. "I meant he's not digital. He's from Earth."
"From Earth?" Guilmon noted. "What is he?"
"I'm an anthropomorphic bat," Carl answered. "What'd you think I was?"
"Sorry, I've never seen an Earthling before," Guilmon replied, eating some more fruit. "Still, you guys are a lot nicer than my brothers V-mon, Veemon and Veemon. They kicked me out because they didn't like me. They said was ugly, stupid, and ate too much. Can I have some more please?"
"Help yourself," Tapirmon said. Guilmon picked several off a nearby bush and chowed down on them.
"I know what it's like," Carl said. "What's it like to be picked on because you look different, or because your circadian rhythms are off by about twelve hours. The other kids didn't like me, so I didn't like them back. Me and society at large haven't been on speaking terms for quite awhile."
"So you don't have any friends?" Guilmon asked.
"Carl has plenty of friends," Tapirmon asked. "He just won't admit it."
"They're not my friends," Carl argued.
"They would be if you'd give them the chance instead of running away from them," Tapirmon said.
"I'm not afraid of them," Carl said.
"I didn't say you were, but obviously you're afraid they'll reject you. Don't let that fear rule you, Carl. At the very least don't let it keep you from your greatest chance of survival! And if your survival didn't mean anything to the others, they wouldn't've looked for you before and they wouldn't be looking for you now!"
"How do you even know that?"
"I know it because you know it. I may not be telepathic or have super-sonic hearing, but every once in a while you look like you've heard your own name being called out. They're looking for us right now, and you're worried about them not liking you?"
Carl sighed.
"You're right," he said. "They are looking for me, and I guess I am acting like a moron. They're looking for you too, Guilmon."
"They are?" Guilmon asked.
Carl nodded. "There are three other voices with them. Must be your brothers. Looks like its time for you to go home."
"Yay!" Guilmon cheered. "Where are they?"
Carl pointed off into the forest. Guilmon ran off in that direction, laughing.
"Guess we better be heading that way, too," Carl said. He spread his wings and flew.
"Hey, Carl," Tapirmon said.
Carl paused. "Yeah."
"If the others don't like you, I always will."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Caaaarrrrlllll...." Dizzy called out.
"Tapirmon, where are you?" Floramon shouted.
"Guilmon, get out here already!" V-mon yelled.
"Someone looking for a big, red Gila monster?" Carl said. He descended from the trees as Tapirmon and Guilmon emerged from the forest.
"You had us so worried!" Kelly said.
"I wasn't," Dizzy said.
"Don't run off like that again, Carl," Skeet said. "We can't afford to waste time looking for you again."
"All right, fine, geez," Carl said. "Don't get so worked up about it. You're not the only one who wants to get back home, you know."
"Guilmon, I believe your brothers have something they want to tell you," Hawkmon said.
"No we don't," Veemon said. "We just can't get back home without... OW!"
His brother elbowed him in the ribs.
"Don't say that, you dummy!" V-mon said. He then turned to Guilmon, put his hands together, and bowed respectfully. "We're sorry we kicked you out, Guilmon. We didn't mean the nasty things we said. I hope you can..."
"I'm not sorry," Veemon interrupted. "And I meant every word I said. I'm not apologizing to this stupid, ugly loser! I just wanna go home!"
"Me too!" the other Veemon agreed. "I hate Guilmon! Let's go home and say he's dead."
"Yeah!" V-mon said. "In fact, I take back everything I said! And you're fat, too!"
"I can't believe they're talking to him like that," Carl said.
"Yeah, it's so cruel," Tapirmon agreed.
"No, I mean he's bigger than all three of them!" Carl said. "What are they, crazy?"
Guilmon broke down and started crying.
"I guess he's a little sensitive," Tapirmon said. "He's probably younger than them. He's only a Rookie, you know."
"Something THAT big is a Rookie?"
Guilmon suddenly stopped crying and sniffed the air. His expression turned more feral as he lowered his head and began growling.
"Whoa, easy brother!" Veemon exclaimed. "We were just kidding! Honest!"
"Yeah!" his brother added. "Just foolin' around! Yankin' your chain!"
"In fact, I'd like to apologize for what I said just now!" V-mon continued. "Everything I ever said or did, for that matter! And everything I even considered doing and everything I'm going to do once I get up the nerve to pick on you again!"
"Not you," Guilmon said, pointing into the forest behind his brothers. "That!"
The Veemon brothers slowly turned around. Behind them, they saw a gleam of sunlight reflect off something in the shadows. A dark object suddenly burst out of the foliage. The Digimon dodged it, and it swooped up in the air and hung there.
"It's a Dark DigiEgg!" Skeet exclaimed.
"To be precise, it's the Dark DigiEgg of Friendship!" Hawkmon exclaimed. "It must've sensed the conflict between Guilmon and his brothers and came here looking for a host!"
"We gotta destroy that thing now!" Skeet proclaimed.
"Right!" Hawkmon agreed. He grabbed the feather off his bandana and threw it. "Feather Blade!"
"Deleting Virus!" Tapirmon declared, spewing a dark cloud at the Dark DigiEgg.
"Stamen Rope!" Floramon called out, the stamens in her hands lashing out like whips.
"Mini Shocker!" Kokuwamon said, shooting lightning bolts.
"Pyro Sphere!" Guilmon shouted, spitting out a dense ball of flame.
The attacks missed as the Dark DigiEgg ducked and weaved around them. Then it rocketed right for the Veemons. Guilmon knocked his brothers out of the way, but the Egg slammed into him. Electricity racked his body as it tried to burrow into him.
"Aw, man," Veemon gasped. "He took the hit for us!"
"Even though we were so mean to him!" his brother added.
"It really makes ya think, don't it?" V-mon remarked.
"You have to fight it, Guilmon!" Tapirmon pleaded. "Don't let the Egg take control!"
"I'm... trying..." Guilmon struggled. "But... I..." Guilmon suddenly screamed out in pain as energy surged through him. It caused him to stand up straight and cry out, "DARK DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!"
Everyone was knocked back as the air exploded around Guilmon.
"GUILMON, DARK-ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TO..."
Masked by electricity, Guilmon's form grew. His arms expanded and grew into front legs as he was forced downward into an equine stance. The electric aura burst apart, revealing black armor, back spikes, and purple skin. Possesed by his Dark Armor, this Digimon bellowed, "DARKRAIDRAMON, THE TEMPEST OF DISCORD!"
"G-Guilmon...?" V-Mon attempted to ask.
"Guilmon?" DarkRaidramon growled. "There is only DarkRaidramon now. Guilmon is dead, and soon you will be too! BLACK THUNDER!"
Dark energies crackled above DarkRaidramon's back spikes as it formed into a ball and launched at the Veemon brothers. Time suddenly seemed to slow down. Looking up, Tapirmon could see Carl's coin rising into the air. Reaching the height of its leap it paused in midair, spinning faster and faster. The air around it turned dark as the coin itself began to glow brightly and emit a high-pitched whine. For the briefest moment, it stopped, revealing a stylized yin-yang emblem that faced Tapirmon. The coin gleamed before exploding into energy that streaked down into Tapirmon. The energy struck, and the mystical mammal Digimon began to glow and grow.
"Tapirmon, digivolve to..."
Tapirmon's body and arms lengthened, and his smoke condensed into legs. The glow disappeared as his fur became dark flames. His face mask now lacked the fancy designs he had as Tapirmon. His eyes turned red for a moment as he called out, "DARKRIZAMON!"
Time returned to normal as the attack exploded, kicking up dirt. A few feet away, DarkRizamon rose from a crouching stance to reveal the Veemon brothers safe and sound. He stood and turned towards DarkRaidramon, saying, "The only way to remove that armor now is to beat it off you, so keep in mind that we're doing this for your own good!"
"Well, the only way to feast on your entrails is to beat them out of you," DarkRaidramon countered. "So keep in mind that I'm trying to kill you!"
"Uh, fair enough," DarkRizamon said. "DARK FLARE!"
"BLACK THUNDER!"
The Dark Digimon leapt into the air to avoid each other's respective attacks. They met in midair and DarkRizamon unleashed a barrage of claw swipes at DarkRaidramon.
"ELECTRIC BITE!"
DarkRaidramon clamped his jaws over DarkRizamon's shoulder and shocked him with a couple hundred volts of electricity. DarkRizamon landed in a heap and DarkRaidramon landed on all fours.
"Let's back him up!" Skeet declared.
"Yes, let's!" Hawkmon agreed.
"Goin' for it!" Kelly proclaimed.
"Gettin' on it!" Floramon added.
"Aye, captain!" Dizzy confirmed.
"Order confirmation 348 not found!" Kokuwamon said. "Kokuwamon, digivolve to..."
"Floramon, digivolve to..."
"Hawkmon, digivolve to..."
"MECHANORIMON!"
"KIWIMON!"
"VEEDRAMON!"
"You think I'm scared of you?" DarkRaidramon taunted, dashing off. "I'll take you all on!"
"Let's go!" Veedramon said as he and MechaNorimon ran after him. The three of them were running side-by-side as Veedramon shot out his "V-NOVA BLAST!"
"TWIN BEAM!" MechaNorimon fired lasers from his twin cannons.
DarkRaidramon skidded to a stop, letting the two attacks slam into the other two Digimon as they continued forward. The Dark Armor Digimon reversed course to head for the Veemons. Kiwimon stood between them as DarkRaidramon came to a halt in front of her.
"PUMMEL PECK!"
DarkRaidramon reared up as the DemiKiwimon projectiles bounced off his armor.
"BLACK THUNDER!"
As he came down, DarkRaidramon blasted her with the electric attack at point-blank range. Kiwimon was thrown over the Veemons' heads and crashed into a tree.
"Guilmon!" Veemon called out. "Please, don't hurt us!"
"We know you're in there, brother!" V-mon pleaded. "You have to take control Guilmon!"
"We never really hated you, Guilmon!" their brother said. "It was just stupid sibling rivalry! It meant nothing!"
"STOP CALLING ME GUILMON!" DarkRaidramon roared. "Your brother is gone! There is only DarkRaidramon now! Your pleas mean nothing!"
"SNIPE FANG!"
DarkRaidramon grunted in pain as one of his spikes was cut in half. He turned to see that DarkRizamon still stood.
"There isn't enough room on this island for two Dark Digimon," DarkRizamon growled. "So I'm voting you off! DARK FLARE!"
Black flame washed over DarkRaidramon, but he still stood when it ceased.
"A 'Survivor' reference and a western reference," noted DarkRaidramon. He smirked as steam rose from his armor. "How dated. I assure you, there is enough room for ALL of the Digimon who'll come from the Black Rain!"
DarkRizamon looked around. His comrades had been forced back to their Rookie states.
"Guilmon, listen," he said. "This isn't you. Not the innocent lizard that I probably spent all of two minutes getting to know. You have to fight the armor, Guilmon! Fight it! Fight it!"
"Quit trying to reason with me!" DarkRaidramon growled. "The power of the Dark DigiEgg is to chaotic to approach logically! If you want to survive, you must fight! BLACK..."
DarkRaidramon's attack was cut short as a shadow passed over them. A blue, lizard-like creature with white wings landed behind the brothers.
"Daddy!" the Veemons cheered.
"Father?" DarkRaidramon said.
"An ExVeemon?" DarkRizamon noted.
"What'd I miss?" ExVeemon asked. The Veemon brothers hurriedly explained everything all at once. "I see. Well, you're mother sent me out here because I made the stupid decision send you kids out here all alone after the Dark Rain. Guess she was right. Guilmon, you get out of that armor right now!"
"I will not give up this host," DarkRaidramon refused.
"Here, let me explain it too you," ExVeemon said, crossing his arms across his chest. "EXVEE-LASER!"
ExVeemon flung his arms open and fired an energy beam from the X-V logo on his chest. It slammed into DarkRaidramon, knocking him over. ExVeemon then leapt onto DarkRaidramon and wrestled him. ExVeemon eventually stood, holding up DarkRaidramon in a full-nelson hold.
"This'll only hurt for a second, son," ExVeemon warned. "DarkRizmon, finish him! Take the shot!"
"Got it!" DarkRizamon confirmed. His eyes glowed red as a red dot appeared on DarkRaidramon's head. "SNIPE FANG!"
A small projectile launched from DarkRizamon's mouth and bored through DarkRaidramon's head. The Dark Armor Digimon slumped and begun to glow, separating into Guilmon and the Dark DigiEgg. ExVeemon set Guilmon gently onto the ground, eyeing the Dark DigiEgg hovering before him the whole time.
"EXVEE-PUNCH!"
ExVeemon slammed a fist into the Egg, shattering it into pixels.
"Daddy...?" Guilmon moaned.
"It's alright, son," ExVeemon soothed, picking Guilmon up again. "You just rest now."
"Can we go home now?" Guilmon asked.
ExVeemon grinned and said, "Sure thing." With a more stern expression, he turned to his other sons and said, "Boys, don't you have something to say to your brother?"
"We're sorry Guilmon," V-mon said.
"Yeah, we're sorry we picked on you and got you possessed by that Dark DigiEgg," Veemon said.
"I just want to know why you put yourself in front that DigiEgg," their brother said.
"I didn't want you to get hurt," Guilmon replied.
"Even after we yelled at you like that?" Veemon asked.
"Of course," Guilmon answered.
"Why?" V-mon asked.
"Because," Guilmon said. "You're my brothers."
"Awwww..." everyone else cooed.
"Excuse me while I puke," Carl said.
"C'mon, kids," ExVeemon said, scooping up his remaining children and taking flight. "Let's go home."
"Family values is restored once again!" Skeet cheered.
"Really makes you think, doesn't it?" Kelly asked. "No matter how badly siblings treat each other, deep down inside they really love each other."
"I can relate," Dizzy said. "I got a lot of siblings."
"Me too," Kelly said.
"Me and my sister fight sometimes," Skeet said. "But we're cool."
"Carl?" Tapirmon prompted.
"Sorry," Carl said. "Only child."
"Want a sister?" everyone else offered.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I don't know about strip poker," Leomon said. "I think you have an unfair advantage over me."
"Stop hitting on the boss' daughter, Leo," Gatomon said as she and Wizardmon reentered the control room.
"Hey, I wasn't..." Leomon started.
"Here's your dumb card," Gatomon said to Sakuramon, forcing the card into her hands. "Now get on out of here! 'Git!"
"Don't worry, I'm going," Sakuramon said. At the door, she turned back to Gatomon and said, "Y'know, Gaty, you should consider working under me again. Obviously, we still work wonderfully together."
"Don't count on it!" Gatomon shrieked as Sakuramon left. "And don't call me Gaty!"
Well, Gatomon's certainly acting catty. She's having a regular hissy-fit!
Just what happened between Gatomon and Sakuramon?
Will Carl get over his insecurities?
Is Guilmon really adopted, or are his brothers just saying that?
Tune in next time, but until then...
TO BE CONTINUED...
"Family Values" by Chet "Tech" Weaver
Gatomon stepped out of the showers, dropping a towel into a nearby hamper. She walked down the hall on the way to the monitoring room.
"First the boss calls and shortens our schedule," Gatomon reviewed to herself. "Then Leo gets on a suicidal streak and launches the Damocles, and Wizardmon almost leaves. Things are getting serious. With Damocles on the lose, we'll have to be on our guard. The last thing we need is more surprises."
The door slid open as Gatomon entered the monitoring room. Everyone was at their posts, doing what they were supposed to be doing. However, they seemed distracted. She supposed that being on the edge of catastrophe can do that to a 'mon.
Gotsumon was the only one not working. His chair was turned away from her, and it was large enough to hide the rocky Rookie entirely. But the tell-tale edges of a magazine peeking out over the top of the chair as its occupant closely studied the centerfold suggested to Gatomon that he had found something a little more interesting than four anthropomorphic animals lost on an island at the moment.
"Hey!" she scolded. She leapt onto the back of the chair, snatching the publication away. "I thought I told you not to read these hentai mags while you're on the... Sweet Jeebus!"
The sight of what was seated in the chair startled Gatomon. She toppled over forward, falling head-first into the soft lap of a creature that was definitely not Gotsumon. It was small and humanoid, like Gotsumon, but instead of a hide made of rough, craggy stone, its flesh was smooth an peach colored. It wore an outfit of large, green leaves that closely resembled a Japanese school girl's uniform had a vine-haired head topped with a crown of flowers.
"Oh, Gatomon," the new creature said with a charmed smile. "What a simply pleasant surprise."
"Sakuramon!" Gatomon exclaimed. She leapt off Sakuramon's lap. Seconds later, she was clinging to Leomon's back and peeking out from behind his head. "What are YOU doing here!?"
"I just heard about your problem and thought I'd pay you a visit," Sakuramon said innocently. She stood up and daintily dropped the magazine. Gotsumon grabbed it before it hit the ground and got back into his chair where he began leafing through the pages.
"Hey!" Gatomon shot out. "What'd I just say?"
"I'm on my break!" Gotsumon replied.
Growling in frustration, Gatomon turned her attention back to Sakuramon.
"I know you," she said. "You never go anywhere for just a visit."
"Unless it's conjugal," Wizardmon added.
"For real?" Gotsumon eagerly asked. "Are you here to visit me? C'mon! Say you're here to visit me!"
Sakuramon laid a hand on Gotsumon's chair and flung it into a rapid spin.
"Leomon," Gatomon commanded.
"Huh?" Leomon replied. "Oh, uh, Sakuramon?"
"Yes?" Sakuramon cooed.
Leomon blushed slightly. He attempted to scratch the back of his head but Gatomon was in the way.
"Heh," Leomon said. "Does, um, the boss know you're here? It's kinda dangerous, what with Damocles over the island and all."
"What daddy doesn't know won't delete him," Sakuramon said, leaning on the control panel.
"Watch the hardware," Gatomon said. "That's sensitive equipment."
"Don't worry, I got my eye on her," Wizardmon said.
To Gatomon, that was the problem. They were watching her but not watching what she was doing. Few males could ignore her physical beauty, much less resist her alluring demeanor. Gatomon knew from personal experience that she wasn't interested in any of them, but she couldn't say if that was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Just what do you want?" Gatomon demanded, practically hissing.
"Like I said, I heard about your problem with daddy's deadline," Sakuramon explained. She leaned back more, resting her arms where she figured they wouldn't touch anything important, and slid her legs forward. "I may just offer you some help, if you make it worth my while."
"I'm not going to dance with you!" Gatomon refused.
"I will!" Gotsumon accepted.
"Don't get yourselves too excited," Sakuramon said. "No one's dancing with anybody." After a bit of thought, she added, "Not yet, at least."
Sakuramon got off the control panel and spread her butterfly-like wings. She floated up to Gatomon's perch and grabbed her by the scruff of her neck. Before Gatomon could respond Sakuramon was whispering softly into her ear. When she had heard enough, Gatomon swatted her hand away and landed on the ground.
"Is that all you want?" Gatomon asked. It was more like a command than a question.
Sakuramon gave it a moment of consideration before nodding.
"Fine," Gatomon accepted. "But the moment I find it, you're outta here. Got it? Wizardmon, you're with me."
"What? Me?" Wizardmon replied.
Gatomon just gave an annoyed grunt and dragged him out of the room by his collar.
"Don't let her distract you, Leo," Gatomon warned on her way out. "Believe me, it ain't worth it."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"Carl? Carl? Where are you, Carl?"
Tapirmon floated around the forest, poking his nose into various trees and bushes. His partner, Carl, had ditched him and the others yet again. Perhaps it hadn't occurred to Tapirmon that the bat wanted to be left alone, but regardless he wasn't about to let his partner stay that way for long.
"Caaarrrrrlllll..... Where'd ya go, Carl?"
Carl burst out of a nearby bush, looking as menacing as possible. He stretched out wings as wide as possible and let out feral screech as red liquid dripped from his fangs. Tapirmon was startled but unafraid. In fact, he burst out laughing.
"Why are you laughing?" demanded Carl. "Aren't you scared of me?"
Tapirmon recovered from his laughing fit and said, "Of course I'm not scared of you, silly! I know you'd never hurt me. I'm your friend!"
"I'm nobody's friend!" Carl insisted. "Now leave me alone!"
Carl turned and walked off. Tapirmon followed, hovering at shoulder level.
"C'mon, Carl," Tapirmon beseeched. "Don't be like this. We need each other."
"I don't need anyone," Carl said. "Now go away."
"But..."
"Go away."
"Carl..."
"Go. Away."
"Carl!"
"What part of 'go away' don't you understand!?"
"WATCH OUT!!"
Carl took off into the air, barely avoiding a stampeding heard of Monochromon, and landed in a tree.
"Those rhino-creatures again," Carl noted. "You don't think Dokugumon's close by, do you?"
"Dokugumon may be a dork, but he's not stupid enough to mess with us again," Tapirmon said. "He probably tried to get as far away from us as possible."
"Whatever. I'm not sticking around to see what spooked those Monochromon."
"What? We're running away?"
"No, I'M running away. You can go stuff a turkey for all I care."
"Are you getting the others?"
"Screw the others! I'm getting the heck outta dodge!"
"You're not being much of a team player, Carl."
"Are you brain-dead or something? Read my lips: I. Work. Alone."
"You can't be alone forever, Carl. Everybody needs somebody, sometimes."
Carl paused for a moment. In that moment, it seemed as if Tapirmon's words have hit their mark. Then Carl turned away from him.
"Just shut up, all right?" Carl said as he spread his wings and glided off.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"So your name's Veemon, huh?" Skeet said.
"That's right!" the little blue creature shaking his hand said. "But everyone calls me 'V-mon.' And this is my brother Veemon and my other brother Veemon."
The other two simultaneously put out their hands and said, "But you can call me 'V-mon'."
"It's good meeting you guys," Skeet said. "I'm Skeet, and these are my friends Kelly and Dizzy."
"Hey," Kelly greeted.
"But you can call me 'Dizzy'," Dizzy added.
"You know, you sound a lot like our adopted brother, Guilmon," V-mon noted.
"Really?" Dizzy inquired.
"Yeah, except not as stupid," the other Veemon said.
"He's such a baby," the third added. "And he keeps eating all the food."
"So we kicked him out," Veemon said.
"That's terrible," Kelly said.
"That's what mom and dad said when they found out," V-mon said. "Then they sent us out to look for him."
"Maybe we could help each other, then," Skeet suggested.
"We're missing a friend of ours as well," Hawkmon explained. "He's big, brown, and has wings, and he has a Tapirmon with him."
"Well, we haven't seen him, but we'll keep an eye out for him," Veemon offered.
"Thank you," accepted Kokuwamon. "That'd be very much appreciated."
"Carl probably doesn't want to be found, though," Dizzy said. "I think he has his own agenda."
"Well, unfortunately for him, our agenda includes him," Skeet said. "Now lets get moving."
"A Digimon no one wants to find and a bat that doesn't want to be found," Kelly sighed.
"This could take a while," Floramon added.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"What's your beef with Sakuramon anyway?" Wizardmon asked as they searched the storeroom.
"Nothing," Gatomon snapped. "Its personal, okay?"
"Okay, sorry."
Gatomon opened a box and began digging through it.
"You're married, aren't you, Wiz?" she asked.
"Yes," Wizardmon answered. "We have a child and another egg on the way. I regret that I may never see them again."
"And you love them?"
"Of course."
"How do you know?"
"Excuse me?"
"How do you know when you're in love?"
"That's a difficult answer. I'm sure its different for everybody, but if its the real thing you'll know it. If it isn't, you'll figure it out eventually."
"I thought I knew what love was once, but then Sakuramon went and ruined everything."
"So you two have a history then?"
"Yeah. A long history. We were... friends once, but then she..."
Gatomon trailed off. She moved on to another box and began digging through that.
"She what?" Wizardmon asked.
"It's too personal," Gatomon replied. "I don't want to talk about it."
Gatomon continued to examine the box's contents silently.
"She stole your boyfriend, didn't she?" Wizardmon attempted.
"I SAID I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT!" Gatomon roared. She leapt out of the box and marched to the door carrying a blue card. "I got what we're looking for. Let's go."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"This is some good fruit, Carl," Tapirmon said. "Sure you don't want some?"
"I'm not hungry," Carl replied.
"Suit yourself," Tapirmon said, scarfing down another piece of fruit.
"Can I have some too?"
"Sure, knock yourself out," Tapirmon said, passing some fruit.
"Oh, thank you."
"You're... Hey, who are you?"
"Huh?" the red reptile looked up from the fruit he was eating. "I'm sorry. The name's Guilmon. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Tapirmon," Tapirmon said. "And this is my partner, Carl."
"Partner?" Guilmon remarked. "You mean like..."
"No, no," Tapirmon replied, feeling a bit self-conscious now. "I meant he's not digital. He's from Earth."
"From Earth?" Guilmon noted. "What is he?"
"I'm an anthropomorphic bat," Carl answered. "What'd you think I was?"
"Sorry, I've never seen an Earthling before," Guilmon replied, eating some more fruit. "Still, you guys are a lot nicer than my brothers V-mon, Veemon and Veemon. They kicked me out because they didn't like me. They said was ugly, stupid, and ate too much. Can I have some more please?"
"Help yourself," Tapirmon said. Guilmon picked several off a nearby bush and chowed down on them.
"I know what it's like," Carl said. "What's it like to be picked on because you look different, or because your circadian rhythms are off by about twelve hours. The other kids didn't like me, so I didn't like them back. Me and society at large haven't been on speaking terms for quite awhile."
"So you don't have any friends?" Guilmon asked.
"Carl has plenty of friends," Tapirmon asked. "He just won't admit it."
"They're not my friends," Carl argued.
"They would be if you'd give them the chance instead of running away from them," Tapirmon said.
"I'm not afraid of them," Carl said.
"I didn't say you were, but obviously you're afraid they'll reject you. Don't let that fear rule you, Carl. At the very least don't let it keep you from your greatest chance of survival! And if your survival didn't mean anything to the others, they wouldn't've looked for you before and they wouldn't be looking for you now!"
"How do you even know that?"
"I know it because you know it. I may not be telepathic or have super-sonic hearing, but every once in a while you look like you've heard your own name being called out. They're looking for us right now, and you're worried about them not liking you?"
Carl sighed.
"You're right," he said. "They are looking for me, and I guess I am acting like a moron. They're looking for you too, Guilmon."
"They are?" Guilmon asked.
Carl nodded. "There are three other voices with them. Must be your brothers. Looks like its time for you to go home."
"Yay!" Guilmon cheered. "Where are they?"
Carl pointed off into the forest. Guilmon ran off in that direction, laughing.
"Guess we better be heading that way, too," Carl said. He spread his wings and flew.
"Hey, Carl," Tapirmon said.
Carl paused. "Yeah."
"If the others don't like you, I always will."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Caaaarrrrlllll...." Dizzy called out.
"Tapirmon, where are you?" Floramon shouted.
"Guilmon, get out here already!" V-mon yelled.
"Someone looking for a big, red Gila monster?" Carl said. He descended from the trees as Tapirmon and Guilmon emerged from the forest.
"You had us so worried!" Kelly said.
"I wasn't," Dizzy said.
"Don't run off like that again, Carl," Skeet said. "We can't afford to waste time looking for you again."
"All right, fine, geez," Carl said. "Don't get so worked up about it. You're not the only one who wants to get back home, you know."
"Guilmon, I believe your brothers have something they want to tell you," Hawkmon said.
"No we don't," Veemon said. "We just can't get back home without... OW!"
His brother elbowed him in the ribs.
"Don't say that, you dummy!" V-mon said. He then turned to Guilmon, put his hands together, and bowed respectfully. "We're sorry we kicked you out, Guilmon. We didn't mean the nasty things we said. I hope you can..."
"I'm not sorry," Veemon interrupted. "And I meant every word I said. I'm not apologizing to this stupid, ugly loser! I just wanna go home!"
"Me too!" the other Veemon agreed. "I hate Guilmon! Let's go home and say he's dead."
"Yeah!" V-mon said. "In fact, I take back everything I said! And you're fat, too!"
"I can't believe they're talking to him like that," Carl said.
"Yeah, it's so cruel," Tapirmon agreed.
"No, I mean he's bigger than all three of them!" Carl said. "What are they, crazy?"
Guilmon broke down and started crying.
"I guess he's a little sensitive," Tapirmon said. "He's probably younger than them. He's only a Rookie, you know."
"Something THAT big is a Rookie?"
Guilmon suddenly stopped crying and sniffed the air. His expression turned more feral as he lowered his head and began growling.
"Whoa, easy brother!" Veemon exclaimed. "We were just kidding! Honest!"
"Yeah!" his brother added. "Just foolin' around! Yankin' your chain!"
"In fact, I'd like to apologize for what I said just now!" V-mon continued. "Everything I ever said or did, for that matter! And everything I even considered doing and everything I'm going to do once I get up the nerve to pick on you again!"
"Not you," Guilmon said, pointing into the forest behind his brothers. "That!"
The Veemon brothers slowly turned around. Behind them, they saw a gleam of sunlight reflect off something in the shadows. A dark object suddenly burst out of the foliage. The Digimon dodged it, and it swooped up in the air and hung there.
"It's a Dark DigiEgg!" Skeet exclaimed.
"To be precise, it's the Dark DigiEgg of Friendship!" Hawkmon exclaimed. "It must've sensed the conflict between Guilmon and his brothers and came here looking for a host!"
"We gotta destroy that thing now!" Skeet proclaimed.
"Right!" Hawkmon agreed. He grabbed the feather off his bandana and threw it. "Feather Blade!"
"Deleting Virus!" Tapirmon declared, spewing a dark cloud at the Dark DigiEgg.
"Stamen Rope!" Floramon called out, the stamens in her hands lashing out like whips.
"Mini Shocker!" Kokuwamon said, shooting lightning bolts.
"Pyro Sphere!" Guilmon shouted, spitting out a dense ball of flame.
The attacks missed as the Dark DigiEgg ducked and weaved around them. Then it rocketed right for the Veemons. Guilmon knocked his brothers out of the way, but the Egg slammed into him. Electricity racked his body as it tried to burrow into him.
"Aw, man," Veemon gasped. "He took the hit for us!"
"Even though we were so mean to him!" his brother added.
"It really makes ya think, don't it?" V-mon remarked.
"You have to fight it, Guilmon!" Tapirmon pleaded. "Don't let the Egg take control!"
"I'm... trying..." Guilmon struggled. "But... I..." Guilmon suddenly screamed out in pain as energy surged through him. It caused him to stand up straight and cry out, "DARK DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!"
Everyone was knocked back as the air exploded around Guilmon.
"GUILMON, DARK-ARMOR DIGIVOLVE TO..."
Masked by electricity, Guilmon's form grew. His arms expanded and grew into front legs as he was forced downward into an equine stance. The electric aura burst apart, revealing black armor, back spikes, and purple skin. Possesed by his Dark Armor, this Digimon bellowed, "DARKRAIDRAMON, THE TEMPEST OF DISCORD!"
"G-Guilmon...?" V-Mon attempted to ask.
"Guilmon?" DarkRaidramon growled. "There is only DarkRaidramon now. Guilmon is dead, and soon you will be too! BLACK THUNDER!"
Dark energies crackled above DarkRaidramon's back spikes as it formed into a ball and launched at the Veemon brothers. Time suddenly seemed to slow down. Looking up, Tapirmon could see Carl's coin rising into the air. Reaching the height of its leap it paused in midair, spinning faster and faster. The air around it turned dark as the coin itself began to glow brightly and emit a high-pitched whine. For the briefest moment, it stopped, revealing a stylized yin-yang emblem that faced Tapirmon. The coin gleamed before exploding into energy that streaked down into Tapirmon. The energy struck, and the mystical mammal Digimon began to glow and grow.
"Tapirmon, digivolve to..."
Tapirmon's body and arms lengthened, and his smoke condensed into legs. The glow disappeared as his fur became dark flames. His face mask now lacked the fancy designs he had as Tapirmon. His eyes turned red for a moment as he called out, "DARKRIZAMON!"
Time returned to normal as the attack exploded, kicking up dirt. A few feet away, DarkRizamon rose from a crouching stance to reveal the Veemon brothers safe and sound. He stood and turned towards DarkRaidramon, saying, "The only way to remove that armor now is to beat it off you, so keep in mind that we're doing this for your own good!"
"Well, the only way to feast on your entrails is to beat them out of you," DarkRaidramon countered. "So keep in mind that I'm trying to kill you!"
"Uh, fair enough," DarkRizamon said. "DARK FLARE!"
"BLACK THUNDER!"
The Dark Digimon leapt into the air to avoid each other's respective attacks. They met in midair and DarkRizamon unleashed a barrage of claw swipes at DarkRaidramon.
"ELECTRIC BITE!"
DarkRaidramon clamped his jaws over DarkRizamon's shoulder and shocked him with a couple hundred volts of electricity. DarkRizamon landed in a heap and DarkRaidramon landed on all fours.
"Let's back him up!" Skeet declared.
"Yes, let's!" Hawkmon agreed.
"Goin' for it!" Kelly proclaimed.
"Gettin' on it!" Floramon added.
"Aye, captain!" Dizzy confirmed.
"Order confirmation 348 not found!" Kokuwamon said. "Kokuwamon, digivolve to..."
"Floramon, digivolve to..."
"Hawkmon, digivolve to..."
"MECHANORIMON!"
"KIWIMON!"
"VEEDRAMON!"
"You think I'm scared of you?" DarkRaidramon taunted, dashing off. "I'll take you all on!"
"Let's go!" Veedramon said as he and MechaNorimon ran after him. The three of them were running side-by-side as Veedramon shot out his "V-NOVA BLAST!"
"TWIN BEAM!" MechaNorimon fired lasers from his twin cannons.
DarkRaidramon skidded to a stop, letting the two attacks slam into the other two Digimon as they continued forward. The Dark Armor Digimon reversed course to head for the Veemons. Kiwimon stood between them as DarkRaidramon came to a halt in front of her.
"PUMMEL PECK!"
DarkRaidramon reared up as the DemiKiwimon projectiles bounced off his armor.
"BLACK THUNDER!"
As he came down, DarkRaidramon blasted her with the electric attack at point-blank range. Kiwimon was thrown over the Veemons' heads and crashed into a tree.
"Guilmon!" Veemon called out. "Please, don't hurt us!"
"We know you're in there, brother!" V-mon pleaded. "You have to take control Guilmon!"
"We never really hated you, Guilmon!" their brother said. "It was just stupid sibling rivalry! It meant nothing!"
"STOP CALLING ME GUILMON!" DarkRaidramon roared. "Your brother is gone! There is only DarkRaidramon now! Your pleas mean nothing!"
"SNIPE FANG!"
DarkRaidramon grunted in pain as one of his spikes was cut in half. He turned to see that DarkRizamon still stood.
"There isn't enough room on this island for two Dark Digimon," DarkRizamon growled. "So I'm voting you off! DARK FLARE!"
Black flame washed over DarkRaidramon, but he still stood when it ceased.
"A 'Survivor' reference and a western reference," noted DarkRaidramon. He smirked as steam rose from his armor. "How dated. I assure you, there is enough room for ALL of the Digimon who'll come from the Black Rain!"
DarkRizamon looked around. His comrades had been forced back to their Rookie states.
"Guilmon, listen," he said. "This isn't you. Not the innocent lizard that I probably spent all of two minutes getting to know. You have to fight the armor, Guilmon! Fight it! Fight it!"
"Quit trying to reason with me!" DarkRaidramon growled. "The power of the Dark DigiEgg is to chaotic to approach logically! If you want to survive, you must fight! BLACK..."
DarkRaidramon's attack was cut short as a shadow passed over them. A blue, lizard-like creature with white wings landed behind the brothers.
"Daddy!" the Veemons cheered.
"Father?" DarkRaidramon said.
"An ExVeemon?" DarkRizamon noted.
"What'd I miss?" ExVeemon asked. The Veemon brothers hurriedly explained everything all at once. "I see. Well, you're mother sent me out here because I made the stupid decision send you kids out here all alone after the Dark Rain. Guess she was right. Guilmon, you get out of that armor right now!"
"I will not give up this host," DarkRaidramon refused.
"Here, let me explain it too you," ExVeemon said, crossing his arms across his chest. "EXVEE-LASER!"
ExVeemon flung his arms open and fired an energy beam from the X-V logo on his chest. It slammed into DarkRaidramon, knocking him over. ExVeemon then leapt onto DarkRaidramon and wrestled him. ExVeemon eventually stood, holding up DarkRaidramon in a full-nelson hold.
"This'll only hurt for a second, son," ExVeemon warned. "DarkRizmon, finish him! Take the shot!"
"Got it!" DarkRizamon confirmed. His eyes glowed red as a red dot appeared on DarkRaidramon's head. "SNIPE FANG!"
A small projectile launched from DarkRizamon's mouth and bored through DarkRaidramon's head. The Dark Armor Digimon slumped and begun to glow, separating into Guilmon and the Dark DigiEgg. ExVeemon set Guilmon gently onto the ground, eyeing the Dark DigiEgg hovering before him the whole time.
"EXVEE-PUNCH!"
ExVeemon slammed a fist into the Egg, shattering it into pixels.
"Daddy...?" Guilmon moaned.
"It's alright, son," ExVeemon soothed, picking Guilmon up again. "You just rest now."
"Can we go home now?" Guilmon asked.
ExVeemon grinned and said, "Sure thing." With a more stern expression, he turned to his other sons and said, "Boys, don't you have something to say to your brother?"
"We're sorry Guilmon," V-mon said.
"Yeah, we're sorry we picked on you and got you possessed by that Dark DigiEgg," Veemon said.
"I just want to know why you put yourself in front that DigiEgg," their brother said.
"I didn't want you to get hurt," Guilmon replied.
"Even after we yelled at you like that?" Veemon asked.
"Of course," Guilmon answered.
"Why?" V-mon asked.
"Because," Guilmon said. "You're my brothers."
"Awwww..." everyone else cooed.
"Excuse me while I puke," Carl said.
"C'mon, kids," ExVeemon said, scooping up his remaining children and taking flight. "Let's go home."
"Family values is restored once again!" Skeet cheered.
"Really makes you think, doesn't it?" Kelly asked. "No matter how badly siblings treat each other, deep down inside they really love each other."
"I can relate," Dizzy said. "I got a lot of siblings."
"Me too," Kelly said.
"Me and my sister fight sometimes," Skeet said. "But we're cool."
"Carl?" Tapirmon prompted.
"Sorry," Carl said. "Only child."
"Want a sister?" everyone else offered.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
"I don't know about strip poker," Leomon said. "I think you have an unfair advantage over me."
"Stop hitting on the boss' daughter, Leo," Gatomon said as she and Wizardmon reentered the control room.
"Hey, I wasn't..." Leomon started.
"Here's your dumb card," Gatomon said to Sakuramon, forcing the card into her hands. "Now get on out of here! 'Git!"
"Don't worry, I'm going," Sakuramon said. At the door, she turned back to Gatomon and said, "Y'know, Gaty, you should consider working under me again. Obviously, we still work wonderfully together."
"Don't count on it!" Gatomon shrieked as Sakuramon left. "And don't call me Gaty!"
Well, Gatomon's certainly acting catty. She's having a regular hissy-fit!
Just what happened between Gatomon and Sakuramon?
Will Carl get over his insecurities?
Is Guilmon really adopted, or are his brothers just saying that?
Tune in next time, but until then...
TO BE CONTINUED...