Me: Okay, people-I don't own Digimon, as usual. Ack!

Takato: (starts choking me) Listen, and listen well-I am gonna find Rika in this chapter, right?

Me: (struggles to breathe) Yeah...you'll find her...

Takato: Okay! (releases me)

Me: (gasps for breath)

Terriermon: (smirks) You've got some sort of plan for our hero, don't ya?

Me: Mmm-hmm. Don't mention this to anyone else, or the punishment would be dire.

Terriermon: (gulps) How dire?

Me: It would involve a cameo role as "Princess Pretty Pants" for, about a year, at most.

Terriermon: Your secret is safe with me!







Digimon Tamers: Tamers V.S. Dracula

Chapter IV-Rika's New Look







"Nothing can beat us when we stick together, right?" -Guilmon

"That's just it, Guilmon...we have to find her!" -Takato Matsuki









Once Takato and Guilmon Biomerged to reform Gallantmon, the battle didn't exactly get off to a great start! Why? 'Cause no matter what the Mega Digimon tried to do, Dracula just kept counteracting his every move. Even when MegaGargomon and Sakuyamon entered into the fray, it didn't help out much. Within minutes, the three Tamers and their Digimon were beaten by a spell the Prince of Darkness had cast, and only a timely appearance by Kazu, Guardromon and SaberLeomon was able to save Takato in time. Things went from bad to worse when Dracula suddenly captured Rika and took her away! Can Takato pull himself together and save Rika by nightfall? I sure hope so!







Morning had finally arrived in the province known as Transylvania, but for Takato, he saw nothing but pure darkness. Ever since he'd been brought back to the hotel room he and Rika shared-even though it had been for half a night-Takato couldn't stop his tears. He'd failed in what he'd vowed he would do, what he promised Rika's mother and grandmother he would do-to keep her safe from any harm. The other Tamers and Digimon were all patiently waiting outside the door, hearing his racked, silent sobs.

"So, he's been in there ever since 4:00 this morning? That's harsh." Ryo noted. Irritated, Jeri whacked him on the ribs a second later.

"And you wonder why Rika loves Takato and despises you-must be your personalities." Terriermon cracked, a grin on the Rookie Digimon's face.

"Someone should go in there and talk to him, and since Rika isn't here, I guess I'll have to go in." Jeri said while opening the door and going inside.

"Jeri! If Rika was here, this thing wouldn't even be happening in the first place!" Henry yelled out.

"Yeah! Those two would probably be doing the horizontal-" Terriermon began, but Henry grabbed his partner and covered his mouth at that instant.

"That's it-no more Discovery Channel for you, Terriermon."

"What? It's the truth, isn't it?"

The Tamers and Digimon simply laughed weakly; Susie, Calumon and Guilmon had confused looks on their faces. Leomon and Renamon ignored the spectacle entirely, the former waiting for Jeri's return, the latter staring at the door Jeri had just walked into.

"Out of all the Tamers here, you weren't the one I expected to have a common bond with when it came to Rika's safety. But from the way you're acting now, it sounds like your pain is emotional, internal and heartfelt; my pain treads along those lines, but I wouldn't reveal my own emotions publicly. Takato, we will find Rika and bring her back home, no matter what. I promise you that."







"Takato?"

Sniffling, Takato looked up from his position on the bed and saw Jeri with a worried look in her eyes.

"Hey, Jeri. Why aren't you out there with Henry and the rest?"

"I couldn't just leave you like this. Your still my friend, and when you get like this, it worries me. Shouldn't you at least try to come up with some sort of plan to save Rika?"

"Usually, I leave all the planning up to Rika." Takato grinned weakly while wiping away his tears at that moment.

"It was my fault...if I hadn't let my guard down last night, Rika wouldn't have gotten kidnapped and I wouldn't be a basketcase right now-"

"Don't you dare blame yourself!" Jeri suddenly demanded, holding onto Takato's shoulders with both hands. "You didn't know that whoever we were facing last night-"

"That was Dracula, the 'fictional' vampire." Takato briefly interrupted calmly.

"-would want to battle with you guys, and according to Leomon, he already knew about us. Next time, we'll be more prepared for him, right?"

"Sure-you bring the garlic, I'll bring the crosses."

Grinning, Jeri reached into her pocket and yanked out that puppet and quickly placed it onto her hand! Takato sweatdropped and laughed nervously as she started talking-in the puppet's voice. "Ruff! So, are you ready to go and save Rika from that mean old vampire, Takato?"

"Okay. Why not?"







"Okay, guys-this is Operation: Save Our Soldier!" Takato began, but Kazu interrupted.

"Hold on there, Chumly-doesn't that spell, 'S.O.S.?'"

Groaning under his breath, Takato refrained from striking Kazu and nodded before continuing. "All right. By the time we reach the Transylvanian Alps, it should be around mid-afternoon. We're going in with the hopes that Dracula will be resting and attempting to restore the energy lost during our first attack last night. While Henry, Jeri, Susie, Kazu and Kenta sneak in through the back, Ryo and I will go in through the front, our Digimon with us. Renamon will be our point mon, warning us of any surprises or traps. Now-does everyone understand what they're going to do? We sneak in, find Rika, get her out as well as ourselves."

The Tamers-including Susie-nodded in agreement.

"Perfect. Now-onward to...ahhhhhh!!"

Takato gasped loudly as he felt something deep inside his body be forcibly removed. As if on instinct, the Tamer moved his hand toward his neck. He felt two tiny holes appearing on the side of his neck-Jeri's compact mirror was all the proof he needed. Renamon felt a similar kind of pain, but it wasn't as extreme as Takato's had been.

"Takatomon, what's wrong?"

"Hey, Takato, you doing okay?"

Eyeing Guilmon and Calumon, Takato smiled faintly at them both before attempting to stand up. "I'm all right, guys. Really."

"Are you okay, Takato?" Henry asked cautiously. Looking at the others, Takato nodded before heading out the door. He didn't want to tell them what had just happened, what he feared had happened. He knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that the link between himself and Rika had been severed dramatically...and he didn't know if it was permanent or not.









Surprisingly enough, Takato would have been right. If they'd left at the hour Takato had suggested, then they might've made it to the Transylvanian Alps at 3:00 in the afternoon, but it was now around six, the sun slowly setting.

"Okay-a slight change of plans. Ryo, you go with everyone else around the back. Go now!"

Staring at Takato with a look that stated, "are you nuts?," Ryo asked, "What are you talking about? You are going to need backup, or have you suddenly become Batman and/or Robin without telling us?"

"That's why I have Guilmon, Renamon, and for Digivolving purposes only, Calumon. Now, get going! Besides, I thought Cyberdramon appreciated sneaking in from the back."

Grumbling under his breath, Ryo and Cyberdramon went to catch up with the others.

"You felt it too, didn't you?"

Takato knew precisely what Renamon was talking about, so he wasn't deterred by her blunt statement a bit.

"Yeah, I did. The only problem is that I don't know why it happened, if it even happened at all. I mean, why would these spasms of pain just shoot out at us like peashooters or something?"

"I can answer that for you, Gogglehead."

Gasping, Takato and the Digimon looked up to see Rika, clothed in her usual attire, with a slight difference-she was waiting at the steps to the castle instead of approaching them with outstretched arms.

"Rika! It's so great to see you! But, what are you doing out here? We were just coming to rescue you."

"You've read Stoker's book, right, Takato? 'Welcome to my house! Enter freely and of your own will.'" Rika grinned evilly as Takato started coming closer to her.

"I remember that from some book, but Rika-this isn't your home. Remember? Home's back at Shinjuku, where your mom and grandma are still waiting for us."

"Gee, a mother and a grandmother? In all honesty, I don't remember having those types of people in my life-not those who would care about me." Rika added mockingly.

"Please, Rika...snap out of it! It's me-Takato! Your special Gogglehead? Your future husband? Don't you remember the ring I gave you when the Digimon came back?" Takato croaked sadly, holding out the ring that looked like a broken heart, but a quick glance at the sun made it look completely whole. He'd found it moments after Rika had been captured the previous night. A second later, Guilmon, Renamon and Calumon all grabbed Takato and held him back.

"Takato, stop!" Renamon demanded.

"Takato, that's not Rika anymore!" Guilmon insisted.

"Normally, I'd want to give Rika a hug, but not this Rika!" Calumon added.

Struggling with his tears once again, Takato asked, "What are you guys talking about?! Of course that's Rika! It's not like she's changed over the course of one day..." At that second, Takato remembered what had occurred when he felt the connection between himself and Rika break-exquisite pain radiating from the top of his head to the tips of his toes, two tiny holes appearing on the side of his neck and even more tinier drops of blood also appearing, but was dripping down his neck at the same time. Understanding came to Takato in a flash, and he yanked out a cross that he'd bought on the way back to the castle!

"Where's the real Rika?!" Angered, Rika hissed while stepping back inside the castle's doors.

"I am Rika...at last. The wimpy girl you thought you knew like the back of your hand...she's gone, and there's no bringing her back."

"You're wrong!" Takato screamed angrily. "Rika, you've got to remember who you are-what we mean to each other. Please, stop this! I know you can!"

"I warned you I would require another match, to see if you had learned not to underestimate me. Apparently, you haven't. Even the most experienced Tamer would have guessed that I would drink the blood of the Digimon Queen, and she, in turn, would drink mine as well." Dracula declared as he appeared behind Rika.

Takato felt like throwing up at that moment. "Is...is that true, Renamon?"

"Obviously, you haven't read up on vampires lately, Takato. Rika might have to remedy that when we get her back." Renamon quickly explained the procedure on how vampires were sired. "Basically, a vampire drinks a human's blood, but, in order for that human to become a vampire, he-or she-must drink from the vampire's blood almost immediately afterwards. Now, there should be a chance that we can save Rika, if we can defeat the vampire who sired her."

"Just great. And the vampire who 'sired' her is probably the one who's behind her now." Takato quipped sarcastically.

"And as long as she doesn't drink anyone's blood."

Takato slapped himself in the head. "That could be a problem."

"Not for you, and not for the others." Rika said as her violet eyes suddenly changed into a bright red color and fangs appeared inside her mouth. Hissing, Rika launched herself directly at Takato's neck!

This could be a problem! Can Takato save Rika and defeat Dracula all at the same time? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!