Me: Okay, people-here we are! I don't own Digimon in any way, shape or form.

Rika: We already knew that! Just get on with the story already!

Me: I would, but I've got to answer some questions once more.

Rika: (grits teeth in irritation) Again?! How many people would want to talk to you?

Me: (irritated) Hey! The same question could be asked about you, couldn't it?

Takato: Okay, guys-ix-nay on the ighting-fay, huh?

Me: (sighs) Yeah, yeah, yeah. Anyway, to Adam-who, if I'm remembering this right is one of my anonymous reviewers-Final Justice is Gallantmon's main attack when he's in his Crimson Mode. It's roughly translated from "Quo Vadis." Also, since I've watched practically every single episode of Tamers from beginning to end, I'm 100% positive that PyroSphere is Guilmon's main attack and that PyroBlaster is Growlmon's.

Rika: (rolls eyes) Anything else anyone needs to know so we can finish this story up?

Me: Two more things-(laughs) I just had to say it! Anyway, I've changed the summary of this so it would fit with what the Tamers have to face. Mainly, they've got to stop the Ice-Reaper from carrying out his plan. Finally, I would like to introduce my Digimon partner, BlackTerriermon!

(BlackTerriermon enters in, eating a rather big sandwich)

Takato: (yanks out Digivice; scans BT) Whoa! BlackTerriermon: A Data-type Digimon. Interesting. His Dark Tornado and Crimson Blast attacks are just as deadly as if Terriermon himself had fired them!

Rika: (screams) Another lop-eared rabbit to eventually pummel into dirt?! Why me?

BlackTerriermon: (mouth filled with food) Momentai!

Me: Hey-what did I say about talking with your mouth full?









Digimon Tamers: A Rukato Wedding

Chapter VII-Welcome Home







"She will be the best-just like me!" -Rika Nonaka, To Fight, or not to Fight

"We can't just leave them behind!" -Takato Matsuki, Janyu's Ark







When Takato and Guilmon were trapped inside a block of ice, Rika got so furious, she ordered Taomon to Digivolve to Sakuyamon-without even Biomerging! Her data was corrupted thanks to Rika's anger and she Digivolved to Kuzuhamon, Sakuyamon's darker half! When she realized what she'd done, only moments after Takato and Guilmon were freed, Rika went into a monotonous state, and Takato did some quick soul searching. While those two were trying to find themselves, the Ice-Reaper and Lady Sakuyamon started hammering away at the other Tamers, and Kuzuhamon was beaten in battle by the Assassin Digimon! Eventually, Takato realized that Rika had only done what she did because she loved him enough to venture into darkness. And Rika realized that rash decision-making normally led to catastrophe. So, together, the Tamers Biomerged with their partners and destroyed Lady Sakuyamon. But, now, the team's got an even bigger problem to solve-how are they gonna stop the Ice-Reaper from carrying out his plan to freeze the sun? And are Takato and Rika ever gonna get married?







Narrowing his eyes until they were slits, Takato stared out through Gallantmon's eyes at the rapidly disappearing figure of the Ice-Reaper. There was no way he was ever going to let this monstrosity loose in Shinjuku again!

"Takato-look!" Confused, Takato turned his attention away from the Ice-Reaper and saw the entire structure of the Digital World!

"Huh? But, Guilmon-we're inside a portal! How can we be passing through the Digital World when we're not even in the Digital World?!"

"I don't know, but this can't be a good thing."

Grunting lightly, Takato refocused his attention back to what was in front of him, and to his surprise, he didn't see anything-not even the Ice-Reaper's wings!

"Aw, nuts! Where'd he go?"

"Hey, Gogglehead!"

Smirking inside his sphere, Takato took notice that Sakuyamon had finally managed to catch up with him, a cynical look on the Mega Digimon's face.

"You weren't planning on deleting him by yourself, were you?"

"Who-me? No, no-of course not!" Takato laughed weakly while, inside her own sphere, Rika rolled her eyes at her fiancee's futile attempt to cover up the truth. "I was just, uh-waiting for you! Yeah, that's it."

"Right."

"Hey, Romeo and Juliet-wait for us!" Terriermon yelled out as, within seconds, MegaGargomon, SaberLeomon, Justimon, Beelzemon and the other Tamers-which would include Susie, Ai and Mako-appeared around or above Gallantmon and Sakuyamon, abruptly ending all conversation.

"Hey! How are you gonna compare us to those two?! They ended up dead!" Rika spat out impatiently while struggling with the urge to strangle the Rabbit Digimon, Mega mode or not!

"That's just what might happen one day if you two don't settle down and get hitched. Hint-hint."

Henry chuckled lightly inside his sphere and advised, "Ignore him. He still wants to be the Ring Mon."

"Well, if the world is destroyed by the Ice-Reaper, there won't be a wedding, 'cause we'll all probably be dead-except for Rika."

Irritated, Sakuyamon glared at Justimon while growling in Rika's voice, "Who asked for your opinion in this matter?! I know Takato didn't ask you, and I wouldn't ask if you were dying of thirst!"

"Glad to see monotony hasn't changed you, Rika."

"For those of you just joining us..."

"Terriermon!"

"Enough chatter!" Gallantmon demanded heatedly as a bright light suddenly appeared in view and steadily got bigger. Within seconds, they vanished, and reappeared in...









"Okay, everyone-do exactly what I do! You put your right hand in; you put your right hand out-you put your right hand in, and you shake it all about! You do the hokey-pokey and you turn yourself around! That's what it's all about!"

Kenta groaned while various people started booing Kazu for his latest attempt at keeping the guests from leaving-dancing to the "hokey-pokey."

"I warned Kazu that doing this would only lead to trouble, but he just didn't listen." Guardromon sighed while attempting to exit stage right.

"Your friend's crazy." MarineAngemon giggled lightly inside Kenta's pocket while his Tamer nodded in agreement.

"More like insane, but you got it right in one, buddy."

"Come on, everybody-its what Takato would want! You put your left hand in; you put your left hand out-you put your left hand in, and you shake it all about-"

"Everybody-stop the music!"

Kazu groaned sadly while everyone else sighed in relief at no longer having to listen to the two Tamers on stage. Eventually, everybody's attention was focused on Takato, Jeri, Kazu and Kenta's former teacher, Ms. Asagi, who had on her worried face. That meant only one thing.

"We've got problems! The Digimon are back, and so is some...thing else!"

"Just great. Once again, Chumly and the others are always hogging the spotlight." Kazu muttered.

"Let's find them!"

Confused, Kazu turned to MarineAngemon-who'd popped out of Kenta's pocket-and asked with a perplexed look on his face, "Come again?"

"He's saying that we leave the crowd to themselves for now and go help out our friends." Kenta translated.

Laughing, Kazu said, "Then what are we standing around here for? Hang on, guys-we're coming to the rescue!"

"Onward to victory!" Guardromon spoke out. Amazed, Kazu and Kenta turned to face the Champion Digimon, who stood there impassively.

"You said for me to come up with my own lines, and I did!"







Politely, Takato's parents, Rika's mother, grandmother and Henry's parents excused themselves from the crowd of mulling people and gathered where Yamaki, Riley, Shibumi and Dolphin-the only Monster Makers who could actually attend the wedding ceremony-were waiting.

"I was hoping it wouldn't come to this, but it looks like it has. The Tamers weren't able to defeat this entity in his own world, so he has brought them home so they can witness the destruction of not only our world, but the Digital World as well." Yamaki had been blunt, but he had been straightforward as well.

"What about the ring? Has it been...?"

With a tiny smile, Shibumi turned to Janyu with a sympathetic look on his face. "No, it hasn't. But that won't mean it won't be. And when it does, all we can do is pray."

"About what? What's going on here?" Janyu grimaced as he found himself being stared at by Takato's father, who had a demanding tone in his voice. As for Takato's mother, she not only had a worried look plastered onto her face, but also an angry one.

"And where is Takato? Why hasn't he shown up yet?"

"Or Rika? This money may be going down the drain, but I want my daughter safe in my arms so I can yell at her face-to-face!"

Sighing, Janyu took notice that Yamaki was now staring at a laptop, an intense gaze in his eyes that would be hard to break, but if he was right, he would have to. Calmly walking over to the former Hypnos worker, he took one glance at the screen and nodded once. Then, he quickly turned the laptop around so that the screen was now seen by the other anxious parents. His gaze wavered for only a moment, but Yamaki eyed Janyu and said, "I was observing that for evidence."

"They need answers, Yamaki. Only a visual aid can help them out." Clearing his throat, Janyu looked up at his wife and at the other parents before explaining. "It all started back when we, the Monster Makers, had been banned from the Digimon project..."







"So...where is he?" The group of Mega Digimon found themselves gazing at a perfectly normal sky, while Susie, Lopmon, Calumon, Ai and Mako gently landed safely on the ground.

"It's like he vanished into thin air!" Justimon noted.

"No kidding!" MegaGargomon retorted.

"If we all just stay calm and think this through..." SaberLeomon began, but never got to finish as, suddenly, the team of Mega Digimon groaned in pain and silent agony as their bodies started glowing brightly!

"Guilmon, what's going on?" Takato cried worriedly as, once again, everything around him turned black, but this time, his sphere disappeared entirely!

"I don't know, Takato...I feel strange..."

"Renamon, what's happening?" Rika asked as the same thing that was happening to Takato was also happening to her!

"I'm getting weaker, Rika...I can't hold this form!"

"Terriermon, are you okay?" Henry yelled frantically as everything started going dark.

"This isn't supposed to be happening to us, Henry, and yet, it is!"

"Cyberdramon, what's wrong?!"

"I don't know..."

"Leomon, what is it?" Jeri worriedly looked around as everything went dark like it had with the other Tamers!

"Hang on, Jeri...I may not be able to hold this form, but I won't let you down!"

"Impmon, what's wrong with you?" Ai and Mako cried up to Beelzemon, who was moaning and clutching his sides in torment.

"I don't know, guys...Make a landing pad or something, 'cause I think we're all gonna need it!"

"This isn't good...not good at all!" Calumon admitted as, seconds later, the Mega Digimon all separated from their Tamers-with the exception of Beelzemon-and deDigivolved back into their Rookie forms, Leomon and Cyberdramon excluded!

"What gives?!" Terriermon exclaimed irately as he hopped up onto Henry's shoulder. "One minute, we're all pumped up and ready to beat that Ice-Reaper guy into oblivion, then shoop! we're back to square one all over again."

Slightly confused, Takato noticed that in his back pocket, he still had the Red card Beelzemon had tossed to him earlier.

"You think it might have something to do with this?"

"Probably." Henry agreed while thinking it over. "That card was designed to help us-eventually-fight in other realms, right? So, I figure, now that we're back in our own world, we don't need the energy from the Red card anymore."

"Hold onto it for a while." Rika advised to her fiance, putting the Red card back into his back pocket. "You've kept it in safe keeping before, haven't you?"

Blushing heavily, Takato stammered, "Well, now that you mention it, Rika, I...well, uh..."

"Can't wait until the honeymoon, can't you, Rika?" Terriermon had a devilish smile on his face.

Rika's cheeks flared a bright color of pink before she started forward, her hands held out in a murderous nature, until Takato held her back!

"Rika, wait! He was only kidding! You don't have to kill him!"

"He's laughing, Takato! I don't think that rabbit is 'only kidding!'"







The Ice-Reaper watched this scene from directly above the Tamers' heads, completely invisible to the naked eye. Once he'd entered into the Tamers' world, he instantly shimmered out of view so, once the Tamers returned, as he knew they would, he would be able to hear their plans. So far, he hadn't heard anything interesting. The Mega Digimon decided to spice things up. To do that, he started laughing rather loudly so his laughter would carry. When it did, the Tamers immediately looked around, serious looks appearing on their faces!

"Where are you?! Show yourself!" Rika demanded furiously, feeling Takato's hand clasp her own and giving it a gentle squeeze.

"That's for me to know, and you to find out. Oh, I do plan on carrying out my motive concerning the sun, but I want to do it at a place all of you find so close, so binding and filled with memories...Until then..."

Takato gritted his teeth when it clicked. "The park! He's gonna go to the park and freeze the sun from there!"

"But that park is big and huge!" Terriermon protested.

"We would cover more ground if we split up." Renamon suggested.

"Split us into teams, Takato." Guilmon said bravely. Takato sweatdropped-and gulped-when he saw that everyone was looking at him.

"Okay...(thanks, Guilmon!)...uh, here goes! Henry, Jeri-you two, Terriermon and Leomon can go down the east end of the park and start there. Uh...Ryo! You, Cyberdramon, Ai, Mako and Impmon can go down north end of the park. Susie, you and Lopmon will have to travel down the south end of the park alone, but-"

"Hold on a minute, Chumly! Don't leave us out of this, like your girl left us out of the other battle!" Kazu yelled out as he, Kenta, MarineAngemon and Guardromon flew in.

"What are you two doing here?! What about the guests?" Rika ranted impatiently, but Kazu waved her off.

"Relax, Queenie. Your guests are busy watching that Ice-Reaper's minions attack you and our 'Holy Knight' for the umpteenth time."

Rika once again started forward an angry scowl on her face, but Takato and Renamon had to stop her.

"Thanks for keeping the guests occupied, guys! Now, go with Susie and Lopmon and hunt down the south end of the park for the Ice-Reaper. That leaves me, Rika, Guilmon, Renamon and-"

"Me!" Calumon interrupted as he hopped into Rika's arms; the latter sighed in defeat while holding a hand to her forehead and muttering, "Why me?"

"-and Calumon to look over the west end of the park. We'll all recovene back at where Guilmon used to live at..." Takato quickly checked his watch-it was now 10:30 A.M. "...at 11:05. See you then!"







The Ice-Reaper grinned as he started forward. He'd gotten enough information now to know precisely where to go in order to carry out his plan. All he had to do was to go to the west end of Shinjuku Park and wait for Rika there. Of course, he wouldn't just invite Rika in for the fun and leave her friends feeling left out. With the Spiritual Ring on hand, he could also call up evil Digimon to keep them occupied long enough for them to watch their precious sun turn into a gigantic ball of ice.

"It feels soooooooo good to be bad..."

I'd say the Tamers have their hands full with treacherous ice! Can they really stop the Ice-Reaper? We'll find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!