Digimon Adventure Tamers
Chapter 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon
This is it. The Digidestined and the Digimon Tamers will finally meet face-to-face. And while they will get along in the beginning, Rika is not going to get along well with either Yolei or Cody, the reason being Yolei and Cody's refusal to kill real Digimon, as well as their personalities being the same in the show: Yolei as loud and annoying, and Cody being too strict and distrustful of most people.
Now then...on to the meeting!
(Play The Biggest Dreamer: TV Size)
(Play Digimon Tamers: Aban)
After losing a soccer game to Davis, Ken Ichijouji, the Digimon Emperor, executed a plan for revenge, kidnapping Davis's teammates and holding them hostage, forcing Davis to surrender. Before Deltamon could kill Davis, Ryo and Strikedramon arrived, the latter forcing Ken to retreat from the might of his power. When asked where he has been, Ryo says he has brought friends with him.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Subtitle 2)
The Grand Meeting! Digidestined and Digimon Tamers
"So you all got the message?" Izzy asked everybody in the computer room. Tai, Matt, Sora, Mimi and Joe were also in the room, their Digimon partners by their sides as always. The older Digidestined had received a message a few minutes ago from Yolei, telling them to come to computer room immediately, as it was a very important matter. The message slightly annoyed some of the Digidestined, who were busy with other matters, such as Mimi and Matt, who had to leave their cheerleading and band practice respectively.
"Yeah, what's this important business Yolei's talking about?" asked Sora.
"I'm not sure," said Izzy, typing on his computer and observing the grid map. "I sent them a message telling them we're all here now. It's going to take them a few minutes to find a Digital Gate; Yolei said their coordinates are from the Valley of Death."
"The Valley of Death?" asked Agumon. "Why are they there? There's not much there."
"True, but maybe the Digimon Emperor put up a Control Spire there," said Tentomon.
"So, what do you think the younger kids want to talk with us about?" Joe asked curiously. Matt's expression went from annoyed to thoughtful, a certain subject in his mind.
"I think I may have an idea what they want to talk about," the blond-haired boy said, getting everybody's attention, while Gabumon also had the same idea as well by just looking at Matt's posture and face.
"What is it, exactly Matt?" asked Tai. Matt breathed deep before giving his answer, which surprised everybody.
"The Digimon Emperor is the other kid that Davis and Ryo fought with against Millenniummon?!" yelled Izzy.
"Yes, and no, Davis didn't tell me who he really is," said Matt. "He wasn't ready yet, and I respected his decision."
"So do you think he told the other younger kids?" asked Gomamon.
"Maybe," said Sora, "and I think they called us here so they could tell us."
"If that's true, then I can see why it would be important business," said Tai, realizing the importance now. The sound of beeping came from the computer and Izzy looked over to see a blinking green light. Gasping when he realized what it meant, the red-haired boy moved away from the computer, pulling Tentomon into his arms.
"Everybody get back, they're coming through!" The older Digidestined moved away from the computer as the screen lit up, spitting out Yolei and Poromon first, followed by Cody and Upamon, TK and Patamon, Kari and Gatomon, and finally Davis and DemiVeemon.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Adventure Heart ~Daisuke no Theme~)
"Welcome back, guys," said Tai. The other Digidestined merely nodded, their expressions grim-looking. "So from the looks on your faces, I think something happened?"
"Um…well…I guess you could say that," said Yolei, twirling her hair abysmally.
"Yolei, what's wrong?" asked Palmon, looking up at the lavender-haired girl. Yolei said nothing, which led to Cody answering.
"We found out the identity of the Digimon Emperor," the young boy said, confirming Matt's suspicions.
"Who is it?" Sora looked over to Davis, the burgundy-haired boy still looking over his shoulder.
"Hang on a minute, we're still one short."
"One short?" asked a confused Biyomon. "But you're all here, right?"
"Yeah, but there's one more…oh, here he comes!" The screen lit up again and the younger Digidestined moved away, walking up to the older Digidestined.
"Wait, what's going on? Who's coming through?" Izzy's question was answered when two black shapes flew out of the computer and landed on the floor of the lab. When the light faded, the two figures were revealed.
"Hey guys!" Ryo Akiyama said happily.
"Did you miss us?" Monodramon asked, his smile as big as Ryo's. Nobody in the room spoke as the older Digidestined and their partners simply stared, their eyes wide and their jaws dropping to the floor.
"No way…Ryo?!" asked Tai.
"In the flesh," said Ryo. The brown-haired boy gasped suddenly when he felt something heavy jump into his arms. Looking down, Ryo saw that hugging him was Agumon, the very first friendly Digimon he met before his partner.
"Ryo! Welcome back, old friend!"
"Easy, Agumon! It's good to see you again, but can you get off? You're heavy!"
"Sorry," Agumon said sheepishly, sliding out of Ryo's arms. The older boy turned back to the Digidestined, only to be met with a slap to the face. Holding a hand to his cheek, Ryo looked up to see Mimi's glaring face.
"Ow! Mimi, what was that for?!"
"For disappearing on us, and on me!" the pink-haired girl said angrily. "You promised to go on a date with me, and then you decide to go and vanish in some other dimension!"
"Oh geez, this again!" Ryo sighed. "Mimi, I never promised a date with you! You came up to me and asked me on a date, and I said I'd look into it! Besides, I didn't plan on going to another dimension!"
"You said you'd look into it!" Mimi said with an indignant huff. "So you still owe me a date!"
"All right, that's enough Mimi," Izzy grumbled, wrapping an arm around Mimi and pulling her back to the other Digidestined. The red-haired boy then turned back to Ryo.
"Ryo, is it true that you ended up in another dimension? And if you did, then how did you get back here?"
"It's a long story Izzy, but I think Davis and the others were going to tell you something," Ryo responded, getting everybody's attention back on the younger generation.
"Yeah, you said you knew who the Digimon Emperor was," said Mimi. "So who is it?"
Davis took in a deep breath before he answered.
"The Digimon Emperor is Ken Ichijouji."
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Sorosoro Yuuhan da ne)
"No way! The genius kid from Tamachi?!" gasped Izzy.
"He did seem sort of creepy from what I saw of him on TV, but I never thought him as someone like that," Mimi said in mild surprise.
"That can't be!" said Matt.
"Holy smokes!" yelled Joe.
"How is that possible?" asked Sora.
"So that means Ken went into the Digital World two years ago with you guys to fight Millenniummon," Tai said, looking to both Davis and Ryo.
"Yes, and he was a completely different person before," Ryo said sadly.
"I don't understand why someone so talented and capable would do all that chaos to the Digital World," Cody said thoughtfully.
"I knew who Ken was," Kari spoke up, getting everybody to look at her. "Davis told me the other day, and I promised I wouldn't tell anyone."
"I know the news of Ken being the Digimon Emperor is shocking, but please understand, the boy you've been seeing the last few times is not the Ken Ichijouji Davis and I knew well," said Ryo.
"He was completely different," Davis added, a sad look on his face. "I have no idea what could have made him do this." Kari frowned sadly, taking Davis's hand into her own for comfort.
"I know what made him like this," Ryo said, getting everybody to look at him again.
"You do? Do you think you can tell us?" Matt asked almost immediately.
"Yes, but not here," said Ryo, going over to the computer and typing on the keyboard. "We'll go to File Island first."
"File Island?" Patamon asked, confused. "Why do we need to go to File Island?"
"Because we didn't come back alone," answered Monodramon. Ryo finished typing on the keyboard, pulling out his D-Arc, which the older Digidestined noticed now.
"Wait Ryo, what is that?" Tai asked, looking at the dark blue device.
"This is my Digivice," Ryo said, showing it to everybody. "It changed, just like Davis's, and Ken's…and Kari and TK's."
"Yeah, I forgot to mention that!" said Yolei. "When Ryo saved us from Ken, he had these cards that he slid through his Digivice! He said something that I think was 'Digi-Modify' and Monodramon Digivolved to Champion level, despite a Control Spire in the area, and he took down eleven Champion level Digimon and destroyed the Control Spire in less than a minute!"
"You're kidding!" Izzy gaped, looking at the device. "Ryo, how did this happen?"
"It happened when I went into that other dimension with Monodramon," explained Ryo. "And it's called a D-Arc now."
"D-Arc…prodigious…" Izzy muttered, marveling at the blue and white device.
"Like Monodramon said, we didn't come back alone," said Ryo. "We brought some friends with us, and we'd like you to meet them. They're on File Island right now. So if you can all gather around…" Ryo held his D-Arc up to the screen.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Saa, Digital World e Ikou!)
"Wait a minute! Can you open the Digital Gate with your…your D-Arc?" Cody asked curiously.
"I tried it out when I got here, and I can," said Ryo, his arm still raised. "Hang on, everybody! Digital Gate, Open!" The screen beeped once before glowing brightly, and the large group of twenty-four was sucked into the Digital Gate. When the light faded from their eyes, the Digidestined found themselves in a forest. Looking off to the side, Patamon gasped when he saw something familiar.
"Look up there! It's Infinity Mountain!" The Digidestined looked around and saw the giant mountain in the distance.
"Holy smokes!" gasped Yolei. "That's gotta be the biggest mountain I have ever seen!"
"All right guys, if I'm right, then the rest of my friends will be in Primary Village," said Ryo, looking down a certain path. "The Digital Gate we went through is a few miles from here, so let's get going."
"The sooner we get there, the better," said Davis, eager to know what Ryo had been up to since he last saw him, as well desperate to know what caused Ken's change in personality.
"Then let's go!" Ryo led the way to Primary Village with Davis and Tai right behind him. The other Digidestined trailed behind, with Yolei and Cody trailing far behind. Cody looked up and saw the saddened look on Yolei's face. Cody didn't need a genius IQ to realize Yolei was said that a boy she had an insane crush on was evil all along.
"Yolei…I know…it seems hard right now…but Ken's just one guy…"
"Oh, what do you know?" Yolei muttered bitterly. "You're only ten years old! Besides, I don't think you're interested that much in romance."
"Well, not right now," said Cody. "But Yolei, you should get over it. If Ken's not who you thought he was, then you can certainly do better."
"Maybe…" Yolei sighed sadly before looking around the forest. The lavender-haired girl stopped when she noticed a vending machine wedged between two trees. Yolei had to blink several times and clean her glasses with her bandana to make sure she was seeing things right.
"Cody, you're seeing this, right?"
"If you mean a vending machine in the middle of the forest, then yes," Cody said, surprised as well. "I wonder how it got here."
"Well, the Digital World can be a crazy place," said Armadillomon. Yolei shrugged and went over to the machine, pulling out a coin.
"Yolei, what are you doing?" asked Hawkmon.
"I need something to drink when I feel down," Yolei said, slipping the coin through the machine. Several seconds passed, and no drink came out of the hole, much to Yolei's annoyance.
"Come on, you stupid machine! Give me my root beer!" the girl yelled, kicking the machine swiftly.
"Yolei, I highly doubt the machine works since it's in a place with no appliances," said Cody. "And we should get back to the others, or else we'll lose sight of them…"
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Zukkoke, Okkake, Oosawagi!)
"Where's my soda?!" Yolei kicked the machine again, and the door suddenly popped off, knocking Yolei off her feet. Looking up, Yolei screamed when she saw that in the machine was not soda, but many green slug-like Digimon with red eyes and purple spots. The slugs moved past Yolei and Cody, who had dumbfounded looks on their faces, as well as Hawkmon and Armadillomon.
"What…was…that?!" Yolei yelled, standing back up the moment the last slug left, wiping the slime off of her shirt with a look of disgust on her face.
"Did you try to get a soda?" Yolei looked over to see Mimi and Palmon, the duo of Sincerity giggling at the sight.
"Yeah, what was that? Who were those slugs?"
"Those were Numemon," said Palmon. "They love to hide in those vending machines."
"You could have told me that before," Yolei grumbled as she continued following the Digidestined to Primary Village.
In the village, the Digimon Tamers were sitting around and talking amongst themselves, with Henry learning about the Elecmon the other Tamers were told about.
"So there's an Elecmon out there that's partnered to a Digidestined?"
"Yeah, apparently he was partnered to a Digidestined before Tai's group came here," answered Takato. "Do you remember what Gennai said near the end of the first season?"
"That there was a Digidestined group before them? Yeah," said Henry. "I wonder if that Elecmon is one of the original Digimon partners, then."
"I'm not sure," said Kazu. "When we saw the original Digidestined's silhouettes, the Digimon were shaped like Agumon, Biyomon, Gabumon, Patamon and Tentomon."
"Well, those were just what the writers came up for the show," said Jeri. "They could have been different Digimon in real life."
"Maybe," Takato said as he bit into his bread. "Still…"
"Hey guys! I see Ryo!" Suzie called out. The other Tamers looked up to see Ryo walking towards them, Monodramon trailing next to him.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Saikai)
"How's it hanging guys?" Ryo called out as he walked over to the Tamers. Rika immediately stormed forward and looked up to Ryo with a glare that made the Legendary Tamer back away slightly out of fear.
"How's it hanging?! You left us on this island for a week while you were doing God-knows-what!"
"I'm really sorry! I left you a note, didn't I?" Ryo asked, a little nervous under Rika's glare. "Didn't you read it?"
"Yeah, yesterday!" said Rika. "I didn't even know about the note until Calumon fell into my backpack! You could have put it somewhere else for me to find?"
"Like where, your pants pocket?" Ryo asked sarcastically. "You were asleep!"
"I think what Rika's trying to say is, 'Welcome back, Ryo. We've missed you and we were worried, but we're all right now!'" Takato said with a nervous chuckle before looking over to Rika.
"Right? That's what you were saying?"
"Rika, he apologized," Jeri placed a hand on Rika's shoulder. "You can accept it, right?"
"Right…yes…apology accepted," Rika sighed grudgingly.
"So Ryo, did you see the Digidestined?" asked Kenta. "How are they doing?"
"Why don't you ask them yourself?" Ryo smirked, turning his head into the forest.
"They're coming here?!" Kazu asked, his eyes shining with excitement.
"Yes, they are," said Ryo, turning back to the other Tamers. "When you meet them, don't tell them much yet about the TV show. When I caught up with Davis, we were near the ending of episode 8."
"You mean where they find out Ken's the Digimon Emperor?" asked Takato.
"Yes," said Ryo. "We shouldn't tell them much yet about what will happen in the far future."
"You mean like, the Dark Ocean? Oikawa? Arukenimon and Mummymon? Myotismon Daemon?"
"Yes," said Ryo. "This is an alternate universe, so we don't know what will happen next."
"He's right," said Henry. "This universe has changed already with Davis becoming a Digidestined several years before he found the Digimental of Courage, so what else is different?"
"Hey Ryo, you there?" a voice called from the forest, the Tamers freezing up when they heard the voice.
"Ah, there they are!" Ryo turned back to the forest to see the Digidestined emerge from the trees and into Primary Village. The Tamers could only stare in absolute shock upon meeting them in person for the very first time: Tai Kamiya and Davis Motomiya in the lead with Agumon and Veemon, followed by Sora Takenouchi and Kari Kamiya with Biyomon and Gatomon, Matt Ishida and TK Takaishi with Gabumon and Patamon, Joe Kido and Izzy Izumi with Gomamon and Tentomon, and Mimi Tachikawa, Yolei Inoue and Cody Hida with Palmon, Hawkmon and Armadillomon.
"Oh…my…" Takato breathed. He could only stand completely still with a stunned look. Kazu and Kenta stood behind him, their jaws dropped.
"So you guys are Ryo's friends," Tai said as he observed the human children and the Digimon with them, his eyes settling on Takato and the goggles the young boy wore.
"Nice goggles," Tai said with a big smile. "So are you the leader of this group?"
'Me? The leader?' Takato thought in astonishment as he looked over to Ryo, the Legendary Tamer offering him a look of encouragement. Taking it, Takato breathed and walked over to Tai, his hand extended.
"Um…yeah…I am…" Takato said as he felt Tai shake his hand. The brown-haired boy could have fainted if he wanted to, but he stood strong.
THUMP.
However, Kazu and Kenta fainted, as they were unable to contain their excitement for long.
"I was wondering when that would happen," Rika muttered in embarrassment. "They actually lasted longer than I thought. Two minutes, I thought they would have fainted instantly."
"So did I," Renamon said with a small chuckle.
"Are those two okay?" Mimi asked in slight concern.
"Oh! They're all right," Takato said after shaking Davis's hand. "They're just big fans."
"So you're the ones Ryo brought from another dimension," Izzy said with interest. "If you have Digimon partners, then you must be Digidestined."
"Technically, we're Digimon Tamers," said Henry. "But yes, we did come from another dimension. We know who you guys are."
"But we don't know you," said Matt. "So who are you guys anyway, and who are your Digimon?"
(Play Digimon Tamers: Yukikau Hitobito)
"My name's Takato Matsuki, and the red dinosaur eating bread is my partner, Guilmon."
"Would you like some Guilmon Bread?" Guilmon asked from Takato's bag. "It's shaped like my head!"
"Oh, that is cute!" Mimi said, taking a loaf from Guilmon and admiring the bread.
"My name's Henry Wong, and this is Terriermon," Henry was the next to introduce himself.
"Remember to moumantai!" Terriermon called cheerfully, making Henry sweat-drop.
"Rika Nonaka, and this is Renamon," Rika kept the greeting short.
"Greetings, Digidestined," the yellow kitsune said with a bow. "It is an honor."
"I'm Henry's sister Suzie, and this is Lopmon!" Henry's sister said, with Lopmon providing a greeting the same as Renamon, bowing and saying that it was an honor to meet them.
"Uh…my-my name is Kazu Shioda," the visor-wearing boy said, regaining consciousness and trying his best to not faint again. "This is Kokuwamon, my partner."
"Well, hello there!" Kokuwamon said with a wave.
"I'm K-Ke-Kenta Kitagawa, and this is Betamon!"
"Yo!" said the green Digimon.
"I'm Jeri Katou," the brown-haired girl said, holding the Catalyst in her arms. "And this little bundle of joy is Calumon!"
"Oh, boy! New friends to play with!" Calumon cheered, flying out of Jeri's arms and into Kari's, the child of Light instantly smitten by the little white Digimon.
"Oh, my God! You are so cute!" Kari squealed. Yolei, Mimi and Sora went over to Kari and began fawning over Calumon's cuteness.
"I'm Ai, and this is my twin brother Mako."
"We…don't have our partner Impmon right now," said Mako. "He's lost somewhere in this Digital World and we're looking for him."
"And like Henry said, we're Digimon Tamers!" Takato reached into his pocket and pulled out his gold-rimmed D-Arc, showing it to the Digidestined, who looked at the device in awe.
"Wow…it's just like Ryo's!" Davis said, looking from Takato's device to Ryo's.
"So…you guys know us," Joe said to the Tamers.
"Yeah, we know all of you, even Yolei and Cody!" said Kazu, getting looks of surprise from the inheritors of Love and Knowledge.
"Did Ryo tell you guys about us?" Agumon asked.
"Yeah, he told us about fighting alongside you guys against Millenniummon, and…"
"Hold on, hold on!" Yolei cut off Kenta's answer. "You said you know all about us, but I don't know a single thing about you, and I don't know Ryo at all! I just met the guy two hours ago!"
"So did I," said Cody, looking at the Tamers suspiciously. "How exactly do you know about me and Yolei?"
"There's a lot of other things I'm curious about," said Izzy. "How did Ken become the Digimon Emperor? Why are your Digivices different from ours? Why did Ryo's Digivice change into one of yours? And how do you know about Yolei and Cody if Ryo never met them?"
"Oops," Kazu said with a sheepish look on his face. "I said too much, didn't I?"
"Well, we were going to tell them anyway," said Suzie.
"Tell us what?" asked TK.
"Allow me to answer," said Henry. "You see, in our dimension, you exist as characters in an anime TV show and multiple forms of media."
It was the Digidestined's turn to stand in stunned silence as they took in this news. Davis was the first to react.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Blue Card)
"You've got to be kidding me…we're fictional characters in your world?!"
"No way!" Izzy gasped, his eyes wider than the rest of his friends'. "Are you saying our adventures are a TV show in your world?"
"I'm a cartoon character?!" Yolei yelled in surprise.
"That's impossible!" gasped Cody.
"In my experience Cody, nothing is impossible," Izzy said before turning back to the other Digidestined. "So is this true?"
"Yes and no," said Ryo. "The Digimon TV show was split into two seasons. The first season perfectly captured everything from 1999 with Tai's old group. The second season jumped four years ahead with Yolei and Cody joining the team…but that second season was in a completely parallel dimension."
"Parallel how?" asked Davis, getting Ryo and the other Tamers to look at him. Ryo and Takato looked hesitant while the other Tamers looked off to the side, wondering how this would go down.
"Well…you see Davis…" said Ryo. "The second season mostly ignored the fights we had against Millenniummon…and they only showed me and Ken for a few brief moments."
"What?" Davis asked in surprise. "What about me? Was I in the show?"
"Well, you were…" said Takato, "…but in the parallel dimension that was Season 2, you were relatively new to the Digidestined, like Yolei and Cody."
"But…but…" Davis stammered, stunned at the news. "Then…what does that mean? Does that mean I never fought alongside Ken and Ryo in your world's TV show?" The burgundy-haired boy began running his fingers through his hair in anxiety, unable to properly comprehend what was just said unto him. The other Digidestined didn't know what to say either, as they were surprised as well.
Fortunately, Ryo was able to go over to Davis and help him snap out of his funk.
"Davis…look at me, man." Davis looked up to see the older boy in the eyes, which were filled with compassion.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Ie ni Kaerou ~Target Instruments~)
"What happened in that show…that's not what happened here. You were with me and Ken when we fought Millenniummon. You have been a Digidestined for three years and you have grown up and matured faster than most children. And that happened in the real world, not some TV show that was written by a bunch of writers with different ideas."
"He's right," Takato said, stepping forward. "The only one that has been controlling your life is yourself, not some writers from another dimension. Ryo told me about you and the things you have done with him and Ken. And I can tell you've been able to lead your team just as well as Tai has…and as well as I have when it counted. Forget that alternate reality, forget the TV show…and remember your past and your friends."
Davis took in Takato's and Ryo's words slowly, thinking about his sister Jun, his brother figure Tai, his sister figure Sora, his girlfriend Kari, and his Digimon partner Veemon. He thought about his first time in the Digital World with Ken and Ryo. Those memories would stay with him forever, and nothing could take them away from him.
"You're right guys," Davis smiled and looked up at the two boys. "I guess I overreacted a little bit."
"Actually, I think your reaction was justified," said Monodramon, who looked slightly grumpy. "They didn't show me either…or Veemon!"
"Geez, let it go already Monodramon!" Ryo said exasperatedly. Davis chuckled at Ryo and Monodramon's interactions while Tai walked over to Takato.
"You know Takato, I think I can see why you're the leader," said Tai. "You look different and act different than me and Davis, but you definitely care much about your friends and you seem to have the right things to say. You're definitely worthy of those goggles." Takato couldn't stop the heavy blush that covered his face.
"Takato, your face is all red," said Guilmon. "Are you sick, or angry?"
"No, I think he's just a little embarrassed about getting praise from Tai," chuckled Kazu. "I know I would be."
"Th…thanks Tai," said Takato. "That means a lot from you."
"Still, this is very prodigious!" Izzy said to Henry, who the red-haired boy figured was the brains of the Tamers. "You said Digimon exist as more than just a television show. What other media forms are Digimon shown as in your dimension?"
"Basically anything popular with children," said Henry. "There are Digimon video games, Digimon CDs that include music and audio dramas, several movies, toys…"
"…and cards!" Kazu said, pulling a binder out of his backpack and opening it, showing the Digidestined a variety of cards, each one having a different Digimon on them.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Iya na Yokan)
"Woah, freaky!" said Veemon, looking at a card with himself on it. "I'm on a card!"
"There I am too!" said Patamon.
"Cards…" Yolei muttered, looking at a card with Hawkmon on it before looking up to the Tamers. "Hey, can these cards can be used for something else besides playing?"
"Yeah, when Ryo saved us from Ken, he swiped some cards through his D-Arc that allowed Monodramon to Digivolve even with a Control Spire up, and it also made Strikedramon very fast," said TK. "He even used Parrotmon's Mjolnir Thunder attack."
"The cards can also be used when we fight Digimon," Rika said in confirmation, showing her D-Arc to everybody. "They can give our partners extra strength and speed, as well as weapons to use and the attacks of different Digimon."
"We can also use the cards to Digivolve our Digimon," added Takato.
"As for Monodramon Digivolving when the Control Spire was still up," said Ryo, "it's because when Monodramon and I entered the Tamers' dimension and my Digivice changed, Monodramon's composition data changed to match the signature of the other Digimon in that dimension."
"What that means is since our Digimon and D-Arks come from a different dimension, our Digimon can Digivolve without worrying about the Control Spires," said Henry.
"That's amazing," Izzy said, taking Henry's green-rimmed D-Ark in hand to examine it. "Do you mind if I scan your D-Ark later?"
"I don't mind at all," said Henry.
"Okay, now if introductions and explanations are out of the way," said Yolei, "can someone please tell me why you're here and what's really going on? Ryo said he knows what made Ken the Digimon Emperor."
"Do you, Ryo?" Davis asked pleadingly.
"I do," Ryo said, letting out a breath and looking up to the sky sadly. "But if we're going to do this, then I think we should tell them everything, mostly so Cody and Yolei can understand things better. I think we should go back to the beginning."
"Then let's get settled in," said Tai. Once everybody had sat down, the story started with the first eight Digidestined telling everybody about their adventures that started on File Island, and their battles with Devimon, Etemon, Myotismon, the Dark Masters and the final battle with Apocalymon.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Toki no Sugiyuku Mama ni…)
"Wow," Yolei breathed in surprise once the story was done. "I had no idea you guys went through so much!"
"And that was technically in three days before time got straightened out," noted Jeri.
"I feel like there's a massive gap we have to cross to be considered in your league," said Cody, referring to himself and Yolei.
"You have no idea, stiff boy," said Rika with a snort, making Cody glare at her softly.
"What did you call me?"
"Don't take it personally," said Takato. "She has nicknames for most of us. She calls me goggle-head a lot."
"You're Goggle-head Number 3 now," said Rika, gesturing to Tai and Davis, who both responded with an indignant "Hey!"
"Anyway, back to the story," said Ryo, who continued with Millenniummon appearing and capturing all the Digidestined except Agumon, which led to Ryo coming in the Digital World, meeting Monodramon, receiving his own Crest and Digivice, and helping the Digidestined defeat Millenniummon with all their partner Digimon reaching the Mega level.
"I remember that day well," said Sora. "Hououmon looked absolutely beautiful!"
"And so was Rosemon," added Mimi.
"Don't forget Ophanimon!" Kari said with a laugh.
"Seraphimon was awesome!" said TK.
"And HerculesKabuterimon was impressive as well in that battle," added Izzy.
"I definitely kicked butt as Vikemon, no doubt!" Gomamon said with a laugh.
"Yeah, you did," Joe chuckled while stroking his partner's head.
"And then the Diaboromon incident happened, which led to Millenniummon coming back," Ryo started again. "And this was where Davis and Ken entered the story. They received their own Crests and partner Digimon, and they helped me defeat Millenniummon again, but it led to me being sucked into the Tamers' dimension, after an intense battle with Millenniummon that went throughout timelines and other dimensions."
"And Ken was badly injured in the neck," Davis said sadly, remembering that day. "Millenniummon fired some sort of black shrapnel at us, and Ken pushed both me and Ryo down so we wouldn't get hurt…"
"…but Ken wasn't so lucky," Veemon continued gravelly.
"Oh, no…" gasped Yolei. "Did he make it out okay, though?"
"Yeah, he healed up before we went home," said Davis. "But that was really the last time I saw of Ken. He's changed completely from the last time I saw him. I guess that was a reason why I didn't tell any of you. It was hard to tell the difference between the person he was before, and the person he is now."
"What was Ken like anyway before he became the Digimon Emperor?" Kari asked curiously. Davis and Ryo considered for a moment before Ryo answered.
"Ken was one of the most caring and kindhearted people you could ever meet, the type who looked out for his loved ones."
"Honestly, he was more kind and caring than either of us," Davis referred to himself and Ryo. "That's probably why his Crest was Kindness."
"Crest of Kindness, huh?" asked Sora.
"Anyway…" Ryo sighed, his face becoming downcast again. "The reason why Ken became the Digimon Emperor…is because of Millennniummon."
"What?!" Davis asked, his eyes widening. "Millenniummon turned Ken evil?! How?!"
"The shrapnel Millenniummon threw at us wasn't shrapnel Davis," Ryo said gravelly. "Though the second season of the Digimon TV show is a little bit of a convoluted mess, it did show how Ken became evil. The shrapnel Millenniummon attacked us with were Dark Spores made from his own data, and one of them entered Ken's body through his neck."
"His neck?" Davis asked, remembering when Ken was hit by Millenniummon's shrapnel. Ken had been crying about his neck hurting.
"What's this Dark Spore?" asked Izzy.
"It's a very sinister device," said Henry. "From what was seen in the show, the Dark Spore can increase one's athletic abilities and intelligence, which is why Ken is such an athlete and a genius, but it also slowly drives its host evil by drawing power from their negative emotions."
(Play Digimon Adventure: Kanashimi 2)
"And Ken was an emotional wreck after his brother Sam died," Jeri said sadly, her thoughts drifting to the episode where Ken's origins as the Emperor were depicted. "The TV show showed his spiral into darkness as the Digimon Emperor. The sadness he felt…the loneliness…it tore him apart and left him vulnerable to being corrupted and controlled." The brown-haired girl sniffed sadly and let a lone tear roll down her cheek. It was one of few moments in the Digimon TV show that truly made the former Tamer cry.
The Digidestined were left completely speechless as they listened to the Tamers, not knowing how to react. They had no idea that Millenniummon, one of their most dangerous enemies, would leave behind a legacy in the form of a corrupted Digidestined.
'I have no idea Ken went through so much trauma in the three years since Sam died,' Davis thought in despair, 'nor did I know of the Dark Spore.' The burgundy-haired boy could only wonder what would have happened had he stayed in contact with Ken for the last three years. Could he have prevented all of this from happening?
"Ryo wanted to come back here so he could help you fight Ken," said Takato. "And we came with him as well. When we heard about where Ryo came from, we wanted to come so we could help you guys out...plus we really wanted to meet you guys in person. Ryo's also become our friend in our dimension. We just couldn't let him go without us."
"Well, considering we're dealing with something Millenniummon-related, we could use all the help we can get," TK said, remembering the mad Digimon like it was yesterday.
"There's something more to this as well," said Ryo. "And it's personal for me…and I mean, really personal."
"Personal how?" asked Rika, an eyebrow raised. Ryo hesitated, looking down to Monodramon.
"Should we tell them, buddy?"
"I think they deserve to know," Monodramon said, his face frowning sadly.
"Know what?" asked Suzie. Ryo and Monodramon nodded slowly to each other before the Legendary Tamer spoke again.
"Do you remember when I told you that Monodramon was chosen to be my partner Digimon?" Ryo's question was met with nods from everybody. The brown-haired boy took another deep breath before continuing.
"Well, the truth is…Monodramon was not originally supposed to be my partner."
"What?" Tai asked in surprise, the rest of the Digidestined and Tamers sharing his surprise.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Hashiru Senritsu)
"It's true," said Ryo. "I found this out when I went into the Tamers' dimension. You see, Davis, Ken and myself were supposed to be with Tai's group, since we had Crests like the eight Digidestined. In fact, our Crests and Digivices, along with our partners' eggs, were created shortly before the other eight. However, when Piedmon attacked Gennai and the Order, our partners' eggs were lost in the Digital World, separated from their Crests and Digivices, much like Gatomon's." The white cat looked down sadly, remembering how her DigiEgg was lost from the others. It led to one of the worst moments of her life when she was abused and turned into a minion of evil by Myotismon. Had it not been for her friend Wizardmon, she would never have met Kari and reformed.
"Veemon and Wormmon's eggs were safe and they didn't hatch until the second time Millenniummon attacked the Digital World. However, my first partner, who was supposed to be an Agumon like Tai's, hatched from his egg, and like Gatomon, he wandered the Digital World, Digivolving to Greymon and waiting for me…until…"
"No…" Gatomon whispered, realizing where this was going. And from the looks on some of the Tamers, it was clear they knew where this was going.
"Ryo…please tell me your partner wasn't found by Myotismon."
"No, Gatomon…" Ryo said with a pained smile. "He wasn't found by Myotismon…he was found by Apocalymon."
"Oh, God…" Takato whispered in shock. "What happened then?"
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Samayoi no Mori)
"That's the messed up part," said Ryo. "When Apocalymon found Greymon, he was re-forming the Dark Masters. He had Piedmon, MetalSeadramon and Puppetmon already, but he needed a fourth." Ryo's face then tightened before he continued.
"Apocalymon decided to create a Digimon from the parts of various Digimon he found. These Digimon, besides my partner, were Garurumon, Kabuterimon, Monochromon, Kuwagamon, Devimon, Angemon, Airdramon, SkullGreymon and MetalGreymon."
"Wait a minute!" said Kenta. "Those Digimon…"
"Yes Kenta," Ryo pulled out his D-Arc and showed an image of a Digimon that made the Digidestined gasp in horror. The Digimon displayed was one possessing the body of Greymon, the legs of Garurumon, the tail of Monochromon, the head of Kabuterimon, the hair of MetalGreymon, the right arm of SkullGreymon, the left arm of Kuwagamon, the arms of Devimon, and the wings of Airdramon and Angemon. "Apocalymon created Kimeramon."
"Kimeramon?" Izzy asked, looking at the Digimon with a look that bordered on shock and disgust.
"He was a Digimon seen in the second season," answered Rika. "Even though he's an Ultimate level, his power makes him as strong as a Mega level."
"Holy crap," whispered Matt.
"What made it more barbaric was how Apocalymon made Kimeramon," Ryo said with a grim expression. "He butchered my partner and those other Digimon, literally merging their data together and using their body parts to create the abomination you see before you."
An eerie silence fell over the Digidestined and the Tamers. Everyone looked ill, while Suzie, Ai and Mako looked like they were about to be really sick.
"Why…?" Cody asked in horror. "Why would he do something like that?"
"Apocalymon wanted four powerful servants to plunge the Digital World into darkness, so everyone could feel his pain and misery," Ryo ran a hand over his face. "Kimeramon was intended to be the fourth Dark Master, but there was one flaw. Every one of the Digimon he butchered were still alive inside Kimeramon's body, and that gave him the biggest case of schizophrenia in any universe. He was extremely powerful…and he was also downright insane. Apocalymon had no control over him."
"I always knew Apocalymon was insane…" Tai swallowed. "But hearing that…what he did to your partner and the other Digimon…"
"That's absolutely wrong on so many levels," Takato said, his face bearing a terrified look.
"What happened to Kimeramon?" asked Yolei.
"Apocalymon abandoned him," Ryo answered simply. "He simply couldn't control something that deranged and powerful. So he tried to make a Digimon again, but this time instead of organic Digimon, he used cyborg type Digimon: MetalGreymon, Andromon, Megadramon, MetalTyrannomon and MetalMamemon. Together, they made…" Ryo pressed a button on his D-Arc, and Kimeramon's image faded to reveal a machine-like Digimon resembling a dragon.
"Machinedramon…" Tai whispered, recognizing the Digimon instantly.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Hypnos)
"Because Machinedramon was made out of cyborg Digimon, Apocalymon was able to program all of those Digimon's minds to operate together under a single consciousness," said Monodramon.
"Machinedramon's programming went down to the atomic level," Ryo continued. "When WarGreymon destroyed Machinedramon, he didn't fully die. Even though his body disintegrated and his territory over Spiral Mountain vanished, he was still very much alive as a bunch of data."
"That's hardcore…" Terriermon breathed.
"After Apocalymon was defeated, Machinedramon went into hiding in an attempt to return to power. He had little options…and then he found Kimeramon. Forcing his data into Kimeramon, the two DNA-Digivolved…into…" Another press of the button, and a new Digimon took Machinedramon's place. The Digimon's body was a blackened version of Kimeramon's body, but in place of his wings was an energy being resembling Machinedramon, with Machinedramon's cannons on its back.
"Millenniummon…" Davis whispered in shock.
"Yes," Ryo nodded grimly.
"When Millenniummon was created, he gained a perfect mix of the two personalities," said Monodramon. "Kimeramon received clarity and ruthlessness from Machinedramon, as well as being capable of focusing on a single goal. As for Machinedramon, he received emotion and the capacity to feel from Kimeramon. He was no longer schizophrenic, but he became utterly mad, wanting to plunge the Digital World back into darkness in order to, as he said, 'maintain the balance between light and darkness. He even gained incredible power over time and space.'"
"What made it worse, was Millenniummon…was my partner Digimon," Ryo said, causing everyone to gasp in horror and shock.
"But…but how?" asked Mimi, her hands over her mouth.
"Apocalymon's creation of Kimeramon, twisted as it was, was treated as a kind of DNA-Digivolution. And because Greymon was part of the process, Kimeramon became my partner, and in turn, when Kimeramon and Machinedramon formed a singular entity…"
"…Millenniummon became your partner," Henry finished.
"Gennai didn't know this, but when he couldn't find my partner, he knew something must have happened to him. Knowing he couldn't let me go out into the Digital World without a partner, Gennai managed to have Monodramon become my second partner."
"I see…" Renamon said, looking down at the purple dragon.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Hirogaru Fuan)
"When Monodramon and I ended up in the Tamers dimension, Shibumi's algorithm was placed in my Digivice, and it became my D-Arc," Ryo continued. "Because Monodramon was my main partner Digimon, I became his Tamer. But because my old Digivice was still linked to Greymon, Millenniummon was also my partner. When Monodramon found out about this, he made a big risk."
"Since Millenniummon and I shared a connection together through the Digivice, I forced myself to DNA Digivolve with Millenniummon, since he was too strong to be defeated by us alone." Monodramon said. "In other words, I absorbed his data into my body, and then while he was in shock over what happened, I forced him into a deep hibernation, and I turned back into my DigiEgg."
"Unbelievable…" Veemon gasped. "Millenniummon's data is inside of you?!"
"It's been dormant ever since Monodramon hatched again," said Ryo. "Monodramon was still his old self, although he inherited Millenniummon's savagery, especially when he becomes Cyberdramon."
"Recently, though, I've been getting more crazy in fights, even as Strikedramon," said Monodramon. "Whenever I smell a challenge, it's like a little of Millenniummon seeps into me." The purple dragon looked over to the Digidestined with a pained smile. "If you thought I was brutal before as Cyberdramon without Millenniummon's data, then wait until you see me now."
"When Monodramon and I looked into it, we found out that Millenniummon's data inside of Monodramon was reacting to the Dark Spore inside of Ken," picked up Ryo. "That's when I decided it was time to come back home and finish what I started with my old partner."
The Legendary Tamer looked down to the ground, his story complete. The Digidestined and the Tamers were quiet again, looking at the duo in shock from what they had just revealed.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Akogare)
'Ryo's had it worse than I thought…' Rika thought, a saddened expression on her face.
'Aw, man…Ryo…' Davis thought sadly.
"So…how did you guys get here, anyway?" asked Mimi, who was the first to break the silence. "And can you be able to get back to your dimension?"
"The Digimon Sovereigns, who were the ones that created your Crests in the first place were the ones that managed to send us here," said Lopmon. "They have the ability to travel between dimensions like Millenniummon. The four Sovereigns, who are Azulongmon, Zhuqiaomon, Ebonwumon and Baihumon, are Mega level Digimon powerful as gods."
"If they're as powerful as gods, then why can't they come to our dimension and help us?" Matt asked.
"Because Matt, the dark aura the Control Spires are emitting is preventing the Sovereigns from doing anything in this dimension," answered Ryo. "Fortunately, the Sovereigns were at full power in the Tamers' dimension, so we managed to come here through a portal we opened up with the Sovereigns."
"Can you get back home?" asked Sora.
"We can, but we need to knock down all of the Control Spires," answered Rika. "We do that, and the Sovereigns can return to this dimension and bring us back."
"Okay, so we find a way to free Ken from Millenniummon's Dark Spore, we destroy all the Control Spires and the Sovereigns will be able to come back," Tai summed up. "That's our plan for the foreseeable future, right?"
"Yes," Takato said with a nod.
"Is there a way to remove the Dark Spore from Ken?" asked Izzy.
"I wish there was Izzy, but so far, we have no idea," said Ryo. "If we can reach Ken somehow, then we can save him."
"Did it work in the TV show?" Gomamon asked curiously.
"It did…but the results weren't pretty," Suzie said with a frown. None of the other Tamers spoke, and the Digidestined decided to leave the subject at that, not wanting to know anymore.
"Anyway…if that's all that needs to be said, what's the time?" asked Joe, looking up to see several stars appearing in the darkening sky. "It looks like it's late."
"Let's see…" Izzy pulled out his Digivice and looked at the time, his eyes widening when he did. "Good grief, it's 8:30!"
"What?!" yelled Yolei. "Didn't we get here at 3:20?"
"Yes, but considering there was a lot to talk about, a lot of time has passed," said Izzy. "We should get home before our parents start to really worry!"
"You're right Izzy," Mimi voiced. The other Digidestined got up to move, when…
"Hey, wait a minute!" said Kazu. "What about us Tamers? We've been on File Island for a week now! Where are we supposed to sleep?"
"Ooh, right…" Takato said, looking embarrassed. "I guess we didn't think living arrangements through very well, huh?"
"Oh boy…" sighed Tai, who looked to the other Digidestined. "How are we going to explain this?"
"And who's going to live where?" asked Cody.
"I have a few ideas," Ryo said with a smile.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Guilmon no Theme)
"Takato, your Digimon is absolutely adorable! I thought Agumon was cute, but Guilmon's even cuter!" Yuuko Kamiya said pleasantly while pinching Guilmon's face.
"He's not cute, he's cool!" Takato groaned as he sat in a chair in Tai and Kari's apartment, where Ryo decided Takato would stay at in Odaiba.
"Well, of course you would say he's cool. You are a boy, after all!"
"Hey!" Takato said indignantly while Yuuko laughed at his embarrassed look.
"So is it all right if Takato and Guilmon stay here for a while, Mom?" asked Tai. The bearer of Courage and his sister had both explained the situation to their parents. While Yuuko and her husband Susumu were surprised to hear that their two guests were from another dimension, they accepted both Takato and Guilmon into their apartment, with the brown-haired woman gushing over Guilmon.
"Well, of course they can stay," Yuuko said, looking up to Takato. "We'd be very happy to have you here with us Takato. Where would you and Guilmon like to sleep?"
"If it's all right with you Mrs. Kamiya, I'll take the couch and Guilmon can sleep next to me."
"No problem, dear." As Yuuko went over to get the couch ready, she caught a whiff from Guilmon.
"OOH! My goodness…" the brown-haired woman yelled, her hands flying up to cover her mouth and nose. "Don't you ever give Guilmon baths, Takato?"
"Baths?!" Guilmon asked in fear.
"You're kidding me, right?" Takato asked with a blank look. "Trying to get Guilmon to take a bath is worse than fighting evil Digimon, believe me."
"Plus, I like this smell," whined Guilmon.
"Well, I don't," Yuuko said firmly. "I don't care how things go in your world Takato, but you need to give Guilmon regular baths here. At least Gatomon keeps up her personal hygiene; but I've had to take charge with Agumon. And Guilmon will be no different." The brown-haired woman then smiled dangerously, making Takato, Guilmon, Tai and Agumon suddenly look very nervous. "I think we should start right now."
"Uh oh." That was all Guilmon said before Yuuko took him by the arm and pulled him towards the bathroom, Takato following close by with a worried look on his face.
"If I were you guys, I'd stay out here," the young goggled boy whispered to Tai and Kari. "This will not be a pretty sight."
"I know the same feeling," Agumon moaned, remembering the first night Yuuko gave him a bath.
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" asked Tai, getting a giggle from Kari. Takato closed the bathroom door behind him, and seconds later, the sounds of washing and pained cries from Guilmon came from the room.
"Guilmon, hold still!" yelled Takato. "No! No attacks!"
"Hold his arms!" said Yuuko. "I need to get his feet first! Those always stink the most on someone!"
"If I wasn't worried for our future before, I certainly am now," Gatomon said with a flat look on her face, wondering how much help the Tamers could truly be.
"Good grief! Don't you ever clean this place up?" Rika said the moment she saw Matt's the inside of Matt's apartment. Dirty dishes filled the sink, clothes were thrown all over the floor, a faint odor could be picked up by the nose, and a layer of dust covered most of the things in the room.
"What do you expect? Two guys live here," Matt sighed, turning on the lights.
"Hey!"
"Oh…right, three guys," Matt said with an embarrassed chuckle, having forgot Gabumon, the horned Digimon looking slightly offended.
"So it seems," Renamon said, her ever-cool expression hiding a look of digust. "But four women live in Rika's house, counting myself and Rika, and we prefer a clean and healthy environment…not to mention a fine-smelling one."
"Yeah, and since we'll be living here for a while, this place has to look inhabitable!" said Rika, heading over to the kitchen area. "Renamon, you and Furboy take care of the laundry. You…in the kitchen with me, now!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Matt said quickly, running into the kitchen area with Rika. He had got to know the red-haired girl during the walk home, and he knew right away that Rika was definitely not a girl to mess with or argue with…and she was also someone he could relate to greatly.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Run with the Wind ~Yamato no Theme~#2)
"So…your parents divorced as well, huh?" the blond-haired boy asked as the two started working on the pile of dishes. Rika glowered for a moment before sighing. The issue of her parents was something she rarely brought up with others, and was one she didn't like talking about at all.
"Yeah…and I'm not trying to make yours sound better, but my father just walked out on my mom. I haven't seen much of him since then…at least you still see your mother and TK."
"Yeah…" Matt said, looking down sadly, thinking about his mother. Though the relationship between the two had improved over the last four years, the blond-haired boy often still felt some friction between them. "Although…" Rika saw the look on Matt's face and nodded in understanding.
"I know how that feels," she sighed. "Mothers can be tough sometimes…but that doesn't mean they don't love you and worry about you."
"True," sighed Matt. "And at least we have friends, right?"
"Yeah…friends…" Rika said with a light smile, looking over to see Renamon pull a sock out from behind the television set. Before, she wouldn't have considered being friends with people like Takato and Henry, and only saw Renamon as a fighting tool, but she came to accept them as her true closest friends, as well as a reminder to never be alone. Hopefully, she could make friends with the Digidestined as well, though Yolei and Cody could be a problem...
And deep down in his thoughts, Matt wondered the same thing about himself and the Tamers. They seemed so much different than himself and his Digidestined friends, yet similar in some ways.
'Those Tamers don't seem so bad…they seem like good friends…' the bearer of Friendship thought with a light smile.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Straight from the Heart ~Sora no Theme~)
"I really appreciate this Mom," Sora said to her mother, watching Biyomon help Ai and Mako get ready for bed. The red-haired girl wondered how her mother would accept two young children in their apartment for a few moments, but because Toshiko Takenouchi was one of the more understanding and supportive parents when it came to Digimon, the dark-haired woman happily accepted the two young children.
"It's nothing, Sora," Toshiko waved off Sora's thanks. "I couldn't say no to letting two children as adorable as Ai and Mako stay here for a while. So they're like you and Tai?"
"They are, but they don't have their Digimon partner right now," answered Sora. "They think he may be somewhere in the Digital World, so we're going to look for him tomorrow."
"Well, you be careful then," Toshiko said, her hands on Sora's shoulders. "And make sure those two are safe."
"I will Mom, I promise," Sora said, hugging her mother before walking over to her partner and the twins.
"All right you two, ready for bed?" Ai and Mako nodded and Sora picked up both twins in her arms, carrying them over to the futon her mother had pulled out from them.
"Hey, Sora…do you think we'll find Impmon tomorrow?" asked Mako. Sora thought for a minute, unsure how to answer. Fortunately, Biyomon answered for her.
"Don't worry Mako, I'm sure Impmon's waiting for you in the Digital World to find him."
"Yeah," said Sora, picking up where the pink bird left off. "And even if we don't find Impmon right away, I'm sure we'll find him eventually."
"I hope so," Ai said with a sad look. "I bet he misses us as much as we miss him."
"What's Impmon like anyway?" asked Sora.
"Well…" Ai and Mako thought for a moment before Ai answered. "I guess you could say he was like Gatomon. He did some bad things, but he later did good things when he became our partner."
"At least that's what the other Tamers say," said Mako, sharing his sister's sad look. "They knew him better than we did. Ai and I…we used to fight over everything, and we even fought over Impmon. He ran away because of it. Shortly after he ran away, Ai and I decided to grow up and start sharing. We figured if we did, he would come back."
"He came back a while later," said Ai, "but shortly after we became his Tamers, he had to go back to the Digital World in our dimension. And because he fell into a dimensional rift that brought him to your dimension…it's been two years since we last saw him."
"Oh, Ai…Mako…" Sora said softly, her face saddening as well when she heard about Ai and Mako's relationship with Impmon. "I promise…we'll find Impmon."
"Thank you Sora," Ai said as she hugged the older girl, her brother joining in the hug as well.
"Sora…is it okay if Biyomon sleeps with us?" asked Mako. "Calumon usually does whenever he stays at our place…"
"Of course," said Sora. "Biyomon wouldn't mind, would you Biyomon?"
"Not at all!" chirped Biyomon, happily jumping on the futon and crawling in between the twins. "There we go! Now you can both snuggle with me!"
"Thank you," Ai and Mako chorused, snuggling into the bed and each of them placing an arm over Biyomon, enjoying the softness of her pink feathers and feeling sleep consume them. Sora couldn't help but smile at the innocent scene before her. The way Ai and Mako acted, as well as their age, reminded her of TK, who was very much like that when he was eight.
'Poor kids…they must really miss their Digimon,' the bearer of Love thought, deciding that no matter what, she would help Ai and Mako reunite with Impmon.
The twins and Biyomon were in such a deep sleep, none of them noticed the purple-rimmed D-Arc beeping softly, the screen lighting up and showing a red arrow spinning around…
(Play Digimon Tamers: Li no Theme)
"I really appreciate your parents allowing me and Terriermon to stay here," Henry said, eating a plate of food Izzy's mother had made for him. Due to the space of Izzy's apartment, Henry and Suzie both couldn't stay there, so Ryo arranged for Suzie to stay at Cody's place.
"Your mother really is a good cook," the blue-haired boy said, slurping some noodles while Izzy looked over Henry's D-Arc, scanning it with his computer.
"Thank you," Izzy said with a small smile. "And I noticed Terriermon likes it as well. Although I noticed he can be quite messy…"
"Yeah, I usually have to be the one that cleans up his messes," Henry lightly chuckled. "I just wonder how Suzie's doing right now."
"I'm more concerned about Cody," said Izzy. "I couldn't help but notice that Suzie and Cody seem like polar opposites, despite being the same age."
"Hey, they may learn some things from each other," Terriermon said as he walked in from taking a shower, drying himself off with a towel. "Suzie could learn to take some things seriously, and Cody looks like he could loosen up a bit and have fun."
"That is true," said Tentomon, getting an idea about Suzie from seeing her playful nature during the meeting earlier. "Cody seems stiff as a board, and Suzie looks to be limp like a rag doll."
"Real funny," Henry said flatly before turning his attention back to Izzy.
"So, let's see if I got this right…your father created the first Digimon back in your world?"
"It was him and some of his friends in college that created Digimon in an independent project," said Henry. "What they created was artificial intelligence made to be like real creatures, with survival of the fittest programmed into them."
"I see," said Izzy. "That must be why your Digital World seems more dangerous than our Digital World."
"It started out small, then after the project was cancelled due to funding being cut, other people made the video games, TV show and media platforms based on the results the Monster Makers managed to get out from the project."
"And the D-Ark?"
"It was created to communicate with Digimon, appearing for those who wished for strong bonds with certain Digimon."
"So that means you and the other Tamers," Izzy summed up.
"Exactly," said Henry. "And as you can see from your scans, their structure and data information is different than the Digivice or the D-3s."
"I can see that," Izzy said, looking at the information with fascination. "In fact, the D-Arks could be a big help for us older Digidestined. You see, I'm having problems creating a program for the Digivices and D-3s that will allow our partners to bypass the Control Spires and Digivolve normally. I tried scanning the Control Spires, but there's little to no information about them that I can work with. I figured, since your D-Arks are different, and your Digimon are from a different dimension, this could be helpful in completing the program. Can you help me?"
"If it means extra help when fighting, then I'm sure Henry will be more than happy to help out!" Terriermon said happily, getting a chuckle from his Tamer.
"Of course I'll help, Izzy." Pulling up a chair and sitting down next to Izzy, the two boys began working on the program well into the night while their partners drifted off to sleep.
"So Calumon's not your partner Digimon?" asked Mimi. The pink-haired girl sat on her bed with Jeri and Palmon, the plant Digimon holding Calumon in her arms.
"No…Calumon used to enable Digimon to Digivolve, but it was depleted when he Digivolved a lot of Digimon to the Mega level. After that, he became a real Digimon. He does have some of his power, though, but it's not as frequent as before."
"Is he an In-Training level Digimon?" asked Mimi, noticing the small size of Calumon.
"Actually…he doesn't really have a level, or any attacks at all," Jeri said after thinking for a minute.
"So Jeri…who's your Digimon partner?"
"Oh…well…" Jeri's face dropped considerably. "My partner…well…he was a Leomon."
"A Leomon?" Mimi asked in surprise, remembering the beast warrior Digimon she and the other Digidestined met years ago. "Really?"
"Yes," Jeri said with a sad smile. "Leomon was a great Digimon partner, very much like the one you knew. He was brave and selfless, and he was such a strong warrior." Mimi smiled at the thought of Leomon, but the good feeling didn't last. From the way Jeri looked, as well as her constantly mentioning Leomon in the past tense, made her think about something unpleasant. She wasn't sure if this was right for her to ask, but she had to know.
"Jeri, I…I have to ask...did Leomon…" the pink-haired girl trailed off, but from the look on Jeri's face, which became truly sad, it was clear what happened to Jeri's partner.
"Yes…Leomon died. And what it was worse in our dimension, there was no Primary Village. Leomon died for good…and his data was absorbed."
"No…" Palmon gasped in shock.
"Oh, my god…" Mimi whispered, faint tears appearing in her eyes. Her mind flashed back to when the Leomon she knew died protecting her from an attack that was meant for her.
(Play Omoi ~The Biggest Dreamer~)
"I was over it," Jeri said sadly. "I tried to live my life, and it did improve. But then the Digimon came back, and mine wasn't among them. I didn't mind it though since I still had Calumon and the other Digimon. I decided to come here to help Ai and Mako find their partner Impmon; he's just as important to me as Leomon was. I was excited, but deep down…I knew this dimension still has a Leomon that could be reborn…but it wouldn't be…him."
"Oh, Jeri…" Mimi said softly, moving on her bed and embracing Jeri in a warm hug, allowing the younger girl to cry softly on her shoulder.
"It's all right Jeri," Calumon said softly, placing his hands on Jeri's leg. "I'm still here for you, and so are Takato and the others. And now, you have a new friend in Mimi!"
"Jeri, I know the bad memories hurt," said Mimi. "I know how that feels. But don't dwell for long on those memories, and think about the good ones you had with Leomon. Think about the good times you've had with Takato and the other Tamers, and the other good times you'll be able to have with us in the future. That's what I do when I remember the bad things of the Digital World."
"Thank you, Mimi…" Jeri said, tightening her hug on Mimi. Palmon joined in the hug as well, wrapping her vines around both girls and Calumon. Jeri began feeling much better now, knowing that even if she could never be with Leomon again, she would see to it that Ai and Mako were reunited with Impmon.
"Hey, take it easy in the tub! No splashing!" Kenta said to Betamon, who was taking a bath with Gomamon. As both were aquatic-type Digimon, the green amphibian and white seal were practically at home in the tub, splashing about and having fun.
"Come on Betamon, this isn't our apartment!"
"Okay, okay!" Betamon said, sighing as he sunk down to the bottom of the tub. Kenta sighed and walked out of the bathroom, going into Joe's bedroom, where he flopped down on the spare bed that was pulled in for him.
(Play Digimon Adventure: Happy End)
"I take it Betamon is like Gomamon?" Joe asked, looking up from his studies.
"Except for the sarcastic jokes," replied Kenta. "It's funny. When I first got him as a partner, he was already in his Mega level, MarineAngemon. He didn't talk much, but he was always hyper and positive."
"He does sound like Gomamon," Joe said with a chuckle.
"You know, Joe…I always admired you when I watched the TV show," Kenta said after a short silence.
"Really? You admired me?" Joe asked in surprise.
"Yeah. I admired you for how you changed throughout the show. You started out as a scared and overstressed boy, but you became someone that could be trusted and relied on when things got ugly. I always wanted to be like you…but sometimes, I feel meek compared to the other Tamers. Since my partner's evolved forms can't do much outside of the water, unlike Gomamon, there's never much I can do." Kenta sighed sadly, sitting down on the bed with his face in his hands.
"I know how that feels," Joe said, sitting down and placing a hand on Kenta's shoulder. "I may have the Crest of Reliability, but given my recent studies, it's been hard for me to get involved much with the Digidestined…but I know there's going to be a day again when they'll need me. If they do, then I'll be there. And I know you're someone the Tamers can count on to be there when you're needed, Kenta."
"You think so, Joe?"
"I know so," Joe said, patting Kenta on the back before heading back to his desk. "Don't put yourself down Kenta."
The black-haired boy pondered Joe's words as he went to sleep with Betamon once the green Digimon came out of the tub with Gomamon.
(Play Digimon Adventure 02: Dancin' on the Sky ~Miyako no Theme~#2)
"I don't get why Ryo said you had to stay with me. I already have my siblings to deal with," Yolei complained to Kazu. The lavender-haired girl and the visor-wearing boy sat together in Yolei's room. The two faced a brief problem concerning their Digimon partners. It was easy to get Poromon in past Yolei's parents and siblings, but Yolei didn't know how to get Kokuwamon into the apartment without being noticed. Fortunately, Kokuwamon was able to fly up with the jet thrusters built into his back.
"Hey, I don't like it more than you do," said Kazu. "I was hoping to stay with Tai or Davis, but if Ryo said I stay with you, then I stay with you."
"You really seem to listen to Ryo a lot, don't you?" asked Poromon.
"Well, of course I do!" said Kazu. "Ryo's really experienced as a Tamer and a Digidestined. He's been through so much and he's so strong! I could only wonder what he would have been like in the TV show!"
"You sound like you're a fan of Digimon," said Yolei.
"Deep down, I always have been," said Kazu, a faint look in his eyes. "I always wished for a Digimon of my own so I could be a Digidestined. And when I got Kokuwamon, I vowed to be the best Tamer I could be."
"And I vowed to be the best Digimon partner Kazu could ask for!" Kokuwamon said, a clawed hand held up.
"The best, huh?" asked Yolei. "You mean you want to be better than Ryo and the others?"
"I know I can't be," Kazu said with a shake of his head. "I know I can't be as strong as someone like Ryo or Takato, but I want to reach my full potential, show the others what I can do!"
"Kazu, my room's ready for you!" called Yolei's older brother Mantarou from the living room.
"All right!" Kazu stood up off the floor and opened the door slightly, looking everywhere before nodding to Kokuwamon. The robot Digimon tiptoed through the hall, though he nearly tripped several times, but he managed to get into the other bedroom without being noticed.
"Show the others, huh?" Yolei asked quietly, looking down at her D-3. She admitted, the last few times in the Digital World, she had done little to nothing of note, except destroy Control Spires and get kidnapped, and frankly, it seemed embarrassing to her. Hearing Kazu's words lit a fire in her, giving her a desire to show the others what she could do as well.
"Oh, I'll show them as well," Yolei said, a confident smile on her face.
(Play Digimon Tamers: Itsumo no Seikatsu 2)
"Cody…do you want to play?"
"No, Suzie," Cody sighed, swinging his kendo stick down. The brown-haired boy was doing some kendo practice to calm himself after a stressful day, but it was difficult due to his mind continuing drifting to the events with Ken, the meeting with the Tamers, and having to house Suzie for a while as the place Henry was staying at was not big enough.
This was hard for Cody for several reasons. The first reason was having to come up with a story for his mother about who Suzie was and where she came from, as well as why she would be staying at their apartment for the foreseeable future. Cody hated lying to his mother. He would tell his grandfather the truth tomorrow, but he wasn't sure if he would believe it or not.
The second reason was because he found Suzie…somewhat bothersome. The nine-year-old girl was constantly asking Cody to play with her, and he continued telling her no. Whenever she asked why, Cody would tell her he just didn't want to play.
"But why don't you want to play? And don't say you just don't want to."
"Because I…" Cody started before sighing heavily. This would definitely take some getting used to. "Because I'm not like most kids Suzie. I don't play games much."
"Well, I think you should," said Suzie, who was playing with Lopmon and Upamon on Cody's bed. "A kid your age shouldn't be so serious all the time." Cody sighed upon hearing Suzie's words. He often heard those words from his grandfather, who often told him to not be so rigid.
"You're just saying that because you're not serious," he said, looking over to the young girl. "Ever since we got home Suzie, I've been thinking about what our next move will be against Ken and his enslaved Digimon. I've been thinking about important things, and all you've been doing is asking me to play with you, and you tried to dress Upamon in a baby bonnet."
"I wanted to show him my old Princess Pretty-Pants routine," Suzie said innocently, making Upamon back away anxiously.
"I'm not sure I want to know what that routine is."
"Trust me, it's not a pretty sight," Lopmon said with a sigh.
"Suzie, do you even know what's at stake?"
(Play Digimon Tamers: Kawari Nante Inai)
"I do," Suzie said, her face suddenly turning serious. "I know how dangerous Ken could be as the Digimon Emperor in the TV show. And considering this is an alternate dimension, I'm not sure if he's as dangerous in the show, or if he's even more dangerous. But I know that the fate of the Digital World is at hand. And I know if Ken conquers it, he could try and do the same to this world as well. I've seen my dimension suffer from a dangerous threat before…and it was far more dangerous than a human being corrupted by a dark Digimon."
"What was this threat?" asked Cody.
"It was called the D-Reaper," said Lopmon, her face just as grave as Suzie's. "Trust me Cody, that's all you should know about it right now." Cody looked from both Suzie and Lopmon, and judging from how grim they looked, this D-Reaper they spoke of was definitely something they didn't like to talk about.
"I see…" he muttered.
"I was still young when the D-Reaper attacked," continued Suzie. "I didn't understand much back then, but when Lopmon came back and I got older, I realized how important and serious it was to be a Tamer, but I also knew it was important as well to have fun and play games as well."
"It's all right to think about what we should do next regarding the Digital World Cody, but you shouldn't be thinking about it all the time," said Lopmon. "I learned from Suzie that it's all right to play games once in a while, just as long as you're still committed to something important, and that includes your Digidestined duties, as well as your kendo practice."
"Speaking of which, do you think you could teach me kendo sometime, Cody?" asked Suzie.
"Um…I guess so, but you should really ask my grandfather. He's much better at this than I am."
"Oh…okay…" Suzie said, slightly disappointed about Cody turning her down.
"Suzie, I think we should get to bed now," said Lopmon. "It's late, and by now, Henry or your mother would have told you to get to bed."
"All right," Suzie sighed, a little irritated from her partner's words. "Well, see you in the morning Cody." Picking up Lopmon in her arms, Suzie exited the bedroom, leaving Cody alone with Upamon.
"You know, she may come off as annoying sometimes, but I think Suzie's a really nice girl Cody. I think you guys could get along well."
"I don't know, Upamon…" Cody said, changing into his pajamas and sliding into bed. The brown-haired boy thought about what Suzie and Lopmon said about being able to maintain other duties while still being able to have fun once in a while.
'How do I do that?' he thought to himself. He had been serious for most of his life ever since his father died. Even though he often felt at ease with Yolei in his life, as well as Upamon and the other Digidestined, he still considered himself an odd one out for the Digidestined.
'Maybe Suzie's right…' he thought to himself before finally going to sleep.
(Play Setsunasa ~The Biggest Dreamer~)
"It's been so long since I've last seen Odaiba in this dimension. I've seen it before in the Tamers' dimension, but it doesn't feel the same, you know what I mean?"
"Yeah, I guess so." Davis and Ryo stood together on the balcony outside Davis's bedroom. DemiVeemon and Monodramon sat on Davis's bed, catching up with each other and thinking about the old days. "But Ryo, what about your family in Kyoto? Shouldn't you see them again?"
"I don't know yet Davis," said Ryo, looking down. "How exactly do you reveal to your family that you've been alive for three years, when they think you may be dead?"
"I…well…" Davis tried to answer, but couldn't.
"Exactly," Ryo said, a pained look on his face. "I just need some time."
"All right," Davis nodded before going to a more important topic. "Anyway…do you think we'll be able to pull Ken out of Millenniummon's control?"
"I know we can do it," Ryo said confidentially. "We just have to get Ken to see sense and pull him back."
"But what if it's not simple?" Davis asked, worried about their options. "What if we can't get through to Ken by making him remember everything we went through together?"
"…then we may have to fight him," Ryo said, his hardening. "It may be the only option left. I don't like it any more than you do Davis, believe me…but it may have to be done."
Davis could only be silent as he went to sleep with DemiVeemon by his side and Ryo and Monodramon occupying the floor.
'I don't know if I can fight Ken…even after everything we've been through, he's still my friend! And friends don't fight each other…' the burgundy-haired boy thought sadly as he drifted off to sleep. Ryo stayed quiet, thinking about what would come soon for Davis. And it was clear it would be harder for Davis here than it was on the show.
'I know Davis can get through this,' he thought. 'He just needs to have more faith and trust in his friends.'
(Play Days: Aijou to Nichijou TV Size)
END CHAPTER 12
The first day has passed, and so far, things look good for the Digidestined and Tamers, but will they be able to work together to defeat Ken? And what do you think of the living arrangements for the Tamers? And what will Ken do now that Ryo's back?
Another reason why I wanted to do this story is because I've always been a fan of crossovers, and my love for crossovers became bigger this year with the release of Avengers: Infinity War, which I think is not only the best superhero movie of all time, but the best crossover movie ever. Have you seen Infinity War? And if you have, what did you think of it? What part did you find the most awesome? The most funny? And the most sad?
Also, I've started a Digimon Fanfiction forum surrounding the topic of rewriting Digimon Adventure tri. If you're interested in that, go to Forums on the Digimon Fanfiction page, and the last page has "Digimon Adventure tri Rewritten". Go there, and feel free to post how you would rewrite tri.
Next time on Digimon Adventure Tamers: The Override of the Dark Rings