Chapter 2: Does Size Matter?
Takato and Henry were still trying to figure out what was so special about the Blue Card when Rika caught up with them.
"Sorry I'm late! Mom wanted me to go shopping again, but luckily grandma covered for me so I could escape," Rika said with a small smirk on her face.
"Glad you could make it, Rika," Takato replied, forcing a smile to hide his previous worry for his friends. Rika raised an eyebrow, then glanced between Henry and Takato.
"Okay, spill it, goggleheads! What happened?" Rika demanded, putting her hand on her hip and leveling the boys with a hard stare. Henry sighed a little.
"We were trying to find information on the Blue Card when Impmon showed up to challenge Terriermon. It just so happened that my Dad was walking by at the time, and Impmon attacked him. When Terriermon tried to help my Dad, Impmon turned on him. He..." eyes fixed on the ground and fists clenched at his sides, he whispers this part, his voice slightly shaky, "…he nearly strangled him to death… I—it was a really close call…"
He didn't realise until now just how much it would have broken him if Impmon had succeeded. The indigo-haired boy inwardly shuddered at the thought.
Rika frowned, however, in hearing that Impmon had really gone so far.
"Renamon?" Rika called, knowing her Digimon had been listening. Renamon appeared at her side out of nowhere, causing Takato to nearly jump out of his skin.
"Does Renamon wait around just to scare us?" Takato grumbled slightly, but straightened up as Rika gave him a look. Renamon turned to Terriermon, who still rested in Henry's arms.
"Are you all right?" Renamon asked the small Digimon quietly. Terriermon simply nodded.
"Momentai. I'm fine," Terriermon assured, though the response was lacking his usual enthusiasm.
"Impmon is constantly battling his inner demons. I've known him for a long time, but even I don't understand why he would go to such lengths to prove himself. He's always been obsessed with getting stronger, with being able to stand on his own without the help of his Tamers…but to try to absorb another Digimon's data..." Renamon trailed, musing aloud as her eyes locked on the white rabbit. "There are only two reasons I can conceive to explain why he came after you, Terriermon."
"And those would be?" Terriermon muttered impatiently. Henry glanced down at him disapprovingly, but for once didn't bother to tell him to quiet down. His partner had enough on his plate already.
"One reason would be jealousy. That shouldn't come as a surprise. Out of every Tamer-Digimon relationship, the friendship you share with Henry is inarguably the most affectionate. You have everything Impmon doesn't Terriermon: a loving Tamer, a good life, and good company."
Terriermon looked up at Henry, and their eyes met for a moment before parting ways. It was obvious neither one had ever imagined that their relationship might be the Tamers' strongest.
Henry smiled down at Terriermon. He was both touched and proud that Renamon considered their relationship so close, despite the fact that he and his partner sported differing personalities.
A moment more, and he shifted his attention back to Renamon. "What's the second reason?"
"Size," Renamon said simply, and when the Tamers looked confused, she elaborated. "Terriermon is fairly small compared to most other Digimon, such as myself or Guilmon; therefore, that coupled with the general assumption would imply that his size automatically makes him weak, if not powerless."
At this time, Rika chose to add in her two cents.
"That assumption's true. The small ones are just pawns for the larger ones. They can't do anything to stop the world from crumbling around them… " Rika said, her biting tone more than a little bitter.
After all, her father had been an adult, hadn't he? One of the larger ones? She had begged him to not leave, but he had never even considered her feelings. He'd left her and her mother without looking back, without even thinking about how it would affect the rest of their lives.
But the redhead refused to well in these depressing thoughts, resolving to focus on the situation at hand.
Terriermon was lost in thought as well. He might do his best to maintain a cheerful personality all the time, but the truth was he always had his doubts when it came to his strength. That was one of the reasons he wanted Henry to let him fight so badly: to prove himself.
Butd id that…make himsimilarto Impmon? Since…since the other Digimon issues originated from self-doubt as well? Still, even if their drives were similar, Terriermon would never allow himself to kill another Digimon (or at least not without an infallibly legitimate reason)...
"Henry…does size really matter that much?" Terriermon asked in a low voice so only his partner could hear him. Henry gave him a small smile.
"Somtimes, Terriermon," Henry conceded, and the Digimon ducked his head; his Tamer slid two gentle fingers under Terriermon's chin and made to look him in the eye, "but not always. Don't let what Rika and Renamon said get to you. Those are their opinions. Just remember, Terriermon, everyone's different. You may be small, but you're my partner and my best friend, and I say you can be as powerful as you want to be!" Henry encouraged.
He truly did believe it, too, that Terriermon was strong in his own way. But the way the conversation was headed now, convincing him might be easier said than done.
"You're just trying to make me feel better, aren't you, Henry?" Terriermon muttered, the smallest of smiles coming to his face. Henry examined his partner's expression closely; he hated to see the little guy get so down on himself.
Henry offered a tiny smile of his own, though his was a bit more impish than Terriermon would have liked. "Maybe weshouldget home. I'm sure Suzie could cheer her Pwincess Pwetty Pants up!"
His was relieved when the joke seemed to make his friend's smile grow.
"Ha, ha! Very funny, Henry. Now that you mention it, though, heading home doesn't sound like such a bad idea. I think I could use a nap..." Terriermon replied, honestly weary after everything, and Henry nodded.
Looking up, he realised he and Terriermon had been so engrossed in their own conversation that they had totally missed the other two Tamers and Renamon's discussion. Sheepishly, he asked what they'd missed and was glad when Terriermon jumped in to make the job easier for him.
"Sorry. We were in our own little word for a bit..." the little Digimon confessed, plastering a smile on his face to try to pretend everything was fine. "What'd we miss?"
Rika glanced at him before moving next to Henry and leaning over to whisper in his ear.
"Is he really okay?" she asked, her voice surprisingly gentle. Henry sighed a bit before shaking his head slightly.
"No. Your comments about small Digimon being weak really got to him," Henry told her softly. Rika nodded after a thought.
"I know how he feels," she mumbled, so quietly it would be a surprise if Henry heard. But he did and eyed her curiously.
But the redhead just exhaled patiently through her nose and shook her head. She wasn't ready to tell anyone what that meant yet. Henry nodded understandingly, giving her a kind smile before swiveling to face Takato.
"Okay, here's the plan. I'm gonna go to the park to get Guilmon and tell Jeri, Kazu and Kenta to meet up with us. Jeri, Rika and Renamon will try to find out more about Impmon. Henry, Terriermon, you'll go with Kenta to pick up the Blue Card investigation where we left off. Guilmon, Kazu and I will try to figure out what the Devas are planning." By now, Henry and Rika had been staring at Takato intently for several seconds, and the shy boy was fighting to keep the blood from his face. "S-sound good?"
The two nodded firmly, Henry glancing down at Terriermon out of hesitant fear.
"Momentai, Henry," his partner eased with as big a smile as he could manage (which confessedly wasn't anything much). He was okay with not going home. After all, maybe focusing on the Blue Card would be a good distraction from the gloomy raincloud hanging over his head.