I don't own digimon.

Story 71

For the birds

Kokatorimon looked about the area one more time. He had no doubt pissed off one of the Digital World's many deities. Why else would they use their cruel sense of humor to send him down to a place like this. Chickens, Hawks and other avian creatures standing upright as far as the eye could see. All in a massive modern building with huge windows for the people outside to come and see. Perhaps even gawk and make bird sounds their way. That was a thing that people still did, right? Just because he had been gone for a decade didn't mean that things couldn't still be fun for everyone.

"Uh… hello?" Kokatorimon greeted, feeling the eyes of far too many birds honing in on him. Did they think that he was some kind of person in a costume? Maybe, but they were likely to see nothing in the way of zippers, buttons or laces to get a person out of him. Perhaps they knew where Chick was. The chicken digimon doubted it. They probably didn't know the person, but rather what character he was playing this time. Which made a good chunk of his audience unsuitable. A shame. It would be kind of nice to get to know these bi-

"Uh… Sir, miss, person do you have an ID on you?" a voice called out and Kokatorimon spun around. Standing before him was a person dressed up as a macaw. Adorned in a green shirt decorated with a bird that Kokatorimon didn't recognize, a pair of blue pants served to denote the lower half. Meeting the head, Kokatorimon's gaze met yellow eyes with a black pupil. While fake, there was a strange sort of warmth and affection to them.

"No. I kind of appeared in the middle of your convention because the digital world has a sense of humor." Kokatorimon explained and felt the macaw's wing reach out to his own. Grabbing hold with the limited amount of motion provided, the chicken digimon followed their newfound friend up to the con entrance. Guess he was about to get kicked out for not having an ID. He didn't blame the macaw for doing that. He had crashed the con, after all. Accident or not, rules and protocols still needed to be followed. If you make an exception for the strange-looking bird who appeared out of nowhere, then all the non-birds would attempt to come in. This was a convention for Bird people and those organizing the event for said bird people. Or furries, if you want to start a fistfight with said people. While technically true by way of feathery materials being a bitch to work with, it didn't take into the account Scalies. Not that Kockatorimon had a problem with any of those people. If anything, he wouldn't mind meeting a couple. Always nice to expand one's friend circle. Especially if they had digimon as well. Did Chick know anyone with a partner? Maybe. He would have to ask him once they found each other. After catching up for old times sake, of course.

"Okay. Could you tell me your character's first and last name?" the macaw announced and Kokatorimon froze. What exactly should he say here? He didn't really have a last name. Not even counting the 'Mon' part of it, of course. That could work, if no other digimon (bird or otherwise) had decided to show up to this con. He honestly wouldn't put it past them.

"Kokatorimon Kokatorimon." Kokatorimon answered, getting a look from the macaw. Quite impressive considering the limited movement their mascot head provided.

"Okay… Kokatorimon Kokatorimon, I need you to step over her to get your picture taken." the macaw explained, their wing letting go so that the chicken digimon could step in front of the white sheet they were using to print IDs. Walking over, Kokatorimon did his best to hold still for the photo. Watching the flash blind him, it took a second for him to register that it was all over. Looking back to the Macaw, they were now holding a piece of paper and a lanyard. Folding the former up into a neat little rectangle, they somehow managed to slide it into the lanyard. "You're all good to go. Do enjoy the con, Kokatorimon Kokatorimon."

Kokatorimon gulped, reluctantly accepting the gift. Stringing it around his neck, Kokatorimon looked around the convention hall. Where to even begin? There were so many options when it came to where he could go. For now at least, perhaps it would be best to wander around. Who knows who or what he might run into here. Part of the fun was getting out of your comfort zone and seeing where it took you. Within reason of course. That was not an excuse to be a vandal, a creep or commit crimes for that manner. No, those things were still against the law. All of which for good enough reasons, most of the time. Shoving that thought away, Kokatorimon began his walk down what he could only assume to be the first of many double-sided halls of booths and merch stands. While the chicken didn't recognize the companies or creators on offer here, it did make him feel a little bad that he didn't have any money. Not that they took digi-dollars. Even if they did, the exchange rate was bound to be garbage. Supposedly, the Demon Lord of Greed - Barbamon, was cracking down on the illicit creation of digi-dollars. Something about the amount created being worthless now. But that was a rumor from a while ago. No way that actually happened. Probably just a rumor that another digimon heard and was now passing it off as actual fact. That wouldn't be surprising. Those sorts of things happened quite often when many digimon got together in one place. Especially when the space around them was clearly not designed for so many digimon to be in one place. Seemed like their nature to come and gather together. Even when it wasn't for the best. For now, Kokatorimon deleted that thought from his mind and continued looking at the booths.

"Sir, would you like a sticker?" a voice announced and Kokatorimon looked to his left. To his surprise, he was met with a girl dressed in plain clothes. To make up for that fact, their companion looked to be dressed up as a parrot with a plush eagle on their shoulder.

"Uh… yes." Kokatorimon answered and bent down to accept the gift. Lacking in ways to carry said sticker sheet around, the chicken digimon didn't mind. Looking at the stickers, he was met with a variety of birds. Some of which were wearing clothes, while others were keeping any possible indecency by way of an object covering up most of their body. "By any chance have you seen someone by the name of Chick? I don't know what character they might be or what said character's name might be."

The girl shrugged and looked over to her companion. A wing was brought over to their beak, a moment taken to think the question over.

"You're Kokatorimon, right?" the parrot answered, something about their voice sounding familiar to the chicken digimon. Not that he could place where he had heard it before. Perhaps this was one of

"Correct. But my character's name is Kokatorimon Kokatorimon." Kokatorimon answered and watched his audience look at each other for just a moment. Then it's right back to him. Staring for just a second, a chuckle escaped their mouths.

"You could have gone with any other name here and yet you chose that one?" the parrot announced and Kokatorimon looked away. When put that way, it sound incredibly stupid. Not his intention in the slightest, but it could easily come back and haunt him later. All the more reason to stay on the straight and narrow. Shaking that thought away, his attention returned to the pair. "Okay. Chick is around here somewhere. If you continue looking, you'll find him."

Kokatorimon nodded and shifted his attention ahead. But as he did, a canvas bag was thrust his way. Turning back to the pair, the chicken digimon accepted the gift. Setting the sticker sheet within, now he was ready to head off further into the convention hall. At least, that was what he told himself. A snack would be nice. He hadn't gotten a chance to get a bite to eat before being pulled through. There was bound to be a place for all these birds to get a bite. At least, in a state where no one could see their actual heads. A sense of anonymity was common back then. But considering how open of a place this was, that had been weaned back ever so slightly. There were both good and bad things with that decision. Without knowing who the organizers of this con were, Kokatorimon had no way of knowing their intentions. He could only hope that they were positive and good, not exploitative and evil. Setting those thoughts off to the side for now, Kokatorimon got back to scanning the booths and tables for something resembling a bite to eat. So far, he was coming up empty. Perhaps he could just ask someone. They were bound to know where to get a bite to eat… right? Those kinds of things were common information. Information he should've asked when he got the sticker sheet after inquiring about Chick's whereabouts. Oh well. There was bound to be someone else to talk too point him in the right direction.

"Uh… I like your costume." a voice announced and Kokatorimon turned around. Standing before him was a large person with bird wings. A triangular nose hung in place of their actual one, whereas costume contacts served to denote a set of silver eyes. As for the rest of the costume, they had gone with a tunic with skin colored pants and boots.

"I like your costume as well." Kokatorimon answered and watched the winged person look away. Did they not like his compliment? Or was he supposed to be the one accepting the compliment first? The chicken digimon honestly didn't know. "Is there something wrong?"

The winged person shook his head. Holding in the tears, he placed a wing on Kokatorimon's shoulder. Kokatorimon accepted the gesture, letting it be held there for a couple seconds. Part of him wanted to wipe away their tears, but Kokatorimon decided against it.

"This is my first con and I wasn't certain that people would quite get what I was supposed to be. But you appreciated it, so that's all that matters." the winged person announced and Kokatorimon nodded. Feeling the wing return to the person's side, a sense of happiness came over the chicken digimon. By no means new information, a victory was a victory in his book.

"I'm happy to hear that. Any chance that you know where I could get a bite to eat?" Kokatorimon inquired and the winged person pointed to the far left corner of the building. Kokatorimon nodded, a new question coming to him. One far more important to his quest. While this person was bound to not know, it was still worth a shot. "By any chance have you seen anyone named Chick?"

The winged person shook their head. So much for that angle. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Can't say that I have. But good luck on finding them and have fun!" the winged person announced and Kokatori flashed a wing equivalent of a thumbs-up. Heading on, Kokatorimon hummed a tune to himself. Nothing close to birdsong or something similar, he doubted any of the congoers would mind. If they had, any one of them could come and ask him to stop. Simple as that. For now, Kokatorimon chose to continue his examination. Even with a confirmation of food being somewhere, that didn't stop him from seeing what else was on offer here. Who knows what else might be waiting for him he-

Kokatorimon didn't get a chance to finish that sentence, his body colliding with something hard and metallic. Taking a step back, a massive Biyomon met his gaze with ease. While technically a bird, something about them felt off to Kokatorimon. The sound of one of those windup keys twisting about echoed forth, serving as the heart for the digimon. Yet, he couldn't see such a device in the first place. Possibly internal, but that just raises further questions here. Questions that were not easily answered here without this strange bird answering back in some capacity.

"Hi there. Are you a digimon as well?" Kokatorimon remarked, silence falling over the pair. The sound of the key turned echoed about, bringing with it multiple pairs of eyes unsure of what to make of either digimon.

"You could say that." 'Biyomon' answered and leaned into Kokatorimon. Kokatorimon stepped back, trying his hardest to not drop the bag. Managing to hold on, he got what sounded to be a hiss from the other digimon. What exactly could ruffle their feathers so badly? So far, everyone had been nice to him. Was that same treatment not given to this digimon as well? Or was this something else entirely? The chicken digimon honestly couldn't say. Part of him didn't want to know. Perhaps this was what happened to Chick. He got turned into a digimon like this massive Biyomon. Wasn't out of the realm of possibilities. Yet another rumor was a variety of methods to turn humans and digimon. While it was theoretically possible, Kokatorimon hadn't put much thought into it. Mostly because the energy required would outweigh the benefits. In select situations it might help, but he couldn't think of any where it would. Focusing back at Biyomon, Kokatorimon was met with the start of a spiral twister. Shooting Biyomon a look, that wasn't enough to stop the attack. Letting out a sigh, he threw the bag behind him and braced for the attack. The last thing any congoer needs was to have their merch destroyed and the money spent lost. No, that was to be avoided at all costs if he could help it. Not that Biyomon thought the same here. Their only goal here was to create trouble and havoc for other digimon and humans. Beyond that, the chicken digimon couldn't say. So he would do his part to protect this con from this mechanical bird's wrath.

Mechanical Twister!

A spiral of fire shot forth, slamming right into Kokatorimon's body. Withstanding the blast, Kokatorimon inched closer to his target.

"You can't be doing that here! People will get hurt and could die from that!" Kokatorimon announced, his words falling on deaf ears. A shame, but expected here. Looking down at his feathers, he found them to be unharmed. How long that would actually last, remained to be seen. For now, best to ignore any flames that were on him. No, he needed to keep the flames away from the booths and people. If he didn't, this whole place would go up in flames. People could very much die here.

"Do I look like I care in the slightest? Get real. I am ClockworkBiyomon, perfection in digital form!" ClockworkBiyomon announced and got ready to charge up another Mechanical Twister. There was no way that this stupid bird would be able to weather yet another attack. Not if she could he-

Thankfully, no additional fire twister attack came out. Mostly because Kokatorimon picked ClockworkBiyomon up and walked her right out of the convention hall. Setting her down outside, that got him a look from the clockwork bird digimon.

"Do not even think of coming back here. Do I make myself clear?" Kokatorimon announced, only for ClockworkBiyomon to slam her entire body into him. What was so important within this convention that it required smashing into him. Didn't make sense in the slightest. Unless he was somehow overlooking a detail that would tie it all together. Try as he might to find it, the chicken digimon found himself grasping at straws here. No matter. He would just have to hold her off until someone far more powerful than he was. There was bound to be one of those digimon around more than happy to defeat ClockworkBiyomon and return things to normal… right? His luck couldn't be that bad. While ending up in the middle of a con wasn't ideal, he made it work. Once this was over, he needed to find Chick and fill him in on what went down. His partner was bound to believe him here.

Mabolt!

Looking up to the sky, Kokatorimon watched a bolt of lightning come down and strike ClockworkBiyomon. By no means killing her in the slightest, it did serve as a good deterrent from attacking the con.

"You win this time. But I will come back to create trouble." ClockworkBiyomon announced and created a portal under their feet. Letting her body get dragged through, Kokatorimon's attention shifted to the figure in the sky. A gold armored humanoid, they made a rapid descent down to the ground. Once they reached that point, they reverted back into a normal Aegiochusmon.

"Oh. Hi Aegiochusmon. How have you been?' Kokatorimon greeted, giving Aegiochusmon a moment to catch his breath and look around for Bruce. Not that they needed to wait long for the bodybuilder to arrive. Dressed in a gray shirt and a pair of athletic shorts, he looked quite sweaty. "Hi Bruce. By any chance have you seen Chick?"

Bruce shook his head. While he wanted to help Kokatorimon right now, Chick was the one member of his friend group that he didn't quite get around to talking too as much as he wanted. Just the nature of their schedules.

"If I had to take a guess, he's somewhere in the con. You probably ran into him and then didn't realize it. That would sound like something he would do." Bruce answered and Kokatorimon brought a wing to his chin. Someone he ran into while in the con. There were a couple people, but only one of them came to mind here.

"That damn macaw." Kokatorimon announced and ran over to the Con entrance. Catching a glimpse of the macaw, he swore he could just make out a chuckle coming from under the mask. Yep. That had to be Chick alright. "You tricked me!"

The macaw let out yet another chuckle and pulled Kokatorimon in. Kokatorimon accepted the gesture, feeling the warmth of Chick's costume.

"Well, you didn't ask." Chick whispered and felt his partner's beak on top of his. Holding for just a moment, it felt quite good.