Review Responses
The Keeper of Worlds) You're damn right! I FULLY INTEND TO!
Guest 01) That they certainly are... More 'Moralities' (mindsets)?! Okay, from the top.
On one hand, we have the humanly recognizable Digidestined and Koji.
On another hand, we have the Tamers/partners, who are still somewhat recognizable as themselves, yet have become what to us is polyamorous, as they wouldn't consider anything about that sort of relationship to be odd, as it's what they do.
On a third hand, we have Raya, who is, or was intended to be, a kinda odd, generally amiable Digimon. To wit; Veemon's annoyance with her from last chapter is unfounded; she genuinely doesn't see anything weird about a room being bugger on the inside.
More people? Sure, okay.
The Digital World doesn't have human dates like those, and why would anyone, human or Digimon, care enough to celebrate, even if they remembered enough of the details to do so?
Lord Pata) Will wonders never cease, a review that isn't just mindless compliment, but actually constructive commentary on the content itself. Don't usually get that. Thank you, man.
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Pairing Mode, huh? Well, this might just come in handy.
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Also, hate to nag, but since I seem to lack other options, could I get some ####### votes on the ####### poll?! Much obliged.
Raya opened the door, seeing a young blonde girl, about twelve, in a blue-and-white striped shirt, a lavender vest and skirt, and a lavender, navy-blue rimmed hat stand before her, along with a younger boy, about the age of eight, a brown-haired twelve year old boy with a large build wearing a predominantly blue jumpsuit, and a brown-haired, brown-eyed boy in a open, red, short-sleeved, jacket, yellow shirt, and greyish-brown pants, with a pair of goggles on his forehead.
Strangely, these versions of Zoe, JP, Tommy had the symbols of the Spirits of Wind, Thunder and Ice as faded markings on the back of their hands, and where visible, their foreheads as well, which were all outlined by pairs of concentric circles. As Koji hadn't demonstrated such oddities, she decided that these were a different set.
"Let me guess," Raya began with mild, knowing exasperation in her tone. "The four of you have been bonded with the Spirits of Wind, Thunder, Ice and Flame respectively, granting you immortality, and the ability to transform instantly into any of the forms you have available, simply by thinking about it?"
The four stared blankly at her, wondering how she could possibly know that. After a minute, Tommy nodded tentatively. "Really, this is just getting silly..." Raya sighed, shaking her head. Suddenly, something seemed to catch her interest, though what that something was, Takuya wasn't quite sure. His Trailmon of thought was abruptly interrupted, when he noticed the marking on Zoe's and Tommy's hands glow with their respective insignias, which they all knew what symbolized.
"Guys, you gotta take a look at this!" JP shouted from the left door, sounding strangely awestruck and bewildered. The other Legendary Warriors shared quizzical looks, wondering what he was so impressed. Once Zoe, Takuya and Tommy had walked over to the door, their eyes widened, understanding exactly what was so astounding about that room.
In lieu of any sort of architecture, it was a seemingly endless void, a soft white color. The only expection to that boundless expanse, was a line of bookshelves, with books of the same general size, but seemingly all possible colors. The only discrepancies in that line were three wide entrances.
Unlike Ophanimon's library that extended quite a distance upwards, this one seemed more arranged in the shape of a maze, as near as Zoe could tell.
How it was possible, Takuya didn't quite know, but the room seemed to have considerably more than enough storage space to contain the entire mansion.
"This house..." Tommy whispered in awe. "It's smaller on the outside!"
"That's... One way to put it," Takuya chuckled.
"That it is," Raya agreed with a smile, deciding to get the trivialities over with, as this would likely end the same way as with the previous group and Koji; with them invariably asking the Tamers for permission to stay indefinitely. "Would you like to stay the night?"
"Well, I wouldn't mind," Takuya grinned. "What about you guys?" JP nodded, while Zoe smiled, and Tommy grinned widely. With no dissent, the demoness considered the matter settled.
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Elsewhere, on the seventh floor of the right-wing library, within one of the seemingly infinite corridors and passageways, Kari stood leaned against a bookshelf, while Rika was leaned up against an adjacent bookshelf, the redhead's attention fixed on a book titled, 'Jeri Katou, Universe 386, Timeline 493', with Renamon at her side, the kitsune's eyes closed.
Beside the brunette was the demoness, who was occupied with her own book, though Kari couldn't see what the title was.
"I still don't understand," Kari said after a brief pause, ending the silence, to Rika's faint irritation, as she'd largely considered the matter shelved after the other girl's talk with Davis. "How can you be in love with them, all of them?"
"That's just how it is, Kari," Rika boredly replied. Renamon wondered why she still seemed to have interest in the notion, when Davis hadn't reacted well to it.
The brunette sighed inwardly, as she would've appreciated for Rika to be more forthcoming about it. If there was any way that she could help make both Davis and TK, if the possibility existed, then she would do it, no matter what the odds were.
"Kari, are you still trying to see if you could somehow be with Davis and TK?" Raya interjected suddenly, startling the brunette. "I'm sorry to say it, I really am, but I just don't think it's a good idea."
"Why not?" Kari replied, with a faint whimper in her tone. "You guys can do it, so why can't we?"
"Kari, we've tried that countless times," Rika softly pointed out with something in her voice that Kari couldn't quite identify. She surmised it to be something akin to... Guilt, possibly, or perhaps longing, or nostalgia, or something entirely different, some extraordinary sensation that had been cultivated in her over her century of life.
Though, the brunette grimaced when she completed that Trailmon of thought. What did that imply for her? When she eventually lived that long, what would that make of her? Was she, and Davis, and TK, headed the same way? Drifting in and out of love, as time passed? Was something like that really to be her fate as well?
"What, exactly, do you make of the fact that it has yet to last more than a year or two?" Rika sardonically asked. Kari sighed, supposing that the red-head really would have to drive the point home, by now.
Just then, a blonde-haired girl, or person, whichever, walked into sight of the group from behind one of the bookshelves. Zoe blinked when she recognized Kari and Rika, neither of whom she literally had seen in months, except when Ophanimon gave them their latest assignments to whichever distant corner of the Digital World that there were Digimon causing trouble.
Kari wore the outfit that Zoe remembered so well, while Rika's attire was entirely new, and entirely unsurprising, even fitting for her style.
The redhead now wore a whitish-gray shirt, underneath a black leather-vest, along with black leather-jeans, and lastly, three belts, one made of black and worn properly, one of white leather, designed to resemble quadratic segment in rows of two, and a black leather one with metallic-silver studs, wrapped around her leg, arranged in pairs, forming immediately identifiable rectangles.
"Hey guys," Zoe cheerfully greeted. "Kari, Rika, it's been a while!"
"Yeah, it has," Kari chuckled, while Rika and Renamon entered their psychic link for a splitsecond, leaving after less than half a minute with the agreement that Zoe would learn about them not being the same versions of Rika Nonaka, Renamon, Takato Matsuki, Henry Wong, Guilmon and Terriermon soon enough.
"What were you talking about?" The blonde smiled.
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Outside, Takuya and Koji stood a distance away from the front door, scowling at each-other.
"Stay away from Zoe," Takuya growled at him. In his mind, he was trying to decide which form to rip Koji to shreds if he didn't.
"Make me," He spat back, tensing in anticipation of a fight, the symbol flickering and fading on his hands.
"Ancient Warrior Evolution!" The two snarled in unison. On the ground beneath their feet appeared circles containing their respective symbols while waves of light-blue Fractal Code washed over them, and faded to reveal a startling pair of transformations.
Takuya had become a four-legged dragon, clad in golden, orange and crimson armor, sporting flamelike wings. His eyes were a striking ocean-blue, and his hair was wild and golden. His size now rivaled that of the nearby mansion.
Koji, however, had become a bipedal wolf-like creature, clad in white, gold-rimmed armor, wielding a large pair of golden blades in his hands.
Roaring wildly, they charged at each-other, with unyielding intent to kill.
Half an hour later, they had finally run out of energy and calmed down enough that Zoe could chew out them extensively for endangering everyone needlessly.
"What were you thinking?!" She angrily demanded of the collapsed pair.
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Meanwhile, in their bedroom, Takato rested in one of the beds, nestled up against Rika, while Henry was snuggled behind him, his left arm draped around the other two, clinging to them almost possessively.
As their eyes were closed, their heads were buried in a pillow and they were lying immobile underneath the white sheets, they might well be mistaken for being asleep, which, Rika mused to herself, was far from the case...
"So," Rika spoke simply, without moving any part of her body in the slightest. "Are we actually going to do this again?"
"If Takato's fine with it, then..." Henry softly answered. He could practically feel the incredulous look that Rika was shooting him.
"For the last time, Henry, would you stop worrying about what we want?!" Rika sternly asked him, lying as still as before. "What do you think will happen if you don't? That we'll leave you?!"
"Yes," Henry quietly admitted. Their eyes opened wide with disbelief. Had he really just said that?! All of a sudden, he felt the other two stir, and get up. Opening his eyes, he saw them stare in shock at him.
"Henry, I'm sorry, but are you out of your goddamn mind!?" Rika angrily demanded to know. The male winced, though her reaction hadn't been unexpected. "All this time, and you seriously think we'll ever do that?!"
Henry sighed inwardly. Truthfully, he did doubt that they ever would, but he couldn't quite not worry that whether in ten years, or twenty, or fifty, or even a hundred, any of the four would find something that they would deem a better purpose than being with him. His Trailmon of thought was abrubtly when Takato suddenly kissed him passionately. He decided not to question it, and returned the kiss.
After several seconds, Rika watched him break away from the navy-haired male, and wrap his arms around Henry. "If there's something bothering you, you can tell us." Takato softly told him.
"I'm fine," Henry assured him. At least, he assumed that there was nothing at the moment that really bothered him. Both Raya and Saial were generally sweet and amiable company, while Koji, Davis, Kari, TK, Veemon, Gatomon and Patamon weren't unpleasant, and he had yet to form an opinion of this Takuya, Zoe, JP and Tommy. "And honestly, I'll like to be with just Takato, for the time being. Maybe in a year or two..."
"That's fine," Rika answered.
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Kari was, for the lack of a better word, surprised, as a small white, adorable-looking in Kari's opinion, humanoid Digimon, with bright green eyes and large purple-tipped ears, floated in front of her, blocking her way down the passageway.
"Hello-" Kari began before she was cut off by the Digimon.
"Alright, tough girl!" He declared passionately, which sounded silly to her, considering how light his voice was. "You wanna pick on someone smaller than you?! Then you're gonna have to go with little me!"
"W-what?" Kari stammered. "I-I don't even know who you are!?"
"Nonsense!" He hollered. "You'll get pulverized, little dude! Let me take care of this! I'LL BE SLLLLAMMMING AND JAMMING THIS BAD SIS IN NO TIME FLAT, CHUMBUDDY!"
"What are you even saying?" Kari quizzically asked, finding no meaning in his threat.
"You think you can take out Digimon Tamers?! That ain't happening, palfella!" He roared at her. Kari wasn't sure if he actually believed himself to sound scary. "NOT WITH THE UNCONQUERABLE FORCE, OF CALUMON, AND ALL TEN OF HIS ADORABLE STUBBY FINGERS OUT THERE STARING YOU DOWN!"
Kari tried and failed to suppress a laugh at his brash statement. Unconquerable force?! He barely looked to be a Rookie-level. That was hardly an 'unconquerable force'. "So your name is Calumon?"
"That's right, partner!" He declared heatedly, clenching his hands, or paws, technically. Kari blinked at being referred to as his partner. Did he really believe that? Or was it simply more of his nonsense? "You're looking at the strongest In-Training-level in existence!"
"Of course I am," Kari chuckled. "And what sort of power or attacks do you have?"
"Yes, the time for talk is over, and you're gonna get the butt-busting of a lifetime, chumbuddy," He agreed with her assessment, even though Kari had said nothing of the sort. "You're about to feel the righteous rage of the rippling-est muscles in the Digital World!"
"Are you done soon?" Kari wearily asked.
"HOW DARE YOU!?" Calumon screamed in indignation. Suddenly, his body released an intense golden light. Kari yelped and closed her eyes for but a second, which was enough time for the radiance to fade.
Where Calumon had previously been, was now Lucemon. To Kari's utter shock, he suddenly flung off his toga, leaving him entirely nude, though with no visible genitalia, which she thought was a good thing.
"I will tamper those words!" Lucemon declared fiercely. "I'll be knocking! Your noggin! All over this place, chumbuddy!"
"Wh-why did you take your clothes?!" Kari exclaimed, her cheeks tinged bright-crimson.
Lucemon ignored her, continuing his ravings. "You don't have a prayer, palfella!" He declared, while striking a pose, flexing muscles on his arms that just... Weren't there. At all. "Lucemon! Is taking you! ALL! THE WAY! DOWN! INDUBITABLY!"
As he performed his gesticulations and orations with blazing fervor, Kari simply watched, unimpressed and confused, wondering where he'd even come from.
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A floor up, in the exact same area of the library that Kari and Lucemon occupied were Raya and Saial. The demoness was leaned against the left bookshelf of the corridor, looking at the angel with a mildly displeased expression.
"Why, Saial?" She quietly asked. Angewomon mused that the question was understandable. "Why do you suddenly want some privacy, after what we did a few days ago? Do you think that... It's fun to toy around with my feelings?" She whispered to the angel, audibly shocked and hurt.
The angel inwardly kicked herself, musing that Raya's conclusion regarding the matter wasn't an unreasonable one. "I am sorry, Raya. I never meant you any sort of distress."
"I know that, Saial, I just... I have something I want to tell you..." Raya murmured, sighing, taking a moment to compose herself. "Look, sweetie, I know it's only been a few days, but I honestly think that spending eternity with you would be something I'll enjoy doing-I mean... I mean... Saial, I honestly have no idea where this was leading, but bottom line, I know that I've done a lot of things that you don't approve of, and I'm beyond grateful that you've looked past those so far... I love you, Saial, and there will never be a point in my life where that doesn't true for me..."
"I knew that already, Raya, but thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for telling me regardless," Saial smiled, touched by the demoness' sentiment, and took her hands. "Raya, from the moment I hatched from my egg, over sixty years ago, I remember you having been there by my side. Since then, you've been my most cherished companion, whether as a Salamon, BlackGatomon or in your current form. Whenever I needed or wanted to see a familiar face, you were never far away. So yes, I love you as well, I truly mean that, which is why I see no reason to marry you. It would simply be a needless formality."
Raya smiled widely, tears starting to form in her eyes, as she wrapped her arms around the angel, burying her head in Saial's neck. Smiling contentedly, Saial wrapped her arms around the demoness.
Well, with the Tamers (Rika/Takato/Henry), Digidestined (Davis/Kari/TK) and Legendary Warriors (Koji/Takuya/Zoe/Tommy/JP), Saial and Raya, the cast is assembled.
Still, if someone wants further additions to the ensemble, that can be arranged.
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Jeri Katou (age: 150)
Leomon (Champion) - GrapLeomon (Ultimate) - BanchoLeomon (Mega) - (Jogress with Calumon) Apollomon
Calumon (In-Training) - Lucemon (Rookie) - Petermon (Champion) - Lucemon Chaos Mode (Ultimate) - (Jogress with Leomon) Apollomon
If anyone wants more people to enter the story, it's those three or nothing.
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At this rate, I'll have to do a Beach chapter, or a Hot Springs chapter next time... I had hoped to make that around 30-40...
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Notes detailing potential issues of controversy.
1) The attire that Zoe observes Rika to wear now is based off the one that the dA artist Riza23 has drawn. Used with permission, and all credit for it goes to him.
2) And with this chapter, Raya's and Saial's story is officially concluded. They'll still be around, but will interact with the other seventeen residents, rather than each-other.