And now it's time for a Big-Lipped Alligator Moment.
...
Anyone who can guess my favorite Digimon Tamers shipping gets... Nothing at all, because it's incredibly obvious, even without reading the first couple of lines.
A bench in Shinjuku park, 14:26
"Stupid Henry, and his stupid boyfriend and his stupid girlfriend, and their stupid friends, not letting me play with them," Suzie pouted while Lopmon sat next to her, trying to think of something to appease the girl, and failing entirely, as this sort of subject matter was entirely alien territory to the former Deva.
After about ten-twenty minutes of the Tamer and Digimon quietly watching people pass by, the tell-tale noise of her Digivice resounded, and when Suzie picked it up, the holographic screen flickered into existence, a pair of red triangles pointing north-west.
"Come on, Lopmon, we gotta take care of this so that Henry, Rika, Takato and the others can have a day off," She excitedly told her partner, who nodded in response, and did her best to keep up with the girl as she ran.
...
Hypnos Agency Building, 14:40
"Yamaki, sir!" Riley shouted to a disinterested Yamaki, who seemed more fascinated by his lighter, while the tell-tale lights of Bio-Emerging Digimon flashed on her computer. "There's several Digimon Bio-Emerging!"
He immediately flicked his lighter closed. Both Riley and Tally knew that this had gotten his attention. "How many, exactly, and where?" He succinctly asked.
"Nine Digimon, and most of them are Champion-Levels, sir. All in Shinjuku park. Even with the current equipment, that's all we can tell," Tally replied, while Yamaki cursed loudly. "Is there something wrong, sir?"
"Yes," Yamaki grumbled. "Because today, of all days, we can't rely on the Tamers."
Hearing this, Riley turned around. "What do you mean, sir?"
"I mean, that the Tamers have requested a day off," Yamaki revealed. "Today... Hypnos and the Digimon? Those might as well not exist."
"I, I s-" She had no idea to respond to that, as while she knew that the Tamers had every right to take a day off, or even a month if they wanted, she couldn't help but consider them somewhat selfish, for leaving Hypnos to fend for itself.
However, she was cut off, by Yamaki's cell-phone. "That would be Suzie now," Yamaki smirked, before putting his phone on speaker, and Suzie's voice filled the room.
"How did you-" Tally exclaimed, while Riley was bemused by her superior's attempt to seem omniscient.
"Mister Yamaki, sir?" Suzie tentatively asked. "Could you call the others, and tell them that I got this one covered?"
"Certainly, Suzie." Yamaki replied. "Though, I should tell you that you're not facing a single Digimon, but Nine Champions."
"Oh," Suzie whispered. This would complicate everything. One or two Champions was nothing for Antylamon, three or four was more difficult, but she could still manage that handily. For so many, Lopmon might have to Digivolve into her Mega form. She'd reached that level almost two years ago, but her Ultimate form remained her go-to level, for battling Bio-Emerged Digimon, due to her unfamiliarity with the Cherubimon form, and the sheer energy expenditure it took for Lopmon to access and maintain the form.
"Is something wrong?" Riley asked, concerned for the girl. If her pause was any indication, it sounded like the girl doubted their ability to handle that many Digimon.
"No, it's fine," Suzie quickly lied. "Just tell Henry and the others that I'll handle this, okay?"
"Of course, Suzie," Yamaki assured her, before finding Rika's number.
"Do you think she'll be fine?" Tally worriedly asked.
"She will," Yamaki firmly responded. "She helped out against the D-Reaper, at four. A mere handful of Champion-Level Digimon is easy, compared to that."
His response mostly appeased Riley and Tally, though they still couldn't help but worry.
"You worry too much," Yamaki said to them, pressing the button on his phone. "She's going to be fine, I'm sure of it."
...
Nonaka residence, Shinjuku, 14:42
"Call," Rika said, as Takato and Kazu smirked. Suddenly, the Tamer's Digivices collectively beeped, and displayed the compass, which all pointed in the same direction; towards Shinjuku park, signaling a Bio-Emerging. The Tamers shared a weary look, as they knew this meant that the peace and quiet was over.
Before anyone could get up to leave, Rika's cellphone started ringing. "Hello?"
"I assume that by now, you're aware of the Bio-Emerging Digimon." She heard Yamaki's voice say. "That is the reason I'm calling, to tell you that you can all safely stay put; Suzie's decided to take care of it, so that you can have a day off."
"Really?" Rika replied, surprised. "Suzie?" Henry raised an eyebrow at the mention of his sister's name.
"Yes," Yamaki responded. "Enjoy your birthday."
Rika hung up the phone. "What was that bit about Suzie?" Henry asked.
"Suzie's handling the Bio-Emerging Digimon." Rika replied.
"... I gotta go," Henry said, concerned. However, he hadn't expected Takato to laugh at him. "What's so funny?" Henry sternly asked.
"Don't get me wrong, your concern for Suzie is touching," Takato assured him, still chuckling slightly, which Henry did not appreciate. "But you're worrying way too much. You know as well as we do that it's most likely a Champion-Level, at best."
Henry couldn't think of a response to Takato's points, as everything he was saying was true, though he still couldn't help but worry slightly. "What if it's something like a MarineAngemon, a Mega?" Henry pointed out.
"If it's another MarineAngemon, there's no danger in letting it cross over." Takato pointed out. "And even in the unlikely case that it's an Ultimate, or even a Mega around the same size, Lopmon can easily return it to the Digital World."
"I suppose," Henry shrugged, deciding to let the matter drop.
...
Shinjuku Park, 14:45
Somehow, it all came back to here, Suzie thought, as she and Lopmon found themselves at a familiar part of the park. It was here that she, Calumon, and the other Tamers had returned from the Digital World four years ago. It was here that their partners had been forced to leave them four years ago. It was here that the Tamers had been reunited with their partners several months later, and it was here that several Digimon were now Bio-Emerging.
The pixelated space crackled with soft-blue energies, releasing the familiar mist. Within that mist, Suzie thought she could see several familiar silhouttes. Soon, all nine had emerged entirely.
"Let's see... 'Greymon: Vaccine, Champion-Level. Attacks: Nova Blast.'... 'Garurumon: Data, Champion-Level. Attacks: Howling Blaster'... 'Stingmon: Free, Champion-Level. Attacks: Spiking Strike, Evil Antenna, Moon Shooter'... 'Veemon: Free, Rookie-Level. Attacks: Vee Punch, Vee Headbutt'... 'Flamedramon: Data, Champion-Level. Attacks: Flame Fist, Fire Rocket.'... 'Raidramon: Vaccine. Champion-Level. Attacks: Thunderbolt, Lightning Blade.'... 'Witchmon: Data, Champion-Level. Attacks: Baluluna Gale, Aquary pressure.'... 'Wizardmon: Data, Champion-Level. Attacks: Electro Squall, Magical Game, Vision of Terror.'... 'Togemon: Data, Champion-Level. Attacks: Needle Spray, Lightspeed Jabbing'..." Suzie listed.
"A mere human knows our names?" Veemon sneered. No matter how much knowledge this human got from her device, it would ultimately amount to nothing.
"How can Flamedramon and Raidramon even be here?" Suzie exclaimed, confusing the two. "Those forms are only accessible, in one way. And why is Veemon a Rookie level, while you're all Champions?"
"Because I enjoy this form, you vile human!" Veemon shouted, annoyed with her ceaseless prattling.
However, Suzie seemed to take his shouting and the insult in stride, much to Lopmon's surprise. "Oh yeah, that reminds me. Why are you all here, by the way?"
"Veemon insulting you... Reminds you to inquire about our purpose?" Stingmon dubiously asked, while the other eight had already written the girl off as incurably eccentric and foolheaded. After all, who, other than a fool, would fight several Champion Digimon, with a Rookie? "We have come here to assert our dominance over your world. Nothing personal, of course, we just feel that your world would be much better off, with us in charge." Stingmon told her, with an audible smirk in his hissing voice.
"I see..." Suzie softly replied. "I'm sorry, but you'll have to go back, then."
Hearing her command, they promptly burst into fits of laughter. A few seconds later, they had calmed down enough to reply to her. "Oh really?" Veemon mockingly asked. "And if we refuse?"
"You don't have a choice," Suzie replied, with an edge to her voice, much to Veemon's amusement. This human was turning out to be quite the entertainment. "I don't want to fight you, so please go back."
"Oh?" Flamedramon sarcastically retorted. "And how would you have us do so? In case you hadn't noticed, the portal to the Digital World is already sealed."
Suzie looked behind them, and saw that he was right, before letting out a sad sigh. She really hadn't wanted to fight them, but now that was her only option. "Yeah, you're right, Flamedramon..." She conceded. "So now Lopmon'll have to destroy all of you. Hopefully, some of you won't be stubborn to acknowledge defeat..."
"Oh really?" Raidramon scoffed while the other seven chortled heartily at her overconfidence. Stingmon, however remained quiet, as he'd heard a story about a group of humans traveling into the Digital World, which ended in one of the mythical twelve Deva renouncing it's service, to the Sovereigns. It was, of course, pure falsehood, he thought, and the Sovereigns and Deva alike pure fantasy, a fiction, though just in case, Stingmon deemed it wise to exercise caution. "And just who are you, that you could conceivably back up such a threat?"
"Who, you ask?" Suzie replied, while Lopmon saw a ghost of a smirk appear and fade away in an instant, on her face. "I'm Suzie Wong, Lopmon's Tamer, and Henry Wong's younger sister! I'm absolutely adorable! I helped fend off the D-Reaper when I was four, without hesitation. My partner is literally one of the servants of God! I have those selfsame Digimon Tamers, who defeated the D-Reaper and the legendary Tamer who defeated ZeedMillenniumon, on my speed-dial, so even if I'm not enough to handle all of you, I know several people who definitely are. Does that answer your question?" She shouted.
None of them seemed particularly impressed by her tirade, though Stingmon at least seemed to pay enough attention, to give a slow, disinterested hand-clap.
"What's a 'ZeedMillenniumon'?" Greymon growled, confusion apparent in his voice.
"Well, I've heard enough, Suzie." Stingmon spoke. "I trust that calling you 'Suzie' is fine?" She gave a small nod. "Wonderful... If nobody has anything to add, I'll be off. Rest assured, Suzie, that I will be taking the next portal back to the Digital World." He said, spreading his wings, and turning to leave, leaving several stunned Champions in his wake.
"Dirty traitor..." Garurumon growled.
"I'VE HAD ENOUGH OF THIS!" Togemon roared, and before anyone could stop him, not that anyone particularly tried or bothered, he'd charged at Suzie. "Needle Spray!" He declared, unleashing a flurry of thorny punches on her.
She closed her eyes and let out a frightened yelp when the hits were about to connect... Which they, to her surprise, never did, and when she opened her eyes, she saw Antylamon's right hand in front of her, and her left hand holding a squirming Togemon.
"Now I think it's time for all of you to leave." Antylamon's soft voice boomed, tightening her grip until Togemon dissolved into data.
"Come on," Veemon shouted, trying to encourage the frightened champions. "It's just an Ultimate. We can take it!"
"Were it simply an ordinary Ultimate, you would be right, Veemon," They heard Stingmon's hissing voice call out from above them. "However, I suspect that this one is a former Deva." He announced, shocking those of the Digimon who believed him. "Furthermore, I suspect they've been holding back, as there is but one form of this Digimon that can be described as a 'servant of God'. If so, they have you fairly well taken of. Goodbye." He said, before continuing his flight away from the battlefield.
"I'm sorry..." Suzie whispered to the Digimon, who were too horrified at the implications of what Stingmon had told them to hear her. "This is sadly what has to be done..."
The battle ended, before it had barely began.
...
A bench in Shinjuku park, 15:05
"How did it go?" Yamaki asked over the phone, hoping that she'd taken care of all nine Digimon. He knew even a single escapee, or survivor could cause extensive amounts of damage, and the less government funding that was expended on repairs the better.
"Eight Digimon deleted, one let go," Suzie replied.
"What?" Yamaki replied, wondering whether he'd heard her correctly. "Did you just say... That you let one of them go?"
"Yes," She replied, though in hindsight it really had been a mistake, as most Digimon to assume human partners were Rookies, with only rare exceptions. "Stingmon seemed pretty friendly." She tried to excuse herself.
"Suzie..." Yamaki slowly said, audibly seething with anger. Why, Suzie understood all too well. "Do you realize what you've just done?"
"Yes, I've made a terrible mistake, and I'm going to find Stingmon, if he's still in Shinjuku," She firmly replied, hoping that telling him what he wanted to hear and promising to clean up her own mess, would at least somewhat get her off the hook. "Just... Don't tell the others about this, okay?" She softly asked.
"... Sure, Suzie..." Yamaki replied, surprised by her change of tone, before hanging up.
"Well, Lopmon, looks like we have to find Stingmon," Suzie smiled wistfully at Lopmon.
However, before she could answer, a shrill hiss spoke from above them. "Looking for me?" Stingmon called out.
"You're here!" Both Tamer and Digimon exclaimed.
"Well, obviously," He gave a cold smirk. "I must thank both of you for destroying those other Digimon for me, allowing me to absorb their data."
Suzie and Lopmon shared guilty looks as they realized that they'd completely fallen into Stingmon's trap, doing what he wanted them to.
"Of course, absorbing their data did more than merely bolster my power," He revealed, with a crazed look in his glowing eyes. "So much much more..." He chuckled.
"What?" Suzie and Lopmon shouted, wondering what he could possibly be referring to. What more could absorbed data be used for? "What do you mean?"
"THIS!" Stingmon exclaimed, before his body became covered in the familiar light-cocoon of a Digivolution, and when the light receded... He'd been transformed into something much different than his ordinary self.
It's head remained much the same, though he'd gained Veemon's ear-horns. His exposed abdomen had become ExVeemon's, complete with the tail, and he'd grown ExVeemon's muscular arms to boot, Stingmon's own moving to his back, occupying the position between the wings and the new arms.
"'Dinobeemon: Virus, Ultimate. Attacks: Masquerade, Irritant Buzz'..." She read off the Digivice.
"Indeed," Dinobeemon sneered, confident in his victory. "Same as Antylamon, and with considerably more power. Though before I eradicate both of you, I have a little question for both of you."
"What is it?" Suzie curiously replied.
"It concerns your little Lopmon's Mega form; you boasted earlier, albeit a poorly made boast, that your partner was, and I quote, 'the servant of God!' If she have indeed reached that level, why would you not use that form more frequently?" He inquired, scrutinizing her, eyeing her carefully. For a moment, Suzie almost believed that he could peer into her very soul. "To my knowledge, your older brother and his friends tend to go for the most powerful forms first. Does Lopmon's Ultimate form hold some significance to you? Or is there a reason for her not Digivolving into Mega?"
In that moment, Tamer and Digimon shared a look, knowing that as intelligent as he seemed, he would soon work it out. "Well, I'm sure you don't want me to know about it," He chuckled softly, startling them with how innocuous the action was. "But from what I can see, your partner has rarely, if ever absorbed the data of another Digimon, meaning that it provides the energy to maintain its Digivolutions with its own data, and little besides."
"... Lopmon," Suzie nervously began. "I know I don't ask you to do this often, but... Digivolve to your Mega form!"
"What?!" Both Lopmon and Dinobeemon exclaimed in shock. "Suzie, I'll have less than a minute, and maybe one attack!"
"That's absurd!" Dinobeemon exclaimed, outraged. "It can't possibly have that kind of power left!"
"I know, Lopmon! Do it anyway!" She shouted at Lopmon, who decided to trust Suzie's judgment.
"Lopmon Digivolve to..." She exclaimed, as she became coated in the familiar energies, only infinitely stronger than normal.
"Not going to happen!" Dinobeemon exclaimed, preparing an attack to disrupt the Digivolution. However, just as he would've unleashed his Irritant Buzz, he felt something on his wings. A... Drop of water?
When he looked up, he saw that the clear blue skies had somehow become cloudy. "But how?" His confusion was far from alleviated, when the glowing Digimon took off from the ground into the rain clouds, somehow managing to cross the vast distance in seconds. "What is going on?" He thought, disoriented by the sudden turns of events.
...
Nonaka residence, Shinjuku, 15:07
"Guys, are you seeing this?!" Jeri exclaimed, looking out at the clouds.
"Rain clouds?" Kazu tentatively asked, not understanding why she was reacting like this. Sudden change of weather was surprising, certainly, but he didn't think it merited this reaction.
"Not the clouds themselves, Kazu," Rika interjected. "That glowing opening in them. What is that?"
"Suzie," Henry whispered, for some reason sounding frightened by whatever was going on.
...
Hypnos Agency Building, 15:07
"We're reading a powerful Digital anomaly!" Tally shouted, alarmed by the sudden manifestation, as the energy-levels were already incredibly high, and steadily growing.
"Where is it?" Yamaki asked. "The Digital World? Crossing over?"
"Neither." Riley answered. "According to the computer... It's... It's..." She stammered, unable to believe the readings.
"Where is it?" Yamaki repeated. "Where?"
"The troposphere!" Tally shouted.
"How is that possible?!" Yamaki exclaimed. "Suzie... Whatever you and Lopmon are doing... Be careful..."
...
Shinjuku park, 15:07
Somehow, to Dinobeemon's shock, a hole opened in the clouds, releasing an overwhelmingly powerful surge of light, connecting whatever was above those clouds with the ground where he and Suzie were standing.
Slowly, a... Digimon emerged from that opening, and fell at an incredible speed, reaching the ground almost instantly.
"What... Are you?" Dinobeemon demanded, inspecting the enormous Digimon. It's body was almost entirely soft-pink, with a pair of golden marking on it's stomach, that contained a soft-white stripe, that divided each half of it's body. Around it's neck was a white twelve-pronged adornment, with another twelve-pronged gold star within that one, both serving to frame it's head, it's black beady eyes and soft smile holding nothing but warmth and compassion. It's arms were extended towards him.
"Cherubimon," Her melodious voice boomed softly. "NOW BE GONE!" The angelic Digimon didn't move at all, as it unleashed a flurry of gigantic thunderbolts on Dinobeemon, again and again until his data dissipated.
"Never... Doing that ag..." Was the last thing Cherubimon thought as she felt her energy slip away, and her body revert back into Lopmon's.
...
Shinjuku park, 15:27
The first thing Lopmon saw, when she woke up, was the tearful face of her Tamer. "Are you okay, Lopmon?" Suzie cried, while holding the rabbit as tightly as she could.
"Su... Zie..." The rabbit weakly said, trying to tune out the overwhelming exhaustion she felt.
"Yes?" She sniffled.
"You... You know that I have nothing but trust and respect towards you, right?" She weakly smiled.
"Yeah," Suzie smiled.
"Well... I'm never going to do that again," Lopmon smiled. The things she did for that girl...
"I know, Lopmon," Suzie tearfully smiled. "I know..."
"So tired..." Suzie heard Lopmon whisper.
"I bet," Suzie laughed. "I'll carry you home. Just rest, okay?"
"Thank you," The rabbit whispered to her. "...Suzie, I just thought of something."
"What?" Suzie responded.
"About an hour ago, you said something about Henry's boyfriend and Henry's girlfriend. I thought that humans only had one boy or girlfriend at a time?"
"Normally, that's true." Suzie replied, laughing. "Henry's... I guess he's just kinda weird like that."
"Weird?" Lopmon asked, confused by her reply. The ex-Deva wanted to understand humans, but even after having spent several years among them, there were just so many things about humans, their societies and cultures that eluded her. Sometimes she wondered if it wasn't just easier to give up on trying to understand these strange, wildly bizarre, incurably eccentric, remarkable, astonishing creatures... "How is Henry weird?"
"In the best way possible," Suzie softly replied, which Lopmon supposed was as good an answer as any." Now let's go home..."
"That reminds me, can I-" Lopmon began before Suzie cut her off.
"You're not getting any pizza." Suzie replied. "You deserve it for Digivolving into Mega, but you're still not getting any. Not after what happened last time..."
For anyone who's curious, that BrickJoke/Chekhov's Gun is exactly 3,292 words long.