A new day dawned.
Nothing interesting happened.
A trio of Flybeemon popped up.
To my surprise, it was Takato and Guilmon that got there first, though they were followed closely by Rika and Renamon, who were also followed by Henry and Terriermon.
Still, 'followed closely' didn't mean that Rika and Renamon had been fast enough to arrive before Takato and Guilmon got into battle.
It's somewhat important to note: Flybeemon are Data-type Digimon.
Guilmon, on the hand, is a Virus-type.
Takato swiped a speed card, and the very first indication that the Flybeemon had that they were under attack was Guilmon spewing fireballs at them.
Those poor bastards.
One of them actually managed to dodge, though the other two hadn't been so lucky; the fireballs being strong enough to break them into data with only the slightest amount of effort.
The third one tried to attack Guilmon, and took a claw to the face for his trouble.
"Hi Rika." Takato waved.
"Gogglehead." She... well, not quite greeted, but she acknowledged him, which was a step up from the casual disdain she normally showed.
"It seems that we were too late." Renamon commented.
"What?" Rika asked. "Already? Gogglehead, how long have you been here?"
"Uh... a minute or two?"
"There were three, right Renamon?"
Renamon nodded.
Guilmon padded over to them, pressing his head into Takato's side, nearly pushing him over.
Nearly. Takato steadied himself, then wrapped his arm around his partner's neck.
Guilmon's eyes closed, and he just about purred, all but basking in his partner's presence.
Rika shuddered in the exact same manner as she did with Calumon.
"That is absolutely adorable." I stated.
Rika sighed, looking around before spotting me in the trees.
Takato... didn't quite jump, but it was a near thing.
I dropped to the ground, walking up to them.
"One moment, you're destroying three Flybeemons, and the next, you're snuggling up to your partner." I spoke, looking at Guilmon.
Guilmon opened his eyes, looking at me. A moment later, and he closed his eyes as Takato began to scratch him behind the ears.
Rika shuddered again.
"Absolutely. Adorable." I paused for a moment. "Hello Henry, Terriermon."
"Hey."
"Great." Rika sighed. "Whatever, if there isn't anything interesting going on, I'm going to... go do something else."
"You know, you're free to stay here and hang out with the others."
She scoffed, her eyes trailing over Takato, Guilmon, myself, Henry and Terriermon.
Her eyes lingered on Terriermon just a bit longer than anybody else, before she shook her head. "I'd rather not."
"Your choice."
She turned, leaving. Renamon followed her, giving a nod to me before she left.
"Well that was significantly less acidic than I expected." I turned to face the others. "How are you all doing?"
"Good!" Takato smiled, still hugging Guilmon.
"Fairly good." Henry said. Terriermon nodded in agreement. "Seems we were a little too slow, though."
"You were. Takato and Guilmon here finished them off before even Rika managed to get here."
"Ah... I didn't do that much." Takato stated... embarrassed? "Guilmon's the one that got them all."
"Don't sell yourself short, Takato." I said.
Guilmon gently batted his head against Takato's stomach. "Takatomon is my partner. And friend." He stated, an air of absolute certainty around him.
"Yeah... Thanks, Guilmon."
"How could we be late?" Rika asked. "Were the Digimon that came through really so weak that Gogglehead could defeat them in less than a minute?"
"It appears so." Renamon agreed. "Although... I must admit, the pair are not exactly weak."
"Indeed." I spoke up, deriving no small amount of enjoyment when Renamon spun around to find me right behind them. "Although I must admit, the Flybeemon were not very impressive."
Rika looked at me. "You saw the battle?"
"Of course." I nodded. "Insofar as it could be called a battle, anyway." My head tilted to the side. "Three fairly weak Data-types up against Guilmon of all Digimon? It was over fairly quickly."
"What happened?" She asked.
"Takato swiped a speed card, Guilmon obliterated the first two with a pair of fireballs, the third one tried attacking Guilmon and took a claw to the face for his troubles." I paused. "Honestly, he just about impaled himself on Guilmon's claws, what with its complete lack of tactics or intelligence."
"Not very impressive." Rika commented.
"I'd say that it was because of the fact that they were Data-Types going up against Guilmon, but I honestly wouldn't be surprised if Terriermon could take them all out on his own." I said. "It was kind of pathetic. Still, it's experience that the two need."
"For what?" Renamon asked.
"I'm sure that you don't need me to tell you." I said. "The only thing that is really holding those two back from reaching their full potential is their lack of experience. The bond those two share is... something to be admired, certainly."
"Bond?" Rika asked.
"The connection between a number of beings. What makes a Human and a Digimon true partners. Takato and Guilmon share one, as does Henry and Terriermon, as do the both of you."
I looked at them. "That bond is a powerful thing. I told you before, in the forest when Renamon first became Kyubimon, things about how Renamon was drawing strength from you to achieve it?"
She nodded.
"The bond you two share is what enables that. If it did not exist, Renamon would not be able to Digivolve. Your D-Power," I gestured. "Is what initially created that bond. Your feelings towards each other are what changed it further. You came to care for each other, so it became stronger. As your relationship grows further, so too will the bond you share."
Rika slowly nodded again. "Right. But what does that have to do with the Gogglehead?"
"As I said, Takato and Guilmon share a bond just like you two do, and just like Henry and Terriermon does." I began. "The important thing is, however, that the bond between Takato and Guilmon is stronger than the bond that you two share, and stronger than the bond that Henry and Terriermon share."
Their eyes widened.
"That's not saying anything negative about you, however. Nor is it saying anything about Henry and Terriermon. All that it's saying is that Guilmon and Takato have managed to connect further than the both of you, and Henry and Terriermon." I shook my head. "It is impressive, though, considering the length of time that Takato and Guilmon have been together."
"Who..." Rika began, shaking. "Between all of us, who has the weakest bond?"
Ai, Maki, and Impmon. However, they're 4, and you don't know about them.
"Are you certain that you want to know?"
For a few moments, she looked away.
I saw the emotion warring in her Heart, before she turned to me, resolute.
I looked at Renamon, who looked at me, nodding.
"You two possess the weakest bond." I said, utterly immobile.
Rika slumped. "I thought so."
"Do not be mistaken, Rika, Renamon. That you possess the 'weakest' bond at the moment does not mean as much as you think it does."
Renamon stood stock still, glancing between Rika and me.
I hung my head.
I reached between them, and touched it. Rika and Renamon violently twitched, both of them just about doubling over as they experienced something they had never experienced before.
"What was that?!" Rika shouted, suddenly seeming short of breath.
"That is the bond that you two share."
"You... You can touch it?" Renamon asked.
"I can do a lot of things that many people can't." I said. "Tell me, do you think that your bond is weak? That just because I said that you have the weakest bond between the six of you, yours is particularly atrophied?"
"I..." Rika trailed off, looking at Renamon. Her partner looked back at her, and, as one, they nodded.
"No. We don't."