Chapter 8: Improving a Bond
At an all-girls middle school, Rika was in class listening to the teacher with a bored and annoyed look on her face. She turns her pencil case that has a mirror, which has her mother in view. As class was going on, Rika's mother received a phone call and had to step out of the classroom. After she left, a couple of girls started to gossip. "Must be embarrassing for a super model to have the Digimon queen for a daughter." A girl named Tabitha said. "Yea, most totally embarrassing." Bonnie agreed. Rika just ignored them like she always does. Though unfazed, why do they still attempt to get under her skin? No idea. The school day ended for Rika, she is walking home alone until digital field had appeared which bettered her mood a little.
On the other side, at Guilmon's hideout we have Takato, Henry, Guilmon and Terriermon in a serious match of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Rick, Lissa, Palmon and Dracomon were watching with a bit interest. "Think this going well for Guilmon?" Rick asked. "Not really. I think its just had for him to make the shapes with his claws." Lissa answered. "I would know that feeling." Dracomon said looking at his own claws. "I can somehow make the shapes." Palmon said even though she's trying the best she can. As the game going on, all of the partner Digimon felt a wild Digimon nearby. They all sprint towards to where the Digimon is located and when they got there Rika and Renamon were already fighting the wild Digimon.
The Digimon name was known as Allomon, dinosaur type Digimon. Renamon was in trouble until she was saved by Terriermon, Guilmon, Dracomon and Palmon. "I knew it had to be you." Henry said to Rika. "This Digimon is mine, so why don't you wannabes go somewhere else to play." Rika snapped at the group. "Wannabes?!" Takato said. "Lady, the world doesn't revolve around you!" Lissa snapped. "You don't have to be so nasty. Why do you want to make you Digimon fight anyway?" Henry asked. "You're starting to sound like a broken record." Rika said. "Its going to be like that until he gets an actual answer. Hate to say it but your answers are like a broken record as well with little logic." Rick said which annoyed Rika until she took out card swiped it. "Digimodify! Hyper Chip Activate!" Renamon got back walked back down to face Allomon. "You shouldn't be here. Stay out of my way." "But why?" Guilmon asked as Renamon walked. "Lets finish this." Renamon says her attack was enhanced. "Dino Burst!" Allomon attacked Renamon while she countered with her own attacl she was modified with. "Frozen Wind!" Renamon started to overpower Allomon. "I think you need a cold shower." The attack started to freeze Allomon in place. "Now don't move. Good boy. Bye-bye handsome. Diamond Storm!" Renamon used her signature attacked which hit Allomon which evidently destroyed him. Renamon also ended up absorbing his data as the victory spoils. The digital field also disappers after Allomon's defeat.
"Renamon, its time to go." Rika said as Renamon disappears from sight. "Wait, can't we just talk?!" Takato asked. "Sure, I've something to say. Don't ever try that again little boys and girl. Renamon and I work alone." Rika said to the group not even looking at them. "Does that even qualifies as a conversation?" Henry asked. "You know, you are being hypocritical since we're all the same age here." Lissa said. "Spoken like the stereo typical lone wolf. Even though with that attitude, you're bound to lose something you may care about." Rick said. Rika paused for a sec but then kept moving. Dracomon noticed that slight pause. "Rick, I think you hit something." Dracomon said. "I might have, but I would rather say it now than regret it later. Even if she hates me for it." Rick replied. "It doesn't matter what Rika thinks. All you're doing is just speaking your mind is all. She either accepts the advice or not. Which I doubt she will." Lissa said. "Maybe. I wanna help everyone, but I gues its not always possible." Rick said. "Just keep positive Rick. Its what I like about your partner." Dracomon said to cheer up Rick. "Yea, your right Dracomon. Thanks you two." Rick said feeling a bit better. This also made Dracomon and Lissa smile.
It was late at night, Lissa was at home getting ready for bed. "Are sure you are okay, Lissa? You still seem low key on edge with Rika." Palmon asked. "You can read me well can you Palmon?" Lissa said as she looked at Palmon. "Not only that, but I can also feel your emotion a bit. Come on, let her out your mind for now. She's not worth the stress over." Palmon said. "I know, but she's always looking down on me and my friends. Its not fair! I had times where I want to teach her some manners, but I managed to hold back." Lissa said. "Lets just try our best to avoid her more, if we can. Let her be the lone wolf she wants to be like she said." Palmon. "If it were only that easy Palmon. Well, time to get some rest. Night Palmon." Lissa said to Palmon. "Night Lissa." Palmon replied. As the night was passing, her D-Ark was beeping which woke Lissa and Palmon up. "Uh-oh, looks a wild Digimon has appeared." Lissa said in a whisper. "Lets go stop it."Palmon said in a whisper. "Let's let Takato sleep. We'll take care of it ourselves." Lissa added. Lissa got dressed in her tamer outfit and sneaks out of the house quietly but quickly. They had toward where the digital field was. On their way there, they run into Rick and Dracomon along the way. "Glad you two could make it." Rick said. "Can't let wild Digimon run rampant right." Lissa said.
As the group entered the digital field they spot Rika and Renamon in the distance. Rick and Dracomon was about to help, but Lissa and Palmon decided to grab them and hide behind a couple of trees. "Why did you stop us?" Rick asked. "I think we should let them handle this one. I promise if things get really dire, we'll jump in, okay?" Lissa said. Rick was a bit reluctant to at first but agreed. "Alright, I'll trust your judgement on this." "Now what Digimon are they dealing with?" Palmon peeks around the tree and sees the wild Digimon on it spiderweb. "Eww, Its Dokugumon, a champion level insectoid Digimon. Even more gross its special attack is Poison Thread, which lets it spew out spiderwebs." Lissa analyzed while being grossed out. "I guess her nest came with her when she emerged from the field. Let's be careful not to touch it." Rick said. As the group observed the fight it wasn't going well for Renamon. She tried her special attack, but it was countered by Dokugumon's Poison Thread attack. "Whoa that is one tough spider." Rick said while staying hidden. Dokugumon did her next attack. "Venom Blast!" The attack hit Renamon knocking her into the web. "Renamon! Don't give up!" Rika goes to try and help Renamon. "Rika, get out of here!" Renamon tries to tell her. "Poison Thread!" Dokugumon uses her attack to trap Rika in her web that she spun. "I may not like her, but I would never want to wish something like that on her." Lissa said grossed out seeing this battle unfold.
While observing this fight, the group actually sees Rika actually really scared for once. Rika screamed in fear, but Renamon acted fast. "Diamond Strom!" She used her attack to free Rika from the web. "Renamon, you saved my life." "Think again, cupcake." Dokugumon replied. "Rika, get out of here now!" Renamon pleaded. "I'm not going anywhere! "Digimodify! Snimon: Twin Sickles Activate!" Rika said as she swiped the modify card. "Time to cut loose." Renamon says as cuts the web with Praying mantis Scythe arms. "Twin Sickles!" Renamon uses the attack but they bounce off Dokugumon. "Now its my turn!" Dokugumon charges in and bites down on Renamon hurting her badly. "You leave her alone!" Rika shouts out. "My pleasure." Dokugumon said as she spits out Renamon to the side. "Rika, save yourself." Renamon said weakly. "Venom Blast!" Dokugumon attacks Rika, but Renamon ends up taking the blow to protect her. "Renamon, no.." Rika said with worry. "Oh Renamon, why did you do it?" Rika asked with worry. "Because you are my partner…" Renamon said before she collapsed. "I'm so sorry. Renamon.." This made her think back what Rick said before she walked away last time. The group in hiding was also shocked. "This cant be.." Rick was getting worried. "Renamon.." Lissa said quietly. "I think its time we stepped in guys." Dracomon suggested. They agreed. "Rika.. Get away while you can…" Renamon said weakly. "Don't go away! Please don't leave me!" Rika pleaded. "I have to… please go.." Renamon said before collapsing. "Wait.. you can't.. Renamon!" Rika shouted as her D-ark started to glow which also made Renamon glow.
The group in hiding stopped and saw the glow. "Could it be..?" Rick asked. "Yea, Renamon is about to digivolve." Lissa said. From Rika D-ark, "Digivolution." The computer voice said. "Renamon digivolve to..!" Reanmon's data started to restructure. Her body became more quadruped, her tail split into 9 of them. Finally, her head was to restructure. From the light her new form and name. "Kyubimon!" "Whoa, check it out guys." Rick said. Lissa analyzed Kyubimon. "Kyubimon, Champion Level. Mythical Animal Data type Digimon. Her special attacks are Fox Tail Inferno and Dragon wheel." "Now this is a game changer." Palmon said. "Rika you did it. But, how?" Rika asked. "It was you Rika, you helped me digivolve." Kyubimon answered. "Lets play! Poison Thread!" Dokugumon attacked Kyubimon. "Payback time. Fox tail Inferno!" flames shot from Kyubimon's tails igniting the spiderweb around Dokuguomon. "Not so fast Hot shot!" Dokuguomon makes the attempt to pounce Kyubimon as she also jumps up. "Step into my parlor! Dragon Wheel!" Kyubimon's attack hits Dokugumon and it deletes her. Kyubimon ends absorbing her data.
Kyubimon lands in front of Rika. "Now do you understand Rika." "Yea, I think I do" Rika acknowledges Kyubimon. "I couldn't digivolve unless you really cared about me Rika." Kyubimon explained. "Oh. But, that was some victory, huh?" Rika said. "Its not about winning Rika." Kyubimon replied. "But winning made you stronger." Rika said. "No Rika, you made me stronger. You weren't afraid to show how much you cared about me. Like a true friend." Kyubimon explained. "I see. Since we're the only ones here, I must admit that I should have took Rick advice more sooner." Kyubimon just nodded. "Do me a favor, don't tell anyone about this." Rika said with a smile.
After the battle ended, Rick, Lissa, Dracomon and Palmon managed to leave the area unnoticed. "Looks like she low key took your advice after all in a way, Rick." Dracomon said. "I'm glad some of my words reached her. Even if she doesn't want to admit it to us directly yet." Rick replied. "Even under all that hate, she has love within her. Shows there's still hope for an actual friendship with Rika." Lissa said. "She just needs a little more time first. Let's not rush things yet." Palmon said. Lissa giggled, "You're right. For now, we'll act as if we didn't see what happened." Lissa said. Rick and Dracomon also agree to keep this quiet from anyone expect amongst this group.