Chapter 10: Friendship Test
It's been about a week since the rescue mission to save Guilmon from deletion. It was early in the morning and Rick was on a walk with Dracomon in the streets of Shinjuku listening to some of the music on his MP3 player. "You have some good taste in music Rick. How much music can fit in such a small box?" Dracomon asked. "I'm able to hold a good amount of music in it Dracomon. Though listening to music has got me wondering something." Rick said in a thinking pose. "What would that be partner?" Dracomon asked with curiosity. "We haven't seen Lissa in a while. I though it would be due to her Idol business, but I feel its something else." Rick told Dracomon as he was thinking. "Its possible that she has other friends she hangs out with like your friend Jeri does." Dracomon guessed. "Maybe, but we'll find out at some point." Rick said.
As the duo was walking, a digital field appeared near the playground area. "Looks duty is calling again. Ready Dracomon?" Rick asked his partner with determination. "Always am partner. Let do this!" Dracomon answered as they both head to the digital field to stop the rampaging Digimon. Within the digital field, there were two centaur like Digimon in the middle of the playground. "This looks like good place to have a little fun with destruction right Saggitarimon?" the less armored Digimon asked. "I agree Centarumon, though I think we have our first competitor right now." Saggitarimon said as he looks to the right seeing Dracomon and Rick enter the digital field. "Uh-oh, looks like two of them entered the real world at the same time again." Dracomon said as he looks at both Digimon. "The first one is Centarumon, champion level. Special attack is Solar Ray. The second one is Saggitarimon, Armored level. Special attack is Judgement Arrow." Rick said as he finished analyzing the two Digimon. "Allow me the first move Saggitarimon." Centarumon said as he walked forward.
"Bring it on you half-mule. Lets see what you got!" Dracomon said as he got ready for battle. "You dare insult me little dragon?! I'll teach you some respect. Solar Ray!" Centarumon fires a shot from his hunting cannon on his arm at Dracomon. Dracomon just nearly dodges the shot. "You're pretty hot-headed for a centaur. Now its our turn!" Dracomon said. "Lets modify your breath attack. Digimodify! Garurumon's Howling Blaster Activate!" Rick shouted as he slashed the card through his D-Ark. Blue flames emitted from Dracomon's mouth. "Try this on for size! Howling Blaster!" Dracomon unleashed the blue flame breath attack at Centarumon dealing some damage to him. Centarumon manages to shake it off. "Lucky shot, for a rookie level." Sagittarimon was observing the fight with curiosity. "Interesting battling technique. Let's see where this goes." Rick takes out another card. "Lets try this one this time, Digimodify! Greymon's Nova Blast Activate!" Centarumon aims his cannon at Dracomon. "I won't miss again! Solar Ray!" He fires a shot Dracomon as he attacks as well. "Nova Blast!" The attacks clashed, but Dracomon was able to follow up his attack. "Let's mix this up! Howling Blaster!" Dracomon uses the attack from the previous modify card since it was still in effect which hits Centarumon. "Looks like I have to step in." Sagittariumon takes aim with his bow and launches his attack. "Judgement Arrow!" An arrow was fired from Sagittariumon which hits Dracomon knocking him back. "Dracomon, No!" Rick yelled out.
Centarumon gets back up after being saved. "Thank you Sagittariumon." Sagittariumon nods to him and then looks back at the duo. "Now to end this." Sagittariumon takes aim at Dracomon and shoots an arrow again. Rick yells out, "Dracomon!" His D-Ark started to glow which made Dracomon glow too. "Its happening again?" Rick said. "Digivolution." The voice from the D-Ark announced. "Dracomon digivolve to…! Dracomon shouted as he was changing shape. "Coredramon!" Sagittariumon was smiling at this event. "So, its true. Humans can help Digimon digivolve. Now show me your found strength!" He says as he gets ready to fight. "I want in this too." Centarumon said as he gets ready to fight but grabbed by some vines. "Two against one doesn't seem fair, but two on two are better odds." From out the shadows, Lissa and Palmon show up just in time to help. "Lissa! Palmon! You made it just in time to help!" Rick shouted with glee. "Sorry for being fashionably late. Now lets finish this fight." Lissa said. Everyone had their opponent, and the battle began.
Sagittariumon took aim at Coredramon shot his attack. "Judgement Arrow!" He launched an Arrow at Coredramon but was deflected by his tail. "My turn now! Blue Flare Breath!" Coredramon fired his breath attack Sagittariumon damaging him. The battle between Palmon and Centarumon was about to start. "Think you can beat me little girls?" Centarumon taunted. "We don't think we can. We know we can!" Palmon retorted. "You got that right partner. Now lets go win this fight!" Lissa said as she was holding her D-Ark which glowed. "Digivolution." The voice from Lissa's D-ark announced. "Palmon digivolve to…!" Palmon shouted as she changed shape. "Sunflowmon!" Centarumon was a bit surprised. "Just because you were able to digivolve, doesn't mean you'll win. Solar Ray!" Centarumon fired his cannon, but was met with Sunflowmon's attack. "Sunshine Beam!" Two of beams cancel out Centarumon's attack and the rest connect to Centarumon damaging him. The two centaur Digimon regroup with each other. Rick and Lissa were staring at them.
"Does this remind you of our second team up Lissa?" Rick asked while smirking. "Yes, yes it does." Lissa answered with a smile. "Coredramon." Rick commanded. "Sunflowmon." Lissa commanded. Coredramon and Sunflowmon charge their attacks. "Send them packing!" Rick and Lissa yell out in unison. "Blue Flare Breath!" Coredramon attacked first. "Sunshine Beam!" Sunflowmon attacked next which made their attack mix into one. When the attacks land on Sagitariumon and Centarumon, they both scream in pain and were destroyed. The battle had been won by the tamers. The group celebrated their victory but they knew what came next. Getting their Digimon to de-digivolve. "Lissa, where have been lately? We haven't see you in a long time. Is it Idol stuff?" Rick asked. "Not necessarily. Lately, I had other plans come up. Sorry I haven't been answering that much." Lissa said apologizing. "That's okay, I'm sorry. I just get worried you know." Rick said to reassure her. As time went by, their partners reverted to their rookie level forms and they left woods part of the park. "I'll try to communicate better. See you later." Lissa said as she and Palmon went home. "See you later guys!" Palmon said to the boys. Rick and Dracomon waved goodbye to the girls and proceeded to head home themselves.
It was the midafternoon; Rick was riding his scooter down the streets with Dracomon in the basket on the back. "It was nice of my parent to get me a basket for my scooter." Rick said. "Yea, now I can I ride on your scooter in style." Dracomon said in a cool tone. As they were riding, Rick spotted a familiar face among three other girls. It was Lissa. "Hey look, it Lissa across the street." Rick told Dracomon. Dracomon quickly turned in the direction Lissa was in and then stayed still like a doll. One of the girls, Tabitha, spots Rick and points at him. "Look girls, it that boy who loves Digimon again." She said in a teasing tone. Both the other girls laugh except Lissa who was surprised to see Rick here. Oh great. It's those types of girls… Why is Lissa hanging out with girls like these? Rick thought. "Look, he's even giving his toy a ride with his scooter." Bonnie teased. "Where are you to? To the so called "Digital World"? Jenny said teasing which made Tabitha and Bonnie laugh.
Rick was getting annoyed but knew better not to retaliate in the way they wanted. So, he thought some thing to get under their skin. "You seem to talk a lot about Digimon yourselves. Why, is it because you want to try to play Digimon? Rick asked in a sacarstic and teasing way to the three girls. This angered the three girls. "No way! Not in a million years we want to play that childish game!" Tabitha shouted. "Yea, how dare you bring that question up to us!" Bonnie added. Rick just gave a smug look knowing he got the response he wanted and laughed. "Looks like you three need a chill pill. It's called sarcasm. Read your books more." Rick looked at Lissa. Lissa was uneasy at first but saw how Rick was able to handle himself at her "friends". Dracomon was chuckling internally at the situation until he noticed Palmon peeking from the corner of a tree upset at the three girls with Lissa. "Well, I won't take up much of your time anymore, so I'll head off now. See ya, mean girls." Rick took off on his scooter while the three girls gave him annoyed looks. While they were distracted Lissa phone vibrated and she saw text from Rick. The message read, "Let's talk later today when you finish your hang out. Bring Palmon too." Lissa knew this was gonna happen sooner or later.
Late afternoon, Rick and Dracomon were waiting for Lissa and Palmon at the park where they defeated Sagittariumon and Centarumon. After some time, Lissa and Palmon arrived at the meeting spot. They began their conversation "Lissa, why are you hanging out with girls of the bullying type? I know your personality and its definitely not like there's." Rick asked with curiosity and worry. "That what I keep asking her!" Palmon shouted. Lissa just looks down at the ground. "Alright, you got me. Ever since I became an Idol, I couldn't make friends that easily. Before I switched schools, I went to an all-girls school that where I met Tabitha, Bonnie and Jenny. I thought the pulled to there friend group because they saw me as friend and not just an Idol. As time went on, I was feeling disconnect with them and wanted to leave but I couldn't and still cant leave." Lissa explained. "If I had to guess, they don't know that you like Digimon." Rick said to Lissa. Lissa just nodded and then explained why. "If those knew I loved Digimon, they would tease me forever and it would tarnish my idol career for life. I know it's wrong, but I'm just afraid of all the risks if my secret got out." Lissa said with worry in her voice. "Lissa, listen to me. I know your idol career is important to you, but eventually you gonna have to tell the truth. You don't have to do it right away, but just keep it in mind for the future. Okay?" Rick told Lissa and she nodded with tears in her eyes. "If those girls ever tease your little brother, I hang them upside with my poison ivy attack." Palmon said with an angry tone. "I'll allow that as long as you are hiding that is." Lissa said to Palmon. "To be honest, those three deserve worse. They're lucky I won't do "that" to them." Palmon said angerly. "What do you by "that" Palmon?" Dracomon asked? "You don't wanna know Dracomon." Palmon said which made Dracomon nervously back up. Lissa just giggled, "Thanks Palmon, but there no need for the extreme measures. At least not yet anyway."
It was late at night, Lissa felt better after talking to Rick about her so called "friends". She knew how late it was and asked him something. "Hey Rick, I know its last minute, but do you want to sleepover at my and my brother's home tonight?" Lissa asked. This surprised a bit but he just smiled. "It is kind of late and your home is close to here. So, sure why not. Let me just text my parents and we can go. I'll sleep in Takato's room so you feel comfortable." Rick said to Lissa as he texts his parents about the sleepover with his friends. Lissa and Palmon guided Rick and Dracomon back to her home. Palmon climbed up to the window and grab Dracomon with her vines to pull him up to the window as well. "See you guys inside." Palmon said to Lissa and Rick.
"Mom, Dad, I'm home! I brought a friend over to stay the night since it was too late for him to go home." Lissa called out to her parents. Mrs. Matsuki walks in to see which friend she brought with her. "Oh, hello there Rick. How is your mother doing?" shed asked. "She's doing just fine Mrs. Matsuki. I hope I'm not intruding or anything by sleeping over." Rick said. "Nonsense. You're not intruding at all. I'll make you two some snacks." Mrs. Matsuki said as she went into the kitchen. "Hey Rick, how you doing kid?" Mr. Matsuki asked. "Just fine, Mr. Matsuki. How's Takato doing?" Rick asked. "He's doing alright. He's up if you want to see him." Mr. Matsuki said. "Thanks for letting me know. By the way, your bread and sweets are awesome. Can't get enough of them." Rick complimented Mr. Matsuki. "You're too kind. Hope you enjoy your stay with us." Mr. Matsuki said with a smile.
Lissa and Rick went upstairs to see Takato in his room. "Little brother, I'm home!" Lissa said to Takato who is at his desk. "Oh, hey Lissa. What's going on?" Takato said as turns around and see Rick. "Oh, Rick. What brings you here?" "Well Rick is going to be staying the night since it got very late. So, he'll be sleeping in this room with you." Lissa explained. "Oh, that's fine then. Make yourself at home." Takato goes back to his desk and started to draw again. "What are you working on by the way Takato?" Rick said as he and Lissa goto look at his drawing. "I'm trying design a champion level for Guilmon for when he digivolves for the first time." Takato explained. "That makes sense. Guilmon is your Digimon creation. What are planning to name his champion level?" Lissa asked. "I had a couple of names, but the one that stuck out was Growlmon." Takato said. "I think that's a good name for him. Maybe we'll see him in action someday." Rick said with hope. Takato and Lissa agreed. After some time, the trio got ready for bed.
Rick was heading for Takato's room until he saw Lissa standing on the balcony in her pajamas. Rick decided to go see what was on her mind. "Having a hard time sleeping?" Lissa was surprised by Rick's voice. "Oh, it's just you Rick. Sorry I was still thinking about that incident with my "so-called friends."" Lissa said. "Lissa its okay. I've handled my share of bullies in my life. To be honest, I have fought some physically though I would get in trouble for it." Rick said which surprised Lissa again. "You?! You actually fought?! Like actual fist fighting?" Rick nodded. "Yea. I would get in trouble for it because I ended up throwing the first punch. After multiple incidents, I had to learn to counter with my words the right way. Just like I did with those 3 mean girls." Lissa just smiled. "That's cool. I just wish I can say something to the girls without their backlash at me." "Well that will depend on you. Sometimes you got to know when enough is enough and step in to stop the bullying." Rick explained. "And I believe you'll see an opportunity at some point." He added. Lissa started smiling again. "Rick, I don't know what to say, but thank you." "Anytime, Lissa. Well better get some sleep. See you in the morning." Rick said as he went back inside. "Good night, Rick. See you in the morning." Lissa said.