While he and Jeri followed his mother through the school building, Takato's mind slowly started to wonder if somehow his game could have caused all of this...
But, more important, he wondered how his mother would fit into the driver's seat of her car, with such a long tail.
As soon as she entered the car, he realized that there was a special contraption built in her seat, complete with an opening that allowed her to loop her tail elegantly around her backrest.
"Hurry and get in, kids! You probably won't know how pesky a beaten Digimon that hasn't been deleted can be. I bet that the little creep will try it soon again, and when that happens, I want to be back home."
Jeri and Takato quickly climbed in, and Mie Matsuki accelerated.
While they were driving through the city, she let out a growl, combined with a sigh. "I would have preferred to run, because that would be much quicker than using this old jalopy, but well, it's not like you kids can run as fast as Digimon, right?"
Jeri looked like she wanted to say something to this, but one side glance at Takato convinced her to stay silent.
Shortly after the wild drive (Mie seemed intent on ignoring traffic lights and speed limits), they arrived back at Takato's home.
And several minutes later, they were all sitting together around Takato's computer, together with Guilmon, Kai and Takato's father, Takehiro.
Takehiro stared at the flickering screen of the computer in disbelief. "A computer game?"
"Yes, Dad!" Takato sighed.
Mie raised her index claw. "And you say it can somehow change reality?"
"Afraid so!"
Takehiro shook his head. "Takato, you can't be serious. You say me you don't remember for all purposes everything that has happened during the past few years regarding human and Digimon society, and you say it's just because of a game? A game that we can't even see?"
"I know it's sounding weird," Kai spoke up. "But I've seen it with my own eyes. Yesterday, Takato has shown me the picture of the very same Digimon Guilmon has turned into... and he created it."
"This is ridiculous," Takehiro groaned. "I know that until now, no humans that had Digimon partners had born children with the ability to digivolve, but you can't tell that that happened because of a little mouse click. Besides, Guilmon is the only one I've seen so far. What's that gonna prove?"
"Um, actually..." Jen raised her hand. "That is starting to make some sense, Mr. Matsuki. You know, Guilmon is not the only one who discovered this new Hybrid Digivolution... Rika, Harmony and I were able to do it as well."
Takato gasped. His mother simply stared. "You gained the ability to digivolve?" she wondered.
Jeri nodded and stood up. Then, she concentrated on the D-Power, that was still lying within her backpack. She could feel its powers, no matter how far she was away from it.
"Jeri Hybrid Digivolution to... Cubmon!"
And within seconds, the transformation was complete.
Takato sunk back on his bed. If he had needed further proof that his game was the reason for reality to be screwed up like this, Jeri's transformation into Cubmon was the last straw.
"All of this..." he murmured. "All of this happened because of me."
"Don't be silly now," Guilmon intervened. "You're just feeling a little guilty because of that game you played, but what if it's just a big coincidence? The weird thing is, I clearly remember the game, but I can't see it now."
"That's what I wondered too," Kai nodded. "Why are Takato and I the only ones that can see the game?"
"That's not entirely true," Cubmon spoke up, fidgeting with her tail between her paws. "Rika and Renamon also seem to remember a different reality... just like you two."
"Of course..." Takato stood up. "It must be because I made Rika the main character of my story. But still..." He sat down again. "If it weren't for me, DemiDevimon would have never attacked Kai..."
"Takato, calm down!" his mother said gently. "Even if your game, the Hybrid Digivolutions and your and Rika's memory loss would somehow be connected to that game, what would that have to do with that bowling ball with wings?"
"Don't you understand?" Takato nearly yelled. "I did not only create the heroes for my game, but the villains too. DemiDevimon was the helper of the story's main villain, who... wait a minute!" He gasped. "That must mean... that Yamaki is..."
"What about Mr. Yamaki?" his father asked curiously.
Takato gulped. "I might have... created a monster..."
He quickly bolted back to the computer. "But perhaps it isn't too late... maybe I can delete all the changes I've done so far."
"Takato, don't do anything hasty now..." Jeri was very unsure of the whole situation.
Takato didn't listen. He opened the character menu and looked at Jeri's status: 'Human, able to digivolve into a Hybrid'.
He moved the cursor over that message and tried changing it into just 'human'. But when he pressed the 'Save Changes' button, a new window with a flashing red bar appeared.
'ERROR! ERROR! Can't correct changes of bigger proportions! Wait until the next edition of the game arrives on the market!'
Takato looked back at Jeri's Digimon form and grimaced. "That... that cannot be..."
----
DemiDevimon was hidden in the shadow of a big tree and grasped the branch he was sitting on tightly.
"Lord Yamacus will probably punish me for this failure. I can't take on two Digimon by myself, and he said he won't let me call for reinforcements any more." He sniffed. "But I guess the only choice I have is to report to him anyway and hope he is merciful..."
He shuddered. "Even... if he would delete me..."
All of a sudden, he found himself sitting in a sphere made of darkness. "Oh, I wouldn't say that, my winged friend. There's another option, you know?"
"Wh-what?" DemiDevimon looked around, but saw nothing but blackness. "Who are you?"
A pair of glowing eyes appeared in front of him. "Call me... a friend."
DemiDevimon laughed bitterly. "Yeah, as if! I never had any friends..."
"Well, then consider me an ally. I know you desire strength to accomplish your master's orders, is it not so?"
"What is it to you?" the Rookie yelled. "Don't tell me you can help me."
"Oh yes, I can. I can help you by lending you a bit of my power... so you'll be strong enough to beat your enemies."
"But why would you do that for me? I don't even know you! There has to be a catch somewhere, right?"
The glowing eyes seemed to squint for a second. "Well, we all need a helping hand every now and then, isn't that right? We can agree that some time, when I feel that I'm in the need of an additional ally, I might call upon you."
"I see..." Slowly, hope started to well up in DemiDevimon's small body. "And... is there something I have to do first?"
"No," the enigmatic voice exclaimed. "You just have to agree... and embrace the power I'm going to bestow upon you."
DemiDevimon giggled evilly. "Well, that sounds too good to be true... but okay, you sparked my interest. It's a deal!"
"Very good..." The stranger gave off a dark chuckle. "And now... prepare yourself for the darkness! The everlasting darkness that your digivolution line is one with. Become one with it!"
DemiDevimon cackled as his voice took on a lower tone. "Yeees, I can feel the power. YEEEEEESSS! AHAHAHAHAHAH! And first, I will use it to catch that blasted fox-girl that humiliated me by beating my followers!"
----
Yui wanted to scream. That darned furball had done it AGAIN. If it weren't for her unquestionably great athletic skills, she would never take her into her team.
Renamon looked down at the mass that had once been a volleyball as it shrunk even more and released the rest of the air that had been stored inside with a loud 'PFFFFFSSSSHHHH...'
"Renamon, for the Souvereign's sake," Elecmon almost pleaded. "RETRACT YOUR GODDAMNED CLAWS WHEN YOU'RE GONNA HIT THE BALL!"
Renamon sighed. "Look, I'm sorry... I just didn't remember at the moment, okay?"
"That's the fourth volleyball she has wrecked this afternoon..." Yui groaned. How was she gonna explain this to the coach?
Rika, who was sitting at the sidelines, together with Harmony, had to suppress a chuckle. She had wanted to head for Takato's home right after class was over, but... she couldn't resist to watch at least part of Renamon's volleyball training.
Although she somehow felt sorry for her partner.
Finally, she stood up. "Harmony, I have to go now. Tell Renamon I went to Takato's place, okay?"
"No problem! And watch yourself, who knows if those creeps that attacked us show their faces again."
"I wouldn't talk about your enemies in such a manner if one of them is standing right above you..." a dark voice hissed.
Harmony yelped while Rika gasped. The two girls jumped away from the benches and looked up at the wall that surrounded the sports field of their school.
In the shadow of the trees, long, black arms stretched outward while they saw the outline of a demonic figure that spread its wings threateningly.
Renamon quickly felt the presence of an evil Digimon. "Rika's in danger!" she shouted and jumped away.
"H-hey! You can't simply abandon your team like that!" Yui shouted.
"Oh my gawd!" another girl screamed. "What is that thing, up there?"
The tall and think Digimon stepped into the daylight and they recognized its species instantly.
"A Devimon..." Renamon growled.
Devimon smirked. "I know! Great isn't it? Not anymore am I a 'bowling ball with wings'... I am an entity that spreads fear and chaos wherever it goes."
"You're not that strong!" Harmony shouted. "You're just a Champion, there are many Digimon that don't have to fear you."
Devimon snarled. "Why you... I'll teach you the meaning of fear, little Hybrid!"
"Aw, shaddup!" Elecmon yelled. "THUNDER STRIKE!"
A lance of electricity jolted out from the red-furred Rookie and hit the devil Digimon right into the face.
He winced. "That stung a little... that's all! But, what should I expect from frightened, little girls like you?"
He grinned and stretched out his insanely long arms to grab her.
Elecmon eeped in fright. "H-help me..." she squeaked.
"Now that's enough!" Rika yelled. "RIKA HYBRID DIGIVOLUTION TO... KITSUMON!"
Harmony didn't hesitate either. "HARMONY HYBRID DIGIVOLUTION TO... DACHSMON!"
Rika cupped her hands. "Flare Bullet!" The fiery projectile hit Devimon's arms. He growled in pain, and Elecmon had enough time to scoot out of his reach.
Kitsumon, Renamon and Dachsmon confronted him. "You three... you will get a taste of my revenge!"
"Ah, shut up, DemiDevimon!" Kitsumon mocked. "Once a coward, always a coward! You should have stayed a little Rookie, that suited you better."
The other girls watched their three school mates in awe.
"Wow..." one of the girls whispered. "Did you see that? Harmony and Rika can digivolve, too!"
"And did you see how awesome Renamon looked when she jumped into battle?" Yui mumbled. "How beautiful...
Read the comments on this episode
See other episodes by Shritistrang
(Posted Fri, 12 Jan 2007 21:04)
Questions? Problems? Suggestions?
Send a mail to addventure@bast-enterprises.de
or use the contact form.
らんま1/2 © Rumiko Takahashi
All other series and their characters are © by their respective creators or owners. No claims of ownership of these characters are implied by the authors of this Addventure, or should be inferred.
The Anime Addventure is a non-profit site.