Gently being hugged by her new mother, little Tanemon Kei was cradled safely in her arms while they were flying over the rooftops.
Even though Kei felt surprisingly... comforted while being held by the smiling Lillymon, she knew that this wasn't supposed to be her true mother.
"M... Mommy?" she asked.
Lillymon looked down at her. "What's wrong, sweetie?"
"Um, what... what would you say if I told you I were someone else?"
"Why, whatever should that be, Kei?"
"Um, In dunno... a boy?"
Lillymon laughed heartily. "Oh, you fanciful child! Now what game did you and Eiko come up with today? Imagine, you being a boy!" She giggled. "And that coming from the girl who asked me to buy her a cute little dress as soon as she'll digivolve into a Palmon."
Kei shuddered. She didn't know what scared her more the concept of digivolving, or the image of having to wear a dress.
"When do I see Takato again?"
"Again? Sweetie, give the boy a break! I know you girls like him very much, but he has his own life, you know? He only is your babysitter, you know"
"Still... when do I see him again?"
Her mother sighed. "On Wednesday, I believe. But can't you wait until then?"
Kei looked at her stubby little feet, her floppy leaves and her green-colored, clorophyll-infused body and muttered: "No, I really can't wait..."
"Takato, I told you already, you can't always pester the poor mother of those girls because of your silly little game," Mie sighed as she made the dishes, careful not to knock them over with her tail.
"But Mom!" Takato protested. "You know I need them for the RPG Maker. After I accidentally turned myself into one of the heroes, Kei and Eiko are the only Game Masters remaining. Without them, we can't affect the game anymore."
The Compsomon groaned. "Takato, you know I still have a hard time believing that this game actually affects reality. I mean, I always have been a Digimon and I like it that way. Are you really that unhappy with your Hybrid abilities?"
"That's not it, Mom!" Takato tried to explain. "But we need to end this quickly! Yamacus wasn't always like he is, you see? We have to turn him back into the nice guy he once was. And we probably will need it against those Demon Lords as well..."
Now Mie put down the dishes. Like all Digimon, she had heard the legend of the Seven Demon Lords at least once. But she had never believed it to be anything but a legend. But now that Azulongmon told her son himself...
"Isn't here anyone else who can become a 'Game Master'?" she asked. "Why don't you ask Harmony? Or Rika?"
Takato shook his head. "No, don't you see? Only those that aren't affected by the game can become Game Masters. And Harmony and Rika got their Hybrid powers through the RPG Maker..."
He never mentioned himself or Guilmon even once, or the fact that Harmony used to be a boy...
"Well, what about your friends from school? Like Kenta, or Kazu?"
Takato winced. Imagining a powerful tool as the RPG Maker in the hands of two boys such as his two buddies would... Well, let's say it wouldn't be a good idea.
"I can see if I can find anyone else," he sighed. "But until then we need the help of Eiko and Kei. To be honest, I was lucky that I watched them on that day when they accidentally used the program."
"Well, at least they can see something on that screen, I mean, something else than just static. Oh well, I guess I can ask their mothers again... maybe caring for your teacher's daughter will help your grades a bit..."
"You talked... with my father?" Taomon murmured.
Rika nodded. "Yes! And regarding from your reaction, you knew that he's up to no good. Did you know that he and his pals are planning to take over the world?"
Her father frowned. "Did he tell you that?"
"Yes!" Rika said sharply. "Along with the fact that he's one of the Seven Demon Lords!"
Taomon cursed. "Damn that fool..." he muttered. "Rika... listen to me... he tricked you! There ARE no Demon Lords! It is just a legend Digimon came up with. He is just a criminal who tricks children like you to..."
"Children?" Rika shouted. "CHILDREN?"
"Rika!" her mother said in a shocked voice.
"I know you, your sister and your friends only want the best, and that you believe you can do something... But you are only children, you won't be able to change anything. Leave this to the adults and stay home, where it's safe! I mean it!"
Rika grimaced. Was this really her father? "You... you have no idea what you are talking about!" Tears were flowing down her face. "If these Demon Lords are just a legend... then why did Azulongmon, one of the Sovereigns, tell us otherwise?"
"What... did... you just say?" Reppamon murmured. Her father simply stared blankly at her.
"Welcome to reality, DAD!" Rika spat. "The Seven Demon Lords are reality! Your father is their current leader! They are trying to gather all of their members so they can do what they want. THIS ISN'T A FAIRY TALE! This is how things are! And Azulongmon himself told us he believes in us. So why do you think you can stop me if I decide to go out there and fight?"
"Because... I am your father!" Taomon looked like barely was able to control himself anymore. His fists were shaking. "And only I know what's best for you!"
Renamon was snarling. She had never been this angry in her life. If he keeps this up, father or not, she would...
SLAP!
Taomon gasped in surprise as he stumbled back. Stunned, he rubbed his cheek, where just seconds ago his ex-wife's hand had connected. "Rumiko... what...?"
Rumiko gestured at the door. "That's it! Out! And I mean now!"
"Are you really willing to risk our daughters' lives just because of some ridiculous claim that..."
"A claim one of your Sovereigns made himself!" Rumiko shouted. "Didn't you listen? Now either you learn how to respect your children's wishes... or I don't want to see you in this house ever again!"
For a while, everyone was too shocked to say anything. Then Reppamon cleared his throat and said: "Um, m-maybe we should go..."
"Sorry for the interruption," Rumiko's mother suddenly spoke up. "But I REALLY think you should all take a look at the TV screen..."
Confused, Rika and Renamon looked over to the TV. They completely forgot that it was still running.
She saw a news reporter showing a picture of the Tokyo Tower... and a giant, floating creature was visible next to it. A seemingly sleeping Digimon that looked like some rodent with a huge head and floppy ears. It was wrapped with chains and a weird device.
"As I said before, it came floating over the city half an hour ago," the reporter said. "No one knows where this giant Digimon came from, or if it even knows what it does. It looks like it is sleeping, but nobody can say for sure what this unknown Digimon is capable of."
Taomon dropped down to his knees when he saw the Digimon. "Now..." he whispered. "That can't be... they are just a legend..."
"But you do recognize him, do you?" Reppamon asked.
"You... you know this giant Digimon?" Rumiko asked.
Repamon laughed grimly. "Every Digimon will recognize him, his description appears in every version of the same old tale... the tale of the Seven Great Demon Lords!"
"Belphemon..." Taomon whispered. "Belphemon has appeared..."
The news reporter suddenly reached up to the headset he was wearing. "This just came in. Apparently, a huge loud speaker is attached to the Digimon, and a man's voice can be heard from it. We now switch to direct transmission, so you can hear it..."
And then, a loud, booming voice spoke: "Listen up, citizens of Tokyo! I am Yamacus, all-powerful Lord of the Digimon Army! Many of you might not recognize the entity floating above your heads, as not every human in Tokyo has Digimon friends... so I'm going to tell you: This is Belphemon! Lord of Sloth, and one of the Seven Great Demon Lords! In other words, one of the most powerful Digimon that had ever existed! And he is under my control! You know the four Sovereigns won't be able to help you know, so listen up closely: Surrender to my army with no attempts to resist, or else... Belphemon will destroy Tokyo!" He laughed. "There will be other cities in the world to take over, so don't think that would stop me. And now for a little demonstration... Belphemon, DESTROY IT!!"
And the floating, sleeping Demon Lord opened his small muzzle and once again let out a deafening yawn, while shooting out a green beam of destruction, which hit Tokyo Tower right in its middle.
A massive explosion ripped the metal construction apart. Junk was raining on the streets and buildings down below, while the massive structure slowly collapsed and buried whatever was below.
When everything was over, nothing but a giant cloud of dust was visible where the Tokyo Tower had once been... and a big amount of rubble.
Nobody in the Nonaka household felt able to say anything... except for Rika.
With cold eyes, she looked at the trembling form of her father before she said: "What was that again about being SAFE here...?"
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(Posted Thu, 05 Jul 2007 19:55)
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