Age: No offense, but I don't feel like sharing that.
Timezone: EST
Likes: Species transformation, Yu-Gi-Oh!, Tokusatsu, Pokemon, Digimon, fantasy/sci-fi, strategy games, board games, TFTG (transformation with genderbending), making people laugh and/or smile.
Dislikes: Angst for the sake of Angst, bad endings, drama for the sake of drama, sitcoms, non-canon ships (with rare exceptions), transformations that only change skin color or keep one too close to their original species (without good reason), making people upset.
Points of Note:
Not Neurotypicial. Has issues with anxiety, social protocols, and attention span.
I do have Strong Opinions on certain things, but that's why I made that Unpopular Opinions blog - so I had a place to drop my thoughts without forcing my followers to listen.
If I mess up or offend you - Please let me know what I've done, ideally politely. That way I can correct the matter as soon as possible.
(Writing Masterpost is under the break)
If you're curious about any of these, feel free to send me an ask.
This list is for Tumblr posts only. I post more polished versions of a lot of these on my Ao3.
Pokemon Legends Arceus: Mysterious Destiny
Original Idea Post
Chapter 1: A Mysterious Prelude (Old)
Chapter 2: The Problem at Hand (or Paw, or Claw)
Chapter 3: Hi-Ho, to the Dungeons We Go!
Chapter 4: Sentinel of the Fieldlands: Lian
Chapter 5: Past and Future about Discussions - Wait. Strike that. Reverse it.
Chapter 6: Axe Balm. Apply Directly to the Forehead.
Chapter 7: Information and Realization
Chapter 8: What'll Ya Have, What'll Ya Have?
Chapter 9: Psychic of the Icelands, Sabi
Chapter 10: A Whirlwind Aroma!
Chapter 11: In Which Pieces Come Together
Chapter 12: Technically a Trial
Chapter 13: Toller of the Mirelands - Arezu
Chapter 14: Buffering...
Chapter 15: Dance of the Bell
Chapter 16: So You Wanna See an Evolution Party? (V1) (V2)
Nobility AU
Original Idea Post
Jade’s Rites/Trials HC
Phase 1 (Wardens->Nobles)
Wyrdeer's Trial of the Hills
Kleavor's Trial of the Woods
Ursaluna's Rite of the Moon
Lilligant's (Dance/)Rite of the Sun
Basculegion's Rite of the Waves
Arcanine's Trial of the Isles
Sneasler's Trial of the Cliffs
Electrode's Rite of the Hollow
Braviary's Trial of the Skies
Avalugg's Rite of the Tundra
Phase 2 (???)
Nobles' Summit
(TO COME LATER)
Fallen Fire
Wake-Up Slap
Stance Change
Parental Bond
Tasked with Survival
Original AU post
Part 1
One-Shots/Misc.
Swimming Lessons
#devchat
Reverse Inheritance
It'sJustAPrankBro
Temporal Static
Fearful Ghosts
In Which Iscan Freaks the Heck Out
Getaway
Nameless snippets based on @retrofeather’s art
Snippetless AU Idea posts (Asks for these would be GREATLY appreciated)
Mitsuo Yamaki groaned, rubbing his head as he sat up. The motions felt…wrong, like things were in the wrong position - but after being struck by a Wild One, he was just happy to be alive.
Still, as he opened his eyes and stood, something was off. Everything looked larger than it had before, not to mention he was in a completely different location - an alleyway, not the park where the squid-like Wild One had been. (And it was the middle of the night; how could he see so well? Ugh, worry later.)
‘…this is the last time I go field testing things myself…’ Hypnos’s leader groaned, continuing to rub his head (why did it feel… mis-shaped? Surely he hadn’t fallen that hard). The core tracking dome was having trouble tracking down Wild Ones once they’d appeared for a while, so he’d volunteered to go out and try a basic tracker that worked for those who’d been Bio-Emerged longer.
Well, he’d been “volun-told” by Reika, who said he needed to get out, and this was work, so… ugh, he just wished it hadn’t led to this. The Wild One he’d found was small and weak, but once it moved to engage, its signal strength spiked a whole level - and that was the last thing he remembered before passing out from that Beautiful Wish thing, unable to get his service pistol out in time.
“…ya okays dere?”
“Ugh. I’m as ok as I can be, but thank-” He froze upon seeing who’d spoken - a Wild One. A short blue lupine with a white muzzle and tailtip, gleaming red eyes and claws, and straps around the paws. It was the only way to describe it, especially with that glowing red gemstone on its forehead.
The Wild One sat, eyes closed as it sighed. “Listen, I know you suits ain’t too fond of us, but ‘fore you go gettin’ all worked up, why don’tcha look at’cher reflection o’er dere?” One paw motioned to the side, where indeed a mirror lay.
‘…as if I would listen to a program.’ Feeling himself over, he grumbled at the distinct lack of weapon (or clothing… and was that fur?). Tensing, he looked around - no sign of his gear, unless you count the oversized lighter over there near that…spent bullet with a white thing sticking out (that he could feel).
“Buddy, I ain’t lookin’ for a fight, just calm down-”
“SHUT UP! I am not listening to… to LINES OF CODE trying to GIVE ME COMMANDS!” He snarled(?!), backing away, tension climbing.
“L-listen, ya gotsa chill-”
“Blinding Ray!”
Without warning, the space filled with light… and Yamaki’s mind was filled with questions as he turned and fled.
‘What did I just say?!’
‘Why did I say that?!’
‘Where did all this light come from?!’
‘Did that Wild One do more to me than I thought?!’
As the light faded, Yamaki grumbled, eyes clearing up…surprisingly fast. What the heck was going on here?
A flash of white in a nearby window caught his attention - Another Wild One? Slinking over (??) to take a look, he grimaced. Definitely another Wild One…a long, ferret-like beast with short arms and a golden collar around its neck. Yellow eyes glowered back, its mouth contorted in anger as the red earring in its left, black-tipped ear? Eyebrow? Whatever it was, the earring was slowly losing its glow, circuit patterns barely visible on its sides as the body tapered down, ending at a…
…bullet.
The Wild One was following him; it had to be. Whirling to the left, he didn’t see it. Whirling to the right, he-
“Kinda rude dere, pal, but I gets wheres ya comin’ from.” Great, the canine Wild One was back.
As Yamaki tensed, preparing to run again, the beast let out another sigh. “Butcha needs a serious reality check, otherwise yer own people are gonna mess ya up hard.” What? Why would his people mess with-
The confusion gave the beast enough time to place his paw on Yamaki’s head and shove it down, forcing the Hypnos leader’s head downwards - to look at short white arms with red claws, a slender white body with circuit patterns barely visible on the sides.
“Finally sinkin’ in, huh?” The words were ignored as Yamaki lifted his hands, only to see the claws move instead. He tried to move his legs, only for that slender, tube-like body to move - was it floating?
...Was he floating!? The ground suddenly felt so far away…
Short, sharp breaths didn’t help his rising panic, but he couldn’t help himself. Gingerly reaching up to feel his head, it was a sharp muzzle, like the one in the window. His eyebrows stretched into ears, the left one even sporting an earring (he had never wanted to get a piercing; now he had a free one). Looking up, he saw the weasel-like Wild One was panicking the same way he was…
“This… this is impossible. Utterly impossible. I’m a human, a person, not some lump of code that can’t think for itself -” his lighter, where was his lighter -
“Is that really how ya sees us Digimon? Yeesh, dat ‘splains a few tings.” The lupine was walking up alongside, their image appearing in the window - a stark calm compared to Yamaki’s panic. “Guess ya needed a couple reality checks ‘ere… At least it means whatevah did dis didn’t mess with yer head. That…” A sharp hiss. “That would’ve been a lot worse, possibly makin’ ya forget bein’ human…”
Ahah…yeah…sure, forgetting he was human was possible; that should’ve happened, there’s no way a human mind can run off of the code sustaining Wild Ones… this is all a dream…this has to be a dream…
Thud
The last thing Yamaki heard before he lost consciousness was a groan. “…seriously? Dis’s gonna be a pain in de rear…” A gentle bite grabbed his tail (he shouldn’t have a tail) before he was dragged away…and blissful darkness took him.
———
The smell of cooking meat woke Yamaki from his slumber… but he kept his eyes shut, taking stock instead. That dream was so bad…and so real… he had to make sure it was just a dream.
Head? There. Left arm? Check. Right arm? Check. Right leg…
…right leg…
He couldn’t feel his right leg. Or his left leg, for that matter. He didn’t have them in the dream, and more importantly, something was moving down there when he tried to move his legs. Attempting to twitch and move this...thing, he came to a single, undeniable conclusion:
…that…that was a tail… one that he could feel and move…
That wasn’t a dream, was it? Ugh…
With a groan, his eyes fluttered open, view graced by a dingy ceiling - looked like he was in some small underground chamber. A single lightbulb hung in the middle of the room, lit up.
“Oh good, you’re awake…” Looking to the side, the ex-human (as much as he hated to admit it) saw the lupine from before sitting on a dirt floor near a simple grill, a few slices of rough-cut meat on it. They weren’t the one tending the grill right now, though; that had fallen to a different Wild One - a blue dinosaur with icy claws and helmet. “Sorry fo’ dragging’ ya, I jus didn’ wants ta leaves ya out in de open. Honestly, none o’ us heads out for long; it ain’t exactly safe out dere for a Digimon.” …isn’t that…
“It’s better than home though.” The blue lizard flipped the meat, hrming a bit as he gave a small puff of frosty air on a claw. “Food’s almost done, Looga. You wanna wake Chiro?”
“Sure ting, Bulu. And, uh, don’t worry Kuuuuu…” a blink. “I’s should really asks what ya goes by.”
A small scoff. At least they were set to be polite… but he shouldn’t give everything away yet. “Yamaki.”
“Yamaki, roite. I’s already tolds Bulu about yer, ah, situation.” A small cough. “Same w’ Chiropmon, ‘specially as he checked ya ova, said ya wer ‘n good health.” The apparently-an-ermine blinked - they gave him a health check while he was out? “So yea, no needs ta worry about hidin’ or anythin’… Figgered ya’d likes that.”
…it was nice that this “Looga” had considered making sure Yamaki wouldn’t need to hide his humanity… but something still crossed his mind as the wolf loped off, Hypnos’s leader turning to look at the saurian “chef”. “What was he about to call me there?”
“Hmm? Oh, Kudamon. That’s what you are right now… did you. Not know that?” No, he most certainly had not made a point of memorizing the names of Janyu’s designs, even if “Kudamon” felt… right, on some instinctual level.
Watching a bat flap over after the wolf and some simple plates be set out, he decided to table this discussion for later. Breakfast would be prudent.
———
Several minutes later, the small group was busy eating, the natural-born Digimon chattering as Yamaki chewed on his meat… and his thoughts.
The meat was… subpar. It was cooked decently, but it was tough, like the cast-off bits you found here and there. He’d say something about diseases, but could a Wild One - no, a “Digimon”, as he’d learned from the introductions earlier (apparently the Wild Bunch’s name stuck) - even get sick?
Then again, maybe there was something else happening. Sparing a look to the side, he spotted a small hole where several blocks of ice lay. Each block had bits of red inside, and a pile of shredded meat department trash sat next to the hole. Maybe this icy dragon - “Bulucomon”, if he recalled - could flash-freeze the meat…which reduced its quality, but. That was besides the point right now.
Yamaki glanced over at the cloak-wearing, bat-like “Digimon”. Since he was stuck here for the time being, he might as well ask some questions - take advantage of being… like them… to gather information.
And one thing was at the top of his mind… and the professional-acting bat seemed like the best to ask.
“So. What led you to come to the real world?”
A sigh from the “Chriopmon”. “Honestly? I just desired to get away from all the fighting back home.”
“…fighting?”
The “Loogamon” nodded. “Bingo. It’s jus’… I thinks de human phrase is ‘survival o’ da fittest’?” A shot of dread went through Yamaki as he listened. “Digimon fight ‘n fight, absorbin’ each odda’s data ta grows stronga ‘n stronga.”
A nod from the ice-helmed beast. “Yeah… it was always that way to a degree, but after the Sovereign’s decree it really ramped up.”
“Sovereign?”
A burp from the canine. “‘Scuse me… anyways. De Sovereigns ‘r da four…well, some call ‘em ‘gods’ o’ da Digital Woild. Honestly, I dink they ain’t ‘xactly dat, even if they’s the only Megas around.” A bit of a canine shrug…somehow, the motion was a bit confusing. “Their word was basically da only law we hads in da Digital Woild. And, well…some o’ us gots sick o’ it.”
“Indeed. But over here it’s no easier, what with the suits and that fox-”
A whack on the bat’s head from the Bulucomon. “We have one of those suits here, shush!”
Honestly, Yamaki wasn’t paying much attention, his mind instead going a million miles a minute. Not only were these “Digimon” apparently able to think and feel, but their home world sounded like… well, a hellhole. It made sense that they’d want to leave…
…and Hypnos was only making it worse for those who fled. “So…any Wi-pardon, Digimon that comes over wants to escape this fighting?”
A snort from the wolf. “Somes do, yea. Somes jus’ wanna get a different kind o’ fight, some jus’ stumble through, and some jus’ figger it’s easier prey.” A grumble. “Dose, we's… well. we's don’ts like fightin’, but when worsts comes ta worsts.”
That made more sense. It was starting to sound like Hypnos’ policy on Wild Ones might need revision, even if to accommodate the few good eggs…
…was he seriously going along with this? A red claw went to his neck, feeling along as he thought. These weren’t living beings, just data that imitated life. They didn’t work the same way humans or even animals did - they didn’t have any brains, blood, lungs, bones, or other organs. He still found it hard to believe that he hadn’t started falling into some sort of routine or simpler way of thinking; his current body couldn’t possibly support a human’s neural activity.
But despite all that, he was already starting to see these Wild Ones - Digimon - like people. The same way he would his coworkers. The same way he would someone on the street-
“Curious Eyes.” The ex-human locked up as the bat gave him a Look, his visible eye gleaming. Did he do something wrong? Was this a trap? As a wing reached over, Yamaki trembled, trying to dig for that…whatever-it-was he used yesterday…
Only for the wing to gently guide his claw to a specific spot on his neck, to where he could feel the familiar sensation of a pulse. “There you go. It’s…not quite the same as a human’s, given that digital blood has a slightly different composition and you have a different body shape, but I’ve seen enough people looking for a pulse. I just had to use my Curious Eyes to tell where it was.” The bat withdrew his wing, letting the Kudamon feel the beat of digital blood (blood, not just data) going through him.
“Oh, that’s right, you Realized at that ‘hospital’ didn’t you?” Hospital…yeah, that was one of the ones his bosses were frustrated about Hypnos losing a few months ago.
“Indeed. Learning that humans would actually try to heal each other…” A small smile bloomed under his cloak. “It’s honestly fascinating. Especially knowing such data likely got integrated into our creation.”
“Yea, dat’s why wes’ gots data blood 'n watnot, iddinit?” The wolf laughed while Yamaki just watched the interaction, the bat shaking their head with a tsk while the dragon just continued to eat. It felt so…lively. Real. Beyond what he’d seen and believed Wild Ones could do.
…perhaps he should go along with this. Perhaps. For now, he’ll just play along and see what happens. Especially since if Digimon like his hosts - like that one who changed him - were truly alive, that opened up a potentially worrying possibility.
———
That possibility came to a head a couple of days later, just… not in the way he expected.
The mood in the hideout at the time was, suffice to say, tense. On one side was Yamaki, scowling as he prepared for the worst.
On the other side were his three “hosts”: Loogamon and Bulucomon were armed for bear while Chiropmon cowered behind them, peeking out every so often.
And between them was the object of contention: a single silver cigarette lighter.
“So. Let me get this straight.” The Kudamon’s earring and back glyphs glowed slightly. “You guys found my lighter and brought it here with me, but kept it from me because you thought it was a weapon?”
Loogamon snarled. “Bingo! And dat’s the only reason a ‘mon’d get rileds up over somethin’ like dat, so I’d wagah dat’s de case for a human too!”
The ex-human twitched, trying to keep his new combat impulses down. “Right, you don’t have any concept of sentimental value, or even stuff that helps with anxiety.”
“Erm, actually-“
“QUIET.” Chiropmon meeped and ducked back down as Yamaki seethed. “So the idea of me having something, even slightly dangerous, from someone important to me or, in this case, that I use if I get twitchy - to help myself stay calm - would be completely lost on you.”
“Slightly dangerous?!” Bulucomon stepped up. “That thing almost melted me, and you call it slightly dangerous?!”
“Excuse me for not having encountered a living thing made of ice before.” A snarl. “And on that note, I have to ask” - his gaze swinging over to lock Looga in the eyes - “How did you know exactly where to find me?”
“Wha?” The canine was taken aback by the sudden change of topic. “I toldja before, I’s was snoopin’ for any extra scraps ‘n saw ya-”
“And you already knew I was there, didn’t you?” Loogamon backed up, eyes wide. “I hadn’t considered this before we met, since I didn’t realize how… alive Digimon were. But I have to ask: Was this one giant ploy to get my pity?” Ignoring the trio’s increasingly shocked faces, Yamaki continued with his theory: “I’ve seen nothing saying you don’t know that Wild One who transformed me. What’s to say you all didn’t plan this out?”
Chiropmon peeked out. “…why?”
That ticked Yamaki off. “Why?! Why?! Because I’m-“
“With the suits, we know, but… what would this plan you accuse us of even accomplish?” The first part of the interruption flared his anger - of course he’s with them, he’s their leader - before the second part cooled it off. Shouldn’t it be obvious?
The bat continued, his fellows stepping aside slightly (only to be pulled back in by tiny wings). “Just changing one member of their group won’t be enough to cause massive changes. Even if we did accomplish such a feat, which I still have trouble believing happened - thank you for your testimony, Loogamon - what would it do?” The cloaked Rookie looked Yamaki dead in the eye, a gaze similar to Reika’s shutting his mouth before any more arguments came out. The kind of gaze that said “you’re being silly, shut up and let me talk.”
The bat then closed his eyes and lifted a wing, motioning with it like he had fingers up. “Let’s say you’re one of the rank and file. All we’ve done is made a void that can likely be filled easily.” More thoughts crossed Yamaki’s mind as a second “finger” was raised. Thoughts he…wasn’t sure if he liked or not. “If you’re in the middle, then it’s a bit harder to fill, but not impossible. And if you were in the leadership” - a third finger was raised, none of the three Digimon noticing the ermine’s small gulp - “then all we’ve done is paint a target on our backs. You said it yourself, you didn’t believe we were alive, and your whole agent likely believes the same. It’s more probable that the other suits would call you dead instead of trying to listen to anything you’d have to say.” The bat’s eye opened, looking Yamaki dead-on. “All we’d have done is cut off the Hydramon’s head, leaving it to grow a fiercer one in its place - one all too ready to avenge the first head’s death.
…does that make sense?”
A small head tilt caused Hypnos’s leader to stumble, blinking. Chiropmon just gave a full argument, dismantling the entire idea of this being a con job aimed at him - and then he just…asked if it made sense, like he was a kid. That was just…
Just…
“Snrrrk…” Three Digimon looked at one another worriedly as the lone one trembled. Did they need to get ready to defend themselves? Did they need to plan to delete the ‘mon they’d started to befriend? Did they-
“Pfffffff…” and now his mouth was buried in his claws, cheeks puffing as his tail lashed to the potential weapon, the tip flicking it open… and closed. Open and closed, open and closed.
Some deep breaths. “Apologies, I was. Losing myself there.” A-hem. “B-but yes. Your logic does make sense.” Now that he thought about it, there was probably only one person at Hypnos who wouldn’t treat him like any other Wild One, and even that would be a bit of a gamble. After all, Reika obviously wouldn’t recognize him like this.
“…Tell you what. We’ll find a safe place to let this run out of fuel, and we’ll call it a truce?”
Loogamon tilted his head. “Uhhh, ain’t fuel what goes in dose giant metal…car-tings?”
A sigh. “It’s used in a few things, but cars are one of them…” Perhaps he should be teaching these three more about the world they’re in?
Thankfully they all agreed on the truce, and that night the last of the lighter’s fuel was used to light the cooking fire.
‘…wait, why does Bulucomon cook if he could melt? Maybe that’s why he kept breathing frost on himself…’
———
One week.
It had been one week since Mitsuo Yamaki, leader of Hypnos, had vanished without a trace, with only his sunglasses found at the scene.
Ootori Reika was not exactly happy about this - if she hadn’t pushed him to go and get out, then maybe he’d still be here. But knowing it could’ve been some other poor sap who vanished helped tamp her emotions down.
…mostly. When the new version of the scanner was ready for testing, she leapt at the opportunity. Partly out of a sense of guilt, partly out of a vain hope that she could maybe - just maybe - find her boyfriend.
The operator had thanked her lucky stars when she was permitted to go, and now she was at the park where his signal vanished - The place where they’d found his sunglasses.
She’d been doing sweeps of the area, looking for any clues that could have been missed. Any other hints… and nothing. All she’d found was this weird white “sleeping” plushie that got a small response out of the detector, so she’d picked it up. That level of reaction shouldn’t be from a Wild One, like what the device was showing now, but it meant the plush was still worth-
Wait what.
Looking back at the detector, Reika blanched - it said a Wild One was right behind her, with about four more in the surrounding area. Turning to face her nearest enemy, she couldn’t help but blink at the odd, squid-like thing that came into her view. “What in the…”
A sudden jolt as their eyes met, and then the thing spoke. “You wish to see your superior again? Your lover?”
How did this thing… it must’ve read her mind! Backpedaling, she pulled out her service weapon and aimed… but her heart betrayed her. “You know where he is?”
“Not exactly, but I know how you can find him.” Something about this didn’t sit right, especially as she watched one of those two tentacles slide back. Her gut was screaming at her to run, her heart wanted answers, her mind said to shoot the dang Wild One…
And then 3 words cut through it all.
“Flash, get down!”
———
One week.
It had been one week since Yamaki had been transformed into a… Kudamon, and one week since he started questioning everything he knew about Digimon (5 days since the “lighter debate”).
Each of his “hosts” had their own personalities and hobbies: Loogamon was the clever leader and avid gamer; Bulucomon was reserved and enjoyed cooking; and the medically-inclined, bookish Chiropmon was among one of the most professional beings he’d met - including humans.
They’d helped teach him what life was like for Digimon, even on this side. How they lived, reproduced, evolved, and fought.
As much as the trio disliked fighting, they were perfectly willing to do so, especially when some furry purple dog-cat-thing (a “Gazimon”) tried to raid their food stores. They were able to drive the thief off (without deleting them). However, Yamaki’s relative inability to help in the brawl encouraged the trio to try sparring with him and hone his new form’s abilities.
In doing so, he learned that this form had moves besides the flashbang-like Blinding Ray he’d instinctively used on Loogamon when they’d met. There was a melee option with Bullet Whirlwind (striking the enemy with the bullet on his tail) and a ranged option with Holy Shot (basically a beam of energy)… and finding out that he was apparently a “holy” Digimon, complete with the thing on his neck being a “Holy Ring”, was a bit of a jolt.
This revealed an apparent lack of religion from his “mentors,” which made the Hypnos leader question his newly forming opinions… until he was reminded of what their “gods” were like.
He wouldn’t want to worship a “god” that demanded mass killings either…
Anyways.
He’d also learned that he could apparently pull himself into the bullet, a slightly…surreal option, but good for stealth (and sleeping, which is how he found out about this to begin with). But right now he was working on his legs - apparently Kudamon had them after all; it was just that they could dismiss them at will to hover. It was a surreal feeling, especially after he’d been legless for a week.
So they were out walking near the park where he’d originally been changed, having retraced the route Loogamon had used to recover him. They’d been discussing the means of food acquisition (while he…disapproved of them stealing, he understood that they didn’t exactly have currency - barter had apparently been a thing at one point, but the decree had basically torn attempts at society to shreds) when he heard footsteps nearby - human ones. It was 11 at night; who’d be out here this late?
Quickly hiding (and resisting the urge to flick at the lighter he’d taken to carrying in his tail), the group peered out to see a human with long red hair, holding a beeping device in her hand. Yamaki’s core (which…apparently was the equivalent of a human heart) skipped a beat when he saw her - Reika! What was she doing here? Could she be looking for him, gotten past whatever red tape there was?
No, that device she’s holding, that’s the detector he’d been testing - she must be testing the new version. Or used that as an excuse to look for him.
Should he go for her, let her know he’s safe but risk being hurt - or worse? For all intents and purposes, he was a Wild One, so she’d understandably be rather unenthusiastic to see him.
But his heart ached to see her again, to talk to her again. Staying away would only make it worse… but maybe it was for the best-
The sight of a certain squid forced his mind to do a complete 180 on the matter, a snarl slipping from his mouth.
“…ok, I gets da feelin’ dat gal’s ‘portant ta ya, but why’s dat Digimon gettin’ ya all wound up?” Loogamon had been quite perceptive, so Yamaki decided it’d be best to answer (even as Reika picked up this…plush? Odd.).
“That squid is the one that transformed me in the first place. And I’d rather not have my girlfriend learn about Digimon the way I did.” The other three tensed before Loogamon gave Chiropmon a look. What was he…
“Chiropmon, ya can takes her to dat ol’ shack, roite?” Wait, the building they used as the entry to their little hideaway?
“That would be accurate.” The idea was already coming together in Yamaki’s head, and he liked what he heard.
“Roite. Yamaki, thinks ya can blind that squid long enough for Chiro to get in ‘n leads yer gal away?”
The earring he’d grown to accept was already sparkling as the Kudamon smirked. He wasn’t exactly a field agent - wasn’t the first pick for testing stuff - but like this? With this body, now that he knew how it worked?
“No problem. Just keep in mind that she’s with ‘the suits’, like me, so-“
“Guard up, gots it. Bulu ‘n I will holds off dat squid once ya guys gets movin’. Now go!”
Yamaki nodded, legs vanishing as he sped in, an attack building. That was quite impressive, even rivaling some of his response team leaders. Maybe he could…
No, that’d be silly. Besides, there were more important issues right now.
“Flash, get down!”
———
Recognizing her superior’s and boyfriend’s voice, Reika’s heart skipped a beat, training kicking in as she realized that not only was he alive, he was here.
Squeezing her eyes shut and looking down, the operator placed her hands over her ears in preparation for a flashbang. What happened next, however, was…unexpected.
“Blinding Ray!”
There was a brilliant flash of light and a cry of confusion from the Wild One, something that felt like a bat claw grabbing onto Reika’s hand: “This way, hurry!”
“You can trust him. Go!” Her superior’s orders were all the encouragement Reika needed. Gripping the white plush in her hands, she let whatever she was soldering onto lead her out of the alley and…somewhere.
When her eyes opened, she was greeted by the interior of a run-down building with a cloak-wearing, bat-like Wild One with one eye exposed standing in the middle. Briefly tensing upon seeing her apparent guide, the Hypnos operator stopped as she remembered what her boss had said - she could trust him. But… this was a Wild One; surely Yamaki wouldn’t-
In her shock, she hadn’t noticed the bat had started looking her over, visible eye glowing. But she had noticed there had been a brief pause at certain places, and thus she reacted accordingly.
——
When Yamaki returned to the safe area, he was greeted with Reika standing over a dizzy Chriopmon, that odd white plush in one hand with her other in the air, having just struck his fellow Rookie (…he…really was accepting this, wasn’t he?).
“…Reika, stand down. He’s innocent.”
“S-sir, he was looking at me very inappropriately! I don’t-” His girlfriend’s words stopped as she laid eyes on Yamaki’s current form for the first time.
The Kudamon just sighed. “…If you’re wondering, a certain squid did this to me.” Her form tensed slightly as that sank in. “It’s been… enlightening, that’s for certain, but I’ve no desire to put you through it as well.” His gaze then turned to the dizzy bat, who was rapidly coming to. “…Now, would you please explain yourself?”
Reika froze instinctively as the bat let out his own sigh. “I…apologies, it was my first time using Curious Eyes on a human female. I knew they had a different biology, but I was not expecting extra fat tissue on the chest…”
“…what.” The operator’s mouth hung open, tension fleeing as Yamaki let out another sigh, rubbing his temples as his tail flicked at his lighter.
It was easy to slip back into business mode, like he was about to discipline a subordinate - which he…sorta was. “…Chiropmon. Be aware that observing a human woman at the chest or between the legs, unless explicitly doing a medical procedure, is considered highly insensitive and incredibly rude with few exceptions, which we will not be discussing here.”
“Oh.” Chiropmon turned to the woman and bowed. “My sincerest apologies… we Digimon have never had such issues.”
“…s-sure…” Reika nodded, sitting down. “Sorry, this… is a lot to take in. A Wild One just apologized for staring at me due to a lack of social norms, and my boss is somehow also a Wild One.” A laugh. “What is my life?”
Yamaki snorted, letting his cool crack for a bit of snark. “…imagine how I felt when I woke up like this.”
“Oh…yeah, that.” A considerably less crazed laugh, more like a chuckle. “Would be worse.”
The couple locked eyes as the tension fled; a small smile gracing each of their faces-
vreetvreetvreet
Until an alarm buzzed, sending Reika scrambling to get something out of her pocket. It took Yamaki a minute to place it - the detector. But shouldn’t it have gone off already? No, it hadn’t gone off like that for any of them. So why…
wham “We’ve got a problem!” Bulucomon was standing in the wide-open hideout door, revealing the fog outside - ah, that’s what was going on. “It’s a Digital Field… a big one!”
Reika fumbled with the detector in her hands, reviewing the device with growing concern. “He’s right, this is one of the largest we’ve ever seen…” Turning to Yamaki, concern played in her eyes briefly before her face snapped to attention. “Orders, sir?”
A sigh from the Kudamon, his tail flicking at the lighter. “…Evacuate the area. Get teams C3 through C5 here. Be ready; we don’t know who’s going to Realize - erm, bio-emerge - here. It could be a friendly…” Sharp teeth gently pushed at his lip as the government agent ignored the mild incredulity on his operator’s face. “Or not. Be ready for the worst, but engage only on hostility.”
She snapped to attention, saluting. “Sir!” Pulling out her phone, the operator dialed up the main office and started relaying his orders. As she did, Bulucomon gave Yamaki a bit of a Look.
“…Um, you told us she’s with the suits, but… Why’re you bossing her around like that?”
Sigh - best explain. It wasn’t like he hadn’t imagined this moment a couple times. “I had withheld this information at first due to the situation… but I suppose a proper introduction is in order.” Turning to face the icy ‘Mon, Yamaki put his claws behind his back, trying to look as professional as an ermine Digimon could. “My name is Mitsuo Yamaki, leader of the Japanese government’s Hypnos program. Originally meant for counter-electronic warfare, after the emergence of Wild Ones - or Digimon, as you call them - our duties have shifted to containment and handling of the situation.”
…To say he didn’t enjoy the lax draconic jaw he was staring at would be a big, fat lie. Especially after their “discussion” a few days ago.
“Wait, you’se actually da suits’ boss?!” And there’s Loogamon, back just in time to add to his enjoyment. Looking over and raising an eyebrow, the Kudamon replied:
“Yes, yes I am. Is that an issue?”
Any potential reply (and the moment) was taken out by the sound of pawprints. Everyone looked at the door, confused as Yamaki thought. The response teams weren’t here yet - which was a good thing because the Digimon approaching them was…
Well, it wasn’t exceptionally large. It was a winged, yellow-and-purple tiger with purple armor at its lower limbs, spiked shields at the shoulders and hips, and a scruffy red bandana around its neck. But despite this, its presence filled Yamaki with terror - and his new allies soon explained why.
Loogamon was backpedaling: “Ooooh crap, dat’s a Deva!”
“I-I-I thought the Sovereigns’ servants were too strong to Realize?” Chriopmon stammered.
“They are! They’re Ultimate level, that’s too much data to get through the gates!” Bulucomon was trying to rationalize the situation as a horrifying possibility crossed Yamaki’s mind.
“…unless they wished for it…” All three ‘mon (and Reika) turned to face the Kudamon as he spoke. “Listen - you said those DigiGnomes you used to get here are called ‘wish-granters.’ What if it used one of those?”
“I-I mean…I know I used a Gnome to cross over, but one wouldn’t be enough for an Ultimate -”
Bulucomon groaned, claws dragging down its icy face as it replied to Chriopmon: “But if a couple worked together, they’d make a bigger opening, which is why we’ve got such a big Field… oh, this is bad, especially if Zhuquiaomon sent them.”
Yamaki turned to the trio. “Dare I ask why?”
The icy ‘Mon’s answer was… very unappreciated. “Because Zhuquiaomon loathes humans.”
His opinion of these “Sovereigns” was dipping lower and lower… at least it was only one of four who had a beef with mankind. That helped keep it from crashing through the floor.
“…More runaways from the Sovereigns. Hmmph, running to a dirty world like this… you’re not worthy of anything.” Grrrr… he was getting more and more irritated by the minute…
And so were the others. “Howlin’ Fiyah!”
“Condensed Echo!”
“Baby Hail!”
“Holy Shot!”
The group’s bombardment of ranged moves threw up a cloud of smoke, the group backing up as they kept up the pace - Reika rushing backwards as well.
Eventually, their throats sore, the bombardment ceased, leaving them panting. “…ya thinks we got ‘im?”
“Vimohana.”
The shockwave sending them flying into the air was a resounding “NO”. The quarter cried out in shock as the Deva rushed through the smoke cloud, barely scuffed.
“Treasure Rod!” The Deva’s tail glowed, turning into a three-piece staff as the tiger whirled around, striking all 4 Rookies in a clean row. Each of them was sent flying back, and Yamaki could swear he heard bones break on impact.
The Kudamon couldn’t help but groan, trying to push himself up even as his small body screamed in protest. He knew that Ultimates were supposed to be strong, but he hadn’t realized just how strong. Eyes fell on the approaching foe, fear and despair gripping his heart.
…Was this going to be how it ended? Fighting a Digimon who vastly overpowered him? That Hypnos was woefully unprepared for?
“Mrraaah…”
Woozy gaze drawn to a new voice, Yamaki stared at Reika as that plushie she’d grabbed began…squirming? Moving?
Whatever it was, it was enough to make Reika let go, the plush - no, the Digimon - stretching and yawning. “Ugh, it’s too noisy…”
Miharamon’s gaze turned to the newcomer. “…you…Makuramon mentioned you, but-”
“Hmm?” The now-awake Digimon looked at the tiger curiously, head tilted as its red crystal began glowing. Suddenly, what Yamaki had thought was a simple light feature instead started filling him with strength, body knitting itself back together as words sprang to his - and his allies’ - lips.
“Bulucomon SHINKA!”
“Chiropmon SHINKA!”
“Loogamon SHINKA!”
“Kudamon, Shinka.”
———
(Red pixels of light emerge from Culumon’s forehead gem, spiralling around the four Rookies as the view splits in 4.)
Dis powa…Digivolution? But ‘ow!?
(Each ‘mon rests on the ground - Bulucomon and Chiropmon taking a knee as Loogamon sits, Yamaki’s legs dispelled as he rests atop a coil - the pixels forming an egg around each.)
It was mathematically and scientifically impossible… they’d had nowhere near enough data. They’d been avoiding getting more data.
(The fur and flesh from each of them pulls away, revealing a wireframe underneath)
The data flowing into them was immense. Power was welling up inside… from where, it was hard to say.
(Wireframes grow and expand, pixels filling in fur and scales)
Welp, if deys was gonna have any shot ‘gainst a Deva, dis’d be it.
(The wireframes bulk larger, reaching a fair bit taller than the Rookie forms)
It would be a steep battle, but the odds had shifted significantly towards a more even keel with this development.
(Extra fur and ice form on Bulucomon, Chiropmon’s form turns more humanoid, Loogamon’s forelegs swell massively, and Yamaki’s upper body also turns humanoid.)
This gave them a fighting chance. 4 Champions versus an Ultimate was much better than 4 Rookies.
(Wings grow from Bulu’s back, and Chiro gains a silver full-face visor. A muzzle forms around Looga’s maw, holding back flames as Yamaki gains sunglasses and a belt harness.)
Was this what the others meant by “digivolution”? He could see why it was a goal… but he’d prefer this over taking a needless life.
(The eggs shatter, revealing the evolved Digimon)
Compared to the needful life they might have to take soon.
———
“Paledramon!”
“NightChiropmon!”
“Loogarmon!”
“Yakshmon.”
The red light dispersed, Miharamon staring at the new Champions in shock. Bulucomon - now Paledramon - had gotten larger, limbs fully iced as icy wings rested on its back. Loogarmon was larger with a jagged tail and much, much larger forelegs, flames issuing from its muzzled maw. NightChiropmon was the one most different from their original form - a mechanical humanoid with a silver visor for a face and a large, bladed set of “wings” on the back.
Yamaki’s form was the one that drew the most of the Deva’s attention, though. Despite retaining his general Kudamon shape, he was human-sized now and had more humanoid proportions. A pair of sunglasses sat on his snout, positioned perfectly over his eyes, and an earpiece rested over one ear. He also wore a leather belt harness with a hi-tech pistol set in a holster, which felt oddly familiar to the “Yakshmon” (Right, new level, different species name…)
“…Impossible…unless-” A snarl as his attention went to the “plush”, who was squirming whilst being collected by Reika. “The Light of Digivolution! I should have known Makuramon would’ve left things out of his report…” With that, the Deva ran and leapt, whirling about as he aimed for the pair. “Treasure Rod!”
Despite seeing the attack racing towards his girlfriend’s head - surely lethal if it connected - Yamaki found himself totally calm, just raising a faintly glowing hand as words leapt from his lips.
“MI-GOS Wall.”
A grid-like wall sprang up between the tiger and his target, sparks flying as the tail landed a heavy blow - yet the wall did not break. Paledramon took the chance presented to him, launching an “Ice Age!” to try and freeze the tiger solid.
This, unfortunately, put the Deva’s focus on the dragon and applied some frost, so soon the icy Digimon was fleeing from the Ultimate. Thankfully, this drew Miharamon’s attention away from the flying Champion.
“Allow me to get us a read on this tiger’s weaknesses. Providence Scan!” NightChriopmon’s visor glinted briefly before a blue beam shot from it, sweeping over the Deva, the chiropteran analyzing the data and announcing his conclusion: “I’m noticing some stress in the tail, specifically at the Treasure Rod’s joints. Perhaps if we targeted those…”
“One problem widdat - I don’t thinks we's gots dats kinda precision! Gah, Howlin’ Burner!” A beam of flame lanced from Loogarmon’s mouth, striking the Deva and drawing his attention to the canine.
“Grrr… Vimohana!” Taking his gaze off both opponents, he leapt into the air, tail stiff and gleaming as he aimed to strike the ground. Seemed like he wanted to send them flying with a stronger shockwave -
“Yuggoth Break.” Bang! Bang! Bang!
As soon as he heard NightChiropmon’s analysis, Yamaki drew the weapon this new form gave him, lower body coiling on the ground as he took a pseudo-kneeling stance. He may not have the best shot at Hypnos, but he wasn’t exactly bad - and for whatever reason, he felt more confident in his accuracy now.
And as he pulled the trigger, familiar code ran through his brain and to his weapon - whatever made this form must’ve had a sense of humor to add the program he’d made for eliminating Wild Ones to his...well, his core, he supposed.
Each “bullet” of code hit its mark, the joints of Miharamon’s rod-like tail glowing as they were eaten through, the tail disassembling in mid-air. The Deva was able to land, but the attack hadn’t, as the Sovereign’s servant stared numbly at the fallen parts. “What in Zhuqiaomon’s name…”
Looking from the broken weapon to Yamaki, the tiger scowled. “…fine…this time you win. But it won’t happen again.” A scowl as he turned, picking up the pieces of tail in his mouth as he ran off, sickly green data trailing from where the joints had been.
The Champions stood and watched, exhaustion starting to return as the tiger fled - hopefully to the Digital World. “…I can’t believe it, we just drove off a Deva!”
“Yes, that was…quite improbable…” NightChiropmon’s smooth visor turned to face Yamaki, who remained as professional as possible (despite internal cheering). “If it wasn’t for our new friend’s special ability, we likely would’ve been the ones to flee - if we were lucky.”
“Ah fuhgeddaboudit, Chiro - I thinks we oughtsa celebrate!” The larger lupine caught his fellows in a hug, Yamaki standing to the side, watching with a small chuckle.
“…Sir?”
That’s right, Reika was here… he’d forgotten in the rush of the fight. Sighing, Yamaki walked over. “…Reika, we’re going to need to submit an extensive report about this. It’s our best chance at changing Hypnos’s purview.”
The chatter from the trio of friends stopped, all eyes on the Yakshmon. “W-what do you mean, sir?”
A chuckle and headshake started his reply to Reika’s very logical question. “After what I’ve learned here? I think we need to switch our approach drastically. It was built from the idea that Digimon are just sets of code imitating life, which I can now conclusively say they are not. They may be made of data, but they’re as alive as us humans, meaning we should treat them as such.” A small smile as he looked back at the trio. “And besides… we’ll need housing for any strays that come along.” A meaningful glance back at the other three Champions through the fading fog resulted in a visible shock down their spines.
“S-seriously?!”
“This is…highly improbable…”
“Ya gotsa be jokin’ with us.”
“I’m not kidding. With what I know now, I’d like to be helping runaways like you get safe instead of… what we had been doing.” The implications were obvious, especially with his ashamed look away. “Besides, Hypnos could use some… native help in dealing with rogue Digimon. And after that performance, I’d say you three are on the fast track to being hired.”
His three hosts - soon to be employees - turned to each other in shock (well, with that full-face visor, he thought Chiro was shocked), Reika just chuckling and shaking her head -
Grrrrumble
Wincing, Hypnos’s leader looked down at his stomach. Why was he so hungry all of a sudden? They’d eaten not long before heading out-
Bright light filled his view as he felt himself shrinking, newfound power fleeing in exchange for a black hole in his stomach.
“What in the…” He was shorter, shorter than when he was a Kudamon! Not to mention being stuck on all 4s with stubby little legs… and he sounded like he was a kid again!
“We devolved?! Seriously?!” Turning around, the suddenly-much-shorter Yamaki saw that his hopeful new hires had been replaced. There was a legless snowman with an icicle for a muzzle, a fuzzy purple head-orb with floppy ears, and what could best be described as a small puppy-like orb in Loogamon’s colors.
The small purple fuzzball coughed before speaking in a childish version of Chriopmon’s voice. “I-if I may… I suspect what happened earlier was that we received algorithms that caused us to essentially multiply our data exponentially to the point we reached the next stage. But this data expansion has resulted in a…rebound, as it were, reducing us to In-Training forms. Thankfully, consumption of enough data should fix the issue, and if we experience such an evolution enough times we can prevent the rebound from going any further than Rookie.”
A shot of ice ran down Yamaki’s furry spine at the mention of “data consumption” - and he guessed one went down the supposed Loogamon’s as well, with how the puppy was in the bat’s face. “Ya’s kiddin’ me!? We’s been avoidin’ data absorption dis long, and now we’s hasta do it anyways?!” (Wow, they all sounded like kids.)
“N-no, not at all! Normal methods of data consumption for our current level should suffice…erm, by which I mean a buffet would be appreciated.”
Ah. “So that explains why my stomach suddenly feels like it has no bottom.” Yamaki sighed. “…Alright, we’ll need to do more experimenting with this “Digivolution” before using it in the field; I’d rather not run the food budget up too high. But for now… Reika, put it on my tab.”
“If you say so, sir.” He was indeed saying so, and he would regret having said so upon seeing just how much he could eat like this (the bat was not kidding when he said he wanted a buffet).
———
As Yamaki reviewed his emails a couple of days later, he couldn’t help but smile. The new Digimon Localization Project had been approved by the Diet - it turned out a particularly influential naysayer had family in Shinjuku and, well, there was a reason they’d been keeping an eye out for that blasted squid (Thankfully there seemed to be no more than a couple other victims so far).
It’d still take some time to get everything set up, even with the preliminary steps he’d taken. But once the group had returned to Rookie form and he’d gotten introductions out of the way, Loogamon had settled in well with the response teams, Bulucomon was adjusting to logistics, and Chiropmon had been a surprisingly good help in medical. Yes, getting one of his best men sidelined was annoying, but the bat’s ability to find medical anomalies meant said man could be treated for some very dangerous things.
“Sir?”
“Yes, Reika?” Turning to face the operator, Yamaki blinked as she held a box out to him. “…Reika, we’re on the clock.”
“I know, sir, but… I figured you would appreciate this. As would much of the staff.”
“Fine, fine…” A grumble as he took the box. “But this had better not be a bento-”
It wasn’t a bento.
Instead, as he opened the box, he saw a small set of sunglasses, designed…rather differently from his original pair. These were more sharply angled, and had the legs angled differently. Almost as if they weren’t meant for a human, but for something with a muzzle taking up most of their face.
“Some of the staff were having to remember you were, well, you, and… well, the rest of us chipped in and got you these. Custom-made, based on the pictures I took for the Deva incident report.”
“Reika, I…” He was touched. Very touched. But this was not the time or place to say so!
“Chiropmon and Loogamon helped with some data-related elements, so you shouldn’t lose them if you Digivolve again. They’ve also got a chip that differentiates you from the Digimon tracking system - it’ll still pick up on you, but it’ll mark you as a friendly. We’re…working on making it toggleable.”
And there’s the kicker, an actual use for them. No way he could decline the gift now. A small smile as he took the glasses, slipping them on - and feeling a small tingle in his core. These were his now; he could just… tell. “…Thank you.”
But more importantly, Reika had given him a chance to change the topic. “Back to business. Any luck tracking that Culumon’s friends?”
The white puffball was easily the worst, or at least the most irritating, part of this new development. Apparently he was an In-Training who couldn’t evolve (at least according to the bat’s observations and theories). Furthermore, he had the mind of a toddler - best demonstrated when he went “no underwear zoom” in the Dome when they were testing the new tracking system… the best information they got from that test was that Megumi had a weakness for cute Digimon.
And that there needed to be a rule about Digimon in the Dome. Especially In-Trainings.
But knowing Culumon had friends - including the fox that he’d heard so much about - gave a lead too good to pass up. It was just… so hard to get the information out of him - again, toddler.
Reika’s sigh was a decent warning about the incoming news. “None as of yet, sir. Jackson suggested we use the old analyzer to get the information…”
Yamaki needed a second to take that in. The old analyzer? The analyzer they weren’t decommissioning only because it was a good way to deal with particularly lethal-minded Wild Ones? The one that freaked his new employees (and friends) out? The one even he was wary of now, knowing what it could do to him?
The death glare was palpable through his new sunglasses. “I assume you disciplined him properly?”
“Indeed. And he’s on the shortlist for squid hunting.”
A sigh and chuckle. “Not sure whose idea that was, but it’s definitely worked to keep some of the more… stubborn individuals in check. Now, why some staff want that job, I have no idea.”
“You and me both, sir.” A sigh before the pair were distracted by a ping! from the computer.
Moving to check, Yamaki hrmed. “Janyu replied regarding his absence, but… he says he already knows about avoiding squid-like Wild Ones.” That had been a notice issued to all staff members, including those who were out for one reason or another, and he could only think of a couple of reasons the Monster Maker would’ve known about the transformative ‘mon.
“Sounds to me like he might’ve been hit.” A glance back at the operator as she chimed in
Yamaki smirked, nodding. “Agreed. I’ll tell him Team C3 is on the way to escort him and his family… and that he shouldn’t worry about any testing. It’d be wrong to put him through anything I wouldn’t undergo myself.”
Typing up the email, the leader of Hypnos hit send, watching the message disappear into the Net. “Perhaps having one of the Wild Bunch here will help shed light on the situation.”
It didn’t shed light on the transformations, despite Janyu and Mayumi having been affected… The third Digimon that came, however, shed light on something quite different.
It turned out that finding Culumon’s “friends” wasn’t as hard as the Kudamon thought it’d be.
Takehiro and Yoshie stared through the crack in the door. Their son, Takato, was there and, thankfully, was the same as usual, but they couldn’t let him see them like this! Not as…man-sized red dinosaurs! (Even if their aprons still fit…)
Honestly, waking up like this after that floating squid visited the shop was...startling, to say the least - especially for Yoshie, who freaked out for a good half-hour or so before Takehiro got her to calm down. Him noticing that the intruder had - somehow - put up the closed sign and locked the door did help in that manner, as well as them both being in the back when they woke up - even though they'd been "attacked" at the front.
...what kind of monster transforms you into a different monster, then takes pains to keep you from being found out? That seemed kinda weird... Ergh, worry about that later, Takato’s here now!
At least he seemed a bit… distracted. Like he was keeping something back? “No, boy, you can’t go in.” …they didn’t have any pets; they were a bakery for Pete’s sake. Who could he be talking to-
“But. I smell Digimon Takatomon.” Both bakers’ brains briefly blanked at the new voice - it sounded…young, childish, maybe a bit sharp?
“Mom and Dad didn’t call saying anything was off, so…maybe you’re just smelling things?” They would’ve called to say something, but as Takehiro found, it’s not easy to use claws with a phone.
The pieces on the ground testified to that.
“But Takatomon-“
“No, Guilmon. I already snuck you enough bread this week.” Eh? “You can’t get any more... no, I don’t care that we had to fight a wild Digimon on the way home. Just… wait in the alley, I’ll come get you in a bit so I can take you to the park, ok?”
Some grumbling and shuffling later, the door creaaaked open, the child stepping inside. “Mom! Dad! I’m home!”
“W-welcome home!” Yoshie called. “C-can you stay out front for a bit?”
“Huh? Ok…” a huff as the boy turned around, likely going to talk to this “Guilmon”. Wasn’t that the Digimon he said he drew once?
Worry later! Closing the door separating their house from the bakery, Yoshie turned to her husband. “How are we going to explain this to him?! That some…squid attacked us, and now we’re small dinosaurs?”
“That…as much as I hate to say it, honey, we might not have a choice. He’s here, and we can’t exactly send him off. Even if he does need to go to the park for…some reason.”
“Wait, do you think his friends might be up to host a sleepover-“
“GRAAAAAH!”
“Guilmon, NO!”
A loud crashing noise caused both dinosaurs to tense, the sound of claws on the bakery floor growing closer and closer until something barreled down the door, tackling the adult Matsudas.
Startled, the pair looked up, watching slit eyes look both of them over… before rounding out, a snarling saurian muzzle reverting to childlike innocence. The bat-eared dinosaur leaned down to sniff both bakers’ heads, the pair remaining tense as they were pinned.
“Ugh, how am I gonna explain this to Mom and Dad? ‘Sorry Mom, a small red dinosaur ran through your door, I think he wanted bread?’ Like that’ll ever…work…” Their son’s voice cut off, his footsteps stopping behind the…third red dinosaur. Come to think of it, looking at this new monster was almost like looking in a mirror…
A couple more sniffs before the new dinosaur sat up and spoke, looking back at their son. “Takatomon, these Digimon smell like you.”
“…I…you sure about that, boy?” Takato slowly approached, a bit wary as he held a plastic…thing in one hand, the other holding one of those Digimon cards. “They sure don’t look like me…”
Might as well bite the bullet. Takehiro gulped, then gave a small wave. “…Hi, son.”
Hearing his father’s voice caused the boy to freeze up. “Dad?!?” His father nodded, causing the goggle-wearing boy to whip his gaze to Yoshie. “And that-Mom?!?!?” Another nod, at which point the boy began to laugh. “I…ok… I’m dreaming or something… my parents turned into Digimon… I’m dreaming, sure-OW!” He rubbed his side where the unclothed monster had poked him. “Guilmon!”
“But Takatomon. You said pain means it not dreaming.”
A blink as their son parsed what “Guilmon” had said. “You’re right…wait, that means…” he slowly turned to look at his parents, wobbling. “…this is…real…”
The lone human in the room teetered, eventually falling over with a thunk. Guilmon leaned over to sniff the boy before nudging him. ”Takatomon. Why’re you napping?” The other two dinosaurs slowly stood up, gaping a bit at the scene. Maybe it was time for a family discussion...
——
Yeah, it had definitely been time for a family discussion. Guilmon had apparently been born a month or so ago, and while Takato wasn’t sure how it happened, he had been taking care of the saurian Digimon. It…did seem like there was a bit more, but there were other matters.
Namely, while they’d been talking, Guilmon had been sniffing around, acting almost like a little kid-
Crash!-or a cat...
Takato sighed the sigh of the long-suffering. “Guilmon, why?”
“Was I not supposed to do that Takatomon?”
“No, boy...” The two adults shared a Look as Takato picked up the pieces of dish that’d fallen. “These plates just aren’t that strong. They’ll break if they fall.”
“Ooooooh.”
Yoshie looked over at her son. “So... is he our grandson, or?”
THAT caught Takato’s attention, and he almost dropped the shards he was holding. “What-but-I-you-”
Takehiro just laughed. “Well, he’s that or your little brother, surely.”
“Daaad!” Takato whined, Guilmon just looking between his Tamer and said Tamer’s parents curiously.
“That like Tamer?”
Yoshie just chuckled. “Well...I’m not sure. What’s a Tamer?”
Takato opened his mouth to answer, only for Guilmon to beat him to the punch. “Oooh, Takatomon my Tamer! Takatomon helps me fight mean Digimon!”
The room’s temperature dropped a few degrees as the two new Guilmon stared at the childish dinosaur, who just blinked. “...what wrong?”
———
One week after the family meeting, Takato could say things were...sorta good and sorta bad.
Good in that his parents were In On Things and Guilmon had been able to move in. Bad in that he didn’t know how to explain this to the others, and that Guilmon House needed to be kept free since the big guy liked staying there at times (especially when the bakery was open; thankfully there were enough helping hands that the Matsudas could claim sick - for now)...
And the pair had been grounded a month for fighting enemy Digimon.
Thankfully, Takato had been able to tactfully explain this to Guilmon, even if the big guy cried a small river after learning what grounding entailed.
Even saying all that, however, the Tamer had to curse as he looked at his Digivice - this was not the time for a Bio-Emergence!
He hated sneaking out like this, especially now that his parents Knew, but… he was the closest one to the D-Arc’s signal, not to mention he could see the Digital Field’s fog from his window. Grounded or not, they had a job to do!
Getting Guilmon out had been the hard part… he thought after the first time the dino would be willing to jump out a window.
Anyways, not even 3 blocks away they crossed into the Field, and 2 blocks from that was the new Digimon - a blue saurian Digimon with twin tails. The left tail ended in a bony tip, matching the saurian skull it had in place of its lower left arm. On the right side, the hand was replaced with a metallic, crocodilian maw, right lower arm and tail-tip equally mechanical. The main head was flat-topped and saurian with a white tip... and all three heads were furiously arguing with each other.
Takato whipped out his Digivice. “Deltamon, Champion Level. Originally three ferocious Digimon, they were fused together by a freak computer bug. Kinda wishing that can’t happen to us… Its special move, Triple Forces, has it fire coordinated beams from all three heads.” A pause as Tamer and Digimon looked at each other, then at the enemy ‘mon - who was still so wrapped up in their argument, they hadn’t noticed the newcomer.
“…maybe we should handle this before they can coordinate.”
“OK Takatomon.”
Takato sighed, not sure if his partner actually got the point, but that was a “later” issue if anything. Whipping a card out of his deck, he went through the practiced motions. “Card Slash!Super Evolution Plug-In S, activate!”
“Guilmon SHINKA!”
———
-E V O L U T I O N-
(Red rings shoot out of the D-Arc, forming a tunnel around Guilmon as his scales pull away to show a wireframe.)
Oooh, this part tingly.
(The rings turn upwards, surrounding the Digimon in an egg-like shape as the wireframe inside grows and shifts)
Uff! Here comes!
(Red scales and ivory claws form around the legs of the wireframe, pulling in to attach themselves as the rings forming the egg “rumble”, showing the digivolving Guilmon inside.)
Bigger, bigger...
(More scales latch onto the torso and arms, a flash of red near the base of the skull as the figure inside the egg now larger and stockier.)
Bigger, stronger…
(The wireframe’s head stretches and grows as more scales form on it, white hair erupting from the back as )
Grr… calm…calm…
(The new Champion explodes from the egg, snorting out steam and whipping his tail around before spitting out a puff of flame/)
Now to fight!
——-
“Growlmon!”
The announcement made one of Deltamon’s heads look at the duo, and the other 2 were quickly alerted to their new foe when an Exhaust Flame hit home.
This, of course, brought retaliation in the form of “Triple Forces!”, but thankfully Growlmon could leap out of the way of the beam from the three heads.
“Plasma Blades!” Now the dinosaur was closing in, armblades coated in energy as he slashed. Even when they were caught in Deltamon’s spare mouths, Growlmon could headbutt the main one to stun it before loosing a constant stream of flame via “Pyro Blaster!”
Takato smiled at the fight, fingers skimming through his deck for a certain card. Right, this was it. The Tamer prepared his card, Growlmon’s arm blades already crackling with plasma -
“Boys?!”
The sound of a concerned Yoshie broke their concentration. Both heads whipped to the side, worry on both faces as Takato began panicking internally. For one, they’d been found a lot faster than he thought! For another, it wasn’t safe for them here; his parents couldn’t fight-
“Metal Spark!” The noise of an attack caught everyone’s attention as the teeth on Deltamon’s right head spun like a chainsaw, generating a large amount of sparks - which soon arced to Growlmon, causing him to cry in pain
“Growlmon!”
“Guilmon!”
“Guilmon!”
All three Matsudas cried out in shock as the red dinosaur stumbled, falling to the ground - and Deltamon took advantage of the opening.
“Skull Fang!” Without warning, the enemy ‘mon’s other arm lashed out, snagging Growlmon’s arm and biting - deep. Takato couldn’t help but gasp as he stepped back, seeing his partner start to actually bleed. He didn’t even know Digimon could bleed; it hadn’t happened before... what the heck was he going to do?!
——-
When the Matsuda parents had realized their son and his partner (or just sons? That was still on the table) had snuck out in the middle of being grounded, they were, shall we say, incensed - to the point of smoke coming out of their nostrils.
The strange fog bank was an easy first place to check - it sounded like one of those Digital Fields Takato’d mentioned. And when they got there, they expected to see something a bit gentler, like you’d see in a show. Not something so... viscous.
As soon as they’d voiced their confusion, the opponent had literally bit down on Growlmon, and from Takato’s reaction, this was a new development for him. And then he’d become the target, despite standing a fair ways away from the fight!
Yoshie held back a cry of shock as Guilmon - Growlmon - her son’s partner, fell, rivulets of what seemed to be blood dripping from his arm.
“Growlmon, no! Come on, tell me I’ve got that healing - GAH!”
And now the other Digimon had set its (their?) sights on Takato, causing the boy to scramble, cards falling. “Nonononono, ok where’s my phone, need to call for help-”
All this because they were worried and showed up.
Takehiro was cursing under his breath, Yoshie starting to pray to whoever would listen, and the pair overall unsure just what to do - could they help at their apparent weaker level? Could they even fight?
“Uff!”
The childish voice made the pair stop their ruminations and look to the side, seeing a white...well, puffball Digimon there, having fallen out of something. It just looked up at them cutely as the triangular gem in the middle of its forehead glowed red... and bathing the two parents in light.
A warmth filled Yoshie, sinking to her very bones. Looking over at her husband’s shocked expression, she could tell he was feeling much the same way. Words bubbled to her lips, and sharing a nod with Takehiro, they both let them out, not caring that it drew everyone’s attention:
“Guilmon SHINKA!!”“Guilmon SHINKA!!”
———
(Red pixels of light fly out of Culumon’s forehead gem, forming eggs around Takehiro and Mayumi as they both take a knee.)
This…what was this power? This energy?
(Scales are stripped away, leaving a wireframe in their place.)
It was warm, comforting, pushing out at her skin...
(Their shapes pull into more humanoid, anthropomorphic forms.)
It was pushing out, making them larger and larger!
(One shape turns masculine and toned, the other more feminine and sleek)
Was this what Guilmon felt when he grew?
(Red pixels fill in, becoming scales.)
Either way, this was incredible power! They could take on anything!
(The male gains short, scruffy hair, the female long flowing hair - both as white as Growlmon’s.)
And perhaps... yeah.
(The eggs shatter, revealing the two new Champions.)
Perhaps they could use this to keep their kids safe.
———
“Pyrodramon!”
“Emberdramon!”
As the light faded, revealing two bipedal versions of Growlmon (for lack of a better term), Takehiro charged in his fists alight with fire. Not caring about what he just said or did, all he wanted to do right now was keep this guy away from his kid(s)!
“Punchdown Flare!” Delivering a heavy swing to the triune Digimon, the flames on his hand detonated on impact, causing the enemy ‘mon to stagger backwards, even if one hand was eyeing the kids... best keep pummeling, his clawed hands igniting with each swing.
Luckily for him, Yoshie had instead imposed herself between Deltamon and her son’s partner, claws filled with freshly-breathed fire that she was shaping - much like dough.
“Laminate Blaze!” The flames were soon stretched into a wide rectangle, growing large enough to hide the group from view as a Skull Fang crashed into the wall. Turning back to look at Guil-Growlmon as Takato ran over, she had to ask: “Kids, are you ok?”
“Yes Takatomon’s mom...” She couldn’t help but chuckle at Guil-err, Growlmon’s honest reply.
“Y-yeah, I am, Mom... oh, here it is!” Before she could ask why her son was so excited about finding a trading card, he swiped it through the device he’d been holding onto. “Card Slash. Vaccine Program V, activate.” A soft gasp from the larger dinosaur led her gaze back to the wound, which was...sparkling and healing?
Turning back to her son, Yoshie’s jaw dropped open as the youngest Matsuda just sighed in relief. “I hadn’t had a chance to try that one yet... not exactly easy to test...” A dry laugh as the mother just let out a sigh. “Boys...”
Growlmon looked at his healing wound with a bit of “oooh” and “aaah” before he blinked. “Takatomon. It’s three on three now.”
“Eh? What do you... oh...” Slowly turning to the burning barrier, then his mother’s evolved form, the boy gave a nervous chuckle. “Erm, if they want?”
A gentler chuckle from the Emberdramon. “Honey, your father’s already going off on that...whatever it is, perhaps we can let him-”
“Triple Forces!”
“GWAH!”
A pained cry from Takehiro put that idea to rest as Takato winced. “Yeah, uh... unfortunately the two of us are...sorta the experts here, so... umm. Three on three?”
Yoshie sighed. “Fine, but be careful, buster.” A poke to his chest with a claw before she vaulted over the Laminate Blaze wall, preparing another Blaze in her hands - this one forming more of a bladed shape.
Takato nodded, already having another card out. “You ready, boy?”
“Sure am Takatomon.”
A chuckle from the Tamer. “Card Slash!Offense Plug-In A, activate!”
Growlmon howled as his strength shot up, getting to his feet and heading around the barrier of flame to charge into the fray with a “Plasma Blade!”
Peeking around the shield, Takato gave a small sigh of relief as he saw the attack had landed square on the Deltamon, causing it to groan as the blade dug into its shoulder. Growlmon did have some trouble pulling it out, but his new allies seemed to have that handled.
“Punchdown Flare!”
“Laminate Blaze!”
A punch and slash later, and the Deltamon screamed in agony before exploding into red data - which promptly turned blue as Growlmon absorbed it, even as the other 2 Champions stood in shock.
“D-did we just...”
“Yeah, uh...sorry...” Walking out from around the fading barrier, Takato sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. “That...kinda tends to be how it goes... I’ve not met any that can be reasoned with yet, and - look, tell me that guy could’ve been contained in a jail cell!”
That mollified the two humanoid dinosaurs. “He...has a point, I’m afraid...” Yoshie grumbled, arms crossed.
Takehiro just sighed. “Yeah, and that...three-headed thing-”
“Deltamon.”
“Thanks, Takato - that Deltamon probably wouldn’t have stopped with Takato and Guilmon.”
Another sigh, this one from Yoshie. “And we don’t know where that white...puffball that made us evolve got to-” A small sputter from the Tamer- “...not to mention Takato can power-up Growlmon with those cards of his...”
“...Guess we have to let him, huh?”
Takato blinked, and Growlmon tilted his head. “But. Takatomon’s mom and dad said you no like us fighting.”
Growlmon got a gentle pat from Takato’s mom. “We don’t, but... it seems like we might not have a choice.”
“Uhh...thanks, guys.” Takato walked up, Digivice out. “Uhh, before I forget...” Takato pulled out his D-Arc and held it up, his parents leaning in - then blinking as the image of Takehiro’s current form appeared as a projection - a toned, muscular, anthropomorphic Growlmon wearing a belt, denim shorts, and fingerless gloves. “Pyrodramon. Champion level. A brawler who uses fire to enhance their blows. Their Punchdown Flare move detonates flames on impact, dealing increased damage. Pretty neat...”
A small laugh as he turned the device towards Yoshie, the hologram display switching to her form - another toned, anthro Growlmon, this one sleeker and feminine with longer hair. She was wearing a vest and shorts - and curiously, she lacked Guilmon’s chest emblem. Actually, both his parents did... weird. Erm, anyways: “Emberdramon. Champion Level. Has the ability to shape flames they produce into any form they please with their Laminate Flame move. Even if the fire can’t be made ‘alive’, the variety of moves possible is astounding.” A small smile. “Well...hopefully Culumon can get you guys to evolve again, assuming this doesn’t stick.”
“Culumon?” Yoshie blinked, then the Pyrodramon’s eyes widened.
“Wait, is that the white puffball who evolved us?”
Takato nodded. “Digivolve, but yeah. Culumon’s the only Digimon I know that can induce digivolution... no, I don’t know where he lives. He just sorta...pops up.” A sigh. “And he’s as much of a baby as Growlmon is.”
His partner just grinned. “I’m a baby!”
“Of course you are.” A gentle nosepat before the Tamer looked to his parents. “Umm... whether you devolve or not, I can try and get you training, maybe see if you can tag along some? Assuming the other Tamers are ok with it...
Yeah, I’m. Actually the newest?” A chuckle as Takehiro and Yoshie just stared at him. “Not by much, and we’re all about the same age... no, they’re not Kazu and Kenta; they don’t even know about all this!” That led to a bit of a laugh - even if the parents were more relieved they didn’t have to worry about Takato’s... sometimes less bright friends being partnered with Digimon, and Growlmon just joined in after a second or two.
As the laughter died down, the group started walking back to the bakery. “You’ve met one actually - remember Jian?”
Yoshie blinked. “That nice young man you brought over to help bake once? He’s in on this?”
“Yeah, he’s partnered with Terriermon, and let me tell you”-
Grrrrumble
Takehiro held his claws to his stomach as it sounded off, wincing as Yoshie gave a nervous chuckle. “I…I don’t know why, but suddenly I’m starving -“
Like a switch was flicked, the pair were suddenly aglow, shrinking down to what could be more-or-less called orb-like versions of Guilmon’s head with four stubby little legs and a red-black tail.
Takato swiftly pulled out his D-Arc as Growlmon leaned down to sniff. “Gigimon, In-Training level. A small species with many teeth, its Hot Bite special move has it snap its jaws at the foe. Many have been deceived by its cute appearance and received a scorching hot counterattack. I, uh, guess we know what Guilmon’s In-Training form looks like now…” a nervous chuckle from the Digimon fan. “The original Adventure had the partners drop to In-Training after fighting as a Champion too, at least to start. Umm. I’m not quite sure how they got back to normal off the top of my head, but… maybe some food will help?”
His father looked up at him, eyes oddly wide as a bit of drool traced down the small Digimon’s mouth. ‘Oh no…’
“I…don’t know why, but that sounds amazing…”
‘Oh No.’
His mother chimed in with the same expression, ignoring Takato’s mounting dread - was her tail wagging? “Yeah, I feel like I could eat our whole stock!”
‘Oh NO.’
The lone human Matsuda slumped. “This is going to be like feeding Guilmon, only three times as worse...
Mom, Dad, hopefully you’ll see that this is the universe exacting punishment on me and you won’t ground me for sneaking out.”
The pair of Gigimon were skeptical, at least until they returned to Rookie form a half-stock later - including a lot of frantic cooking and baking from the lone human.
Takato’s sentence was commuted to time served. (Guilmon, on the other hand, was drafted into some heavy lifting for the rest of the week.)
Janyu Wong was busy hiding in his room alongside his wife. While he knew he’d created a form of life a while back, he’d never expected to become one!
He wasn’t sure what happened - some squid Digimon had appeared in their home and tapped both parents in the chest while saying “Beautiful Wish”, and the next thing they knew, hours had passed, and they were a lot smaller - Janyu white and green, Mayumi brown and pink. Janyu recognized the design from his days with the Wild Bunch - he was a Terriermon, like the plush his son had picked up a few months ago. As for his wife, he wasn’t sure exactly what she was, other than a Digimon of some sort. Either way, going into work wasn’t an option until this got fixed.
He was not in the mood for being vivisected (which was very understandable; who would be?).
But that wasn’t the only issue right now - For one, they weren’t keen on being treated like plushies by an enthusiastic Shaochung. For another, there was this…strange feeling, like someone was looking for them-
“Hiya!”
Husband and wife screamed, grabbing each other as they leapt into the air, enlarged ears inflating as a new voice chimed in. Turning to look, the glasses-wearing pair of Digimon blinked. Was…was that Jianliang’s Terriermon plush? How’d it get in here-
“Didn’t think I’d ever see more ‘Mon like me, but I'm not gonna complain!” The talking plushie - was it actually a plushie?- closed the door behind him carefully, looking at the couple. “…well, one of you’s like me. The other…me but chocolate?” A head tilt as the pair finally touched down. “Eh, momantai, momantai. It’s just nice to meetcha!”
They just stared as he walked on over. “I was hoping to find ol’ squid-face, but he seems to have flown the coop as it was.” Both parents tensed at the reminder of their assault before relaxing. It was gone, thank goodness...
“But anyways, what brings you here? Wanting to check me out?” The little guy flexed like a bodybuilder, the sight almost comical with how small his arms were. “Or ya just hoping to meet my Tamer? I don’t think we can share, but I bet he’d at least be willing to help you get settled.”
The pair shared a glance before turning to the natural Terriermon. Janyu’s mouth opened -
Only to quickly shut as the door creaked open. Crap, they needed to hide or something - All three Digimon tensed, Terriermon going rigid. Probably best to pretend to be plushies…
“There you are, Terriermon.” The natural-born ‘mon relaxed, not noticing how the other two stayed stiff.
“And speaking of!” A laugh as Terriermon just… jumped onto their son’s (thankfully still human) arms, where he was caught with practiced ease. “Jian! Lookit what I found!” This brought their son’s gaze to his changed parents, and he seemed... oddly at ease with the idea of real-life Digimon.
“Huh. Another Terriermon and a…” digging into his pocket as he held the Digimon with his other hand, Jianliang pulled out a white-and-green device and held it out. The screen lit up, displaying a holographic display of Mayumi’s current form (sans glasses). “Lopmon. Rookie Level. A small Holy Digimon that can pack a surprising punch. Its Blazing Ice move shoots supercooled air to strike enemies. Well then.” He smiled, putting the device away. “I…don’t think we want my parents to find you here, and one Terriermon is enough trouble.” That seemed to perturb his cargo slightly. “Maybe I can find you a place to stay?”
“…Jianliang?”
The youth locked up as Janyu spoke, Terriermon piping up. “Hah, you finally said somethin’! Although your voice sounds familiar…” the Digimon scratched his chin, hrming as the human slowly looked down at the other Terriermon.
“…Dad?”
“Eh? What do you mean, Jian? Your dad’s a human last I-“ Terriermon’s jaw went slack as Janyu nodded, Jianliang shakily pointing at him - and slowly moving his pointer finger to Mayumi.
“M-mom?”
Another nod, this time causing the boy’s eyes to roll back as he teetered over with a THUD.
Thankfully, his apparent partner had gotten off in time, drifting to the ground on inflated ears. “…well, uh, I guess that’s two less people to worry about finding me? Welcome to being a Digimon then…erm, sorry for my Tamer. I. Guess he had a bit of a shock?” A nervous chuckle from the natural Terrier as the other two Digimon slowly gave him a Look.
——
After Jianliang had come to - and Shaochung was convinced to leave her now plush-like parents alone, no need to keep only her in the dark - the family (plus one) sat at the table, awkwardness hanging in the air, leftovers just sitting on plates.
Until finally, Mayumi broke the silence. “So, Jianliang… that plush you got -“
“Was an actual Terriermon.”
“And you’ve been going out and fighting wild Digimon when they appear in reality.”
“Yep!” Jian sighed at Terriermon’s… enthusiastic answer.
“And you-“ turning to Janyu now - “knew about these… Wild Ones?”
A sad sigh from the patriarch. “Yes, I… got pulled in to help with the government’s electronics warfare program, which was switched to Digimon control and containment once they started coming into the real world. It’s…” sigh as he took off his glasses, rubbing them on an ear. “Been eventful.”
“Clearly.” A glance over at Jian.
“Look, I…don’t like Terriermon getting into fights-“
“Hey!”
“- but these “Wild Ones” are usually too risky to leave alone. Almost to a man, the ones we’ve encountered would’ve hurt or killed innocents if we just sat back and did nothing.”
Grumbling from the Wong matriarch ensued, Janyu looking down solemnly as Terriermon chuckled. “Momantai! Besides, I got so strong from those- ERK!”
“Not the time, Terriermon,” Jian grumbled, tugging on his partner’s ear as Janyu just watched in surprise. He’d never envisioned humans and Digimon living together like this, and his son had… a surprising level of control over the rabbit/dog. They truly had known each other for a while… “Apologies in advance for his lack of a filter.”
“Hah, all it would do is get in the way!”
Janyu chuckled… probably best to roll with the punches. “Maybe I should code one for him?”
That led to a series of laughs surrounding the table, Terriermon slumping. “You’re no fun...”
——
The last week had been quite...unique. Between Janyu and Mayumi’s transformations, the revelation of Jianliang being a Tamer, and Janyu coming clean about his work, a lot was going on in the Lee household.
At least Shuichon didn’t use her parents like plushies... but she still did with Terriermon now and again. A quick chat with Jian revealed that sometimes his sister just found his partner and played with him... and sometimes he intentionally let her as a way of disciplining the impish Rookie.
They’d let it slide for now, but now that Terriermon’s existence was known, more traditional versions of punishment could work. And once Shaochung worked out how Jian was basically using her-
WHAM!
“Shaochung!”
...she might run off...
Terriermon cursed as he watched the door. “Dangit, maybe that filter could be useful Jan... I could’ve been a bit gentler when telling Shaochung how I really felt playing with her!”
Deciding to ignore his partner’s sudden bit of maturity (even if he was privately proud of it, this was not the time!), Jianliang quickly grabbed his backpack, emptying it of schoolbooks before pulling it on. “I can’t carry all three of you in my arms - hop in!”
Terriermon hopped into the bag, Mayumi joining him as Janyu tried to get on his son’s head... unfortunately, he underestimated the jump, leading the human to catch the Terriermon. “Sorry about that, Dad.”
“It’s not your fault...” A small smile as Jan climbed to his intended perch. “Right, let’s get moving; we need to find Shaochung as quickly as possible.”
A series of nods came in reply, the group agreeing with the need for speed. With that, the lone human ran out the door, three Digimon in tow... one of them sniffing the air.
——
“Jian…”
“Yes, Terriermon?” The boy sighed as he looked at the fog bank ahead of them.
“I told you I was smelling something.”
“I know you did, I know you did…” a groan as he pulled out his glasses.
“Jianliang, what’s this?” His mother asked from her spot in the pack. “And why are you wearing those glasses?”
Janyu chimed in. “I haven’t seen one in person before, but… it’s a Digital field. It means a Digimon is Bio-Emerging into our world. And if Shaochung’s in there…”
That caused the Tamer to start running. “Thanks for pointing that out, Dad!”
Said parent was now hanging on for dear life. “A-as for the glasses - I’d heard that it helps to have eye protection at times in a Field!”
“Bingo. Now to find the problem…”
“GWAAAH!”
“Evil Hurricane!”
The runner curved into a turn then started making his way towards the attack… and his sister’s cry.
——
Lee Shaochung was scared.
She was mad when Terri told her he hated playing Princess with her, and that Jianny gave him to her when Terri was being naughty. Terri had to hate her for it! But she shouldn’t have run this far. Now she was lost in this fog, and there’s an Oni chasing her like in those stories …
Sniffling, she backed against a wall, watching the spinning red demon come closer and closer…
“Blazing Fire!”
Suddenly, the Oni was peppered with green thingies, knocking his spin off course.
Looking the way they came from, a small gasp left the kid’s mouth - Jian was here! And Mommy and Daddy and Terri!
…oh... Terri…
Before she could get upset again, Jian had helped her up, causing her to wince - the mean Oni had left an owie earlier on her leg with a sparky thing! It’s why she didn’t run when he was spinning!
She just leaned into her brother and cried a bit, not paying attention to the things around her. She felt safe now. Her family was here.
——
Jianliang patted his sister, smiling a bit before pulling out his D-Arc. “Fugamon. Champion Level. It belongs to the same family as Ogremon and shares its love of destruction. Its special move, Evil Hurricane, can decimate the space around it.”
A wince as he looked up. “Mom, Dad, you might want to hang back, let Terriermon and me handle this-“
“No!” The sharp reply made the Lee boy jolt, his partner wobbling from where he’d climbed to his shoulder.
“This… thing hurt Shaochung!” A growl - an actual, animalistic growl from his mother. “And I suspect it’d do more if it could…”
“As much as I would prefer peace...” Janyu adjusted his glasses. “I believe this one needs to be dealt with. Jian, we’re helping.”
“Guys...” He didn’t want them getting hurt, though, and they’d not been in combat! Dad’s Tai Chi was going to be not much help, not with that small body versus a Champion...and Mom didn’t even practice... what should he-
“Culu?”
Out of the corner of his eye, the Tamer spotted the familiar form of Culumon poking out from behind a building. He was already ready to shrug off Terriermon when the gem started to glow, but…his partner wasn’t getting any heavier. So what was-
Turning to his diminutive parents as a familiar red light bathed the space, Jianliang’s jaw fell open as they began to glow. Was Culumon actually -
“Terriermon, SHINKA!”
“Lopmon, SHINKA!”
He was. Oh my gosh, he was…
——
(Red pixels of light fly out of Culumon’s forehead gem, forming eggs around Janyu and Mayumi as the pair of Rookies drift to the ground, ears deflating as they stand at the egg’s bottom.)
What was going on? This… power, this energy?
(Glasses dissolve as fur pulls away, revealing wireframe underneath.)
He recognized the algorithm his body was receiving - the “Entelechy” formula he’d spent so much time perfecting back with the Wild Bunch. But it was...different...
(The wireframes swell and grow, Mayumi’s more feminine and Janyu’s more muscular).
Her body was growing, changing... and it didn’t hurt? Oh, this was quite interesting...
(Pink/brown and white/green pixels begin to fill in on the pair, fluffing out into fur.)
The way his body was interpreting the formula, using it to cascade changes in his body - oh, this needed to be studied when he could.
(Wireframes of a gi for Mayumi and a Tai Chi uniform for Janyu form, filling in with pixels)
This was a biological impossibility, but so were Digimon as a whole! Oh, she wanted to look into this...
(Ears grow larger, faces pulling into lapine and canine visages)
But now wasn’t the time. Shaochung was in danger.
(The eggs burst, revealing the evolved Digimon as they pose.)
And protecting their family always came first.
——
“Taolumon!”
“Kyushomon!”
Jianliang just stared at his parents’ new Champion forms. His father was a relatively muscular white canine with large Terriermon-like ears, one horn, and a short, sharp muzzle, wearing a green Tai Chi outfit alongside the green accents in his fur. On the other hand, his mother was more rabbit-like in appearance, keeping her brown-and-pink coloration, ears, and horns from her Lopmon form. However, she was wearing a dark pink martial arts gi with brown accents and a belt, still muscular but more streamlined and feminine.
Snapping out of his shock, he pulled out his D-Arc to Analyze his parents (...a weird turn of phrase...). “Taolumon. Champion Level. A Terriermon who practiced marital arts until gaining skills to rival Turiemon. Wonder who that is. His special move, Sanshou Flurry, pummels the enemy with martial arts strikes. Ho-kay... and now for Mom. Kyushomon, Champion Level. A Digimon who balances the diligence of martial arts with knowledge of the body. Her Hiko Strike and Hiko Recovery special moves can harm and heal with just a touch. Well, can’t say that doesn’t fit her...”
Jian’s shock was mirrored in a brief moment of awe, the pair looking over each other’s new forms - at least until the Fugamon’s roar re-focused the pair on the fight, leading them to dash off in different directions.
Janyu rushed to the enemy, hand-paws ablaze with energy. “Sanshou Flurry!” A rapid array of strikes flew out, pummeling the ogre - even as he tried to use his club to defend. The flurry of blows just kept coming, weaving around the attempts at defense.
Mayuimi, on the other hand, darted over to Shaochung, instinct taking over as she knelt, eyes roving over her daughter. They glinted as certain points on her daughter’s form lit up in her view - pressure points, she faintly remembered from some alternative medicine thing she’d read out of curiosity once. She hadn’t expected to use them, but... if that’s what this form did, that’s what it did.
Her paws lit with pink energy as the mother took a deep breath, letting instinct guide her. “Hiko Recovery.” Fingers lanced out, precisely pushing on the lit points in a specific order...and a startling amount of force - her face slipped into shock as her arms drew back, the Kyushomon tense. ‘D-did I just hurt Shaochung?! Oh nononono...’
But her fear was assuaged as Shaochung stood up and hugged her mother with a surprisingly strong grip, almost driving the air out of the Champion’s lungs! “Mommy, I’m sowee-ee-eeee...”
“Whoof…I-it’s ok, honey, you’re safe now…” Mayumi gently patted her daughter’s head, smiling - even if it was a bit strained. How was that girl so strong all of a sudden?!
“Shaochung, come on!” Jianliang had run over, taking hold of his sister’s arm. “We need to get away from the fight.”
“Yeah, you kids are a bit too squishy to fight a Digimon, no offense!” The walking peanut gallery was given a small nosebap for that comment, but it did get Shaochung to nod and let go.
Now freed, the Kyushomon gave a short nod - “You two, get to safety!” - before turning around and leaping into the fight.
——
As she watched the brawl develop, Shaochung pulled up to her brother, eyes wide. “Jian, Mommy and Daddy got big again...”
“They did...” A smile as he patted his sister’s head. “And they’re gonna beat up that mean Digimon. Along with Terriermon.”
“Eh?” Shaochung blinked, looking up at Henry and his partner, ignoring her parents brawling with the oni. “But he...”
A laugh. “I don’t hate ya, Shaochung, I just... didn’t really like being treated as a plush. But I’ve tucked you in more than once when you tried sleeping with me.” The youngling’s eyes widened in recognition as Janyu nodded.
“Yeah. He cares for you, even if he has a funny way of showing it sometimes.” Jian then turned to his partner. “Terriermon, let’s go.”
“Awyeah, it’s show time!” The rabbit-dog Digimon leapt from his partner’s shoulder as Jian held out his D-Arc, a card plucked from his deck.
Janyu looked back, blinking as he tried to puzzle out what was happening - and was treated to his son going through a smooth series of practiced motions, card placed at the slot on the Digivice.
“Card Slash!” The card was slid through the Arc, sparks crackling.
“Super Evolution Plug-In S, activate!”
The swipe now completed and the card having left the device, Terriermon began to glow, grinning wide as he launched into the battle.
“Terriermon, SHINKA!”
——
-E V O L U T I O N-
(Green rings shoot out of the D-Arc, forming a tunnel around Terriermon as his fur pulls away to show a wireframe.)
Heh - he’d gotten used to fighting with others by now, but this was something different.
(The rings turn upwards, surrounding the Digimon in an egg-like shape as the wireframe inside grows and shifts)
Not only martial artists, but his Tamer’s parents? Talk about a double whammy!
(Pale fur and denim form around the wireframe, pulling in to attach itself as the rings forming the egg “rumble”, showing the digivolving Terriermon inside.)
He’d need to be careful not to hit them. Bullets hurt people, and he didn’t wanna hurt Jan or Mayu.
(Gatling guns latch onto the arms, the figure inside the egg now larger and stockier.)
Knowing Jian, though, he probably had a plan in mind.
(The wireframe’s head stretches and grows as fur forms on it, slowly moving up as the muzzle stretches and expands.)
First step, though, was to just get in there and shoot ‘em up!
(The new Champion explodes from the egg, smirking and throwing out one arm before whirling an ammo belt around his chest as it snaps shut.)
‘Cause right now? It’s time to show the new ‘Mon how it’s done.
——
“Gargomon!”
The gun-armed Digimon landed, smirking as he pumped his arms with a ka-chick. “OK, who asked for some Dakka?”
Janyu just gaped. “Did you just-” That was impossible. How could a mere card have sent the Entelechy algorithm, much less have contained it?! Was there more to that little device? There had to be...
Jianliang smiled back. “Like I’ve said... we’re partners.” Ah. That may be a factor too.
“You bet we are! And right now, it’s time to get this show started!” Gargomon took aim at the enemy ‘mon and grinned, arm-cannons whirring. “Gatling Arm!”
Taking the cue, the Lee parents dove to the side as Gargomon began unloading his machine-gun arms into the Fugamon.
“Buddabuddabuddabuddabuddabudda-WHOA!” A rogue Damp Cloud sent his way caused the gun-’Mon to stop firing and dodge, pants barely clipped by the electrical sphere.
Mayumi and Janyu shared a look, the matriarch nodding before rushing around to the back of their foe. As Janyu began moving his arms in an alternating, circular pattern, the Kyushomon launched her next move - “Hiko Strike!” Paw-like hands lashed out, fingers landing at specific points on the (enemy)’s limbs, making it seize up.
Its confused cries were cut off as the Taolumon spoke up: “Reeling Tornado!”
At the same time, its arm motions sped up, creating small tornadoes that rushed out from the limbs towards the enemy, buffeting them with counter-rotating winds.
Watching Janyu close in as his twin storms continued, Gargomon grit his teeth as he stood. “Grr…” Turning back to his Tamer, the gunslinger voiced a very valid complaint. “Jian, I can’t shoot like this, not unless you want friendly fire!”
“Then let’s do something about that. Card Slash!” Another card slid through the Digivice. “Aurvandil's Arrow, activate!”
A bow and arrow briefly glowed on the twin Gatling guns as their owner blinked. “…that… right, here goes!” Arms up, the guns started spinning as small crosshairs appeared in the shooter’s eyes. “Gatling Arm!”
The pellets of energy flew out, peppering the red ogre precisely - not a one hitting his allies.
Janyu paused in his strikes to watch in brief awe before returning to combat. Jianliang sighed a bit, hoping his dad wouldn’t get too interested in studying his D-Arc - that would be...annoying.
And he couldn’t even worry about much else, because between Gargomon’s pinpoint shots, the disabling effects of his mother’s continued Hiko Strikes, and his father’s repeated pummeling via Sanshou Flurry, the Fugamon soon fell. With one last, pained cry, the enemy Digimon exploded into red pixels, leaving the Lee parents staring at the sight. “I…hate that we killed him, but…”
Mayumi looked at her husband. “Wait, don’t they reform in the show?”
Janyu blinked. “They…do…” he rubbed his chin, not seeing how some of the data was drifting towards him-
Only for Gargomon (whose eyes were normal again) to rush headlong into the data, it turning blue as it was sucked up into him. “Gah… sorry about that, guys. I figured you’d rather not load his data… saw Jan was about to do so instinctively, so. Uh.”
“…or that.” The scientist blinked. “Terri-er, Gargomon, is this what normally happens?”
A small nod. “Yeah, it is. Almost happened to me; thankfully Jian pulled me to the real world. Uhh, don’t ask how.” He waved his hands in a defensive gesture, already seeing the look on Jan’s face.
“…alright.” A sigh. “Just… I guess this is better? If he’d been left alone, who knows what damage he could’ve done…”
Mayumi looked back at Jianliang. “This is why you go out and fight, isn’t it? To stop these bad Digimon?”
Jian sighed. “That’s why I back him up, even if I think Gargomon would try anyway.” A small smile. “At least he doesn’t fight just any Digimon - otherwise, I’d have been a lot more worried for you.”
The family shared a fond look at that, even if Shaochung seemed a bit lost-
Grrrrumble
The touching moment was brought to a sudden close as the married Champions looked down at their stomachs, confused at the sudden growling noises coming from them.
Not a second afterward, they were bathed in light, shrinking down and down. When the light faded, what remained were two round heads atop blob-like bodies - Janyu being pale green with a single horn, and Mayumi brown with three horns.
The pair looked down, then at each other - and began stammering and murmuring and just generally freaking out.
“Why are we so small?!”
“M-mass doesn’t just. Vanish like this!”
“This is impossible, the Entelechy algorithm shouldn’t work in reverse-”
As if to cut off the rambling, Gargomon cut in as he pointed at the green blob. “Hey, I’ve seen them before! He’s a Gummymon-” and now he was pointing at Mayumi “-and she’s a… umm, a Chocomon!”
Mayumi blinked, the oddities of the name cutting off her rambling. “That…can’t actually be right-”
“No, he’s right.” Jian had his D-Arc out, scanner lit up as he looked between it and his mother. “Apparently that’s Lopmon’s In-Training form.” A quirked eyebrow as the Tamer glanced at his partner. “Did you really know that, or did you just guess?”
“Ahahah, of course I knew, why wouldn’t I? I was a Gummymon once myself, after all...”
“That doesn’t say anything about Chocomon.”
“Aw, momantai Jeeeeeeeehhhhh...” Shaochung had climbed up, tugging on Gargomon’s mouth a bit the way she would when playing plushie with him.
“Uhh, Shaochung? I thought-”
“He’s being silly. I thought this is what you wanted me to do if he was being silly?” Her brother and parents chuckled a bit as Jian walked over.
“I... yeah, just maybe not all the time. Remember what happened earlier?” The big brother asked, arms out to take his sister.
“Oh yeah...” She gently went into her brother’s arms, even as he stumbled a bit from the weight.
“Whoof... right. Gargomon, can you help us get Mom and Dad home? I get the feeling we’re going to be having a big dinner tonight.”
“Oooohoohoohoo, we’re gonna empty out the fridge!” The two In-Training ‘mon tensed a bit as the Champion started to sing: “Buns n’ beans n’ sauerkraut, I’m gonna eat ‘til I pass-OOF!”
A whack on the back from the Tamer had cut off the song. “Not that much.” It also had the side-effect of making his parents relax, even as they were scooped up by a grumbling Gargomon. It was almost like the Digimon was a brother Jian never had, and it was surprisingly easy to see him as part of the family…
Even if they were jealous when said “brother” didn’t go all the way back to In-Training when he devolved.
(Yes, it's a Digimon Tamers fic. Not what you expected from someone who's been posting Pokemon writing until now, huh?
Well... the ideas hit after spending some time in Digimon RPs, and this one, with any luck, will still showcase the need to adapt and adjust to changes - among other things.
...Caution, drama alert. Mainly because Rika/Ruki's view on Digimon early in the series lends to it.
As always, LMK what you think! This time there's more polish on the Tumblr version, but I'm still gonna leave it a while to get input from peeps.)
Ugh… Makino Rumiko was not having a good day.
The last thing she remembered, she’d been getting ready for the morning when this… man-sized squid-like thing floated outside her window, breaking it with a tentacle so it could tap her on the chest - and knock her out.
At least she was off work today… she had to go out of the country for work, after all. Such was the life of a model. It did impact Ruki, but. Her daughter understood, surely.
As she stood up, Rumiko couldn’t help but blink. Was it her, or did the room seem a bit… smaller than before?
And her body felt…different. Barring the shift in her measurements, she was standing on her tiptoes naturally, and something was attached to her rear end.
Turning around to look, she couldn’t help but blink. Was… that a tail?
Reaching back to feel, the model froze upon seeing the three-fingered, gloved paws that had replaced her hand. Bringing both hands up to look, she gaped as she realized that yes, both hands were now paws.
Whirling about in a frantic look for the mirror, Rumiko gawked upon seeing her very much inhuman reflection - that of a bipedal yellow fox with a white stomach, pointed ears, and three feather-like “tufts” at each shoulder. The only remaining feature she had was her hairstyle! What the heck happened here!? What did that squid-thing do to her with that Beautiful Wish?
Before she could think about what happened (or the odd emphasis) any more, her ears twitched as she heard footsteps. Eyes darting to the clock, the now-fox paled - Ruki was home from school by now.
“D-don’t come in, honey! Mommy’s busy!”
Some murmuring outside made the mother sigh. Well, it wasn’t like the two of them saw eye to eye; she was probably just happy she didn’t have to put on a dress (why didn’t she like them, anyway? She looked so cute in-)
Thoughts froze as her bedroom door creaked open, a jolt of tension rushing through Rumiko as she heard her daughter enter the room. She wasn’t even decent, even with all this…fur…and Ruki didn’t need to see her like this! Turning to look, her eyes fell upon her daughter, little whispers of “was she changed too” quashed as Rumiko saw her still-human daughter wearing her broken-heart t-shirt, spiky hairdo in place (she didn’t want to call it a pineapple, that would be rude). “I...Sorry about this, I don’t know what-”
“Trying to impersonate my mother? Cute.”
“…wha?” The new fox blinked, trying to understand where Ruki was coming from.
“Not sure how you’re doing it, but next time? Maybe try imitating someone I care about more. Like my grandma.” The words were like daggers of ice flung into Rukino’s heart - but it made sense if she thought about it. She was away so much; maybe Ruki didn’t understand the way Rumiko thought she did -
“Diamond Storm!”
That was the only warning she had before several small projectiles peppered her back, causing her to stumble. Where did they-
Looking back brought an utter shock. Another fox like herself was in the rafters, nearly identical except for the lack of any sort of hairdo. But more annoyingly, the newcomer wasn’t even trying to be decent - although the sheer shock of being attacked drowned out any annoyance from a lack of decency. “Ruki, this one seems…oddly incompetent. She didn’t even pick up on me.”
“Hmph. Well, data’s data.” What? The elder Makino turned to look at her daughter, who was…actually conversing with the other fox. “And once you get theirs, I can actually have some peace.”
“…Very well.” The fox leapt down, her paws lighting what seemed to be foxfire as she descended. Wait, was she-
“Power Paw!”
Nope! Quickly rolling to the side, Rukino dodged the other fox’s attack, using a nearby dresser to pull herself up (odd, how good she felt despite being peppered in the back with sharp…things. She didn’t even feel any blood!).
“W-what are you doing?!”
“I thought it’d be obvious. We need to beat you to get your data.” Ruki’s words sent a chill down her mother’s spine. “That’s how it works. Digimon absorb each other’s data to grow stronger.” Digimon? Like that card game? She’d not really been following it, but knew her daughter liked it… since when was it real?
Since when was it so…dangerous?
“Swift Strike!”
And this was apparently not the time to philosophize! Rushing to her feet, the ex-human barreled past her daughter, rushing towards the back door and away from those glowing claws. As the door grew closer, a sense of relief began to wash over her. She was almost there; she could taste freedom -
“Kohenkyo.”
Only for that sensation to be ripped away in a whirlwind of leaves, which dispersed to reveal her in the bedroom again and her daughter in front of her. She…she couldn’t even run away…
Despair gripped Rumiko’s heart as she slumped down, watching Ruki step aside to let the other fox in. Watching her assailant advance, Rumiko’s life flashed before her eyes. School, career, marriage, family, loss…
And she found the worst part was how her daughter was looking at her right now - not as a mother, but a simple obstacle in her way.
Was this truly how it was going to end? Closing her eyes, she prepared for the worst -
“STOP.”
Only for her own mother’s voice to cut through like a knife, carrying a power and authority that caused her to relax. She was safe…for real this time…
———
“STOP.”
Both Renamon jolted when they heard the new voice, one tensing in shock and the other slumping in relief.
Ruki would have voiced her annoyance at the battle halting if she hadn’t been stuck numb herself. Her grandmother rarely got mad, so when she was? It was far more impactful.
Seeing a Kyubimon coming from the direction her grandmother’s voice came from lessened the blow, but she took a moment to think. The odds of two Digimon impersonating her family were lower than just one. Not to mention the opposing Renamon’s complete… ineptitude in combat. The odds of these actually being her family were going up, no matter how utterly ridiculous it sounded. People didn’t just… turn into Digimon! Flesh couldn’t turn into data! And if it was, then…
Then…
L-later, worry about that later! More importantly. “Renamon, why’d you stop?”
“…apologies, Ruki. Back home, if a village elder spoke…you listened.” …village elder? Renamon was in a village? Something to ask about.
“…Ruki. Would you explain why your friend was trying to commit matricide… with your assistance?”
A gulp, instinctual concern over making Grandma upset overriding logic. “I…I mean…”
Renamon to the rescue. “She doesn’t seem to believe this is her mother, ma’am.” She even gave a small bow - definitely had to ask questions later. “In her defense, a human turning into a digimon is simply…preposterous.”
“Well…I’m afraid it’s happened. To both of us.” Of course. Of course. Using her respect for her grandmother, the one family member she had respect for… grrr. She’d play along for now. Somewhat.
…even if they were fake, she didn’t want to lie too much to Granny, ok? It’d be best to play along somewhat (even if just to ignore certain impossibilities).
“Fine. I’ll go with it.”
A huff. “But I’m going to find out what happened to my actual family.”
She ignored the worried looks on the new vulpines’ muzzles, instead wondering why she was concerned about her mother… before just grumbling. It was her mom, dangit, and as much as she disliked her, it’d be wrong to leave her in some Digimon’s clutches.
———
A week or so later, Rumiko sighed from her branch before she hopped to the next tree in a blur. Renamon - her daughter’s apparent Digimon partner, as well as the name of her current species (that was…confusing, to say the least) had roped the ex-human into training. Something about being so bad at combat it was an embarrassment to her?
She was fine with being bad at fighting; she was a model, not a warrior! But the natural-born fox insisted… at least some of these things weren’t directly combat-related. Such as the flash step and stealth… annoyingly, the flash step seemed to leave behind anything she was wearing other than her new gloves, forcing the new Renamon to go au natural for the time being. At least it was something that her teacher seemed to feel she was doing well at.
As it stood, they were currently tailing Ruki as she was coming home from school. It was weird knowing her daughter had been followed like this, and weirder to realize that Ruki knew it was happening. Why, her daughter’s biggest problem was that Rumiko was getting involved herself! Even if Renamon was confident in their ability to stay hidden, Ruki still thought her mom wasn’t, well…
Her.
Renamon had come around to the idea somewhat, but the resultant discussions had revealed information Rumiko would rather not have known. Apparently, in the “Digital World” that Digimon hailed from, it was kill or be killed, a constant race to become ever stronger. Renamon herself had left not to escape the cycle, but to partner with her daughter due to her skills at the game - which, going off one spar between her and Seiko, actually did apply.
(Her daughter was quite the tactician, apparently… her father would’ve been so proud.)
…She missed her husband. After the divorce, she’d thrown herself into her work to drown the pain, and… this transformation had forced her to see how her daughter had thrown herself into the Digimon game in turn, striving to be the strongest - and now that she was partnered with Renamon, to be the strongest Tamer and Digimon pair. No matter the cost.
Did Ruki know what she was doing? That she was taking lives? Renamon was… fine with it, even if Seiko was helping her question the Darwinian mentality she’d grown up with. Progress was sadly stymied by hearing how some Digimon they’d defeated were in positions to harm humans, alongside something Renamon was reluctant to discuss (even with Ruki, apparently).
A sigh escaped Rumiko’s muzzle. Why did this whole thing have to be so complicated? Modeling was so much simpler…
…but staying there was hurting her daughter, who felt like her mother was barely there. If she ever went back to normal, she’d need to sort something out with her agency-
A flicker of white caught her attention. Stopping the tree-leaping in her tracks, the trainee turned to look at the street, where Ruki was walking alone on the sidewalk.
“Rumiko, we’re not done yet.”
“I know that, Rena, but I saw something. And if it’s what I think it is…”
“…what do you mean?” Renamon’s gaze drifted to the street, looking for whatever her trainee spotted...and the fox tensed when she found her target. “That’s a Digimon. How did I not sense it?”
Following her trainer’s gaze, Rumiko stiffened as she recognized the squid that transformed her to begin with, its gaze locked on Ruki. Oh no, she was NOT letting this happen.
As the white Digimon reeled a tentacle back, Rumiko acted, flashing out with a vigor and ease she’d never felt before. “GET DOWN!”
———
“GET DOWN!”
Ruki gasped as her fake-mom flash-stepped in and shoved her over, words of complaint stuck in her throat as she watched a white tentacle whizz by above them.
“…I’m surprised. Wouldn’t you want her to understand your situation?” Tracing the voice (and the tentacle) back to its source, the Tamer drew a sharp breath. Floating there was a Digimon she hadn’t seen before, some kind of…inverted squid with two tentacles and a bulbous, ovoid head.
As the Renamon got off of her, her actual partner preparing to launch into battle from behind the squid, Ruki got out her D-Arc to analyze the new Digimon. “GrantUkkomon. Champion level. In exchange for some of its power to manipulate others, its wish-granting power has grown stronger. His special move, Beautiful Wish, allows the granting of wishes as he sees fit.”
Wish-granting? A rogue thought bubbled to the surface as she went for her deck - could this be why Digimon were claiming to be her family? Why there were - no, that was impossible! It had to be!
“No! I don’t care about that, I just want her to stay safe! Human!” …wow, her “mom” was getting riled up. It seemed…familiar?
“Even after she tried to kill you? Have her partner consume you simply for power?”
The fox in front of her tensed - that meeting…wasn’t something they talked about much these days. How did this thing know-
“Diamond Storm!” Renamon to the rescue again. GrantUkkomon was peppered by the sharp blades, wincing as it fell. “Get away from my Tamer…”
The squid rose, turning to glare at Renamon. Good, it gave her a chance to get her cards-
“Liar’s Gaze.”
Renamon screamed as soon as she locked eyes with her foe, a cry of shock escaping Ruki as she made to go over - only to be held back by “mom”. The pain didn’t last, however, as Renamon stood slowly, grunting as GrantUkkomon drifted out of the way.
Ignoring the imposter’s (familiar) pleas to stay put, Ruki squirmed out of its grasp and ran towards her partner.
“Renamon! You-“
Cut her off as she tried to grab her Tamer, eyes glowing a deep red. Ruki ducked out of the way, rolling under her partner as she tried to work out what happened.. What in the-
‘Wait, the Analyzer said that GrantUkkomon lost some of its powers of manipulation…’ the realization struck as she stood back up, ready to run. ‘Apparently what’s left is still pretty strong! Dangit, I need to call the others…’ reaching for her phone, she made to run-
Only to halt as she felt something sharp in her pocket. Gently removing it, she gasped - her phone was broken. She wasn’t sure when - either when she got knocked down or when she rolled to safety- but she had no way to contact the others.
“…why do you resist? This is for your own good.”
There’s squid-face again. Turning to face him and her assumedly controlled partner, Ruki scowled. “What did you do to Renamon…”
“Nothing much. I simply convinced her of the reality of the situation for the time being.”
“So you brainwashed her.”
“…such a strong word… but unfortunately too accurate. She’ll understand more once I’m done.” Renamon charged again, claws out as Ruki made to run. But she couldn’t outrun her partner at this distancedistance, couldn’t outrun a Digimon; why was she-
“NO!”
Turning around at the sound of her mother’s voice, she saw the imposter and her partner caught in a grapple. There was no way to get across this fast without a flash step; the imposter hadn’t done that before- how did she-
“You will not. Lay a hand. On. My. Daughter!!!” With a cry, the imposter pushed back, paws sparking with fire as she pushed her partner off, Ruki just staring in shock.
Why would an imposter go this far? She couldn’t fight well; she knew that from watching her try to train… but she willingly threw herself in the path of a Digimon that almost deleted her once!
The shock, thankfully, didn’t keep her from seeing the tentacle whizzing towards her. Thankfully, it was easy enough to avoid - just get moving again! Yeesh, this guy had bad aim…
But her attention was on the foxfight… specifically the fox yelling at GrantUkkomon while holding Renamon back. “I don’t know who or what you are, or how you did this to me.
But I’m not letting you get my daughter, you hear me!” Something was in the air, a tense energy. “I couldn’t care less if she doesn’t know who I am. She is my child, and I need to make up for being such a crummy parent!”
…could…could she actually be…
“So stay the ever-loving heck away from her!”
Ruki fell to the ground in shock, mouth gaping as she watched the imposter - no, her mother - push her partner off and to the ground. Before the Tamer could process anything else, the bushes nearby rustled before a red glow came through the leaves.
A familiar white head poked out, the red gem in Culumon’s forehead shining brighter and brighter as the small ‘mon gazed at the scene, bathing the area in light -
“Renamon SHINKA!!!”
…that wasn’t her partner’s voice. That…there was no way…
———
(Red pixels of light fly from Calumon’s forehead gem, swirling around Rumiko as she kneels.)
What was happening? What did she just say?
(The pixels of light form an egg around her, fur and fabric pulling away to reveal a wireframe underneath.)
What was this…this power swelling inside her? These odd sensations of growth?
(The wireframe grows taller and more womanly, three tails fanning out from behind it.)
Is it because of her decision to protect Ruki? At the risk of her own life?
(Yellow pixels fill the wireframe in, fluffing out into fur.)
…She’d take it. If it meant keeping that… thing from her daughter.
(The wireframe of an elegant kimono forms and fills itself in.)
If it meant getting her daughter’s friend out of that monster’s grasp.
(long, flowing hair cascades down her back as the egg pulses.)
She’d been outside of her daughter’s life enough. Even if they didn’t see eye-to-eye…
(The egg shatters, exposing the evolved fox to the world.)
She’d take anything on to keep Ruki safe.
———
“Sashikomon!!”
As the red light faded, only one Renamon was left standing. The other vulpine was slightly taller with long, flowing hair, garbed in a traditional red kimono with three tails waving in the wind.
Ruki’s jaw hung there as she tried to understand what just happened. Her mom just…digivoved? Did Calumon do that? Why? How?
Those thoughts vanished as Renamon leapt back, readying another Diamond Storm. In response, the newly-evolved ‘Mon just raised a paw.
“Silken Shield!”
Out of nowhere, rolls of fabric unravelled, creating a barrier in front of Sashikomon that deflected all the Diamond Storm projectiles. The Tamer just stared… Mom was a total mess at fighting! Did the digivolution do something?
…speaking of, what was a “Sashikomon” anyway? There was a hint of familiarity, but…
Pulling up her Arc, she ran a quick scan. “Sashikomon. Champion level. A masterful seamstress who would rather sew than fight, she’s nevertheless quite adept at defense.”
…Oh. “Sashiko” was a type of stitching, wasn’t it… A dry laugh. Makes sense that her mom ended up with an evolution related to fashion. Only reason she knows the thing…
Without warning, another Silken Shield erupted around her, this one dome-like in shape. Given the noise of something colliding with it, Ruki was soon very thankful for the barrier. She just wished she could see…
Rumiko jumped aside from Renamon’s strike. She wasn’t sure why, but this body, while still vulpine - still inhuman - felt…better than her previous one. Almost like it was drawn out from inside her?
“Silken Bind!” With the flick of a tail, more reams of fabric spooled forth from nowhere, wrapping around the smaller (wait, she’d grown?) fox and holding her firmly in place.
Those moves she struggled with as a Renamon felt so…natural in this form. Different moves, yes, but… it was like this was a thing she’d done many times before…
Best not to think about it too much. Don’t want to jinx it.
Come to think of it, did she have anything in terms of offense? That could be a problem.
“Fox Tail Inferno!”
9 ghost lights bombarded the bound fox, Rumiko turning to the side to see her mother loping over. “Mom, how did you-”
“I heard the commotion; you’re not that far from home.” A sharp, barking laugh. “Now, I take it Renamon’s not doing this willingly?”
A nod. “Yeah, that squid who changed us can apparently brainwash too. Although…” A pause. “Why hasn’t he tried it with me?” She turned to look at GrantUkkomon, who was busy trying to hammer into her remaining Silken Shield with his tentacles. “…Ruki’s device said that they’d lost some of their manipulation ability for greater wish-granting…come to think of it, why’d he change us? I definitely didn’t wish for this, but-”
Riiiip
Both vulpine Champions paused, turning to look at the more experienced Rookie starting to tear from her bindings. “… The Silken Bind isn’t permanent. Good to know.”
“That means your shield probably isn’t either…but if the squid is the one controlling Renamon, then-”
A smirk played across the kimono-wearer’s muzzle. “Good idea…I’ll line it up; you take the hit?”
“Sure thing.” Seiko tensed, taking a ready position as Rumiko reached out a hand before grabbing the air.
“Silken Bind!”
The fabric reams once again lashed out, catching the squid-like Champion in its grip. Watching how the fabric tensed, Rumiko tilted her head in thought. “…Huh, he’s kinda squishy… Be careful, Mom, we don’t want to hurt him too much! He might be our best chance to get back to normal!”
“Don’t worry, he won’t be hurt too much…” An expression of fear flashed across GrantUkkomon’s face as the quadruped leapt into the air, the squid blinking rapidly as the grandmother spun around, foxfire surrounding her to create a blue fireball - from which a dragon shape soon emerged. “Dragon Wheel!”
The dragon launched forwards, shooting towards GrantUkkomon and scorching him, the silks holding him burning away as visible burns rested there.
The Silken Shield defending Ruki fell away, the fabric fading as she watched the scene, Renamon rushing over - not to Ruki or GrantUkkomon, but to the other foxes to give the wish-granter a death glare.
“…You tried to use me to have your way with Ruki… I will-HEY!” Renamon looked over at the bipedal Champ, who was giving her a bit of a stink eye after elbowing her in the side.
“Maybe you shouldn’t use that kind of language?”
“What else would you want me to use?!”
“Oh goodness, you never had the Talk, did you…”
“What kind of talk?”
“Beautiful Wish.” Vmm!
“He’s gone!”
“WHAT?!”
“WHAT?!”
“WHAT?!”
All three foxes gawked at Ruki’s declaration, gazes snapping over to where the squid was… or rather, had been. He’d just vanished without a trace!
“What in the - where’d he go?!” Renamon dashed over, rushing over to investigate for traces of the Digimon.
“He said Beautiful Wish right before he vanished…” Seiko gave her daughter a solemn look. “And he said that right before he changed us.”
Rumiko nodded. “…Ruki, honey, did he happen to do anything else before vanishing?”
Ruki blinked, then nodded, a small smirk on her face. “Yeah, he tapped himself in the chest with a tentacle… and given how eager he was to touch me, that move must work on contact.”
Another nod from the recently evolved ‘mon. “Well, that…certainly helps. But it seems that ability is very flexible, since he used it to escape it and to change us…”
Her daughter’s mood suddenly turned dour, tears starting to form. “…I…r-right… Mom, I-”
One flash step later and Rumiko was with Ruki, hugging her tightly. “…Renamon told us what it was like in her home. How you’d been…fighting until now. I may not approve of everything you did, but…” The hug tightened. “I can forgive you for not realizing it was me. If I’d thought someone had kidnapped you…”
A dry chuckle from Seiko. “Well, I know I’d be wanting them dead. Rumiko might settle for some broken bones.”
The Sashikomon’s cheeks went flush red. “Moooom!”
“Snrk…”
“Eh?” A blink as she looked back at her daughter, who was…chuckling. “…I…I love you, Mom.”
And she wrapped her arms around and…
…how long had it been since she’d had a hug from Ruki? An actual hug?
At that moment, as she caressed her daughter, Rumiko decided it had been too long. Far too long.
“…I love you too, Ruki. Even if we don’t always see eye-to-eye.”
Daughter and mother just stood there, hugging, ignoring the white puffball hopping onto Seiko’s back. Just enjoying each other-
Grrrrumble
Until the noise of a stomach rumbling caused the pair to pull apart. “Mom? Was that-”
“Y-yeah…I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly very hungry…” As if the words were a cue, the Sashikomon glowed, shrinking down - past Renamon’s height, down to a small vulpine orb.
“…Eh?!” Rumiko whirled around, trying to work out what happened to her - all that power from earlier was gone, leaving an empty stomach in its place (more like a bottomless pit, not that she wanted to admit it…). And she felt…young! What was going-
“HEY!”
She’d been scooped up, so she naturally tried to squirm free from the gloved paws holding her.
“Apologies, Ms. Rumiko, but… I-I haven’t seen a Viximon in ages. It’s only natural that I’d want to protect my younger…well, normally younger kin.”
The small orb-fox gave a death glare as Ruki sighed. “…Just like in the original series, huh? She’ll need to work up to not being knocked back to In-Training… Calumon, you’re going to be helping with practice.”
“Yay!” Tilting her…gaze (since her body was mostly head), Rumiko blinked at the small white…critter on her mother’s back. And why was it so cute?
“…c-can we eat first?” A sweatdrop ran down the Viximon’s back (…She was pretty sure that’s what she was, going off those same sensations that told her she was a Renamon or Sashikomon when she heard the names).
“Of course. In-Trainings can be bottomless pits…” As Renamon flash-stepped away, Rumiko in tow, the small fox felt twin pangs of embarrassment - from knowing she probably was about to throw her diet to the wind…
And hearing her daughter laugh behind them. ‘Well,’ she thought as she was carried along, a small smile forming despite herself, ‘at least Ruki’s happy.’
Octopath Traveler style attempt 5, this time featuring my pal Sypher's delightful Leafeon OC Sycamore! There are plenty of pleasant things to see when you take a casual stroll through the forest.
