Digimon Fan Fiction ❯ The Shuffle ❯ Countdowns ( Chapter 22 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: Lord Archive 
Time is moving on and some of the waiting comes to an end.
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Hentai / Sci-fi / Romance / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.31.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 570 | Status: Completed
Time is moving on and some of the waiting comes to an end.
Anime/Manga: Digimon Fan Fiction | Genre(s): / Hentai / Sci-fi / Romance / Adventure | Type: Continuation | Uploaded On: 08.31.2012 | Pages: 5 | Words: 4.6K | Visits: 570 | Status: Completed
The Shuffle
Chapter Twenty-two - Countdowns
By: Lord Archive
Digimon belongs to Toei Animation and Akiyoshi Hongo. They are used without permission or the intent of profit. All rights reserved.
--
Takeru's Journal:
The wait on Iori's decision to return to being Daisuke or stay as he was gnawed on us, yet it was one that would have to be made.
Media attention on us continued to focus on Yamato, Taichi and Sora thanks to their love triangle. They were all clamoring to be the first to reveal the youngest Chosen as her pregnancy was nearing its end.
--
"It's really exciting to tour all of Japan. To be able to play for people who've only been able to catch my songs online before will be great," Yamato said smoothly.
"I'm sure it will," the television host replied. "You've already got dates set for Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagasaki, and even two different venues up in Hokkaido."
Yamato nodded. "I'm sure this will be an experience for me."
"Of course. Though I was wondering if you have or if you're planning to hold a concert in the Digital World?" the host questioned.
"Considering I'm the only one in the band able to reach the Digital World, that would prove rather difficult," Yamato replied.
"Why can't the rest of the band go with you?" the host wondered.
"Well, you'd need a digimon partner and a digivice to act as a bridge to get you across. Without them, you simply can't go," Yamato explained.
The host frowned. "So you won't be the first to hold a concert in that other world?"
"I'd hardly have the first concert." Yamato shuddered slightly remembering Etemon. "I could still be the first human to officially hold one there, I'd just need a band able to play with me there."
"How many are able to go to the Digital World?" the host asked.
"A couple hundred currently. Every so often a new team will pop up of kids between eight and twelve, though most start at eleven. So, it's unlikely my band members will suddenly pick up partners. They're too old to start."
"Speaking of those able to go to the Digital World, how is the mother of your child doing?" the host pushed the change of topic.
"As the tabloids were so 'nice' to announce, she married my best friend," Yamato answered in an annoyed tone.
"How does that make you feel? To have your girlfriend marry someone else?" the host pressed.
"Personally, I think they rushed into it. They should've taken their time to make sure this is what they really wanted, especially if the baby is mine." Yamato turned toward the closest camera. "I will say this though, she is not a slut. Yes, she slept with me and my best friend, but that's all. There's no potential other father out there. The situation we found ourselves in is a complicated and private one. Just because she was able to be in love with two different guys and had to make a hard choice which of us to choose, doesn't make her a whore. She's still a very good friend that I love, and I still trust both her and her husband with my life."
Sora turned away from the television. "You know, if he keeps saying stuff like that, I may just dump you for him."
Taichi smirked at her. "Remember that when we switch back. I know all to well how girls love hearing how much they're loved, that they're wanted, and needed." He leaned over and kissed her.
Sora was rather enjoying the kiss. Suddenly she pushed him away. "The baby is kicking!"
"Really?" Taichi placed his hand on her swollen stomach. "She is. Not much longer."
--
Hikari sighed with boredom. She glanced at her new digital web camera that she got on her last birthday. Perhaps it was time to do something she had been wanting to work on for a while. Having already come forward and apparently there was some new video sharing site in the works that would be able to host it, she could make something many had wished for, an introduction to having a digimon.
She set up the camera to record and began, "Hello, everyone! I'm Yagami Hikari. I have a digimon partner named Tailmon. She's white and as big as a cat. But even though she looks like a cat, she's really more like a mouse--"
Hikari hit the stop button and promptly deleted it. "Tailmon wouldn't appreciate me calling her that. She acts tough, but I know deep down she's still afraid of a lot of things."
Hikari shook her head and began again. "Hello, everyone! I'm Yagami Hikari. I have a digimon partner named Tailmon. She's white and is as big as a cat. She even looks like one! Although she's small, she's an Adult level digimon.
"Digimon have different stages of growth. Those that are just born are Baby level, and when the get a little bigger, they're Child level, and when they become Adult level, they'll get pretty strong. Tailmon's previous level, as a Child, is named Plotmon, that looks like a really cute puppy, yet she rarely turns into that form.
"Do you have a digimon partner? Most people first become partners with a digimon at the Baby level. They're pretty small at that time. Occasionally, there are people who become partners with a Child level. But even if your partner is a Baby level, something will push it to evolve to Child level. When it does, it will look completely different, and is usually bigger, so don't be scared, okay?
"Even if they've changed in shape and size, they're still the same digimon. And as your partner, you'll know him. Your digimon could be in a large group of digimon that look exactly like him and you'll know which one is your partner. It's strange, but that's what it means to be a partner with a digimon. He's like a long lost sibling you never knew you had, but once you've found your digimon, it'll feel like you've known each other forever.
"Is there anyone who has siblings with Digimon? I have an older brother who also has a partner digimon. His digimon is Agumon, who's completely different from my Tailmon! I also have a friend whose older brother also a partner digimon; his older brother has a Gabumon while he has a Patamon. Apparently we four are the only ones in Japan right now who are siblings with digimon partners. I've also met three brothers in Hong Kong who all have digimon. Their digimon are all the same, Shakomon.
"As siblings you can have the same digimon or a different one. You can even get your partner at the same time, or it may take awhile. I'm still not sure why that is, but if your sibling gets a partner first, that doesn't mean you won't get one. So don't get downhearted, okay?
"It looks like a majority of those who gain digimon partners are in elementary school. While the numbers are growing and a few middle school kids have gained partners, there still hasn't been any adults who have gained a partner.
"Now, if you have gotten a digimon partner, what happens next? Keep in mind there's usually a reason you gain a partner and there's something you must do. There will be people or digimon, either in our world or the Digital World where digimon live, who may need your help. You might feel overwhelmed by this, but your digimon will surely be helpful to you, so don't worry. Besides, we, the children who had partnered with digimon before you will gladly come to help you.
"That's why if you get a partner digimon, you should contact us right away, okay? You can email us at-
Hikari blinked as her D-Terminal began to beep. "Eh? What now? I was on a roll. Now I'll have to start all over again."
Hikari stopped recording and checked her email, half expecting to read Sora had gone into labor or Tailmon's egg had finally hatched. What she got made her eyes go wide. Then another message came in. Then another one. The last one she read caused her to whip out her digivice and called out, "Digiport open!"
--
"What is going on?" Shuu, one of Jyou's older brothers, asked.
"We're in the Digital World, these are our digimon partners, and those tank digimon don't look friendly," Sayuri shot at him. She then gazed at the multicolored digimon with a psychedelic fur coat. "You're Psychemon, aren't you?"
The digimon blinked. "You already know who I am?"
"Had a bit of spoilers from some Chosen digimon," Sayuri replied. "So how do I get this to work?"
"Well, you know more than I do already," Psychemon replied. "I don't even know your name."
"Wataru Sayuri," the girl replied quickly.
Yume tried not to giggle as she kept trying to stand up but repeatedly over correcting and falling over. "They better give me some time to get used to walking again."
"No such luck. DUCK!" Jun shouted as the tank digimon fired off a volley of explosives at them.
The attack thankfully over shot them and exploded many meters behind them.
A purple dragon made a fist and punched her own own hand. "Cheeky bastards, they're going to pay for not letting me get acquainted with my partner."
A tall yellow humanoid fox stood up next to her. "We're definitely going to have to do something about them."
"Shouldn't we be calling Miyako and the others to deal with them?" Momoe, Miyako's eldest sister asked.
"Don't think that's an option, Sis," Miyako's middle sister, Chizuru, replied. The tank digimon were looming ever closer. "We've got to do something now."
Sayuri closed her eyes and hugged her new digivice to her chest. She needed her partner to evolve, not just for this battle, but for the trials she would face in the future as well. To even be considered to go with Iori to that other dimension, she'd need Perfection level. "We can't rely on the others. If they take care of this, we'll be useless come August when they're gone on that mission. We must hold the line here, or we'll never advance."
"Psychemon evolve!" A pillar of light enshrouded the digimon that subsided to reveal a zebra digimon with a single horn on her head. "Shima Unimon!"
Sayuri immediately jumped on the back of her digimon. "We need to buy some time for the others."
Yume huffed where she was sitting. "If she can do that, so can I!"
The pigmy elephant with smoke for hind legs looked at her expectantly. Her eyes then widened. "Incoming!"
Yume stared in horror. One was streaking straight toward her. She clenched her eyes.
"Bakumon evolve!" Another pillar of light engulfed her, which then revealed a large yellow ape. "Hanumon!"
A meter tall ball of fur jumped in the way of the rocket, attempting to knock it away, yet instead took the attack to his shoulder.
Shuu ran up to the digital bear cub that had taken the hit for the girl. "Are you all right?"
The digimon coughed painfully. "Would be better if I had evolved first. I'm Bearmon, by the way."
"Shuu," replied the man. "Take it you're my partner."
Jun clenched her hand around her digivice. "These lousy digimon are going to learn the hard way going up against a Motomiya is suicide! Partner, take them down!"
"Yes! Monodramon evolve!" The meter tall dragon was eclipsed into a pillar of light, from which leapt a five meter tall humanoid dragon. "Strike Dramon!"
A purple humanoid fox appeared next to the otherwise identical yellow version of herself. "We cannot wait on our partners. Shima Unimon and her partner are in trouble now."
"Yes, sister Renamon," replied the yellow one.
"Get out of there!" Chizuru shouted toward Sayuri. Most of the tank digimon were now focused on the girl considering there was one less of the enemy now.
The new Chosen and digimon prepared to rush to the girl's aid as a large volley of attacks was launched at her. A large thud preceded numerous explosions. Now standing between Sayuri and her attackers was a singed and rather angry looking Paildramon.
"I've seen enough," Iori growled out angrily. "What is the meaning of this?"
"We will rebuild our lord's empire for his next resurrection!" a Tankmon shouted. "Down with the... Chosen?" He stared along with his compatriots at the line of adult digimon standing atop a hill, with an experienced Chosen standing next to each one. "RETREAT!"
Sayuri let out a sigh of relief as the digimon turn around and ran. "How long have you been watching?"
"Almost since the beginning," Iori replied. "You were being too reckless."
"Sorry, but I had to do something to protect the others," Sayuri defended.
"Do you know why they attacked?" Iori questioned.
"No..." Sayuri admitted.
"So the fight could've been a misunderstanding of you appearing in the wrong place," Iori pointed out. "You could've killed that Tankmon for no reason."
Sayuri frowned. "They fired first. And our being here had to be for a reason."
"It was for a reason." Taichi leapt down from the hill. "They're seeking to rebuild Mugen Dramon's Metal Empire. After his last incarnation died at the Digital Labyrinth, his forces were routed from South America. Looks like they're trying to set up shop here."
"Rather stupid of them to do so," Greymon commented. "Even if Mugen Dramon regained his full power and evolution, he'd still be no match for us."
"Even if he was to appear in August while we're gone?" Iori returned.
Greymon's mouth hung open. "That would be a problem."
Koushiro slid down a the hill, tumbling as he landed. "Taichi! Tailmon's egg is hatching!"
"What about Sora?" Yamato yelled from the hill.
"No contractions or anything on her end," Koushiro replied.
"Right, why don't a few of you give the newbies a crash course on being a Chosen. Jyou, go check on Sora to be on the safe side. I'm going to see my daughter's digimon," Taichi quickly ordered.
Miyako giggled. "Now to be 'sempai' to my older sisters."
Iori glanced over at Shuu. "We certainly got a new record for oldest to be partnered."
--
Taichi shook his head as he arrived at Gennai's home, where Tailmon and Patamon had been hiding with their egg. "I thought you were going to stay out of the Digital World."
Sora stopped talking to Hikari and Daisuke and looked over at him. "And not being here to meet my daughter's digimon?"
"It certainly wouldn't hurt to help the bonding process," Gennai defended.
From around the corner zoomed a small floating ghost-like digimon, Poyomon. His eyes widened seeing the boy. "Sora-Papa!" He flew straight into Taichi, hugging him best the baby digimon could.
Taichi cast a questioning glance.
Sora smirked. "There's no doubt anymore if he has Wizarmon's soul."
Tailmon had lazily followed her son. "Yeah, if you thought switching souls was confusing, you should try to think about the situation I'm now in."
"What do you mean by that?" Taichi wondered.
"I really love Mama-Tailmon!" Poyomon chirped.
"You're her son now," Patamon said seriously.
"Don't you know incest is best?" Poyomon seemingly asked innocently.
Taichi wasn't alone in making surprised noises.
Poyomon began to giggle. "Just kidding."
Patamon glanced at Tailmon who replied, "He is kidding... For now at least."
"How reassuring," Patamon groused.
"I won't get between Mama-Tailmon and Papa-Patamon. I promise!" Poyomon chirped.
"So, what happened with the new Chosen?" Hikari wondered.
"Sayuri has a Psychemon like Tentomon said, who evolves into Shima Unimon, while Yume has a Bakumon who can become a Hanumon. Also, Jun is partnered to a Monodramon that evolves to Strike Dramon. Shuu has a Bearmon and Miyako's sisters both have Renamon, just one is yellow and the other is purple. Don't be surprised if the Renamon get renamed," Taichi recalled. "They were up against a group of Tankmon that are apparently trying to start up the Metal Empire here. Chances are that when Mugen Dramon reincarnates again, it'll be in our sector this time."
"And we're going to be too busy with the mission to properly watch for them, hence the new group. We'll have to make sure the ones who got digimon after Belial Vamdemon's defeat are up to speed. They'll need to help Jun and the others," Daisuke suggested.
Sora nodded. "The mission will likely be the first time I'll physically be able to fight."
"At least I'm already recovered," Tailmon added. "I'll be fine to fight in June if I need to."
"Do you have to go, Mama-Tailmon?" Poyomon questioned.
"You'll be with your partner then, kiddo," Sora told him. "And it's better your mother goes so we can find out the truth of the situation before we interfere in the mess. Don't want to attack the wrong digimon."
Poyomon pouted. "I guess... At least I'll have Sora-Papa and Taichi-Mama watching after me!"
--
"So, what's the word from Odaiba?" Mimi asked as she joined Ken and the other Chosen at a restaurant.
"The new Chosen didn't stop with the six I already told you about," Ken informed. "Today, two of Yamato's band members, Koushiro's girlfriend, two of Hikari's school friends, Jyou's brother Shin and Miyako's brother also have been activated. Yesterday saw four soon-to-be fifth graders and a third grader."
"Wow, we're getting to be an army," Palmon commented.
"Well, it seems every machine digimon in the Eastern hemisphere is moving this way," Daisuke informed. "This one may actually come down to a full out war."
"Not exactly a happy thought," added Noriko, a girl with dark brown hair that had been the first of the children to make Oikawa's Dark Seeds bloom. "I know we've hardly seen any of the stuff you have. But to be in a full scale war... is troublesome."
"Hopefully it'll come to a head before August. We're already going to be down two of our strongest in June," Sayuri added.
"The situation with this sudden explosion of Chosen is not likely to go unnoticed. We really need to come up with some sort of plan to deal with it," Takeru pointed out. "With so many new Chosen we might miss some of them."
Hikari raised her hand. "I've already started to work on a set of videos to help explain what it means to have a digimon partner. Koushiro is waiting for the beta of a video sharing web page to come online in order to post it."
"Wish we had a guide when we started," Mimi said wistfully.
Hikari smirked. "Which is entirely the reason why I started to make them."
"How's Sora and Taichi?" Palmon wondered.
"Impatient," Hikari replied simply. "She now wishing Yamato was the father as she'd be done with the pregnancy. I should be an aunt any time-" She blinked as her D-Terminal beeped. She opened it and laughed. "...now. Sora's on her way to the hospital. As much as Sora and Taichi might appreciate the support..."
"A few dozen teenagers and digimon would hardly be welcomed at the hospital," Sayuri finished.
"Do keep us informed," Koushiro called out from where he was sitting with Ayashi.
"I will." Hikari grabbed Daisuke by the hand and left quickly with him.
--
Daisuke nudged Hikari awake.
"Huh? Wha?" the girl emitted, peeling her face off of his shoulder. She then blinked at her mother standing over them with an amused expression. "I'm an aunt now?"
Mrs. Yagami nodded. "She has finally been born."
"It only took fourteen hours," Daisuke weakly joked.
Hikari tiredly wobbled as she got to her feet. "Can we see her?"
"Of course." Mrs. Yagami proceeded to guide the young couple to the nursery.
"How's my sister?" Hikari wondered.
"Extra ready to switch back," Mrs. Yagami replied. "She was screaming things at your brother like a demon possessed her. Thankfully the doctor and nurses took some of it as pain delusions."
"I'm sure she didn't mean all of it," Hikari commented.
"True, but the verbal abuse has your brother in hiding now," Mrs. Yagami informed.
Arriving at the nursery, Daisuke wasted no time in spotting the girl with wild flaming red hair. "Wow, she already needs a haircut."
"She looks like a red-headed Taichi," Hikari commented.
"The paternity test will be a waste of money," Mrs. Yagami noted.
--
"Any reason you're attacking defenseless trees?" Yamato questioned.
Taichi scowled at the boy. "I really don't want to see anyone right now."
"Does the baby look like me?" Yamato guessed.
"Not at all." Taichi pointed at his face. "She looks like this with red hair."
"Then what has the proud new papa running away from his wife and baby?" Yamato demanded harshly.
"Let's just say I'm glad Piyomon was in the Digital World, since if she was at the hospital, she would've dark evolved," Taichi groused irritably.
Yamato laughed. "So she was a little upset."
"'I will fucking pay guys to rape you so you don't know who the father is.' 'I'm going to shove a melon up your ass.' 'You fucking tomboy got me pregnant.' 'You wanted this little bitch.'" Taichi turned away. "'I hate you.'"
"You know that was the pain talking," Yamato observed.
"Yeah, pain _I_ should've experienced. She's gone through so much. Dealt with things no guy ever should have." Taichi plopped onto his ass. "She has every right to blame me. If it wasn't for my desire to have a baby... she never would've kept our daughter."
"You know that's bullshit, right?" Yamato shot at him. "You don't think I know why she kept YOUR child? It's because she wouldn't be the one left alone. Even if you switch back now, regardless of what your full feelings may be for me, you won't come back to me."
Taichi glanced at him. "You don't know how tempted I am right now."
"She might even be forgiven if we did have a little fling." Yamato folded his arms. "Though I doubt you'd forgive yourself."
"Do you think I ever can forgive myself for doing this to Taichi?" the boy countered.
"Why not? He plans on doing the same to you once you switch back," Yamato returned. "In a year or three he'll be on the receiving end of you screaming at him while you're giving birth."
"Assuming we succeed," Taichi muttered and then clenched his fists. "We must succeed, for her."
--
Author's Notes:
Coming Next Week:
Chapter 23 - Mission Start
Hikari and Daisuke follow other Chosen into Xuanwumon's dimension leaving the others to deal with life's issues.
Hikari's video is _not_ an exact translation of the Digimon Adventures 02 Spring 2003 drama CD. Some changes were made to it to better fit what's going on in The Shuffle and reflect it is two years after Hikari was supposed to record that video on a VHS tape.
According to the Wonderswan games, the Dark Master Mugen Dramon fussed with Ryo's true partner, a Chimeramon, to become Milleniumon. For purposes of this story, and Diaries, after Ryo defeated Milleniumon, Mugen Dramon's main essence was able to become free of Ryo's true partner and was able to be reborn properly.
Chapter Twenty-two - Countdowns
By: Lord Archive
Digimon belongs to Toei Animation and Akiyoshi Hongo. They are used without permission or the intent of profit. All rights reserved.
--
Takeru's Journal:
The wait on Iori's decision to return to being Daisuke or stay as he was gnawed on us, yet it was one that would have to be made.
Media attention on us continued to focus on Yamato, Taichi and Sora thanks to their love triangle. They were all clamoring to be the first to reveal the youngest Chosen as her pregnancy was nearing its end.
--
"It's really exciting to tour all of Japan. To be able to play for people who've only been able to catch my songs online before will be great," Yamato said smoothly.
"I'm sure it will," the television host replied. "You've already got dates set for Tokyo, Kyoto, Nagasaki, and even two different venues up in Hokkaido."
Yamato nodded. "I'm sure this will be an experience for me."
"Of course. Though I was wondering if you have or if you're planning to hold a concert in the Digital World?" the host questioned.
"Considering I'm the only one in the band able to reach the Digital World, that would prove rather difficult," Yamato replied.
"Why can't the rest of the band go with you?" the host wondered.
"Well, you'd need a digimon partner and a digivice to act as a bridge to get you across. Without them, you simply can't go," Yamato explained.
The host frowned. "So you won't be the first to hold a concert in that other world?"
"I'd hardly have the first concert." Yamato shuddered slightly remembering Etemon. "I could still be the first human to officially hold one there, I'd just need a band able to play with me there."
"How many are able to go to the Digital World?" the host asked.
"A couple hundred currently. Every so often a new team will pop up of kids between eight and twelve, though most start at eleven. So, it's unlikely my band members will suddenly pick up partners. They're too old to start."
"Speaking of those able to go to the Digital World, how is the mother of your child doing?" the host pushed the change of topic.
"As the tabloids were so 'nice' to announce, she married my best friend," Yamato answered in an annoyed tone.
"How does that make you feel? To have your girlfriend marry someone else?" the host pressed.
"Personally, I think they rushed into it. They should've taken their time to make sure this is what they really wanted, especially if the baby is mine." Yamato turned toward the closest camera. "I will say this though, she is not a slut. Yes, she slept with me and my best friend, but that's all. There's no potential other father out there. The situation we found ourselves in is a complicated and private one. Just because she was able to be in love with two different guys and had to make a hard choice which of us to choose, doesn't make her a whore. She's still a very good friend that I love, and I still trust both her and her husband with my life."
Sora turned away from the television. "You know, if he keeps saying stuff like that, I may just dump you for him."
Taichi smirked at her. "Remember that when we switch back. I know all to well how girls love hearing how much they're loved, that they're wanted, and needed." He leaned over and kissed her.
Sora was rather enjoying the kiss. Suddenly she pushed him away. "The baby is kicking!"
"Really?" Taichi placed his hand on her swollen stomach. "She is. Not much longer."
--
Hikari sighed with boredom. She glanced at her new digital web camera that she got on her last birthday. Perhaps it was time to do something she had been wanting to work on for a while. Having already come forward and apparently there was some new video sharing site in the works that would be able to host it, she could make something many had wished for, an introduction to having a digimon.
She set up the camera to record and began, "Hello, everyone! I'm Yagami Hikari. I have a digimon partner named Tailmon. She's white and as big as a cat. But even though she looks like a cat, she's really more like a mouse--"
Hikari hit the stop button and promptly deleted it. "Tailmon wouldn't appreciate me calling her that. She acts tough, but I know deep down she's still afraid of a lot of things."
Hikari shook her head and began again. "Hello, everyone! I'm Yagami Hikari. I have a digimon partner named Tailmon. She's white and is as big as a cat. She even looks like one! Although she's small, she's an Adult level digimon.
"Digimon have different stages of growth. Those that are just born are Baby level, and when the get a little bigger, they're Child level, and when they become Adult level, they'll get pretty strong. Tailmon's previous level, as a Child, is named Plotmon, that looks like a really cute puppy, yet she rarely turns into that form.
"Do you have a digimon partner? Most people first become partners with a digimon at the Baby level. They're pretty small at that time. Occasionally, there are people who become partners with a Child level. But even if your partner is a Baby level, something will push it to evolve to Child level. When it does, it will look completely different, and is usually bigger, so don't be scared, okay?
"Even if they've changed in shape and size, they're still the same digimon. And as your partner, you'll know him. Your digimon could be in a large group of digimon that look exactly like him and you'll know which one is your partner. It's strange, but that's what it means to be a partner with a digimon. He's like a long lost sibling you never knew you had, but once you've found your digimon, it'll feel like you've known each other forever.
"Is there anyone who has siblings with Digimon? I have an older brother who also has a partner digimon. His digimon is Agumon, who's completely different from my Tailmon! I also have a friend whose older brother also a partner digimon; his older brother has a Gabumon while he has a Patamon. Apparently we four are the only ones in Japan right now who are siblings with digimon partners. I've also met three brothers in Hong Kong who all have digimon. Their digimon are all the same, Shakomon.
"As siblings you can have the same digimon or a different one. You can even get your partner at the same time, or it may take awhile. I'm still not sure why that is, but if your sibling gets a partner first, that doesn't mean you won't get one. So don't get downhearted, okay?
"It looks like a majority of those who gain digimon partners are in elementary school. While the numbers are growing and a few middle school kids have gained partners, there still hasn't been any adults who have gained a partner.
"Now, if you have gotten a digimon partner, what happens next? Keep in mind there's usually a reason you gain a partner and there's something you must do. There will be people or digimon, either in our world or the Digital World where digimon live, who may need your help. You might feel overwhelmed by this, but your digimon will surely be helpful to you, so don't worry. Besides, we, the children who had partnered with digimon before you will gladly come to help you.
"That's why if you get a partner digimon, you should contact us right away, okay? You can email us at-
Hikari blinked as her D-Terminal began to beep. "Eh? What now? I was on a roll. Now I'll have to start all over again."
Hikari stopped recording and checked her email, half expecting to read Sora had gone into labor or Tailmon's egg had finally hatched. What she got made her eyes go wide. Then another message came in. Then another one. The last one she read caused her to whip out her digivice and called out, "Digiport open!"
--
"What is going on?" Shuu, one of Jyou's older brothers, asked.
"We're in the Digital World, these are our digimon partners, and those tank digimon don't look friendly," Sayuri shot at him. She then gazed at the multicolored digimon with a psychedelic fur coat. "You're Psychemon, aren't you?"
The digimon blinked. "You already know who I am?"
"Had a bit of spoilers from some Chosen digimon," Sayuri replied. "So how do I get this to work?"
"Well, you know more than I do already," Psychemon replied. "I don't even know your name."
"Wataru Sayuri," the girl replied quickly.
Yume tried not to giggle as she kept trying to stand up but repeatedly over correcting and falling over. "They better give me some time to get used to walking again."
"No such luck. DUCK!" Jun shouted as the tank digimon fired off a volley of explosives at them.
The attack thankfully over shot them and exploded many meters behind them.
A purple dragon made a fist and punched her own own hand. "Cheeky bastards, they're going to pay for not letting me get acquainted with my partner."
A tall yellow humanoid fox stood up next to her. "We're definitely going to have to do something about them."
"Shouldn't we be calling Miyako and the others to deal with them?" Momoe, Miyako's eldest sister asked.
"Don't think that's an option, Sis," Miyako's middle sister, Chizuru, replied. The tank digimon were looming ever closer. "We've got to do something now."
Sayuri closed her eyes and hugged her new digivice to her chest. She needed her partner to evolve, not just for this battle, but for the trials she would face in the future as well. To even be considered to go with Iori to that other dimension, she'd need Perfection level. "We can't rely on the others. If they take care of this, we'll be useless come August when they're gone on that mission. We must hold the line here, or we'll never advance."
"Psychemon evolve!" A pillar of light enshrouded the digimon that subsided to reveal a zebra digimon with a single horn on her head. "Shima Unimon!"
Sayuri immediately jumped on the back of her digimon. "We need to buy some time for the others."
Yume huffed where she was sitting. "If she can do that, so can I!"
The pigmy elephant with smoke for hind legs looked at her expectantly. Her eyes then widened. "Incoming!"
Yume stared in horror. One was streaking straight toward her. She clenched her eyes.
"Bakumon evolve!" Another pillar of light engulfed her, which then revealed a large yellow ape. "Hanumon!"
A meter tall ball of fur jumped in the way of the rocket, attempting to knock it away, yet instead took the attack to his shoulder.
Shuu ran up to the digital bear cub that had taken the hit for the girl. "Are you all right?"
The digimon coughed painfully. "Would be better if I had evolved first. I'm Bearmon, by the way."
"Shuu," replied the man. "Take it you're my partner."
Jun clenched her hand around her digivice. "These lousy digimon are going to learn the hard way going up against a Motomiya is suicide! Partner, take them down!"
"Yes! Monodramon evolve!" The meter tall dragon was eclipsed into a pillar of light, from which leapt a five meter tall humanoid dragon. "Strike Dramon!"
A purple humanoid fox appeared next to the otherwise identical yellow version of herself. "We cannot wait on our partners. Shima Unimon and her partner are in trouble now."
"Yes, sister Renamon," replied the yellow one.
"Get out of there!" Chizuru shouted toward Sayuri. Most of the tank digimon were now focused on the girl considering there was one less of the enemy now.
The new Chosen and digimon prepared to rush to the girl's aid as a large volley of attacks was launched at her. A large thud preceded numerous explosions. Now standing between Sayuri and her attackers was a singed and rather angry looking Paildramon.
"I've seen enough," Iori growled out angrily. "What is the meaning of this?"
"We will rebuild our lord's empire for his next resurrection!" a Tankmon shouted. "Down with the... Chosen?" He stared along with his compatriots at the line of adult digimon standing atop a hill, with an experienced Chosen standing next to each one. "RETREAT!"
Sayuri let out a sigh of relief as the digimon turn around and ran. "How long have you been watching?"
"Almost since the beginning," Iori replied. "You were being too reckless."
"Sorry, but I had to do something to protect the others," Sayuri defended.
"Do you know why they attacked?" Iori questioned.
"No..." Sayuri admitted.
"So the fight could've been a misunderstanding of you appearing in the wrong place," Iori pointed out. "You could've killed that Tankmon for no reason."
Sayuri frowned. "They fired first. And our being here had to be for a reason."
"It was for a reason." Taichi leapt down from the hill. "They're seeking to rebuild Mugen Dramon's Metal Empire. After his last incarnation died at the Digital Labyrinth, his forces were routed from South America. Looks like they're trying to set up shop here."
"Rather stupid of them to do so," Greymon commented. "Even if Mugen Dramon regained his full power and evolution, he'd still be no match for us."
"Even if he was to appear in August while we're gone?" Iori returned.
Greymon's mouth hung open. "That would be a problem."
Koushiro slid down a the hill, tumbling as he landed. "Taichi! Tailmon's egg is hatching!"
"What about Sora?" Yamato yelled from the hill.
"No contractions or anything on her end," Koushiro replied.
"Right, why don't a few of you give the newbies a crash course on being a Chosen. Jyou, go check on Sora to be on the safe side. I'm going to see my daughter's digimon," Taichi quickly ordered.
Miyako giggled. "Now to be 'sempai' to my older sisters."
Iori glanced over at Shuu. "We certainly got a new record for oldest to be partnered."
--
Taichi shook his head as he arrived at Gennai's home, where Tailmon and Patamon had been hiding with their egg. "I thought you were going to stay out of the Digital World."
Sora stopped talking to Hikari and Daisuke and looked over at him. "And not being here to meet my daughter's digimon?"
"It certainly wouldn't hurt to help the bonding process," Gennai defended.
From around the corner zoomed a small floating ghost-like digimon, Poyomon. His eyes widened seeing the boy. "Sora-Papa!" He flew straight into Taichi, hugging him best the baby digimon could.
Taichi cast a questioning glance.
Sora smirked. "There's no doubt anymore if he has Wizarmon's soul."
Tailmon had lazily followed her son. "Yeah, if you thought switching souls was confusing, you should try to think about the situation I'm now in."
"What do you mean by that?" Taichi wondered.
"I really love Mama-Tailmon!" Poyomon chirped.
"You're her son now," Patamon said seriously.
"Don't you know incest is best?" Poyomon seemingly asked innocently.
Taichi wasn't alone in making surprised noises.
Poyomon began to giggle. "Just kidding."
Patamon glanced at Tailmon who replied, "He is kidding... For now at least."
"How reassuring," Patamon groused.
"I won't get between Mama-Tailmon and Papa-Patamon. I promise!" Poyomon chirped.
"So, what happened with the new Chosen?" Hikari wondered.
"Sayuri has a Psychemon like Tentomon said, who evolves into Shima Unimon, while Yume has a Bakumon who can become a Hanumon. Also, Jun is partnered to a Monodramon that evolves to Strike Dramon. Shuu has a Bearmon and Miyako's sisters both have Renamon, just one is yellow and the other is purple. Don't be surprised if the Renamon get renamed," Taichi recalled. "They were up against a group of Tankmon that are apparently trying to start up the Metal Empire here. Chances are that when Mugen Dramon reincarnates again, it'll be in our sector this time."
"And we're going to be too busy with the mission to properly watch for them, hence the new group. We'll have to make sure the ones who got digimon after Belial Vamdemon's defeat are up to speed. They'll need to help Jun and the others," Daisuke suggested.
Sora nodded. "The mission will likely be the first time I'll physically be able to fight."
"At least I'm already recovered," Tailmon added. "I'll be fine to fight in June if I need to."
"Do you have to go, Mama-Tailmon?" Poyomon questioned.
"You'll be with your partner then, kiddo," Sora told him. "And it's better your mother goes so we can find out the truth of the situation before we interfere in the mess. Don't want to attack the wrong digimon."
Poyomon pouted. "I guess... At least I'll have Sora-Papa and Taichi-Mama watching after me!"
--
"So, what's the word from Odaiba?" Mimi asked as she joined Ken and the other Chosen at a restaurant.
"The new Chosen didn't stop with the six I already told you about," Ken informed. "Today, two of Yamato's band members, Koushiro's girlfriend, two of Hikari's school friends, Jyou's brother Shin and Miyako's brother also have been activated. Yesterday saw four soon-to-be fifth graders and a third grader."
"Wow, we're getting to be an army," Palmon commented.
"Well, it seems every machine digimon in the Eastern hemisphere is moving this way," Daisuke informed. "This one may actually come down to a full out war."
"Not exactly a happy thought," added Noriko, a girl with dark brown hair that had been the first of the children to make Oikawa's Dark Seeds bloom. "I know we've hardly seen any of the stuff you have. But to be in a full scale war... is troublesome."
"Hopefully it'll come to a head before August. We're already going to be down two of our strongest in June," Sayuri added.
"The situation with this sudden explosion of Chosen is not likely to go unnoticed. We really need to come up with some sort of plan to deal with it," Takeru pointed out. "With so many new Chosen we might miss some of them."
Hikari raised her hand. "I've already started to work on a set of videos to help explain what it means to have a digimon partner. Koushiro is waiting for the beta of a video sharing web page to come online in order to post it."
"Wish we had a guide when we started," Mimi said wistfully.
Hikari smirked. "Which is entirely the reason why I started to make them."
"How's Sora and Taichi?" Palmon wondered.
"Impatient," Hikari replied simply. "She now wishing Yamato was the father as she'd be done with the pregnancy. I should be an aunt any time-" She blinked as her D-Terminal beeped. She opened it and laughed. "...now. Sora's on her way to the hospital. As much as Sora and Taichi might appreciate the support..."
"A few dozen teenagers and digimon would hardly be welcomed at the hospital," Sayuri finished.
"Do keep us informed," Koushiro called out from where he was sitting with Ayashi.
"I will." Hikari grabbed Daisuke by the hand and left quickly with him.
--
Daisuke nudged Hikari awake.
"Huh? Wha?" the girl emitted, peeling her face off of his shoulder. She then blinked at her mother standing over them with an amused expression. "I'm an aunt now?"
Mrs. Yagami nodded. "She has finally been born."
"It only took fourteen hours," Daisuke weakly joked.
Hikari tiredly wobbled as she got to her feet. "Can we see her?"
"Of course." Mrs. Yagami proceeded to guide the young couple to the nursery.
"How's my sister?" Hikari wondered.
"Extra ready to switch back," Mrs. Yagami replied. "She was screaming things at your brother like a demon possessed her. Thankfully the doctor and nurses took some of it as pain delusions."
"I'm sure she didn't mean all of it," Hikari commented.
"True, but the verbal abuse has your brother in hiding now," Mrs. Yagami informed.
Arriving at the nursery, Daisuke wasted no time in spotting the girl with wild flaming red hair. "Wow, she already needs a haircut."
"She looks like a red-headed Taichi," Hikari commented.
"The paternity test will be a waste of money," Mrs. Yagami noted.
--
"Any reason you're attacking defenseless trees?" Yamato questioned.
Taichi scowled at the boy. "I really don't want to see anyone right now."
"Does the baby look like me?" Yamato guessed.
"Not at all." Taichi pointed at his face. "She looks like this with red hair."
"Then what has the proud new papa running away from his wife and baby?" Yamato demanded harshly.
"Let's just say I'm glad Piyomon was in the Digital World, since if she was at the hospital, she would've dark evolved," Taichi groused irritably.
Yamato laughed. "So she was a little upset."
"'I will fucking pay guys to rape you so you don't know who the father is.' 'I'm going to shove a melon up your ass.' 'You fucking tomboy got me pregnant.' 'You wanted this little bitch.'" Taichi turned away. "'I hate you.'"
"You know that was the pain talking," Yamato observed.
"Yeah, pain _I_ should've experienced. She's gone through so much. Dealt with things no guy ever should have." Taichi plopped onto his ass. "She has every right to blame me. If it wasn't for my desire to have a baby... she never would've kept our daughter."
"You know that's bullshit, right?" Yamato shot at him. "You don't think I know why she kept YOUR child? It's because she wouldn't be the one left alone. Even if you switch back now, regardless of what your full feelings may be for me, you won't come back to me."
Taichi glanced at him. "You don't know how tempted I am right now."
"She might even be forgiven if we did have a little fling." Yamato folded his arms. "Though I doubt you'd forgive yourself."
"Do you think I ever can forgive myself for doing this to Taichi?" the boy countered.
"Why not? He plans on doing the same to you once you switch back," Yamato returned. "In a year or three he'll be on the receiving end of you screaming at him while you're giving birth."
"Assuming we succeed," Taichi muttered and then clenched his fists. "We must succeed, for her."
--
Author's Notes:
Coming Next Week:
Chapter 23 - Mission Start
Hikari and Daisuke follow other Chosen into Xuanwumon's dimension leaving the others to deal with life's issues.
Hikari's video is _not_ an exact translation of the Digimon Adventures 02 Spring 2003 drama CD. Some changes were made to it to better fit what's going on in The Shuffle and reflect it is two years after Hikari was supposed to record that video on a VHS tape.
According to the Wonderswan games, the Dark Master Mugen Dramon fussed with Ryo's true partner, a Chimeramon, to become Milleniumon. For purposes of this story, and Diaries, after Ryo defeated Milleniumon, Mugen Dramon's main essence was able to become free of Ryo's true partner and was able to be reborn properly.