03 - video;

[darkened]

[The video starts with a very shaky shot of one of the buildings in San Fransisco. There are sounds of growling and shouting in the background before the camera pans to an XV-mon and a Gabumon glaring, stomping, and shaking their fists at each other.]

Oh, calm down, fuzzball! I was just telling it like it is.

You liar! I'm not a fake Digimon. I'm real, and you can't take my partner away from me! I'll battle you to the death if I have to!

[Said Gabumon leaps at the XV-mon's chest, only for her to swat him away with a chuckle. The image then turns to a very exasperated looking Replica, who rubs at his temple before speaking.]

Ugh, now I'm starting to know how Real Thing felt. Has anyone else had problems with their SCOPE partners? XV-mon's kept having to beat him back for hours, and he still keeps getting back up. It's like looking into some kind of fun house mirror, and I don't know how to get him to relax.

[There's the sound of a scream, followed by a WHAM. Seems the fighting's picked up a little bit, much to the Replica's chagrin.]

...And while we're at it, has anyone made it to HospiTown yet? I'm fine with scoping out these new islands, but I'd like to at least see where this new town is before I get too carried away.

Comments

[darkened]

SCOPE's like--

[He hesitates, looking back at the two brawling Digimon. When he turns to Sophia again, he lowers his voice.]

They're copies of the originals, I guess. Replicas like me, and Gabumon's--

Hey, get down from the sky, you cheater! Why, I oughta...!

[Said Digimon's now hopping into the air and flailing his arms, as if he can fly that way. What a doofus.]

...Well, he's one of them, and XV-mon really should've phrased it better than calling him "the copy partner."

[justpretending]

[She listens and- she might not completely understand how someone can be a copy, but she nods slowly, and she turns her attention to his partners.]

It wasn't very nice of her to say that. She's louder since she became a big flying lizard.

[Oh, how observant.]

[darkened]

Yeah, it's like she went from some mild mannered alter ego to some over the top super hero, just with even less tact.

[He tenses at the sound of a loud THUD. Ugh... did one of them just hit a building?]

I'm sure she'll be fine once she devolves. I'm just worried that Gabumon'll press harder then.

[justpretending]

Superheroes are supposed to be nice and heroic, though.

[Apparently Sophia has never seen Batman.]

Maybe Gabumon needs someone to invite him to play. Com'mon, we can play with Gabumon later.

[darkened]

Well, she was nice enough to bail us out during that fight. I think all the traveling's just gotten to her head.

[Like fatigue or something. Heck if he knows. Either way, there's a yelp from a few yards away, and then Gabumon flies through the air, straight towards Rep.

He crashes into his chest-- thankfully, it's the back side that hits him.

Both fall backwards and onto the ground, Rep's head hitting the pavement with a lighter thud.]

...Ugh. Are you done yet?

[Gabumon grumbles, rolling back on his feet.]

No way! I'm not gonna finish until I wipe that smug grin off her face!

[He tries running back into the fray, but Rep's latching onto his wrist.]

[justpretending]

[Sophia frowns and walks in front of Gabumon with her hands on her hips.] Hey! No more fighting.

[Then she yells up to XV-mon--] You too! Stoppit both of you right now, or else!

[darkened]

[What is this? Tiny child getting in his way? Gabumon puffs up his chest, leans orward, and bares his pointy teeth.]

Rrrgh! You don't scare me, runt! I'll plow straight through ya if I have--

I don't think so, scruffy!

[And that'd be one XV-mon scooping him up from behind.]

If the squirt wants us to stop, we stop. End of story.

[And with that, the Replica heaves a huge sigh of relief.]

Wow, I'm surprised that worked as well as it did.

[justpretending]

[After a moment, a proud look blossoms on Sophia's face. She stands a bit taller and grins, big and toothy.]

See? There we go! No more fighting at all, okay?

[darkened]

No! I'll never stop-- mmph!

[One of the perks of having huge hands? It's easy to muffle obnoxious pipsqueaks, which is exactly what XV-mon is doing.

Rep'll grin just as widely as Sophia, offering the Digimon and her a thumbs-up.]

Don't worry. If he tries acting up again, I'll probably just get him a leash. That'll teach him a thing or two.

[justpretending]

I think he's just cranky. [She reaches out to Gabumon, to pat him on the head.] He needs food, and a nap.

[darkened]

No! Naps are for babies!

Exactly.

[Heh. The Replica pats him on the head for good measure, just to be a pest.]

And you're acting just like one with that attitude.

[justpretending]

[Either she doesn't realize the implications or she doesn't care, because Sophia simply rubs his head with a smile.]

It's okay, I don't like them sometimes too, but they're really not that bad. Don't tell the grown-ups, though.

[darkened]

[Guh, why is this little girl so sweet? Why is she petting him like a puppy? Gabumon mutters something to himself, though he makes no other moves. It would seem that, for the time being, she's rendered him helpless.]

I'll have to keep you in mind if I ever need a babysitter for this guy. Looks like you've got him in the palm of your hand.

[justpretending]

I've watched a lot of people be good babysitters and bad babysitters. I've learned.

[So says Sophia proudly. Commandramon watches with a that's-cute-as-hell smile.]

[darkened]

Well, good. I'm gonna need all the help I can get between that fuzzball and Sora.

[He tips his chin back and grins. After all, Sora's enough of a troublemaker on his own, and now there's another Digimon to worry about. It just ain't easy being Chosen.]

[justpretending]

And Com'mon can too, right?

Well, of course! I'm a resourceful 'mon.

Good Mr. Lizard. [Now Sophia's the one that's fond.]