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]

[XV-mon snickers and cracks her knuckles.]

I'm with Ryu. Poochy's never gonna get anywhere if he mouths off at everybody. Can you imagine if he pulled something like that with a Mega level? Heeee'd be toast.

Size isn't everything, you know!

[God, they're like siblings. At least Riku wasn't this abrasive towards him; nah, he was mostly the instigator.]

Let me put it this way, Gabumon; I'm your partner. What I say goes, and if you don't get your act together, then there'll be more than a muzzle in your future.

But--

I mean it.

[He'll even shoot Gabumon an icy glare to top it all off.]

[heartdive]

That's a little harsh...

[ but again. no one is really listening to Sora. the digimon have spoken their piece. but then again... Sora's also thinking about something else. something that the replica had said previously.

...dead? what? ]

[darkened]

Sometimes you gotta use tough love.

[Gabumon slumps, turning his back on everyone and muttering to himself. When XV-mon lands, he leers at her, but makes no other moves. Pleased with the situation, she'll mosey on up to the others and... promptly fall over and devolve.

She's really been holding her XV-mon form for too long.

As for Rep, he sees that look on Sora's face and shifts his focus to him.]

You okay?

[heartdive]

[ Sora looks at Rep. yeah... his expression is pretty easy to read, isn't it? he's not sure he WANTS to know... but. gotta ask. ]

What did you mean by what you said earlier?

[darkened]

[...Oh.

The Replica's face falls, and he turns the other way. It's the only way to hide the frown creeping across his face and the wariness in his eyes. If Sora pays close enough attention, he may notice the Replica fidgeting ever so slightly-- his hands clench and unclench.

Eventually, he manages to speak up again, though his voice lacks its usual edge.]

I meant what I said. Stuff happened, and I got killed because of it.

[heartdive]

[ see... this disturbs him. it bothers him a lot. someone that he had just met - well someone he should know but doesn't really remember - isn't around any more in his own time. this means that he can't FIX it when he gets back... ]

I... I didn't do it, did I?

[darkened]

No.

[He tries forcing a smile-- it lasts for about a second, uneven and awkward, and when he fails to hold it steady, he looks away again.]

I... I brought it on myself. Did something stupid.

[heartdive]

Is there any way that we could bring you back? There's gotta be, if Nobodies can become themselves again...

[darkened]

Wait, Nobodies can come back?

[Hey, smart change of subject! Now Rep's staring at Sora with wide eyes. After all, if Nobodies can come back, doesn't that mean Marluxia could...?]

[heartdive]

[ oh. right. ]

Um... When a Nobody and their Heartless are destroyed the whole person is restored.

But that should be a good thing?

[darkened]

Not if it's Marluxia who comes back.

[He sneers, grumbling at the mere thought.]

[heartdive]

Who?

[darkened]

[His expression sours further, shifting from a sneer to a glare.]

Marluxia's the creep who was in charge of Castle Oblivion. He's the one who forced Naminé to rework our memories, and he's the wise guy who thought he could turn you into his puppet! He even used Naminé as a shield.

[heartdive]

[ Sora isn't happy to hear that either. his memories are one thing... and from the sounds of it the "thank Naminé" might have been because she fixed things. mostly... ]

Who uses a girl as a shield!?

[darkened]

A heartless monster, that's who. All he cared about was getting his hands on your Keyblade.

[And for what? Rebellion? The Replica's words just ooze bitterness.]

[heartdive]

Following Xemnas' orders?

[darkened]

[He shakes his head.]

No, Marluxia planned on betraying the Organization. That's why he needed you in the first place.

[heartdive]

...Geez. What's with these people and trying to use me?

[ he's nothing special here. ]

[darkened]

Isn't it obvious? You've got a Keyblade; that's all the incentive they need.

[heartdive]

There are other people with Keyblades.

[darkened]

Wait, there are?

[Well, he has vague memories of Terra, sure, and maybe something about Mickey, but...]

Well, it's not like they knew that. And even if they did, I doubt there were more than two or three tops.

[heartdive]

Terra, Aqua, Ventus... Technically Roxas and there's even Axel that has one now in my time.

And I bet they DID know about Roxas. Hard not to, because he was originally from the Organization.

[darkened]

Okay, first of all, I've got no idea who this Roxas guy is. Second...

[His eyes widen, and he leans in Sora's face.]

Axel? Really? You've gotta be pulling my leg.

[heartdive]

No, I'm not.

[ you are so weird, Rep. but Sora isn't pulling back. 8T ]

Some of the Organization members are back to being themselves. So Axel's back to being Lea again. I know that he's done a lot of things that aren't right. But I think his heart had been in the right place.

And Roxas... Is my Nobody. One that has a heart of his own and should be able to not be tied to me like he is.

[darkened]

Okay, so ignoring the fact that he's back to normal, how did he get a Keyblade?

[When Sora brings up his heart being in the "right place," the Replica rolls his eyes and scowls.]

And sorry, but practically sending me to my deathbed hardly seems like the right thing to do.

[He'll process the whole Nobody thing later. This is a sore subject for him, even if he knows, deep down, that it's still kinda his fault, too.]