[Video // Second Transformation]

[proveyourmetal]

[For all you night owls out there, Vanguard decides that now (just five minutes past midnight in an abandoned house at the edge of HospiTown) is the perfect time to voice his displeasure.:]

As you are all my witness, there is nothing here, there's no such things as ghosts, and if this rickety old house comes crashing down on our heads, it's Bumblebee's fault.

[Bumblebee shines his flashlight back at Vanguard and the D-terminal with an amused smile, Vanguard gives an indignant scoff.]

I'm not scared. I'm annoyed

[Bumblebee laughs silently, patting Vanguard as he moves past. Vanguard murmurs irately and paws his impeccably groomed mane back into place. Ghosts may not exist, but Digimon ghost types certainly exist. Even the small ones are a pain to deal with, dispatched with a good fireball. But the higher level ones? Best to stay away from those altogether.]

Can we just go now?

[Bee sighs. Fine, they can head home, if that's what he wants. Of course, that's when the camera catches a glimpse of something: moonlight pouring in from a window flickers on the wall behind him, like a shadow dashing across the light. Floorboards in the distance give off a terrible groan, wood creaking under something's weight. The orb of light from Bumblebee's flashlight creeps down the long, dark corridor. The beam hardly penetrates the stifling darkness to reveal a room at the end of the hallway, its door half fallen off its hinges.]

[The D-terminal's camera starts to shake from unsteady hands. And as camera focuses, two slivers of light stare back at them. Soft mumbling carries down the hallway as the D-terminal's shaking intensifies.]

[Bumblebee, stricken more with curiosity and wariness than fear, takes a tentative step forward. Bewildered, Vanguard snatches Bumblebee's sleeve]

What're you doing-!?

[As if in response to the noise, the two slivers of eyes disappear into the dark. A voice that is neither Bumblebee's nor Vanguard's hisses vehemently right next to the D-terminal:]

-can't take it from me!

[The inhuman noise that comes from Vanguard is so panicked and high pitched, it's practically comical. His flailing knocks the flashlight from Bee's hand, and the D-Terminal goes sailing with it. Both hit the ground with a clatter.]

[The last thing the feed picks up is the sound of rapid footsteps in the dark. The feed cuts.]

Comments

[proveyourmetal]

I showed them memories.

[He turns the journal around, revealing the telltale contents of a handwritten page. The handwriting is neat and playful, with hearts dotting the I's and g's curling into swirls occasionally. There are drawings of a creepy looking bear that looks remarkably like the digimon in front of Sora. There are ticket stubs, and receipts tucked into its pages.]

Of her.

[heartdive]

[ oh good. memories are okay things. also means that they will wake up on their own. in time.

Sora takes a second to look at the exposed page, careful not to touch or do something that could be offensive. ]

...Girlfriend?

[ he can only assume! ]

[proveyourmetal]

[The digimon shakes his head. Then flips the page where the image of a Crest of Friendship is drawn with excited lines radiating outward right to the edge of the page.]

Chosen.

[heartdive]

[ oh... oh well that certainly puts things into perspective. Sora even digs for his own crest. the same crest. his fist closes around it and he looks back to the digimon before him. ]

You miss 'em a lot, don't you?

[proveyourmetal]

[When Sora closes his hand around his crest, the digimon will close his book gently and then cradle it in the crook of his arm. The gaze he gives Sora is answer enough.]

He gives one long, exhale. And then takes one lumbering step after another towards the door as if he means to leave. It's time to go, because what he has asked has been done. And he is emotionally drained because of it.]

I am tired.

[heartdive]

[ understandably. so Sora makes no move to stop him, both Vixie and Ryu relaxing and changing back to their Rookie forms. there could be a speech here about how their bond, even though they are far apart, will never break. about how he always carries a piece of his Chosen with him and vice versa...

but Sora thinks that maybe having a physical piece might not be such a bad thing either.

so he and his partners will take a seat across from Bee and Vanguard. waiting. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[Sora may have a wait ahead of him. Vanguard still be the first to wake, and he doesn't even stir for another half an hour. And even then, he sits up groggily and disoriented, rubbing at his face.]

[heartdive]

[ just long enough for Sora and Ryu to probably nod off. the dragon is curled around Sora while the kid uses him as a pillow, Vixie being the only one awake. ]

Have a good nap?

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard just groans like Vixie told him he woke up in a trash can. Being awake feels awful. Does that answer your question?

His eyes may be a little red and puffy.]

[heartdive]

[ don't mind her then. she's having a good chuckle to herself over this.

nothing had turned out quite like they thought it would, huh? ]

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard's face just sours even further. He looks up just briefly enough to check Bumblebee over, to make sure he's uninjured. Then, he's looking back at Vixie.]

Did you get it? Did you get it back?

[heartdive]

Would we be here if we didn't?

[ speaking of sleeping Chosens... Sora sniffs and Vixie ruffles his hair affectionately. ]

We got it. The digimon took it and has left.

[proveyourmetal]

[Vanguard seems to finally relax. He just seems lost in his own thoughts. Then, he just nods.] Good.

[This of course is exactly when Bee decides to wake up. Instead of of the slow, sluggish way that Vanguard comes to... Bumblebee wakes with a start. He just takes one quick, long inhale as he sits up straight. He blinks rapidly, looking around the room as his eyes start to focus.]

[heartdive]

[ to which Bumblebee is given a wave as a welcome. a good morning! ]

We're all right, by the way.

[ because Bee seems the type to worry. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[He swallows, absorbing the fact that he's awake. His surroundings. The friendly digimon. Sora and Ryu dozing in the corner. Safe and sound. Vanguard sitting close enough to lean on Bee.

He just nods, absentmindedly. He rubs at his face, feeling a little drained. Then he's reaching for his D-Terminal. He briefly shows his to Vixie, as if asking her to retrieve theirs.]

[heartdive]

[ oh, right. the texting thing.

Vixie is nudging Sora around a bit. she has to get into one of his too many pockets. the kid grumps and shifts, but doesn't really stir or look like he's going to get up. it's enough to get her to roll her eyes with an affectionate grin. ]

[proveyourmetal]

[The comical sight makes Bumblebee relax a little, even put on something of a smile. He'll be awake enough in a moment to type up a message.]

So the three of you didn't run into trouble, did you?

[heartdive]

We... We did, really. There was a Phantomon there. He had taken the journal and tried to take Sora from us.

[ which it is obvious that they didn't allow that to happen. ]

When we got him free, we just took a leap out of the window.

[proveyourmetal]

[That gets a bewildered look from Bee. One that eventually turns into stern disapproval. Though... it isn't necessarily at the trio.]

[He spares the kid a glance, if only to make sure again that he's uninjured. He can't see anything, aside from the sprained wrist that he knows Sora already has.

It was reckless to ask Sora to come there for some misguided 'adventure', let alone to go to the hospital. Despite the strong, capable partners that Sora had... Bee takes it seriously that he put someone as young as Sora at risk. He can think of more than one bot that'd probably be disappointed in him.]

[heartdive]

[ ah no. not having any of that. that look and the glances pretty much tell all. ]

Bee. Don't look like that. It's not your fault Sora got hurt. It's mine. I pulled him down when I took off. And you haven't put him in any more danger than he's either put himself in or has found him.

[ don't feel so bad. everything worked out, right? Vixie takes a look at Sora, still holding onto his crest. ]

And if he were awake, he'd tell you that it was all worth it anyway.

[proveyourmetal]

That does sound like something Sora would say.

[He doesn't blame Vixie at all for the risky behavior like she does herself. She's likely the reason Sora got out in one piece. Sora's a good kid, and his digimon take after him.]

[He starts to get up slowly. Vanguard rises to help but Bee just gives him a pat on the head once he's all the way up. No need. He's fine. Bee glances down at Sora and his partner.]

Think we should let them sleep a little longer?

[heartdive]

Nope. They only went to sleep waiting for you... So now that you're up...

[ Vixie grins, leaning over and...

SURPRISE TICKLE ATTACK. and it's super effective in getting Sora up, jumping and knocking into Ryu. shouting and giggling. but Vixie is merciless for all of one minute before letting go and pretending that nothing happened. ]

That's cheating!

[proveyourmetal]

[Well that's one way to get them up. Vanguard groggily places his hand over his ears like he's got a headache, but Bee will be watching the scene, hands on his hips. He's rather relaxed, laughing quietly at the trio.

All's fair in love and naptime, Sora.]</small.

[heartdive]

[ ...And Sora just looks at Bee with a bit of a pout. you aren't helping him. for shame. how could you allow for this to happen, Bee?

but that look fades as he stands up. Ryu grumps, clearly not amused by these kiddie antics. ]

Took you guys long enough to wake up.

[proveyourmetal]

Look at it this way. Least you got some beauty sleep in. I been out of it this entire time, and I feel like I haven't had a wink.

[Blip. Message from Bee] Sorry about that, Sora. We had a bit of an adventure of our own.