Tai Kamiya Presents “Gatekeepers”

Episode Fourteen- Interrupt the Christmas Special!


(The entire cast is relaxing in chairs on the set of the AEGIS headquarters, except of course for Joe and Mimi, who are using the humongous radar to play Super Smash Bros. Mimi jumps up in victory when Jigglypuff beats Pikachu.)
Mimi: Woo! Won again!

Yolei: Hey Mimi! Think we can hook up Dance Dance Revolution to this thing later?

Mimi: Sure!!

(Tai enters, somewhat depressed. He is holding a wreath.)

Kari: Hey Tai… what’s that for?

(Tai hangs the wreath on the wall and sighs.)

Tai: It’s the Christmas episode.

TK: What? How can it be the Christmas episode… it’s July!

Ken: Yeah. This definitely isn’t the best time for capturing the festive spirit.

Tai: Don’t you think I know that??

(Joe and Mimi have finished their game and everybody surrounds Tai.)

Tai: Okay… everybody knows that this isn’t a good time for Christmas episodes. It’s obvious to anybody that the best time for a Christmas episode… is March. Unfortunately, we’re way behind schedule because we have to share this studio with another company.

Kari: What are they producing?

Tai: I dunno… some stupid artsy pic where everybody dies. We’ve been getting the short end of the stick lately, so that’s why we’re so behind. Therefore… it’s Christmas.

(Tai looks around.)

Tai: Where’s Isogai? She’s actually in this episode… as her character.

(Isogai enters in, extremely cheery, dressed in a cute little Christmas ensemble.)

Isogai: Merry Christmas everybody!!

Sora: You know, I’m in this episode too, and you don’t see me that excited.

Isogai: Oh, but you should be! I’m just filled with the Christmas spirit! It’s that time of year when everybody should be kind to one another, when everybody should be exchanging gifts at the local Target the day after you receive them, and the most important thing of all… when everybody should be shutting down Tai’s pathetic come-on attempts!

(Tai slaps his forehead.)

Tai: Give me a break…

 

Episode Nineteen- Listen to the Opinion of Youth!

(Along a street of the city, everything seems to be decked out in Christmas decorations. TK, Kari, and Davis are walking along, all in a fairly good mood.)
Davis: You know something, I’ve been a Gatesweeper for awhile now, and I have to say this is one of the greatest things I’ve ever done!

(TK and Kari are ignoring him completely.)

Kari: I can’t believe it’s Christmas already!

TK: Yeah… hey isn’t that Ken and Yolei?

(They see Ken, Yolei, Cody, and Isogai talking on a corner.)

Yolei: That’s great!

TK: What is?

Yolei: Ken’s finally gotten his big break. He’s going to be on TV!!

(TK, Kari, and Davis are simultaneously confused and disgusted. All three of them turn towards Tai.)

Tai: (OS) Yeah, yeah… that’s the episode. Live with it. Hey, at least it’s Ken instead of TK’s little sister.

(TK, Kari, and Davis all smile.)

TK: That’s fantastic! What is it?

Cody: It’s a program they have every year featuring student opinions on various issues. It’s designed to show that kids actually are capable of independent thought these days.

Davis: That show’s still on? I thought it was cancelled and replaced with reruns of “Fear Factor.”

Isogai: No! It’s still on, and the producers have noticed our political club and invited Ken to join!

TK: Well, good luck. I’ll be sure to watch it!

(Ken flashes a semi-evil smile.)

Ken: Watch? TK, we’re friends. I’ve reserved seats for all of you.

Davis: You have? You mean I’m going to be in the audience??

(Ken nods.)

Davis: Wow! I have to call my family! This is going to be one of the greatest things I’ve ever done!!

(Davis runs off. Ken smiles at Kari.)

Ken: Will you be there?

(Kari is hesitant.)

Kari: Well… you have been using devious tricks to try to get me to fall for you… but sure!

 

(Headquarters. The radar is back to serving as a radar and has a large blip on it. Joe is watching it.)
Mimi: (OS, serious) We have an unidentified signal. It’s trying to bio-emerge into this world. We’ve placed a tracker on it.

Joe: What??

(Mimi smiles stupidly.)

Mimi: Sorry Joe. I’m guess I’ve been watching those Hypnos girls too much. Those two rule!

(The signal disappears.)

Mimi: Huh… we lost the signal. Do you think it left?

Joe: It probably just took up a human form. Great… all I want is a Christmas vacation and I end up having to deal with another Asaji type.

(Joe looks at the radar.)

Joe: There seem to be more showing up. I’m not sure whether it’s because our radar is improving or if there really are more Invaders appearing.

Mimi: Maybe it’s both.

Joe: Perhaps. Figures… we destroy two of the head brass… and the third one remains to cause more trouble.

Mimi: You really think that’s it? That this is all because of…

(They continue to stare at the radar.)

Joe/Mimi: (mystical) Shadow.

 

(Rika is alone, walking down a street, the usual uncaring expression on her face.)
Ken: (OS, angry) Are you two insects really capable of doing this?

(Rika spies into a back alley, where Ken is bossing around Kazu and Kenta.)

Kenta: Well, I don’t think so… I mean we aren’t bullies or anything…

(Kazu covers Kenta’s mouth.)

Kazu: What Kenta meant to say was that it isn’t our forte, but we’ll do anything for someone as cool as you Kenny.

Ken: (stern) Don’t call me Kenny.

Kazu: Right, right, sorry.

Kenta: But Kazu, we don’t even know this kid. Why are we bending over backwards for him?

Ken: You want to know why?

(Ken twirls his hand around.)

Ken: (sinister) Gate Open…

(Rika is somewhat shocked as Ken conjures up a beam of dark energy and shoots Kenta’s glasses clean off his face.)

Kenta: Hey! My glasses!

(Kenta bends down to pick them up, when Ken sends another blast to destroy the glasses completely. Kazu nervously gets on his knees.)

Kazu: We’re, uh… happy to serve you Ken! Anything else you need?

(Ken smiles.)

Ken: Not right now. Just do your part… and I’ll do mine. You are dismissed.

Kazu quickly runs out of the alley. Rika quickly ducks away to avoid being seen. The half-blind Kenta feels his way to the street, and sees Rika. He squints, trying to get a better look.)

Kenta: Hey… aren’t you that redheaded girl from Pokémon??

Kazu: (OS) Come on Kenta!!

(Kenta turns around and runs after Kazu.)

Kenta: Coming!

(Once they’re out of the picture, Rika takes another look at Ken. They make eye contact. Rika glares at him.)

Ken: Uh… um… er…

(Ken smiles brightly.)

Ken: Your curiosity has served you well! You will be rewarded with a free Vanilla Coke!

(Rika scoffs and walks away.)

Rika: Don’t strain yourself.

 

(Yolei and Cody are in Yolei’s dorm room. She is attempting to knit a scarf, with little luck.)
Yolei: Jeez… this is impossible!

Cody: It’s not impossible, Yolei, you just have to work at it.

(Yolei tries again, gets frustrated, and tears the whole thing in half.)

Yolei: Dammit!

Cody: Keep trying…

Yolei: If you’re so confident that this can be done, then why don’t you do it?

(Cody puts his hands up.)

Cody: I’m not the one trying to impress TK. Now try it again.

(Yolei tries again, and falls over, sending a ball of yarn flying out the window. While they stare at the flying string, Sora passes by and sees Yolei’s frustration.)

Sora: Oh, just bake him some cookies.

(Sora continues on while Yolei sighs.)

Yolei: Maybe that’s not such a bad idea.

Cody: No! That’s not you! You have to do something that makes him think of you. I think a scarf is more you than cookies!

Yolei: Why are you so passionate about this anyway?

Cody: Because… I figure if I latch on to this subplot, I won’t be completely worthless in this episode.

 

(Rika is doing homework. She looks over and sees a flyer advertising the television special. Ken is listed as one of the speakers. She picks it up and stares at it.)
Rika: Ken Ichijouji… could he possibly be the Shadow?

(She continues to stare at the flyer, then crumples it up and tosses it aside.)

Rika: Only one way to find out.

 

(At the studio, people are in line to get into the audience. TK, Kari, Davis, and Sora are with them.

Davis: Man… why’s this line so long?

Kari: I thought we had tickets reserved.

TK: We do, but unless we actually have them, we can’t get in.

Davis: That settles it… next year we pre-register.

(Rika walks up to them.)
Rika: Hey, I need to see Ken.

(Davis grabs her and drags her in line.)

Davis: We’ve been in line for two hours to see Ken. We’ll be nice and sneak you in with us.

Kari: Hey… who are they?

(They look over and see Kazu and Kenta making fun of everybody in line. Kenta still doesn’t have glasses.)

Kazu: (rowdy) Hey! What’s the matter? Can’t think on your own so you wanna pay to watch other people do it!?

Kenta: (squinting at the crowd) Um… yeah!

Kazu: Hey, come on, Kenta. Get in the groove. We’re little hellions and we have to act the part!

(Kazu turns back towards the people in line.)

Kazu: Here! I’ll give you a thought! You should all go home and get a life!

(TK, Kari, Sora, and Rika are annoyed.)

Sora: Stupid punks.

TK: Yeah… I’m going to talk to them.

Kari: Don’t bother. They’re starting to let people in and I don’t want to lose our place in line.

(TK, Kari, and Sora move on. Rika watches them for awhile.)

Rika: Scumbags.

(Rika continues to stare at them.)

Rika: Wait a minute… they’re the ones from…

Kari: (OS) Rika? Are you coming?

(Rika angrily looks back at Kari, then drops the issue and follows.)

 

(Farther back in the line, Yolei is waiting just around the corner. She is holding a bag of cookies. Cody is about to go to the back of the line, and sees Yolei, who is about to take off as the line starts to move. Cody walks towards Yolei.)

Cody: Yolei, wait up!

(Yolei turns around and sees Cody. She looks down at the cookies and blushes briefly.)

Yolei: Oh, Cody.

Cody: So, um… Yolei… are you the kind of person who lets people butt into line? I mean… not that it matters to me… just wondering.

Yolei: No, I’m trying to figure out what to say to TK when I give him these cookies.

(Cody finally sees the cookies and is somewhat down.)

Cody: Oh… I see… cookies, huh?

(Yolei squirms a little.)

Yolei: (sad) I gave up on the scarf…

(Cody puts his hand on her shoulder.)

Cody: It’s okay…

Yolei: You’re not mad at me Cody?

Cody: No, of course not.

(Cody guides Yolei to continue down the line.)

Cody: Now get in there and give TK those cookies!

(Yolei smiles.)

Yolei: Thanks Cody.

(Cody smiles and walks towards the back of the line. As he slowly reaches the back of the line, he turns around to see Yolei charging towards him.)

Yolei: Aw, screw TK… I love you!!

(Yolei drops the cookies and hugs Cody tightly.)

Cody: (in shock) WHAT???!!!

(Yolei continues to hold him.)

Tai: (OS) CUT!!!

(Tai walks towards the two.)

Tai: Yolei…

Cody: I was going to say. That’s not in the script.

Tai: Yolei…

(Tai looks at Yolei for a second. Yolei lets go of Cody. Tai immediately hugs Yolei and starts crying.)

Tai: Yolei, you’re a genius!!

Cody: Huh?

Tai: (in tears) Yolei, I never realized your full potential… your true talent… your true inner beauty until now. (serious) Do you, uh, want to go catch a movie tonight?

Yolei: Sure!

Tai: Great!! It’s a date then!

(Tai turns around, smiling.)

Cody: She’s being hailed as a genius for changing the script so that she falls for me??

(Tai frowns.)

Tai: Aw, shoot… no, no, no... that doesn’t work. Yolei can’t fall for Cody.

Cody: I was going to say… how can she fall for a cute Chinese girl?

(Tai turns around.)

Tai: Oh, that’s not the problem. Heck, the thought of Yolei falling for a cute Chinese girl kinda turns me on.

(Tai drops the thought and pulls a small booklet out of his back pocket and hands it to Cody.)

Tai: The problem, however, lies in here. This would violate Section 9, Statute 34 of the laws of Digimon fanfiction.

(Cody flips through the booklet, finds the rule, and reads.)

Cody: (reading) Under absolutely no circumstance may any of the other eleven Odaiba digi-destined fall in love with Cody. This applies to all situations, including but not limited to future fics featuring an older version of Cody, fics where Cody switches mind or body with a different character, and/or alternate universe fics where Cody is portraying a different person altogether.

(Cody looks up from the book, totally bewildered.)

Cody: That’s unfair!

(Tai takes the book back.)

Tai: I know, but rules are rules, and I have to abide by them, even if we are just shills so Pioneer Animation can sell more Gatekeepers DVDs.

Yolei: So what do we do?

Tai: Well, since you’re such a genius, I’ll let you pick who you want to end up with… as long as it’s not Cody. If you want to end up with TK, Davis, Joe… heck even Kari or Mimi! Pick your match, and he, or she, is yours.

Yolei: Ooh… I’ll keep that in mind!!

Cody: (to Yolei) What? You’re just going to pick somebody, regardless of the plot?

(Tai hands Cody the booklet again.)

Tai: Section 8, Statute 14.

Cody: (reading) It is well within Yolei’s character to fall in love with anyone and anything… except Cody.

 

(Everybody is now at the studio proper. Because they had reserved tickets, they are all seated together. The girl on the stage is giving a lovely speech about pollution.)
Speaker: We are all concerned with today! Why is nobody concerned about tomorrow? We pollute the water because it’s more cost-efficient. We litter the ground because we’re too lazy to find a garbage can. We clog the highways with exhaust-burning cars because our senses of smell are too touchy to take the subway!

(Pan across the group- Cody, Davis, and TK are asleep. Kari is watching them, somewhat angry at them. She shakes her head, then looks over to the other side- Sora and Yolei are asleep too. Rika is listening intently, thinking about it.)

Speaker: (OS) When are we going to learn that some of today’s little luxuries are going to need to be sacrificed in order to keep tomorrow beautiful?

(Rika appears troubled.)

Rika: (to herself) That’s all well and good, but it’s a weak argument. There’s no facts… no emotion. I already knew that. Tell me something I don’t know… like what we’re supposed to do about it.

(That speaker finishes to polite applause and the moderator approaches the microphone.)

Moderator: Thank you… um… well we don’t have your name with us right now. It’s okay- you’re not an important character. Next up is Ken Ichijouji!

(More polite applause as Ken takes the microphone… and Kari hurriedly wakes everybody up.)

Kari: Wake up, Ken’s gonna talk.

(Ken begins his speech by referring to the previous one.)

Ken: That’s all well and good… but what are we supposed to do about it?

(Rika raises an eyebrow.)

Rika: Good start.

(Ken continues.)

Ken: The first thing we need to do is identify the source of the problem. Stingyness? Lazyness? A sensitive nose? Perhaps… but the source is even deeper. The problem… are all these parasites that do all this.

(The audience is in awe.)

Ken: Parasites! Nothing more than stupid insects that are destroying their own home! Some are bigger than others. Some are very small… almost harmless. But regardless… they must be exterminated. At any cost. All the parasites are destroying the world, and every single one of them must be stomped on… or there is no future.

(They’re awake now! Cody looks over at Kari.)

Cody: The network wouldn’t possibly air this. This is far too controversial to get past the censors.

Kari: I don’t know… they left the bio-merge sequences in. 

TK: That’s not even an issue… this is aired live.

(Kari looks over, really concerned.)

 

(Meanwhile, the moderator, seated at a table off to the side, leans over to woman at the table.)

Moderator: Tell the network to cut transmission.

(The woman pulls out a cellular phone, but Kazu grabs her arm.)

Kazu: Oh, I’d keep the transmission going if I were you.

(Kenta jumps up on the stage as well as Kazu takes the phone, drops it on the ground, and steps on it.)

Kenta: Yeah… this show’s starting to get interesting. Turn it up… I think the world needs to hear this guy.

(Kazu and Kenta approach Ken.)

Kazu: We got them straightened out for you.

Kenta: Yeah… we agree, you know… there’s a lot of parasites out there.

(Ken is smug.)

Ken: Of course… you two are two of the more annoying ones.

Kazu: What? You’re calling us parasites?

Ken: Of course you’re parasites!

(Ken turns to the audience.)

Ken: You all are!

(An angry Kazu grabs Ken by the collar.)

Kazu: How dare you?? Well then, I think you need to see what a couple parasites can do to a weakling like you.

(Kari is incredibly concerned and sees TK standing up.)

Kari: Good idea… we have to get in there to help Ken!

(TK looks back. He’s staring at Ken’s smug face.)

TK: It’s not Ken I’m worried about… it’s those two idiots.

(TK runs towards the stage. Back up there, Kazu is about to take a swing at Ken, but Ken knees him in the stomach, and hurls him at Kenta. Both Kazu and Kenta are sent reeling. Ken returns to the microphone.)

Ken: The parasites must be destroyed! They must be crushed as soon as possible. And if that means the complete destruction of the human race… so be it.

(TK jumps on the stage as Ken approaches Kazu and Kenta, about to finish them off.)

TK: No! Let them go!

Ken: Why? They’re insects. They’re only harming the world!

TK: They’re human!

Ken: Exactly!! Humans are worse than animals. They consume more than they need! They destroy anything they find inconvenient! They must be eliminated before they eliminate the world.

TK: That’s not the answer! If there’s a problem, we can try to fix it. If it’s a lot of problems… we’ll just need some time. At least we can reason… at least we have the wisdom to make change.

Ken: Humans have only used wisdom for evil!!

TK: You’re going too far Ken!!

Ken: And who’s going to stop me??

(Kazu and Kenta are on the floor.)

Kazu: Kenta… I’d like to not die if it’s all right with you.

Kenta: Sounds good. What’s the plan?

Kazu: You know darn well what the plan is Kenta.

(They pull out their sunglasses…)

 

(At Headquarters, the alarm goes off as the Invaders are detected on the radar. Joe looks up at the alarm, concerned. He turns towards Mimi.)

Joe: Mimi! We have a monster alert!

(He stops and sees that Mimi is has finally gotten Dance Dance Revolution hooked up on the radar and is blissfully dancing away.)

Mimi: Hold on, only one more song to go!

Joe: (angry) Mimi!!

(Joe rushes to a computer and types frantically. The monitor reverts back to a radar in the middle of the song.)

Mimi: Aw…

Joe: Let’s see… it’s coming from the TV studio.

Mimi: Joe… look on the television.

Joe: Mimi, I don’t care if you were getting an A on “Butterfly,” I need your help!

Mimi: No! Look!

(Joe looks over and sees that the station is still airing the program. Kazu and Kenta are reaching for their glasses.)

Joe: Is that on live?

Mimi: Yes, except on the west coast.

Joe: We can’t show this. Izzy! Hack into the network’s computer and jam the signal!!

(Izzy looks up from his computer.)

Izzy: Um… yes sir.

(Izzy returns to his computer.)

Izzy: I was about to do that anyway… those ingrates left me off the program for the last time!

(Izzy’s monitor reads “Confirm Jamming? Y/N”. Izzy clicks on “Y.”)

 

(At the Takaishi household, Matt and Mrs. Takaishi are watching the program. Kazu puts his glasses on, then the shot is replaced with a screen reading “Techinical Difficulties: Please Stand By.” The text is accompanied by a cute picture of an Upamon pulling an electrical cord out of the socket with its teeth.)

Mrs. Takaishi: What happened?

Matt: Hold on…

(Matt slams the television a few times. Nothing works.)

Matt: Huh… that works with the Spice Channel.

 

(At the studio, much of the audience has started running off as the Invaders start firing at the audience. Kari and the others join TK on the stage.)

Kari: What do we do?

TK: I don’t know… let’s contact headquarters!

(TK is about to use his wrist communicator when Kari puts her hand over it.)

Kari: (nervous) Or let’s not.

TK: Okay, okay… everybody! We have to stop these guys, but we can’t use our powers in front of the cameras. We have to act like normal kids, understand??

(Kari, Yolei, Sora, Cody, Davis, and Rika salute simultaneously.)

Kari/Yolei/Sora/Cody/Davis/Rika: Roger… AEGIS!

(TK puts a hand to his face.)

TK: (sarcastic) Great start, guys.

(More Invaders rush in from outside. Kari takes out one line with her bow and arrow, to a number of onlookers, she laughs nervously.)

Kari: Um… I was about to practice my archery and those guys got in the way of the target.

(Davis rushes in and socks one of them in the face.)

Davis: (to the onlookers) Uh… he owes me money.

(Cody charges at one.)

Cody: Fire Armadillo!!

(The Invader is incinerated. Cody turns towards a couple of very confused people.)

Cody: Um… there must be a gas leak or something… he tried to light a cigarette and he blew up. Just goes to show you… smoking kills.

(Sora is looking around.)

Sora: Uh… is there a piano around… I have the sudden urge to practice.

TK: Yeah… I have the sudden urge to practice my kendo!

(TK whaps a few of them on the head with his stick, while Yolei drives a bunch of them into the wall.)

Yolei: They made a few changes in track & field. It’s now full contact. I’m running the 1500 tomorrow and need to work on my body checks.

(Rika is helping people escape. She looks over at Ken. Ken is staring back at her.)

Rika: Are you Shadow?

(Ken begins to laugh. Meanwhile, only one of the Invaders remains. Rika has gotten everybody out of the building, so TK lets loose.)

TK: Vacuum Missile!

(The Invader is destroyed.)

Yolei: Sleep in heavenly peace!

(By now, nobody else is left in the auditorium… except for Isogai, who is freaking.)

Isogai: What the hell was that??

TK: Um… well… uh…

(Ken starts to clap, smiling brightly.)

Ken: Very, very nice work. I never knew you all did magic.

TK: Um… well…

(TK smiles.)

TK: That’s right! My name is actually short for Takeo, and I am president of the Magic User’s Club at school!

Ken: Fantastic! And judging by the looks of it, you too agree that pests must be exterminated before they become dangerous.

(TK stares at Ken nervously. Kari taps him on the shoulder.)

Kari: Let’s get out of here before we end up even more suspicious.

(TK nods, and everybody but Ken rushes out. Rika and Ken stare each other down as she runs out.)

 

(At Headquarters, the signal disappears.)

Mimi: Looks like we got ‘em.

Joe: Yeah. Izzy- resume transmission.

Izzy: (OS) Sure thing.

(The Upamon screen on the television is repaced by Ken, standing alone in the studio.)

Ken: Look around here. The place just went up in smoke. Everybody left, part of the room is on fire, and I just fell witness to a massive battle. And what is the cause of all this? Parasites!! The time to fight them is now!!

(Joe stares at Ken, very suspicious.)

 

(The next day, TK, Kari, Yolei, Cody, Sora and Davis are hanging out at the park. Yolei gives TK the bag of cookies.)
Yolei: Here… I made them myself.

(TK hesitates for a bit, then takes a bite. He’s suspiciously impressed.)

TK: Wow… they’re good. In fact, they taste… just like the ones at the convenience store.

(Yolei is nervous. Kari takes a cookie and tries.)

Kari: Yeah… they’re just as good as the ones made in a factory! That’s really impressive!

(Yolei smiles as everybody takes one and is impressed.)

Davis: Why don’t I get girls to make me cookies like this?

Yolei: Well… I’m glad you like them. If you’ll excuse me, I have to get going. See ya!

(Everybody waves as she leaves. TK looks at Kari.)

TK: They, uh, are the ones from the convenience store.

Kari: Of course they are… just wanted to make sure she didn’t get her feelings hurt.

Cody: You mean, she tried to pass off cookies from a convenience store as her own to impress somebody?

(Sora looks at the cookie, a smile on her face.)

Sora: Worked for me!

 

(At school, Rika is walking through the empty halls when she sees Ken in an empty classroom. She enters.)

Rika: Ken Ichijouji… you are Shadow aren’t you?

Ken: That… is… unimportant.

Rika: Liar. You deceive everybody for your own purposes.

(Ken smiles and heads towards the door.)

Ken: Perhaps. But that’s fine by you isn’t it? After all… you agree with me.

(Rika is stone-faced. Ken continues to smile.)

Ken: Welcome to the Society of Political Thought.

(Ken shuts the door.)

 

Tai: (OS) And cut!

(Ken chuckles.)

Ken: You certainly know how to break the tension, Tai.

Tai: Ken, Ken… the episode ends before I yell “cut” so the tension is perserved. Got it?

Ken: Got it.

(Tai smiles and walks towards the other set.)

Tai: Well, that’s it… Merry Christmas! Yolei?

(Tai extends an arm, and Yolei wraps her own arm around it.)

Yolei: Merry Christmas indeed! Ready?

(Tai and Yolei both start to head out, although Tai can’t help but stop in front of Isogai.)

Tai: Well Isogai… time to shut down Tai’s come-ons, huh?

(Isogai has a straight face, and is staring down the smiling Tai. Finally she smiles and turns away.)

Isogai: Mimi! Still got the DDR working?

(Tai loses the smile as Isogai runs off to play with the others at “AEGIS Headquarters.” Tai and Yolei walk off, while the others are too busy watching Matt and Sora dance to the song “Silent Hill” to care.)

End Episode Thirteen

Author’s Notes
Hold on… yes! I got through the whole episode without a reference to Evangelion! The only big anime reference, besides a brief nod to “Mon Colle Knights,” was to “Magic User’s Club” and to the president of the Magic User’s Club, who is indeed named Takeo. TK’s first season voice actress and the voice of Reiko, Sora’s character, play fellow members of the club.

Tai’s reference to the best time for a Christmas episode being March refers to the airdate of the second season’s Christmas episode.

So… everybody know the title of the stupid artsy pic where everybody dies? Good.

The scene between Yolei and Cody is taken almost word-for-word from The Scene™ in episode 38 of Digimon, with minor changes made to fit in into context.

I’m not going to go anywhere with Taiyako, so mo-mantai, okay? If you’re asking yourself “why Taiyako” my answer is “why not?” Section 8, Statute 14 clearly allows it. Incidentally, there really must be a rulebook of Digimon fanfiction somewhere forbidding relationships with Cody, because they are non-existent compared to everybody else’s love lives.

Next Episode- New Year, Old Plot!
For some obscure reason, there’s an episode centered around TK’s little sister right before the plot gets good. So this one’s all for the Matt fans as Matt explores his friendship with Ryo while Ryo explores the true meaning of New Year’s Eve. Namely… getting stinking drunk. But can Ryo help Matt through his problems with a love interest… especially since there are no more girls left to play Matt’s love interest?