third equation: video;

[unwrittenformula]

[Gasp! It's a rare video appearance from the chia pet N! Unfortunately he doesn't look too happy. In fact he seems almost... sad. Cradled in one arm is an egg, and his hat is actually off for once.]

I went by Wally's place. I hadn't seen him in a while and I wanted to check on him.

[There's a pause here, and that 'almost sad' actually becomes very clearly sad. N wasn't much of a people person, but he did like Wally, and he was one of the few people N was willing to be friends with almost instantly.]

He's been sent home. His team went with him, but his Swablu egg was left behind. I'm going to care for it.

... I'm... sorry to anyone who was friends with him. ... he was a good trainer...

[And with that, N shuts the feed off]

Comments

[unwrittenformula]

People will often fear what they can't understand or quantify.

[N frowns more than he was already]

The reaction of humans to your digimon is a perfect example of that. For us, Pokemon have been around as long as humans can recount, but there are still those that would mistreat them and keep them only as useful tools or to rise through the ranks of Pokemon battlers.

[howamanlives]

I don't think it's that simple. I mean, yeah, humans did something stupid, but the ruler of the digital world was ready to destroy us all because of what one guy did.

And I've met some digimon that are just as bad. It just comes down to different people, I think... That's why we need guys who're around to smack down the ones that are wrecking it for everyone else.

[unwrittenformula]

Hmn. I suppose there is two sides to every story. Still... my own distrust of humans has me siding with this ruler probably more than I should...

[howamanlives]

You probably shouldn't. He was ready to delete the digital world soon as his own subjects started disagreeing with him.

[unwrittenformula]

Hn... sounds more like my father, then...

[howamanlives]

Depends. Is your dad a computer that thinks it's god?

[unwrittenformula]

No, but he raised me to believe I was the Chosen Hero of the famed Unova Legend, crowned me "King" of Team Plasma and sent me in to the region to liberate oppressed and abused Pokemon from all trainers, even the ones who weren't actually harming their Pokemon friends.

In the end it turned out "my dream" was really his ploy to rid the world of trainers and keep Pokemon only for himself. I'm certain if he had been left to his own devices he might have very well destroyed the world just to get what he wanted.

[howamanlives]

... sounds like a real piece of work.

... But look, you know all that he tried to make you do was wrong, right?

Sounds like he couldn't use you in the end... and that makes you the better man.

[unwrittenformula]

I had some one very special show me the real truths of the world. I still struggle with trust, but so long as I have her by my side I know I'm moving in the right direction.

[howamanlives]

She sounds pretty awesome, then. Don't let her go, dude.

But you need to have more than one friend out there. I dunno... I'd like to be one too, if you'll let me!

[unwrittenformula]

I don't plan to, though... I think I did something I wasn't supposed to...

[what friends no. just going to... casually ignore that...]

[howamanlives]

... Eh? What do you mean by that?

[too bad N, he's totally gonna be your friend now]

[unwrittenformula]

[noooooo human affection]

I... kissed her.

[behold, the closest Masaru will ever get to admitting he has a crush on Kohaku]

[howamanlives]

... Oh.

Ohhhhh.

Man, that's... I dunno what to tell you there. Girls have never been my strong suit. The only ones I ever liked are either literally worlds away or already taken...

[poor guy]

[unwrittenformula]

I've never even had human friends before I met her. We were simply talking after I returned from Wally's place, and I have no idea what compelled me to do what I did but it... happened.

I've never been so impulsive in my life, and she just stared at me afterwards.

[Wow he actually sounds vaguely emotional.]

[howamanlives]

I see...

... You should probably talk to her. It'll be awkward, but... things'll only get worse if you leave 'em open like that.

[unwrittenformula]

I'll... try.

[howamanlives]

If you need someone to push you into it, you can count on me.

[unwrittenformula]

Ah... thank you...

[He's not sure why he's saying that, though. This isn't something he wants to be shoved in to, even if it kind of needs to happen.]