The Path Not Taken (Rebecca)

When it came to Dante's family, there was a lot of competition going on there across multiple lines of work. Dante's father and uncle have been frenemies for over a decade, and not only does Dante have to compete with his air head sister, but his built ford tough women's martial arts champion cousin. "That's the problem. It doesn't matter how good you are at something, or how hard you practice, there's always someone better." "Negative Dante feeling sorry for himself again."

The explanation of Cassius' scars only added to his creepiness factor. Dante isn't sure if White Wolf would touch Cassius with a ten foot pole had they not been working together. When Gabumon saw the wall around the village, he remarks how the bandits couldn't be that tough. He mentions how they walloped the trio that attacked before. The wounds on Terriermon told the story. This was a Digimon who wasn't the best fighter, forced to defend his homeland against the forces of greed.

Upon seeing the wounded Digimon, White Wolf was noticeably upset upon seeing a Digimon in such condition. Terriermon looks puzzled at first, but closes his eyes and nods his head. "Oh this? Ya, it's been pretty harsh. I'm not complaining, though. I could have lost my skin years ago to those damn brutes!" Dante gives Terriermon a reassuring pat on the back. "You have my sympathy and my respect for what you are doing here. I was under the impression that the bandit attacks had subsided. What brought all this on?"

Terriermon remains silent for a moment. He stares off into the distance, recalling the many raids on innocent Digimon here in the forest. "We fought them back, we took down their leader. Somehow, they have built up their forces like never before. Do not worry yourselves about that right now. You are here as our saviors, but also our welcomed guests."

A Gomamon in a chef's hat comes strolling out of the kitchen, towing a big pot of carrot and bean soup. The chef waves a hearty hello to the group. "Hey there, pals. Hope you are hungry!" Wormmon's eyes get all wide upon seeing the food. "Now we are talking. Let's mac on some grub!" They start dishing up and sit down to eat. "Help yourselves! There's salad, and fresh fish over there."

Cassius loads up a big plate and sits down at the far end of the table by himself. Dante watches him closely, trying to get a read on the smooth criminal. "Reformed, eh? You of all people? Don't expect me to not have my doubts, fish boy." Before Cassius takes a bite to eat, he presses a button on his mask. The black and white face cover opens up in front of his mouth to allow him to eat, while still covering both of his cheeks. Cassius catches Dante watching him out of the corner of his eye, and Dante quickly looks away. Cassius sneers and goes back to eating.

Dante enjoys Gomamon's meal. "This is so good. I can't remember the last time I had food this good in the Server Woods before." Dante turns to White Wolf. "Have you ever been here before? You must have if you come here to sing. It's one of my more preferred places to visit in the Digital World. It's nice to be out in nature." Dante notices Wormmon making a mess while he eats and scoots his plate away from the little piggie to avoid the crumbs flying everywhere.

When Dante made excuses about people being better fighters and singers than him, White Wolf unloaded on the slacker. She says he should be motivated to improve. Dante looked 2 feet tall next to the raging pop idol. After her rant, Dante sheepishly responds. "Uh, ya, well, when you put it that way. I will consider it, White Wolf." "Haha! Dante has no back bone when he's talking to women!" There was no doubt that Rebecca couldn't be White Wolf. *Facepalms*

When Terriermon gave his sob story, the Digimon agreed that these bandits were wicked. "Bullies with battering rams. I guess Barbarians is a more accurate name at this point." Wormmon wasn't the only one to be excited to eat. Agumon is hungry, and his stomach lets them know it. "You need 4 bowls of soup and two dozen fish, pronto!" No, Wormmon, you are not a doctor or nutritionist, and if there's a goddess, you never will be.

Wormmon was unaware that his "table manners" were driving the others to scoot away. Cassius just looks at the worm and scoffs. He rolls his eyes and shakes his head. "You've been awfully quiet, there, big guy. Tell me that you are not going soft." Cassius ignores Dante and flips him off while taking another bite. Even Wormmon was picking up that Cassius is uncomfortable.

Finally, something they could all agree on. The food is delicious. White Wolf agrees with Dante and mentions Digimon know how to cook. "Indeed. We've been lucky enough to meet several great chefs on our journeys." White Wolf tells Dante that the spot they met in the forest is the same spot she first encountered Agumon and Gabumon. Dante smiles delightfully. "Really? That's so cool! Good thing you were there to get them something to eat." White Wolf mentions how the twins were the first friends she made in a good while. Maybe the masked singer had more in common with Rebecca than it seemed.

Dante relaxes in his chair and breathes out slowly. "That was delicious! Thank you, Gomamon." The chef smiles and bows politely. "It's my specialty! Extra daikons." "What's a dye khan?" "It's basically a giant white carrot. I'll show you a picture." Dante takes out his phone and goes to look up daikons, but Cassius beats him to the punch and tosses his phone down on the table before Dante could finish loading the page.

"Damn, Cassius got some mad skills." The cold thief manages to crack a grin. "There you go, Cassius. Warm up a little, be social. What happened to that smooth talking ladies man?" Wormmon looks at the picture and laughs. "It looks like a giant di-." The last word is unintelligible because his mouth was full.

When they are finished eating, Terriermon returns with their first task. "Did you enjoy the meal? Chef Gomamon is known throughout Eastern Timberlands for his seafood. Are you ready for your first assignment?" "Throw it at me, coach. Let's get in the game!" "Well, I'm not really your coach. I'm the leader of the resistance, so I guess I'm your boss. Oh, not that I think I'm the boss of you or anything!" "It's all good. You have been a terrific leader and host so far."

Terriermon smiles at Dante. "We are glad to have you here. The first thing we need to take care of is repairing the east wall. There was another attack the other night and they busted right through. Well we've got some bricks down by the lumber yard. I need you guys to load up the wheelbarrows with bricks and take them to the damaged wall. The yard is just down to the left." "Alright, let's get started. A little exercise can't hurt." "Oh, I forgot to mention. Dante, I need you to come with me so we can discuss further plans." "Oh, okay. I'll catch up with you guys later."

After cleaning up, Dante follow Terriermon over to a small tower. Cassius starts walking towards the lumber yard with his hands relaxed behind his head. "Uh, guys? How am I going to push a wheel barrow? Dante? Dante! I need to Digivolve." "You'll figure out something, Worm King." "Where's that big sea monster thing of yours?" "I don't just whip it out whenever someone asks."

It seems Dante isn't the only one who's encountered a good cook on their adventures. White Wolf speaks of an Impmon X chef they met that is a great cook. "Good thing we run into someone who can cook, because Dante sure can't, ah haha!"

When they had finished eating, Dante goes with Terriermon while the rest go to fix the wall. Dante didn't feel comfortable about leaving the group, leaving Wormmon unattended. Even worse, he couldn't keep an eye on the master thief, and that creepy bath turd is acting crazier than usual. "I feel sorry for White Wolf and the twins, going with the Worm King and that froggy jerk. Hang in there, Arcan and Gunther."

Wormmon asks why Seadramon isn't around, and WW concludes that Cassius keeps his Digimon locked up in a V-Pet all day. Wormmon makes a puzzled look, and Cassius raises an eyebrow. "He likes it." "White Wolf is our friend, so if she asks you to take it out, reach down into your pants and take your giant sea monster out!" Cassius glares down at Wormy. "So this is how Dante must feel. I could not be more disgusted right now."

The group reaches the lumber yard and sees a few wheelbarrows next to a large stack of fairly large bricks. "Alright, as the leader here, you two Digivolve and start filling up wheelbarrows." "No one made you the leader, Wormmon. And I certainly don't care enough. Just do your job." Wormmon crawls over to the stack of bricks and climbs up to the top. He tries to pick up a brick, but he is struggling.

"Alright, look out below!" Wormmon starts throwing bricks down from the top. Cassius jumps out of the way, showing no concern for White Wolf. "Wormmon, you stupid idiot!" "Come on, just wheel them over and load 'em up!" Wormmon continues chucking bricks down, trying to get them to land in the wheelbarrows. Cassius dodges another brick. "Damn it, why did Dante get to leave?!"

Arcan lectures Wormmon about not making fun of someone for lacking a skill. With Dante not around, someone had to attempt at keeping Wormmon in line. It was clear to Cassius that White Wolf objects to Cassius leaving his partner in his V-pet. The 'reformed' thief decides it's not worth it and gives in. "Fiiine. I'll let him out later." Wormmon was getting on White Wolf's nerves. You couldn't really say that they had a good group dynamic before, but without Dante the clashing personalities were creating tension, friction like tectonic plates.

After they reach the lumber yard, Wormmon starts hucking bricks at the meat puppets helping load the bricks in his own mind. Once the Worm King sees Gabumon and Agumon Digivolve, he stops tossing the bricks down. "Whoah, cool! Hey, you guys." "Save some of those for the bandits, you crazy little bastard." "What? It's not my fault you couldn't move the wheelbarrows around fast enough."

Cassius was seriously regretting agreeing to help Dante against the bandits. "I am seriously regretting agreeing to help Dante against the bandits." "Why don't you shut up and load some bricks?" The ice cold thriller sighs. He nonchalantly takes out his Digivice and raises it up, tossing his head back to get his hair out of his eyes. He speaks in a dry, sarcastic manner. "Oh, great Betamon, I summon thee."

A glowing teal light flashes from the Digivice, and a small amphibian Digimon appears. The Betamon yawns and looks around casually until he sees Wormmon on the stack of bricks. "What's up, Betamon?" "Sup." Well that was a warm reunion. "Sorry to disturb you, Betamon, but this lady in the mask thinks it is cruel that I don't bring you out more often." "I like it in there." "I told her, but she still wouldn't listen."

If Wormmon throwing bricks wasn't bad enough, Cassy's bad attitude was hurting things. "We're like, putting bricks in wheelbarrows and going to build a wall. You down?" "Ya, whatever." Cassy's Digivice starts flashing again. Betamon blows a big bubble around himself and it starts to glow dark green. The Mighty Seadramon bursts out, his ear-piercing screech held all over the camp. The sea monster moves his head side to side, taking a better look at White Wolf.

"Y-AAah-Aaw, who is-s s-s-she, anyways-s-s?" "Some chick Dante just met. Feel free to eat her later." "Cassius, that's not funny!" The sea serpent grins, licking his fangs before turning his attention to the bricks. Seadramon grabs a wheelbarrow in his mouth and moves it near the stack of bricks. Seadramon uses his ice blast to create a small ramp. Wormmon tosses the brick onto the ice and it slides into the wheelbarrow.

With three champion Digimon, the task was easy enough. For some, anyways. Cassius stands off to the side, biding his time. "Hey! Aren't cha gonna help, fool?!" "Ugh! Fine." Cassius slowly walks forward, his head and shoulders hanging low. He picks up a brick and sets it in a wheelbarrow, before slowly grabbing another. It's clear to all that he is putting in the least amount of effort.

Wormmon continues sending bricks down the ice ramp. "That one's full, why don't you take that one to the wall, Assius?" "Taking orders from a worm. I miss being evil." Cassius grabs the wheelbarrow and starts heading out, but goes over a bump in the path. The wheelbarrow spills over and Cassius lands next to the bricks. "Owww! My leg!" Wormmon laughs at the thief's misfortune. "You are pathetic. Hey White Wolfy, you wanna check on dumbass-ius over there?"

You could cut the tension in this group with a scalpel. The only question is whether Wormmon or Cassius is the bigger mole. Gabumon and Agumon whisper amongst themselves, irritated at Wormmon. As if anyone is ever not irritated at the Worm King, that would be a miracle.

After Digivolving to GeoGreymon and KendoGarurumon, the former reminds Wormmon that Dante isn't here, threatening Wormy. White Wolf doesn't appreciate her partner talking like that. Her and Garu say that he doesn't follow through on his threats. Wormmon brushes off the attempts at intimidation like a pro. "Whatever, bro! You wanna tango, just say so." Cassius facepalms. "The last thing we need is to start fighting each other." Cassius the voice of reason? That's almost as bad as Wormmon.

Cassius suggesting Seadramon could eat White Wolf obviously did not sit well with the others. The twins look offended, while White Wolf suggests some DigiMeat instead. "AAAAHarrgh! I like my meals fresssh, and fleeing in terror." Cassius scoffs at the twins for getting upset, and why wouldn't they be? "It was a joke. Guess not all Digimon have a sense of humor." "You're not a good joker, Cassius." The reformed thief gives Wormmon the stink eye. "What? Did I say the J word? Boo hoo, Cassius had his feelings hurt!"

With the Champions helping, they load up the wheelbarrows and get ready to roll out, but Cassius tumbles over, claiming to have injured his leg. White Wolf goes over to Cassius and proclaims that he should be fine to walk. Cassius struggles to rise up, pressing his palms against the ground. He slowly lowers his injured leg, but quickly flinches when he puts pressure on it. "I sprained my ankle, I can hardly put any weight on it."

Seadramon didn't even show sympathy for his own Tamer, picking up a full wheelbarrow in his mouth and slithering off. Wormmon hops down and crawls over to White Wolf and Cassius. "Why don't you ride in the wheelbarrow, and White Wolf can push you?" "As if! I'm not going to let some girl push me around in a wheelbarrow! And I doubt that she likes that idea either."

Cassius uses the wheelbarrow to stabilize himself and climbs inside. "Why don't you finish up here? I'll just kick it in the wheelbarrow for now." "Oh my goddess! You are even lazier than Dante. Don't know what you've got 'til it's gone, never thought I would miss Dante this much." While the larger Digimon are heading to the hole in the wall, Wormmon and White Wolf are left with an injured psychopath in a wheelbarrow. Wormmon tugs on White Wolf's pants above her foot to get her attention. "Can you please push this idiot? I wanna do a good job, and Cassius has been no help at all!"

When the Digimon arrive at the work sight, they are greeted by a Shurimon who is mixing some cement for the wall. "Konichiwa! So you are the ones Terriermon told me about." The ninja Digimon brings his hands together and bows. "Thank you for helping defend our home. So this operation is basic enough. Just start setting the bricks down so that half of the brick is resting on one below it. I've got enough cement here. The wall that was here was made of wood, but the bandit raiders busted through with a ram, so Terriermon decided to go with something tougher."

They weren't done butting heads yet, as GeoGreymon picks up the Worm King and makes more threats. Wormmon squirms around, angry at the much larger Digimon. After being let go, Wormmon stands with his front legs on his hips. "You act tough when you are a level up on me right now. I'll remember this, peasant!"

Things just kept going from bad to worse. It's amazing they got any work done while bickering with each other. White Wolf mentions the meal they had before, and how Seadramon did not get any food. Everyone looks at Cassius, presumably in disgust. "What?! He ate a girl scout on the way over." "So much for being a good guy." Seadramon just shrugs, or at least it looked like shrugging. The sea monster doesn't have any shoulders.

When it came to Cassius' injury, White Wolf was even more unhappy about what Cassius said than he was about the notion of being pushed around by a girl. She mentions that she can twist something else of his, even his special place? "I might like that. At least, if it was a different girl." "I think she's coming on to you, Cassy." "Once again, you have proven how unaware you are at reading people in social situations."

KendoGarurumon offers Cassius a ride on his back, but the thief declines. "I don't want your help. Just leave me here and I'll catch up later." "Ya right! We are not gonna let you out of our sight. Go ahead and tow the wheelbarrow, if you must. Goddess damn Cassius, causing problems. Why is everyone tapdancing on my nerves today?!"

Finally, they all reach the wall and can start stacking bricks. Wormmon does his best, but isn't much help at that size. Cassius just chills in the wheelbarrow, leaving White Wolf and the Champions to do the heavy lifting.

Neither Digimon was backing down from this battle of egos. GeoGreymon continues talking trash to the little green asshole, but slips up and mentions "back in Shibuya." Wormmon's antennae shoot up at this comment, his rage subsiding plenty and replaced by confusion. "But, I thought we just met in the forest. Do I know you from somewhere?" Was the jig up for Wolfbecca?

If it wasn't bad enough that Wormmon and GeoGreymon were close to starting a battle, White Wolf picks up a stick and slams it into Cassius' gut. The thief groans in pain and clutches his chest, the wheelbarrow following over in the process. Cassius lays there on the ground, moaning in pain. "You crazy bitch!" That's it, fan the flames. Who ever said Cassius was smart? For a man with his mouth covered, he sure didn't know when to shut up.

Eventually, they all make it to the wall. While most of them work, White Wolf asks why Wormmon is an obnoxious jerk, only worded nicer. The Worm King looks puzzled. "What are you talking about? I'm an awesome Digimon! Some people just don't like Alpha mons. Why don't you keep that big mean ugly lizard of yours on a leash?!" When questioning Wormmon about his behavior, one has to keep in mind that he doesn't understand the unwritten rules of society.

While everyone else works, Cassius just sits there in the wheelbarrow, rubbing his belly. He lets out a long sigh of boredom. "Who would have thought helping some critters in the woods could be so difficult?" "Says the one not doing anything! Can we please have Dante back now?" Dante doesn't know about the warm welcome he will receive when he comes back, and hopefully dumps Cassius out of the wheelbarrow and off a cliff.

The gang is making good progress with the wall. "Just a few more rows, and it should be good. I'd like to see their faces when the bandits return. They don't know how hard we will fight to survive." "Hey, uh, ninja person?" "Oh, beg your pardon. I didn't properly introduce myself. I am a Shurimon. I have lived and trained in this forest for many years." "You must have some sweet ninja moves! What's the deal with these bandits anyways? I thought bandits could be taken care of easily." Shurimon pauses for a moment, reflecting back on the recent weeks. "I don't have an easy answer for that. They started out as bandits, raiding for goods. Now, it's like a full on army is invading. The more we increase our defenses, the stronger their forces get. I just hope this wall will work against their rams."