There was no escape from the sound of water hitting the ground. But how could rain fall from above without there being a single cloud? No — something even more amazing was right in front of his dilated pupils. It’s purpose was a mystery that was shrouded by a warm fog. Yet he still saw himself in its shine. Was it meant to be a noble’s shrine? 

[color=fff200][i]“I’ve never anyone so intensely interested in a toilet...”[/i][/color] 

Raiden lathered some shampoo into his hair, and watched Zues admire his porcelain reflection with a childlike zeal. Not used to wearing swim trunks in his personal wet room; though his morning shower didn’t usually have the company of a large grey hamster with spikes protruding out its body. [color=BCC6CC]“I’m - [b]eh[/b] - almost - [b]eh[/b] - there!”[/color] Zues puffed, making several attempts to jump and reach the lid with his stubby little paws. Before he successfully climbed atop the shut seat, proudly standing with a toothy grin, as if he conquered a mountain. But as fast as Raiden closed his eyes to thoroughly rinse, the bundle of energy had already leaped off and started to run across the spacious floor. Suddenly plopping on his rear to effortlessly slide around on the slip resistant material, spinning in circles and giggling to himself.

[color=fff200]“Be careful buddy, I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”[/color] He warned the Pusurimon, taking a few steps closer to his tray loaded with twenty different men’s care products. Grabbing a conditioner bottle with added herbal extracts and oils that probably justified the price he paid for it. As Raiden casually reached down to catch the approaching fluffy head, colliding into his palm harmlessly.  [color=BCC6CC]“Oof.”[/color] Zues blinked and stared up to Raiden smiling beyond soaked hair partially covering his face. Zues beamed with delight and sat by his feet, albeit while bouncing eagerly.  [color=BCC6CC]“Are you ready? You promised to let me explore everywhere today.”[/color] 

[color=fff200]“I’m almost done.”[/color] Raiden reassured, as his eyes shifted to the side, as he rubbed his chin. [color=fff200][i]“Wait, did I remember to apply my facial cleanser twice?”[/i][/color] 

[color=BCC6CC]“Yay! You’re done.”[/color] Zues cheered, performing a gleeful hop, swiftly spotting a new fascination and zipping forth. Jumping into a filled laundry basket and burying his upper-half inside the clothes and towels, as he squirmed about. Raiden sighed, as he carefully examined his fingernails for dirt, recalling his previous conversation with Mari. [color=fff200][i]“Perhaps I should try to call her back and set up a meeting...we are in the same situation after all.”[/i][/color]
[hr]
The phone would go unanswered both times. Hanging up the phone on his nightstand and shrugging with a bothered expression, Raiden began dressing himself with the clothing he’d taken out in advance. Using his mirror to simultaneously fix every wrinkle, adjust his shirt’s collar, and watch Zues in the background curled into a ball and treating his bed like a trampoline. Admittedly, reaching impressive heights in the process and increasing concerns that his spikes would soon puncture the ceiling. 

[color=BCC6CC]“Is something troubling you friend? Want to talk to me about it?” I want to talk.”[/color] 

[color=fff200][i]“Clearly. You’ve been a non-stop commercial for batteries since you evolved last night.”[/i][/color] Was a response that crossed Raiden’s mind, but the words sounded bitter upon consideration, as he shook his head. [color=fff200][i]“That’s not fair, he sounds so pure and honest. Don’t take our frustrations out on him.”[/i][/color] Raiden took a deep breath and turned to face him. [color=fff200] “I’m just used to staying on a very particular schedule...and now I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”[/color]

Zues stopped moving in order to give him a stare that was brimming with enough confidence to share between them. [color=BCC6CC]“I see!”[/color] Zues said, giving a firm nod. [color=BCC6CC]“Let’s play together!”[/color]

Raiden cracked a smile and cautiously patted his backside. It was the life advice that he expected to receive from someone who hatched only a day prior. [color=fff200]"His cheerfulness really is contagious...”[/color] Then an idea sprung to mind — as he approached the bed and picked up Pusurimon without reluctance. [color=fff200]“Alright. I know the perfect spot.”[/color] 

Zues’ eyes lit up with excitement while being held up, lightly slapping his paws on Raiden’s upper chest.  [color=BCC6CC]“Well, what are we waiting for?”[/color]

Both spontaneously laughing together, as the D-Loader had gone unnoticed, blinking on the nightstand.

[center][quote]
Transferring To Digital World...25%
[/quote][/center]
[hr]
Pusurimon’s imagination ran wild, gawking at the decorative arches, pillars and their bright wall fixtures that were illuminating a sprawling red carpet. Traversing the wide hallway for the first time was already a magical experience of incredible brevity, given that the bathroom was next-door. So getting the opportunity to soak in the view from a higher angle, for what felt like an eternity, made it harder for him to keep calm in Raiden’s arms. As his anticipation was building with each passing door, serving as a portal to the unknown and craving to venture into all of them. So once they finally reached their destination near the opposite end of the hall and pulled the door open — Zues gasped and fell silent  — overwhelmed by the flashing pretty colors and playful melodies that permeated the entire room. His arcade was a nostalgic paradise; packed with the classic machines in mint condition, lined up in many vacant rows. [color=fff200]“Here we are.”[/color] Raiden said, promptly setting the stunned furball down on the rainbow glow of the floor. As he stepped in and let the door swing close on its own. Zues’ body inflated for a moment before he let out a deep exhale. [color=BCC6CC]“This is amazing!”[/color] He began running around and dashing in-between Raiden’s legs as he walked. [color=BCC6CC]“How do we play? Show me! Ooo! What’s this one do?”[/color]

[color=fff200][i]“Hmm...which would be the easiest to teach?”[/i][/color] Raiden thought, pointing over the air hockey table closer to the center of the room. [color=fff200]“Let’s try this.”[/color] 

[color=BCC6CC]“Yay!”[/color] Zues bounced up, then dashed toward the table, causing Raiden to rush to the table himself. [color=fff200][i]“Just being near him makes me feel a bit like a kid again...”[/i][/color] Raiden helped lift him up onto the top, as he proceeded to take out the puck and two mallets inside his goal's compartment, then slide the yellow one over to Zues, who put a paw on it. [color=fff200]“Okay, the rules are simple. You stay on that side, and use that to hit this into the goal.”[/color] Raiden explained with accompanying hand gestures, though he noticed that Zues was too busy looking mesmerized by the mallet, clasping it in his paws and holding it like a trophy. Raiden rubbed his hair and shook his head, speaking in a positive tone. [color=fff200]“You sure do appreciate the little things in life...”[/color]

Zues’ looked at him and grinned, answering with a sincerity that pierced straight to his heart. [color=BCC6CC]“I’m happy because I’m with you!”[/color] 

Putting his hand over his heart after it skipped a beat. That response was an emotional gut punch that required a second for the adolescent to recover. [color=fff200][i]“...has anyone ever said that to me before? I guess — that’s because I just never had time for friends.”[/i][/color] 

[color=BCC6CC]“Friend?”[/color] Zues interrupted, his voice sounding concerned.

[color=fff200]“Oh, um, I’m fine. Just-”[/color] Raiden stumbled over his words, noticing Zues quivering slightly as he pointed. Raiden turned to look and his eyes widened. [color=fff200][i]“What the-”[/i][/color] The fighting game machine’s screen behind him was surging with an ominous black lightning.

[color=BCC6CC]“I-Is it supposed to spark like that?[/color]

[color=fff200]“N-no.”[/color] 

Suddenly the room’s bright atmosphere became a lot less colorful, as every screen at once replaced its vibrant colors with dull greys. As a mutual feeling of dread sank in their guts when the sounds of screeching radio static abruptly filled the area. Raiden clamped his ears and groaned with clenched teeth, as Zues curled up into a ball and ducked underneath the table. 

[color=fff200]“Zues. Come on. We need to leave.”[/color] Raiden instructed with urgency, quickly getting onto his hands and knees, his reach for Zues heeded at the touch of his pointed and hardened fur. He was quivering and not going anywhere. A plan to avoid becoming a pin cushion was formed on the spot, as he pulled off his shirt and used it to scoop Zues up. [color=fff200]“Don’t be scared little guy. I’ll keep you safe.”[/color] Raiden assured with a passion that he didn’t know he possessed. But the pressure only increased as he stood, as the grey machines seemed to blackout in an intentional order, as he saw the entire back row of lights suddenly shut off.

[color=BCC6CC]“Don’t be scared. Don’t be...scared. I’m too scared.”[/color] Zues whimpered. Raiden bolted for the doors, swearing he heard a voice beckoning him from beyond the noise. As the encroaching darkness seemed to chase after them, consuming the surrounding light sources. 

[color=fff200][i]“Not good. I can’t even speak...and it feels like I’m pushing against a strong wind current. What happens if I can’t run fa-”[/i][/color]

The clamor was gone. As Zues suddenly hit the ground and spread out onto his stomach, eyes opening to see the front door a foot away from his face. He stood up with wobbly legs, turning to see the arcade returned to normal. He gasped and froze with terror; his friend was nowhere to be seen. 

[color=BCC6CC][i]“Huh? Where’d he-why did-I didn’t even try to help-”[/i][/color] Zues trembled at the thought, and let out a desperate shout. [color=BCC6CC]“Friend?!”[/color] But there was no answer, and that revelation caused tears to flow from his eyes. [color=BCC6CC]“H-He’s gone...I-I’m alone.”[/color] He blubbered through sniffles, having the same isolated feeling he’d felt inside his digi.egg. But then his ears perked up, as he felt a rush of newfound energy that had him pushing through the door. 

[color=BCC6CC][i]“Dangerous! Everything's dangerous! I have to protect my friend from danger!”[/i][/color] Those words were stuck on repeat, as his hastened feet made a beeline across the hall. [color=BCC6CC][i]“Go faster! Don’t stop running!”[/i][/color] Static shocks sparking from his golden quills, as they started to glow and grow out. His silhouette started becoming more hedgehog-like in appearance; getting pointed features from his sharp crimson claws, to a spiky silver coat of fur that covered most of his chest, cheeks and his whole backside. The transformation only aiding his speed to rush into the bedroom, and yanking the D-Loader off the nightstand. Clenching the glowing screen within its claws and hoping to find answers, but only seeing a displayed message.

[center][quote]Digital Evolution Successful
Meet Heriss.mon![/quote][/center]

[color=BCC6CC]“Take me where my friend is! Please-Oh Please!”[/color] Zues cried out. As the D-Loader seemed to respond to his plea, by letting out a bright flash. His body started to immediately distort itself until it became an amorphous mass of data and warped into its screen, as both vanished from the room in an instant...
[hr]
[color=fff200][i]“I never expected to feel this awful after failing at something...isn’t that just what happens when someone strives to achieve anything? Businesses, people, we all fail constantly, and we have the tenacity to then tell ourselves ‘there’s always another day’ where this infinite cycle goes on. Because ambition is an ultimately foolish endeavor...shooting for the stars that are well beyond our reach. And yet...for the briefest moment...I felt like I could defy the odds in order to keep a friend safe. And that’s why it stings...”[/i][/color]

[color=BCC6CC]“Hey. Hey! Wake up!”[/color] A familiar voice called out in a slightly deeper pitch. Raiden lunged forward in an upright sitting position with his hands outstretched. [color=fff200][b]“Zues!”[/b][/color] 

But his arms then dropped to his sides, after seeing nothing but a long stretch of blackened sand and a strangely colored ocean. The sky and everything else was completely foreign to him; believing this was some long twisted dream. Doing a 180° as he was carefully prodded into reality by something sharp, like the prick of a needle. [color=fff200][b]“Gah!”[/b][/color] 

[color=BCC6CC]“Oh! S-sorry. You startled me and I d-didn’t-”[/color] 

[color=fff200]“Zues?”[/color] Raiden interrupted in surprise, certain that it had to be him, even before he observed the same colored device the digi.mon was carrying. Zues’ expression was unmistakably joyful, and so was the hyper manner in which he flailed his arms while trying to elaborate, speaking incomprehensibly fast. Raiden took an obvious deep breath, successfully getting Zues to mimic him. 

[color=BCC6CC]“Yes, yes. I found you! Are you hurt?”[/color] Herissmon said a bit less quickly, holding out the D-Loader’s message. Raiden let out a sigh of relief.

[color=fff200]“I’m okay...now that you’re with me.”[/color] 

Zues blinked and held his claws up to his face, happily giggling. Making Raiden feel a wave of embarrassment, as a real one hit the shoreline. He stood up and thoroughly brushed his clothes off, having a single question. [color=fff200]“So...how do we get back home?”[/color]

Confidence beamed from Zues, as he held the D-Loader up. [color=BCC6CC]“Take us back please!”[/color] As the device’s screen went blank and dimmed, not doing anything. Zues waited in confusion for a few moments, before he started rattling off many differently worded versions of the same statement. Raiden shook his head. [color=fff200][i]"If only it were that easy..."[/i][/color]