Digimon Tamers: String Theory

"Huh, what's this?" Juri wondered, picking up a small wooden cross.

"I've no idea, but there's some kind of Digital World artefact loose in this park," Ruki noted.

"Gha!" Takato yelled, causing Ruki to turn.

"Uh, I found it," Juri said sheepishly.

Red strings had shot from the wooden cross, striking Takato, who had collapsed like a marionette when Juri dropped it.

"That's a Puppetmon's operating cross. You've just kind of turned Takato into a puppet."

"What?! But I've not got ball joints!" The boy protested.

"As long as that thing is attached to you, you'll only move the way it makes you move, Goggles," Ruki sighed.

Juri picked it back up.

"Hm... Is this dangerous to him?"

"No," Renamon said.

"...Why'd you have to tell her that?!" The hapless boy whined.

"Juri, you can't do that!" Ruki said, reaching out a hand.

"Fine..." The brunette pouted.

"You don't know how to use string puppets, give me it here and I'll make him dance like an idiot!"

"What?!" Takato screeched.

"...Humans are weird," Growlmon said.

"No argument here," Renamon sighed.

"This isn't funny!" Takato protested as Ruki began making him pirouette like a ballerina.

"Yes it is," Juri retorted.

"...I have to agree with her, sorry, Takatomon," Growlmon confessed.

"I'm still not arguing," Renamon said.

"Okay, okay, we're just kidding around. Renamon, can you cut the strings?"

"Thank you!" The boy sighed as he found himself back in control.

"...Wanna get Jenrya with it before we destroy it?" Juri suggested.

"Yeah, okay," Ruki said.

"...Okay, but not me again!"

"I'd be okay with that," Growlmon nodded.

"It'd be terrible if we gave the cross to his little sister," Renamon said.

---

"I really hate you guys!" Jenrya protested as he found himself forced to dance by his giggling little sister.

"Aw, let her have her fun!" Takato grinned.

"Hey, wait... Is Ryo around?" Ruki realised.

"...Suddenly, I'm okay with this," Jenrya changed his tune.

Elsewhere, Ryo was struck with an intense feeling of dread.