A Tama-Message

Story By AO-KOUNKOUN

“Here, Opotchi, I finished upgrading your phone. Now you can add more food stickers
to our pictures !”

The news made the opossum Tamagotchi happily jump, grabbing the device.

“Zatchi, you’re the best !”

The cute couple was enjoying a tranquil Saturday afternoon at home, baking, eating and
also taking funny selfies whenever Opotchi had a colour change. The idea to upgrade their
phone came from this silly game.

When the gourmand was checking the new features, their body was slowly turning
yellow like cheese – although they actually ate a mysterious fruit, the Cydonia oblonga,
frequently called “quince” by most Tamagotchi and earthlings.

“Zatchi, I love the heart-shaped strawberries stickers !”

The pink alien was about to make a comment, probably about Ichigotchi, but a loud,
violent vibration suddenly shook the phone.

“Did I give it too much power ?”

Zatchi seemed worried. Unfortunately, the message on the screen would not reassure
them.

“HELP !”

“It must be a mistake”, muttered the thin alien, paling.

Opotchi blinked and whined :

“No ! My strawberries !”

“Wait, is that a real message ?”

“Looks like it is… From an unknown sender !”

Zatchi silently panicked. Was it a joke ? Before they could think wisely about it, the
phone rang intensely, flashing the same mysterious number. Opotchi, with their gentle heart, suggested :

“If someone really needs help, we should answer.”

“But… Wait !”

The call was kindly accepted.

“Hello ? Is everything alright ?” asked Opotchi.

A chopped, screaming voice flowed from the device :

“Help !! Please !! I am… Berry Land ! Please…”

Many words were cut, the connection was weak. Zatchi, overcoming terror, tried to ask
where this unknown Tamagotchi was located exactly, and what was happening to them.
However, the communication seemed unilateral.

“Please, fast ! I am… Help !!”

The call ended.

Opotchi and Zatchi tried to contact the same number again, but nothing happened. The
only clue was Very Berry Land. Naturally, they assumed the stranger was there. They could not be sure of it, but where else could they search ? Quickly, they jumped into Zatchi’s colourful spaceship.

“While you pilot, I’ll contact the police !” said Opotchi.

“Alright, I count on you.”

However, even that simple task didn’t go well.

“Zatchi, why isn’t it working ?”

The thin alien had a bad feeling. Opotchi’s phone was not allowed to make calls anymore ! Usually, travelling in space was not a problem. Did the upgrade damage the device, then ? Or was somebody actively trying to block them ? Zatchi suddenly wanted to go home. But leaving a Tamagotchi in need was not the greatest plan. Unless it was a trap…

“You know what ?” asked the pilot. “Let’s quickly inform the police from Berry Land
and then fly back.”

“But I want to make sure the Tamagotchi is safe… And if they are still scared, I want to
buy them sweets and stay with them for a while, tchi !”

Zatchi’s voice was low :

“I want you to be safe too, you know ?”

The travellers finally landed on Very Berry Land. The place was completely pink and heavily perfumed like usual. The fruits and cakes were colliding in Opotchi’s nose. It was
terribly difficult to focus on the mission with so much food everywhere. Even lamp posts looked tasty.

Zatchi was better at ignoring sweets. They were trying to remember where the police
station was located. Because of the panic, they had forgotten their own phone at home.

"Hey, isn’t it Lovelitchi there ?” abruptly exclaimed Opotchi.

“I thought she had a concert tonight. She shouldn’t have time to buy sweets right now…”

“Doesn’t she look a little… uncomfortable ?"

They both felt worried. Lovelitchi was walking fast in the streets, all by herself, avoiding
eye contact with Tamagotchi around her.

“Lovelitchi !” called Opotchi. “Are you alright ?!”

They ran toward the idol, wondering if she was the sender of the mysterious message
from earlier. However, as they came closer to her, she suddenly started to run and disappeared somewhere. The couple was astonished. Both of them were friends with her, she had no reason to act this way. Was she hiding something ? Was she really the one who called ?

TBC