Ch.22 "FINDING A CURE."
Back at the house, in Izzy's room, the Digidestines gathered themselves and began their work.
"Magna-Antidote!" Magnaangemon called out.
"Is he all right?" Mimi asked.
"Not yet. It's not working, Magnaangemon. Try again," Tai answered.
"All right. Magna-Antidote."
"Nothing. He's still the same. His cheeks are redder now though. Is he having a fever?" Gatomon asked.
"I think you're right, Gatomon. But this fever is deadly. It could have been a direct side effect from the venom," Joe replied. "While we search for the cure for the venom, we've got to get rid of his fever. The fever is very unpredictable. It may worsen very quickly and kill Koromon before he dies of the venom."
"We won't let that happen. Let's see if some fever syrup will help," Izzy's mom interrupted as she entered his room.
"Mom," Izzy complained.
"I overheard your troubles on my way in. It wasn't very hard to overhear since your door was open. And besides, I just arrived from the pharmacy and got all sorts of medicines. I've got bandages, fever syrups and tablets and cold syrup and tablets also. There are more, but I thought you might be interested in giving your Koromon some fever syrup," Mrs. Izumi explained as she handed Tai a bottle of fever syrup.
"Thank you, Mrs. Izumi,' Tai said.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Let me go get a teaspoon and a glass of water," Kari said.
"Let's see, how much is he supposed to get?" Tai asked.
"How old is he?" Mrs. Izumi asked.
"I'm not sure if Digimon has an age," Tai answered.
"Then how are we supposed to know how much is enough for Koromon?" Yolei asked.
"Koromon is in his in-training form, so therefore, I would consider him as a young Digimon, like a child who is between four to ten years old," Hawkmon concluded.
"You sure? That would mean that he'll need about one teaspoon," Matt said when he took the bottle from Tai and read the label.
"Okay. Here are the spoon, and some lukewarm water in a glass."
"Thanks, Kari," Tai said. "Okay, let's give Koromon one teaspoon of this syrup and hopefully it'll be enough to battle his fever."
* * *
"Ah!" Von yelled as he woke up from his afternoon nap with cold and sticky sweat on his forehead. He woke up to an empty house. He began his nap right his father left for his job interview less than an hour ago.
Was it all just a bad dream? Von wondered as he walked towards the kitchen for a quick snack. He grabbed a small carton of chocolate milk, opened it and started gulping down on it as he walked into the living room. I wonder, what's on TV?
Von took a seat on the couch and switched the television set on. He tuned the channels, browsing the different programs. He felt strangely. He felt the fear that someone was sitting right besides him. He turned in the direction that sent him the terribly strange feeling. He stared in that direction, and he stood his position. He had a good look of what was and wasn't there as he gulped down the last of the milk.
"Hi, Von. I didn't wake you, right?" the figure he sensed asked with a curious look on his face.
"Ah!" Von yelled, dropping the empty milk carton as he backed away. "Who?! What are you?!"
"I'm Izamon. Remember? I'm with you? I'm your partner and favourite Digimon," the little snaky creature replied.
"Izamon? Wait. You're that creature with me in my dreams. But you're real?"
"Of course. As real as you. And by the way, those dreams are not dreams. Those adventures we had together in the Digital World happened."
"Why are you here?" Von asked.
"You finally invited me to your house, Von. Remember, we promised each other to invite to one's own home."
"We did? Are you sure?" Von asked and thought for a while. "I remember now. We did make that vow. But that would mean that all those horrible things happened."
"Yes! All those horrible things we did," Izamon hissed.
"What was I thinking?" Von asked, angry with himself. "Why didn't you stop me?"
"I tried, but you were quite stubborn. You threatened to destroy your D-3 if I didn't follow your exact orders. You wanted absolute power over the Digital Realm. That's what you told me."
"My digivice? Where is it?"
"I don't have it. Find it quickly. I know how to cure him. It's just a matter of time before I can't."
"Yes. I know. The others need us and we need to fix our reputation," Von answered as he ran in the direction of his bedroom.
"I'll come with you!" Izamon shouted as he slithered on the wooden floor.
* * *
Back at Izzy's house, Matt, Tai, Davis and their Digimon were the only ones there along with Mrs. Izumi.
"How is he?" Matt asked.
"If you mean Koromon, he's not getting any better. His condition is getting worse. But if you mean Tai, he's gone," Gabumon answered.
"But he's right over there," Davis replied.
"I meant he's not mentally there. He's not speaking at all. Only twenty minutes left before the venom takes his life. Guys, we need to help the others to find the cure," Gabumon informed.
"Matt and Gabumon, stay here with Tai and Koromon. We're going to check what's taking them so long at Gennai's house."
"Hurry, Davis!" Matt ordered.
"Don't worry. We'll be back before you can say Digimon Emperor!" Davis exclaimed. "Digi-port, open!"
"Take my advice, don't say it," Veemon answered as he disappeared into the monitor's screen.
"Be careful!" Mrs. Izumi said.
* * *
"Did you find it yet, Von?" Izamon asked.
"I searched from top to bottom, and every single corner. It's just not in my room."
"And it isn't in the living room. Not even the kitchen or the bathroom. And it's not in your father's bedroom."
"You're fast. How do you do it?"
"I have a special ability to scan the surroundings for something or someone."
"I see. Can you use this special ability to track my D-3?"
"I'll try right away," Izamon replied and paused for a minute. He used his special ability and scanned the entire house for Von's D-3. "It's inside that room."
"Which room?"
"The one right in front of yours."
"That one? That's Uraina's. Are you sure it's in there?" Von asked.
"I'm sure of it. Now, quit wasting time. The venom is lethal and just minutes from now, Koromon will die if we don't give him the remedy."
"All right," Von agreed and turned the knob and switched on the ceiling light.
"You check the drawers. I'll check under the bed," Izamon requested and slithered under the bed.
"Okay. Found it," Von quickly reported and startled Izamon.
"Ouch!" Izamon said right after he bumped his head.
"What's the matter?" Von asked, worried.
"Nothing. I just bumped my head when you startled me. So, you found it?" Izamon said as he slithered out from beneath the bed.
"Yep! It was in the top drawer but now, it's right here in my grasp," Von replied.
"Then, let's get going."
"Right!"
While Von had been searching for his D-3 with Izamon, all of the other Digidestined team besides Matt and Tai were at Gennai's house with their own Digimon. His house was the same as it was some years ago, except now, there were lots of flowers in huge clay containers.
"So, what's the problem?" Gennai questioned them.
"Koromon's poisoned with a snake's venom. Do you have any remedies for venom that's suitable for a Digimon?"
"No, not really," the young Gennai answered.
"Not really?" Yolei asked.
"Does that mean you might have some kind of cure for it?" Hawkmon wondered out loud.
"These white roses are able to restores a person's or Digimon's strength if you allow the weakened one to consume a sufficient number of petals."
"We'll take one, if you don't mind," Davis requested.
"No, I don't think I do," Gennai replied.
"So, how will we know how much is enough?"
"Usually the age of the weakened one determines that. But since it is for Koromon, a Digimon, take one whole flower. Maybe by using the flower, its powers might be enough to strengthen Koromon as his body battles the venom."
"Thanks, Gennai," Sora said as she carefully pluck one opened rose bud and wrapped around the thorns with a wooly piece of cloth she received from Gennai.
"We better go now. Bye, Gennai," T.K. reminded the others.
"Bye," all of them waved.
"Bye, and good luck," Gennai wished them as they travelled back to their realm of reality.
