Ch.24                    "VON'S DARK SIDE."

          "Okay, Von.  That was it.  Let's hope it wasn't too late," Snakedramon said and de-digivolved back to Izamon.  However, Izamon de-digivolved again, to his in-training form.  "I'm now Oolomon."

          Izamon's in-training form was a young brownish rattlesnake.

          "Hey, guys, Koromon's fever is completely gone compared to last time," Mimi informed.

          "That's because the poison is gone.  I'm feeling much better now," Koromon said.

          "We were so worried," Kari uttered.

          "Izamon.  Oh Izamon, you lost a lot of your energy," Von commented as he turned his attention to his Digimon.  He lifted Oolomon onto a chair.  "Take a little nap."

          "You really think I should.  Won't you want me to explain things with you?" Oolomon hissed weakly.

          "I don't think so, I know you must.  I'll take care of matters with them.  I need you back as Izamon."

          "Okay, Tashimoto Von Rainoriku," Oolomon answered.

          "Very funny, I told you that you should call me Von," Von said, unamused.

          "Okay, Tashimoto," Oolomon replied as he yawned and fell asleep.

          "Now that Oolomon is asleep, would you mind explaining things for us?" Davis asked.

          "Hush, Davis," Von silent him.  "Be a little quieter please.  Can we talk in another room?" he requested.

          "Sure.  You can use the living room."

          "Thanks," Von said to Izzy's mom.  They all walked into the living room and sat together while Mrs. Izumi went into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.

          "Okay, Von, you can start now," Davis said impatiently.

          "Here you go everyone," Mrs. Izumi said as she entered the living room with a tray of chocolate milk.  She placed them down onto the large coffee table and said to them, "Be right back.  Wait right here."

          "Actually, I'll come with you," Von offered.

          They didn't get a chance to say anything, for Mrs. Izumi and Von quickly rushed back into the kitchen when  the microwave alarm beeped.

          "I'll get the drinks," Von offered and lifted the tray of drinks onto the coffee table while Mrs. Izumi sliced the two apple pies into portion and loaded them onto a large platter.  She took out some plates from the drawers and placed them carefully onto a tray.

          "Here are the drinks.  Be back," Von said and left.

          "Wait!" Armadillomon shouted but Von had already left for the kitchen.  "And I was going to tell him to get me something to eat."

          "I'll take this tray with the plates, Mrs. Izumi.  You can take the one with the pies," Von informed.

          "That's very nice of you," Mrs. Izumi thanked as she carried the tray into the living room, following Von.

          "Okay, kids, eat up while I go out for awhile," Mrs. Izumi informed.

          "Where are you going, Mom?"

          "I'm going out to pay a little visit to one of my oldest friends that I haven't seen for a while now.  Will all of you will be all right until I come back around seven?"

          "No problem!" Matt exclaimed.

          "Go on and have fun," Izzy said.

                                                *        *        *

          "How about I briefly explain what happened?  One word, sleepwalking," Von said.

          "Sleepwalking?" the others repeated.

          "Yes, sleepwalking.  You see, I'm a sleepwalker, ever since I was old enough to walk.  I was about three years old when I first sleepwalked out of the house in Canada.  The next morning, my father didn't find me in my bed, and so he went searching for me around the neighbourhood.  It wasn't long before he found me.  I was asleep in the backyard.  My sleepwalking continued and gotten worse.  I would find myself the following morning farther and farther away from the house.  When I sleepwalk, I would be a whole different person.  I wouldn't be Von, but someone else.  However, a few years back, my father took me to see a specialist in sleepwalking.  We went to talks and there we met other sleepwalkers.  We talked with one of the sleepwalkers and she said that there's a way to decrease the number of sleepwalks you have.  The way to do it was to think about nothing, worry about nothing.  And want nothing.  She told me that you have to have a clear, and thoughtless mind right before you sleep or else your subconscious will take full control to do whatever you had strongly thought about while you sleep away.  After hearing that, I would clear my thoughts at night when I go to bed.  It worked.  Her advice was good.  She was right.  The number of sleepwalks had decreased and lately, I hadn't a single one until I came to Japan.  But, only after a few days arriving here, this happened.  A D-3 beamed out from the computer's screen with Izamon."

          "You thought about being the Digimon Emperor?" Oolomon asked.

          "I hope not.  The only reason my father and I came to Japan was to look for my sister and bring her back home to Canada with us."

          "Maybe that's the reason for your sleepwalking.  You've been thinking a lot about your sister lately," Joe said.

          "It could be.  But, what does it have to do with me being the Digimon Emperor?" Von asked.

          "Like you said, you would be a whole different person.  And if that different person inside of you desired to be powerful, he will aim to do so when you are asleep," Joe said.

          "Like a split personality?" Von asked.

          "Maybe, you have a dark side to you, Von," Izzy replied.

          "I'm confused," Davis complained.

          "Never mind, you guys, it's a bit too complicated now.  Maybe the truth will reveal itself slowly with time.  Now that I know my sleepwalking days are back, I'll be trying harder to stop them.  Anyway, I'm terribly sorry for the troubles."

          "That's okay.  Have some pies, everyone.  And some drinks," Izzy said.

          "Time to dig in, Armadillomon!" Cody exclaimed.

          "You mean, eat up," Mimi added.

          "We'll talk about it later then, I figure?" Von asked.

          "Like I always say, eat and ask questions later," Davis told Von.

          "Or else Davis takes your share," T.K. joked.

          "I see.  Anyway, I'm not very hungry.  I better get going.  My dad doesn't know I'm here," Von informed.

          "Bye, Von," Sora said.

          "Thanks for everything," Tai added.

          "Bye, guys.  Come on, Oolomon.  Let's go," Von said.  But Oolomon was too famished to hear what his Digimon partner said.  He was more concentrated on the apple pie that was laying on a platter right in front of him.  He was drooling.

          "Here, Oolomon.  There's take-out too," Mimi offered him, wrapping a piece of apple pie with a napkin.

          "You mean it?  Thanks," Oolomon said as Mimi handed him it.

          "You're very welcomed," Mimi replied.

          "Hey, Von, since you realized that you are the Digimon Emperor, what will you do?" Yolei asked.

          "I have a brilliant idea!  How about we test that theory out?"

          "What's that you said, Izzy?" Von asked with interest.

          "You leave your D-3 with one of us for one night when we go into the Digital World and see if the Digimon Emperor will show up in person.  If he does, then you're really not the Emperor.  But if he doesn't, it would mean that you could be the Emperor.  What do you say?"

          "That sounds fine.  Let's do it tonight.  Here's my D-3, but I'll be keeping my D-terminal.  Take good care of Oolomon for me, Izzy," Von answered as he placed his D-3 onto the coffee table and headed to the door.  He turned the knob, and swung it open.

          "Don't worry.  We will," Motimon replied.

          "Von?  Where do you think you're going without me?" Oolomon asked.

          "I'm going back to the apartment; I won't be able to get you back to the Digital World without any D-3, but they will be able to send you back so you can re-energize tonight.  I'll be back in the morning for you and my D-3 so make sure that you're back to Izamon," Von explained.

          "Yes, Sir," Oolomon said.

          "Bye, everyone.  Bye, Oolomon.  Oh yeah, say bye for me to your mother, Izzy," Von said.

          "See you in the morning," Izzy said and Oolomon nodded.

          "Definitely!" Von exclaimed and went through the door as the others waved goodbye.