Chapter 3

Escape

Although SnowBotamon had her first real friend, she was still distant from the rest of the babies, even Poyomon. But when he came to talk to her, she conversed with him. And she didn't even act fake most of the time. Maybe it wasn't much, but it was a start. Her head was still filled with thoughts of her purpose, though.

Hoping she would dream the same dream as before, she went to nap at the rock where she had yelled at Poyomon. Settling down to sleep, she had just closed her eyes when a voice woke her up. She was half-asleep, so she thought it was Poyomon.

"Poyomon, please, I'm trying to see it again!"

"SnowBotamon! Come here!" The white cat-like Digimon jumped up at the authoritarian voice. It was Elecmon, and he was angry.

"SnowBotamon! Don't you know what happens this far away form Primary Village? You have to stay where I can see you! There are more than just good Digimon in this world, and there may be some bad ones out here!" He picked her up and carried her down from the rock, setting her on the forest floor. "Why did you come out this far?"

"I… I… had a headache. The babies' yelling hurt it more."

"Well, you should have told me! Anyway, if you have a headache, you shouldn't wander off from the rest of the group. Come on, let's go back. You should lie down in the shade."

SnowBotamon reluctantly followed him back, and lay down inside her cradle, which she hated. "Do you need anything else?" Elecmon asked.

"No," said SnowBotamon flatly. She could never sleep this close to the babies while they were playing! She tried to go to sleep, to get back her dream, but couldn't. Pouting, she stared out at the playing Digimon. Poyomon was one of them, with Paomon and the others.

The small ghost-like baby saw her and smiled. He went over to her, and stood beside her cradle. "Isn't this the time you go and sleep on a rock?"

"Yes. But that flea-bitten Elecmon found me, and now I can't leave Primary Village to sleep anymore." She sighed, glaring out at the village.

"Well, you can always go back to your first rock, can't you?"

"I guess. But being here, not allowed to leave, makes me feel so… I don't know… trapped." She sighed and closed her eyes for a few seconds. When she re-opened them, they weren't angry slits anymore, but her normal, big dark eyes.

"I thought you were the leader here. Don't you like it?"

"Being the leader? Of course I like that."

"No, don't you like the village?"

"I used to… but… now it seems so small. I never used to feel trapped before. But now I don't want to stay here anymore." She stared up at the sky. "I guess I'm not going to take over Primary Village, after all," she said wistfully, telling herself as well as Poyomon.

"But I thought that's what you wanted to do more than anything, Yuki-chan! That's what Paomon said."

"It used to be. But I don't know anymore. Especially after having that dream… it made me realize my purpose in life. I don't remember what it is, but I know that the reason I was born isn't to take over Primary Village. It's something more. Much, much more…"

Having already been told about her dream, or at least the remembered parts, Poyomon frowned. "What do you think it is?"

"If I knew that, I wouldn't be in this position!" she huffed.

"Is there any way to find out?"

"Maybe if I can have that dream again. But I had never had it, before then. I think it has something to do with the rock I slept on."

"What were you thinking about before you went to sleep?"

She blinked. "I think it was… something about wanting to be warmer. Yes, I wanted more sun. The rock was shadier than I liked. And I also couldn't hear the babies anymore."

"Maybe that has something to do with it. I'm not sure about the warmer part, but maybe you had it because you were far enough away from the babies, Yuki-chan. Since it was about what you're supposed to do with your life, and you can't do it until you Digivolve?"

"What do you mean? Why do I have to Digivolve to do what I'm here to do?" This was an alarming thought. She didn't want to Digivolve.

"Well, you can't leave Primary Village until you're an In-training Digimon. Then you can do what you want to."

The thought had never occurred to her that she'd have to Digivolve to leave. "But… but… I don't want to grow up," she finished lamely.

"How come? All the other babies do."

"Well, I'm not one of them!"

"I know. But why don't you want to grow up, Yuki-chan?"

"I… don't know. I just don't want to."

Poyomon looked at her sadly. "I think that if you want to find your purpose, you have to grow up."

"I didn't ask your opinion! After all, I won't Digivolve until I want to. That's the only reason I'm not Nyaromon right now, you know."

"I thought it had to do with how mature you were."

"It does. But I'm already mature. So the only possible reason is that I don't Digivolve because I don't want to."

Poyomon was silent for a moment, then nodded. "I guess, Yuki-chan. Well, maybe you should try and think about how you want it to be warmer, and you might have the dream again… See you later, Yuki-chan!" He hopped off, towards an impatient Paomon.

SnowBotamon sighed. Why did she suddenly want to leave Primary Village? It was an itching feeling, almost in her bones. She wanted to leave behind the shackles of this village and this stupid cradle, and pursue her real dreams, her real purpose. Would she ever accomplish what she was supposed to if she didn't leave Primary Village? Suddenly, the thought of staying in the village all her life, until she was an old Digimon, but still a baby, made her feel queasy.

SnowBotamon didn't say much the next few days. She was still reflecting on what Poyomon had said, and what she had realized. She wanted to leave the village, but didn't want to grow up. But maybe leaving Primary Village was a form of growing up? She didn't know. But she knew she didn't want to grow old as a baby.

Days turned into weeks, and many of the babies Digivolved into their In-training forms. SnowBotamon watched them leave the village happily, and felt sick. She wanted to go! It wasn't fair. Why should she have to stay there, while the babies she ruled over leave? It's because they matured and grew up, a voice inside her head told her rationally. But she replied to it with another voice: Shut up!

Elecmon was worried about her. He had asked her why she wasn't as outgoing as usual, and why she was more reserved. She mostly stayed inside her cradle, not even venturing to her first rock. Elecmon thought she was sick, still, and had doctor Digimon come and see her. But they could find nothing wrong with her. SnowBotamon knew that what was ailing her wasn't physical. She had lost the will to take over the village, and had settled into the role of just another baby.

Poyomon was worried as well. He frequently visited her, asking about her dreams, and how she felt. He asked her why she didn't go back to the rock, because he knew she hated her cradle. He wondered who would Digivolve next, and who after that. But he never asked when she thought she'd Digivolve.

One day, Paomon and Poyomon both approached her. "Snowy, Snowy!" Paomon squeaked.

"Hi, Paomon," SnowBotamon sighed.

"Yuki-chan, Paomon says that she heard Elecmon talking to one of the doctors, and she said that she thinks your condition is based on being stuck in your baby form," Poyomon said.

This was almost true, so SnowBotamon looked towards them and listened.

"She said that if you wanna get better, you hafta Digivolve! Your mind and all this stuff keeps growing, but your body won't, and it makes you sick," Paomon told her.

"Well, that's nice, but I'm not going to Digivolve anytime soon. The reason I'm sick isn't physical like that."

"But it could also be a part of it," Poyomon said. "Or it might happen soon. It could kill you, SnowBotamon!"

"Trust me, that's not why I'm sick. I don't want to Digivolve. I can, it's just that I don't want to."

Only it seemed more and more of an issue every day. Something inside her was trying to make itself heard. But she wouldn't let it. It pushed against her whole being, trying to be let out. But she kept it inside, not letting it escape. She didn't know what it was, but she had a feeling it was trying to make her Digivolve. And she couldn't. She didn't want to grow up.

It was getting harder and harder as the days went on. It didn't hurt, and her whole being told her she wanted to Digivolve. But her mind, steadfast on her staying a baby, wouldn't let it work. And yet she wanted to escape from the village. So badly.

Realizing that was what she had to do, she smiled to herself. If only she could get away with it, she'd have freedom. Her smile quickly turned into a frown. What was she thinking? Of course she could get away with it! She was far more educated than Elecmon expected her to be, and leaving Primary Village wasn't exactly a prison break. There were no walls, no fences. She could escape easily if he wasn't watching.

Unfortunately, he was. He was always worried about her lately, since she was "sick". He made sure she was always in her cradle, and the few times she left it, he kept a close eye on her, making sure she didn't collapse.

She would have to rely on her followers to help her. MetalKoromon and Nyokimon, whom she considered her most loyal, were good at stirring things up. MetalKoromon was known for his bad temper at those who angered his friends, and Nyokimon cried at the drop of a hat. They also would keep her secret, though she'd have to lie to them about her reasons for leaving Primary Village. They couldn't know she wasn't coming back.

She sat up in her cradle and looked out at the village around her. The babies were playing, as usual. She saw Paomon following Poyomon around like a shadow. What about Poyomon? Could she tell him?

No, she decided. He would suspect she was up to something more. And even though he was the only one she respected – if only a tiny bit, and nothing more – she couldn't have him know.

"MetalKoromon! Nyokimon!" she called out. Immediately, the two dropped whatever they were doing and hurried over to her.

"I have a favor to ask of you two," she purred.

"'Course!" Nyokimon smiled.

"I was interested in leaving Primary Village for a few minutes. Not forever, just a little while. After all, if I'm to have any sense of what kind of ruler we need, I need to see other areas, and get ideas from them. I won't be gone long, but I need you two to divert Elecmon's attention while I get away. You know how he is – he wouldn't let me go, until I was an In-training Digimon." She rolled her eyes, smiling hopelessly.

Nyokimon and MetalKoromon giggled, happy at being let in on this. "'Course we help you, Snowy!" MetalKoromon said.

"Thanks. You guys are the greatest. Remember, don't tell anyone, especially not Elecmon." SnowBotamon smiled at them for a moment, hoping it made her look sensitive and grateful. "Now, here's what I need you to do…" Her eyes narrowed into small slits as they leaned in, conspiratorially.

"ELECKY! ELECKY!" wailed Nyokimon. "Me-Koro is maaaaad at meeeeeee!"

Elecmon sighed, and hurried over to the crying Digimon, surrounded by tons of other babies. They were oblivious to what was going on, though.

MetalKoromon glared down at a scared-looking, sobbing Nyokimon. "YOU BROKE MY TOY!" he accused.

The tired-looking caretaker shook his head. "MetalKoromon, calm down," he pleaded. "Nyokimon, please stop crying… it'll be okay…"

SnowBotamon peered over the side of the cradle. There was still not enough to distract him. She wasn't exactly able to camouflage with her surroundings. A pure white ball of fluff, no matter how small, was sure to attract his attention. His back wasn't completely facing her, and Elecmon had excellent hearing.

"IT'S NOT OKAAAAY! HE'S SO MEEEEEAAAN TO MEEEE!" screeched Nyokimon, dragging out the vowels, long enough for SnowBotamon to slip off the cradle and land on the ground.

"SHE BROKE ME TOY!" fumed MetalKoromon.

"Shh, quiet, you two, we can work this out!"

"I'm so scaaaaaaaa-aaaared," Nyokimon sobbed. "Me-Koro is gonna hurt me! He told me!"

"MetalKoromon, is this true?" Elecmon looked at MetalKoromon disapprovingly.

"She started it! I told her if she broke another one of my toys – "

"I DIDN'T MEEEEAAAN TO!"

"SHUT UP! I'M TALKING!"

This only made Nyokimon cry harder. "ELECKY! HE TOLD ME TO SHUT UP!"

"MetalKoromon, don't say that! Nyokimon, please, be quiet!" Elecmon, along with many other babies, winced from the sound.

"Elecky agrees with me! SHUT UP!" MetalKoromon yelled.

"No, MetalKoromon! We don't say that here!"

SnowBotamon started to hop away, as quietly and quickly as she could.

"BUT SHE BROKE MY TOY!"

"I DIDN'T MEAN TO, STUPID HEAD!"

"Nyokimon, don't call names!" Elecmon desperately tried to control them.

"YEAH, YOU UGLY STINKBUG!" MetalKoromon yelled at Nyokimon.

"He called ME a name, Elecky. ELECKY! HE CALLED ME A NAME!"

SnowBotamon reached the edge of the bushes and paused for a moment, looking back. So this was it: she was leaving Primary Village forever. She hadn't been able to say goodbye to anyone, not even Poyomon. She sniffed slightly at the thought. She wasn't sentimental, she hated this place! She couldn't wait to explore. Besides, Poyomon was barely her friend, anyway. He just followed her around, and could sometimes carry a decent, intelligent conversation. It wasn't like she would miss him, or anything.

And yet… she would.

She squeezed her eyes closed. No she wouldn't! Why had she even had that idea? Sure, he was the only one who had seen her true side, the angry, tired, lonesome side, and the only one who knew how lost she really felt. He knew she didn't care about taking over Primary Village anymore, that it was only a temporary dream to begin with. He knew how trapped she felt, and how much she wanted to escape and be free of the village. But it wasn't like she cared about him. He was a friend, perhaps, but no more permanent than her hopes of taking over the village. So how come when she thought of never again hearing his delighted cry of "Yuki-chan!", she felt even more lost than when she had woken up without a memory of her dream?

She reopened her eyes. Immediately, they fell across Poyomon and Paomon. And Poyomon was staring right at her. He wasn't smiling like usual, but also wasn't sad like she'd seen him before, either. He just looked confused, almost, like he didn't know what she was doing. Or maybe that he knew, but didn't want to accept it, admit it. He glanced between SnowBotamon and Elecmon and the scene, suddenly realizing it was all staged. Something changed in his eyes, and he looked back to SnowBotamon. She gave him the smallest shaking of her head, urging him not to tell Elecmon she was escaping.

Forcing herself to look away, SnowBotamon felt a wave of sadness. She knew she couldn't stay behind any longer. Her bones itched for open land. So she left, hopping away, faster than she had ever gone before, not looking back at the village once.

What will happen once SnowBotamon is in the wild? xO Review please. :3