The Return to the Digital World

Lupine Laser: Please review! I do not own Digimon.

"Well then," Takuya said, "we shall leave tomorrow!" We all agreed. We all slept early so that we would have enough energy for the trip to the Fortuneteller Village.

Chapter 12: The Future

NORMAL POV

The Fortuneteller Village was not to far from the Gotsumon Village, fortunately. The group did not have to walk for long. Actually, the group had to walk faster and not slower because of their new member, Strabimon. He was this energy machine and could always keep on walking.

Takuya said, "Strabimon, I think your metabolism rate is too high. Don't you ever want to rest? You even have more energy than me!"

Strabimon shook his head. "Nope. Don't think so. You can't blame me! I'm meant for speed and stamina!" he said cheerfully. The group had only managed to rest maybe once or at most twice a day because of the over-energetic Strabimon. One was for lunch and occasionally a second time for anyone who really could not take it.

In a short journey of two days, the group had managed to reach the Fortuneteller Village. The village was very crowded, with many frauds walking around advertising stuff that were fake and many Digimons who were strolling around, occasionally being dragged around by the frauds.

The group cut through the thick crowd easily, mostly because the Digimon recognised them and made way for them to go through. They reached this tall stone building. Not a lot of Digimon were here. Takuya, JP and Kouichi pushed open the heavy stone doors.

STRABIMON'S POV

I sensed a Digimon in the big hall. "I was waiting for you," a voice said. 'That was so creepy,' I thought. As we walked deeper into the hall, I saw a figure standing at the far end. It looked like a Goblimon, but yet again, it could be the Shamanmon that the rest were looking for.

When the figure turned around to face us, I realised it was a Shamanmon. I walked in the middle of the group but closer to Zoe.

The Shamanmon beckoned for us to come closer, so we did. The rest seemed not scared at all. The Shamanmon asked, "How may I help you, friends?" Takuya and Kouichi proceeded to tell Shamanmon a summary of what had happened so far.

"Ah..." the Shamanmon scratched his chin in thought. "You want me to see if your friend, Strabimon, can be transformed back into Kouji?" We all nodded. He beckoned for me to come closer to him. I just stared at him.

"Go on, Strabimon," Zoe whispered. I gained some courage and walked over. I was cautious about every new Digimon I encountered. The Shamanmon stared deep into my eyes.

He turned into a trance and chanted, "When past is regained a gift will be earned. The gift will be the gift of a life." I had no idea what he was saying.

I looked back at my friends. They did not understand either. JP asked, "Shamanmon, do you mind speaking English?"

Shamanmon snapped out of his trance at the mention of his name. "What did I say?" he asked. 'Weirdo,' I thought.

Tommy proceeded to repeat everything that Shamanmon had said during his trance. He listened, and then said, "How would I know?"

"You said the words yourself," JP said.

"That doesn't mean I know what I'm saying. It's true, just that I don't know what it is saying!" he retorted. Everyone sighed. What help. Anyway, we thanked him, though he was not much help, and left his stone house. We decided to stay overnight at the village before heading back to Ophanimon's castle. Based on Bokomon's book, we were not far away.

I was amazed at the sheer number of Digimon that wanted us to stay at their house for the night. It was not like they asked politely. They actually pulled, or should I say dragged, us into their house. I almost lost it but Zoe managed to ply the stubborn Gekomon, who was clinging onto my neck, off me.

More Digimon came to sort of 'kill' us in a sense that most of them were strangling us. Finally, Takuya burst out, "STOP STRANGLING US!" Everyone froze while the rest of us plied ourselves free of the DIgimons' grasps and gathered at Takuya's side. I hid behind Zoe.

All the Digimons did not dare come close to us, excluding Bokomon and Neemon who had both jumped up on me since I was shorter with more 'things' to cling on. Takuya randomly pointed to a Digimon and said that we would stay over at its house. Certainly it was very excited but the rest seemed sad.

Anyway, we settled down in a room that was prepared for us. I really did not want to sleep indoors knowing that if the Digimon owner got too excited, it might strangle us with joy. Instead, I walked outside to sleep high up in a tree where I could stare at the stars.

No one knew I was gone until I heard someone from inside the house ask where I was. Zoe came out looking for me and I just yelled down from the tree that I would be sleeping up there. She said that it was not as safe so she would get someone to go up there with me.

Zoe did not know how to climb, so it would be one of the other boys. Kouichi came out soon, probably volunteering to sleep there with me. He climbed up and I gave him a little help by extending a claw for him to grab on. He climbed up to a branch that was behind my branch so that we were back to back.

If it was Kouichi, Zoe or Tommy, I did not mind. If it was the others, especially Takuya, I would have been better of in that Digimon's house. Kouichi did not say anything, which was what I preferred.

After a while of silence, Kouichi asked, "Strabimon, do you want to turn back into Kouji?"

"Yeah."

"Me too. I miss my brother."

I felt sorry for him all of a sudden. "I'm... I'm sorry."

Kouichi sounded confused, "What for? It's not your fault that you turned into a Strabimon. It's just that I wish I knew a way to turn you back into your old self. Maybe if you will it, you can turn back into Kouji."

"I've tried many times. I don't want to be a burden and I don't want any of you to be sad because the human me is not around," Strabimon said.

Kouichi assured me, "I'm sure Ophanimon has some way to turn you back into Kouji. I mean, Shamanmon wasn't a lot of help, was he? Anyway, let's not worry about it anymore. Good night Strabimon."

"Good night, big brother," I mumbled. I swear I heard Kouichi chuckle a bit.