Author's Note: Merry Christmas (albeit belated). I know I have been a very suck updater these past few months, but I am hoping to change that in the New Year. Recently I have been more focused on writing my Novel than I have fanfiction, but now that I have finished writing it, posted it to Inkitt, and am focusing on sending it to publishers; I can get back into writing fanfiction again. If you would like to check out my novel see my profile page for the link to my Inkitt profile.
Dedications: Thank you to the following: GemYin, RaccoonJess, xxwhitemagexx, Zexiroth15, Mirajanewolf46, War WereWolf, Half Winged Angel in Despair, Blake24, Bor Vampire, GodShynin300, Pompeii1224, Eagle Master17, Sobreyra274 and AlexisHard for adding this story to their favourites/alerts. Appreciate it.
I don't own Digimon. But I do own any original characters that are of my own design.
Title: Expect the Unexpected
Summary: Kimiko is the estranged daughter of Mitsuo Yamaki. For her fifteenth birthday, she acquires the Digimon: Labramon and becomes the fourth Digimon Tamer.
Chapter Twenty-Five: Mental Madness
Kimiko gasped as the data stream disappeared leaving nothing but a barren wasteland behind. Rika, Kazu, Kenta, and Renamon were nowhere in sight.
"Where'd they go?" Jeri asked, looking towards Leomon for an answer.
"They could be anywhere now," Leomon answered. "The only way to be sure where they landed is to be hit by another data stream, but even then you cannot guarantee that you'll end up in the same place."
"Oh terrific," Henry said. "We're supposed to be searching for Calumon, not each other."
"Maybe they'll find him first," Terriermon offered. "Momenti."
Kimiko sighed and looked down at Labramon. "Are you OK?" she asked, kneeling beside her partner and petting her head.
"Yes," Labramon replied. "Maybe just a little tired."
"I'm not surprised," Takato said. "We've been walking our butts off. Maybe we could take five to rest."
Henry smiled and Kimiko nodded. She reached for the straps of her backpack and was in the process of removing it when a frightened cried from Terriermon caused her to look around.
"What is it now?" Henry asked his partner.
"I wouldn't get too comfy just yet," Terriermon said, pointing to the left of them. "That village looks like a petrified bubble bath if you ask me."
Kimiko looked considerate. "Hey, maybe there's someone there who can help us?" she asked. "You know, they could have food or water. Just because it looks deserted doesn't mean that it is."
"It's worth a shot," Jeri agreed. "Do you think you can make it, Labramon?"
Labramon smiled at the brunette. "I can make it," she said, standing up. Her legs were a little shaky with the lack of sustainable energy, but she refused to show her weakness in front of the others. She needed to be strong now, at least for their sake.
The village was, as Terriermon said, deserted. It didn't seem like anyone was around, save for a few stranded data balls.
"I can sort of see why no one is sticking around," Takato said. "It's not exactly one of the world's most beautiful vacation spots, huh?"
"Whoever is there, come out now!" Jeri yelled.
Henry, however, was staring at the sand rather than the village. The look on his face was one of curiosity and fascination. "That's odd," he murmured. "Those tire marks look like they came from a bike."
"Does that sound close to you?" Terriermon asked, raising his ears into the air and looking around.
Guilmon and Labramon did the same, and they, along with Leomon, turned in the direction the sound was coming from.
The tamers followed their Digimon's attention just in time to see a motorcycle speed around the corner and swerve in their direction.
"It's after us!" Takato yelled, diving aside as the motorbike cut through where they had just been standing.
Kimiko hit the ground with a hard thud and looked up as the bike spun into her path. Its engine revved and it sped towards her. She gasped, but found herself to terrified to move.
"Kimiko, look out!" Henry yelled.
The bike plowed on and would've run Kimiko over had Leomon not appeared at the last second, scooping her up into his arms and jumping aside. But the bike didn't stop; it just sped on towards one of the abandoned houses. A door opened and a teddy-bear creature stuck its head outside.
"Oh no!" Jeri whined as the bike hit the bear and the house, crashing through the back wall and destroying the teddy-bear creature in its path.
The bike's engine revved again, and it disappeared into the distance.
Kimiko jumped from Leomon's arms and landed on the sand beside her friends. "Thanks, Leomon," she said as Henry reached her side.
Leomon bowed his head in acknowledgment and Kimiko hugged Henry in relief. "I'm OK," she assured him.
"What's happening out here?"
The tamers turned to the voice and found themselves surrounded by a village full of teddy-bear creatures. Each one staring at the humans with wide-eyes.
"It looks like someone needs to get a new cookie cutter," Terriermon said looking around.
"Uh, hey guys, it's nice to meet you - oh," Takato said, reaching into his pocket for his digivice. He held it out in front of him as the holographic screen came to life. "Chuchidarumon - champion Digimon with the tendency to stare."
The bears parted and an elderly one walked forward, leaning against a walking stick. "Greetings and salutation," he greeted.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Once the tamers and Digimon were sure the motorcycle had completely left the village, the elderly Chuchidarumon led the friends into his house, they had to crawl through the small door and slid into the hallway, it was a tight squeeze for Leomon, but he made it inside with little effort.
"Please accept some refreshments," the elderly bear said. "We don't have much in the way of food around here, but what we do have is yours."
A large plate of what appeared to be rocks was placed on the table and pushed towards the friends.
Henry, Takato, and Kimiko exchanged unsure glances. They weren't 100% sure the food here would be edible for them. But Jeri didn't need telling twice; she plunged forward and grabbed a piece of food, stuffing it easily into her mouth.
"Mhm, delicious," Jeri said, giving a thumbs up. Her face was covered in grime from the food, but she didn't seem to notice as she reached for another piece.
"Sure, if you say so," Takato said, awkwardly.
Kimiko eyed the food cautiously before picking up a slab. It felt like bread in her hands but was covered in soot instead of flour. "Here you go, Labramon," she said, tearing off a piece of offering it to her partner. "Just try it."
Labramon accepted the piece gratefully and ate it. She didn't seem repulsed and didn't bring it back up, and this seemed to convince Kimiko that it safe. The blonde smiled and offered another piece to her partner, while quietly nibbling on a slice herself.
Labramon ate the second piece too.
Takato and Henry exchanged looks over Kimiko's shoulder, shrugged and reached for a piece of food themselves.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Once they had eaten as much as they could, the elderly Chuchidarumon offered them water to tame their thirst. The tamers accepted it happily, and Kimiko helped Labramon to drink hers sparingly. Once they were full, Labramon rested her head on her paws and closed her eyes, falling asleep almost instantly.
"We can't thank you enough for the food," Takato said. "It really was delicious."
"Well, we're glad you enjoyed it," the elderly bear said.
"I don't mean to be rude," Henry said, leaning forward onto the table. "But aren't you putting the village in danger by associating with humans?"
"Mhm? I don't understand what you're talking about," the elderly bear replied.
Terriermon jumped up onto the table in surprise. "Where have you been, pal, the digi-dark ages?" he asked. "We're talking about devas. There's been a lot of them lately."
"Devas?" the bear repeated. "I'm sorry, but I don't think I've ever heard of them. I wouldn't worry about it, though; this is the forgotten village of discarded data. Nobody cares about what happens to us, I'm afraid."
"We care," Kimiko said looking up from Labramon. "I care."
"Trust us, she does, she's like a walking Digimon magnet," Terriermon teased.
Kimiko stuck her tongue out as Terriermon jumped over Henry and Takato, winding his arms around Kimiko's shoulders as he hugged her.
"What about the metal beast or whatever that was?" Leomon asked.
"It was a motorbike," Henry said. "But still, how can a machine that big be controlled without a driver?"
The elderly bear shook its head. "We don't know what it is or where it came from," he explained. "It just appeared one day out of nowhere, and it started wrecking our village."
"What? Are you saying that all the damage outside was caused by that wacko bike?" Takato asked.
"Yes. When the beast is on the prowl are homes are destroyed, and our people are at risk," the elderly bear said. "If only we knew what it wanted. There are some that believe it is searching for a rider, but who in the village would be strong enough to tame it."
"But come on, you can't let it plow you all down, right?" Takato asked, standing.
"That's right!" Terriermon agreed. "Now let's go outside and -"
"Terriermon!" Henry snapped.
"What?"
"You can't put your friends in peril," Leomon said. "You have to stand up to that bike once and for all."
"Yeah!" Takato agreed. "Otherwise, there's not going to be any of you left. Here's an idea, pack up your domes, and move to a new place."
Kimiko frowned and looked to Takato. "Why should they have to move on?" she asked. "This is their home. They shouldn't have to be the ones to leave."
"They can't stay here and let that machine run all over them, Kimiko," Takato argued.
"Hey, Takato, can I talk to you outside?" Henry asked, tapping the other boy's shoulder.
Takato frowned, shrugged, and followed Henry to the door. Kimiko sighed and looked back at Labramon as she continued to sleep soundly. She must've been tried to sleep through all the arguing and raised voices.
"What do you suppose Henry wanted to talk to Takato about?" Jeri asked sitting on the floor beside Kimiko.
Kimiko shrugged. "Probably about leaving the Chuchidarumon to their own business," she said. "Henry's never been one to interfere with something that doesn't concern him."
"You know him quite well, don't you?" Jeri asked.
"Yeah, I guess," Kimiko replied.
"And he cares quite a lot about you."
Kimiko lifted her gaze to meet Jeri's. "What's your point?" she asked.
Jeri shook her head. "Just making an observation," she said. "But, if I was making a point, it'd probably be that Henry would probably listen to you if you sided with Takato about the Chuchidarumon moving on from this place, and then he'd be more likely to help."
"But I don't agree that they should move on," Kimiko said. "If someone was threatening your home, wouldn't you want to stay and protect it or would you just give up and walk away like it didn't mean anything to you?"
"I don't know," Jeri said. "It depends on how great the threat was, I guess."
Kimiko sighed and looked down at Labramon again. "What if someone was threatening your friends or your family?" she asked. "Would you turn and run then?"
"I guess not," Jeri said.
"Well, this is the same thing," Kimiko said. "Whether you're fighting for something materialistic or realistic, you should still have the option to stand and fight, and not be forced to move on. Takato's not even giving them the chance, he just wants them to leave, and I don't think that they should."
"And Henry?" Jeri asked.
Kimiko shrugged. "I don't know about Henry," she said. "I know he doesn't agree with Takato telling them to leave, but he also wouldn't agree with me telling them to stand and fight, either. Like I said, Henry's never been one to intrude in someone else's business."
Jeri stared at Kimiko in silence. She had to agree that both Takato and Kimiko had good argument sides, and therefore wasn't quite sure which one she would choose to stand on.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
The ground shook violently, overturning the table and knocking a chair into the fire. Kimiko and Jeri gasped and looked around as the elderly Chuchidarumon fell backward off his stool.
"What was that?" Jeri asked.
"It's that bike," Labramon said opening her eyes. "It's come back." She stood up, wobbled slightly on her injured leg and then padded towards the door. Leomon opened it and both he and Labramon squeezed out into the village.
"Hey, wait," Kimiko called, chasing after them. Jeri right on her heels. The two girls' met up with Takato and Henry in the square just as the bike appeared in the distance.
"What do we do?" Takato asked.
"What we always do," said Henry, looking to Terriermon. "Ready?"
Terriermon grinned. "Finally, some action!" he said, jumping down from Henry's shoulder and standing before the tamers.
Henry reached for his digivice and his pack of cards. "Digimodify - Digivolution activate!" he commanded.
Digivolution.
"Terriermon, digivolve too - Gargomon!"
Sliding to a stop in front of Guilmon, Gargomon opened fire on the bike speeding towards them. But it didn't even slow the machine down.
"Wha - oh nuts!" Gargomon yelled diving aside as the bike swerved past.
"Fist of the beast king!" Leomon yelled, pulling back with his fist and punching a flaming lions head at the bike. It hit the machine, knocking it off course, but straight into the path of a group of Chuchidarumon.
Kimiko gasped and started forwards to help.
"No," Henry said, latching onto her arm and holding her back.
"We have to do something!" Kimiko argued.
Labramon shot forward, despite the pain in her leg, and stopped with her upper body low to the ground, her back legs spaced a few inches apart, and her teeth bared in front of the Chuchidarumon.
"Labramon, move!" Kimiko yelled.
"Retriever G!" Labramon barked. A spiral of pink energy exploded from her muzzle. Again, it hit the bike but did very little to disrupt its course.
Kimiko gasped and struggled against Henry to reach her partner.
"Guilmon!" Takato yelled.
The red dinosaur leaped forward and landed on the seat of the bike, he grabbed the handlebars and swerved the bike away from Labramon and the Chuchidarumon's at the last second. As he twisted and turned around the valley, a metal oval dislodged and landed in the sand.
"What the -?" Jeri murmured.
Labramon shuffled forward and sniffed the metal device. "I think it's a Digimon," she said.
"You're right, Labramon," Jeri said holding up her digivice. "It's Metal Koromon. A rookie machine Digimon."
"I'm so happy you saved me," Metal Koromon squeaked, its tail blinking as it spoke.
"Run that by me again," Takato said. "Did you just say we saved you?"
Jeri gasped. "Oh no, look! Guilmon's gone berserk!" she said.
Looking around, the tamers noticed Guilmon heading straight for them on the motorcycle. His eyes burned bright red and a snarl ripped across his jaws, showing his teeth.
"Guy's, I think we should move," Kimiko said, realising they were standing directly in Guilmon's path. The group agreed and quickly parted, running for any known safety the village had to offer.
But no matter where they went, Guilmon followed them.
"Guilmon's taking this a bit too seriously, don't you think?" Takato asked.
"Who knows," Henry said. "But we've got to get away from this village before we crash and burn."
Glancing over his shoulder, Leomon saw that Guilmon was still following them, and growing closer by the second.
"I don't like that bike," Metal Koromon squeaked. "It takes over your mind and causes you to go bonkers, and that's not the only rotten thing it does. Once you get on it, you're stuck because it'll keep going until it finds another rider it likes even better."
Takato sighed. "Some weird bike," he mumbled.
"I agree," Jeri nodded. "It reminds me of the story of the red shoes."
"Never heard of it," Kimiko said.
"You're kidding?" Jeri asked, astonished that the brightest girl she knew had never heard of the red shoes story. "If you wore the red shoes you'd start dancing faster and faster, and you'd keep dancing forever, you'd never be able to stop."
Kimiko frowned. "But that's impossible," she said. "You can't do something like that in the real world. The story has to be fictional."
"Regardless, the basis of the story applies to our current situation," Henry said.
Takato shot to his feet and raced into the middle of the square, directly in the path of Guilmon.
"What are you doing?" Jeri yelled.
"Guilmon, you've got to fight it!" Takato yelled.
Guilmon growled and plowed onwards. He opened his jaws and fired off a powerful fireball at Takato, but missed as Terriermon jumped in front of the Tamer and, using WarGrowlmon's shield, protected the two of them from harm.
"I've got to get on that bike!" Takato decided.
"What?!" his friends yelled.
"Don't you get it?" Takato asked. "When Guilmon got on, Metal Koromon was able to make his escape. So, if I get on the bike Guilmon will be able to make his escape too."
"Then how do you suppose we get you off, dumbass?" Kimiko asked. "This is a never ending circle of riders. One person gets on and the current rider gets off, that's how it's always going to be. The only way to save Guilmon is to break the cycle."
"Well, I'm open to other suggestions, genius!" Takato snapped.
Kimiko glared at him.
~*Expect the Unexpected*~
Nervously, Gargomon glanced behind him at the Tamers. His gaze sought out Jeri and he gulped. "Hey, Jeri tells us more about the red shoes story," he said. "I mean, it does have a happy ending, right?"
"Well, as I remember," said Jeri, looking thoughtful. "There was something about the red shoes not coming off, and then something horrible happened but I can't remember exactly what it was."
Takato stared fearfully at the motorcycle with his best friend on top of it. "Something really horrible?" he repeated.
"Enough!" Leomon shouted. He gripped his sword and jumped towards then approaching bike. He swung his sword around and, despite the protests of Takato to stop, struck Guilmon upside the head.
Guilmon froze and then toppled sideways off the bike, landing with a thud in the sand. The bike, however, continued on course and drove straight off a ledge into the burning lava flow below.
With the bike forgotten, the Tamers, led by Takato, rushed towards Leomon and Guilmon. The dinosaur was lying on his back on the sand as Leomon knelt beside him.
"Don't worry, Takato, he's got a hard head," Leomon assured the tamer.
"Oh!" Guilmon groaned as he opened his eyes and sat up. "That wasn't fun at all. Next time I think I'll walk."
Takato laughed and hugged the dinosaur tightly. "That'll be just fine with me, boy," he said, petting him gently.
"That was some plan," Kimiko told Leomon. "Maybe, you could give us a little warning next time?"
Leomon bowed his head to her. "It occurred to me that if the bike was in control of the riders mind, then all the rider needed was a not-so-gentle wake-up call and the spell would be broken," he explained as Henry, Gargomon and Jeri looked confused.
"Well, at least the bike won't be causing any more trouble around here," Takato said, looking over to the ledge where the bike had fallen.
"Good riddance," Henry said. "Thanks to you, the Chuchidarumon are safe. I'm really sorry, Takato, I don't know why I gave you such a hard time about butting in on their problems. I should've known better, you never listen to me anyway. I guess that's why I like you so much."
Takato shrugged. "That's OK, Henry," he replied, "and Kimiko, I'm sorry for snapping at you."
"Water under the bridge," Kimiko said with a smile. "Besides, I guess you and I were on the same page after all. You wanted the Chuchidarumon to leave so we could fight for them, I wanted them to stay and fight for themselves."
Jeri smiled at the three friends and then turned her full attention to Takato. "I think you did really great," she said, causing him to blush a deep red.
"Oh, it was nothing," Takato said, bashfully.
"Nothing?" Guilmon repeated. "Then how come your face is all red and sweaty looking just like mine?"
Takato blushed even harder. "Would you cram it, Guilmon? It is not!" he hissed. "But now that's been said, let's go and look for Calumon."
"Not to mention Rika and the boys'," Kimiko added.
Henry nodded taking Kimiko's hand as they prepared to leave the Chuchidarumon village and continue their search and rescue quest.
But the ground shaking violently again brought any and all plans they may have had to a grinding halt as the lava in the ravine churned loudly, the sound of an engine issuing from deep within. Suddenly the lava rose into the air, much like it did when a volcano erupted, and the bike shot into the skies, a strikingly familiar, yet unfamiliar, Digimon astride it.
The bike and its new rider landed on the ledge opposite the tamers. The Digimon turned its head a fraction of an inch in the Tamers direction, its eye sliding over each of them slowly and deliberately. A grin curved at the corner of the Digimon's lips, and then he sped away without a word.
"Who is that guy?" Takato asked.
But no one replied, as no one knew the answer.
Copyrighted ©
Chapter written by xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated Wednesday 28th December, 2016 at 05:44am