The sound of voices and laughter are soft at first but slowly start to grow as we make our way to the town Lalamon was talking about. We walk under a stone opening before seeing the wonderful town full of shops and cheerful digimon. As we navigate the paths looking around in amazement, I turn to Coronamon.
"Since you knew the other dark generals, do you think any would be here?" I ask him
"I mean, two of them have water related stuff but I would bet more on Olegmon since I know he's a pirate and probably owns a few ships over there." Coronamon states as he points to the west. He was right, lined up were a bunch of ships of all sizes. "To be honest, the best bet is to get one of those ships to see if we can find Olegmon faster. We can't waste time for him to get back, those sea trips can take months!" Coronamon exclaims waving his arms in the air. Whispered looks at him with a sarcastic and tired expression.
"He's right!" Lalamon says. "Even if it's small, we must get a boat!" She says as she starts to fly to the docks.
"Lalamon, wait up!" I yell as me and the other two chase after her. She begins asking every boat owner she can find if we can borrow it. All decline, some even try attacking Lalamon, but I pull her away before anything bad can happen to her. We slump in defeat after every digimon rejects an offer or declines our requests. As we walk slowly back, we see someone with a boat that's really small.
The digimon wears a purple coat with yellow buttons and a black belt. It's hat matches the color of the coat and has the skull of a dramon on it. One of its hands is a hook, the other a cannon. It wears bulky black boats. One of its eyes is covered, like a traditional pirate. Lalamon flies up to him.
"Hello sir, may we use your boat?" She asks and I have to run up beside her to make sure she doesn't end up a kebab on that hook.
"Of course, what's the payment?" He says. Lalamon looks at me then back.
"We don't have any money…" She trails off. The digimon looks at her, he looks irritated.
"Then no boat." He adds.
"Well, Mister…um…" I say.
"Hookmon." The digimon replies.
"Mister Hookmon, is there anything we can do to just be able to borrow your boat. Hookmon stands there thinking for a moment before sighing.
"Actually, I have a shopping list I need to get done. It's not a lot, but I am just too tired to do it. If you get me everything on the list, I'll let you borrow the boat. Deal?"
"Deal!" I say joyfully as I shake his hook hand cautiously. He gives me the list and a bag full of bits before we leave to do the shopping.
"We've turned into errand boys now…great…" Whispered mutters.
"I'm no boy!" Lalamon yelps as she bonks Whispered on the head.
"Ow!" He yelps but we keep on walking. Most of the items are easy on the list with the help of Coronamon and many other shoppers. We are able to get Digistalk, Digibites, and Digihoney. The last thing needed on the list was royal digijelly.
"Where is this Royal Digijelly at?" I ask as we stop near the shore. "We've checked three times and I'm getting tired." I complain, turning around to look at the three digimon. They are all gazing at the water. I sigh. "Fine, you three can go play if you want, I'll keep searching." I say as I look up and see them far away from me already, running to the water. The scene makes me laugh. I turn my heel and begin walking back to the dozens of shops lined up.
As I make my way around the familiar bends, I pass by shops selling vases and ceramic cups. As I walk past more shops, I'm stopped by more digimon.
"Hey Kid, wanna by some jewelry? This one would so match your eyes." A female digimon said, shoving the glittery rocks on a string in my face.
"No thank you, ma'am." I say as I move to my right and past her, just to be stopped by another digimon.
"Don't buy her ugly jewelry when you can have these hats!" Another digimon said, pulling out a bunch of crappy looking blue and white hats with purple and green gemstones on them.
"No thank you, I really need to get on my way." I say as I move past them, hearing the digimon mutter curses directed at me before returning to their stand. Damn, some digimon can be rude! I keep trotting along the stone walkway and I see a digimon packing up their shop. The digimon is a literal star with bulky gloves and boots. The sign to his shop says, "Starmon's Royal Digijelly" and my eyes light up as I race to the stand.
"Excuse me sir, is there by any chance that you have any digijelly left?"
"Sorry kid, not right now." He says, his eyes closing. My eyes turn darker as I sigh.
"Dang, guess I ain't getting the boat from Hookmon…" I mumble as I turn around.
"Hold on a minute, Hookmon?" Starmon asks and laughs. I turn around again and glance at him while he chuckles. He bends down and grabs something from a box. He puts a jar of Digijelly on the counter. "Here ya go, kid."
"But, why? I thought you said there was no more?"
"Hookmon is a good friend of mine, but he is always tired and lazy lately. I'll give it to you for half the price." Starmon says as he slides the Digijelly over to me. I give him the bits and take the Digijelly.
"Thank you so much, Starmon sir!" I say as I bow my head a bit and wave him goodbye.
"No problem, tell Hookmon I said hi." Starmon says.
"I will!" I reply as I begin walking back to the beach where the others are playing. I realize that many digimon have left for some reason where I'm at. I see an open bench and decide to sit down to make sure I have everything. I take out the list again and take out each item to make sure I have it. I take out the digijelly again and look at the packingging. It's jar wrapper shines of purple and gold, really putting an emphasis on the red mush inside. I hold the from the bottom lightly with just my fingers, looking at the lid. Its, silver and shiny like jelly bought at a grocery store in the human world.
Out of the blue, the jar is ripped out of my hands by a huge red scaled hand with white claws and a black stripe on its wrist.
"Hey! Thief!" I yell as I begin chasing after the red lizard digimon. Its thick red tail thrashes wildly behind as I begin to catch up to it. It sees this and starts running faster. "Give me back my food!" I yell again as we run to the edge of the forest. The reptile looks back at me but when it turns its head to look back on its path, it smacks its head on a tree. The digimon stumbles backwards as it falls to the ground, still conscious. Its eyes flutter open to see me hovering above it. It yelps and scrambles to its butt and leans against a tree, looking at me with pure fear.
"I'm sorry!" The digimon screeches out, its voice scraggy and like a childs. "I'll give the digijelly back!" It says as it tosses the jar back to me. I catch it and look at the red reptile.
"Why did you steal this in the first place?" I ask. The digimon gulp dramatically before gazing back up at me. Its white chest heaving and its white stomach following.
"I was hungry…and I don't have any money…" He says quietly, looking ashamed. My resentful gaze softens to a more understanding one. Living in my world taught me this. Sometimes, people or digimon, gotta do bad things to live. Sometimes it's not their fault and it makes my heart ache just thinking about it. I sigh and get down on one knee.
"Do you have have any friends or family to depend on?" I ask softly, watching as the digimon's expression worsens becoming more sad.
"No…I was kicked away by my family. They told me I was a runt and needed to get out." It admits, its eyes tearing up. I panic slightly, feeling awful for making some digimon cry.
"I'm sorry. Didn't mean to hit a nerve there…" I say as I sit down across from him. "Say how about this, you still seem like a spirited digimon and not to mention you are super duper fast!" A smile creeps onto my face. "How would you like to be a part of my digimon family? I swear most of us are friendly." I chuckle, reminding myself of Whispered. The red lizard looks at me and dries its eyes with its large red hands.
"Sure!" It yelps out and stands back up and cheers. I stand up as well and reach out my hand for a handshake. The gesture is completely misunderstood as the digimon hugs me, knocking me backwards a bit.
"So what's your name?" I ask as the digimon retreats from the hug.
"Guilmon!" He says, smiling with all his sharp teeth.
"Well Guilmon, follow me, we are about to go on a boat ride!" I say as I turn the other direction and begin walking back to the shore where Hookmon is. Guilmon follows right after me.
"That sounds great!" He cheers "But wait, what's your name?"
"Derin, Derin Mivorino."
"Nice to meet you, Derin!" Guilmon says as he walks faster to walk beside me. We continue chatting until we get to the beach where I see Lalamon sitting on a bench while I see Coronamon and Whispered absolutely soaked while they continue playing in the water.
"Lalamon" I start and she turns around looking at Guilmon. "This is Guilmon, the newest addition to our team!" I say.
"So I'm now the newest anymore? Lame." Lalamon says jokingly as she flies to Guilmon and they exchange a weird looking handshake. I smile at the greeting and turn my head around and watch the other two play. Coronamon's losing. I bring two fingers to my lips and whistle loudly, catching the attention of the cats. They run up to me and Coronamon smiles and look at Guilmon.
"Hi there! What's your name?" Coronamon asks while showing off his usual big bright smile.
"Guilmon! What's yours?" Guilmon smiles back matching Coronamon's energy. Whispered scoffs.
"Now we've got to sunballs-" He is stopped when Coronamon covers his mouth.
"I'm Coronamon, nice to meet you!" Coronamon points to Whispered. "Don't mind Whispered, he gets like that." Coronamon says then releases Whispered's mouth.
"Well, since all introductions are over, it's time to get that boat!" I declare as I start moving back towards Hookmon's boat. Now four digimon follow me. I walk up to Hookmon.
"There you all are!" He says. "Did you get the stuff?" He asks and I pull out all the items and give them to him. "Good job!" He exclaims and looks back at me. I take out the little bag with the remaining bits and go to give them to him but he stops me. "Just keep them, you deserve it."
"Oh! Thank you so much Hookmon!" I smile.
"No thank you, friend." Hookmon goes to set up the boat and we all get in.
"Oh yeah, Starmon says hi!" I recall and Hookmon laughs.
"Thanks." He responds, and gives me the paddles. "Have fun on your trip!" He says as I begin rowing off, the sound of the four digimon's cheers and laughter filling me with contentment. I look back at Guilmon and see him smiling away with Lalamon. This adventure just got a whole lot better.