Hey guys.

It would seem that we are in a short chapter. I'm not complaining, and I hope none of you readers aren't either.

Chapter 17

The scene cuts to snacks and sweets being eaten by 'Bah' as he is stuffing their face with assorted chocolates from a box.

Yubaba (Off-Screen): This gold doesn't even come close to covering the damage that stupid No-Face caused.

Kouji "I have had just about enough about Yubaba's greed."

Takuya "Yeah, me too."

Tommy "Me three."

Zoe "Ditto."

J.P. "We're all tired of her greediness."

Yubaba's body and face are wrapped in towels as she dries by the fireplace, addressing the bowing Chichiyaku, Aniyaku, and Aogaeru.

Yubaba: Sen didn't get nearly enough, she'll have to be punished.

Aogaeru: Madam, you see, Sen was the one that saved us from No-Face.

Aniyaku: (nodding) Yes, yes.

Neemon "That's a good thing, isn't it?"

Bokomon "Saving their lives, yes. It should be enough to not get a severe punishment."

Yubaba: So what, this whole mess is her fault! And now she's run away from here. She's even abandoned her own parents! Those pigs must be ready to eat by now. Turn them into bacon.

The servants back up in horror.

Bokomon (scared) "Or maybe not!"

Haku enters the room in time to intervene.

Haku: Wait a minute.

Takuya "Good. Haku made it in time."

Kouji "But does he have a plan?"

Takuya "I know he does. Besides, something precious of Yubaba's has been replaced."

They were confused about what Takuya meant at first, but they quickly realized what it was.

The servants turn around, shocked at the sight before them.

Chichiyaku: Huh?

Aogaeru: Master Haku?

Yubaba: You're still alive? What is it you want?

Haku stops in front of her.

Haku: You still haven't noticed that something precious to you has been replaced.

They were taken aback at how closely Takuya spoke the same words as Haku.

J.P. "That was weird."

Yubaba: Don't get fresh with me, young man. Since when do you talk that way to your master?

Haku is silent, waiting to see what the witch of the bathhouse responds. After a few seconds, Yubaba gulped and panicked as she picked one of the gold nuggets from a pile.

Chichiyaku pulls out his gold nugget to inspect it as well, but after finding nothing, Yubaba declares that's not it. She stares back at Haku, who continues to stand his ground, holding his gaze at her.

Kouji "It's not the gold."

J.P. "If it's not the gold then that means…"

Thinking that the gold is not the answer. The sound of rustling grabs Yubaba's attention, and she turns to 'Boh', who is shoveling boxes of treats into their mouth. Yubaba waves her finger at him, only for it to reveal a Kashira head atop the baby's body.

The baby turns back into the three Kashira, who hop to a door, press through it and leave. Yubaba rises, in shock as the reality of what is taken from her.

Yubaba: My. Baby.

J.P. slapped his forehead, "Her baby. How did I forget that?"

Tommy "I think we almost forgot about Zeniba's switch-up."

As those words left her mouth, the pile of gold shrivels into a brown pile, releasing smoke. Seeing this sets Yubaba off into a panic.

"Wait, What?!"

"What's happening to the gold?"

[Yubaba's Panic]

Yubaba: NO!

Yubaba slaps the pile off the table and rushes out of the room. Crying out.

Yubaba: My Baby!

Some of the piles were caught by the servants, and upon closer inspection, they realized that the pile was…

Aogaeru: It's just dirt!

"WHAT?!"

Zoe "It was only dirt the entire time?!"

J.P. "It was all fake!?"

Inside Boh's Nursery, Yubaba pillages through the toys and digs through the mountain of pillows.

Yubaba: Where are you, sweetie? Come out, please, come out! Where are you?

She looks behind the curtains as Haku walks in.

Yubaba: Sweetie, sweetie pie!

She turns to Haku, breathing heavily, her voice deepens, as fire spews out from her mouth.

Yubaba: YOU!

The kids and Digimon recoil in shock. Seeing the witch spitting out embers of fire is scary, but to see a witch spewing out fire while angry is downright frightening.

Her head towel flies off as her hair takes flight, waving furiously through the hair as she rushes to Haku.

Yubaba: WHERE IS HE?!

She wraps her hair around his body-

Yubaba: WHAT DID YOU DO WITH MY BABY?!

Jane "Let this sink in, kids and digimon. This isn't just an angry witch, this is an angry mother who happens to be a witch."

Hearing Jane the deity's voice of facts and reason, all the kids start to wonder if this is how their own mothers would react if something bad happened.

Despite Yubaba's rage, Haku remains calm.

Haku: He's with your sister.

The fire subsides and smoke sizzles from Yubaba's mouth.

Yubaba: Zeniba?

She releases Haku, petrified, and walks to a chair, which lowers itself for her to sit.

Yubaba: Very clever, Haku, I get it. You'll get my baby back for me but at a price. (laughing) So, what do you want?

Haku: Tear up Sen's contract. And then I want you to return Sen and her mother and father back to the human world.

Kouji "So that's his goal."

Takuya "Good plan, but I doubt Yubaba wouldn't let go without something to gain."

Yubaba: Fine, but on one condition.

The camera cuts back to Haku as he gazes at Yubaba strongly and determined.

Yubaba (Off-screen): I get to give Sen one final test. If she fails, she's mine.

Takuya "I hate when my gut feels are right."

Tommy "Beans, she's not playing fair."

Kouji "Yubaba was never playing fair from the beginning."

J.P. "I'm more concerned about what the test will be."

Zoe "And something tells me that Yubaba will cheat."

That's it for chapter 17.

Just three or more chapters to go and this story will be completed. And then I'll continue with my many, many, many other stories that I haven't gotten around to finishing.

See ya later.