Butter-Fly Effect

[SeekerofDreams]

It's not even a question, really. Tai and Izzy have each other, Matt and TK have access to Angemon, and Mimi probably knows more about wilderness survival than the rest of you combined, assuming any of it applies to the current situation, as well as all the emergency supplies, and her survival kit. They'll be just fine.

Kari, on the other hand... well, she's small. And inexperienced. And while she's not quite as frail as she used to be, you still can't help but worry.

"Come on, Biyomon," You tell your partner, standing up and turning in the general direction of the dot. "Let's go find Kari. This way."

Before you can even close your mouth, your little pink bird flies on ahead of you. Typical. You really don't know what you were expecting there.

"Hey, wait!" You call, running to keep up. At least some things never change, even when suddenly transported between worlds.

Kari's surprisingly close, actually. Or maybe not so surprising, given that you were all in the same place before the portal grabbed you. Not that the particulars matter, what matters is that you can get to her.

"Kari!" You call, once you're sure she'll be able to hear you. Maybe. You never did figure out the max range on this thing. But her dot has been steadily getting nearer, so you assume you're fairly close. "Kari!"

"Sora!" There's a rustle in one of the larger bushes once ahead, and the little girl in question comes barreling out, followed by a small gray floating thing with flippers. "Biyomon! You're here! Have you seen the others?"

"Not yet," You admit. "But I can track their Digivices, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem... is this your partner?" At this, Kari's face falls, along with the Digimon's.

"N-no... this is Bukamon. He's Joe's partner."

"Wait, as in Sora's friend Joe?" Biyomon asks. "Joe who doesn't know about the Digital World? Joe who faints at the sight of blood? That Joe?"

"Is her friend's name Joe Kido?" Bukamon replies. You both nod. "Yeah, then that's him. Do you know where he is? I've been waiting for him for a very long time."

"As far as I can tell?" You try to think of a good answer, before realizing that there is no good answer for this situation, and that's probably why Kari hasn't said anything already. "Back home in our world. He couldn't come today because he was sick. Sorry." You can practically see the moment that the poor thing's dreams are crushed.

"I already promised him he could come with us," Kari tells you. "I mean, we can take him to Joe when we go back to our world, right? And maybe we'll find my Digimon along the way!"

That does make sense, and sounds a lot nicer that just leaving such a cute Digimon in the middle of the jungle alone. "And he wants to come along?" You ask, just to make sure.

Bukamon shrugs, his flippers somehow conveying the notion perfectly. "Well, it's pretty boring around here. Digimon from the city come by once in a while to make sure things are peaceful... worst that ever happens is Koromon decides to disturb one of the Kuwagamon, and if he leaves with his partner... that won't happen anymore. You can really take me to Joe?"

"Probably!" Biyomon chirps. "Assuming we don't get lost or something. But I'm sure we'll find a way home eventually!" Neither of you mention Maki, and how she hasn't come home for four years now. You'll find a way. You have to.

There's a roar in the distance. "Speaking of Kuwagamon..." Bukamon sighs. "We should probably find a hiding tree or something until it calms down again."

You glance at your Digivice. Besides Mimi, everyone else is in that direction. "But what about the others?" Kari asks.

"They all know to hide, it shouldn't be a problem." Well, so long as TK's with at least one of the others, that's true, but... you can't help but worry.


[ ] Do as Bukamon says, and find a place to lay low.

[ ] Mimi's fairly far from the chaos. Why not track her down?

[ ] Go find the others. You can deal with whatever a Kuwagamon is when you come across it.

[ ] Challenge the Kuwagamon.
-[ ] Try to Digivolve beforehand.
-[ ] Have Biyomon stay Rookie until you get there.

 

[SeekerofDreams]

"So... that's it?" Biyomon asks, sounding distinctly underwhelmed. "We just... hide?"

"That's the safest thing to do!" Bukamon confirms. "Or we could just, you know, go in the opposite direction. That works too."

"I think we'll go for the second option," You decide. "Well, not quite the opposite direction, but it should be fairly safe to go to Mimi." Don't want to risk losing the one who carries the food, after all.

"She's, um..." Kari fumbles with her Digivice for a moment, before dots appear on her screen as well. "This way, right?"

You check to make sure you're both looking at the same thing. It's hard, when you can't ascribe the meaning behind the dots on Digivices not your own, but it's fairly simple when you have your own to check from.

It also helps that she's pointing at the only solitary dot on the map, but that was more or less a given. "Right. And if there are powerful Digimon around, we want to go about this carefully."

"That or make so much noise they hear us from the city!" Bukamon agrees. You immediately discard his suggestion, however. Not least of which because you don't even know what city he's talking about.

"City?" Biyomon asks. "Digimon have cities?"

The In-Training Digimon tilts his head to the side. "Well, I'm not sure what it's like off the island, but we've got File City, and it's pretty much the capital of the Digital World's southeast, so... shouldn't you already know this?"
(Nonexistant MakiQuest Players: Surprise! We weren't joking!)
"No, I hatched at Sora's home in the human world," Your partner tells him. "This is... honestly my first time in this world since I was a DigiEgg. I only really know about it because I grew up around other DigiDestined."

"DigiDestined?"

"Humans with Digimon," You explain. "Well, with Digivices, actually, but... most DigiDestined have their partners from the start." Besides Kari, apparently, though you're not going to single her out despite the fact that you know you're all thinking it.

"There's not a lot of us, though..." Kari comments. "This makes what, twelve?" For a moment, you consider correcting her, but figure that if she doesn't remember Maki, there's no need to concern her.

"More or less." Less. One. But no need to worry such a sweet little girl with something that isn't even really your problem.

Besides, what's important now is finding Mimi. Hopefully nobody mirrors Kari's situation.

---

The place where you find Mimi is a surprisingly peaceful clearing. Plenty of flowers all around, which is especially fitting when you realize her partner is a little plant sprout. Both of them look up when they hear you approach, smiles on their faces.

"Oh, Bukamon!" The sprout calls, running over to the other In-Training Digimon. "Look, I found Mimi!"

"Yeah, that... that's great, Tanemon..." He mutters, coming to a halt on Kari's shoulder. "Joe's not here, but that's okay. Kari says she'll take me to him when she goes home to her world."

"Are you doing okay, Mimi?" You ask the girl wearing entirely pink. She nods.

"I have Tanemon, and my kit, and the supply bag. Why wouldn't I be okay?"

"Digimon can get a lot bigger than Biyomon do," You tell her. "Once, we had to fight a Digimon the size of a building, and we didn't really win, because the bridge collapsed on us." You don't bring up Greymon. You've long come to terms with that particular issue.

"So... it's dangerous?" She asks, and you nod. "Tanemon, you never said anything about that!"

"Because besides the Kuwagamon, the jungle's mostly safe!" Her partner responds. "City Digimon pass through all the time, after all. And even the Kuwagamon aren't that bad if you stay out of their way."

Kuwagamon. Like the thing someone else's partner has apparently provoked. Not that you can hear anything from this distance. For all you know, the battle's long over, or the enemy Digimon, whatever it is, has calmed down. You don't know.

Either way, it's peaceful here. You're not sure if you want to leave.


[ ] Your comfort doesn't matter, go see the others.
-[ ] Use Birdramon
-[ ] Do not use Birdramon

[ ] Ask Tanemon and Bukamon some questions you have.
-[ ] Write-in specific questions (No more than three)

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Mummymon would be the first to admit that he wasn't the most powerful Digimon in existence. Far from it, in fact. He got by all the way to Ultimate with nothing but sheer ingenuity, and didn't see any reason that he would ever Digivolve further, not helped by his terrible aim.

So he didn't even try to make waves and be powerful, instead moving into a small town on File Island. There weren't a lot of Digimon there- some Frigimon, and handful of Meramon, maybe a Leomon or two, with a Piximon and a Phantomon as the most powerful residents, and joint governors. But it was the largest settlement on the island, and that was enough for it to be jokingly referred to as File City.

"It's nice to have another Ultimate around here, yep yep!" The more vividly-colored of the two said, when he was introduced to them. Phantomon said nothing, instead turning to the piles of paperwork that littered his desk.

"Now, Piximon, you should know better than to converse with the citizens during work hours!" Their secretary, a Betamon, chided. Piximon laughed and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"I know, I'm sorry! But you just don't see that many of us around these days!"

It was in that moment that Mummymon realized he was going to love living there.

---

Life in File City was easy, for the most part. Mummymon spent the early days wandering around, and learning where everything was.

There were the residential buildings, of course. A small cluster that would fit the average-sized humanoid, with special perches on the rooftops for fliers. Not that they had any fliers but Piximon. The population didn't even reach fifty, and most of them had been in the town since its founding. Birds tended to prefer the savanna, and the only insects around lived wild.

There was a meat farm, just a small plot of land barely big enough for the current population, tended by a Meramon with a surprising green thumb. "Piximon used to help out here, before he Digivolved," The Champion confided, one day when Mummymon went to pick up his daily allotment of meat. "Then he declared himself in charge, being the first Ultimate, and Soulmon decided to copy him."

"...I can't really see it," The Ultimate admitted. Piximon and Phantomon, ambitious? Piximon was the most easygoing Digimon he knew, and Phantomon never said anything. Except for occasional mutters of 'analog' and 'machine' when he thought nobody was listening, but no one counted that.

Meramon just laughed. "Yes, the paperwork got to them eventually. We Champions and lower all got together, you see, and declared that they couldn't be in charge without something to prove it. They took it as a challenge, and here we are today."

Mummymon nodded, thanked Meramon for the story, and left to go visit the town store.

---

The last place in town, and the only one Mummymon did not frequent, was by far the largest one. The Green Gym, where Digimon looking to grow stronger could test their skills in safety, without risking themselves against the powerful insects that resided in the forest outside their home.

He wasn't much one for training, of course, but he eventually figured that it couldn't hurt to learn to aim, especially as he was friends with one of the instructors there- one of the Leomon, by far the most powerful Champion in the village, and very wise, having come from a tribe of travelling shamans and keepers of legends.

"I think we have some targets for ranged combat in the back," his friend stated, before shaking his head. "Sorry I can't be of more help to you, Mummymon, but..." He gestured to his sword, which he was rather well-known for. In swordplay, he far exceeded all of the other Digimon on the island, and they all knew it.

"It's not a problem, Leomon," He replied. "I'm not looking to grow stronger. I'm just looking for a bit of accuracy, is all."

"Perhaps, but it is better to have that strength and not need it, than to need it and never have it."

"I suppose you'd know all about that, being a Leomon in the east." He dodged the playful swipe of the other Digimon's claws with ease, ducking and running towards the place where the targets were presumably located.

Of course, his friend was right. He always was. But Mummymon was sure it would never become that important.

He was very wrong.

---

It all came crashing down on a bright day in midwinter. Phantomon had gone up Infinity Mountain for something he referred to as 'business', and Piximon had somehow cajoled Mummymon into taking the other Ultimate's place.

"Really, though, I don't see what kind of business he could have on that mountain!" The small winged puffball griped. "Nobody goes up that mountain without a good reason, and he didn't even give that! Just wrote a note and left! Who even does that!?"

"Phantomon, apparently," Betamon remarked, only to quickly wilt under their combined glares. "Sorry.... I'll be quiet now."

Well, with one of the chatterboxes silenced, there was at least some small amount of peace, and Mummymon leaned back, determined to enjoy it.

It didn't last long. At exactly seven seconds past noon, the farm Meramon rushed into the small building that called itself a government office. "Sirs! Sirs, you have to come quickly! You're the only Ultimates in town, and Phantomon-!"

"Shadow Scythe." Not many Digimon actually called their attacks anymore, not since the days of four evil Mega Digimon who did so specifically to induce despair in their opponents, two of which could control other Digimon to do the same. The memories had mostly faded by now from all except the oldest Digimon, but still. It just wasn't done.

Let alone by the normally-silent Phantomon, who floated behind the dissipating Meramon looking far too pleased with himself. "Thirteen down," He spoke in a whimsical, amused tone, his body glowing with a violet light as he grew and changed. "Thirty-five to go."

---

He wasn't sure how he'd survived that. Well, besides the very basics of what he remembered. Phantomon had Digivolved to Machinedramon and blasted the town, leaving nothing but Meramon's small shack, half a store, and roughly a tenth of the meat farm. Betamon had been an immediate casualty, speared by the new Mega's claws as he transformed.

The remnants had tried to fight him off, but... Right, Piximon had been blasted at point-blank range, Leomon had been stepped on, and the rest had been caught by the eventual explosion.

The rest... except for Mummymon, who had called up enough power at the last possible second to save himself, and destroyed the rampaging Digimon with his first attack at the Mega Level. Hang on Death.

And now there was nothing. He supposed he would remain in the ruins, but there wasn't much that a single Jijimon could do to fix up the place. So he stayed, and lived through the month wondering what would have happened to the island if he hadn't Digivolved, or to the town if he had done so sooner.

He was alone.

"I didn't expect to see you still here." Jijimon turned with surprise to see the speaker. A Tsunomon. "I knew you had survived, you weren't in Primary Village, but..." The blob that used to be his friend Leomon sighed. "I only really came back to see the damage."

"Just that?"

"Well, nobody else remembers, so... I was just going to get my stuff, really, except it's not here anymore. Why are you still here, anyway?"

Jijimon shrugged. The truth was, he wasn't sure either. "I didn't really have anywhere else to go," He admitted. "There's enough here to live off of, anyway."

Tsunomon, as it turned out, didn't have anywhere to go, either. So they both stayed, and that was that.

---

It was a deceptively normal evening when the air opened. When a rip appeared in the space before him and Tsunomon, three beings falling through.

A Parrotmon, which burst into data upon hitting the ground. A Greymon, which glowed and reverted to an Agumon, unconscious. And something he never thought he'd see, which he only knew existed because Tsunomon remembered the legends. A teenage human girl, who couldn't be more than fourteen.

And from there, everything started to change for the better.

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Well, it doesn't matter how you feel right now. What matters is that the group gets together, as while the others were fairly close to each other earlier, you really don't want to risk getting far separated from the boys on a very long basis, especially as the groups currently only have one combat-capable Digimon apiece, as far as you know.

But, well, when most of the Digimon you've seen so far have been In-Training, your fairly confident in that. "Hey, Bukamon," You start, and Joe's partner turns to you. "Do you think it's safe to head towards the others now?"

"Well... the Kuwagamon are easily angered, but they're also really easy to lose," He answers. "And they tend to just crash though things 'til they tire out, so... Tanemon?"

"We should be safe, so long as we stay quiet," She agrees. Right. Quiet.

"Well, that rules out Birdramon, even if she wouldn't break the trees," Kari sighs and shakes her head.

"Birdramon?" Mimi asks. You nod.

"Yeah, Biyomon's Champion form. Giant orange bird, fires meteors... mostly, I use her to get around. But she fought off an Ultimate Digimon once!" Albeit not without help, but that's not exactly the point you're trying to make right now.

"So why doesn't Birdramon fight the Kuwagamon?" Tanemon asks you, not protesting when her partner picks her up and deposits her safely on top of her hat.

"I'd have to take Sora ahead," Biyomon explains, taking flight once again. "The boys are in this direction, right?"

You don't answer her at first, instead turning to the two In-Training Digimon. "What level are Kuwagamon, again?"

"Champion," Is the immediate response.

"Right. In that case, Biyomon, follow me." You're not having her wander in front of something as strong as Birdramon without being Digivolved herself.

"Awww...." But she does as she is told, if only because you don't let her see your Digivice and Kari follows you without getting hers out. You're pretty sure Mimi doesn't even know about the tracking function, so you're not too worried about it on that front.

And so, you start walking.

---

"What kind of places are there around here, anyway?" Mimi asks barely a minute into your walk. It's Tanemon who responds, her voice rather quiet even for someone that's trying to lay low.

"W-well, this jungle is pretty big. There's Infinity Mountain near the center, and File City is at the base. I've heard talk about a place called Primary Village, and there are stories about this really old mansion, but... well... none of us have ever left this forest."

"Yeah, if you want to know about places, you should ask one of the city Digimon," Bukamon agrees. "Or maybe Motimon, he's a horrible gossip.... did you hear that?" The six of you pause, before Biyomon tilts her head.

"It sounds like the others," She tells you. "And they're... fighting something? Sora, should we help?"

"Let's try and get closer first," You decide, and she nods, your little group creeping closer to the source of the commotion.

They're all there, of course. There's also a giant red bug that, given how it seems to be facing Angemon, can only be a Kuwagamon. There are a few Rookie Digimon in the fight, as well- a ladybug, a blue-furred reptile, and an Agumon.

Neither side seems to be backing down, though it looks like the Kuwagamon is at a disadvantage- it's clearly tiring.

What now?


[ ] Watch and see. The others seem to be handling themselves rather well, they might not need your help.

[ ] Jump in to the fight. Whether they need your help or not, they're getting it!
-[ ] Try to Digivolve Biyomon.
-[ ] Have Biyomon fight as a Rookie.

[ ] Retreat for now. They don't look to need you at the moment, and you're worried that Mimi and Kari will get in the way of the fight. You can track them by their dots later.

 

[SeekerofDreams]

You probably don't need to step in. Probably. Nobody really looks to be injured. But, well... better safe than sorry.

"Biyomon? Would you mind giving them a bit of help?" You ask, and your partner gives you as close to a grin as she can manage with a beak.

"Really? We're really doing this?" Right, she's been spoiling for a fight for a while, since she and Patamon don't really have the chance to spar that often, and she's got more energy than she knows what to do with most days.

"As a Rookie," You tell her, not even bothering to hope she listens, since she won't even Digivolve unless you allow her to. "Tanemon, Bukamon, you should probably stay back."

"No argument here," The plant sprout agrees, while the Digimon on Kari's shoulder just gives a quick nod.

"Are you sure she'll be okay?" Mimi asks you, and you nod, sending your Digimon off with a smile.

Said Digimon introduces herself into the fight via a stream of fire, of course. The Kuwagamon turns in her direction, looking just a bit mad, only be hit by an attack from Angemon, forcing to to redirect its attention again.

"Who's that, Tai?" The Agumon asks, turning to your friend.

"That's Biyomon," he responds. "Which means... there's Sora! And she's got Mimi and Kari with her!"

"And they draw attention to us..." Bukamon groans. "We've never been able to defeat Kuwagamon before, what makes them think they'll do it just because they've Digivolved?"

"Angemon's a Champion," You point out, wincing as Kuwagamon successfully swipes at the ladybug, knocking him back into Izzy. That's got to hurt.

"Well, yeah, I know. He's not the only Angemon we've ever seen. But..." he trails off as Angemon smacks the Kuwagamon in the head with his staff, knocking it to the ground, unconscious. "Did that- did that just happen!?"

"Apparently," Kari tells him, before running across the clearing to her brother. "Tai!"

---

You don't stick around the clearing for very long after that. You just introduce yourself to the new Digimon, make sure everyone understands Kari and Bukamon's situation, and start moving as far and as fast as you can.

But in which direction?


[ ] South

[ ] Due North

[ ] Due West

[ ] Northwest

[ ] Northeast

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Well, one of the first things the instructors taught you, back when you were learning wilderness survival, was that, if you had a place to take shelter, it was probably a good idea to actually take shelter there, and wait for help. You aren't sure the second one applies in this situation, but the first one sounds like a good idea, at least.

And you know of a place to find shelter, even! It's been mentioned fairly often, so...

"Could one of you tell me more about this 'File City'?" You ask the Digimon that were actually born in this world. "Do you know where it is?"

"Base of Infinity Mountain, somewhere this side of the island," Agumon states. "Not much beyond that."

Tanemon and Bukamon nod in agreement, while Tentomon speaks up. "Allow me to shed some light on this subject," He buzzes. "File City has been on this island for longer than most Digimon can remember, and those that can are nothing short of divinity... well, mostly. There's a Jijimon and a SaberLeomon, supposedly, but... anyway, I remember that one Gekomon saying that it was in a westerly direction!"

"We're east of Infinity Mountain," Gabumon points out. "It was always going to be in that direction."

You sigh. This is getting nowhere.

"Um... is it a very big city?" Patamon asks. "'Cause if it is, I do have these wings for a reason, ya know."

Tanemon nods, accidentally knocking Mimi's hat down over her eyes. "It's called the capital of the southeast Digital World partly because it's so big. Though the other part..."

"The other part is how deeply rooted it is in the Digital World's history," Gabumon finishes. The other Digimon give him odd looks. "What? I paid attention whenever city Digimon visited. You could have learned this too, Agumon."

"I was more interested in the food they brought than them trying to sell us on moving into their town, so what!?" Somehow, it doesn't surprise you that this yellow dinosaur is partnered to Tai, even discounting his part in the hatching of another one.

"So, should we have the flying Digimon help us track down the location of this city?" Izzy turns to you. Given that the two of you are partnered to some of the flying Digimon in question, it makes sense.

"Good idea. Biyomon?"

"Got it. I'll start with the mountain, and we can narrow it down later!" Honestly, all things considered, this is probably the best news you've heard all day.

---

While walking, you and the others try and take stock of whatever you have on hand. Tai has a mini telescope. Fairly underwhelming, but almost expected of him. TK brought some candy for himself and Patamon, while Matt has his harmonica. Kari has her backpack with a disposable camera, empty water bottle, and one of her favorite books. You yourself didn't see the need to bring anything but your Digivice and Biyomon.

All things considered, it's Izzy and Mimi who are most prepared to make it through this, Izzy with his electronics and Digicode expertise, and Mimi with both the emergency supplies and her personal survival kit, made precisely for emergencies.

You're not sure why she was carrying all that around with her, though Biyomon's preferred theory is that she was planning on getting lost in the woods. Honestly, you don't mind, since it means you have a fallback plan.

Not that you need it, as Patamon eventually notices the shape of a city on the horizon, causing you all to start running as fast as you can in that general direction without alerting anything.

The sun is so low in the sky it may as well not even be there, you're all exhausted from the constant movement, starving, and more than a little thirsty, but you can see straight to the bridge that, according to the fliers, leads you to what they believe will be a safe place. Something that the towering buildings beyond would probably cement in the proper lighting, though the current situation just makes look imposing.

Now what?


[ ] Go straight into the city, see if you can't find a place to stay for the night.

[ ] Spend the night just outside the city.
-[ ] Keep watch? (If so, who does so when?)

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Even when the last rays of sunlight vanish beneath the horizon, and the lights of the city turn on, none of you make a move to cross the bridge. You aren't sure of the reasoning the others employ, but for you, it's simple.

The lights are nice and pretty, and they do illuminate the streets fairly clearly, but you can't help but notice the dark spots every few feet along, and wonder at the kinds of Digimon that could be lurking there.

Eventually, it's Kari who speaks up. "So... are we gonna go inside? They've probably got food, and hotels and stuff."

Izzy's the one who answers her. "In order to get any of that, we'd need money. This is a different world entirely than where we were before, no way they'd take yen, even if we had any."

"Oh, yeah, that's important, isn't it?" Tai mutters. "Hey, what currency do you guys use?"

"Bits," Bukamon replies. Which is something you've never heard of, of course. "Not that we actually need it, plenty of the mushrooms around are edible, if you're hungry."

"...I don't think I've eaten at all today," Biyomon admits.

"That's not true," You say. "We had breakfast, remember?" It feels so long ago now. Back when you were just growing up in your own world, and it sounds really strange to think about when you know it was just this morning.

"We had one piece of toast each because you were busy making sure your mother knew we were packed," is her response. "I want real food!"

"I suppose that means we can't afford a hotel," Mimi sighs. "Shame, I was looking forward to a nice soft bed."

"But where are we actually going to sleep?" Matt points out. "There's nothing around here but forest."

"What's wrong with sleeping in the forest?" Tanemon asks. "We do that all the time!"

"We were supposed to go camping today," Patamon reminds the rest of you. Which you haven't exactly forgotten about, but you've been busy, what with the whole 'falling into another world' and all.

And that's how you end up wandering through the jungle along the cliff until you find a nice nearby clearing in about fifteen minutes, eat about five mushrooms apiece, and everyone else falls asleep because you took the first watch.

Not that there's much to do, at the moment. The trees around you are thick, and there's a nice slope down to the river nearby, but the most you can do is poke your head out of the clearing, where you can see down to the bridge, but not much else.

It's boring, and you're so tired that you might find yourself accidentally falling asleep if you don't do anything to keep yourself busy. Fortunately, you aren't exactly short on ideas.


[ ] You'll go down to the river and wash off that thing you found this morning.

[ ] It's dark, but you think you might be able to find some more edible mushrooms close to your 'camp'. (Requires survival check)

[ ] You'll just keep moving. Some exercise should help Biyomon stay awake, as well.

[ ] There's a spot of white on the bridge...

 

[SeekerofDreams]

You glance out of the trees once again, desperate for something, anything to do. Biyomon seems to be keeping herself busy in the air, flying circles around your small clearing, but-

There. At the edge of your vision, by the bridge. The light of the full moon lets you see that whatever it is is fairly clearly- white, floating, about the size of Biyomon. The figure approaches the bridge from the wilderness side, pauses, and starts to float across it.

You know you really shouldn't be leaving your little camp, even if you're close to the city in case of danger and you haven't seen a single Digimon in the jungle area since Kuwagamon. And you definitely shouldn't leave Biyomon behind. But your partner isn't exactly the stealthy type, and whatever that Digimon is- because it's very clearly a Digimon- you don't want to startle it. Certainly, if it's floating towards the city, it can't be truly wild.
(Sora's Stealth total: 58)
It's a long bridge, and the Digimon is slow, you can take your time approaching it. You make sure to stay at the edge of the trees, able to duck behind if it looks your way.

Not that it does. You're perfectly good at staying quiet, after all, as far as your aware.
(???'s Perception: 1. WTF is with these dice!?)
So you approach the Digimon a bit faster, as it hasn't noticed you yet, and it's a good distance across the bridge. You can see it clearly now, a classic bedsheet ghost, albeit one that seems tattered. Once it gets properly across the bridge, it slips into the shadows of the city, before vanishing.
(Other Bakemon's Stealth/Perception roll: 64.)
"He really needs to work on his powers of observation," A voice similar to the stereotypical ghost sounds behind you.
(Sora's composure: 6)
You turn in shock, slipping and falling to the ground as you do so. The speaker, a Digimon likely of the same species of the first, hovers over you. "Oh, sorry, did I scare you? I suppose not many humans have seen a Bakemon before. It's certainly been a long time since I've seen one of you!"


[ ] "G-ghost!"

[ ] Run back to camp. Get Biyomon.

[ ] Greet the ghost.

[ ] Interrogate the ghost. (Write-in questions, no more than three.)

[ ] Flee into town. It's safe from ghosts there, right?

[ ] Try to punch the ghost. It's not a Pokemon, so that should work, right?

 

[SeekerofDreams]

Maki Himekawa hated to admit it, but the truth was, her life was going nowhere. Had been going nowhere, ever since she and her friends returned home from the Digital World two years ago. Haruka was being praised for her genius, Kazuya and Rikuto were keeping themselves busy by being themselves, and Daigo was continuing to talk circles around everyone that they met.

Her friends all had something they did well, better than anyone else. And she meant anyone, though she could sort of keep up with them on her best days. Not that she'd had one of those days for a long time.

And even when she could keep up, it wasn't anything special. They were still better, and there was no way that could ever change. The Digital World had, in a way, been the reason for their advanced growth, months worth of training fitting somehow into the space of a single hour. And Maki's friends had flourished under these conditions.

She hadn't. While the others had been learning cooking or Digicode, she'd been playing with Tapirmon, teasing groups of Numemon, exploring abandoned buildings. Living in the moment.
Maybe that's why he wasn't chosen. Because she couldn't do enough for him
But now the moment was gone, leaving her with nothing but friends she had always been just dragging down and a Digivice that didn't work.

Which was why, when the little girl appeared with the Yokomon, Maki was quick to offer her help, in the event that the child ever needed it. It was easy enough to see that the girl was already attached to her partner.

She didn't want to see someone as sweet and innocent as that become just like her. Worthless, broken down. A burden to everyone.

---

This was how, several hours later, she found herself dragged out of her apartment by Daigo in order to track down an Agumon of unusual size. "Do you really need me for this?" She asked.
Of course he didn't. She'd only ever been the tagalong, useless.
"You're the one that lives around here," He pointed out, and she found herself nodding along without thinking. He was right. Of course he was. He was always right. Unlike her.

"You couldn't have let me change out of my pajamas first?" He had the decency to look sheepish at that, at least. "So, you actually sleep in those goggles? I thought the Digital World was just messing with your head." Maybe it had been. Maybe it still was.

"Sh-shut up!" She loved this, the rare moment when she could get under his skin. She was the only one who could do so, and it was such a rare thing. The only thing she was good for, really.

"New suggestion: he just really hates vending machines," It's the voice of the girl from earlier, and Maki found herself stumbling, because while she'd known Sora was a part of all this, she'd hoped the child hadn't actually come out to see for herself.

"Can I have a soda?" The girl's partner asked, and anything Maki might have been thinking was thrown out the window, replaced by flashbacks of Haruka handing Guilmon a cup of coffee and the aftermath, which ended with several burning buildings.

"I don't recommend it," She found herself speaking up, in horror more than anything. And it turned out to be futile, as the Digimon Digivolved shortly after into a form that could open a soda can all on her own, and she couldn't even complain, really, when her attention was suddenly taken up by the large Ultimate Digimon that had decided to breach the worlds due to a likely imagined slight by one of the Sovereigns.

Huh. She'd never thought she'd be glad to no longer have a partner before.

---

She'd seen it coming. Kids would be kids, and this had never really been Daigo's specialty, but the way that the lights arched repeatedly across the sky... she couldn't miss it, even if she tried.

This portal... it was unstable. It had closed now, but it would soon open again, just one more time. One last chance, to finally make something of herself.

Not that the Digimon fight was particularly helping on that front, the walls between the worlds were growing more unstable with every hit landed. And as the world flooded with light, as Birdramon was hit by the falling bridge, forced to revert to Rookie form, she saw her chance.

Daigo saw it too, but he clearly didn't see it as the opportunity that she did. "...Maki? Maki, what are you doing!?" Why did he sound so panicked? It wasn't like he'd be losing anything important.
Her answer came when she was already stepping forward, her hand gripping the Digivice that, until then, had been resting in her pajama pocket, prepared to never see use as anything except a security blanket.

"I've always wondered..." She muttered, so low that nobody would ever be able to hear her, unless they were looking for it specifically. "Was it really worth saving? Was that battle... really worth it? The Digital World... did we really make things better?" Had she been worth protecting, that whole time?

He didn't answer. Couldn't answer. All he could do was cry out to her as she lifted the long-broken object into the sky, "Maki, wait!"

She didn't listen.

---

She was woken up by the sunlight shining directly on her eyes. Sitting up, she found herself lying on a mattress in possibly the most disheveled room she'd ever seen- and she'd slept over with Haruka!

Her Digivice had found its way back into her pocket at some time in the night, the screen displaying just as much nothing as it ever had- oh, there was the clock. Eight-thirty in the morning, apparently. Later than she would have expected, though it wasn't as though time in the Digiworld flowed normally.

"Oh, you're awake!" A soft voice. She turned to see a Tsunomon by the door, small enough to easily overlook. She needed to get back in the habit of noticing that. "We were worried about you- Agumon, your friend's awake!"

"I wouldn't exactly call her a friend yet," The yellow dinosaur commented, now something closer to the average size for his species. Probably due to his short stint at the Champion level. "But she's a nice enough person, I suppose."

"And we'll have to take your word for that, young Agumon," The Digimon that had followed the Rookie into the room commented. It wasn't a species she recognized. "It is good to meet you, child. I am Jijimon."

"You don't get to act that old and wise," the Tsunomon grumbled. "You were an Ultimate just a few months ago." Mega, then. Which was, in itself, enough to set Maki on edge. She hadn't met many Megas, and half of the few she did, she'd rather not think about.

But that didn't matter. She was finally free, away from people who would just be dragged down with her when she inevitably self-destructed. And maybe here, maybe now, with all the time in the world and nobody to compare herself to, she could finally get somewere, anywhere in life.

"It's nice to meet you, Jijimon," She introduced herself, trying to smile and already finding it easier than it had been just twelve human minutes earlier. "I'm Maki. Maki Himekawa."

 

[SeekerofDreams]

You blink a few times. Shake your head to clear it. It's a ghost, yes, but he's still a Digimon, and that means you can probably talk to him.

"It-it's okay." You try to smile at him, though you're unsure of your success. "You just startled me, is all. Oh, I'm Sora, by the way. Sora Takenouchi."
(Sora's Diplomacy total: 91. If whoever's making the blood sacrifices could just stop, the DC was 45!)
"Sora... I see. It's very good to meet you Sora. I am one of the Bakemon of Overdell Mansion."

"Overdell?" You ask, picking yourself up off the ground. You don't think you've ever heard that name before.

"Yes, it's a ways to the northeast. Very nice place, at least if you're a ghost, though the last human that I met didn't really seem to mind the aesthetic when she visited, though that was a long time ago."

"Really?" You glance down the river to where your campsite is. "Um, I'm supposed to be keeping watch for my friends right now, we just got here and don't really have any money, you see, but my Digimon's watching them, so..."

Bakemon just laughs. "Oh, it's not that complicated. Shouldn't take more than a moment to tell you. The human first showed up about... oh, about the same time File City was being constructed. Sweet girl. Her Digimon followed her everywhere, and they'd often drop by the mansion for a spot of tea with the master."

"Master?" You're aware that you've begun to walk across the bridge with the Digimon, but you can't bring yourself to care. If it's not that long of a story, you can easily make it back before anyone starts to worry.

"Yes, the Overdell is ruled by a powerful Dark Digimon... or, well, it was. He left a long time ago, with instructions for the rest of us Bakemon to look after the mansion, as well as to assist any tied to the Digivices. The girl and her Digimon kept coming by for some time after that, but in time, they, too, left the island."

"Hurry up!" The first Bakemon, the one that you followed to the bridge, loops back. "Who's this?"

"Ah, this is Sora. I was just telling her some of the history of our mansion."

"Such as the part that we're apparently obligated to help every human we meet?" The first Bakemon asks.

"Now, I know you came to Overdell too late to meet Maki, but-"

"But nothing! It's a full moon night! We're supposed to be buying supplies for Overdell, not talking to every random kid on the street!"

"I... suppose you are correct," The Bakemon you've been walking with concedes. "Sora, I hate to cut this short, but if you want to hear the rest of your story, know that you and yours will always be welcome at Overdell."

He floats away with his friend, leaving you to turn and leave the city. Checking your Digivice, you see that it's not been long enough for people to start to worry, but...


[ ] Head straight back. Actually focus on keeping watch this time.

[ ] Head straight back. Talk to Biyomon about your encounter with the Bakemon.

[ ] Stop by the river and see if you can't wash off that thing you found.

[ ] Gather some of the mushrooms on your way back. The Digimon born in this world can probably help sort out the edible ones later.