Hey everyone! This was the perfect chance to start my first ever multi-chap, so I decided to go for it. I have recently joined the Mega Prompts Challenge and this is for Quote #48: "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." ― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I'm a huge procrastinator though so if I take forever, that's why. But good reviews do encourage me haha.

Prologue: Temptation

Armor digivolution. A type of digivolution unknown to most enemies that the Chosen Children have ever faced. This will be the beginning of something they have never seen before. Something that has never been touched upon.

Izzy was pacing around his room, unsure of whom to share his new discovery about Armor digivolution with. So many years had passed since the final battle with MaloMyotismon and the Chosen Children had scattered about, busy with their own lives.

It had been a strange ending to the final battle. Their digimon had been torn away from them that night, the gates closing as if they had never been opened.

He didn't even have any of their contact details and had never needed to have them. The only ones he really kept in touch with were Mimi and Tai. More so Mimi since she'd actually come on Skype every once in awhile and they'd get to engage in a video conference but she wasn't interested in this type of knowledge.

The truth was, he had never really felt the need to keep in touch with the others till Gennai had contacted him with new information about this type of evolution.

"Feeling like no one appreciates the knowledge you have, Izumi?" A voice spoke from his computer.

Izzy stared at the device. He would have thought someone was trying to contact him via Skype but he hadn't even signed into the social network.

"What? Who's there?" Izzy asked.

"Call me Akane," The voice said, although no video or image of the person speaking appeared.

Izzy crossed his arms. "How am I supposed to believe someone who won't even show his face?"

A laugh was heard. "Interesting. You really are smart. Very well. Sign in onto Skype and I'll video call you. Don't worry. You don't need to have me as a contact."

Izzy raised an eyebrow. This was too suspicious. However, he was curious and there didn't seem to be any harm in talking to this person. After all, what could a person through a video conference do?

'Plenty,' Matt's paranoid voice said in his head. 'Don't trust people who seem suspicious'

'Ah Izzy come off it already, just talk to the person' Tai's voice disagreed with Matt's instantaneously.

'Izzy, be careful' Sora's voice cautioned.

'Give it a go, Izzy,' Mimi's voice said. 'You're smart enough to figure things out'

Izzy shook away his friend's voices although thought with a fond smile if that was what they would really say. He hadn't been in contact with any of them in the last two years. Two years ago, he had last talked to Mimi and Tai on Skype. They were the only ones who bothered to keep in touch since the "incident". What had happened back then had broken them apart. Dragomon's attack on Kari, Daemon trying to destroy Ken's heart, Joe's...he shook the thought away. Memories he would much rather bury away shouldn't be bothering him right now. No, I can't think of Joe right now. Or Cody. I need to focus on this strange woman.

However, his thoughts seemed to consume him once more. It was almost disappointing how they had all fallen apart. It didn't bother him too much since he was used to this, but sadly enough, he had actually gotten used to his friends' company. My computer just isn't the same as Tai and the others being around. I hate to admit it, but I really miss them. It almost felt as if he had shifted back into his older personality where he was obsessed with computers and didn't like interacting with people as much. Only now a part of him wished he could interact, at least with his friendship group.

Despite his second thoughts, his curiosity got the better of him and he logged onto Skype.

Almost immediately, the video call came through and no longer hesitating he answered it.

A young woman with short red hair and emerald green eyes appeared on screen. She looked a little older than Yolei.

"So why did you want to talk to me?" Izzy said.

Akane laughed a little. "Isn't it obvious? I want you to use your knowledge where it's really appreciated."

Izzy blinked. "My friends do appreciate me...we're just sort of busy with our lives now. It's natural since we're all growing up."

Akane frowned. "Does growing up mean forgetting what's important? You haven't forgotten them, have you?"

Izzy shook his head. "Not completely but I have gotten busy with my own life as well."

"That's no excuse!" Akane snapped. "Izumi, I can give you so much more than they can. A chance for you to quench your thirst of curiosity of the things around you. A chance for you to utilise all this knowledge and be appreciated for the treasure you possess."

Izzy raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to bribe me into working for you?"

Akane shook her head. "I just need you to do one thing for me and then I'll give you what you desire, that chance to utilise your knowledge."

"Oh?" Izzy said, waiting for her to explain.

Akane smiled. "I want you to bring Veemon to me."

Izzy stared. Of all the requests he was planning for her to ask, this wasn't it. He had expected her to ask for something different, like using his knowledge to hurt or defame someone she had been hurt by but hadn't actually expected this to have anything to do with Veemon. From her expression, he could tell she was referring to Davis's Veemon but why would she want him? Was this a past enemy of Veemon's that had been hidden until now? But Veemon came from the Digi-Egg of Courage, was that even possible?

Akane laughed. "Oh Izumi, you have questions don't you? Like why I'm after your friend's partner? The answer is simple. He wasn't always Motomiya's partner you know. He was mine."

"That's a lie!" Izzy said immediately. "Veemon came from the Digi-Egg of Courage, he couldn't have possibly been your partner." He exhaled through his nose. "I won't help you, Akane. My friends and I may have lost touch but I would never let myself be used by someone just for my own wishes."

Akane's offer was tempting and if the condition was anything outside of this, he might have accepted it but he was not going to betray Davis or any of the others.

Akane seemed to bristle. "Suit yourself, Izumi. You'll regret it."

Her eyes were cold as she ended the video call.

Izzy bit his lower lip, hesitating only briefly before dialing the number to the Motomiya household. He knew Davis had moved out of there two months ago but he could at least get the cell number of his former friend.

"Hello?" Jun's voice said from the other end.

"Hello Jun, it's Izzy," Izzy fidgeted nervously for a moment. "Could I...could I please get Davis's cell number?"

"Yeah, sure," Jun's voice was casual. "You and him did used to be friends after all. I'm sure he'd be glad to hear from you. Do you have a pen and paper nearby?"

Izzy smiled. "I can type it on my laptop. Please tell me." He quickly typed the number as Jun relayed it. "Thanks Jun."

"No problem," Jun said, hanging up.

He wondered if he should call the other but knew he deserved to know. Even if Davis didn't care about his new discoveries about armor-evolution, he would want to protect Veemon, wouldn't he? He wasn't certain about this but he had to try. Akane could try something.

Pushing this hesitation aside, he dialed the number. The phone was answered within a few rings.

"Hello?" A familiar voice said from the other end.

"Hello Davis," Izzy said, smiling to himself, relieved he had picked up. "I got your number from Jun."

"Oh hey Izzy," Davis said. "Been awhile huh? What's up?"

"Davis, do you think you could find a way to gather the others and meet over at my house?" Izzy said. "I can text you the address." He felt a pause at the other end.

"Why?" Davis said. "I mean, I could bring Ken over with me since we live together but I don't really keep in touch with the others you know? Especially since that night..." He trailed off.

Izzy sighed. "The Digimon aren't a figment of our imaginations, Davis..."

"I know that!" Davis said. His voice sounded defensive and like he didn't really want to talk about this topic. "Look, let's not bring them up okay?"

"We may not have a choice," Izzy said. He didn't want to scab at old wounds, he really didn't but with Akane...

"Why?" Davis said. "Why don't we have a choice?"

"Because someone's after Veemon," Izzy said. "She claims to be Veemon's old partner and wanted to use me to extract some revenge on him. I refused but she seemed determined. Whether I help or not, she might find a way to get to him."

There was silence at the other end for a moment. Izzy knew Davis was still on line for he could hear the sounds of his faint breathing from the other side.

"I...I'll see if I can get hold of everyone," Davis finally said. "But Izzy, the gates are still closed."

"I know," Izzy said. "I'm working on that part. Just find a way ok? Things always get done easier when we're together."

"Right," Davis said before hanging up.