Tides of Change

Summary: Ten years have passed since the great battle between the Digimon Tamers and the D-Reaper. Travel between the digital and human worlds has been all but cut off during this time in order to maintain the peace. Now darkness once again threatens both worlds and when the Tamers are not enough a pair of new heroes must step forward. Will this reluctant pair be enough to save everything? Or will the worlds fall into eternal darkness?

Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon Tamers or any of the characters therein. Ahem...now enjoy the story.

Thoughts: 'words'
Speaking: "words"

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Ch.1: The Message

Run, he had to run; had to get away. He wasn't sure what it was he was fleeing from but every instinct he possessed told him that he wasn't safe and that he needed to keep moving. Something was drawing him ever forward while something else kept him moving like his life depended on it. Something big was coming, he could feel it was so with every fiber of his being. The Digital World had been mostly peaceful since the defeat of the D-Reaper some time before. All knew the story of the Tamers and those digimon that were partnered to them. Many still thought having a human partner was something to be avoided while others merely saw it as a method to gain more power. There were even those, like he himself, that had no opinion of the matter. He had nothing against the humans certainly – especially since he'd never actually met one – but neither was he completely comfortable with the idea of having his fate tied to that of a child's own. It would be considered degrading by most but he just didn't wish to be responsible for another individual's life or to have to trust another that deeply. Especially after what happened to one of his most respected friends.

Many had heard the tales of Leomon going to the human world to try and protect the catalyst Calumon. More still had heard of his sudden partnering to an easily swayed human child – a female if he remembered correctly. Not much of a partner for such a warrior as Leomon certainly, and then come to find that child had gone and gotten his old friend killed. Because she couldn't fight like the others Leomon had paid the price for trying to do the right thing. It still made him angry even now to think about it. He did so regularly though to remind himself why those that wanted a human partner were foolish. He wondered if Leomon's 'partner' even thought about the sacrifice the noble lion digimon had made for her. Did she remember that he'd died protecting her? Did she even remember the time where her path had been joined by another? He sincerely doubted it. After all, what did humans know or care about the lives of digimon? To the humans they were merely pawns, things to be used and then discarded. This is why he wished to never meet a human or have to worry about protecting one because it had become his 'partner'.

Now though, personal feelings had to be pushed aside as he pushed ever onward towards what he didn't know. The very nature of his powers gave him a connection to the Digital World and thus he was seeking the Digimon Sovereign to try and get an explanation for what he'd been dreaming and feeling for many a day. He knew it was something important and that it meant his home would soon face danger again but he couldn't seem to make his visions clear enough to see what it was exactly that the danger was. What he could remember the most clearly about his visions was that his home had been caught in a blaze that no amount of water could put out. He remembered hearing his old friend's voice calling out to him; telling him to hurry before it was too late. He never saw his friend, only heard the Champion's low voice as he tried to warn him of whatever it was that was causing the fire. He could remember hearing a feminine voice calling for him; a voice that somehow he knew could help him and yet a voice he had never heard before. She was not the cause of the fire, but whatever had caused the fire was afterher.

He knew he had to protect her; had to get her back to where she belonged. If he didn't, all would be lost and the Digital World was doomed to fall into eternal darkness. He remembered that beyond the fire all was dark and yet where the female's voice came from was a bright silver light that many knew was the light of the catalyst. Some part of him thought the female was the current digimon guarding the catalyst, but another part felt this wasn't exactly right. Perhaps it was that the female would be the protector of the catalyst and that was why he was searching for her. Whoever she was, it was certain the Sovereign needed to know about this. Which is why he was running for the southern border as fast as he could. Normally he could have flown there and gotten to his destination that much faster, but something inside him told him he needed to make this journey of foot. Perhaps he'd miss something of importance if he flew, but he had no way of knowing. He never ignored his instincts though and wasn't about to start now.

The brilliant crimson spires in the distance signaled that he was nearing the southern border and the home of the Phoenix Sovereign Zhuqiaomon. He was brought to a sudden and abrupt stop as he caught sight of the sentry guarding the gate. He'd thought Antylamon had decided to no longer watch the southern gate after she'd found herself a human partner. Apparently he'd thought wrong because the Rabbit digimon was at her post once more watching the horizon. He noticed she seemed different than last he'd seen her; sadder somehow and also wiser. He wondered briefly what had caused this sudden change but then decided finding out could wait. For now he needed to get past her to see Zhuqiaomon.

Stopping in his forward motion, he inclined his head respectfully to the former Deva and gave as calm of a greeting as he was capable given his hurry. "Greetings Antylamon, I had thought you were no longer the guardian of this gate. I am glad to be proved wrong."

The Champion regarded him quietly for a long moment before speaking. "It is my duty to guard the southern gate as it always has been. My time spent protecting the digital world from the D-Reaper hasn't changed this fact. Now, why is it you are here?"

He sighed, knowing when he was being scolded. Indeed he felt foolish for considering Antylamon of all digimon would let her destiny stop her from continuing on with a duty she'd been given. He knew better of course, but thoughts of Leomon had made him impolite to those that had once fought alongside the humans. Straightening up to his full height, he tried again. "My apologizes, Lady Antylamon, I meant no disrespect. I am here on business of great importance and must speak to the Sovereign. Might I pass?" She looked at him critically for some time and he could tell she was looking for untruths within his words. She was good at her job, after all. Finally her head inclined in agreement and she moved to one side to allow him entrance. He needed no further encouragement and took off once again on his path. He soon found himself within the chambers of the great phoenix sovereign and bowed lowly then knelt before announcing himself. "My lord sovereign, I bring most troubling news."

Zhuqiaomon turned to regard the smaller digimon, knowing that the Champion before him was one not known to overreacting. If he said something was happening, then it was most worrying indeed. What he was told could be something that affected the entire Digital World. Things had definitely been set into motion and he wondered just what events had been started because of this one digimon's appearance. He'd soon find out. His voice echoed across the chamber as he finally spoke to the messenger. "What has happened Wizardmon?"

The wizard digimon shifted his stance slightly before rising to his feet once more and looking directly at the Mega before him. "My lord, I have felt a disturbance within the Digital World. My visions have warned me of an impending threat, yet I cannot yet see clearly whom our enemy will be. It was my hope that you might be able to assist me." He then told the sovereign what he clearly remembered from his visions and watched with rising alarm as Zhuqiaomon's expression became darker and darker with his every word. So things were worse than he thought after all. This didn't bode well for his home.

Zhuqiaomon had hoped this would never happen, yet what could he do? Wizardmon were known to be some of the most strongly connected to the digital world and this one was the oldest of his kind living. He'd fought for such a long time and the sovereign knew better than to doubt him. Yet if what he said were true, then a great evil long sealed was soon to be released. He had to warn the others. This exact thing was why the portal between the digital and human worlds had been sealed once the boy Takato had found it again. Yet if what he feared were true, the portal would have to be opened once more if they were to have any chance whatsoever of defeating the coming enemy.

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Did you figure out who I was talking about before I told you? What do you think? Like it, Hate it? Please review.