What Has Come Before
Anniversary Back-story: The following tale takes place immediately after the events of Year 14 of Digimon Anniversary. For those of you who don't want to wade through the fic and its subsidiaries to understand what's happening, here is a brief review of the events.
Years 1-5: Following the final defeat of Diaboromon/Armageddomon, the Digidestined decide to start the annual Anniversary tradition, a few days lounging around the campsite where the original Digidestined's journey began as well as a night of remembrance for those they'd lost on the way. During this time, the chief concern amongst the Odaiba Digidestined is the arrival of the extremist group HADD – Humans Against Digital Demons. HADD becomes a very popular movement until the so-called 'Shinjuku Riots' where their extremism gets out of hand: Gomamon is badly injured to the point that he briefly reformats, HADD are made to look like the blood-thirsty (er, data-thirsty) psychopaths they really are, and Tai is arrested (though he is released on good behavior and the charges are later dropped and cited as self defense a few days later). HADD makes a final stand during year 4, when they infiltrate Anniversary and hold Tai and girlfriend Rei at gun point. The Digidestined finally bring the full force of their powers down on the group and HADD is rendered useless, though not without a heavy price. The following year, the Digidestined attempt to hold off on Anniversary, but find they can't, and with renewed vigor set off to continue their tradition.
During this time Agumon and Biyomon engage in a sort of haphazard courtship that will eventually set the standard for the other Digimon – including Gatomon and Patamon.
Years 6-10: Due to the earlier upsurge of Human based hatred towards Digimon, the ancient order of Digital protectors known as Royal Knights decides it best if Humanity and Digimon severed ties completely, and wreak havoc on attempts made by the Digidestined to reconcile the two. They are joined by pro-Digimon human (and a former friend of Tai's from another lifetime) Shin'ichiro Josaki – AKA SIGMA. SIGMA is a hacker on the level of Izzy, and eventually creates a partner in DarkMagnamon from the data of a Monochromon and the royal knights themselves, as well as his own means of jumping back and forth between the worlds utilizing a program he calls Yggdrasil [note: these events are glossed over in 'Memoirs of Victory' and a coming side project titled 'The Alphamon Fiasco' and will be flushed out in more detail once revisions to 'MoV' are done], Tai is able to display some fancy political footwork to shed a bad light on the Royal Knights during an open debate and things start to look up. Until Shin'Ichiro forces his Magnammon to digivolve into OuuRyuumon who ravages much of the Digital World before slipping into the real one with Shin'Ichiro in a maddening effort to destroy humanity. Realizing their mistakes, the Royal Knights join forces with the Digidestined to put a stop to Shin'Ichiro's plots and in the end Alphamon rips out the excess Data from OuuRyuumon and becomes Alphamon War King mode – however this transformation sets off an EMP that renders half of Tokyo useless. Digimon and Human work together to minimize the damage and rebuild, and the Royal Knights swear fidelity to Tai Kamiya [again, the upcoming Alphamon Fiasco fic will explain this… hopefully]. It is during year 10 however that the older Digidestined begin noticing that their partners aren't able to Digivolve past the Champion level.
During this time, Gatomon begins her courtship of Gabumon, much to the shock of Patamon who'd simply assumed he and Gatomon would be an item because their partners were dating at the time. Wanting to prove that he can be mature, he joins the Triumvirate, a powerful group on the continent of Folder who leant him a holy ring during the Alphamon fiasco. With the rings power Patamon becomes Dominimon; a mighty warrior with a heart of ice. He becomes their official Liaison to the human world: however this title has little meaning, as more and more the true purpose of Patamon/Dominimon's acceptance – namely, to replace the aging Seraphimon the Just – reveals itself. The transformation is not what Gatomon expected and his absence causes her to question her intentions with Gabumon.
Years 11-14: With their partners stuck in Champion form, the older Digidestined unofficially retire from active field work, though they never quite get around to actually hanging 'em up. They do however begin the task of starting families, and moving past the adventures. However, more and more rumors of a mysterious threat to all life in the Digital World called the Hazard begin creeping into the Digidestined travels, and some concern grows as to what it might mean.
Gatomon and Gabumon/Garurumon become Life-mates during this time, as Gatomon tires of waiting for Patamon to return so she can sort out her feelings. However, the callous actions of his new life-mate Ophanimon – in particular her unfeeling dismissal of Rei Kamiya's death, prompts Patamon to rebel against the Golden City's staunch rules about leaving it's walls for purposes outside the whims of the Triumvirate. Declaring his love for her, Patamon and Gatomon commit sacrilege to the traditions of old and reveal their secret names to each other, essentially betraying the trust of both Ophanimon and Gabumon/Garurumon. Tradition now calls for both to give up someone. However this would mean the other has to die…
Digimon
H-E-R-E-T-I-C
By Sonfaro
0.) Overture
August 1st 2016
11:39pm
(Net Ocean)
Smoke billowed from his wings as he flew. Dominimon - former aide to the Triumvirate, life-mate of Ophanimon, and Heretic to her rebellion – no longer cared. He flapped his battered wings hard and fast away from the Golden City, their length rising and falling at a rapid pace. Time had cease to mean anything to the armored angel: what mattered was reaching his destination, no matter the cost. He fluttered over the expanse of water that separated Folder from Server, taking little time to enjoy the sights of breaching Whamon and Dolphmon. He passed over the great deserts and mountains and again over the oceans. And then he saw File.
His energy was low. If he kept this up, his data would fall apart. He couldn't hold this form together, he knew. He looked down at his knuckle. The Golden Ring of the Triumvirate still shone brightly. But there was no Triumvirate anymore. And he hadn't the strength to continue as Dominimon. With a grunt he slipped the ring from his finger. It fell from his hands, barreling towards the Net Ocean as the light from the digivolution egg surrounded him.
He was Patamon again.
He coughed, and realized that the ring was still falling. With a grunt he flattened his ears and dived after it, catching it in his little paws. He nearly barreled head first into the water from exhaustion, but unfurled his ears again and pulled himself up, the momentum from his fall rocketing him back into the air. He looked up, searching for a place up the mountain to hide.
It was then that Patamon saw him, standing dejected at the top of Infinity Mountain, facing the stars. And he knew then that the only ones who could help him now were the friends he had left behind.
With all his might he pressed the wind beneath his ears and climbed higher and higher, every stroke putting a strain on what little energy he had left. Until finally, he reached an altitude where he could coast towards him. His partner. The friend he'd left behind.
"T.K.!"
Before T.K. Takaishi had time to register what was happening, Patamon barreled into his chest at full speed, sending both human and Digimon crashing to the ground.
The shock on his face cannot be repeated. "P-Patamon!"
Joy wasn't displayed on the mammals face. Instead, Patamon's mouth quivered in sheer terror. "She's done it T.K.! You have to help me! I've lost everything!"
"What do you mean?"
"She's lost her mind! I tried to stop her but she… Baihumon's fang; but who thought the old man would have so much data in him…"
"Done what Patamon! What happened?"
Panicked blue eyes darted left and right, the mammal jittery and restless. "Seraphimon is dead. Cherubimon is badly wounded. The Seven Demon Lords have all been banished to the Dark Zone. She runs the golden city now with an iron wing..."
"Who!"
Patamon's terrified eyes shimmered. "Ophanimon Core…"
Digimon
H-E-R-E-T-I-C