Okay this is my first fanfic. Now just to tell you, I don't own most of the characters in this story. The only characters that I own are Koru, Aria, and Dirk. Koru's Navi is Zero, but this Zero is based on the Zero from Megaman Zero series. I also chose Ciel as Aria's Navi from the MMZ series. I don't own any of the Navis in this fanfic also.

Talking
Thinking/Mysterious Voice
Words used in emphasis/Important Words

Chapter 1: The Beginning

The year is 20XX of Dentech City. It is the first year of high school for Lan and his friends. Today is the day that they finally become freshman of D.A.H., a.k.a. Dentech Academy High.

"Alright!!!" exclaimed Lan "Today's the day I finally get to high school!!!!"

Lan was already 14 years old and wore an orange track jacket similar to his vest back in 5th grade. He also wore a pair of the same black shorts similar to his other black shorts back in 5th grade except they were lined with 2 strips of white on the sides of his shorts. His hair was the same as last time and was held to the same blue bandana last time and he still kept the skates.

Megaman looked at his operator sleepily and yawned.

"Yeah, but why so early?" said Megaman "Why couldn't you just get up and get to school on time like the others." Lan listened to what Megaman said and just shouted at him.

"It's cuz I'm really excited to finally get to high school!!!"

"Lan!!! It's 4:00 in the morning!!!! School doesn't start until 7:15!!!!"

Megaman's voice was so loud, that it woke every single civilian who were still sleeping. One man shouted "Hey kid!!!! Keep it down!!!!!" and another yelled out "Go back home!!!! It's too early for you to be shouting at a time like this!!!!!" and another just threw a shoe at Lan and said "Shut up!!!!"

When Lan got to the school, he just noticed how dark the sky was and regretted about ignoring about Megaman's advice. So Lan waited, and waited, and waited, until 15 minutes before school starts, Lan was already asleep!!! Meanwhile, a familiar person was just walking down the sidewalk and suddenly tripped over Lan.

"Hey!!! Watch it kid!!!" said the person. But then was shocked to see Lan as if he seen him before.

"Lan? Is that you?"

Lan woke up, and to his astonishment, he met up with an old friend of his. Lan was suddenly looking at a boy of his age with long, messy, spiky blonde hair.

"Koru? Hey! How's it goin'? How was your summer?"

Koru was already 14 and slightly taller than Lan. He was wearing a black T-shirt hoodie and blue jeans that has a chain hanging over to the side. He held a skateboard in his left arm, and his bookbag strap in the other. He had a slight expression on his face that looked calm and casual with sharp blue eyes and a smirk like he was about to make a sarcastic remark. He wore black converse sneakers and had black wristbands on each of his wrist. And on the back of his shirt, was the symbol of a red Z with a golden stream through it.

"Eh, it was boring. But besides my summer, what are you doing in front of the school dozing off."

Lan was already sweating and looked embarrassed.

"Oh, uh… well you see, I guess I got up a little early."

Koru smirked and just chuckled.

"Hmph…typical. You never really seem to change much at all huh Lan."

"Lan!!! Koru!!!"

Upon approaching them, was a 14 year old Maylu on a scooter. She wore a sleeveless shirt and vest similar to what she wore 4 years ago. She also wore a pair of short pink shorts to replace her skirt. She also wore socks and shoes similar to the ones 4 years ago. Her hair was also longer and went past her shoulders and stopped at the middle of her back.

"Hey guys!!! I really missed you over the summer!"

"Oh hey Aria!"

Like all the others, she was 14. And just like Maylu, she rode on a scooter. She was blonde and wore a long ponytail. She also wore a pink and white striped sleeveless shirt and wore a white skirt to match.

"Wow it's been a long time since we ever got back together like this."

"Actually it doesn't feel that long to me since we hung out every single day last summer."

A couple minutes after the school bell rang, the guys were already in the auditorium for the opening ceremony. While they were looking for a place to sit, they bumped into Dex, Tory, and Yai.

Unlike the others, Dex was a little older then the rest, about 14 and a half. He still wore a similar green sweater and wore blue shorts. Tory was 14 and wore a light blue hoodie with beige jeans. Yai was the youngest of them all, she was at an amazingly young 12 years old. She still kept the pigtails and wore a red dress similar to the one she had 4 years ago.

Dex saw everyone and threw a humorous scold at Koru.

"Well well, look's like the gang's all here."

"Still upset after my Zero had beaten your Gutsman Dex?"

"Hey!! That was only once!!"

"Actually 100 times to be exact."

Suddenly a teacher came and told them to be quiet.

"Hey! Settle down and sit!! The ceremony is about to start."

A few seconds later, the lights dimmed and the principle came on stage to the podium to welcome the freshman.

"Welcome new students to a brand new year of Dentech Academy High!! We have great expectations out of you!!! Now since all of you are new here, let's lay down some ground rules. All students must report to their classes when the bell rings. Also lockers will also be distributed to you after homeroom. Bullying, threatening, or harming another student will not be tolerated. Drugs, alcohol, and weapons are strictly prohibited. If found any use or possession of such, an immediate referral will be in place and parents and authorities will be notified. And finally, Net Battling in school is forbidden. Students may apply to any extracurricular activities that are distributed to you. Now to your left is the exit door where the computers will give you your schedules for the semester. That is all."

After the announcements, Lan and the others went over to the computers to receive their schedules.

"Alright!!! After we get our schedules, we're gonna be official high school students!!!"

Koru looked at him as if Lan was retarded.

"Calm down. We're only freshman. We're no better than the upper-classmen."

The way they had to receive their schedules was to plug-in their PET and have their Navis get it to them. After everyone, had received their schedules, they went to see which homeroom they had. In room 508, Lan, Maylu, Aria, Dex, and Koru had the same homeroom. Lan and Maylu have almost exactly the same schedules except for Geometry. Aria and Koru also have the same schedules as Lan and Maylu, while Dex had only 3 classes with Lan, Maylu, Aria, and Koru. Tory and Yai have the same homeroom, but in a different homeroom than the others. Tory had only one class with Lan and Maylu. Yai has only 2 classes that are the same: one with Lan and Maylu and one with Dex. As Lan walked in, he's surprised to see a former rival in the same room as him.

"Chaud?!! What are you doing here in D.A.H?"

Chaud looked at Lan and just smirked. Chaud had the same red vest 4 years ago and his hair stayed the same also. He wore baggy black jeans and has a chain hanging to the side just like Koru's. His personality resembles Koru's, but the only exception of them being different is that Koru's a lot quieter and thinks before he acts and always knows what the best decision is. Chaud was considered a former rival because Koru was now considered Lan's rival and Lan often holds a grudge against Koru when it comes to Net Battling. Koru and Chaud saw each other as equals.

"I'm here because Dentech Academy High is the best high school in all of Dentech City. Besides, I wouldn't be caught dead if I'm in one of the other third-rate schools in the city."

Maylu walked up to Lan and just held his arm and leaned against him.

"This is gonna be great being in the same school as the rest of everyone else!"

Aria looked at Lan and Maylu in confusion and asked.

"Are you and Lan going out with each other now?"

Maylu and Lan blushed and Maylu admitted it. Suddenly a guy had pried Lan and Maylu apart like a crowbar opening a treasure chest. He had a certain look on his face that showed a hint of jealousy. His hair was brown and short and he wore a blue T-shirt with the expression "Total Hottie" ironed on to it. He wore blue jean shorts and wore black tennis shoes. And on the back of his shirt was a symbol ironed on to it. It had a green D with a yellow line going through it. He scolded at Lan and shouted.

"Hey!!! What are you doing with my Maylu?!"

Lan looked at him in confusion then looked at Maylu for answers.

"Maylu? Do you know this guy?"

Maylu looked at the stranger and said.

"Argh!!! He's just a guy I met at a restaurant. He's been obsessed about me and have been following me for the past couple years. He's annoying and totally rude!!!"

"So who exactly is this guy?" asked Lan.

"The name's Dirk twerp!!! Dirk Liecaster!!!"

Koru couldn't help, but overhear the conversation and went over to Lan to see what the trouble is.

"Hey Lan, is something the matter?"

"Yeah! This kid here is pissed off at me all because I'm going out with Maylu!!! Not only that, he also called me a twerp!!"

Koru observed Dirk and noticed his PET. It looked like it had been beaten up, gone through the washing machine, and thrown down the stairs. Not only that, it was ancient and had a Navi statistics screen showing up. It seemed as though the Navi almost has no skills at all. And that it hadn't been upgraded in the past 2 years or so.

"It's not really polite to call people twerp. Even if it's from a third-rate Net Battler like you."

"You just stay out of this!!! This is between me and him."

"Fine do whatever you want, but it's all just gonna hurt you in the end."

Zero looked at his operator in disappointment and had this to say.

"You know, you really should have done something right now."

"Yeah, but when the time comes, I know Lan will do something right. Besides, he's old enough to handle it on his own. He doesn't need my help anymore."

As Lan and Dirk stared at each other down, the teacher came in and started class. As time passed by and classes passed also, it was already time to go home. It was 2:00 and Lan and Maylu said their goodbyes to everyone else. Lan and Maylu went one way, Koru and Aria went the other way. While Lan and Maylu walked down the road, Maylu looked at Lan.

"Lan?"

"Hmm?"

"You know I was thinking that maybe you and I can go out sometime this weekend."

"Of course!"

While the two lovers had their conversation, Dirk was secretly sneaking up behind them and followed them on their way home. Lan couldn't help, but feel as though he's being followed. So when Lan looked behind him, he didn't see a thing.

"Lan, what's wrong?"

"Oh nothing, it's just that I have the strangest feeling that we're being followed."

"You must be imagining things."

As they went home, Lan looked behind him again, and still nothing. Dirk realized that Lan knew he was following him, so he ran straight home.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Undernet, a mysterious floating citadel appeared. In there were mysterious shadows. And then the largest one spoke.

"It is has begun…"

Meanwhile, back to Lan, he was just minding his own business doing his homework under the watch of Megaman. Suddenly a news break was shown.

"Breaking news!!!! Network Systems in Dentech City are out of control!!!! Viruses are showing up everywhere from monitors to clocks!!!!"

"Lan!!!"

"Right!! We gotta get Chaud and the others!!!"

"We have no time for that!!! Jack me in!!! Hurry!!"

Lan went over to his laptop and took out his PET. Then he jacked in Megaman to the nearest port he could find.

"Jack-In!!! Megaman!!! Power-up!!!"

To be continued…