I don't own Digimon. Let me know what you guys think please!
Prologue
The world is in chaos. Cities destroyed, millions dead or injured. Wait; let's back up a bit. First, you need to know what happened after the DigiDestined saved the world for what seemed would be the last time.
Tai couldn't believe five years had passed since saving the world from Malomyotismon. So much had changed in five years, yet so much had stayed the same. Evil Digimon continued to try to take over the DigiWorld and each time, the DigiDestined would remind them why they were chosen in the first place. But overall, less Digimon threatened them as time went on and there was peace between the worlds. The DigiDestined were able to go back to the real world and focus on growing up, building their lives.
It gave Tai more time to focus on soccer. He led his high school team in back to back wins at the All Japan High School Tournament. Scouts came to look at his games and he had gotten multiple offers from top tier schools. Tai tried not to let it get to his head, but he couldn't help it. He hadn't grown up that much that he wouldn't feel a bit of pride. Even his family got sick of how much he talked about his offers. It had been a hard decision, one that he hadn't taken lightly, but eventually he had to go with Osaka University. Even though it was farther away from Odaiba than he would have liked, it ultimately gave him what he wanted, which was to play soccer and give him a path to the J1 League, the top soccer league in Japan.
But following his dream ultimately meant separating from his friends. Although some of them had already left Odaiba, most were still in the area. Cody was still in school, practicing his kendo every day. He was the top of his class and had even risen to teaching others kendo. Davis was still fighting TK for his little sister, but if Tai had anything to say about it, Kari would never date any boy. Besides, Kari seemed happy to focus on her photography and TK still hadn't admitted the fact that he actually liked her. The two were still going on as just friends, just how Tai liked them. Kari focused on taking pictures of Digimon and informing people of their intelligence and independence. She was determined to not let them be like any other pet that people thought they could mistreat. Tai couldn't be prouder of his little sister. Sora started managing her mother's flower shop and Matt had stuck with the band, even getting a small record deal. They had each found their niches, though they still had their Digimon in common. If nothing else, their Digimon kept them from losing touch completely.
The original and newer DigiDestined had become mini stars within Japan and even around the world. After the battle of Malomyotismon, Digimon and humans interacted more than ever before and the world looked to them for guidance. Each day, new kids were partnering with Digimon and it was their mission to provide as much guidance as possible. Luckily, they had DigiDestined in multiple parts of the world to help out. But eventually, there were so many Digimon in the real world; even they couldn't keep up with it.
Digimon classes popped up in school and there were clubs that focused solely on training their Digimon. All over the world, Digimon were becoming the center of life. Even for Tai, that was becoming true. Agumon went to his own clubs and hung out just with Digimon, but then came home and cooked dinner with Tai. Agumon was there cheering him on at every soccer game. Digimon had become part of normal life and they were accepted by most. It was a dream come true, for the most part. Until it all went down the drain.
Tai travelled back to Odaiba with Agumon just before all hell broke loose. It had been months since he had been back, but he knew it was time to come back. His mom had called him multiple times and left not-so-subtle hints that she wanted him to visit. Plus, he couldn't help but want to check up on Kari.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Tai?" Agumon questioned quietly as they stood in front of his old building. In truth, he wasn't confident at all. He hoped he was doing the right thing by leaving, but there was a risk that he could lose everything. So many things could go wrong, but he had to try. Tai simply nodded and walked into his building.
As soon as he opened the door, he could smell food cooking. "Mom? You're back early, I thought-" came a feminine voice as he rounded the corner but stopped abruptly when Tai halted in front of Kari at the stove. He smiled at her gently and she ran towards him with a big hug. "Tai! You weren't supposed to be home for another week! Don't you have a game in two days?" Kari hadn't changed a bit, in personality or looks in years. She still kept her brown hair up to her ears and wore her yellow shorts and pink and white top with pink gloves. Her camera sat on the kitchen table, ready for use whenever she needed it. And Kari was still the bubbly, positive girl he loved dearly. Tai hadn't known what to expect coming home, but he knew he could count on Kari to welcome him every time.
Tai walked with her back to the kitchen so she could keep cooking. "Yeah, I do, but we were so close, I caught a train after practice and came to see you guys for the night. I'm glad you're cooking and not mom. I was prepared to beg her to go out to eat tonight if she was," he responded, laughing. He jumped up on the counter and looked around at the meal. Nothing was burning, which was new for the Kamiya household.
Kari laughed as well. "Oh Tai, don't be so hard on her. She's taking cooking classes now!" Kari chastised. He shrugged still not convinced. His mother would never learn to cook, no matter how hard she tried. She was cursed with the ability to make even the easiest meal a disaster. As much as Tai couldn't cook, even he could boil noodles.
"Where's Gatomon?" Agumon questioned, but just as he asked, she jumped onto the couch behind him.
"I'm right over here," she purred, licking her paws. Tai grinned at her, glad that Kari had her to keep her company since he wasn't there anymore. He could always count on that cat to be there in Kari's time of need. It was a small comfort today, but he would take what he could get.
Tai knew that Agumon wanted to talk with Gatomon, just like Tai had to talk with Kari. They both needed to say some final words to the pair before they left, since neither Tai nor Agumon knew when they would be back. Agumon and Gatomon walked out onto the balcony, letting Tai and Kari have some privacy to talk and also to have their own chat. Kari glanced up from her cooking, as if she knew something was wrong with him. "Tai?" she asked, her brown eyes wide, questioning him.
"Kari, you know you're the most important person in my life and I'd do anything to protect you right?" he questioned slowly, looking directly into her brown eyes. She was obviously confused and waited a moment for him to say more, but he couldn't say anything more, so she just nodded. "Good, I just want you to remember that. I'm gone more than I would like, and I just wanted you to remember that. I love you, little sister." He walked around the counter and pulled her into an embrace that only lasted a few seconds but he wished it would last a lot longer. Too soon he let go and they continued to talk. She filled him in on everything that was happening since he had been gone. Davis had just asked her out for the fifth time, which made him laugh. The kid would never give up. He didn't know whether it was from stupidity or determination, but either way, as long as Kari kept saying no, Tai didn't care. Kari moved on to the most recent drama between Matt and Sora, which he had to hide a small grin about, when his parents came through the door.
That night was a night of laughter and fun that he had missed while playing soccer. His parents told him all that he had missed while he was away and he filled them in on what he had been doing while away at school. The hours flew by, and too soon, they were going to bed. Tai and Agumon went to his room and looked at each other, suddenly serious. "It's time. Let's get going," Tai said, picking up his duffle bag. As quietly as he could, they walked to the front door, knowing he wouldn't see it, or his family, again for a long time. He took one glance back through the apartment and closed the door behind him.
"Are you ready for this, Tai?" Agumon asked as they walked down the street, Digimon and humans still straggling home for the night. Looking around him, remembering his childhood spent here and his life with Digimon, he felt homesick already. But he would do anything to save his home and the people he loved.
"Ready to save the world again? Always," Tai responded, much more confidently than he felt. Courage, he thought, just have courage.
The day after Tai left Odaiba, the world fell apart. The war had started in Europe, but quickly spread from there to the rest of the world. The DigiDestined pulled together to form the DigiDestined Organization, with Matt at its head and Davis right beside him. Each and every one of the DigiDestined joined together, some even moving cities to be part of it. The only ones missing were Tai and Agumon who had disappeared right when the world needed them. They searched for weeks and sent out feelers across the world, but heard nothing. They left a hole in the DDO that couldn't be filled, but they knew that they needed to keep going. The world looked to them to lead. Although they were still kids, they had already saved the world a few times, so they had more battle experience with Digimon than anyone else. The only difference that they encountered was technology. Because humans were involved in the war instead of just evil Digimon, they faced new challenges of guns, tanks, and other weapons.
In Berlin, Germany, a group of rebel humans and Digimon lead a siege on the government building, Reichstag building, which lasted three days, until their government sent tanks and troops in to disarm them. The German government did what they could, but their weapons were no use against the Digimon. No one had been fully prepared to do battle against Digimon. The best they could do was to defend their building and keep them out of their building.
The damage had been done and rebellions were spreading like wildfire throughout the country and then the world. The worlds' governments retreated to their bases, trying to find another way to squash the rebellions other than their normal weapons. Each country started to fund organizations such as the DDO and gave their full support to them. At least, as much as they could give. While conventional weapons did no damage to Digimon, they were as lethal as ever to their human partners, so they tried to keep anyone else from obtaining them. Even though they did what they could to prevent humans from being harmed, there was only so much they could do. The amount of homeless and wounded grew each day, so most of the government involvement was put towards taking care of them, since they couldn't do anything to stop it.
The gangs began to spread more throughout the world, recruiting more kids and even resorting to kidnapping them and their families to force them into their gangs. The only goal of the gangs was to overthrow the government and gain control. Having Digimon polluted their minds into thinking they were better than others.
In response, the DDO was slowly growing as more kids joined the fight to save the world and restore order. Other organizations formed with the same goal in mind, although not all of them fell under the control of the DDO. As more joined the groups to take back control, more people joined those who wanted to destroy the world order.
Matt and the DigiDestined had recovered around a fifth of Japan, but they were stalled there. The biggest gang in Japan, the Cobras, was pushing against them with full force. Every time the DDO would gain ground, the Cobras would push back. If they could take back Japan, then they could proceed to the rest of the world. Japan would give them a foothold for the rest of the world.
Their other main mission was the United States, which Willis was heading up with help from Michael and Mimi. They had reclaimed most of the East Coast but had hit a roadblock when moving through the Midwest. Just as in Japan, another gang had taken over the Midwest and was reluctant to let anyone take it from them. Reinforcements of wild Digimon were on their way help them take it over, but it was a waiting game for them.
It might not be enough. Even if they regained control and could use that to take back the rest of the world, the DDO wasn't sure that the world could be repaired and put back the way it was before. Matt was more stressed out than he had ever been and his team was failing. They didn't work together like they once had. For now, the DDO was at a standstill. And that is where our story begins.