Author's Note and Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon, and this story is not for commercial use. Furthermore, I will be using new original characters and Digimon in this fic, and drawings and descriptions will be provided or linked to on my FFN page, once scanned. This is a bit darker than the original storyline, and with older characters, but there will of course be lighter moments as well. Otherwise, please enjoy.

Blackest Age: Dawn Approaching
Prologue: Azulongmon

A parting message from a once-renowned Digimon, protector of one of the Corners and one of the Four Dragons.

Long ago, there was a darkness that threatened to consume the Digital World, and all who inhabited it. Terror after terror, beasts one and all, threw the digital world into chaos. Something had to be done; the villains who had desecrated such a realm could not have impunity. The Digital World needed vengeance, needed justice.

We needed Digidestined.

Plans were made, to bestow powerful crests and handheld digital catalyst devices with several other powerful functions (eventually called "Digivices", by those they were granted to) unto nine talented youth, who had made contact with our world before, and had seen the portals between. It took the power of the Four Dragons, and the expertise of a human man, named Gennai, trapped in a limbo between worlds, to create and stabilize them in such a form These crests, and the tags that unlocked their powers, were stolen before they could be commuted to a safer place, and two of the DigiEggs intended for the savior children were lost. The powers of Courage, Friendship, Love, Knowledge, Sincerity, Reliability, Hope, Light, and Kindness seemed lost, but still we pressed on. Seven of the nine intended children were brought into our world to protect us. Along their way, they were able to obtain the tags and crests they required to unlock higher levels for their chosen companions to reach. Through this, they were able to defeat the evil Devimon, the vile Etemon, and, with the help of the eighth child they rescued and recruited through the sacrifice of a brave Wizardmon, even the vile Myotismon, having to venture into the Human World to do so. These chosen eight vanquished said evil lord not a single time, but again after he ressurected and digivolved into his Mega form, VenomMyotismon.

All the while, a new storm gathered in our world. New evils, The Dark Masters, emerged and oppressed the denisens of the land and sea. As Myotismon was finally defeated, they had the entire Digital World under their control. Once again, the eight children had to save us all from a horrible fate. One after another, they defeated the four evils, and as they fell, the world would steadily revert back to its natural form.

All would seem well, until a digital virus, combined with the makeup of a Digimon, threatened the digital network of all worlds. The DigiDestined pursued him as well, but in the battle, he destroyed all the crests in an instant. They were able to bypass this, though, as a crest is merely a major catalyst, not the activator itself. Through the power of teamwork, the team defeated their foe, and saved the network. Due to the rift opening to such a degree, time was synched between worlds, moving at a simultaneous pace. Otherwise, all seemed to be at peace.

Throughout this, however, the ninth child had fallen under influence of the Dark Ocean, and began creating an empire under him, even going so far as to technologically control Digimon and impede their digivolution, regardless of Digivice or crest. Three years passed, and a new team was created: three new children and the two of the original eight who still had enough youth and faith in them to change the world. Due to the power of the spires the evil ninth child had created, new Digi-Eggs had to be created: ones that would create a new type of evolution. This armor evolution helped defeat the ninth child and show him the evil of his ways. Upon realizing what he had truly done, he turned his back on the grasp of evil and eventually teamed up with the other five, becoming an invaluable team member as they ventured into the Human Realm to assist new DigiDestined worldwide. A human man, however, seeked to go the opposite way: into the Digital World, from the Human one. He succeeded in making a digital portal, using the innocence of children he had influenced. This world was not the Digital World, but a world between, one of dreams. It was shown that he had been under the influence of Myotismon, who used the powers of the dream world to revert to an even more powerful form. The children used the same dream power to finally defeat him, seemingly once and for all.

Digimon became companions for humans everywhere, for a number of years. At one point, however, the rift started to close and the Digimon had to return home, or risk being permanently reverted to streams of data and disband forever. The Human world went on, and in two generations, Digimon were almost completely forgotten, out of sight, out of mine.

Those decades in their world, however, were centuries on ours, and the reins of power, although once with the side of goodness, have shifted. Dark new villians, the group called The Noir Nine, have grasped power, with their mysterious leader, known only as The Kaiser. With the old crest powers long destroyed, new ones had to be produced, but at a cost. It it time again for human youths and partner Digimon to save the destiny of both worlds. It is time again for DigiDestined.

I, Azulongmon, contribute what is left of my energies into the creation of a new era of crests. Honor, Honesty, Charisma, Faith, Tranquility, Balance, and Versatility; I bless these that they may restore the Digital World and benefit the greater good. It is... my dying wish...

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