Chapter 2

An Archive Message


Matt and Sora were walking home after the exam, and after Tai had run out as fast as he could to meet up with Agumon. Matt felt quite exhausted after the exam, but Sora seemed rather satisfied, as she talked about the questions.

'... you know that question about film techniques? How many did you get, Matt?'

Matt groaned. 'I only just got the five they wanted. And a couple of them I don't think really counted...'

'I put an extra two, just in case. And also-'

Sora then proceeded to rant about the entire exam, which didn't make Matt feel any better. In fact, it only reminded him how much he left out, and how much worse his mark would be than Sora's.

'You know, Sora...' Matt began after a while. 'I don't really want to think about how I went in that exam, if you don't mind.'

Sora looked surprised, then nodded. 'OK. Sorry.'

Matt smiled gratefully. 'I'd rather think about the digital world again. It's a whole 'nother world from here...'

Sora grinned warmly. 'And there's been new developments, too...'

Matt raised his eyebrows as he saw her expression. 'Are you talking about... those two?'

'Yeah...'

Matt nodded. 'Gabumon told me all about it. Not that it wasn't already obvious before that...'

Sora sighed gleefully. 'I'm so happy for them.'

'Though...' Matt began. 'I wonder why Agumon hasn't told anyone yet. Everyone already knows anyway, but Agumon doesn't seem to get that. I mean - whenever Tai or Gabumon ask him about it, he pretends not to know anything.'

Sora rolled her eyes. 'He will... eventually.'


Armadillomon flinched as Cody's Kendo staff smacked his armoured shell. Armadillomon outweighed Cody by a large amount now, and his protective shell on his back now had three segments instead of two. He flinched slightly as Cody hit him, but his expression showed he didn't feel any pain from it. Cody jumped back and performed a series of complicated movements before striking Armadillomon again on the other side. He frowned as he tried to dodge, but it was useless. Cody was too fast.

'Uh... Cody, can't we take a break?' Armadillomon asked uncertainly.

Hawkmon, who was supervising the practice session, nodded in agreement. 'I think you two have gone long enough.' His red and white feathers were more mixed recently, with several patches of white markings on his lower body, most prominently on his tail feathers and his wings. The single red and yellow feather crest on his head now split into three feathers.

Armadillomon sighed with relief and collapsed, while Cody froze for a second before pulling off his fencing mask. 'But we just started!'

Hawkmon pointed up at the clock on the wall. 'You have been going for 10 minutes straight. That's far too long, Cody, especially for Armadillomon. I don't know why you don't use those dummies you use to have.'

Cody stared at the clock in disbelief, reluctantly sitting beside Armadillomon and getting out his packed lunch. 'It's because grandpa can't afford to keep repairing them all the time.' He smiled at Armadillomon. 'Thanks for volunteering to be a substitute, Armadillomon... though I still feel bad for you. You didn't have to do this.'

Armadillomon smiled up at Cody. 'No need to worry, Cody. It's a good way for me to exercise, and with my armour, I don't feel much pain from those sticks.'

'They're called staves.' Cody looked around restlessly as he finished his biscuits. Then he got an idea. 'Hey, Hawkmon!'

'Yes, Cody?'

Cody smiled enthusiastically. 'How would you like me to teach you Kendo?'

Hawkmon tapped his beak, intrigued. 'I'd never thought about it. I do admit, I am fascinated by the sport, as I've seen you and your grandfather practice. And with Yolei working more these days, I guess I do have space for a new hobby.'

Cody jumped up enthusiastically and grabbed another staff and helmet. 'I can finally teach somebody else!' He then adopted a calmer expression. 'OK, Hawkmon. Let me just say it will be my honour to teach you the refined art and sport of Kendo.'

Hawkmon gave a confused expression before accepting the gear from Cody. 'Why so serious, Cody?'

'Being a teacher is a great privilege, and great responsibility. Grandpa always used to tell me that. And I plan to take it as seriously as he did. Now Hawkmon, for your first lesson...'

Armadillomon grinned as he saw the nervous look on Hawkmon's face. 'So much for just a hobby, eh, Hawkmon?'


Izzy and Kae appeared out of a data terminal, facing the city square. Kae looked fascinated as she studied the area.

'It's so... different.' She observed. 'In a refreshing way. The architecture is so modern... at least, I think it is. It's so shiny, and stylish... how do they get the materials to build a place like this?'

Izzy shrugged. 'When the materials are based around data, it's not too hard to build.'

Kae gave him a confused look. 'I don't understand...'

Izzy grinned. 'After all this time, even I still don't understand how it works. I can only theorise.' He started forward. 'Shall we? I want to take you to the database before we visit Tentomon. We'll have to go through a transfer terminal to get to his area.'


Tai grunted as he landed exiting the terminal, a new one built right next to the entrance of the community hall, where they were supposed to be. He sighed. It's so much more inconvenient having no digivice...

Tai was suddenly knocked over as Agumon appeared, knocking the wind out of him as Agumon landed on top of him.

'Whoops.' Agumon quickly got off of Tai, but Tai was too winded to move. Agumon poked Tai slightly.

'Uh... Tai? You OK?'

It took Tai a minute to get up. He was still clutching his stomach, and had difficulty speaking.

'Damn it... Agumon... you're so... heavy...'

Agumon frowned. 'So... what?'

'Couldn't you lose a few pounds?'

'What's that supposed to mean!?'

Studying Agumon's hostile expression, Tai remained silent for a while. '... well - nevermind, then. Calm down, dude. Seriously. It's just an observation...'

Agumon harrumphed as they began half-running towards the community hall, where the groups of humans and fresh digimon were supposed to be waiting. It was strangely silent as they approached.

'Hello?' Tai called as he opened the door. 'Anyone in here?'

There was a moment's pause. 'Agumon?'

They heard bouncing as a lone Koromon appeared from behind a chair. He was a small pink, head-shaped digimon with large red eyes and long pink ears. He sighed with relief. 'For a second, I thought you guys were monsters...'

Agumon grinned. 'Technically, I am.'

Koromon smiled and leapt towards Agumon, who looked surprised as he caught Koromon.

'Agumon! It's been a while, hasn't it?'

Agumon looked down at him incredulously. 'You know me?'

Koromon expression became slightly crestfallen. 'Don't you remember who I am?'

Agumon glanced around the room as he tried to remember. 'Your voice does sound familiar...'

He opened his mouth brightly as he remembered. 'Are you... that Botamon? From Swanmon's village?'

Koromon smiled gleefully. 'I knew you'd remember!'

Agumon studied him proudly. 'So... you digivolved. Congratulations!'

Tai cleared his throat. 'I take it you two know each other?'

Agumon looked up at Tai. 'Yeah. Tai, this little guy was a Botamon I met in Swanmon's village... when I was on my own.'

Tai looked impressed. 'You're already out and looking for a partner?'

Koromon nodded. 'I was inspired by Agumon. If I could become as cool as him, I thought a human partner would most likely help.'

Agumon scratched his nose, embarrassed. 'I'm not that cool.'

Koromon studied Tai. 'So you're the first digidestined?'

Tai grinned awkwardly. 'I guess you could say that...'

'Ooh!' Koromon jumped out of Agumon arms and back onto the floor to look between the two of them. 'How come you're the first? Do you have special powers or something?'

Agumon scratched the back of his neck nervously. 'Well, there's the Chronodata I told you about...'

Koromon seemed undeterred. 'I'd imagine it must be pretty cool to be the leader! Is it?'

Tai shook his head. 'Not really... it's a lot more responsibility.'

Agumon looked around at the empty hall. 'Koromon, were there others here?'

Koromon nodded, and turned to look around uncertainly. 'Yes, but... it was strange... there were a bunch of other fresh digimon with me before. There were also human kids. We all waited and waited, but you two never showed up. We were too nervous to go and talk to the humans... and it felt so long, and... I guess we were all impatient. Everyone except me left not long ago.'

Agumon blanched as Tai frowned in annoyance. 'Damn... Agumon, we've got to get them to come back.'

Agumon glanced away, ashamed. 'Sorry, Tai.'

Tai sighed meekly. 'Well... at least we can-'

Tai perked up as he heard Izzy's voice. 'And this is the community hall... this is where my friends and I meet up to discuss digital world business. You could learn a thing or two if you attended, Mom...'

'Izzy!' Tai exclaimed as he ran up to the door. 'Boy, am I glad to see you.'

'Tai?' Izzy said, surprised. 'I'd have thought you'd be with the new tamers by now.'

Tai groaned. 'We just missed them. And we need to send them all a message to come back, but... I'm not sure when I'll be free next...'


Kae smiled pleasantly. 'Sounds like you've got your hands full, Tai.'

Tai nodded. 'Hi, Mrs Izumi. Is this the first time you've been to City?'

She nodded. 'It is. And I must say, I'm pleasantly surprised.'

'What were you two doing?' Agumon asked.

Kae smiled down at him with recognition. 'Izzy was just showing me around. The next place we were going to was a place called the "database".'

Tai shrugged, grinning slightly. 'Figures. Izzy hangs out there a lot.'

Izzy nodded as if confirming something. 'You guys want to come with us? You two could learn some things from the database, too.'

Agumon and Tai looked at each other. Agumon shrugged. 'I suppose we don't have much else to do...'

Tai frowned. 'Says you. I've still got study to catch up on... one last exam...'

Kae sighed. 'You're behind again, Tai?'

'Yeah...' Tai thought for a minute. 'I guess I'll go to the database for a while. But I've got to be home by five. Let's go!'

Koromon looked up in Agumon's arms. 'Sounds a little boring for me. I guess I'll let you guys go.'

Agumon looked slightly disappointed, but smiled pleasantly as Koromon jumped to ground and waved an ear goodbye. 'It was nice seeing you again. Hopefully we'll see you with the next group, OK?'

Kae looked around in amazement at the rows and rows of moving data within the archives of the database. 'This is incredible, Izzy.'

The Datamon had been busy expanding the database since the City's early days. The platform they remained on overlooked a seemingly infinite area beyond, filled with moving data streams that fed into terminals within the digital world, along with received data from similar conduits. The data streams moved so fast that Kae felt a bit queasy, but couldn't help but be transfixed at the sight.

'Mom? An information terminal is right here. Want to have a look?'

Kae, distracted by the background, hadn't noticed the great monitor in front of her.

Agumon and Tai didn't seem as interested, however. 'This place is cool,' Tai started, 'but I've seen it enough times already.'

Izzy scratched his head. 'I guess you can't fit all the information in the worlds in one head, huh?'

Tai frowned. 'Just because you're ahead of your year...'

'Izzy?' Kae asked uncertainly. 'I'm not sure I can use this. I might break something.'

'Oh.' Izzy moved forward towards the holographic keyboard. 'I'll show you. What kind of information would you like to know?'

Kae thought for a minute. 'I'd like to know what the digital world looks like... a global image, or map, maybe?'

Izzy nodded and grabbed the mouse. 'OK, then... there we are. That's what the digital world looks like from space, Mom.'

Kae studied the image with fascination. 'It's odd... it looks very similar to Earth.'

Izzy smiled. 'My friends and I went through that six years ago. Do you want me to explain again?'

Kae shook her head, smiling affectionately. 'No doubt you would go on forever. Tai hasn't got long, Izzy.'

Izzy also studied the image, and frowned. 'Wait a minute... the land masses look rather different to what I remember since last I looked.'

'And when was the last time you looked?' Agumon asked.

'Well... around when this database was first established, over a year ago.'

Tai frowned thoughtfully. 'So... the land has moved, has it?'

Izzy nodded. 'It seems that way... though, if you consider continental drift, it may make sense... only the time frame would be completely different. This sort of thing would take millions of years, normally... I hope the land doesn't just decide to go haywire. Oh, man... the natural disasters, ugh...'

Tai smiled and patted Izzy on the back. 'You worry too much, Izzy. There hasn't been any natural disaster that big yet...'

Tai glanced towards the screen to check the time. 'I'd better get going...' His eyes widened as he noticed a pending notification. 'Izzy? Is that a message?'

Izzy gaped as he clicked and opened the message. 'It's from Gennai!'

Everyone except Kae rushed forward. 'Really?' Agumon asked. 'Play it, Izzy!'

'Okay, here goes.'

An animation of the Old Gennai popped up in a window, and everyone looked taken aback, and rather disgusted, as it showed him in a swimsuit and snorkelling goggles. His old wrinkled face and white hair and beard remained the same as always. 'Hello, digidestined. I must say, I've had a great time at Proxy Island. Sorry to just drop off the grid like I did, but I really needed a vacation, and I didn't want to be disturbed. I'm pleased to report it has been a great success! I am eager to hear what you've all been doing since I left. I would request an audience with you, in person of course. And I've seen some of your documents, Izzy. Clearly, you've done your research. Perhaps you'd like to discuss your findings at the audience as well? Anyway, it'll be the day after tomorrow, in the morning at 9am. I am aware of the human education examinations, as I'm sure Tai is struggling with. The last exam should be tomorrow, correct? Good luck Tai! You'll need it. I'll see you all a day after tomorrow. Cheerio!'

As the message closed, Izzy snickered as he saw the look on Tai's face.

'Quit beating around the bush, Gennai.' Tai grumbled. 'Just call me stupid and save me the trouble.'

Agumon also looked disgruntled. 'All that time, while I ran away, almost starving to death, being chased by a black dragon, training my tail off, and finally City under siege, he was snorkelling around Proxy Island!? I'm going to give him a piece of my mind...'

Kae looked confused. 'Who was that, Izzy?'

Izzy shrugged. 'An ancient guy who gives confusing advice. But we owe him a lot, he also set us on the path of our roles as digidestined.'

Kae shrugged. 'Whatever you say, honey.'

Agumon grinned up at Tai. 'Now you can go home, study hard, and ace that last exam, Tai! Then you'll have nothing to worry about!'

Tai groaned. 'At least until the results come out... aw man...'

Tai immediately began to set off, but stopped when he realised Agumon wasn't following. 'Agumon?' He looked back. 'You coming? You know I can't travel through those terminals without you.'

Agumon scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. 'Well... I still have more to do here, Tai.'

Tai groaned. 'No digivice... so inconvenient...'

Agumon snorted. 'Is SacredGreymon "inconvenient"?'

Tai grinned. 'Good point. But.. actually, he kinda is...'

Izzy smiled. 'Not to worry, I can get you home.' He looked at Kae. 'You wanted to see anything else, Mom?'

She shook her head. 'Oh, I know now that the digital world is a great place. I do look forward to coming again, but I've got to start cooking dinner.'

Izzy looked disappointed. 'That means you won't get to see Tentomon...'

Kae smiled. 'Perhaps another time, honey. I will expect you home by six, after you've gotten Tai and I to our houses.'

Izzy nodded. 'OK, it's settled. We'll go with you Tai. See you later, Agumon!'

Tai studied Agumon as they left. He seemed very distracted as he followed them slowly.

Izzy examined Tai. 'What do you think he's doing?'

Tai smiled warmly. 'He's meeting his... girlfriend.'

Kae reacted by clapping her hands gleefully, in a fangirlish fashion. 'Aww... I didn't know Agumon had a girlfriend. That's so sweet...' She looked at Izzy expectantly. 'I keep telling you to look, Izzy... met anyone yet?'

Izzy groaned. 'Mom... not in front of Tai...'

Kae looked at Tai questioningly. 'What about you, Tai? Anyone special?'

Tai looked troubled as he glanced away. 'I wish...'