Location: Dragon Eye Lake, File Island, Digital World

Pain.

That's what Megumi's brain had registered as soon as she opened one eye. Wow that was a bad idea. Feeling the pain intensify, she quickly closed it. Her head felt like it was stuck in a vise and some cruel person was increasing the pressure. Bringing her fingers to her head, the blonde attempted to soothe the pain by massaging her temple. She didn't stop rubbing until the sharp ache in her head became an annoying dull throb.

Opening her eyes again, Megumi looked at her surroundings and quickly noticed she was no longer in the electronics store. She now sat in a small bedroom furnished with five empty futons. Where is everyone? Near the only exit she spotted her shoes thrown in a pile with several other pairs along with her green jacket and an orange T-shirt. The basketball star rolled out of bed, grabbed her jacket and pressed her ear against the door. No sounds came from the other side. Taking a deep breath, Megumi turned the doorknob and pushed the door slowly open.

Peering into the next room, the teen noticed was not surprised to see a living room. It had the usual furnishings but one item made Megumi speechless. On the far left wall stood a massive aquarium, stretching almost the entire length of the wall. Mesmerized by the enormous fish tank, Megumi walked into the room and towards it. It wasn't until she was face to face with the glass did a familiar voice break her out of her gaze.

"Finally! I was starting to worry." Megumi turned her head and saw Regina – sans the orange shirt- and Kiyo stretched out on the couch. Shiro was seated in a rocking chair positioned near the giant aquarium. Regina shifted herself over and the raven haired boy patted the now empty space next to him.

"Do any of you know where we are," the blonde asked the three as she sat down on the couch.

"I believe I can answer that question." A large green bird-like animal entered the living room from the small kitchen, holding a tray containing four teacups and a teapot. Smiling at the group, the creature placed the serving dish on the small coffee table and poured out the tea before offering it to the teens on the couch. Regina and Kiyo took a cup.

"Is anybody else seeing the big green talking bird," Megumi asked, confused by their reaction to the giant green bird.

The class rep took a sip of tea. "Yup," he turned to the creature, "Thank you for the tea. It's delicious." The bird nodded politely as it moved away from the couch.

"Why is no one freaking out about the large green talking bird?"

The bird took the tray to Shiro to offer him a cup but the bald teen just waved him away. "We did while you were sleeping," Shiro looked over at Kiyo and Regina, "I was surprised you didn't hear the commotion these two losers made."

"We may have been scared," the brunette asked as she placed her now empty cup on the table, "But at least we didn't jump on the coffee table and scream bloody murder." The boy grumbled angrily and began to rock the chair faster. The bird creature cleared its throat. "To answer your question, miss, you are in the Digital World."

"So that means you're a Digimon," Megumi stated. The bird digimon bowed slightly. "That I am. You may call me Falcomon."

Yawning Shiro stilled the old rocking chair before standing. He stretched his arms before turning to Falcomon, "Okay that's all great and all but I got to get back to work. How do I get home?"

"We can't," said a new voice. All four teens turned to the source of the voice and saw their English teacher and a blond man walking out of another room. With worried looks etched on their faces, they sat down near the coffee table.

"Whatcha talking about Sensei?"

"We were trying to find a way to get back home," Kari replied, running her hands through her hair, "The gate that brought us here has been closed."

"So? Just open it."

"We tried," T.K. explained, "It's not opening. We're officially stuck here."

"And it looks like it's my job to explain why." The group turned and noticed a man enter the room from a door in the corner. Dressed in a beige robe and pants, a black turtleneck and belt, the newcomer remained standing in the doorway. While the four teens warily watched him, Kari and TK looked both relieved and confused at his arrival.

"Gennai," the teacher asked as she took a step towards him, "You're responsible for this?"

As soon as 'responsible' hit his ears, Shiro determined that this man was his ticket home. The bald teen marched over to Gennai and grabbed him by the collar, hoisting him into the air.

"You better have a damn good reason why you won't let me go home, old man," the bald boy hissed angrily. Gennai looked down at the teen, annoyed by his actions, "I will tell you only if you let me down." Shiro glared at the man before setting him down.

"Thank you," Gennai smoothed his robe and motioned towards the door he emerged from, "Please follow me to the dining room." The adults rose from the floor and followed the guardian through the door. Soon after, the four teens followed.

Compared to the other rooms, the dining room was much bigger, bigger than the both the living room and the bedroom combined. Unlike the other rooms and their homey appearance, this room had a very Victorian feel to it. The walls were painted in a regal blue and contrasted with the polished hardwood floor. The ceiling was high above there heads; a mixture of colors that formed a map were painted on the surface. In the center were a long elegant dining table and several wooden chairs. Beyond the table, a large television screen hung out of place on the wall. The group seated themselves at the table – Kari, T.K., and Shiro on one side and Kiyo, Regina and Megumi on the other with Gennai seated at the head of the table.

Once everyone was settled, Gennai spoke, "As I have said before, neither the blocked gate nor your arrival here was my doing."

T.K. folded his arms across his chest and stared at the man, "Then who did?"

"It's best that I start at the beginning," Gennai began to explain, "About six years ago a hooded visitor stopped by my home. He claimed to be an agent of Fanglongmon, the leader of the Digimon Sovereigns. He proclaimed that a great evil would return and once again threaten both the Digital World and your world. He said, 'A group led by the children of Light and Hope will arrive to vanquish the evil from here. Darkness, traitors and fears they must overcome. There will be many losses before they will triumph.' I personally thought he was just another unstable person that somehow came from your world."

"Do they visit you often," Kiyo asked.

"Mostly once a month but all we do is smile and nod until they go home."

Falcomon entered the room holding a mahogany box the size of a pencil case. The digimon placed the box between T.K. and Kari before leaving.

"Fast forward a year and suddenly parts of this man's 'prophecy' begin to come true. First the Digimon from Earth suddenly return back here and then gates are sealed closed. And then…then…" Gennai broke his gaze and stared at the table suddenly looking drained. Kari saw the man slouch in his chair and wring his hands. The teacher leaned closer towards the troubled man. "Then what, Gennai?"

Gennai looked at the woman and pulled out an emerald key from his pocket. "I'm sorry," he pushed the key in their direction. The brunette looked at the key with hesitation. Whatever was inside the box was able to make the normally calm guardian of the Digital World terrified.

T.K. cautiously grabbed the key and inserted it into the keyhole. Twisting it, everyone in the room heard the box's lock unlock with a loud click. Tension suddenly filled every corner of the room as all eyes were on the now unlocked box. The writer lifted the lid. Inside the box was a blue blanket. The blond moved the thin fabric and peered in. His eyes went wide and his body started to shake as he stumbled to get away from what was in the box.

Kari, disturbed by her husband's reaction, took a deep breath and peered inside. Her body went numb. No, no, no, no. Impossible. She reached out, her arm quivering, and gently picked up the objects. The blood had drained from her face and she too moved away from the box, dropping the items and almost falling over the chair in the process.

"That's impossible," T.K. walked past his wife and stood over Gennai, "Are you sure it's not another one? We saw what happened to him."

Gennai nodded and looked into the blond's eyes. "I've seen him with my own eyes. He now goes by ChaosPiedmon and he is more cunning and dangerous than before," he looked at the box, "He needs –no, he must be stopped before he destroys the DigiWorld. From what my sources tell me, he has a new group of generals working for him and they are just as dangerous as the Dark Masters."

Gennai leaned over the table, shut the lid and relocked the box before calling Falcomon back into the room. He handed both the box and the key back to the digimon who once again disappeared into the next room. "We'll make sure that no harm comes to them. Please." He motioned the two join him back at the table. Unsteady and slowly the two rejoined the others at the table, neither person making eye contact with the others. An uneasy stillness passed through the room. None of the teens knew of Piedmon and his history and after seeing the adults' reaction to whatever was in the container, they did not want to know.

"Okay," Megumi broke the uncomfortable silence, "Let's assume that this visitor of yours is telling the truth. Exactly how are we supposed to defeat this ChaosPiedmon? Ask him to stop being evil?"

"No, you will have to fight them just as you," he looked towards the two adults, "Did before. You'll just be using a different method. Falcomon, could you please bring the stone in here." The digimon returned to the table this time holding a large inky black circular stone. Embedded in the stone were six different color gems: blue, green, brown, orange, yellow and white.

"The visitor also gave me this. According to him it will give you the ability to transform into Digimon and fight whatever ChaosPiedmon can throw at you."

"How does it work," Kiyo asked.

"Touch a gem and the power will be transferred to you."

"That's it?"

Gennai nodded. "That's what I was told."

"Pass." Shiro leaned back in his chair. Gennai looked over at the bald boy with a look of shock on his face. "What?"

The teen closed his eyes and titled the chair back. "I ain't risking my life for no one."

"And for once I agree with Baldy," Regina added as she scratched her head and turned her gaze to the artwork on the ceiling. "Listen, we're not Digimon, we are human. You want six humans to take on what I assume to be a very powerful Digimon. What happens if anyone gets hurt or worse? I read in a magazine that when Digimon die in the Digital World they turn into eggs. But guess what happens if we die? We stay dead. And I don't know about any of you but my near death experience quota has already been filled. So, no thank you. You can just send me home now."

Gennai let out a sigh, "I can't."

"You can't," the brunette asked as she turned towards the man, "Or you won't?"

"Can't. As I stated before I wasn't the one who brought you here." Regina looked at Falcomon and pointed but Gennai shook his head.

"No not him. My colleague, HiAndromon, helped me send a message to T.K. and Kari a few weeks ago," He picked up the remote and pressed a button causing the screen to flicker to life. It was broadcasting what seemed to be the burnt-out remains of a factory. "A few hours ago his factory was attacked by ChaosPiedmon and his troops and he was captured. I believe before he was captured, HiAndromon was able to bypass the sealed gates and bring you here."

"And let me guess," Shiro asked, "He is the only one that can send us home, right?"

"That is correct."

The boy got out of his chair and headed for the door. As he passed by Megumi the girl reached out and grabbed his wrist. The two locked eyes only for a second before Shiro shook his head and pulled himself out of her grip.

"I'm going to bed," the teen said as he walked out of the room, "Don't bother me."

Not even a minute after Shiro left Regina stood up from her seat and without a word to the others, left the room leaving the five in the living room.

"I was afraid this was going to happen." Gennai rubbed his chin. He grabbed the stone and rose from his seat.

"Gennai, is there anyway we could contact Izzy," the blonde writer asked.

"I can't send out a message like did with you two but I can try to send an email. Follow me." Gennai led the older DigiDestined out of the room. That left Megumi and Kiyo by themselves.

"So now what," the boy said placing his head on the table.

"It's obvious what we need to do. We need to convince Shiro and Regina to come with us."

Kiyo's head shot up as he looked at Megumi, a smirk plastered on her face. "We need to what?"

The blonde teen moved one seat over and circled an arm around his shoulders. "You heard me. And you heard what that Gennai guy said."

Kiyo was rendered speechless for a second. Megumi was actually happy that they were stuck here. "Are you really this excited that were stranded in another world? And why do you think I'm happy to go and play hero?"

"Beats being in school. And aren't you happy that you're here? Besides…" Kiyo latched a hand over Megumi's mouth. He knew what she would say and right now he didn't want to hear it. "I will help you if you promise not to finish that sentence." The blonde nodded her head furiously and soon the boy removed his hand. Kiyo shrugged off his friends arm before relaxing into the chair.

"So how are we going to 'convince' them to come?"

"You talk to Regina and I take Shiro." Megumi quickly got out of her chair and left the room before her friend could respond.

"That didn't answer my question!" Kiyo yelled at the door and wasn't surprised when silence was the only response. He didn't know what he was going to say to the girl.

Hey, wanna get ourselves killed? No that would be stupid. What to say…what to say… Kiyo poured over in his mind as his feet steered him into the living room. Regina was stretched out on the couch but Kiyo was too deep in thought to notice as he seated himself in the rock chair. The brunette pushed herself onto the arm of the couch until her head was hanging off and watched as the class rep slowly rocked back and forth on the chair. He was hunched over in his seat, his head propped up by his arm.

She asked, "Penny for your thoughts?" The question jolted the Kiyo out of his thoughts. "You seemed deep in thought."

"Sorry about that. I was just thinking." Regina turned over, nodded her head. "I understand. Finding out all of this," she gestured to the Falcomon in the kitchen, "Has given me a headache that I wish would just go away. What do you think about this?"

"Honestly? I don't like it. Who know what will happen until we try."

"I'm starting to think that I should have never said 'Yes' to my uncle."

"Said 'yes' to what?" But Regina never gave an answer instead leaving the couch and heading into bedroom just as Megumi came out of the room. The two girls shared a quick glance before the brunette ducked into the room.

The blonde teen motioned her head towards the door before sitting on the couch, "So I'm guessing you weren't successful…"

"What did Shiro say," the boy asked.

"Other then not to bother him, nothing. I tried to talk him but he fell asleep."

"Do not expect them to change their mind so quickly young ones," Falcomon stated from the kitchen, "You must give them time and space to think."

"You're right Falcomon," Megumi sighed, sinking into the couch, "It's not like we can force them."

"How about you two help me with dinner," the bird digimon asked. The two got off of the couch and helped Falcomon.


And like that a week went by with neither Regina nor Shiro joining what Regina dubbed a suicide mission. On the eighth morning, Kiyo was awakened by someone shuffling around in the room. By the time he rubbed the sleep out of his eyes he realized he was the only person in the room. He got out of his futon and headed for the living room. The room was empty but he could smell an amazing aroma coming from the dining room. A meal of eggs bacon and orange juice sat in front of him. Like the other days breakfast was a quiet affair.

That was until Regina broke the silence.

"I'm tired of being cooped up in this place," the girl said pushing her empty plate away, "I'll help you with ChaosPiedmon."

All motion at the table stopped and heads turned towards the girl. She stared back, an eyebrow arched. "What?"

Shiro resumed eating his food. "Well, I still ain't going."

"That's fine. After all we won't need you." Kiyo opened up his mouth to say something and instead let out a yelp when the brunette stomped his foot. He turned to Regina to complain but instead received a look that said 'Be quiet and watch.'

The fork in his hand clattered to the plate. "What you say?"

"Why would we need a whiny, obnoxious, 'I-got-my-ass-beat-by-a-girl', weak little boy traveling with us? It would harm us more than help us." In the short time the two had been enemies, Megumi had never seen Shiro this furious. Veins appeared on the boy's head which started to turn red.

He stood up in the chair. "I ain't weak."

"Then prove it," Regina leaned back in her chair, "Weakling."

Shiro face twitched in anger. "Where's. The damn. Stone," he demanded in between clenched teeth. Gennai ushered them back into the living room.

"So we just choose a stone and grab it." Gennai nodded.

"On the count of three?"

Each person grabbed onto a part of the stone only for them to cry out in pain and let go of said stone. It was like they had stuck there fingers into an electrical socket and now pins and needles jabbing into their hands. The stone dropped onto the floor and turned into pile of dust.

Growling the bald teen got up and stormed over to Gennai until he towered over the seated man. "What the hell was that?" Before the man could defend himself the pile of dust began to swirl into the air.

"DigiDestined," An ominous and unseen voice filled the room, "As you are you will be no match for the evil. You must activate the ten temples. Only then will you be able to prevail. Your hands will show the way. I will be watching."

With cryptic voice gone, the room was plunged back into stunned silence. The glowing mist swirled above Shiro's body before diving into the boy's right hand which also began to glow. Eventually the bright light did die and left a picture of what looked like a compass on the back of his hand.

"What the hell!" Shiro rubbed the mark on his hand but it did not disappear. No one really knew what to say at the turn of events. Gennai cleared his throat.

"It looks like all you need are supplies. Come with me."


Constructive Criticism is welcomed. Flames are not.