Chapter 1: Homecoming Part I

10 years later: Digimon Universe-2028/ Other Universe-2013

R.J.'s POV

I wish T.K. would have been right, but it was far from bright; not at first though. My first year of training was amazing; meeting my childhood heroes and being chosen to become one of them was a dream come true. For a year T.K. began to train me in fighting in general and then with a spear; Izzy would also tutor me how Digivice and Digi-Ports worked, as well as on the Digital World in general. It was pretty amazing how easy it was to keep all of this a secret. After a year passed, the next Digidestined, Matt's apprentice, was brought in. He was a bigger guy, had short black hair and wore glasses; His name was Vincent Villalpando, Vince for short. He and I actually already knew each other from elementary school and summer programs; he picked up on his training fairly well. Another year passed and Mimi brought the first girl of our team; she was pretty short, had died red hair that was usually in a ponytail. Her name was Alexandra DeJesus, we just called her Alex. Just like Vince, I already knew her but from kindergarten and when it came time to train, she picked up on her technique faster than Vince and I. Having a trio was really fun; to be honest, we felt like a Naruto ninja team. As the next time to bring in another Digidestined approached, we had started making all the necessary preparations; Alex, Vince and I had arranged to attend the same high school so training would be easier, Joe was eager to meet his apprentice and we were eager to have half the team complete. However, it was all premature. There was an evil uprising in the Digi-World and, in an effort to save me, Vince and Alex; the eight original Digidestined, along with their Digimon and the other four's Digimon, sacrificed themselves. It now fell to us to not only finish our own training, but to in turn train the other members of our team. Gennai sent the three of us back to our world and told us to come back whenever we were ready to begin. Guilt ridden with despair, I made a call as "leader" to not return to the other dimension, feeling as though I had let down our mentors. As much as Vince and Alex didn't agree with it, they respected my role as leader and did not return, hoping they could convince me otherwise down the road. I convinced myself that Gennai would find another way to defend our world, or find new Digidestined; for seven years I had been trying to forget what had happened and move on with my life, but destiny had other plans…

Gennai's House

Cody's POV

It had been a long time since Gennai had called us to his house so we knew it had to be important. Ken, Yolei, Davis and I appeared to alarms blaring and Gennai furiously typing on his computer.

"What is it Gennai," Yolei asked in a panic.

"The Dimensional rift has finally opened enough for the Demon Lords to attack the other dimension; within a few days they will be able to use their influence to provoke other Digimon to attack," Gennai answered as calmly as possible.

"Do you mean…," Ken began to ask.

"Yes," Gennai answered already knowing the question, "it is time to contact them."

"No way," Davis said angrily.

"Davis, don't start," Yolei said annoyed.

"They've been gone seven years doing who knows what and they still need to find the other five who could be long gone by now; we should handle this ourselves," Davis said angrily

"We can't Davis don't you get that," Ken replied equally annoyed, "We can't enter that world; besides they are Digidestined just like us."

"They're nothing like us," Davis argued, "we never would have left! We never would have let that shit happen!"

"Davis," I said firmly, "They are the only ones who can stop the Demon Lords so you need to get over whatever vendetta you have and do your part to help like the rest of us!"

Davis looked at all of us seeing that everyone was saying the same thing," Fine, but I doubt HE'LL even listen."

"That's why I'm going to send the message, not you," I replied, "Gennai, can we get a message to Vince and Alex?"

"Yes," he answered.

"We're gonna have to hope that they haven't forgotten; they'll be the only ones who can reach him," I said as Gennai prepared to send the message.

This Dimension/College Campus

R.J.'s POV

It was just another day of school; I went to all my classes in a sort of daze, granted it was the second month school so it was getting boring, but I was also haunted by a dream. It was more of a memory than a dream; the memory of the day the Digidestined were destroyed. That day had haunted me all these years, from when I was a thirteen to now as at 21. However, lately this "dream" had been occurring more and more frequently, as if it was a warning of some sort. I did my best to ignore it and go on about my day as usual. As I was hanging out with my friends in the student center I got a text message on my phone from a good friend, "RJ, can you meet me by the grotto…need to talk…Vince." Vince and I were still good friends; we even had joined the same fraternity in college, so I figured it was fraternity business. I grabbed my bag, said bye to my friends and walked over to the grotto. When I arrived I saw my old friend sitting by the grotto waiting for me; as soon as he caught sight of me he stood up.

"Looking good Vince," I yelled. Vince had definitely grown up over the years; still big, but tone, and his hair was still short.. He was wearing a black button up shirt khakis and black shoes.

"Lookin' good yourself sir," he replied. I had grown to be about 5'8" with Vince being about the same. I had let my hair grow a little, but usually wore a hat, and sported a mustache/goatee combo. I was wearing a red and blue checkered Dockers shirt, jeans, black boots, and a black trucker hat.

"How goes things," I asked as we hugged.

"Pretty good man, pretty good," he answered, "and yourself?"

"I can't complain," I answered, "So what's up?"

"Actually I waiting for," Vince started looking around, "there she is!"

I turn around to see another familiar face walking towards us. "Alex," I said waving. She waved back as she approached. Even though she went to the same college as Vince and I, we hardly saw her because of her busy schedule; the pretty girl we knew back then had become a beautiful young lady who had hardly changed in my opinion. She was jeans, a green long sleeved shirt with her sleeves rolled up to her elbows and brown flats.

"How are you R.J.," she asked hugging me.

"I'm doing fine," I answered, "how about you?"

"You know me; busy, busy, busy," she said giggling.

Vince and I laughed, "So Vince, what is this about," I asked.

"You haven't told him," Alex asked concern.

I looked between them and realized what was going on, "I see. I'm out of here," I said angrily.

"R.J. please," Alex asked grabbing my arm.

"I've told you guys a thousand times," I said pulling my arm away, "I'm done with that life! Nothing has changed!"

"Something has changed R.J.," Vince yelled.

"What do you mean," I asked confused.

"Show him Alex," Vince said.

Alex pulled out her tablet and played a video message off of it; even though it had been a long time I could tell it was Cody on the screen.

"Vince, Alex," Cody started, "I know it's been a long time since you've heard from us, but we need your help. It's THAT time and we need to see you AND R.J. as soon as possible. I know this is asking a lot, especially considering R.J.'s position, but we need to talk to you in person. Attached to this message is a link to the Digi-Port; R.J. still has the Temporary Digivice so only he can open the gate. And if you're watching this, please R.J., your world needs you! If you won't do it for that, do it for T.K." The message turned off.

I stood there for a moment absorbing what Cody had said; even though I had been avoiding this for all these years, Cody knew exactly what to say to bring me back.

"R.J., the least we can do is listen to what they have to say," Alex said with her hand on my shoulder.

"Not trying to push any buttons, but what would T.K. do," Vince asked cautiously.

I sighed, "Ok, we'll go, but just to listen." I reached into my backpack and pulled out the Temporary Digivice.

"You keep it with you," Vince asked laughing.

"Shut up," I said annoyed, "Let's go over there."

We walked behind the grotto so no one could see; Alex placed her tablet on the ground and clicked the link that brought the Digi-Port on the screen. Alex and Vince put their hands on my shoulders; I held my Digivice down to the screen, "Digi-Port, open," and we were off.

Gennai's House

In a flash, we found ourselves back at Gennai's house after all these years; standing in front of us was Gennai, young again, and the second generation of Digidestined a little more grown up than last we saw them.

"It's good to see you again Digidestined," Gennai greeted us.

"It's good to see you too Gennai," Alex answered back.

"I can't believe you're the same kids," Yolei started, "you've all grown up so much."

"Well it has been what, seven years," Vince commented, "I was a boy, but now…I'm a man," Vince said flexing.

"Yeah okay Vince," Alex said rolling her eyes.

"That's definitely Vince," Ken laughed.

"And that's definitely Alex," Yolei added.

Cody finally noticed me trying to hide behind Vince and Alex, "R.J." I nodded.

"Well, I guess some things change," Davis said with an attitude, "he doesn't talk as much as he used to."

"And some people still talk too much," I said in reply.

"What did you say you little…" Davis clenched his fist.

"That's enough Davis," Ken yelled.

"Okay Cody, we're here so what's this about," I asked.

"Gennai," Cody gestured.

"The rift between your dimension and the Demon Lords has reached a point to where their influence can seep through," Gennai started as he showed us images on the computer, "A massive army of a new type of Digimon dubbed Troopmon have been causing problems in the Digital World and we believe it to be their doing. We believe these Troopmon will be used to attack your world soon."

"Oh my," Alex said nervously.

"Are they attacking already," Vince asked.

"No," Gennai answered, "but they will…very soon."

We all stood there quietly for a second until Cody spoke up, "That's where we're at you guys."

"So what does that mean for us," I asked coldly.

Cody walked over to a wall and touched a button on it; when the wall flipped, it revealed the weapons of the original eight Digidestined.

"How did you get those," Alex asked shocked.

"They mysteriously appeared back here after…well you know," Yolei answered

Cody pulled out Mimi and Matt's weapons and handed them to Alex and Vince, "These weapons were meant to be passed on to you when you finished your training." As Vince and Alex admired the weapons, Cody walked back to the wall and grabbed T.K.'s spear; then walked back to me, "it won't be much longer until the Digidestined are needed."

I reached out for the spear, but then I stopped myself, "Well then you should find some REAL Digidestined," I said walking back to the computer we came out of, "because I gave up on that a long time ago."

"Are you fucking kidding me," Vince said angrily.

"R.J. after seeing that you can't be serious," Alex added sadly.

"Look I'm sorry I made y'all follow me when I left, but I was serious when I said I was done, this changes nothing for me; you two do what you have to, but I'm not a Digidestined, not anymore," I said pulling out my Temporary Digivice.

"Then I guess maybe you never had what it took," Davis said coldly.

I sighed and turned, "For once Davis, I agree with you," I turned back around, "Digi-Port, open," and I was gone.