A/N: This was originally my alternative reality Digimon fic titled 'Fate' that incorporated both season 01 and season 02 in the same story, but I realized that that would just be way too long and kind of confusing so I've decided to break it down by seas

A/N: This was originally my alternative reality Digimon fic titled 'Fate' that incorporated both season 01 and season 02 in the same story, but I realized that that would just be way too long and kind of confusing so I've decided to break it down by season. This one takes place after the Digidestined kids return to the Digital World after the battle with VenomMyotismon. And since it's Alternative Reality there are a few things you should know:

  1. It ends slightly differently than the original, but I won't tell you how! You'll just have to wait and see!
  2. It features two new characters, Jon Gamma and Janeene Ramsey. It's only partially explained how they became a part of the Digidestined in this story, a little more explained in the second part, 'Sands of Time', and there will be two side stories on each of them coming up soon. Also when I write those side stories I'm probably going to put a stat sheet for them on the story, just for reference.
  3. Since I really don't like getting in to the whole Yaoi/Yuri/ Straight bit the only real couple I am going to have is these two new characters.

I hope you enjoy my first stab at a Digimon fic, and please review! I want to know how I'm doing!

Lost in the Shadows

Chapter One

The Digital World, four years ago…

Yamato Ishida scuffed his boot along the grassy ground as he stared longingly at the blue sky of the Digital World, all the while lagging behind the rest of the group. Matt just wanted to go home, and he wanted to go home right then.

"It's not so bad here." Matt's Digimon, Gabumon explained, wishing he could cheer his forlorn partner up, "You get used to it after a while."

"I still want to go home." Matt said sadly. They had been in the Digital World for what felt like forever, and some of the things Matt and the others had seen had him down right scared, and very home sick. Thinking they had saved the world, then having to return really set Matt on edge, and made him want to go back home, to a normal life. Another had been bothering him, too. Finding out that he had to share his Digimon with some one else. While back in Tokyo looking for the Eighth Child they found that there was a ninth Digidestined as well. A boy by the name of Jon Gamma that had come from America to Tokyo in hopes of finding out why he had a Digivice. After running in to the kid and seeing his Digivice, Koushirou Izumi contacted Gennai in the Digital World. The boy was another Digidestined, and his Digimon was none other that Gabumon himself. Also bearing the crest of Friendship, Jon was there to help Gabumon Digivolve along side Matt.

So that meant that Jon would be traveling with the group, as well as the other new addition, Kari. Matt wanted to feel comforted by the fact that he didn't have to be responsible for Gabumon on his own, and if for some reason Matt was gone and the group needed MetalGarurumon, they wouldn't be up a creek without a paddle. The thought never seemed to help, though. He and Jon had a horrible personality clash, and the first day back in the Digital World had been spent with he and Jon attempting to kick the crap out of each other.

Jon was everything that Matt was not. He was loud, rather obnoxious, and had an attitude worse than Matt's. He was always trying to start something with the blonde boy, and it was only obvious Jon loved to be a rebel and flaunt it. He was constantly telling jokes to insult people, and he always wandered off to go do his own thing, usually winding up biting off more than he could chew.

He had long black hair pulled back in to a ponytail, wore a black jean vest over a white shirt and blue jeans, and black cut off gloves. Matt didn't like Jon, and Jon was fairly indifferent except when Matt got in his face. The rest of the kids didn't seem to mind him, though…with the exception of Sora who kind of felt like she had to keep his butt out of trouble half the time.

Matt sighed and frowned, turning his attention to the group ahead. His little brother, T.K. bounced around up ahead, Patamon sitting atop his white hat and laughing happily.

"How can he be so happy?" Matt wondered aloud.

"Because you're here." Gabumon answered.

"That was a rhetorical question, Gabumon."

"I still felt like answering." Gabumon shot back. Suddenly a strange sound from behind Matt caught his attention. It sounded like yelling coming from the forest.

"What's that?" Matt asked, turning around. Taichi Yagami noticed Matt had stopped and halted the rest of the group.

"What's wrong, Matt?" Tai called out.

"I heard something." Matt answered. Gabumon's ears perked up, the quiet sound just barely piercing the afternoon.

"It sounds like a girl…yelling." Gabumon said. Patamon flew over.

"I hear it, too."

"Another girl? I thought only we could be here." Sora Takenouchi said, walking up to Matt.

"That's what I thought, too." Matt muttered. Something didn't feel right. It sounded like the person was being attacked, but they weren't screaming in fear or pain. Heck, they weren't even screaming! It sounded more like battle cries in an attempt to fight back.

An explosion sent tree branches, leaves, and other forest debris flying up in to the air, and a familiar buzzing sound filled the air.

"Snimon." Izzy muttered.

"Great. He's back." Tai glowered. Things weren't working out at all. A fireball shooting up in to the air caught all the Digidestined off guard.

"That's not one of Snimon's attacks!" Tai exclaimed.

"Really? What ever gave you that idea?" Izzy said, panic filling his eyes.

"Digivices everyone. We don't know what we're up against!" Tai ordered, taking his Digivice off his belt loop. Everyone followed suit, donning expressions of determination. They waited as an eerie silence came over the Digital World.

A tall girl with chin length blonde hair came blasting out of the forest at full speed, looking like something the cat dragged in. Several bruises, burns, and cuts laced her arms, legs, and face. Her baggy cut off denim shorts was shredded and blood stained. Her blue midriff tee shirt with hood was in worse shape, with several holes and what appeared to be claw marks.

She turned around just as Snimon tore from the forest in a rage, racing right at the girl. The Digidestined watched in horror as she stood her ground.

Move girl! What are you thinking?! Tai's mind hollered.

Then an amazing thing happened. The girl drew back her arms to her side, her hands burning with red energy. Then she threw the energy, which was in fact a large fireball, at Snimon. Snimon crashed to the ground with a shriek of pain, the fire burning his head. Matt knew he wasn't down for the count. The girl took off again, running for the group. She was brave, but Matt could tell she knew when she was beat. Snimon finally put the fire out and took off again.

"Gabumon! Time to Digivolve!" Matt said.

"You, too, Agumon!" Tai said. Both Digimon looked at their partners.

"Right!" they said in unison.

"Agumon!"

"Garurumon!"

"Warp Digivolve to…"

"WarGreymon!"

"MetalGarurumon!"

The two Mega level Digimon charged in for battle. The girl spun around as MetalGarurumon and WarGreymon rushed past her.

"Mega Wolf Claw!" MetalGarurumon yelled, throwing a huge amount of ice at Snimon. Snimon crashed to the ground again.

"Terra Force!" WarGreymon yelled, calling a large ball of energy in to the palm of his hand and chucking it at Snimon. Snimon fell in to defeat, letting out one last cry of agony before disappearing. The two Digimon quickly returned to their rookie forms.

"Yeah!" Tai cheered, "That was beyond easy!" The girl just stood there, looking at the spot where Snimon had been. Matt and Jon ran up to her, both wondering what this strange girl was doing in the Digital World.

"Hey, girlie!" Jon called out. The girl still didn't turn around.

"Don't call me that." She said evenly. When Matt was close enough, he could see that despite her firm voice, her hands were shaking horribly.

"What are you doing here?" Tai asked from behind Matt. Matt jumped, not even realizing that Tai and the others had followed.

"Beats me." The girl answered, still not turning around.

"You got a name?" Jon asked.

"Janeene." She said. Jou Kido walked closer to her.

"Are you okay? You look pretty beat up." He asked.

"I'm fine…" Janeene said, her voice cracking slightly.

"You don't look fine." Matt said firmly.

"I said I'm fine." She shot back, turning around. Matt was right; she didn't look fine.

"You seem pretty calm for some one who just got attacked." Sora said.

"Yeah! If I'd been attacked like that on my own, I would have been scared!" Mimi Tachikawa exclaimed.

"That's cause you're a baby, Mimi." Jon said snidely over his shoulder. Mimi scoffed and stuck her tongue out at Jon childishly. Jon just smirked.

"Is it a bad thing to keep a cool head in a dangerous situation?" Janeene snapped. Jon couldn't help but noticed how unfocused her blue green eyes seemed.

"We've never seen you here before, so we're all assuming that you've never been here. Yet you're not asking any questions, and Snimon didn't even seem to faze you in the least." Izzy said, "That's what we're finding strange."

"That's because I all ready know." Janeene answered simply.

"Ya know you've got quite an attitude, girlie." Jon said, crossing his arms over his chest. Janeene shot a mean look to Jon.

"This is not an attitude, boy. But, I can easily give you one if you want." She said, her tone turning icy cold.

"How do you know? Have you been here before?" Izzy asked.

"No."

"Then how do you know?"

"Got me on that one, kid. I just do." Janeene said, scanning the faces of the Digidestined, "But it's obvious to be that you really don't trust me, so I'll just leave." She added, walking through the crowd. They all wanted to say something, but their voices were stuck. Janeene made it about half way through the group when she stopped walking, swaying on her feet and clutching her head in her hand.

"Janeene?" Tai asked, reaching out. She didn't answer.

"Uh…Tai…she doesn't look very good." Jou told his friend. Matt walked closer to her, a million and one questions racing through his mind.

"Hey, are you all right?" he asked. Instead of answering she fell backwards in to a dead faint. Matt reached out to catch her, stunned and worried at the same time. Unconscious and beat up, the girl lay in Matt's arms as the other Digidestined gathered around.

"Now what do we do?" Jon asked.

"Take her to Gennai, I guess. Maybe he can explain." Tai offered.

Matt, not really paying attention to what as going on around him, gently brushed a few strands of blonde hair from the girl's face.

Just who are you…?

Later on…

Matt sighed and shifted the young girl's weight in his arms again. He walked with the rest of the group to Gennai's

"She too heavy, Matt?" Tai asked, looking at his friend. Matt shook his head.

"No. My arms are just getting tired."

"You're just weak! I could carry her easy!" Jon boasted, flexing an arm. Sora smacked him upside his head.

"Oh, quit it! Matt's doing just fine!" she chastised. Jon frowned and rubbed the back of his head.

"Geez, Sora…not too violent are we?" he muttered. Sora gave him a death look and didn't respond.

After what seemed like forever the Digidestined finally reached the lake where Gennai's home was hidden. The waters were parted like the Red Sea, Gennai standing amongst his garden tending to some of the plant life. He looked up with a smile when the kids approached.

"Ah! What a pleasant surprise!" he said cheerfully as the kids came down the long flight of stairs through the walls of water on either side. Jon looked around with a smirk, admiring the many fish that swam by as though they knew not of their rather strange habitat. Jon had always gotten a kick out of how that place had been designed.

"Uh…we kinda got a problem." Tai said, scratching the back of his head nervously.

"What is it this time? You kids will never defeat the Dark Masters if you keep coming back to me with problems. Well, what is it? Come on, out with it." Gennai rambled.

Matt stepped forward with Janeene in his arms. Gennai gasped and stepped back in surprise.

"She's alive! I've been looking for her!" he exclaimed. Matt looked back down at her with worry, noticing how ragged her breathing had become in the last few minutes.

"Well, I have a feeling she won't be alive for much longer if we don't get her some help." Matt said. Tai was giving Gennai an odd look.

"You were looking for her? I think you've got some explaining to do." Tai said with his hands on his hips.

"Yes, yes, I suppose I do. Come in children, and I'll attend to her, then I'll explain." Gennai said, turning to walk inside. The group followed, with the exception of Jon. He was looking back up at the sky through the walls of water, an odd feeling causing the hairs on the back of his neck to stand on end.

Something felt really off, and he didn't like it…