Knight of the Staff: Wow! So many reviews for one of my stories!
Pinmon: Yeah...you think that they're all sick or something? You don't think it's contagious do you?
Knight of the Staff: *eye twitches* The mortals are not reviewing because they're sick!
Pinmon: Strange...
Knight of the Staff: What now!
Pinmon: People seem to be reviewing your other works as well.
Knight of the Staff: Oh happy day!
Pinmon: That confirms it...there's a stupidity epidemic goin round.
Knight of the Staff: You know...I bet there are scientists out there who would love to dissect you.
Pinmon: *gulp!* Um...I think...uh...I've gotta use the little digimons room! Bye!
Knight of the Staff: Grrrr....I don't own digimon...now R&R....please...hehe.
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-Hypnos Command Center-
The blonde man stared at the screen, waiting for another blip to appear. He scowled and flicked his lighter open and close repeatedly, the only outward sign of his agitation. His dark sunglasses reflected the image of the monitor, which was a soft blue, with countless lines running through it.
"Mr. Yamaki!"
Yamaki look up and stared at the young intern that had disturbed him.
The intern backed away slightly from his gaze, and the handed him a piece of paper. Yamaki glanced at it and raised an eyebrow. he then pulled out his cell phone and turned his back on the intern, who, as far as he was concerned, no longer existed.
Yamaki dialed, "This is Yamaki...now why are you bothering me about a boy!?"
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The secretary at the front desk was becoming irritated. Takato had come through the front doors, and had tried taking the elevator. Security had stopped him, since he obviously was not an employee, and had no visitors badge. Takato had been dumb-founded, and tried explaining to the secretary who he was.
"It's me...Takato Matsuki! I'm one of the digimon tamers, remember? I helped defeat the D-Reaper!"
The guards gave him blank stares, and the secretary looked at him as if he were not quite right in the head.
Takato was becoming angry, "Look...just get Mr. Yamaki, okay?"
As soon as he had mentioned his name, a message had been sent to Yamaki. Now he was supposedly on his way down to deal with the 'situation'.
Takato was about ready to make a run for the stairs.
"Why are they pretending not to know me!?" he thought.
Just as he was looking at the stairs, the elevator doors opened, and out stepped Yamaki.
"Mr. Yamaki! Boy am I glad to see you! What is wrong with everyone!?" They claim not to know me! What happened to the city!? Where's all the damage!? Guilmon! He's missing! I can't find him and...and...where's Guilmon!? Please tell me!"
Takato had run out of breath, and stood before Yamaki, waiting for an answer. Yamaki stared at the boy before him, then said something that made Takatos' hopes sink.
"Who are you?"
Takato went slack-jawed, not believing this was happening.
"Mr. Ya...Yamaki! It's me, Takato! How could you not know me? After everything that's happened with the D-Reaper, and the digimon..."
Yamaki started visibly, and then grabbed Takatos' shoulder.
"Look kid, I don't know who you are. You come in here claiming to know me, and I've never seen you before. That means one of two things. You are either crazy...or a spy. Now get out of here."
"But...but...Mr. Yamaki..."
"Security! Please escort this child outside, and do not allow him access again."
Takato was in shock, and didn't realize that he had been dragged outside until he was set on the ground. He stared at the building for a while, before finally shuffling off in a daze. Yamaki continued to watch the boy, until he was out of range of the security cameras. Yamaki pulled out his cell phone, and dialed.
"It's Yamaki...I need a surveillance team for the child that just left. I want him watched 24/7, understand? Good..."
Yamaki hung up and walked back to the elevator, flicking his lighter. As the doors closed, one thought repeated through his mind, "Just who is that kid?, and what does he know about digimon?"
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Ryo closed his eyes and described the situation perfectly in one word.
"Nuts..."
Azulongmon watched Ryo...waiting for him to speak first. He didn't have long to wait. Ryo sat down next to Monodramon...and placed his hand in his partners'.
"How?...."
"I don't know Ryo..."
"When?..."
"I'm sorry...that too, I'm afraid, is unknown to me."
Ryo closed his eyes and gently squeezed Monodramons fingers...hoping for some kind of response. Nothing happened...which didn't surprise Ryo, although he'd been hoping.
"What good are you then?..."
Azulongmon opened his eyes wide in shock. Ryo had never talked to him before like this.
"Excuse me?"
"You heard me..., I said what good are you? You're one of the digimon sovereigns! You are a god in your own domain! You are worshiped, and praised by countless digimon. You're one of the most powerful beings in existence...and you can't even answer my simple questions? You're pathetic...and now I suppose...you want my help in tracking down Milleniumon? Get him to fuse with Monodramon again? You guys can never do anything your damn selves can you?"
Azulongmons' eyes flashed dangerously, but he quickly got himself back under control. He was not the hot-head that his southern brethren was known to be. It was true that he didn't know the answers to the questions Ryo had asked, but there was one he hadn't asked...and Azulongmon was positive in his knowledge of it.
"Ryo...we cannot sense Milleniumon. He is too powerful. I and the other sovereigns would not know where to begin looking. You are his partner though...you can find him...and hopefully bring him back under control in a dormant state when he is once again fused with Monodramon."
Ryo sighed and rubbed his head with his free hand. He'd been a tamer for years...yet sometimes he wished he wasn't.
"Why then Azulongmon? Can you at least tell me that? Tell me why Milleniumon emerged...and what does he want?"
"That I can answer Ryo. Milleniumon is up to his old tricks. This time though, he may actually succeed in his desire to conquer the digital world."
"Why is that?"
"He has used his power of time control to go back, and change the course of history. He has made it so the tamers never met their partners..."
Ryos' gaze widened, "Tamers? I don't remember any other tamers. If Milleniumon has changed the past, shouldn't I at least remember? I'm his partner after all. His messing with the past shouldn't affect my memories."
"Normally that would be the case. But what Milleniumon has done...it has caused a vast ripple in the very fabric of time and space. But...for some reason this ripple, this wave, is continuing again and again, increasing in strength, causing more changes each time. Apparently, it has become powerful enough to cause even you to forget."
Ryo closed his eyes and bowed his head. He gripped Monodramons' hand harder, hoping for some kind of response. Monodramon didn't respond....and Ryo sighed.
"I'm guessing that these other tamers are pretty important huh?"
Azulongmon nodded, "Yes...they are very important, and are very powerful. I fear that this 'time ripple' is becoming so powerful because the tamers are so important. They will do many great and wonderful things. They will save the worlds countless times over...and in the process encourage others to live up to their potential as well."
Ryo nodded and then looked at Azulongmon questioningly. "If this 'time ripple' has become so powerful...how come you don't seem to be affected by it?"
"I and the other sovereigns have not been affected because of our digi-cores. Each sovereign holds several such cores, which have protected us from Milleniumons tampering of time. Every digimon has a digi-core buried deep within their bodies. It is to us...how would you say....the essence of our being? Yes...that will do. If a digimons' digi-core were to be destroyed, then that digimon would be instantly deleted. The greater number of digi-cores a digimon has...the more powerful the digimon. Milleniumon himself possesses the same, if not greater, number of digi-cores as I. That is one of the reasons that we cannot find him."
"Alright...so you need me and Monodramon to track him down...and somehow force him to re-merge with Monodramon? Are you insane? It was near-impossible the first time. How the hell will we ever be able to do it again...especially when he knows that we are able to? He'll be on his guard this time..."
Azulongmon nodded, "Yes, that is correct. But not to worry Ryo. You shall not be alone on your quest. There is another...and he, like we sovereign, has not forgotten the original timeline either. But...neither has he gained memories for this new one. He is most likely scared and confused. Yet he has the power to help stop Milleniumon...so you must find him first."
Ryo stood up and stared at Azulongmon, "Are you serious? I don't even know what this person looks like! How am I supposed to find him? As if that weren't bad enough, Monodramon is in a comatose state, how am I supposed to help if I won't even be able to bio-merge?"
Azulongmon chuckled at that, while Ryos' face went red with anger.
"Do not fear Ryo. The boy shall seek you out, and as for your partner. Ahem! Gazimon! Would you please come in now?"
Ryo watched as one of the Gazimon returned with a bucket. The Gazimon stood before Azulongmon, who nodded, and then turned and abruptly dumped the bucket of water onto Monodramons face.
"I'm up! *cough, cough* Geesh! Did you have to do that!? Hey, what's going on? Oh...hi Ryo! What's the matter with you? Why's your eye twitching?"
Azulongmon chuckled inwardly as he watched the legendary tamer begin to chase his partner around the room, while yelling at him for sleeping while there was a crisis on their hands.
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Takato found himself back in the park. He had been in a daze ever since he'd been kicked out of Hypnos. Takato slumped onto a bench, and leaned back looking at the sunlight peeking through the leaves of the trees.
"What is going on? I don't understand. Everyone is acting as if though they don't know me. Yet...it doesn't seem to be an act. It's as if they really don't know who I am. But how could that be? What could have happened that would have made them all forget me? At the same time...what happened to the city? All the damage is gone...almost as if though it never happened. Could I have gone back in time somehow?"
Takato sat up and grasped his D-Arc. He looked at it and saw that the date was correct.
"This is so strange...if I'd gone back in time then it wouldn't be the same date. Why does this stuff happen to me? Argh! I don't know what to do! Guilmons gone...yet, I still have my D-Arc. I know Guilmon exists...I still have the scars to prove it."
Takato smiled and reached down to touch his leg. Once, Guilmon had become very excited and had jumped on Takato in joy. He had forgotten about his claws, and now Takato had a nice 4-inch long scar on the side of his leg. He hadn't been angry with Guilmon...but from then on had always made sure to watch where Guilmons claws were when they were playing.
"The scar is still there. If Guilmon didn't exist, then I wouldn't have a scar right? I know he's still out there somewhere...but where? Geesh...I should ask Henry about this...he'd know what to do."
Takato sat there in grief...and suddenly sat up with a grin.
"Of course! Henry! and Rika! They'll know what to do! I can't believe I didn't think of them! I'll tell them that Guilmon is missing and...."
Takatos' grin became a frown... "Oh right...they won't know who I'm talking about...but, if I remember...then they might too!"
Takato jumped up off the bench and ran...pausing only to cross the street, then he was back on his way to Henry's.
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Takato stood before the door to the Lee's apartment. He was out of breath and was leaning against the mantle. He was thinking of an excuse he could use to see Henry. He knew him from school, but if Henry had lost his memories like everyone else, well, Takato didn't know what to say. But he had to know for sure. He straightened himself out, wiped the sweat from his brow, and rang the bell. It seemed to take an eternity for someone to come to the door.
"Maybe this was a bad idea...maybe I should have gone to Rikas' first? No...Henry was my classmate way before we were tamers together. Besides...if Rika never met me...and she's forgotten...*shiver* I don't think I want to meet her right now. The old 'Ice Queen' is probably back and in action. I hope she's turned out okay though...at least Renamon should be there to keep her company..."
The doorknob turned, and Takato watched as the door opened, only to end up face to face with Rika Nonaka herself!
"R...Rika?"
Rika narrowed her eyes, "Yes...and just what are you doing here Takato?"
Takato was shocked...she actually knew who he was! He grabbed her hand in his excitement.
"Rika! I'm so happy you rem..."
The last thing he saw was Rikas fist, right before it made contact.
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Pinmon: What the heck! What kind of ending is that! You left it at a stupid cliffhanger again!
Knight of the Staff: I know...but there's a good reason for that.
Pinmon: What would that be?
Knight of the Staff: I need ideas....uh...I'm lazy...and uh...I wanted to get the next chapter up as soon as possible. At least I explained why nobody remembers digimon or anything.
Pinmon: True...but the reviewers might not review to punish you.
Knight of the Staff: Oh well...I guess I'll just make the next chapter longer okay?
Pinmon: It's your fic...but I'd be wary of any strange parcels you receive in the mail.
Knight of the Staff: Oi....
Knight of the Staff: Boo ha ha! Now is the part where I answer any questions...and thank all my reviewers!
Anime Obsessed Fan: hehe...the answer to your question of this being all a dream...will be revealed in a much later chapter. I'll be doing a bit more with Yamaki and Hypnos in my story...I personally don't think Juggernaut was used to it's full potential in the show...*hint, hint* ^_^
Dragi: Hmmm...someone seems to have had too much coffee. They're called commas pal. Just kidding...thanks for reviewing, I'm glad you enjoy it so far.
Artistide: Oh! A simile! (pssst! Pinmon! what's a simile? *I don't know...you're the author.* Oh...right.) I still don't know whether I will turn this into a Rukato or not. I'm thinking about it...but who knows, I still might surprise you all in the end.
Milleniumon is your favorite villain? That's cool. My favorites have always been Devimon, Etemon, and IceDevimon. I think a lot more could have been done with them. In fact...I wrote a fic or two about Devimon...read it! you might enjoy it! hehe ^_^
Hillkid: Yes, I did take your advice. Isn't it strange though how you're the only one who has signed a review anonymously? Hmmm...are you trying to hide something or what?
As to the couples in this story...well, I haven't really set any yet. I guess it all depends on how many reviews I get. If enough people want a Rukato...I suppose it's workable. Oh, and Takato didn't get a knuckle sandwich, just a black eye. Hehe...thanks for the review!
waynemon: Um...you're lost? You want a map or something? I'm not quite sure how to help you here. Tell you what, e-mail me with some questions, and I'll do my best to answer them if they won't reveal future plot lines. Thanks for reviewing!
Jedi Takeru: Um...Regular Tamers Universe? I'm guessing you mean the one that was the show. No...this is an AU. Takato won't end up in that universe. At least...not yet anyways....hehe ^_^.
Black: Wow! You reviewed again! I'm honored! Hehe...I feel giddy! But...I must control myself...and not ask for an autograph.
I'll tell you this now...since I'm sure most already guessed it by the ending. Rika and Henry, and all the rest have no memories of the past timeline. As for Takato being the only tamer to remember...well, I'll get more into that next chapter. Thanks for reviewing and I hope to hear more from you in the future! ^_^
Marinu: I hope that this chapter has answered some of your questions. The damage is gone because the digimon never arrived on earth. Well...the partners anyway. Wild Digimon have come through...that's why Hypnos is there. But they were never strong enough to survive against...well, I'll show that in later chaps. As to why Monodramon isn't merged with Milleniumon...hehe...I'll give one hint, and one hint only. See if you can guess.... 'Takatos dream in the beginning has something to do with it'. Hehe...I shall reveal no more than that...and no...it has nothing to do with Guilmon! Thanks for the review!
BloodyKitsune: Ha! Your threat of battle does not so much as make me twitch! I have face far greater adversaries as I have explained. I bet you've never had to listen to Etemon sing for 5 1/2 hours! Now that was torture! I think I can survive your puny Mechwarrior. Boo ha ha! Of course! I would never pair Rika up with anyone else...I couldn't...it'd be weird. Thanks for the review!
Knight of the Staff: There...all that reviewed before I posted this. Thank you all for reviewing once again! I don't...wait...I do deserve it! I am a good author! Read my other fics! I...argh! (falls over with dart sticking out of neck).
Pinmon: (emerges from behind curtain with tranquilizer gun). That ought to keep him quiet for a while. Thanks for reviewing...and in the words of the currently unconscious knight, Boo ha ha!