Chapter 1: Death of the Tamers
Twenty years had passed since the events of the D-Reaper and though the Digimon Tamers and their Digimon partners had been separated, for the time being, life back in the real world slowly returned to normal.
However, at the base of Hypnos, all was not right.
Outside of the facility, dark clouds surrounded the sky, thunder and lightning violently struck around the vicinity as a rampaging Digimon appearing into the Hypnos building, spreading a path of destruction.
Without their Digimon partners to protect them, Takato and his friends, who were all in their twenties, were in a very tough spot.
Through the rampage of the Digimon, Yamaki and Riley were sent flying into a desk, the impacting force leaving the pair struggling to get back up, which left the Digimon Tamers in a growing peril.
Staggering back as he tried to remove an arrow from his chest, Ryo was panting and groaning from the pain inflicted on his body.
"We're done, you and I." The Dark assassin Digimon, Raigamon declared with a dark, cold tone in his voice, as he threw back Kazu and Kenta into a nearby wall, inflicting more pain on the pair than they had ever experienced.
Placed in his own position of peril, Henry struggled to get to his feet, suffering great damage to his ribs, before he was aided by Jeri, who looked upon the genius amongst the Digimon Tamers with growing concern.
"You're all disappointments and nothing but absolute failures!" Raigamon commented.
Swinging his blade toward Takato and Rika, who narrowly avoided the blade, although both suffered a fair amount of damage, the Digimon duo clutched their now bleeding arms.
"You've spent all these years trying to protect the Digital World, and for what? Corruption to flourish within the darkest zones of the Digital World. Lurking in every shadow, you cannot stop the darkness."
Sharing the confusion of his friends and ignoring the pain coursing through his body, Ryo spoke up, asking Raigamon, "then why target us?
"You all allowed this blasphemy, this sacrilege to begin with. Do you think you can keep that from me?" Raigamon said vengefully.
Striking against Takato and Rika once again, Raigamon was caught off guard when the leader of the Digimon Tamers grabbed at his arm and managed to throw him over his shoulder.
Conflicted in his emotions, impressed that such a human would stand up to him, but also infuriated by the humiliating attack, the assassin Digimon returned to his feet, his eyes burning with hatred.
Taking this chance and showing the strength she had gained over her year's training as a Digimon Tamer, Suzie took hold of a metal pipe amongst the debris and rusted toward Raigamon.
Using her Kendo training, Suzie swung the makeshift blade down and upon Raigamon in an attempt to knock him back down but found Raigamon easily sliced the pipe in half with his superior strength with a sudden outpour of dark energy, before smacking the younger of the Wong siblings down.
"Your cheap Parlour tricks will not save your worlds from my reckoning!" Raigamon bellowed.
Ignoring Raigamon's words and knowing he had to do whatever he could to protect Riley, Takato, and the Digimon Tamers, Yamaki withdrew a small handgun from his suit and opened fire.
Blasting a total of six bullets Yamaki found that despite his disorientation, he managed to land a few direct hits upon Raigamon, shooting the assassin Digimon within his right leg, which caused Raigamon further pain.
"This city and this world are still under the protection of Hypnos...! We won't go down without a fight...!" Yamaki declared through his growing pain, panting as he made sure Takato, Rika, Henry, Jeri, Ryo, and the others could make their escape toward the control capsule.
Snarling, Raigamon turned to face the two Hypnos officers who continued to defy him.
-With Takato and the others-
Having used Yamaki's sacrifice to rush toward the control capsule room, Henry and the other Tamers quickly made their way within.
After placing the room into lockdown, ensuring Raigamon wouldn't be able to reach them for a few minutes, Henry wasted no time and proceeded toward the main computer within the facility.
Typing on the keyboard and inputting a list of specific commands, Henry and the others within the room all shared the same emotions, feeling their fears, despair, and hopelessness consuming them.
"To think that'll be our last battle... and without seeing our Digimon again..." Ryo said, expressing his physical and mental pain, which Takato, Rika, and the others reflected.
All had hoped one day they could reunite with Guilmon and the others, to have fun with their Digimon partners, but knew that reality would no longer come true.
"I set up a link to the Digital world for our Digimon to reunite, however, I could only generate a network using the electro-static energies of the Digital Fields to maintain such a portal. By the time they get here, it'll be all over for us." Henry solemnly told Takato and the others.
Inputting the final commands within the computer system and successfully, a Digital Field then opened far away from the city deep within the wood the Digimon Tamers used as a base of operations and a makeshift home for Guilmon.
"Even if we do die here, our Digimon will continue to protect our worlds from the wild Digimon" Jeri said with hope in her voice, which remained even as loud banging was heard against the door, followed by Raigamon's voice.
"No one's coming to help you! I killed those two Hypnos lackies and now it's time you followed in their fates." Raigamon declared.
Finally breaking through the door with his might, Raigamon cornered the Digimon Tamers, who shared a united determination, Ryo then told Raigamon. "That's fine. We'll deal with you ourselves!"
Although there was strength in numbers, Raigamon's power was too much for the Digimon Tamers, the assassin Digimon easily taking down his enemies one by one.
"Why fight? It will all be over soon!" Raigamon declared as he ran his blade along Takato's chest, creating a deep gash upon his being, which left Takato falling before Raigamon in deep pain.
Fallen but having friends he could always rely on, Rika and Jeri fought as one, the girls delivering swift and powerful kicks to Raigamon's face.
However, despite taking the hit and even being knocked down by Rika and Jeri's combined teamwork, Raigamon pulled himself together, telling the girls. "You should know by now you have no hope to defeat me. Mere humans could never defeat a true Digimon!" Raigamon yelled as he swung his blades, cutting through and ripping off Rika's shirt, the action leaving the Digimon Queen almost topless.
Lucky for Rika, the lacy blue bra she was wearing suffered little to no damage, which left her huge pink rose-skinned breasts covered, this also caused the boys to blush at the sight of the near-naked Nonaka.
"Yeah, but unlike you, we don't fear death!" Takato yelled as he grabbed the sword and held it tightly. "We'd rather keep our humanity!"
With that said, Takato succeeded in headbutting the Dark Digimon in the face, throwing him off of the balcony.
Although amazed by Takato's strength and his bravery, Rika remained serious, telling the brunette and their other friends. "Come on, Gogglehead. We must reach... our destination before it's too late..."
The Digimon Tamers, although suffering a lot of heavy damage, which included deep cuts, bruises, gashes, and other injuries upon their bodies found their focus turning back to namely directed towards Takato, Rika and Henry.
Looking over the trio, Takato, Rika, and Henry were now shirtless from their conflicts amongst Raigamon, with Takato and Henry unintentionally showing off their muscular arms and developed chests.
Blushing a little at their bodies being exposed, Takato and the others were seriously glad that Ai and Mako were now at college and far away from this.
From her own position, Suzie did what she could to tend to Jeri's aid, the younger Wong sibling cautiously and slowly escorting Jeri up the stairs in order to reach the upper floors.
Providing their own aid, Kazu and Kenta helped carry Ryo up the stairs, each having an arm wrapped around Ryo and guiding him toward their destination.
Takato, Henry, and Rika, although exhausted, picked up their paces as they followed their friends to the upper floors.
Believing with all their hearts that their Digimon partners would return, everyone pressed forward for their reunion, pressing a record button on their D-Powers to record their message.
"If you guys are watching this... then we're dead..." Takato said, recording a possibly final message. "This is our last message to you guys... I know what's coming won't be easy, but then again nothing we've done is easy..."
"We've prepared for it as best as we can, and even though we know you guys will be upset and heartbroken about all of this, all we can do is say we're sorry it came down to this," Rika said through her own physical and emotional pain. "We all know it wouldn't take long for the wild Digimon to realize that the Digimon Tamers... are gone and we can't trust the army and police."
"Our D-Powers will stay with you and will give you the strength to Digivolve. You have always had our backs when we needed you. We know that your strength can keep both our worlds safe." Henry said through his own recording.
"Lopmon... I am sorry I'll never get to play with you again..." Suzie then said with a soft, be it solemn smile. "Please... take care of everyone. You were my partner and my best friend, Lopmon. I will miss you."
"I know you have some trouble with controlling your anger and passion for fighting, and though you're not the most friendly to other Digimon, Cyberdramon, you must learn to work as part of a team. Please honor my final wish, my friend..." Ryo said.
"I am not good when it comes to farewells, but I know your healing power will help our friends. Goodbye, MarineAngemon, and thank you." Kenta said softly.
"Guardromon, please... you must help others through this time of crisis. I know... you can succeed after my death. Thank you for being such a cool bud." Kazu said.
"Calumon... Impmon... I know that I am not like Leomon, but you two must be the ones to help the others in their fights. Please... fight alongside your teammates and friends and honor our last wishes. This is my final wish... I'll miss you..." Jeri said with teary eyes.
"We've been through a lot, Terriermon..." Henry began to say, clutching his chest and looking past the pain inflicted on him. "Never lose that joking personality when I am no longer here. Please keep the other's spirits high. You will always be my friend. Momentai..."
"You have been like a good sister to me, Renamon..." Rika said, shedding tears through her pain. "We've been so many battles, getting stronger and you helped me become a better person, someone who knew having others to care about didn't mean you were weak. Now... I want you to look after the others. Goodbye, Renamon and thank you..."
"I created you and gave you a reason to live but now... the leader of the Tamers now falls upon you, Guilmon..." Takato said.
Sliding off his goggles, Takato remained prideful as he informed. "I'm sure you know what you must do. Please look after the others and protect both our worlds. I am so proud of you, boy. Good luck and goodbye."
Their messages finished, the Digimon Tamers then opened up a sealed box and placed their D-Powers, alongside Takato's goggles inside, hiding the item in a safe place, one they were certain Guilmon and the others would be able to find.
Then they get to work as Takato reached for the control panel and sealed off all exits to the facility, just before Raigamon closed in on them.
"You will all be dead before they can arrive. After I will slaughter your Digimon partners and burn this world to the ground!" Raigamon declared.
Although knowing his words to be truthful, Takato and Rika remained calm and with soft smiles as they held each other's hand, the Digimon Tamers standing side by side against the assassin Digimon.
"You won't get that chance. The Real World... is their world now!" Takato declared, his words confusing Raigamon.
Doing what he knew had to be done, Takato pressed a button to overload the generators located at the lowest levels of the Hypnos building, thus causing a chain reaction as the generators overloaded with energy and began to explode, astonishing Raigamon that the Digimon Tamers would go so far as to stop him, even if it leads to their own destruction.
With Hypnos' collapse, the Digimon Tamers just smiled silently as they accepted their fate, allowing themselves to fall alongside Raigamon as the floor, wall, and debris collapsed upon them.
'Goodbye Guilmon… you're our last hope...' Takato's final thoughts rang out.
-Some time later-
Heavy rain fell down upon the devastation that was once the Hypnos building, which was now looked upon by familiar Digimon.
Amongst the Digimon included a small imp-like Digimon, who wore red gloves, a red scarf, and a smiley face on his stomach.
Within his possession was a secured box that contained the D-Powers and goggles which the fallen Digimon Tamers had given away.
Shocked at the sight before him, the Digimon, Impmon questioned. "what happened here?"
By Impmon's side was a small Digimon which had white skin, a red triangular marking on its forehead, and a pair of purple-tipped ear-like protrusions, which shrunk down, reflecting his sadness as he approached the lifeless form of Jeri amongst the rubble.
"JERI!" Calumon cried in sadness.
Wishing to move closer, to check on the brunette and see if there was some miracle she was alive, Calumon found his movements restricted by Impmon, who held him back.
Coming to the realization it was too late, Calumon broke down and balled his little heart out, sobbing against Impmon's chest, who did what he could to comfort Calumon in his time of distress.
Sharing in the distress of Impmon and Calumon were another pair of Digimon, one being a bulky machine-based Digimon, who held Kazu's lifeless body in his arms, alongside a tiny angelic creature that sobbed upon Kenta's chest.
Looking over Suzie's body was her Digimon partner, Lopmon, a small bipedal lagomorph Digimon who had brown fur, long ears, and three spiked horns on her forehead.
"S...Suzie..." Lopmon said quietly at first before she too fell to her knees and fell to her distress. "SUZIE!"
Holding Ryo within his arms, a cyborg Digimon with draconic features, being Cyberdramon expressed a mix of emotions, including his familiar anger and rage, as well as showing lament about losing his partner and what he could consider his best friend.
As the Digimon were all saddened deeply by their losses, far away from the others were three figures who seemed to be suffering the most.
The first held a similar appearance to Lopmon, only his fur was a shade of cream and striped with green around his collarbone, paws, and the tips of his ears, while his most prominent features included his long ears and the solitary horn on his forehead.
Beside the Digimon, Terriermon, was a tall and bipedal fox-like Digimon, who had a slender build.
Most of her body was covered in yellow fur, save for the tip of her tail, her long ears, and her underbelly.
Purple striped marks adorned beneath her azure colored eyes, her paws were covered by a set of purple gloves, each bearing the symbol of yin and yang, while her tail swayed around softly and with grace.
Finally was a bipedal dinosaur-like Digimon with red scales running down from his head and toward his clawed feet.
Upon his head and body were black markings, which included a triangular marking upon his nose, curved black markings under his eyes, ring-shaped marks around his clawed arms and his legs, as well as a dark marking known as the Digital Hazard upon his stomach.
While the Digital Hazard was a destructive force and often used by Dark Digimon, this Digimon had managed to keep this dark power under control, even using it alongside Takato for the greater good and to put an end to the evils that threatened their worlds.
Two wing-like appendages adorned the Digimon's head, acting as a set of ears, the sclera of his eyes were shaded black, his eyes a deep shade of yellow, but were full of tears to his loss.
Ahead of the trio of Digimon were the forms of their partners, Takato, Rika, and Henry, who were all lying in a puddle, breathless and covered with cuts, gushes, and bruises beyond repair.
"Henry… this cannot be… HENRY!" Terriermon wailed as he fell to his knees by his Tamers' side and cried his eyes out.
"This... this cannot be. We came back to the real world... for this? This cannot be happening!" The fox-like Digimon, Renamon, said in denial, before rushing to Rika's side and holding her body close to her, shedding tears. "Rika! RIKKKKAAAA!"
The dinosaur Digimon, Guilmon could only look upon Takato's body for a while, he too unable to comprehend that his partner was gone, before he too collapsed, his tears trailing further down his face as he bellowed with agony. "Takato. Takato. TAAAAKKKAAAATTTTTOOOOOO!"
Seeing their loved partners taken away from them, the Digimon all scream into the heavens, hating what had happened, but more so that they couldn't do anything to prevent such a horrid turn of events.
-The next day-
Gathering the fallen Digimon Tamers and putting on a funeral for everyone close to the fallen to say their final goodbyes, the Digimon, the surviving Digimon Tamers and their sobbing parents shared in the heartbreak of losing so many loved ones.
Sobbing over their losses, Ai and Mako, the only survivors of the Digimon Tamers watched in silence and in sadness as the coffins were lowered and eventually buried into the ground.
It was a long silence between the group of Digimon as they remained by their partner's graves even after everyone had left. Guilmon turned and looked to the sky as the sun would soon rise, holding Takato's goggles and D-Power in his palm as he then spoke up.
"We are no longer the Digimon Tamers. Our human partners are gone but they give us something in return. A goal. A mission. We are now known... as the Digimon Knights." Guilmon informed, expressing a seriousness within his tone which sounded unfamiliar to his friends.
"We have one goal set by our human partners, we exist to protect both worlds from wild and evil Digimon who tries to threaten it." The red dinosaur Digimon went on to say, honouring Takato's memory as he fastened the goggles to his head and looked over Renamon and his allies.
While there were some mixed feelings to this and to the way Guilmon was behaving, Renamon, Terriermon and all the Digimon nodded silently, agreeing with Guilmon, their new leader as the sun began to rise on this new day their new paths had been decided... their role though difficult was very clear.
They were now the Digimon Knights.
A/N: Wanna thank my friends and allies to help edit and check this chapter. More to come. Please leave a review.