DISCLAIMER: I don't own Digimon, but I do own the OCs introduced in this story and my other stories (except where stated).

Thanks to Blazing Chaos for beta-reading.

UNITED

By TheMightyBlues

CHAPTER 2

Encounters

UNKNOWN DATE

DIGITAL WORLD

Wolf Village, Lowest Plane

Unknown Time

MetalGarurumon had seen a lot in his lifetime. He had seen arguments, starvation and war. He had seen friends become enemies and enemies become friends. He had seen birth, Digivolution and death. But he had never seen death on such a large scale as he had just witnessed.

His entire village had been mercilessly slaughtered. Not even the Tsunomon, the In-Training and relatively harmless Digimon, had been spared. The Gabumon had been beaten to death, the Garurumon were deleted by beams of light and the WereGarurumon had been savagely sliced and diced with swords and knives.

And there was nothing he could do to stop it. Nothing he could do with all of his power and experience. It meant nothing in this battle, for he was the first one defeated. Defeated, but not murdered. His captors were not quite finished with him yet.

He lay on the ground, body limp and eyes fighting to stay open, his armour was dented and bits crumbled off. His wings were chipped and his tail was crudely twisted. Around him, he could see what remained of his village. The sand was covered in craters caused by misguided attacks and falling Digimon. The huts, once home to friends and family, were ruined. Roofs were destroyed and walls were cracked. It was as if a hurricane had swept through the village, obliterating everything and anything in its path.

His eyes cried out for sleep, yet he would not give in. He had lost everything, but his spirit and will to fight was as strong as ever. He needed to dig deep inside to find the strength to carry on. He couldn't let the two figures win.

He wouldn't.

Not without a fight.

To do so would dishonour all those who fell at their hands.

He had to try, just one last time.

With great effort he rolled ungracefully onto his stomach. Gingerly he stretched out a shaking leg and placed it on the sand in front of him. He groaned as he strained himself dragging his other leg and placing it in a similar position, about a metre away from the other. Slowly and steadily, he tucked his rear legs under his body. Clenching his teeth and using all the strength left in him, he pushed upwards with his knees. Somehow he managed to hold a standing position, albeit with his legs trembling uncontrollably and pain coursing through his body.

The two cloaked and hooded figures looked on in amusement as MetalGarurumon bravely tried to stand against them once more. The figure on the left took a few steps forward. His face was inches away from his enemies'.

"Your resistance is admirable, MetalGarurumon, but sooner or later you are going to have to face the fact that you have lost. Your village is destroyed, it's residents deleted and absorbed. Why resist any longer? Surely you realise your efforts are in vain? What is it that is driving you? You can barely stand, let alone fight, so why bother? Tell me. Why oh why oh why do you persist?"

MetalGarurumon strained to raise his head. He stared into the figure's hood with intense determination in his bloodshot eyes.

"You cannot...be allowed...to win," he whispered. He coughed, the sharp and sudden action causing all four of his legs to slip slightly. With a grunt he locked his knees to prevent himself from tumbling to the ground. He felt a hand grab his chin, and his head was yanked upwards. The figure leaned in close, tightening his hand's grip on MetalGarurumon's chin.

"Don't you see?" he scoffed. "We have already won. And there is nothing you can do or say that will change that."

He released his hold on MetalGarurumon and pulled his hand back. He curled his fingers into an iron fist. MetalGarurumon could only watch the figure's fist was rammed upwards into his chin. The sheer power in the punch sent the Mega level Digimon flying backwards. He crashed down hard on his back, the awkward landing causing one of his wings to snap off. By this point he could no longer feel anything. His body was shutting down, unable to deal with the beating he had taken.

"Don't fight it. Just go to sleep like a good little Digimon. I hope you have sweet dreams, because you're going to wake up to a nightmare," one of the figures said.

MetalGarurumon couldn't tell which one of the two had spoken. His senses were all over the place. He was so tired, ever so tired. He no longer had the strength to fight. His eyelids closed and sleep claimed him.

30th OF MARCH 2009

REAL WORLD

Nonaka Residence, Shinjuku Ward

17:21 JST

A slender teenage girl wearing tight-fitting blue jeans with a pouch wrapped around one leg, a brown belt, a white t-shirt with short light blue sleeves and a navy blue heart on the front lay on her futon in her room. Her fiery orange hair was held up by a hair band, and she wore a pair of sweat bands on her wrists. A D-Arc, her cell phone and several cards lay next to her as she contemplated how to spend the rest of the evening. Her mother was taking her grandmother out to a film premiere she had been invited to attend by the director, one that she did not want to go to. Her mother explained that it would be good for her public image to be seen at such a high profile event, expecting her daughter to understand. So, she had the house to herself and her Digimon partner for the evening.

She picked up her cell phone and flipped it open. Selecting her contacts list, she scrolled down over the various names of people she had stored. Her contacts list consisted of few people, mostly her family and fellow Tamers. After passing several names by, she stopped over a name belonging to one of her closest friends and pressed the call button.

"Hello?" came the voice. It was distinctly female and sounded cheery.

"Hey Jeri," she replied.

"Oh hey Rika. I've been meaning to call you, but I've just been so busy lately. Anyway how are you?"

"Bored," she said, stifling a yawn. "You wanna come over? I have the house to myself all evening."

"Oh, sorry Rika, I can't. I promised Suzie I'd take her to the cinema," Jeri apologised.

Rika groaned in disappointment. She hadn't seen Jeri in nine days, an unusually long time considering how frequently their group of friends met up. Rika couldn't remember the last time she hadn't seen one of the Tamers in over a week.

"Can't Henry do it? After all he is her brother," she commented with an underlying tone of irritation. Subconsciously she began to click her fingers lightly.

"He can't. He's preparing for some martial arts tournament, and has locked himself up in the dojo. He only asked me to do it because Suzie had been relentlessly bugging him to take her for days."

Rika sighed, ceasing the clicks of her fingers. "Stupid Henry and his stupid tournament," she thought. "He's always got a tournament to compete in. If he keeps this up he'll need a room for all his trophies!"

"It's okay Jeri. I understand."

"Sorry Rika, I've really got to go. Maybe some other time?" Jeri suggested enthusiastically in an attempt to lighten Rika's mood.

"Sure Jeri. See ya," the redhead replied glumly.

"Bye."

Rika ended the call and tossed her phone aside. She sighed, sitting up on her futon before gathering up her Digimon cards and slotting them into their pouch carefully.

A humanoid fox type creature walked into the room, covered in yellow fur with white hands, paws and torso. She had a large bushy tail and pointy ears, both with white tips at their ends. A white mane covered her neck and upper torso, with purple sleeves hugging her lower arms. Her icy blue eyes looked harshly cold and devoid of emotion, which many who encounter her would find daunting. Walking over to Rika, she stopped at the foot of her futon and looked down on the teenager.

"What is it Renamon?" Rika questioned.

She shifted off the side of the futon and stood up to face her Digimon partner. The Kitsune turned to face the door and folded her arms across her chest. She sniffed the air curiously a few times, as if trying to lock onto a particular scent.

"I smell something familiar," she replied. "Guilmon is very near here. It smells like Takato is with him too."

Rika's eyes widened in surprise, then shone with a mischievous glint, a smirk playing on her lips as she checked her cards and D-Arc were securely fastened to her belt. Satisfied, she approached and stood next to Renamon.

"Can you take me to them?"

"Of course."

REAL WORLD

West Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward

17:27 JST

Calumon gleefully flew along the streets of Shinjuku with a wide grin on his face, ignoring the stares he received from a few shocked civilians. He had been to the Nonaka Residence many times in the three years he had been living in the Real World, and therefore knew the way there off by heart.

Takato Matsuki was in hot pursuit, bent on stopping the In-Training Digimon from reaching his destination and his hot headed fellow Tamer, Rika. His heart pounded against his rib cage, desperately trying to distribute the oxygen needed to keep his body going at the pace it was. His calves and thighs ached, yet he ignored it and carried on running. He had to catch Calumon before he reached Rika's house, and he needed to catch him fast. He was only four streets away from his target.

Behind Takato was his Digimon partner Guilmon. The crimson dinosaur type creature ran after his Tamer, falling further behind gradually as his muscles locked up and a stitch made itself known in his right abdomen. He panted heavily, as he ground to a halt, bending over and placing his paws on his knees. He coughed and crudely spat out some saliva that had been building up in the back of his throat. He looked up and began to sprint once more, realising the great distance between he and his Tamer.

Calumon glanced over his shoulder and his eyes widened as he saw how close Takato was behind him. At this rate, he would be caught before he reached the end of the road.

"Uh oh, Takato looks kinda mad," Calumon pondered. "Maybe Rika will be able to cheer him up!" he whizzed off, not slowing a bit as he resumed his journey with newfound hope.

Takato's legs burned. His muscles were so tight and constricting, heightening the ache he could feel in his calves and thighs. However, he refused to stop. He was travelling faster than Calumon, and would have him before long. Provided he could keep up with the little Digimon of course. He forced his legs to move, despite his bodies' cries for him to stop. He was closing the gap now; there were only a few metres between him and Calumon. He gritted his teeth and pushed on.

"Just a little further," he urged himself. He was so close he could almost taste victory. He took three long strides, before launching himself through the air, throbbing arms stretched out in front of him and agonising legs flailing behind. He felt Calumon's skin press against his own, and he seized the opportunity by closing his hands around the Digimon's body. Mission accomplished.

He fell inelegantly to the ground, landing hard on his knees and elbows. Tremors of pain shot up his arms and down his legs as he recovered from the fall and pushed himself off the ground, Calumon safely secured in his arms.

"Awww, why'd you have to ruin my fun?" Calumon complained.

Loud, thumping footsteps could be heard behind them. Takato turned around to see an exhausted Guilmon dragging himself over to them. The Digimon collapsed on the ground to his right, gasping for air.

"Can we...go home...now?" he asked between breaths.

Takato was about to answer when a familiar pair of red and grey trainers stopped in front of him. He looked up, following the blue jeans, brown belt and white t-shirt to find a red-headed girl staring down at him with a look of confusion plastered on her face. Next to her was her elusive Kitsune Digimon, Renamon. She leaned up against a wall, eyes closed and relaxed.

"What the hell Gogglehead? You training for a marathon or something?"

Takato immediately clamped one hand over Calumon's mouth and used his free arm as a muzzle to stop Guilmon from talking. He stood up, pulling the two Digimon closer to him to give off the impression that he was giving them a friendly hug. Rika raised a suspicious eyebrow and placed a hand on her hip.

"Come on Takato, think! Say something. Anything!" he cried inwardly. He chuckled nervously. "Uh, well, I was just, um, on my way to... a very late art class!"

"Liar," Rika accused casually. "You had art class just yesterday."

Takato tightened his grip on both Digimon, praying neither one would break free and follow through with what they had said they were going to do.

"Uh, yeah, but my tutor wanted me to get some extra work in," Takato mumbled, flashing Rika an uneasy grin. "Said something about me falling behind because I keep missing lessons."

"Whatever. Anyway, why are you squeezing the living daylights out of Guilmon and Calumon?"

Takato loosened his hold on the two Digimon, his chest pounding away sending shockwaves through his body with every heartbeat. He knew Rika wasn't stupid, and it wouldn't be long before she became livid with him for lying. He had to leave, and soon. Renamon opened one eye and turned her head slightly towards him. "Let's see him try to talk his way out of this one," she mused.

"I-I'm just, you know...being friendly," he stammered. "Anyway, better go. Bye!"

Takato turned on his heels to leave and sprinted off into the distance yanking the two Digimon in his arms and taking them with him.

"TAKATO!" Rika yelled in frustration.

Renamon pushed herself off the wall and positioned herself next to her Tamer. She opted to stay silent, deciding it would be best to let Rika calm down before commenting on the situation. Surprisingly the redhead did not attempt to chase after the small group, nor did she order Renamon to follow them. She simply stood and watched in anger as they ran off together.

"Oh boy, am I in for it next time we meet," Takato thought as he pulled Guilmon and Calumon around the corner and out of Rika's sight.

REAL WORLD

Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku Ward

17:31 JST

A tall teenager wearing dark brown trousers, a black t-shirt and a blue sleeveless fleece walked along the crowded sidewalk on his way to his martial arts class. On his back he carried a rucksack which contained his Tai Chi uniform and some deodorant. Sitting on top of his navy blue hair was a long eared white-cream coloured Digimon. The tips of his ears and his paws were lime green coloured, and he had a horn on top of his head. His name was Terriermon, and he was a Rookie level Digimon.

"Remind me again, why are we going to the dojo?" Terriermon inquired, putting emphasis on the word 'we'.

Henry frowned slightly, wondering how many times he had explained the answer to that particular question to his partner in the past.

"Because, Terriermon, I need to get as much training in as possible before the big tournament next weekend," he replied.

"But why do I have to come? All I do is sit and watch you do your thing."

Henry snorted, earning himself a playful smack on the shoulder from one of Terriermon's ears.

"No, when you're not cracking terrible jokes or playing 'destroy the dojo' with the equipment, you sit there and criticise every move I make. Seriously, even Sensei doesn't comment on my execution half as much as you do, and he knows what he's talking about," Henry said.

"Hey, I'm just trying to help," Terriermon defended. "If you don't like it, leave me at home next time."

"Not a chance."

A tall teenager dressed in all black attire, from his trainers, to his jeans, and to his leather jacket was walking towards them. He had jet black hair and was wearing a pair of black sunglasses. Next to him on his left was an equally tall Digimon, also black. He had cold cerulean eyes, and a stocky dinosaur type frame. As they walked on, people steered clear as if there were a force field surrounding them pushing others out of their way.

Henry and Terriermon were so absorbed in their conversation to notice the pair approaching them. The two teenagers collided, Henry being caught off guard and barged out of the way. The boy and his Digimon didn't bother to stop to apologise, instead opting to ignore Henry and Terriermon completely. Or so they intended.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" Terriermon shouted after them.

The two turned around, the Digimon glaring menacingly at Terriermon and his Tamer clenching his fists. Terriermon paled slightly, and Henry frowned once more.

"Terriermon!" Henry scolded.

"Why don't you just walk on before my Tamer and I rip you and your partner into little pieces?" the Digimon threatened.

His Tamer smirked in amusement as Terriermon narrowed his eyes and stood up on Henry's head.

"What did –"

"Terriermon leave it. We don't have time for this!" Henry ordered.

"But –"

"Terriermon!"

The aforementioned Digimon reluctantly sat back down on his Tamers head, huffing in anger and disappointment.

"That's right, listen to your Tamer, Bunnymon," the black Digimon mocked.

Terriermon was about to reply to the condescending Digimon but was cut off by his Tamer's voice.

"Just ignore him, Terriermon. Getting into conflict over something so petty is just not worth it."

"I guess so," Terriermon replied, sighing.

The mysterious Tamer and his Digimon turned around and began walking away.

"Hey, wait a minute!" Henry called after them. "Who are you guys?"

The pair ignored Henry's question and carried on walking. Henry took out his D-Arc and gazed at the display hoping to identify the black Digimon. He had a form exactly like that of Agumon from the TV series, although this one was about five and a half feet tall compared to the TV versions' two and a half feet height.

"BlackAgumon, a Virus type Rookie Digimon. His attacks are Pepper Breath and Claw Uppercut," Henry read. He clipped the green rimmed D-Arc back to his belt and looked back in the direction BlackAgumon and his Tamer walked off in, to find they had disappeared into the crowd.

"You know, I'd love to stand around here and discuss all the angles I could beat his ass from, but you're going to be late for your lesson and last time that happened you became almost as scary as Zhuqiaomon, so I think we should get moving to your lesson. Alternatively, we could give chase to those guys," Terriermon suggested. "I don't know about you Henry, but I think they need someone to teach them a lesson in manners."

Henry glanced down at his wrist watch and found to his dismay that his Digimon partner was right about being late. On one hand Henry could ignore the BlackAgumon and his Tamer and go to his lesson. On the other hand he could go along with Terriermon's suggestion and go after them. More and more humans had gotten Digimon partners in the three years since the D-Reaper, so Henry wasn't usually too worried when he saw one walking down the street. They tended to be relatively small, some of the In-Training level and some of the Rookie level.

However, BlackAgumon was a different ball game. He was the tallest Digimon partner Henry had seen in the real world, standing taller than even Renamon. He was a particularly strong Digimon, and his brutish nature could lead to some unnecessary fights with the public or even the Tamers should they find themselves in his bad books. This thought stuck in Henry's mind as he pondered the situation. To ignore BlackAgumon would be highly irresponsible of him, and could end badly. Although, he had to make sure he was on top of his game for the up-coming tournament.

"Terriermon, I've got an idea. I really should get to my lesson, but you don't need to be there. So, I want you to follow them for me and find out where they live."

"What? You're sending me off on my own?" Terriermon asked surprised.

"You know how important my training is. Besides, I'm only asking you to follow them."

"But -" Terriermon began.

"Weren't you the one complaining about being dragged along to my lessons all the time?"

His Digimon raised a finger and opened his mouth to respond, but promptly shut it and lowered his hand. Henry had a point, and this way they both win. Henry wouldn't have to miss his lesson, and Terriermon could follow BlackAgumon and his Tamer to find out more about them and discover where they lived, which would take them a huge step closer to identifying the mysterious Tamer, while also allowing them to keep tabs on him in future.

"Fine, you win. I'll go."

"Great. But remember it is extremely important that you stay out of sight," Henry stressed. "If they spot you they might try to attack you, and I won't be there to help you if things turn nasty."

"Bah, I could take them on any day," Terriermon boasted proudly.

"Terriermon!" Henry reprimanded sharply.

"All right, all right. I'll stay out of sight. Sheesh."

Henry breathed a sigh of relief. He glanced down at his watch once more. He had approximately fifteen minutes to travel seven blocks. If he ran, he might just make it with time to spare.

"Good. Meet me back at the apartment when you're finished."

"Aye aye, Captain!"

Authors' Note: Sorry this chapter took so long to be published. My computer has got a really irritating virus that just keeps coming back no matter how many times I delete it, and homework has also taken away from my writing time. I hope this chapter has been worth the wait.

What will become of MetalGarurumon, the lone survivor of the Battle of Wolf Village? Will Rika forgive Takato for running out on her? Will Terriermon be successful in his first proper solo task? Find out in chapter three of United.