AN: As I don't really understand Japanese much, I'll tend to not use honorifics as much unless the characters call one another by their surname (or you could see this as an excuse for me being lazy :D)

The character designs will all follow the character designs from 02 aside from Taichi whose design, when he disappeared, would be the same as episode 17 of 02 where they celebrated Odaiba Day.

Also, if I don't say who is talking it's more or less because I think it would be quite easy to figure out who it is based on the way they talked. :D

Anyways onto the story. :D

Chapter 1: The Reunion of Hope and Light… and Courage?

It's been a month since Taichi's disappearance. The Digidestined have been searching for him but to no avail. Koushiro had been working tirelessly to try and find a solution and his only lead was Taichi's last words before his Digivice signal got cut off…

'A human?'

The Digidestined had searched the Digital World high and low for clues and yet they couldn't find a single trace of their leader or this mysterious human he spoke of.

At the Takaishi Apartment

'Don't worry about me Mom, I can go to School today by myself so you can focus on your report.'

'Thanks Takeru, I'm sorry again for not being able to send you off to school on your first day.'

'Patamon, make sure you behave and don't interrupt Mom while she is working, ok?'

'Of course, Takeru!' Patamon chirped excitedly.

Takeru Takaishi, one of the 8 digidestined has finally moved back to all his friends.

'I wonder if I'll see Hika today?' Takeru wondered as he felt slightly guilty that he stopped contacting Hikari for a while just to surprise her today. Hikari was his childhood best friend, and they were the youngest but strongest two of the 8 Digidestined aside from when their two brothers fused their Digimon together to fight their final threat of their adventure, Negamon. It was a hard battle and they only managed to win with the combined power of their crests forming Omegamon and its evolution.

Hikari and Takeru were the best of friends partly due to being the youngest of the Digidestined with the perfect pair of 'guardian angels' to protect them in the Digital World. They even had nicknames for each other. He called her Hika, and she called him Keru.

Takeru walked to his elevator and saw two people inside. He gave them his ever so charming smile and greeted them.

'Good morning, I'm Takeru Takaishi and I just moved into this apartment.'

'Ahh good morning, Takaishi-San I'm Miyako Inoue and this is my friend.'

'Good morning, it is nice to meet you, I'm Iori Hida.'

Takeru was walking to school with his two newfound friends when he caught sight of something.

A pair of oddly familiar googles.

'Taichi?'

Takeru's thoughts were interrupted as he had to catch a soccer ball flying straight towards his face. Luckily, he managed to catch it as his reflexes had been honed with his years of experience playing basketball. He glanced at the kid running up to him before passing the ball back.

'Cool goggles'

'Eh? Err thanks?' Daisuke then ran back to his game.

'What am I thinking… of course it can't be Taichi… he has been missing for a month…' Takeru immersed himself in his thoughts as he made his way towards his new class.

Hikari was not taking it well.

She spent her days going to school and not truly listening. She would go home just to lay in her bed while snuggling Tailmon. She would also occasionally talk with her best friend, Takeru Takaishi, but a week before he suddenly stopped contact. Even his brother, Yamato Ishida, did not know what happened to him, or was covering up the reason for him. Either way, the lack of contact from her childhood best friend made Hikari feel the worst she could possibly be… until today.

Hikari went to school as per normal in her semi-depressed state. She gave her half-hearted responses to her friends and classmates as usual. Since she had supposedly lost her brother, not many of her peers wanted to talk to her truly as a friend due to her sudden increase in coldness. Of course, there were the few that offered their condolences and a shoulder to cry on but Hikari knew… it was all just a front for them to seem nice. None of them truly understood what she was going through. None of them truly wanted to be there for her… except one. However, she couldn't accept his support so easily. After all he was too similar to her brother…

Motomiya Daisuke had been a friend of Hikari for a year. He was first introduced to her about a year ago when he was playing soccer with Taichi and got injured. Hikari was the one who helped dress his wound, and from that day onward they became friends. He had a crush on Hikari and even went so far as to call her 'his girl' but she never reciprocated his feelings for her. But now more than ever he put his feelings for her aside as he saw her one month ago.

She was no longer the bright child she used to be. She seemed sad as if she carried a heavy burden. At that time Daisuke knew he had to put his feelings aside and be what Hikari needed. A friend.

'Hey Hikari! Looks like we are in the same class again, lucky me!'

'Mmm' Hikari responded without looking at him.

'There was this guy that told me my goggles were cool, but I didn't even know who he was.'

'Good for you…' Hikari responded nonchalantly. She was more focused on stopping her tears from falling by staring at the empty desk. It wasn't his fault that he had so many similarities to her brother.

'Good morning class, today I'll introduce you to a new transfer student. His name is Takaishi Takeru.'

Takeru walked into the class and looked around before he found what he was looking for. His best friend.

'Good morning, my name is Takeru Takaishi and I'm the new transfer student.'

There were murmurs and whispers among the class, likely commenting on his blonde hair and how his Japanese was fluent despite looking like a foreigner.

However, All the murmurs and whispers stopped at the loud scrap of a chair being forcefully pushed back.

'Great, now I'm even imagining that Takeru is back. First my brother, now my childhood best friend. They are both gone. Takeru wouldn't stop contacting me for a week unless something happened. He has to be gone just like my brother.' Hikari was upset that she let her sadness go so far as to cause her hallucinations of her teacher saying that Takeru transferred to their school.

'He is probably in the Digital World, wherever my brother is right now…'

But then she heard his voice. A hopeful and cheerful voice. The voice that gave her hope no matter the situation. The one she could recognise instantly. Her head snapped up and she looked at the new student. His ocean-blue eyes. His blonde hair. His charming hopeful smile. There was no doubt about it. It was her best friend. It was him. It was, indeed, Takeru Takaishi.

Hikari immediately stood up not caring for the loud scrap her chair made.

'Takeru?' She said in a voice so soft it could have been a whisper.

'Miss Yagami, you will refrain from causing that awful noise! Put your chair back and sit down!' Her teacher yelled at her.

Hikari immediately sat down and covered her face in embarrassment at what she just did and softly said sorry to her teacher.

'Your seat is next to Miss Yagami, and you probably already know who that is considering the amount of noise she just made.'

Takeru nodded and walked to Hikari with his trademark smile. He sat down and put his hand on Hikari's and simply said 'Hey, I'm back.'

After class, they barely got out of the classroom before Hikari almost tackled Takeru to the ground in a hug.

'You idiot. You big idiot. Why did you not respond to me. Do you know how w-worried I was?' Hikari already had tears in her eyes.

'Sorry, I just thought it would be nice to surprise you and everyone with the news that I'm finally back.'

'I th-thought you were gone… just like… like' Hikari was in tears and could barely get her words out.

Takeru held her closer and gently said 'I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you so much. I should have known it would remind you of…'

'Hey, you! What's your deal with Hikari!? Why are you making her cry!?' Daisuke shouted at Takeru while looking just about ready to sock him.

'Eh, I'm her best friend, right Hika?'

'Yes, My childhood best friend, Keru.' Hikari was elated she finally could be reunited with her friend, even if he had stopped contacting her for a week, she giggled at his use of their nicknames.

'Hika? Keru?'

'Hikari! Oh, and Takeru as well, what a surprise, welcome home.' Koushiro came running in with his Digivice and a few sets of some odd-looking earpieces.

Hikari's face immediately turned serious.

'What happened Koushiro? What are those earpieces?'

'There was an energy spike in the Digital World and it… it had the same energy signature as the Crest of Courage. The earpieces are for communication.'

Hikari and Takeru gasped and looked at Koushiro with looks of determination.

'Energy spike? Digital World? Crest of what now?' Daisuke looked on confused.

'Quick we need to go now. We need to investigate this new lead.' Koushiro started running to the computer lab of the school with Hikari, Takeru and Daisuke trailing behind him.

They reached the lab to see a girl with lavender-coloured hair sitting at one of the computers.

'Eh? Izumi-senpai! What brings you here? Didn't you graduate already?'

'Sorry Miyako, I need to use the computer.'

After a few seconds Koushiro managed to open the digital gate program that he had perfected over the years since their last adventure.

'Here Takeru, Hikari use these earpieces to keep in contact, I don't want any repeats of… what happened a month ago.'

'Hold on what is going on! Where are you guys going? Actually that doesn't matter I'm coming along too!' Daisuke was shouting at this point.

'Sorry, you can't come with us. Not without a Digivice.' Koushiro answered coldly.

As if on cue, the computer screen lit up and three beams of light shot out, one blue, one red and one yellow. The blue beam went straight into Daisuke's hands. The red beam went into Miyako's hands. The yellow beam went straight into Iori's hands who was just about to enter the computer lab to get Miyako to help her fix his family computer.

'What is this?'

'That's a Digivice… but it's different from the one we use…' Koushiro, Takeru and Hikari stared dumbfounded at the three kids.

'Ah! how could I forget! Sorry Koushiro, Hikari, I can't go to the Digital World. I left Patamon at home.' Takeru suddenly exclaimed.

'That's not a problem if someone is at your home, or if Patamon can operate your computer. He will be able to get to you if a gate is opened for him.' Koushiro explained.

'Ah, how much have I missed in the last 3 years? Ok let me call my mom and ask her to help me.' With that Takeru walked out the room while calling his mom.

'Koushiro, lets go, I need to know if Onii-Chan is safe.'

'Just wait a minute Hikari, it would be best if we wait for Takeru, you two are the strongest in our group now thanks to the powers of the holy Digimon… and on top of that… if this is what I think it is… we are going to need all the firepower we can get right now…'

'Ok…'

'So, what is this Digital World that you guys are talking about? And what's a Digimon?' Miyako questioned enthusiastically.

'I think it's best if you just come with us and see for yourself. Patamon is ready, he will be waiting for us.' Takeru just came back into the room putting his phone in his pocket.

'Alright, let's go then.'

With that the 6 children entered the digital world into a cave, which had an egg on the ground. The biggest surprise was that the egg had the Crest of Courage on it.

'Eh what happened to my clothes. Eh what happened to your clothes Miyako, Iori?'

'Hmm, the Digital World never changed our clothes before when we went in before… I'll have to research that.'

'So, this is the source of that energy spike… I guess it's a good thing that it wasn't Taichi and Agumon fighting for their lives…' Koushiro was relieved as such a big energy spike it would have had to be at least an evolution to Wargreymon. He was slightly saddened that Taichi was still missing with no new leads.

'This egg is so heavy.' Hikari was struggling to lift the egg but with limited success.

'Yeah, we tried to lift it before you all got here but we struggled as much as you.'

'Ah, Tailmon, and Patamon, how good to see you!' Hikari was elated to see Patamon again and grabbed him to give him a tight hug.

'It's good to see you again, Hikari!'

'So, is that a Digimon? With all the panic you guys had I would have thought they would look… scarier…' Miyako asked with a surprised face.

'Yeah, some are cute like Patamon here',

'While some are scarier.' Hikari and Takeru responded as they completed each other's sentence.

'Oww, Eh, Hikari what do you mean this egg is heavy? it wasn't that hard to lift.' Daisuke had fallen over while trying to use all his strength to lift the egg.

Hikari, Takeru and Koushiro looked at Daisuke dumbfounded.

A light came out from the hole and a small blue bipedal dinosaur came out of it.

'Finally, the Digimental got moved! I'm Veemon what's your name?'

'Eh? I'm D-Daisuke'

'It's nice to finally meet my partner. I've been waiting for so long for the child who could move the digimental of courage!'

Just then a maniacal laughter filled the cave.

'HAHAHA! You wish to be partnered to him? You should join me instead, I'm much stronger than that weakling.

'No way! The only one that can be my partner is the one who moved that Digimental!'

'HAHAHA! So, you wish to stay with him? No matter it's nothing my dark rings can't control, but I feel like having some fun. So, how about you play with my servant?'

An Allomon suddenly appeared running into the cave. It looked more bloodthirsty than normal Allomon and it had a weird ring on its neck.

'Attack them!' The dark ring on Allomon's neck flashed with a little electricity as it roared and started charging towards the Digidestined.

'Tentomon!'

'Patamon!'

'Tailmon!'

'For you, Koushiro!'

'With you, Takeru!'

'Yes, Hikari!'

'Tentomon evolve to…'

'Patamon evolve to…'

'Tailmon super-evolve to…'

But nothing happened…

'Eh?!'

'Run for it!'

'I don't like this world anymore!'

'Come on Daisuke! Use your courage!'

'Eh what?!'

'Just say Digimental up and use your courage then I can evolve and beat this guy!'

'Eh? err you got it err Veemon. Digimental up!'

But nothing happened…

'Run! Patamon, Tentomon, you two have ranged attacks! Buy us a little time!'

'You got it Takeru! Air Shot!'

'Petit Thunder!'

The Allomon took a step back from the two attacks but recovered quickly and started charging towards them.

The group ran out of the cave and down the mountain as Tentomon and Patamon tried their best to stall Allomon.

Hikari quickly put her hand to the earpiece Koushiro gave her.

'Koushiro! Are you ok?'

'Hikari? Thank goodness, this prototype works.'

'I think we have more pressing matters right now Koushiro! Is Miyako and Iori with you?'

'Yes, I got them with me. We are a bit ahead of you three. Keep running before Allomon catches you!'

'Veemon, why didn't it work?'

'I told you. You need to have courage and use the Digimental.'

'Daisuke, quickly run we need to regroup with Koushiro and the others!'

They ran with an angry Allomon, that was unable to catch up to them and resorted to spewing random fireballs behind them, until they found Koushiro, Miyako and Iori.

'What was that thing and why is this world so scary!?'

'That was an Allomon tai- err the leader of our original group fought a lot of them. They aren't too strong. If we work together, we could probably beat him with Tailmon as our strongest offense.'

Just then Allomon fired another fireball and almost struck them. Hikari was grazed slightly on the leg by the fireball but was mostly uninjured thanks to Takeru tackling her to the ground.

'Thanks, Keru.' Hikari said between gasps.

Takeru flashed a somewhat devious smile.

'I got you back from when you tackled me after class.'

Hikari playfully smacked him on his shoulders before inspecting her leg.

'It looks like a minor burn, but I don't think I can run like this…'

'Then we will just have to fight the Allomon here, Patamon you good to fight?'

'Of course, Takeru!'

'You want us to fight that thing?! It could have killed us.'

'It can kill us. But if Daisuke works with us, we stand a chance to beat it. By the way what was that Digimental up thing you shouted just now?'

'Veemon told me while we were running that if I use my courage and say Digimental up he would evolve and be able to win.'

Just then Allomon roared and charged towards them.

Daisuke's face became neutral.

'So, we just have to fight him here and win?'

'That simplifies it a lot but yes that's the gist of it.' Koushiro answered as Allomon started charging towards them.

'Ok…'

'Can I really do this? No that shouldn't be a question. I will do this. It's what Taichi-senpai would do, right?'

Daisuke's face turned to one of determination upon thinking of how he could be just like his Idol.

'I'll try. Digimental Up!'

'Veemon, Armor-evolve to… Fladramon! Burning courage!'

'Hey there, you want a fight? I'll give you one!' Fladramon clashed with Allomon fist to fist.

'Tailmon, wait for an opening and attack that dark ring around its neck. The ring seems to be causing it pain and making it angry, if we can get rid of it then it might calm down and leave us alone.'

'Got it, Hikari'.

Despite his best efforts it seemed that Fladramon was not strong enough to hold back Allomon. Allomon threw him in the air, but Fladramon just smirked and became enveloped in flames.

'Fire rocket!'

Fladramon came crashing down towards Allomon who was forced to block it leaving him open to attacks from the sides and behind.

'Air Shot!'

'Petit Thunder!'

Patamon and Tentomon attacked the Allomon at the sides to keep him as distracted as possible.

Tailmon, seeing her opportunity immediately dashed forward.

'Neko punch!' She landed a direct hit on the dark ring on the Allomon's neck causing it to shatter. Allomon dropped to the ground defeated and exhausted.

Fladramon reverted to Veemon with a red flash travelling to Daisuke's Digivice. A second red flash went to his coat pocket, where his phone was. As he took it out, it seemed to change form as it became a white phone with a light blue cross that was on the back of the phone acting as a phone case. At the centre, there was an indent with the crest of courage at the top section leaving the bottom section oddly empty.

'It's just like our phone Digivices…' Hikari felt a slight tinge of pain seeing the phone Digivice containing the crest of Courage.

'I will have to research on that. The phone Digivices were made by me so I would be surprised if the Digital World has chosen to follow my designs.'

With that, the Digidestined new and old went back to the real world.

Thanks for reading the first chapter! In case you didn't notice I am using the idea from Last Evolution Kizuna where they have the earpieces for communication and the phone Digivices replacing the D-Terminal. I imagined that after they had the incident with Taichi, Koushiro would want to take precautions and make a secondary form of communication instead of the 2020 Digivice which in this story gets cut off when under the influence of the Digimon Kaiser's Dark Digivice.

Sorry to Iori fans as he didn't really get anything this chapter but the next one is Miyako and his chapter.