Hello, friends. Hope you all are well. Well, not much to say with this chapter other than we are finally headed to the Digital World. At last! There's going to be plenty to chew on going forward. Hope you guys enjoy.

Kenya could hardly believe his eyes. All his life, he had heard the tales of his parents' adventures in the Digital World and imagined what it would be like to visit. He had it all imagined to the last detail: He would be greeted by Agumon and Biyomon, their two guardians, and led around the entire Digital World before getting to meet Gennai, who would then make him a Destined Jedi as well. It was the ultimate fantasy.

Never did he imagine that his fantasy would be so way off.

Instead of a bright, blue sky, the entire forest was dark and dreary. It was a lot like the Dark Forest he read about in his uncle's manga. His excitement was replaced by fear as he clung to his brother's side. This place felt evil.

"On second thought, I want to go home, Yuki," he said.

His brother squeezed his shoulder. "It's all right, Squirt. We just got here, so we should be able to find a nicer area," he assured.

Kenya felt more at ease from the touch, but his feelings of anxiety didn't go away.

Miya eventually caught up to Ryuji after they had all entered the portal and convinced him to wait while the others caught up. Now that they were all together again, Ryuji gave off anxious vibes. He was tapping his thighs, something Kenya always watched Ryuji do in the past, and it felt like something was going to happen as soon as they gave Ryuji the okay to follow the feeling he had to where that voice was residing.

"Are we really going to follow Ryuji to whoever that voice belongs to?" Kazu asked.

Yuki looked at him. "What do you mean? We need answers. That's why we're all here."

"I mean, what exactly are we doing? We've all heard the stories from our parents. First, we're attacked," Kazu explained. "Now we're here. This is most likely a trap. We need to find a way back."

Kenya saw his brother bite his lip. He also wasn't sure on what to do next. Finding the voice they heard from the portal was the objective, but he assumed that whoever it was would be here waiting for them. As he looked around the creepy darkness, he didn't see anything.

"I think we should go find that voice from the portal," the boy said, answering for his older brother. "Maybe they can help us. Besides, it already sounds like it's been waiting a long time for us."

"I think it may have meant our parents, Kenya," Shun quipped.

'What is that?'

Kenya whipped his head around looking for Ichigo. It was like Ichigo used a bullhorn and shouted that question into his ears. When he found him, the Motomiya boy was standing in front of a huge yellow boulder staring at it with curiosity. However, it didn't look like anyone else heard him.

'It doesn't look like a rock. The Digital World has weird, big yellow boulders? Dad never told me that.'

Kenya's eyes grew big as saucers. His gift was growing. Now he could hear Ichigo's thoughts? Before he could tell Ichigo to leave the rock alone and come back to the group, Shiro's voice rang through his mind.

'Hurry this up. I really need to pick this booger and I can't have Nomi see me do it."

Ichigo turned to Shiro with a disgusted and judgmental look.

"What?" Shiro asked him, confused.

Before Ichigo could answer, another voice spoke in his ear.

'They talk too much.'

That was Naomi as she sighed watching Yuki and Kenya debate back and forth.

'Mom and Dad are gonna kill me.'

Masato, as he scanned his surroundings with an uneasy expression while resting his hands on his hips.

'Whoooaa! Is that rock breathing? I need a stick.'

Kenya's head felt like it was getting whiplash as each person's thought announced itself. He couldn't stop looking at the yellow rock that Ichi kept poking at with a stick. Why would a rock breathe?

"What's the matter, Squirt?" Kenya's brother asked, resting a hand on his left shoulder.

'Grrrr…'

Kenya gasped. That voice didn't belong to his friends. It sounded like an animal. An angry animal. Why did no one else hear it? He watched Ichi freeze in mid-poke in fear. That stick was pressing into the rock.

His dad and mom never said rocks were squishy over here.

"Yuki?" Kenya tugged on his brother's shirt with urgency. "I'm starting to hear more thoughts. That rock that Ichi is poking is alive."

Everyone turned to where Ichigo was. The boy stood stiff as a statue, too scared to move.

"Grrrrrr!"

This time, the angry growl came from the rock. It looked as if the growl shocked Ichigo because he accidently poked it with a jerk before dropping the stick with a jump.

"Whoa!" Masato ran over to Ichigo and pulled him away. "Who told you to poke stuff here, little dude? Huh? We don't need another episode!"

"Too late," Ryuji said, clinging to his sister as if he was about to cry. "It wants to eat us."

The rock moved, unfurling a tail from underneath it. It then rose up onto its feet and turned to face the kids. The creature looked like a turtle with sharp blades on the back of its shell. Kenya shivered at the look in its blue eyes as it sized them all up. It was definitely angry and wanted to kill them.

"Run!" Yuki cried, swiftly taking his hand and running away.

The creature's tail swept dangerously close to them. Yuki ducked down while yanking Kenya down with him. The tail swept just over their heads, giving a sharp wisp of wind that swept Kenya's hair back. It was so close that it would have taken his head off if it hit.

"Move! This way!" Yuki shouted, pulling the boy along as he ran for the trees.

Kenya did his best to keep up, but his brother was moving so fast that it was hard to. He heard the crunching of tree bark as the giant turtle gave chase. It sure wasn't a normal turtle as it kept up with them very well. Its growl echoed loudly within the tree canopy.

"Did you have to poke it, Ichi?" he heard Masato shout.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I promise I'm truly sorry!" Ichigo shouted in return. "How was I supposed to know that the boulder was a sleeping turtle?"

"I don't know, but poking it is not one way to do it!"

"Both of you shut up! Just run!" Shun cried.

Kenya held his brother's hand tightly as they kept running forward. There was no real methodical choice to where they were going. They were simply running for their lives. He only hoped that they didn't choose the wrong path and go over a cliff or fall into a deep pit.

"Where are we going?" he asked Yuki.

"Anywhere but here!" his brother responded. "No talking right now, Squirt. Just run."

Kenya nodded and kept pace with his brother. Thanks to the Force flowing through him, he was running at roughly the same pace. It also helped that he did not ease his grip on his brother's hand. They were going to be fine. It was all going to be –

He fell flat on his stomach, resulting in a face full of dirt.

Kenya pushed himself up, but to his horror, no one was stopping to help him as they kept running like he wasn't there. He looked back and saw that his foot had gotten snagged on a root. That must have been karma for his big mouth.

The ground shook with every step the creature behind them took. Kenya's entire body seized from fear as the turtle came right upon him. Its lower jaw hung low. One listen into its thoughts told him straight away that it wanted to eat him. It let out a loud roar as it came ever closer. Kenya shut his eyes tight, feeling a couple tears fall down his cheeks. This was the end.

"Squirt, no!" Yuki cried.

It didn't matter if he tried to get him. It would be too late. He waited for the brief rush of pain before everything went black.

PSHEW!

A sharp, piercing noise came from close by. This was followed by a roar of pain.

Kenya slowly opened his eyes, daring to take a look at what was happening. His jaw dropped. A hooded figure stood on top of the creature's back, holding onto one of its spikes. But that wasn't the thing that amazed the boy. It was the lightsaber the figure held in its hand. The blade was pale blue.

'Why does this stuff have to happen to me?'

Kenya was briefly surprised by the new voice. That must have come from the figure wrangling the large turtle. It sounded annoyed, but possibly friendly. He wondered who this mystery savior was.

The creature thrashed and bucked, desperate to rid itself of the intruder on its back, but the figure held on tightly. The turtle's tail lashed up to try and knock it off. The hooded figure jumped before the tail could strike and pointed its saber down toward the turtle's head. The blade sank into the creature's head when it landed. A mighty shriek bellowed out of the turtle's mouth before it vanished in a burst of particles.

Kenya took several deep breaths to calm his galloping heart. That was scary. He looked up to see the tall figure now standing over him retract its lightsaber blade. It was just as awesome as he had imagined it to be. If he hadn't been so frightened, he would have been awestruck by the sheer awesomeness of what happened.

The figure pulled down its hood to reveal a man who looked like he would have been in his mid-twenties if he were a real human. The top of his hair was spiked up with a rat tail tied at the back. His robe was beige.

"Looks like the years have left you all a little rusty, my friends," the man said in a sharp, cocky voice. "I guess I shouldn't have expected you all to hop on the bike and start pedaling right away after such a long time. But that's okay; it's nothing that we can't–"

He stopped as he turned around, his blue eyes going straight to Kenya. The boy gave a small, nervous smile, followed by a nervous wave. The man cocked an eyebrow, his confusion visible on his face. Kenya felt more than confusion in his thoughts as well.

"Who are you?" the man said.

Kenya swallowed. "I'm…Kenya," he introduced himself.

"Well, Kenyamon, where are the Destined Jedi?"

The boy chuckled. "I'm not a Digimon. Just Kenya."

Kenya's eyes widened as he nearly swallowed his tongue. After taking a closer look at the man, he realized just who he was. This figure made quite the impression on him in his uncle's manga. It was their mentor.

"Well? Where are they?"

"Aren't you…Gennai?" he breathed.

The man shrugged. "Yeah. How do you know that?"

"Hey! Could you step away from my brother, please?" Yuki shot.

Gennai turned his attention away from Kenya and saw the rest of the gang. His mood became even darker from what Kenya could tell. Gennai's disappointment was obvious for him to see.

"Well, see ya," Gennai said, stepping away from Kenya and headed towards the trees.

"Whoa! Hey! Wait a minute!" Shun cried, running up to cut off the man's escape. "You're just going to leave us here after that?"

Gennai gave a nonchalant shrug. "Yeah," he said.

Shun glared at him. The man didn't seem fazed by it.

Ryuji's eyes widened with joy as it appeared he realized something. "You're the voice! I was looking for you."

Gennai cocked an eyebrow as he looked at the dark-haired boy.

"You shouldn't admit to hearing voices, kid. People will think you're weird," he said.

Ryuji looked down at the ground. Kenya saw him biting his lip and wringing his hands the way Kenya knew he did when he was made fun of. Miya frowned and stepped up to hug her brother.

"Hey! Don't talk to my brother like that!" she admonished. "He's sensitive."

Gennai didn't seem to really care. "Truth hurts. Sorry."

He then looked at the entire group.

"Look, I wanted the Destined Jedi. Not a bunch of random human kids." Gennai gestured to the spot where he had vanquished the Digimon. "As you just saw, this is not a place for you. There are things here that will kill you without a second thought if given the chance. Whatever preconceived notions you had about the Digital World, forget about 'em, go home, never come back."

"We would if we knew how to find our way home," Kazu shot through gritted teeth.

Gennai sighed in exasperation. This was not how Kenya imagined Gennai to be. Based on what his parents had said, and what the manga had shown, Gennai was a helpful mentor to their parents, almost like a second father to them during their time as the Destined Jedi. What had happened over the years to make him this way?

"Always with something to say, don't ya?" Gennai moaned. "Saving a bunch of human kids was not the way I wanted to spend my day. In fact, I was on my way to rescue a bunch of Ranamon from their virginity. Instead, I ended up rescuing a bunch of human kids from an angry Tortomon. Thanks a lot for wrecking my day."

"Now, now," a mysterious voice came from the air.

Kenya was caught off guard. Why did he feel warm all of a sudden? It felt like a warm blanket had been wrapped around him.

"Is that any way to treat our next generation of heroes?"

Gennai rested his hands on his hips, miffed, as he responded to the voice. "You're dead, old man. Keep yourself occupied somewhere else."

Kenya gasped as he saw two ghostly figures flicker into existence two feet away from them. Wait. He recognized them. His Uncle TK drew them in his manga. They looked like the first Gennai from when his parents were first sent here and the other when the group was sent again a second time. This was the first Gennai and Young Gennai! How was that possible?

Young Gennai smiled as if he was unphased by the remark. "Not dead. Force ghosts. You know this. Honestly, though. Ranamon? Couldn't you pick a better Digimon to pleasure yours-"

Old Man Gennai elbowed Young Gennai. "Leave that conversation for a time when the children aren't here."

Both Young Gennai and the current Gennai groaned with annoyance. Kenya had no idea what they were talking about, but judging by how uncomfortable his brother and the other older kids seemed to be, it was probably something that only adults talked about.

"Hello, children," Old Man Gennai greeted the children. "I want to apologize for how you were pulled into this fight. It seems this is how fate has designed it."

The first Young Gennai added, "The newer version of ourself here, we like to call him 2.0, is…not quite all there after he got corrupted. Some slight complications after I was killed when King Drasil began his attack. So we ask that you please have patience with his crude behavior. "

"I'm not that far gone," Young Gennai 2.0 replied to his older counterparts with a glare. "Keep in mind that who I am is a side that you both chose not to release."

Masato awkwardly raised his hand, interrupting the conversation.

"Can we bring the conversation back to us being the next generation of Destined Jedi, please?" he asked in a timid voice that was so unlike him. "None of us signed up for this. You'll want our parents. They have the experience."

Young Gennai 2.0 pointed to Masato while addressing the Force Ghosts. "I like this kid. He might be the only one that gets it."

"Hey!" protested all the children.

"Now, now," Old Man Gennai replied. "We all know why this happened. They deserve to know the truth."

"Which is what?" Yuki asked, raising an eyebrow.

Young Gennai 2.0 huffed. "King Drasil corrupted this world. I'm not fully myself - "

He glitched in and out mid-sentence. Even his skin tone rapidly changed colors, like a computer screen that was damaged. Several swear words escaped and his body movements became uncontrollable until the glitch ceased. When it did, he finished the sentence unphased by the experience.

" - and the mixup of sending the powers to the real Destined Jedi must have been sent off course because of it. So come on," Young Gennai 2.0 beckoned with an impatient hand. "Give up those powers and you all can go home."

Kenya gripped his brother's hand frightened. That idea he once had of becoming a Destined Jedi was gone.

"It doesn't work that way," Old Man Gennai said.

Naomi stepped forward. "Take them. I didn't sign up for this."

"Me either," Ichigo agreed. "My dad is probably worried sick about me right now. I want to go home and be a normal kid helping him in his restaurant. That's all I want. Take these powers away from me."

Shiro, Miya, and Keiko all voiced their desire to have the powers taken away. Kenya wasn't sure what to think.

Both Force Ghosts looked at each other contemplating. Old Man Gennai responded.

"No. The Force is strong with you all."

The group of kids and Young Gennai 2.0 protested as the original Young Gennai interrupted.

"The Force is sometimes mysterious, but we must trust in it."

Yuki shook his head. "No. We're done. Everyone that wants to leave, follow me."

Kenya didn't hesitate. In fact, everyone followed after. This was the biggest letdown in his young life if he had to say. Once they got home, they would pretend this never happened.

"Hey, you brats!" Young Gennai 2.0 called out. "No one leaves until I get those powers back."

It was the weirdest sensation Kenya had ever felt. His whole body felt weightless as he, and all his friends, were yanked back towards all three Gennais.

"Would you mind being more careful with our new Destined Jedi," Old Man Gennai commanded.

"Listen, old man," Young Gennai 2.0 said in a patronizing tone. "It's admirable that you want to give them a chance -"

"Do you doubt the Force?" Old Man Gennai tested his youngest version.

Young Gennai 2.0 glitched once more with more swear words, yells, and uncontrollable movements until the glitch ceased.

"Of course not," he seethed. "It's the only way in guiding us on the right path. Don't insult me."

"Doubting us is doubting yourself," he continued.

"And in turn doubting the Force," Young Gennai finished.

Their current counterpart's face fell, conflicted by what was being said. Kenya heard the man's thoughts battling it out inside his head.

"The two of you know that I have been hiding all these years for my safety," he finally said. "The forces of darkness will stop at nothing to find me and destroy me, thus ending any chance of rescuing our world from this darkness that has swallowed it. Now that these kids are here, it brings this burden unto them."

The two Force ghosts looked at each other. Then, they smiled before looking back at him.

"It was a risk we all took back then," Old Man Gennai said. "But it needed to be taken. The Destined Jedi are our only hope."

Young Gennai 2.0 nodded, lost in thought, as he scanned the group of kids. Kenya looked around too. What, or who, was he looking for?

"And what of The Chosen One?" Young Gennai 2.0 asked his older selves with concern. "He's not here, nor do I feel that his powers are active. Did it not reach him either?"

"You mean Dad?" Miya asked intrigued.

Ryuji's face lit up with joy.

Both Force Ghosts stood in deep thought. An eerie wind howled through the treetops, sending a chill down Kenya's spine. That evil feeling he had sensed earlier returned even more powerful.

Young Gennai answered in a troubled voice. "The three of us should discuss that in private."

He probably felt that feeling too, Kenya guessed. The two ghosts seemed to share his feeling as they both looked around the forest.

"I fear the trees have ears," Old Man Gennai elaborated. "The forces of darkness are strong here. You never know who could be listening and if they'll relay what we've spoken of to King Drasil."

He looked at the children.

"You are our last hope, children," he said. "If your parents succeeded long ago, then there is no doubt in my mind that you all can do the same. They live in each and every one of you. Trust in the Force. Trust in yourselves. Only by believing in each other can you all end this occupation and bring peace to our world."

Kenya looked up at his brother. Yuki was chewing on the inside of his lip, standing lost in thought. He looked around and saw that the Kido brothers and Kazu were doing the same thing. They were all wondering what to do. Maybe his dream of being a Destined Jedi was going to happen after all.

"I think we should do it," he said to his brother.

Yuki looked down at him in confusion. "Squirt," he said. "It's too dangerous. Didn't you read Uncle TK's manga?"

"Of course I did. But, Yuki, if our parents could do it, who's to say that we can't too?" Kenya squeezed his brother's hand. "Come on. Please? They really need our help. I don't think we can rely on our parents for this one."

Yuki fell silent. He looked back at the others and stared at them all for what felt like an eternity to Kenya. His brother was thinking of how he could risk the whole group at the expense of doing what he knew to be right.

Kenya squeezed his hand to assure him. His brother squeezed back. The two of them were a team no matter what. At last, Yuki looked back at the three Gennais.

"Okay," he said. "We'll do it."

Several of the kids reacted to this declaration with shock. A couple tried to change Yuki's mind, but Kenya knew that once his brother set his mind to something, there was no changing it. They were now going to be true Destined Jedi. At long last, Kenya's fantasy was coming true.

"Are you sure about this, Yuki? I think we should talk about this as a group," Masato said.

"No time to discuss this as a committee, Masato," Yuki shot back.

"I am not a committee! I just think–"

"If we don't, then who will? Our parents are not coming to the rescue this time. It's on us now. We're the ones meant to end this conflict."

"But–" Masato bit his lip.

Kenya could certainly see the sixteen-year-old's line of thinking, but he refused to go against his brother. Especially since Yuki was right. This was their fight. Their parents were not coming to save the day this time.

Naomi came over and squeezed Yuki's hand, declaring that she would follow him. That made his brother flash his famous goofy grin. Then Keiko came over, followed by Ichigo and the Ichijouji siblings. Kenya smiled at his best friend, seeing the conflicted look on Shiro's face. Shiro sighed and joined the group of them.

Shun, Masato and Kazu were the only ones standing on the other side.

The younger Kido brother bit his lip so hard that it almost split. Kenya understood that he didn't like being put on the spot when it came to making decisions. Kazu took a breath, muttering "Fine" before stepping in with the larger group.

Shun put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Masato, but I think Yuki is right. We have to do this."

"Shunny–"

"I don't like it anymore than you do, but it's the only way. We'll be fine, I'm sure."

With that, Shun jumped ship. A second later, Masato reluctantly joined them.

The two Force ghosts smiled at what they saw and bowed.

"Then may the Force be with you all," they said before their blue outlines flickered. A second later, they disappeared.

Young Gennai 2.0 looked at the group one last time. Kenya sensed a change in his demeanor. It may have felt reluctant, but he was happy to see that the man was coming around.

"Very well then," he said. "I'll train you all." He smirked. "But only if you obey my every command, no matter how outrageous it may seem, and only refer to me as Master Gennai."

Yuki chuckled nervously, flashing an equally nervous grin.

"Whatever you say."

Somehow, Kenya doubted he meant it.

Seriously, Kenya. What awaits the children as they now begin their Jedi Quest? Found out next time on Destined Jedi: Next Generations.

Hope you guys enjoyed that chapter. Since this is a new group, I wanted the new Gennai to be different as well. He's much more aloof and out there, if you guys haven't guessed already. That's going to really play well *sarcasm* later.

Coming up next, the kids begin their journey and their training to becoming the next group of Destined Jedi. You'll definitely want to stick around for all that.

As always, leave a review and subscribe and I'll see you all next time.

Tootles!