The Digital Paladin

by Manegie

Three years have passed since the digidestined saved the Digital World from ruin, leaving a reborn world bereft of the scars of before in their wake. But an unblemished world, like an unblemished heart cannot avoid strife, and when a new enemy arises, intent to shape the world into a distorted state, it will fall to a new set of digidestined to come to its aid once more. 02 AU

1. Chapter 1: Pulled Into Rebellion

A word of thanks to my friend Keyseeker for helping me with the concept and creation of this fic's premise. Thanks a bunch and I'm sorry it took so long to post it. :)

Chapter One:

Pulled into a Rebellion

"RUN FOR YOUR LIVES IT'S THE DIGITAL PALADIN!"

Screams of panic rent the air as crowds of Digimon desperately fled at the sight of the armored figure on top of the hill.

Said figure sneered, and a few other digimon approached from behind. "My lord, what shall we do?" They asked.

"Same as always, recruit all data and vaccines, imprison the viruses," The Paladin spoke.

"Yes sir!" With that, the other digimon sped forward into the darkened forest while the armored figure watched on with an ever-pronouncing pout.

"Viruses…A scourge that has been allowed to roam free around the digital world for far too long." The figure lifted his sheathed sword and banged the flat end of the scabbard against the ground.

A bluish glow came over the halos inscribed in the scabbard, and the figure unsheathed the blade and swiped it through the air. The air hissed as several white rings flew through the air, causing several digimon to shriek before being silenced by said rings.

"And I will be the one to wipe that scourge away," He growled, raising the sword again.

…

FWOOOM!

Gatomon's fur bristled as she leapt away from Unimon's blast. She stopped where she landed and stood on her hind legs. "Unimon, stop this! I can help you!" Her blue eyes quivered as she stared at the halo glowing above Unimon's head. "Just let me…" She raised her clawed paws, ready to aid her fellow digimon. When she stepped forward, Unimon let out a roar and opened his mouth to ready another blast.

BZZT!

Just before the blast was shot, a glowing purple light lanced past Gatomon, whipping Unimon in the face before recoiling back. Unimon let out a pained cry as purple static fizzled across its cheek and flew off.

Gatomon's fur bristled again as she watched Unimon fly off.

"That wasn't very smart, Gatomon."

Gatomon turned to face her savior with bared fangs, "I could've gotten through to him, Ken!"

Out of the shadows, carrying a small orange, reptilian Digimon, came a boy clad in black leather armor and ashen gray jeans. His ebony black hair was somewhat matted to his face and his bluish-black eyes held both a conveyance of concern and irritation. "Well, chances were far more likely in you getting blasted."

Gatomon's eyes widened at the sight of the reptile, "Agumon!"

Ken grimaced and crouched down to present Agumon to her. "I found him on the outskirts of Monochromon peak. Looks like Rapidmon's work if I've ever seen it."

Gatomon was at Agumon's side instantly, placing a paw on his shoulder. "Agumon, what were you doing there? You know that's Rapidmon's territory!" She exclaimed.

A hiss of a breath came from Agumon as he forced the words out, "Over there, in a cave; I felt it…The-the-Courage…"

Ken and Gatomon instantly stiffened in surprise at Agumon's words.

"Agumon, do you mean the Digimental of Courage?! You found it?" Ken's breath was bated and he set Agumon against a nearby tree.

"Only sensed it," Agumon replied in a mumble.

"Ken, that could be our key to contacting the others!" Gatomon said, stepping in front of the boy.

"I know," Ken said with a grimace. He gently took Agumon back over his shoulders, "But you know as well as I do that we can't go with Agumon in this state. We need to get him to base for safety and wait for this skirmish to blow over."

"Having Buccheimon as backup probably wouldn't hurt either," Gatomon said as another explosion sounded from the distance.

"Especially if we run into Rapidmon," Ken grumbled.

As several more cries echoed through the forest, Ken and Gatomon could only sprint through the trees with feelings of paradoxical bitterness, and hope.

The Digital Paladin had placed the entirety of the digital world under his foot, and whoever wasn't imprisoned was instead forcefully conscripted into his armies and workforces.

Ken had been fighting alongside any and all those fighting against the Digital Paladin, but one person, even with an entire rebellion backing them couldn't hope to defeat the Digital Paladin. One thought ran true as the three of them leapt and disappeared into a gleaming, metallic tree trunk.

They needed to contact the other Digidestined, and the Digimental of Courage was their best chance of doing so.

…

"KARI! Come on, your breakfast is going to get cold!"

Kari Kamiya hopped through her bedroom door, trying to pull her sneaker onto her foot and sling her backpack over her shoulder at the same time. "Sorry, mom," She said, stamping her foot into her shoe, "I'm already running late."

Mrs. Kamiya frowned as Kari jogged past her, stopping only to adjust her crimson red neckerchief and smooth out her white shirt and cherry red capris. "Honestly, Kari, a girl needs her breakfast. What am I supposed to do with all this food anyway?" She gestured to a plate piled high with greenish bacon, to which Kari offered a sheepish smile.

"You could always give it to Tai," She suggested, offering her best attempt at a placating smile.

Mrs. Kamiya sighed and turned back to her stove, "All right, but try to at least pick up something on the way. It's not good to go hungry."

"Okay, Mom," Kari said, moving towards the door.

Suddenly, she saw something out of the corner of her eye, stopping her in a halt.

Sitting on the counter was a pair of circular goggles bound in a blue elastic band that shone under the lights, a testament to the recent cleaning her brother had given them.

A mischievous smile crept across Kari's face and she snatched the goggles into her hand and dashed for the door. "Okay, see you after school, Mom!" She said as the front door closed behind her.

Only when she was in the elevator did Kari lift the goggles and stretch them over her chestnut-colored hair, a small yelp escaping her when the band pulled a few strands along the top of her head. When she had the goggles settled, she leaned towards her reflection in the elevator door with a smile. She'd undoubtedly get the riot act read to her from her brother later on for snatching his prized possession, but she couldn't resist the strange confidence boost the accessory gave her.

"Now that's a completed look," She giggled.

DING! The small chime of the elevator snapped her out of her thoughts, and she squinted at the sudden onslaught of sunlight that came afterwards.

You think I'd be used to that by now, She mused, shielding her eyes with her hand. As she strolled out of the apartment complex and into the outside pavilion, she peered through the sunlight thoughtfully, Now I wonder where he cou—Ah! She smirked and strolled to a nearby bench.

Sitting on said bench, with his head laid back and a pair of headphones blasting a series of guitar riffs into his ears, was a boy the same age as Kari.

Kari shook her head bemusedly and leaned over the bench to look at the boy's face. He was undoubtedly asleep, and his burgundy tone hair hung back in a limp, frizzy mop. Oh, Davis, and here I was worried about keeping you waiting. She stepped around the bench to get a closer look at her friend. Now that only begs the question; how to wake him up?

Turns out it didn't take much thought, as in the next second, Kari's maroon eyes glittered mischievously. Quick as a whip, she pulled his headphones from his ears and cried, "HEY, MOTOMIYA!"

The sight of Davis' flailing arms and legs was undoubtedly going to be enough to last Kari through whatever boring lecture she'd have to listen to that day.

"What's going on?! Where am I?! Where's my ro—" Davis was quickly silenced by his backpack falling from the bench to the pavement with a thud. The resulting jolt that went through him sent the shock away, and he stared at Kari, doubled over in laughter.

His russet toned eyes narrowed, and he pulled his headphones back around his neck, "Real funny, Kari," He muttered. Despite his words, he couldn't help but allow a smile to cross his face (as well as a faint blush) when she looked back at him.

"Oh, don't act like you wouldn't have done the same to me," Kari giggled, picking up Davis' backpack and handing it back to him.

"That's not the point," Davis chuckled, taking the bag and slinging it over his shoulder. His gaze fell on the goggles gleaming over Kari's bangs as they began walking. "You took Tai's goggles? Isn't he gonna get mad?" He asked.

Kari readjusted the goggles with a smirk, "He'll be a little huffy, but he'll forgive me when I give him my famous 'love me smile'!" She then illustrated her statement by flashing Davis an example of said smile.

Davis scratched his cheek (A means of hiding the pinkness that was appearing on it), "As long as you know what you're doing…"

Kari giggled in response and jogged forward a few steps to a convenience store entrance, "Hey, want some melon bread? My treat."

"Absolutely!" Davis exuberantly replied. "When have you ever known me to turn down free food?"

"I seem to recall you developing a certain aversion to my mom's cooking," Kari replied, stepping into the convenience store with Davis in tow.

"Who makes tonkatsu without frying the breading?!" Davis asked, throwing his hands into the air melodramatically.

"That's my every night," Kari droned, taking an appreciative sniff of the fresh melon bread as they approached.

"Yeah, Mom, I'll be back after I fix Cody's computer after school, I promi—Oof!"

Kari turned from the bread at the sound of a gasp behind her, finding Davis on the floor along with a purple haired girl with skewed glasses across from him.

"Hey, watch where you're going!" The girl growled, re-adjusting her glasses over her brown eyes.

A fire sparked instantly within Davis' own glare, "Where I'm goi—You ran into me, four eyes!"

"Four eyes?!" Instantly, the girl was on her feet and standing over Davis imposingly, "You wanna run that by me again, frizzy?"

Davis stood up as well and puffed his chest out, "Yeah—FOUR-EYES, as in one-two-three-four!" He accentuated each number by pointing at her eyes and then her lenses.

The girl's face reddened, "You little…"

Kari stepped between the two, "Now, now, let's ease up here. There's no reason to get this worked up this early in the morning, right?" She turned to the girl, "Sorry about my friend, he has a tendency to be a little spacey."

"Kari!?" Davis immediately voiced his offense, but Kari simply ignored him, instead keeping her focus on the girl.

"Any chance we can let bygones be bygones?" Kari asked.

The girl bit her lip before glancing at her watch, "I suppose…I really need to get going anyway." She gave Davis another glare, "Just be sure to keep an eye on where you're going from now on, frizzy."

Davis tried to step towards the girl, only to be stopped by Kari bringing a hand to his chest, leaving him to watch her depart the store with narrowed eyes.

"Honestly, Davis, you're just as hotheaded as Tai," Kari sighed, returning to the bread bin.

Davis looked at her incredulously, "Me? Hotheaded? She ran into me and then looked like she was ready to take a swing at me!"
"To which your response was antagonizing her," Kari replied, handing him a bag of melon bread and gesturing him to the counter.

"What should I have done?" Davis asked, pulling out a bun and taking a bite.

Kari took her change and led him back outside, "Well there is that whole thing with turning the other cheek."

"Not really my style," Davis replied through a mouthful of food.

Kari rolled her eyes and held out a hand, "Just give me some bread."

…

The multitude of voices excitedly chattering outside of the school created a sea of jubilant vibes for Kari and Davis to take in as they entered the front gates.

"Yo, Davis, just in time! We need one more person to even things out!" And just like clockwork, there was someone on the field asking Davis to join in a pre-class game of soccer.

Davis looked at Kari, "You mind?" And just the same as everyday as well, Davis made sure to ask Kari if she minded him leaving her.

Kari waved him off with a smirk, "You kidding? Tai would never let us hear the end of it if you didn't go into a soccer match."

Davis pulled his fists to his sides, "Right! Time to defend my title as soccer champion of the school!"

"Just be sure to not be late for class, champ," Kari teased, giving him a light jab in the shoulder.

Davis flashed her a quick grin before speeding off, giving her a farewell wave as he entered the field, "Wouldn't dream of it!"

Kari watched him go for a moment before she shook her head and made her way into the building. Normally, she would have stayed to give him some light cheering on, but she had some things to attend to before class started.

"So will you be coming to my house after school to fix my computer, Yolei?"

"As long as your mom is making those brownies I love so much!"

Kari came to a halt at the sound of a familiar voice. She turned her head just in time to see the girl from the convenience store pass by, now accompanied by a boy several years her junior.

"I'll call during lunch and ask her to make a batch right away," The boy earnestly replied.

"Perfecto!" You're the salt of the Earth, Cody!" The girl named Yolei proclaimed.

Kari watched them round the corner, biting her cheek thoughtfully. She seems nice, She thought, continuing towards her locker, Maybe she was just stressed this morning. She probably had to meet up with that other kid.

BZZZT!

Suddenly, a vibration jolted her out of her thoughts, and her hand shot into her pocket as if by instinct. In less than a second, she pulled out the device she was looking for and was staring at it with quivering, maroon eyes.

Her digivice shone dully in the morning light, but the screen was dark, lifeless, completely devoid of activity.

A chill of sadness crept into Kari, sweeping away the brief rush of adrenaline that had swept through her. In that despondence, she dropped the digivice back into her pocket. It must have been my imagination, She thought morosely. An image of a blue-eyed cat creature crept through her mind and she closed her eyes and leaned against the wall, Or perhaps wishful thinking.

…

Gatomon paced the root covered floor briskly, impatience clawing at her every nerve. "Ooh, when that boy gets back here, I'm going to—going to—Urgh!" She swiped her claws through the air in an attempt to vent her frustrations.

"You shouldn't get so worked up, Gatomon."

Gatomon turned to Agumon, sitting on a bench beside her, looking chipper as ever, but with his arm in a sling and a bandage across his stomach. "Worked up? Need I remind you that while Ken's off learning his ABC's, we're here fighting a war?"

"Ken has obligations to the human world and our world," Agumon replied. "It isn't fair to place everything on him."

"Which is why he should be here helping us find the digimental!" Gatomon cried, throwing her claws in the air. "That's our best bet of contacting the others!"

"Is Miss Kitty throwing a temper tantrum again?"

Gatomon's hair bristled as the door opened and two other digimon walked in with a rolling cart in front of them. One was a small purple being with pointed ears, a white face and red gloves. The other was a reptilian creature like Agumon, but much larger with crimson skin and friendly amber eyes.

"If by temper tantrum you mean stating the facts; then yes, Impmon, I am throwing a tantrum," Gatomon said, leaning into the other digimon's pale face.

The red digimon scampered around the cart, "No, no, no! Kenmon said Agumon needed peace and quiet to recover!" The reptile picked up a bowl with his claws and trotted to Agumon, "That's why Impmon and I made you soup!"

Agumon took the bowl with his one good claw, "Aww, thanks Guilmon."

Impmon crossed his arms imperiously, "You should eat too, Gatomon. Especially if you're going back out there."

Gatomon sighed and took a bowl despondently, "Don't remind me. Without digivolution, I'm on the losing end of this game of cat and mouse."

"You're still a champion though," Guilmon said, reaching out to pat Gatomon with a claw.

"And if we're able to contact the others, we'll be able to digivolve again and show that Paladin who's boss!" Agumon said, slurping down his soup and standing up.

"And besides," Impmon stepped in front of Gatomon and held up a single finger, "If any Paladin flunkies try and bring the heat on us—" A tiny ball of flame materialized above his finger, "I'll give them a little badda-boom!"

Gatomon took in the sight of the three digimon in front of her, all with encouraging expressions on their faces. She smiled and chugged the bowl before placing it back on the table with a clatter. "Thanks for the pep talk you guys, but maybe try getting some more broth next time?"

"Tsk, everyone's a critic," Impmon sighed, rolling his eyes.

At that moment, a small bat-like digimon in a poorly stretched leather hood flew in, "Hey, the boss is back! Look sharp!"

Not two seconds after, Ken appeared, adjusting his leather armor against his torso. "Thanks for the introduction, Demidevimon." He ambled up to the digimon with an apologetic expression, "Sorry to keep you waiting, guys."

Gatomon and Agumon stepped up to Ken.

"Let's get going!" Gatomon said, setting her claws on her hips.

Ken frowned and kneeled down to their level, "We will, but first I should say that…" He scratched his head, obviously searching for the right words, "I think it'd be best if—if Agumon stayed here."

"But Ken!" Agumon's protest was instant, "I was the one who originally sensed the digimental!"

"And that in itself was a world of help," Ken said, placing a hand on Agumon's shoulder comfortingly, "And what's more, you got injured while providing that aid, you've done more than enough." He offered a small smile, "Now is the time for you to recover, so that you can fight another day."

"Ken's right, Agumon," Gatomon interjected. "If we succeed, we can contact the others, and if we can contact the others, you can become Greymon again."

"She's got a point, Pepper breath." Impmon held another bowl of soup in front of Agumon appealingly. "Live today, Greymon another day."

Agumon took in the others (As well as the soup) for a long while before letting out a sigh and sitting down, "Okay, I'll stick around."

"Wonderful," Ken said, standing up, "In that case, let's go Gatomon. Buccheimon is hiding among the trees outside and will be providing cover as we make our way to Monochromon peak."

Gatomon nodded and followed Ken through the passage. Kari…I hope we can find a way to contact you, because we need you, our entire world needs you.

…

Ken supposed he should have been grateful the Digital Paladin had left the surroundings intact. Save for the occasional snapped tree or explosion induced trench, most of the digital world's beauty remained.

Now if only its residents weren't under that maniac's boot, He thought, ducking under a tree branch.

Ahead of him, Gatomon prowled in some tall grass, acting as a sentry for any of the Paladin's ground troops while Buccheimon kept an eye on the skies.

When he had first been called into the digital world, the virus digimon had been in a state of panic, completely convinced that all hope was lost in the wake of the Paladin's regime. If he was being honest, he wasn't sure what he could've done at the time either. His first thought had been to take his partner, Wormmon, and flee.

That all changed when they had found their digimental.

Wormmon gained the ability to become Buccheimon, and Ken gained a few new abilities as well. Suddenly they weren't so powerless anymore. One successful counterattack later and suddenly all the virus digimon were given a little hope.

Ken couldn't walk away from that, and neither could Wormmon.

So began their quest to take down the Digital Paladin's regime. They fought, they recruited, and most importantly, they protected. In time, they had their own base and several digimon under their wing.

Unfortunately, the Digital Paladin had acquired allies as well.

The Vaccine Generals, digimon powerful enough to easily overpower the both of them led a brutal conquest throughout the digital world. In only a night, months of rebellion had been undone and Ken as well as his already relatively small group of freedom fighters had been stricken down several notches down the ladder of hope.

Ken and Wormmon, emboldened as they had been previously found nary an idea of what to do following that. Then, the chosen digimon came; the partners to the digidestined.

They told him of their partners and the outstanding deeds they performed with them. Their liberation of File Island, their disruption of Etemon's dark network, the downfall of Myotismon, and even their victory over the Dark Masters.

It was clear what they had to do. They had to bring the digidestined back.

But how were they supposed to contact them? Yes, they lived in the real world, same as Ken, but he couldn't just go door to door asking for them, could he?

Luckily, his recounting of how he and Wormmon discovered their powers was enough to spark an idea in Gatomon. The digimentals were emblazoned with the crests of the digidestined. If they could prompt a reaction from said digimentals, they may be able to catalyze a reaction that could be felt by the digidestined in the real world.

It was a good idea, in theory. However, up until that point, their various reconnaissance missions had yielded nothing of worth. Save for the occasional rumor and a meal at Digitamamon's restaurant, nothing had really been gained.

That's why Agumon's claim of sensing a digimental was so important. The digimentals may have been emblazoned with all the crests, but despite bearing the marks of courage, friendship, and every other pillar of the digital world, it was what they inspired that was most important of all.

Hope.

"KEN!"

Ken was snapped out of his thoughts to find Gatomon perched on top of a rocky outcrop. Ahead of them was a large cave beneath a ruddy, rocky peak.

"Quit daydreaming, we're here," She said, gesturing towards the cave entrance.

Ken bit his cheek and looked up. Through the leaves in the trees, he could see the smallest spots of dark pink along with a single beady black eye that gazed at Ken with something akin to adoration.

Satisfied that Buccheimon was keeping watch, Ken clambered onto Gatomon's perch and followed after her.

Once inside the cave, the presence of a digimental was immediately verified to the two of them. The influx of power sent chills and tingles all throughout their beings.

"Ken…" Gatomon's voice was low and her pupils quivered. "I feel it…"

"Yeah, the digimental," Ken affirmed.

Gatomon shook her head, "Not just any digimental judging by what I feel. That feeling, it's the same one I felt whenever I digivolved to Angewomon!" She looked at Ken excitedly, "I think the digimental might be the digimental of light!"

Ken gazed into the cave's depths with her, curiosity stirring in his mind, "But…Agumon said he felt the energy of the crest of courage."

Gatomon gasped, "You don't think…Ken, there might be two!" Before Ken could blink, Gatomon was sprinting further into the cave.

Ken jolted and sped after her, "G-Gatomon, wait!" As the darkness grew more pronounced, the energy fizzled ever stronger on his skin, like lightning racing up his arms.

Soon all the light was gone and Ken was left shuffling through the darkness with only his hands on the wall to guide him.

"Gatomon, are you still there?"

Suddenly, a glimmer of light pierced the darkness, illuminating Gatomon's silhouette not far ahead of him.

"Where would I have gone?" She asked sardonically.

Ken ignored her sass and the two followed the light until the walls widened into a dome shaped grotto. From where they entered, the light shone from the center of the area, showcasing the bright red of the walls and projecting a pale, pink aura that shimmered like a silk curtain in the air.

"I knew it!" Gatomon cried, leaping to the center of the room. "We were right, Ken! There's two of them!"

Ken walked up beside Gatomon and felt his breath leave him. In front of him were two objects, small enough to fit in his palms and vaguely egg shaped. The first was red and orange, with a symbol representing the sun with rays represented by several spires extending outward. Above the symbol was a large, gray spike, shining in the light of its neighbor.

This was the digimental of courage.

The other digimental appeared much more metallic, with gold accents along the top and lower half with what appeared to be folded silver wings over its midsection. Inscribed on its back was a pink symbol that bore much resemblance to a flower with a myriad of spiked petals surrounding it.

"I knew it! It really is here!" Gatomon could barely contain her excitement.

Ken couldn't help but allow a small smile to cross his face. "Finally…We can find the others."

KROOOOM! The cave shook, and sunlight burst through the ceiling as a figure crashed to the ground, changing form as it fell.

"WORMMON!" Ken cried, sprinting through the dust cloud.

Ken scrambled through the rocks before pulling out a green, caterpillar like creature. Along its battered body were a collection of freshly inflicted scrapes, cuts, and bruises.

"Ken…" Wormmon's eyes opened, revealing his saddened azure gaze, "I'm so sorry. He was just too strong."

"I don't even know why he bothered."

Ken's eyes narrowed when a shadow settled over them, and he stood to glare at one of the Digital Paladin's generals.

Rapidmon hovered above Ken, his emerald green armor shimmering malevolently in the garish rays of the afternoon sun. "Pretending to be anything more than a filthy virus." The white furred sinews that made up his limbs twitched as his metallic ears rose, "Though it must be preferable to admitting his own corrosive existence on the perfect world our glorious leader seeks to create."

Gatomon leapt to Ken's side and thrust a claw towards Rapidmon, "The only thing your leader seeks to make is a world without freedom."

Rapidmon's eyes moved to Gatomon, "I wouldn't take your word on freedom, minion of Myotismon."

Gatomon bared her teeth, "I may have been forced to work for Myotismon, but at least I'm not willingly the Paladin's lap dog."

Rapidmon made a "tsk" sound before lifting an armor-clad arm towards the three of them. The red claw like appendages at the end drew back, and a light began to emanate from within the arm cannon. "It'll be a pleasure to see you reduced to nothing but data particles," He darkly growled.

Ken held Wormmon close and he took a step back, "You know as well as I do that the Paladin would want to interrogate us first."

Rapidmon made a sound akin to a growl and lowered his arm. "That may be," He muttered, hovering upward. A viridian glow outlined Rapidmon's form and he lifted his arms. "But he will have no qualms in me leaving a few marks before I deliver you." The light formed into a bright triangle, filling the cavern with verdant light. "Get ready to experience true pain, TRI BEAM!"

Ken snatched up Gatomon and bolted away as the beam sped towards them. The ground was torn apart as the beam collided, sending an enormous wave of heat through the cavern and bringing rocks through the air as the trio were blown off their feet.

When the glow faded, Rapidmon surveyed the craggy rubble, taking immense pride in the smoke that billowed from the reddened rocks. "Do not bother to attempt hiding," He taunted, hovering over where he had last seen them. "You'll be in shackles before you know it."

RIIIIIIIII! An ear-splitting shriek caused Rapidmon to recoil in shock. "What is tha—GAH!"

Suddenly, he was pushed back by a dome of pink energy erupting from beneath the rubble, sending him upward towards the opening he had created in the ceiling.

From the center of the dome of light, Ken forced himself into a hunched position as he pulled on the digimental to no avail.

"Ken, we have to go!"

Ken looked to Gatomon, desperately pulling on his shirt, "But the digimental!"

"It's the digimental of light," Gatomon stated, "chances are only Kari can take it."

Ken looked back at the digimental, eyes almost shut from the blinding light. But we don't know where she is, where any of them are! He felt a chill of hopelessness claw at his chest. And without them, we don't stand a chance against the Paladin! We need the others!

BZZZZT! Suddenly, from within the light came three orbs of glowing color; one blue, one red, and one yellow. Within the light, they floated for a moment, orbiting around each other as their own lights brightened with each passing second. Then, with a final shriek, they rocketed skyward in a streak of their respective glimmers.

What in the world was that? Ken thought, looking at the spot where the objects had disappeared.

"KEN! We have to go befo—" Gatomon's words died when Rapidmon slammed his metallic form in front of them. Another aura was around him and his eyes absolutely quivered with rage.

"You. Are not. Going. Anywhere," He hissed.

Ken reached for his belt loop only to freeze when Rapidmon lifted a missile loaded arm right in front of his face. "Lay a finger on that accursed device and you'll be nothing more than vapor when I'm done with you."

Ken's fingers curled and his expression hardened.

"Look as brave as you want, it'll do you no good in the presence of the Paladin." Rapidmon said.

Ken stole a glance at the sky again, I don't know what that was, but I really hope it's something that'll help.

…

"Honestly Davis, detention on the first day?" Kari shook her head. "That has to be some sort of record."

Davis frowned as he met Kari outside of the computer room where his detention had been held. "I told you it wasn't me!" He protested.

Kari rolled her eyes, "Davis, it was your shoe…Right below the broken window."

Davis bit his cheek, searching for another excuse, "Uh—Someone took it off me and threw it!"

"Right…" Kari smirked, "Well maybe we should consider getting you new shoelaces so someone can't pull them off so easily…or fly off when you kick a soccer ball."

Davis crossed his arms, "It's like they don't even know the meaning of the word 'accident'."

Kari giggled and gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder, "Well, I'll give your parents a good word on your behalf. Now let's get back to my place so we can get started on our homework."

Davis groaned, "Fine, but let's get something on the way. Doing homework is one thing, but eating your mom's cooking on top of that is more like torture."

Kari sighed and allowed her head to droop, "Sadly, I'm with you all the way with that."

FWIIII! The two of them leapt up in shock when a shrill screech came from Kari's pocket.

"Ah! What is that!?" Davis asked, pressing his hands to his ears.

Kari didn't answer. It had been years since she had last heard that sound and hearing it now immediately brought back the image of a familiar cat creature that she had said goodbye to four summers ago, prompting her to pull out a small white device with a small screen.

Her digivice, silent for years was flashing and shaking erratically in her palm.

"Jeez, that is one moody tamagotchi!" Davis exclaimed.

Kari paid no attention to him. She just stared at the screen in extreme concentration, Gatomon? Are you there?

Her question was answered with the light transforming into a vivid pink beam. The beam shook and suddenly, like a small eruption, three orbs shot out. The orbs hovered in place, like they were deciding where to go.

"Whoa…" Davis took in the spectacle, the majority of his attention on the blue orb. It seemed to be emanating a warmth that he could swear only he could feel.

Apparently that feeling held some sort of cosmic merit as in the next second, the blue orb rushed into his unknowingly outstretched palm. Immediately after, the red and yellow orbs sped down the hallway, disappearing around the corner and out of the minds of the two bewildered children.

With the orbs gone, the original light receded back into the digivice, bathing it in a pink glow. With a buzzing hum, the digivice began to expand and change shape, eventually ending on a much more oblong and curved shape. With the transformation complete, the humming ceased and the glow dissipated.

The digivice which had always been a dull white, was now a brilliant mother-of-pearl sheen with neon-pink accents to it with a slightly bigger screen and buttons.

M-My digivice! Kari turned the device in her hand, taking in the quartz-like rainbow glimmers it now exuded.

"And I was considering getting a Gameboy."

Kari looked up and felt her breath escape. Davis was examining a digivice of his own. His had a similar appearance to Kari's but held a difference in the blue accents. "D-Davis, you have one too!"

Davis inspected the digivice with a curious pout. "I suppose I do," He replied, poking at the buttons. His brows furrowed when he got no response and turned to Kari appraisingly, "Any ideas what kind of batteries this thing needs?"

Kari shook herself out of her thoughts and stepped forward to take Davis' hand into her own to inspect the digivice. "It doesn't need batteries." She whispered, turning the digivice in his hand.

Davis felt a flush of heat creep into his cheeks, "Um…Well, what is it?"

FWEEEE! FWEEE! A high pitched wail caught their attention and a beam of light billowed into the hallway from—

"The computer room!" Kari gasped, running past Davis.

Davis groaned and followed after her, "Aw, Kari, I just got out of detention!"

Kari ignored him and followed the fading light. By the time she was in front of the computer it was coming from, the light was gone, replaced by something else altogether.

On the computer screen was something resembling a black control panel. On its sides were dark violet tabs that adjacent to a large red square in the panels' center. On the other side was another tab, this one a bright blue with a list of strange symbols adorning it.

"What's that thing?" Davis shouldered himself next to Kari to get a better look of the strange panel. "Some sort of game? I thought you only liked smash bros."

Kari focused her attention on the small symbols on the tab, finding something that sparked something in her memory. A small emblem reminiscent of a flower with spiked petals. She gasped and placed a hand over her lips, "My crest!"

"Crest?" Davis parroted, gently nudging himself closer to the screen. When he saw the crest, he bit his cheek pensively, "That thing? Looks like something I'd doodle in my notebook." He turned to Kari who was looking at her digivice with a furrowed brow. "Kari? You okay? You seem distracted?"

Kari looked up from the digivice and back at the panel, "I—I'm just confused. Lights from computers? My digivice changing shape?" She scratched her hair, disheveling it into a messy thatch. "If Izzy were here…" She jolted and leaned towards Davis, "That's it! Izzy!"

"Who's Iz—Wha-whoa!" Davis was unable to finish his question due to Kari pushing his chair aside to get to the adjacent computer.

"Sorry Davis, I need to contact a friend of mine," She said, signing into the computer.

Davis watched her hurriedly bringing up an email with a somewhat miffed expression, "Normally I'd call you out for being rude, but that'd be a real case of the pot calling the kettle black."

When she offered no sarcastic quip or humorous reply in return, he frowned and took her original spot in front of the panel. "You sure are getting worked up over this thing," He said, glancing at the panel.

Kari practically slammed her name into the keyboard before hitting send. When the message disappeared from the screen she leaned back into the chair and released a breath she wasn't aware she was holding.

"Why is that, Kari?"

Kari looked at Davis who was holding his digivice close to his eyes again. "Is it because of this thing?" He asked, peering into the screen. He offered what he hoped was an encouraging smile and raised it above his head, "If it'd make you feel better, I'd smash this thing right now."

Kari jolted again and held out her hands, "No, no, no! That's fine!" She felt her lips twitch into a smile in seeing his earnestness to make her feel better. "I'm just—really surprised by what's going on?"

Davis lowered the digivice and leaned back with a fake pout, "Which you're keeping me in the dark about, I'd like to add."

Kari scratched her cheek sheepishly, "Right…Sorry, it's just…crazy." She cleared her throat and looked at Davis with a serious expression, "Do you remember when those stories I used to tell you? About Digimon? About the Digital World?"

Davis grinned and sat up with his hands on his knees, "That place with all the crazy creatures and places? Of course I remember! You spent practically all of third grade talking about it!"

Kari giggled at his enthusiasm and felt bolstered into going on, "Well those stories, about my friend Gatomon, the Numemon, the Dark Masters…They were all true."

A moment of silence passed as Davis apparently searched for a response, "Um…Kari, do you need to lie down?"

Kari sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose, Should've expected that. Her previous good mood was further diminished when she felt Davis' hand on her forehead. "Daisuke, I do not have a fever!" She exclaimed, waving him away.

Davis pulled his hand back, still looking concerned, "Sorry, just making sure; you remember the last time you had a fever."

Kari's eyes narrowed, "Talk about the White day fiasco and these goggles are going straight down your throat." She stood up and peered at the panel again, "And I'm telling the truth." She looked at her digivice again, "The digital world…Gatomon…Is something wrong?"

Davis frowned and turned towards the computer. "Shame these things showed up without a manual, isn't it? He said, holding his digivice towards the computer. "We'd probably have a better idea of what to d—Wait-what's that?"

Their attention was caught by the red screen beginning to blink in unison with the screen on the digivice.

FWWWIIIIII!

The two of them cringed when the digivice started screeching again and the red of the control panel faded into an image of a forested area.

"What, did I press start?" Daisuke asked, taking his hands off his ears.

"That's it!" Kari was back on her feet, "The Digital World!" Her hand flew to her digivice, "And it was your digivice that caused it! Maybe if I use mine…" She held her own to the screen and felt her heart skip a beat when her screen began to light up as well.

Davis scooched the chair back with wide eyes. "W-what's going on!"

Suddenly, like a rope was coiled around his hand, Davis was yanked out of his chair towards the screen leaving the room behind and hurdling through a swath of colors and lights. Any temptation to cry out was pressed back into him as he rocketed forward like a particle in a vacuum. He wasn't able to break out of his daze until a stream of light rushed past him and he saw Kari's silhouette within it. No way…

Then, as soon as it began, the colors were washed away by whiteness and Davis felt himself tumble along hard ground before coming to a stop in a tangle of limbs. His body convulsed as he took several gulps of air in an attempt to silence the heartbeat hammering in his ears.

"There you are, Davis!"

Davis lifted his head to stare blearily through a myriad of sparkles obstructing a familiar silhouette running towards him. "Kuh-Kari?"

Kari frowned and slid to a stop at Davis' side. "I'm sorry Davis," She said, crouching down to her woozy friend. "I guess I was a little gung-ho about activating the portal, wasn't I?"

Davis felt a fraction of his senses reset when a pair of hands wrapped around his own. "Portal…?" He mumbled, shaking as she pulled him to his feet.

Kari giggled sheepishly and looped his arm around her shoulders. "Yes, silly, the portal. Normally I'd lecture you for being so absentminded, but considering I just pureed your brains I'll let it go." She looked up in what Davis supposed was wonder, "But we're here, the digital world!"

Davis found it hard to sympathize with her due to his inability to look up. All he could see was the ground…The light green, somewhat spotty ground. What in the…?

"Want me to find a rock you can sit on, Davis?"

Suddenly, the gravity of what had just happened slammed into Davis and he jolted into an upright position. The sparkles dissipated and he was met with the sight of the forest they had seen in the computer. "Holy crap, we're in another world!"

Kari couldn't but laugh again as she watched Davis' head swerve in a dozen different directions, trying to take in everything. "Feeling a little shocked?"

Davis turned to her so suddenly she was surprised his head didn't wobble. "I-What-How—?"

Davis' befuddled state wasn't unfounded. They were in a different world now after all, a world very much unlike their own.

For starters, everything looked slightly pigmented. Like someone had personally dabbed the entire world into existence.

Light seemed to play by a different set of rules as well. It seemed more spread out and shifty; almost like the light was coming out of everything instead of onto them. Because of this, the colors of the world seemed more distinguished, almost watercolor-like.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" Kari asked wistfully.

Davis made a few more croaking sounds in his continuous search for the proper words.

Kari giggled and gave him a pat on the back, "Breathe Davis, breathe."

Davis took a deep, shaky breath, an action that relaxed his shoulders and put a stop to his quivering pupils. He took a long, appalled look at his surroundings again before finally speaking again. "Those stories…" He turned to Kari incredulously, "They were all true."

Kari replied with a smile and a vigorous nod, "Good to see you believe me now."

Davis laughed nervously, "Dude, you could tell me the Easter bunny was real and I'd believe you right now."

Kari giggled again and slid his arm off of her, "I'll try not to take advantage of that." She then stepped forward with a more determined expression, "For now, I want to find Gatomon."

"Gatomon? You mean the Digimon that was your partner?"

"Yup," Kari replied. She bit her cheek and scratched the other as she stared down the path, "The question though is how we're going to find her."

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"The tamagotchis!" Davis cried, pulling his digivice out from his pocket, "I'd completely forgotten about them."

Kari jolted in realization and grabbed her own as well. The digivice gave a smaller chirp in her hand before two pink and red dots appeared on the screen.

"What, are they going to send us to Wonderland now?" Davis mumbled.

Kari looked toward the direction the dots were in on the screen. A pink dot? That's got to be Gatomon! "Davis, we're going that way." She said, running forward.

Davis' eyes widened, "Wha—Oh, wait for me!"

The forest became a blur as the two sprinted through the forest, Kari glancing at her digivice, Davis running beside her still looking rather dumbfounded.

All Kari could focus on was the dots. Each time they blipped closer to the center of the screen she felt a small flame of determination grow within her. I'm coming Gatomon, don't worry.

"Kari, look out!"

Kari gasped with the sudden stop of movement that came from an unforeseen rock and tumbled onto the ground in what she prayed was an at least somewhat dignified heap.

"Whoa, you were really absorbed in that thing." She peered up from her heap to find Davis crouching next to her with his hand out. "You okay?"

Kari nodded and took Davis' hand.

"Though I can't blame you for tripping," He said, pulling her up while looking behind him, "this place makes my room look tidy."

Untidy was quite the understatement on Davis' part. The area surrounding the cavern entrance was more akin to a war zone. From their vantage point they could clearly see that the ceiling had been blown off, first inward as evident with the sloped crumbles sliding within, then outward as evidenced by the boulders now littering the landscape.

"What could've done this?" Davis asked.

Kari looked back down at her digivice. The pink and red dots were closer than ever, right next to them even. A chill of dread clawed at her chest as she looked back at the wreckage. "Gatomon…" She whispered.

"Kari."

Kari turned to Davis who was giving her a small smile of encouragement. "If we need to go in there, let's go! I'll be right beside you."

Kari felt the chill dissipate and she nodded with a smile, "Thanks, Davis." She returned her gaze to the cavern and took a step forward, "I assume you wanna race?"

Her answer was Davis speeding past her eliciting a fake gasp. "Cheater!" She laughed, dashing after him.

Davis hopped up several rocks before turning back to her with a single wagging finger, "You're Tai Kamiya's little sister; there's no chance I'm underestimating you."

Kari landed next to him with a smirk, "Smart move, that's how Tai lost a bet to me."

"What'd he lose?" Davis asked, following her into the cavern.

"The top bunk," Kari snickered.

"Poor Tai," Davis said in a voice filled with false lamentation. He squinted as the light began to fade, "Careful Kari, it's getting dark."

"Don't worry," Kari replied, placing a hand on the wall, "I've dealt with a lot worse last time I was here."

"I still can't believe all those stories were true," Davis said, "That crazy sea monster, the creepy puppet, the mechanical dragon, all of it?"

"Yup," Kari answered, smiling from flattery.

"Even that part where you got sick?"

A weight fell into Kari's stomach, "I…Forgot I mentioned that. Yeah that was true too."

A pause ensued in the darkness before Davis spoke again. "You'll tell me if you start feeling bad, right?"

Kari bit her lip. She wasn't nearly as sickly as she was in her younger years, but that didn't mean those that were around for those ordeals didn't still worry. "I'll be fine Davis, don't worry."

Suddenly, the air felt charged, like electricity was dispersed through the area. The digivices beeped and in the distance, a red and pink light appeared.

"Looks like we're there," Davis said.

Gatomon! Without realizing it, she was running towards the light, hopping over rocky outcrops, unaware of Davis calling out to her.

A thin, rocky barrier blocked her entrance, but Kari simply threw herself against it, shattering it and sliding to a stop on the other side.

"Holy crap, that was awesome!" Davis dashed out after her with the widest, most stupefied grin on his face, "Why are you not on the soccer team with us? You can probably send the ball through a building!"

Kari was too absorbed in the room to hear him (or notice the dull pain now in her shoulder). Finally her eyes fell on the objects giving off the light. "What's that?' She asked.

"Slim chance we'll find out standing around here," Davis said, hopping past her and up a ledge. He ran to the objects with Kari quickly following suit.

"Eh, I might've been wrong on finding out by getting closer," Davis said, crouching down to the objects.

Kari stepped beside him and beheld the glowing objects, taking note of the familiar symbols on them. "They have crests on them," She observed, crouching down to them.

"Which ones?" Davis asked, crouching alongside her.

Kari pointed at the digimental of light, "That one's the crest of light, my crest." She then pointed at the digimental of courage, "And that one's the crest of courage, my brother's crest."

BEEEP! Davis' digivice suddenly shined a brilliant orange light. With another influx of energy, the digimental of courage gave off a wave of light of its own. Then, as suddenly as the wave went out, it went back, receding into the digimental.

"What was that all abou—WHOA!" Davis held his hands out as he beheld the strange orange outline that was glowing around them. "What's happening?" He asked, lifting his feet to inspect the outline around him as well.

"I think this thing wants you to pick it up."

Davis stopped examining himself and returned his attention back to the digimental. Like him, it was sporting an orange outline as well. Only on the digimental, the glow faded and intensified every few seconds, like it was trying to get their attention.

"But I thought you said it was Tai's crest," Davis said, crouching back down to the little object.

"Hey, I've seen a lot of strange things on this world," Kari stated, patting him on the back encouragingly. "Trust me, this wouldn't even crack the top ten, go ahead, grab it."

Davis bit his cheek, "Okay…I just hope I don't turn to a night light, I'll never get any sleep."

Slowly, Davis wrapped his fingers around the digimental. Instantly, a wave of heat traveled from his fingertips to the top of his head and the tips of his toes. With a jolt, he pulled the digimental from its place.

From where the digimental had been came a geyser of orange light. The light erupted into the ceiling before widening into a pillar of brilliance.

Whoa… Davis thought, staring into the pillar.

Suddenly, a silhouette appeared within the light and Davis felt a comforting warmth spawn in his chest.

The silhouette uncurled itself and to Davis and Kari's surprise, bounded out with a bombastic cheer.

"FREE AT LAST! FREE AT LAST!" The silhouette hopped around him, now fully lit by the now dominant sunlight. It was a vaguely reptilian creature with blue and white scales and red eyes. On top of its head were two ear like appendages that were somewhat reminiscent of a jester hat. The creature's most notable trait however, was the yellow 'V' on its forehead.

The creature hopped in front of Davis who shuffled back in surprise, "My names Veemon, but you can just call me V-mon, it's great to meet you Davis!"

"H-How do you know my name?" Davis asked.

A smile spread across Veemon's white muzzle, "'Cause we're partners of course!"

"Partners?"

"Davis, Veemon's your digimon!"

Davis looked at Kari who was grinning from ear to ear with her hands clasped in front of her. "He is?"

"Sure am!" Veemon took Davis' hands into his own, "Thanks for releasing me by the way, though you sure took your time with it. I thought I'd have to burn as bright as the sun to get your attention."

"You were the one making that light?" Kari asked, scooting closer in interest.

"Yup," Veemon replied, nodding vigorously, "I was getting impatient; I've been here for a while."

"Is that why the other thing is glowing?" Kari directed Veemon's attention to the other digimental, still glowing a soft pink light.

Veemon blinked and tilted his head, "I don't remember a digimon being attached to that one. I could've had a roommate this entire time."

Kari turned back to the digimental, "Could Gatomon be in here?" She took a breath and grabbed the digimental.

Just like Davis, Kari felt a wave of energy travel through her and a bright, white outline came over her.

However, no pillar of light appeared, nor no silhouette. Gatomon was still nowhere to be found.

"I don't understand," Kari whispered, staring down at the digimental.

FWEEE! A sudden piercing whistle filled the cavern and a small pink orb floated out from the top of the digimental. It hovered in place for a moment before bobbing away from the three of them.

"I think that's about as much of a clue as we're gonna get, Kari," Davis said, bobbing his head with the orb.

Kari leapt to her feet, "I agree, let's go!"

Davis stood with her and turned to Veemon, "Um, since we're partners—I guess we should stick together, right?"

Veemon smiled and bounced to Davis' side, "Not unless you want to leave me here, do you?"

Davis couldn't help but laugh, "Well, you're definitely one of the coolest friends I've ever made." He hunkered down and gave Veemon a challenging grin, "Now c'mon, I'll race you!"

Veemon smiled and hunkered down as well, "Okay, but no crying when I beat you!"

"Oh, we are going to get along great," Davis chuckled.

"Like a tree and sunshine," Veemon replied.

"Guys!"

The two looked up to find Kari standing next to the ball of light. She was bouncing with anxiety. "The first meeting bonding is cute, it really is, but I'm really worried about Gatom—"

Before she could finish her sentence, Davis and Veemon sped past her, leaving her in a small cloud of dirt.

"Come on, Kari! Last one out pays for breakfast on the way to school tomorrow!"

Kari blinked and readjusted her goggles, That worked out nicely. She turned to the ball still hovering not far in front of her. Looking at it, she couldn't help but see Gatomon appear in her mind's eye. I'm coming, Gatomon, I only hope you're safe.

…

Ken paced around the grimy cell he was confined to. The horrid buzzing in his head was absolutely torturous as he desperately tried to formulate an escape plan.

He turned and felt his stomach lurch for the umpteenth time. Wormmon was lying on his side, breathing shallowly and harboring more than a few ghastly purple bruises.

Gatomon was not much better. She was laying prostrate on the single bench in the back of the cell. Her ears were laying flat across her head and several scuff marks were present on her body as well. Her tail hung limply below her, devoid of a tail ring. Worst of all, to add insult to injury, her Saberleomon gloves had been taken, leaving her scarred paws exposed to the world.

Ken clenched his fists and he felt the desire to have his digivice and sting blade back grown a hundredfold. Damn Paladin, when I get my hands on him…

Suddenly, a strange chime echoed in his ears and a tingling surge of energy crawled up his back. He unconsciously turned to the source of the energy and saw nothing, but felt the energy return and spread to his fingertips.

What in the world was that? He thought, grabbing the bars.

"KARI!"

Ken whirled around just in time for Gatomon to sprint by his side and take the gloves into her hands. "Kari? As in your partner Kari?"

Gatomon nodded vigorously, "She's here, Ken! In the digital world!" She looked up at him with a grave determination in her eyes, "And she's coming our way."

Ken jolted, "Here? She's coming here?! To the town filled with Paladin sympathizers?"

Gatomon nodded again and began pulling on the bars, "That's right and we need to get out of here, asap. So start thinking brainiac, because I'm not having my partner walk in here without protection."

Ken felt the buzz of anxiety return to his head and he started looking through the cell in a frantic scurry. By some miracle, they're prayers had been answered, now if only they could keep those answers from walking into danger with no defense.

Oh no, this couldn't get any worse! Ken thought, running his hands through his hair.

KLING! "Alright, rebel scum, sentencing time!"

Ken's shoulders sunk and he let his head lightly bonk the wall, It just got worse.

…

"So let me get this straight," Davis said, tilting the digimental in his hands as he examined it, "you've been stuck inside this thing for thousands of years waiting for me?"

Veemon nodded, "Something like that, and they didn't even leave me any food, can you believe that?"

Davis bit his cheek, "Sorry for taking so long." He clapped a hand over the digimental and gave Veemon his best grin, "Tell you what, I'll make you my best bowl of ramen as an apology!"

Veemon tilted his head to the side, "What's ramen?"

"Oh, it is going to blow your mind!" Davis exclaimed.

Veemon smiled and began hopping on his feet, "I'm looking forward to it then."

Davis chuckled and turned his attention back to his front where Kari was scrambling up the hill, desperately chasing the little orb of light bouncing in front of her, Poor Kari, she must be worried sick about her partner. He looked at Veemon who was walking by his side, looking happy as, well a creature long deprived of time in the outside world. I may not have known him long, but I'd sure be worried about Veemon if he was lost somewhere.

"Davis, there's a town!"

Davis was snapped out of his reverie by Kari's voice and he nearly stumbled over the top of the hill. After standing upright, he took in the sight before him.

Sitting in the shadow of the hill they were standing on was a tiny town, speckled with multicolored roofs, a collection of interspersed fields and a small little brick laden square.

"Looks like something you'd see in a storybook," Davis said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.

"Gatomon's down there," Kari's whisper caught his attention again, "I just know it." Then, without warning, she darted past Davis and began sliding down the hill.

"K-Kari!" Davis leapt after her with Veemon not far behind. The three of them slid down the hill, sending a cloud of dirt and dust around them, ending in a cloudy landing at the hill's bottom.

"Jeez, Kari, I thought I was supposed to be the impulsive one!" Davis exclaimed, shaking dust from his hair, "What happened to the girl who kept me from getting into a fight this morning."

"You almost got into a fight? Ooh, what moves do you have?" Veemon grabbed his hand and shook it for answers.

Kari brushed the dirt off her shirt and pants before turning back to him, "Sorry Davis, I just-just need to find Gatomon."

Davis bit his lip, suddenly feeling very guilty in his outburst, "I'm sorry, I was just surprised, that's all."

Kari readjusted her goggles and wiped the dirt off with her thumbs. "I'll be back to normal once we get Gatomon, I promise."

Davis shook his head, "No, no, no, I didn't mean that. I get that your worried about your partner, I'm just—" His words trailed off before he looked back at Veemon who was still looking for an answer to his previous question, "A little surprised by all this."

A moment of silence passed between the two.

"Hey Davis."
Davis turned back to her. She had a small smile on her face and her eyes held a little bit of the mirth they had contained earlier that day. "When we get Gatomon back, I'll show you the digital myself, all right?"

Davis felt a small surge of heat invade his cheeks and he immediately began scratching the spot where the redness was appearing, "Y-Yeah, sounds great, I'll bring some tonkatsu for lunch."

FWEEE! Suddenly, the orb screeched and brightened before diving into Kari's pocket.

"That is one temperamental ball of light," Veemon said.

Kari reached into her pocket and pulled out her digivice which was now glowing as bright as a rising sun. When it faded, a pink arrow now glowed on the screen, pointing towards the town.

"Well, at least we've got a crazy taxi arrow to help us," Davis said. He looked in the direction of the arrow, towards the outskirts of the town, "Which means Gatomon is closer than ever." He looked at her with an encouraging glimmer in his chocolate eyes, "Which means we don't have much more to do before you can start that tour you're promising me."

Veemon leapt in front of Kari, "Sounds great! I'm looking for an excuse to see what's changed myself."

Kari giggled and gave Veemon a soft pat on the head, "I'd love to."

Davis punched his fist through the air, "Then let's get going!"

Kari nodded and held the digivice in front of her. The arrow glowed as it pointed forward and she felt a spur of determination burst to life inside her spurring her into a sprint, I'm coming Gatomon, just be safe.

...

The atmosphere of the town felt eerie to say the least; like someone had swept all sound out of the area. All the vendor's stalls were empty, all the homes held open doors, even the air felt stagnant and cold.

"The new world is…Kinda quiet isn't it?" Veemon said, "I was actually hoping to meet a few digimon and figure out what's happened while I've been gone."

Kari took in the quietness with a frown and returned her attention to the arrow, "In my experience, this kind of quiet never means anything good, stay on your guard."

"This way!"

The trio nearly leapt out of their skin when a pair of strange, rock composed monsters ran past them.

"Gotsumon?" Kari said.

"They look a lot different from when I was around," Veemon stated.

Normally, Gotsumon were golem looking monsters composed of dark colored rocks from head to toe with a pair of yellow eyes shining out from the two cavernous holes in their faces. These two, however, seemed duller in color, with a pair of glowing rings floating above their heads.

"Oh, happy day! We finally get to see those rebels get their just desserts!" Their speech patterns seemed oddly disjointed and staccato as well, like their words came from an inexperienced puppeteer.

"Rebels?" Kari's eyebrows quirked in curiosity.

"Those are the first digimon we've seen besides Veemon," Davis observed. He stepped in front of Kari, "Odds are, following them might lead us to some others. Maybe we can find out more about what's going on?"

Kari nodded and the three of them ran in the direction the Gotsumon had gone. As they followed them, they noticed the quietness slowly being replaced by a murmur of voices that slowly increased in a buzz until it escalated into a full uproar of cheers.

Following the sound, the three of them rounded a corner and found themselves running into a crowd of many digimon. Like the Gotsumon from before, several of them had the glowing rings above their heads and a dulled color to them. Those who didn't sport the ring appeared normal, but behind their cheers, there was a nervous quiver within their eyes.

What's going on here? Kari thought, biting her cheek.

"Silence in the presence of the digital Paladin!" A booming voice overshadowed the cheers and everything was deafened.

The Digital Paladin? Kari stood on her toes to try and look over the taller digimon to no avail.

A beeping sound, like that of an old computer being booted up rang over the silenced crowd.

"For several months, you have been thorns in my side," A cold, crisp voice cracked the air. "You've hampered progress to the world I've set to create, a world of perfection, and light."

Kari felt a squadron of icicles run down her back. What a horrid sounding digimon, She thought, squeezing her fists.

"But no more," The voice continued, "Here the resistance ends; here my world will be realized."

Kari grit her teeth and began to push through the crowd. Her heart was beating faster by the second.

"Kari?" Davis and Veemon followed after her.

"For your indiscretions there can only be one punishment—"

Kari shoved past a crowd of Gekomon, determined the give the owner of that voice a piece of her mind.

"Immediate deletion!"

"NO!" Kari burst through the front of the crowd into the square. Her senses froze and she immediately felt a powerful ache in her heart.

"KARI!"

Kari was unaware of her feet propelling her forward. All she knew was that those steps led to her dearest friend and when she reached her, she took her into her arms in a fervent embrace.

Gatomon shook in her arms, clearly trying to avoid shedding any tears. "Y-You're really here."

Kari nuzzled Gatomon's fuzzy head, "I felt it, I knew you were in trouble and I just couldn't leave you." She pulled away from her and looked down at her handcuffed paws. What's been going on around here? She thought morosely.

"You're Kari Kamiya!"

Kari turned from Gatomon to find a boy with straight, raven black hair and dark indigo eyes staring down at her in absolute astonishment. In his arms was a green caterpillar creature. "I am," She replied somewhat cautiously, "and you are?"
"WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THIS!" Their attention was ripped away by Rapidmon floating towards him. Next to him was a floating box, similar to a TV. On the screen's image was a shadowy figure hidden behind what appeared to be metal helmet with a strange insignia on it.

Kari felt another chill crawl up her back, but she fought it as she stood up with Gatomon in her arms. "Who do you two think you are, sentencing these two to deletion? I know my Gatomon and she would never do anything to cause trouble."

Rapidmon's armor glowed maliciously and he pointed a red digit at Kari, "That foul creature was once a pawn of the evil Myotismon, she holds great darkness in her data!"

Kari could practically feel her hair bristle and she took a challenging step forward, "That was Gatomon's past, she's nothing like that now, she helped save the digital world with me and the other digidestined; or have you forgotten that?"

"Why you…" Rapidmon's body glowed brighter and Kari felt the surrounding area began to heat up dramatically.

"Rapidmon."

Rapidmon's glow faded and he turned to the monitor, "Yes, my liege?"

"Delete the rebels, but bring me the interloper." The monitor then went black and it floated down gently to the ground.

Rapidmon turned back to Kari and the light in his armor returned, "With pleasure, my liege." He then raised his arm and a light began to shine on Kari's face as energy was charged from within the cannon.

"NOT SO FAST!"

"V-HEADBUTT!"

Rapidmon cried out as he was pushed to the side by Davis and Veemon in an impressive tackle. He tumbled through the air before righting himself with eyes swiveling to and fro.

"Kari, you okay?!" Davis was in front of Kari, looking like he'd just witnessed her go toe to toe with a lion and had just barely dodged a claw.

"Davis!" Veemon tugged at Davis's arms. "We need to use the digimental if we wanna stand any chance against him!"

Davis blinked, then pulled the digimental out of his pocket. "Use the digimental?"

"Just say 'Digi-armor energize'." The boy stepped up, still looking like he had just seen Davis and Kari descend from the heavens. "He'll armor digivolve and be able to help us."

Kari jolted and grabbed her own digimental from her pocket, "Armor digivolve?"

"Yes, but hurry, and try to get my digivice from Rapidmon." The boy looked at Rapidmon as well as the black, crystalline digivice that hung from his waist. He felt his heart skip a beat as he noticed his glow begin to return and the heat to rise as well. "We're gonna need every ounce of strength to even stand a chance of driving him off."

"I DON'T KNOW WHO YOU ARE, BUT THE PALADIN GAVE ME AN ORDER AND I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO OBLIGE!" A ring of verdant light erupted off Rapidmon and the crowd immediately bolted away from the square as the air became electrified with energy.

The boy span to Davis and Kari, "DO IT NOW!"

Davis and Kari's eyes widened and they held up the digimentals, "DIGI-ARMOR ENEGRIZE!"

Two beams of light, one orange and one pink shot into the sky before coming down and bathing Gatomon and Veemon in their energies.

"Veemon, armor digivolve to—" A tall silhouette of fire engulfed Veemon as a rainbow arch took form above him. In the rainbow's lights, Davis saw several orange, dinosaur-like creatures appear, each looking fiercer than the one before it as Veemon's fiery form solidified.

FWOOOM! SHING! The fire fizzled out and several metallic blades came from Veemon's new fire shaded claws and feet, all paling in comparison to the bladed horn that came from the fire patterned mask now on Veemon's face.

"Flamedramon, the fire of courage!" The new creature pulled it's claws into itself as a heat of his own emanated off of him.

"Gatomon, armor digivolve to—" Gatomon floated away from Kari as several pink rings floated over her from bottom to top. Then, a heavenly white light shined from her blackened silhouette and in that light, Kari saw a familiar face.

Angewomon…

Gatomon floated to the ground and morph in the brightness of the light. Her stature grew taller and a wing like cloak billowed out from her shoulders. The light brightened around her torso, legs and ears before bursting in a shower of glimmers revealing her new form.

"Nefertimon, angel of light!"

Nefertimon stood tall, with metallic silver shoulder pads and chest plates. Her lower half was garbed in what appeared to be pristine white, metallic armor that glimmered liked diamonds as she stepped forward with Flamedramon.

The most striking detail was what rested on top of Nefertimon's head. It appeared to be a helmet fashioned into the likeness of a sphinx with gold accents along its ears that made Nefertimon's azure eyes look all the more striking.

Kari knew her jaw had dropped as she beheld her friend's new form. "Gatomon, you're—"

Nefertimon turned to Kari with an impish grin on her face. "You can compliment my beauty after I get us out of here, but for now," Nefertimon raised her gloved claw. A few sparkles of light materialized before coming together and bursting into an ornate staff with a blue gem in its clawed head. "Let's see what this form can do."

"Digivolve all you want, it's nothing compared to the power the Paladin has bestowed upon me, Rapid fire!"

"Fire rocket!" Flamedramon punched his claws forward and several fireballs flew towards the oncoming rabbit missiles.

"Desert sun!" Nefertimon waved her staff and a large orb of light rocketed out to the center of the square before bursting into a several smaller orbs.

KROOOM! Rapidmon's missiles shook the area as they exploded, sending both Flamedramon and Nefertimon sliding back with their arms over their faces.

"Get over here!" Flamedramon gasped as a metal arm slammed into his throat, sending him flying across the square.

"Flamedramon!" Davis cried.

"Those attacks didn't even faze him." Kari whispered.

"Our attacks won't be enough to defeat him, only stun him and only if we work together." The boy stepped between the two, and locked eyes with Nefertimon who was looking at him expectantly. "Nefertimon, I'm begging you, get my digivice back so I can help."

Nefertimon nodded and sped out to where Rapidmon was swinging haphazardly at Flamedramon who was weaving away from each strike. "Face the true light, Rapidmon! Desert sun!"

Another flash enveloped the three of them and both Rapidmon and Flamedramon gave a grunt of surprise as their sights were filled with spots and blurs

"AUGH! Davis, I'm blind! You'll have to describe what the digital world looks like to me now!" Flamedramon cried, wobbling with his hands over his eyes.

Nefertimon sighed and snatched the digivice from Rapidmon's waist. "KEN! CATCH!" She shouted, hurling the digivice towards him.

Ken caught the digivice in his hand.

"Ken, I can fight." Wormmon lifted his head to gaze at Ken pleadingly.

"You've done more than enough," Ken replied.

"You've said yourself that we all need to fight to even stand a chance." Wormmon wriggled out of Ken's grasp and leapt onto the ground before turning to him with fire in his eyes, "And I intend to do all I can to make that chance a reality."

Ken bit his lip before squeezing his digivice, "All right, but I'll be fighting right by you, Digi-armor energize!"

Instantly, the area around Wormmon grew dark as a pinkish lavender light started to emanate off of him. "Wormmon, armor digivolve to—"

Black static shot off of Wormmon's form as another transparent figure appeared above Wormmon, a dark green, humanoid creature with red lensed eyes.

Whoa, Davis thought, staring at the phantom, wonder what he'll change into.

A heart shaped orb enveloped Wormmon as the black static crackled louder and larger. The heart grew until a black flash sapped the area of light for the briefest of moments.

Then, like an explosion, the light returned and where Wormmon was, floated another.

"Buccheimon, Emissary of Kindness!" Wormmon stepped forward, now in a pixie like form of red and white with pointed ears twitching and heart-ended antennae alight with energy.

"SNKKT!" Clearly the previous light show was not enough to keep Davis from fully holding in the snicker that escaped his lips.

Ken spun to face Davis with a hard expression, "Something funny?"

Davis covered his mouth in an attempt to hide his further chuckles, "No, nothing at all, it's just…I didn't expect a giant plushy to be saving us."

Ken sighed and placed his fist to the screen of his digivice, I can already tell I'm going to hate this guy. He pulled his fist away and a black leather handle sporting a flowery insignia materialized in his hand. He swung the handle and a lavender beam sprung from it and filling the air with a muted buzzing sound.

"Ready, Ken?" Buccheimon asked.

Ken leapt to his side, "Ready, let's go!"

The two leapt forward with Buccheimon starting off by pointing a finger at Rapidmon as he took another swing at Flamedramon. "Heartner Beam!" A red beam lanced through the air and zapped Rapidmon in the back of the head, sending a small jolt of red static down his body.

"URGH! Little pest!" Rapidmon whirled around with raised arms…Just in time for Ken to leap above him and swing the beamed blade at his head, sending him back slightly.

"Gotcha now, fire rocket!"

Rapidmon roared as a fireball bounced harmlessly off his shoulder. He raised his arm toward Flamedramon only to have Ken transform his blade into a whip and catch him before he could attack.

"Don't stop, keep him pressured and attack all at once!" He cried.

Incredible, Kari thought, He's actually fighting the digimon!

Flamedramon pulled his arm back, cloaking his entire body in fire as he did so. The fire moved to his cocked claw where it concentrated to a bright orange ball of energy. "FIRE MISSILE!"

Nefertimon span her staff above her, creating a ring of light that illuminated the entire square. "DESERT RADIANCE!" She cried, pointing the staff at Rapidmon to release a stream of brilliance.

Buccheimon held out an open palm where a red sphere of energy quickly grew. "HEARTNER CANNON!" A wave of black and crimson energy streamed in between the other two attacks meeting up with them at where Rapidmon stood.

Ken unwound his whip and leapt backwards just as the attacks connected.

The explosion was deafening as brick and stone was wrenched from the earth in a light so blinding that even the night sky could be mistaken for day.

"Davis, Nefertimon, Flamedramon! Where are you?" Kari shouted, pressing her arm to her eyes.

"Digimon, grab your partners and run; before he gets back up!"

Kari felt herself lifted off her feet before the sounds and sensations of brushing past leaves breached her senses.

"Augh! Flamedramon, watch the claws!" Davis yelped from not far behind her.

"Nefertimon, there's an entrance not far from here, use that!"

Kari blinked and her vision refocused just as a large tree came into view, and from the looks of it, Nefertimon was approaching at top speed. "Nefertimon, look ou—"

Her words were silenced by darkness and the sensation of sliding down a dim passage with a chilled wind rushing past her.

…

As soon as the falling began, it ended with Nefertimon and Kari bouncing along a knoll of soft grass.

"Everyone made it okay?" Kari lifted up her head to find Ken surveying them. Wormmon sat cozily in the crook of his arm.

VOOOM! A bright pink light glowed beside her and Kari looked as a thin beam came off of Nefertimon into her pocket.

"I can't believe we made it through that," Gatomon breathed, walking to Kari and setting her paws on her forearms. Her eyes glimmered with unshed tears, "I am so glad you're okay, Kari, I thought that was gonna be the last time we'd see each other for a bit."

Kari felt her arms quiver. Then, without a thought she took her partner into her arms, "I was so worried about you; you were amazing!" She hiccupped, squeezing her towards her.

Veemon crawled up to Davis, "How was I, Davis?"

Davis stood up on his knees, grinning from ear to ear and shaking like he had been on the world's craziest roller coaster, "You were awesome! You got so big, and that armor, and those attacks!"

Veemon smiled sheepishly and leaned back on his hands, "I'm just glad we got out of there when we did, I could barely hold my form after my first attack. Digivolving after countless years without so much of a quick stretch; my legs feel like jelly!"

Ken stepped in between the four of them, "I hate to break up these congratulations, but we can't stay here; Rapidmon's o—"

The sound of muffled explosions alongside the yells of, "COME OUT COWARDS!" shook the cavern and sent dirt sprinkling from the ceiling.

"On the move," Ken finished disdainfully. He looked back at Davis and Kari, "Let's go, I'll explain along the way."

Veemon groaned and slumped forward, "I just said I'm tired!"

"No worries dude, I'll give you a ride," Davis turned and pointed at his back, "as long as you're not embarrassed with a piggy back ride, of course."

Veemon smiled and clambered onto his partner's back, "I don't know what a 'piggy' is, but I'll take a free ride to walking any day."

Kari smiled and looked down at Gatomon. "I'll carry you too, Gatomon, you deserve it."

Gatomon smiled and nestled herself closer to Kari.

"Glad we got that squared, let's go!" Ken urged, gesturing to a nearby tunnel.

Davis stood up, being sure to have a secure hold on Veemon's legs. "Alright dude, chill out and lead the way."

Ken tsked and set off into the tunnel.

"I don't suppose we could have your name, could we?" Kari asked, jumping to his side.

Ken jolted, "Oh right, forgot about that, the name's Ken, Ken Ichijouji."

Kari offered a polite smirk and pointed a thumb at herself, "Nice to meet you, I'm—"

"Kari Kamiya, I know," Ken supplied.

"Okay, knowing that off the bat isn't creepy at all," Davis commented.

Ken clicked his tongue and turned to Davis with hardened eyes, "And you are?"

"Davis Motomiya," Davis replied pointedly.

Ken's eyes glimmered with doubt, "Davis?"

"His real name's Daisuke, but he likes Davis," Kari explained.

"Kari!" Davis exclaimed.

"Naming conventions aside," Ken interjected, "my real question lies in the whereabouts of the other digidestined, I was hoping they'd be with you."

"Only Davis and I came through the portal," Kari answered, biting her cheek. She suddenly remembered the email she had sent to her brother. He must have been back at the computer room throwing a fit at that very moment.

"Well then I suppose I should count us lucky we survived," Ken sighed.

"Yeah, what was the deal up there?" Davis asked, pointing at the ceiling, "What was with the green robot thing? And that dude in the box?"

Ken looked at Davis again, this time clearly sizing him up, "You're clearly new to this, aren't you?"

"So what if I am?"

"The last thing I wanted was a novice," Ken grumbled irritably.

"HEY!" Davis cried.

"I wouldn't mind figuring out what was going on here either," Kari said, reaching out to pat Davis' shoulder. "Who was that person giving orders to that Digimon; just looking at him was a scary experience."

"That was the Digital Paladin," Ken informed, scowling like the name itself brought a sour taste to his mouth.

"The heck's a Paladin?" Davis asked.

"He's the one who's enslaved half the digital world," Ken stated, not looking at Davis, "he fancies a knight motif and seeks to rid the world of all virus type digimon…and enslave any data or vaccine types who disagree with him with those cursed haloes of his."

"Virus, Vaccine, what is this a doctor's office?"

Ken closed his eyes and took a breath, Please tell me he stole that digivice from its rightful owner. He opened his eyes again and kept his gaze on Kari, "Virus types, like many of those my partner Wormmon and I saved have been unjustly imprisoned all over the digital world. For the past few month's we've been doing all we can, but his forces are only going stronger." He paused as Kari clearly absorbed his words, "That's why we sought the aid of the original digidestined, to help us bring them down."

Kari felt herself at a loss for words. The digital world was in trouble once again, and this one boy had been fighting to protect it. It was incredible and unbelievable at the same time. But now he needed them and after seeing the state of things above ground, she knew they were needed once again.

"Kind of a tall order there, isn't it?" Davis said, stepping in front of them and walking backwards. "But I suppose we couldn't decline." He glanced at Veemon who was regarding him warmly, "I wouldn't want to leave my buddy Veemom hanging after all."

"Aww, Davis, I'm glad you pulled me out of that hole," Veemon said, squeezing Davis' neck.

Well at least he cares, Ken thought, As stupid and uninformed those cares may be. Wait, if he has a digivice and he's brand new, then…

"Hey, did you two see anyone else with new digivices?" Ken asked, swiveling between the two.

"Well," Kari looked up thoughtfully, "right after Davis got his, two other balls of light shot off elsewhere, but we didn't see who they went too. Truthfully, I was too invested in finding a way over here." She frowned as she reviewed her actions throughout the day, I really went with my gut today, Tai'd probably have an ulcer if he found out how reckless I've been; Joe too for that matter.

"So there might be two others as well!" Ken exclaimed. His heartbeat practically tripled as he thought of the possibility. The old digidestined and two others with the capacity to armor digivolve, that could be just the edge we ne—

"How were you able to fight that Digimon, or summon that weapon for that matter?" Kari broke Ken out of his thoughts and he placed a hand to his heart as he snapped back to reality.

"Jeez, you are on pins and needles," Davis said.

Ken ignored him and returned his attention to Kari. "I've had to learn to help where I could," He explained, "I've never liked the idea of Wormmon fighting alone. You can summon a weapon of your own with that digivice of yours."

Suddenly, he noticed that they had arrived at their destination, a flickering TV monitor in the center of a circular cavern. "But that can be explained later, for now you have to get back to the real world to explain the situation to the others."

Kari's eyes widened and she glanced at the TV fearfully, "But, what if we can't get back?"

"I assure you, with that digivice you will be able to come back," Ken assured. His eyes met Gatomon and he smirked, "And I assume you'll be wanting to go with her Gatomon?"

"Not unless you want her to find the base by chance," Gatomon sassed, "besides, I'm not leaving Kari so soon after reuniting with her."

Ken nodded and looked up at the ceiling again, "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to lay low. Especially with Rapidmon on the move."

"In that case, Veemon, you're more than welcome to crash with me at my place," Davis said bombastically, "I do owe you a bowl of ramen after all."

"Davis, you could feed me dirt and I'd hug you," Veemon chuckled, squeezing him again.

Davis chuckled and lightly elbowed Kari, "I think I'm going to like this having a partner thing."

Kari offered a half-hearted smile. Her mind was buzzing with a thousand thoughts.

"One more thing," Ken said, "If there are two more digidestined, you must find them. Every fighter counts and we're gonna need everything we can get to stand against the Paladin."

"So in total," Davis said, "Tell the original digidestined, find two newbies and come back ready to start swinging, did I get that right?"

"More or less," Ken replied, fighting the urge to pinch is nose. He turned to Kari whose fingers were ashen, "I'm putting my trust in you Kari, can I do so?"

Kari's fingers relaxed and she nodded, "Absolutely."

Ken smiled, feeling reassured for the first time in a while, "Good, now just stand before the TV and say 'Digiport open' with your digivices out and you'll be back home in no time."

Kari and Davis stepped up to the TV with their hands clasped on their digivices.

"I'll see you guys soon, and thanks for showing up."

Davis and Kari turned to Ken who was regarding them thankfully.

"I wouldn't be here if you didn't."

Kari felt her throat tighten and she could only nod.

"No worries, Kenneth," Davis said, holding out a thumbs up, "we'll kick some Paladin butt, just you wait!"

Kari could swear she heard the smallest of groans from Ken and she felt the tension dissipate in that small moment of levity from Davis.

"Time to get our brains scrambled, digi port open!"

Ken watched the two of them disappear into the TV, illuminated by the light pulling them in. When they were gone, he suddenly felt very tired, like the events of the past day had lasted several months.

"Ken, you okay?"

Ken fell against the wall and slouched down, "I just feel so-so, darn I can't find the word."

"Happy?" Wormmon supplied.

Ken chuckled and held his partner close, "Happy? I think the proper word is hopeful."

"That's a good word," Wormmon agreed, cuddling up to Ken.

Ken closed his eyes and let his head rest atop Wormmon's, "Now I just pray that hope leads us somewhere good."

"With you, I know it will," Wormmon said, curling up against him.

In the cavern, the two rested, intent to be ready for the next battle and for the war that was surely coming.

If you wanna see more of this AU; reviews and feedback are always appreciated!