"So, what do you have planned tonight?"

Takuya Kanbara stopped the soccer ball rolling towards him with his right foot before sitting down on the bench nearby. He leaned over and began to untie the laces on the shoe propped on top of the ball, rubbing at his forehead with his lower arm once he was done. His brown eyes remained focused on the task at hand as he spoke and switched the foot elevated from the faux grass he had been kicking the ball around on. "It's Shinya's birthday. We're throwing a party for him," he replied.

Takuya reached for his water bottle as he looked to the person who had asked the question in the first place, Chihiro Ayumu. They had been his teammate and closest friend for as long as either one of them could remember, and they were always his go-to partner when it came to kicking his spare soccer ball around the school's field. He took a swig from the bottle as Chihiro pulled their deep brown hair from the low, spiky ponytail it had been in at the base of their neck. They began retying it shortly afterwards, smoothing down any stray, sweat-ridden hairs along the way.

"I figured you'd say that. In that case, I'll have to go on and pick up a gift for him as soon as I get the chance," Chihiro said as they began shoving their things into their simple, worn-out sports bag. They slung it over their shoulder and reached out one hand to help Takuya to his feet.

Takuya accepted the offer as he shut his water bottle's lid and grabbed his own bag. He picked up his soccer ball with his free hand and started walking towards the locker room, taking special care to not step on their untied shoelaces on the way. "I'm sure he'd appreciate that," he told them. "You know Shinya. Any extra gifts are good in his eyes."

Chihiro snorted as they arrived at their destination. "Believe me, I am fully aware," they assured him. They pushed open the door to the locker room, letting Takuya walk in before them before following inside for themselves.

While Chihiro made a beeline for the restrooms, Takuya dropped his soccer ball and water bottle on a stray bench. He made his way over his own stall before stepping inside and locking the door. "You should stop by if you can," Takuya suggested, his voice echoing in the space.

"I'll see," Chihiro answered after a brief pause. "I've got a lot of homework to do, and maybe there are a few plans I need to put in motion before I can see you and the rest of your family."

Takuya raised an eyebrow as he began to change out of his soccer uniform and into his regular clothes. "Oh? And what would these plans consist of?" he asked, a light smirk playing at his lips. Even if Chihiro couldn't see it, he knew that she could hear the smile in his voice.

"That's for me to know and you to find out," Chihiro replied with a light and teasing scoff. They slid the door open on their stall and stepped outside. The faucet turned on a few seconds later, and Takuya heard water splashing as Chihiro washed their face off.

"If you insist," Takuya said with a playful roll of his eyes. He heard the water stop running, and a hand dryer came to life. He began shoving the last scraps of clothing into his bag before sliding the door's lock and stepping out.

When Takuya left the stall, he saw Chihiro standing with their arms crossed against the wall next to the exit to the greater locker room. Their hair was still in the same messy ponytail, but a black hat they preferred to wear backwards covered most of it aside from the spiky segment at the base of their neck. Chihiro wore their favorite brown jacket over an orange shirt with black trousers. Silver chains hung from their waist in the place of a belt. Black gloves covered their hands. An emerald green bandanna with yellow swirling patterns was tied around their left wrist, and a matching one hung from their neck. Chihiro's green and brown shoes were just as mud-stained and messy as Takuya remembered.

"Took you long enough," Chihiro remarked playfully, their brown eyes sparkling. The lighting of the bathroom made the freckles that splattered across their cheeks stand out more than usual.

Takuya punched them lightly in the upper arm. "Oh, shut it," he remarked. He straightened out his unzipped red jacket. Two stripes ran across the chest area, though they were left fragmented since the sweater was left open. Under the jacket was an orange shirt with a black flame emblem surrounded by a yellow circle at the chest. Takuya's soccer shorts had been replaced with a dark brown jeans with a pair of gloves hanging out of one pocket. On his feet were black and orange running shoes that were only slightly less covered in mud than Chihiro's were.

As they walked out into the locker room, Chihiro reached into their bag and pulled out a pair of gray goggles before tossing them to Takuya. "You're lucky these wound up with my things and not completely lost," they remarked.

Takuya caught them without issues before wrapping them around his neck and pulling them up to his forehead. His brown hair had a tendency to grow out rather than down, leaving each strand messy and spiky. A particularly rebellious segment stretched for the sky rather than curving down and outwards like the rest, and not even his goggles were able to calm its stubborn nature. "Thanks."

"I'll see you later. Have a nice time with Shinya tonight," Chihiro said, holding one hand out for a fist bump. When Takuya returned it, they turned on their heel and walked out of the locker room, leaving the boy to scramble to grab the remainder of his things before leaving as well.

"I'm home!"

Takuya didn't receive a response as he walked in through the front door of the Kanbara residence. He dropped his sports bag and soccer ball next to the entrance before sliding out of his sneakers. He could smell something that was undoubtedly freshly baked, and he let out a sigh as he realized it was his mother's heavenly homemade cake. Of course it would be here. It was his brother's birthday, after all.

The birthday boy himself was sitting on the couch in the living room, stretched out on his stomach while propped up on a pillow and holding a controller for his favorite video game console. Judging by the sound effects Takuya was hearing as he slid into a chair at the kitchen table, it was an action game of sorts.

The tantalizing cake was sitting a few inches away, and he felt himself salivating in excitement. He looked over to his mother with a mischievous grin, and he saw that she was talking on the phone. The device was balanced between her cheek and shoulder as she continued to work on making something over the stove.

Seeing this as his chance, Takuya reached out one finger towards the strawberry nearest him. He got a hint of frosting on his finger as the strawberry tilted slightly towards his torso.

"Don't even think of eating that cake, Takuya."

Yuriko's voice had Takuya freeze, prompting him to push the strawberry back into place before shoving his finger into his mouth to lick the icing off the tip before wiping it furiously on his jeans. She couldn't prove anything now that the delicious evidence was already in his stomach.

A small beeping sound reached Takuya's ears, and he tilted his head to one side in curiosity. Before he knew what he was doing, he found himself walking back to the entrance of the house. He had left his phone in his sports bag, so perhaps that was what had made the sound.

After a few seconds of rummaging through the bag's content, his fingers closed around the smooth, cool surface of his phone. Takuya pulled it out and saw that he had one new notification. He tapped on it, and the message displayed itself on the screen.

"Do you want to begin?"

Takuya looked around for a moment, just to make sure that nobody was watching him. Realistically, he knew that he was alone, but in those few seconds, he felt as if there was some higher force staring down at him with intense anticipation. When he glanced back to the phone, there were two options that had appeared: "YES" and "NO".

Takuya wasn't sure what possessed his finger to shift to the first button of the two, but it sure did move, and the screen changed as soon as he did. A peculiar symbol appeared, and he did his best to figure out what it meant. It sure didn't look like anything he had ever seen before.

The center was a circle with a thin outline surrounding it. Four lines were nearby, each curved to follow the shape of the circular pattern. Lines spiked out in all four cardinal directions. The symbol itself was black, but the rest of the screen was plagued with a colorless static that gave the mark even more attention.

"Takuya Kanbara."

Takuya gasped at the noise and glanced around once again. That voice didn't sound like anyone he knew, so who could it have been? After a few seconds of trying to find the mystery newcomer, his gaze dropped to the phone once again.

"Your future awaits, Takuya. Destiny is calling. Take the train to Shibuya Station."

Takuya pondered his options for a moment at hearing this. He had to be back in time for Shinya's birthday party, but there was something about this voice that called for him. It was difficult for him to describe, but something deep in his core said that he had to listen to whoever this was.

He looked at the clock on his phone. The train left at 5:45, and it was 5:30 then. He would be back for Shinya's party in an hour and a half. He had more than enough time to go out and see whatever this was about.

Takuya set his phone to the side as he sat down and pulled his sneakers back onto his feet. "I'm going out for a bit! I'll be back for the party!" he called out. He seized his phone once again and threw the door open before dashing outside. He heard his mother's cry of understanding just before the door shut once again.

The dash to the train station was a familiar one for him. Despite living in Shibuya, Takuya rarely went there when he needed to ride elsewhere in the area. It was on the other side of town, so it was faster for him to duck into the closest station a few minutes away from him and then go to Shibuya. Everything was under control.

Of course, he didn't want to be late. Who knew if he would get the chance to see this destiny of his if he missed this specific passage of the train to Shibuya? Takuya tightened his grip on his phone as this knowledge sunk in, and he started running down the street.

He was thankful for all the time he had spent playing soccer as he dashed through the dusk air. The sun was starting to set now, earlier than it had the night before, a sure sign that autumn was growing near. Takuya launched himself forward with each step he took on the pavement, walking the familiar path to the train station with a renewed vigor he hadn't expected to surge through him over a simple text message.

But there was something that felt different about this he couldn't quite describe. Deep down, he knew that he just had to trust his gut on this one, though he wasn't sure of where this feeling came from.

Takuya brushed this thought off as he saw a soccer ball slide past him. He looked to the right and saw that a boy was playing soccer with his father, but the older man had gotten distracted with something on his phone. Takuya heard static, and he wondered if perhaps this neighborhood father had received a similar message to the one that had appeared on his screen earlier.

The goggle-bearing boy raised his right foot to stop the ball in place before kicking it back to the boy. He took this as a chance to catch his breath before he inevitably started running once again.

A truck lumbered over the street, not going too particularly fast but still exceeding the local speed limit. The driver stared at his phone, and buzzing static was emitting from the speaker. He didn't look up until he saw Takuya standing right in front of him, and a gasp left his lips as he slammed his foot onto the brakes.

Takuya stared up at the truck with fear in his eyes, only managing to jump out of the way seconds before the vehicle collided with the space where he had been standing a mere few moments later. Concrete grazed his jacket, and Takuya shakily managed to push himself up onto his knees before brushing the dirt off his clothing with a trembling hand. His phone had remained unhurt in the encounter, but he was too busy gazing at the truck in surprise to pay it much attention.

The driver jumped out of his car and ran over to Takuya. "Hey! Kid! You okay?!" he exclaimed on the way over. Takuya felt his shaking body return to a standing position with the aid of the driver, and he looked down at his phone. 5:35. He was running out of time.

The driver's words fell on unhearing ears as Takuya sprang away, propelling himself closer to the train station. He was still trembling, and he felt as if his organs were likely to turn to mush before he came anywhere near the station in question. He could certainly add 'speeding truck' to something that would haunt his nightmares well into the future.

Only three things existed to Takuya as he dashed the rest of the way to the train station: the ground beneath his feet, the phone he gripped tightly with shaking fingers, and his oncoming destination. A smile of relief appeared on his face as he saw the building in the distance. Adrenaline was still coursing through him from his brush with death, and he felt as if he could barely bring himself to slow down as he arrived at the ticket station.

Shit.

Takuya shoved his hands into his pockets for some cash, but he realized that he didn't have any. "Damn it!" he exclaimed. He had come all this way and nearly gotten hit by a truck only to realize that he had left his wallet at home. Just his damn luck.

He slammed his forehead into the ticket dispenser in frustration, and to his surprise, the lights on the machine sparked to life. He heard the ticket dispenser whir for a moment before something popped out of the slot.

"A ticket!" Takuya exclaimed in surprise. He wrapped his fingers around the thickened paper as he tore it from the machine. With fortified resolve, Takuya dashed through the entrance, determined to make the train now that his lack of funds couldn't stop him.

What he didn't notice was that the swinging gate flaps that granted access to the rest of the train station allowed him to pass through even when he forgot to swipe his ticket. In his adrenaline-fueled haste, he didn't bother to slash the paper in the slot, but the gate opened wide for him regardless. The flash of blue and purple data could be seen within the scanner for a split second, but it was gone just as quickly as it appeared, and Takuya didn't see it as he ran ever forward.

Takuya barely managed to arrive on the train in time, surging in with the rest of the crowd. He breathed heavily as everyone moved to the seats lining the outside of the train car. There were none left by the time that he got on, so he settled for sitting on the floor as he clutched his ticket and phone for dear life. He tried to catch his breath, assuring his body that there was nothing to be afraid of anymore now that the train was out of his mind.

Takuya glanced across the train car and saw that there was someone his age standing in front of the doors on the other side. It was a boy with pitch black hair tied into a ponytail that reached the bottom of his shoulder blades. His eyes were a striking yet scrutinizing blue. A navy bandanna with deep yellow streaks was wrapped around his head and tied at the base of his neck. The boy had a blue jacket on with yellow stripes that ran down the sleeves. A white shirt was underneath his jacket. His trousers were a deep gray color, and his shoes were white and blue.

The boy watched Takuya with a certain degree of cynicism, and something about his gaze said that he had already analyzed everything there was to know about the goggle-wearing boy. Takuya noticed he was holding his phone in one hand, and he saw the outline of the familiar symbol from before at the center of the static-filled screen.

So he here for the same reason I am, Takuya thought vaguely to himself. He was starting to return to normal, the adrenaline in his system giving way to something that left him less fired-up and anxious. He sighed in relief at this realization as his phone let out another shrill beep.

Takuya stared down at the screen and saw that it had appeared with new instructions for him. "I'm supposed to ride the elevator at Shibuya Station?" he asked, confused at what the message could mean. He was going to be at the station soon, but that still wasn't good enough? A heavy breath pushed its way through his lips. He couldn't catch a break, huh?

The train began to slow to a stop soon afterwards, and Takuya gathered his bearings before pushing himself to his feet. His legs didn't feel like mush anymore, and he was taking that as a positive. He was carried away with the crowd off the train, seeing a trace of the black-haired boy before he disappeared into the hustle and bustle of the station.

Takuya glanced around until his gaze fell upon the nearest elevator. He could see the black-haired boy inside of it, and the doors were closing already. "Dick move, buddy!" Takuya found himself muttering, not caring who could hear his frustration. He shoved his ticket into his pocket before making the mad dash towards the elevator, but the realization soon sunk in that he wasn't going to make it.

Before he could tell himself how stupid it was, Takuya kicked off the ground into a jumping dive towards the elevator doors. He was surprised with the speed he picked up along the way, and with a last-minute twist to keep himself from getting crushed between the silver sliding doors, Takuya arrived in time.

Unfortunately, this didn't stop him from crumbling into a pile of limbs on the floor. The black-haired boy stared at him in shock for a moment before correcting his gaze to be neutral once again. He took a step away from Takuya and looked out the elevator window.

Takuya felt the adrenaline sinking in again as he unraveled himself and got to his feet, checking his phone to make sure that it wasn't damaged in the fall. His right knee hurt like hell, and his left hand had received a nasty scrape from brushing against the ground. He hissed upon putting weight on his knee, finding that the pain lessened slightly once it was straightened out. Takuya swung his left hand through the air in an attempt to lessen the pain, a frustrated huff leaving his lips.

Suddenly, the black-haired boy looked surprised again, and Takuya followed his gaze to figure out why. The elevator had gone below the marker of the bottom floor, B1. The screen that showed what floor they were on continued to count upwards with the prerequisite of 'B'. Takuya's jaw dropped as the elevator picked up speed, and he found himself unable to speak despite how much he wanted to say something, anything, that would make this seem a bit more normal than it really was.

When the elevator finally stopped counting up, the small room slammed into the ground, and Takuya nearly lost his footing in the process. The black-haired boy didn't struggle at all, and as soon as the doors opened, he walked out, leaving Takuya alone in the elevator.

"Thanks a lot for that one," Takuya grumbled. He started to make his own way out of the elevator, but he was stopped in his tracks when a gasp left his lips and he realized what his surroundings consisted of.

There were ten trains, all extending in a circular pattern away from the center column where elevators touched the ground from everywhere in the train station. Children were everywhere, all chatting and looking at the trains. While they appeared to be regular from the outside, something deep inside Takuya said that there was an oddity when it came to these trains.

"It's up to you now. Which one will you choose?"

There was that woman's voice again. Takuya looked down at his phone screen, praying it would offer him some advice, but it was silent. He took a shaky step forward, hissing when he put too much weight on his knee.

He stared in surprise for a moment, but he was suddenly interrupted when the doors on the trains all slammed shut at once. Takuya gasped as the trains let out piercing whistles and began to pull out of the station one after another, all within seconds of each other.

Takuya glanced around frantically until his eyes settled on one last train that had not yet pulled out. It began to move away from the station, but Takuya wasn't going to let that stop him. He broke into a run once again, breathing heavily and not caring what weird stares he got from the people on the station.

The train was close to leaving the station completely, the ground beneath Takuya running out, when he kicked off the metal and grabbed the railing attached to the back area of the train with his free hand. Takuya hurriedly pushed his phone into his pocket alongside his ticket before grabbing the railing with his other hand, thanking his affinity for physical activity as he pulled himself onto the platform. He breathed heavily as he stepped away from the edge and looked to see what was nearby.

The black-haired boy stood on the back end of the next train over. His expression was just as passive as it had been in the elevator, and he met eyes with Takuya for a few seconds. The boy was impossible to read, but before Takuya could try to learn more about him, a divider appeared between their trains.

Takuya looked at the fading station in the distance, and he realized the full implications of what he had just done. He disobeyed every rule that his parents had ever given him about doing strange things and hopped aboard a train that t was set for an unknown destination. On top of that, said train was underneath Shibuya Station, and if that wasn't suspicious, Takuya didn't know what was.

"What the fuck have I gotten myself into this time?" Takuya asked as the station disappeared from view entirely.

He turned on his heel to face the door into the train. He pried it open despite the wind rushing around him, but he found that the car didn't contain anyone. A frown appeared on his face. There had to be at least someone else with him, right? He wasn't going to have to face whatever was coming next, right?

Takuya moved through the cabin and moved to the next car of the train. Once again, it was empty, and he sighed. The chances that he was alone were increasing, and he didn't like the idea of that in the slightest.

The third cabin he came across was empty as well, and his hand clenched into a fist before he dug into his pocket to fish out his phone. Once again, the screen just showed the same symbol again, and that didn't help him in the slightest. His grip on the device grew tighter as he moved into the fourth car.

Relief washed through him like a tidal wave when he saw people in this car. There were three of them, and they all looked up at him when they heard the disturbance near the door. Takuya smiled to himself as he walked closer to them. "Hey," he said simply.

The first person of the three was a girl Takuya knew from school. They hadn't ever spoken, but he knew of her. Izumi Orimoto, her name was. She looked much the same as usual with her pristine blonde hair falling down to her lower back. Her green eyes had a twinkle he didn't expect to see. A purple scarf was wrapped around her neck, and she wore a loose pink shirt with three-quarter sleeves. Izumi's leggings were white, and purple slip-on shoes were on her feet. A mint green scrunchie was around her right wrist. She sat on the right side of the train, her hands in her lap.

"And so our merry band goes from three to four," Izumi remarked, a light, friendly smile on her face. In her hand was her phone, and the same symbol that Takuya had grown used to seeing on his screen was on hers.

The second person was on the opposite side of the train, one of his arms resting on the backrest of the seat. Takuya didn't recognize this person like he knew Izumi. He had spiky brown hair that seemed unable to lay properly and brown eyes that watched his every move with a strange sense of curiosity. He wore a large yellow hoodie highlighted with blue at the wrist, waist, and neck hems. The strings of the hoodie were blue as well. His pants were a deep purple color, and he wore blue and white tennis shoes. He was on the heavier side, Takuya observed, and his pockets were stuffed of countless tiny trinkets that could only be imagined.

"Welcome to the party," he commented. His phone was in the hand propped on the backrest, and he looked at Takuya with curiosity before turning his attention to the third person sitting.

The third person was again a boy, but he was clearly on the younger side, and he was the shortest of the group easily. He had a delicate figure that made him appear as if he would fall apart if flicked hard enough. He sat on the same side of the train as Izumi but on a different bench. His hair was brown, darker than Takuya's but not as deep as the hue of Chihiro's hair that Takuya knew so well, and his eyes were a deep forest green. The boy wore a bold lime green jacket that practically swallowed his small body over a paler green shirt. His jeans were pale blue and faded, and his shoes were black and navy. A shiny blue bracelet was on his right wrist, and that hand held tight to his phone for dear life.

"Um... What are your names?" the boy questioned carefully.

Takuya finally stopped staring at the trio and made his way over to a bench on Junpei's side of the train. "I'm Takuya. Takuya Kanbara," he replied.

"Junpei Shibayama," the boy in the yellow hoodie said next. He turned his attention to Izumi across the way.

A pleasant smile spread across her face as she spoke. "I'm Izumi Orimoto. Nice to meet you," she answered. There was something practiced and oddly false about the grin that she used, and Takuya wondered briefly if she meant it.

"T-Tomoki Himi," the smaller boy told the group, swallowing nervously. "Um... Do you guys know what this is about?"

"I'm afraid not," Izumi frowned. She glanced around before her gaze settled on the window. "Where are we going...?"

Takuya opened his mouth to say something, but he was cut off when the air around them seemed to distort itself. An odd tingling feeling passed through him, and the train jolted as the lights went out. Everyone was thrown from their seats and to the ground, and Takuya landed on his knee once again, causing him to yelp in surprise and drop his phone.

He looked up to see if the others were alright, and he was surprised to see peculiar phantoms appear above them. Tomoki had a snow creature's shape covering his own while Junpei had some sort of large humanoid beetle. Izumi sprouted wings and appeared as a fairy. Takuya saw his own hand appear with dark armor, and a gasp forced its way from his lips.

The train let out a whistling sound, but the longer it went on, the more Takuya realized that it wasn't a whistle at all. If anything, it was more like a growl, and it sent a shiver up his spine. He clutched to the floor for dear life.

A glow started from the bottom of his phone, and Takuya looked down to see that the outer layer of it appeared to be flaking off into golden dust. When the dust faded, he could see a black device with a red grip on the right side. A screen was at the top of it, and it was outlined in silver with six small dashes that protruded from the rim. Two small silver bands could be seen at the top of the right side above the grip, the one on top of longer than the strip below it. There were two silver buttons near the grip in a diagonal fashion from top left to bottom right.

Takuya looked over to the rest of the group, realizing that the same had happened to them. They all had similar devices but in different colors. Tomoki's had a green body with a blue grip, Izumi's was lilac with a pale pink grip, and Junpei's had purple as a base color with yellow for the grip. All of them were staring at the screens of the devices, prompting Takuya to do the same.

"Welcome to the Digital World. These are your D-Tectors. Your destiny awaits here, Legendary Warriors."

The same symbol from his phone was on the screen, but when Takuya blinked, it disappeared, giving way to a neutral gray color. He sighed and moved into a proper sitting position, still looking at the device.

Light streamed in through the windows, and Takuya looked up. He forced himself to his feet despite his body feeling like mush from the fall. The train seemed to be suspended in midair, and the sky was a crisp blue with a few pure clouds piercing its surface. Takuya pressed his hands to the window after setting his phone, or D-Tector, down on the bench beside him. Just where was he?

Off in the distance, he could see the outline of many gray buildings. They appeared to have flames coming forth from their chimneys, but that wasn't what caught Takuya off guard. In the space between the train and the gray mass ahead, there was nothing below them but a small train rail. He felt his heart skip a beat as he prayed that whatever the hell he was riding in (given that growl, he wasn't sure if it was a regular train, but he was starting to doubt that was the case) knew what it was doing.

The other three were silent as they stared out the window as well, and Takuya watched as the train passed over the void effortlessly. The station slid into view, and light grew dimmer as the train slowed to a stop. A huff of smoke puffed from the sides of the train, and Takuya heard the brakes hiss as the doors slid open.

"Everybody out!"

The voice seemed to come from around him, and Takuya found himself complying. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the other three following suit. He stepped out of the train and onto the unfamiliar metal ground outside, his jaw dropping in awe as he stared at his surroundings.

"Where are we?" Tomoki questioned, turning to the train. He let out a scream when he stared at the front of the vehicle, prompting Takuya to turn to see what all the fuss was about. He yelped when he saw it too.

The train had a face. It didn't look human in the slightest, and the train was a deep red hue. There were teeth larger than Takuya's legs on the creature, and it had four beady yellow eyes. A small collection of spikes could be seen in between its eyes, and all Takuya could do was stare.

"Flame Terminal in the Digital World," the creature answered. The doors shut, and the rails began to hiss as the train began to back up.

"Just what are you?!" Junpei demanded, pointing his right hand, the one that wasn't carrying his D-Tector, at the monster.

"Trailmon, but that doesn't matter now. Have fun, kids!" the creature, Trailmon, replied. His tone was a bit too merry for Takuya's taste, and Trailmon continued to back up until he disappeared down the train tracks. Takuya gasped when he realized that the tracks went vertical down, and he couldn't help but wonder how the fuck he had survived the journey to this world in the first place.

"Wait! Come back! You can't just leave us like that!" Izumi screamed, waving her available arm in the air. When she figured out that Trailmon wasn't going to be returning, she let out a heavy sigh. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"That thing said we were in the Digital World..." Takuya murmured. "Maybe we should look around and see what we can find."

Tomoki opened his mouth to offer a response, but he was cut off when a scream tore free from his lips instead. Takuya was ready to ask what he was yelling at, but he realized it before the question could find vocality.

Green flames were spreading rapidly across the ground, and the silhouette of some sort of dog was standing amidst them. Takuya's chest tightened in response, and he saw as two small figures appeared from the flames.

The first was shorter and white with a dulled point on his head that reminded Takuya of a shark fin and pointed ears. He had a gray patch surrounding his mouth, and a pink band with a few stripes here and there was wrapped around his stomach.

The second creature was lanky and taller. He was a muted mustard color with tall ears that reached upwards and closed eyes. He wore pants that covered his feet completely, and a white bow was tied at the front of the hem.

Both of them were screaming at the top of their lungs, and Takuya could do little more than yelp as the creatures tackled him to the ground. In his reckless flailing, Takuya dragged Tomoki to the metal floor as well.

Another stream of green fire appeared, and Junpei and Izumi were forced to jump to the side to avoid it, leaving the green flames as the dividing line between the group's members. Takuya could see little more than their outlines, but the expression of shock that was painted on Izumi's face could be seen when the flames flickered just right.

The dog-like creature that was spawning the fire stalked closer, and Takuya was able to get a better look at him now that he was in better lighting. He was all black with one prominent head at the front. Two imitations of dog heads made of pitch black armor were on either shoulder. Gray hair outlined his main head in a short cut with a braid on either side. His underside had deep red highlights, and his claws were gray. Silvery curved blades extended out from his toes, three on each paw. His tail flickered dangerously behind him.

"J-Just what is that thing?!" Tomoki screamed, clinging to Takuya in fear. The two creatures that had tackled them wrapped their arms around Takuya's shoulders and hid behind him.

"Cerberumon," came the explanation of the white creature from next to Takuya's left ear. "He's an Ultimate level Digimon known for his sharp claws and bad temperament. It would be best if you avoided crossing him. He won't hesitate to lash out at anyone who gets in his way!"

Takuya slowly managed to push himself to his feet, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. Cerberumon continued to stalk closer, his eerie golden eyes staring holes into Takuya's soul. "Fork it over, you whelps," he snarled. The dog creature (Digimon, he had been described as) bared his teeth, and they gleamed sinisterly in the green light from his flames.

"What are you talking about?!" Tomoki shrieked, taking a step back in fear. "I don't know what you-"

"You stole something from Lord Cherubimon," Cerberumon growled, his gaze locked on the creatures that were resting on Takuya's shoulders. "It would be best if you gave it back before I am forced to take it by force!"

"Stay back! Shoo!" the white creature screamed. "We don't have what you want. Cherubimon already won. What could he possibly require from us?"

Cerberumon huffed angrily before opening his mouth. The ground beneath Takuya and Tomoki began to change colors until it was a vibrant pastel blue and purple pattern. The vertical lines running through it made it look like a barcode, and Cerberumon began to eat it. The colorful mass flew into his mouth, and the ground started to give out.

Tomoki let out a scream, and Takuya clenched his teeth as they began to fall. He couldn't stop himself from yelling as they plummeted through open air. He distantly heard Junpei call out their names, but that wasn't enough to snap him back into reality.

Takuya's back slammed into something hard, and he looked down to realize that he had landed on a small outcrop of rock below. The green flames continued to rage overhead, and he could see two silhouettes he assumed belonged to Izumi and Junpei against the flickering light.

"He's eating the data!" the creature in red shrieked. He jumped off Takuya's shoulder as his companion did the same thing. Tomoki tried to scramble to his feet, but Takuya remained against the ground. His head was starting to pound, and he tried to force the pain away despite knowing that it wouldn't be that easy.

"What do we do?!" Tomoki asked, his voice quivering as he glanced around frantically. A gasp left his lips as the shadow of Cerberumon appeared from overhead, and the dog-like creature slammed into the ground. His claws left indents from where he landed, and Takuya took a small step back, trying to figure out a plan to get out of this alive.

Cerberumon opened his mouth wide once again, and green flames exploded forth. Tomoki quickly tackled Bokomon and Neemon to the ground as the fire brushed past them, hitting a pillar behind them. The metal began to crack before exploding forth, leaving pieces of burning debris everywhere. Takuya covered his head, letting out a heavy sigh of relief when he realized that there was nothing near him.

Cerberumon's attention shifted from being on the group of creatures near him to the contents of the pillar. Takuya looked back to see what was going on, and he saw that there was a column of dancing red fire shooting up in place of the pillar. There was the outline of something at the center of it, but Takuya couldn't quite make it out among the chaos.

"A Spirit!" Cerberumon exclaimed, looking to the two nonhuman creatures on Takuya and Tomoki with a snicker. "Now I know why you ran here. You were trying to find this. It's a shame that you're not going to be able to reclaim it for your fallen lord!"

Takuya, Tomoki, and the two strange creatures near him were getting to their feet when Cerberumon swiped his tail through the air. Tomoki was hit in the stomach and went flying backwards, taking the odd monsters with him. Takuya was the only one left standing, and that was when he decided to do something incredibly stupid.

Takuya's hands clamped down on Cerberumon's tail, and a cry of surprise left his lips as he was dragged on through the air. He stared at Tomoki, who had slumped dazed to the ground with a panicked expression on his features, as he was pulled into the flames.

Cerberumon's howls reached his ears immediately, and Takuya noticed that the Digimon was writhing in pain. He let out a screech before jumping out of the pillar of fire. The flames continued to crackle on his fur until well after he was outside, and Takuya was left alone.

But to his surprise, he did not burn.

Takuya stepped closer to the object at the center of the fire, and the reflection of red flames passed through his vision as he reached out to touch it. A specter appeared among the crackling sparks, and Takuya stretched out his hand. The creature walked through it, but when it did, something in Takuya felt different.

Instinctively, his hand reached for his pocket as he stared at the carving before him. It appeared to be of a warrior with lengthy yellow hair and red armor lined in flame designs. Takuya's fingers found his phone, or D-Tector, as he now knew it was called, and he pulled it from its hiding place. He extended the device out before him, and the carved object began to shrink until it had disappeared into a scanner at the top of his D-Tector.

"It is time."

The voice was distant, and Takuya dully recognized it as the one that he had heard on the train, but he had much bigger things to worry about. A ring of the same purple and blue material from before appeared around his left hand, and before he knew what he was doing, he had swiped his hand along the scanner on his D-Tector.

"Execute! Spirit Evolution!"

The words left his lips without any real input from his brain, and as soon as he spoke them, something in him changed. His entire body began to buzz, and the fire around him seemed to come closer, beckoned nearer by his mere presence. Takuya couldn't see what was going on, but he could feel it, and he knew that something new was happening to him. A fire had ignited in the pit of his stomach, and it only continued to grow as he allowed the flames continued to cling to his skin.

When the feeling of buzzing finally faded, Takuya was much taller than he had been before. His short, unruly brown hair had been replaced with a wild mane of yellow that reached his hips. He wore a red mask with three prongs extending to the right, left, and center that had white highlights. His eyes had been dyed cerulean blue.

The base of his newly-created armor was black. He had red shoulder pads lined with yellow flame patterns, a prominent black spike on each side. Matching red armor with yellow highlights was on his lower arms with white gauntlets over the bulk of his hands. The pattern continued to his lower legs and the outside of his torso. In between the two pieces at his chest was white, the same pure color as his belt where a symbol was carved into his red clasp. On his feet were bulky red shoes with white segments at the ankle to match his gauntlets. His thighs had similar pieces of armor to the rest of his body, though they kept to the outside of his legs this time. White fiery outlines were carved into the sides of the armor on his thighs to match black spikes on his lower arms with the same pattern.

"Agunimon!"

The word left Takuya's lips without his brain commanding such, and he wondered if this was his name. Was he Takuya anymore? He sure as hell didn't look like it. He looked more like the phantom that had appeared just before his transformation began. That must have been Agunimon.

And now, he was Agunimon.

The flames cleared with a single swipe of Agunimon's arm to the side. The flames on Cerberumon died out, and Tomoki stared up at him in surprise. The white creature reached into his pink belt to pull out a green book.

"T-Takuya...?" Tomoki whispered, his voice faint in surprise. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and he was trembling slightly.

"Bokomon, who's that?" the creature in red asked, tilting his head to one side as he looked at his companion curiously.

"Agunimon, the Legendary Warrior of Fire!" the white monster, Bokomon, cried out triumphantly. "That boy fused with the Spirit of Fire to become a Legendary Warrior!"

Cerberumon snarled at Agunimon. "Hand over the Spirit! It belongs in the hands of Lord Cherubimon, not a fool like you!" he exclaimed. He lunged towards Agunimon, fangs bared.

Agunimon jumped to avoid the strike, kicking off the wall behind him to find safety away from the corner. He landed in a crouch, and flames crackled at the tips of his fingers. He pushed his hands forwards, fire spreading and rushing towards Cerberumon.

The dog Digimon was hit head on, but this didn't stop him. He roared and unleashed a blast of green energy. "You won't get away with this!" Cerberumon exclaimed.

Agunimon swiped the flames away, halfway surprised when they didn't have an effect on him. He jumped towards Cerberumon and dealt a mighty kick to the monster before jumping away once again.

Cerberumon howled in pain, running at Agunimon. His claws gleamed in the nearby light as he slashed at the air. Agunimon barely managed to avoid the attacks but still came out unscathed thanks to his incredible speed.

Cerberumon turned his attention towards where Tomoki was sitting pressed against the wall with Bokomon and the other monster. He began to dash towards the trio, flame crackling between his teeth, prompting Tomoki to scream in fear and throw his arms up to cover his face.

However, the blow never came.

Agunimon jumped in front of Tomoki and spread his arms wide, diverting the green fire in all directions that would keep the boy and the two monsters safe. When Cerberumon was finished attacking, Agunimon let out a mighty roar and covered his body with fire, ramming himself against Cerberumon.

The dog Digimon stumbled backwards, unable to keep his balance after being hit so directly. He shook his head in an attempt to regain his sense of focus, but it did little to save him from the oncoming attack by Agunimon. The Legendary Warrior of Fire jumped behind Cerberumon and took firm grip of his tail before whirling him around, sending the monster sprawling backwards into the wall. The metal he hit was dented immediately, and the dog whimpered in pain.

Agunimon raised his left hand, and the outline of fire appeared on it. He began swiping at the flames, sending them flying from his wrist towards Cerberumon. The red darts rammed into the dog creature's thick hide, each one more scathing than the last. Cerberumon attempted to get to his feet and run away, but his efforts meant little before the sheer determination of Agunimon, and he was left weakened with each and every hit.

"Looks like the doggy isn't going to be winning this," the monster in red remarked with a small smile.

"Of course he isn't, Neemon. No member of Cherubimon's army can stand up to the strength of a Legendary Warrior," Bokomon told him, gently hitting his companion, Neemon, on the arm with his book before opening the tome and continuing to read from it.

Tomoki, on the other hand, was unable to stop staring at the Legendary Warrior with wide eyes. He knew that Agunimon had to be Takuya. That was the only explanation that made sense, but did anything really come together in a logical way in this Digital World? Despite his mind and heart racing from adrenaline, all he could do was watch.

Cerberumon managed to get to his feet after many failed attempts, though he was clearly shaking. He opened his mouth and released a blast of fire that Agunimon was easily able to dodge.

Agunimon created an orb of fire in his right hand. He raised it high above his head as he spoke. "Tell your lord that he won't be getting his hands on anything today," he threatened. When he brought his hand now, the fire was sent flying forwards, slamming into Cerberumon's chest.

The monster let out a screech that pierced the air loudly. Agunimon held up his right hand once again as a ring of purple and blue appeared around Cerberumon. The Digimon himself went entirely black and looked more like an obsidian statue than a living, breathing creature.

"Your evil will plague this land no longer," Agunimon said firmly. The purple and blue energy began to stream into his hand. "Fractal Code Purify!"

The energy continued to travel towards Agunimon's hand until there was none left of it. The black outline of Cerberumon began to disappear, eaten from the inside out as it transformed into black dust. The remnants of the monster pulled together to create a white egg shape that flew skyward. All that was left behind of the dog was the damage he dealt to the Flame Terminal.

Bokomon began to clap violently as Agunimon grew closer. "Great job!" he exclaimed, tucking his book away into his belt.

Agunimon took Tomoki, Bokomon, and Neemon into his arms before jumping up to the main platform of the terminal where the fight had begun. He set the trio down before glancing around, realizing that the green fire that had spread through the region before was gone, having extinguished itself at some point while they were on the small outcrop below.

On instinct, Agunimon held out his hand, the palm facing skywards, and let more blue and purple energy stream forth. It left his body and forged the platform that the Trailmon that dropped their group off had come from. The ground that Cerberumon had eaten was restored in an instant as if it had never been gone in the first place.

"Fractal Code Lock!" Agunimon cried as the process drew to a close. The energy left him behind completely, and he stared at the restored ground for a few moments before falling to his knees.

In a flash of purple and blue light, Agunimon began to change shape once again. When the illumination faded, Takuya could be seen on all fours, breathing heavily as he tried to regain his strength.

He was fully aware of what had just happened, but knowing what had transpired and understanding it were two separate things. Takuya glanced around, hoping that someone would be able to tell him what the hell was going on with him. How had he transformed like that? Just who was Agunimon? Bokomon had called him the Legendary Warrior of Fire, but if that was the case, what was a Legendary Warrior? A million questions were swimming through his head, but in his breathless state, none of them were given words, and all he could do was pant helplessly.

"That was amazing!" Tomoki exclaimed, crouching down next to Takuya and smiling widely. "You saved my life back there!"

Takuya nodded numbly. He had done that, hadn't he? It didn't feel like he was the one taking control back then. His body acted on pure instinct, and it was what helped him to save Tomoki, Bokomon, and Neemon from death. That had to count for something impressive, but he didn't know what the hell it was supposed to mean.

"What happened to you?" Junpei questioned, staring at Takuya in confusion. "You guys fell down there, and we couldn't see you, but when you came back-"

"Don't overwhelm him," Izumi cut in, nudging Junpei away from getting any closer to Takuya. "I'm sure that there's a perfectly logical explanation for this."

"Yeah, just like there's a logical explanation for the green fire dog, the talking train, and Takuya transforming into an otherworldly creature!" Junpei cried, throwing his arms into the air in frustration. "This is ridiculous. Am I dreaming? Who snuck drugs into my food?"

"You're humans," Bokomon remarked, and he seemed shocked about it. The fact was clear as day, but his eyes still went wide at the revelation.

"What about it?" Izumi questioned, a slight quiver sneaking its way into her voice. "What are you two supposed to be? I've never seen anything like this... Junpei, if you really got drugged, do you think I got some of that stuff too?" She placed one hand on her forehead as she shook her head, trying to make sense of things just as much as the rest of the group.

"As much as I would love to explain things now, we had better get going," Bokomon said, suddenly anxious. "If we're at the spot where Cerberumon's signal disappeared, who knows what will happen when others catch up to us?"

"Others?!" Tomoki shrieked. He got to his feet and reached out one hand to help Takuya rise as well. Takuya gladly accepted such as soon as he had enough air in his lungs to function.

"Cherubimon won't be happy when he finds out that Cerberumon's gone..." Neemon remarked. "Maybe he'll send more Beasts after us."

"What the hell are you talking about?! There are more of them?!" Izumi cried. She glanced around, panic seeping into her eyes.

"I'll tell you everything that you need to know while we're on the way to somewhere safer than here. This is the place where Cerberumon's signal disappeared, and unless you want to deal with another nasty Digimon like him, you'll follow me," Bokomon declared.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Junpei asked. "We're following this gremlin deeper into a strange world full of monsters. Can't we just catch a train and get out of here before things somehow get weirder?"

"If you want to be attacked again, then stay here. You're fugitives now, and if you want to stay safe, then you'll come with me and Neemon. We know what we're doing," Bokomon told him. He started to walk away from the loading platform, and Neemon trailed after him. A few steps later, he realized that no one was following after him, so he turned his head over one shoulder. "Well? Are you coming?"

Junpei looked to Izumi. She had an uneasy expression on his face, and she glanced to Tomoki. He looked to be on the verge of tears, and he stared up at Takuya, praying that he would make a decision.

Takuya examined the expressions on the faces of the other three teenagers. He didn't know anything about them, but he knew that Cerberumon had put their lives at risk. If there really were other monsters out there that could hurt them, then they were going to have to leave the area until things were safer. Bokomon and Neemon seemed to know what they were doing, and it wasn't as if they had anyone else to ask about this. There were no second chances where their lives were concerned, and the two peculiar monsters seemed to have an explanation regarding what the hell was going on. Takuya wanted the truth more than he could have ever anticipated in that moment, and those two were the only way for them to find it out without putting themselves in more danger.

Takuya took the first step towards the odd duo of monsters. Junpei gasped, and Izumi let out a wordless whimper. Tomoki looked over his shoulder at the train tracks that extended downwards. They wouldn't be able to get back home without a Trailmon. Treading those tracks alone would be too dangerous, and they would get killed faster trying to balance on the metal rails than waiting for another assassin from this Cherubimon figure. For the sake of keeping themselves safe, there wasn't really much of any other choice.

Tomoki was the next one to follow after Takuya. Izumi was next, and Junpei took up the rear. It didn't take a genius to see that they were all uneasy, and Takuya felt his stomach twist at the idea of what they were getting into.

The quartet of nervous teenagers continued to follow after Bokomon and Neemon. Bokomon faced the front when he realized that they were going to be coming along as well, and Neemon smiled to himself at the thought. They were silent, but their pace was quick. Getting away from Flame Terminal as quickly as possible was their priority in that moment, and everything else could wait until they were out of the line of fire.

Takuya reached into his pocket and pulled out his D-Tector. When he stared at its screen, he saw a symbol staring back at him. There were two lines at the top of it and a third in the center that connected two other strings that went out diagonally before moving downwards. The symbol itself was entirely red and glowed with a dull yet familiar light. Fire washed through Takuya's eyes, and even if he didn't see it, something in him changed as a result.

A thousand questions blurred through his head as he gazed at the mark. The face of Agunimon looked back at him soon afterwards, and Takuya saw himself in the other creature. Against all logic, Takuya knew that he was one and the same with Agunimon. Nothing he could ever do would change that fact, and it shook him to his core as much as it brought him satisfaction. The paradox ran deep in his veins, and he wasn't sure if he would ever be able to give that feeling justice using mere words.

He had followed the message on his phone, and it sent him to another world. Takuya didn't know much about the Digital World, but as strange as it was, it felt oddly homey to him. Maybe that was a side effect of becoming Agunimon through the process of Spirit Evolution. That was what it was called, right? He had called those words out just before his transformation, so he assumed that was the case.

Takuya's thoughts were cast back to the woman's voice he heard through his D-Tector. He didn't have the slightest idea who she was or what it could possibly mean, but he hoped that those answers were lying somewhere in his future. His curiosity was already killing him, and he internally begged for Bokomon to hurry up and start explaining what in the world was going on.

Takuya dropped his D-Tector into his pocket and let out a heavy sigh. He didn't know what was going on, but he was starting to doubt that he would be able to go home in time for his brother's birthday.

"Just what have I gotten myself into...?" he murmured, though he wasn't entirely sure if he wanted to hear the truth.


Oh boy. I did it.

In all honesty, this idea has been sitting in the back of my mind for a while, but I wasn't sure if I was actually going to pull the trigger and write it. After much contemplation, I jumped right into it, and this is already showing itself to be a lot of fun. We're in it for the long haul, everyone.

These first five chapters or so are admittedly going to be pretty basic. They're rather similar to canon simply because there isn't much reason for a drastic shift. However, 'similar to canon' does not mean identical by any stretch of the imagination. This rewrite is still aimed at older audiences than the original cartoon (as shown by the mild language and fight sequences), so there are quite a few shifts. The characters have all been adjusted to fit this new source material, including personality and history changes, and the universe is being altered as well. I went full out with this rewrite and making it different from canon, so this is sure to be interesting.

All in all, this chapter follows the original schematic of episode one pretty faithfully with the character changes I described. The only large difference aside from that in this version of the story's opening involves the appearance of Chihiro. They're Takuya's friend in this universe, and the scene with them at the start is mostly to add a bit more flavor to the story as a whole as well as highlighting Takuya's banter with a familiar party. I loved working on their conversation, but it's unfortunate they won't be able to play soccer for a while thanks to Digital World shenanigans.

Speaking of Digital World shenanigans, everything is pretty much the same throughout the rest of the chapter aside from the opener with Chihiro. I mentioned that before, but the only real differences here are in the characters. Tomoki, Izumi, and Junpei have changed considerably from their canon incarnations, and there are all sorts of minor details scattered throughout that will be important later. This chapter might be similar to canon, but it still has its fair share of differences, to say the least.

With all of that said, I think that's all there is to talk about for this chapter. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feedback is always appreciated, and I hope you have a nice day!

-Digital