Author's Note: Welcome to my first piece of long-chapter fanfiction in a long time. I am excited to be writing again especially for a series I love so much. I hope you enjoy it as well. I don't want to waste your time with a long note but I did want to ask that you enjoy my fic and know that I have a lot of fun things in store for the characters involved. Elements from all digimon series might be involved at some point, but note that the focus is on Adventure through Frontier. Any digimon used can be found on the digimon wikia if you are curious about learning more or want to get a better idea of what they look like.

Otherwise, enjoy.

(Prologue)
Yggdrasil, the ultimate being in the digital world, does not just occupy one digital world. There are few that know the secrets of Yggdrasil, but legend has it that Yggdrasil stretches through multiple digital worlds, connecting them together and maintaining the order within them all. Most digital worlds are somehow connected to a human world as well and that is part of what makes each digital world just as unique as each human world. While there have been attempts to breech the barriers separating these multiple worlds, the repercussions of such actions would be far too great. Of course, there are some digital worlds that have synced with human worlds, allowing for crossing...but if two digital worlds or more were to collide with one another the results would be catastrophic. There is one such being, however, that seeks to break these barriers and throw all of time and space into the primordial chaos from which it rose: ZeedMillenniummon.

The two beings have been at odds for ages and while Yggdrasil has kept the dark being in check for this long, ZeedMillenniummon has manipulated events in countless digital worlds to slowly, but surely, weaken Yggdrasil. Some of these events may, in fact, be familiar to you. The evils that have risen in any number of digital worlds can ultimately be attributed to ZeedMillenniummon's doing. Like several chinks in a wall, the barriers between the various digital and human worlds are crumbling and it is only a matter of time before all fall to Chaos.

(Episode 01: Chance Encounters, part 1)

It was like old times at least that was what Takato thought as he pulled the goggles over his face and headed into the digital field just outside the park. Guilmon was at his side and his digivice was already in his hands ready to see what digimon had surfaced into the world this time. Granted, nothing really seemed like a threat after dealing with something like the D-Reaper half a year ago, but a digimon could still tear through Shinjuku like it was a hot knife through butter. Digimon were dangerous and wild (most of the time), but Takato had also learned they could be friends as had most of the people Takato associated with, even HYPNOS.

Six months. Takato still couldn't believe it had been that long since his dealings with the digital world, not to mention he'd only gotten Guilmon back three months ago. That had been a trial in and of itself, but he was happy to have his old friend again and, he imagined, so were the other Tamers. Takato didn't feel as though he'd changed much in that time. Sure he was a little taller and starting a new grade in school, but otherwise he was still very much the same dreamer and happy-go-lucky guy he was before.

"Okay, boy. What do we have this time," Takato asked as he pulled his goggles back up now that he was inside the actual field. There was nothing he could see out of the ordinary but Guilmon's nose was known for sensing Digimon faster than Takato could see them. Guilmon had sensed the digital field forming in the middle of their walk back home. As usual his eyes had dilated and he had gone stiff, sniffing at the air before telling Takato what was happening. Now, they were here and Guilmon was still looking a little stiff, ready for the attack. "Don't know. Smells big though Takato," was Guilmon's reply.

Takato looked down at the digivice in his hand. So far it wasn't showing anything either, except an arrow moving back and forth without settling on anything, basically it's default mode if there were no digimon to identify. The boy sighed, "Come on. A digital field doesn't just appear for no reason." He thought briefly of calling Rika or Henry but that would have been silly, he and Guilmon could handle anything. Of course, maybe for old time's sake he should. But Rika would probably just ask him if it was worth her time and, now that he thought about it, Henry was supposed to be in martial arts class. "It's not even a very big digital field, is it," Takato asked, still being a little cautious but otherwise starting to relax.

That changed, however, when something huge and dark swept over the digital field like a shadow. Something not quite solid was moving around and a split second later Guilmon was growling, his pupils nearly pinpricks, "Takato." It was a warning voice. Something big was coming and Guilmon was telling him to be ready. The Digital field started to shimmer, parts of it looking like fuzz on a bad television and other parts blinking out. Takato wondered if it was collapsing when suddenly his mind was overwhelmed by the sound of buzzing static getting louder and louder, "Aaah!" He cried out, clutching at his ears as he dropped to one knee. Strangely, though, it didn't seem to be affecting Guilmon who was suddenly over his tamer, eyes round with worry," Takato? TAKATO!"

The pitch was getting higher. How could Guilmon not hear that? "G-guilmon. Run," Takato said, hoping his partner would understand that he needed to get to Rika or Henry or SOMEONE.

The red monster only nuzzled at Takato, trying to get him to stand up. Takato wasn't sure if it was the sound making him black out or if the Digital Field was actually getting darker. He wasn't awake long enough to see as his eyes glazed over and he fell forward onto Guilmon. "TAKATO!"

When he came to again the digital field was gone. Instead he was greeted with a large red nose sniffing at his face and then suddenly a full-force hug from a large digimon, "TAKATO IS AWAKE! TAKATO IS OKAY!"

Still groggy, Takato groaned and pushed a little at Guilmon, "Hey...come on Guilmon get off." Guilmon obliged and released the tamer, taking a step back before circling Takato and sniffing at him. This gave Takato a chance to look around. At first he thought that Guilmon had somehow taken him into the park to rest, as he was surrounded by trees and grass. Upon closer inspection however Takato realized that the trees looked very foreign and almost tropical. Some of the underbrush too was strange. There were regular bushes mixed in with plant life that had strange stripes and exotic, large flowers; besides that there were clearly no park benches or paths anywhere in sight. Takato had been all over the park and would have recognized it if there was a spot like this. He brushed his pants off as he stood up, "Uh, Guilmon, where are we?"

"Don't know. It kinda smells like the Digital World."

Takato about fell over at that response. While he had had a sinking suspicion that that might be the case, it was another thing to hear it out loud. How had they come to the Digital World? It had been so difficult the last time they'd done it and this time they just magically showed up? Something wasn't right about all of this. Takato stepped closer to Guilmon, looking around nervously. Oh, but wait, if this was the Digital World then he should be able to see the real world in the sky. Takato looked up and frowned, "A-are you sure Guilmon? Cause that sky doesn't look like the one I remember." Guilmon sniffed the air and then sneezed once, "Guilmon thinks so, but it smells different too."

Odd, was all Takato could think. How was it possible that this smelled like the Digital World but wasn't? The sky that wasn't blocked out by the leaves of trees was a bright and colorful hue of rainbow light. He couldn't see a sun or moon or even the round orb that should have been the Real World. No, this was a strange sky to him and, apparently, Guilmon as well. He eventually sighed, shoulders slumping, "Great. So we have no idea where we are other than it mightbe the Digital World."

"Sorry Takato." Guilmon's ears drooped. He wanted to be helpful to his friend, but he was clearly just as lost as Takato.

Takato smiled weakly at his partner, putting a hand on the red digimon's head, "Don't worry. We'll figure it out. We just need to find someone to ask. Preferably someone friendly." He knew all too well that if they were in the Digital World that not all the monsters would cooperate. Still, why should he worry as long as he had Guilmon with him? "Come on," he said, setting off in a random direction. Guilmon's tail swished back and forth before he followed as well.

"Where should we go Takato?" Guilmon asked after they had walked for some time. It looked like they were very deep in the forest and he had no idea which way they should be going. Neither of them was familiar with this Digital World at all, if it was that, and so far Takato hadn't picked up any sign of digimon. Takato pulled out his digivice and started pushing buttons at random.

"You would think this thing would have some kind of map function or something." Granted, if this wasn't his Digital World then how could he be sure that the map would be accurate at all.
He wasn't sure which direction he should head in, but he needed to start somewhere. Suddenly an idea occurred to him and he turned to look at Guilmon, "Hey is there any water nearby? Maybe we can find someone else looking for water, I mean, that's an essential kind of supply, right?"

Guilmon sniffed the air. He didn't know about it being "essential" but if Takato said so then he would do it. It didn't take Guilmon long to find the smell of water in the air and he turned away from the path they were on, pointing with his claw, "This way Takato!"

It didn't take them long to find their way out of the forest and just ahead Takato could see the rainbow colored sky reflecting on the water of a large lake. At least the lake was a normal shade of blue underneath all of that reflected light on the surface. Just as he was about to step out of the covering of the forest Guilmon froze and lowered his head, growling. "Uh oh, what is it," Takato asked, stopping to look at his partner. Unfortunately, before either could react, Guilmon was pinned to a tree by several arrows of ice. Takato jerked in shock but was soon also pinned to another tree, the ice arrows ripping through his shirt as it pinned him to the tree. "Hey! What the heck!"

From the line of trees near the lake several rabbit-like digimon emerged. They had been hiding in the shadows and was each pointing more arrows at the pair. Takato could just barely move his hand but he managed to tilt it up to look at the reading on his digivice. It took it a few minutes but then the holographic screen popped up with an image of one of the rabbits, under which read "Lekismon."

Takato couldn't recall a digimon of that name in the card game but, then again, it wasn't like he had every single digimon memorized. The digivice said they were Champion levels but Takato couldn't help but think they looked kind of on the small side for that level. The Lekismon were only a few feet taller than Takato, not including their rabbit-like ears. Each of the Lekismon had metal masks on their faces and a moon stamped on the armor over their chests. Most of them had reddish pink eyes and a theme of purple and pink coloring on their fur. Several of the Lekismon still held arrows of ice, poised and ready to shoot again.

One of the Lekismon, this one had blue eyes and a chipped ear, stepped forward, clearly she was the leader of the group and she eyed Takato with disdain, "We have found another trespasser of Apollomon."

The other rabbit archers nodded but Takato just struggled against the arrows pinning him to the tree, "What? No. I don't even know who Apollomon is!"

The lead Lekismon frowned at him and pointed at Guilmon, "You carry with you one of his minions, a creature of fire. Such trespassing is forbidden in the forests' of Dianamon, even if he is a beast type."

"But Guilmon doesn't know Apollomon either," Takato protested.

Ignoring him the Lekismon turned to her comrades, "Bind him with the other prisoner. We will have great news for Mistress Dianamon tonight." The group of archers parted and made way for a small group of different digimon who carried a boy and his digimon in chains.

The new digimon were also rabbit-esqe, but also reminded Takato of prairie dogs. He wasn't far off, either, as his digivice informed him that these were called Prairiemon, an armor-type digimon with claws that looked like they could cut through many things. Takato easily recognized the digimon in chains, however, as a rookie level Wormmon. He didn't know who the boy was though. The boy gave Takato a sympathetic look as he was pulled down from the tree by the Lekismon. The Lekismon dragged Takato over to the Prairiemon and immediately chained him up with the other boy.

Meanwhile, more Lekismon were trying to get Guilmon down from the tree but he was stuck to the tree by the ice arrow and he was growling in both pain and to defend himself from the digimon. Takato realized this when he heard Guilmon howl in pain and anger and he whipped back around, "Stop it! You're hurting him!"

Guilmon and the Lekismon ignored him as Guilmon's mouth heated up with fire before releasing a blast of a fire ball directly into the bodies of two of the Lekismon. The two Lekismon flew backwards from the blast and Takato was surprised the attack hadn't deleted either of the digimon. He felt like it should have, after all even at this level Guilmon had a powerful attack and had deleted champion levels before. There was little time to worry about that though because the two Lekismon were severely injured and immediately the other Lekismon retaliated, taking aim with their ice arrows. Takato struggled against his chains, lunging for his digimon partner, "Guilmon! Stop!"

Everyone listened to him this time, pausing in their actions: Guilmon to look at Takato while the Lekismon turned to their leader. The lead Lekismon scowled and turned on Takato, "Get him in check before we return him to an egg...though he will pay later for his attack on my subordinates."

Guilmon's ears flattened against his head and his eyes went from being dilated to looking wide and sad, "Guilmon is sorry, but you were hurting me and Takato." His head lowered, Guilmon padded over to Takato, nuzzling against him in apology. The chains on Takato's wrist clanked together as the boy reached up and pat his head, even as another Prairiemon came forward to clamp chains on Guilmon. The lead Lekismon seemed to think this was not enough and brought out another piece of equipment and Takato gasped as he realized it was a muzzle.

"No! He'll be fine! Don't put that on him!" Takato protested. However, it was in vain as Lekismon was already clamping it onto Guilmon's snout. Guilmon struggled a little but he knew Takato would just be mad if he attacked again, so he let it happen. Takato sighed, it pained him to see Guilmon chained and muzzled, more so than being in chains himself. The chains were tugged and Takato realized he needed to start walking as the Lekismon filed into their ranks to keep the boys and their digimon from running.

After they had been walking for a bit the other prisoner turned and gave Takato a small, half-hearted smile. "That was brave. What you did for your digimon, I mean."

Takato, who had been watching his digimon this whole time, finally turned away and returned the smile, also half-hearted. The other boy was about his age and had long, straight black hair. He was a bit on the pale side and wore a baggy white shirt and black pants. "It didn't help much though, did it?" Takato finally said.

"You stopped him from hurting more of the digimon at least." The boy was trying to look on the bright side, but it was hard to do that while in chains being marched to who knew where. He sighed and then held up a chained hand, "I'm Ken," he paused and gestured with his head to his digimon who was now hitting a ride on Guilmon since he couldn't walk as fast, "and that's Wormmon. What's your name?"

"Takato...and that's Guilmon." He paused and then decided to ask, "So is this your first time in the digital world?"

Ken hesitated, looking back at Wormmon as if asking him what he should do. If Wormmon had a suggestion he didn't give it and Ken just sighed, his shoulders dropping, "No, it's not. But Wormmon and I don't think this is the same Digital World we're used to. I'm guessing you've been to the digital world before?"

Takato wasn't sure what to make of Ken's reaction to the question. It was innocent enough wasn't it? Yet, he'd acted like his first experience wasn't all that great. Takato thought about his own experience and realized that his wasn't all that great either. Maybe that's it, he rationalized, and Ken just didn't have a good first experience. "You figured that out too? Guilmon said it smelled like the Digital World but that it was different, plus you can't even see the Real World from here."

"What do you mean? You couldn't see the Real World in the Digital World's sky."

"Uh...huh," Takato paused as something occurred to him, "You know, maybe WE'VE been to different Digital World's too. How does THAT even work?"

"I don't know. The Lekismon wouldn't answer my questions when I asked about this one. They just told me that I should be quiet and wait for Dianamon's judgment," Ken explained, looking back at his partner.

Takato blinked, "Hey that reminds me. Why DID they capture you? I mean, Wormmon's not a fire type digimon."

Ken didn't stop walking but he did take a moment to figure out how to answer that question. It hadn't really made sense to him either but he got the feeling that more was going on here than just a random hatred for certain digimon elements. "Well, it's strange really…" Ken thought back to what had happened before he had woken up here and proceeded to tell Takato the series of events:

He had been walking home from cram school early that evening, they sun having not quite set but was barely high enough to pierce through the large buildings of the city. Ken liked this time of day because as he walked home he could focus on his own thoughts and unwind from school or soccer practice. He felt good, the best he had in months now that the Digital World was calm and the incident with the Kuramon safely in the past. He'd actually been able to focus on his studies, was almost retaining his status as the 'boy genius' at his school, and Wormmon was waiting for him safely at home for the evening meal.

Things were great and that should have been the first clue to Ken that they were about to change. It had happened quickly at least. One moment everything was fine and then, just as he was nearing his train station, his digivice had started flashing and making strange noises. It had startled him but before he could access it the noise grew louder and more high pitched, turning from an annoying beep to screeching static noise, the kind you get with microphone feedback in a speaker. Before he had blacked out completely he had noticed strange lights in the sky.

"And then I woke up on the shore of the nearby lake with Wormmon and several Lekismon surrounding us. They told me that I was trespassing and that despite the fact that Wormmon was allowed here he was in the company of a man-type digimon." Ken paused as he realized what he'd just said, his gaze refocusing on Takato, "I don't think they've had humans before…so I'm guessing they think we're strange digimon and that's another type they don't like."

Takato nodded, filing away more of this information. So they were against fire type and the man-type digimon. Wormmon was okay so that meant insect digimon were allowed in the forest and, based on the Lekismon and Prairiemon, beast type digimon were also allowed. "Well, my experience was pretty similar. My digivice made a sound like that too and when I woke up I was with Guilmon."

"I noticed this earlier, but your digivice is a different model. May I see it?"

"Sure," Takato said. The chains were loose enough that he was able to get the digivice out of his pocket and hold it up for Ken. Ken examined it curiously as they walked before slipping his own hand in his pocket and producing a black and grey model, very different from Takato's gold and white one. Takato blinked, "Where do you swipe the cards through?"

"What cards?"

At first Takato thought he was joking and almost laughed, but then he saw that Ken was legitimately curious. Did he seriously not know about the Digimon card game? How was THAT even possible? Takato could just imagine Kenta and Kazu giving Ken a hard time about that. They'd probably make some remark about Ken living under a rock. "You know. The digimon card game. You can use the cards to modify and boost your partner's stats in a battle," Takato explained, even as he reached behind him and pulled a few cards out of his back pocket. If it was possible Ken looked even more surprised when Takato showed him the handful of cards.

Ken studied them, recognizing some digimon he had encountered and actually pausing when he came to a Stingmon card. It had the attacks on it and everything. As he examined it something began to occur to Ken and he looked back at Takato, "Uhm…Takato. I think it may be more than just multiple Digital Worlds out there."

"What do you mean?"

The other boy held up the Stingmon card, "There isn't a game like this in my world. If there was, I know one of my friends would have mentioned it to me by now, even if I hadn't noticed it myself. Besides, there are a growing number of individuals getting digimon but I don't think the phenomenon has become wide spread enough to warrant a card game." Plus, there was still very much a bad stigma with digimon, given the events in the past that both new and old Digidestined had experienced. Ken shook his head, "It sounds impossible, but I guess with the existence of multiple Digital Worlds it's not hard to imagine there might be multiple human ones as well." Thinking about that made him remember that weird Dream world and the Dark Ocean…maybe there were more like that out there as well.

Takato looked surprised by this news but after he gave it a moment's thought it did make a bit more sense. "This is getting really weird," Takato muttered as he put his digivice and cards away. Ken held out the Stingmon card to him but Takato shook his head, smiling, "You keep it. That's Wormmon's evolved form, right?"

Ken smiled kindly at Takato and thanked him for the gift. He could only imagine the responses he would get from Davis and the others when he showed them THIS. He looked back at Wormmon again, knowing he'd have to show the bug digimon the card at some point as well.

While their conversation had made the walk more enjoyable it didn't completely distract them from the matter at hand. Neither boy was really keen on the idea of escaping if it meant hurting the Lekismon. Besides, they both had a sense that this was just a big misunderstanding that could be sorted out as soon as they reached whoever this Dianamon was. It didn't take them long either because apparently they had landed just down the shore from an impressive looking fort. It was made of wood and logs like a fort from ancient times, only it was clear that this wasn't old but relatively new and very much in use. Ken spotted more Lekismon at some of the corners, perched on towers with arrows trained.

They were led into the fort and somehow it was even more impressive past the outside walls. Several storage buildings and huts lined this part, but further out Ken could see tents and huts that were made more for dwelling in and shops. Lekismon and Prairiemon were not the only digimon milling about either. It was not a large town or anything but certainly had with it a variety of beast-type digimon living together. Ken tried to get a better look at a large structure in the center of town but he was shoved into a building before he could.

The building wasn't that impressive and in fact didn't seem to have anything at all in it, until he noticed the hole. The hole led down into a series of tunnels and Ken realized belatedly that they were being led to a prison beneath the fort. It also reminded Ken of a rabbit's burrow underground but he decided to keep that to himself. They walked a little further before one of the Lekismon stopped and pulled aside one of the cell doors, heavy and made of wood.

Another Lekismon removed the chains as they pushed Ken and Takato into the cell but not before taking any items they had, including their digivices. The worst part, however, was when they started to leave with Guilmon and Wormmon still in chains.

"Wait! Where are they going," Ken cried out, rushing forward towards the door. He pulled up short when he found the end of a blade of ice poking towards his neck.

The Lekismon leader glared at them, "We will not allow you to conspire against us. We are taking these two to separate cells." She glared and looked down at Guilmon, "Besides, this one needs a special case that he cannot free himself from." There was a gleam there that Takato did not like.

"Please," Takato said in a soft voice, "Please don't hurt Guilmon."

For a moment the Lekismon looked surprised by this turn. Two of the Lekismon exchanged looks behind their leader's back but her own expression did not change. Instead of responding she slammed the heavy cell door closed and led Guilmon, Wormmon, and the two Lekismon away.

Takato collapsed on a nearby straw-stuffed mat. He looked defeated as Ken turned away from the door to examine their cell. There were two mats in the room and Ken realized that the fact that there were only two beds was probably another reason the digimon were being kept elsewhere. The cell was bare otherwise except for a bucket of water in one corner near the door and a spot in a far back corner for…other business. Ken's eyes fell on his new friend and Takato met his gaze, looking up, "Now what?"

Ken thought for a moment before sighing. He wanted to stay optimistic like Davis would have but it was just impossible. He was never one to look on the bright side of things, even if Davis had started to infect him recently. Instead, Ken joined Takato on the mat, sitting with his back to the wall, "I don't know, Takato. I guess we wait and see if Dianamon will believe our story or not. Even if this is a different kind of Digital World, they should still have legends of humans or even encounters with them in the past, right?"

There was no answer that Takato could give. Ken had said himself that he didn't think the Lekismon had ever seen humans before so who was to say that Dianamon had? Besides, even if they did convince Dianamon that Ken and he weren't human-type digimon what good would that do Guilmon? Guilmon would still be a fire type and he wasn't sure that just because they had no idea about Apollomon that Guilmon would be spared. He had attacked some of the Lekismon after all. 'Guilmon, I hope you behave. We can't get into any more trouble,' he thought, a silent prayer directed at his digimon. Ken fell silent as well, wondering if there was any way to get out of this at all.

To Be Continued...