Disclaimer: I don't own the Digimon, but the characters belong to the moderators and members of the Digital Connections forum – found here forum/Digital-Connections/22352/ and under the "So you want to be a Digidestined?" topic

A/N: I've been working on this first chapter since June, it's undergone multiple rewrites and I apologise to the specific members if they don't like the portrayal of their characters- PM me if you want to discuss how to write your character better

Without much more waiting, I give you, the Digital Connections story!

Chapter 01

Ones and zeros, zeros and ones. Strings of these digits ultimately create the shell for all things living in the Digital World, a world that is both separate and connected to the human world. A single disruption in the digital core creates disturbances in both environments. For the human world, the disturbances cause disasters that can take the form of earthquakes, flash floods and total electrical or solar blackouts. Scientists tend to explain these as natural occurrences and power shortages, though there are a small group of people who know the truth about these events and their connection with the Digital World, and some who are yet to discover it.

September the fifth, that's when the disappearances started. From countries all over the world, including Canada, Malawi, America, England and so many more. Reports about their disappearances always consisted of hazy and weak accounts where the 'victims' were practically "there one minute, and gone the next." Some were sitting in the classroom, at offices working, simply walking down the street, or sleeping when they were taken. A bright white light coincidentally left the authorities with no leads or traces as to the missing children's whereabouts. Children between the ages of thirteen and eighteen

But they were no longer on Earth, they were now in the Digital World. Not that they immediately knew its name. Fortunately, they were safe.

For now.

-o-

The first of the missing children was young Texas born Sonja, Sonja Smith. A kind and honest fifteen year old girl with a moody disposition who wishes she was braver than she was. To wake up in a place she had never seen before was not something that Sonja was expecting. As her eyes opened, she was shocked by the trees she could see as if they were the rungs of a ladder, which she thought was odd, until she realised it was because she was lying down on a patch of grass. Dying grass at that. It was sparse, and of a dark moss green colour. Slowing sitting up, the girl observed her surroundings and if it weren't for the dark purple tinted sky looming overhead, she would have thought she had fainted in the school playing fields during a sports lesson. Or something like that.

"Where am I?" Sonja mumbled, rubbing her forehead with the palm of her hand.

"We're in another world- this isn't Earth." A girl with sleek long, dark brown hair was also scanning the area to the side of Sonja. "There's something strange about these trees, and the sky too."

"Yeah…" Sonja replied, unsure whether she should engage in conversation with this total stranger.

"I'm Heather by the way, you just stick with me and it'll be alright." She smiled cheerfully. "Just in case there's something that might get us into a spot of bother…"

Thinking about something that might get them in a spot of trouble worried Sonja and she could feel her chest heating up in that weird way it would do if she got stressed or panicked. Her heart juddered unevenly against her ribcage as evil demon's and horror film villains forced their way into her mind.

Seeing the younger girl's expression, Heather quickly decided to calm her down. "Why don't we do a bit of exploring? I don't know about you, but seeing as we're a little bit in the open, it might be worth us finding somewhere to hide… Like a hollowed out tree or a cave." Heather stood up boldly. "Come on – a-?"

The look on Heather's face prompted Sonja to give her name. "Sonja."

"Sonja – that's a pretty name," Heather replied, walking through the trees ahead of them. "This place is, incredible."

"I don't know about incredible, but it's certainly nice to go on a holiday for once!"

The pair walked through the forest, asking questions back and forth between one another. Instantly, they were getting on well- even if Sonja originally struggled to keep up with Heather's quick paced speed walking.

Occasionally, one of them would hear something, and they would freeze, listening for the sound again, but nothing.

Until one time, where saying it was 'just the wind' was not enough. They heard the sound of twigs being crushed, from behind them. Slowly, the two girls turned around when they heard voices. A boy and a girl's voice.

"Hello?" Heather called out, shuffling towards the cover of a tree. "Sonja- come here!" she whispered, ushering the younger girl over.

"Do you think they are our friends?" Sonja asked curiously, peering around the tree as she crouched beside Heather. "Heather?"

"I don't know…"

"Who's there?" the girl's voice called out to the pair. "I know you're there. Go on Charles, go and see who it is…"

"Me, why don't you?" a male voice snapped in a high pitch.

Sonja peeked further around the tree where she saw two people, a boy and a girl. The girl had light brown hair pulled by into a high ponytail as she clutched a satchel close to her chest like a child holding onto a safety blanket. The boy she was with looked a little older than she was, and also a bit taller, not to mention the outfit he wore was reminiscent of a medieval style, like he indulged in roleplaying.

"They're just kids – like us," Sonja whispered, about to go out and say hello, but Heather placed a fragile hand on the youngster's shoulder.

"Wait, just a little while longer, we don't know about them…"

Sonja whimpered a little in distress. "But what if they can help us get home?"

Heather bit her lips and looked in deep thought. After a moment, she nodded – much to Sonja's delight – and stepped out from behind the tree towards the girl and the boy she had heard referred to as Charles.

"Crikey o' riley! You scared us half to death!" the girl gasped, gripping her satchel tighter. "This is so good, isn't it Charles- I mean, we've found other children. That means that we aren't the only ones here! Yes!" The girl lurched forwards as if to get a closer look at the two other girls. "I'm Kaitlyn but most of my friends just call me Kate or Kat – I don't mind which you use because I'll answer to either one of them!" Before Kate realised it, she had forgotten to take a breath and had to inhale loudly.

Heather laughed softly. "Nice to meet you Kate, I'm Heather. Hi Charles."

"Hi," Charles replied, nodding his head.

"And I'm Sonja," Sonja added, smiling at her new companions. "So what now?"

-o-

The four decided to carry on walking. They found themselves walking up a hill, weaving in and out of the trees. The sky had now grown an even darker purple, but all still seemed barren and empty. Not a single bird flew overhead and the only thing to be heard was the whistle of the evening wind rushing through the trees.

Each child was beginning to develop their own theory as to why they were in this strange place.

Kate believed they were in some parallel universe where everything was the reversal of what it was back at home. That's why the place was so dark, why there were no birds flying overhead and also explained the barren land. Where Kate grew up, the landscape was so vibrant and luscious, this new place brought a confusing contrast to the bubbly girl. She watched as Heather and Charles engaged in quiet conversation, laughing every now and again, yet when she tried to join in, she felt like she was being intrusive and took a metaphorical step back.

-o-

As they reached the top of the hill, the children's mouths dropped in shock of the vast stretch of land at the base of the hill. The land was a dirt ridden expansion for as far as the eye could see, sandwiched between two mountains that crawled up into the clouds. The whole scape was hills. Miles and miles of hills surrounding the mountains. Wood stumps littered the plain, accompanied by the singed trunks of trees that once stood tall and proud.

"What do you think happened?" Kate whispered, looking at the destruction that lay before them.

"Something's burnt the place… Destroyed it completely…" Charles replied, sounding just as shocked and worried. "But we should carry on going…In case whatever did this comes back."

"Yeah," Sonja said, nodding in agreement with Charles and Heather.

Kate wasn't so sure about this decision. "But what if whatever did this comes after us? What if it's still here?"

"Come on Kate, if we stick together, we'll be safer," Heather said, implying that if they stuck together, then it would be alright. "Kate?" she added as she noticed the other girl was completely frozen to the spot.

"Oh, sorry- I have a tendency of staring off into space every now and again… Just let me know if I do it again."

"Of course, Kate!"

They walked cautiously down the gentle slope of the hill, kicking up loose dirt and pebbles were sent skittering away in all directions. A silence rippled all around them, and the suspense loomed too. It was like the moments in horror films where you know that there is something about to happen, but the anticipation of waiting can be consuming.

-o-

A scream. A shrill scream filled the valley as Heather, Sonja, Charles and Kate were navigating their way through the labyrinth of large fallen down trees.

"More people!" Kate yelled before covering her mouth with her hand. "Sorry…"

"It's alright, come on guys, someone's in trouble." Charles vaulted up and over a thick trunk. "Woah…"

Heather and Sonja climbed up onto the same trunk and froze at the sight of the beast that they saw.

"What is that?" Sonja squeaked, holding Heather's arm and hoping for a bit of reassurance. "I've never seen anything like it."

In front of them, hovering above an inverted doom shaped crater, was a pupa shaped purple case. Stemming from this pupa were six black cables that swayed in the wind. Two yellow orbs stared back at the four children as they watched its stillness.

Four beams of light suddenly shone down from the sky and revealed four small rectangular devices on leather cord or chains with a screen that lit up, displaying a short profile and picture of the creature before them.

"Chrysalimon, the champion form of Kuramon. This Digimon is completely unable to move until it has stored enough energy so will remain stationary for the meantime." Voices emanated from the devices in complete unison, staying in total synchronisation throughout.

"So what do we do to it?" Heather asked the device quietly, tapping the screen which had now reverted to a default blank one.

"Look guys, there are more children over there. A girl and two boys." Sonja pointed to the other side of the crater where three children were running away, climbing over the trees and staggering away into the distance. "Hey, wait up!"

"Sonja, hold on," Kate squeaked. "We don't know whether that thing has enough energy or not… We'll find those other kids soon, I promise, but right now, we have to watch out for ourselves."

A click startled the children and one of the black tentacles shot out from the Chrysalimon. Within seconds, it lashed itself around Kate's waist, taking the breath out of her lungs.

"Kate!" the other three shouted, grabbing the cable and pulling on it as the trapped girl twisted and squirmed as she tried to free herself.

Sonja's hands fastened themselves around one of Kate's free hands, holding on tight. The three rings on Sonja's hands dug down into the caught girl's hand, making Kate grimace in pain, but still fight to get free.

"Hold on!" Sonja gritted her teeth, grunting hopelessly as Heather and Charles tugged at the cable.

The dirt at Sonja's feet began to crumble as Kate was pulled in closer by the Chrysalimon. A sharp tug and Sonja's grip slipped, she fell to the ground. Lifting her head up, she watched helplessly as Heather and Charles were thrown back. Then Chrysalimon and Kate shot up into the sky, disappearing out of sight.

"Kate?" Sonja called out. "Kate!" she shouted a little louder. "Heather! Charles!" She rushed over to her companion's sides, helping them up off the ground.

The two dusted themselves down.

"We're not safe here, we have to keep moving," Charles suggested, shaking the dirt from his hair. "Are you two alright?"

"Yeah, we're fine," Heather replied, circling her shoulder back as she squeezed it with one hand. "Where do you think that thing has taken Kate?"

"I don't know…" Charles replied, looking down into the crater where a brown hollowed out rocky shell lay. "It was a meteor, or at least something like that."

"Look at this – there's an egg on the screen!" Sonja called out, staring at the small device's screen which was now dim but she could still see a small egg pulsing up, then down, and the same to the sides. "It is like it's waiting to hatch."

"Mine's doing the same." Charles nodded in agreement. "This is getting weird now."

"Let's walk and talk though. If we hurry, we can catch up to those other people." Even by the time Heather said this, she was already far ahead of Charles and Sonja.

They exchanged a look, before laughing and running to catch up to their third member.

-o-

It took them a while to proceed much further out of the fallen tree valley, but as they went, the teamwork they showed flourished and grew. A hand extended meant more and more to them when it meant that they built on trust. The purple sky darkened like an indigo tinted night sky. Overhead, the stars began to appear, like a switch had been pressed.

"We should make a camp for the night…" Heather suggested, shivering a little at the breeze blowing through the valley. "It's getting cold now and I'm going to need to sleep sometime soon."

"Me too." Sonja smiled, surveying the area for something that could help provide a bed for the night. "I'll check the trees, see if there's a hollowed out one, or something like that."

"That's a great idea, come on Charles, let's see what we can find. Don't wander too far."

The three separated and searched the outskirts of the fallen trees in the hope of finding a bed for the night. It was dark and cold as they searched. The search lasted a while, with each one no closer to thinking anything was suitable to sleep on, in or by.

"Guys – over here!" Heather shouted, rushing towards where she could see Sonja. "There's a small cave I can see which might help."

Charles could hear the uncertainty in her voice, as if there was a problem. "But what's the catch, Heather?"

"It's a little climb up the mountainside," Heather replied, scuffing the ground with the toe of her boot.

"Well I found something that might be a little bit better…" Sonja said, unable to keep the smile off her face. "There's a hut, just around the valley. I could see the light in the distance, it doesn't look that far away, and I don't know if I have the strength or energy to climb up a mountain anytime soon."

"Sounds like we should check it out." Charles walked towards Sonja. "Lead on, Sonja."

"Okay!"

Sonja ran on ahead of the other two like an ecstatic child, desperate to get to this hut in the near distance. Whilst she was cautious about the fact that the hut was home to a dark force, it could be a safe haven against creatures like Chrysalimon. She raced down the hill towards the hut she could see. It was dimly lit through a small circular window, most likely by candlelight.

"Hey- Sonja, wait for us!" Heather called out. "Slow down!" Desperate to catch up to the younger girl, Heather broke out into a quick dash and just about managed to stop herself from tripping over her own feet from the boots she wore that were clearly not designed for running.

As the trio could closer, Heather pulled Sonja to one side, dipping down by a shrivelled bush.

"Let's wait a minute, just to check there isn't anyone in it." Heather looked around at the hut, unable to see the interior of it. "Just in case…"

"What's up guys?" Charles said, creeping up beside the girls hiding by the withered bush that showed him that the destruction extended beyond the valley of fallen trees.

"We just wanted to wait and check that there was no one or no thing inside."

Charles took a deep breath and looked up at the sky. He noticed something familiar about the constellations that twinkled overhead. Like he had seen it before… The stars that were light-years away from him.

"I know we're busy watching the hut, but do the stars look familiar to you?" he asked, feeling a little awkward about asking something at what might have been an inappropriate time.

Sonja was first to take her eyes off the hut, keen to look at something else. It took her a while before she understood what he meant. "Well, I think I get the same feeling. I can see the stars I recognise, but… as if they are reflected, like the reversed of what I used to see whenever I went camping. Heather, what do you think?"

Heather turned, blinking rapidly then shaking her head a little. "There's nothing inside, come on."

"Do you notice something about the stars here, Heather?" Sonja prompted a quick response as the other girl made her way to the hut, only for the question to be responded to by a cheerful laugh.

"Heather?" Charles followed her to the hut and froze when he caught a glimpse of what was inside the house. His jaw began to lower a little with shock, but a good shock. "We're not alone anymore guys, we've found them… Just like Kaitlyn promised we would."

Inside of the hut, were three children – the girl and two boys that they had seen before, adding what looked like a new skillset to the group in this new world.

Whilst Heather's hand hovered over the door handle, she had to take a step back when the door opened by itself, with no one standing on the other side. The three children stood up and turned to look at Heather, Charles and Sonja in the doorway.

"You don't know how pleased I am to see other people here!" the girl rushed forwards, leading the introductions and welcoming the three into the hut. "But first, there's some- you need to be spoken to…"

"What do you mean?" Charles asked, looking between the other three children.

Rather than say anything, the girl ushered them towards a cloth tapestry hanging on the wall. She pulled it back and revealed another room.

Sitting on a raised platform, was a large open book. Hovering above that book was a being which they assumed was another of these creatures, like the one they had seen earlier called Chrysalimon. It was draped in maroon and cream cloth which covered its body and left only its two piercing amber orbs to be seen, and the glove that were on its hands. Circling the being were two spheres, one a colour of crimson blood, the old of crystallised honey.

Sonja looked down at her device, hoping it would activate. She pressed a finger on the screen and it lit up.

"Wisemon, an ultimate level Digimon known for appearing anywhere in time and space via the Book and being the holder of Space-time Stones that preserve events of the Digital World…" The voice cut off. "Minimal data on this Digimon…"

That's weird. Sonja thought. This thing had just as much information on that other thing it called a Digimon…

"Children, I welcome you to the Digital World- I am Wisemon, guardian to all the Digidestined children. I believe I have something to show you. How you came to be called to this place. Now sleep."

Sonja felt herself lose all consciousness and fall back- the room rolled back as she drifted through the air and was caught by someone who lay her down on the ground.

Then, the visions came.

Thoughts from AspiringWriterGirl = So this is the first chapter of the story that was started by the moderators and members of the Digital Connections forum, so if you aren't a part of it yet, I welcome you to join it