Ten years.

God damn.

On July 31^st 2012, exactly ten years ago to the day, I posted the first chapter of Digimon Inferno to Fanfiction.net. It was my first attempt at writing something for the web, and my first time being actively involved in a fandom of any sort, small and niche as it may have been. I’d crafted plans for fake Digimon stories before, but for the first time I felt I could make this work; I finally had a plan for a full 50 episode epic much like the ones I’d grown up watching in the official series, and I was curious and hopeful to see how far I’d get.

And well, here we are. Over 150 chapters, over 750 screenshots, over 1 million words. How.

A lot can change in ten years. I started an engineering degree, and finished with a 2:1. I got the dream job I’d wanted since I was a child, and then moved on after a couple of years once I realised my dream job wasn’t what I thought it’d be. I since became a fully-fledged electrical engineer working in nuclear fusion. I learnt to drive (after four attempts). I moved out of my childhood home and into my own rental place. I’ve lived through years of political turmoil. And a global pandemic. I lost my aunt, and my stepdad. I struggle daily with anxiety, depression, and the issues that come from being on the autistic spectrum, and I haven’t even turned 30 yet.

I also taught myself to play the saxophone, and got myself a little garden space out front where I grow herbs, cucumbers and tomatoes.

Life is a lot. It’s scary, it’s horrible, it’s awesome...it’s a lot.

And yet, this silly little story has been a constant throughout all of it. Right from the early days of tropey characters, wonky art and plotholes, all the way through to now with ridiculously overambitious plots, far too many characters...and plotholes. And I’ve loved every minute of it.

This has been the biggest endeavour I’ve ever worked on. It’s made me laugh, it’s made me cry, made me think, rage, scream, cheer, question my own mental health and outlook, and it’s made me write and draw things that ten years ago I could never have imagined doing. All spawning from a dumb anime for kids meant to sell virtual pets. And honestly, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

So thank you, every single one of you who’s engaged at any point during the past decade, and shared in this silly little story I have to tell. I hope you’ve enjoyed it, even as you sharpen your pitchforks at the deliberate pain and suffering I am causing to everybody within it.

After all, everyone needs the chance to pick themselves up after the fall, and find a direction in order to heal. Even if it’s a very long and painful road to get there.

And, well, as you might have gathered, we’re far from finished yet. I’ve still got another solid ten years of stories to tell, and I hope you’ll stick around with me through to the end.

As for now? I’m gonna be taking the month of August off so I can SLEEP. But rest assured, I’ll be back soon. Next time, it’s another glance into the past, and a journey with our three favourite commanders during their early years. See you in 2023 for Firestarters: A Digimon Inferno Prequel.

It’s a long old road, but we’ll still keep walking.

Take care, everyone.

~ Hawk ~