*Approaches nervously* ... Uh, hi everyone? Sorry I haven't posted in like... well, ages, but I've been busy? No, I'll be honest with you guys; I had decided I was going to give up on writing fan fictions so I deleted every word document from my computer and almost terminated this account. I didn't, and recently I've been feeling nostalgic towards digimon, especially since a new season is coming out next year (SO EXCITED!). So I decided I'd give this story another whack at it since so many of you had lots of nice things to say about it and seemed to really enjoy it.

"Anyways, this is Chapter 14! It's extremely short, but I wanted to get a chapter posted as soon as possible so I could let you all know that I am still writing this story. Tainted is currently on hiatus and will eventually be returned to once I finish this story. I imagine about 5 or so more decent length chapters, since there's so many things that need resolved. Also, like I said before, I deleted all my word documents with the full story, so I am having a hard time remembering the couples (Tai/Matt/Sora especially), the personal conflicts each have with the others (Davis/TK, TK/Kari, etc.), and some other minor details, but I think I got the gist down on how I want this story to finish up. I'm going to try my best to make sure everything makes sense, but I need you guys to help me out and let me know if there's anything wrong in a review or private message.

"I really hope you guys like this chapter and can accept my apology for almost giving up on this story, and I hope you still love this story and review, favorite, and follow! But mostly review because I love reviews! This chapter especially, let me now what you think of Fida, Gilda, and the whole world of sacrifices thing

Chapter 14:

'I'm dead. I'm dead. I'mdeadI'mdeadI'mdeadI'mdead' his mind shouted as he dove in front of his weakened and defenseless partner, Tokomon. Ignoring his partner's protests, he closed his eyes as what felt like a red-hot blade pierced into his side and tore open his paper-like skin. Then his thoughts were confirmed when everything went black and he lost all feeling.

His eyes were still closed and when he realized that he realized his eyes were still closed, he realized he was still alive. No, scratch that, he couldn't be alive; this just must be the 'other side.'

He didn't know whether he should open his eyes or not. He knew he was a somewhat decent guy, but that still didn't mean he wasn't afraid of landing himself in some hell or purgatory, if such things were even real. Then again, he didn't feel any pain; actually, he felt a lot better than he had in a while and the feeling felt strangely familiar to him.

"Ugh, will you just wake up already kid," a familiar voice said not hiding his annoyance.

"Fida, you act like you wouldn't be doing the same thing after getting sliced and diced by a GranKuwagamon."

"Fida? Gilda?" TK asked as he sat up and saw the two balls of blue and pink light respectively. Everything surrounding them was black, so much so that he couldn't even see his own body. The two orbs, however, stuck out like a sore thumb. He felt uncomfortable with the surrounding darkness, but at the same time he felt at home.

"In the present," Gilda replied, the pink orb bouncing up and down.

The present. In the Digital World's 'present' he was dead and GranKuwagamon had probably attacked Matt or even worse. And what about Tokomon? The poor digimon didn't stand a chance against that strong of a digimon. Heck, he wasn't even sure the others would stand a chance against GranKuwagamon, and even if they did then what about Daemon?

"… awesome. And the shoes TK! Your shoes are… wait, what's wrong?'

TK wore a frown that wasn't going to go away for a long time, if ever. Despite the warmth he felt inside of him in this new place, feelings of hopelessness and despair started to creep up on him and a single tear escaped his eye.

"I… I failed."

The blue orb floated in front of him. "Well, you could put it that way…"

"Fida!" the pink one warned.

"… or you could think of it as a reason to try even harder to fight against Daemon."

"What do you mean?" he asked, not looking up from the ground he was staring at woefully.

"What I mean, kid, is that you're life isn't through yet, unless you want it to be."

"That's right TK," Gilda continued, "You embody hope. Hope doesn't die easily, and you won't either."

"But then why am I here? Why aren't I still in the Digital World?"

"We were wondering the same thing actually," Gilda said honestly.

"It is very rare that anyone gets transported to this world. In fact, you are the first human or digimon to ever enter this world. We are usually the ones that have to travel out of this world to help others."

"So you can help me get back to the Digital World?"

"It's possible, yes. As Gilda said, we've never had anyone else here in this world, so we really are new to this."

"He's right. We're not sure if you can leave this world; you might be stuck with us forever!"

"But I don't want to be here forever!"

"We don't want you here either kid! This is our world, and we don't need some annoying human messing it up."

"That's Fida's way of saying he wants to help you."

"I don't want to help the kid!"

Gilda sighed. "Anyways, I believe the key to you leaving this world is going to require some sacrifice on your part, TK."

"Right, cause this is the world of sacrifices?" he asked.

"This world is the world of sacrifices. It is just as old as the real world and the Digital World," Gilda explained.

"So… this is a real place?"

Fida replied, "Of course it is kid. Ever since the creation of your world, the Digital World, and all the other worlds out there, this world has existed. No one created a world of sacrifices; it just developed as a result of the creation of other worlds. Every action requires a sacrifice, whether it is time, money, health, or even one's life. Thus, this world creates a sort of equilibrium among the other worlds."

"He's right. Every action, every trait, every word requires a sacrifice. This world's purpose is to make sure everyone makes an appropriate sacrifice for their actions; Fida and I are here to make sure no one and no thing bypasses this world."

"This world is essentially the battery power of all the other worlds. Every world receives the ability to exist because of this world. Even your crest, the crests of hope, would be nothing if this world did not exist; hope is the one crest that was created by the world of sacrifices, as a sort of bridge connecting the worlds."

"You know more about sacrifice than anyone else, TK."

He absorbed the newfound information and realized that Fida and Gilda were right. Even since he was a little kid, Angemon had to sacrifice himself in order to save the others. In order for him to get rid of the controlling powers of the dark ring that had latched itself onto his arm he had to sacrifice his memory. Even recently, he had to sacrifice his life in order to protect his partner from getting hurt by GranKuwagamon.

Hope made sure everything turned out right. Hope was the trump card of all the other crests. When every crest failed, hope remained and triumphed. Hope is present in every single crest; it gives power to courage, it strengthens friendships, it drives one to gain knowledge, hope allows one to be reliable, it protects light, it is the source of love, it gives reason to sincerity, it allows for kindness to occur, it challenges and forms destinies and miracles, hope allows one to be humble, hope sustains peace, and hope strengthens one's patience. And where hope is present, sacrifices is present as well.

A black light shone in his chest in the shape of two rhombuses stacked on top of each other, except the top one was not finished and a crown-like image filled the space; a straight line went down the middle of the image. The crest of courage he wore next to his crest of hope shook and he pulled it out to see that it also was shining. It dimmed and revealed a black crest with the same symbol on his chest etched in red. He then looked down to the light emanating from his chest and felt uncomfortable as the black light shone from him, but then, just as soon as it had appeared, it dimmed and was gone.

"What… what was that?"

"You activated your crest of sacrifice. You are right; wherever hope is, sacrifice is also."

"They go together, like Yin and Yang."

"Like Fida and Gilda," he said, looking up at the two, smiling. He finally was starting to realize who these beings really were and what they embodied.

Gilda bounced up and down, symbolizing a nod, and brightened as if she was smiling.

"Sacrifice gives power to hope, but sacrifice also has to control hope. Hope is powerful, but it tends to try to do too much and control situations. Sacrifice keeps hope in check and serves as a reminder that everyone has to make their own sacrifices."

"But," he started, "Why is the color of sacrifice black? Is sacrifice a bad thing?" It would make sense if it was; no one likes sacrificing things. But Fida and Gilda made it seem like sacrifice wasn't so bad.

"The darkness isn't always evil, TK" Gilda answered.

He was about to question her when Fida interrupted, "But that is another lesson for another time. You have to get back and help your friends."

All other thoughts dissipated as he remembered his friends, partner and brother who were more than likely in trouble at the moment.

"Right, I got to get back and make sure they all are safe."

"That is going to require a big sacrifice TK. You can make it back to the Digital World without too much of a sacrifice, but keeping your friends safe from trouble will require much more from you."

"Remember what I said, everyone has their own sacrifices to make," Fida warned.

"But I love my friends and need to protect them. I will do whatever it takes to keep them safe."

"Then I believe you know what to do. For no greater sacrifice is there than a man who lays down his life for his friends."

He was about to raise a question when Gilda chimed in, "Now go TK. Remember what we taught you. You'll know what to do when the time comes. Fida, wish him luck."

"He doesn't need lu…"

"Do it anyways!"

"Fine, fine; good luck TK. We will see you again soon."

"Bye TK!"

A white light shone and quickly engulfed him. He felt himself being pulled upward, as if he was being sucked up a tube. He closed his eyes and clenched his stomach as the sensation made him nauseous.