Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon. This chapter contains definite Daikari, as well as Taiora and Mimato. Sorry that Chapter II was short, but my brain hadn't kicked in yet on ideas until now. Onward to the fic!

Digimon

Trip back to America

Chapter III-The torture of Courage, Friendship and Light

Piedmon's ghostly form smiled evilly at the DigiDestined as they prepared a plan of attack against him. For three years ever since Tai Kamiya threatened him to never return, he'd bided his time in a secluded section of the Digital World, stealing abilities from other Digimon, including a Field of Invisibility. That attack made him virtually invisible to all but only the pure of heart-and only Tai's sister, Kari had one of the most purest hearts out of the entire team.

That's why she was to be targeted for capture later. But, patience was a virtue. Wait until she was alone, or even better, with another DigiDestined, and take the two of them…

Piedmon's chance came the next day, when Kari and Davis went out for lunch for two reasons: One, to track down Piedmon. Two, to spend some time alone, despite the fact that Veemon and Gatomon were with them.

"So, any sign of Piedmon anywhere on the D3 or Dterminal?" Davis asked calmly.

"Nothing. Even with the modifications Izzy, Yolei and Ken made last night, we still can't find-" Kari stopped short as a sharp gasp of pain surged through her body. Davis and Gatomon were at her side instantly.

"What's wrong?" insisted Davis worriedly.

"Kari? Are you OK?" asked Gatomon.

"He's here. I can't see him, but he's here."

"Finally! The 'mon I've been waiting for. Now's the chance to rid the world of this jerk once and for all." thought Davis heatedly.

"DIGIDESTINED OF LIGHT! Surrender yourself now and I'll spare your friends. Try

any attempt at attack any they'll suffer." Boomed Piedmon's voice as he appeared.

"Fat chance, pal! Veemon, take this clown down! DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!"

The Digi-Egg of Courage appeared instantly.

"Veemon Armor-Digivolve to…FLAMEDRAMON, The Fire of Courage!!!"

"DIGI-ARMOR ENERGIZE!!!"

"Gatomon Armor-Digivolve to…NEFERTIMON, The Angel of Light!!!"

Piedmon smirked as he approached the two Armor Digimon. "This is too easy. Clown Trick!!" A mist of air seemed to move in the sky. The next second came and WHAM! Flamedramon and Nefertimon were hit hard and deDigivolved back to Veemon and Gatomon.

"Stay behind me, Kari! I'll protect you. Veemon! Let's kick it up a notch." Advised Davis.

"Veemon Digivolve to…EXVEEMON!!!"

Piedmon chuckled. "A Champion. Quaint and pointless."
That's when Ken appeared. "Who said anything about a Champion?" Stingmon was at his side.

"ExVeemon…"

"Stingmon…"

"DNA Digivolve to…PAILDRAMON!!!"
Paildramon smiled as he advanced toward the Wizard Digimon. The dual voices said, "I'm going to enjoy this."

Piedmon's smile widened as he replied, "Not as much as I. Trump Sword!!" Two swords went flying toward Kari a split second later.
"KARI! LOOK OUT!!" Davis pushed Kari out of the way just in time to take a sword straight in his chest.

"Davis…HOW COULD YOU??!!" cried Kari sadly as she got up and ran to his side.

"I didn't…want you hurt…couldn't bear to see that pretty face…covered in blood…" Davis managed a smile as he coughed up blood.

Piedmon landed on the ground and grabbed Davis by his neck. Then he pointed a sword at his throat. "Come with me, DigiDestined…or he dies."

Glaring at Piedmon through tear-stained eyes, Kari nodded.

"Kari, don't do it!" Ken jumped from his spot of safety and threw himself at the Mega Digimon.

"Clown Trick!!"

WHAM! Ken doubled back and was knocked out instantly.

"Where are we?" demanded Kari angrily as Piedmon pulled her through to a dark place.

"The remains of my hideout in Spiral Mountain. After being defeated by the DigiDestined of Courage and Love, I needed time to recoup, so I stayed here and waited for the time when you would return through the gateway. I even managed to steal some abilities from some Digimon to better increase my powers. And now…I require from you…a Digi-Egg. To make sure you cooperate-" Piedmon grabbed one of his swords and stabbed Davis through his arm. Davis had woken up to this and barely kept himself from screaming in pain.

"DAVIS! STOP IT!" Tears streaked down Kari's face as she tried to go to his side, but Piedmon stopped her with one move of his sword.

"Don't worry. He's not dead…yet. All I want from you is your Digi-Egg. Give me that, and you may return to your world with…Davis…unharmed. If not, then we can play a game. How many wounds to kill a leader?" Piedmon then stabbed Davis through his leg.

This time, Davis couldn't stop himself from yelling out in pure torture and pain.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

There was silence for a while…then the sound of sobbing could be clearly heard in the darkness.

Tai was pacing with impatience etched across his face. "Why can't we find Davis and Kari?"

"It's possible that there's an energy field surrounding them so that they can't be detected. Give me an hour. I'll have answers then." explained Izzy.

Tai turned towards his friend. There was no mistaking the emotion in his voice.

"We don't have an hour! Who knows what that freak show's doing to Kari? Or Davis? If anything happens to either of them…" Sora ran over to Tai's side and tried her best to comfort him.

Matt spoke up. "I think the best thing for us to do is to continue a plan of how we're going to find Piedmon. According to Gatomon and DemiVeemon, he appeared out of thin air. Could he have gained a new power somewhere?"

"The only place where Piedmon could gain new abilities is in the Digital World. It's possible he could have returned there without us knowing, since we couldn't get back there three years ago."

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared in the hallway, and two thuds were heard, followed by sobbing.
"KARI!" Tai and the others ran out to see what happened…and gasped in shock.
Davis had literally been stabbed in every spot in his body. His chest was covered in blood, his arms were caked as well, and he couldn't move his right leg. The fact that most of Davis' blood was on Kari's hands didn't help much.

"What happened?"

"Piedmon…Digi-Egg…HE HURT DAVIS AND IT'S MY FAULT!"

Joe immediately checked Davis' pulse while Tai helped Kari to her feet.

"Technically, Davis should be dead-"

"WHAT?"

"Calm down, Kari. I was saying that something, or some force, is keeping him alive. I can bandage him up but he'll be immobile for three days." Joe insisted.

Tai gripped Kari's hand tightly. "What was that about your Digi-Egg?"

"He's got it."

"That's not good. With even one of your Digi-Eggs in Piedmon's hands, he can gain enough power to destroy both worlds!" warned Izzy.

Tai looked Kari straight in the eye. "Then we're getting it back. And we'll take Piedmon down…for Davis. Are you staying here?" She nodded immediately.

"I'm staying too. I'll monitor his progress and let you guys know if any changes occur."

Tai nodded. "Guys, let's go!" Kari, Gatomon, DemiVeemon, Gomamon and Joe watched as the DigiDestined headed through the computer and to the Digital World.

What do you think of Chapter III? Suspenseful, huh? Chapter IV on the way!