Me: Thought I'd forgotten about this story did you? Well, I didn't so HA!
Tai: Uh…he doesn't own Digimon!
Me: Who doesn't own Digimon?
Tai: (sighs) Our esteemed author. (gives skeptical look) You sure about-
Me: (grabs Tai by neck) I've been waiting to do this since Chap. I of "The Rift between Courage and Love!" YES, I AM POSITIVE, AND YOU AND I WILL NEVER SPEAK OF IT IN MY PRESENCE OR THE PRESENCE OF YOUR FRIENDS, OR SORA WILL BE A WIDOW! Got it?
Tai: (squeaky voice) Yes, sir.
Me: (smirks) Good. (drops Tai)
Tai: SORAAAAAAAAAAAA! (runs off)
Digimon
The Evil Clone
Chap. V-The Powers of Courage and Imperialdramon-Miracle Mode
Davis: Things were lookin' up since Sora confessed her feelings to Tai-at last!-although I'd have picked a more romantic spot to tell Kari-or is it Yolei?-how I feel. Anyway, good things don't last, especially when Tai's clone showed up and sent us to the Dark Part of the DigiWorld! Then, Taichi suddenly hit Tai with Dark energy-from his fingertips! Next, he charged BlackWarGreymon up until he had enough power to use his Dragon Killer attack! We lost our Crests and Digi-Eggs due to that stupid attack and I think Tai may have lost his nerve. Then Izzy got mail from Gennai-or one of his lookalikes. Hope he can help us out, 'cause without the Crests and Digi-Eggs, we're in real hot water!
"Greetings, DigiDestined! It's me, Benjamin. No doubt by the looks on your faces that Taichi and BlackWarGreymon destroyed your Crests and Digi-Eggs, so I'll be brief: There is a way to obtain the powers that Taichi received from Daemon, but you'll have to go on separate quests. You can go together, but as two groups. Tai, Davis, since you two are leaders and have Mega Digimon-aside from Sora, Matt and Ken-you'll be the first. Don't worry, the trip won't be that dangerous. Good luck, and wash behind your ears!" The DigiDestined sweat dropped as the screen went blank in front of them.
"Now I see how you guys kept up with this Gennai guy from back then-you ignored the last piece of advice!" Davis joked. Tai whacked him upside the head.
"Later, Davis! You heard Benjamin-we split into groups of two. Don't worry-I've got an idea for the groups so, if anyone's got any plans bring them up to the table." Tai remarked. Everyone groaned; Sora whacked Tai upside his head.
"Seriously," Tai added as he eyed Sora with a look of annoyance, "we should just keep the groups as they are, but keep in touch and look out for each other." The younger team nodded and headed off in one direction, whereas the elder DigiDestined fell in line behind their former leader.
Taichi smirked to himself as he, Daemon and BlackWarGreymon observed the two teams separate.
"The two of you will separate and take on the teams. Taichi, handle the elder ones. BlackWarGreymon, the kiddies are yours." Daemon laughed evilly as the others disappeared in bursts of light.
"Tai, what's wrong?" Agumon asked calmly. Tai didn't respond. The whole walk around more than half of the Digital World, he hadn't said a single word since Benjamin's message. And with good reason-he was feeling self-doubt in his abilities as a DigiDestined.
"It was my fault. If I'd been a better leader, I wouldn't have been cloned, I wouldn't have put Sora's life in danger at Alaska, and I wouldn't have lost our Crests and Digi-Eggs to BlackWarGreymon." Tai grimaced as he tried to keep his tears hidden, but a few came out. Only Sora noticed. So, she picked up the pace a bit and caught up to him.
"Tai? You okay?" Tai turned to her, but chose not to acknowledge the question.
"Tai, please talk to me." Sora pleaded. Tai shook his head. He was worried that if he talked to anyone, he might break down, and leaders never broke down-at least not out in view of everyone.
"Break! We'll start moving out again in about two hours or so."
Tai knew one thing-if he was going to start this relationship with Sora-and keep it going-he'd have to trust her. And that included with the bad stuff as well. So, when he headed off to get some water he half-expected Sora to go with him. He was surprised to see her already there, with the water, sitting down. She patted the spot next to her and motioned for Tai to take a seat. (She also gave him that look that said "I'm not taking 'No' for an answer!")
Tai sat down next to her and without any warning necessary, he pulled her close to him and started crying. Sora held him and whispered reassuring words in his ears.
"It's my fault. If I'd been a better leader, you wouldn't have been at Alaska, I wouldn't have gotten cloned and we wouldn't have lost our Crests and Digi-Eggs to those jerks!" Tai cried angrily. Sora shook her head.
"Tai, listen to me. It is not your fault that you were captured and it is not your fault we lost our Crests and Digi-Eggs! And if we hadn't gone to Alaska, I wouldn't have told you that I loved you. So something good came out of that trip after all. Now shut up and kiss me before someone ruins the moment." Tai smiled at that. He leaned forward and kissed her with intensity-but not too much. It could've gone on for three minutes were it not for the fact that Taichi chose that moment to hit Tai with an energy burst that sent him flying.
"That was almost too easy. Nope, I lied; it was too easy."
The younger DigiDestined headed off in the opposite direction of the others because they knew they wouldn't get far if they were all one big group-although there is strength in numbers. Davis actually kept quiet for once, and that was scaring everyone-including Kari!
"Davis, you alright?" Yolei asked worriedly.
"Huh? Yeah, I'm okay." Davis replied. In actuality, he was racking his brain on a decision that had to be made, and made quickly. Kari-or Yolei? They didn't get far, because BlackWarGreymon sent them flying to the ground moments later.
"So, Daemon sends the greenhorn to handle us, huh? Can't he take us on himself?" Davis yelled calmly. The others glared at him moments later as Daemon appeared from the sky.
"No problem. Go for it, guys!"
"Veemon Digivolve to…EXVEEMON!!!"
"Wormmon Digivolve to…STINGMON!!!"
"ExVeemon…"
"…Stingmon…"
"DNA Digivolve to…PAILDRAMON!!!"
"Paildramon Mega Digivolve to…IMPERIALDRAMON!!!"
WHAM! Imperialdramon was forced to deDigivolve to Veemon and Wormmon due to one blast from Daemon. The others didn't even have a chance to Digivolve because of BlackWarGreymon. Things didn't look so cozy for the DigiDestined.
Tai forced himself to stand up.
"So, where's that Mega Digimon we've all come to tolerate?" he asked irritably.
"Finishing some business of his own. As for me…" Taichi blasted at Tai and Sora again, but they managed to move. They made it back to the others in time for Taichi to hit all of them with a single blast.
"Time to Digivolve, guys!" Tai yelled out.
"We can't Digivolve past the Champion level, Tai. Even if we wanted to, Gabumon and I couldn't Warp-Digivolve." Agumon responded.
Tai turned and eyed his clone. "In that case, I'll take you out and protect them!" Oblivious to everyone's protests, Tai jumped upward toward Taichi and hit him. Tai expected to feel the pain, but he didn't feel a thing!
"Guess that incident back in Alaska's a one time fluke. That means I can really give it to him now!" Tai and Taichi traded blow for blow until Tai was blasted to the ground with a burst of energy.
"And now, the finale!" Taichi summoned up a big blast of energy and sent it flying toward Sora! Tai jumped up and positioned himself between Sora and the energy.
"TAI, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!"
Davis forced himself to rise. He knew that being a DigiDestined would eventually bring about his death. He'd just been hoping that he would die at a ripe old age instead of in the heat of battle! BlackWarGreymon smiled evilly as Daemon powered him up with Dark energy.
"Prepare for your doom, DigiDestined. Farewell. DRAGON KILLER!!"
Davis knew this blast was going to hurt like heck, but he didn't care. So long as Kari, Yolei, Veemon and the others were okay, that's what mattered to him. Suddenly, Veemon glowed with a brilliant golden color. Davis gasped in shock as the blast that was seconds from hitting him disappeared! Veemon jumped through his stages of ExVeemon, Paildramon, Imperialdramon and Imperialdramon: Fighter Mode.
"Veemon Mega Digivolve to…"
Tai suddenly felt energy coursing through him. He looked at his hands and saw that they were glowing with a reddish light. Agumon was glowing too!
"Agumon Warp-Digivolve to…WARGREYMON!!!"
Tai smiled broadly, as did the others. His act of courage had activated his special powers! And it enabled Agumon to Warp-Digivolve!
"What? That's impossible!" Taichi exclaimed in shock. Tai grasped Sora's hand and held up his other one. It glowed with red fire.
"Not really. Say 'So long!'" WHAM! Taichi was sent flying to the ground with a red-hot energy blast!
"Terra Force!!" Taichi was seriously injured due to that attack! He glared at the DigiDestined as he got to his feet.
"Another time, DigiDestined!" Taichi vanished seconds before Tai could do anything. WarGreymon deDigivolved back to Agumon. The DigiDestined crowded around Tai and congratulated him. Sora gave him a big kiss for two main reasons-one, he protected her! Two, she was his girlfriend! Any other reasons? No? I thought not! That's when Tai's Crest of Courage reappeared around Tai's neck! He felt it appear, but chose not to acknowledge it.
"…IMPERIALDRAMON-MIRACLE MODE!!!" Davis smiled with ease at his Digimon.
"Whoa! Who are you?"
The Digimon Analyzer came up within seconds. "I'm Imperialdramon-Miracle Mode. My Sword of Miracles can cut through any type of steel and armor. Don't underestimate my Ray of Light! It's blinding!"
"To be blunt-you guys are toast!" Ken yelled out.
"Another time, when you are without the use of Imperialdramon!" Daemon disappeared with BlackWarGreymon in tow. Davis sighed sadly as Imperialdramon deDigivolved back to Veemon. Moments later, Davis' Digi-Eggs reappeared in his D-terminal, along with the Digi-Egg of Miracles! Davis got a third surprise-the Crest of Miracles appeared on his neck! Yolei hugged him so tightly, Davis feared that he would lose more than just his ribs! Still, things were back to normal, at least for now.
Next up: Chap. VI-Love and Light shine through!