The Crest of Perseverance: Part 9-Out of the Cave
The Crest of Perseverance: Part 9-Out of the Cave
by Argent Dragon
Note from the Author: Well, I think I might as well get this over with because I have to say it somewhere. No, I don't own Digimon. No, Tai, Sora, Matt, TK, Kari, Joe, Izzy, and Mimi don't belong to me. Neither do their Digimon. However, Allison, Sylvimon and her other forms, Blooddramon, and Blooddramon's henchmen do belong to me. Also, I like to apologize now if I use any names of Digimon that appear after episode 7 of season 2. Also, I'd like to beg that you excuse the cave reappearance. It just seemed like a good idea. Thank you. And now, on with the story.

Tai was afraid. Despite the fact that he was with the others, he was still afraid. And worse, his fear was starting to be noticed by the others.

"Tai, you sure you're okay?"

"Yes!"

Mimi, while still injured, was supported by Allison as they walked. Suddenly, the forest gave way to desert. As they took their first steps into the desert, Tai and Agumon, who were away from the others, fell into a hole. Sora caught a glimpse of what it looked like and shuddered.

"What," Allison asked.

It was Joe, not Sora, who explained. "That hole leads to a cave that you can't get out of until you defeat whatever darkness is within yourself." He paused.

"We've got to rescue Tai," Kari said. Sora nodded.

"Joe and I can do this. Right, Joe?"

"I've done it before," he said, which didn't explain very much.

Sora and Joe walked over to the hole. "We'll be back," Sora promised before starting to climb down. Yokomon and Bukamon rode on Joe and Sora.

Blooddramon's anger was lessened. "Good. Two fell into the cave of darkness, and two are climbing in, leaving five on the surface. And only one of those will be able to digivolve. Perfect."

His smile would have left the Digidestined with a great deal of uneasiness.

"Tai!"

"Tai," called Sora.

Gabumon heard them, even if Matt didn't. "Sora! Joe!"

Joe looked at Sora. "That's Gabumon." They ran toward the Digimon's voice.

Gabumon hoped they could do something for Matt. When they showed up, Gabumon silently pointed to Matt. They understood immediately.

Sora crouched beside Matt. "Matt? Come on, Matt. Don't let the darkness overcome you. Come on."

Gabumon told Joe, "Almost all he has said since we got in here is basically everyone hates me."

Joe was stunned. "But that's not true!"

"He thinks it is."

Joe looked over at Sora. He got an idea and said, "I'm going to find Tai. Then I'll come back."

Sora nodded, but her attention was still on Matt. Joe, with Bukamon, walked off, calling out Tai's name.

TK and Kari looked down into the hole. "I hope they're okay," Kari said.

"They've both been in that cave before," TK replied quietly.

"Really?"

"Yeah. It was just before we faced Piedmon."

"Oh."

"Tai!"

"Joe!"

Joe heard Agumon's call.

A little while later, Joe was talking to Tai. "Tai, you've got to beat the darkness within you. You'll never get home, and never get out of this cave if you don't."

"I'm so afraid."

"Don't be. This is just a weird cave, nothing more. And I'm here, and Bukamon is here, and Agumon is here. This is nothing to be afraid of. What happened to the Tai who ran to face Etemon when he was in all those cables? The Tai whose courage inspired the rest of us? The Tai that without whom, we would have fallen apart and never gotten home for that brief time?"

To Joe's ears, Tai was silent.

Tai was thinking, "He's right. I did do that. My courage helped Greymon digivolve to Metalgreymon, and Agumon to warp digivolve that first time. And now I've been letting my fear take over. I can't stay in here. I will get out. I will conquer my fear. But how?"

"Come on, Tai," Joe urged. "You know you are our leader. We decided that in Myotismon's castle. Nothing can change that. Come on!"

Tai's internal battle continued, but slowly his fear lost. Tai was suddenly surprised to find himself above ground.

Slimon suddenly attacked. Of all the Digimon, only Sylvimon had the strength to digivolve.

"Sylvimon digivolve to...Argemon."

"Argemon digivolve to...Argedramon."

Joe ran back to where the others were, Tai far behind him. When he reached them, he dodged around the fight and went back to the hole. "TK, let's go."

"Go?"

Joe silently pointed to the now smaller hole.

"Matt's down there," TK asked. Joe nodded before they started to climb down.

"Electric Blizzard!"

Argedramon's attack wasn't strong enough to defeat the lizardlike Slimon. Allison knew that they were in trouble. Then Tai ran up. "Need help," he asked.

"Yes!"

"Agumon warp digivolve to...Wargreymon."

Joe and TK ran to where Joe had left Matt and Sora. "Joe!"

"Any luck," Joe asked. Sora shook her head somberly.

"Matt, please come back," TK said pleadingly.

Matt whispered, "TK? No, he doesn't really want me back. He hates me. Why would he want me back?"

TK looked hurt. "That's not true, Matt! I don't hate you. How could you believe that? You're my brother. Why would I hate you?"

"None of us hate you, Matt," Sora said gently.

"They don't." For a moment, the onlookers thought that Matt was about to deny the statement. But then, he said, "Then why am I in this cave again?"

With that, they were out of the cave and running back to the others.

"Terra Force!"

The ball of energy hit Slimon, but Slimon was only injured slightly.

"Terra Force!"

"Electric Blizzard!"

Again, the attacks had little effect on Slimon. "If only Matt were here, we could defeat him," Tai said wistfully.

"Looking for me," Matt asked.

"Gabumon warp digivolve to...Metalgarurumon."

"Metal Wolf Claw!"

"Terra Force!"

This time, Slimon was defeated. "Sssorry, my lord." Wargreymon dedigivolved to Agumon and Metalgarurumon dedigivolved to Gabumon.

Blooddramon was not in a good mood. "They have left me two choices."

He fixed his eyes on his last underling. "Sorcemon."

"Yes, oh master?"

"I want you to take out the Digidestined."

"Yes, oh master."

"Do not fail me. And before you go, I have something I want you to do for me."

"Yes, oh master."

What does Blooddramon want Sorcemon to do for him? Will the Digidestined be able to survive Sorcemon's attack? Or will the Digidestined finally be defeated after all their work to win? Tune in to find out.

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