Me: Finally-I'm finished with my work and I can relax! I don't own Digimon, nor do I own Creed's song "Are You Ready?"
Tai: And where, may I ask, have you been?
Me: I've been busy with schoolwork, if you must know! You're lucky I can take time out at all to get this posted up.
Tai: (starts to speak, then stops) Right. And Agumon says I've grown up...
Me: Please, whatever you do, don't remind me of that episode. I know from personal experience that those kind of wounds take longer to heal than most.
Tai: You and me both, buddy.
Digimon: The Final Battle
Chap. II-Ready to Return to the Digital World
"I've got an idea: First we eat, then I'm open to suggestions." -Tai Kamiya
"Hold on, Biyomon." Sora closed her eyes tightly and waited for the finishing blow to strike. Biyomon was too tired to try Digivolving again, and they were trapped over enemy soil-technically, that what the Army would say if they knew Sora, Biyomon and LadyDevimon were here.
"Say goodbye, Child. I don't know why my master was so cautious about you DigiDestined. Darkness Wave!!"
"Goodbye, Tai. I'm only sorry I didn' t get to tell you how much you truly meant to me..."
"Hold it right there, buster!"
WHAM! Sora and Biyomon heard the attack collide with something else. They both looked up and were surprised.
"Imperialdramon!"
The DNA Digivolved Mega Digimon nodded in agreement, then focused his anger back toward the Virus Digimon.
"Try chewing on this for a spell-Positron Laser!!" The attack hit its target and deleted the Ultimate Digimon within seconds.
"Come on in-there's plenty of room inside the cabin." A few seconds later, Sora and Biyomon were transported to safety.
"We all decided it would be foolhardy of you to go off on your own, so we came down to help you find Tai. Imperialdramon, head for New York!" Davis yelled after turning away from Sora and Biyomon.
"But, Tai's in France, isn't he?"
"Affirmative, but we've got to pick up Mimi first. She'd never forgive us if we left her out of this adventure." Izzy responded.
"Sora? Look, I know I messed up big time, but Tai obviously knows what he 's doing if he's gone like this without telling anybody. He'll be okay, and on his way home soon. Why don't we go back and wait?" Matt asked calmly.
"Tai didn't give up when Datamon captured me, right? He didn't care about the consequences, the risks or the dangers. All he cared about was getting me back." Sora replied, keeping her face neutral.
Matt was amazed as he looked down at his girlfriend. (A/N: (shudders) Just a little longer, Taiora fans...hold on) All this time, and he'd never noticed until now that Sora had feelings for Tai-feelings that were buried deep, but still hovered near the surface and broke through the barrier every now and then. He knew what he had to do, even if it cost him his heart.
"If Tai can do this for Sora during my Christmas concert, the least I can do is return the favor." Matt thought to himself.
"You're right. All Tai cared about then, and ever since we returned from the Digital World, was keeping you safe from the forces of evil. He never really told me, but he always held a special place in his heart for you, Sora. And I can see that you keep him close to yours, too." Matt pointed to the hair clip still pinned to Sora's hair, the one she had hated when Tai had given it to her for her birthday.
"Uh..."
"Here's what I'm trying to say-let's start fresh. Just friends, huh? And, here's some advice-next time you see Tai, tell him how you feel. I bet he feels the same way."
Sora felt tears brim around the corners of her eyes, but she held them back.
"Thank you, Matt."
"Hey, Mr. Seeker, hold onto this advice: if you keep seeking, you will find...
Don't want to follow down roads been walked before
So hard to find unopened doors
Even as Imperialdramon was heading for New York, WarGreymon had already passed by China! Despite the fact that Tai was hanging onto his back, as well as holding all of his bags at once, the Mega Digimon had sped past the rest of Europe and almost all of Asia in one night.
"I take it you've gotten stronger, huh, buddy?" Tai spoke up.
"You could say that. Tai, what do you think the others are up to now?"
"Hmm. If I know the team, they've all piled up into Imperialdramon, are going to swing by New York to pick up Mimi, then double back to France to try to find Catherine."
"There it is, Tai-we're home!" WarGreymon rumbled.
Tai sighed in relief. "We're home. But it's not over yet. Head back to Heighten View Terrace. There's someone we've got to find, and I think we'll find her there. Are you ready for our biggest adventure, WarGreymon?" Tai asked.
"You know me, Tai-always ready for anything!"
"Then full speed ahead!"
Chorus: "Are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Oh, I said, are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
After dropping his bags off at his parents' house-and insisting to his Mom and Dad that he was okay repeatedly-Tai and Agumon headed back to Heighten View Terrace once again.
"Why are we coming back here, Tai? Who do we know that has a D-3 and could open a Digiport for us?" Agumon fired questions at Tai like he was at a shooting range. Someone answered, but it wasn't Tai.
"Simple-he came to find me, for some reason, right?" Tai and Agumon swivelled around to see an old friend.
"Noriko! Long time, no see!" Tai exclaimed calmly. Noriko had been one of the kids who, like Ken, had been implanted with a Dark Spore to be used in a fiendish plot by MaloMyotismon who had possessed Owikawa during the time the original DigiDestined had returned to the Digital World to save it from whatever tragedy had befallen the world parallel to Earth. The young girl had blossomed overnight-at least, that's what Davis would say. Her hair had grown out to her shoulders, and she'd discarded her old jacket for a different kind, one that looked remarkably similar to Sora's.
"The last time I saw you was in the Digital World, trying not to look at Sora. What are you doing around here?"
Tai sighed. He should've expected this.
"I need to get to the Digital World again. In case you saw the news, I was attacked by an Ultimate Digmon in France, and Agumon and I are going to find out who's sent it and if any more are coming. That's why I was hoping you would let me use your D-3 long enough to open a portal at a computer-if I could find you, I mean."
"That, and you're trying to run away from your problems and not face them head-on." Noriko retorted cynically.
"What?" Tai was confused. A girl as young as Noriko had been probably wouldn't have this kind of an attitude, but being in the Digital World for even a short time changed people-normally for the better, or the worst.
"You're walking on the brink of self-destruction. I can see it right in your eyes. At least by coming back, you showed guts that you were willing to remember your roots and take responsibility. And now you want me to use my D-3 to get you to the Digital World?"
Tai gritted his teeth. He'd made it his own personal law in life that you never got anywhere by hitting a girl-that's how he kept his friendship with Sora alive for as long as he did, and developed feelings for her at the same time. And, Noriko's smart aleck comments were about to make Tai break his own rules.
"Face it-girls like our red-haired friend come and go, and the only thing you can do is move on. Think about it." That said, Noriko reached in her bag for her laptop-which she'd received a few months ago as a birthday present-and activated a portal.
"Are you ready to go, or what?"
Tai snapped himself out of his trance and nodded. A second later, a beep was heard.
"Wait, Tai! That's your D-terminal. Hold on-I've got it." While Agumon grabbed it and clicked open Tai's e-mail, Noriko was slightly confused.
"How do I open a portal to this place again-"
"Digiport open! Thanks, and good luck with your own Digimon. They can be a handful at the Baby level." Tai thanked Noriko as he grabbed Agumon and pulled his partner in after him.
"She's at the Rookie level, but don't mention it!"
Minutes later, Imperialdramon touched ground near Noriko's position.
"Hey, Mr. Hero, walking a thin, fine line under the microscope of life
Remember your roots, my friend-they're right down below
'Cause heroes come and heroes go
Chorus: Are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Oh, I said, are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Tai and Agumon hit the ground hard in their own usual manner when they arrived in the Digital World.
"Even after 3 years, this place still looks dead. Well, what did the e-mail say?" Tai questioned.
"Oh! Sora said that they were on their way back, and that you'd better stay put. Don't think that happened. But, she added that she and Matt broke up, and that she thinks she may be in love with you, Tai! So, we can stay right here and wait for them! Yippee!" Agumon did a little jig for a few minutes until Tai stopped him.
"True, but we still need to find out who sent that Digimon to us at France. We'll give them a few more minutes."
10 seconds later, Tai and Agumon heard a number of screams which signified that his friends had come back to the Digital World.
"And so, the countdown to our biggest battle has begun...
"10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1...
Countdown to the change in life that's soon to come
"I don't think so. Whether you like it or not, I'm going to come back, and not you, your friends,
or even your newfound love are going to stop me from opening a portal! SkullSatanmon-get to
the Digital World now and stop those heroes!"
Tai waited patiently for once, not moving a muscle. Then, just as he caught a glimpse of red hair pop up over the horizon, the skies grew dark, thunder crackled and lightning flashed.
"Just like in my dream." Tai whispered worriedly. A portal did open, but the Digimon that stepped out wasn't the one Tai thought it would be.
"We still have a chance." Tai said while pulling out his Digivice.
"There you are-and my boss said you guys were tough! You don't look so tough when you're alone!" SkullSatanmon laughed.
"Just wait till I get to the Mega level, pal!" Agumon growled, jumping in front of Tai.
"Tai, where are you?"
"Tai-you here, man?"
"Tai, come out and answer us!"
Tai grimaced-Sora, Davis and Kari were near. If Imperialdramon had a tough time beating this guy, what made him think WarGreymon stood a chance? And, did any of the Digimon stand a chance if SkullSatanmon had the power of a Mega? Tai's moment of hesitation was all that the Ultimate Digimon-who'd been infused with the powers of a Mega-needed.
"Time to say goodbye. Nail Bone!!" Laughing insanely, SkullSatanmon pulled out his staff and struck the ground in one shot! Instantly, the ground split in two which separated Tai and Agumon from the approaching DigiDestined!
"Whoaaaaaa!!! Agumon!" Tai yelled, grasping his Digivice and holding it up.
"Agumon Digivolve to...GREYMON!!! Greymon Digivolve to...METALGREYMON!!!"
The Ultimate Digimon waited until Tai jumped onto his back, then flew up, dodging falling rocks and other kind of debris that rained down upon them.
"Taaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiii!" Sora screamed, running toward the split ground and pulling out her Digivice.
"Biyomon Digivolve to...BIRDRAMON!!!"
Just as Sora and Birdramon were ready to fly down and look for Tai, MetalGreymon flew up and headed directly for SkullSatanmon!
"Get ready, guys-this is only the beginning!"
"Your life has just begun, life has just begun, life has just begun, life has just begun...
Chorus: Are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Oh, I said, are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Oh, I said, are you ready? Are you ready for us to come?
Your life has just begun, life has just begun, life has just begun, life has just begun...
Can Tai and MetalGreymon defeat SkullSatanmon even though they're at a serious disadvantage? Find out next time on Digimon: Digital Monsters!