The Guardian of Courage

by Earth Magician

Taichi is brought to the Dark Sea. But what is this, magic? Training? What will happen to our favorite hero? Read and find out! Please Review, and tell me how to make it better.

1. Chapter One

The Guardian Of Courage Chapter One

Taichi one night while sleeping just disappeared. It was after Sora had turned him down before Yamato's concert, and it was after the fight against Malomyotismon.

In the morning when his parents and Hikari awoke to find him missing, they called the police. Hours later it was in the news. His Digidestined friends decided to look in the Digiworld, but to no avail.

Taichi awoke, and looked around him. He recognised the place he was from Hikari's descriptions. It was Dragomon's Sea. This was the place they had banished Demon. He went into hiding. His only hope was that his friends would somehow find a way to get him back, yet that he could hide in the meantime. He looked around, but there was no one near to hide. Then he saw Demon's figure looming in the distance, and coming ever closer. He then spotted Taichi. Taichi felt the fear, but he decided then and there, to stand up to his fear. He might be afraid, but what was his life worth? No one felt more than family and friendship love for him anyway. No one probably ever would.

Demon approached the boy he had summand. He had felt how depressed the boy was, and so he knew that this boy would be his ticket to freedom. Ken would have been his first choice, of course, but he was too happy. He didn't feel like no one loved him as a girl loves a boy, no, he knew that Yolei liked him. In fact, they were dating. Taichi had been the luck of the draw. Sora had turned him down, and he was depressed. Even if he pretended to be his old self, he wasn't. No one had noticed that he was depressed, not even his beloved sister. Demon knew that he would have to change Taichi's Digivice to a new Digivice. He called the boy. Taichi hesitated a few seconds, then stepped forward, to prove that he wasn't scared. Demon asked for Taichi's Digivice, then Taichi reluctantly gave it to him. As soon as he held it, it changed. It became even more advanced than the D3s. It was now, a sword with a Digivice at the top of the handle. Demon quickly made a sheath and belt to go with it. He then showed Taichi, that he could take the Digivice off, and use it. "You won't even need a computer to use it. Come with me to my castle. There I shall teach you to use a sword. No one will be able to hurt you when you learn how to wield it. Sora, did you see all the hints she dropped, that she might like you? She obviously just wanted to hurt you when she said no. Hikari, she hardly even realises your there. She likes you as much as she likes Daisuke, which is not at all. She thinks he's an idiot. Yamato, all he wanted, was to get close to you, so that he could get close to Sora. She is a childhood friend of yours after all. Face it, no one loves you. Your Mom and your Dad hated you after that incident with Hikari. Your alone, deep inside your heart you know it. Agumon only did what he was born to do. He swore while he was a baby, that he would protect the Guardian of Courage. When he found out that it was you, he was disgusted. All your friends and family hate you. They lied to you all your life. Pretending they loved you, but in reality they hate you. You must read between the lines Taichi, then you'll find the truth. Look, this is what is happening now in your world." He showed a false picture of what was happening on earth. "Boy, I'm glad Taichi's finally out of our life. Let's Party!" These words came from all the Digidestined at once. So, Taichi believed Demon, and followed him.

In reality, the Digidestined were all put down. Taichi was gone, one of their best friends. They hadn't ever thought that something like this could happen to one of their own. Then they realised that they hadn't looked at Dragomon's Sea. If he was there, then he was in grave danger. Demon was there too. They decided that they should go there as a group and look. So they went. They made their Digivices go on search mode. But they didn't find him. So they returned. Their Digivices couldn't locate Taichi's new one, but they didn't know he had a new one. Well, then they tried it in the new world, but they couldn't find him there either. Now they were confused, and gave up. Well, sort of. Koushiro made a program that could locate all Digivices, connect the Digivices to the energy of the human carrying them, and then put a nametag to it. So Koushiro looked for Taichi's one. It really was at Dragomon's Sea. So Koushiro brought up a picture of it. He almost fell out of his chair when he found out what it had turned into. A sword, elegant and perfectly made. At the top was the actual Digivice. When looking at it closely, he found out, that you could take the Digivice off. Then he brought up a picture of Taichi, then of his surroundings. Koushiro gasped when he saw, who was walking with Taichi. It was Demon, and Taichi was actually listening to him. Koushiro was soon able to listen in on the conversation. That's how he heard all the lies Demon was telling Taichi. Koushiro listened to the conversation after the thing with Sora began. He couldn't believe that Taichi actually believed all this Bullshit. He then decided that he had to call all the Digidestined to his place. He started calling them. But the whole time, he also looked at his computer screen. He had already made sure that everything that happened, would automatically be saved. 'Okay, all the Digidestined are coming, other than Mimi. Now, how am I going to get them to understand?'

He decided to just show them everything, but keep what was happening now up. Now Taichi and Demon had reached Demon's castle, and Demon was teaching Taichi how to use his sword. Taichi was a fast learner. 'He's so elegant, so…so good looking. Wait, did I just think that? I must be really confused.'

He let the subject drop after that, and went back to watching the talented Taichi. 'Who would have thought that Taichi would be so good at learning to use a sword. He's so talented, so…knowledgeable, it takes a lot of intelligence to learn how to wield a sword properly.'

Then Taichi made a small mistake, and blushed in embarrassment. Taichi asked, "What about Koushiro?"

Demon answered, "He only thinks about his computer. Haven't you seen the way he's always protective about it when you're around? He hates you because you hit his computer back then. Besides, he didn't even come when you called for his help. He would rather keep up his time with the other Digidestined. Don't you see, no one ever returned your affection for them. No one has ever loved you, no one would care if you were to die. You knew that back at the time you broke your arm, you just hid the truth, because you didn't want to believe it. Stay here with me, and you will be able to journey to all the worlds I have told you about. I need you to get to them, and you need me. We just have to get you into top form. Should I tell you what the new Digivices for the Digidestined would be?"

"Yes, please."

"Yamato's would be a bow and quiver. Koushiro's would be a short sword, yours is an enchanted long sword. Sora's would be a Dagger. Mimi's would be a shield, cause she hates fighting. Joe would carry a spear. The D3s are not able to be upgraded."

Koushiro cursed Demon, but was still grateful for the information. Besides, he had told Taichi all those lies about him. 'Why does all this happen now? Okay, I don't think I'll show them that part. Ah, they're here.'

"Come on in, the door is open."

He opened the video from talk from before. It kept on getting longer, because more kept on happening. The Digidestined whom it spoke of got pale when Demon lied to Taichi about them. Koushiro would have skipped over the part where they spoke of him, but Sora stopped him. So he went through that part, ears flaming. The rest of the group gasped at what Demon said. Then he talked about all the Digidestined he hadn't mentioned before. Joe just wanted to throw everything that went wrong on Taichi, Daisuke just wanted to get close to Hikari, Takeru just thought of him as a substitute when he and his brother were having a fight, Mimi thought he was insensitive, because he hadn't even helped with the burials for the deceased Digimon back then, that was also why she had moved to America, Ken was never interested in him, he just thought you were someone to avoid at all cost, Miyako thought him as good as Daisuke, which was not good in the least, and Iori was one to never forgive. He heard of the time Taichi had killed those baby Digimon, without remorse. "Never did he think, that you might have been allowed to see the future for a bit, and had seen that those Digimon would kill thousands of more Digimon, so you had to kill them. You had taken them away from Primary Village when Elecmon was off catching fish for the babes. Then, about a mile away, you gave them to a hungry Digimon to eat. Agumon had refused to help you, and instead had told all the others. They were already hating you then, and that made them hate you even more. Did they even try to understand? No. Did they believe you? No. Did they care? No."

Tears sprung to all their faces. Yes, Iori had not forgiven him. But had he only known the reason. Taichi had tried to tell them, but they turned their backs on him. Even Ken had, for he had never gone down to the level of killing Baby Digimon when Digimon Emperor. He had lost the respect, that it had taken so long to build up, but not their friendship. They still loved him, as a friend.

All the words rang true to Taichi. His vision became dark, he wanted revenge. All these years they had betrayed and lied to him, all that falsehood, all the times Hikari and his parents had said they loved him, lies, all lies. He couldn't believe that he hadn't remembered the car accident. The time when his parents had practically thrown him out of the house because he had made that mistake with Hikari. They weren't even there when he had woken up. He asked Demon, "Before we journey to the other worlds, can I take revenge?" "Yes, Taichi, but first you must learn to use your sword. You're weapon is the strongest, because your crest fits better to you than any other does to their owner. You are so courageous, that you barely have any other feelings. Yet, we have to take away all the other emotions possible, for you to gain the full strength of your weapon. So half of the time we'll work on your swordsmanship, the other half of the time we'll work on your courage." Demon thought, 'Hmm, this whole thing is turning out better than I thought, and come to think of it, the others feel much more human things, like hope, love, friendship, and that junk. Taichi is the only one, who had no proof what so ever that I was lying. Hmm, I've never thought about it before, but the other Digidestined would never attack one of their own. Then, I'm the only one able to upgrade Digivices, to the level of Taichi's, so I don't think I'll get into any trouble. I most certainly won't upgrade any of their Digivices. Genaii doesn't even know the program I changed Taichi's Digivice into. I invented that program. Ah, yes, back to the training.'

They were going to start the more difficult part now, with learning how to master a sword. Taichi was going to help Demon open the Gate of destiny for Piedmon to come through. Piedmon was going to teach Taichi how to master a sword like only Piedmon could. Then they would open the gate to the normal Digiworld, for him. Piedmon would conquer the Digiworld, while they would work on giving Taichi a heart only of courage. No emotions other than courage would ever enter his heart again. Demon went over to Taichi to teach him the spell, that would bring Piedmon back. Then Taichi said it, "Apporta Piedmonum ex Portae Fortunae!"

Koushiro gasped, as he watched the Gate of Destiny appear. Then it opened to let Piedmon through. He turned to the others who were still watching the past stuff, and said, "I think we're in trouble. Look."

They looked to see Piedmon coming through the Gate. Then Koushiro looked at the dialog he had opened. It had translated what Taichi had said, from Latin to Japanese. He showed the others that too. Takeru said, "So it's thanks to Taichi that Piedmon will now be attacking the rest of the Digiworld now. I don't think I'll be able to forgive him for this. Even if he is being controlled by lies. Even if he can, see the future, he's not trying right now. And we have to save him before he looses all emotions other than courage." Then it struck him. "Hey, he's got a talent for swords. Maybe, we should get him fencing lessons when he joins our side again. He would become famous in no time. I've never seen someone on TV that was that good."

Yamato said, "He's learning from the best you know, Piedmon is better than any of the fencing masters on earth. I can't believe that Piedmon is actually teaching Taichi. Maybe it's got to do with the fact, that Taichi let him through. So, he wants Taichi to open up the gate to the Digiworld. But why does Demon, not cast the spells himself? Maybe he can't, and that's why he has Taichi."

Koushiro answered, "Interesting theory Yamato, but we can't prove anything. We should wait until there is proof. After all, it could be that he is just biding his time."

But, who would have guessed that Yamato was right? Demon was very powerful, yes, but he could not do magic. Taichi was one of the most talented, even more so than any of the other Digidestined. He was planing to kill Demon, as soon as the time came. Then he would have revenge, and then as the last step, he would journey from world to world, searching for someone who loved him as Taichi Yagami, out of true love, pure and unbounded. He was sure that he wouldn't find her if he stayed put. But he did want to be able to love her. If it wasn't for Demon's idea to make him perfect, he wouldn't kill him. 'Okay, I've decided to kill Demon as soon as possible. But what if he was lying to me about the others? Oh, well. I'll just use the lightning and thunder cage spell to capture them. Then they'll have to prove it to me.'

He was beginning to get better than Piedmon. At the end of the day, he managed to get Piedmon cornered. So, he sent Piedmon back to the 'Digiworld'. Actually, he opened the Gate of Destiny in a new format. "Too bad you don't know Latin, Piedmon. Other wise I wouldn't have been able to trick you! Have fun in the Gate of Destiny!" ,Tai yelled at Piedmon, when the gate was closing. Piedmon figured out he had been tricked, and tried to get back through again, but it was too late.

Takeru and the others fell down laughing. That was just too funny. Takeru finally managed, "So, I guess he didn't betray us after all. Ha ha ha ha! But he did do it cunningly." Then Koushiro came up with, "I've managed to get us to be able read his thoughts. Oh, he's thinking of overthrowing Demon, finding out if Demon told the truth. Then no matter what the answer, he's going to visit lots of worlds. He want's to find his true love in one of them."

Sora burst in, "Hey, I didn't know he had a romantic side!"

They burst into laughter at that statement of hers. 'I always thought I knew everything about him, now I find out I don't. That's very surprising.'

Taichi insisted that Demon first teach him Magic, they could always finish off the rest of the stuff later on. So Demon did. He didn't realise that Taichi was playing his own game behind his back. So, he taught Taichi Latin, the language of magic, and the spells. He even gave Taichi three spell books. But, when he wanted to get to their other business, Taichi just made a lightning cage spell around him, so that he couldn't escape. Demon yelled, "You traitor! After all I did for you, this is what you do to me?"

Taichi answered, "I learned that from Myotismon. You didn't know that he too, has been teaching me? Well, he has. And he just wanted to make sure that Magic didn't die out by his passing." Then Taichi opened the portal to his own world, and left the shrieking Demon behind.

Taichi entered his own world, right in front of Koushiro's apartment. "I know you're all, in there, and have been watching the whole thing. Come out and let me know the truth." They came out, all except Mimi, because she was in America. They looked somewhat abashed, that Taichi knew. Taichi saw the tearstains upon Hikari's cheeks. The others looked somewhat better. Sora was in Yamato's arms, Taichi noted. One thing he had learned, what he had had for Sora was only a crush. Lately in his dreams he had seen a beautiful raven haired girl. He only knew that she was in another world. Hikari ran over to her big brother to hug him. "Taichi, don't you ever believe all those lies Demon told you. You're my Oniichan. I'll always love you. Mom and Dad are a wreck. Koushiro made a computer program to track you, and the others did all they could too. Yamato even cancelled a concert." Then Sora spoke up, "All the hints I used to drop you, were because I used to have a crush on you. I just recently figured out that I loved Yamato. I never knew you got so depressed by it."

Taichi answered calmly, "Don't worry, Sora. I found that I also only had a small crush on you." 'Yeah, lately I've found myself attracted to a girl I never met, but none the less dream about.'

Hikari read his mind, only to find out that his mind was dwelling upon a girl. Her hair was black, she wore a tunic over some leggings, some leather armour, a leather helmet, a short sword at her waist and a bow and a quiver of arrows slung over her back. She looked like she came from the middle ages. He was planing to find her, because she was in danger. But no one looked like this now days, unless Taichi was going to leave yet again. She started to cry again. "Taichi, please don't go again! Whoever she is, stay here! What about Mom and Dad?!"

"Hikari, I believe we've had this discussion before. I can't stay. I must find her, it's my lot to travel the worlds until I get there. If I don't go, I'll be moping around, feeling sorry for myself. I must leave now, maybe this is the last time you'll see me."

With that he mumbled a spell, and went through the portal that opened. The last sound he heard before it closed was Hikari yelling his name, "TAICHI!!!!!"

Then it closed behind him.

Hikari sunk to the floor, sobbing. "Taichi, why did you leave again?", was what she kept on whispering, over and over again. The others brought her back inside each shedding a little tear, and praying for Taichi to come back soon.

Taichi, stood in a corridor with the entrances to all the different worlds. He went to see the ghost who was supposed to dwell there. It was his job to help the people that came there make the right decisions. They couldn't just go anywhere, they had to have a purpose to go there. There had to be a reason. Taichi had a reason. He had to find that girl. The ghost came forward. It was unsubstantial. It looked like it was there, but at the same time not there. It had no figure, and no face. It looked him up and down. "Ah, so you're the new one sent to help the young princess. Follow me."

Then he muttered, "I hope this time it works out." Taichi questioned, "Why that? What has always gone wrong before?"

The ghost was surprised, "You're remarkable, that you could hear that. Well to your question; She is always convincing all the guys sent to save her, to go home again. The king, her father asked me to look in other worlds for someone who wouldn't go, just because she ordered it. Besides, he wanted me to find someone his daughter could marry. Although he already has a successor. Her name is Rhona by the way. So, you can bring her to your world if she comes willingly, and you two visit from time to time. But mind you, no magic. You may only use your magic to protect her and yourself. Put her safety in front of your own. Now, don't think I am favouring any side. I'm neutral. I am just telling you what the king told me to tell you. I owed him a favour from when I still was alive." They came to a portal, shaped like a circle quartered by a cross. "Go through there Taichi, leader of the honoured Digidestined. The king already awaits you." Taichi stepped up, and was sucked through.

End of Chapter One