They sat there in fear for minutes before anyone could move, let alone speak. All of the group, digimon included, were just staring at Tai, as if trying to get an insight into his thoughts? Not even Sora could say anything, the only thing crossing her mind, was the thought of loosing him. Tai himself was more afraid than the rest of the group, rightfully so. He couldn't take it any longer.
"Ahh! Is that all you're gonna do, just sit and look? I can't take this." Tai stood from his seat in the edge of the van door. He brushed past Sora as he did this.
"I'm outta here." He began walking towards the forest path. Matt stood up and began to follow him. He neared Tai, but soon found himself flung to the ground. Tai had turned around and forced him back.
"Did I ask you to come?" he said resentfully. Matt had been taken by surprise, and he soon noticed the flaming red eyes were back. Tai did not wait for a reply and returned to his walk into the forest. Agumon couldn't just let him go off alone, so he stood and jumped out of the van. He saw Tai's silhouette vanish into the woods.
"Agumon, I don't think you should follow him," Matt said, still sitting on the snow.
"No, I can't leave him, I have to go," Agumon replied.
"Right, but try to get him back here. I don't know who, or what that, that was but right now I think it is our best chance. You have to bring Tai back here so we can go to the digital world as soon as we can," Izzy replied he did not like admitting it, but he knew that the plan wasn't going to work right from the start.
"I'll try," Agumon responded as he ran off. Agumon ran down the path, he did not know for certain where Tai was, but his large nose gave him the advantage here, he could pick up Tai's scent.
Tai had not strayed from the path, but it was not the one to the bonfire, it was a new path. It began to take an upward incline, and was leading the boy up the mountain. The summit of Mt Fuji (I dunno of anything better!!!) was not very hard to reach from the campsite as the campsite itself was situated halfway up the mountain. Tai strode up the mountain, he could feel his anger inside. Burning with resentment, for what, he was not quite sure. All he could remember was everyone looking at him, their eyes burning into his soul. /It's their fault, they were just going to watch as I faded away to nothing.\ Tai continued up the mountain, his stride was fast, and he was swishing his tail from side to side. Step after step he continued up the trail, until he found that it was levelling out. Soon he found himself at the top of the mountain, looking down over the valley. In the distance he could see the light of the city. He slowed his pace until he stopped at the base of a tree. His anger had faded, and now he was just confused. /What am I thinking?\ he slumped to the ground and put his head between his knees. He was sitting on his tail, and could feel the pain, but he did not care, he didn't want to believe it was real anymore.
Agumon was not too far behind Tai, but he could not catch up, no matter how hard he tried, Tai seemed to be going just that little bit too fast. As the path evened out for him, he could see Tai sitting under the tree, he did not seem to be angry anymore. Agumon paced a few steps further but stopped, Tai was not angry anymore, he was crying. Agumon closed in on him, and sat next to him.
"Tai?" he said quietly. Tai did not speak. "Tai?" he repeated, "What's wrong?"
"I don't know Agumon…. I don't know…" Tai replied, his tears fading. He lifted the weight off his tail, then moved it around and out from underneath himself..
"But why are you crying?" Agumon specified his question.
"Because, I'm a jerk I don't even know when my friends are worried or not, they must think I am such a idiot. I mean, they must all have been so worried for me, and what do I do? I shove it in their face, assault Matt, then storm off."
"Who wouldn't, you've just been told that you could die?" Agumon put it gently, although he was not sure if it was gentle enough.
"I wouldn't, that's just it Agumon… I wouldn't… I'm usually so together with these things, always coming up with a solution, or a plan. Instead I just shout, and snap, and run off. I'm not myself, I'm becoming something else… something evil…"
"What! Tai, how can you say that? I thought we just settled this?"
"No Agumon, I know what I saw in that dream… I saw myself." Tai spoke softly now, and his voice was not filled with its usual energy. Agumon did not know what to do, but he was pretty sure he would not be able to convince Tai that he was wrong, so he tried a different approach.
"So what if that was you, it's not you yet. I mean maybe we can stop this somehow."
"And how are we going to do that? I mean we've tried everything."
"We aren't going to do anything, but by the sounds of it that voice might be able to."
"Yeah, how? And what if it isn't even on our side. What if it is just a trap?"
"I don't know Tai, I don't know. But do you really think that it is a trap, I mean, how can things get much worse for us?"
"You have a point, but I don't know if I can face those guys. I can't stand to think that I might hurt them any more…"
"But Tai, you haven't hurt them at all."
"Not yet, no. But I could feel it inside me, something was urging me to just explode. If I'd have had two more seconds there with Matt, and I'd have pummelled his face into the ground." Tai paused for a minute, Agumon was about to speak, but he interrupted him, "And never mind what I've done to them emotionally. One second I'm insulting them, next I'm pleading for help, then when they try and give it to me I reject it and almost assault all of them. Maybe it would be better for everyone if I just stayed here…"
"Is that what you want Tai, is it what you really want? Because if it is, I'll leave you, I'll do anything you ask. Just think about it first. If I leave, this thing wins, it'll be mission accomplished for it. I don't know what is or what its plan is, but one thing is for sure, it did this to you because it wanted you out of the way. And so, if you want to admit defeat for the first time I've known you, go ahead. But then I will know that the Tai I knew, is truly gone." Agumon spoke in indifferent tone, he did not want Tai to think he was angry, just concerned. But his plan was not working, Tai did not speak, he just sat there, staring at the city skyline.
"Fine then, as you wish," Agumon said. He turned away and began walking.
"Wait," Tai shouted as Agumon began to disappear into the forest, "Please don't go…" Tai a tear rolled down Tai's cheek.
Agumon turned around, "Tai?" he said.
"I'm going with you, I won't let this thing win." Tai stood up, and Agumon walked back toward him.
"Great, now let's go, they waiting for us, and they aren't mad."
"Okay. And thanks for the talk, I'll try not to forget who I am."
"Hey, would I really let that happen?"
"Well, thanks."
"Stop that, you're embarrassing me, let's just put it behind us and get going."
"Okay." They began walking down the path back to the campsite. The return trip was much easier for them, as it was now downhill. This time Tai decided to take in some of the sights of the evening. He looked up into the forest canopy. High above them the moon was full, and the stars shone brightly. Out in the country there was none of the city smog, so they were clearly visible, he could even make out some of the constellations. Tai moved off the path and into a clearing, "Come here buddy, I want to show you something," Tai said and Agumon made his way over.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Well, take a look up."
"What exactly am I looking for?" Agumon asked, he was now thoroughly confused.
"Look up at the stars, see that group over there," Tai pointed out a group of stars that were directly above them.
"Yeah, so what?" he asked, still confused.
"Well if you look closely, you can make out a person," Tai explained.
"Huh, where?"
"See those three bright stars? Well those are called Orion's belt, because the make up the belt of the person. And then look out from there. If you join up the brighter stars with lines in your head you can make out a person." Tai stopped and let Agumon examine the skyline for a while.
"Oh yeah, I see it, he's holding a bow right?"
"Yeah that's him. It's called a constellation, and that one is Orion (A\N Sorry guys, I don't know if you can see Orion in Japan, but take it that you can). There are lot's of them, but that one is my favourite." Tai had loved the stars, ever since he was a child, and his father and taught him about the constellations when he was young and the city was a bit cleaner. Orion had been his favourite though, mostly because it was the only one he could actually make out.
"That's nice, when did you come up with that Tai?" Agumon asked.
"No silly, I didn't come up with them, they were found by people long ago. My dad taught me that one."
"Oh, so where are the others?" Agumon asked.
"Um, uh, I'll show you some other time, we have to get back to the others," Tai began walking out of the clearing.
"Hey, why are you so eager to get back all of a sudden?"
"Okay, I don't know any others. I mean I can't actually see them."
"Oh. Well, we'll just have to learn them together."
Tai chuckled, "Okay, sure." They walked back to the path and then decided to increase their pace.
They reached the bottom of the path, and Tai stopped. "Hey, what's wrong?" Agumon asked.
"Nothing, I'll be fine." Tai continued walking, Agumon the followed. They reached the van, and Tai walked around to the door. It was closed and he could hear voices coming from inside.
"Uh guys?" he said unsurely. He heard some chaotic movement, then the door slid open. Sora was in the doorway, her eyes were red, she too had been crying. She dived out of the van and flung her arms around him. The tears that had been flowing earlier instantly returned. She squeezed him tightly, she could feel his wings through the jacket, but she did not care. Tai was taken back at first, but then closed his arms around her.
"Sora, I'm so sorry…" he said. She did not respond, just held him tighter. He continued, "I've played with your feeling so much lately, and I'm sorry."
"Tai… it's okay. Just promise me one thing…"
"Anything Sora."
"Never leave me okay, never."
"Alright, I promise." They continued to hug each other, and Sora's tears begun to slow. They broke off the hug so that Tai could speak. Agumon had been standing behind them, but took this chance to get back into the van, it was a little too cold for his liking. As he did, Matt moved over to the door.
"Hey guys, get in here, it's too cold to be out there," he suggested. He was right too, the temperature had dropped several degrees since Tai had left, and it was beginning to snow. Sora climbed back in, but noticed that Tai did not.
"What's the matter Tai?" she asked. This was the first time she had looked into his eyes. They were their normal brown colour, but she could see that he had been crying, it was not obvious though.
"Nothing, um, I just. I have to stretch."
"Well, go ahead."
"Um, I have to stretch… my wings. And I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, so if you want to turn away, I understand."
"No, I'm not going to do that to you. I'll be fine."
"Okay, well, then, here goes," Tai said. He unzipped the jacket and slid it off. It fell to the ground and landed delicately in the snow. Tai could feel the hairs in his chest and arms stand up. He moved away from Sora and turned to face her again. She looked all over the boys lean but well toned even though she knew this was not the time. Tai did not focus this time, it was reflex. The wings came flooding out from behind him. He stretched them to their full capacity, then relaxed them a little.
"Ah, that feels so much better," Tai said in relief, then he remembered Sora was standing right in front of him. He pulled them back in quickly, "Sorry," he said ashamed of himself, he began to blush a little.
"Hey, don't be embarrassed about it, they look good," she said to try and comfort him.
"Uh, thanks, I guess." Tai then knelt down and grabbed his jacket. He shook the snow off of it, put it on, and the two climbed back into the van.
Inside everyone was huddled close together for warmth. Matt did not have enough fuel to keep the engine going so they could use the heating, so instead they just sat close together. Tai and Sora squeezed in next to T.K. and the end of the seat. Tai was the first to speak, even though he was not sure what to say, "Hey Matt, I'm sorry…" Tai could not finish as Matt interrupted
"Look Tai, I think I am going to start charging you every time you say that. You don't have to apologise, we understand."
"Alright, but I am sorry, I just… um, I guess I lost myself there."
"Yeah, but we sorted it out," Agumon replied looking over at Tai, a smile coming across his face.
"Okay, but can I suggest we talk about what happened before?" Izzy said in his usual serious tone.
"Okay, I think that would be best," Tai agreed. Izzy had posed it as a general question, but he was more concerned about Tai's opinion, as was everyone else.
"Right, this one is for you guys, did that sound like anyone you know?" Izzy said looking over to the digimon who were seated in the space in the middle of the van.
"Well, not to us, but ask Veemon, he's the oldest here," Agumon replied. Everyone turned to Veemon.
"What, why are you asking me?" Veemon replied.
"Yeah, how come Veemon is the oldest?" Catherine asked, this being the first time she had felt comfortable to speak.
"Well, remember how we told you that Veemon was under the digiegg of courage?" Davis asked to Catherine.
"Yeah," she replied.
"Well, he had been there for a long time. About a hundred years worth of time," Davis explained.
"So you were trapped?" Catherine said in horror.
"No, more like I was waiting, because only one person could lift the egg of courage, I had been there for a while. But I was isolated under there, so I didn't know what was going on around me," Veemon continued the explanation.
"Well then, I think we had better get a group vote on this, I don't want you guys risking this just for me," Tai said. He had rested his head on his hands.
"What's wrong?" Kari asked.
"Nothing, just a little headache," Tai replied.
"Um, lately nothing has been 'little', so what's it like?" Kari questioned. Tai did not reply, he just continues to sit there. He moaned a little, Matt then moved over to the passenger's seat and began rummaging through the glove compartment.
"I think I have some aspirin here some where," Matt said as he rummaged.
"Not now, not now…" Tai mumbled.
"What now, what's going on?" Sora asked.
"Just move!" Tai replied.
"What, why, you're not leaving again are you?" Kari asked getting worried.
"Please, I can't take this," Tai said, he threw off his jacket. The burning was returning and now his headache was raging. Kari and T.K. moved over and opened the door. Tai literally dived out and landed on the snow beneath. This felt like heaven for his skin, and soothed the burning, but his headache only got worse.
"What's going on?" Sora asked in distress.
"It's happening again isn't it?" Kari said, she turned away, seeing her brother like this was too much for her. T.K. put his arms around her. She had her head in his chest, trying desperately to block the sound of her brother's moans
"What's wrong with him?" Joe asked.
"The transformations, they're happening again," Davis answered.
Tai lay in the snow, holding his head in agony. He rolled from side to side for a bit, but stopped when his pain intensified. He lay there helpless as the force present in his body changed it to it's liking. This time it was his horns. They began to extrude further from his head. They slowly made their way skyward; gracefully and gently parting the hair that was their only barrier. The group watched as they made their way from Tai's head. Tai yelped in pain and it was then that Agumon jumped down and out of the van. He looked over to his partner, helpless on the floor.
"Tai?" he said quietly. There was no answer, he did not even hear him through the pain. Slowly Tai's tail began to grow too. It made its way outwards from the boy's ravaged body. He turned to face downwards on all fours. The same noise that had occurred when his wings had last grown sounded. Kari cringed and held T.K. tighter, she began to cry.
Tai's horns had now stopped growing, and his tail slowly stopped it's extrusion as well. Tai did not look up, but rather he just remained on all fours to catch his breath.
"Tai?" Agumon tried again, he still received no answer. Tai then lifted his head, and his eyes had taken their flaming colour. He looked right at them, his gaze filled with anger, for what they did not know.
"Tai, this isn't you. You can beat this!" Agumon shouted. Tai stood upright, not loosing his gaze for a second. He did not seem to comprehend what Agumon had said, but he had his attention.
"Well, you got his attention, if he's even there?" Matt commented unsurely. Agumon continued.
"I know you can here me, fight it Tai," he shouted. He ran over to his partner and looked him in the eye, "I'm here for you Tai, I'll help you through this." Sora ran over and joined Agumon, she added to his barrage of encouraging comments.
"Come on Tai, I know you can do it," she said to him. She was not shouting like Agumon, but rather she seemed to speak right to his soul. Tai cocked his head to the left, he seemed to be straining himself. He moaned and then fell to the ground.
"Tai!" Sora said, practically falling over herself. She took both of his hands. He lifted his head, his eyes were their normal chocolate colour. This startled Kari, her tears stopped and she looked up. She turned around so that she could see what had happened, still holding T.K.'s hand tightly.
"Sora?" he said, not yet fully coherent.
"It's me Tai, I'm here, I'm right here."
"Did I… what did I do this time?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"Nothing Tai, you didn't do anything," Agumon replied with a smile on his face.
"It's gaining power, I wasn't there for a minute…" Tai replied, he was thoroughly out of breath.
"Are you okay?" Kari asked, battling to speak.
"I'm fine Kari, or I will be," Tai answered.
"Come on Tai, get in here, you'll get hypothermia if you keep laying in the snow like that," Mimi said in a motherly tone.
"Yeah, okay," Tai replied. He reached for his jacket and put it around himself, then tried to stand, but stumbled. Matt hopped out and gave him a hand, he helped him into the van and onto the seat. Sora and Agumon followed him. T.K. and Kari then took their seats, then T.K. slid the door shut.
"Well, there, you've all seen It now," Tai said in between deep breaths. He did not know what to say to them, but he knew that he had to say something. Nobody had a reply, they were all taken back from the display they had just seen.
"Well, what am I now?" Tai asked to break the silence, it was beginning to creep him out.
"What do you mean?" Sora asked.
"What's changed, I mean, I didn't just go through all that for nothing," Tai replied, he sounded a little annoyed. He was not annoyed at them though, only at what ever it was that was doing this to him.
"Nothing Tai, nothings changed," Agumon said looking up at his partner. Tai smiled,
"Only because of you and Sora. Thanks for that," Tai said now looking at Sora.
"No, it was you Tai, you did the hard work," Sora replied.
"Yeah, now we know this thing has nothing on you, we'll have it beat before you know it," Agumon said encouragingly.
"Well, if we all work together we will," Tai said.
"And you can count on that," Davis added.
"Thanks. But I really do want to know what I look like now," Tai said.
"Uh… well," Davis took the initiative, but initiative on it's own was not getting him far.
"Just tell me, please," Tai asked quietly, "Don't worry, I can deal with it," he continued.
"Well, the horns have gotten much longer, we can see them through your hair now. And the tail is longer as well."
"I suppose it could have been worse," Tai said indifferently, "And you don't have to call them 'the', I know that for the time being, they are mine," he replied.
"As long as it's okay with you Tai, I suggest we continue with our earlier conversation?" Izzy asked to the group.
"Yeah, I think that's a good idea," Tai agreed.
"Well, um, I don't think we have any objections to going to meet what ever it was that spoke to use earlier?" Izzy said.
"I for one, want to know what it has to say," Tai replied right away. This shocked the entire group, of everyone there, they thought it would be him to have the objections. "Don't think I don't know this is risky, and don't think that I like it for one minute. But if this thing does know why this is happening, I want to find out," he explained.
"Well then what are we waiting for. I say we go now," Davis suggested.
"No, I think we need a plan," T.K. protested.
"Okay, any suggestions?" Izzy asked.
"Well, um, I don't know if I can really be of any help here. I mean if there's going to be fighting I would just get in the way, so maybe I should just stay here?" Catherine suggested.
"Not an option. If we're doing this, we do it together," Tai said sternly.
"Yeah, I won't leave you behind, so if you stay, I will stay," Davis added.
"And as much as I hate to say it, you have come in handy in the past," Matt joked, Davis picked up on it, but he did have a comeback on hand, and he had more pressing issues to take care of.
"So you got it, you're coming with. All you have to do is stay by my side, and I promise I won't let anything happen to you, okay?" Davis had lowered his voice, but the others could still hear him. He took a hold of her hands and looked into her eyes.
"Alright," she replied.
"Good. Besides, bringing a non digidestined with us will take it off it's game, I mean, it's not going to expect this," Joe added.
"But we still need a plan," Izzy pointed out, even with his lack of ideas.
"I can only suggest we don't all go in at once," Joe said.
"Yeah, that is a good point, but who is going in first?" Matt asked.
"Well, it's safe to say I am," Tai said.
"Then I am too," Sora added.
"But who else?" Izzy asked.
"Me, I'll go," Davis said.
"But why?" Izzy asked.
"Look, Tai's my best friend, next to Veemon of course, and I want to do this for him, I owe him a lot," Davis explained.
"Besides, if I am going to take it off it's game, wouldn't it be best if we do it first?" Catherine asked.
"I suppose, but that's all," Izzy said.
"Okay, but I suggest we do this on our turf, an area we know really well," Matt started.
"File island?" Izzy asked.
"That's what I was thinking, we know it back to front," Matt finished.
"Okay. Do you guys have any objections to this?" he asked, directing his question to the digimon.
"No, I think that's the best plan we've got," Agumon replied, as usual he was acting as their spokesperson.
"Right, then give me a few minutes while I program my lap top to take us to file island, and then we can leave."
Izzy sat typing and clicking away at his laptop while the others kept up a small conversation.
"Can I ask you a question Tai?" Catherine said quietly, she sounded very nervous.
"Sure, I suppose," Tai replied.
"Um, well, what's it like?"
"What's what like? He replied.
"Having wings, you know. I mean it has to be everyone's fantasy at some point, so what is it like?" she elaborated.
"Huh," Tai chuckled. "It's not that bad actually, but it is very weird. The way I got them, let's say I would not wish this on anyone. But I know what you mean, and it takes a lot of getting used to. I mean, you try sitting normally with a tail," Tai replied. He was speaking indifferently, he was not cheerful, but not sour either.
"I suppose that's true," Catherine replied.
"So, what are you gonna say to this thing when we get there?" T.K. asked.
"I honestly don't know, but guys, if I am getting mad, I want you to get me away from it. Whenever I get mad I seem to change, and last time I couldn't even control myself."
"Okay, I'll make sure of that," Davis replied.
"Yeah, if anything happens, I'll be right there," Agumon added.
"Thanks, I'll try my best too."
"Hey Tai, I wonder if you'll ever get to use 'em?" Davis blurted. He had not thought this through, and he now hoped that Tai would not be angry, or take offence.
"I dunno, I kinda hope I do though, it would be the best feeling."
"Yeah, that would be cool." Davis replied.
"Guys, I hate to spoil this, but it's ready," Izzy announced.
"Right then, I guess this is it…" Tai said, he was very nervous, and was anxious about how the trip to the digital world would feel with wings and a tail.
"Let's go then," Davis said enthusiastically." He took a hold of Catherine's hand, and Tai took Sora's. Tai also grabbed either side of his jacket and zipped it up.
"I won't let go, I promise," Davis whispered to Catherine.
"Thanks," she replied smiling.
"I'll lock the van," Matt said. He pressed the button near the gear shift, and all the doors clicked. He and Mimi then climbed round into the back area. They all moved around to one side of the van, Izzy lay the laptop on the seat in front of them.
"Davis, why don't you do the honours?" Tai suggested.
"Okay," Davis replied, he squeezed Catherine's hand then continued, "Digiport open," he said holding out his digivice.
The computer screen began to glow, but it was much brighter than usual. They were sucked into the computer, but it was not the usual transference. The gate they travelled through was cylindrical, with spirals of red and blue energy around either side. They trip was turbulent, with all of the digimon doing their best to say at their partners side.
"Davis, what's going on?" Catherine shouted. This was the first time any of them had actually tried to speak while travelling through the gate, but they could all hear her.
"I don't know, just hold on!" Davis shouted back. It was not looking good, by now they would have merged with their digital shadows and have entered the digital world already, so everyone was extremely worried. Tai could feel an odd sensation travelling through his body. This was not the burning he felt during transformations, it was not painful at all. It was a tingling, and his concern was growing. They begun to fling around a wild series of twists and turns until the path evened out. In the distance they could see a bright light, that meant they were about to arrive. They catapulted around the last turn, increasing their speed greatly. They entered the light, at which point everyone blacked out.
Tai was the first to wake. He found Sora lying next to him, still clinging to his hand.
"Sora?" he said softly. "Anyone?" he called, louder this time, but still no one moved. He looked to is left now. there he found Agumon, also unconscious. He lifted himself to his feet and stumbled over to him. "You okay buddy?" he asked.
"Huh, what?" Agumon said as he roused.
"I don't know buddy, but I can tell you this is not file island."
"Nope, I don't think I have ever been here…" Agumon said as he sat up. They took time to take in their surroundings. Around them was a dark forest, it was not dissimilar to the one that they had just been in. any large trees rose from the ground, high into the night sky. The shrub growth below them was rampant, and this made it very difficult to try and figure out where exactly they were.
"I'm gonna check my D-terminal, maybe the map can help. Tai slipped it out of his jacket pocket. He flipped open the top and opened the map option. It took a while to get a reading, but he eventually found his signal coming from the south western corner of the digital world. It was a small island that was not too far off from File island. He lowered it down to Agumon's level and showed it to him. "I don't know if a map really means anything to you, but do you know this island, we're pretty close to File island?" Tai asked. Agumon examined the map, but it really didn't mean anything to him, he never really looked at maps when they travelled the world.
"Sorry, but if you say we're close to File island then we should not be in too much danger, this isn't really a hostile part of the digital world."
"Well, the only way we are gonna find out where we are is to look around," Tai suggested.
"But what about Sora?" Agumon pointed out.
"Believe me, I don't like leaving her, but I would think that she would be safer if we knew what was around us instead of being completely unaware of where the danger would come from. Besides, Biyomon is right there with her."
"Okay then, let's go," Agumon initiated.
"Hang on, I'll just leave a message for her." Tai quickly typed one up on his D-terminal and set it to hers, it read:
"(intentional??)Sora, I'm really sorry for doing this to you, but I have to
Biyomon is right beside you, I won't be gone any longer
Than fifteen minutes, I promise. But I have to know where we
Are otherwise I can't protect you. I'll look for the others.
Please understand,
Love always, Tai"
Agumon and Tai walked off into the woods in an easterly direction. It was a very odd forest, the trees were large, and soon the branches were big enough to walk on. Ahead the forest thickened immensely, and it seemed the only way through, was to walk on the branches.
"What do you say?" Tai asked
"Well, I suppose we'll get a better view from up there," Agumon replied. They walked toward the branch and begun their ascent into the trees. Once they had gained a great deal of height they came to a fork in the branch.
"Well buddy, the infamous question, left or right?" Tai said, he chuckled on the inside, Agumon however did not catch the joke.
"Well, I say right, we've been going left all this time so this should lead us to the centre of the forest and we'll have a good view," Agumon relied.
"Exactly what I was thinking."
They started journeying to the right and soon found themselves in what seemed to be the centre of the forest. Ahead the path descended back down into the forest.
"I guess this is as good of a view as we're going to get. Tai now realised that they had been gone a good ten minutes, and could only hope that Sora had not yet woken. They began to look around the area. The moonlight was a help, but not enough so that they could see very far. Tai continued to look around, and down below, about three hundred meters away he could see the group. Sora was only a little to the left of them, behind a few bushes.
"I found them, they're over there," Tai said pointing down toward them.
"Should we go back?" Agumon asked.
"Yeah, I don't see anything around here that is dangerous," Tai replied. They turned around and began walking, but stopped when a voice called out. This was not just any voice, it was the voice that had called out to them in the real world. Tai swung round violently, as did Agumon. Before them was an old man. He was short and bald, with a long white moustache that trailed almost down to the ground. He wore green robes, and had deep blue eyes.
"What do you want?" Tai shouted.
"The keeper of courage. That is you Taichi, I have come for you," he said opening his eyes wide.
"Tai, be careful," Agumon warned.
"I know buddy, don't you worry," Tai said to his orange friend. He took back his strong tone, "Care to tell me why?" Tai asked resentfully.
"Tai, calm down," Agumon said.
"Come with me and all will be explained my young friend," the man replied.
"No, tell me here, now, what is happening to me?" Tai shouted.
"Tai! Stop," Agumon pleaded.
"You'd be wise to listen to your friend down there," the man said cautiously.
"Yeah, sorry buddy, I will."
"It is not safe here, we must go now," he replied. Tai did not move, or say a word. This irritated the old man somewhat, "If you don't come with me now you put us all at risk."
"Fine. No tricks though," Tai replied reluctantly.
"Tai no, don't do it, for all we know he's lying," Agumon said worriedly to his partner. Tai turned and looked down to him.
"That's just it Agumon, we don't know anything, and this may be our only chance to find out what is really going on."
"I suppose, just be careful."
"I will," Tai turned back to the old man, "Where are we going?" Tai asked sternly.
"This way," the old wan said moving his arm round pointing off the side of the path.
"But there's nothing there," Tai said unsurely.
"Ah, isn't there," he replied. He waved his arm again, this time a path was revealed. It was not like the branch paths, this seemed to be made up of many small crystals. They shimmered in the moonlight, it was quite a sight, but neither of them had the time to fully take it in.
"Alright, just give me a minute," Tai said to him. Tai turned around and bent down so he was looking Agumon face to face, "I want you to go back to the others, you have to bring them back here. I don't know if he knows about them, so if anything goes wrong I'll have the upper hand, and no arguments, alright?" Tai whispered.
"Okay, I won't be long," he whispered back.
"And Agumon, look out for Sora for me."
"Of course." Tai stood back up and turned to face the old man, "Okay, I'm ready now," he said. He walked over to him, and they began to walk up the path. Tai hesitated and looked back to Agumon, he had not moved, "Go, please," Tai begged.
Agumon began to back away, not losing his view of Tai. He slowly turned around, then began running down the path. Tai turned back to the old man, and they continued up the path.
Righty o peeps. I have A TON of explaining to do to all of you, so I'll do my best. I am REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY sorry about the long wait here. I had HUGE problems getting ppl to proof read this chap. Then FF.net went down, and I left it with her, and she didn't get bak to me. I then handed over to my good friend Z, but she unfortunately had a life, and so could not do it either (No problems tho Zemmy, coz you rock da funk beats!). I eventually resorted to getting my sis ta do it, and she did a rather good, job, but I doubt she'll stay on as a permanent tho, hehe ^_^. But its dun, and I'm pleased to say there'll be tons more to come, I still have no idea how to resolve this, so we'll have to see how it all pans out. I have part 13 completed on my computer, so that 12 and 13 won't be long away, it just depends on my school commitments. I won't put 2 up right near each other, and then leave it for like a month. I wanna thank you for all the reviews (HEHE, blinday, here's your shout for being at numba 50) If you're reading this now, thanks for putting up with me, and thanks for waiting. And BTW, hey drager, thanks for the kick in the pants, I needed it. Well, what's to come in the future of TBW, well, only I know that, haha, more cliff-hangers. And if you're holding out for the big explanation, I can tell you the wait is so close to being over….
