"Agumon!" Tai yelled.
"Gabumon!"
"Tentomon!"
"Biyomon!" The other digidestend were yelling for their partners. The vines were pulling harder and Tai could no longer stay on his feet. He was yanked to the ground and his face was pushed into the dirt.
"Ah!" He growled. He felt the vines snake their way around his mid section and his mobility became non existing.
"Ag-u-mon!" Tai growled. He felt the cool plant make its way around his neck and Tai felt his air supply become thin. He tried to cough and desperately tried to wriggle free from the deathly hold. He could no longer breathe and the cries of struggle from the other destined became faded. Tai felt his eyes droop and everything slowed down. Tai's eyes closed and he accepted his fate.
"MATT!" Tai's eyes opened slowly and he slowly felt air going into his lungs. He then felt his arms grow limp. Tai then inhaled and sat up.
"Holy shit." He breathed and he watched the vines retreat into the earth. He looked around and saw the others all catching their breath and slowly start to stand up.
"How?" Tai asked to no one in particular. He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"You alright?" Tai turned and his jaw dropped,
"T-TK?" He stuttered and the young blond smirked.
"You guys looked a little tied up. Thought you could use a hand." Tai could have kissed the kid.
"You yelled for Matt?" Tai asked to make sense of all the events that had transpired. TK nodded,
"it's not everyday you see your brother turning blue from lack of oxygen. May have scared me a tad." He winked and then offered a hand to Tai. Tai shook his head amused by TK. He took TK's hand and allowed TK to pull him to his feet. Tai then looked over everyone else.
"Is everyone alright?" There were groans and a few 'yeah's'. Tai took a deep breath and then focused.
"Where is Agumon?" He asked the burning question he was sure was on everyone else's mind.
"PALMON?!" Mimi cried into the forest and Tai sighed. "What is going on?" He said to no one in particular.
"We should move, Kari and Tokomon are out there and it's been too quiet." Tai quickly looked at TK,
"You know where Kari is?" He asked and TK's face fell. Tai stared at the younger teen and suddenly became suspicious. The blond's face was loosing colour and he looked slightly angry.
"We were in the desert." He started and Tai watched the others gather round.
"Was it with a long railway track?" Izzy asked and TK shook his head.
"No. Just sand. Anyways it was us and Tokomon. Then..." he stopped and Tai studied TK. He wasn't sure what he felt towards the younger boy but he felt his hands clench into fists.
"Then what?" He said sternly and TK shook his head.
"Just the distortion. I ended up here and heard you guys struggling. I haven't seen any of the digimon." He said quickly. Matt stepped forward,
"you alright squirt?" He asked and TK stared at the ground.
"We should go." He said and Tai felt like TK was hiding something.
"I think I heard something this way." Mei spoke quietly and Tai was surprised to see the girl step forward and address the group. Sora then looked behind her,
"where Mei?" She asked and Mei pointed to the left.
"Over there." Tai looked and nodded.
"Alright let's find our partners." He instructed and he stepped over a root and led the team in the direction Mei had pointed.
Tai wanted to keep his eyes forward but kept glancing down expecting something to jump out at them.
"Hello digidestined." Tai jumped and looked around. He could not see anyone other than the other chosen.
"Hello?" Mimi called.
"Sincerity." The voice replied. Tai saw her frown and scanned the woods.
"Hey who are you?" Tai demanded. "Let's play a game Courage." Tai looked to Izzy and Matt. The two were looking at him and Tai gave them a nod.
"What do you want?" Tai asked keeping his eyes on Izzy and Matt. The two others started moving backwards. Tai moved to the others trying to get everyone to hide in the shadows. He wanted to get whomever it was out in the open.
"You want your digimon do you not?" The voice asked and Tai gave Joe and TK a head nod. TK moved to Mei and Sora and pushed the girls gently towards the bushes. Tai watched the others slowly slip into the trees.
"What have you done with them?" Tai demanded now on his own in the small clearing. He heard a rush of air and turned to see Gennai standing behind him.
"Hello Tai." He said and he lunged his hand out and wrapped it around Tai's neck. Tai was shocked and Gennai lifted him from the ground.
"You can't win Courage. You're unworthy and unwanted." Tai struggled against Gennai's unnatural strength.
"You have failed. The digital world doesn't need you. You are just getting in the way!"
"TAI!" Matt jumped from the bushes with a large stick in his hands. He then attacked Gennai and the surprise caused the imposter to release his hold on Tai. Tai fell to the ground and put a hand to his sore neck. He saw Matt squaring off while Gennai faced him.
"You can't save anyone Friendship. You're weak and unworthy!" Tai shook his head,
"that's not true Matt!" He yelled and Tai felt around for a stick or weapon of some sort.
"You will always be second." Gennai said darkly and Tai growled. Matt looked at Tai and Tai started panicking.
"Don't listen to him Matt!" Tau said sternly. Gennai then turned to face Tai. Tai scrambled to his feet. Gennai kicked him back to the ground and Tai fell hard.
"Ahh!" Matt yelled and Tai watched him swing at Gennai again. Gennai was knocked to the side and Tai rolled over seeing the others jump out of the bushes. Gennai then smirked at Tai and Matt.
"See you soon" and then he disappeared. Tai punched the earth. "Dammit!" He yelled and he breathed heavily.
"What the hell is going on!" He cursed and he saw a hand in front of his face.
"Come on. Let's find the digimon." Matt smirked and Tai grabbed his hand. He stood and he put a hand on Matts shoulder.
"He was wrong. About everything." Tai said sternly. Matt smiled.
"I know." The two smiled at each other and Sora stepped towards them.
"Come on, Mei and I found something you both will want to see."