24

The Final Round Begins

Only a few minutes left before the final round begins. Both teams have rested as much as they could. Tai seems to be the most pumped out of all of them.

"Oh TAAAAAAAIIII!" Everyone hears Mimi as she runs onto the field towards Tai, she's carrying some sort of shopping bag.

"What are you doing here?" Tai asks her.

"And what's with the bag?" Takato adds.

"This is for you," Mimi hands Tai the bag.

"Oh, it's done already?" Tai takes the bag.

"Yep!" Mimi smiles at him. "I like that place, they work fast. Well? Aren't you going to try it on?"

Tai quickly into the shirt he ordered, the bright blue shirt with silver sides now has a golden Crest of Courage on the back that everyone can see.

"How does it look?" Tai asks.

"Perfect!" Mimi smiles and gives a thumbs up.

Tai turns to the other team, who was looking at him, "Hey Matt! What do you think?"

Matt watches as Tai turns around. "SHOW OFF!"

"I think he likes it," Tai giggles.

"Yep," Mimi joins him.

Sora sees the two of them chuckle. So that's why they were together. I wish he asked me first though. Sora lets out a huge sigh of relief.

Matt was able to notice it, Those idiots.

"Now we're about to begin the final round of this tournament!" Yolei yells and the crowd roars.

"It's the Wild Wolves vs. the Crimson Flare." Izzy made note. "Both of which have a star soccer player leading their respective teams. This is going to be one exciting match up folks that's for sure."

"It's gonna be hard to decide who to root for," Mimi butted in and starts waving. "Good luck to both teams!"

"Wow," Yolei stared at Mimi. "What a lame way out."

"Oh!" Izzy bursted. "The game's started! Sora has taken the ball!"

Sora quickly runs through the field with Tai hot in pursuit. Kari and Takato try to get in her way but she manages to step around both of them. The remaining defenders were also easily passed by.

"HA!" Tai slides and manages to knock the ball away from Sora and out of the field, Sora fell from the sudden attack.

"That was close," Tai said as he got up. He held out his hand to Sora, and helped her up. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Tai," Sora said shyly. "What about you?"

"Yeah," Tai shrugged. "You know me. Come on, we got a game to play."

"That was a smart move from Tai," Izzy commented. "With this, Crimson will be able to rebuild their defenses."

"Wait!" Yolei jumped. "Kari managed to steal the ball and is rushing towards the Wolves' net!"

"Matt and Sora are just behind her," Mimi noticed. "Can she get away from them in time to take a shot?"

Kari can sense her pursuers gaining on her fast. She has to think of something or the ball will be lost. She quickly turns around and kicks the ball back past the two of them and towards Takato. Matt and Sora split up to guard Takato and Kari respectively. The older blond was able to stall Takato as TK tries to sneak in from behind.

"PASS!" Tai screams from the side.

Takato kicks the ball towards Tai's voice. TK manages to intercept it and turn around, with no defenders between him and the net. Tai rushes back as quick as he can to stop him.

"TK is closing in on the net!" Yolei shrieks.

"But Tai is closing in on him!" Izzy yells out.

"Here we…!" TK winds up. "GO!" TK kicks the ball as hard as he can. It flies across the field. The goalie jumps towards it, Tai stops in his tracks, he knows it's no use. The ball flies into the net. TK jumps happily and rushes back to his side of the field.

Tai raises his hand, "Good shot TK!"

TK slaps Tai's hand, "Thanks!"

Matt, Sora and TK are leading the defensive now. Tai, Takato and Kari charge forward. Takato and Kari spread outwards, near the edges of the field. Tai charges through. TK rushes to guard Kari, Matt heads towards Takato, Sora waits for Tai.

Tai and Sora dance around each other, Tai struggling to wiggle around and Sora trying to take the ball away. They know each other too well. Everyone watches as they fool around each other, more playfully then competitively. Both of them manage to glance each other's smile.

Tai kicks the ball towards Kari, who manages to outrun TK and take it. Matt gives chase from one side as TK gives pursuit. Takato rushes closer to Kari and signals. Kari passes just as Matt arrives, and Takato races to the goal. Takato readies to shoot. Sora slides in from behind to mess up the ball. Tai however manages to come in and take it towards the net. A faint and then a

"GOOOOOOAAAAAL!!!"

Mimi stands up, "You get'em guys!"

Yolei pulls Mimi back down, "We're announcers Mimi, we're supposed to comment. Come on Sora pick it up!"

"A very impressive play from the Crimson Flare," Izzy began. "Showing their teamwork and agility."

"Let's not forget though," Yolei started. "This game's only just beginning."

"Now it's the Wild Wolves turn to take the offensive."

"Wow," Sora commented. "Tai's gotten a lot better then I remember."

"You're just out of practice," Matt assured her.

The Wolves begin their offensive. Matt has the ball in the center as Sora and TK dash on the sides. Takato goes to guard TK as Kari jogs back a bit from Sora, the younger girl knows she stands no chance against her superior up close. Tai waits for Matt.

The rock star gets into trouble as soon as the encounter starts and is constantly being pushed back. Sora runs to his aid as Kari gives chase. Matt tries to pass the ball, but Kari intercepts it and dashes towards the goal.

Tai, Sora and Matt give chase, but Tai stops halfway through as TK and Takato run past him. Kari was completely surrounded by the two defenders, Matt and Sora. Kari kicked the ball in a random direction and Tai runs after it.

TK gets the ball first and runs to Tai's goal. Tai catches up quickly to slow him down.

The game continues back and forth between the two teams. They know each other all too well, how they play, what will happen and how to react. Neither side managed to get a goal as the halftime buzzer rings.

"What a match!" Yolei exclaimed. "Don't you think so?"

"Indeed," Izzy replied. "I have never seen anything like it."

The two teams return to their benches to take a well deserved rest. Tai begins to change his shoes again.

"Uhh… Tai?" Kari began. "What exactly does changing your shoes do?"

"Nothing really," Tai smiled at her. "Though I did tell Sora I get faster. I think she still believes it. Haha…"

"Then there's really no point it right?"

"Not exactly," Tai finishes his change. "Every time I wear these shoes I feel… lighter and more focused."

"Huh?"

"While it's not the exact same shoes," Tai started. "It's pretty much the same brand and style as the one I got a long time ago."

"Happy birthday Tai!" a young Sora and a whole bunch of other kids cheered him.

"Thanks guys!" a young Tai eagerly blows out the candles and rushes towards the presents. The very first one he grabs has a "From Sora" tag on it. He rips the wrappings off hastily and opens the box. It was a pair of brand new shoes.

"Oh wow!" Tai looked extremely happy. "New soccer shoes! Thanks Sora!"

"Hehehehee…"

"Come to think of it," Kari looked deep in thought. "I've never seen you buy from that brand before."

"I only use them for soccer, I don't dare use them for anything else. Come on, the game's about to start again."

"Now the two teams are back on the field as the second half of this final round is about to begin!" Yolei started.

"This is truly too close to call as both side have shown us great skill and teamwork," Izzy added.

"Let's not forgot Tai and Sora," Mimi butted in. "The two of them are really heating up out there."

"The match has begun with the Wolves' Matt taking the ball to Crimson's net!"

Takato and Kari quickly rush over to Matt and block him, but he passes the ball towards TK who bounces it to Sora. Sora makes a beeline to the net, until the other two defenders stop her. They don't last long, but it was enough for Tai to get between her and the goal. Now Sora has greater difficulty in getting around Tai then before.

He really is faster! Sora couldn't even finish the thought before Tai stole the ball.

The big haired boy runs down the field no one behind can catch up to him and nobody ahead of him can stop him. Tai shoots the ball about a quarter field away. The goalie jumps for it and was barely able to deflect the shot. Tai wasn't done yet, he quickly followed up and ran to the ball just as the goalie was getting up.

The ball flies in! Tai scored another shot for his team as he rushes back to his side of the field.

"Great shot Tai!" Kari commented.

"Thanks," he responded. "Just don't let your guard down yet."

Sora rushes ahead of her team with the ball, Tai quickly moves in to intercept her. Sora quickly passes back to Matt. Takato heads over to slow him down. Kari runs to assist. Tai quickly heads over to where TK is headed, but loses Sora. Matt takes the opportunity to pass the ball. Tai watches it and sees his mistake.

Both Sora and Tai are gunning for the ball, they unleash their strongest kicks at the same time. The ball flies into the sky from the double impact, everyone keeps their eyes on it.

Tai tackles Sora to the ground, barely dodging a dark energy beam.


Author: Told you I'd find a way to shorten the filler! Now the dark forces have invaded the Tamer's world, and every digidestined and Tamer is in the same spot! Can they protect the city while fending off the dark forces?

Random Author Notes: Well, since this fic is nearing its end, I thought I'd share some stuff with you.

Originally, I never wanted Tai to get his powers but still have Alice 'haunting' him for comic relief. But the more I thought about it, the more personal I wanted NightmareMyotismon to be to Tai, so I had to give him something that will let him fight Myotismon.

My first thoughts were to have the end of the Tamers season with that digigate thing be turned into a portal by Tai's digivice, showing his digital world in total darkness. I thought about making Tai and the Tamers adventure together in the dark digital world while saving the Digidestined one at a time.

Another idea was to have the Digidestined work for NightmareMyotismon for some reason and battle the Tamers and Tai, until Tai can break them free of that.

This whole story started out as a single chapter that I will put up later on, modified slightly though to match the fic. I only expanded on it greatly since all I ever wanted was an action fic XD. That chapter came to mind when I heard a certain song a long time. I plan to put some of the lyrics of that song in, so take a good guess when that chapter does come up okay?