Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Sorry if you think my chapters are too short, but it's a lot easier for me to update that way just because I'm so busy. Don't worry, just because they're not long doesn't mean it's going to cut down on the story's length. It'll just mean more chapters! The next few are probably going to be in either Matty's or Mickey's POV. Refer back to my author notes in chapter nine about the twins. That's all I'm going to say on that subject. Oh, an interesting note. I have actually created a female form of Celestimon. (before I wrote the story) named Celestamon. Her champion form is also a female version of Celestimon's champion form.

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 24: Heavenly Hero

Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi

File Island, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World

Mickey slowly opened his eyes, and he let out a cry of fear when he spotted Jestermon kneeling next to him.

He scrambled into a sitting position and was about to get to his feet when he realized that he was on the roof of one of the buildings. After Jestermon's attack had knocked him out, the mega digimon must have brought him up there.

"I've decided to take a different approach than Vampiramon when it comes to stealing the D-Coders," Jestermon smirked. "Instead of trying to get them all at once, I've decided to steal them one at a time. It might take a little longer, but this way there's less of a chance that I'll fail."

Jestermon moved closer to him, and he shrank back, his heart pounding with terror.

"First, I'll steal your D-Coder, and then unfortunately I'll probably have to kill you," Jestermon said, patting his shoulder. The digimon shook his head with regret, and Mickey let out a whimper of fear. "There's less of a chance that you'll get in the way once I get you out of the picture. I can't have you interfering when I go to steal the rest of the D-Coders."

"What ever happened to being a supporter of fair play?" he cried, trying to squirm out of the mega digimon's grip.

"I am," Jestermon cackled. "You have forgotten one of the most important rules of battle. Never take your eyes off of the enemy even for a second. If you don't focus on all your opponents then you will lose the fight. Now, are you ready to hand over your D-Coder?"

"Mickey!"

Mickey turned at the sound of his brother's frightened scream and spotted his friends standing on the ground below him.They were waving their hands in the air, and they were jumping up and down in panic.

Andromon was doing his best to keep Zombiemon from attacking Dai and the others while the rest of the digimon still remained unconscious on the ground.

"If you get yourself killed, I'll never forgive you!" Matty shouted and promptly burst into tears.

"Matty," he whispered, hugging himself and giving his twin a sad smile.

Ryoko hugged Matty tightly, and Mickey watched his cousin glare up at Jestermon. Ryoko's sapphire eyes were sparkling with anger and fear. "Leave Mickey alone! He never did anything to you!"

"Let our cousin go, right now!" Takara shrieked.

Mickey let out a gasp as Jestermon suddenly shoved him. He was standing at the edge of the roof and the unexpected push nearly sent him over the edge. He managed to catch himself and ended up falling flat on his face.

Jestermon's foot came down between his shoulder blades, pinning him to the rooftop, and he let out a cry of pain.

"Mickey! Be careful!" Sam shouted, his dark blue eyes wide with horror.

Matty's eyes looked ready to pop out of his head with pure terror.

Mickey let out a soft sound of dismay as Matty's tear stained face suddenly turned away from him. His brother hid his face against Ryoko's shoulder, and Mickey could tell that Matty was unable to watch what was happening.

His heart filled with sudden sadness.

I'm so sorry, Matty. I never meant to make you upset...

He closed his eyes and hot tears began to slide slowly down his cheeks. He had never felt so defeated in his life.

My mom and dad are going to be so sad, and what about Rina and the rest of my friends? Poor Matty. What will happen to him if I'm gone? He might not ever be happy again.

"Alright, you win," Dai suddenly shouted, getting Mickey's attention. "We'll hand over the D-Coders on one condition."

"Go on. I'm listening," Jestermon replied.

Mickey was able to lift his head just enough so that he could see Dai standing between Ryoko and Takara with a calm expression on his face. "You have to hand Mickey over to us in exchange, otherwise it's no deal."

Mickey bit his lip. Would Jestermon fall for that? After all, Dai and the others did not even know what the D-Coders were.

"Hurry, Digidestined!" Andromon shouted, kicking Zombiemon's legs out from under him. "I can't hold him back much longer!"

Ryoko and Dai exchanged worried looks. Surprisingly enough, the two of them were not arguing like they usually did. Mickey smiled. Apparently they had managed to come to an unspoken agreement that his life was more important than any D-Coder. He felt suddenly warm inside and touched by their concern.

"No thanks," Jestermon said cheerfully. "I have everything that I need right here. I do appreciate the offer though. I may be a fool, but I'm not as stupid as Vampiramon!"

Mickey cried out as Jestermon grabbed a fist full of his hair and pinned his cheek to the hard surface of the rooftop. The mega digimon yanked his Digivice free from his jeans and let out a cackle of triumph.

"Give that back!" he shouted, trying to kick Jestermon in the stomache.

The evil digimon leaped away from him, out of kicking range, and started to laugh.

"You are of no use to me anymore, now that I have this," Jestermon smirked. "Time for you to die! Oh look at that. Your brother is all upset. I wonder how he'll feel when he is forced to watch you fall to your death."

"Leave him alone!" Matty sobbed into Ryoko's shoulder.

"Matty," he murmured, trying to lift his head so that he could see his twin better.

He let out a cry of terror as Jestermon suddenly grabbed him by the back of his shirt and pulled him to his feet.

"Mickey!"

He jerked his head up and almost sobbed with relief. Halomon, Celestimon, and Dragermon had regained consciousness, and they were all gazing up at him in horror.

"Help him!" Matty screamed.

"Trauma Sword!"

Mickey let out a sound of distress as Andromon was knocked to the ground by Zombiemon.

"Celestimon! Halomon! You guys get Mickey. I'll deal with Zombiemon," Dragermon said, leaping into the sky and heading straight for the zombie digimon. "Dragon Fire Spin!"

"I'm not falling for that one again!" Zombiemon snarled, diving out of the way and jumping to his feet again. "And I'm not going to let you save that pathetic human either! Toxic Flesh Cannon!"

Zombiemon turned and shot his attack straight at Halomon who was just about to flutter into the air. The little rookie let out a gasp before falling to the ground unconscious again.

"Halomon!" Mickey cried, his heart filling with terror for his digimon.

He did not have much time to worry, though, because Jestermon grabbed him by the back of his shirt and dangled him over the edge of the building.

"No, don't do it!" Takara screamed, clapping her hands over her mouth in horror.

Mickey's heart was pounding so fast that he was beginning to feel light-headed. He could see the ground below him, and he had to close his eyes against the sudden wave of dizziness that washed over him. He was beyond fear. The only thought running through his head was how Matty's and his friend's screams were going to be the last thing that he ever heard...

"Please," Matty whispered, collapsing on the ground and taking Ryoko with him. "Don't hurt my brother. I swear I'll give you anything that you want if you promise to leave him alone."

Jestermon gave Matty a nasty smile, and Mickey opened his eyes long enough to see the mega digimon turn to look in his direction. He swallowed hard.

"Have a nice trip!" Jestermon smirked, and the digimon let go of him.

"No!" Matty screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Mickey!" Celestimon cried at the same time.

Mickey cried out in terror as he fell, but just before he closed his eyes he saw his twin disappear in a blaze of golden light.

"I won't let you die, Mickey!" Celestimon shouted. "Celestimon digivolve to, Angelicmon!"

Screaming with fear, he just barely heard the words, but all of a sudden his momentum stopped. He felt a pair of strong arms wrap around him, and he realized that he was no longer falling.

Slowly he opened his eyes, and his mouth fell open in shock.

Instead of falling, he found himself staring up at the face of an angel.