Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I'm back! Before you read this, go read Miss Anonymous hp's story, 'An Angel Named Makiya'. I can't even tell you how impressed I was with the amazing job she did on my characters, especially Matty. It shows the other side of the spectrum when Mickey's captured by Jestermon. Okay, you read it? Good. You may now proceed. Read and review!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

"Evil can confuse you when you're staring at it straight in the face." -Takuya Kanbara (Season Four, Episode 47: When Knights Fall...)

Chapter 43: Myth Becomes Reality

Takara 'Kara' Kamiya

Text, Southern Hemisphere, Digital World

Takara Kamiya placed her hand on Sam's shoulder and glared at the two digimon who were standing before her. "You guys don't give up easily, do you?"

The smaller female digimon crossed her arms and smiled. "I could say the same thing about you and the rest of your human friends! I suppose I should introduce myself. After all, it's only fair that you should know the name of the digimon who's going to destroy the Digidestined once and for all! I am Spritemon. I'm a mega level virus type digimon, and my special attacks are Fairy Cannon and Pixie Dust."

Spritemon was a small fairy digimon who resembled a human. She wore her long, green hair in a high ponytail, and she had large brown eyes. Her short skirt and skimpy top were made up of several shades of brown, and so were her knee-length boots. Her skin was a pale peach colour, and she had two small, silver wings that were sticking out of her back. She looked like she had been roaming in the woods all day, and that made her appear out of place on the beach.

Takara crossed her arms and glared at Spritemon. The mega digimon was barely tall enough to reach Dai's and Ryoko's chins, but Takara was well aware of the fact that appearances could be deceiving.

"What have you done to Sam, and where are the rest of my friends?" she asked, giving Spritemon a dirty look.

"We know that Sam's strange behaviour has something to do with you!" Dovemon added.

"Technically Sam's condition has nothing to do with me!" Spritemon giggled. "Allow me to introduce my companion. This is Sirenmon. She's an ultimate level virus type digimon, and her special attacks are Musical Sleep and Dark Tidal Wave."

Sirenmon also looked human in appearance, but it was obvious that she was anything but human. The ultimate level digimon had long, purple hair and pale blue skin. Her eyes were a deep violet colour, and she was wearing a transparent lavender veil that covered her mouth and nose. Her long dress was made up of purple and blue silk, and she was walking barefoot in the sand. Sometimes she appeared almost to be transparent, and Takara was finding it difficult to decide whether or not Sirenmon was a spirit or a digimon with a solid form.

"It was you," Takara said quietly, glaring at Sirenmon with anger in her eyes. "You're like those mythical creatures whose singing would cause sailors to disappear at sea! That's why I couldn't hear the music! Your attack only affects males! Leomon was right. Even myth becomes reality in the Digital World!"

"I guess Leomon was good for something," Sirenmon smirked. "You're right. My attack will only affect males. That is why your little Emperor friend has fallen asleep. My attack worked perfectly on him!"

Takara glanced uneasily at Sam and frowned.

Emperor? Why did Sirenmon call him that? Does this have something to do with what Andromon had been saying earlier?

"Where are the rest of my friends?" she asked quietly. "I know they're around here somewhere. They must have been following the sound of your music. This whole thing was a set-up. You purposely used my friends to lure me here! What do you want?"

"Simple," Spritemon giggled. "I needed you to release Dovemon from the pedestal in order for me to steal her and the rest of your digimon friends. They are about to become my master's servants. Oh, did I mention the fact that I'm going to destroy all of you humans and steal your D-Coders, as well?"

Takara felt her anger flare up, and she glared at Spritemon. "You used me to find my partner. You knew that I was the only one who could release her from the pedestal, and you tried to trick me into handing her over to you without realizing it. This whole thing was a trap!"

"Took you long enough to figure that out!" Spritemon snorted. The mega digimon turned to look at Sirenmon and laughed. "It's too bad that your attack doesn't work on females, Sirenmon."

"What's that suppose to mean?" Takara shouted.

"I'm tired of having to listen to you whine and complain!" Spritemon shot back. "I guess I'll just have to shut you up the old fashion way! Do you see why we wanted to get your male friends out of the way? Now there's no one to help you fight, and your digimon is going to end up becoming a loyal servant. Unlike BlackWidowmon, I always aim high!"

Takara hugged Dovemon tightly and lifted her chin. "You might be more ambitious than BlackWidowmon, but that doesn't make you any smarter! If we can defeat the rest of your evil friends, then there is no reason why we can't defeat you, too! You had better tell me where the rest of my friends are, or you're going to be sorry!"

"They're right here," Spritemon replied. The mega digimon suddenly turned and pointed the gun on her wrist at a large clump of bushes. "Fairy Cannon!"

Takara let out a shriek of horror as a large, green blast shot out of Spritemon's weapon. The bushes exploded in a blaze of emerald green light, and her eyes widened in shock.

Dai, Ryoko, Mickey, Matty, and their digimon were all lying unconscious in the sand. They had been hidden by the bushes that Spritemon had just blown away, and that was why she had not spotted them earlier.

"Yes, my attack also works on male digimon," Sirenmon smirked. The female digimon knelt next to Dai and placed a hand against his cheek. "It's too bad that I have to destroy them. I'm sure they would have made life very interesting!"

Takara felt her blood boil with rage, and she clenched her hands into fists. "Don't you touch him!" she snapped, giving Sirenmon a murderous look.

"Jealous?" Spritemon giggled.

Takara felt her face heat up. "Why would I be jealous of a monster?"

Sirenmon's eyes narrowed into slits of anger, and the female digimon glared at her. "You're going to pay for that!"

"That's your cue," Spritemon replied, giving Sirenmon an impatient look. "Destroy Takara and bring Dovemon to me!"

Takara knew that she was suppose to be afraid, but her anger was getting in the way of her common sense. Sirenmon's attack had worked on all of her friends, and she was not going to let the evil digimon get away with putting them all to sleep! She was also angry at herself for stepping into what had obviously been a trap and for getting herself into such a terrible situation in the first place.

This is what I get for hanging out with a bunch of boys! Does beauty always have to come first with them?

"Come on, Kara. We have to save Dai and the others. We're going to need them in order to stop Sirenmon," Dovemon said.

"But-"

"We have no choice," her digimon said softly.

"I know," she replied.

She gave her partner a weak smile and turned to give Sam a quick hug. "Don't worry." she whispered softly in his ear. "I'll find a way to wake everyone up. I promise."

"Hey, Spritemon!" Dovemon shouted, leaping into the air. "If you want to make me your master's servant, you're going to have to defeat me first!"

"Be careful," Takara whispered.

"Get her!" Spritemon snarled, giving Sirenmon a push.

"Feather Storm!" Dovemon shouted, flying around Sirenmon in a circle and flapping her wings as hard as she could.

Sirenmon disappeared in a flurry of white feathers, and the mythical digimon let out a shriek of surprise.

"How's that for an attack!" Dovemon shouted, swooping around Sirenmon's head.

Sirenmon was unable to see what was going on around her, and it was causing the female digimon to lose her balance.

"You stupid little rookie!" Sirenmon snarled, tripping over her own dress. "I might not be able to see you, but I can still hear you!"

The mythical digimon fell forward onto the sand and quickly covered her face with her left arm. She swung her other arm backwards and hit Dovemon hard in the face.

"Look out!" Takara cried.

Dovemon flew backwards into a clump of bushes, and the feathers around Sirenmon disappeared. The virus digimon slowly got to her feet amd smiled.

"Sorry, Dovemon, but you're going to have to do more than that to defeat an ultimate level digimon!" Spritemon giggled.

The mega digimon was sitting on a rock next to Mickey, and she was clearly enjoying the show.

Takara frowned and glanced at Dai, who was lying between Ryoko and Matty.

How am I going to wake them up without Spritemon noticing?

The mega digimon was obviously keeping watch over Dai and the others to make sure that they remained unconscious.

Either that or she's too lazy to join in the fight!

"I'm not done yet!" Dovemon shouted, leaping into the air again. "Opal Laser!"

A small green blast shot out of the jewel on Dovemon's head and headed straight for Sirenmon. The mythical digimon quickly ducked, and Dovemon's attack flew harmlessly out to sea.

"You're not having very much luck, are you?" Spritemon smirked, giving Dovemon an evil smile.

"How come you're not out here fighting? Don't tell me you're scared!" Dovemon shot back.

"I don't need to fight," Spritemon replied, leaning down and poking Mickey in the stomache. "Sirenmon can deal with you all on her own!"

"Yeah, the rest of your buddies had the same idea!" Takara shouted. "It didn't work then, and it isn't going to work now!"

"What can a rookie possibly accomplish in battle?" Spritemon snorted.

"More than you think," Dovemon muttered, shooting another blast at Sirenmon.

Takara stared at Spritemon for a moment and bit her lip.

How am I going to help Dai and the others when that evil mega is sitting right next to them! Somehow I'm going to have to get her to join in the battle. That way Dovemon will be able to distract her and Sirenmon long enough for me to make a move. I just hope that Dovemon doesn't end up getting hurt because of me...

She turned to look down at her D-Coder and let out a gasp. It was glowing again.

Wait a minute! Maybe I can use my D-Coder to help the others! I'm sure that it was responsible for waking Sam up earlier!

She quickly pointed her D-Coder at Sam, and a beam of green light shot out of it. The blast hit Sam right in the chest, and her friend's whole body began to glow.

"Sam?" she whispered, leaning over him and taking his hand.

Sam slowly opened his eyes, and he gave her a frightened look. "Kara!" he mumbled. "Something bad is happening. Where are the others? We have to help them."

"I know," she murmured, squeezing his hand. "Don't worry, Sam. I know what to do now, and I'm going to save the others whether Spritemon likes it or not!"