Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I'll be updating Trinity next so I won't have another update for this story until the week after next week. Unfortunately I won't be getting as many updates in for the next few months because of the Christmas season. (I work in retail) Sorry about that, but I'll update as soon as possible. The kids get to the crest room in the next chapter! Please feel free to visit my forum for more FTFOD news!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 97: A Light in the Distance

Ogremon

Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World

Ogremon glared at the guards surrounding the black tent and elbowed Leomon in the ribs. "That's Vampiramon's master, isn't it."

Leomon crossed his arms and nodded slowly. "Who else could it be? I doubt even the great DarkAngelicmon has that many guards hanging around him."

Ogremon snorted and sent Vampiramon a dirty look. Agumon had told them all about what had happened to Mickey and Sam, and Leomon especially had been outraged over the fallen angel's behaviour.

He's not the only one. When I get my hands on that flying demon I'm going to turn him into a pile of data!

Although he would never admit it to anyone, especially Leomon, he was quite fond of the Digidestined and was more than willing to risk his own life if it meant giving them a chance to save the Digital World. They were his friends, and he would do what he could to make sure they did not end up getting themselves killed. After all, they were pretty tough, for humans, and the new Digidestined were starting to grow on him just as their parents had twenty-nine years ago.

Earth years, that is. I almost forgot about the time difference caused by Apocalymon.

That was one of the reasons why he was glad Tai and the others had managed to fix the time warp. It made things a lot less confusing.

"If only there was some way we could keep Vampiramon and the others distracted and still rescue Gennai," Leomon muttered to himself.

"Maybe there is."

Ogremon jumped at the sound of Benjamin's voice and turned to stare at the robed figure in surprise. "What do you mean?"

Benjamin smiled slightly and waved his hand at Vampiramon, BlackWidowmon, and Jestermon. "Like Leomon said earlier, they know we're here, and that might actually be a good thing. Think about it. Vampiramon and the others are focusing all of their attention on what's going on here in the forest. If we let ourselves be seen, we might be able to distract them long enough for some of us to sneak past them undetected. That way we'll be able to rescue Gennai without putting ourselves and the Digidestined in danger."

"I don't think that's going to work," Candlemon said nervously, his flames flickering slightly in the breeze. "A small group of digimon might be able to make it to the castle without getting caught, but what about the rest of us? Vampiramon and the others won't hesitate to come after whoever remains in the forest, and as soon as they figure out exactly where we are, we're toast! There's no way we can fight an army that big and win!"

"I told you, I don't think they'll attack us as long as they believe we're not going to try and get past them," Leomon said quietly. "We might be useful to them, and there's no way they can get anything out of us if we're dead. I'm sure they won't try to kill us unless they absolutely have to."

"I agree with Leomon," Jackie said firmly.

"But...what if you're wrong?" Tentomon asked anxiously. "Oh, I wish Izzy were here!"

Ogremon banged his club impatiently against his thigh and poked Leomon in the chest. "Well? What are we waiting for? I think Benjamin's got the right idea. Let's go find Gennai before Vampiramon realizes we've gone missing. She doesn't need to see all of us. She'll still think we're all here even if she only sees one or two digimon from our group hanging around. That way myself and a few others will be able to sneak away without getting caught."

"What do you mean you?" Gatomon asked suspiciously.

Ogremon grinned and shrugged his shoulders. "If you think I'm going to stay behind, forget it. Five of us should be enough. So...who else wants to join in on all the fun?"

"I will go," Benjamin said quietly. "I want to speak with Gennai as soon as possible. That stubborn fool will tell the Digidestined anything, but when it comes to his counterparts he's more than willing to keep everything to himself. When I get my hands on him-"

"I will go, as well, if only to keep Ogremon in line," Leomon said dryly, his dark eyes sparkling with sudden amusement. "It's quite clear to me now why Gennai put him in charge of Alopemon."

Ogremon crossed his arms and gave the lion digimon a very indignant look. "Hey, I like that Ishida kid. He's got some spunk, unlike some digimon I know!"

"You'd better not be talking about us!" Gatomon shouted, shaking her fist at him.

Ogremon ignored her and turned his attention back to Benjamin. "Who else do you think should come with?"

"Actually, I think two of the rookies should come with us. They're smaller than champions and have a better chance of sneaking into the castle without getting caught. If we do get into trouble, you, Leomon, and I will be able to protect them. Besides, rookies are a lot tougher than they look. They'll be just fine with a little bit of help."

"You're right," Leomon said slowly. "In that case I think Agumon and Gabumon should come with us."

"Hey, what about me? I'm small and a champion!" Gatomon complained.

Benjamin sent the feline digimon a sympathetic smile and motioned for Agumon and Gabumon to join him. "We should leave as soon as possible. Andromon, I'm putting you and Jackie in charge until we get back."

"And how do you expect us to escape from the forest with or without Gennai?" Hogan demanded.

Benjamin smiled slightly and shrugged. "Well, I'm hoping we can meet up with the Digidestined after we've found our friend, and that way we can make sure Gennai escapes from the castle without Vampiramon's master trying to stop him from getting away. He has a better chance of escaping and making it back to File Island if he sticks with the Digidestined. They only have Spritemon, DarkAngelicmon, and the castle guards to deal with. We have Vampiramon's master himself and practically his whole army to keep our eyes on. As soon as we've handed Gennai over to the Digidestined, Ogremon and I will come back here and help the rest of you guys escape from the forest without having to confront Vampiramon's army. I know I don't have much of a plan, but it's the only one we've got so we're going to have to make it work. I'll tell you one thing, though, I'd rather have Vampiramon's master coming after us instead of Gennai and the Digidestined!"

"What about us?" Agumon asked.

"I want you, Gabumon, and Leomon to help the Digidestined get Gennai and the crests to safety."

"Why?" Gabumon asked curiously.

"It'll be easier for those of us who remain in the forest to escape if our numbers are smaller," Jackie explained, immediately picking up on Benjamin's idea. "It's a lot harder to keep track of a large group of friends when you're trying to run to safety than it is to keep track of only a few. We have a better chance of escaping if there are less people we have to worry about because that way we'll be able to keep our eyes on each other and make sure no one ends up getting caught or destroyed."

"I still don't see why we can't all go help the Digidestined," Gotsumon said, looking a little confused.

Jose waved his hand at Vampiramon's army and sighed. "Vampiramon will come after us if we try to leave the forest, and the last thing we want is for her to get her hands on the Digidestined. They already have Spritemon and DarkAngelicmon to deal with, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I certainly don't want to add to their list of problems. I'd never forgive myself if we ended up putting the Digidestined in great danger by allowing Vampiramon to follow us to the castle."

"That's why I want you guys, and myself of course, to find Whamon as soon as Ogremon and I meet up with you again," Benjamin explained. "Hopefully Vampiramon's master and his army will follow us, and that way we'll give the Digidestined a chance to get back to the human world without encountering them. I want us to meet up with Leomon and the Digidestined at the gate by the shore. We can take Gennai back to File Island on Whamon, and the Digidestined can take the crests to the human world. You don't mind explaining all of this to Daichi and the others, do you, Leomon?"

"Not at all. Don't worry, Benjamin, we'll be waiting for you at the gate as soon as you arrive on Whamon."

"Good. Alright, I guess we should get going. Are you ready, Ogremon?"

Ogremon grinned at Gennai's counterpart and nodded. "Are you kidding me? I'm ready for some action. All this talking is getting on my nerves. Let's get out of here before Vampiramon decides to come looking for us."

"I agree. Let's go," Gabumon said quietly.

"I still think I should be going with, too!" Gatomon muttered.

Ogremon quickly motioned for Benjamin, Leomon, Agumon, and Gabumon to follow him, and as silently as they could they began to make their way out of the forest. He would have liked to have been one of the ones who remained with the Digidestined, but once Benjamin had made up his mind about something there was no use trying to persuade him to change his plans. He could be as stubborn as Gennai sometimes, and that was definitely saying something! The last thing he saw before turning his back on the others was Jackie working out a plan to reveal himself to Vampiramon and doing his best to come up with a way to keep all eyes of the enemy focused on the forest instead of on the small group of digimon who were on their way to rescue Gennai.

DarkAngelicmon

Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World

"I'm telling you, DarkAngelicmon, more than half of our guards are useless! Don't blame me if something goes wrong and the Digidestined end up escaping from the castle. I'll be the one saying I told you so, especially if they take Gennai with them!"

And once again I'm stuck having to listen to useless chatter. Why am I always surrounded by fools? I believe the Digimon Emperor said the same thing once.

DarkAngelicmon smiled happily to himself and placed a hand on his frustrated companion's shoulder. "You worry entirely too much, you know that? Really, Spritemon, don't you have any faith in Luciamon at all? She was chosen by me, or have you forgotten that already? Who better to betray the Digidestined than an angel digimon? It's ironic really, when you think about it."

Spritemon angrily slapped his hand away and crossed her arms. "I don't doubt you think Luciamon will be successful, but that doesn't mean anything. I know both you and her were involved in the battle with Daemon, but no one, except possibly our master, seems to know exactly what your role was. Just whose side were you on anyway? All I know is what happened after the battle. That's when our master appeared."

DarkAngelicmon smiled softly and shrugged his shoulders. "Let's just say I was exactly where I should have been."

"Jestermon and the others don't know what happened that day, either. None of us were involved in that battle. Why do you think Vampiramon is so suspicious of you?"

"Let her be suspicious. It's really none of her business, and even if it was I still wouldn't tell her."

Spritemon opened her mouth to say something, but DarkAngelicmon quickly cut her off. "My past is of no concern to you. I've proven my loyalty to our master more times than you have, and the same goes for Vampiramon. Luciamon is an old friend. She has never failed me before. Why would that suddenly change now after all these years?"

"I just want to know what happened back then," Spritemon sulked. "It's not like I'm going to tell Vampiramon. Are you kidding me? I'd tell the Digidestined before I'd tell her!"

DarkAngelicmon ignored her and gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling. The truth was, even he couldn't remember exactly what had happened back then. For some reason his memory was full of holes. He remembered Luciamon...and Lucemon, but...there were so many others. He had fought against Daemon, but...why? Had he been fighting for evil or for the good of the Digital World?

I was fighting for my master. He needed to be free. We were there. The Wall of Fire. Behind the Wall of Fire...

"DarkAngelicmon, I need to talk to you!"

DarkAngelicmon jumped in surprise and turned to see BlackGatomon hurrying towards him. She came to a stop in front of him and let out a frustrated sigh.

"What do you want?" Spritemon snapped.

BlackGatomon flinched and gave the sprite digimon a sullen look. "Some of the guards are slacking off again. I caught Raremon wandering around like a lost puppy on the second floor. I'd be happy to report him to the master, if you'd like."

"I knew it!" Spritemon said triumphantly. "See, DarkAngelicmon? Your whole plan's going to fall into pieces if you don't keep your eyes on the guards!"

DarkAngelicmon glared at her, and crouching he gently stroked the top of BlackGatomon's furry head. "Thank you, BlackGatomon. You will be rewarded for your loyalty. Please inform Spritemon of any more unacceptable behaviour you've witnessed, concerning the guards, and don't leave out any details. I'm sure she'll be more than happy to give me a list of all my failed attempts to keep order in the castle. Now, if you two ladies will excuse me, I've got some business to attend to. Spritemon, I'll meet you back in the crest room as soon as you're done here."

"Why? Where are you going?"

DarkAngelicmon smiled at the suspicious look on Spritemon's face and waved his hand in the direction of the North Tower. "There's someone I need to talk to. Don't worry, I'll be back before Luciamon and the Digidestined show up."

He hurried off down the hallway before Spritemon could ask him any more ridiculous questions and quickly made his way to the top of the North Tower. He found Ivymon crouching on the balcony and motioned for her to join him in the circular room. "Has Luciamon arrived yet?"

Ivymon flipped her long, white hair over her shoulder and slowly shook her head. "No, my Lord, but I will let you know they're here as soon as they destroy the guards at the cave entrance."

Luciamon must have spent a lot of time trying to convince them to join her. They looked like they were falling for her every word, but maybe they've started to have second thoughts now that they're on their way to the castle. Honestly, I'm starting to think the Digidestined are the only ones around here who actually use their brains, other than myself, of course!

The thought made him laugh, and he gently patted Ivymon's green arm. "You do that. I'll be in the crest room if you need me. Make sure you come see me, and only me, as soon as you spot Luciamon entering the castle, alright?"

"Yes, my Lord."

DarkAngelicmon left her on the balcony and slowly stepped back out into the stairwell. Something was troubling him, but he did not know exactly what could have caused him to become so uneasy all of a sudden. All he knew was that the faces of Makiya and Masato Takaishi kept appearing constantly in his mind, and no matter how hard he tried to banish them from his thoughts they would not go away. One way or another, they were going to cause him either glory or destruction in the near future. The only question was, which one?