Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: This was definitely not an easy chapter to write. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go run and hide while this chapter is being read, just in case!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 107: Sacrifice

Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi

Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World

Makiya Takaishi stood next to his twin with his mouth hanging open and slowly shook his head in disbelief. Although a part of him had wanted to believe Luciamon was still on their side, he had not held out much hope, until now.

Ken was right! He kept trying to tell us Luciamon wasn't evil, but we were too blind to see the truth. Even Sam had had a hard time believing his father. What are we going to do? If she dies, it'll be all our fault...

"No, Mickey," Matty suddenly whispered fiercely in his ear. "Luciamon doesn't have to fight if she doesn't want to. She could have kept her mouth shut, but she didn't because she wants to help us. Don't you dare try to blame yourself for something that's completely out of your control!"

Mickey blushed and quickly turned away from his brother. He loved having a twin, but sometimes it could lead to very embarrassing situations, especially when that twin could read your mind as easily as if he were reading a book. "I'm not, but, Matty, she wasn't tainted by evil. We should have known..."

"We should have, but we didn't, and there's nothing we can do about it now. Let's just concentrate on helping Luciamon, okay? That's one thing we can do without worrying about the past."

"I guess so. Thanks, Matty. You always know exactly what to say to make me feel better." He felt his twin's arm go around his shoulders, and after a moment of hesitation he turned to look at Angelicmon. He could still feel the angel's golden blast running through his veins, and the pleasant tingling sensation made him smile. Matty nearly had a fit when Angelicmon shot that bolt of light at me, but my dad never even flinched. He knew the blast wouldn't hurt me, and now he'll believe in Luciamon, too.

"Luciamon, what are you doing?" DarkAngelicmon asked quietly, gazing calmly at the female angel.

Luciamon sighed and smiled softly at DarkAngelicmon. "I'm doing what I know is right. You don't remember, but I do, and so does Lucemon. We promised each other we would help you, but in order to do that we must help the Digidestined first."

"Who's Lucemon?" Dai asked curiously.

"He's a friend of mine. He went to Server to contact Azulongmon. That's where the Guardian of the Eastern Hemisphere was last seen, but that wandering dragon could be on File Island now for all I know. I hope Lucemon finds him, but the Guardians of the Digital World do not often show themselves unless they have a reason to. You probably don't know this, but thirteen years ago Azulongmon held a secret conference with the Watchers of the Digiworld on Server. He gave them something, but don't bothering asking me what it was because I have no idea. Then, not that long ago, Azulongmon came back to Server, and apparently he had a long talk with Gennai, but no one, not even Gennai's counterparts, know exactly what that conversation was about. All I know is that Gennai went to visit a digimon named Piximon a day later, and the day after that he was captured, but that's not all. Piximon disappeared at almost the exact same time Gennai was taken to the Western Hemisphere as a prisoner and he hasn't been seen since. You're probably wondering how I know all of this. Let's just say it pays to have a lot of friends. I've done a lot of sneaking around myself, as well. That's the only easy way to gain access to inside information."

"Traitor!" Spritemon shrieked, pointing an accusing finger at the female angel. "You're on the Digidestined's side, aren't you!"

"I believe I just said that, didn't I?" Luciamon snorted, sending the sprite digimon a look of contempt. "You're pretty slow for a mega!"

"Wait a minute! If you're on our side then why didn't you tell us you were pretending to be DarkAngelicmon's friend?" Gabrielmon asked, looking confused.

Luciamon glanced at the vaccine digimon and smiled slightly. "I wasn't pretending. We are friends. In fact, we've been friends for a long time, but sadly things don't always work out the way they're supposed to. I didn't tell you guys about our relationship earlier because I wanted to protect you. I couldn't risk giving away my true feelings because that would have put all of you in even more danger, but nothing I've just said really even matters anymore. Things are not working out the way I wanted them to, and that's why I've decided to give myself away. You chose to fight, and nothing I say now will either help or hinder you. How can I make your situation even worse when it's already about as bad as it's going to get?"

"Hey, you don't have to rub it in!" Ryoko snapped. "Why-"

"I wanted you guys to split up because I was hoping we could rescue Gennai and the crests at the same time. I think we could have avoided DarkAngelicmon if we had gone that route instead, but none of you would listen to me. Even if one of our groups had been spotted, the other group would've still been free and could have come to the aide of those in danger. Instead, we're all stuck, and now I'm going to have to find a way to get you guys out of here before Spritemon and my fallen friend can drag you to the dungeons. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it."

"But-"

"Ryoko, I know you and your friends think I fed you a lot of lies earlier, but there was some truth in what I said, as well. In fact, there were a lot of truths hidden behind the lies. I know I tricked you into thinking I was in danger, but that was more to your advantage than DarkAngelicmon's. I needed to help you. I needed to meet you, speak with you, and my friend's plan was the only way I could do so without ruining my disguise. You understand, don't you?"

"You never even flinched when we killed Harpymon," Ryoko said stubbornly.

Luciamon bowed her head and gently placed a hand against her heart. "I have seen a lot of innocent digimon die. Eventually it gets to the point where all you feel is nothing but an empty hole inside your heart. I may not react on the outside, but inside my soul weeps for those who have suffered."

I know how you feel, Luciamon. Sam, Ken, Kara, Dai, Ryoko, my brother, and so many other people I care about are hurting in some way. How can I help them all when I can't even help myself?

"I do not understand how you can be friends with someone like DarkAngelicmon, but I believe you are telling the truth," MagnaAngemon said slowly. "I also believe you when you say you want to help us. It would not sit well with me if you were to end up disappointing my partner and the rest of the Digidestined. We have grown quite fond of you."

Luciamon brushed her long golden hair out of her eyes and nodded. "I, too, have an attack that uses light in its purest form. Those spirits that stole your sword would have done no harm if I had attacked you directly, but they sure do a number on digimon who have been corrupted by evil!"

"Yes, indeed. I believe you're right about that, my friend."

"I've heard enough!" Spritemon screamed at the top of her lungs. "You're not only a traitor, Luciamon, but you're working for Azulongmon, too, which is even worse! So, you've been spying on Gennai, have you? All the more better for us. DarkAngelicmon and Vampiramon aren't the only digimon around here who have ways of making their enemies talk. First I'm going to torture every single little piece of useful information out of you, and then I'm going to make sure you die a slow and painful death. What do you think of that, you little fool? You know, I never trusted you to begin with, but I didn't say anything to DarkAngelicmon because I knew he wouldn't believe me. It looks like I was right, after all. I'm going to enjoy kill-"

"Do I look like I'm afraid?"

"Excuse me? Who do you think you are interrupting me like that? I'm going to make you pay for betraying us!"

DarkAngelicmon suddenly placed a hand on Spritemon's shoulder and turned to look at the female angel. His face held absolutely no expression whatsoever, but his bright green eyes were filled with uncertainty. "That avalanche Spritemon and I heard earlier...that was you, wasn't it?"

Luciamon hesitated and slowly nodded. "Yes, that was me. I needed to get the Digidestined inside the castle without you knowing, but unfortunately things didn't go exactly as I'd planned. I think you understand that better than anyone else."

"Why? Why have you done this?"

Luciamon fluttered closer to the fallen angel and reached out to take his hand. He held her fingers in a tight grip and opened his mouth to repeat his question, but she silenced him with a quick hug and a warm smile. "I'm sorry, but I had to. I know you don't understand, but you will someday, at least I hope you will. I will wait forever if I have to. You do not realize what has happened, but I do, and so does Lucemon. He is on your side, as well. He has dedicated his life to helping you, and so have I. We are your friends, not your enemies. Have you forgotten so quickly?"

"I do remember," DarkAngelicmon whispered, his other hand coming to rest lightly against the female angel's cheeks. "You are the one who doesn't understand. Would you really betray me?"

"No, I wouldn't. That's why I have to do this. They can help you, but only if you'll let them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I have seen too many digimon die. No more. It's time to end this fight. Let the Digidestined go free and you will have saved yourself."

DarkAngelicmon snatched his hand away from her and turned to gaze at the broken pedestal. "Please don't do this. There is still time to change your mind. We have been friends for a long time. I do not want to kill you, but I will if I have to. You leave me no other choice. Is your duty to the Digidestined worth more than your love for me? You and Lucemon were loyal to me once. Is that no longer the case anymore? Strange how easy it is for us to change who we ally ourselves with. I believe fate is mocking me. It's rather amusing when you think about it."

"Lucemon, he-"

"He abandoned me!" DarkAngelicmon snapped. "And so have you, or am I wrong to judge you so quickly? Lucemon was my closest friend, and you next to him, but his love for me is worth absolutely nothing! He told me he would always be loyal to me, but what you've just said only confirms how wrong I was to believe him. He gave me nothing but lies, but I never even suspected a thing, until now. I haven't seen him in a long time, but I never realized it was because he'd been plotting against me this whole time. Why did you bring me such terrible news?"

Luciamon's eyes filled with tears, and she buried her face against one of the fallen angel's dark wings. "I had to tell you about Lucemon, but I never meant for it to come out like that. Please, you have to believe me. We're still loyal to you. Lucemon never would have agreed to go along with my plan if he didn't think we could help you."

"Your plan?" DarkAngelicmon whirled around and gazed coldly at the female angel. He grabbed onto the spear he had been holding under his arm and pointed it at Luciamon's heart. "So you're the one who has turned Lucemon against me. I would not have believed you could do such a thing, but obviously you're not the digimon I thought you were. I came to you asking for help and this is how you repay me? Your traitorous acts, I could have forgiven, but the same cannot be said for your efforts to try and turn my other allies against me. It's been years since you, Lucemon, and I have had a chance to enjoy each other's company, but that doesn't give you the right to join forces with the Digidestined behind my back. Shame on you, Luciamon. All this time you and our dear friend Lucemon have been scheming together without my knowledge in order to dispose of me as soon as an opportunity presented itself. I regret the fact that our friendship has to end on such a sour note, but that is the way of the Digital World, and the human world, too, I think. Let this be a lesson to anyone else who tries to betray me. You do so and you die. Simple as that!"

"No!" Luciamon flung herself at the fallen angel and buried her face against his chest. He tried to push her away, but she hung on tightly and stroked one of his dark, feathery wings. "Killing me won't change anything. You still care about me, even after everything I've done. The same goes for Lucemon. Look at the Digidestined. Look at them! One day they will no longer be useful to you, and when that day comes you will have to destroy them. Our master will give you no other choice. Do you really believe your heart will let you do such a thing? Tell me, DarkAngelicmon, do you really believe you can bring yourself to hurt a bunch of innocent humans? Do you really believe you can bring yourself to hurt me?"

DarkAngelicmon slowly turned to look at Matty, and Mickey quickly wrapped an arm around his twin's shoulders in a protective embrace. I won't let him hurt Matty, and I won't let him hurt anyone else either!

"Well?" Matty demanded, lifting his chin and gazing directly into the fallen angel's green eyes. "What's it going to be? Are you going to destroy me? If you are then you might as well do it now and get it over with because eventually you're going to have to do it anyways!"

"Matty!" Mickey poked his brother sharply in the ribs and blushed when he suddenly realized DarkAngelicmon was no longer staring at his twin. Instead, the fallen angel's green gaze was focused on him, and the sudden attention caused a violent shiver to race down his spine. He's staring at me as if he's only just now seeing a human for the first time. I wonder, DarkAngelicmon, what do you see when you look at me? Am I really nothing but a useless pawn in your quest to rule the Digital World?

"Do you see it?" Luciamon whispered, her fingers coming to rest lightly against the fallen angel's cheek. "Do you see what I see?"

For a moment DarkAngelicmon looked like he was about to say yes, but before he could open his mouth, a green blast slammed into the floor next to Luciamon's feet and sent her stumbling into the fallen angel's chest.

"DarkAngelicmon's obviously too much of a sentimental fool to kill you, but I'm not!" Spritemon smirked. "How did you manage to navigate your way through the castle without getting caught?"

"As if I'm going to tell you! Forget it, Spritemon!"

"Fine. If that's the way you're going to be then just ignore what I said earlier. I bet you don't even have any more information on Gennai, which means I get to have the pleasure of killing you right away! Fairy Cannon!"

"Lunar Force!" Luciamon countered.

The two blasts collided in the air and sent a shower of green and gold sparkles spinning towards the ceiling. DarkAngelicmon tried to grab Luciamon's arm in order to stop her from going after Spritemon, but the female angel fluttered away from him and launched herself at the evil mega. "Hand of Judgement!"

Spritemon let out a squeal as the blast hit her in the stomach and sent her crashing into the wall. A second blast caught her on the leg, and she quickly fluttered into the air to even the odds a bit. "Is that all you've got? This battle is a joke! If you want to beat me then you're going to have to try a little harder than that, Luciamon!"

"You haven't even begun to see the true strength of my power. Trinity Wraiths!"

Spritemon calmly watched the three glowing spirits stream towards her and held out her hands. She hovered motionless in the air as the blast came upon her, and as soon as it got close enough to bath her body in a bright light, she let her attack fly. "Pixie Dust!"

The bright green sparkles descended upon Luciamon's attack, and the three glowing spirits disintegrated into thin air. The female angel's mouth dropped open in surprise, but before she could launch another attack, Spritemon kicked her in the side and sent her crashing into the stone floor.

"Luciamon! Oh no, what are we going to do? We have to help her!" Takara cried.

Sam nodded in agreement and tugged on his dad's arm. "Kara's right, Dad. Luciamon needs our help. It's the least we can do after everything she's done for us. We were wrong not to trust her earlier, and now we have to make up for it."

"I know, Sam, but there's nothing we can do right now. Our digimon will help her out as soon as they have an opportunity to do so."

"There's only one problem. How are our digimon going to be able to stop Spritemon without accidentally hitting Luciamon?" T.K. said quietly. "The two of them are fighting at close range. MagnaAngemon or one of the others might inadvertently hit the wrong digimon!"

Mickey nodded slowly and turned his face away from the battle. His father was right. Luciamon and Spritemon had been fluttering several feet away from each other earlier, but that was no longer the case anymore. That last display of power had closed the distance between them and now both digimon were using their elbows and fists to try and knock the other one off her feet. "Ken's right. There's nothing we can do, but what about DarkAngelicmon? Why isn't he saying anything?"

For once the fallen angel looked like he was at a loss of what to do. The expression on his face clearly stated he wanted nothing more than to help out, but he seemed unsure of whose side he was supposed to be on. His green gaze kept flicking back and forth between the two digimon, but more often than not his eyes would settle on Luciamon.

Don't just stand there doing nothing! Help her! I know you want to, so why don't you stop Spritemon before it's too late? Luciamon's your real friend. I believe her, and I know you do, too. She needs your help. Are you really going to just stand there and let her die?

"How are we going to separate them long enough to launch our attacks at Spritemon?" Tirimon growled.

Dracomon frowned and shrugged his broad shoulders. "I don't know, but we have to think of something!"

"Well, hurrry up about it, would you?" Davis shouted.

"Get off!" Luciamon snapped, kicking Spritemon in the ribs and leaping to her feet. "Lunar Force!"

The glowing blast hit Spritemon in the hip and she fell to her knees on the stone floor. For a moment it looked like Luciamon was going to win the battle, but somehow Spritemon managed to get to her feet, and she knocked the female angel into the broken pedestal. "I will never be defeated by a rookie! Fairy Cannon!"

"No!" Takara shrieked.

"Stop!" Matty cried.

A ball of glowing green energy slammed into Luciamon's chest, and the back of her head crashed against the broken pedestal. She tried to say something, but no words came out of her mouth. Instead, she let out a soft groan, and her pale blue eyes fluttered closed.

"We cannot delay any longer. We must help!" JewelBeemon shouted, leaping into the air and motioning for the others to follow him.

Without warning, Spritemon grabbed DarkAngelicmon's spear and yanked it out of the fallen angel's hand. She held it against Luciamon's throat in a tight grip and sent JewelBeemon a nasty smile. "If I were you, I'd reconsider. If you so much as breath without my consent, I'll shove this spear into your little friend and turn her into data. One wrong move and she's toast. Do I make myself clear?"

JewelBeemon and the other digimon froze in their tracks, and ExVeemon clenched his hands into fists. "Let her go, Spritemon!"

"That depends. Are you going to come quietly with me to the dungeons? If you do, I may change my mind. I'd love to see her share a cell with the rest of you fools!"

Mickey barely heard the evil mega. His amber eyes were focused on Luciamon's pale face, but he could not see her because his vision was blurred by tears. He wanted to help her, but he knew there was nothing he could do. His only hope lay with DarkAngelicmon, but how was he going to convince the fallen angel to stop Spritemon from killing Luciamon? I have to! Spritemon's lying. She'll kill Luciamon no matter what we do!

"You won't win," Luciamon whispered, her head drooping slowly onto her left shoulder.

"I already have, Luciamon!"

Mickey shook his head in denial and slowly stepped forward. "No, not yet you haven't!"

"What did you say?"

"Mickey, what are you doing? Get back here!" Matty cried. "You brave, stupid, stupid, fool! I'm going to be so mad at you when we get home!"

"Makiya Takaishi! What did I tell you earlier?" T.K. snapped. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack?"

Mickey ignored his brother and father and stepped closer to DarkAngelicmon. He held out his hand to the fallen angel and smiled sadly when he realized he was still holding the Crest of Light tightly between his fingers. It sparkled softly in the light from the torches, and its shiny surface cast a faint, pink glow on the fallen angel's face. "Please don't turn your back on your friend. You're the only one who can help her now."

He did not really believe his words would make any difference, but to his complete, utter astonishment, they did. The confused expression on DarkAngelicmon's face suddenly changed, and his bright green eyes began to burn with an inner fire that put the glowing torches in the room to shame. He turned to look at Spritemon, and the hatred in his eyes caused the evil mega to flinch ever so slightly. "Let Luciamon go. I will deal with her myself. You, on the other hand, need a little lesson in manners. How dare you treat a guest of mine with such disrespect! The same goes for the Digidestined. You have already tried once to attack them. I cannot risk the same thing happening again. As of now, you are dismissed, Spritemon. Leave me. I have no further use for you at the moment. We will discuss what went wrong here at a more appropriate time. Right now I have more important things to deal with. Well? What are you waiting for? Leave my presence at once!"

Spritemon gazed coldly at the fallen angel and slowly shook her head. "I'm afraid I can't do that, DarkAngelicmon. Luciamon has manipulated you and so have the Digidestined. It's clear to me now what must be done. Luciamon has to die, and I will be the one who kills her! In the end, you will thank me, and both of us will rule the Digital World in our master's name!"

Luciamon!

"No!" DarkAngelicmon gasped. He tried to grab the weapon out of Spritemon's hand, but she thrust it into Luciamon's chest before he could get his hands on it, and the female angel screamed.

Luciamon, she's...she's dying...

Mickey could hear Takara sobbing behind him, and he watched Dai's arms wrap around his cousin's shoulders in a tight hug. He wanted to give them some words of comfort, but for some reason he seemed unable to find his voice. The only thing he could think about was Luciamon. He could hear her screaming in his head, and somehow he knew that sound would always be with him no matter how many more digimon perished around him. It was in his heart, and that was where it would stay long after her smiling face had become nothing but a memory.

DarkAngelicmon and I tried to save her, but we were too late. She's dying, and there's nothing we can do...

"Luciamon, no!"

Mickey slowly lifted his head at the sound of DarkAngelicmon's voice and gazed at the fallen angel through a veil of tears. The virus digimon did not even notice. Instead, he knelt next to Luciamon and held her limp body gently in his arms. Somehow she found enough strength to open her eyes, and a sad smile slipped across her face. "Sometimes we have to fight for what we believe in, but it doesn't always end the way we want it to."

DarkAngelicmon rested his cheek against her golden hair and gently stroked one of her large, feathery wings. "Stay with me, Luciamon. You can't leave yet. I...I still need you..."

"I have done everything I can for you. It's up to them now to do the rest."

Who is she talking about? Oh, Luciamon, you can't die! DarkAngelicmon's not the only one who still needs you...

"Mickey, come back!"

Mickey jerked his arm out of Sam's grip and raced over to Luciamon's side. He pushed the fallen angel out of his way in an effort to get close to the female digimon, and a loud gasp escaped his throat when he spotted the large hole in her chest. She looked as white as a ghost, and small particles of data were starting to drift away from her body. She would not last long, and yet there were still so many things he wanted to say to her.

"Makiya Takaishi, you are stronger than you think you are. One day your pure heart will prove to be your greatest strength," she said softly.

Her hand closed around his fingers in a grip that was surprisingly strong, and he felt the Crest of Light dig painfully into his palm. He knew she was trying to tell him something, but unfortunately he could not figure out exactly what it was she was trying to say. He opened his mouth to ask her what she meant, but before he could get the words out, she pulled him close and rested her forehead against his cheek. "You're still planning to rescue Gennai, aren't you? I know you and the others would never leave him behind. Stick to your plan, Mickey. Find him and get out! And find Lucemon, as well. He'll tell you everything..."

"But-"

"Promise me you'll find them. Promise me you'll never give up until you do. Take the crests to the human world and search for the Spirit Chips. And, Mickey? Please, save my friend. You and Matty are the only ones who can help him now."

"I'll try, but, Luciamon, I'm not perfect, and neither is Matty. We still make mistakes, and I..."

"We all make mistakes, Mickey, even digimon," she whispered, her lips brushing lightly against his ear. "You can do it. I know you can."

But what if I can't?

He did not bother trying to come up with a response. Instead, he merely nodded his head and squeezed her hand. "You said Gennai went to visit Piximon. Their conversation was about the D-Coders, wasn't it? Gennai was the one who sent Piximon to give them to us."

"I believe so. Goodbye, Makiya Takaishi. Until we meet again, my friend."

"No!" DarkAngelicmon snapped, reaching out and pulling Luciamon into his arms again. "You can't leave. You can't!"

Mickey could tell DarkAngelicmon had not overheard his conversation with Luciamon, but at that point he could not even summon enough energy to feel relieved. He felt empty inside, and at that moment all he wanted to do was go home.

"Luciamon, please..."

Luciamon smiled and gently placed her hand against the fallen angel's cheek. "Goodbye, handsome. Don't worry. I'll be back."

"No!"

Mickey watched Luciamon's body disintegrate into data through a haze of tears, and he suddenly realized he had been left alone with the fallen angel. DarkAngelicmon looked completely devastated, and for the first time since the virus digimon had made an appearance, Mickey could not help wondering if maybe, just maybe, DarkAngelicmon really did have a heart after all.