Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Just a little note to help out a fellow fanfiction writer. It's time to vote! sushimonster724 has started a Digimon Fanfiction Awards website and voting begins on Feb 20th. Check out my forum 'Digital Connections' for the link and more details. I thought it was an awesome idea and the more who know the better! Now, onto another chapter. In this chapter the Digidestined finally meet up with Gennai! (As you've probably already guessed...)

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 110: A Warm Welcome

Leomon

Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World

"Bone Cudgel!" Ogremon shouted, leaping forward and swinging his club at Devidramon's head. The dark dragon digimon turned around at the sound of Ogremon's shout, but the light coming from the orb in Benjamin's hand prevented the virus digimon from being able to see what was going on, and the club hit him directly in the face.

"My turn! Pepper Breath!" Agumon called out, his fiery blast connecting with SkullSatamon's left leg. The flaming ball of energy was immediately followed by Gabumon's Blue Blaster attack, and the skeleton digimon tumbled backwards onto the stone floor, his staff smacking him painfully in the forehead.

And the fight begins.

Leomon did not wait to see if Ogremon's attack had any lasting effect. Instead, he pulled his sword out of the scabbard hanging around his waist behind his back, turned his face away from the light streaming out of Azulongmon's Digicore, and leaped at the startled dragon digimon who was trying desperately to shield his multiple eyes from the glow surrounding Benjamin. Devidramon looked a little dazed, but somehow he managed to avoid a slash that, under normal circumstances, would have severed his main right wing, and sent Ogremon flying with a vicious swipe of his long, dark tail.

Surprisingly enough, Gennai was paying absolutely no attention whatsoever to the battle taking place in front of him. Instead of watching Devidramon and SkullSatamon, the robed figure turned to gaze at the empty cells standing directly across the room from the one he, himself, had been thrown into for safekeeping, and a small frown appeared on his handsome face. His deep blue eyes kept flicking back and forth between the two entrances located on opposite ends of the underground prison, and the look on his face suggested he was waiting for someone or something to suddenly come running into the room.

Does he know Daichi and the others are inside the castle? I do not understand how that could be possible, but he always seems to know more than he should, especially when it comes to the Digidestined. Benjamin was able to figure out the truth, because of those Vilemon, but unless SkullSatamon or Devidramon let something slip, then Gennai should be unaware of what's going on. He shouldn't know anything, and yet somehow I don't think that's the case. How does he do it, or is this just one of those things you know without being told?

"Hurry up. We don't have much time!" Benjamin shouted, waving the orb in his hand and once again directing it towards the two evil digimon.

Leomon took another swipe at Devidramon with his sword, and the blade scraped against the virus digimon's left side. A moment later, Ogremon staggered to his feet and swung his club at the back of Devidramon's head. The weapon met its target, and Devidramon stumbled into one of the many cells lining the walls of the dungeon.

"How did you guys manage to get inside the castle?" SkullSatamon complained, dancing around Agumon's and Gabumon's attacks. The skeleton digimon was trying desperately to keep his face turned away from the light, but his efforts were only making it even more difficult for him to avoid getting hit by small, yet effective, blasts of fire and ice. "Do you work for the Digidestined or something?"

"They're our friends, if that's what you mean," Gabumon replied, "and so is Gennai. Did you really think we were going to let Vampiramon get away with capturing him?"

"I take it that means you don't know the Digidestined are already inside the castle?" Ogremon snorted, smirking at SkullSatamon and ducking under Devidramon's tail.

"Really? Hey, how come nobody told us?"

Leomon ignored the skeleton digimon and poked Devidramon in the chest with his sword. The evil champion growled in pain, but it was impossible for him to avoid every attack with the light shining in his eyes.

"Pummel Whack!" Ogremon shouted, hitting Devidramon in the stomach with a series of sharp jabs and a barrage of dark energy.

"Fist of the Beast King!"

Leomon shot his orange blast at Devidramon, and it exploded into the dragon digimon's chest. Ogremon followed it up with a swift kick to the evil champion's ribs, and Devidramon stumbled backwards into the stone wall.

"Two champions against one. I like those odds," Ogremon smirked. "Come on, Leomon, let's finish him off or do I have to do all the work around here myself?"

"You can't defeat me," Devidramon snarled, his four blood-red eyes narrowing into angry slits. "Crimson Claw!"

Leomon pushed Ogremon to the side and rolled out of the way of Devidramon's sharp claws just in time. The dragon digimon let out a frustrated growl, but he made no attempt to launch himself into the air. The room was too small for aerial attacks, and that put Devidramon at a huge disadvantage.

All the more better for us. Ogremon and I had better finish him off quickly. He's a powerful digimon, but SkullSatamon's the one we really have to worry about. Unlike Devidramon, SkullSatamon's an ultimate level digimon, and I don't know how much longer Agumon and Gabumon can hold him off before the battle starts to shift in his favour. Agumon's a powerful rookie, and so is Gabumon, but even they can't defeat an ultimate on their own. Luckily SkullSatamon was also unable to perform attacks in the air, and that put the skeleton digimon at a considerable disadvantage, as well.

"Hey, Leomon, are you and Ogremon finished over there? We could use a little bit of help!" Agumon shouted, ducking between SkullSatamon's legs and blasting the skeleton digimon in the back with his Pepper Breath attack.

SkullSatamon stumbled forwards and smashed Gabumon in the side of the head with the large staff he used as a weapon to defeat his enemies. The rookie slammed into the bars of Gennai's cell with enough force to rattle the lock holding the robed figure captive, and without a sound he collapsed onto the stone floor. Gennai knelt next to Gabumon's small form, and reaching through the bars, he gently placed his hand on the rookie's furry head. "Gabumon, are you alright?"

Gabumon slowly lifted his head and managed a weak nod. "I think so. What about you?"

"Never been better, my friend. It's good to see you again."

"Same to you. Matt and Tai wanted to come, too, but they couldn't because of work and other things humans do."

"You'd think saving the Digital World would be more important, but I guess not," Ogremon snorted, swinging his club at Devidramon's right shoulder.

Leomon glanced at Gennai, and the two of them smiled at each other. "It's good to see your sense of humour is still intact. I expect being held captive hasn't changed you too much, Gennai."

"I should think not. Tai Kamiya and Matt Ishida may not be here, but Daichi Motomiya and the others..."

Gennai pulled down the hood of his robe and glanced once more between the two doors leading out of the dungeons. There was no doubt about it. The Watcher was definitely expecting someone, and Leomon had a feeling the person his robed friend hoped to see was wearing a pair of goggles and had a large group of Digidestined in tow who could act as reinforcements.

In other words, they could help us defeat SkullSatamon and Devidramon.

"You're not going to get away with this!" SkullSatamon cackled. "There are hundreds of guards here in the castle. If we don't stop you, one of them will!"

"And you'll still be punished for allowing Gennai to escape," Benjamin shot back, clearly amused. "I think DarkAngelicmon might be losing his touch. Spritemon, too, for that matter. Why else would they choose aerial digimon to guard Gennai's cell? What a shame. It must have been a lack of focus on their part."

"Silence, you fool!" Devidramon snapped, shading his multiple eyes from the light with one of his dark, leathery wings. "We can fight just as well on the ground as we can in the air."

"Prove it," Ogremon smirked.

"How's this for proof? Skull Hammer!" SkullSatamon shouted, hitting Agumon in the back with his staff and sending the dinosaur digimon flying into Gabumon. Benjamin frowned at Gennai as if it were his counterpart's fault and pointed the Digicore in SkullSatamon's direction. The skeleton digimon let out a yelp and quickly placed an arm over his eyes, but even that legitimate attempt to block out the light appeared to be failing miserably. The Digicore was strong, and its power seemed to be able to penetrate through anything.

Including the Powers of Darkness.

"Now, Leomon!" Benjamin urged, waving his hand towards Devidramon. "Do it before SkullSatamon can regain his senses and come after you!"

"Hey, what about me?" Ogremon grumbled.

Leomon rolled his eyes at his disgruntled friend and leaped at Devidramon's back with his sword in hand. He thrust the weapon right between the evil champion's shoulder blades and motioned for Ogremon to join him. "Now who's doing all the work, Ogremon?"

"You're kidding, right? I would've already finished him off by now if you hadn't kept getting in the way all the time! Bone Cudgel!"

"Right. Fist of the Beast King!"

Leomon directed his orange blast at the back of Devidramon's neck, and Ogremon's club connected with the dragon digimon's left shoulder. Agumon and Gabumon managed to get to their feet, and both of them quickly leaped out of the way before Devidramon could flatten them. The dragon digimon landed on the floor where the two rookies had been lying less than a minute ago, and Gabumon let out a sigh of relief. "That was close."

"A little too close, I think," Agumon agreed. "Hey, Ogremon, don't forget about us! We want to help out, too! Pepper Breath!"

"Blue Blaster!"

Both attacks slammed into Devidramon's midsection, and Ogremon quickly leaped onto the evil champion's tail to prevent him from knocking somebody aside. Leomon plunged his sword directly into the dragon digimon's heart, and Devidramon's body began to disintegrate into data.

"Even if what you say is true and the Digidestined are inside the castle, BlackGatomon or one of the others will stop them. They won't save the Digital World, and neither will you. You may have won this round, Leomon, but DarkAngelicmon will have my revenge!" the virus digimon hissed before disappearing into thin air.

Actually, chances are he'll be glad I got rid of you for failing to do your job properly!

Ogremon spit on the spot where Devidramon had disappeared and turned to glare at SkullSatamon. "You make those DarkTyrannomon we fought earlier look tough! You should be glad we're doing you a favour by putting you out of your misery. We're saving you the trouble of having to explain to your master and Vampiramon what went wrong here today. Somehow I don't think they'd be in the mood to listen to excuses, don't you agree, Leomon?"

Leomon smiled slightly and nodded. "Surprisingly enough, I do."

SkullSatamon slowly lowered his arm and winced at the light coming from the Digicore. Benjamin had backed the skeleton digimon into a corner, and despite several attempts to sneak around Gennai's counterpart, SkullSatamon seemed unable to summon enough courage to step into the light.

"What's the matter?" Ogremon taunted, smacking his club impatiently against the stone floor. "Don't tell me you're afraid. A little light never hurt anybody. Well, except for evil digimon like you!"

SkullSatamon let out a snarl of rage, but instead of launching himself at Ogremon, he leaped at Benjamin and the Digicore. The robed figure managed to avoid SkullSatamon's staff, but the Digicore tumbled out of his hands and rolled across the stone floor towards the opposite side of the room. The light from the orb caused a kaleidoscope of patterns to dance across the ceiling, and SkullSatamon raised his staff in triumph. The light was no longer shining in the skeleton digimon's eyes, and he swung his weapon straight at Benjamin's head. The Watcher tumbled to the ground in a heap, and Leomon quickly leaped forward to defend his unconscious friend. We can't let SkullSatamon gain the upper hand. If we allow him to win, we'll most likely end up sharing a cell with Gennai, and I have no doubts the Digidestined would end up joining us, as well.

"The Digicore!" Gennai gasped, banging his fist against the bars of his cell to get everyone's attention. "Hurry, we can't let Vampiramon's master get his hands on it!"

"Out of my way!" SkullSatamon snapped, kicking Agumon aside and racing towards the orb.

Leomon managed to get there first before SkullSatamon could grab it, and he shoved it into the skeleton digimon's face. SkullSatamon let out a shriek of pain and quickly scrambled backwards towards the flickering shadows pulsing widely in the corners of the room. They looked like they were alive, and they seemed to be waiting eagerly for their chance to strike.

"You're going to pay for that, Leomon! Nail Bone!"

Leomon blocked the blast of deadly lightning with the blade of his sword and it ricocheted back towards SkullSatamon. A particularly large bolt of lightning hit the skeleton digimon in the chest, and he froze right in the middle of another attack, his staff clattering loudly to the stone floor. "Now's our chance, fellow digimon, attack SkullSatamon while he's paralyzed!"

"Hey, I don't need to take orders from you!" Ogremon shouted. "Bone Cudgel!" The virus digimon snatched SkullSatamon's staff off the ground and hit the skeleton digimon in the face with his club.

Agumon's Pepper Breath attack exploded into SkullSatamon's bony chest, and it was immediately followed by Gabumon's Blue Blaster attack. Leomon chose that opportunity to launch his Fist of the Beast King attack, but unfortunately SkullSatamon had recovered by then and the blast sailed harmlessly into the wall.

"Hey, give me back my staff!" the skeleton digimon whined. "I thought only evil digimon played dirty!"

"Maybe you didn't know, but I was once a servant of Devimon, and although it wasn't the most pleasant experience of my life, it did teach me a few things," Ogremon said dryly. "If you want this ugly thing you call a staff back so badly, then come and get it, you pathetic excuse for a digimon!"

Without warning, SkullSatamon leaped through the air and tackled Ogremon to the ground. The two of them rolled across the icy cold floor, nearly flattening Benjamin, and came to a stop in front of Gennai's cell. The robed figure casually kicked SkullSatamon in the head and smiled in satisfaction as the skeleton digimon tumbled off of Ogremon and landed on his back. Ogremon stared at Gennai in surprise, and the Watcher shrugged his shoulders. "What?"

"Er...thanks, I guess."

"Don't mention it."

Gennai and his counterparts are just full of surprises. One thing's for sure, they definitely know how to keep us on our toes.

Leomon smiled softly to himself and quickly motioned for Agumon and Gabumon to join him. "Gabumon, do you mind checking to see if Benjamin's okay?"

"Not at all."

"Good, in that case, Agumon, you'd better come with me. We need to get rid of SkullSatamon before any of the other guards hear all the noise we're making and come to investigate. What do you say?"

"I say let's do it!" Agumon quickly headed towards SkullSatamon and launched his Pepper Breath attack at the evil ultimate's left side. Ogremon swung his club at the skeleton digimon's thigh, but somehow SkullSatamon managed to get to his feet again and he ripped his staff out of Ogremon's hand.

"Benjamin, are you alright?" Gabumon asked anxiously, kneeling next to the robed figure's side.

Benjamin slowly opened his sapphire eyes and gave Gabumon a reassuring smile. "I'm fine, Gabumon, but thanks for asking. I just needed a moment to get my breath back. Where's Azulongmon's Digicore?"

Gabumon helped Benjamin into a sitting position and patted the Watcher's shoulder. "Don't worry, it's still safe. Leomon has it now."

Indeed, I do, but not for long.

Leomon strolled forward and tossed the Digicore in Benjamin's direction. The Watcher caught it easily, and climbing to his feet, he held it out towards SkullSatamon. "Do it now, Leomon. We have to find the Digidestined and get out of here."

"No!" SkullSatamon shrieked, turning his back towards the light. "When I get my hands on that Digicore, I'm going to blast it into a million pieces!"

"Not if I can help it!" Ogremon snapped. "Pummel Whack!"

Ogremon's blows of dark energy caused the skeleton digimon to stumble back towards his earlier position where he had taken refuge in the shadows, and he ended up stumbling into the wall with his back towards Benjamin.

Leomon used the opportunity to attack, and he buried his sword between the skeleton digimon's shoulder blades. SkullSatamon shrieked in pain and nearly stumbled through the smaller entrance to the dungeons, but a swift kick to the ribs sent him smashing face first into the floor. "Are you ready to admit defeat or do I have to destroy you?"

"I say let's destroy him and get it over with," Ogremon muttered.

SkullSatamon fluttered his dark wings and did not reply. Instead, he began to giggle like a madman, and he clenched his hands into fists. "You really think you can defeat me?"

I don't get it. Why isn't he begging me to spare his life? I know most SkullSatamon are a little bit crazy, but this one seems to be a bit more insane than usual. He is afraid, and yet at the same time he still believes he can defeat us.

The skeleton digimon was clearly close to being deleted, but for some reason he appeared to have no intention of fleeing from the dungeons like most digimon in his position would have done.

DarkAngelicmon has trained his servants well, is seems. Maybe it wasn't such a bad idea to place aerial digimon in the dungeons in order to prevent Gennai from escaping. After all, most of the Digidestined have aerial digimon, which means SkullSatamon and Devidramon would have been on equal footing with Angelicmon and the others if the Digidestined had decided to risk rescuing Gennai. Interesting, but unfortunately for DarkAngelicmon, he didn't count on Ogremon, Agumon, Gabumon, and myself to succeed in making it beyond the castle walls. It's amazing how one little mistake can make all the difference in the world...

"I wouldn't be surprised if Elecmon threw your digiegg off the top of Infinity Mountain," Ogremon smirked, advancing towards SkullSatamon. "See you back at Primary Village! Bone Cudgel!"

"No! I will destroy that wretched Digicore if it's the last thing I do!"

"Benji, look out!" Gennai shouted.

Leomon turned his attention back to SkullSatamon, but before he could even attempt to slash the virus digimon with his sword, SkullSatamon leaped at Benjamin and snatched the Digicore out of the robed figure's hands.

Smoke began to rise off of the skeleton digimon's hand, but somehow he managed to hang on to the glowing orb, and he lifted his staff above his head. "Curse you, Azulongmon! You're light will be obliterated!"

"I don't think so! Celestial Star!"

"Holy Sceptre!"

"Vee-Laser!"

"Lightning Spark!"

"Arctic Blast!"

"Spike Buster!"

Leomon shield his eyes as an explosion of multiple attacks slammed into SkullSatamon and lit up the dungeon with enough force to send the shadows scurrying back into the corners of the damp, musty prison. SkullSatamon exploded into data, and the Digicore dropped lightly into Benjamin's hands.

Leomon blinked in surprise as a large group of humans and digimon crowded into the room, and he found himself standing face to face with Daichi Motomiya.

"Hey! I was about to finish him off, you know! Thanks for ruining my fun!" Ogremon complained.

Dai ignored the virus digimon and turned to stare at the robed figure waiting patiently behind bars in complete astonishment. "You're...Gennai?"

Gennai smiled slightly and executed a polite bow. "Indeed, I am. It's a pleasure to meet you, Daichi Motomiya. Greetings to all of you, old friends, and welcome, young Digidestined."

"Welcome?" Matty asked, looking confused.

Gennai suppressed another smile and waved his hand at the spot where SkullSatamon had been standing only a moment ago. "Yes, Masato Takaishi, welcome to the Digital World!"