Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Well, we've just had a new story posted for the FTFOD challenge by Miss Anonymous hp called 'Uncertainty in the Face of Friendship', and if you haven't read it yet, you'd better or else I'm going to have to get angry! It's really amazing and it's a great look into many of the character's minds. Now, in my opinion, the end of this chapter is actually the most interesting part! As I've said before, Ryoko always was the perceptive one...

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 127: Lone Wolf

Matt Ishida

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

Matt finished his story with a deep sigh, and unable to look his son directly in the eyes, he turned instead to gaze nervously at his feet, which were hidden beneath the mint-coloured blankets. Throughout his entire tale, Ryoko had not said a single word, and even now the room remained as quiet as a dark forest completely void of life.

He told me he would always love me no matter what I revealed about my past. Does he still feel the same way now, or have I lost my son forever?

As much as he wanted to remain positive, Ryoko's lack of communication was starting to eat away at his heart, and unable to stand the silence anymore, he sucked in a deep breath and turned to face his son. Ryoko looked completely, utterly stunned, and yet, despite the horror lurking in the depths of his sapphire eyes, there was still a sense of understanding about him. "You...you made MetalGarurumon fight Tai's partner?"

Matt tightened his arm around his son's shoulders and managed a faint smile. "No, Ryoko, I didn't make MetalGarurumon do anything. He did it all on his own, and he did it for me, but that's still no excuse. I won't deny it's my fault he fought WarGreymon, but the rules of friendship aren't always set in stone. Do you see what I mean, Ryoko? Being a Digidestined doesn't make you perfect. We still make mistakes, even those of us who were lucky enough to be born with a heathly dose of common sense."

"Like Aunt Sora?"

"Exactly," Mimi said quietly, smiling and gently pressing her cheek against Ryoko's golden hair. "Remember, Ryoko, I made just as many mistakes as your father. I was determined to be a princess, and I almost lost all of my friends because of my selfishness. Thankfully Sora was able to help me find myself again and the power of my crest was able to remind me of who I am and what I stand for. Your father was no different. His crest and his friends were able to help him find his way out of the darkness, even though it looked as if there was no turning back. We all mess up once in a while. The important thing is to learn from our mistakes before it's too late, especially if it means the difference between saving the Digital World or letting the home of all digimon fall into ruin."

Despite Mimi's words, Ryoko's whole face crumpled and his big, blue eyes filled with despair. Matt tried to say something, but before he could open his mouth, Ryoko leaned against his side and let out a soft moan. "But why, Dad? Why did you let Cherrymon push you around like that?"

"What would you have done, Ryoko?"

Ryoko blinked in surprise, and to Matt's complete astonishment, his son started to laugh. Although the golden-haired Digidestined's tone sounded a bit shaky, Matt could not help feeling just a little bit relieved. The tense atmoshere in the room slowly began to fade away, and after a moment of thoughtful silence, Ryoko somehow found the courage to plaster a weak smile on his face. "You know, I probably would have done the same thing."

"See? It's not so easy, is it. I think, deep down inside, I knew Cherrymon was wrong all along, but I was confused and I wasn't exactly sure what it was I really wanted."

"Dad...you did some pretty terrible things. You realize that, don't you?"

Matt smiled slightly and slowly nodded. "Of course. Why do you think I ended up in that shadowy cave? I almost lost myself to the darkness because of my mistakes, but that's what happens when you let yourself become tempted by evil..."

"Dad, what exactly was that cave?" Ryoko asked hesitantly, his sapphire eyes troubled. "I mean, even Aunt Sora ended up getting stuck in it, and I always thought she was a lot stronger than...than the two of us. At least, that's what it always seemed like to me..."

"It doesn't matter how strong you are, Ryoko. No one is immune to darkness. Even Davis had his moments of doubt," Mimi said quietly.

Matt gently ruffled his son's golden hair and frowned thoughtfully at the ceiling. He could feel the warmth of Ryoko's cheek nestled against his shoulder, but despite his son's comforting presence, he could not suppress the sudden chill creeping up his spine. "Ryoko, there are still a lot of things I don't understand, but I think that cave works the same way as the Dark Ocean. Both places seem to manifest themselves when we alllow dark thoughts to enter our hearts. It's the darkness inside of us that brings them into existence. In fact, I believe the cave and the Dark Ocean are the same place. It's almost as if they're two parts of a vast territory that make up the World of Darkness. I can only guess at what kind of other places the darkness might hold."

"Really? I guess that makes sense, but there's one thing I don't understand. How do we know there really is a cave or even an ocean in the World of Darkness? Physically your body was in the cave, but your mind was floating in darkness. It was your dark thoughts that brought the cave into existence, or did it already exist and you were sent to that particular area because you felt..."

"Trapped?"

Ryoko blushed and slowly nodded his head. "That's how Aunt Sora felt, too, so it's not surprising you guys ended up in the same place, but...that doesn't explain Aunt Kari."

And it doesn't explain Daemon either...

Matt wrinkled his nose in disgust and turned slowly to face his son. "I used to think my dark thoughts created the cave, but now I'm not so sure. I guess they did, in a way, but it's so much more complicated than that. This is going to sound a bit weird, but I think Kari and Ken were sent to that particular area in the World of Darkness because they felt so overwhelmed. An ocean is a vast territory, and no matter how hard you try to see the other side, the only way to do so is to find the courage to cross it. Daemon was definitely sent to the Dark Ocean, so it must really exist, even if an ocean may not be its true form. Maybe, like Sora and I, Ken's and Kari's dark thoughts didn't necessarily create it, like I had first believed, but they were sent to that particular place because to them it had some sort of special meaning. Both places feed off of dark thoughts. The darkness my mind was floating in was the darkness in my heart. My dark thoughts took on the form of a shadowy black ball and I saw it hovering above my head after I was able to release myself from the hold it had over me. Maybe my dark thoughts were what sent me to the cave in the first place, and once I left them behind, I was able to leave the cave behind. Like me, Kari and Ken were afraid of being alone, but most of all they were afraid of what was still to come."

"They were uncertain about the future, and I think they were afraid of what it might hold," Mimi said sadly. "We all come to a crossroads eventually in life, and it's those of us who can overcome our fear and listen to our hearts that eventually choose the right path."

Ryoko beamed at his mother and reached out to give her a hug. "Just like you and Dad did."

Does that mean he still believes in me?

Matt felt his heart skip a beat and he laid a gentle hand on his son's arm. "Ryoko, if there's one thing I do know about the Powers of Darkness, it's the fact that they can be very deceiving. I think it's pretty safe to say the World of Darkness really does exist, but as history has shown us, it can take on many forms, and that's where you have to be careful."

"I think Daemon was sent to the Dark Ocean because that's where Ken chose to send him," Palmon piped up.

Ryoko scratched his head and frowned in confusion. "How were Uncle T.K., Joe, and Yolei able to get to the World of Darkness? I'm...really confused."

Matt laughed at the puzzled look on his son's face and blinked in surprise at his own reaction. He had expected his conversation with Ryoko to be very somber, and yet, it didn't feel that way at all. Instead, it felt like they were truly communicating, and despite the seriousness of the situation, his heart felt..light. "Isn't it obvious? They followed their friends to the World of Darkness because they knew we needed help. I think the reason they were able to find us so easily is because they could feel what was in our hearts, and it was our hearts that led them to the places where they needed to be. We were crying out for help and they could hear our screams, even though no one else could. One of the best things about being a Digidestined is the fact that we know each other inside and out. My friends know me better than I know myself, and it was their unwavering belief in me that saved me from myself."

"Dad, did you...ever actually hate Uncle Tai?" Ryoko asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Matt raised his eyebrows and smiled in amusement. "There were times when I wanted to hate him, but for some reason I was never quite able to manage it. Everything he did annoyed me, but it wasn't because I disliked him. The reason he irritated me so much was because he represented everything I felt I could never be. I envied the way he could express himself so easily, but most of all, I envied the way he could capture the hearts of everyone around him. He never had to work at it. I think it's because he was so open about his feelings and emotions."

"Tai's the kind of person other people trip over themselves in an effort to get to know," Mimi laughed. "He never shuts anyone out, and he always makes you feel important, even if you're the kind of person who fades into the backround. Tai doesn't have to make people like him. They just do, and that's what makes him so unique."

"Kind of like someone else I know," Ryoko muttered, smiling slightly.

"Tai's a pretty amazing human. No wonder Agumon's so proud of him," Palmon said thoughtfully.

Matt tugged on the sleeve of his son's shirt to get the golden-haired Digidestined's attention, and Ryoko turned slowly to look at him. "What is it, Dad?"

"Do you know what I'm ashamed of the most?"

"What?"

"When I first became a Digidestined, I used to come up with all kinds of excuses to give myself a reason to hate Tai. I used to tell myself he was trying to take my place as T.K.'s big brother, and I acted like he was out to steal the little bit of happiness I possessed at the time, but that was just a shield I used to hide behind because I couldn't face the truth. The one thing that bothered me the most about Tai was something I wanted more than anything else in the world, but it always seemed so out of reach."

"What...what did he have that you...didn't have?"

Matt pulled his son close and let out a soft sigh. "Freedom. When I was younger, I always felt like I was trapped inside the walls of a prison cell, and he always seemed so...free. I was jealous of the way it came so easily to him, but now I realize I had that kind of freedom all along. It was just a matter of finding the courage to express myself. I wanted to hurt Tai because I thought that was the only way to make him understand what I was feeling inside. I was wrong, and thankfully I realized that before it was too late."

"Tai understood all along," Ryoko gasped, excitement sparkling in his sapphire eyes.

Yes, and I think Dai understands, too, even if he doesn't realize it yet.

Matt stared at his son for a moment and let out a soft laugh. "Why do you think he's my best friend? Still, even though we were able to set aside our differences, things haven't always been perfect. Our friendship has been tested several times since then, especially when I was dating Sora, but somehow we've always been able to work things out, and that's how I know Tai was telling the truth when he said he had never doubted me. Even now, twenty-nine years later, he still believes in me, and that means more to me than I could ever put into words. How many people out there can say they're as lucky as I am?"

Ryoko suddenly looked away from him and let out a soft sigh. "I wish I could."

"You're thinking about Dai, aren't you."

"What? How...how did you know?"

Matt watched his son's face turn bright red, and closing his eyes, he pulled the golden-haired Digidestined into a tight hug. One of the things he loved most about his son was the fact that Ryoko never seemed afraid to get close to him. He knew he wasn't exactly the most easy person to get to know, and that made it hard for others to show him affection, but Ryoko didn't seem to care about any of that. His son never hesitated to show him what love was all about, and for that he was grateful.

It's amazing how good it feels to know there's someone out there who will continue to love you no matter how many mistakes you make. That's something Ryoko definitely inherited from his mother. I know I can count on him, and that's the best feeling in the world. At least, I hope that's still true...

"Dad..."

"You can tell me, Ryoko. I'm not going to get mad, if that's what you're worried about."

Ryoko mumbled something against his chest, and after a moment of silence, the golden-haired Digidestined slowly lifted his head. "It's so frustrating. There are times when he acts like he hates me, and at other times he acts completely...different. I want to say something, but how can I when I don't have a clue how he really feels about me? I wish he would just make up his mind and be done with it. I mean...what is he waiting for?"

"For you, Ryoko. He's waiting for you to let him in."

"Huh?"

Matt gently ruffled his son's golden hair and smiled to himself. "Dai knows he can't force you to like him. All he's doing is waiting for you to find a reason to trust him. I know it's hard to believe, but his heart is just as vulnerable as yours is. Why do you think he hasn't said anything yet? He's afraid you're going to throw his offer to be friends right back in his face, and that's not something he wants to experience. You're afraid of being rejected, and I can understand that, but...Dai's not made of stone, Ryoko. He might be very brave, but even those of us who are gifted with a lot of courage can't escape the fear of rejection."

"You sound so sure of yourself, but..."

"Tai taught me a lot about friendship, and yet, despite all of his courage, it was my loyalty and commitment to our friendship that finally broke the barriers. And it's all because of the Crest of Friendship. It was my crest that sealed our friendship and brought us together."

"What are you saying?" Ryoko whispered, a spark of emotion flashing somewhere within the depths of his sapphire eyes.

Matt took a deep breath and gazed directly into his son's eyes. "You can't wait for Dai. If you do, it might be too late."

"Don't do something you'll regret," Mimi said quietly, smiling gently at her son.

Ryoko bit his lip and gazed miserably at his hands. "If you guys knew, why didn't you ever say anything?"

Would it have done any good if we had? No, Ryoko, it probably only would have made things worse.

Matt glanced sheepishly at his wife and managed a weak smile. "I'm sorry, Ryoko, but we didn't realize your situation with Dai had gotten so out of hand until recently. I mean, I've always known the two of you would fight a lot, but I never thought you guys would follow the same path Tai and I took long before you were born. Actually, now that I think about it, I believe a part of me did know all along, but somehow I knew this was something you had to do for yourself. You have to tell Dai the truth in a way that feels right for you."

"But-"

"Ryoko, no one else can do it for you. I know it's hard, but somehow you'll find a way."

"I know. Dad, are you sure you're not going to get mad at me for acting like a jerk towards Dai?"

Matt raised his eyebrows at the suspicious look on his son's face and smiled in amusement. "If I recall, I wasn't exactly all that nice towards Tai either. Look, just try not to be too hard on Dai, okay? It's not his fault you're my son."

Ryoko smiled shyly at him, and he jumped in surprise when his son suddenly leaned over him and snatched the Crest of Friendship off the second nightstand, which was located on his side of the bed. At first he was confused, but then he realized his son was smiling at the crest and holding it as if it were a precious gift. "Well, I did sort of promise Kara I would try to fix my friendship with Dai, and now it looks like I don't really have a choice. You're really lucky, Dad. So many people helped you make your crest glow. Joe, Gabumon, Tai...all of them. I'm especially glad, though, about Tai. He really cares about you. I bet that feels...pretty nice."

Matt nodded slowly, and yet, despite how easy the conversation was going, he still found it hard to look his son directly in the eyes. "You'll know what it feels like soon enough. Ryoko...I...do you remember what you said to me earlier?"

"How could I forget?"

"Do you...still feel the same way now, even after everything I've told you?"

Matt felt Ryoko's arms slip around his neck, and unable to suppress a soft sound of despair, he squeezed his son as tightly as he could. After a moment of silence, Ryoko pulled back slightly, and Matt found himself gazing into his son's deep blue eyes. Ryoko's expression was surprisingly sympathetic, and there was something about it that created a lump in Matt's throat. "Dad, we all make mistakes. I might be even more guilty of that than you are. Besides, you're not the only one who lost sight of what was really important. Tai, Joe, Sora, Izzy, and even Mom all made mistakes, too. How are yours any worse than the ones they made? All of your friends did something they weren't proud of during their adventures in the Digital world. The same goes for Davis and his group of Digidestined. You're no different from anyone else."

"Ryoko..."

"Cherrymon tried to hurt you, but you didn't let him! Your dark thoughts tried to consume you, but you pushed them all away! Your anger and pain tried to ruin your friendship with Tai, but your heart refused to let that happen! Don't you see? Those are the things that matter. Yes, you made some mistakes, but you learned from them. That's the important thing, and that's the only thing I care about!"

"He's right, Matt," Mimi said softly, her hand coming to rest gently on his shoulder. "You should be proud of yourself. If no one ever made mistakes, then none of us would ever be able to grow as people and discover what it means to truly appreciate what we have."

"Even digimon make mistakes," Palmon sighed.

"I meant what I said before," Ryoko mumbled, avoiding his eyes. "I'll always love you no matter what you tell me."

Matt clung tightly to his son and buried his face against the golden-haired Digidestined's shoulder. "I feel the same way about you. Thank you for being so understanding. I only hope Sam will feel the same way when...when he finally finds out the truth."

Ryoko shifted slightly in his arms and nodded slowly. "Yes...Sam..."

Wait a minute, what did I just say?

Matt jerked his head up and gazed apprehensively at his son, but unfortunately he was unable to tell whether or not Ryoko had understood his cryptic words. The expression on his son's face was neutral, almost innocent even, but that did not stop him from glancing anxiously at his wife.

"You worry too much," Mimi snorted, kissing his cheek and rolling her eyes.

Obviously she was convinced Ryoko didn't suspect a thing, but he wasn't quite so sure.

What if I said too much?

"Dad, I'm more sensible than Dai gives me credit for," Ryoko said softly, holding out the Crest of Friendship in his hand. "I've always believed in you, now more so than ever. You've never given me a reason not to. Why do you think I'm not upset about your past? Besides, I know you believe in me, too, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure you never have a reason to doubt me."

My crest. It's...glowing...

Matt gently squeezed his son's hand and smiled at the Crest of Friendship glowing faintly between their fingers. This time, he knew it wasn't glowing because of him. It was glowing because of his son. "Ryoko?"

"What is it, Dad?"

Matt slipped his arms around Ryoko, and once again he rested his cheek against his son's golden hair. "I don't deserve a son like you. Now, as much as I'd love to continue this conversation, it's late and you should be getting to bed. I don't want you walking around half asleep in the Digital World tomorrow."

"Sleep well," Mimi whispered, kissing Ryoko's cheek and pulling him into a quick hug.

Ryoko blushed at their words and quickly dropped the Crest of Friendship back on the nightstand before climbing off the bed. Matt scrambled out after his son, and together they silently made their way out the door and down the hallway towards Ryoko's room. Matt quietly watched his son scramble underneath the covers, and although the golden-haired Digidestined was making quite a bit of noise, Iramon never even cracked an eyelid. Instead, the little digimon merely snuggled against his partner's neck and proceeded to snore softly into the pillow.

"I really do like the names you and Mom picked out for the new baby," Ryoko said softly, breaking the silence.

"I know. Good night, Ryoko. I...I love you."

"I love you too, Dad. Uncle T.K.'s lucky to have a big brother like you. No one could ever take your place. I...I can't wait to have a sibling. I'll be a good brother, too. I promise."

Matt smiled fondly at his son's golden head, which was almost hidden beneath the sheets, and reluctantly left the room. As much as he wanted to help his son, there were some things Ryoko needed to discover on his own, including friendship. He really does believe in me and now he needs me to believe in him. Don't worry, Ryoko. One day Dai will finally realize how special you are, and when he does, I hope you realize you're the lucky one, not him.

Ryoko Ishida

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

Ryoko waited until his father had left the room before sitting up and gazing frantically at the darkness hovering around him. His first thought was to wake Iramon, but the more he dwelled on it, the more he realized that probably wouldn't be a very good idea.

The Emperor was a human. That much we know, and according to Agumon and the others, a human can't come to the Digital World unless they possess a certain amount of innocence. That innocence is represented by a Digivice, which means...you cannot come to the Digital World unless you are destined to receive a Digivice. Also, Azulongmon, Gennai, and the Digital World itself are guided by...other reasons when it becomes time for certain people to receive Digivices at certain times. The Digital World also has to be in danger for us to be needed. The Digivice itself is a symbol of the Digidestined. If that's true, then the Emperor must have had a Digivice, and if the Emperor had a Digivice, then that means he was a Digidestined. Somehow the Emperor is connected to Ken's past, and no matter how much we bug our parents, they refuse to tell us exactly what that connection is. DarkAngelicmon and the others keep comparing Sam to the Emperor, but why would they do that unless...

Ryoko clapped a hand over his mouth and stared at the ceiling in horror.

I only hope Sam will feel the same way when he finally finds out the truth...

Could it be? Could Sam's father be the Digimon Emperor?