Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Finally it's here, the chapter we've all been waiting for! I hope it was worth the wait. It's one of my favorites, and there's so much in it that will be important later on. Also, Fallen Archangel was nice enough to upload a picture I drew of the kids onto the forum, so if you have a chance, check it out. The only one who doesn't look quite as much as I imagined him to look is Dai, and oddly enough, he was the hardest one to draw. And thank you to Fallen Archangel for the excellent chapter title and to everyone else on the forum who offered some great ideas of their own. I loved all of them, but unfortunately, I can only have one chapter title! I chose this one because I felt it best represented the chapter as a whole. If you're not happy with the way Sam finds out the truth, there is a reason why I chose for it to happen this way. Let's just say it's for drama later on. And just so you know, while this is going on, at the same time, there's someone else who's also learning the truth...
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
"It's going to hurt for a while, Ken, but Sam will come around. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but he will see the truth buried in the truth..." -Yolei Ichijouji (From the FTFOD oneshot 'Truth' written by Shire Folk)
Chapter 143: The Dark Side of Ken
Taniko Izumi
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
"Look, Taniko, your father just sent you an e-mail!" Miya gasped, pointing excitedly at the screen. "What does it say?"
"Hurry up, Taniko. Open it already!" Ema ordered.
Some friend. She doesn't even say please!
Smiling in amusement, Taniko Izumi rolled her eyes and quickly clicked on her father's e-mail, not for Ema's sake, but because she didn't want to keep Miya in suspense. Frowning slightly, she scanned the hastily typed message as quickly as she could, her heart sinking with every word, and upon reading the last sentence, she slowly sat back in her chair and let out a deep sigh of despair. On her left, she felt Kenzo's fingers tighten on her shoulder, and the comforting gesture made her feel slightly better, even if it didn't dismiss the fear in her heart. On her right, Ema was clinging tightly to her arm, and directly behind her, Taysuke was leaning against the back of her chair, his chin just brushing the top of her dark hair. None of them seemed to be aware of the fact that they were practically crushing her, but at the moment she had other things on her mind.
Vampiramon's after Dai and Ryoko, and what about Sam? Could DarkAngelicmon really have found him?
"What does it say?" Mimi asked curiously, leaning forwards in her chair and trying to peek around Kenzo's arm for a better look at the screen.
Taniko glanced anxiously at Miya, whose face had turned the colour of chalk, and banged her fist against the keyboard in frustration. "Takara and my parents have been battling with Vampiramon and a digimon named Soulmon, but now that BlackWidowmon has shown up, they've decided to make a run for it. Vampiramon and her allies are just too strong for three Digidestined to handle alone. According to my dad, they've decided to meet up with Tai's group because they think Kara's father and the others who are with him might also be in trouble."
"Why do they think that?" Noah asked sharply.
"Dai, Ryoko, and Mickey have left Tai, Sora, Matt, and Matty behind and they're heading towards the ocean. Look, you can see it on my map, and my dad also mentioned it in his e-mail. Tai's group must be under attack, and I bet they sent Dai and Ryoko to search for Sam. At least, that's what it looks like to me, and I bet you anything Mickey wanted to go with them. Tai probably told them to go to keep them out of danger."
"Why would they be in danger?" Ami asked hesitantly, elbowing Noah out of the way and squinting at the computer screen.
Taniko tugged anxiously on her shoulder-length dark hair and managed a weak smile. "Well, you see...they've found one of the Spirit Chips. It's called the Spirit Chip of Bravery and it's located on the top of Infinity Mountain. At least, that's what my dad says. They don't actually have it yet, but they were planning to climb Infinity Mountain until Sam disappeared and Vampiramon showed up. According to my dad, the Spirit Chip belongs to either Dai or Ryoko, and because of that they've become Vampiramon's number one targets."
"What?" Mimi shrieked, leaping out of her chair and leaning over Kenzo's shoulder for a better look at the screen.
"Calm down, Mimi!" Palmon cried, tugging anxiously on her partner's pale pink skirt.
"I will not calm down! That evil vampire digimon is trying to hurt my baby!"
"Oh, Dai!" Noriko moaned, covering her face with her hands.
Davis stared at his wife for a moment and clenched his hands into angry fists. "If anything happens to Dai..."
"Tai's watching out for them," DemiVeemon piped up, hopping into his partner's lap. "I know Agumon won't let anything happen to Dai and Ryoko, or Sam. If Tai's group is in danger then that would explain why he'd want Dai and Ryoko to leave the scene."
"Also, Tai wouldn't have let Ryoko, Dai, and Mickey leave unless he really believed they could help Sam," Cody said firmly.
Yeah, but even Tai can only do so much...
Taniko glanced impatiently at the computer screen and slowly shook her head. "My dad thinks Tai and the others have run into Jestermon and Spritemon, and he believes DarkAngelicmon might have gone after Sam."
"Oh no, Yolei's going to be really upset!" Patamon gasped, his ears drooping onto Nao's arms.
"Ken, too," Jun muttered.
"Now what?" T.K. asked. "Everyone is getting separated, and if they end up spreading themselves too thin..."
"Don't even say it!" Rosa cried.
"I know it's hard to accept, but all we can do it wait," Cody said slowly.
"This stinks!" Ami shouted. "I told Dai not to do anything stupid, but no, what does he do? If I were a Digidestined, I'd teach that Vampiramon a thing or two!"
"The Spirit Chips sound a lot like the crests," Noah murmured.
Taniko smiled and nodded in agreement. "They do, don't they, and like the crests, each one has its own special meaning. At least, that's what my dad says."
"Hey, Taniko? Who do you think the Spirit Chip of Bravery belongs to?" Taysuke asked hesitantly.
"Dai, of course," Ami interrupted. "I'm not saying Ryoko's not brave, I just think his Spirit Chip will be something...different."
Taniko nodded slowly and smiled at the older girl. "I agree."
"I bet Ryoko's Spirit Chip is really cool!" Taysuke said enthusiastically.
"It'll be great no matter what it is," Mimi said softly. "What does Matt think he's doing? He's supposed to be watching our son!"
He might not have a choice in the matter.
"Miya, are you going to be okay?" Kenzo asked quietly, touching the raven-haired female's shoulder to get her attention.
Miya's eyes filled with tears behind her glasses and she buried her face in her hands. "Why won't they just leave Sam alone? I hate this! I just want to know what's going on! I'm tired of all the secrets. I'm tired of everyone trying to hurt my brother!"
"Those bad digimon keep trying to scare Sam! They're being mean to him and it's not fair at all!" Nao cried, hiding his face against Noriko's shoulder.
Davis ruffled Nao's lavender hair and turned to look at Miya. "Dai won't let them hurt Sam. I know my son, and I know he'll protect his friends no matter what."
"It's not just Vampiramon and DarkAngelicmon, it's everything! Why won't you just tell us who the Emperor is?"
Davis looked away from her and stared miserably at his feet. "I can't. If I could, I would, but it's not my decision to make."
"Come on, Miya, don't give up now," Noah said anxiously, pulling the raven-haired female into his arms and holding her protectively against his chest. "You know Sam wouldn't want you to worry about him. He'll be fine."
Instead of answering, Miya just shook her head and buried her face against Noah's neck. She was obviously upset, and Taniko had a feeling the older female would not listen to anyone until Sam was safely back in the human world.
Why do our plans always end up backfiring on us? Come on, Dad, you can think of something to stop DarkAngelicmon from hurting Sam. I know you can, but that isn't going to help us if you can't reach Sam before it's too late...
"I told Mickey and Matty to watch out for each other and now they've gotten separated!" T.K. muttered. "I know what Izzy said, but still...what in the Digiworld is going on?"
"Come on, Dai, you can do it, I know you can," Noriko whispered, clasping her hands together and gazing anxiously at the computer screen. "You're so close. You have to reach Sam."
"Look, Dai's group have come within striking distance of the ocean and Sam has just reached the centre of the forest! I wonder what's going on," Kenzo murmured. "Before, Sam had just been standing there doing nothing, but now he's suddenly on the move again. Do you think he really did meet up with DarkAngelicmon?"
"It doesn't really matter if he has or not. Nothing bad is going to happen to him; I know it," Noah said firmly.
Taniko huddled between her three friends and grabbed onto Ema's arm for support. All the knowledge in the world wasn't going to help them if Kenzo was right and DarkAngelicmon, or one of the other evil digimon, really had caught up to Sam.
If only the rest of us kids were Digidestined. Maybe then we could do something to help...
Sam Ichijouji
File Island, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World
Sam wasn't quite sure how long he had been standing there in silent disbelief, but he knew it had been for quite some time, at least twenty minutes or more, and oddly enough, DarkAngelicmon had not once tried to use that time to his advantage. Instead, much to Sam's surprise, DarkAngelicmon had merely pulled away from him, and he had proceeded to stand there in thoughtful silence, his gaze focused on something that seemed to reach beyond the forest looming in the distance, something only the fallen angel could see. It was a bit unnerving to see DarkAngelicmon standing so still and silent, a celestial statue watching over a world that had fallen into ruin, but if he was content to remain oblivious to what was going on around him, then there was no way he could be too concerned about the darkness hovering over the gray, wasted landscape. It was almost as if he believed his revelation about the World of Darkness deserved a few quiet moments of reflection.
Sam wasn't quite sure what his friends had finally decided to do, but there were only two options they could have chosen. Either the rest of the Digidestined were getting close to Infinity Mountain by now, or they were getting close to the gate that would take them back to the human world. They did need Joe, after all. Either way, the thought did not concern him. He didn't even bother checking his Digivice to see which path they had chosen. All he could think about was the darkness surrounding both himself and the fallen angel, and the sound of the leaves rustling the trees in the distance caused a shiver to race down his spine. It was almost as if the trees were calling to him, their voices blending together to form words he could not understand, and yet the forest was still far enough away that he shouldn't have been able to hear the trees or feel them watching him.
It can't be...
After what seemed like forever, though it probably wasn't quite that long, Sam, though not exactly enthusiastic about potentially interrupting the fallen angel's thoughts, was finally able to find his voice. "The World of Darkness? No! It can't be! That...that's impossible!"
DarkAngelicmon stirred, his body suddenly coming to life, and let out a deep sigh. "Look around you, Sam. Do you not see the ocean? I believe your parents refer to it as the Dark Ocean, do they not?"
Sam slowly lifted his head and turned to gaze at the murky water just visible between the trees of the large grove, which appeared to follow almost the entire length of the coastline. Behind him in the distance was the forest where he and his friends had spoken to Gennai earlier, and the presence of so many trees made him feel slightly claustrophobic. The trees in front of him, though still following the coastline, were still quite a distance away from the ocean, but for some reason that only made him feel even more uneasy.
Is this really the Dark Ocean? I don't see a lighthouse, but maybe that's because it was destroyed. My parents never said it got damaged, but somehow I get the feeling something might have happened to it. I wonder if that forest up ahead is where my parents were wandering around with Kari in the World of Darkness. Last night, when I asked my mom about it before bed, she wouldn't tell me anything except that she was in a forest near the ocean. Maybe even the dark cave is around here somewhere. According to Ryoko, Matt isn't sure whether or not the cave, or even the Dark Ocean, are actual places, or if they merely come into existence as a result of the darkness within the heart of a digimon or a Digidestined. What if both theories are right? What if the ocean, the cave, the forest, and any of the other places in the World of Darkness really do exist, but they look slightly different to every person who sees them? Maybe the way they look depends on what you're feeling inside. I bet this place looks different for me than it did for Kari and my dad. T.K. and Kari could see the same thing because it was Kari's heart that brought her in contact with the Dark Ocean. T.K. was only there to save her. He wasn't experiencing any darkness himself. It was more like he had entered Kari's heart and was able to see the darkness within it. Then there's my dad. He and Kari are a lot alike, and that explains why they could see the same thing in the forest. I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing my mom was in the same position as T.K. She was merely witnessing what was in both Kari's heart and my dad's heart, and that also explains why they could see the ocean in the distance. I don't know how I know, but I get the feeling that, unlike my mom, my dad was also affected by the darkness, just like Kari. Like I said before, they're a lot alike. I bet Kari's fears and my dad's fears were all jumbled up together, and in the end they sort of melted into one vast territory. That could explain how the ocean and the forest merged together, and it also explains how Kari and my dad could see the same thing. I'm guessing both of them were afraid of the ocean, and combined with whatever fears had brought them to the forest, that was what made the pieces of the World of Darkness come together. The same is true for Sora and Matt. They both entered the exact same cave because, at the time, the emotions they were feeling were very similar to each other. Joe and T.K. were just along for the ride. I don't know. It's all so confusing. I don't have any way of knowing for sure, but I get the feeling this place looks slightly different for me than it did for my dad and the others. I don't think what I'm feeling could possibly be like what any of them were feeling...
"Yes, the World of Darkness," DarkAngelicmon murmured, gazing thoughtfully at the trees. "This place takes on whatever form best represents the darkness in your heart, or is it the other way around? Maybe it only brings you to a place that best represents the darkness in your heart. Tell me, Sam, do you see what I see?"
Sam swallowed a huge lump in his throat and glanced anxiously over his shoulder. He knew it was only his imagination, but for some odd reason he could not help feeling as if the trees he had left behind in the distance were slowly closing in on him, and several times he had to take a second look, just to make sure the shadows hovering at the base of each tree, shadows he shouldn't have been able to see from so far away, weren't trying to sneak up behind him. It was almost as if the fallen angel had read his mind, and that made him feel slightly unsettled. "I told you, I'm not like you."
"You don't believe that any more than I do."
Shaking his head in denial, Sam quickly turned his back on the fallen angel and clenched his hands into fists. "You don't know what I believe, so quit trying to pretend you do! I know you're just trying to scare me, but it isn't going to work. Do you really expect me to believe this place is actually a part of the World of Darkness? I bet you created this darkness and now you're trying to make me believe it's the Dark Ocean! Well, you know what, DarkAngelicmon? I'm not going to fall for it. You keep saying you've never lied to us, but how do you expect me to believe that? All I have to go on is your word, and if you ask me, anything you have to say isn't worth very much!"
DarkAngelicmon let out a deep sigh and tugged impatiently on his long, raven hair. "You are a fool, Sam. Your ignorance is astonishing, even to me. Why would I waste my time trying to trick you? In case you've forgotten, I have some Spirit Chips to steal, and there's a friend of mine who needs to be taught a very hard lesson. I don't have time for humans who don't want to cooperate with my plans."
"You're the one who cannot see the truth, DarkAngelicmon, not Sam," Dracomon said quietly, taking a step closer to the fallen angel.
"The truth? Your logic amuses me, Dracomon. Didn't you know? The truth doesn't matter. In fact, sometimes the truth is better left unknown. Secrets are not necessarily a bad thing, and I think your partner is about to learn that the hard way."
Sam crossed his arms and glared at the fallen angel. "What do you mean? If you're trying to make me angry with your stupid riddles, it isn't going to work."
DarkAngelicmon raised his eyebrows and tugged thoughtfully on one of the black, feathery, ear-like wings poking into the air from the depths of his raven hair. There was a bitter smile on the fallen angel's face and his emerald green eyes were dark and stormy. "Chasing the ghost of the Emperor, are you? Nothing good will come of it, and if you don't believe me, then see for yourself. Follow the ocean, if you wish, but don't say I didn't warn you. I see it now. The Emperor's past has tainted your soul, and your heart will pay the price for it!"
No, I'm not like the Emperor! I won't be like him, I won't!
"Sam, what do you think you're doing?" Dracomon snapped, moving towards him. "Stay where you are! You might not like what I'm about to say, but DarkAngelicmon is right. The darkness is strong here, and you must not let it cloud your judgment."
Sam slowly shook his head and continued to back away from his partner, his feet moving him steadily towards the water. There was no mistaking it. The trees standing watch over the dark, silent depths of the ocean really were calling to him, and all of a sudden he knew what he had to do.
"Don't just stand there, stop him!" DarkAngelicmon snapped, tugging roughly on one of Dracomon's colourful wings. "You don't want to lose your partner, do you?"
"You dare to place the blame on me? You were the one taunting my partner, and I will make you pay for what you've done to him!"
"You do realize Sam is trying to make a run for it, don't you?" DarkAngelicmon said dryly.
The fallen angel's words cut through Sam like a knife and he came to a dead stop. "You're wrong, DarkAngelicmon. I'm not like the Emperor, and I'm going to prove it to you!"
Without waiting for a response, Sam turned his back on the two champions and took off over the grass in the direction of the ocean. He was running as fast as his legs could carry him, his heart pounding in his chest, but even so he only just barely reached the centre of the forest stretching along the coast before he was tackled from behind by Dracomon and DarkAngelicmon. If he hadn't been so upset, he probably would have laughed at the bizarre image of DarkAngelicmon and Dracomon working together to stop him from reaching the ocean, but instead he wrenched himself free from Dracomon's grip and hit DarkAngelicmon hard in the face with the back of his hand. "Let me go! I've had enough of you and your lies! I'm not going to let you hurt me anymore, do you here me? And stay away from my friends!"
DarkAngelicmon blinked in surprise and slowly placed a hand against his swollen cheek. After receiving a hard blow to the face, the fallen angel had tumbled unceremoniously onto his back, and frowning slightly, he stared at the ground, as if unsure of what had just happened. "You know, I'm beginning to think you humans are more trouble than you're worth."
"Even Mickey?" Sam said nastily, ignoring his partner's attempts to comfort him.
DarkAngelicmon slowly got to his feet, and shaking his head, he twisted around and began to brush the dirt out of his wings. "You are searching for answers you do not want to find."
"You mean answers concerning the true identity of the Digimon Emperor? Weren't you the one who was so enthusiastic about telling me earlier?"
"After you find your Spirit Chip, Sam. There's a time and a place for everything, and now is not the time to be delving into the past."
Sam crossed his arms and angrily turned his back on the fallen angel. "I've waited long enough! I deserve to know! I'm tired of everyone keeping secrets from me, and if you think I'm going to let you stop me from finding out the truth, forget it!"
"Did it ever occur to you that I might be trying to save you from yourself?" DarkAngelicmon asked quietly, turning to peer uneasily through the trees. "I didn't think telling you about the Emperor would matter either way, but now that I know more about the Spirit Chips, I'm starting to believe I may have been deceived myself. You disappoint me, Sam. I thought you were stronger than this."
Sam was about to reply when the darkness in the forest suddenly deepened and the sound of the bushes rustling off to his right captured his attention. Letting out a gasp of fear, he stumbled backwards and banged into DarkAngelicmon. The fallen angel quickly grabbed his shoulder before he could fall, and the two of them turned to gaze silently at the dark trees behind Dracomon.
"What was that?" the insect digimon snapped, whirling around and squinting at the bushes growing in a thick tangle beneath the trees behind him.
Sam felt DarkAngelicmon's hand tighten on his shoulder and he turned to look up at the fallen angel. "What is it?"
"I told you to find your way back to the light, but you would not listen to me, and now we must deal with the consequences. I believe your dark thoughts are beginning to take shape."
"My dark thoughts? What about your dark thoughts? You're here too, aren't you?"
DarkAngelicmon smiled slightly and nodded in agreement. "Maybe it's a combination of both. Get behind me."
"What?"
Instead of replying, DarkAngelicmon merely stepped in front of him and pointed his spear at the forest. "Prepare yourself, Dracomon. They come."
Sam caught hold of one of DarkAngelicmon's black wings and peeked around the fallen angel's arm for a better look at the forest. To his complete horror and astonishment, what looked like hundreds of pairs of purple eyes were beginning to pop up within the darkness between the trunks of the trees and all of those violet orbs were focused on the small group standing in the middle of the tiny clearing deep within the centre of the woods. They're looking right at us! Wait a minute...I've never seen eyes like that before, but they seem familiar somehow...
"What are they?" Dracomon asked, turning his back on the trees and fluttering over to DarkAngelicmon's side.
The fallen angel frowned at the forest and held his spear tightly in his hand. "Manifestations of darkness. Your heart has turned as black as my wings, Sam. You should have listened to Mickey while you still had the chance."
Sam glared at the fallen angel, but before he could reply, the violet eyes peering at him through the trees began to move towards him, and a moment later, several of the things stepped into the clearing. Sam recognized them almost immediately. Each dark shadow looked exactly like the one that had been in DarkAngelicmon's castle, with only one major difference. The shadows currently stalking him had eyes, and they were the same creepy shade of purple as the violet goo that had dripped all over the stone floor in the castle.
No, it can't be! Why would they be here?
"They have eyes," Dracomon murmured, staring at the black shadows in astonishment.
Sam slowly nodded and gazed at the shadows with his mouth hanging open. "Maybe...maybe the one in the castle did have eyes, but for some reason it just didn't open them."
"What are you talking about?" DarkAngelicmon asked curiously, frowning in confusion.
Are they here because of...him?
Unable to suppress a gasp of horror, Sam turned and poked the fallen angel sharply in the chest. "This is all your fault, isn't it! You're the one who made these shadows come after us, but why? I thought you said you wanted me to find my Spirit Chip!"
"Excuse me?"
"I knew you were lying! You've probably been lying about everything to us this whole time!"
"What are you talking about?"
Sam attempted to turn his back on DarkAngelicmon, but before he could join his partner, the fallen angel suddenly grabbed his wrist and pulled him to a stop. "Let go of me! I'm through with listening to your lies!"
"What's this about a dark shadow in the castle?" DarkAngelicmon asked quietly, watching him closely.
"Like you don't already know what I'm talking about! One of those things was acting as a guard in your castle when we were trying to reach the crests. I bet you were the one who sent it to destroy us!"
DarkAngelicmon stared at him in surprise and slowly let go of his arm. "No, I didn't."
"What?"
"I'll admit, evil does occasionally manifest itself within the walls of my master's castle, but...I never authorized a being created solely from the darkness within the heart of either a human or a digimon to act as a guard."
"You mean...you didn't send that thing after us?"
DarkAngelicmon stared at him for a long moment and gently placed a hand on his raven hair. "No, Sam, I did not."
"They're getting closer and they have us surrounded!" Dracomon suddenly shouted, waving his hand at the trees. "We must do something to stop them!"
Sam jerked around in surprise and let out a gasp when he realized his partner was right. There were purple eyes glaring at him from all four corners of the clearing, and although it wasn't easy to tell, he knew their gazes were focused directly on him.
They're coming for me. They're coming for the Emperor!
"What are you waiting for, stop them!" DarkAngelicmon shouted, latching onto Dracomon's arm and pulling the insect digimon into the air with him.
Dracomon's clenched fist began to crackle with purple lightning and he pointed it at the first group of shadows to make their way out of the trees. "Lightning Spark!" A huge bolt of purple electricity shot out of Dracomon's fist and hit the first shadow right in the chest, but instead of disappearing, the shadow merely stumbled before recovering its balance and continued to make its way towards the centre of the clearing.
"Well, I knew there was a chance something was going to happen, but I certainly hadn't expected this," DarkAngelicmon said dryly, twirling around in a circle and moving behind Dracomon. The two champions hovered back to back in the air and both digimon gazed intently at the shadows closing in around them.
Sam stood on the ground beneath the two digimon, and he watched in horror as more and more shadows continued to step out of the trees, making their way towards him. There were hundreds of them, and he knew there was no way DarkAngelicmon and his partner could defeat them all.
I'm sorry, Mickey. I'm sorry, Dad. I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough...
"Really, Dracomon, do I have to do all the work around here?" DarkAngelicmon sighed, holding out his arms. "Wrath of Hades!" A huge ball of violet energy shot out of DarkAngelicmon's hands and exploded into a large crowd of about forty shadows who were close to reaching the centre of the clearing. The force of the blast was so powerful it sent waves of purple energy sweeping over the dark shapes swarming behind the group that had taken the full force of the blast, and all of them were swept right off their feet. For a moment, Sam was sure DarkAngelicmon's attack had been successful in destroying the shadows, but his heart sank as the entire group calmly got to their feet and continued towards their destination.
"You were saying?" Dracomon snorted. "Zephyr Strike!" The shadows closest to Dracomon were immediately swept back into the trees by a huge gust of wind, but a moment later they were stepping back into the clearing again, their long legs and arms making it easy for them to cover a lot of ground in a short amount of time. "Our attacks aren't working! We can't expect to defeat all of them with just the two of us!"
"I thought you Digidestined were all about never giving up," DarkAngelicmon snorted.
"Well, what do you suggest we do?"
"Protect your partner. They're coming for him, not us."
Sam suddenly felt Dracomon's arms wrap around his shoulders and he quickly buried his face against his partner's chest. The fear in his heart was so powerful, it made him feel sick to his stomach, but it was the thought of never seeing his family and friends again that frightened him the most. "I'm sorry, Dracomon, it's all my fault. I should have listened to you."
"Don't give up yet, Sam," Dracomon said quietly, holding him close and trying to shield him from the shadows. "We'll get through this somehow. I want to help you, but I can't protect you if you refuse to believe in yourself."
"They're here!" DarkAngelicmon shouted, pushing past Dracomon and holding out his spear. The first shadow reached DarkAngelicmon a second later, and letting out an angry hiss, it stretched out its long arm and grabbed onto one of the fallen angel's dark wings. A second shadow tried to grab DarkAngelicmon's spear, but somehow the fallen angel managed to hang onto it, and twirling the black spear in a circle, he hit both shadows in their stomachs, sending them flying into a mass of writhing, dark bodies. Unfortunately, his freedom didn't last very long. Almost immediately, three new shadows latched onto his arms and proceeded to drag him towards their dark counterparts.
"They're after Sam, are they?" Dracomon murmured. "That may be true, but I believe they might be after you, too, DarkAngelicmon."
The fallen angel winced as one of the shadows tugged roughly on his wings, and glancing over his shoulder, he gave Dracomon a dirty look. "A little help here would be nice."
Before Dracomon could even attempt to free the fallen angel, he was suddenly attacked by a group of eager shadows. "Stay away from Sam! Dragon Stingers!"
Several of the shadows were struck by glowing, purple needles, but they didn't appear to notice they had been hit. Sam felt his partner's arms slip away from him, and crying out in fear, he watched Dracomon disappear beneath a hoard of shadows. "No! Dracomon!"
"I told you to leave this place, but you wouldn't listen," DarkAngelicmon snapped, wrenching himself free from the shadows and fluttering into the air. "Now we will all pay the price for it!"
"No! Dracomon..."
It's all my fault. It's all because of me!
Sam felt one of the shadows grab onto his arm, and he shivered at its icy touch. Another shadow started tugging on his green sweater, but instead of trying to free himself, he merely squeezed his eyes shut and let out a soft sob. The darkness is so strong. I can't watch. I can't! I just can't bear to look at them anymore...
"Sam!"
Sam suddenly felt a hand grab onto his arm, and opening his eyes he found himself standing next to DarkAngelicmon. Somehow the fallen angel had managed to pull him free from the shadows, and the two of them stood together with Glowmon lying at their feet.
Dracomon must have lost all his energy...
"Stay back!" DarkAngelicmon snapped, thrusting his spear straight through the heart of a shadow attempting to pull him into the darkness by his long, raven hair.
Sam quickly picked up his partner and tugged anxiously on the fallen angel's wings. "What are we going to do?"
"We cannot control the darkness, Sam. It controls us."
"What?" Sam stared at the fallen angel in shock and clung tightly to his partner's small body. "What do you mean?"
DarkAngelicmon pulled him free from a shadow that was attempting to grab Glowmon and held him protectively against his chest. "There is only one way to fight the darkness and win."
"What...what are you going to do?"
"Stay here."
"What? No! You can't! DarkAngelicmon!"
Sam tried to grab the fallen angel's wings again, but DarkAngelicmon gently pushed him away and fluttered into the sky.
"No! Come back!"
"I know what it is you want from me!" DarkAngelicmon snapped, pointing towards the heavens and glaring viciously at the shadows beneath him. "Did you think I would willingly hand him over to you? The Emperor is gone! Taking Sam will not help you, and I will never let you have Lucemon! Zenith Point!"
To Sam's complete astonishment, a glowing beacon of energy shot out of DarkAngelicmon's finger and the heavens exploded with light. Seven golden rays of brilliant sunshine arced out of the sky around DarkAngelicmon and slammed into the shadows circling beneath him. Sudden screams filled the air, and it was a moment before Sam realized the sounds were coming from the shadows. As he watched in fascination, every single shadow lurking in the forest disappeared in a blaze of light, and when the last one had disintegrated, the clearing grew dark and silent once more.
But...but that's Angelicmon's move!
"He did it," Glowmon whispered, the underside of the rookie's small belly beginning to glow with pale yellow light.
Sam stared at DarkAngelicmon in disbelief and let out a gasp when the fallen angel suddenly swayed in the air and began to fall rapidly towards the ground.
"Sam, something is wrong! Hurry!" Glowmon whimpered, his wings drooping over his small body.
Sam raced towards DarkAngelicmon, but he hadn't gotten very far before the fallen angel hit the ground with a sickening thump. Gasping for breath, he put on a burst of speed and reached the dark champion's side with Glowmon snuggled protectively in his arms.
"DarkAngelicmon? Hey, wake up!"
"Sam, I don't think he's responding," Glowmon whispered, peering anxiously at the fallen angel.
DarkAngelicmon's eyes were closed, and he was lying on his stomach with his cheek nestled in the crook of his arm. His black hair spilled down his back between his shoulder blades, and although it wasn't easy to see, Sam was sure the fallen angel's body was still glowing faintly with pale yellow light. "What about you, Glowmon? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Sam, but it's dark in the forest. I don't like it. It scares me."
"Do you think you can do something about it? It'd be nice if I could see DarkAngelicmon a little bit better."
"I can try." Glowmon fluttered hesitantly into the air, and hovering over DarkAngelicmon's body, he closed his violet eyes in concentration. "Luminaire!" Almost immediately, Glowmon's belly began to glow with bright, yellow light. It was surprisingly strong, and it cast a wide circle of light around their little group, keeping the darkness at bay.
"Thanks, Glowmon."
"You're welcome."
Turning his attention to DarkAngelicmon, Sam hesitantly placed a hand on the fallen angel's shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. "Wake up, DarkAngelicmon."
At first nothing happened, but just when Sam was about to give up, the fallen angel suddenly stirred and opened his eyes. "They're not gone forever, Sam. There will be more. All I've done is delay them. If you do not leave this place, they will be back, and I don't have enough strength to...to..."
Sam felt a sudden, strong surge of hatred for DarkAngelicmon that was beyond reason, and letting out a cry of frustration, he hit the fallen angel in the back with his fists. "This is all your fault! You're the one who brought me to this place, and now I'm never going to see my friends again! I hate you! I hate you so much!"
"I did nothing of the sort!" DarkAngelicmon snapped, sitting up and pushing Glowmon aside with his hand. "You brought yourself here, I had nothing to do with it. This is all your doing, and it's all because of your precious Digimon Emperor! If you keep this up, you will end up like Lucemon, and I will become Vampiramon's slave before I let that happen! How dare you ruin my plans! How dare you try to cast aside your Spirit Chip! I need it, and you will get it, even if I have to force you to!"
Sam was so angry, he could barely speak. DarkAngelicmon had already tried to hurt him several times in the past and he was tired of listening to the fallen angel's lies. At that moment, all he cared about was hurting DarkAngelicmon because at least then the dark champion would finally know what it felt like. "Tell me who the Digimon Emperor is!"
"You still want to know, even after what happened here?"
Sam clenched his hands into fists and glared at the fallen angel. There were tears running down his cheeks, but he barely even noticed them. DarkAngelicmon was blaming him, but it wasn't his fault. It was the Digimon Emperor's fault. It was all because of the Digimon Emperor. "Do you really think I'm the only one who blames you for the darkness that has entered our hearts? Well, I've got news for you, DarkAngelicmon, I'm not the only one! Mickey hates you for everything you've done to him and his brother! I bet he wishes you never existed in the first place! All you've done is try to make his life miserable, and he's never going to forgive you for it. Never! He's going to hate you forever, and it's all your own fault!"
DarkAngelicmon suddenly shot to his feet, and Sam quickly backed away from the fallen angel, convinced he had gone too far. DarkAngelicmon's face was a mask of fury, but it was the hurt and sadness glimmering just beneath the surface of his emerald gaze that had captured Sam's attention the most. "You do not understand, but I wouldn't expect you to."
"Maybe not, but I do know one thing. Mickey thinks you're nothing but a waste of space! How's that for the truth!"
"You want to talk about the truth?" DarkAngelicmon hissed, grabbing him by the front of his shirt and giving him a hard shake. "The truth hurts, Sam, but maybe it will finally teach you a lesson. You want to know who the Digimon Emperor is, do you? Very well, then. Gladly will I rip your heart into pieces and step all over its shattered remains! I warned you, but you wouldn't listen, and now you will pay dearly for your foolishness. You are determined to loose your heart to the darkness, and now you will finally have your chance!"
"Tell me!" Sam screamed, not caring anymore what he said. He needed to know. He needed to know the truth...
"And so the plot thickens, as Piedmon would have said. Only a fool cannot see what lies within his own heart. You know, Sam! The truth has been in front of you this whole time, but you've been too blind to see it, little Emperor! Either that or you just haven't wanted to admit it to yourself. That's right, Sam. You talk about the truth? I'll give you the truth. The Digimon Emperor was your father, Ken Ichijouji!"