Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: And another chapter done! I don't have much to say this time because personally I think the chapter sort of speaks for itself.
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 166: Beyond the Horizon
Sam Ichijouji
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Standing beneath a canopy of thick, dark leaves, Sam Ichijouji slowly lifted his chin and he gazed silently up at the pale blue moon shimmering eerily above the dark forest, its weak rays of light streaming through the branches of the tall trees keeping silent watch over the Digital World and all those who dwelt within it. How Sam knew he was in the Digital World, he could not say, but something about the forest seemed familiar somehow, and the dark trees surrounding him appeared to be calling out his name, their dry, wistful voices just barely reaching his ears before fading to the point where he could no longer hear them. It was as if their words had been swept away by the gentle breeze rustling the leaves on the trees.
Where am I? I know this place, but I can't recall ever coming here in the past. Have I been here before? Why is it so dark?
Frowning in confusion, Sam glanced uneasily at the circle of trees surrounding him, his heart thumping painfully in his chest. He was standing in a small clearing, and even though he appeared to be alone, he could not shake the feeling that someone was watching him.
There are eyes everywhere. This place is dangerous. If I stay here, the darkness will find me.
Knowing instinctively that he was right, Sam began to move quickly towards the edge of the clearing, his silent footsteps taking him deeper into the woods. To his complete surprise, even though there were twigs and roots snapping beneath his feet, and leaves brushing against his cheeks, the forest remained oddly quiet, the sound of his body and limbs coming in contact with the wildlife flourishing beneath the trees making absolutely no sound whatsoever.
It's like I'm not even here, but if that's the case then why can I feel the forest reaching out to me?
For what seemed like the span of a lifetime, though for all he knew time could have stopped completely, Sam continued to make his way through the forest, the thick tangle of trees stretching out before him like a never ending row of tall, dark pillars keeping silent vigil over their sacred lands. Sam was sure they were laughing at him, mocking his weak attempt to escape from the forest, and their silent giggles almost made him give up in despair. They were servants of the night, and he was an intruder, someone who did not belong in their world. If he did not leave soon, they would make him suffer the same fate as all those who had succumbed to the darkness before him. They would make him one of them, and he knew with a certainty that caused a shiver to race down his spine, if he could not resist their power, his heart would become a tool of darkness.
But how? How do I get out of here? Glowmon, help me!
Sam glanced at the trees and then down at his feet, desperately hoping to spot his digimon partner, but he knew it was hopeless to believe Glowmon would suddenly materialize out of thin air and come flying to his aid. He was alone, and considering the way he had treated his partner earlier, he had no right to expect any help from the little rookie.
I'm sorry, Glowmon. I hope you can forgive me...
Fighting back tears, Sam fought his way through the trees and just when he was truly starting to believe the forest might go on forever, the branches hovering above his head began to thin and his right foot suddenly sank into a pile of soft sand. Glancing down at his gray and green sneakers in surprise, Sam frowned and he shook his head in confusion. Sand? But...I'm in a forest. Normally you only find sand in a desert or at the...
Summoning a spark of energy he didn't know he had, Sam put on a burst of speed and he pushed his way through the thick undergrowth, his sapphire eyes focusing intently on the horizon, which appeared to be a long, thin line of dark water peeking between the trees. Almost before he could catch his breath, the trees suddenly thinned, eventually disappearing into the background behind him, and he found himself standing on a long sandy beach that stretched out on either side of him before disappearing into the distance. In front of him, the ocean looked dark and menacing, and yet at the same time it seemed almost peaceful. From his position at the edge of the forest, he could see the tide rolling in, but strangely enough, he could not hear the sound of the waves. The sand beneath his feet looked silver in the moonlight, and the moon itself hung over the murky black waters of the ocean, its cold blue light offering little warmth or comfort.
This place....This..this is....
The Dark Ocean.
Although Sam had never been to the Dark Ocean before, he knew instinctively that was where he was, and all of a sudden he understood why the forest had seemed so familiar. This was the World of Darkness and he was at its mercy.
No! No...I don't want to be here again. Please...
Sam slowly began to back up, but just as he was about to run back into the forest, he spotted the dark shape of a human sitting near the edge of the water. Whoever it was had their back to him and he could tell the boy had his legs crossed, a sign he had been sitting there for quite some time. Whoever it was appeared to be gazing out at the water, and although Sam knew he should be cautious, for some odd reason he did not feel the least bit afraid. In fact, he felt oddly drawn to the boy, and before he could stop himself, he quickly made his way towards the edge of the water. Upon closer inspection, Sam realized with some surprise that the boy was holding a small bottle in his left hand, and in his other hand he held a thin stick with a circular end on it for blowing bubbles. As Sam watched in fascination, the boy made several attempts to blow bubbles out into the water, but almost all of the bubbles were either small and weak or they broke before they were fully formed.
I know him. I've seen his face before....
Sam had reached the water by this time, and without waiting for an invitation, he sat down next to the other boy, turning slightly to gaze at the dark horizon calling out to him in the distance. "You're blowing too hard. You're never going to make a decent bubble with that kind of technique."
"Maybe not, but I bet you could make nice bubbles. Would you like to show me how? I never could get it right."
Sam hadn't expected to receive an answer, and as a result the other boy's sudden words caught him by surprise. Turning to face his mysterious companion, Sam felt his breath catch in his throat. This was the first opportunity he had received to get a closer look at the boy, and what he saw was enough to make his heart skip several beats. The boy had sapphire eyes, cobalt-coloured hair, and a smile that was slightly condescending, though there was a warmth and tenderness about that smile, as well. Perched upon the bridge of his nose were a pair of round glasses, and yet despite his somewhat ordinary appearance, Sam was unable to look away from the miracle that sat only mere inches away from him.
This boy was no ordinary boy.
Sam had definitely seen the be-speckled youth before, never in life, but many times in the old photographs that even now hung upon the walls of his home, those eyes gazing at him from somewhere beyond the grave. How often had he wished for a chance to meet the one he had been named after, but always the dream had been an unattainable goal.
Until now.
It was crazy. It was completely impossible, and yet here he was sitting beside the one member of his extended family he had never had the chance to know, the one person who would never see him smile or watch him grow up, or give him the words of comfort he so desperately needed.
It's really him. He's really here...
Tears stinging his eyes, Sam placed a trembling hand on the other boy's shoulder and almost unable to utter the word he whispered, "Uncle?"
The late Sam Ichijouji smiled at him, but instead of answering his plea or the many questions that were racing through his mind, his uncle merely held out the bottle and pressed the wand for blowing bubbles into his hand. "Go on. I want to see your bubbles. How am I going to get any better if I don't have anyone to practice with?"
Tears blurring his vision, Sam almost couldn't see the wand in his hand, but somehow he managed to dip it into the bottle, and holding it close to his lips, he made a weak attempt to blow a couple bubbles. To his complete surprise, five large beautifully shaped bubbles suddenly burst free from the wand in his hand and they floated leisurely over the water before disappearing from view. What was even more astonishing was the fact that instead of being clear like his uncle's, all the bubbles had been a different colour, the significance of those colours becoming immediately recognizable to him. Five bubbles, each one a different colour. Red, blue, green, yellow, and orange. The same colours as the five D-Coder Digivices that belonged to his five closest friends.
Dai, Ryoko, Kara, Mickey, Matty.....
"See? I knew you could do it," his uncle murmured, turning once more to gaze at the ocean. "Just like he could. I envy you, Sam."
"Me?" Sam stared at his uncle in surprise, and shaking his head he quickly dropped the bubble wand back into its bottle. "Why?"
Instead of answering, the late Sam Ichijouji frowned at the dark waters lapping gently against the shore and he let out a deep sigh. "Sam, what are you doing here? You don't belong in this world."
"It's not like I have a choice, thanks to DarkAngelicmon."
"There's always a choice, Sam, even if you can't always see where each road begins or where each road will end. Don't you see your path just over the horizon?"
Sam looked to where his uncle was pointing, and to his complete astonishment, he saw a small sliver of light glimmering faintly at the edge of the horizon, just past the dark waters surging quietly towards the shore. The light was barely visible, but it was still there, shining like a beacon to guide him through the darkness.
Is that where my family and friends are waiting for me? Dad....what about you? Are you waiting there, too, in the place where I belong?
Unable to stop the tears he had been trying so desperately to hold back from slipping silently down his cheeks, Sam quickly shook his head and he gazed hopelessly at the ocean, unable to accept a future that seemed so out of reach. "What am I supposed to do? I want to forgive him, but I don't know if I can..."
"Do you love your dad?" his uncle asked quietly, without even looking at him.
"I...of course I do! I just..."
"Kindness and compassion will show you the way. Let yourself feel what you want to feel, not what you think you have to feel. Can you do that for me?"
"I'll...I'll try. Uncle, why? Why did you have to leave us? Why did you have to die?"
"I'm always with you, Sam. Always."
Losing his resolve completely, Sam began to sob uncontrollably into his uncle's shoulder. "Why did all of this have to happen? Why? You, my dad, everything! I wanted to meet you. I wanted..."
"I wanted to meet you, too."
"But, I..."
Sam felt his uncle's hand touch his shoulder, and choking back the sobs that were threatening to overwhelm him, he lifted his gaze and he stared directly into his uncle's sad eyes. The fingers pressing gently against his shoulder felt so real, it was hard to believe the boy beside him was no longer a part of the world occupied by the living. The late Sam Ichijouji himself seemed to feel that endless barrier between them quite keenly, as well, because he smiled sadly and murmured, "Sam, can you promise me something?"
"Of course! Anything you want."
"Do what I never had the chance to do in life. Let your father know how much you care about him before it becomes too late to say what you feel inside your heart. He knows you loved him once, but now he's not so sure. Do you want him to someday leave your world believing you feel nothing for him?"
Sam buried his face against his uncle's shoulder and he violently shook his head. "No! No...it's not like that. I do care. That's why it hurts so much..."
"Then live each day with no regrets. You never know what might happen in the future, Sam. Make the most of the time you have and use it wisely. Something I never did..."
Clinging tightly to his uncle's arm, Sam turned his head slightly to gaze at the black sky looming above the dark waters of the ocean, and shaking his head he bit his lip. "Uncle, am I a disappointment to you? I'm not smart like Miya or...or...perceptive like Nao, and I'm not really particularly good at anything. I'm just....just average. I'm not special like you were. I know my parents gave me your name, but I don't think I can ever live up to your standards..."
Without looking at him, the late Sam Ichijouji smiled faintly and once again he pointed towards the light in the distance. "You should go now, Sam. It isn't good for you to stay here so long."
"But-"
"Go back to where you belong. If you don't, the others will be worried about you."
The words were so reminiscent of what DarkAngelicmon had said to him earlier that for a moment all Sam could do was stare. Thankfully, his uncle didn't seem to notice and chewing anxiously on his lower lip he mumbled, "But...what about you?"
"I have my own place in the light, thanks to Ken. Go, Sam. The others are waiting for you. Don't turn your back on them, not now when they need you so much, especially your dad."
Impulsively, Sam reached out and he flung his arms around his uncle's neck in a tight hug. "You can't leave yet!"
"Sam, tell Miya and Nao....tell them I wish I could have met them, and tell Ken....tell your dad...I miss him..."
"I will, I promise."
Sam felt his uncle's arms go around him in a brief hug, but before he could say anything more, the late Sam Ichijouji suddenly pulled away from him and stood up. "Goodbye...Sam."
"Wait! You can't go! You never answered my question! I'm not.."
"You're my nephew," his uncle said quietly, without turning around to look at him. "For me, that's enough. You deserve a better name than mine."
Leaping to his feet, Sam hugged himself and he smiled through his tears. "Goodbye, Uncle. I'll see you again."
The late Sam Ichijouji paused and he turned around long enough to smile at him over his shoulder. "Not for a very long time, I hope. Don't forget your promise. Remember, kindness and compassion will show you the way. Just follow the bubbles."
My friends...
Sam watched his uncle disappear into the shadows, and turning to face the light in the distance, he held out his hand.
I don't know if I can do what you want, Uncle, but I'll try. For Dad.....
Even as the darkness around him began to fade away, Sam couldn't help but smile at the murky depths of the ocean lapping gently against the shore beneath his feet. He had no proof, but somehow he just knew his uncle was watching over him, and no matter what happened, he knew the late Sam Ichijouji would always be proud of him. For now, that was enough.
***********
Gasping for breath, Sam woke with a start, and jerking into a sitting position, he glanced frantically around the dark room, trying desperately to figure out exactly where he was. Almost immediately, his gaze settled on the shadowy forms of Mickey and Matty, both of whom were curled up beneath the blankets and sleeping peacefully in the younger twin's bed just on the other side of the nightstand.
A dream, but....it felt so real....
Sam frowned in confusion, and shaking his head, he gazed thoughtfully at the partially open door, the memory of his uncle still fresh and vivid in his mind. Beside him, sleeping happily on a pillow, Glimmermon hadn't even sensed his sudden movement, and although he would have loved a chance to speak with his partner, he didn't really feel like waking the poor digimon. Although Glimmermon would never admit it, Sam could tell his partner was exhausted, and also because of his earlier actions, he knew he was partly to blame for his partner's fatigue. Clearly Glimmermon needed a good rest, and Sam wasn't about to cause his partner any more stress than he already had.
Uncle....I want to keep my promise, but I don't know if I can. What should I do? Where do I go from here? How do I find a way to forgive when my heart feels so empty?
They were good questions, but unfortunately there was no one around who could give him the answers he so desperately needed, not even the twins. Before arriving at the Takaishi residence, Sam had been a bit uncertain about confronting T.K. and Kari, but instead of scolding him, they had merely held him close, given him something to eat, and put him to bed without ever mentioning a single word about his father. Even Rina hadn't said a word about the Digimon Emperor. Instead, the young female Takaishi had merely come into the room to give Glimmermon a hug and to say goodnight before scurrying off to her room, though her big, blue eyes had told him all he needed to know about where she stood concerning the former Digimon Emperor. The only time T.K. and Kari had even mentioned his parents was to let him know his mother had phoned, informing them that Mantarou had called her about his whereabouts. He was sure spending some time away from his father was for the best, but at the same time the words of his friends and cousins, and most importantly the promise he had made to his uncle were eating away at his heart.
It was just a dream, but....if that's true then why can I still feel his hand on my shoulder and hear his voice whispering in my head?
A voice he had never heard in life, and yet he knew it instinctively.
Glancing over at the twins, Sam rubbed his eyes and he studied their sleeping faces, envious of the ease in which they had left the waking world of reality behind. It was just a dream, but he knew Mickey would call it something else, and Matty....he didn't really know what Matty would think.
"Let yourself feel what you want to feel, not what you think you have to feel...."
I'll try, Uncle. I promise I'll try.
Glancing once more at the half hidden face of Makiya Takaishi, a face that even in sleep seemed to be telling him not to give up, Sam curled himself beneath the blankets again and he drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
Masato 'Matty' Takaishi
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
For the second time that night, Sam's breathing fell into a deep, steady rhythm, and as soon as Matty was sure his friend was asleep, he slowly opened his eyes and he poked his twin lightly in the shoulder. Mickey, who like him was only pretending to be asleep, quickly turned to face him, and the two of them stared silently at each other from across their pillows, their amber eyes shining faintly in the darkness of the room. At first, Matty wasn't quite sure what to say, but luckily his twin seemed eager to talk.
"Hey, Matty?" Mickey murmured, his voice barely above a whisper in the darkness. "What do you think Sam was dreaming about?"
"I have no idea. I hope it wasn't a nightmare."
"I don't think it was. He didn't seem scared to me, just....surprised."
"Maybe..."
"What's wrong, Matty?"
Unable to look his brother in the eyes, Matty quickly turned to face the closet and he pulled the blankets over his head. "Mickey, I'm really worried about Sam. I know he says he's going to come with us to the Digital World tomorrow, but...I can tell his heart just isn't in it and that might cause us some big problems."
"You're right, but even if that's true, we can't give up on him. Think about it, Matty. If we can't find a way to make ourselves believe he'll eventually overcome his father's past then how is he supposed to believe in himself? You saw the way he looked at us when he thought we were asleep. He needs us and we have to support him no matter what happens."
I know Sam needs to come with us, but I can't help thinking it might be better if he stayed behind. What if everything goes wrong tomorrow? If Vampiramon manages to steal the Spirit Chip from us, we're going to be in big trouble....
"There's something else on your mind, not just Sam. What is it, Matty?"
Blushing furiously under the sheets, Matty kept his back turned towards his twin, and knowing already it was useless to deny Mickey's accusation, he squeezed his eyes shut and he clutched his pillow tightly against his chest. "Nothing, only...you told Mom how you really felt about DarkAngelicmon long before you said anything to me."
"Matty, I-"
"Why? Why did it take you so long to tell me? You...you practically tried to hide your feelings from me! Don't try to deny it!"
Without warning, Mickey suddenly yanked the blankets back, exposing their upper bodies, and feeling an unexpected rush of cool air on his face, Matty reluctantly opened his eyes. Rolling over onto his back, pillow still clutched tightly in his arms, he found himself gazing into his brother's bright amber eyes. Mickey was leaning over him, and from the look on the older twin's face, Matty could tell his brother was deeply disappointed. "Do you honestly believe I didn't want to tell you? Matty, the only reason I didn't say anything right away is because I knew you wouldn't take me seriously, and judging from the way you were acting earlier today it looks like I was right! I wanted you to understand why I feel so strongly about DarkAngelicmon before I said anything, but...obviously that's not how it worked out. Mom understands, but...you act like you don't even want to try!"
Jerking into a sitting position, Matty shoved his pillow into his brother's arms and he gave the older twin a dirty look. "Did it ever occur to you that you're the one who's not taking me seriously?"
To his surprise, instead of protesting, Mickey blushed and he buried his face in the pillow. "I know. I promise I'll try to be more cautious from now on, but....you need to be cautious, too."
"I know that! Last time I checked, I wasn't the one pulling all kinds of crazy stunts in the Digital World the last few days!"
"But you want to fight DarkAngelicmon. I know you do."
"As long as he stays out of our way, I don't care what he does, but if he tries to threaten the Digital World and our safety, I will have Angelicmon stop him. He's the one who wants to fight my partner, not the other way around."
"Speaking of Angelicmon...do you think he's hiding something from us?" Mickey asked hesitantly, clearly anxious to change the subject. "Gabrielmon, too, even more so for that matter. The way both he and Celestimon were acting earlier in the Digital World today..."
"You mean just when we were coming home. Yeah, something about the forest..."
"Something in the forest," Mickey whispered.
The two of them turned simultaneously to gaze at their partners, and Matty felt a shiver race down his spine, more out of anticipation than fear. Goldmon and Palelymon were sleeping peacefully together on a pillow above the spot where Mickey's head had been resting only a moment ago, but despite their innocent appearance Matty could tell they knew something they weren't telling everyone, even their own partners.
"Do you think there might have been someone in the forest?" Mickey asked anxiously, nervously twisting his fingers together.
Gazing thoughtfully at their digimon, Matty shrugged his shoulders and he rested his chin in his hands. "If there was someone in that forest they weren't our enemy. If we were being watched by someone like DarkAngelicmon, Gabrielmon and Celestimon would have warned us."
"I know, but if it wasn't someone like DarkAngelicmon then who...."
"I don't know, but I intend to find out. You're curious, too, aren't you?"
Mickey smiled shyly at him, and nodding in agreement the older twin gestured towards their digimon. "Of course, but do you think they'll tell us?"
"We'll make them tell us."
"But-"
Matty crossed his arms over his chest and he glared at the two little in-training digimon. "I'm tired of secrets, and if you think I'm going to let my own partner hide things from me, forget it!"
"But-"
"Come on, we'd better get some sleep. If we don't, we'll be useless tomorrow."
Without waiting for a reply, Matty grabbed his pillow out of Mickey's arms and he happily dived under the blankets, the heel of his left foot somehow connecting squarely with Mickey's right knee.
Wincing in pain, Mickey settled down beside him and the older twin gave him a dirty look. "I thought I told you not to hurt me."
"It's my bed! If you don't like it, sleep on the floor! You're worse than Ryoko, you know that? If you're going to complain, why don't you just share with Sam?"
"Because, Sam needs his space right now," Mickey said patiently, his amber eyes dancing suspiciously in the pale light of the moon streaming through the window. "Besides, I'll never escape your snoring no matter where I sleep."
Hitting his brother lightly in the chest, Matty curled himself into a small ball and he closed his eyes, eager to get some sleep. He didn't know what tomorrow would bring, and truthfully he didn't really care. No matter what the Digital World had in store for him, he needed to be alert and ready for action. "Goodnight, Mickey."
In response to his words, Mickey suddenly leaned close to him and the older twin gave his shoulder a quick squeeze. "You're a great brother, Matty, and an even better friend. Don't ever forget how much you mean to us, even for a moment. I know you probably don't believe me, but one day you'll realize just how important you are, not only to me, but to everyone else who cares about you. It might be hard to accept now, but I know you'll eventually realize the truth. Until then, don't forget how much I care about you, okay?"
He knew. He knew all along how I felt, even before Gabrielmon spoke to me. His partner just confirmed what he already believed.
Instead of answering, or even opening his eyes, Matty just smiled at his twin and he snuggled his cheek against the pillow resting beneath his head. Apparently on the short ride back to the human world on Dragermon's back, Mickey hadn't been ignoring him after all.