Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I finally got another chapter done! Okay, so...at this point in the story I would highly suggest that you take the time to read two chapters from my story Digimon Chronicles: The Demon Years entitled: Kenji's Angel and Beneath the Light, the Shadow Awaits if you have not already done so, especially the latter of the two as it relates directly to this chapter. In other words, there is a direct reference made to it in this chapter. You can either read them before or you can read them after reading this chapter. Either will work as the order you read them in won't make much of a difference. Also, if you have the time, I would suggest reading the Chapter in Digimon Chronicles called The Power of the Digidestined just to refresh your memory on the Age of Light and the Dawn of Darkness, which are also referenced in this chapter. That's it for now. And if you're thinking of reviewing, honestly I would actually prefer you review the latest chapter of Digimon Chronicles: The Demon Years over this one as it is the one I would like some feedback on more so than this chapter. (So if you're only gonna review once, review that, not this!) Hope you all enjoy! I will try to get the next chapter up as soon as possible, though as many of you will know from spending years reading this story, this time of year is always a very busy time for me and my updates tend to slow down somewhat, but with that being said I will continue to do my best to post when I can.

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 221: The Myth of the Seven Demon Lords

Lucemon

Server, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World

At first Lucemon could not speak, the words he'd been longing to say for years to the celestial digimon standing before him having disappeared completely from his mind, but recovering nicely he managed to say in a relatively even voice, "DarkAngelicmon...I must admit, after our last encounter I did not expect you to visit me so soon. If at all..."

DarkAngelicmon chose not to respond, preferring instead to simply stand there like a dark shadow lurking in the night, and Lucemon quickly turned his face away, unable to stand the cold fire burning in his friend's hard, emerald gaze. He wanted to reach out to DarkAngelicmon, to reassure himself that their strong bond of friendship was still very much intact, especially now that his old friend was so close at hand, but he dared not, for he was uncertain of how the fallen angel would react to his sudden movement. He knew his mere presence was enough to cause DarkAngelicmon a great deal of pain, but it also worked the other way, for Lucemon too felt tremendous pain in the presence of such terrible darkness. It wasn't just because of their differing traits, though. It was mostly due to the shattered remains of their friendship and all that they had lost since that fateful day when everything had changed. That day he wanted so badly to forget...

"W-what are you doing here?" MarineAngemon stuttered, gazing wide-eyed at the fallen angel. Understandably there was a suspicious look on the little mega's face, and he restlessly fluttered his small wings, a sign that he was nervous.

"I was about to ask the two of you the same thing," DarkAngelicmon replied, his intense green gaze studying the little mega's uneasy expression. Stepping away from the trees, he slowly moved further into the clearing, and Lucemon shuddered at the powerful wave of emotions that seemed to be radiating from deep within the twilight of the fallen angel's shadowy heart. "If Vampiramon or Spritemon were to catch you here, they would not hesitate to drop you right into the hands of my master. You disappoint me, Lucemon. Did our last encounter teach you nothing?"

Lucemon was again finding it difficult to speak, his scattered thoughts beginning to twist horribly inside his head, forming into a terrible lump of heavy sadness and deep despair, but somehow he managed to find his voice, though he doubted the fallen angel would appreciate his next choice of words. "It seems you are the same. Does it not pain you to realize despite all that has taken place between us and all that we have been through, we have both learned nothing from our experiences? Does that not make you sad? Do you not feel what we have lost somewhere deep beneath the darkness in your heart?"

DarkAngelicmon's emerald eyes narrowed in anger, just as Lucemon had suspected would be the case, but surprisingly the fallen angel, who was fond of words, chose not to comment, preferring simply to wait and observe the dangers of what their unwanted conversation might lead to instead of bringing the conversation upon them himself.

"Lucemon...do you...would you like me to leave?" MarineAngemon asked quietly, glancing uncertainly at DarkAngelicmon. "Not too far of course, since I want to be close by if you need my help, but if you want some time alone with him..."

Dear MarineAngemon...Always thinking of others before himself.

Lucemon quickly shook his head in reply, a sigh escaping his lips. "I appreciate the sentiment, but that will not be necessary, MarineAngemon."

"Well, if you're sure."

"Are you frightened of me, Lucemon?" DarkAngelicmon inquired, the dark spear he favoured in battle appearing suddenly in his hand. There was a slight smile on his face, but there was no humour in it, which would have been the case under normal circumstances. This time the gentle curve of his lips held a touch of bitterness and the heat in his gaze was tainted with hurt and betrayal.

"No, of course not," Lucemon replied softly, his voice barely above a whisper. "I could never be frightened of you. I am frightened for you. So much so, in fact, that even I cannot fully comprehend the depths of my fear."

"Is that so?"

Lucemon slowly lifted his pale blue gaze from the damp soil beneath his feet, and gazing directly into his old friend's bright emerald eyes, he murmured in slight confusion, "Why have you come to me like this? It is clear you cannot stand the sight of me, so...why do you torture yourself this way?"

"To give you a warning."

"A...warning?"

"Yes indeed, a warning. One I suggest you take to heart, my dear Lucemon. You poor, naive fool..."

"You seek to hurt me with your clever words, do you? That trick may work on most digimon, and even on the humans it seems, but you cannot blind me from the truth as you have done with so many others. I understand you too well to fall for your empty words. You seem to have forgotten that I know the heart within you better than I know my own. I cannot be deceived by the digimon you believe yourself to be."

"A fool indeed, if you truly believe the lies coming from your own mouth. Again, you disappoint me, Lucemon."

Lucemon refused to look at the fallen angel. There was just no way he could possibly stand to see that terrible gaze burning into his soul. "What is this warning you speak of? If that is all you came to say then please...do not keep me waiting."

DarkAngelicmon slowly moved closer to him, looking very much as if he wanted to step back and put some distance between them, indicating he was not in the mood for any kind of friendly contact, physical or otherwise, and twirling his spear, he said quietly, "Evil is stirring this night and the darkness is thick. I would advise you not to get involved in the plans we have for Sam. Not unless you want to be swallowed by the darkness yourself, that is."

"What is it exactly that you have planned for Sam, and for Ken? Please, tell me!"

"I cannot, but you can rest assured our plan has already been set into motion. It begins tonight, Lucemon. I know what you are thinking, but even if you did go back to the Digidestined you would be powerless to do anything to help them, especially when it comes to the young Sam Ichijouji."

"You are mistaken, my old friend. Despite your intentions to further aid the forces of darkness this evening, the thought did not cross my mind to turn back."

DarkAngelicmon looked properly surprised by this piece of news, but his curiosity faded almost immediately to be replaced by suspicion. "Why not?"

Lucemon finally raised his head again, and gazing directly into the fallen angel's emerald eyes, he said with conviction, "Because I trust you. No matter what it is you and your new allies are planning for Sam, I know you will not hurt him."

"You think too highly of me, Lucemon," DarkAngelicmon said quietly, his green gaze growing dark and shadowy. "I am not the digimon you seem to feel you once knew. Whoever that digimon might have been, as you very well know. After all, it is you who insists I have changed, not me. Are you having second thoughts now? How amusing, though I must say, I'm quite flattered by your praise."

Lucemon ignored the fallen angel's attempts to goad him, focusing only on what needed to be said. "You won't hurt Sam or Ken regardless of what you have planned for them tonight. And I know you will not let your allies harm them either. You and I both know this to be true. I will not let you sway my beliefs. Your tricks will not work on me. As I said before, unlike the Digidestined I know you too well. You will not convince me of your lies, whatever you say."

"Even if I were to agree with yours? If I were say...to turn over a new leaf, so to speak?" DarkAngelicmon replied savagely, a bitter tone once again entering into his words.

Lucmeon hung his head in shame, but he absolutely refused to be tricked into believing something that wasn't true. He would not give up so easily this time.

"Nothing to say in response?" DarkAngelicmon asked mildly, shaking his head in disappointment. "A shame really. I thought you'd be ecstatic that I've taken it upon myself to speak with you again. Isn't that what you wanted?"

Lucemon turned his back on the fallen angel, his hands clenching into tight fists. "Not like this. You have given me your warning. There is nothing left to be said. Now, if you'll excuse me I would like to be alone with my thoughts for a little while."

"And me too, of course," MarineAngemon butted in, gazing defiantly at the fallen angel.

Apparently DarkAngelicmon decided to ignore his request for solitude because the fallen angel spoke suddenly, and there was an edge to his voice. "Don't think you can dismiss me so easily, Lucemon. I could deliver you to the Ruler of Darkness at any time if it struck my fancy to do so. Watch your tone with me or I may have to take drastic measures."

I never wanted any of this. I just want us to go home together. Back to the home we rebuilt. The dream we realized together...All this time we haven't been back there, not since we restored it. Always we were too busy traveling and helping other digimon to recover from the effects of the darkness that often plagues our world. How much time has passed? Time was different then. It did not mirror the human world in those days. So many centuries away from home...

Lucemon couldn't take it anymore. The pain, the sadness, the terrible hurt pulsing deep within his soul. It was just too much to bear, and all of a sudden his emotions came spilling out of him in a rush of words. "I do not ask you to leave my side because it is what I want! If I could have my way, you would never leave my side again and all of this darkness would be cast away, with only the light to guide our way. If I had my way, the balance between light and darkness would be restored! I merely ask because it is what you want, and I cannot stand to see you flinching and shying away from my mere presence here! You say you have the power to deliver me to your master and I do not doubt you in that. You were always the stronger one out of the two of us. You were always much stronger than me...but if that's the case why have you not done so already? Deliver me to your master then and you will have succeeded in claiming revenge against the traitor you despise!"

"Lucemon!" MarineAngemon gasped, his mouth dropping open in shock.

DarkAngelicmon was silent for a moment, and Lucemon let out a soft sound of surprise as the fallen angel suddenly grabbed his chin, forcing their eyes to meet again. "You are indeed a traitor, both you and Luciamon, and that I cannot forgive, but rather than hand you over to the Ruler of Darkness right away I think I will wait a bit more and observe your pathetic attempts to help the Digidestined. I'm interested to see where this idea of yours to support them we'll lead you, though no good will come of it, I assure you."

Lucemon couldn't look away. He wanted to, but those emerald eyes would not free him from their intense gaze. "You don't mean that."

"Continue down this reckless path you've chosen and you will see exactly whether my words ring true or not."

"Angelicmon..."

"Why do you call me that?" DarkAngelicmon snapped, jerking his hand away as if he'd been burned and staring at it in disgust, as if the slight physical contact they had shared only moments ago both fascinated and revolted him. He looked shocked that he had been addressed in such a manner, which Lucemon did not find the least bit surprising. He was sure it had been a very long time since anyone had called him by that name. "Answer me! That's not my name!"

"It was once. A long time ago..."

"Do not patronize me, traitor! I am well aware of what my name is."

Lucemon felt his throat tighten, and throwing caution to the winds he touched the fallen angel's arm, trying to make sense of the painful and confusing rift between them. DarkAngelicmon, being the taller of the two, had to look down at him for their gazes to meet, and whereas Lucemon's appearance resembled that of a male human between the ages of twelve and fourteen, DarkAngelicmon's features closely resembled that of a male human around the age of seventeen or eighteen. Compared to Angemon and Angewomon, who more closely resembled humans in their mid twenties, they looked very young indeed, though both of them had been around longer than any human could ever comprehend. "Don't you remember anything? Anything at all?"

"Don't touch me," DarkAngelicmon snapped, jerking his arm away and turning so that his face was covered in shadow. "It burns."

"Please, tell me! You must remember something!"

DarkAngelicmon remained silent, his back turned towards his two fellow companions, but Lucemon wasn't going to be dissuaded so easily. Stepping up behind DarkAngelicmon, he placed a gentle hand on the fallen angel's back, his palm resting between his friend's dark wings, and speaking softly in the celestial champion's ear, he murmured, "The light would not burn so if you would let me back into your heart."

Please...

Lucemon expected DarkAngelicmon to pull away again, but to his surprise the fallen angel did no such thing. Turning slightly, DarkAngelicmon whispered a name that sent chills down his spine. "Daemon..."

"Oh!" MarineAngemon moaned, wincing at the mere mention of one of the fabled Demon Lords of legend.

"Daemon," Lucemon repeated, shivering inspite of the humid air still lingering on the slight breeze. "I do not understand...What happened to you after we defeated Daemon? You were weak and vulnerable yes, but...we should have been able to save you...We should have been able to bring you back, even after he somehow managed to bend you to his will. What did he do to you? And you know I don't mean Daemon..."

"I never should have let you come," DarkAngelicmon whispered, more to himself than to his two companions. "If you had not insisted on coming, he never would have been able to find you. He never would have been able to get his hands on you so easily..."

"I had to come. I couldn't stand back and watch while you and Luciamon threw yourselves into the very heart of darkness itself here in our world."

"No...you shouldn't have come. I failed to protect you, and look where it has led us."

Lucemon at first could not speak, having become temporarily paralyzed by the sound of his own heartbeat ringing in his ears, but at last he found the words, though they were uncertain and full of hesitation. "If you remember that much then why can't you..."

"Lucemon, tell me something. What do you know of Takahiro Kuroki and GranDracmon?" DarkAngelicmon suddenly asked quietly, catching Lucemon completely off guard. "That old abandoned fortress on File Island...You've been there, have you not?"

Lucemon paused before answering, uncertain of where their conversation was headed. "I have been there, yes. Several times, in fact. It is a quiet place and a peaceful spot for thinking, and the history of the Digital World seems to come alive all around you under its roof."

"You understand the ancient language of the Digital World as I do not. What is written upon those walls about Tal and GranDracmon? You do not seem surprised to discover that Tal and his friends had fought and won again the first digimon to have ever come out from behind the Wall of Fire."

"You...truly remember the stories about GranDracmon?"

"I remember Tal's group of Digidestined fought against him and won, but-"

"What else do you remember?"

DarkAngelicmon glanced suspiciously at him, a frown overtaking the fallen angel's handsome features. "GranDracmon...He was Daemon's master, was he not? Only...because of Tal his plans to rule both our world and the human world failed. If I remember correctly, he was banished to the World of Darkness and sealed away. Daemon wanted to resurrect his master, and his master's vision to claim both the human world and the Digital World, I believe. Daemon...his plan to...to..."

"Yes?"

DarkAngelicmon paused, trying to remember. "The ancient prophecy of File Island. The curse of the Seven Demon Lords. He wanted them, just like his master before him. He wanted you..."

"Angelicmon..."

Could it be?

Lucemon quickly stepped in front of his old friend, his arms reaching out to curl gently around the fallen angel's waist in a warm hug. He knew his pale blue eyes were pleading for a positive answer to his desperate words, but he did not allow himself to feel embarrassed.

"Was I...really trying to protect you?" DarkAngelicmon whispered, a faraway look in his bright green eyes.

"Yes, you were. And for that I will forever remain in your debt. If it wasn't for me this would not have happened. If it wasn't for me, you would still be you..."

For a long moment they merely stared at each other in silence, their gazes locked in some kind of silent communication, and just for a split second Lucemon thought he saw a flash of recognition in DarkAngelicmon's gaze, but it was gone before he could confirm whether he had really seen it or not. "Tell me about Tal and GranDracmon."

"I do not understand why it is important to you, but..."

"But what?"

Lucemon hugged his dearest and closest friend more tightly around the waist, and ignoring the fallen angel's wince, he whispered, "If it will help you remember the close bond we once shared, if it will help bring you back to me, then I will tell you whatever you want to know."

DarkAngelicmon shifted uncomfortably, obviously unsettled by the light coming from Lucemon's touch encircling his dark form, and gazing off into the trees, he said simply, "Proceed then, for I grow weary of waiting."

"You must understand, though, I do not know much more than what you used to remember about GranDracmon and the first Digidestined. I never had the opportunity to meet Takahiro Kuroki and his friends like you did..."

"I...what?" DarkAngelicmon gasped, pulling back slightly to stare at him in shock.

"Before Daichi and his friends, I had never even seen a human before, but you have. You don't remember obviously, but in some ways perhaps you know more than I ever did about Tal and his friends, and their adventure, despite what is written on the walls of the fortress and the things that I have read."

"What do you mean? I don't understand."

Lucemon sighed, a soft sort of smile appearing suddenly on his handsome face. "Do not trouble yourself about it. I have not lost hope that your past will come to you in time. Let us focus on the answers you seek for now and we shall visit the past another day once you've...thought about it a bit more."

"Lucemon...you..."

Lucemon could feel DarkAngelicmon trembling in his arms, and it gave him the courage to speak. "You must understand, you and I...we never met GranDracmon personally. All we know is what we heard from other digimon and from what I was able to discover on the walls of the fortress. There is much history written on those walls dating back to the very beginning, to the Age of Light and the Dawn of Darkness, which has led to the present day Digital World we are both familiar with."

"The Age of Light..." DarkAngelicmon murmured, looking lost in thought.

"As I told you, you never met GranDracmon and neither did I, but...we know he very much wanted to meet me..."

"What?" DarkAngelicmon asked sharply, his gaze immediately becoming focused again.

"You don't remember? Rumours reached us that the one calling himself the Ruler of Darkness, the one known as GranDracmon was searching for me, but thanks to help from both you and Luciamon he was never able to find me."

"I see..."

"The ancient prophecy of File Island. The words of Seermon..."

"The words of...Seermon?" DarkAngelicmon asked curiously, a slight frown overtaking his pale features.

"The world will become shrouded in darkness and the beings known as the Seven Great Demons Lords shall walk the land. In time, a digimon with immense power will appear out of that darkness, and he will have the power to unite the forces of evil. When the Seven Demon Lords gather under his command, the worlds of both digimon and humans will be at his mercy, and those under his reign will tremble with fear, for he is the source of evil that slumbers within the hearts of the guilty and the innocent."

"The worlds will become shrouded in darkness...You mean the Dawn of Darkness?" DarkAngelicmon asked slowly, shaking his head in denial of his own words.

"I believe so, yes. The Dawn of Darkness that ended the Age of Light. It was because of them. The Age of Light came to an end because the Seven Great Demon Lords began to walk the land. They were responsible for the Dawn of Darkness. Eventually, though no one knows how it came about, a digimon from behind the Wall of Fire caught wind of the prophecy, and breaking free from the World of Darkness he sought to unite the Seven Demon Lords under his command."

"GranDracmon..." DarkAngelicmon whispered, unable to look away. "And Daemon...he..."

"Sought to revive his master and to accomplish what GranDracmon had failed to do. Bring the Seven Great Demon Lords together. He believed by doing so he would earn himself a place of honour by his master's side, and now..."

"No," DarkAngelicmon snapped, pulling away from him. "No, it cannot be."

"You know it is true, even if you do not remember your past. Why else would he be trying to capture-"

"No!" DarkAngelicmon cried, struggling out of his arms and backing away from him. "If you are correct and I cannot remember my past then how do I know if what you say is true? How do I know you're not lying to me? How do I know you haven't betrayed me like Luciamon?"

"Angelicmon-"

"Stop calling me that!"

"Hey, there's no need to yell at him!" MarineAngemon shouted, frowning at the fallen angel.

There was a moment of tense silence and then DarkAngelicmon turned his back on them, his handsome face once again becoming neutral. "I believe I've learned all I need to know for now. It is time I returned to the others."

"The prophecy of the first Digidestined, the angels of hope and light and the hour of the beast, the myth of the Seven Great Demon Lords...The prophecies of File Island do not lie. Seermon and Sorcermon have always been truthful in their words of wisdom. You know this to be true as much as I do."

DarkAngelicmon chose not to respond, and desperate to reveal his true feelings to the fallen angel, Lucemon reached out to him, stopping his old friend before he could fly away. Taking DarkAngelicmon's face in his hands, he said sadly, "Please, let them help you. Let Makiya and Masato Takaishi into your heart. If you do, you will see the truth for yourself. If you cannot trust me then at least put your faith in them. They will show you the way back to the light you so desperately cling to. The light that always remains just out of reach."

Let them show you the way back to me...

At first Lucemon thought DarkAngelicmon was going to shove him away, but instead the fallen angel closed his eyes and whispered, "I...will try."

"Angelicmon..."

"A word of advice, Lucemon. I would advise you to stay out of sight for the remainder of your time spent here in this swamp, especially from the prying eyes of Vampiramon and the others whom you once worked with. I cannot guarantee your freedom if you do not heed my words of wisdom."

"I will be careful. I promise you that."

DarkAngelicmon nodded, and stepping back he leaped into the air and flew away into the trees, leaving Lucemon staring after him. He had not been able to tell his old friend everything he'd been wanting to say about GranDracmon, Tal, and the past in general, but there would be time for that another day.

At least, he hoped there would be.

Takahiro Kuroki and his friends may have been able to defeat GranDracmon, along with several of the Seven Great Demon Lords in the past, but Lucemon knew only too well that there were still several Demon Lords out there who currently walked the four hemispheres of the Digital World. The reason why was simple. He knew because he was one of them.