Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I'm back from holidays with a new chapter! Hope you all enjoy it. I'm looking forward to the next couple chapters that are up and coming, but until then we have this one to finish up this Spirit Chip arc. Well, almost!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 242: The Secret to Success

Makiya 'Mickey' Takaishi

Server, Eastern Hemisphere, Digital World

The first thing Mickey noticed about Odonatamon was his incredible speed. The dragonfly digimon had barely finished what he was saying before he leaped at Vampiramon, catching her off guard. He used the jewel encrusted spear in his hand to sweep the vampire digimon off her feet, and then before she could recover the jewels on his armour began to glow. Leaping into the air, he spread his arms and legs wide and shouted, "Gemstone Barrage!"

"Wow, pretty!" Takara gasped, beaming at the dragonfly digimon.

All of the jewels on Odonatamon had begun to glow a deep purple, and a series of bullets began to shoot out of the gems embedded into the armour of his joints. The bullets themselves resembled colourful beads, and they slammed into Vampiramon's body, sending up a cloud of smoke.

Mickey was sure if he had blinked he would have missed the entire thing, and exchanging a look with Matty the two of them smiled at each other. He wanted to laugh at the stunned expressions on the faces of Spritemon and Jestermon, but instead he kept his attention focused on the battle.

Taking advantage of their momentary surprise, Odonatamon waved his allies closer and called out in a clear voice, "Come, gather around! Your strength shall be needed!"

At first Palmon and the other rookie digimon looked confused, but instead of questioning the ultimate digimon they gathered beneath him on the forest floor, their expressons curious. They were joined quickly by MetalGarurumon and the other digimon who were still fighting, and spreading his wings, Odonatamon called out, "Draco Remedy!"

A cloud of colourful dust originating from Odonatamon's wings settled down onto the digimon waiting below him, and moving their arms and legs they stared at one another in surprise.

"I feel...refreshed somehow," Alopemon said slowly, lifting his head to gaze at Odonatamon with new respect.

"Our energy has been restored!" Palmon said happily, her face lighting up.

"Are you serious?" Dai asked, raising his eyebrows. "But how?"

Mickey chose to answer, and beaming at his fellow Digidestined, he said, "Don't you see? It's a healing move. It works like MagnaAngemon's attack. Odonatamon just healed all of your digimon, and now they're in full fighting form again!"

Everyone turned to stare at Sam with slightly awed looks on their faces, and looking a tad bit embarrassed, Sam said rather sheepishly, "I guess that probably would have come in handy a lot earlier, huh."

There was a moment of silence and then everybody started laughing, and once Odonatamon's sparkling dust had cleared up Ryoko held out his D-Coder and said with determination, "Now let's see who has the upper hand in this fight. Come on, Alopemon, it's time to digivolve again!"

"I'm on it!" the small rookie replied as his body began to glow. "Alopemon digivolve to, Tirimon!"

All of the other digimon who had fallen victim to Vampiramon and her allies earlier quickly digivolved back into their champion or ultimate forms again, and then the battlefield broke into utter chaos.

Odonatamon didn't even wait for Vampiramon to get back on her feet again. Instead he left her to FireDragermon, and darting over Jestermon's head he swooped towards Ivymon and shouted, "Corona Beam!"

A blast of purple light shot out of the middle jewel on the circlet adorning his head, and it hit Ivymon in the neck, effectively silencing her from calling out an attack of her own. She dropped like a stone, and Lillymon was upon her, the female digimon's Flower Cannon attack smashing into Ivymon's head. The force of the blast chewed up the ground all around the enemy's body, and without waiting for a response Lillymon followed up with another flowery explosion.

"Get them!" Dai cheered, pumping his fist into the air.

As soon as Odonatamon had taken the first shot, DarkAngelicmon had quickly leaped away from the angel guards he had voluntarily placed around himself and went to join BlackWidowmon. And since Vampiramon was still getting to her feet he took it upon himself to shout out orders in a rather curt tone.

Thrusting his spear in Odonatamon's direction, he said with authority, "Take him down and subdue the others. We need that Spirit Chip!"

"You got it, angel boy," Jestermon smirked, dancing out of Angelicmon's reach and making his way towards Aquilamon and JewelBeemon.

Mickey was finding it a tad difficult to keep track of the battle, but for the most part he was able to follow along. Kibomon and his rookie friends had stayed behind to guard them and keep the Spirit Chips safe while the digimon who were able to digivolve were all out there fighting. FireDragermon, SaberLeomon, and MetalGarurumon were attacking Vampiramon, while Aquilamon and JewelBeemon were keeping Jestermon occupied. Monochromon and MegaKabuterimon were testing their strength against BlackWidowmon while Angelicmon, Gabrielmon, and Ibismon were trying to subdue Spritemon. Tirimon and Ankylomon were keeping DarkAngelicmon on his toes, and finally Odonatamon and Lillymon were trying to make quick work of Ivymon.

Matt motioned for everyone to gather close, and speaking in a low voice, he said, "We got lucky with Odonatamon, but even with his help there's no way we're going to defeat four megas, an ultimate, and a champion all at once. At least, not in our current state. We need to find an opening and get out of here before Vampiramon or one of the others manages to break through and try to make a grab for the Spirit Chips."

"True," Dai agreed, glancing over his shoulder to frown at Vampiramon. "Everybody keep your eyes open. Dragermon's our best bet of getting everyone out of here in one piece."

"As soon as an opportunity presents itself, have FireDragermon digivolve back to champion. We're getting out of here the first chance we get," Izzy instructed. "I've already searched for the location of the nearest gate. It's in the opposite direction of where we came into the swamp. We'll head there immediately as soon as we see an opening."

"Let's hope this works," Mimi sighed, looking rather worried.

Mickey jumped as Kenji's partner suddenly leaped into his arms, and without speaking the two of them turned to watch the battle taking place. DarkAngelicmon was wielding his spear like an experienced fighter as he weaved around Tirimon and Ankylomon, expertly avoiding their attacks, but on closer inspection Mickey suspected that the fallen angel's heart really wasn't in it. DarkAngelicmon was fighting alongside his allies, yes, but he didn't seem to be putting much effort into it. As good as he was at the moment, Mickey had seen better from him, and something about the lack of motivation in his eyes was a telltale sign. Luckily Vampiramon and the others were too distracted at the moment with their own battles to notice DarkAngelicmon's lack of enthusiasm, but Mickey had seen it right away.

And naturally he was curious.

Ever since jumping into battle, DarkAngelicmon had not once looked in their direction, and twirling his spear he missed Tirimon's flank as the fox digimon leaped aside.

The way he's fighting reminds me of Luciamon. She didn't want to hurt our digimon so she was very careful with how she used her attacks against them. In the end it turned out she wasn't really evil. Does the same hold true for DarkAngelicmon?

"Had enough?" Lillymon called out, diving out of the sky and sending a kick straight to Ivymon's midsection.

"You won't remain an ultimate for long," Ivymon threatened, recovering and letting the roots that acted as her hands intertwine into a weapon. "Berry Blaster!"

Lillymon easily avoided the white pellets shooting in her direction, and twirling his spear, Odonatamon shouted, "Velocity Rush!"

Ivymon never even had a chance to move. Odonatamon came at her in a blur, and stabbing her multiple times in the chest with his golden spear he sent violet sparks exploding into her body. Unable to withstand the attack, she fell backwards onto the grass, a startled gasp escaping her throat. Lillymon sent another blast at her, and then Odonatamon was in the air again, his spear glinting in the morning sunlight. "Together now! Let's get rid of her once and for all!"

"Right!" Lillymon agreed, holding out her hands. "Fairy Cannon!"

"Corona Beam!" Odonatamon shouted, sending his blast directly into Lillymon's attack.

Unlike the two fully energized ultimates, Ivymon had already been fighting for quite some time. As a result she had already used up quite a bit of her energy in an effort to help steal Dai's Spirit Chip. Already weakened, she wasn't able to move fast enough to avoid the combined attacks. They slammed into her in a flash of purple and green light, and she screamed in pain as bits of her data began to float up into the air.

"Time to finish her off and be done with this charade," Odonatamon said, regretfully shaking is head as he hovered above the fallen Ivymon. "May your data be restored at Primary Village. Gemstone Barrage!"

The colourful jewels erupting from his body crashed into the fallen Ivymon, and her data exploded in a blast of multicoloured light. Odonatamon didn't stick around to relish his victory, though. He was already moving again before Ivymon's data had disappeared entirely, and swooping down upon Vampiramon he caught her in the back with his Velocity Rush attack. She fell forward on her face, and batting the purple sparks out of her eyes she leaped to her feet again, her crimson eyes blazing with fury.

"You," she hissed, pointing at Sam as she stepped out of the way of FireDragermon's flaming bullets. "You'll pay for this, little Emperor!"

"Little Emperor?" Sam replied, lifting his chin and gazing back at the female digimon without a hint of fear in his sapphire eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment! Get her, Odonatamon!"

"Gemstone Barrage!" the dragonfly digimon shouted, aiming for the vampire digimon's head.

Vampiramon dropped and rolled to avoid the attack, and then FireDragermon was making his way towards her. Using his Serpentine Blast attack, he sent a gale of flaming artillery at her, and she disappeared in a fiery inferno that completely obscured her from sight. MetalGarurumon's Giga Missile attack immediately followed, and a cloud of smoke and ash rose into the air. SaberLeomon finished up with his Twin Fang attack, leaving Vampiramon momentarily paralyzed and lying sprawled on the ground.

"Thanks for the help!" FireDragermon laughed, using a clawed hand to give the dragonfly digimon a thumbs up.

Odonatamon was about to reply, but before he could do so BlackWidowmon rushed him from behind. With a scream of rage she tackled him to the ground and proceeded to stomp on his chest. The spider digimon had witnessed what had happened to Vampiramon, and leaving Monochromon and MegaKabuterimon behind she had leaped at the dragonfly digimon in a fit of anger.

Unfortunately for her Odonatamon had yet to suffer an injury or even receive a blow, so he was back on his feet and in the air again before she could launch one of her attacks at him.

"Is that all you have?" Odonatamon inquired, enraging the female mega further.

"Wow, did you see that?" Rosa gasped, her eyes growing wide. "He's so quick!"

"Well, dragonflies are one of the fastest species of insects in the human world," Izzy informed her. "And Odonatamon reflects that."

"Sam, you're very lucky," Ken said softly, beaming at his son.

"We're so proud of you," Yolei added, reaching out to put an arm around his shoulders.

Sam looked up at his parents, and smiling at them, he said simply, "I know."

"Web Shackles!" BlackWidowmon screamed, her sticky threads shooting into the air.

"Now, JewelBeemon!" Odonatamon shouted, diving to the side.

JewelBeemon had just enough time to grab Jestermon right off his feet, and throwing the mega digimon with brute force the fool got caught in the webs that had originally been meant for Odonatamon. The jester digimon hit the ground with a solid thump, his body completely tangled up in BlackWidowmon's sticky webs.

For good measure Aquilamon used his Grand Horn attack, his heavy body crashing into the disabled Jestermon, and then JewelBeemon stepped in, determined to have a turn of his own.

"Spike Buster!" the insect digimon shouted, the energy bullets from his javelin careening into Jestermon.

By this time Spritemon had become aware of what was going on, and abandoning her fight with Angelicmon, Gabrielmon, and Ibismon, she dived at Odonatamon, intending to take him out.

As fast as she was, though, Odonatamon was faster, his speed not yet having been affected by the length of the battle, as was the case with Spritemon, and hitting her in the back with his Corona Beam attack he sent her falling on top of Jestermon.

"How dare you!" the little pixie shrieked, leaping up and twirling in the air. "Pixie Dust!"

Odonatamon had been clever enough to hover in the air above a confused BlackWidowmon, who appeared shocked that her attack had hit Jestermon instead of the intended target, and spinning out of the way of the dust it hit BlackWidowmon instead.

"What are you doing, you fool!" BlackWidowmon screamed, falling to her knees as the pixie dust began to affect her energy levels.

"Oops, sorry," Spritemon said dismissively, though she didn't really look all that sorry.

Turning her back on BlackWidowmon, Spritemon quickly made for Odonatamon again, but her Fairy Cannon attack missed.

In a fit of fury BlackWidowmon was on her feet again, and she launched her sticky thread at Odonatamon a second time. Odonatamon had been anticipating the attack, though, and grabbing Spritemon by the waist he used her as a shield to block the webs spinning in his direction. The little digimon squealed in surprise as the thread wrapped tightly around her body, and letting go of her Odonatamon simply watched as she tumbled out of the sky like a brick, landing next to a struggling Jestermon.

"Now's our chance!" Ibismon cheered, taking advantage of the fact that Spritemon's wings were out of commission and she could no longer use her attacks. "Emerald Flare!"

The green blast hit Spritemon between her wings, and the two angels dived in to continue what Ibismon had started. Combining their attacks, Angelicmon's Celestial Star and Gabrielmon's Holy Sceptre exploded on impact, and Spritemon's shriek echoed throughout the clearing.

"Now!" Odonatamon called out. "BlackWidowmon has been weakened by the hand of her own ally. Let us finish the job and be done with this mess!"

"Amazing!" Izzy said quietly, shaking his head and smiling in amusement.

"What do you mean?" Matty asked curiously.

"Teamwork," Kibomon said simply, letting out a soft snort. "Vampiramon and the others have no teamwork skills whatsoever, and it has been their downfall in this battle so far."

"And it could be the one thing that saves us," Velinemon remarked.

"Our allies are at full strength, and they have excellent teamwork skills to boot," Aiwemon continued, settling himself on Kara's shoulder. "Not only that, but we also outnumber them. Even though they're megas they're not fighting at full strength, and they aren't fighting as effectively as they could be."

"They're relying on sheer strength alone instead of on each other," Kenji's Halomon said quietly, his ears fluttering in the breeze. "They believe that is the key to their power, but they couldn't be more wrong. Our true power comes from working together with other digimon."

"Right now we have the advantage," Gessmon said shyly, moving to hide behind Sam's legs.

"Do you guys think maybe...we could really win?" Takara asked hesitantly, her gaze growing hopeful.

"It's too soon to tell," Cody replied, watching the battle closely. "Anything could happen still."

And something was happening. Spritemon and Jestermon were megas, but so was BlackWidowmon, and her attacks were powerful. The fool and the pixie seemed to be having some trouble escaping from BlackWidowmon's webs, and it didn't help that they were being bombarded by attacks. Vampiramon was still recovering from SaberLeomon's paralyzing attack, and she too was being caught in the ongoing blasts of her enemies. Only BlackWidowmon and DarkAngelicmon were still mobile, and soaring right over DarkAngelicmon's head, ignoring him completely, Odonatamon tackled the spider digimon and sent her crashing into the trees at the edge of the clearing.

"Dragon Pistols!" FireDragermon shouted, sending his flaming bullets at the tree directly behind BlackWidowmon's fallen body. There was a loud cracking sound, and then the giant tree toppled over onto the spider digimon, pinning her to the earth.

"Tirimon! Ankylomon!" Odonatamon shouted, getting their attention.

"We're on it!" Tirimon called back, getting the message. "Arctic Blast!"

"Tail Hammer!" Ankylomon shouted.

DarkAngelicmon was thrown backward by the force of the iron sphere on Ankylomon's tail, and then Tirimon's snowy blast caught him in the back of the skull.

Somehow DarkAngelicmon got to his feet, but he wasn't standing for very long. Gabrielmon was by his side in an instant, and holding the fallen angel's arms behind his back, he said soberly, "I am sorry we have to do this, but we cannot allow you to interfere."

DarkAngelicmon turned his head to glance at the celestial digimon trapping him, and emerald eyes glowing, he simply said, "I know. Your eyes speak the truth."

Mickey gasped as DarkAngelicmon suddenly turned back to look at him, their eyes meeting. He could feel the intensity of the fallen angel's gaze, and suddenly Mickey found himself unable to look away. And then Angelicmon was there, and using his attack with careful precision, the celestial digimon shouted, "Zenith Point!"

Seven blinding rays of light rained down from the sky, but as Angelicmon had intended only one of those rays just grazed the fallen angel's body.

There was a soft gasp and then DarkAngelicmon slumped in Gabrielmon's arms, his eyes falling closed. Smoke rose off his body, but he looked peaceful, and lying him gently on the ground, Gabrielmon said softly, "Sleep, my friend. You will recover soon enough."

Angelicmon bowed his head in respect, a hand resting against his heart, and then the angels, along with Tirimon and Ankylomon, were off to join Odonatamon, leaving DarkAngelicmon unconscious on the ground.

"Oh!" Mickey gasped, turning from the sight.

He felt Matty's hand on his shoulder, and looking up he gave his twin an anxious look.

"He'll be okay," Matty reassured him. "Angelicmon knows what he's doing. He wouldn't hurt him."

"I know."

"Now, while she's weak and still down!" Odonatamon shouted.

"Megaton Press!" Ankylomon shouted, crushing the spider digimon beneath the fallen tree with his weight.

"No!" she shrieked, struggling to break free.

"Nice! Volcanic Strike!" Monochromon cried, the balls of fire shooting out of his mouth exploding into BlackWidowmon.

"Horn Buster!" MegaKabuterimon added, his electrical blast smashing into BlackWidowmon's body.

"Our turn!" Ibismon called out, combing her attacks with Lillymon and Aquilamon. "Emerald Flare!"

"Flower Cannon!"

"Blast Rings!"

"This can't be happening!" BlackWidowmon screamed, still struggling to free herself as bits of data began to float off her body. "I'm a mega!"

"Even a mega cannot fight forever," SaberLeomon shot back, readying himself. "Howling Crusher!"

The mega digimon's claws tore into BlackWidowmon, and then Tirimon and MetalGarurumon were stepping up to have their turn.

"Winter Inferno!" Tirimon shouted, swiping her with his tail and causing a huge explosion of snow and ice.

"Metal Wolf Claw!" MetalGarurumon growled, adding his own blast to the explosion.

The insect digimon were next, and JewelBeemon's Spike Buster attack combined with Odonatamon's Gemstone Barrage to create another explosion.

The two angels readied themsleves, and hovering between them, FireDragermon shouted, "Fire Meteor!"

His huge ball of fire collided with BlackWidomon, and it was followed up by Gabrielmon's Holy Sceptre attack.

BlackWidowmon's eyes were deadly, but she never had another chance to speak. Pointing at the heavens, Angelicmon let loose his Zenith Point attack, and all seven rays of light exploded into BlackWidowmon. The spider digimon disappeared in a blaze of light, and when the dust cleared she was gone. The only thing that remained were a few trailing sparks of red data that disappeared quickly afterwords.

I can't...believe it.

There was dead silence in the clearing. Jestermon and Spritemon had stopped struggling in their webs to stare in stunned disbelief at the spot where BlackWidowmon had met her demise, and Vampiramon, who was on her feet again, looked momentarily at a loss as to what exactly had just happened. DarkAngelicmon was still unconscious, and Mickey could see that all of his friends looked shocked by what had happened.

Dai was the first to recover his wits, and holding out his Digivice, he said hastily, "This is the chance we were waiting for. FireDragermon!"

"Understood!" the ultimate replied, reverting back to his champion form.

There was a mad scramble as everyone, including the digimon without the ability to fly who had reverted back to their rookie forms, clamoured onto Dragermon, and then they were speeding through the air towards the gate Izzy had mentioned earlier, the angels and other aerial digimon following along behind.

Mickey still wasn't quite sure what exactly had happened, but he did know one thing.

Somehow they had just managed to defeat a mega digimon.