Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon. Also, as a reminder, I do not own Kibomon, Aiwemon, Velinemon, or Gessmon, who were created by RoyalKnightX, Shire Folk, Silver Kitsune Lunara, and Miss Anonymous hp respectively.

A/N: Hey everyone! I'm so sorry about the delay! I wanted to post this on Christmas Day, but the site hasn't been working well over the last two days, so I wasn't able to log into my account. I hope you all like this chapter! The next one will have tons of interesting info in it, and we'll all finally be able to start piecing together the mystery of this story!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 250: A Day Like Today

Ryoko Ishida

Hikarigaoka, Japan, Earth

"Before we begin, I would like to introduce my family," Seta said with a smile, gesturing proudly to the woman standing next to him and the two girls who were gazing curiously at all of the digimon who were dressed in various disguises. "This is my wife, Eri Sugiyama, and these are my daughters, Aya and Maori Sugiyama. It wasn't easy telling them about the Digital World all those years ago. I am very thankful that they didn't think I was completely crazy when I did finally work up the courage to tell them!"

"I always believed you," Eri said softly, beaming at her husband. "Gessmon is a wonderful digimon. You were a very lucky boy, Seta."

According to Izzy's research, Eri was forty years old, and she was the manager at a local grocery store in town. Her dark hair was cut in a short bob, and she wore yellow rimmed glasses. Her eyes were an interesting shade of grey, and she had a warm smile. At the moment she was wearing a white skirt that fell to her knees, and her blouse was a nice shade of yellow that matched her glasses. She wore white sandals to match her outfit, and there were several golden bracelets circling her wrist. A pair of gold earrings and a white purse completed her outfit, and in Ryoko's opinion he thought she looked very classy.

"It's nice to meet you all!" Aya Sugiyama said, holding Gessmon tightly in her arms. "I've always wanted a chance to meet these digimon Dad was always talking about. I'm fifteen, the same age as Nobu."

Aya's long hair was dark brown, like both of her parents, and she had Seta's dark eyes. She wore blue jeans and a red v-neck top with black flats. Her smile was bright, and she seemed very easygoing like her father.

Her sister Maori stood next to her, and smiling, the younger girl said, "Everybody likes to joke that I'm the baby, since I'm the youngest out of all of us. I'm thirteen years old, the same age as all of you new Digidestined. I'm sure this conversation will be really interesting!"

"I'm hoping it is," Dai replied, grinning at Maori.

The younger Sugiyama girl wore glasses like her mother, but instead of choosing yellow her glasses were green. Her eyes were the same shade of grey as Eri's, and her dark brown hair was cut in a similar style. She wore green sandals and a denim skirt, and her top was yellow. A green and white hoodie completed her outfit, along with a smile that was very reminiscent of her mother's.

"Seta's girls are much more well-behaved than my kids," Tal announced with a cheerful smile, as he gestured to the dark-haired boy who was speaking in low tones to Shinji. "That's my son, Toma Kuroki. He's eighteen. The young lady next to him on the right is my sixteen year old daughter, Anna Kuroki."

Anna and Toma Kuroki both looked up at the sound of their names, and winking at them, Toma said, "Hey there, guys. I bet you've had one heck of an adventure so far. I hope Shin was being nice to you."

Ryoko raised his eyebrows at that, and exchanging a look with Dai, he said, "Nice enough."

It was plain enough to him that Shinji and Toma were good friends, and they seemed to have a relationship similar to the one their fathers shared.

Like Tai and my father. Why? If everybody else can do it, why do I find it so difficult with Dai?

Toma had his mother's dark hair and his father's sparkling grey eyes, and he had the same sort of natural kindness and warmth about him that Tal seemed to radiate. He wore blue jeans, a red vest, and a brown long-sleeved top, and to complete his outfit he had on a pair of red and black running shoes to match.

His sister Anna had their father's blond hair and grey eyes, and she was wearing grey tights, white fashion boots, a sparkly green top, and a white cycling hat. Her hair was medium length, and it hung in two low ponytails over each shoulder. She seemed to be best friends with Riya, and the two of them had an arm around each other.

"It must have taken a lot of courage to seek out our parents," Anna said softly, her warm smile a mirror image of the one her brother had given. "We would very much like to meet our parents' partners. We can't let Aya and Maori have all the fun."

Aya, who was still holding Gessmon in her arms, laughed and said, "Gessmon's adorable."

"Really, am I?" Gessmon asked, beaming at Aya.

"Of course you are!" Maori replied, stroking the little digimon's furry head.

Growing impatient, Kibomon stepped forward, and pulling off his disguise he launched himself at Tal.

Hugging the rookie tightly, Tal murmured, "I've missed you, Kibomon."

"You kept me waiting way too long!" Kibomon scolded, burying his face against Tal's shoulder. "You owe me, partner."

"Don't I know it," Tal laughed, smiling fondly at Kibomon. "You haven't changed a bit."

Kibomon shook is head, and smiling back at his partner, he said, "Neither have you."

"A pleasure to see you again, Inca," Aiwemon said, fluttering into his partner's arms. "It's been a long time, but right now I feel as if we've never been apart."

"I feel that way too," Inca relied, tears sparkling in her eyes as she hugged her partner tightly. "It's so good to see you again, my friend."

"You guys are awesome," Toma announced, stroking Aiwemon's head before crouching down to study Kibomon. "Dad was right. You're really not all that different from humans."

Kibomon looked both surprised and pleased by the compliment, and smiling at Toma he let the young man inspect him without any complaints.

Anna was quick to shower compliments on Kibomon as well, and taking her turn with Aiwemon, she held the bird rookie in her arms and gently stroked his feathers.

"I see you've never been able to work off all that energy of yours, Mai," Velinemon joked, leaping into her partner's arms and hugging the blond woman tightly around the neck. "The Digital World just isn't the same place without you."

"You haven't lost any of yours either," Mai replied, returning her partner's hug. "I've missed you so much!"

"Go on," Mickey said to Kenji's partner, giving the celestial rookie a gentle push.

Halomon didn't say a word. He just fluttered into Kenji's arms and hugged his partner as tight as he could.

Kenji glanced over his partner's head, and spotting Goldmon and Palelymon, he said in quiet amusement, "I see you've been making new friends. That's so very like you."

"And I see you've hung onto your friends," Halomon replied, glancing at Tal and beaming like a ray of sunshine. "I feel whole again, now that you're with me."

"All of this is because of you," Kenji said softly, gesturing to his wife, children, and his friends. "You've done so much for me, Halomon. Thank you, for everything."

Halomon sniffed and cuddled his face into Kenji's neck, and in return Kenji hugged the little rookie tightly to his chest.

Looking up, Kenji's deep green eyes settled on Mickey, and speaking quietly, he said, "You have an extremely powerful digimon partner. Regardless of what happens, never underestimate your own potential. When times get tough, he will not fail you."

"You sound like you're speaking from experience," Mickey said shyly, cuddling Palelymon against his chest.

Kenji handed Halomon over to his son Nobuo, and giving Mickey a searching look, he said, "That's because I am."

Mickey and Matty glanced at one another, and speaking with their eyes they seemed to come to some sort of understanding that Ryoko failed to comprehend.

He didn't have much time to think about it, though, because Mai and Kenji's children had all gathered around to inspect Velinemon and Halomon.

"You're beautiful," Riya said softly, holding Velinemon close in her arms.

"Just like Mom," Kae agreed, beaming at the feline digimon.

Shinji took Halomon from Nobuo's arms, and holding the digimon close, he said, "Do you really turn into an angel?"

"Of course I do!" Halomon said happily, snuggling against Shinji's chest.

"That's so cool!" Nobu exclaimed, stroking Halomon's fluffy ears.

Shinji glanced at his father, and they shared a smile that softened Kenji's whole face and made him appear a lot younger than he was, so much in fact that Ryoko was able to clearly see the young boy who had helped save the Digital World many years ago.

Kenji's daughters quickly exchanged places with their brothers, and as Riya and Kae were gushing over Halomon, Shinji and Nobuo took the time to inspect Velinemon.

Once the original Digidestined had had a chance to be reunited with their digimon partners everyone once again settled themselves on benches or on the grass to talk while their food remained unopened and uneaten on the picnic tables. The rest of their greetings were made, and after introducing themselves and their digimon to the original Digidestined, Izzy decided to take matters into his own hands and get the conversation going.

"As Daichi and his friends explained to Seta, once again the Digital World is in a lot of trouble," the computer expert explained, gesturing with his hands for emphasis. "We're fighting against an enemy with no name and no face. So far we've managed to hold our own against his servants, but the tide could turn against us at any time. There's still too much about our current situation that we still don't understand, and it is our lack of understanding that puts the Digital World and all of its digimon at risk."

"And so you have come to us for help," Kenji finished, exchanging a meaningful look with Tal.

Tal and Kenji were sitting next to each other on a worn bench, and the rest of the group was crowded around them in a large circle. Most of the adults had managed to claim a bench, and all of the children and their digimon were seated in the grass.

Mai was sitting in the grass next to the bench where Tal and Kenji were seated, her cheek resting against her husband's knee, and Inca was seated in the grass at Tal's feet. Seta and his wife had claimed the bench close by on Tal's right, and all of the children of the original Digidestined were sprawled in the grass around them. Their group was the main focus, and the rest of the adults, children, and digimon were gathered around them in anticipation of their words.

Waiting to finally hear the truth...

"There are certain points about what's going on in the Digital World at the present moment in time that seem to relate to past events that had occurred during your time as Digidestined," Izzy continued, his dark eyes focusing on Tal. "We were hoping, with your knowledge of the past, that we might be able to piece together the events of the present in order to have a better understanding of what is currently happening in the Digital World."

"Our digimon friends are in trouble, and we can't save them without your help," Mina added, her arms going around Candlemon.

"It sounds like you have your work cut out for you," Tal replied, the concern in his voice matching the concern in his grey eyes.

"If our help will allow you to save the Digital World then we will do everything we can to help you understand," Inca said firmly, smiling at Izzy. "But in order to help you understand what's gong on, we need some understanding ourselves. Why don't you tell us your story, Izzy? Start from the very beginning when you were first called to the Digital World. We would like to hear the story of the Digidestined right up until this very moment."

Izzy was happy to oblige, and starting from the very first day when he had received his Digivice while at summer camp, he went on to tell Tal and the others the story, which spanned over many years and a couple of generatons. He finished the story with their successful mission to claim Sam's Spirit Chip, and when he was done the Highton View Terrace grounds settled into deep silence.

As Izzy had been telling the story, Ryoko was careful to watch the original Digidestined closely, Tal and Kenji in particular. Though they had remained quiet and attentive while Izzy had been speaking, their expressions had told a different story.

Ryoko had been quick to note that the names of LadyDevimon, Daemon, and surprisingly enough, DarkAngelicmon, had gotten a reaction out of them. It had been subtle, but the change in their expressions had been there.

Interesting...

"That was quite a story," Seta finally said, a slight smile on his face. "Though we were there to help you defeat MaloMyotismon, we had never known the full details about everything else that had happened."

"Thank you, by the way," T.K. said softly, beaming at Seta. "Without your help and the assistance of other Digidestined from all over the world we never would have been able to defeat MaloMyotismon."

"You don't need to thank us," Mai replied, dismissing his words with a wave of her hand. "We were happy to help."

"It is what happened after MaloMyotismon was defeated that interests me the most," Kenji spoke up, his green eyes settling on the blond man sitting beside him. "To be more precise, it is that period of time between when MaloMyotismon was defeated and the day Daichi and his friends received their D-Coder Digivices that most concerns me. We know virtually nothing about what happened during that time. There are clues, yes, but nothing definite, and it's that missing gap of time that seems to be the key to what is now happening in the present."

"You're right," Tal agreed, his grey eyes growing thoughtful. "Why don't we piece together what we do know first. Once we do that, maybe it will lead to more clues about why the gates remained opened after MaloMyotismon was defeated, and why they suddenly closed fifteen years ago for no obvious reason."

"And that might lead to the truth behind this digimon who is modeling himself after GranDracmon by calling himself the Ruler of Darkness," Kenji agreed, a frown marring his handsome face. "Tell them, Tal."

"Everything?" Tal asked, his grey eyes boring into Kenji's green ones.

"Everything," Kenji said quietly, refusing to look away.

Even after all these years it was obvious that Kenji still respected Tal as their leader and would defer to him when the situation required it. Kenji was clearly his second in command, and though they had obviously had their differences in the past, it was clear the bond they shared with one another had prevailed over the misunderstandings they had suffered as children.

"It all started on a quiet September evening," Tal said softly, turning to gaze up at the sky, which was just starting to turn a faint shade of orange. "It was a day very much like today."

Ryoko glanced up at the sky as well, and a pleasant shiver raced down his back. Though nothing had changed, the air felt like it was charged with energy.

"It was here in this very courtyard that the five of us first met each other," Tal explained, smiling at the memory. "Inca, Kenji, Mai, Seta, and I had all gone to the same school, but we hadn't really known each other at all until that moment."

"I was in a different class," Inca explained. "Tal and Kenji were in the other class."

"Seta and I were in younger grades, obviously," Mai added.

"On that day, we not only discovered we all went to the same school, but we also discovered that we all lived here at the Highton View Terrace complex," Tal continued, reaching out to ruffle Mai's hair in a familiar gesture from when they were kids.

"What day was it in September?" Sam asked curiously.

Tal returned his gaze, and smiling slightly, he said, "September the third. The same day you guys first went to the Digital World."

"I thought so," Takara said softly, turning to smile at her mother.

"The moment Izzy mentioned it, I recognized the significance," Tal laughed, shaking his head. "And as soon as Sam here asked me the question, I knew you guys had figured it out."

"Coincidence?" Ami wondered.

"Maybe, but maybe not," Ema replied.

"At the time I was on the school soccer team, and I was just coming home from practice when I saw Kenji in the courtyard," Tal continued, watching the dark-haired man closely. "It wasn't a good practice that day. My best friend at the time, Yosuke, hadn't been taking it very well, and I was feeling kind of down. It was then when I spotted Kenji, and though I could have kept going, for some reason my heart wouldn't let me walk away..."

Ryoko immediately recognized the name Yosuke from the scene on Gennai's monitor, and watching Kenji's unreadable expression he smiled to himself.

So this Yosuke that Kenji was so hostile about was Tal's best friend. Hmm...

Ryoko couldn't be entirely sure, but all of a sudden Kenji's behaviour was starting to make a lot more sense.

"I recognized Kenji from class, and though we didn't know each other well at the time and we didn't hang out with the same crowd, something deep inside of me was drawing me towards him," Tal said softly, smiling to himself. "And then when I met the others who happened to come upon us, I had the same feeling, though it was strongest with Kenji."

"We all felt the same thing," Inca spoke up, reaching up to take her husband's hand. "It wasn't an accident that we all met up with each other that day. Something was calling us, and the bond we all shared was very strong."

"The bond you all share as Digidestined," Tai interrupted, turning to look at his best friend. "We all felt it, too."

"We did," the blond musician agreed, reaching out to put a hand on Tai's shoulder.

Ryoko turned to gaze at his own team members, and he blushed in embarrassment when he realized Dai was watching him.

I feel it too with all of my friends. I have since I was very young...

"Even when you're lost, you still feel it," Ken said quietly, his sapphire eyes coming to rest on Davis. "It's the reason why I could never ignore you, even when I was the Digimon Emperor, and it was the reason why I could not stay away. I was lost to the darkness, but even then the bond I shared with you and our team was strong."

"I know," Davis said simply, reaching out to put an arm around Ken.

"Not only was our bond calling us, but the Digital World itself was calling to us, as well," Tal continued, his gaze once again turning to the sky. "The Digital World needed our help, and we answered the call."

"And we're glad they did," Kibomon snorted, elbowing his partner in the side.

"We were all talking that evening when it suddenly started to snow," Tal spoke up, shaking his head at the memory. "It was too warm for snow, but that didn't seem to matter. And if that wasn't weird enough the sky started glowing. It looked almost like the Northern Lights, but we knew that was impossible."

"There was nobody else around, and then these five lights appeared in the sky," Mai continued, picking up the story. "They came shooting out of the air right for us! Talk about a major shock!"

"Those five lights became our Digivices and Data Cores," Kenji finished, holding out his own Digivice that was the same as the ones Tai's team carried.

Tal and the other original Digidestined held out their Digivices, as well, and Ryoko took a moment to admire them before saying, "The Data Cores helped you all to digivolve to ultimate, right?"

"That's right," Tal agreed. "But we'll get to them in a moment."

"There we were, minding our own business, when this gigantic tsunami appeared in the sky and tried to drown us!" Mai said dramatically, holding her hand to her chest. "It swallowed us up, and the next thing we knew we were in the Digital World."

"That sounds a lot like how we arrived in the Digital World," Joe remarked, shuddering at the memory.

"Yes, we noticed that as well," Inca replied, smiling at Joe. "Our experiences were very similar."

"At the time it was the only existing gate between the human world and the Digital World," Tal said, looking at Izzy. "Is that correct?"

"It is," Izzy confirmed, nodding in approval. "And though other gates exist now, to this day the gate over Highton View Terrace remains as the largest existing gate to the Digital World."

"We met our digimon partners on File Island," Tal continued, smiling fondly at Kibomon. "You can imagine our surprise at meeting them as you would have experienced it for yourselves."

Unlike Tal, Kenji wasn't smiling, and speaking quietly, he said, "Though we didn't know it was GranDracmon at that particular time, it was then when we discovered that his servants were attempting to brainwash all of the digimon in the Digital World into believing that humans were evil..."