Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Back with another chapter! This one went a bit easier than the last one did. I hope you all enjoy!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 263: Congregation of Shadows
Masato 'Matty' Takaishi
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Matty stood in complete silence, his amber gaze focusing on the glowing crystals that seemed to pulse with a life of their own. One minute Dai and Ryoko and been standing there, and then the next minute it was like they had disappeared into thin air, along with Alopemon. The brilliant flash of purplish-pink light had temporarily blinded Matty, and as a result he had missed seeing what exactly had happened. All he could remember was the sound of Ryoko shouting something at Dai, and then in the next instant the two of them were gone as if they had never been there to begin with. And somehow they had managed to take Ryoko's digimon partner with them.
For Matty, time had come to a complete standstill, and yet the crystal mirrors lining the cave walls continued to pulse with an eerie radiance. It was almost like they were laughing at him, as if they were mocking him for the loss of his friends.
The crystals were so beautiful, and yet they also seemed dangerous and menacing. The malevolent atmosphere their presence seemed to conjure up within the cave sent a shiver racing down his spine, and even though his brain was screaming in panic at the loss of his friends, he seemed unable to move or make a sound.
What had happened to Dai, Ryoko, and Alopemon? And more importantly, where they still alive and safe? What if the mirror really had swallowed them up, and they were now stuck in a place where no one could reach them?
They have to be safe! I need to...I have to tell them...
"Dai!" A voice shouted in the darkness, the name echoing off the walls of the tunnel.
It was only a single word, but the fear in that voice shattered the silence.
Matty turned his head just in time to see Embermon darting towards the mirror, but before the little rookie could touch it, he was intercepted by Tai. Without a word, the former leader made a grab for Embermon, and scooping the little rookie into his arms he quickly backed away from the mirror as far as the tunnel would allow.
"Let me go!" Embermon shouted, struggling in Tai's strong grip. "I have to go after Dai! He needs me!"
There was a bit of a scuffle taking place to the right of Tai and Embermon, and turning his attention to this new disturbance Matty let his gaze fall on Mimi, who was attempting to pull herself out of his mother's arms. The strength of a mother's love for her children was a powerful thing, and if Joe hadn't stepped in to hold Mimi back and assist Kari in her efforts, Mimi might very well have broken free and dived right into the mirror without a second thought.
"Please, Mimi! Calm down!" Matty heard his mother say in a soothing tone, while at the same time ignoring the rosy-haired Digidestined's attempts to break free.
"That thing just swallowed my son!" Mimi shot back, the panic in her voice bouncing off the walls of the cave. "I will not calm down! Let me go!"
Matty didn't know what to say, and in desperation he turned his pleading eyes on his uncle, who was standing off to one side.
Despite the commotion taking place, Matt seemed surprisingly calm. There was a flash of worry in his sapphire eyes, but there was no hint of panic on his face. He did not break into hysterics or dramatics the way Embermon and Mimi had. Instead, he merely stared at the crystal mirror in thoughtful silence, is blue eyes narrowing in concentration.
I thought Uncle Matt would be more upset, but...he seems okay...
"Embermon, would you cut it out?" Tai finally said in frustration, giving the little rookie a solid thump on the head.
Embermon let out a yelp of protest, and rubbing his injured skull, he cried, "What was that for!"
"Are you willing to calm down and listen to me now?" Tai demanded, giving the little rookie a look.
Embermon looked like he wanted to argue further, but realizing that Tai wasn't going to loosen his grip unless he cooperated, the little rookie finally slumped in defeat and mumbled, "Dai's in danger without me. He needs me by his side."
"We know that," Tai replied, is tone becoming a little more sympathetic, "But that doesn't mean you can just go rushing headlong into danger like that. Trust me on this one. I learned the hard way that jumping into things like this without thinking isn't usually a very good idea."
"But-"
"Here, Davis. Take him," Tai interrupted, handing over the little rookie. "And keep an eye on him."
Embermon let out a disgruntled snort, but he didn't object as he was transferred into Davis's waiting arms.
Once the little rookie was under careful surveillance, Tai turned his attention to the rosy-haired Digidestined and said, "Cool it, Mimi. I know you have a better head on your shoulders than that."
Mimi blinked in surprise at Tai's words, and relaxing suddenly in Kari's arms, she said, "But...my son..."
"Relax, okay? Do you really think we're going to let anything happen to him? Or to Dai and Alopemon for that matter?"
"No, of course not," Mimi replied, shaking her head. "I'm sorry. It just took me by surprise. I...I don't understand what happened."
"I'm going to let you go now, Mimi, but you have to stay calm," Kari instructed, slowly releasing her grip on the other woman. "Can you do that for me?"
Mimi took a deep breath, and nodding her head, she said quietly, "I'm fine. I promise I'm not going to panic anymore."
Joe and Kari looked at each other, and exchanging a quick nod they both let go of Mimi at the same time.
True to her word, Mimi remained where she was, and instead of attempting to run for the mirror again she knelt and wrapped her arms around Palmon in an effort to keep her emotions in check.
"You okay, Davis?" Tai asked, turning to the younger leader.
Davis kept a firm grip on Embermon, and though he looked worried, his voice was calm. "I'm fine, but what in the Digiworld just happened here? There's no way my son just disappeared into thin air."
"Matt, come here for a moment," Tai called out, waving the blond musician over.
Without a word, Matt joined the former leader, and tilting his head to the side he watched Tai in silence, clearly waiting for the dark-haired man to speak.
"What do you think happened here?" Tai asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
Matt slowly moved closer to the mirror, and leaning towards it he gazed at it with careful scrutiny. He did not touch it, but something about the look in his eyes suggested that he had an idea of what might be going on. And it was that look that worried Matty. He could see the shadow in his uncle's eyes, and it made him feel anxious. Something terrible was going on, and whatever it was it had something to do with Dai's and Ryoko's disappearance.
Is it because of the darkness in the cave?
"Before we do anything we need to find out where they are," Matt said calmly, turning his back on the mirror to address the crowd that had gathered around him.
"Funny, I would have thought you'd be more upset by this," Davis interrupted, raising his eyebrows.
Matt nodded in agreement, and bowing his head, he said softly, "Normally, I would be, but...this time I know he's not alone. I don't have to worry because the person who's with him is Dai."
Matt's words were powerful, and all of a sudden the mood in the cave seemed to lift a little.
Takara's smile returned, and Sam's sapphire eyes began to sparkle with a hint of confidence. The lines in Mickey's forehead faded, and Matty could feel the tension around his heart ease up a bit. All of the digimon seemed to stand a little taller, and all the adults began to lift their heads in determination.
Matt was right, after all.
Dai was the kind of leader you could count on, and somehow he would find a way to survive and keep those with him safe.
"What about you?" Matt countered, turning the same question on Davis.
The former leader made a face, and speaking in a rather sheepish tone, he said, "It's not Dai I'm worried about. I'm more worried about what Noriko's going to do to me when she finds out what happened here later tonight. Can we maybe just...you know, not send a message to Izzy this time around?"
There was a moment of silence, and then suddenly everybody burst into laughter. The sound echoed off the cave walls, and even Matty couldn't stop himself from smiling. It was such a typical Davis response that it made him feel good inside, and all around him the crystal mirrors seemed to lose their glow a bit.
Are those mirrors somehow responding to us?
Davis's comment had shattered the tense atmosphere, and Matty could tell that everybody seemed a lot more focused. And judging from the looks on the faces of every Digidestined huddled around him, it seemed as if they were ready to put themselves to work.
"So back to what Matt said, we first need to find out where Dai and Ryoko have gone," Joe spoke up. "And what would be the easiest way to do that?"
Sam's face lit up, and holding up his hand, he said, "By checking their signals on the Digivices!"
"Exactly!" Joe agreed, nodding in approval. "The Digivices have the potential to give us some very important details. We should always utilize them when we can."
Matty quickly pulled out his own Digivice, and studying it closely he was surprised to find that the small device was in fact still picking up the signals of his two friends. They were faint, but they were still on the map, and that was always a good sign.
"It looks like they're somewhere pretty far ahead of us," Takara exclaimed, holding out her D-Coder. "But the signal seems a bit weak. I wonder why?"
"Probably something to do with all this creepy darkness hanging around," Veemon suggested, giving the female Digidestined a knowing look.
"It doesn't really matter what. What's important is that they're still on the map," Tai interrupted. "The rest we can figure out later."
"By the looks of it the crystal mirrors act as some kind of teleportation device," Joe said slowly, resting his chin on his hand. "It appears that when Dai touched the mirror it transported him and the others who were in physical contact with him to another location within the caves. Alopemon was also transported because he touched Ryoko, who was in physical contact with Dai."
"So anyone linked with the person who originally touched the mirror gets taken along for the ride?" Gomamon asked.
"That appears to be the case," Joe agreed.
"So couldn't we all just touch the mirror and easily transport ourselves to where Dai and Ryoko are?" Dovemon suggested.
"That...would probably be a bad idea," Joe replied.
"How come?" Celestimon demanded, poking the doctor in the shoulder.
"If we touch that mirror we have no way of knowing if it will transport us to the same place that it transported the other three," Matt explained. "For all we know it could transport us somewhere completely different in the cave, and we might end up further way from them than we are now."
"Then what should we do?" Palmon asked, looking worried.
"The safest thing to do would be to reach them the old-fashioned way," Joe replied, smiling slightly. "We go on foot, and we follow their signals until we reach them."
"Looks like it'll be a long walk," Gatomon commented, her whiskers twitching. "What if something happens before we can reach them?"
"That's a risk we're going to have to take," Joe replied, regretfully shaking his head. "It might take us a while to reach them, but it could take us longer if we ended up transported somewhere else, which would mean a greater chance of something happening to them if the mirror didn't work out in our favour."
"I guess that means we better start walking again," Sam finished, holding Glowmon comfortably in his arms.
"Not like we have a choice," Ogremon snorted. "Going for the Spirit Chip is out of the question now that we've lost our guide. The only signal we've got now is the D-Coders, so we might a well follow them."
"As if there was any other choice!" Celestimon said hotly, pointing an accusing finger at the large champion. "And you're wrong, by the way. We have other Digivices with us that are linked to the Spirit Chip, but that is beside the point! Forget the Spirit Chip for now! Dai, Ryoko, and Alopemon are way more important!"
"Hey, no need to shout in my ear like that!" Ogremon grumbled, throwing up his arms in defeat. "I agree with you, you know. Don't get your wings in a twist over it."
Celestimon crossed his arms over his chest, and hovering in the air, he turned up his nose and said, "Well, see that you don't forget it! And besides, I thought you said you could find the Spirit Chip easy even without Ryoko, since caves are your thing and all."
"Are you always this uptight all the time?" Ogremon shot back. "Chill before you lose all you feathers over it!"
Matty turned his attention to the large champion, and with a start he realized he had forgotten Ogremon was even there with them. The large champion had remained silent during the fiasco with the crystal mirrors, and the more Matty thought about it, the more he found it suspicious. Ogremon was normally a chatty and boastful digimon, so why had he uncharacteristically kept a low profile during Embermon's outburst and Mimi's frantic efforts to reach the mirror?
Is there something he's not telling us?
"Are we ready to go?" Glowmon asked, glancing expectantly at his partner.
"We should hurry," Mickey said quietly, his amber eyes sparkling in the dim light. "I know Dai is with Ryoko, but I'm still worried about my cousin. He...hasn't be himself lately."
So Mickey had noticed as well. That didn't surprise Matty, but it made him frown. He was also worried about Ryoko, but even more importantly he was scared of his own feelings when it came to his cousin.
I don't want to be replaced, but at the same time I can't let Ryoko down. I can't hurt him like that, and I can't stand to see him suffer either...
A quick glance at Ryoko's parents made it obvious they hadn't failed to notice the recent change in their son's behaviour, and Mickey's words only made the issue more real for them. Mimi looked troubled, and it was clear she was worried about her son's recent actions, and though his expression was unreadable, Matty knew his uncle was just as worried. Matt's expression was calm and composed, but deep within his sapphire gaze their was a sense of deep affection and concern for his son.
Can I blame him, though? At heart, isn't that how I really feel? Can I really hang onto Dai at the cost of hurting Ryoko? I'm not okay with that because I want to hold onto both of them. Dai promised me. He said he'd never forget about me, and I know Ryoko never would. If I can't trust them, who can I trust?
They started walking in silence with Glowmon and Ogremon leading the way, and taking it upon himself to get some answers, Matty boldly fell into step beside the large champion, his mouth opening to speak. He did not lower his voice or attempt to remain discreet. He wanted everyone to hear what he had to say, and he was going to make sure they knew the truth.
"Ogremon, did you know about the crystals?"
There was a pause, and glancing at him, the large champion said gruffly, "No, I didn't know about them exactly. If I had known, do you really think I wouldn't have said something?"
Matty was unconvinced, and shaking his head, he said, "But you do know something."
"Did you know there were transportation devices in this cave?" Takara asked quietly, looking suddenly upset.
Ogremon quickly shook his head, and looking apologetic, he said, "I don't know much more than you guys do. I've only been near the entrance of the cave. Like I said before, I've never been this far inside before, so I didn't know about those crystal things until now. All I know is...these caves have a strange pull to them, and they can affect everybody in different ways."
"How so?" Gabumon asked.
Ogremon looked uncomfortable, and shuffling his large feet as he walked, he said, "I've heard stories about this place. They say it can play tricks on the mind and the heart. I'm guessing it probably has something to do with the unusual amount of darkness that your angels can sense in this place."
"Now you tell us this?" Matt asked, raising his eyebrows.
"I told you before, it's not something that I can easily explain," Ogremon said defensively. "Even if I had warned you, it probably wouldn't have changed anything. Like I said, this place affects both humans and digimon differently, and we all might not experience the same things. How is anyone supposed to prepare for that? It's really something you have to experience for yourself to put up your guard."
"Fair enough," Davis agreed, glancing at Matt. "And he's right. Even if we had known, the outcome probably would have been the same."
Matt nodded slowly, and speaking softly, he said, "I can't argue with that. We all have our weaknesses, and no amount of preparation can prepare us for when the very core of our being is under careful scrutiny."
"Look, all I can say is...keep your wits about you in this place," Ogremon warned. "Don't believe everything you see and hear, and don't let the darkness get too close."
Matty could tell Ogremon meant every word, and falling back to walk next to his uncle, he kept his gaze focused on the icy ground beneath his feet. There were so many things running through his mind, it was like his brain didn't know which thought to settle on first.
Dai, Ryoko, Mickey, DarkAngelicmon, Lucemon, and so many other matters of importance. It was like an endless circle of thoughts spinning over and over inside his head. And those thoughts were always the same. It was like listening to a broken record that was stuck on the same track.
Am I going to lose them all?
"I hope we get out of this tunnel soon," Mickey suddenly spoke up, his words becoming lost in the darkness. "I don't like those crystals. They scare me."
Mickey's words immediately caught Matty's attention, and he sent his twin a curious look before turning his attention back to the glowing crystals.
He could sympathize with Mickey's statement. There was something unnatural about the crystal mirrors, and though they looked harmless enough they felt dangerous. As Matty passed by the crystals, occasionally he would see something that looked like a shadow watching him from their depths. He could sense that the darkness in the cave was particularly strong around the crystal mirrors, and if he had to make a guess he was sure the darkness was actually radiating from within the crystals. The longer he stared at the mirrors, the more shadows seemed to appear, and soon they began to take shape and definition. In the back of his mind he thought he could hear them whispering in his ears, and he was sure the voices were familiar.
I wonder what would happen if I let them take shape and form?
Matty couldn't deny that the mirrors were intriguing, and they seemed to captivate his interest to the point where he was unable to focus on anything else. He was sure he knew those shadows, and he could feel them reaching out to him. They were calling him. They wanted to touch him. They wanted his attention. They wanted him to be a part of their world.
Dai? Ryoko? Is that you, Mickey?
The warmth of a sudden hand on his shoulder startled him, and Matty jumped in surprise as the cave around him slowly came back into focus. He lifted his head to find his uncle gazing down at him, and frowning, he said in confusion, "Uncle?"
"Stay strong, Matty," his uncle said quietly, giving his shoulder a gentle squeeze.
Matty felt suddenly vulnerable, and ducking his head in embarrassment, he said, "I'm fine."
"Don't look at the mirrors," his uncle said shortly, keeping a firm grip on his shoulder. "We need your focus here."
"What do you mean?"
Matty could feel his uncle's eyes on him, and lifting his head again, he hesitated when their gazes met. Matt's expression didn't change, but Matty could sense the seriousness of his uncle's words.
"Just trust me on this one," Matt said slowly, his gaze shifting briefly to Tai before returning his attention to the matter at hand. "No matter what happens, always listen to the true voice in your heart. That's the path you should always follow."
Matty wasn't quite sure what to say to that, and since it didn't look as if his uncle was going to elaborate, he chose to remain silent.
Maybe Matt was right. Maybe he needed to have more faith in himself. But what if there was something within those crystal mirrors that would reveal the truth to him, even if it was a terrible truth he didn't want to know?
What then? What then would he do once the way forward was clear to him? And how would he survive the darkness that waited for him?
Lucemon
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
"What is this place?" MarineAngemon gasped, gazing in awe at their surroundings.
Lucemon placed a hand against his heart, and letting his gaze wander over the vast cavern that seemed to stretch on for an eternity, he said, "I do not know, MarineAngemon, but I understand now why the darkness within these caves is so terrifying and destructive."
"You do?" MarineAngemon asked, glancing at him in surprise. "How so?"
Lucemon pointed ahead, where a strange glowing portal stood alone on a small island surrounded by icy water, and speaking softly, he said, "That is the source of the darkness that threatens us."
The portal glowed with a strange purplish-black light, and an odd purple substance was flowing out of its surface. It looked like a thick paste, and it trickled into the water surrounding the island, giving the lake a strange violet tint. It made the water look like it was glowing, and a purple mist seem to float up from its surface. The water from the cavern flowed out of the lake into various underground channels, which in turn carried the purple substance to other areas of the Ice Caverns. It was a breathtaking sight, and yet at the same time it was also incredibly unnerving.
"What is it?" MarineAngemon asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
"We've been through one before when we followed Sam. Do you not remember? That, my dear friend, is a direct gateway to the World of Darkness."
MarineAngemon let out a gasp, and eyes growing wide, he said, "It looks different from when we followed Sam."
"That is because Sam didn't reach the World of Darkness through a direct gateway. Or in other words, a gateway already in existence, like this one. This gateway is stationary, like the gateway Tal Kuroki used to reach GranDracmon in the World of Darkness. The gateway Sam used opened up as a result of his decent into darkness. When that happens, random gateways can pop into existence and lure you in. This is not one of those gateways. This gateway has been here for a very long time."
"So this gateway is more defined? I can tell that the barrier between the worlds is thin here, so the darkness can have more influence on our world?"
"Something like that," Lucemon replied, ignoring the shadows building behind him. "It can affect both the mind and the heart, and as a result one can easily lose themselves within these caves."
"That won't happen to the Digidestined, will it?"
Lucemon let out a deep sigh, and shuffling his feet in the light coating of snow that covered the length of the cavern as far as he could see, he said, "I would hope not, but I'm afraid it already has."
"What do you mean?" MarineAngemon demanded.
"The Digidestined have slowed their pace, and they even stopped completely at one point. I fear something is amiss. DarkAngelicmon has sensed it as well. I can feel him. He's...worried."
"You think the darkness got to them?" MarineAngemon cried.
"I fear it must be so. Perhaps they have fallen victim to the crystals that plague these caves."
"You mean crystals like the ones all around us?"
Lucemon turned his attention once more to the landscape surrounding him, and bowing his head he let out a small sound of despair. All around the small, icy lake, giant purplish-pink crystals rose out of the ground to stand at a height of six feet or more. Though they were half buried in snow, their glow could still be seen from a great distance. They stood like tall sentinels watching over the lake, and though they frightened Lucemon he didn't let that fear show on his face. "Somebody has activated the crystals, and now we are all at their mercy."
"Was it you?" MarineAngemon asked suspiciously.
Lucemon shook his head, and growing even more serious, he said, "It was not I, but now that they have been activated I am also a target. Somewhere out there, at least one heart as grown weak against the darkness. And while we all have our inner demons, there is one who has lost their will to fight. They are allowing the darkness to seep into their heart, and that is what has awakened the sleeping crystals. As a result, now none of us are safe from their powerful lure or the temptation they stir within our hearts."
"One of the Digidestined?" MarineAgemon guessed.
"At least one. And I fear it may be the holder of our next Spirit Chip."
"What are we going to do now?"
Lucemon fluttered his wings, and glancing at his friend, he said, "For now, we can only wait and observe to see what happens."
MarineAngemon's whole body quivered in the air, and gazing wide-eyed at the scene unfolding behind them, he whispered, "How am I supposed to calmly wait with those things standing all around us?"
Lucemon turned to confront the congregation of celestial shadows building behind him, and holding out his hand, he said in a commanding tone, "You cannot fool my senses or steal my soul from me! There is only one Angelicmon who has a place in my heart, and you are not the celestial digimon I know. You are not my friend! You are not my Angelicmon! Now be gone from this place! Grand Cross!"
With a brilliant flash of light his attack ripped through the hoard of shadowy digimon, and then they disappeared in a blaze of celestial radiance. At once, their soft voices disappeared, and Lucemon found himself alone again with MarineAngemon in the vast stillness of the cavern.
"Um...are you okay, Lucemon?" MarineAngemon asked, looking both shocked and impressed by his unusually bold actions.
Lucemon held his head high, and dusting the snow off his wings, he said, "Stay sharp, my friend. We must ride this storm until it's our turn to make a move."