Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Hello to everyone! I'm finally back with a new chapter! I know it's been a long time, but here it is! I hope you all like it!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 281: A Grain of Sand
Ryoko Ishida
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Ryoko could feel his own heart pounding heavily in his chest as he struggled to catch up to the shadows that were dragging Dai towards the edge of the giant chasm, and gasping for breath, he staggered as several of the dark forms that were circling him earlier while he was embracing Matty attempted to impede his progress. As he moved to get around them, they immediately latched onto his arms with malicious intent, their cold fingers burning through the fabric of his thick coat. Their persistence was starting to get on his nerves, and doing his best to shake them off, he shouted in a hoarse voice, "Let go of me!"
Though he was frightened by the flurry of activity going on around him, there was only one thought running through his head. He needed to save Dai before it was too late, and it was thanks to Matty that he could now do so without any hesitation.
Masato Takaishi, his cousin, loved him, and now that they had admitted their true feelings for one another concerning Dai, the rift that had grown between them over the last month had disappeared entirely. No longer did they harbour any feelings of jealously or suspicion towards each other, and they were both content to share the goggle-headed leader's endless abundance of friendship without any reservations.
And that was because they had discovered the most important thing of all.
How much they loved each other.
Which was the one thing I needed to hear most of all. Matty cares about me just as much as I care about him, and he wants me to be friends with Dai. He wants me to be happy, just as I want him to be happy.
Which was something Ryoko had desperately needed to confirm before he could allow himself to let go of his insecurities and move forward, but that did not mean he didn't still have a tough road ahead of him. Matty's blessing was only the beginning. The hard part was still to come, but at least the younger twin had given him a sense of hope.
He set me free. He saved me from myself.
While there was still no guarantee that Daichi would return his feelings once he finally worked up the courage to confront the goggle-headed leader, at least now, even if Dai failed to return the sentiment, he would still find comfort in knowing that he had given their friendship a chance and that he hadn't held anything back. He would never have to live with the regret of possibly living the rest of his life without Dai having ever learned the truth if something were to happen to the goggle-headed leader.
Like now.
I have to save Dai. I promised Matty I would. I have to do this for him, and for me. For everyone!
There was a loud cry behind him, and stumbling at the unexpected sound, he jerked his head around just in time to see the shadows grab onto Matty's arms with obvious hatred, their hungry eyes making it clear they fully intended to stop the younger twin from following after him. Two of the dark figures were holding Matty by the elbows, and Ryoko gasped as a third one hit his cousin painfully in the side of the head, sending the younger twin sprawling hard on the ice.
No, leave him alone!
Immediately the other two shadows that were clutching Matty's arms descended upon the younger twin with shrieks of terrible glee, and without any hesitation they pinned the golden-haired Digidestined to the ground and held him in place, their angry hisses echoing throughout the cavern.
The fall happened so fast that for a moment Ryoko felt like he was frozen in place, and then recovering his wits, he shouted in desperation, "Matty!"
"Don't worry about me," Matty groaned in response, his amber eyes falling closed as he struggled to catch his breath. "Just go and...and save Dai."
It was clear the younger twin was having trouble speaking, since his fall on the ice had ended up knocking the wind out of him, and though Ryoko was extremely concerned about his cousin's safety, since it looked as if Matty had been hit pretty hard in the head, he knew the golden-haired Digidestined would lose a lot of respect for him if he failed to save Dai, who at the moment was in more serious danger than his cousin.
A quick look around the cavern did nothing to help their situation, as the rest of the Digidestined and their partners were still tied up, and though four of their digimon were not impeded by the crimson ropes surrounding the main group, Alopemon and the others were all still being held captive by the shadows.
That left only DarkAngelicmon and the rest of their enemies, but even if he had wanted any help from the fallen angel, it didn't look as if that would be possible, since the dark champion was also being held down by the shadows. Jestermon and Vampiramon weren't much better off than their celestial companion, as they too were at the mercy of the shadows, which left only Spritemon, who was too busy gawking at the chaotic scene unfolding at the edge of the pit to be of much use.
Upon confirming the whereabouts of every human and digimon within the cavern, Ryoko was able to conclude that their situation didn't look very promising, and though Matty's strength had proved to be a formidable asset throughout most of their ordeal, he didn't think the younger twin had much fight left in him anymore. Clearly, at this point, Matty was too exhausted to bring forth the light from his heart that he had wielded so effectively against the darkness earlier, and because of that it wasn't going to be so easy this time for the younger twin to escape the shadows.
As a result, Ryoko was acutely aware of the fact that everyone, allies and enemies alike, were all looking at him, waiting in tense silence to see what he would do.
Without Matty's strength, Davis and the others are counting on me. I've already done so much to hurt them. If I fail to save Dai...
Ryoko didn't even want to think about what the aftermath would be like if he couldn't reach the goggle-headed leader in time, and because of that he knew he had to keep going even though Matty was caught in the hands of the shadows. As much as it terrified him, he knew he didn't have a choice. If there was any other option, he would have jumped at the chance to rescue his cousin, but as much as it pained him to admit it, he knew he would have to leave the younger twin behind for the time being. The only thing he could do for Matty at this point was to have faith in his cousin and hope that the other boy had enough sense to cooperate with the shadows just long enough for him to do something about Dai's dangerous predicament. If the younger twin could remain passive long enough to avoid receiving anymore injuries from the dark forms that were holding him in place, then maybe somehow the three of them might all manage to survive their ordeal.
Maybe.
If I can somehow manage to get us all out of this mess, as impossible as that might seem with the kind of luck I've been having lately. It's my fault. I'm the one who caused all of this to happen. And that's why...that's why I have to do something about it. That's why I have to make up for what I did! That's why...That's why I have to make the darkness disappear!
Unlike Matty, Ryoko knew he hadn't quite exhausted himself yet, despite all of his injuries, and because of that there was still a chance he could defeat the shadows and save Dai. Though he wasn't looking at Matty, Ryoko knew the younger twin was watching him closely, and he had a feeling Matty was aware of the fact that he still had a lot of fight left him. There was still a very good chance that he could do what his cousin no longer had the strength to attempt if he allowed himself to have faith in his own abilities, which in turn would allow him to escape the darkness in his own heart and free himself from the shadows.
And that would give him the opening he needed to save Dai.
Matty's counting on me. They're all counting on me. I have to do this. For them, for me, and for Dai. I'm the only one who can. I'm the only one still standing. I can't lose this opportunity to...to let Dai know the truth about how I really feel. This might be my only chance. He needs me, and if we lose the Spirit Chip, my chance will be gone...Maybe gone forever...
His Spirit Chip. The proof of his loyalty to Matty and Dai. The symbol of their friendship and his greatest asset. It was the best trait he had. The one that he was meant to contribute to the Digidestined team. To everyone who was important to him.
No, no! I won't let the shadows stop me! I won't let them win! Not after Matty and I finally worked things out between us. Not now after the way he gave me hope that I can be friends with Dai!
He could see his parents urging him on, the love in their eyes piercing the darkness that was still circling around his heart. Next to them, Embermon's emerald gaze was practically begging him to save the goggle-headed leader, and Mickey was sending him obvious looks of encouragement. Takara's face was streaked with tears, and he could see her silently pleading for him to save the boy she was undeniably in love with. And then there was Davis. The former leader was staring at him with fierce determination, and though not a word was said between them, Ryoko knew what that look meant.
I know you'll save my son. I believe in you.
They were all there supporting him, even though the outcome of their situation seemed bleak, and turning to look at his digimon partner, he was surprised to see that the little rookie was staring at him with the same expression that Davis wore.
Alopemon...he believes in me. I won't let this chance slip away. No matter how Dai feels about me, I have to do this. I have to protect him.
Everything was so clear to him now, and the fog that had clouded his brain earlier had disappeared completely, as if it had never affected him to begin with. It was a strange sensation, and glancing at DarkAngelicmon, who was still being held captive by the shadows, he was surprised to find that the fallen angel was gazing at him with confidence, as if certain he would have no trouble saving Dai.
Even he believes in me. Matty, I can't let you down. I can't let it end like this!
Ryoko felt a sudden surge of power beginning to grow inside his heart, and struggling against the shadows that were holding him in place, he cried out in sheer defiance, "Let go of me! I won't let you stop me from keeping my promise to Matty!"
The shadows shrieked in pain as they were suddenly enveloped by a bright, icy blue light, and looking down in surprise, Ryoko suddenly realized that his Digivice was glowing. Not only that, but he could tell with certainty now that the intensity of the purple mist surrounding his body was definitely decreasing with every spark of motivation he received from those who cared about him, and he was able to see the environment around him with terrible clarity. At this point, the fog inside his brain was nothing but a distant memory, and taking advantage of the situation without even really thinking about it, he held up his D-Coder and shoved it into the face of the nearest shadow that was trying to grab him around the neck. It shrieked in agony as the light from the D-Coder exploded into its face, causing smoke to rise from its skin, and as it let go of him and stumbled backwards, he thrust the D-Coder at the shadow that was hanging onto his right arm. The dark figure stumbled back with a hiss of pain as smoke began to rise from its chest where the D-Coder had made contact with its skin, and suddenly the path ahead of him was clear. He was free.
Free to rescue the friend he had spent so many years trying to avoid.
But not anymore. I'm done with hiding. I'm done with letting the pain inside my heart dictate what I say and do. No matter what happens now, I'm not going to let my feelings eat me up inside anymore. I owe Matty that much, even if it's still not enough to make up for all the pain and suffering I've caused, and I'm not going to let him down this time!
With a boost of energy, Ryoko shoved his way through the shadows that were still trying desperately to stop him, and gasping for air, he stumbled over the two who only moments ago had suffered the wrath of his D-Coder. Ignoring their angry hisses, he raced after the dark forms that were still attempting to drag Dai towards the pit, and determined to stop him, the main bulk of the shadows proceeded to chase after him. As more and more of them tried to grab onto his arms and legs, he used his glowing Digivice to fend them off, their shrieks of rage echoing painfully in his ears.
"Ryoko!"
The pure strength of that warm voice calling out his name shot across the cavern with enough force to reverberate off the stone walls, and lifting his head, Ryoko realized the outburst had come from Daichi, who was now fighting violently against the shadows that were forcibly trying to drag him backwards towards the giant chasm. Ryoko wasn't entirely sure what the difference was, but ever since the loving embrace he had shared with Matty, something about the goggle-headed leader's demeanor had changed completely. Despite the fact that they hadn't been talking loud enough for Dai to hear their heartfelt confessions to one another, the whole affair must have somehow altered the goggle-headed leader's entire perspective on the rocky relationship the three of them currently shared. No longer did he look fazed by the outburst he had endured only moments ago. Instead, Dai looked hopeful, as if he hadn't just been told that one of his closest friends apparently hated him, and rather than allowing the shock of that confession to consume him, the goggle-headed leader was fighting back. Dai was not acting like somebody who had lost his will to live anymore, and gone was that terrible look of pain and sorrow in his dark eyes, as if he had been denied something that was so important to him he didn't think he could live without it. It was obvious the goggle-headed leader was no longer content to remain docile within the grasp of his captors, and trying unsuccessfully to pull his arms free, Dai began to struggle against the shadows with fierce determination. As Ryoko watched in fascination, the smoldering embers in the goggle-headed leader's dark eyes began to spark uncontrollably with emotion, and the more he fought to free himself, the more intense his expression grew.
It's almost like he can feel it...
Ryoko was acutely aware of the fact that the goggle-headed leader had apparently abandoned the use of his last name, and since arriving in the chamber, not once had Dai called him 'Ishida.' Instead, the goggle-headed leader had referred to him only as 'Ryoko,' and every time he heard that one name from the other boy's mouth, it made his heart pound heavily in his chest.
There was so much he wanted to say, but he didn't bother wasting his breath with a response. First he needed to catch up with the shadows. There would be plenty of time for talking once Dai was safely out of their grasp.
He must feel something. I can see it in the way he's looking at me...
Ryoko could sense the fire burning deep beneath the surface of Dai's dark eyes as their gazes met, and the intensity of that brilliant stare gave him the burst of energy he needed to stay ahead of the shadows that were pursuing him. At this point, the only thought running through his head was that he needed to reach the goggle-headed leader before it was too late, and his desperate desire to save the other boy seemed to consume every ounce of strength he still had left.
I can't let them drag him into the pit. I have to save him. I have to protect him so I can keep my promise to Matty. I've caused everyone a lot of pain and suffering, not just myself, and now I have to make things right. For all of us.
"Hurry, Ryoko!" Matty shouted, sounding desperate as he struggled to make his voice heard. "Stop them!"
Ryoko could feel himself slipping and sliding around on the ice as he struggled to catch up to the shadows, and doing his best not to lose his balance, he staggered forward towards the giant chasm despite his aching ribs and the harsh pain developing in his left side. Up ahead, the shadows had managed to reach the dark pit without much difficulty, and dragging Dai towards the edge of the chasm, they let out a cry of triumph as they attempted to haul the goggle-headed leader down into its black depths with dangerous enthusiasm.
No!
As Ryoko watched in horror, Dai suddenly lost his balance and fell hard on the ice, and taking advantage of the goggle-headed leader's moment of weakness, two of the shadows that were still climbing out of the pit grabbed onto his legs and proceeded to drag him over the edge, their harsh giggles floating up from the depths of the black abyss.
They're going to take him. He's going to be completely devoured by the darkness!
Ryoko felt his troubled heart leap into his throat, and pulling off his gloves he put on a burst of speed he had not known he was capable of, especially when injured. Strangely enough, he could feel his ears ringing, and letting out a strangled cry of protest, he forced himself to move faster, his lungs screaming in protest. Barely able to breath, he finally collapsed at the edge of the pit, and thrusting his D-Coder at the two shadows that were holding onto Dai's arms, they disappeared in a bright flash of pale blue light.
Unfortunately, he couldn't reach the two that were still holding onto Dai's knees, and just as they pulled the goggle-headed leader's legs over the side, Ryoko managed to catch the other boy's right wrist, causing him to fall to his knees in the process.
As he struggled to pull Dai away from the shadows, he could see the fear in the eyes of his fellow Digidestined, and though they couldn't speak, that didn't stop them from trying to shout through the colourful strips of cloth covering their mouths, forcing them to suffer in silence. At this point, it was obvious the whole group was frantic by now, and wrestling with the crimson ropes holding them captive, they tried desperately to loosen their bonds. Unfortunately, though, even the digimon hadn't been successful in finding a way to break free from the crimson ribbons thus far, and hopping anxiously up and down on the balls of her feet, Spritemon shouted something at DarkAngelicmon that Ryoko couldn't quite make out. Vampiramon and Jestermon were still struggling to break free from the shadows that were holding them stubbornly in place, and though DarkAngelicmon was still pinned to the ground as well by the shadows, he was making no effort to free himself. Instead, the fallen angel was staring intently at Dai, his green eyes burning with intense emotion. Celestimon, Halomon, and Gatomon were all still unconscious and in the hands of the shadows, which left only Alopemon, who was also being restrained by the dark forms. Out of all the digimon who had lost their energy and reverted back to a lower form of digivolution, the little fox digimon was the only one who was still conscious, and desperate to break free, Ryoko could hear the little rookie frantically calling his name.
Further away, Matty was being manhandled by at least six shadows, and though the younger twin was still giving out shouts of encouragement and panicking over Dai, it was obvious he was too exhausted at this point to be of much help.
Ryoko knew it was all up to him now, and as impossible as it might seem, somehow he was going to have to make himself useful.
I need to focus. I have to save Dai! I have to...to tell him the truth...
"Ryoko..."
The voice was soft, and snapping back to reality, Ryoko found himself looking directly into Dai's deep brown eyes. The goggle-headed leader was staring intently at him, and unable to turn away from that fiery gaze, Ryoko managed to gasp, "Hang on, I've got you!"
"Why?" Dai asked quietly, his dark eyes burning with words that were still left unsaid between them.
Huh?
Ryoko managed to catch the goggle-headed leader's other wrist, and holding on tightly, he wheezed, "What? What are you going on about?"
"If you really hate me as much as you say you do, then why don't you just let them take me?" Dai replied, the words heated and charged with emotion. "If I mean nothing to you, why don't you just let me fall and be done with it? Why don't you just end this now, and I'll never be a burden to you anymore. You'll finally be free of me once and for all."
Dai...
The heartfelt sincerity of those terrible words almost broke Ryoko's spirit, and once again feeling his eyes fill with tears, he had to use every ounce of energy he possessed to keep a firm grip on the goggle-headed leader's cold wrists. At the other end, he could feel the shadows tugging on Dai's legs as they renewed their efforts to pull the other body down with them into the pit, but despite the strength of the two dark forms trying to sabotage his rescue mission, somehow he was still able to hold onto the goggle-headed leader, though it should have been impossible for him to do so. Somewhere at the back of his mind, he knew it was because of his D-Coder, which was still glowing with bright blue light, and the intensity of that light was giving him a measure of strength that he didn't normally possess.
It's the power of the light that still exists inside my heart. Even though the darkness is still running rampant inside me, there's something in my soul that refuses to give up. It's that small part of me that's fighting back against the darkness and the shadows, and I know where that strength comes from. It's from Dai, Matty, and everyone else who cares about me. They're the source of my power. They're the reason why I can't give up.
With that thought in mind, Ryoko tightened his grip on the goggle-headed leader, and staring directly into the other boy's dark eyes, despite the tears that were impeding his vision, he said firmly, "I'm not going to let you go."
"Why not?" Dai demanded, his intense gaze suddenly flashing with not only determination but a strength that defied the laws of physics.
Ryoko had never seen a look quite like that in the goggle-headed leader's eyes before, and the force of that dark gaze had the power to knock the wind out of him. It was unheard of to see Dai showing so much emotion towards him, and not sure what to make of it, he felt his stomach muscles clench in anticipation of what he was about to do. Dai was looking at him like he mattered, and there was a warmth and kindness to that burning gaze that he simply couldn't ignore. He could feel a sense of affection radiating off the goggle-headed leader's body, and it made him feel like his insides were on fire. There were no tears from Dai, and yet somehow that made the other boy's searching look even more enticing, but it was also a bit unnerving.
He wants something from me, but I...Can I really give him the part of me I've kept hidden for so long?
Of course he could. He had to. He promised Matty he would.
With that thought in mind, he stubbornly held on, and unable to accept the goggle-headed leader's painful words, he violently shook his head at such a ludicrous suggestion. He knew his tear-filled eyes were flashing with just as much emotion as the light that was shining brightly within Dai's scrutinizing stare, and growing more confident, he said harshly, "Don't be stupid. Of course I'm not going to let go. I'm not going to let you fall."
"You said yourself you feel nothing for me," Dai countered, showing absolutely no fear that he was about to fall to his death. "Why should it matter to you then if I'm out of your life forever?"
The words ended in a whisper, and Ryoko felt something in his heart break. All around him, he could feel the shadows crowding in close, and it was only thanks to his glowing Digivice that Dai hadn't yet fallen into the black abyss. The blue light surrounding them appeared to be acting like a barrier of sorts, and for whatever reason the dark forms seemed unable to pass through the bubble of light surrounding their upper bodies. It was a relief in the sense that it gave his arms a chance to rest, but there was no guarantee his strength was going to hold out for much longer. Eventually, the light from his Digivice would run out once he exhausted himself and used up the last of his energy, and because of that he needed to find a way to pull Dai free from the shadows before the glow of his D-Coder failed him.
Even now, I can feel myself fading. I have to hold on. I have...to keep...my promise...
By this time, Ryoko could barely see through the tears that were clouding his vision, and choking back the sobs that were threatening to overwhelm him, he said in a strangled voice, "I won't let this happen. I'm not going to let you die!"
Dai seemed surprised by his tears, and gazing at him with a growing sense of wonder, the goggle-headed leader said slowly, "You could die trying to save me. Why would you risk yourself like this? Why would you go to all this effort for someone you despise?"
Because I care, and I can't hide it anymore. I hope...I hope you can understand. I hope you'll let me into your heart...
Ryoko could no longer shy away from the goggle-headed leader's warm gaze, which was both somehow gentle and demanding at the same time, and allowing the tears to finally slide down his cheeks, he whispered, "Because I lied."
For a moment, Dai simply stared at him, and looking suddenly hopeful, the goggle-headed leader said in a voice that was brimming with intensity, "What...what are you saying?"
Ryoko was openly crying at this point, and unable to brush the tears away, he swallowed the sobs that were threatening to choke him. He had no doubt he looked like a complete mess, but he didn't even care. There was no turning back now, and even if he could, that was no longer an option for him. Not after his promise to Matty. He could see the icy blue light of his Digivice reflecting in Dai's dark eyes, and the emotionally charged expression on the goggle-headed leader's face made his heart feel like it was going to burst out of his rib cage. Though their bodies were tense, the air between them felt different somehow, and that was when he realized it was because he could no longer feel the darkness causing a rift between them. Instead, he was once again able to feel that powerful connection they shared that had existed since they were very young, and it gave him courage. It was a symbol of their loyalty to one another, and it made him realize that no matter how bad things got between them, they would always be there to get each other out of trouble.
That's what friendship is all about. No matter what happens, you'll always stick by each other, even when things are tough.
Which was why he couldn't let go.
"Ryoko, what..."
Ryoko continued to hold on tightly to Dai's wrists, and speaking in a voice that was barely more than a whisper, he said through his tears, "That was the real lie. I don't hate you. I've never hated you. Ever."
Dai stared at him in stunned silence, and struggling to find his voice, the goggle-headed leader choked out, "You...you don't?"
Despite his fear, Ryoko remained focused on the goggle-headed leader's dark, penetrating gaze, and shaking his head, he said in a hesitant voice, "That feeling you mentioned...The closeness you talked about. I feel it between us too. I've always felt it, right from the first moment I can remember. It's always been there, ever since we were babies. And...and even now, I feel it. I've wanted to run from it, but I've never been able to. It's always there with me, just like you've always been with me."
"Then...then why did you deny it?" Dai said slowly, staring at him in disbelief.
Ryoko hung his head in shame, and words catching in his throat, he whispered, "Because I was afraid."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" Dai asked, looking confused. "Of me?"
Ryoko could feel the goggle-headed leader's fingers tightening around his wrists, and though his heart was pounding painfully in his chest, he knew the moment had come. Despite the blue light surrounding him, he could still see Matty shouting encouragement from where the younger twin was being held captive by the shadows, and he could feel the tremendous amount of support radiating off the rest of the Digidestined and digimon who were still struggling against their bonds. And there, gazing up at him from where he lay pinned to the icy ground was DarkAngelicmon, those emerald eyes watching him intently from the gloomy atmosphere that hovered heavily over the cavern.
Alopemon, you're here too. I can feel your eyes on me, willing me to succeed. I'm so lucky to have found you. Despite everything I've done, you're still here with me. You've stuck by my side even when I haven't always made the best decisions. I'm so very lucky to have a loyal digimon like you...
Dai might not appreciate the sentiment, and in fact the goggle-headed leader might even be disgusted by his true feelings, but Ryoko knew he needed to confess no matter what the consequences might be. He had to do it for Matty's sake. He had made a promise to his cousin, and there was no way he was going to break that promise, not after he and Matty had finally worked out both the relationship they shared with each other and their issues regarding Dai.
He's not acting like it would annoy him if he discovered that I actually do care about him after all. In fact, if anything he's acting like the complete opposite. He...it's almost like he wants me to care, but...I don't get it. If he really did hate me then why would it matter to him how I feel if he didn't share the same feelings in return? That doesn't make any kind of logical sense. I have to stay strong. I have to believe that I can save him and that we can work this out. I need to channel some of Matty's faith and use it to fix everything I've messed up...
"Ryoko?"
The sound of that heated voice immediately brought him back to reality, and summoning every ounce of courage he had, he said quietly through his tears, "I was afraid of Matty. And...and I was afraid you wouldn't feel the same."
"Afraid...of Matty?" Dai asked slowly, wincing as the shadows continued to pull on his legs. "Afraid of me?"
Ryoko nodded, and glaring at the shadows hovering around him, he said in a voice that was slowly growing stronger, "I've always cared about you, not just as a friend, but as a brother too. You were always family to me, one of the brothers I never had. I've always loved you as much as the others, and that's why...that's why I can't let you die!"
A heavy silence seemed to fall over the cavern after such a heartfelt confession, and breathing heavily, Ryoko waited with surprising ease for the goggle-headed leader's response. Even the shadows had fallen silent, as if they too were waiting for the final verdict, but that didn't faze him at all. He felt surprisingly at peace with his surroundings, and though he had yet to receive a response, a sense of calm had settled deep in the pit of his stomach.
Finally, he was free at last. No matter how the goggle-headed leader might react to his words, he had done what he needed to do. He had accomplished his goal, and he had kept his promise to Matty. The rest was out of his hands, and he was content to accept the consequences of his actions regardless of the final outcome.
No matter what might happen, Dai knew the truth, and it was with great relief that he would never have to worry about something happening to the goggle-headed leader before he could confess, but that didn't mean he was off the hook yet.
Just because he knows, that doesn't mean I can give up and let the shadows take him from me. I'm still going to rescue him. I'm still going to save him, even if it means I have to sacrifice myself!
"Why?" Dai finally choked out, his words trembling with suppressed emotion. "Why didn't you ever say anything? Why did you keep your feelings a secret for so long?"
Ryoko was starting to lose his grip on the goggle-headed leader's arms, and attempting once again to drag the other boy free from the shadows, he gasped, "Because of Matty."
The obvious pain in his words shattered the silence, and all around him he could hear the shadows muttering angrily in the darkness, their garbled whispers piercing his fragile soul. They weren't at all happy about the fact that he was trying to make amends with Dai, and he was sure the only reason they hadn't tried harder to stop him yet was because they still didn't believe he would succeed. They were absolutely convinced he was going to fail, but if that were to change, he had no doubt they would do everything they could to break through the protective barrier that emanated from his D-Coder. Because of that, he needed to pull Dai free from the shadows as quickly as possible, but that was easier said than done.
I can feel my hands starting to slip. I don't know how much longer I can hold on...
"Matty?" Dai said slowly, frowning in confusion. "What does he have to do with all of this?"
Ryoko almost laughed, and realizing he was growing a bit hysterical, he quickly swallowed his fear and said in a ragged voice, "Isn't it obvious? Matty's your best friend, and he's also my cousin. I've always known how close you guys are, and I didn't want to get in the way of your friendship. You guys have something pretty special, and I didn't want to get between the two of you. There's no way I could hurt Matty like that, not when I care about him so much."
"Matty," Dai murmured, his dark eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. "I...I get it now. Matty...He was afraid of you. He thought I would forget all about him if you and I ended up becoming good friends, even though there was no way I would ever let something like that happen. I know, deep down inside, he knew that too, but the darkness in his heart convinced him otherwise. He started to believe that I would replace him with you if we started getting too close to one another, but even so...that didn't stop him from wanting you to be happy. His heart was wavering on both sides of the fence, and that's why the shadows were able to go after him."
Ryoko froze at those words, shocked by how accurately Dai had figured out what was going on, and realizing the truth, he said in a trembling voice, "So you know all about Matty's feelings then. He must have told you when I was unconscious."
That would explain why they were on such good terms after I woke up. They must have worked out their differences while I was lost in the darkness, and that's why they seem so comfortable around each other now.
"That's right," Dai agreed, looking serious. "I know how Matty feels about you, and I know all about his fear of us becoming good friends, but you...The only reason Matty's feelings would concern you so much is if he had a reason to fear you, which means..."
"Which means all this time I really did want to be good friends with you, and Matty knew it. He could see right through me, even if I wasn't always sure of my own feelings. He...he seemed to think that you might feel the same about me, and that scared him."
"Because if we did feel the same about each other, that meant the threat was real," Dai murmured, the blue light reflecting deep in his dark eyes. "It all makes perfect sense now. He kept trying to tell me about your real feelings, but I wouldn't listen. I wanted to believe it, but it seemed so impossible..."
Ryoko felt a sudden burst of affection for his cousin, and indulging in an overwhelming sense of love for the younger twin, he whispered, "Even though he was scared to lose you, he still wanted you to know the truth about me. He still wanted me to be happy."
"And he wanted me to be happy too," Dai murmured, shaking his head in disbelief. "But...Matty isn't the only reason you stayed silent for so long. I can feel it."
Ryoko glanced anxiously at the shadows, all of whom were pacing around his fragile bubble of light, and refusing to look at the goggle-headed leader, he said softly, "Ever since we were little, you always seemed to have something against me. Because of that, I thought you wouldn't return my feelings. And that's why...even if Matty hadn't been so scared of us becoming friends, I still wouldn't have been able to tell you."
"But Matty wanted you to tell me. That's what you guys were talking about earlier. He wanted you to confess because he wants me to be happy, too. Just like he wants you to be happy."
"Huh?"
"Everything that's happened. All of this. It really is all because of me," Dai said quietly, completely ignoring the shadows despite the increase in the volume of their angry whispers.
That caught Ryoko off guard, and staring at the goggle-headed leader in confusion, he said, "What do you mean?"
To his surprise, Dai started to laugh, and looking at him with a gentle expression that he had never before seen from the goggle-headed leader, the other boy said with affection, "I could sit here and blame myself for every stupid thing that has happened between the three of us since we were toddlers, but I know Matty wouldn't want that. Ryoko, are you really that blind?"
Ryoko was confused, and straining not to lose his grip on the goggle-headed leader's wrists, he said, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Dai stared at him, and speaking in a low voice that was deadly serious, the goggle-headed leader said, "Come on, Ryoko. I know you're smarter than I am. You're supposed to be the observant one, not me. Why would I bring up the way I've always felt a special connection to you if I didn't feel the same way you do? Do you really think I would make up something like that just to play with your feelings? I'm not that kind of person, and I know you know that."
The goggle-headed leader looked appalled at the very thought, and feeling his heart begin to pound rapidly in his chest, Ryoko whispered, "What are you saying?"
"Isn't it obvious what I'm saying?" Dai replied, holding tightly to his arms. "I would never hurt you no matter how angry we are at each other. All this time, I've been doing the same thing you've been doing. The only reason I've kept my feelings to myself is because you always acted like you hated me. I thought you wouldn't feel the same way I do."
But I do. I always have. Is this really happening? Does he really care as much as I do?
Ryoko felt a sudden fierce spark of hope in his chest, and staring at the goggle-headed leader in astonishment, he said slowly, "That's what Matty was trying to tell me. That you wouldn't hurt me."
"He's right," Dai replied, his dark eyes sparkling with renewed life. "I've always felt the same way about you that you feel about me."
Ryoko let out a soft gasp, and struggling desperately now to hang on, he whispered, "You do?"
"I've always wanted to have with you the same kind of friendship I have with Matty, and I want all three of us to share that feeling together," Dai insisted, his words becoming much more hasty as the shadows began to screech and pull violently on his legs. "I care about you just as much as I care about all of our other friends. You've been like a brother to me too, and I love you as if you are. I always have. That's never changed. Even if you did hate me, it wouldn't change a thing."
Though his heart felt suddenly much lighter, Ryoko was having trouble speaking through the violent sobs that now racked his body, and struggling for air, he cried, "Why didn't you ever say anything?"
"I told you already. I kept it to myself because I'm just like you," Dai replied, giving him a small smile. "Just as stupid. I didn't have the guts to say anything because I didn't think you felt the same way."
"And I never gave you much of a reason to believe otherwise."
Dai's deep brown eyes were warm and full of affection, and giving his arms a squeeze, the goggle-headed leader said softly, "I told you I wasn't going to let you push me away, and I meant it. You can't get rid of me, no matter how you feel. I'm always going to be there for you, and I hope...it's the same for you."
Ryoko nodded, and smiling through the tears in his eyes, he whispered, "I really would follow you anywhere. That wasn't a lie either."
The goggle-headed leader stared at him for a moment, the raging fire in his eyes burning more brightly than Ryoko had ever seen before, and refusing to look away from him, Dai said quietly, "You really trust me that much."
"I trust you with my life. I trust you with everything. I've always known that I can put my faith in you, even if I didn't want to admit it to myself. Even if it didn't show, I always knew I could count on you. I always knew you would be there for me when I needed you. And that's why...that's why I can't this happen. That's why I have to save you!"
It was the most earnest confession he had ever made, and recognizing that the darkness was slowly losing its hold over him, the shadows began to shriek in fury, their bodies pushing against the glowing blue barrier that he knew he couldn't hold onto much longer. Though his mind was clear and the violet fog surrounding his body had now lifted, there was still a thread of darkness that remained deep inside his heart. It frightened him, and gasping in shock, he cried out as a sharp stab of pain shot through his head, nearly causing him to lose his hold on the goggle-headed leader. Almost immediately, he could hear the shadows whispering angrily in his mind again, and though he tried to push them away, they remained stubbornly persistent.
"He's lying to you! He only wants to hurt you."
No, you're wrong! He means everything he says. I know he does!
"The only thing he cares about is Masato Takaishi. You're nothing to him!"
That's not true! Dai would never lie to me like that. He's my...my friend. He's my friend!
"That's what he wants you to believe. He's lulling you into a false sense of security, and once he has you right where he wants you, that's when you'll learn the truth. He will bring you nothing but endless suffering! He will make you pay for hurting your cousin!"
Ryoko squeezed his eyes shut, and unable to stay silent anymore, he screamed, "Shut up! Shut up and get out of my head! I'm not going to listen to you anymore!"
"Ryoko, what's going on?" Dai asked urgently, struggling to pull his legs out of the hands of the two shadows that were still trying to drag him down into the pit. "What's happening?"
On any other occasion, Ryoko wouldn't have said a word, but upon realizing that the goggle-headed leader did in fact care about him after all, he knew he couldn't stay quiet anymore. It didn't make sense to keep the truth a secret. Dai needed to know what was really going on, and now that Ryoko knew he didn't have to keep his feelings hidden anymore, he was anxious to free himself from the burden of the darkness surrounding him. Dai's voice was like an anchor keeping him safe from the clutches of the shadows, and taking a deep breath, he said urgently, "Dai, listen to me. It's the shadows. They won't leave me alone. They keep pushing their way into my thoughts and speaking to me inside my mind."
The use of his nickname seemed to catch Daichi momentarily off guard, and nodding thoughtfully, having recovered quickly from the surprise, the goggle-headed leader said, "So that's why you seemed so out of it. The shadows in your head are probably part of what's making your brain feel so foggy."
That's why nothing was making sense to me earlier. All this time, they've been manipulating me.
Ryoko could feel his arms screaming in pain from the weight of Dai's body, and trying unsuccessfully to take a deep breath, he gasped, "I want them gone. I want them out of my head for good!"
"Then get rid of them," Dai shot back, attempting to twist free from the dark forms that were still holding him. "Matty gave you his blessing to tell me the truth about how you feel. I know he did. You wouldn't have said anything to me otherwise. Don't let his efforts go to waste. Only you have the power to get rid of the shadows for good. Let the doubt in your heart fade away and do what you know you're fully capable of doing. You're stronger than this. I know you are, and somewhere in that heart of yours I know you know it, too."
"But I..."
"I'm here with you," Dai said quietly, giving him a reassuring smile. "I've always been here. You don't have to do this alone."
Dai...
"Have you forgotten so quickly? You must pay the price for all the pain you've caused. You abandoned your cousin and your leader for your own personal gain. Payment must be made. The Motomiya boy is ours!"
"No, stop! I won't let you take him. I won't let you hurt him!"
"Don't listen to them!" Dai shouted, struggling to hold on. "No matter what they say, don't fall for it!"
There was a sudden painful cry behind them, and turning his head, Ryoko spotted the shadows dragging Matty closer towards the edge of the pit. With violet eyes full of hatred, the dark forms stared at him and proceeded to laugh with malicious intent, their giggles echoing across the black abyss.
"Then we will take Masato Takaishi. One of them must be the sacrifice for your selfishness. That was the deal. That is the payment you must make. Now choose! Who will you give up to the darkness? Who is most important to you?"
I never made any deal!
"Choose! Choose or we will choose for you!"
Ryoko could feel his chest heaving from the effort to keep the shadows from dragging Dai into the pit, and with a growing sense of dread, he watched as the blue light from his Digivice flickered in the darkness. If he didn't find a way to pull Dai to safety soon, the light would die completely, and once that happened, he was sure the goggle-headed leader would be lost forever. A few feet away, he could see Matty staring at him, and as he had suspected would be the case, there was no trace of hurt or anger in the younger twin's amber gaze. Instead, Matty was watching him with an expression that exuded love and affection, despite the danger he was in. A quick glance at Dai revealed a look that was identical to Matty's, and glancing back and forth between the two, Ryoko realized something that hit him so profoundly, the strength of his emotions nearly shattered his heart into pieces.
Though he couldn't explain his feelings, he knew with certainty that everything he had experienced over the last four weeks had all come together for this very moment, and however he responded to the suffering he had endured, that would determine the fate of those he loved. The shadows were telling him he had to choose, and staring at the faces of two people he cared about more than he could ever put into words, he knew his previous confession was the truth. Even in his earlier state, with his mind all foggy and his heart teetering on the edge of darkness, the choice had been obvious. He couldn't choose. Both Dai and Matty had a special place in his heart, and he cared about them equally. No matter what the shadows said, it simply wasn't a choice he could make.
Because I love them both.
No matter how he felt about himself, in the end Dai and Matty were both worth more to him than his own safety. The choice was clear, and looking back on what he had said to the shadows earlier, he realized he had already made his choice long before he was ever asked to make one. He had tried to tell the shadows earlier, but they had ignored him.
This time, though...This time I'm not going to be ignored!
"Tell us. You must make a sacrifice. Who will pay the price for your disloyalty?"
Ryoko had been listening to the shadows talking inside his head with his face scrunched up, but upon being asked such a simple question, he slowly opened his eyes and smiled through his tears. All of a sudden, he felt a sense of peace wash over him, and lifting his head, he said in a strong voice, "Me. I'll pay the price for my own disloyalty. If I have to make a choice, then I choose neither. I'll be the sacrifice!"
"What is this? What are you saying?"
Ryoko glared defiantly at the shadows that had gathered around him, and speaking in a voice that was brimming with strength and determination, he said, "I told you before. I can't choose, and I won't. Dai and Matty...I care about them both equally. My actions are my own, and nobody should pay the price for my mistakes except me! You want payment for my lack of trust? You want a sacrifice? I'll be your sacrifice! I'll pay the price!"
"You are a fool!"
Ryoko laughed at that, and unable to hide his contempt for the dark forms hovering over him, he said with obvious disdain, "A fool? For what? For wanting to protect my friends? I don't care if the darkness takes me, but I won't let you hurt the people I love! I would die before I would ever let either one of them become your sacrifice!"
"They are nothing!"
"They're everything to me! I'll do anything to save them, even if it means sacrificing myself! Because that's what you do for the people who are most important to you! That's what you do for the people you love!"
"You would put others before yourself?"
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and refusing to back down, he said harshly, "Of course I would. I would do anything for my friends and my family because protecting the people you love is what gives life meaning, and I'm not going to let you hurt any of them anymore. No matter what you say to me, you can't hurt me anymore. I'm finished with all of you and with the darkness in this cave, so for the last time get out of my head!"
He had barely finished speaking when the cavern suddenly exploded with blue light, and looking down at his D-Coder, Ryoko let out a gasp when he realized that the frosty glow was coming from his Digivice. All around him, the shadows shrieked in fury, and as the intensity of the light surrounding his body increased dramatically, he could feel the last of the violet mist that was still lurking inside his body disappear completely. Immediately, the voices in his head ceased to whisper painful words to him, and though he barely had enough strength left to hold himself up, he felt more light and free than he had ever before experienced in his entire life.
I feel...so alive...
It was a strange sensation, and glancing around the gloomy cavern as if he were only now seeing it for the first time, he was able to view his surroundings with astonishing clarity. All around him, he could feel how cold and damp the chamber was, and the air was sharp and crisp, making it even more difficult to breath. The pale blue light coming from his Digivice burned his eyes, and turning to look at the main group of Digidestined, who were still being held captive, he could see all of them beaming at him, their faces alight with warmth, love, and fierce hope. Immediately, he made eye contact with his father, and gazing at him with an intensity that pierced his soul, the former musician nodded in approval, his blue eyes flashing with emotion. There were tears in his mother's eyes as she gazed at him proudly, her expression overflowing with an abundance of fierce love, and he could see Mickey's amber gaze brimming with affection. Their obvious love for him, which he could feel coming from everyone in the group, gave him the strength he needed, and glancing back towards Dai and Matty, he could see the wonder and amazement in their eyes at his sudden change in attitude. Their expressions were overflowing with intensity, and staring at him with amber eyes that were shining brightly in the darkness, Matty whispered, "Ryoko."
"I knew it," Dai said quietly, his dark eyes burning in the light of the Digivice as he struggled to hold on. "I knew you would say that."
I can feel her watching me, but I can't make myself look. So much pain and terror in her eyes, it would tear me apart inside to see it. If I let you die, her heart will shatter into pieces. I can't let that happen. I won't sacrifice her happiness for my sake. If taking me means I can save everyone else, then let them come and get me!
Ryoko cried out as his D-Coder responded instantly to the heavy load of painful thoughts surging through his mind, and shielding his eyes, he winced as a beam of bright blue light suddenly shot out of the Digivice in his pocket and slammed into the pedestal across the chasm with enough force to disintegrate any of the unfortunate shadows that had been standing in the way of its path. To his surprise, the purple mist hovering around the Spirit Chip of Loyalty began to recede back into the dark abyss, and there floating in a sphere of icy blue light above the pedestal was the small trinket itself, its tiny surface shining so brightly that the whole cavern was lit by its frosty glow. Even from a fair distance away, Ryoko could see the symbol of what looked like an eye carved onto the Spirit Chip, and beneath the trinket itself, the inscription written on the pedestal began to pulse with pale blue light.
It's mine. It really is mine.
Though he could not read the inscription yet, he knew it was a reference to him, and smiling, Dai said with confidence, "Go on, it's yours!"
Ryoko was about to respond when the cavern suddenly erupted into complete chaos, catching him completely off guard. Off to the left, Matty let out a cry as the shadows holding him abruptly shoved him to the ground, their eerie shrieks echoing across the dark pit, and leaving the younger twin to his own devices they immediately came after Dai, their violet eyes burning with rage. Before anyone could stop them, they quickly joined the shadows that were trying to drag the goggle-headed leader down into the pit, and Ryoko let out a gasp as he almost lost his grip on the other boy's wrists.
There were now six shadows rather than two trying to drag Dai into the chasm, and even with the powerful light coming from his D-Coder, Ryoko knew his strength was going to fail him at any moment. Despite his best efforts, he couldn't seem to pull the goggle-headed leader free from the shadows, and growing desperate, he cried, "No, let go! I won't let you take him!"
"If you don't let go, they're going to drag you down with me!" Dai shouted, wincing in pain as the shadows continued to pull viciously on his arms and legs. "You have to let go!"
All around them, the main bulk of shadows began to giggle and whisper in glee, and refusing to listen to them, he snapped, "No, you heard what I said! I'm not letting them take you or Matty!"
"I know what you said, and while I appreciate the sentiment, that doesn't mean I'm going to let you give yourself up so easily," Dai snapped back, looking determined. "No matter what you say, I'm not going to let you sacrifice yourself for me."
Once again, Ryoko could barely see the other boy's face thanks to the tears in his eyes, and choking on his sobs, he whispered, "I can't let you go. I can't let you die."
Dai's face softened, and shaking his head, the goggle-headed leader said quietly, "Then we have a problem because I can't let you die either. I won't let them take you with me."
"Why?" Ryoko whispered. "After everything I've done. Why would you sacrifice yourself for me?"
Dai refused to look away from him, and smiling slightly, the goggle-headed leader said, "We've been over this already. I care way too much about you to let you risk your life for me."
"But-"
"I...I don't think I can hold on much longer," Dai said quietly, his dark eyes flashing with the strain of trying to prevent himself from being dragged down into the pit. "But no matter what happens now, you and I will always be friends. I'm glad I had the chance to tell you how I really feel."
"What...what are you saying?"
For the first time since entering the cavern, Dai refused to meet his eyes, and slipping in his grasp, the goggle-headed leader said, "Look out for Matty for me, and...and tell Takara. Tell her that I...I..."
Ryoko knew what was coming, and barely able to hold on now, he violently shook his head in denial and said harshly, "On no. No way. I'm not doing that for you. I won't! You can tell her yourself!"
"I don't think they'll be able to hear me from here, so tell Sam, Ami, Mickey, my parents...everyone. Tell them I love them," Dai managed to gasp, slipping even further out of his grip.
Ryoko couldn't seem to stop crying, and sobbing as he tried desperately to hang on, he shouted, "Stop that! You're not going anywhere! I'm not letting you fall. I won't let this happen!"
But as he stared into the goggle-headed leader's dark eyes, he knew with terrible certainty that his time had finally run out.
No, please! I need to be stronger. I need to save him!
As Dai's hands slipped free from his grasp, the goggle-headed leader smiled at him and said firmly, "I know you won't."
Dai!
Though he made a grab for the goggle-headed leader's arm, his efforts were in vain. Dai was pulled free from the edge of the pit with enough force to send him spinning into the air, and crying out in triumph, the shadows leaped into chasm after the goggle-headed leader, who was falling into the deep blackness down below.
It all happened so quickly that for a brief second all he could do was stare, and unable to accept the loss of a friend, something inside of Ryoko seemed to snap, sending him sprawling face first onto the ice. Panting heavily, he could hear the muffled cries of the Digidestined and digimon who were still tied up, and though he hadn't made a sound, DarkAngelicmon was staring at the pit with an expression that was almost impossible to read. Vampiramon and the other mega digimon simply looked surprised, and there calling his name was Alopemon, who had somehow managed to break free from the shadows and was racing towards him.
With a scream of anguish and a terrible sense of loss, Ryoko howled in agony as his body exploded with harsh blue light, and this time the glow coming from his D-Coder slammed into the Spirit Chip so hard, the blue sphere of mist circling it shattered with enough force to send fragments of blue glass flying into the chasm. Immediately, the written inscription on the pedestal rearranged itself into letters that he could understand, and staring at the words, his heart began to feel as if it were floating in the light surrounding his body. It was a simple phrase, and yet it spoke volumes about who he was.
"Friendship is the foundation that builds upon a grain of sand. Loyalty is the symbol of the one who guides a leader's hand."
As his eyes scanned the message, he began to sob uncontrollably, and suddenly Alopemon was there beside him, urging him to get up, only the fox digimon wasn't Alopemon anymore. Somehow, the little rookie had manage to digivolve into Tirimon, and staring across the chasm in a state of shock, Ryoko watched in silence as the Spirit Chip quickly floated towards him with obvious confidence that it was headed in the right direction. A surprised squeak from Spritemon made him look up, and dropping the bag of crests and Digivices that she was holding, she squealed in shock as a beam of bright blue light shot out of the opening at the top, just missing her by inches. A moment later the Crest of Friendship floated out of the bag, and it quickly joined with the Spirit Chip, sending icy blue sparks flying in all directions. Without even thinking about it, Ryoko pulled out his D-Coder, and as the Spirit Chip inserted itself into the slot on the back, he somehow managed to climb to his feet, despite both the physical and emotional pain that was surging through his body.
"It's time," Tirimon murmured before disappearing in a flash of light. "You will keep your promise to Matty, just as I intend to keep my promise to you! Tirimon digivolve to, IceTirimon!"
Ryoko barely had time to get even a glimpse of his partner's new form before the ultimate digimon leaped into the bowels of the dark chasm, and screaming in rage, the remaining shadows began to spit and pace, their violet eyes glaring into the deep darkness down below. A few tried to follow, and overcome with the emotion of losing Dai, Ryoko once again fell to his knees, the light around his body growing even greater in strength. With a scream of pure torture at the thought of losing one of his best friends forever, the shadows didn't stand a chance. His outburst triggered a reaction from the Digivice, and immediately the light from his D-Coder exploded into the remaining shadows, destroying them instantly. Once the shadows were gone, the light around him disappeared, and slumping to the floor in a sobbing heap, he suddenly felt Matty's arms go around his trembling form. The younger twin was also crying, and holding tightly to him, the golden-haired Digidestined whispered, "Ryoko, I...I'm sorry. I..."
Ryoko shook his head, and unable to accept what was happening, he said in a low voice, "It can't end like this. It can't..."
The words were barely more than a whisper, and clinging to each other in desperation, the only sound that could be heard within the cavern was the echo of his strangled sobs. Matty's tears were silent, and as Ryoko sat there drowning in the unbearable pain of his own misery, he couldn't help feeling as if a part of his soul was slowly dying.
He had failed everyone. Ami, Davis, and Noriko, and also Joe, June, Emi, and Noah. But that was only the start. He had also failed Matty, Takara, and all of his other friends, and that wasn't even including all of Dai's friends who knew nothing about digimon. He had failed generations of Digidestined and all of their digimon allies.
And he had failed himself.
Dai was gone, the goggle-headed leader's broken body lying somewhere at the bottom of the black abyss. Dead or dying, it didn't matter at this point. The end result was the same, and it was all because of him.
How can I go on? How can I keep moving forward knowing that I failed him? Knowing I failed everyone...
"Ryoko...Ryoko, look!" Matty's voice suddenly whispered frantically in his ear, tugging urgently on his coat.
Ryoko could feel the younger twin desperately trying to get his attention, and glancing up in confusion, he glanced towards the giant chasm, uncertain of what he was supposed to be looking at. Something had definitely caught Matty's attention, and upon realizing what it was that the younger twin had spotted, he immediately froze, his sapphire eyes growing wide with shock. The purple mist that had been leaking out of the pit earlier had disappeared entirely, and instead he could see a faint source of blue light that appeared to be glowing steadily somewhere down below. Unable to look away, he watched in silence as the light began to grow stronger as it continued to move closer to the surface, the force of that icy glow reflecting off the cavern walls.
A moment later, something flew up out of the pit, and staring at it, Ryoko felt his heart skip a beat. It was a digimon, but not just any digimon. It was his digimon partner, and having almost completely forgotten about Tirimon's evolution, it took a moment for his brain to fully process what was happening. The ultimate digimon was surrounded by a sphere of bright blue light, and as their eyes met, Ryoko found himself unable to breath.
The digimon hovering before him had a human-like form, but that was where the resemblance to humans ended. This ultimate moved on two legs, and in keeping with tradition, its appearance resembled that of a fox, the same as his other forms. He was impressive to look at, and the pale blue fur sprouting from his chest, hands, elbows, feet, knees, and groin was covered in silver and navy blue armour. The rest of the fur on his body remained uncovered, and though he wasn't overly tall or imposing, it was obvious his body was quick and agile, which would allow him to out last his enemies. The armour also had silver wings that gave him the ability to fly, and his head was covered by a helmet that was the same colour as his armour. Despite the head adornment, though, you could still see his sapphire eyes, and currently those eyes were flashing with strength and determination. He also sported a long, fluffy tail, which was the same colour as the rest of his fur, and because it reached as far as his ankles, it gave him a graceful and overall elegant look to his appearance. As far as Ryoko was concerned, IceTirimon was the most beautiful digimon he had ever seen, but that wasn't the only thing that had captured his attention.
What drew his eyes the most was what the ultimate digimon was holding in his arms. Not only was Daichi Motomiya completely whole, healthy, and very much alive, the goggle-headed leader was also smiling and looking far too pleased with himself.
If it wasn't for the huge wave of relief washing over him, Ryoko would have punched the goggle-headed leader in the face, but...
Actually, scratch that. He was still going to punch the goggle-headed leader in the face.
"Over here!" Matty called out, smiling through his tears and waving at the newly evolved ultimate digimon.
IceTirimon quickly landed in front of them, and setting Dai neatly on his feet, the fox digimon looked at him and said softly, "I'm proud of you, Ryoko. I never doubted the strength of your heart, even for a moment. I knew you could do it if you only gave yourself the chance to believe in yourself."
Ryoko was too exhausted and far too emotional to respond, and racing forward, he made due on his threat and swung his fist at the goggle-headed leader's face. His knuckles hit Dai's cheek with a satisfying thump, the force of his momentum sending the goggle-headed leader sprawling backwards, and catching himself, Dai shouted indignantly, "Ouch, what was that for!"
Unable to respond, Ryoko flung his arms around the goggle-headed leader's torso, and hugging the other boy tightly against his chest, he took several deep breaths to calm himself. A moment later, he felt Dai's arms go around him in return, and laughing softly, the goggle-headed leader said, "I guess some things never change, huh?"
Ryoko finally found the strength to speak, and keeping his head buried against the goggle-headed leader's shoulder, he murmured, "You...you idiot. You jerk. You...you did that on purpose. Hoping it would be enough to help me get my Spirit Chip. How...you...you...What if I hadn't been able to get it to activate?"
"I knew you would," Dai said softly in his ear, patting him gently on the back. "I trust you just as much as you trust me. I knew you would come to my rescue."
"That doesn't mean you're not still a jerk!"
"I meant what I said, though," Dai insisted. "If something ever did happen to me, I would want you to tell the others what I said."
Ryoko raised his eyebrows, and nodding slowly, he murmured, "Even Kara?"
Dai pulled back slightly, and though the goggle-headed leader's cheeks were red, he seemed confused by his own feelings, as if he wasn't quite sure what to think about the female Digidestined.
It didn't surprise Ryoko, and pushing ever so slightly, he said, "What were you going to say to Kara?"
Dai shrugged, looking both embarrassed and uncertain with regards to his own behaviour, but before the goggle-headed leader could respond, Matty joined them, a brilliant smile on the younger twin's face. Ryoko could tell his cousin was still trying to compose himself, so it didn't surprise him to see Matty scrubbing vigourously at his face to get rid of the tears on his cheeks.
Dai, for his part, looked up at IceTirimon, and smiling at the ultimate, he said, "Thanks for that."
"Don't thank me, thank Ryoko," IceTirimon said modestly, bowing his head. "It was the strength of his heart that truly saved you, not me."
As much as he wanted to express how grateful and relieved he was, Ryoko could feel his entire body screaming in pain, and slumping against the goggle-headed leader, he reached for Matty's hand and whispered, "I don't think...I have much left."
"You have enough to help us finish this," Dai said firmly, climbing to his feet and pulling him up as well, despite his weak protests. "Come on, let's go save our friends and get out of here."
"Count me in!" Matty said firmly, giving his hand a firm squeeze.
Ryoko allowed them to support his body weight, and glancing over at the main group of Digidestined, he felt a fierce sense of fondness for every face that was staring back at him. They all looked so proud, but the expression that caught his attention the most, even over his own parents, belonged to Davis. There was no way to describe the look in the former leader's dark eyes, and feeling suddenly shy, he had to look away. It was clear Davis was well aware of the fact that he, Ryoko, had just saved his son's life, and that was a look he knew he would never forget no matter how many years went by. With regards to his own parents, he was overwhelmed by the amount of love he could feel radiating from their gazes, and he knew without them saying anything that they were extremely happy for him and honoured to have him for a son.
And Takara. Like with Davis, there were simply no words to describe the way she was looking at him. He had suspected for a long time that she was in love with Dai, and the way she was looking at him now was merely a confirmation of what he had already come to understand a while ago. Her face was red and puffy, and there were still tears streaming from her eyes, but the evidence of the torture she had endured didn't diminish her beauty in the slightest. Even from a distance, he could see her chest was heaving from the silent sobs she was unable to express openly around the gag blocking her mouth, but he had a feeling the moment she was free, her arms would be around him in a fierce hug.
I'm glad. I know how much she cares. I don't know what I would have done if I had taken away something that is so obviously precious to her...
"Well, that didn't happen quite as quickly as I'd hope, but I suppose you got there in the end," DarkAngelicmon said calmly, looking very amused as he slowly picked himself up off the ground.
Now that all of the shadows were gone and the darkness from the cave had lifted, the fallen angel's emerald eyes were sparkling with excitement, and climbing cautiously to her feet, Vampiramon scowled and said harshly, "You got what you wanted. Are you satisfied? The Spirit Chip is obviously in fine working condition now, so shouldn't we be trying to steal it?"
"Hey, yeah! It's our turn to take them out now, isn't it?" Jestermon asked, leaping to his feet with a sudden rush of enthusiasm.
No way! I haven't come this far only to have my Spirit Chip stolen by these jerks! I'm not going to let that happen, not after everything I've been through.
Although he was hardly able to stand and he felt like every bone in his body was broken, somehow Ryoko managed to hold out his glowing D-Coder, though it took the last of the strength he had. "Not on my watch, you won't!"
Immediately his Digivice once again exploded with blue light, and the crimson ropes binding the rest of the group disappeared in a flash. At last everyone was free, and not wasting any time, the digimon who had been tied up for so long quickly digivolved to their champion and ultimate forms. Odonatamon was quick to heal Celestimon, Halomon, and Gatomon, and upon regaining consciousness they too were able to digivolve again.
Realizing what had just happened, Spritemon let out a squeal of surprise, and realizing she was now surrounded by the enemy, she quickly fluttered over to join the rest of her evil allies, her ponytail fluttering in the breeze behind her. Landing next to DarkAngelicmon, she glanced hopefully at the fallen angel and said, "Are we really going to fight them now?"
"Of course we are," DarkAngelicmon said smoothly, summoning his dark spear. "We need that Spirit Chip, and while we're at it, we're going to take the one's belonging to Daichi and Sam as well."
"Sorry to disappoint you, but that's not going to happen," Tai said in a strong voice, his words catching everyone's attention.
Unable to stand on his own anymore, Ryoko glanced over in surprise to see the former leader standing next to his father, and hanging onto his two friends, he frowned when he realized that Agumon and Gabumon were the only two digimon who had not yet digivolved to their highest levels.
As he stood there watching the fallen angel, the former musician narrowed his sapphire eyes and said, "While I appreciate what you did to help my son, I'm not going to let you take his Spirit Chip. Come on, Tai. Let's end this fight!"
"I'm with you on that one," Tai agreed, putting an arm around the golden-haired Digidestined's shoulders. "Agumon, Gabumon, you guys know what to do."
"What's happening?" Dai asked, looking confused.
Ryoko let out a gasp, and he had to shield his eyes as the two Digivices exploded with blue and orange light. Both Agumon and Gabumon were surrounded by the bright glow, and a moment later they disappeared in a blinding flash.
As the light died away, Ryoko was finally able to open his eyes again, and when he did his mouth dropped open in awe.
Agumon and Gabumon were gone. Instead, in their place, stood the impressive form of Omnimon.