Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Here's another new chapter! I know this one is quite short, but the next chapter after this one will more than make up for it. I hope you all enjoy!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 284: The Price for Revenge

DarkAngelicmon

Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World

DarkAngelicmon was conscious, but even though he had become aware of his immediate surroundings, he did not open his eyes or move from his position on the frosty ground. Beneath his body, he could feel the chill of the ice covering the floor of the large cavern seeping into his bones, but it didn't bother him as much as it might otherwise have done so.

After all, he was too busy thinking to notice the cold, and though his handsome face was lacking any sort of definable expression, his thoughts weren't particularly heavy. His aura was more reflective rather than disappointed over the outcome of their latest failure, and as he lay there upon the ice he could still feel the light from Angewomon's attack coursing through his body. The sensation was oddly pleasant, and for some reason he found himself able to think more clearly than he had been capable of doing for what seemed like a very long time now. Thanks to the sudden clarity of his mind, he found himself not wanting to move, and thus his thoughts turned to the old friend that was still his most important priority.

Lucemon.

Everything made him think of Lucemon, that was an undeniable fact, and remembering his old friend's sober expression, he let out a soft sigh that managed to turn itself into a fond smile.

Thankfully, Lucemon was far away from the Ice Caverns at this point, and if he had to make a guess, more than likely the rookie angel and his small companion were heading to the continent of Server to see if they could learn the location of the next Spirit Chip. Chances were the two would be keeping a close eye on Gennai, and no doubt they would be following the robed figure's team assigned to the search. MarineAngemon would be doing most of the work, of course, since Lucemon would need to stay hidden from the team of dark digimon that no doubt the Ruler of Darkness would have sent to perform the same task, but there wasn't much he could do about that at this point. He had to trust that Lucemon would keep himself hidden from any fallen angel digimon the Ruler of Darkness might have sent in his stead to spy on Gennai, though it pained him to do so.

Which brought him back to the problem at hand.

Their mission to obtain the Spirit Chip of Loyalty had been a complete failure, or a complete success depending on how you looked at it, but despite the more positive approach one could take from the experience, he didn't think the Ruler of Darkness was going to agree with his assessment of the situation.

It didn't surprise him that they had allowed yet another Spirit Chip to slip through their grasp, and though perhaps he should have been a bit more anxious about the resulting backlash from the Ruler of Darkness, at the moment he wasn't too concerned about the whole affair. Instead, his thoughts were focused on the Takaishi twins, and thinking back on what Matty had revealed to him, he found himself once again smiling gently at his own weakness.

Masato and Makiya Takaishi. As a general rule the human race was fascinating, but even more so when it came to the biological genius of identical twins. Whether by grand design or a genetic fluke, such a thing existed, and though that was something that would likely baffle the majority of digimon, who thought mostly in terms of black and white, it intrigued him in a way that the data of digimon did not. Ironically, when it came right down to it, both humans and digimon were technically created by the very same thing. Data and information. With digimon, it was leftover data from the age of the internet. Zeroes and ones lost in the shuffle of human technology. With humans, it was a different source of information, but still a series of code all the same. The human genome. DNA. It was all data. Bits and pieces of biological information strung together to create each individual human. It was a subject that had been his life's work for centuries, and even now the mystery of the human race still captivated him.

And as a result, the answers he was still searching for continued to elude him.

Humans did not share the simplicity of digimon. Instead of thinking much in terms of black and white, the human race often found themselves lost somewhere within the grey area that existed between. Nothing was ever simple for humans. Often that was the reason why so many of them found themselves floundering in the darkness, and thus they tended to struggle much more than the average digimon to find their way out again. While dark digimon did exist, the darkness within humans was far more complicated and vast, and often it could spill over into the Digital World, thus influencing the Digital World itself and the digimon who were its inhabitants.

It always comes back to the humans, one way or another. Though it was never their intention, they are the creators of this world, and thus they have a responsibility to protect it. Perhaps that is the true meaning behind the humans who become Digidestined. They are the ambassadors of the human world, sent to keep order and to protect the harmonious balance between light and darkness. Protecting that balance is essential for the survival of any world. That is what the prophecies suggest, and rightfully so. Our world was never meant to exist, but due to the curious and irresponsible nature of humans, here we are just the same. Because of their mistakes, the Digidestined were born, and thus the humans are paying the ultimate price for their neglect. They are paying with the lives of their children, who have become the heroes of our world. The Age of Light, the Dawn of Darkness. It all traces back to the humans in the end, but what about me? What am I in this world?

He had always been different from other digimon. As Lucemon had been fond of saying in their early years, he acted more like the humans of prophecy than he did like a digimon. The world had never been black and white for him, and now here is was, lost somewhere in the twilight that existed between.

Although I don't think I'm the only one who is guilty of that.

Lucemon might behave like a sentimental fool most of the time, but the rookie was also correct in much of what he said, thanks to the undeniable amount of wisdom he possessed. Not only that, Lucemon also had a knack for predicting the future with an almost disturbing measure of accuracy, and thus DarkAngelicmon knew he really shouldn't have been surprised by how deeply both of them had become involved with the humans. After all, Lucemon was just like him. More human than digimon by all accounts, which could explain why fate had been so unkind to them.

Like the humans, we have allowed our emotions to get the better of us, and now we are suffering the consequences of our actions. The strength of our hearts failed us, and now we are paying the price for our lack of faith.

Though it was getting harder to admit it, he couldn't deny anymore the fact that he had a soft spot for humans, which seemed particularly true in the case of the Takaishi twins. Somehow they were able to get under his skin so easily, no matter how much he tried to remain aloof, and as of yet he still wasn't sure exactly as to why. There was just something about them that he found particularly meaningful with regards to his own heart, and as a result, he often found himself succumbing to their human charms.

Take Mickey, for example.

The older twin was a huge part of the reason why he wasn't that upset over the loss of the Spirit Chip, and that was largely in part thanks to Matty.

Even if he had wanted to deny the younger twin's words, he knew that wasn't an option for him. Matty would never speak a lie about his twin brother, and thus he could only conclude that what the younger twin had said was true. Sam, on the other hand, had been given a good reason to lash out at him, and because of his taunts it was no surprise that the raven-haired Digidestined would have lied out of hurt and anger to get back at him for his aggressive and painful way of speaking the truth.

But that is all in the past now. Having been reunited with his father, Sam's attitude towards me has changed drastically, and I have no doubt he would back Matty's claims if given the chance. Regardless, the Digidestined have never been the type to lie, so if we assume then that Matty's confession about his brother is true, perhaps there is a chance I can be reunited with my old friend. With their power, maybe we can finally return to the place where we belong...

Home.

It had been a very long time since he had been back to visit the city that centuries ago he had once called home.

Makiya Takaishi. Perhaps you do indeed care, but between yourself and your brother, is it going to be enough?

Thinking about Matty, DarkAngelicmon found himself remembering the strange behaviour of the younger twin's D-Coder Digivice, and placing a hand against his heart, he realized that the light from Matty's Digivice had felt a lot like the tingling sensation he could still feel coursing through his body from Angewomon's attack. In that scenario, he had also felt much more clearheaded than usual, which suggested the light from both Angewomon and the D-Coder were of a similar nature. Something about his whole body had felt different, lighter somehow, and judging from the shock that had been written all over Matty's face, the logical conclusion was that something about his outward appearance had changed. But what exactly could that something have been?

What could he see about me that I was not able to see for myself?

A soft shuffling sound to his right suddenly caught his attention, and opening his emerald eyes, he found himself gazing up at the tall ceiling, the dim glow of the cavern reflecting off its icy surface.

While he would have been content to remain there basking in the warm glow of Mickey's concern for his well being for the rest of the afternoon, it was apparent that the light from Angewomon's attack was beginning to fade from his body. As a result, his thoughts began to grow cloudy again, and frowning in annoyance, he struggled to remember the comforting memories of his past.

His purpose, yes. Power. It was power. That was his purpose. He needed their power to reach his full potential. He needed their strength for revenge.

"We're really going to be in for it this time," a voice grumbled from where he had heard the sound of something moving only moments ago, the tone of what was clearly a female voice drifting quietly into his sensitive ears.

DarkAngelicmon slowly lifted his head, and twisting in the direction of the voice, he spotted Spritemon kneeling by the edge of the dark chasm, a rather anxious expression flashing across her pretty face. At the moment, the pixie digimon was peering uncertainly into the pit, her forehead wrinkling in concentration, and sitting up, he stared at her and said calmly, "And what exactly, if I may ask, are you doing?"

Spritemon jumped at the sudden sound of his voice, and jerking around in surprise, she said with a slight hint of relief in her tone, "Oh, you're awake now. It's about time! How dare you leave me virtually all alone in these vast caves!"

DarkAngelicmon slowly got to his feet, and joining the little pixie digimon by the edge of the chasm, he dusted the snow off his wings before kneeling next to her in silence.

Though he could still feel a faint sense of darkness coming from the pit, all traces of the violet mist had receded, creating a much lighter atmosphere within the large chamber. There wasn't even a hint of any shadows staring up at them with angry violet eyes from the deep blackness down below, and for that he was grateful. No longer could he feel the darkness tugging insistently at his heart, and though he still couldn't see the bottom down below, the pit didn't seem quite as dangerous as before.

"Do you think she's dead?" Spritemon asked hesitantly, twisting her hands together with obvious nervousness.

DarkAngelicmon smiled in amusement, and shaking his head, he said dryly, "Unfortunately luck has not been in our favour today, thus chances are she's very much alive down there."

Spritemon snorted at that, and visibly relaxing, the pixie digimon said, "Whether that's true or not, Jestermon's about as dead as they come. We're supposed to be megas, and yet we're dropping like flies to the Digidestined, much as I hate to admit it. And let me tell you something, DarkAngelicmon. If you think for one second that I'm going to be next, forget it. I didn't sign up for this."

DarkAngelicmon raised his eyebrows at her, and studying his female companion closely, he said, "Are you planning to desert the Ruler of Darkness? That's treason, as I'm sure you're well aware of."

"Of course not!" Spritemon shot back, attempting to cover her blunder. "I'm just saying I don't want to end up like Jestermon and BlackWidowmon, and possibly even Vampiramon. Omnimon's not exactly a pushover, if you know what I mean. We're going to have to be a lot more careful from now on. That is, if the Ruler of Darkness doesn't delete us all first for yet another failure."

"He's not going to be pleased, that much is true."

Spritemon winced, and looking uncertain, she said slowly, "So...what are we supposed to do now?"

DarkAngelicmon let out a soft sigh, and stretching his wings, he said slowly, "We'll have to report in, of course. The Ruler of Darkness will be waiting for us. Despite our failures, we must return to him and give him an account of what happened here over the last two days. If we do not, the end result will only be even more painful for us."

"Not exactly something I'm looking forward to," Spritemon replied, making a face. "You sure you can get us out of this place?"

"I do remember the path we took to get here, yes, but I think it would be more prudent for us to take the same route the Digidestined chose to make their escape. I suspect it will be a shorter distance back to the surface, and right now time is of the essence. It is not wise to keep the Ruler of Darkness waiting, especially when the news you have to report is less than adequate."

"So there's no chance of recapturing the Digidestined then?" Spritemon asked, regretfully shaking her head.

DarkAngelicmon closed his eyes for a moment, and nodding, he said softly, "They have already returned to the human world. I cannot sense the presence of their angel digimon anymore, which is a good indication that they have left the Digital World for the time being. Unfortunately they are out of our reach at this point and the Spirit Chips along with them."

"Well, that sucks," Spritemon grumbled, climbing slowly to her feet. "I guess we'd better get going then. Somebody needs to tell the Ruler of Darkness about Jestermon's demise. I'm sure he'll be interested in Vampiramon, too."

"I have no doubt of that."

Spritemon hesitated, and glancing once more at the pit, she said, "Speaking of Vampiramon, shouldn't we wait a little longer to see if she comes back?"

Not if. When would be a more accurate term.

DarkAngelicmon leaped lightly to his feet beside her, and gazing into the deep darkness down below, he said quietly, "If she truly is alive then we have no idea how long it will take her to return. The Ruler of Darkness is a patient master, but even he has his limits. If Vampiramon does indeed live, she will come back to us in her own time."

"But-"

"I very much doubt she'll have trouble finding her way out of the Ice Caverns. Chances are she will likely follow the same path as the Digidestined as well. The change in light is obvious, even from here."

"Okay, if you insist," Spritemon mumbled, still looking a bit reluctant. "I just don't want to hear about it later, that's all. You know what she's like."

DarkAngelicmon nodded, and smiling slightly, he said, "Indeed, do I ever. That one has been a thorn in my side since the beginning. She won't like the fact we left her behind, and I have no doubt she'll let us know it, but once she realizes the circumstances as to why, it should appease her. After all, she knows only too well the wrath of the Ruler of Darkness and would never want to be responsible for inciting it herself."

"Too true," Spritemon agreed, leaping into the air. "Guess we better hurry then."

"That would be wise. I'd like to return to Cyber before the sun sets. We'll be pushing our luck as it is."

Spritemon rolled her eyes at that, and fluttering her wings, she took off over the chasm, her flight path taking her right over the pedestal where the Spirit Chip of Loyalty once stood.

DarkAngelicmon was quick to follow her, and as he flew over the giant chasm towards the massive door on the other side, he allowed his eyes to stray deep into the pit below.

Though the darkness haunting the Ice Caverns had once again fallen dormant, the lingering effects of the portal could still be felt upon his skin, and while it wasn't doing anything to hurt him, he could tell it was still aware of his presence.

The Powers of Darkness are a terrible thing, and they have created so much pain and sorrow in both worlds. When I see the trail of chaos that follows my footsteps, I can't help but wonder. Is it truly my destiny to follow the path of destruction?

There were so many faces flashing across his memory, all of which were bathed in light. Over time, everything he had ever loved had been taken away from him, and though he sensed the pain of loss deep inside his heart, he could barely remember his past, which had once been peaceful and filled with affection. It had all started when he lost his home, but that wasn't the turning point in his life. No, the loss of his home wasn't to blame. Even then, he had still been able to cherish what was most important to him.

His friends.

They were not the ones who had hurt him. They hadn't changed him anymore than the loss of his home had. His fall into darkness was much later than that. It was the digimon he despised, the one who had stolen everything from him.

His past and his future.

But even the one responsible hadn't been able to take the most important thing of all. In that, DarkAngelicmon knew he had been successful.

Lucemon was still free, even if he was not.

That was the price for his sacrifice.

Though I suffer, it was worth it, and I wouldn't change a thing. I would die a thousand deaths if it meant keeping Lucemon safe.

Perhaps that was why the darkness still had such a hold over him. Though Lucemon had come through the ordeal unscathed, he still wanted those who had made the rookie suffer to pay for their crimes.

He wanted revenge, and revenge was the perfect tool to fuel the Powers of Darkness.

Revenge is the sign of a black heart, a colour I've worn for years now...

It was an idle thought that crossed his mind as he flew through the door towards the sunshine glimmering from the path up ahead.

Though his will was strong, he lacked the physical strength to take on such formidable foes, which was why he needed power.

For one foe in particular most of all.

All these years I've waited patiently for your return. It is inevitable that we shall cross paths once again, and when we do so, the result will be different. I'm coming for you, Daemon. You are mine, and I intend to make you suffer for the pain you caused my friends...