Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: Back with a new chapter! Now that this one is done, I shall be focusing on another chapter for Trinity, plus I have a blooper I have to fix in one of my FTFOD chapters. Once I get that all done, I will be working on the next chapter for this story! If you have a few minutes to spare, I would really appreciate a review. When you've had a story running as long as I have, you sort of need those little boosts of motivation! I hope you all enjoy!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 287: Lady of the Snow
Masato 'Matty' Takaishi
Odaiba, Japan, Earth
Night had finally fallen, and glancing towards the window, Masato Takaishi took a moment to gaze at the darkness slowly creeping towards him on the other side of the glass. At the moment, the bedroom was fairly quiet, since Mickey had left to go take a shower, and though Palelymon and Goldmon were curled up together on his pillow, the two digimon were sound asleep, which meant he had nobody but himself for company.
At the moment, the soft sound of their breathing was the only noise marring the silence of the room, and frowning at the two little fluffy balls that were taking full advantage of his pillow, he couldn't help feeling a little bit envious.
Though his body was exhausted and his eyes were heavy, his mind wasn't yet ready to go to sleep, and thus instead of crawling into bed, he found himself sitting at the computer, his amber eyes gazing absently at the screen.
He had just come out of the shower himself, thanks to Mickey's kind offer to let him go first, and as a result his golden hair was still wet, the damp strands sticking up all over the place as he absently rubbed a towel over his golden locks to soak up most of the water. It was nice of his brother to let him take advantage of the hot water, and reminding himself to thank Mickey later, since he twin would have to settle for lukewarm, he once again turn his attention to the desktop screen, uncertain of how to proceed.
Now that he was at home, his mind was focused on doing something he hadn't done in a while, and though it wasn't anything major, he still felt a little bit uneasy.
I'm just being stupid. It was a shadow. It wasn't him.
In his heart, he knew his fears about the Ice Caverns had already been put to rest, but even so, sometimes it was nice to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that everything was fine.
And now with Mickey out of the room, it's the perfect opportunity to call.
Despite his thoughts, it wasn't his intention to imply that having his brother around was going to be a problem. Quite the contrary, in fact. He was always happy to have Mickey close by. For him, it was more a matter of not wanting his brother to see how embarrassed he was. Thanks to his own stupidity, he couldn't help feeling a bit awkward about what he was planning on doing, and having Mickey there would only make him feel even more self-conscious. It was one of those times where it was probably best just to get it over with before anyone had a chance to walk in and tease him about it, Mickey included.
Knowing me, if that were to happen, I'd probably end up chickening out and not going through with it.
Shaking his head, Matty let out a sigh before signing into his Skype account, and glancing through his list of contacts, his eyes immediately fell upon the name of the person he was hoping to speak with. The green mark next to the blond's avatar indicated that the other boy was online, and taking a deep breath, he let his fingers hover over the mouse for a moment.
It had been a while since the two of them had seen each other in person, and his most recent image of the American boy came from a family photo that Catherine had sent to his mother a few weeks ago.
Normally when they talked over Skype, they did so via text messaging, since the younger boy was quite shy and would grow noticeably flustered and awkward during video calls, and as a result it had been a couple years since their last call, which had occurred just after the American boy had arrived home from his previous family visit to Japan.
That was about to change, though, as there were a few things about the upcoming conversation that Matty wanted to say face to face.
It's one of those times where you need to see someone in person just to make sure...
Bracing himself for what was about to take place, Matty glanced at the name again before clicking the mouse, and without even bothering to send a greeting, he pressed on the option for a video call.
A moment later, the call was answered, and staring at the screen, Matty found himself face to face with the handsome countenance of twelve year old Jayden Young.
"Matty?" the golden-haired boy said hesitantly, the surprised look on the young American's face indicating that he had apparently forgotten his own self-consciousness when it came to video calls.
For a moment, Matty was unable to respond, and gazing back at his American friend, whose expression quickly changed to one of concern, he let himself absorb the image of the boy on the screen with a touch of relief and a hint of curiosity.
Jayden looked the same on screen as he had looked in both the Digital World and in the recent photos from Catherine, his blond hair, pale skin, and icy blue eyes creating a mirror image of the traits he had witnessed on the doppelganger that had led him towards the darkness tainting his soul in the Ice Caverns, only there was one major difference.
This Jayden had a softer look about him, and there was no hint of a shadow hiding behind the American boy's honest gaze. Instead, Jayden's baby-blue eyes were filled with a sense of kindness and deep concern, and Matty knew without a doubt if he were to engage in any physical contact with the other boy right at that moment, he wouldn't feel even a hint of the darkness in Jayden's gentle touch.
An illusion, just like Lucemon said it was. How could I have ever doubted?
"Matty?" Jayden repeated, sounding as if he was being careful of his words. "Is everything okay?"
Seeing Jayden in the flesh was like the final piece to completely eliminate any concerns he might have still had about the Ice Caverns, and as he allowed himself a moment to relax, he smiled and said, "Everything's great. Sorry I didn't warn you about the call, but...it's been a while since we've seen each other, and I just thought...I'd see how you were doing."
Jayden flushed at the warmth in his tone, and giving him a hesitant smile in return, the American boy said quickly, "It's fine. I don't mind. You know I'm always glad to hear from you, but isn't it a bit late over in Japan right now? I would have thought you'd be in bed by now."
Though Matty could sense a little of that familiar embarrassment in Jayden's tone, there was also something about the other boy that seemed somehow different. For one thing, Jayden didn't look away nearly as often as he had during the few Skype calls they had shared previously in the past, and there was something about the American boy's demeanor that seemed a lot more confident and poised.
Well, he is getting older now. Maybe he's finally starting to come out of his shell a bit. In some ways, he reminds me a lot of Mickey. The two of them are both so easily embarrassed.
The fact that Jayden seemed more sure of himself did remind Matty a lot of the boy's doppelganger in the Ice Caverns, but that wasn't something he felt concerned about. After all, the resemblance didn't exist because Jayden was emulating the doppelganger, it was because the doppelganger was merely reflecting the growth Jayden had shown over the last couple years. Even with his slightly more confident and outgoing personality, there was nothing about the American boy that gave off the same sense of darkness as the shadow that had taken on his form, and for that Matty was grateful. Despite having spent time apart, Jayden was still very much the same boy Matty had always known, and it made him feel warm inside to discover that even though his friend had been developing both mentally and physically over the last couple years, Jayden was still very much the same friendly and caring person he had always been.
And that more than anything sparked a huge sense of relief inside his racing heart.
"Matty, are you sure there's nothing wrong?" Jayden asked, studying him closely.
Matty quickly shook his head to clear it, and gazing directly into the American boy's pale blue eyes, he said slowly, "Hey, this is probably going to sound a bit strange, but...there's something I want to ask you about."
"You want to know if I know about the Digital World," Jayden replied, his words solemn as he stared back through the screen without any hint of shyness or hesitation.
That caught Matty completely by surprise, and gaping at the other boy, he managed to stammer, "S-so you know?"
"I would think that would be obvious from what I said," Jayden teased, his blue eyes sparkling.
For the first time in his life, Matty saw more of Willis than Catherine in the American boy, and shaking his head at such a bold statement, he took a moment to collect himself.
Out of the three Young children, Lily was by far the most like Willis, whereas Jayden and Emma acted more like their mother. Even at a young age, Lily could be bold and flirty, while Emma and Jayden were a bit more subdued. Both older children were sweet, kind, and flirtatious in such a way that they didn't seem to realize their appeal, which was a trait that resembled Catherine more than Willis, but after such a brash response, Matty could very much see a hint of Willis hiding just beneath the surface of the younger boy's pale blue gaze. "They...told you?"
Jayden quickly shook his head, and adjusting the laptop he was holding in his lap, the American boy said, "Not in the sense that you mean. Like your parents, they hid the truth from my sisters and I for a long time. I only found out about the Digital World just recently when Izzy contacted my parents about what was going on there with you guys and the digimon calling himself the Ruler of Darkness. That was just after you guys met Tal and his friends."
Matty raised his eyebrows at that, and shaking his head, he said dryly, "I guess at that point they decided they'd better tell you guys before one of us did first."
"I think...my parents always wanted to tell us, but out of respect for your Uncle Tai and the rest of the main group of Digidestined at the time, they didn't want to say anything without first having Izzy's consent to do so," Jayden murmured, looking thoughtful. "At least, that was my impression when they sat us down to talk to us about it."
"So...they didn't want you guys telling us before our parents had a chance to mention it."
"That's right. That all changed though when Izzy contacted them to say you guys had become the new Digidestined. They figured at that point we deserved to know. Emma pretty much took it in stride, as she usually does, and Lily was all excited about it. She kept wanting Mom and Dad to tell her stories, and she wouldn't go to bed that night until they did."
Matty couldn't help laughing, and thinking on the matter, he said slowly, "What about you? What do you think about all of this?"
Jayden was quiet for a moment, and leaning back against his pillows, the American boy said, "I was a bit disappointed that my parents had kept such a huge secret from us for so long, but mostly I was just worried about you guys."
Matty immediately felt warm inside, and knowing then that he had nothing to worry about, he ducked his head and said quietly without any hesitation, "I saw you in the Digital World. You and your sisters. These shadows...They were you, and yet they weren't you. It felt so real to me, and even though I could sense something was wrong, that thing still felt so much like you. You were leading me towards the darkness, and I...I fell for it. Even though there was something inside of you that wasn't you at all, I still let myself be deceived."
"So that's why you wanted a video chat."
Matty slowly lifted his head, and as their eyes met, he flushed at the sympathetic look in the American boy's eyes. "You're just like Mickey. You always could see right through me, even when we were little kids."
"Maybe when we were kids, I learned a thing or two from Mickey," Jayden replied, giving him a small smile.
"Figures."
He didn't even twitch when I mentioned the shadows.
Although it was clear Jayden didn't fully understand what he was talking about, since Izzy wouldn't have had a chance to tell Willis and Catherine about the Ice Caverns yet, the American boy could obviously sense the fact that something terrible had happened. It made Matty realize just how much Jayden wanted to put his fears to rest, and studying him closely, the American boy said softly, "I'm fine, Matty. You don't need to worry about me. We're all fine. I'm the same person I've always been, and that's never going to change."
"Well, I don't know about that. You seem a bit more adventurous compared to the last time I saw you, and you're maybe not quite as self-conscious about yourself as I remember. I kind of like it."
Jayden flushed at the compliment, and shrugging his shoulders, the American boy said, "That doesn't mean I've changed, though, and no matter what happens in the Digital World, I...I'm always going to be your friend."
Matty nodded, and giving the other boy a brilliant smile, he said, "I know that. I just...you know. Just wanted to make sure."
"In that case, I hope I've put your fears to rest," Jayden replied, returning the smile. "And just so you know...I don't blame you, Matty. Whatever happened, it sounds like you've been through a pretty big ordeal. I'm sure I'll hear about it from Mom and Dad once Izzy has a chance to talk to them, but even if that's true, I'm glad you told me first. When it comes to anything between the two of us, I'd rather hear it from you than my parents."
Matty nodded, and quickly changing the subject to something a bit lighter, he said hopefully, "So when are you guys coming back to Japan?"
"Next year," a different voice responded before Jayden could answer.
Matty jumped in surprise as Willis suddenly sat down on the bed next to his son, and feeling a tad embarrassed, he said, "Hey, Willis."
"I didn't mean to interrupt, but I happened to overhear your conversation just as I was passing by," the American Digidestined replied, giving him a warm smile. "Catherine's anxious to see everyone again, so we're planning for early next year. How are you, Matty?"
Even though they were older now, Willis and Catherine still looked every bit as gorgeous as their children, and with pale blond hair and icy blue eyes, the resemblance between the man and his son was uncanny. Matty had always loved the French/American couple, having been on good terms with them since he first learned to talk, and as a result he always looked forward to their visits. And since he knew them so well, he wasn't shy about making a face and saying, "Let's just say Izzy's got a lot to tell you. I'm sure he'll be in contact with you in the next few days."
Willis immediately appeared concerned, and exchanging a meaningful look with his son, the American Digidestined said slowly, "As long as everyone's safe."
"We are. You don't need to worry about that."
At the moment, Matty was speaking in English, and hoping to once again lighten the mood, he smiled at Jayden and said in Japanese, "So how's your Japanese coming along?"
"Considering it's my third language, I think I'm doing pretty good," the boy replied in the same language, smiling shyly in return.
All of the Young children were fluent in French and English, and the two oldest children were currently learning Japanese. Both Emma and Jayden were doing well, and Lily, who was also going to learn, was starting to pick up on a few words already.
Willis, being fluent in Japanese himself, having learned the language years ago with much help from Izzy, understood perfectly, and laughing, the blond said, "You've been a great help to him that way, and give my thanks to Miya and Izzy as well for taking the time to work with them. Catherine's starting to pick it up, as well. It really comes in handy when we come to visit."
"I'll soon speak it every bit as well as I can speak English!" a female voice cut in, her musical tone catching Matty's attention.
Leaning on her husband's shoulder, Catherine stuck her head into the screen and said cheerfully, "Bonsoir, Matty! It's good to see you!"
"Same to you! Is that Lily I hear?"
"Matty!" a young girl's voice called out.
A moment later, Lily leaped onto the bed, and climbing onto her father's lap, she waved and said in a singsong voice, "We're going to come and see you!"
Matty couldn't help smiling at the young girl's antics, and nodding, he said, "I'm looking forward to it."
"So are we," another female voice replied from just off camera.
Within seconds, Emma appeared on the screen, and wrapping her arms around her mother's shoulders, the older girl rested her head on Catherine's golden-hair and said, "It feels like it's been forever."
Matty felt a pleasant tingling in his heart as he gazed at the Young family, and seeing the happy smiles on their faces, he couldn't help returning the smile.
They were a beautiful family, all blond haired and blue eyed, but their physical features weren't the only pleasant thing about them. At the end of the day, their hearts were every bit as pure as their looks, and that just made their physical features stand out even that much more.
"It's getting late over there. Shouldn't you be getting to bed?" Catherine scolded, giving him a look of motherly concern.
Matty nodded, and stretching, he said, "That's where I'm headed once I'm done here."
"In that case, we'll leave you two alone so you can say goodbye," Willis replied, kissing the top of Lily's head, who giggled in response. "Come on, ladies, we've butted in enough as it is."
"I have a feeling something might have happened today, and if I'm right, I'm sure Izzy will fill us in later," Emma agreed, smiling mysteriously and waving before moving gracefully off camera.
Catherine said her goodbyes as well before shooing Lily out of the room ahead of her, and ruffling his son's golden hair, Willis grinned and said, "Don't keep him up too late."
"I won't," Jayden replied, beaming at his father before the American Digidestined made his exit.
Once the two of them were alone again, Matty hesitated before saying, "You have a really amazing family, you know that?"
"So do you," Jayden shot back, his words gentle but firm.
Matty hadn't expected that response, and blinking, he said, "Huh?"
Jayden was quiet for a moment, and looking him right in the eyes, the American boy finally said, "Don't get me wrong, I love my sisters, but...I've always been a bit jealous of you, Matty."
"What? Why?"
"Because you've got one thing I don't have."
Matty was a bit confused, and frowning, he said, "What's that?"
"A brother," Jayden said softly, a slight smile on the American boy's face. "I've always wanted a brother. I envy you for that."
An image of Mickey's face immediately appeared in his mind, and flushing, he stammered, "I-I guess so."
"A brother who obviously cares and worries about you a lot," Jayden added, scrutinizing his face. "You're really lucky. I would have loved to have a brother just like the one you have."
"Jayden..."
It's almost like he knows. It's like he can sense that things have been a bit tense between Mickey and I lately...
"We'll Skype again soon," Jayden said, abruptly changing the subject. "And next time I would love it if you would show me your digimon partner."
Matty blinked at the sudden change in conversation, and nodding dumbly, he said, "Sure, I can do that. And when you come next year, we'll play some soccer together again."
"That sounds good to me."
"For sure?"
"Goodnight, Matty," Jayden said softly, a fond look on the American boy's face. "Sleep well."
"I...yeah, see you soon."
Jayden smiled again before signing off, and staring stupidly at the computer screen, Matty thought more carefully over what his friend had said.
"I've always wanted a brother. I envy you for that."
The hint had been clear.
Your brother loves you. Don't ever take him for granted...
A soft sound at the door made Matty look up, and gazing into his twin brother's amber eyes, he froze in his chair. It was almost as if Jayden's words had conjured up the other boy out of thin air, and staring at his golden-haired twin, he suddenly felt at a loss for words.
"Matty, is something wrong?" Mickey asked, hesitating just inside the door.
The older twin's wet hair gleamed under the lights, and giving himself a shake, Matty plastered a smile on his face and said, "No, I'm good. I...I was just talking to Jayden. It's been a while, so..."
Mickey stared at him, and knowing the older twin could see right through him, he blushed and quickly ducked his head.
Just like Jayden. Sometimes I wonder about those two...
Mickey continued to gaze at him, and unreadable expression on the older twin's face, but instead of commenting, his brother moved further into the room and said lightly, "I'm looking forward to seeing him again. All of them."
"Willis said early next year."
"That's good," Mickey replied, opening the top dresser drawer to put a few things away.
Watching his twin, it suddenly dawned on Matty that his brother had taken quite a bit longer than what was normal for the older twin in the shower, and fixing his gaze back on the computer screen, he said nonchalantly, "That was quite the long shower for you."
He felt rather than saw Mickey pause, and after a moment of silence, the older twin said, "I've been out for a little while now. I was just talking to Mom and Dad."
That made Matty pause, and turning slowly in his chair, he said, "About what?"
The blush on Mickey's face was instantly noticeable, and avoiding his eyes, the older twin mumbled, "Nothing important."
Really...Then why do I have a feeling you're not telling me the whole truth?
Matty glanced at their digimon, who were still asleep on his pillow, and getting up from the chair, he stretched again and said bluntly, "I don't believe you, but it's fine if you don't want to tell me. I'll get it out of you eventually anyways."
Mickey looked properly startled by his words, and blushing even more, the older twin said, "You're being silly."
Am I?
Remembering what Jayden had said earlier, Matty flopped down onto his stomach on the older twin's bed, and looking up at his brother, who was still standing close by near the dresser, he said dryly, "No offense, but you're pretty transparent. I can read you easily. Call it a little payback for earlier."
Mickey gently shut the dresser drawer, and refusing to look at him, the older twin said quietly, "That was different."
Matty raised is eyebrows at that, and rolling over onto his back, he let his head hang over the side of the bed and snorted, "How so? Just a bit of brotherly concern."
Mickey looked down at him for a moment before quickly looking away, and lips trembling, the older twin said, "You shouldn't tease me like that."
Huh? That must have been one heck of a conversation...
Whatever their parents had said, Mickey had obviously taken it very seriously, and not wanting to hurt his twin's feelings, he refrained from commenting.
It hurt him a bit that his brother was being so secretive, but at the same time he knew what he had said was true. Eventually he would get it out of his twin, though the thought did make him feel a tad uncomfortable. Maybe there was more truth in what Jayden had said than he was willing to admit.
After all these years, have I maybe taken Mickey just a little too much for granted?
"Matty?"
Giving himself a mental shake, he realized Mickey was staring at him again, and gazing curiously back at the older twin, he said, "What?"
"You...It makes me nervous when you go all quiet like that," Mickey mumbled, looking away.
Matty rolled off the bed in one fluid movement, and putting his arms loosely around the older twin's shoulders, he said gently in his brother's ear, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to tease you. Whenever you're ready."
A small gasp escaped Mickey's mouth, but before the older twin could reply, Matty pulled away and quickly hurried over to his own bed, anxious to finally get some rest. Climbing under the sheets, he gently shifted the two sleeping digimon from his pillow into his arms before closing his eyes.
A moment later, the light went out, and he heard Mickey climb quietly into bed. As they lay there silently in the darkness, the only noise came from the sound of their breathing, and just when Matty thought his brother must have fallen asleep, Mickey whispered, "Night."
Gazing at the ceiling, Matty smiled at the moonlight streaming in through the window, the silver rays creating shadows that seemed to dance across the walls, and once again closing his eyes, he murmured, "Night, brother. Sleep good."
DarkAngelicmon
Cyber, Western Hemisphere, Digital World
"So this is where you're hiding. I've been searching for you all evening, my faithful servant."
DarkAngelicmon sat quietly on the edge of the stone fountain in the castle's elegant courtyard, his emerald gaze focused on the stairs high above, and turning his head slightly, he spotted a robed figure standing in the shadows by the door.
It was past midnight, and surprisingly the Ruler of Darkness appeared to be alone, since Persiamon and Phelesmon were nowhere to be seen, and thanks to his celestial nature, he was able to make out Phelesmon's presence lurking somewhere else within the castle, which was very unusual.
It wasn't often the Ruler of Darkness wandered anywhere within the Digital World without a bodyguard on hand, even in his own castle.
You can never be too sure when somebody might turn on you...
The moonlight was beautiful, and letting his slim fingers trail in the cool water streaming from the fountain, he said quietly, "No sign of Vampiramon yet then?"
The Ruler of Darkness slowly glided closer, and sitting down next to him on the edge of the fountain, the robed figure said smoothly, "Not yet, but I am confident she will return. The Ice Caverns have always had their secrets, but perhaps that might work to our advantage."
Work to your advantage, you mean.
The Ruler of Darkness was sitting only a mere few inches away from him, completely unprotected, and even without his servants, DarkAngelicmon knew the robed figure was far too powerful for him to defeat on his own. Unfortunately, though, that didn't stop him from feeling an overwhelming urge to attack his master, and doing his best not to let his animosity show on his face, he said lightly, "You shouldn't allow our failures to go unpunished, my lord. It is making the others suspicious."
"Ah yes, I assume that includes you as well?"
DarkAngelicmon slowly looked at the robed figure, unable to see what was hidden beneath that dark hood, and raising his eyebrows, he said teasingly, "In many ways you remind me of the elusive Seermon. Has anyone ever told you that before?"
The Ruler of Darkness let out a soft laugh, and turning to gaze at the statue that stood in the centre of the fountain, the dark digimon said, "I suppose it's the robe, though that is perhaps only one of our similarities. Do you know why you have not been punished?"
"It is not my place to know, my lord."
It was a vague response, since it was true he had no idea what went on in his master's head, and glancing at him with those strange violet eyes, the Ruler of Darkness said, "The idle talk between my servants does not concern me. Although I am harsh, and I expect the best out of my subordinates, I am also fair. Often success comes from failure, and I am not one to ignore the obvious. Though we have lost two comrades now, their efforts have not been in vain. They have bought me time, and right now time is of the essence. In that, they have not failed me. Quite the opposite actually. They have performed admirably, and so have you."
I do not understand...Before, he was always quick to judge us for our misdeeds, but now...
"Plans change over time," the Ruler of Darkness said absently, as if reading his mind. "At the end of the day, it doesn't matter as long as the goal remains the same. While it may look concerning that we have yet to steal any of the Spirit Chips, I am not worried. The Spirit Chips have their role to play, but now is not yet the time. If we can succeed in stealing some early, all the better, but if not our efforts to thwart the Digidestined are not misguided. Regardless our pursuit of them will buy us some time to get ready for when it does become necessary to have the Spirit Chips in our grasp."
I see. So in a sense, we're decoys. We're a distraction to the Digidestined to buy our master time to put his true plans into motion. Or in other words, we really are expendable.
"Not all of you," the Ruler of Darkness murmured, once again picking up on his thoughts. "You in particular are very valuable to me. You, I have much need of."
Lucemon...He wants me to get to you. The day you left him, he was in such a rage, and ever since then he's wanted you back. He thinks I'm the key to luring you back into our circle, but little does he know I have no intention of betraying you. You were never meant to be the digimon he wants you to be, and I won't let the darkness touch you. I will die before I let you suffer like that again...
It was a powerful thought, and watching the water shift between his fingers, he said calmly, "The atmosphere around here has changed. The castle seems different somehow. Darker even than before."
"So you have noticed," the Ruler of Darkness said softly, sounding pleased. "I thought you might. LadyDevimon noticed it as well, and she has already been informed of the details. Now I believe it is your turn."
"Details?"
The Ruler of Darkness shifted slightly, his black robe glowing ominously in the moonlight, and holding out a gloved hand, the evil digimon said, "You are aware of the secret passageways that run beneath the castle dungeons, since you awoke in one of the chambers yourself. As I said before, there are several chambers that exist down there, and it is in those chambers where I have been steadily putting my plans into motion."
DarkAngelicmon suddenly tensed, his heart beginning to pound rapidly in his chest, and without looking at the Ruler of Darkness, he said shortly, "Something lurks within the depths of the castle. What is it?"
"The Demon of Sloth," the Ruler of Darkness whispered, a hint of excitement in his tone.
DarkAngelicmon felt his blood turn to ice, and allowing his hand to go still in the water, he stared at his master and whispered, "Belphemon."
"He sleeps beneath the dungeons of the castle, but he will not be alone for long," the Ruler of Darkness replied. "With the birth of LadyDevimon, Lilithmon will soon be ours, and the search for Lucemon continues. The demons are gathering, and soon they will all be under my command."
No, not Lucemon. You will never have Lucemon!
He wanted to scream the words, but instead he said quite calmly, "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I have need of your assistance," the Ruler of Darkness said shortly, turning to gaze up at the stars. "Tomorrow, I am going on a journey, and I want you, LadyDevimon, Persiamon, and Phelesmon to accompany me."
DarkAngelicmon refused to look at his master, and instead of focusing his attention on the robed figure, he chose to gaze at the statue that was the centrepiece of the fountain instead. "And where is this journey taking us?"
"I am looking for a particular piece of data that was lost fifteen years ago when it sank into the waters of the Dark Ocean," the Ruler of Darkness replied, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nobody knows where it disappeared to, except for me, and now it is time I retrieved it. After the battle, the data I seek was swallowed up by the ocean where it sank deep into the Digital World's crust, and that is where it has remained ever since. It was his death that woke me from my slumber, and the words of the prophecy spoke to me from deep within the flames of darkness. With the aid of his data, I was able to emerge from behind the wall, and now it is time for me to go back and take what is rightfully mine."
Daemon...
DarkAngelicmon felt something snap deep inside his heart, and doing his best to keep his expression neutral, he said, "And how will we reach that data when it has fallen into a place where only the most brave or the most stupid would dare to venture?"
"It helps to have a guide," the Ruler of Darkness said softly, leaping swiftly to his feet. "Someone who knows what they're doing. Someone who has been on the other side before. Or in other words, someone like me. Tomorrow, we shall journey to the Wall of Fire. It is there on File Island where I shall retrieve the Demon of Wrath. I am the one who is destined to fulfill the prophecy, and fulfill it I shall. Be sure to get your rest tonight, my dear servant. We set out early tomorrow."
DarkAngelicmon nodded, and as a sense of fear and rage stirred the emotions that were battling for dominance within his black soul, he murmured, "Yes, my lord. As you command."
So once again our paths shall intertwine. You are the cause for all of my suffering, and this time I will make you pay.
As the Ruler of Darkness turned to leave him, the door to the courtyard suddenly slammed open, the force of its momentum sending it crashing against the stone wall, and jerking around in surprise, DarkAngelicmon spotted a slim, feminine figure standing in the shadows.
Though he had never seen the female digimon before, something about her was instantly recognizable. Immediately, he was on his feet, and gazing at the newcomer, he said, "So you have returned."
"A lovely new form," the Ruler of Darkness commented, glancing at the female mega with what seemed like approval. "The darkness in the Ice Caverns has been kind to you."
"I have returned to you, master, with a new form and a new name," the dark silhouette replied, her terrible black eyes blazing with darkness as she bowed at the waist. "I am ready to do your bidding, so use me as you see fit."
The Ruler of Darkness nodded, and moving towards the female digimon, he placed a gloved hand under her chin and said, "You have permission to lead the mission in following Gennai and searching for the next Spirit Chip. Take Spritemon and as many of my servants with you as you please to complete the task. I will be waiting eagerly for your return."
The female mega bowed again, and brushing at her black hair, she said, "As you wish, my lord."
DarkAngelicmon was curious, and nodding his head at the digimon who had once called herself Vampiramon, he said politely, "If I may ask, what shall we call you now?"
The female digimon's black eyes fixed upon his face, and deep within their depths he could see the terrible amount of hatred she felt for him burning just below the surface of her cool gaze. The desire to smite him down was evident in her expression, and though she made no move to strike him, it was clear she wanted to try out her new form, with him as her first victim. Unfortunately, since their master was present, there was little she could do to test her skills, so instead of mentioning it, she simply said, "I am the Snow Queen. The Wraith of Winter. You may call me YukiOnnamon."