Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.
A/N: I promise they'll actually be going through the mountain pass next chapter! I apologise for the slow setup!
Following the Footsteps of Destiny
Chapter 334: Ominous Signs
Sam Ichijouji
Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World
Holding his hands out to warm them in front of the fire, Sam Ichijouji tilted his raven head back to frown at the sky, and speaking softly to the little rookie sitting next to him, he murmured, "It looks dark, doesn't it."
Distracted by the two men who were just putting the finishing touches on what was going to be their morning breakfast, at first Glowmon didn't answer. Neither Patamon or Wormmon were paying any attention to him either, and raising his eyebrows, Sam gave his partner a gentle nudge. Jerking in surprise, the little rookie said, "Oh! I'm sorry, Sam. I am pretty hungry, and whatever they're making looks delicious. Did you say something?"
I guess the food rates higher than my musings.
Shaking his head in amusement, Sam said dryly, "The sky."
"Huh?"
"Looks a bit...ominous, don't you think?"
Glowing quickly turned in the direction he was indicating, and nodding his head, the little rookie said slowly, "It does look a little menacing. Do you think there's a storm coming?"
"Could be."
Which doesn't bode well for us if that's the case. Finding Mickey's Spirit Chip is already turning into a monumental task. Getting caught in a storm is only going to make things even worse...
"Are you worried?" Glowmon asked, immediately sounding concerned.
Sam chanced a second look at Patamon and Wormmon to see if the two digimon were listening in, and upon discovering they were still preoccupied with breakfast and their human partners, he said, "Not worried exactly. More like...watchful, I guess? Just being cautious."
I hope it's not a sign of things to come...
Staring at the dark grey clouds hovering in the distance, Sam took a moment to reflect on the events from earlier in the morning, and propping his chin in his gloved hands, he couldn't prevent a deep sigh from escaping his lips. As much as he had wanted to join his friends in the hot springs, two very important dilemmas had held him back.
The first and most concerning was the relationship between Mickey and Matty.
Now that they've decided to go ahead with Matty's plan, it's more important than ever that they spend as much time communicating as possible. I wanted to give them that chance before we head out on our journey because depending on how things go, there might not be many more opportunities in the near future. If they can at least be on good terms now, that might make a huge difference later on when it becomes necessary for Mickey's heart to depend on the strength of their bond...
That was his hope anyway. Whether or not his efforts to bring the two together were successful or destined to fail depended entirely on the twins and how willing they were to make use of his kind gesture before they headed out for the day.
They better be using this time wisely...
His other reason for foregoing a second dip in the hot springs was a result of his own insecurities, along with a desire to respect Mickey's boundaries. Though he had no proof, there was a good chance that the younger twin was starting to suspect his feelings might have evolved beyond the boundaries of friendship, and if that was the case, he didn't want Mickey to feel uncomfortable being naked around him. For his part, he had no qualms about the younger twin seeing him in the nude, but that didn't necessarily mean his view on the matter would be reciprocated. He had to respect that, no matter what his feelings were, and as a result, he figured it would be best to save both of them from a potentially embarrassing situation until he had a better idea of just exactly how Mickey truly felt about him.
I'm sure he wouldn't care, even if he couldn't ever return my feelings, but even so I want to know exactly where things stand between us before I do anything too rash. That boundary needs to be established before the truth comes out and we settle into our new roles, whatever those roles might be. Friends or something more, it doesn't matter. I need a better understanding of what is acceptable and what isn't between us before I do anything to jeopardise the bond we share...
"You've got your thinking face on again," Glowmon informed him, moving to hop into his lap. "Are you worried about Mickey?"
Sam quickly put his arms around the little rookie, and shaking his head, he said, "It's not that. I mean, of course I'm worried about him, but that's an ongoing issue. At the moment, I'm just reflecting a bit on what happened this morning."
"What did happen this morning?" Glowmon asked, looking curious. "I must have still been asleep because I don't remember anything happening."
"You were, and it wasn't anything major. Just...Mickey's behaviour when we first woke up."
"Was he acting really odd?"
Sam thought about that for a moment, and frowning, he said, "I don't know if I would say odd exactly, but...he definitely seemed very flustered."
"Because of you?" Glowmon inquired, snuggling closer to stay warm.
Sam welcomed the heat from the little digimon's shining bulb, and gazing thoughtfully at the flames crackling in the fire pit, he said, "It's hard to say. A part of me thinks so, but at the same time I could be way off. His attitude might not have had anything to do with how he feels about me or my feelings about him. He could have just been flustered because I called him out for hiding something from me."
"Why would he want to hide anything from you?" Glowmon asked, looking a little put out. "That's not very nice."
"I wouldn't say it's intentional. It's more like there's something on his mind he wants to share with me, but he hasn't figured out how to tell me just yet. I know he wants to, that much is obvious, but he has yet to find a way to put it into words. I know he'll say something when he's ready. It's just the waiting part that frustrates me, that's all."
Glowmon nodded to show he understood, and perking up a bit, the little rookie said, "That makes sense, I guess. I just don't want him to feel like he can't tell you things that are obviously important to him."
"I feel the same. Like I said, that could be why he was acting so out of sorts this morning, but at the same time..."
"What is it?"
Sam paused for a moment, and thinking back on the hand that had held so tightly to his own and the emotions flickering in Mickey's gorgeous amber eyes, he said hesitantly, "I dunno. I just...had this feeling he didn't want to let go of my hand, but I could have just been seeing what I wanted to see and not the actual reality of the situation. And yet, he seemed so receptive to all of my words and actions."
"That's good, though! Um...right?" Glowmon asked, sounding hesitant of his own words.
Sam sighed, and making a face, he said, "Only if he's taking it the right way, but knowing Mickey he probably just thinks I'm being friendly. Plus, he kept trying to change the subject every time I hinted at something suggestive. That could also be a bad sign."
It was like he was fighting a war with himself. Torn between embarrassment and a desire to continue...
"I don't think it's a bad thing," Glowmon insisted. "You know Mickey gets flustered pretty easily. That wouldn't change whether he returns your feelings or not."
"True..."
Am I just overanalysing everything?
"Speaking of Mickey, here he comes now!" Glowmon said happily, wiggling in his lap. "I hope he'll want to sit with us."
Same.
Sam's eyes were immediately drawn to the handsome boy who was unquestionably wearing Matty's clothing, and gazing fondly at the golden-haired teen, he said warmly, "Did you enjoy the hot springs?"
"You didn't even ask," Mickey responded, biting his lip as he tugged anxiously on the mitts that belonged to his brother.
Sam motioned for the older twin to join him, and unable to look away, he said gently, "Your face gives you away, but even if it didn't, I still would have known."
Blushing, Mickey carefully sat down next to him on the wooden log he was using for a perch, and fluttering over to join them, Halomon quickly curled himself into the older twin's lap. Matty followed soon after with Celestimon, and plopping down next to his brother, the younger twin tugged on the coat he was wearing and commented, "Feels weird not being in my own clothes."
"Looks weird, too," Celestimon joked. "If you're going to be convincing, you need to soften your face a bit."
"Like Mickey's!" Halomon agreed.
"Hey, no comments from the peanut gallery! I don't have to pretend to be him just yet."
Ignoring Matty's outbursts, Sam leaned into Mickey's shoulder and said quietly in the older twin's ear, "Did the two of you have a chance to talk?"
Our digimon partners still don't know the truth behind Mickey's willingness to go along with Matty's plan. I need to be mindful of that since I'm not sure if Mickey wants Halomon to know...
Jumping at his sudden closeness, Mickey mumbled, "We did, and you were right. It probably was a good thing for us to have some time alone together. Things are okay between us, despite this whole plan to switch places, but..."
Thinking back on Mickey's behaviour earlier that morning, Sam murmured, "Is this part of what you haven't told me yet?"
"I...you know I don't like keeping things from Matty. We're not going to fight with each other just because we don't agree on the best course of action to get my Spirit Chip, but even so I just...don't like the thought of deceiving him."
Sam nodded slowly, and glancing past the older twin's shoulder to make sure Matty was still preoccupied with Glowmon, Halomon, and Celestimon, all of whom had moved off to join the younger twin in order to give them some alone time, he placed a hand on Mickey's arm and whispered bluntly, "While I agree with your line of thinking that DarkAngelicmon and the others are probably after Matty, I want to make it very clear that doesn't mean I'm in favour of this plan to switch identities. I don't enjoy the thought of leaving Matty in the dark about what's really going on, and I'm sure you don't either. I also really don't like lying to him, even if it's lying by omission."
"Is that your way of telling me I should change my mind?" Mickey asked, his lips starting to tremble.
Sam could tell the older twin was avoiding his eyes, and pulling back slightly, he said simply, "There is still time."
"And if I don't change my mind, does that make me a bad person?"
Huh? Where did that come from?
Startled by the other boy's almost challenging words, Sam said quickly, "Of course not! I never said that."
"It's the same thing," Mickey choked out, his voice sounding on the edge of tears. "You don't hate me now, do you?"
What!?
For a moment, Sam was so shocked he didn't know what to say, and then wrapping his arms around the older twin, he pulled Mickey 's trembling body against his chest and said sharply, "Of course I don't hate you! Don't be silly. I could never, ever feel that way about you, and I don't ever want to hear you say something like that again. Just because I don't agree with your motive doesn't mean I don't understand why you feel the way you do. When it comes to Matty and our desire to protect him, you and I are definitely on the same page, and that's why I'm going to do everything I can to make this experience as painless as I possibly can for you."
"I know," Mickey gasped, rubbing vigorously at his eyes. "I just..."
Is he projecting his own guilt on me? Is that was this is all about? I wonder...Maybe he's starting to have second thoughts about lying to Matty? Or maybe his conscience is starting to catch up to him...
Either way, Sam knew the older twin needed his support now more than ever, and as the rest of the Digidestined began to gather around the campfire with their partners, thus keeping Matty and their digimon preoccupied for a little longer, he held Mickey close and whispered into the other boy's golden hair, "What's really going on?"
"I don't know," Mickey mumbled into his shoulder. "I just...really need you right now."
How can you say things like that and not have feelings for me? There's no way my heart can survive this...
And yet, somehow he had to keep going. Right now, his feelings weren't important.
The only thing that matters right now is keeping Mickey's heart safe from the darkness.
With that thought in mind, Sam made a valiant effort to ignore the pleasant shivers racing down his spine, and resting his hand on the back of Mickey's blond tresses, he said firmly, "I'm not going anywhere. You'll always have me no matter how you feel about yourself or what decisions you make, good or bad. Take as much time as you need. That's what I'm here for."
Instead of responding, Mickey hugged him tightly around the waist, and turning towards them, Matty finally took notice of their behaviour and said hesitantly, "Everything okay?"
Sam nodded, and shrugging his shoulders, he said nonchalantly, "Mickey's just cold. I'm warming him up."
Matty raised an eyebrow at that, and blushing profusely, Mickey mumbled, "To be fair, it does feel like it's getting colder."
"Now that you mention it, it does feel like the wind is picking up," Matty agreed, frowning as he turned to glance at the incoming dark sky.
Huh...he doesn't look at all upset about my comment. Maybe it's because he's finally realised the sky looks a bit menacing? He does seem preoccupied, and from what I can tell, he didn't pay the clouds any attention at all when he first came out here.
"We'll all have to keep each other warm then!" Glowmon said happily, coming back over to snuggle on his lap again.
Halomon also joined them, and cuddling against Mickey's side, the little rookie said, "Is it breakfast time yet?"
"All set," T.K. replied as he began to hand out plates. "Once we've finished eating, Izzy will go over our plan for the day."
A plan I'm probably not going to like.
Accepting the plate that was offered to him, Sam reluctantly let go of Mickey in order to consume his breakfast, and eating in silence, he took a moment to study the humans and digimon who were all seated around the campfire. Frigimon took up a large portion of the area directly across the fire from him, and to his left, Dai, Ryoko, Takara, Cody, Rosa, and their digimon partners were all huddled together in a group on Matty's other side. To his right, Kari, T.K., Izzy, Mina, his parents, and their partners were all seated together, which left Mickey, Matty, and the two celestial rookies who were sitting close beside him. As everybody concentrated on their food, Sam couldn't help looking at the sky again, and thinking back on the feel of Mickey's arms wrapped tightly around his waist, he was unable to stop a small sigh from escaping his lips.
I wish he would hold me like that even when he's happy and not under a lot of stress...
It was a wistful thought, and finishing his meal, Sam proceeded to stare unseeingly into the flames, his mind wandering to places that were probably best left undisturbed until Mickey's Spirit Chip was found. He needed to focus, but unfortunately that was becoming an increasingly difficult task, especially when he could feel the older twin sitting so close beside him.
And it's not just that. There's something about the way Mickey's acting that seems...out of place, and I don't just mean the guilt.
Glancing discreetly at the older twin, Sam took a moment to study Mickey's handsome face, and what he saw made him feel slightly uneasy. As far as he could tell, every once in a while the older twin would pause to stare at something outside the boundaries of the fire pit.
At something that wasn't even there.
He was doing it inside the igloo this morning, as well. Is there something there or is he just getting himself lost inside his own thoughts?
It was hard to tell, but regardless of what was going on, Sam had a nagging sensation building inside his chest that something wasn't right.
I hope I'm wrong...
"If everybody is finished, Yolei and I will clean up while Izzy gives us the lowdown on our plan for the day," Rosa offered, standing up to collect all the empty plates.
"Oh, that reminds me!" Halomon interrupted, fluttering into the air. "We forgot to mention earlier that DarkAngelicmon and those other two angel digimon are nearby. They've been here ever since we woke up this morning."
"I figured as much," Izzy replied, looking unsurprised. "Chances are they'll follow us once we leave the village."
"Speaking of which, what's the plan once we head out?" Dai asked, looking curious.
"We're going to take the most direct route possible through the mountain pass to reach the Glacial Waterfalls, but even then I suspect it's going to be a bit of a challenge," Izzy warned, his dark eyes shifting towards the ominous sky that was likely hanging right over the very route the computer expert had just described.
Great, as if it couldn't get any worse...
"There's a storm coming, isn't there," Ryoko sighed, his sapphire eyes narrowing into a frown. "I thought the clouds looked like they were getting darker."
So I'm not the only one who noticed...
"According to Dianamon, the path leading to the Glacial Waterfalls is typically riddled with storms," Izzy explained, addressing the crowd. "Sometimes the path is clear, but more often than not the weather is temperamental. Unfortunately, it looks like we've chosen to traverse the route on a bad day, so we'll need to be careful going forward if we don't want to run into any danger along the way. Safety is our first priority, even if it means taking it slow. As Dianamon said yesterday, there'll be plenty of places to rest and take shelter if we need it, and we'll be sure to take advantage of those spots if that becomes the case."
"So in other words, Gennai totally lied to us!" Matty complained, the comical expression on his face looking out of place while wearing Mickey's clothing. "He said we wouldn't have too much trouble reaching the Spirit Chip, but it sounds to me like this is going to be a rough trip. He didn't even mention anything about storms!"
"Typical Gennai," Alopemon snorted, shaking his head.
"You should take that as a compliment," Gatomon shot back, directing her gaze at Matty. "Clearly Gennai has a lot of confidence in us. We don't want to disappoint him."
Matty made a face at that, but instead of commenting, the younger twin huddled deeper into Mickey's coat to stay warm. This garnered him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder from the older twin, and speaking softly, Mickey turned to Frigimon and said, "You never mentioned anything about the weather the last time you were in the area either."
"Oh, I guess I didn't," the snowy digimon replied, sounding a bit sheepish. "I suppose I just never thought to bring it up."
"Why not!?" Embermon demanded. "That's kind of a big deal!"
Frigimon shrugged his large shoulders in response, and resting his hands on his knees, he said, "I don't really pay much attention to the snow. I'm built for this type of environment, after all."
"Lucky you," Takara grumbled, huddling closer to Dai for warmth.
The goggle-headed leader immediately wrapped his arms around the female Digidestined in a protective embrace, and giving Takara a reassuring look, Frigimon said, "Don't worry. The last time I was in the mountain pass there was a raging blizzard blowing through and I was just fine. I'll make sure we all get through safely without getting lost!"
"I suppose we'll just have to trust you on that," Tentomon sighed, though he didn't look at all convinced that they would make it to the Spirit Chip without any problems along the way.
As much as I'd like to say otherwise, I kind of agree with him. I just don't see us pulling this off without some sort of hitch.
And chances were either Mickey or Matty would end up in danger as a result.
Or both...
The thought alone was almost too much to bear, and shifting closer to Mickey, Sam once again slid his arm around the older twin. At first Mickey didn't respond, since he was staring off into the trees lining the boundary of the village in the distance, and frowning Sam gave the older twin a gentle nudge in the ribs. This time, Mickey did acknowledge his touch, and jumping in surprise, the older twin blushed and mumbled, "Sorry."
Mickey was obviously avoiding his eyes, and forcing the older twin to look at him, Sam said quietly, "Just don't drift so far away from me that I can't reach you anymore, okay?"
"I won't," Mickey whispered, seemingly unable to glance away now that their gazes were locked with the light of the fire reflecting in their eyes.
"I hope this is something else you'll tell me about once you're ready."
Mickey's amber eyes began to sparkle with an intensity that almost took his breath away, and leaning into him, the older twin murmured, "I will, Sam. There are a lot of things I want to tell you so badly, but I just...need time."
Lots of things? Does that mean...No, I can't read too much into what he says. If I do, it'll only hurt even more if he doesn't return my feelings...
Sam had to swallow a giant lump in his throat before he could speak, and allowing Mickey to rest against his chest, he said softly, "Just don't wait too long."
Don't wait until it's too late...
Mickey responded by hugging him tightly around the waist, and turning his attention to the older twin, Dai joked, "I gotta admit, it's kind of weird to see you in Matty's clothes acting so Mickey-like."
"And vice versa in Matty's case," Dovemon commented, looking amused.
"I don't see why," the younger twin complained, crossing his arms over his chest. "It's not like this is the first time we've pretended to be each other, although I guess it has been a while."
"True, though we would usually figure out who was who pretty quickly," Ryoko reminded the golden-haired boy. "Sam was always the first to figure it out."
Sam lifted his head as everyone glanced in his direction, and keeping his arms around Mickey, he said quietly, "Clothes and appearances don't change what's on the inside."
I don't care what anyone thinks. Let them speculate all they want. I'm not letting go.
Surprisingly, nobody seemed particularly curious about his behaviour, and smiling slightly, Matty said dryly, "I'm not sure if I should be insulted by that comment or not."
Shaking his head, Sam reached around Mickey to give the younger twin's shoulder a fond squeeze and said firmly, "No, I like you both exactly the way you are, and I wouldn't want either one of you to change."
"Which is what makes this whole thing way less weird than it could be," the younger twin replied, his cryptic words ending in a smile.
Huh?
Sam wasn't quite sure what to make of that, and glancing at a clearly flustered Mickey who was trying desperately to avoid his brother's eyes, he stubbornly refused to let go of the older twin. To his right, he could sense his parents watching him, and gazing directly into his eyes, his father said calmly, "The heart always knows."
"Speaking of the heart, how is DarkAngelicmon doing?" his mother asked, directing her question at the two angel rookies. "Is he still feeling uneasy about something the way he was last night?"
"Yes," Celestimon confirmed, his emerald eyes narrowing in concentration as he attempted to focus his attention on the fallen angel. "I can tell something is upsetting him."
"We just can't tell what that something is," Halomon added, sounding frustrated. "I wouldn't say he's scared exactly. It's more like he's frustrated, uneasy, and upset."
"There are very few things I can think of that would have the ability to upset DarkAngelicmon," T.K. said slowly, his words sounding both contemplative and uncertain. "He doesn't have many weakness as far we can tell."
"Only one I can think of," Cody responded. "Lucemon."
"It's not like he's made that a secret," Mina added, glancing at her husband. "And if Lucemon is his only weakness, the only thing I can think of that could possibly upset him would be something or someone related to that."
There's one person, or should I say digimon, I can think of...
His father must have been thinking the same thing because without hesitation, the former Emperor said, "The Ruler of Darkness. There's definitely a connection there, which may be related to why his emotions are so conflicted."
"I wonder if his uneasiness might have something to do with the other fallen angel digimon he's travelling with," Kari suggested, her hand reaching out to give her husband's fingers a quick squeeze. "If you remember, last night Halomon mentioned something about DarkAngelicmon and a sense that he felt unsettled by the darkness. As we all know, the hearts of fallen angel digimon resonate with that same darkness. If you think about it logically, it would make sense then that DarkAngelicmon might feel agitated by their presence."
Sam hadn't even thought of that, and turning to Izzy, he said boldly, "I know you sent Taniko and Gennai your notes on everything we learned yesterday, along with a recap of the day's events. Have you heard anymore since the initial feedback you got from them last night?"
The computer expert nodded, and pulling out his laptop, he said slowly, "We did have another talk again this morning. How shall I put this? In many ways, all of the things we are questioning are related in the sense that they all come back to the same thing. Lucemon's insistence that he has to research something that's troubling him in the Northern Hemisphere, the reason DarkAngelicmon and his allies are even here in the first place, the excitement back at the castle on Cyber...Taniko, Gennai, Dianamon, Mina, and I agree that all of those things have something to do with the Powers of Darkness."
"So...you're saying DarkAngelicmon and the others aren't really here for the Spirit Chip?" Armadillomon asked. "They're actually here because of the darkness?"
"It's the same with the castle on Cyber," Hawkmon noted, ruffling his feathers to keep the snow off his wings. "They must be excited about something here in the Northern Hemisphere that's connected to the Powers of Darkness."
"And Lucemon," Patamon finished. "He's here because something about the darkness that exists in the Northern Hemisphere is troubling him and he's looking for answers."
For a moment, Izzy remained silent, and then smiling slightly, he said, "You all catch on pretty quick. That's exactly the same conclusion that Gennai, Taniko, Dianamon, Mina, and I came to an agreement on. Even the way DarkAngelicmon and YukiOnnamon took a back seat on hunting the Spirit Chips. There's a reason for that, and we believe it's also related to the Powers of Darkness. While he hasn't forgotten about the Spirit Chips and still intends to steal them if he can, the Ruler of Darkness clearly has a larger and more worrisome goal in mind. The only thing we're not sure of is exactly what that ultimate goal is."
"Probably something we're not going to like," Ryoko grumbled, making a face.
"Plus, we know DarkAngelicmon's reason for journeying to the Wall of Fire also has something to do with the Powers of Darkness," Candlemon pointed out. "And let's not forget Lucemon's silence when Matty brought up Daemon and the idea that he might be related to why DarkAngelicmon lost his heart to the darkness."
"It really all does come back to the Powers of Darkness, doesn't it," Gotsumon finished, exchanging a look with his partner. "That can't be a good thing for us."
"Mina and I will continue to look into it as we continue on towards the Spirit Chip," Izzy reassured the group. "There's a good chance we might learn more once our enemies inevitably decide to make an appearance."
"Did Gennai and Taniko have anything to say about the feline digimon who was asking questions here in the village?" Wormmon asked.
It was Mina who answered, and taking Izzy's hand, she said calmly, "Like Dianamon, both Gennai and Taniko agree that the feline digimon who entered this village isn't somebody we should trust. Based off of what we were told, she showed far too much interest in the Northern Hemisphere than what would be considered normal for a simple traveller, which was what she claimed to be. Her questions about the geography and history of the continent, particularly her interest in the Age of Light and the Age of Darkness and how they relate to the Northern Hemisphere, suggests she was searching for a specific piece of knowledge."
"Knowledge about what exactly?" Takara asked, looking confused.
Sam felt just as confused, and brushing her long hair aside, Mina said, "Remember what the villagers told us? She wanted to know if the Northern Hemisphere had ever been heavily affected by the Powers of Darkness. She also wanted to know if that same darkness had ever affected any of the digimon who live here. If you take into consideration everything else we've learned so far, it just like Gotsumon said. It all comes back to the same thing."
"The Powers of Darkness," Mickey whispered, shivering in his brother's heavy coat.
Could it be? If it's all about the darkness then that means...
Keeping his arm around the older twin, Sam gazed deeply into the flames, and speaking in a tone that sounded more ominous than he had intended, he said quietly, "There's something here. Something on this continent that directly connects to the Powers of Darkness. That's the only way any of this makes sense."
"But what is that something?" Matty demanded, his gloved hands clenching into tight fists.
"That's what we're trying to find out," Izzy explained. "For the record, Mina and I believe Sam is on the right track, and both Gennai and Taniko also feel the same."
"So basically you're saying our job is to find out what that something is," Dai finished, his dark eyes glimmering with obvious determination.
"Just add it to the list," Embermon groaned.
At this point, Sam had resigned himself to the fact that the list wasn't growing shorter anytime soon, and sensing there was something on his father's mind, he said hesitantly, "What is it, Dad?"
Looking startled, the raven-haired Digidestined said, "Sorry, I was just thinking. Earlier, Mickey mentioned he believes the Ruler of Darkness has a plan for DarkAngelicmon, and likely that plan somehow involves the Powers of Darkness. If that's true, DarkAngelicmon's fate also ties into the theme of whatever's going on here in the Northern Hemisphere."
"Does anybody else think this is all starting to sound like more than we can handle?" Mickey asked, his words sounding uncertain.
The older twin's meek tone was enough to create a deep ache in Sam's heart, but before he could answer, Izzy said mildly, "Not necessarily. After speaking with Taniko and Gennai, Mina and I do think there is a good chance that this feline digimon could be a spy for the Ruler of Darkness. If that's the case, we at least have the knowledge that there isn't another threat out there that's independent from the enemies we already have."
"That reminds me," Takara spoke up. "You said earlier that Dianamon thinks the excitement on Cyber might have something to do with the Glacial Waterfalls. If we consider what Sam just said about the Powers of Darkness, and then you add in Frigimon's experience with the ominous feeling coming from the waterfalls, then..."
"Whatever it is that connects this continent to the Powers of Darkness, it has to be coming from the Glacial Waterfalls," T.K. concluded, his bright blue eyes growing dark with obvious concern. "We talked about this a bit last night when we were going over the preliminary notes Izzy received from Gennai, and at the time we came to the same conclusion. I just don't see any other way around it."
"Do you think wherever the darkness is coming from...it's somewhere close to the Spirit Chip?" Glowmon asked hesitantly, his bulb flickering anxiously in the now overcast sky.
All around them, the sunshine was slowly disappearing behind the clouds, and snapping his laptop shut, Izzy said, "Only one way to find out. It's probably best we leave now before the snow comes. We'll have to take it slower than usual, and I want to leave us enough time to make good progress in case we have to stay a second night."
If the source of the darkness is coming from near Mickey's Spirit Chip, that's going to complicate things even further...
Glancing at the golden-haired boy who was still resting against his side, Sam wasn't sure what to think. The expression on Mickey's face was hard to read, and as far as he could tell, the older twin didn't look as if he was planning on offering up any info on how he was feeling anytime soon.
I can tell Matty's also worried, judging by the way he keeps glancing over at Mickey. I don't know what to do.
"Remind us again what path we're taking?" Dai said, climbing to his feet.
Izzy also got to his feet, and as everybody started to gather their things, the computer expert said, "The same one Dianamon described. The quickest way through the mountain pass is to follow the river. We'll see it from the east as we approach the trees at the entrance to the path. We'll have to be careful of the ice and snowdrifts, particularly if the weather is really bad. We have three D-Coders that should respond to the Spirit Chip, which will help somewhat to guide us through the mountain pass, and once we reach the Glacial Waterfalls the light of the Spirit Chip itself should be visible. As I said earlier, we can use the caves, trees, and abandoned settlements to rest and get some respite from the weather. We can also use them if we need to stay overnight again."
"Time to head east then," Hawkmon sighed, glancing at his partner for confirmation.
Sam also looked at his mother, and tugging on her braid, the lavender-haired Digidestined said briskly, "We'll say goodbye to Dianamon and the villagers before heading out. Make sure you all have everything before we leave."
No turning back now. For Mickey's sake, I hope he doesn't regret going along with Matty's plan.
It was too soon to say whether that would be the case or not, and giving the older twin a gentle nudge, he said, "Ready to go?"
Mickey reluctantly pulled away from him, and avoiding his eyes, the older twin mumbled, "I guess so. You'll...stay close to me?"
Mickey...
Sam quickly stood up, and pulling the other boy to his feet, he said firmly, "Of course I will, and so will Matty. You just concentrate on what you need to do."
"Exactly," Matty agreed, giving his brother's shoulder a quick squeeze. "We'll be right here beside you the whole time."
"I guess we need to switch places now," Celestimon reminded them, fluttering into the air. "Best to do that now before we leave the village and the baddies start to follow us."
Halomon nodded in assent, and cuddling himself into Matty's arms, the little rookie said, "The four of us make a great team. I know we can pull this off."
Mickey was quick to hug Celestimon tightly to his chest, and burying his face in the celestial digimon's fluffy ears, he said softly, "I do feel better having you here, and I know Halomon will be safe with Matty and look out for him."
"You bet," Celestimon agreed, returning the older twin's hug as they all made their way over to the exit where the villagers were gathering to say goodbye. "And I'll keep you safe."
Choosing to remain silent, Sam followed after the twins, and watching them he couldn't help the uneasy feeling in his chest that was telling him something bad was going to happen. It wasn't the angel digimon he was worried about, and even Matty wasn't the main source of his fear. It was mostly Mickey that concerned him, and it wasn't because of the evil digimon who would no doubt make an appearance at some point during their journey through the mountain pass. He was most frightened of what was happening to Mickey from within.
Even now, it's obvious to me that his heart is wavering in the darkness. If I can't even admit my feelings to him, how am I supposed to help him when he needs me most of all?