Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: I know I sound a bit like a broken record, but I do sincerely apologise that lately my chapters have been coming quite slowly over the last year. There's been so much going on, it's been hard to have the time to just sit and plow through a lot of story writing. Trust me, it isn't because I don't want to or that I've lost motivation, and in the future I do very much want to find the time to just knock a bunch of chapters out of the park and finally get this story done. Thank you to everybody who's still reading, and for those of you who have moved on, I totally understand why that would be the case and I don't hold that against any of you in the slightest. At the end of the day, while I can't guarantee when it will be, I do plan to finish this story, even if by that time it's simply just for myself. I do hope you all enjoy as we continue on with Mickey's journey, which will lead us to the Glacial Waterfalls!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

Chapter 339: The Demon of Greed

Masato 'Matty' Takaishi

Net, Northern Hemisphere, Digital World

Unable to move, it took all of Matty's willpower to remain calm, and coughing up a healthy helping of snow, he managed to gasp, "Where is my brother, and what have you done to him?!"

At first, the female voice didn't respond, and then shifting her foot slightly, she said in a surprisingly pleasant tone, "Fear not, your brother is safe for the time being. He might have a bit of a headache coming on, but I can assure you he'll be well taken care of."

"You expect me to believe that? You were trying to separate us on purpose. That's why you went after me. You were trying to stop me from reaching my brother! Why? What are you planning to do to us?"

"All of that will become quite clear in due time," the female voice responded. "I understand the concern you have for your brother, but right now it would be more prudent for you to worry about yourself."

As if. Obviously Mickey is always going to be my first priority, especially because he was the one who encountered one of those fallen angels...

That was the part that scared him most of all. Halomon had made it very clear that a fallen angel digimon was responsible for hitting his brother, and without Mickey by his side he had no way of knowing if the older twin was truly unharmed. The female digimon could say whatever she wanted. That didn't mean there was a single ounce of truth to her words.

Is that fallen angel with Mickey right now, and if he or she is...what are they doing to my brother?

The thought alone was enough to make him feel ill, and attempting to work out just exactly what had happened, another ominous thought occurred to him.

Did Mickey suspect this might happen? Did he think they would go after me, and knowing I would be in danger thanks to those fallen angels, he agreed to take my place?

There was no denying the fact that Mickey had made it very clear he didn't like the thought of his twin being in danger, which would explain the current situation at least to some extent.

No, no...that can't be it. Just because they went after who they thought was me doesn't mean I was the initial target. If I'm being logical, they probably wanted to mutually separate us, and Mickey was the one who got hit. Now they're trying to stop me from reaching him. I'm still the one who's in the most danger because they think I'm Mickey, and they're going to try to make me lose my heart to the darkness. That has to be it...

"And here comes the rest of your motley crew," the female Digidestined drawled. "Right on schedule."

Since he was still pinned to the ground, Matty wasn't able to turn his head enough to view the large group approaching from the west, but that didn't stop him from hearing the cries of 'Mickey!' that were piercing through the stormy winds swirling through the air around him.

They must have used their Digivices to find me.

"If you be a good boy for me, I'll let you up," the female voice said calmly, her easygoing tone catching him completely off guard.

She's like a complete contradiction compared to some of the others like YukiOnnamon and Spritemon. Just who is this digimon?

Before he had a chance to come up with a suitable comeback, the rest of the Digidestined arrived on site, and as several gasps rang out, Matty was finally able to roll over, which allowed him to survey the scene with his own eyes. True to her word, the female digimon had removed her foot from between his shoulder blades, and getting a good look at his captor, his eyes nearly popped out of his head in astonishment. Standing before him was a feline digimon who definitely wasn't a rookie.

Don't tell me...

"It was you, wasn't it," Ryoko called out, his tense words cutting through the icy snowflakes like a sharp blade piercing the air. "You're the feline digimon who was snooping around the village earlier."

"Mickey, are you okay?" Takara asked hesitantly, coming up beside the golden-haired Digidestined.

At first, Matty didn't answer, but that wasn't because he had forgotten he was supposed to be playing the role of his brother. Upon closer inspection, he realised Mickey wasn't the only person missing from the group, and feeling a deep sense of unease building inside his heart, he managed to choke out, "I'm fine. Where's Sam?"

I know why Mickey's not here with us, but what happened to Sam? Did they do something to him? That doesn't make any sense at all. There's no way they could know about Mickey's feelings for him, and even if they did, they think they have me...

Thanks to the feline digimon's presence, his fellow Digidestined seemed reluctant to approach him for fear of how she might respond, and looking more worried than Matty had ever seen him look before, his father said slowly, "As far as we can tell from our Digivices, Sam appears to be with Mickey."

Sam...

While he felt worried that both the raven-haired Digidestined and his brother had ended up separated from the group, it did make him feel somewhat better to know they were together and that neither one of them was alone.

He did promise me he would look out for Mickey, especially if I couldn't be there. Somehow, against all odds, he's managed to keep that promise so far. No matter what happens, he'll keep Mickey safe. I know he will. I have to believe that, even if I can't believe in anything else.

Chancing a look at his D-Coder, Matty was able to confirm his father's words, and gazing at the two glowing dots on the screen, he was able to discern that they were moving slowly to the north.

Which is taking them farther and father away from us...

"Are you all finished with your lovely reunion?" the feline digimon asked, interrupting his thoughts. "If that is the case, then I will humour you. Yes, I am the digimon who visited the village earlier. Allow me to formerly introduce myself. My name is Persiamon, an ultimate level beast digimon. As I'm sure you've already guessed, I work for the Ruler of Darkness."

"I assume you're also the one who was circling the cabin earlier?" Izzy asked, his tone surprisingly calm considering the situation they had gotten themselves into.

How did he figure that out?

Despite how concerned he was for his brother and Sam, Matty had to admit he felt mildly impressed by the computer expert's ability to put all the pieces of a complex puzzle together so quickly, and looking amused, Persiamon said mildly, "Why yes, that was also me. You certainly live up to your reputation, Child of Knowledge. Come now, I am not as fearsome and temperamental as some of my more unpredictable colleagues. In fact, I'm quite approachable for one who allies themselves with the Powers of Darkness. As long as you behave yourselves, you may join the Takaishi boy here and fawn over him as much as you please. I will even allow you to keep your Spirit Chips and D-Coders. After all, you will need them for when you reach the Spirit Chip of Innocence. Now is not the time to relieve you of them. There is also another reason you will need them, but we'll get to that in a bit."

Huh? What does she mean by that?

Whatever her reasoning was for allowing them to hang onto their digital devices for the time being, it sounded ominous to him, but before he could dwell on the matter, he was suddenly surrounded by a flock of humans and digimon.

"Are you sure you're okay?" his mother asked, her arms wrapping tightly around his shoulders in a warm embrace. "I got so worried when you suddenly disappeared on us like that."

"It's not me you should worry about. I'm more concerned about Matty and Sam."

"Same," Halomon moaned, diving into his lap. "They're stuck with that really evil digimon, but-"

"I'm assuming you are referring to Phelesmon?" Persiamon interrupted, her long tail swishing over the fallen snow.

"Who?" the little rookie asked stupidly, obviously caught off guard by the feline digimon's blunt response.

Matty felt just as confused, and exchanging a look with Dai, he said suspiciously, "Yeah, who are you talking about?"

Evil digimon. Wait, was Halomon referring to the fallen angel that hit Mickey?

Persiamon was slow to response, which was definitely intentional, and tilting her head to the side, the feline digimon said lightly, "The fallen angel digimon who is responsible for assaulting Masato Takaishi goes by the name of Phelesmon. He is one of my colleagues, and while he has no love for humans, I would not worry your pretty little head about him. While he is currently with your brother, he is not the only one. DarkAngelicmon is also with them, and I can assure you he will not allow any harm to come to your twin. DarkAngelicmon was very adamant about your safety and that of your brother's, and he is nothing if not faithful about following our direct orders from the Ruler of Darkness. If Phelesmon were to attempt anything unpleasant, I am certain he would be stopped immediately from going any further. One does not defy the Ruler of Darkness without consequences. DarkAngelicmon will make sure of that. Both yourself and your brother will not be harmed until the two of you reach the Spirit Chip, and if by chance something does happen, it will be a result of your own actions, not ours."

Feeling a sudden lump in his throat, Matty was unable to find the strength to reply. Her message was clear. If they ended up falling to the darkness or were harmed in any other way, they would only have themselves to blame. Their safety depended entirely on how they responded to the hardships they would no doubt have to face in the very near future, and that was the part that scared him most of all.

No, I need to be calm. Mickey is with Sam and DarkAngelicmon. I know they'll do everything they can to prevent him from losing himself completely to the darkness. There's a part of me that still believes I shouldn't trust DarkAngelicmon, but I can't help it. And I know even though he isn't aware of the fact that he has Mickey and thinks it's me, that doesn't change anything. It doesn't matter which one of us he has. I know he would protect both of us the same way. I'd bet my D-Coder on that. Persiamon seems pretty certain that Mickey won't be harmed, and even though she's our enemy, I have this feeling she's not trying to deceive us...

Deciding to trust his instincts, Matty felt himself grow slightly calmer, and finding his voice, he said, "What about Sam?"

"I'll admit we hadn't counted on the Emperor's son tagging along, but it will not be an issue," Persiamon informed them, her long hair blowing in the icy wind. "He too shall remain safe as long as the Spirit Chip remains unclaimed. Our goal for separating you from your brother was not to harm him. After all, he will be needed later. We simply needed to get him out of the way for a little while, and the Emperor's son can keep him company while we focus on you."

She sounds so sure of herself, but can she and DarkAngelicmon really trust this Phelesmon? Not to mention, none of this explains what happened to the third fallen angel. What if they do something to hurt Sam and Mickey?

For a moment, he was tempted to reveal his true identity, especially if it meant that the two fallen angels would come after him instead, and seeing the look on his face, Ken dropped down next to him and said quietly in his ear, "I would not advise that at this time. You could end up doing more harm than good."

How did he figure out what I was thinking so easily? He's right, though. It makes sense that they would have just wanted me out of the way, but Mickey's another story entirely. From what Persiamon just said, they're ready to start attacking Mickey's heart at any moment, and since I'm pretending to be my brother, that means they're going to come after me. If I were to speak up now, they would change course and go after Mickey, which is not what I want at all. At the moment, I'm the one who's in the more dangerous position, especially if DarkAngelicmon does end up keeping those other two fallen angels in line. Better to stick to the plan and have them come after me...

Judging from the looks he was receiving from the rest of the group, everybody seemed to agree with Ken whether they had heard him or not, and letting out a deep sigh, Matty quickly conceded defeat.

Am I really so transparent that everybody could tell what I was thinking?

"I want to make one thing very clear here," Dai said boldly, glaring at the female digimon. "We might trust DarkAngelicmon to some extent, but we don't trust you. You better not be lying about the safety of our friends or else!"

"I don't believe you're in a position to threaten me or make demands," Persiamon said mildly, once again looking very amused. "Believe what you will, but I have no reason to lie. That is not why I'm here."

"Then why are you here?" Yolei shot back, her amber eyes flashing. "Care to explain why you're so interested in the Northern Hemisphere and how it relates to the Powers of darkness?"

Good question. Now that Persiamon's here, it doesn't hurt to try and get some info out of her.

"You're all quite observant, I see," Persiamon replied, nodding her head in approval. "Unfortunately, I must decline in providing an answer. That is also not why I'm here."

"Fine, we'll just find out for ourselves then!" Embermon growled. "It's not like we need you to figure out the truth. That's what we have Izzy for, and he'll figure out what's going on without your help!"

"I'm sure he will," Persiamon agreed. "In fact, I'm certain of it. Having said that, it is not a concern of ours. By the time you discover the truth, it will be too late to change anything."

More and more, I'm starting to think something big is going to happen. I can't deny I'm worried, but what can we do? What are they planning that we would want to change to begin with?

"If you're not here to deceive us and you're not here to tell us why you've been sneaking around the Northern Hemisphere, then why are you here?" Cody asked, frowning suspiciously at the feline digimon.

Persiamon seemed delighted by the questions, and smiling behind her veil, the feline digimon said, "I'm here to give you a warning."

"What kind of warning?" Frigimon asked, looking confused.

"You are to continue following the river until you reach the Spirit Chip. Do not attempt to reunite with Masato Takaishi and the Emperor's son. If you do, I cannot guarantee their safety, and they may suffer severe consequences for your disobedience."

"So you're threatening us?" Dovemon challenged.

"Not at all," Persiamon corrected, stepping away so she could observe the group as a whole. "You are to be tested, and if you perform admirably, perhaps you may be able to mitigate some of the heartache Makiya Takaishi will no doubt endure during the course of your journey."

"And if we refuse to be your pawns?" Alopemon snapped, his icy blue eyes sparkling with anger.

"I have already informed you of the consequences. And do not think for one minute that DarkAngelicmon's group won't find out if you refuse to heed my words. Angel digimon have ways of communicating at great distances, as you are fully aware. We intend to utilise that to our advantage."

"Which is why you split your angels up," Rosa finished, her brows furrowing in concentration. "Which means...the third fallen angel must be with you."

They've got everything figured out. How are we supposed to defy them?

Matty could feel a wave of defeat washing over him, and stirring slightly, Mina said quietly, "I get it now. That's why you're allowing us to keep our Digivices and Spirit Chips. We're going to need them for this test of yours."

"Correct again," Persiamon replied, turning her back on the group. "The storm continues to rage, and it may be a while yet before it lets up a bit. If I were to make a suggestion, there are some old fishing huts near the edge of the river if you continue down the east path. You may want to take shelter from the wind and rest there a bit before making your way towards the Spirit Chip. You will need your strength in the hours to come."

"So that's it? You're leaving?" Patamon called out, gazing at the feline digimon in disbelief.

"I have said what I needed to say. Do not worry, we shall meet again soon."

"Pardon me," Hawkmon interrupted, raising a wing to catch the feline digimon's attention. "One more thing before you go."

"Oh?" Persiamon asked, looking intrigued.

"Mickey, if I may ask, what exactly happened to Matty?" the bird rookie asked, turning to address him.

Feeling more confused than ever, Matty relayed Halomon's experience with Phelesmon's presence, and having gotten that out of the way he then proceeded to go into detail about everything that had happened before the main Digidestined group had arrived on scene. Once he was finished, he said hesitantly, "How come you're asking?"

Hawkmon quickly exchanged a look with Candlemon, and once again turning to Persiamon, he said in his usual elegant tone, "While I acknowledge the fact that Matty did receive a blow to the head, that still does not explain how he managed to separate himself from the rest of us so quickly. If anything, it would have hindered his movements."

"That's true," Wormmon commented, gazing at his partner for confirmation. "Something doesn't add up here."

"Definitely fishy," Gatomon agreed, glaring at the feline digimon. "Well, are you going to talk or are we going to have to force the answer out of you?"

Persiamon didn't seem at all concerned about the threat, and placing a hand on her hip, she said, "While I cannot see them myself, that doesn't mean they do not exist all around us."

"Huh?" Armadillomon replied, blinking in confusion. "Mind explaining that a bit more for us?"

"I have been told the shadows from the World of Darkness are present. They have not manifested themselves completely, but they are growing in numbers and the only thing holding them back is the light from one of you. Though I have not received confirmation yet, based off the little I saw before coming after all of you, Masato Takaishi was lured away by the shadows. They were likely the fuel that drove him to head north."

Wait...what? The shadows were here? That's impossible. I never saw any shadows, and it doesn't look like anyone else did either. I know Mickey's been acting distant lately, and I have caught him staring at nothing a few times, but...

Matty could feel his blood slowly turning to ice, and as the sound of his own heartbeat began to pulse rapidly in his ears, he whispered, "What are you talking about? Are you saying my brother can see the shadows?"

"That is exactly what I'm saying," Persiamon confirmed. "And judging by your reaction just now, I'm going to assume that means you are unable to see them for yourself? The same seems to be true for the rest of your group. Interesting. Particularly in your case. I would have thought they would affect you more than your brother. That is somewhat disappointing considering Masato Takaishi's past experience with the Ice Caverns. He should know better by now."

Matty barely heard the feline digimon. All he could think about was his brother, and panicking on the inside, a flurry of thoughts began to circle rapidly though his head. The intensity of his brainwaves made him feel dizzy, but that didn't stop his mind from going into overdrive.

That can't be true. It can't be! But if it is...why didn't he tell me? Why would he hide something so important from me? Even if he couldn't bring himself to say something, Sam would of told me for sure. I know he would have, which means...did Mickey not tell Sam either?

"Mickey?" Tentomon asked, sounding quite hesitant to speak. "Are you alright?"

Unable to hide the pure shock on his face and the deep sense of hurt building in his heart, he managed to gasp, "Why didn't he tell us? Why didn't he tell me?"

"Oh, Mickey," his mother whispered, pulling him into a fierce embrace.

A moment later, he felt his father's arms go around him, as well, and closing his eyes he took a deep breath in an attempt to calm himself.

If Mickey could see the shadows, that meant the older twin's mind was in a precarious state. It would only be a matter of time before his heart fell to the darkness.

Mickey...

"Do not despair just yet," Persiamon scolded, crouching so they could talk at eye level. "The fact that the rest of you cannot see the shadows is a testament to the strength of your brother's heart. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say it's likely his light is what is keeping the shadows from fully manifesting here in the Digital World. As long as you cannot see them, it is unlikely that Masato Takaishi is in any danger. There is hope he may yet remain free from their grasp as long as you are able to harness the power of your Spirit Chip. Are you up to the challenge, I wonder? If you cannot obtain the power of innocence without completely losing yourself to the darkness, the shadows will quickly become your problem rather than that of your brother's. You would do well to focus on overcoming yourself. If you do not, you shall bear witness to the shadows soon enough."

Having said her piece, the feline digimon once again turned her back on them before disappearing into the storm, and unable to comprehend the full weight of what he had just learned, Matty proceeded to stare unseeingly into the icy wind howling around his motionless body.

If I try to go to him, they'll hurt him for sure, but if I do nothing...

"While I don't agree with everything she said, Persiamon was right about one thing," Gotsumon spoke up in an effort to receive some sort of response. "We really should find some shelter from the storm."

He didn't even tell Sam. Why? Why would he keep something so important from us when he knows how much we care?

"Mickey? Mickey, we need to move."

Matty blinked, and realising it was his male cousin who had spoken, he said dully, "Where? Where do we even go?"

"Izzy?" Takara asked, looking to the computer expert for an answer.

Though he looked very worried, Izzy said calmly, "While it might seem a bit rash, I think we should follow Persiamon's advice and make for the fishing cabins near the river. I was going to suggest we head in that direction even before she revealed herself. At this point our enemies are already keeping tabs on us, and we won't survive being out in this storm for much longer. Once we've had a chance to rest, we can go over everything we've leaned here and figure out our next course of action."

"I agree," Mina spoke up before anybody could mount a defence. "Come on, Mickey. Let's get you out of the cold."

Matty allowed his parents to drag him to his feet, and squinting to see through the snow, he slowly began to put one foot in front of the other. Every nerve in his body was screaming at him not to move even farther from his brother, but no matter how much he wanted to run in the other direction, he didn't want to place Mickey in even more danger.

There's nothing I can do. I just have to trust that Sam will find out the truth and do everything he can to protect Mickey.

Except Sam wasn't the only one he needed to put his faith in.

I have to believe in DarkAngelicmon, too. I don't have a choice. Please, both of you...please keep my brother safe...