The Southern Capital was abuzz with Digimon of all ages as well wishers and guests poured in from all corners of the Digital World for the public ceremony that would wed lord Seraphimon and Lady Ophanimon. The Capital was the closest metropolis close to the Southern Sea, the venue that Lady Ophanimon had decided to be their backdrop. Everyone who was anyone on the side of Good was going to be there. Three of the Sovereign as if all of them went and a crisis they might not be able to respond, in fact Zhuqiaomon himself, Lord of the South would be presiding. So when three of the Royal Knights walked through the city looking to be this close to breaking their strides into a full sprint, it was given far less mind than it usually would have been.

"Examon, be more careful," Sleipmon admonished. "You almost ran over that poor Greymon's youngling."

Examon jerked and then shook himself, pausing mid-step to do so. "Sorry, distracted," he mumbled as an apology.

"I'd noticed," Sleipmon glibly returned. Duftmon shot them both a glare as he navigated the treacherous waters of the Digimon Flood. Lord Omnimon would likely be either at the central barracks or on the site itself to make sure the even didn't have any… unwanted party crashers. It would not prevent the union as the actual event had been earlier that day with the public event being tomorrow, well that and Magnadramon wanted to be herself during their true union.

Duftmon had the briefest glimpse of his destination and his pace became even more determined. He opened the door to the temporary abode of the Royal Knights to find Magnamon and Dynastmon in the middle of a Shogi match, Crusadermon carving a small figurine as a gift for the next day, and UlForce glancing up from his latest book. The master of UlForce calmly took stock of Duftmon's set stance and Examon's grim demeanor. This did not bode well. "Tough hunt?" He watched all three of them as Sleipmon turned away from the other two, Duftmon began to glare, and Examon glanced down with a grimace.

"We had… something more important come up," Duftmon replied icily. "Where are the others? I'd like as few repetitions in the tale as possible."

"Gallantmon is likely watching the sunset from the walls, Craniamon said he had a bit too much energy and went to burn it off so they both should be here soon, and Omnimon is-"

"-Here with me," a new voice cut in. The three in the door way moved away from it and the others stood when Alphamon made his presence known. At his side were both Omnimon and Shakamon, Gallantmon and Craniamon flanking them. When Alphamon and those behind him had crossed the threshold, he nodded as a sign that they could relax but had to stay focused. "Is this enough that you would not have to repeat yourself, Duftmon?" he asked though there was no reproach in his voice.

"Actually, Sir, it might be better if we had Lady Ophanimon and Lord Seraphimon here with us," Examon replied.

"Really? I can't quite imagine a problem that would concern the happy couple and ourselves," Alphamon replied slightly doubtful. He watched as Examon's eyes flitted to UlForceVeedramon, Magnamon, Gallantmon, and Shakamon. And it was then that he recalled the conversation that had occurred between him and Shakamon just before they had entered the city.

However, before he could act on what he had realized, he felt a hand gently place itself on his shoulder. It belonged to Shakamon. "If he thinks it right for them to know he likely has good reason. Let the boy go, he'll be back soon enough."

Examon excused himself and bolted out the door, dodging through the lighter traffic and hoping that he wouldn't be interrupting anything too intimate between the soon-to-be public newlyweds. He thought his rapping on the door had been quite calm, though the reaction of the Lord and Lady's faces when the servant answered the door said otherwise.

Lady Ophanimon was the first to recover her composure. "Examon, what bring you here?" she asked politely.

"Rather troubling news," Examon replied scarcely daring to meet her gaze. "That concerns the Southern Dragon King."

There was a moment while what had been said sunk in. "… I see, should I go alone or-"

"It would be best if you both come. Duftmon thinks that I'm stalling as it is," he said, a half-hearted attempt at a joke.

The two angels began to follow the knight, and lightly questioned him as they made their way to the destination.

"What exactly is it that concerns me, Examon?"

"We stumbled upon an attempt at Megidramon's life by chance. It was thwarted and we are no real worse for the wear but Duftmon believes that it might put the other Dragons' lives at risk. While I haven't told them about you yet, I thought it best that we not waste our time on wild Kokatorimon chases. I apologize for any inconvenience."

"Examon," Ophanimon replied her voice just encroaching on reproachful, "do not apologize for taking our safety higher than a secret which can be kept by your comrades in arms. I rather think that if they were ever to learn, this now is as good a time as any. They trust my brothers as knights; at most all they must now do is learn to trust them as dragons."

"Right," Examon sighed, thinking of just how cold Duftmon had turned to him in the last few days. They had never exactly gotten along but Duftmon had kept his distain under check for the most part, until now at least.

When they entered the meeting place Examon felt Duftmon's glare settle on him. "Is there anyone else you'd like to hide behind?" the tactician ground out.

Examon felt his own anger boil over and replied before he'd quite thought it through, "Well, obviously the Sovereign should know but I don't quite think they'd fit in here, do you?"

Before the argument could heat up further Alphamon intervened. "That's enough! You are Knights, not children! Act as your status dictates!" He locked gazes with each of them until they backed down. "Now then, if one of you would kindly report exactly what is so important?"

Duftmon took a calming breath and began to state what had happened. "I left our castle to hunt down the rouge Piedmon, as ordered. I had been tracking him quite a while when his trail intersected with that of a NeoDevimon, whom Sleipmon had been charged with bringing to justice. We met on the trail and gave chase. We eventually came across NeoDevimon who had previously been restrained from some time by Piedmon's Clown Trick. We offered the chance for the scoundrel to come quietly. I believe he spat in my face.

"Afterwards, we continued to track down my own quarry, who had tried to lose any pursers in the Northern Mountains. It was there that we met Examon on his way back from his own mission. It turned out that Examon had spent some years previous in the Northern Mountains and offered to show us the "safe" pathways through the ridges."

"He had suggested that Piedmon had either been struck by the regions multiple pitfalls or he had gone into the system of caves that littered the range. Examon then led us to the home of his old teacher, and from there to the lowest part of the system where there resided an underground sea.

"It was there that we encountered Megidramon-" at the sound of the name there was a sharp intake at the unexpected turn of events. "Megidramon seemed to recognize Examon, saying that it had taught him before." A large majority of head sung to Examon in shock. Examon, for his part, put his head in his hands and tried to massage away the headache forming near his temples with a sigh.

"I would like to remind everyone of my report of my initial meeting with Examon while he was a Perfect, specifically the legend which he told me," Gallantmon said evenly, his own body less mobile than a statue.

"I was under the impression that it was not true," Crusadermon wondered.

"No such trial exists," Gallantmon responded.

"But I thought Examon had been your squire until he had grown into his own?" Craniamon asked. Gallantmon nodded to the other.

"I have already been notified of the discrepancy and the reasons behind it," Alphamon spoke up hoping to douse the coals before they could burn the barracks down. "We currently do not have the time nor the space to explain, but rest assured this is the first time which it has been relevant." UlForceVeedramon had to bite his lower lip to hide the smile threatening his lips at Alphamon's wording. Though the smile would have become a frown while UlForce tried to figure out who had told Alphamon and when such a thing had happened. "Examon, perhaps this part you would be better suited to explain?"

Examon took the query for the order it was and stood up. His gaze seemed to lock onto Gallantmon's, who was roughly opposite to him, as he spoke. "As Duftmon had explained we had encountered something that looked like Megidramon. I had met Megidramon previously and right away I could tell something was wrong. I still can't place my finger on just what it was, but something about that thing felt off."

"It asked if I didn't recognize it. While I was watching it I noticed that it was on guard and that it would probably dodge any attack I made against it if I didn't make it think it was safe. My main worry was that Duftmon and Sleipmon would think I was betraying them and attack me first. So I played along, pretending that I had been surprised and dismayed that it had erupted from the water, claiming that I had never enjoyed swimming—that I had much preferred our flights together. It bought it and lowered its guard for an instant. I shot it five times with some of the nastiest bugs in my arsenal.

"All five hit and it fell back into the water. I was rather hoping that would be that, but I wasn't positive. When I revealed I knew it was a fake, it stopped its play acting and asked me how a Sovereign's funeral was." At this Ophanimon, UlForce, Magnamon, Shakamon, and Alphamon all began to slightly tremble in fury. "When I didn't respond it went on about how we hadn't given Lord Azulongmon a funeral and had just plopped him in a trench." The shaking increased in intensity and had been rejoined by gasps as the thought of the implications crossed their minds for the first time. Gallantmon simply let out a long, slow breath.

"I noticed that its wounds seemed to be slowly healing. I aimed to strike it a sixth time when it lunged at me. I was able to hit my target, but unable to completely evade afterwards and lost my grip on Ambrosus when I was slammed into a wall. Sleipmon took up the fight for the most part from there. Duftmon tried to end the fight at the first opening he could, but the thing used Hell Howling before he could finish the job."

"It was a real Hell Howling?" Gallantmon asked.

"At least eighty-five percent accurate," Examon replied. Though none could see it, those who knew him could tell that Gallantmon was scowling. "I grabbed Ambrosus and ran it through from behind. Sleipmon put an arrow in each eye in under a quarter second. Duftmon cut off its head. Before it dispersed it turned into some kind of black liquid."

Sleipmon then spoke up. "There was one point Examon forgot. After he attacked Megidramon, or whatever it actually was, he said he knew it wasn't real and that it had actually come to end the real Megidramon's life. We had no way of knowing if it already had. After the battle Duftmon deduced that whomever sent it had some way of knowing if it was defeated. He further supposed that this defeat would actually force the culprit to move much more rapidly and strike at the two remaining Dragons. Examon then said that we could find them all here."

There was a large clamor at this statement as most of the knights tried to figure out what Examon had meant—after all Azulongmon, Magnadramon, and Golddramon were the only three who didn't seem to be at in the city for the wedding. And then it stopped. Lady Opanimon had stood up.

"The Four Great Dragons are based on the Chinese myth of the Four Dragon Kings. In the tales that spoke of them each of the Dragon Kings could take a human form; this is true for their Digital analog. Each of the Four Great Dragons has a human-esqe form. I am Magnadramon, Dragon King of the South.

"All four of the Great Dragons are in this room, right now. What's more, two of my brothers, Megidramon and Goldramon, are within your order. You have trusted them with your lives countless times and they have entrusted you with theirs. Our form does not dictate our personality. Our minds are the same regardless of our appearance. I ask only that you recognize that you had not been previously informed, not with intent to deceive, but merely so that you could learn who we are as Digimon instead of as our titles and duties demand. Megidramon never attacked an innocent, and he cannot bring himself to strike one of us or anyone else unless it is to protect someone else.

"His reputation is unfairly given and completely wrong! You know him better than anyone outside this room, save perhaps the Sovereign. You just didn't know he answered to that name," she finished.

There was silence as one by one each digimon who didn't already know realized exactly who Megidramon was. One by one they turned their heads to stare at Gallantmon. Gallantmon returned each one of the gazes as they came, unashamed.

"So when the Fake Megidramon said that he had taught Examon, the fake was referring to…"

"No, I did not teach him as Megidramon… I taught him as Gallantmon. As you might remember, when we first met he had injured his wings. I had allowed him to stay with me until he recovered. I was down in the tunnels checking on the Northern Sea. Examon would never tell me exactly how he came to notice a Rookie digimon in the area, or how he noticed the unstable pathway, but he charged forward without any thought of self-preservation. He got about half way across the gorge when his back muscles actually gave out and his wings ripped themselves away. Thankfully, even falling as he was, he was able to catch the child and his momentum was sufficient enough to land them on a small ledge away from the sharp, pointed debris.

"I found them like that two hours later, Wingdramon still blacked-out from the pain. I got the Rookie home safely, and took Wingdramon back to my cave. As a way to make it up to him for his rather disastrous foray into my home, I offered the chance for him to learn how to wield his lance in a new way since his old one most likely wouldn't work anymore. I also brought him to my siblings so that he could learn from them in areas that I have always been—and likely always will be—abysmal at. And then the little snot goes and Evolves into a Dragon Knight—twice!" The last sentence was accompanied with Gallantmon throwing his hands into the air, as if to say 'what are the chances?'

Examon groaned again, holding his head in his hands. If it weren't for his natural rosy complexion everyone would have been able to see the flush that had invaded his face.

"As a curiosity," Dynastmon pondered, "why, exactly have we not heard of this ability beforehand? I mean it seems to me to be a boon to take on the form of a dragon."

"Simple," Gallantmon replied. "There was never before a situation where it would have been advantageous for Goldramon or I to take on our other forms. You must realize, often our tasks have either involved rescue, protection, allies, or some combination of the former. What if I were to tell you that Hell Howling had just as much pressure as Shield of the Just? Now imagine if I were to use a Shield of the Just that expanded spherically in the midst of a pitched battle with allies and enemies on all sides." The Mega level Virus paused to allow the implicated friendly-fire casualties to sink in. "It is the same with my siblings and their attacks as well. Our draconic forms are for when we stand alone against armies and need to return alive. Our human based forms are that power directed so that we are not a menace to our allies as well."

The majority of the knights looked wearily at the Virus unsettled by his calm explanation. It was no secret how powerful any member of the Royal Knights was, but to have it put in such plain perspective, they had to wonder about their own skills and what could come of them striking in unintended directions. They dearly wished to trust their companion, but opinions are not changed in a heartbeat. As they were thinking this Omnimon spoke up, "It seems odd that here we were told that both Megidramon and Goldramon were among our number, and yet so far we have only tried to search out one of them." He turned to Gallantmon. "Who is the other?"

There was a glint in Gallantmon's eyes as he replied, "I'm actually rather curious if any of you will get it with no help at all."

There was a cacophony at this as well, this time more good-natured whining than fear. They weren't completely sold on Gallantmon being Megidramon yet, but for now as long as he acted even close to what they were used to, they could pretend the inner conflict didn't exist. "Perhaps either UlForceVeedramon or Magnamon would like to share their thoughts on the matter?" Omnimon asked in a deadpan tone.

Ulforce looked over to Omnimon and asked in a tone that was sickeningly sweet, "And what prey tell makes you think that I know anything about this?"

There was a catcall of, "Your tone for one," from somewhere inside the group. However Omnimon evenly replied, "It just seemed odd to me that you two had not yet voiced your opinions on the matter. Though if you actually are…"

UlForce laughed. "Sorry I just enjoy a good show. Besides if it were that easy don't you think Gallantmon's response would have been… a bit different?" he asked before returning to his book and tuning the rest of the world out.

The group then asked Magnamon who replied, "No… and yet yes." He turned his attention back to the game and moved a piece. "Also, Dynastmon, you're in check."

The clamor had almost reached a tipping point as most of the Royal Knights tried to make heads or tails of both UlForce's Magnamon's replies and Dynastmon tried to salvage his board state. "Honestly, you two," Shakamon chided. "You are terrible. How do you think the public would respond if they knew that two of the Great Dragons were such children?"

"Ah, but brother dear," Gallantmon replied lightly, "There are two problems with your argument that I find. First, you assume we care. Second, you act as though it is our fault that they could not guess that Goldramon does not become one humanoid Digimon, but two."

"As if you did before you saw it, Sulfur-breath?" UlForce jabbed back, not looking up from his book.

"You forgot the Brimstone," Magnamon added before moving his piece. "Check again."

"Only you could double-team me with yourself," Gallantmon noted dryly.

Goldramon replied, "Of course."

"If the two of you are done with your little comedy routine," Alphamon began trying to hide his simultaneous exasperation and laughter, "maybe we can get back on point?" The entire group gave their leader their full attention. Break time was over. "As a review on what we know, someone is targeting the Great Dragons. As of right now, we have no idea why. We do know that one attempt was nearly successful and we intercepted the other by chance. We can guess by their second attack that whoever it is has researched any Digimon that has something to do with the Dragons themselves as evidenced by the Fake Megidramon's conversation with Examon. They also don't seem aware that Azulongmon has survived his attack or about the Dragon's humanoid forms which gives us two advantages. We have also speculated that whoever it is will accelerate their timetable now that their plan is known. It might also be safe to guess that they will throw stealth away as we know where to look." Alphamon looked to each of his knights. "Does anyone have any preliminary suggestions for what we should do?"

"They will be coming here," Crainiamon said. "If they are throwing out stealth then they will want to force the Dragons into the open. What better way to do that than a major attack in the Southern Queen's backyard?" he asked, looking at Ophanimon. Because of this he noticed and was perturbed by her scowl.

"She has a thing about being called a Queen," Magnamon explained taking pity on his comrade. "But your logic does seem sound."

"That it weren't."

"Which leaves us with the question of, 'What are we going to do?'" Examon continued. "The public ceremony is tomorrow and far too many have already gathered for us to call for an evacuation in time."

"Not only that, but we must consider the possibility that they might not strike here at all. We have no guarantee of our opponent's sanity," Crusadermon mentioned.

"Or they might know that the Royal Knights are here but not that all their targets are as well. They might find this local too fortified and strike at the open back door that is the Western Sea."

"Duftmon, thoughts?" Omnimon prodded.

Duftmon sighed. "It would not be wise to split our forces at this time," he began. "While three Knights working together were enough for one of the false copies we have no guarantee that there is only one fake for each Dragon. In fact, I expect there will be an army. Our prime concern must be civilian safety. With that in mind, they will be far better defended with us between them and the enemy than they will anywhere else. For that reason, I cannot advocate an evacuation at this time. However, we must make sure they are ready and able to leave should the beach become a battleground. Does anyone have the blueprints for how the beach has been altered for the ceremony?" Omnimon quickly pulled the plans out as he had been the one to oversee the construction.

Duftmon looked them over approvingly, Omnimon had put quite a few defenses in, and unfortunately most had been done expecting a small force hidden among the well-wishers attacking the newlyweds. Until this new information had arrived that had been the most likely scenario, it had simply come to bite them in the rear this time. But they could work with them. "Alright I have a plan."

Inwardly, Sleipmon groaned. He knew why it would have to be done but Duftmon's preparations would likely mean his fourth night in a row of poor sleep.