(Author's Notes: Hey, all! Sorry for the delay. The problem was that I have three two part chapters lined up. The two battle chapters and this one. I have the two batle chapters completed already, and I started working on this one last, but then I decided that it would be better pacing-wise to have this chapter be before those two, so I wasn't able to post this chapter until I was at least 75% finished. I still have one more scene to write, but I'll be trying to get it finished this week. I'll have Part II of Chapter 69 posted in one or two weeks, depending on if I finish this week or not.
Also, if you're wondering why I started saying "Castle Avalion", check out my latest tumblr post. I decided I liked this name better. Hope it's not too jarring.
Anyways, I hope you're all doing well and that you enjoy this half-chapter. Read, review, and enjoy!)
Chapter 69: Solitude (Part I)
Dawn was beautiful.
That was what he always thought.
The sight of the soft, welcoming, rays of light peeking over the horizon... The warm, summer hues, that blend of pink and orange, pushing away the darkness and causing a relaxing cyan to stretch across the sky… Even on the cloudiest of days, it warmed his heart to see the sun rise in the east. Just seeing the light of morning was enough for him.
Dukemon stood on top of one of the wall's watch towers, gazing into the eastern horizon. He could see the warm orb of light rising up over the distant Net Ocean. A deep, rose colour painted the scattered clouds with a grapefruit-like hue. The soft, orange rays followed, causing the blades of grass to shimmer with morning dew and the distant waves of water to sparkle. The pair of full moons were now but a fading afterthought in the west.
It was a beautiful morning indeed.
Dukemon closed his eyes and enjoyed the cool, but comfortable breeze. The mellow wind blew past him, causing his long, white ponytail and flowing, crimson cape to ripple. He could smell the faint notes of ocean salt on the sea breeze, melding with the scent of morning dew.
He felt his unsettled heart ease. Dukemon loved watching the sun rise every morning. He found comfort in the morning light… Not just in its beauty… but in that, despite whatever had happened during the night, it was proof that it was a new day.
Dukemon's golden-yellow eyes softened pensively as he watched the sun's first rays peek over the azure-laced horizon. His gauntlet-clad fingers were half-arched against the stone parapet. His index finger lightly traced circles along the stone cracks before his hands slowly relaxed.
The knight's armoured shoulders slackened and he leaned his arms against the parapet. He sensed a familiar presence behind. Not one that was unwelcome, but one that made him check himself. After all, Dukemon knew how perceptive he was…
"Good morning, Grani," Dukemon casually greeted, not even needing to look over his shoulder to know who it was.
"Good morning to you as well, Dukemon," Zero ARMS: Grani calmly replied. The draconic bird floated up beside him, joining him in observing the sunrise. "It is a pleasant temperature this morning. I forecast that it will be a clear day with comfortable warmth, but there will not be overbearing levels of solar radiation."
"You think so?" Dukemon asked as he looked out over the horizon. "That's good. It'll be a good day to train. Maybe I'll see if Gankoomon's up for a spar. He usually is…"
"You are thinking about training already?" Grani inquired. "Were you not training for most of yesterday as well?"
"With all of the others gone, I have to keep busy. I need to keep in top shape to fight the Demon Lords," Dukemon nonchalantly explained.
"I see…" Grani responded neutrally. He glanced over at Dukemon. "I noticed that you were awake approximately forty-five minutes earlier than usual."
"Oh, was I?" Dukemon wondered with seeming innocence. He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, his broad shoulder muscles firming just slightly. "Yeah, I guess I did get up early."
Grani eyed him inquisitively. "Did you have a bad sleep?" he wondered, venturing a little deeper.
Catching himself, Dukemon slid his fingers off the symbol on the nape of his neck. "A little, I guess. Just had a bad dream. I think it was something I ate last night," he was quick to reassure Grani.
"Ah, very well…" Grani evenly responded. "You just seem a little bit distracted lately. Is everything alright?"
"I'm fine. Really," Dukemon answered, his words truncated and slightly more brusquely than he had intended. After a moment, Dukemon closed his eyes and sighed, allowing his muscles to relax. "Thanks for asking, Grani. I'm probably just preoccupied thinking about the war. I don't know how the others are doing, after all…"
Grani nodded mechanically. "Understood," he agreed.
Although he wasn't entirely convinced, Grani decided to leave it at that. He deduced that something else was bothering Dukemon, but he opted to be tactful. He knew Dukemon well, and he knew that he didn't like to be pressured or backed into a corner when he was feeling on the defensive. Knowing Dukemon's temperament, Grani trusted that the Royal Knight would confide in him once he had enough time to process his feelings and wanted his advice.
"It is a particularly beautiful dawn this morning," Grani noted, floating closer to Dukemon as he gazed out at the warm myriad of colours.
At this, Dukemon couldn't help but be drawn from his thoughts and smile. "You know, it still surprises me. Back however many years it was ago, you couldn't understand why I bothered to spend time looking out at the sunrise. You said you didn't understand what beauty was… but look at you now."
Grani turned his blue eyes up to look at Dukemon. "It is thanks to you that I understand, Dukemon," he calmly explained. "I have learned much from you on our journeys together."
Dukemon chuckled and looked forwards again. "I'm pretty sure you've taught me a lot more, Grani," he assured him. He smiled tenderly behind his helmet as he beheld the rising sun. "Much more…"
"That would be a difficult statistic to quantify and thereby it is impossible to prove who educated who more," Grani dryly reminded him. "Proposal: Let us merely agree that it has been a beneficial symbiosis for the both of us."
Dukemon laughed, feeling the burden of the past night ease as they talked. "Well, when you put it like that…" he submitted.
A comfortable silence overcame the two as they enjoyed the early morning view of the dawn-tinted landscape.
"…I hope that we'll always be able to do this," Dukemon wistfully said, his golden eyes lingering on the blazing, orange orb above the distance ocean.
Grani stopped and began to turn to him, frowning at the vaguely uncertain intonation. He opened his beak to question his verbiage, but then movement out of the corner of his eagle eyes caught his attention.
He spotted something big and bright red rising above the distant hills and dunes. It was something massive enough to be seen even from so far away. "Dukemon…" Grani spoke, his vision narrowing as he focused in on the creature. "…Do you see that?"
Dukemon frowned and squinted, trying to see what Grani was referring to. He blocked the sun with his hand and attempted to see far enough to spot it. Sure enough, he saw a familiar colour sparkling like water in the sunlight. It was slowly moving above the hills until a colossal snout could finally be seen. "…Yeah, I see it," Dukemon answered, his voice sharpening.
Grani's features hardened like steel. "Target designation: Leviamon… Hostility: Indeterminate," he informed him, his voice icy with distrust.
"I don't think he's stupid enough to attack us…" Dukemon responded, though the caution in his voice made it clear that he considered it a possibility.
"Hypothesis: he knows that everybody but you and Gankoomon are away on campaign. Suppose that the campaign is based off of false information that he provided… He would determine this to be the ideal time to launch a surprise attack at our sparsely defended home base," Grani methodically posited.
"You said yourself that his information lined up with your recon reports," Dukemon debated.
"Perhaps that is so. However, whether the information he gave us is true or not is irrelevant – only that the rest of the Royal Knights are absent," Grani contended. "My analysis of Leviamon is that he is an opportunist. It is well within reasonable parameters that he would attempt such a ploy."
"I hope that's not the case," Dukemon responded as he jumped onto the parapets. "But if it is, I'll be ready." He glanced back at Grani. "Should we go meet him?"
"Now that the view has been obstructed, I suppose so," Grani mentioned, floating down over the edge of the ramparts so that Dukemon could step on his back.
Dukemon jumped off the castle wall and landed on Grani's winged back with perfect balance. He looked ahead with confidence, ready to face Leviamon and challenge whatever the defected Demon Lord's intentions were.
The two soared away from the castle, planning to intercept Leviamon before he got anywhere close. That way, if he was planning anything nefarious, their headquarters wouldn't get caught up in the crossfire.
They flew over the grasslands leading towards the Shining Coast. It only took them a few minutes before they arrived a kilometer from where the giant crocodile was crawling away from the beach. He was making his way over the hilly, grassy dunes that separated the beach from the fields. As soon as Dukemon and Grani grew near, they circled around in front of Leviamon cautiously, making sure that he took heed of their presence.
Leviamon crawled over the coastal grasslands, not far from where the Dawn River emptied into the Net Ocean. His clawed feet, matted with sand that stuck to his wet scales, sunk into the soft ground under his great weight. His body shimmered wetly, ocean water still running down his back and snout. He licked his lips and swallowed a fish that was stuck in his jagged rows of teeth.
The rebel Demon Lord looked up to the sky, noticing the comparatively small, red figures flying around the blue sky above him. His yellow, reptilian eyes followed Dukemon and Grani's movements, watching as they circled around in a descending angle. A smirk formed in the corner of his mouth and he grunted some ocean water out of his nostrils along with plumes of rainbow smoke.
"Well, look who it is! Sir Dukemon, the famous Royal Knight!" Leviamon announced, sarcasm dripping off his tongue like the water rolled off his back. "You came to greet little, old me in person? I'm flattered."
Dukemon's misgiving was clear on his face as he eyed the smiling crocodile from a safe height. Nevertheless, he decided it best to get closer. He wanted to talk with him on an equal level. "…Bring me down, Grani," he said to his friend.
Grani hesitated and glanced up at Dukemon. "…Are you certain, Dukemon? Analysis: that is a very unwise course of action considering his size, direction, and proximity to the water," he cautioned him. "Remaining airborne would be safer if his motivations are indeed hostile."
"I'll be fine, Grani," Dukemon maintained. "I want to talk to him properly. It's the honourable thing to do."
Grani frowned guardedly. "…I don't trust him, Dukemon."
Dukemon smiled and reached down to pet Grani's head. "I know… but trust me. If anything happens, I'll get out of there. After all, I have you waiting in the wings," he reassured him with a confident wink.
"…Affirmative," Grani ceded, though not without his misgivings. The bright red ZERO ARMS pivoted, beginning his descent into a soft helix. He curved towards the ground, gliding smoothly across the dew-touched grass, until he came to a gradual stop at a relatively safe distance from Leviamon's cavernous maw.
As soon as Grani came to a stop, Dukemon hopped off his back and landed gracefully on the grass. With a smooth sweep of his arm, he brushed his cape back and stood unwaveringly before the titanic sea monster.
"Leviamon," he spoke, his eyes narrowing into golden slits like rays of piercing, dawn sun.
Leviamon's gaze fixed on the singular Royal Knight in front of him. His faint smirk faded when his eyes shifted to the metallic bird next to him. The Demon Lord beheld Grani with a derisive squint. "And you brought your vehicle too. Gee, sure must be handy owning a floating surf board," he dismissively mused.
Grani leered coolly up at Leviamon, ignoring the slight. He didn't care what Leviamon thought of him, but he did care about what Leviamon's intentions were. He remained suspicious of the Demon Lord and what he was after.
Angered at the crocodile's flippant insult towards his best friend, Dukemon's glare hardened and he placed his hand on Grani's wing. "His name's Grani, and he's not my vehicle; he's my friend," Dukemon defensively corrected him.
Leviamon struggled not to roll his eyes at the knight's predictable display of companionship. "Sorry. My mistake," he forced himself to answer, keeping his sarcasm at bay. "I just assumed he was like Beelzebumon's bike."
"…What are you doing here?" Dukemon questioned with a gaze that demanded an answer.
"What? I'm not allowed to come and visit my new allies?" Leviamon wondered, his huge snout sporting a toothy smirk.
Dukemon eyed him warily. "It's the fact that you're here at the break of dawn when you know that most of the Royal Knights are off on campaign that gives us reason to pause," he bluntly pointed out.
Leviamon's cheek muscles dropped slightly. "Oh, I get it. You don't trust me, do you?" the crocodile replied with huffy offence in his voice. "Real nice. Is that any way to treat a guy who put his neck on the line to help you?"
"Don't pretend like you're doing us any favours," Dukemon told him. "We're just your best option after you turned your back on the Demon Lords."
At this accusation, Leviamon sharpened his eyes and tightened his powerful jaws just slightly. "They turned their backs on me," he defensively growled. "They treated me worse than they'd treat a Numemon. Would you rather I just stayed with them and put up with it?"
Dukemon frowned a little, conceding that Leviamon had a point. He didn't exactly want him rejoining the Demon Lords. "Uh, well, no… It's just-"
"Just what?" Leviamon pressed. "You think I'm gonna stab you in the back? It's clear you don't trust me. You think that, because I'm a demon and a slimy reptile, of course I'm untrustworthy. You're judging me based on my appearance."
"I'm not," Dukemon decisively answered. "I judge Digimon based on their actions. And, so far, you don't have a great record."
Leviamon scoffed. "Oh, right. Never mind the fact that I told you exactly what the Demon Lords were doing and that your friends will find them exactly where I said they were," the water-laced reptile bemoaned with a roll of his eyes.
"I'm not saying you're not telling the truth about that," Dukemon insisted, sheepishly readjusting one of his shoulder pauldrons. "…Why are you here, Leviamon? Shouldn't you be running Dark Point now or something?"
"Dark Point's fine. I'm what you call 'hands-off' in terms of management. You see, I actually trust my subordinates," Leviamon huffily informed him. "I just thought I'd stop by for a visit. I knew you'd be here."
Grani narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "And what do you require from Dukemon, precisely?" he keenly inquired.
"I don't know. I just thought it might be nice to hang out and talk. Something to pass the time, unless you've got something better to do," the Demon Lord of Envy offered with a grin.
"I do have obligations around the castle, you know," Dukemon dryly reminded him as he folded his arms across his armoured chest. "I don't have time to be counting clouds."
"Oh, really? With what exactly? Seems like things are pretty quiet with everybody off on campaign," Leviamon pointed out, his goading smile widening.
Dukemon paused for a moment, caught off guard, and sheepishly rubbed his neck as he tried to think of an answer. "Well, uh… Important things…" Dukemon lamely insisted. "Keeping the guards vigilant… Preparing to repel potential attacks by sneaky Demon Lords…" He cast an ironic leer in Leviamon's direction for emphasis.
"Oh, like me, you mean," Leviamon replied. "Well, as you can see, I'm completely docile. Just think of me like a big, cuddly teddy."
Dukemon stared at Leviamon pensively. He wondered what Leviamon was up to. Was he really just bored like he said? Did he have something up his sleeve? Was he scouting Castle Avalion's defence strength? Or… was he secretly lonely?
Dukemon didn't know the answer to that question. What he did know was that he had to play it safe. And there was only one way that he could think of that would ensure that Leviamon was kept in check.
"…Okay, then. Yeah, actually. Let's hang out!" Dukemon told him, causing Grani to blink and tilt in the air with absolute shock.
After allowing himself exactly 2.47 seconds of disbelief, Grani immediately corrected his angle and swerved towards Dukemon. He flew up and moved towards the knight's face, leaning in to whisper. "Urgent query: Dukemon, what do you think you are doing? It is illogical to be so quick to trust him," he advised in a hushed tone.
Dukemon tilted his head towards Grani and whispered back. "I'm not trusting him, but it's safest for everybody if there's a Royal Knight watching him. I'd rather be able to keep him where I can see him rather than him going off doing who knows what?" Dukemon quietly explained.
Grani frowned reluctantly. Dukemon's logic made sense to him, but he still felt uneasy. "Affirmative… however…"
"Trust me," Dukemon said to him before walking ahead, towards Leviamon. "Under one condition, Leviamon. I can't let you inside the castle. There wouldn't be any room for you, anyways."
Leviamon blinked at these surprising developments. He wasn't sure if he would be able to get Dukemon to agree that easily. A broad smile curled onto his scaly lips. "Heh. Fine by me. I'm happy to just hang out in the moat and catch some rays," he tamely assured the knight.
"Alright…" Dukemon tentatively agreed. "Just as long as you behave yourself."
"I'd be stupid to burn the bridges I've just started trying to build, wouldn't I?" Leviamon pointed out, tapping his split tail against the beach behind him.
"Yeah, you would," Dukemon conceded with a sigh. "Fine. Follow us and I'll clear it with Gankoomon and the staff. That way, nobody will wake up, look out the window and have a heart attack from seeing you outside."
"Yeah, yeah…" Leviamon answered.
He watched Dukemon as the Royal Knight jumped onto Grani's back, and placidly followed the pair towards the castle. With Dukemon's back turned to him, Leviamon stared at him with ruminating eyes. After a silent moment, he waddled after the Royal Knight at a gradual but ground-shaking pace.
When they were far enough ahead to be out of the leviathan's earshot, Grani glanced behind at his friend and passenger. "Are you sure about this, Dukemon?" he asked him. "This is all very suspicious and unorthodox. My analysis is that it is unwise to let him near the castle."
"I get that you're worried, Grani, but I know what I'm doing. I'm not trusting him as far as I can throw him… I just think it's better to have him where I can see him," Dukemon reasoned with him, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that Leviamon couldn't hear them. "Besides, what's the worst he can do? Try and squeeze inside to peek in our war room?"
"He could destroy the castle," Grani answered, his words matter-of-fact and his tone as dry as a desert.
"Eheh," Dukemon nervously chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "It won't come to that. I promise. He won't try anything, especially not with me and Gankoomon there."
Grani sighed but didn't voice any further misgivings about it. He could see that this was something that Dukemon wanted to do. "Very well, Dukemon," he answered calmly. "I trust you."
Dukemon smiled warmly down at the ZERO ARMS. "Thanks, Grani… I appreciate it," he told him, reaching down and petting the back of his neck.
Behind them, Leviamon's eyes furrowed as he watched the pair interact. He grunted slightly, but remained quiet and kept on following them to the castle with heavy footsteps.
Dukemon looked back at Leviamon tentatively as they approached Castle Avalion, which was becoming livelier as the morning shift of guards spotted the approaching Demon Lord.
Dukemon waved at them, signalling that it was alright and that Leviamon was with him. "This might be tougher than I thought," Dukemon sheepishly admitted as seeing the castle walls beginning to buzz with activity.
"I hope you know what you are doing…" Grani mentioned.
"Yeah…" Dukemon responded, frowning just a little with fragments of doubt flickering within his dawn-hued eyes. "I hope so too…"
Hours later, the sun had climbed from the horizon to its apex in the sky. The noon sky was clear, allowing sunlight to spread across the lush, green landscape of Splendor's Reach.
It was a beautiful view from the air, especially with Castle Avalion standing majestically in the distance.
Jesmon enjoyed the view from the sky, the midday sunlight reflecting purely off of his metallic face. He dipped through the sky at a soft and comfortable descent.
Ahead of him were Alphamon and Omegamon, who began their descents towards the castle as well. They flew side-by-side in complete silence. The three Royal Knights had spent the night in New Terminal before taking the dawn train to Gold Keep. They flew the rest of the distance east to their home territory of Splendor's Reach.
Despite the beautiful day, Jesmon felt a faint unease gripping his heart, but he was unable to place why.
Ever since they left the Hall of Yggdrasil, Alphamon and Omegamon had been unusually quiet. Jesmon supposed it wasn't all that strange for Omegamon, but Alphamon usually had some sort of anecdote, philosophical musing, or tidbit of wisdom to share with him. This time, it felt different. There was a stiff, oppressive atmosphere around the two knights, like an invisible pressure emanating from their spirits.
Jesmon looked ahead at the pair. Their flight movements seemed linear and rigid. Their shoulders were locked stiffly in place, and they barely looked at each other. It was like they were both lost in thought. The whole journey had been unbearably quiet. The silence was only broken whenever Alphamon would tell them what they needed to do. Occasionally, he had asked Jesmon how he was or if he needed a break, but there hadn't been much discussion beyond that.
Jesmon frowned uneasily. He felt uncomfortable. He wondered if he had done something wrong to offend Yggdrasil. He didn't think that he did, and it didn't seem like either Royal Knight were specifically cross with him, but he couldn't come up with another explanation. What was it that Yggdrasil wanted to tell them in private? Was it about him? Was it to do with the Demon Lords? Or was it something else?
He wanted to know, but he didn't want to ask. Whatever it was, he didn't feel it was his place to know, otherwise Yggdrasil wouldn't have asked him to wait outside. He just had to trust that the two Royal Knights would handle whatever it might be.
"Jesmon," Alphamon spoke up, immediately pulling Jesmon out of his thoughts. "We are going to be landing at the front gate. Can you manage it?"
"Yes, Senpai," Jesmon answered affirmatively as he focused on the situation at hand. "I've been practicing. I'm much better on my feet – er, legs – now."
"Alright, good," Alphamon answered, spreading his metallic, golden wings as he continued his level descent. He turned his attention towards the distant castle.
Alphamon didn't say anything publically, but his mind was a labyrinthine mire of thoughts. It had been ever since Yggdrasil imparted upon them Its directives. The fate of the Demon Lords was one thing; although he was a bit taken aback by the adamancy of the command, it was not something he wasn't expecting. Yggdrasil's warning about Dukemon was another matter. What did Yggdrasil know? Did they really have to worry about Dukemon? Was there something they could do to prevent it?
These questions swirled in Alphamon's mind and weighed heavy on his heart. He became so consumed in his thoughts and concerns that he couldn't concentrate on much else.
Alphamon glanced over at Omegamon, who looked ahead with a serious frown on his face. He knew that his friend probably felt the same worries and confusion that he did, if not more strongly. If he did, he didn't show it.
Omegamon, indeed, was tormented by fears and questions of his own. He, too, had barely said a word during their voyage home. There was too much on his mind… His cyan blue eyes tightened faintly as he descended.
It didn't make any sense to him. Dukemon seemed fine to him. Half of him wanted to go back and ask Yggdrasil about it more, but he knew that that would be deeply insubordinate. He trusted Yggdrasil's words, but he couldn't help but be confused and frustrated. He didn't understand… He knew Dukemon so well. At least, he thought he did. Was he wrong about this too…? He wondered what they should even do with that information.
Omegamon sighed and shook his head. He focused on Castle Avalion. He knew that Dukemon was there. Part of him dreaded seeing him. He wasn't sure how to face him.
It was then that the sight of something unusual pulled Omegamon out of his spiral of worries: two, gigantic tails poking out from behind the far side of the castle walls. The two, trunk-like appendages of scarlet scales were splayed across the grass, half-sunken into the overflowing moat. Although the owner of the tails was mostly obscured by the castle fortifications, it wasn't hard to guess who it was.
"Alphamon, we may have a problem," Omegamon informed him, glancing over at the black knight.
"Yes… Perhaps we do," Alphamon agreed, eyeing the flopping, red tails.
Upon seeing Leviamon's tails behind the castle walls, Jesmon blinked. The intent of Yggdrasil's words caught up with him and he realised what that might mean. "…Wait, what do we do?" Jesmon asked, looking ahead at the two senior Royal Knights. "Yggdrasil said that we have to destroy the Demon Lords… Does that mean…?" His words trailed off as he looked at the distant Demon Lord of Envy.
The black and white knights were both silent for a few moments. Alphamon looked over at Omegamon, who glanced back at him with a steely gaze.
"…Ultimately, that may be the case," Omegamon frostily explained. "Yggdrasil's words are absolute."
Jesmon grimaced faintly and his heart began to twist. He had no love for Leviamon. In fact, he was still pretty ambivalent about him. He was keenly aware that Leviamon was the one who physically dropped the Sky Colony onto the Digital World. However, they had made a tentative alliance with him. The idea of having to betray that didn't sit well with him.
Alphamon noticed Jesmon's hesitation and he offered him a small, knowing smile. "…That may be so. However, we must account for the reality of the situation, as well," he assured him. "Although Yggdrasil said that we must destroy the Demon Lords, Yggdrasil didn't say when. It would be wise to keep in Leviamon's good books for the near future, for his information could prove useful to us."
"I… suppose," Omegamon hesitantly agreed, knowing that Alphamon had a point. He wondered what Yggdrasil might think, but he realised it would be unwise to attack Leviamon on the spot.
"Haste makes waste, after all," Alphamon reasoned. "We still need to tell the other Royal Knights about the new directives, and we cannot do that until the majority of them have returned. There is no need to rush something so… delicate."
Omegamon nodded gently. He quietly wondered if Alphamon was talking only about the Demon Lords or if he was alluding to the other matter as well. He couldn't say anything in front of Jesmon, but he knew that he and Alphamon needed to talk about that too.
"Still… What is Dukemon thinking by allowing Leviamon this close to our headquarters?" Omegamon wondered with a slight frown.
"Well, Leviamon is technically our ally… in the most detached sense of the word," Alphamon noted. "Dukemon has always been sociable, but I am sure that he knows what he is doing."
"…Yes, you're right," Omegamon quickly agreed, turning his sheepish eyes down to the approaching ground. "There is no reason to doubt him."
Alphamon's features softened as he eyed his white counterpart. Deciding that now was not the time to dwell on their unease, the Aloof Hermit looked ahead to the castle.
They skimmed through the sky in descent until they finally reached the stone stronghold of the Royal Knights. They touched down in front of the gates, which remained closed, wary of the Demon Lord who had taken anchor in their moat. The gate master, alerted of the three Royal Knights' return, promptly opened the portcullis for them.
As soon as the metal gate opened before them, the three walked through to the front courtyard. The Royal Knights stepped into the stone square. The main courtyard road to their left was somewhat busy with guards patrolling and merchants tending to their shops, but with the campaign underway, it was much quieter than usual.
Ahead of them and slightly to their right, they saw a familiar figure, clad in white armour and a flowing, red cape.
It was Dukemon.
Omegamon stiffened imperceptibly at the sight of the Royal Knight walking towards them. He felt a flash of momentary panic. He wasn't sure what he would do if Dukemon asked about Yggdrasil. He didn't want to tell him, but he disliked lying as well. He hoped that Alphamon would take the lead so that he wouldn't have to.
"Alphamon, Omegamon, Jesmon!" he greeted exuberantly as he strode towards the trio. "You guys are back."
"Dukemon…" Alphamon greeted with a small yet warm smile. "Hello. It's good to see you. How has everything been?"
The ease with which Alphamon was able to speak with him surprised Omegamon. He wasn't sure how he was able to remain so calm and casual with Dukemon, knowing what they knew. The white knight could feel his own stomach twisting with unease at the idea of lying to him, even if it was just by omission.
"Well, it's been quiet," Dukemon explained. He raised a hand and sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck, looking over his shoulder towards the blue dorsal fins that were poking over the ramparts of the far wall. "I'm sure you saw a certain Demon Lord on the way in… I can explain that, if you want."
Alphamon chuckled and rubbed his cheek with a finger. "Yes, we did manage to notice Leviamon wading in the castle moat, difficult though it was," he observed with friendly repartee. "Are you having a tea party in our absence, Dukemon?"
Dukemon laughed a little, his fingers tracing the scales of his nape. "Not exactly… Leviamon decided to invite himself over to our castle," he explained.
"Is that wise, Dukemon?" Omegamon asked him. "We cannot be sure that we can trust him. To let him so close to the castle…"
"I wouldn't say I trust him, but I don't think he means any ill-will towards us, Omegamon," Dukemon insisted, looking in the white knight's direction with an assuring gaze. "I think he's just here because bored… or lonely."
Hearing these words caused Omegamon's aquamarine eyes to harden. He tightened his fist and took a single step forwards. "…Dukemon, I have always admired your ability to give Digimon the benefit of the doubt, but you would be foolish to forget who Leviamon is," Omegamon bluntly advised him. "Even if his information ends up helping us, he is still only out for himself. Do not let yourself get close to him. He is not your friend."
Dukemon couldn't help but be taken aback by Omegamon's uncharacteristic harshness. The second-in-command was typically calm and soft-spoken. While Omegamon always had the capacity to be cuttingly blunt, those instances were typically rare, reserved only for when one of them really needed a telling off. Dukemon didn't particularly think that this was one of those times.
"Uh… Yeah, I know. And I won't," Dukemon insisted, feeling a little bit defensive. "Sorry, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. I only let him stay because I thought that it would be better to know what he was doing than it was to let him roam free."
Alphamon quietly glanced at Omegamon beside him. He, too, knew it was unusual for Omegamon to be so brusque, but he understood the source of the knight's frustration. He was keenly aware of the mounting pressures that Dukemon was not privy to. He couldn't blame Omegamon entirely, but he also felt for Dukemon, who remained in the dark.
"I see. So that is your reasoning," Alphamon spoke, attempting to sound calm and even-handed. "That makes some sense, although it is a bit of a risk."
"I know…" Dukemon sheepishly replied. "I was planning on keeping a close eye on him with Gankoomon though. I really don't think he'd be that brazen…"
"Well, he certainly seems to be behaving himself… I don't think it will be a problem, now that we are back," Alphamon answered, giving Dukemon a reassuring smile.
"If you're sure…" Dukemon replied, turning his gaze uncertainly towards Omegamon.
Omegamon, beginning to feel guilty with the passage of afterthought, looked down remorsefully. "…I'm sorry for being abrupt, Dukemon. I'm just tired from the long journey," he explained.
Dukemon smiled and placed his hand on Omegamon's shield-covered shoulder. "There's nothing to apologise for. I do sort of have a habit of making impulsive decisions," he lightheartedly admitted. "So, anyway, how did it go? Did Yggdrasil give Jesmon Its blessing?"
"Yes. Yes, It did," Alphamon confirmed, turning to look at the junior knight in question.
"That's great news!" Dukemon exclaimed, walking over to Jesmon and patting him on the shoulder too. He smiled warmly at the new Royal Knight and winked. "I never had any doubt. I always knew that you'd be Royal Knight material. How does it feel, Jesmon?"
"It's such an honour, Senpai. I can't believe that Yggdrasil spoke to me and gave me Its blessing," Jesmon enthusiastically exclaimed.
"It's an amazing feeling, isn't it? Knowing that Yggdrasil has placed Its trust in you," Dukemon agreed.
Both Alphamon and Omegamon squirmed on the inside, though their exteriors remained like statues.
Dukemon looked back at his two close friends. "Did Yggdrasil say anything else?" he innocently wondered.
Omegamon averted his gaze, opting to look over at Alphamon. The black knight glanced back at him, wordlessly trying to reassure him.
"Well…" Omegamon uneasily began, feeling the need to say something.
"…Yes, Yggdrasil did," Alphamon admitted, looking Dukemon in the eyes. "However…" He shifted his gaze and gestured in Leviamon's general direction. "…I don't think now is the appropriate time to talk about it. It is… a confidential matter – one that is best left for when most of the Royal Knights are present."
Omegamon swiftly nodded in agreement. "Sorry, but it's a very delicate matter… We cannot risk the chance of the wrong Digimon overhearing it," he added for emphasis.
"Oh…" Dukemon replied. He turned around, following Alphamon's gaze towards Leviamon and seeing the Demon Lord's dorsal ridge above the far ramparts. He understood Alphamon's cautiousness, especially if it had to do with a confidential directive from Yggdrasil.
"Yeah… of course," Dukemon agreed, trusting their judgement and deciding not to press the matter. While curious, he was fine with waiting for the others. "We'll wait until the others are back."
Alphamon nodded, inwardly breathing a sigh of relief. "Very well. Have you heard anything about how the campaign is progressing?"
"Not yet. It's still early though," Dukemon answered with a shrug. "Grani is going to rendezvous with one of his scouts tomorrow to find out."
"He will have plenty of light for travel. It will be a double full moon tonight," Alphamon mused, stroking his chin enigmatically.
"A double full moon, Senpai?" Jesmon asked, looking at Alphamon curiously.
Alphamon eyed him with a playful twinkle in his eyes. "Indeed… You know, Jesmon, double full moons have been viewed as bad omens in folklore all the way back to the First Cycle. It is said to be a phase of magical flux that disrupts the natural harmony of the land. I hope that is not the case on a night like tonight."
Dukemon rubbed the back of his head uneasily. "Don't say that, Alphamon. You'll scare him," he laughed fretfully.
"Though, now I am inclined to believe the omen," Omegamon mused with a serious frown. "After all, the last time there was a double full moon was also the night that DarkKnightmon escaped."
"I suppose you are right," Alphamon answered, a soft frown forming on his face as he recalled the unpleasant memory. "'Beware the Black Night', indeed," he ironically mentioned.
"Do you think that something bad is going to happen tonight, Alphamon-senpai?" Jesmon wondered, beginning to feel uneasy.
Alphamon folded his arms and closed his eyes in thought. "Hm… While I do not believe that moon phases are necessarily bad luck in their own right, I do believe that they may have an impact on the flow of natural magic and energy. Dorbickmon was able to break DarkKnightmon free that night, possibly because of the weakened barrier. There is potential for something dangerous to happen, but it is not a guaranteed outcome," he posited.
"We'll just have to hope nothing world-breaking happens then." Dukemon suggested, doing his best to appear relaxed. He tugged at his collar and nonchalantly looked down the street, eager not to think too hard about his own joking words.
Jesmon frowned and looked around the castle's front courtyard. While he was focused on the seriousness of the situation at hand and worried about the presence of Leviamon, he couldn't help but notice something else. He had been expecting Gankoomon to show up to welcome them back. He wanted to tell his sensei all about the journey. However, he couldn't see him anywhere. He wondered if he was busy watching Leviamon.
"Dukemon-senpai?" Jesmon asked, garnering the crimson knight's attention. "Do you know where Gankoomon is?"
"Huh?" Dukemon asked, blinking. "He was with me when the messenger told us you were back. I thought he was right behind me." He turned around to try and see where Gankoomon had gone to.
It took him a few seconds of scanning the courtyard, but Dukemon finally spotted the easily identifiable white jacket and bright, red hair of the individualistic Royal Knight.
Gankoomon was leaning against the wall of the main citadel, right next to the building's entrance. His leg was bent, the sole of his wooden sandal against the vertical stone, and his arms were folded across his broad chest.
He didn't make his way over or even look in the Royal Knights' direction. He didn't appear particularly interested in their arrival at all. Gankoomon kept to himself, only sparing a few words for the nearby guard that was on duty. His expression was stern and his demeanour aloof. It was almost like he was a part of the fortifications.
Dukemon waved him over, not finding his behaviour all that unusual for the Royal Knight. Gankoomon always liked to put himself apart and appear indifferent, after all. "Hey, Gankoomon!" Dukemon called out. "Come over here!"
Gankoomon glanced in the voice's direction out of the corner of his visor. He attempted to ignore the voice calling out his name, pretending not to hear. After a few seconds, he could hear Dukemon continuing to call him, and he doubted they would leave him alone. His grip tightening around his bicep, Gankoomon scoffed and reluctantly relented.
He stood up from the wall and began making his way towards the four Royal Knights. His movements weren't brisk or stiff with anger. On the contrary, he was taking slow, leisurely strides, seeming like he was in no hurry to get there. Gankoomon trudged down the stone pathway that led to the citadel and heedlessly sauntered up to the Royal Knights.
"What?" Gankoomon gruffly asked, looking specifically at Dukemon.
"What do you mean? Jesmon, Alphamon and Omegamon are back," Dukemon explained, gesturing to the three returned knights.
"I can see that. What's your point?" the flame-haired knight questioned curtly.
Dukemon cocked his head with confusion. "Don't you want to know how everything went with Yggdrasil?" he wondered.
Gankoomon raised his hand and tapped the side of his metal visor, which not only covered his eyes, but also his ears. "I already heard everything. Not much gets by me," he explained. "You all went to see Yggdrasil, It gave Hackmon the thumbs up, and there's stuff that you guys won't tell us until everybody's home. Did I miss anything?"
Dukemon sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "Uh, well, no… I just thought you might want to know more since Jesmon went to meet Yggdrasil for the first time. You remember how it was when you went."
"Yeah. There was a bunch of white light and a weird, booming voice all around me that told me what I should and shouldn't do. I agreed and I got Its blessing. It's not as big of a deal as everyone made it out to be," Gankoomon flippantly answered, shrugging and folding his arms demonstratively.
A bead of sweat dripped down the back of Alphamon's head at the unpleasant memory. That had probably been the most apologising he had ever had to do for a Royal Knight in front of Yggdrasil.
"It was a big deal to me, Sensei," Jesmon explained animatedly. "I actually got to meet Yggdrasil – well… Its voice, at least. It was such a big moment, and it was so humbling too. I never could have dreamed it would have been anything like that. Oh, and I even got to meet Qinglongmon-sama at the World Tree."
"Uh huh…"
"With Yggdrasil's blessing, this means that I'm finally a Royal Knight, Sensei!" Jesmon exclaimed, a broad smile growing on his face.
Gankoomon turned his body and faced to the side. "Great. I'm happy for you," he answered with all the excitement of going to the beach on a rainy day. He rolled his shoulders to readjust the jacket hanging off his back and began to walk away.
"If that's all, I've got a lot of things to do," Gankoomon explained. He turned his back to them and began walking down the road towards the training grounds. "Excuse me."
Jesmon frowned with disappointment at his sensei's less than enthusiastic response. He kind of hoped that Gankoomon would be at least a little excited to see him. Instead, he seemed like he was in a bad mood. He wondered if it was because of Leviamon hanging around.
Alphamon eyed Gankoomon quietly as the red-haired Royal Knight made his way down the road. He stroked his chin thoughtfully, inwardly noting that he still didn't seem like his usual self. Even since before Leviamon showed up, he noticed that something had been bothering him. Alphamon had hoped that his staying behind would help him to sort his problem out on his own. It appeared to him that that hadn't been the case…
Alphamon glanced over at Jesmon and saw the concern in his bright, yellow eyes. The black knight turned and placed his hand on Jesmon's shoulder. "I wouldn't worry, Jesmon," he reassured him. "Everyone is just a little stressed at the moment."
"Yes, Senpai," Jesmon answered with a small nod.
Dukemon looked between the three knights. "So, what should we do now? I can give you an account of the events of the headquarters over the past couple days. Then you can tell me a bit about your journey."
"We should go and shower," Omegamon quickly said, walking past him swiftly and heading straight for the castle citadel.
Dukemon blinked. "Oh… yeah. Sure. It was a long journey," he agreed. "I'll just keep myself busy, then."
Alphamon half-smiled at Dukemon, attempting to smooth over any lingering unease. "We will just freshen up, Dukemon. Then you, Jesmon, and I can go and confer with Shutumon," Alphamon told him.
"Sure thing, Alphamon," Dukemon replied, some of his uncertainty assuaged by Alphamon's words. "Take your time."
Alphamon nodded and walked ahead, following after Omegamon. Despite his pacifying words and easy demeanour, he could feel a discordant stirring forming within him. He hoped that the unpleasant sensation was merely his own turmoil and not a foreboding feeling of misfortune to come. He quietly worried about the upsetting of the balance, especially on a night such as tonight. Alphamon hoped that all this was nothing to worry about.
Jesmon was quiet as he followed after Alphamon and Omegamon. He had hoped that things would feel different upon returning, but he still felt as though something was off. The problem was that he didn't know what it is. All he had was an unsettled feeling in his heart that he couldn't place. He was confused, and it made him feel edgy. He wondered if he should ask Alphamon about his misgivings.
As he thought to himself, he heard a loud whoosh overhead. Thankful for the distraction, Jesmon looked up. He spotted a familiar form sailing across the blue sky.
Imperialdramon: Dragon Mode descended from the sky, flying over the castle and dipping towards the training ground where there was plenty of space to land. The large, armoured dragon banked around the corner and disappeared behind the towers, though it was clear he was about to touch down.
Jesmon brightened up at the sight of his friend. If Gankoomon was too busy, then surely he could gush about everything that happened to Peri. He turned and was about to go off, but then he remembered to ask.
"Alphamon-senpai? Is it okay if I catch up to you and Omegamon-senpai in the showers? I just want to speak to Imperialdramon," Jesmon inquired.
Alphamon smiled at him. "You don't have to ask permission, Jesmon," he reminded him. "Go ahead. You can find us when you are finished."
"Thank you, Senpai," Jesmon answered with an automatic bow. He saluted, turned, and took off down the main road.
After walking down the main road and turning at the corner where the barracks were, Jesmon could see Imperialdramon stepping off of the training grounds and onto the stone road that ran alongside it.
Jesmon smiled and raised his arm to hail him.
Imperialdramon stopped in his tracks when he noticed Jesmon on the road. He ducked his head and glanced off to the side. However, when he saw Jesmon making his way over to him, he shuffled in place and turned back to face him.
"Hey, Peri," Jesmon greeted him, looking up at the taller dragon with a warm smile. "Were you on patrol?"
"Ha- …Greetings, Sir Jesmon," Peri quickly corrected. He awkwardly lifted his leg and saluted rigidly with his armoured gauntlet. "Yes, I have just returned from patrol."
Jesmon rubbed the back of his head with embarrassment. "You don't have to call me, 'Sir', Peri," he sheepishly insisted.
"Yes, I do," Peri insisted, looking down at Jesmon earnestly. "You're my superior now. I can't be insubordinate…"
"Yes, but… it's still just me, Peri," Jesmon maintained.
"Even so, you're a Royal Knight, Sir," Peri replied with prim formality. "Would you like me to brief you on my reconnaissance?"
"Uh, sure," Jesmon agreed with a smile, excited to hear what his friend had to tell him.
"The sectors of Splendor's Reach and the eastern coastal waters all appear to be absent of any suspicious activity. There was no sign of enemy troop movement. The only activity was civilian, Sir. Would you like a sector-by-sector report?" Imperialdramon professionally inquired.
"Er… No. No thanks," Jesmon stammered in response, fully taken off guard by the reply. He was expecting a fun anecdote of something Peri might have seen in his patrol. He wasn't exacting him to be quite so dry and formal.
Imperialdramon nodded rigidly and pawed at the ground. He glanced past Jesmon, edgily eyeing the road behind him like it was an escape route. "Very well. Was there anything else, Sir?"
Jesmon's fingers traced the metal ridges on the back of his neck. "Well… you can stop calling me 'Sir', for a start, Peri," he suggested with a lighthearted but uneasy smile. "I know I'm technically a higher rank than you now, but… nothing's really changed."
Imperialdramon's foot stopped tracing the pavement and it pressed fully on the ground. His cheeks tightened softly but he didn't say anything in reply.
"We're still the same as before. I just have a new title," Jesmon offhandedly explained. "When it's just the two of us in private, you can just call me whatever you want. It isn't a big deal."
Imperialdramon's eyes hardened for just a moment. Something stirred inside of Peri, but he was desperate not to let it. He refused to let it.
The large dragon took exhaled slowly and evenly through his nostrils. He relaxed his wings and his legs, trying to quell the unevenness that he felt. Imperialdramon grimaced faintly, his distant, carnelian eyes drifting to the side to gaze across the field. "…I don't know if that will be happening much anymore," he murmured.
Jesmon blinked, unsure what Peri meant. He didn't think he had heard him right. "What?" he wondered.
"…Nothing," Peri responded, his eyes creasing grimly. "I just don't think there will be much time to see each other anymore."
The dragon's perplexing words caused a faint drooping in Jesmon's stomach. His surprised eyes dipped into a confused frown. "Pardon? I don't understand, Peri. Why?"
"Because there's a war going on, Sir," Peri explained with uncharacteristic firmness as he fought back a bitter glower. He looked away, unable to look Jesmon in the eyes. "Besides… You're a Royal Knight now. You're going to be too busy training and leading and everything else the Royal Knights do. You won't have time to waste being around someone like me."
Jesmon frowned. "What? What isn't true. I'm sure I could make time for you," he explained, emotively speaking with his hands. "I have some free time right now before I have to meet with Alphamon. You and me could catch up."
Peri winced and began walking past him. "I don't… I'm sorry, but I have to give my report to Captain Grani. I can't drag my feet," he bitterly explained.
Jesmon turned after him as the sizeable dragon began to pass by him. "But Peri…" he attempted.
Imperialdramon continued walking down the road. "I'm sorry, Jesmon, but I really have to go. Maybe some other time," he apologetically murmured, continuing his departure undeterred.
However, after a moment, Imperialdramon stopped in his tracks. He shut his eyes tightly, his claws pushing against the stone beneath him for just a second. He looked up and glanced over his shoulder, his eye looking back at Jesmon.
"…It might just be a title to some people, but I believe being a Royal Knight is more than just an achievement. It's about always doing your best to help people. It's a responsibility. …It's about doing what so few Digimon have the privilege of doing," Imperialdramon wistfully explained.
Without another word, Peri continued walking down the road. As he reached the corner, he turned and disappeared from sight behind the tower. The remaining Royal Knight was left alone.
Jesmon looked down sadly. He felt a painful sense of déjà vu. It was the nagging ache of rejection.
First, Gankoomon said he was too busy for him, and now Imperialdramon seemed just as aloof. He was confused. Did he do something wrong? Or maybe they really were too busy for him and he was just being sensitive. Maybe really was Gankoomon just being Gankoomon, but Peri's distant words made him question himself.
Peri made it sound like there was now some kind of barrier in between them, just because he was a Royal Knight. Jesmon didn't see it that way though. He didn't see why anything had to change.
Jesmon winced faintly, gazing wistfully down the road where Imperialdramon had gone. He stood by himself in the road, the afternoon wind blowing through his cape. He supposed that all he could do was try and talk to him again later.
A soft sigh escaped his mouth and Jesmon began walking down the road. He decided he should go and shower. He didn't want to keep Alphamon waiting.
He just hoped that he could reconnect with Peri…
With his back turned, Jesmon was unable to see the figure watching him.
Not far off, at the far end of the training grounds, red scales moved beyond the wall. Leviamon pulled the front half of his body up onto the ramparts and casually leaned his front legs on the top of the wall.
The bored Leviathan watched with morbid interest as Imperialdramon walked away from the Royal Knight. He didn't need to hear their conversation to know what was going on. He could feel it.
The corners of Leviamon's scaly lips pulled back to reveal his jagged teeth, a dark grin crawling onto his face.
When the two dragons were gone, the leviathan slowly climbed back down from the wall and returned to the silt-filled water of the moat. He settled back into the murky water, smiled, and waited in the shadow of the castle.
Alphamon let out a calming sigh as warm water and soap bubbles ran down his muscles.
He stood in a shower stall, steam wafting around his body as hot, filtered water sprayed down onto his head and back. Rivulets of water trickled around the ruby digicore interface on his helmet, ran down his black skin and traced his muscles.
The long, relaxing shower was just what he needed after a long and stressful journey. Knowing that Jesmon was off seeing somebody, Alphamon took his time in soaking in the hot and relaxing liquid, allowing the soap to run off his body. He tried, just for these few moments, to put his worries out of his mind. He wanted to be clear-headed.
Alphamon opened his soft, yellow eyes and reached back to turn off the metal tap. He had heard Omegamon leave the showers a few minutes before him. The white knight had quietly and privately went ahead to the locker rooms without Alphamon. Although that wasn't unusual for the shy knight, Alphamon also knew that what Yggdrasil said had bothered him as well.
The black paladin reached out of the stall and grabbed a nearby towel, dabbing his face, chest, back, and wings before wrapping it around his waist. He walked across the showers and made his way into the connected locker room where he had taken off his armour.
When he walked in, he saw Omegamon still there, already in his black bodysuit and in the process of pulling on the rest of his white armour.
Omegamon, who was in the process of fastening his leggings, looked up at Alphamon. "Alphamon," he greeted, trying to hide the tiny bit of embarrassment that flashed across his face. "Did you enjoy your shower?"
"Why yes. It was like coming across an oasis in the desert after the journey that we've had," Alphamon replied with a small but charming smile as he walked over to the armour rack. "Yourself?"
Omegamon glanced down, directing his eyes towards the white armour that lay on the bench beside him. "It was good to feel clean, although I'm not sure I was able to savour it, given the circumstances," Omegamon hesitantly explained.
"Ah…" Alphamon replied, his smile fading. He removed his leg armour from the rack and began to politely change into them. "Yes, I know what you mean…" he agreed, gesturing towards the locker room doors to signal to Omegamon to make sure that nobody was nearby.
Omegamon nodded and took a quick look into the basement hallway before walking back. Satisfied that they were alone, Omegamon spoke more freely. "…What should we do, Alphamon?" he asked, looking directly at the black knight.
Alphamon fitted his armour around his waist and then discarded the towel into the laundry. "Nothing," he answered plainly.
"Nothing?" Omegamon asked, blinking with surprise. "I don't know how you can be so casual about this, Alphamon. After what Yggdrasil said…"
"Yggdrasil only said to monitor him. Nothing more," Alphamon smoothly reminded him as he fastened his armour and picked up his breastplate. "He seemed perfectly normal when we spoke to him. Until I see any evidence to the contrary, there is no need to worry about it."
Omegamon frowned sceptically at Alphamon's nonchalance. "Yes, but… Do you distrust Yggdrasil's words, Alphamon?" he asked him.
Alphamon pulled his wings through his breastplate, followed by his arms and his head. "I do not distrust Its cognisance… However, Yggdrasil can sometimes be vague in Its directives," he reasoned. "While I don't think It is incorrect, I also believe in the power of free will. The Hazard may be a threat, but it is not necessarily predestined that it will activate. That is why Yggdrasil merely advised that we be cautious. I trust in Dukemon's strength."
"As do I, of course," Omegamon agreed. "But… should we tell him about what Yggdrasil said?"
Alphamon frowned hesitantly as he fastened his pauldron to his shoulder. "I… am not sure that is wise," Alphamon cautiously suggested. "He is still quite sensitive about it. He seems to have turned a corner since he confessed to us that his Digital Hazard activated once before. I worry that this ominous news would trouble him and eat away at him. It would be best not to say anything about what we heard - to anybody."
Omegamon grimaced. Although he thought that Alphamon made valid points, it didn't sit well with him. "Yes, however… I do not like lying to him, Alphamon."
"Nor do I, Omegamon, but this isn't about us," Alphamon contended, looking his friend in the eyes. "What if, by telling him, we are causing the very thing that we are trying to avoid?"
Omegamon locked his wincing eyes with Alphamon. "And what if, by keeping a secret, we end up causing the very thing that we are hoping to avoid?" he pointedly countered.
The certainty of Alphamon's eyes waned and he glanced down in tandem with the drooping of his stomach. He knew that what Omegamon said was true as well. He knew all too well.
It was hard for him to forget the pain that he caused by misunderstanding Baromon's warning to him. By keeping secrets from Omegamon, he had unwittingly ended up hurting him. While he didn't think that Omegamon was intentionally harkening back to that, Alphamon understood the parallels regardless. There was a chance he could be doing the same thing again.
The Aloof Hermit winced faintly. "I understand that that is a risk, Omegamon. I don't like keeping secrets, despite everything," Alphamon assured him, levelling a heartfelt stare with him. "However… Telling him will definitely cause him to feel hurt and to feel as if Yggdrasil doubts him. That will not help him."
Omegamon's fingers tightened around the breastplate that he held in his hands. He gazed down at the symbol on its chest – the fused crest of courage and friendship. The white knight grimaced softly and looked back up at Alphamon. "I know…" he conceded with a sigh. "I'm sorry, Alphamon. I didn't mean anything by that. I am just worried."
Alphamon walked over to Omegamon and placed his hands on his shoulders, looking into his eyes with a warm, reassuring smile. "I know, Omegamon… I know how honest you are too. However, I don't think it will be a problem. I believe in Dukemon. We don't have to worry about him. We only need to watch him and nothing more."
Omegamon took a soft, calming breath, matching Alphamon's gaze. "Yes… You're right. He is strong… I need not worry about it. I will try my best to put it out of my mind."
"That would be best for now," Alphamon agreed, letting go of Omegamon and returning to fastening his armour. "At this moment, the Demon Lords are the more present danger."
Omegamon nodded and pulled his arms and his helmeted head through his white and blue breast plate. "Yes, they are…" he agreed, although his resonant voice lingered uneasily.
Alphamon eyed Omegamon as he slid on his gauntlets. He could see that Omegamon was still uneasy. He supposed that his suggestion might have sounded like he advocating for burying their heads in the sand.
"…How about this?" he offered, fluctuating his hand. "We can both talk to him later and ask him some innocuous questions. We can get a sense for how he feels, without giving anything away."
Omegamon thought about it for a moment before nodding. "Very well, if you could take the lead. You are always much more artful with your words than I am," he agreed.
The dark knight smiled. "Of course," he agreed as he finished garbing himself in his pristine, black and gold armour.
Likewise, Omegamon finished pulling on his Grey Arm and his Garuru Arm gauntlets. Fully dressed, the white knight turned to his dark counterpart. "Very well. I will come find you later in the day. I know you have things to do right now."
"Yes, I must go meet with Shutumon about administrative matters, such as making official Jesmon's status as a Royal Knight," he explained. Alphamon grinned and cast a wry glance towards the locker room doors, hearing a pair of whirring, magic-imbued footsteps. "Why, I need only the arrival of our young apprentice…" he added with a teasing cadence to his voice.
Hearing Alphamon's words, Jesmon quickly increased the speed of his strides as he walked into the locker room from the basement hallway. "Sorry, Sir!" Jesmon automatically uttered, already trying to take off his hooded cape as he walked through the door. "I'll be quick!"
Alphamon chuckled. "There is no rush, Jesmon. The meeting will not take very long," he assured him. "You are free to take the rest of the day off once we finish."
"Yes, Sir. I mean, Senpai," Jesmon sheepishly agreed, quickly placing his cape on one of the racks.
Omegamon nodded at Alphamon and Jesmon. "I am glad that you received Yggdrasil's blessing, Jesmon," the white knight remembered to tell him, feeling a little guilty for being so distracted on the way home. "You will make a fine addition to the team."
With those parting words, Omegamon excused himself and stepped into the dark, stone hallway. The white knight began walking down the corridor, though not without a soft frown on his face.
He could not so easily forget Yggdrasil's ominous words, and he worried about his dear friend. Omegamon tried to take solace in Alphamon's reassuring words. They would deal with the situation in the best way possible. He knew he just had to trust in Dukemon.
A soft sigh escaped Omegamon's mouth and he centered himself, doing his best to cast off any lingering misgivings. He told himself he wouldn't make the same mistake again…