Holy War

by Griff4823

The sequel to "A Dragon in Shining Armour". The Royal Knights secured victory, and peace set over the continent, but it isn't to last. The autocratic Metal Empire, a team of amoral mercenaries, and a mysterious Digimon in the shadows; it's up to the Order of the Royal Knights to intervene. Can they stop things from spiralling out of control, all while dealing with their own issues?

55. Chapter 38: Contrast

(Author's Note: Here it is! We'll be moving back to the main plot with Chapter 39. Anyways, I hope you enjoy it. Thanks for bearing with me.)

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Chapter 38: Contrast

The full moon drifted sluggishly in the astral sky. Lying across from it was its smaller twin: a crescent moon that still rested in the east. The pair of moons cast a pale, blue glow across the landscape of Splendor's Reach.

The night sky was clear and serene that evening. There wasn't a cloud in the sky to obstruct the subdued lightshow of star data. Absent were the cold, winter temperatures of the Sign of Xuanwumon. The vernal evening was comfortably mild and balmy. One could take an extended stroll without any discomfort whatsoever. Spring was several weeks in, and the temperatures were seasonal. Despite the large amounts of rain that typically fell over the Free Area during the Sign of Qinglongmon, tonight was clear and dry.

This suited one Digimon quite well. Standing on the wall surrounding Castle Albion was a figure clad in black armour.

Alphamon stood on the ramparts, with his arms resting comfortably on the stone parapets. The moon beams shone down on the castle, causing Alphamon's armour to blush with a gentle, white shimmer. With thoughtful eyes, Alphamon stared out over the peaceful vista.

The leader of the Royal Knights stood in his usual spot. He liked it there – particularly that one spot, on the far end of the bridge leading from the castle building to the ramparts. It always retained a special place in his heart. He was able to soak in the tranquility and the solitude of the nascent dusk.

As it was the early evening, most of the Order Digimon finished their shifts and training for the day. After they had finished eating, most returned to their barracks, either to socialise, to see to some personal things, or to have an early night.

A Digimon as busy as Alphamon rarely had the time to do any of those things. This was especially true under the current circumstances.

He had been working tirelessly with the Royal Knights to plan their campaign against the Demon Lords. They had to work out a solid strategy, organise the logistics of the campaign, and step up preliminary reconnaissance. On top of that, Alphamon personally had to prepare for his trip to New Terminal. He planned to leave soon, but he couldn't leave the Royal Knights in the lurch just as they were strategising. As a result, he barely had a minute to himself until now.

The quiet of the night, the picturesque view, and the dark peace of his surroundings helped him to think. He was always thinking about something. That's just the way he was. Reflecting on his thoughts in such a serene setting helped him to relax.

There were a few things on his mind. The most obvious was Bagramon. He had come to terms with the revelation that Bagramon was, in fact, their enemy, but it didn't make it any easier for him to swallow. The personal betrayal was only magnified by the fact that Bagramon was working with the Seven Great Demon Lords. Each of the Seven was immensely dangerous in their own right, but working together in tandem was an incredible threat to the Digital World. Sure, the Royal Knights had the advantage at the moment, but the tide of war could change with the slightest misstep. He didn't know what other machinations Bagramon had to help them, or what their ultimate goals were. Did they simply want revenge on the Heavenly Choir? Did they want to destroy it? Conquer it? Conquer the Digital World? And how should the Royal Knights respond?

These questions spun around in his head. His mind worked quickly, following each branching train of thought to their potential conclusions. From the outside looking in, Alphamon simply looked as though he was enjoying the night sky. Really, his mind was functioning like a computer.

For the briefest of seconds, Alphamon wondered how DarkKnightmon would have responded to the news that his brother was working with the Demon Lords. Would he take up his spear against Bagramon, no matter how much it may have pained his heart? Would he put the safety of the Digital World over his own personal relations? Alphamon didn't need to think very hard to find his answer. Of course he would. That's the way DarkKnightmon was. DarkKnightmon did as much against the Royal Knights, after all.

Alphamon closed his eyes. He wondered why he was even thinking about DarkKnightmon, here and now…

Inwardly, he knew the reason.

The soft clamour of metal entered Alphamon's ears. The rhythmic tempo of steel on stone resounded from behind him. He heard a pair of footsteps crossing the bridge from the castle. It was a familiar gait that was approaching him. The pace was calm, unassuming, and soft-pedalled. Alphamon smiled gently. It could only be…

"Alphamon?" a familiar voice spoke up from behind him. "I apologise for interrupting…"

Alphamon opened his eyes and looked over his broad shoulder. A few meters behind him was a white figure, who stepped off the arching bridge and onto the ramparts of the castle wall. The Digimon was none other than Omegamon. He politely stopped at the base of the bridge, not wanting to intrude.

"Omegamon… It's no trouble at all," Alphamon answered in a deep, welcoming voice. "Come. Feel free."

Omegamon nodded and approached Alphamon's right side. He took a similar relaxed stance to Alphamon, placing his white forearms and hands on one of the parapets and leaning forwards on the barrier. Omegamon looked out into the distance, as if trying to see what Alphamon was looking at.

"It has been awhile since I've last seen you out here…" Omegamon mentioned, turning to look at Alphamon.

"Yes, I suppose it has… We have all been so busy since our first battle against the Metal Empire, that barely any of us have had any time for ourselves," Alphamon responded. "It's unlikely that we will have time in the near future, so I am starting to believe that it is best to take what reprieve we can, whenever we can."

"You may be right about that," Omegamon agreed. "However, I was referring to even before the Metal Empire War… It has just felt like a long time since we were both out here, together…"

"Hmm… Has it?" Alphamon wondered, readjusting his arms slightly so that he rested comfortably on his elbows. "…I suppose it has, come to think of it." He turned his head, and his eyes met Omegamon's. "In fact, it has been a long time since you and I have had a good chat in general. I can't remember the last time that we had a talk like we used to…"

Omegamon glanced down, breaking their gaze. "Yes, I suppose so. As you said, we have been very busy with one thing or another…" he reasoned furtively.

Alphamon smiled gently and turned forwards, fixing his attention back onto the dark expanse. "Yes…"

As Alphamon left his response lingering, a silence overtook the pair. The tranquility of the night bridged the gap between their words, and they both felt at a loss for what to say. Whether it was a peaceful silence or an uncomfortable one, neither could decide. All that they knew was that the silence between them represented a gap of words unsaid.

Finally, Alphamon decided that he should be the one to speak up. He knew Omegamon well enough to know that he probably wouldn't, even if he wanted to.

"…Omegamon, may I ask you something?" Alphamon wondered.

"…Of course, Alphamon," was his reply.

"Have you been avoiding me?" the black knight asked. He turned back to gaze at Omegamon, not with accusatory eyes, but curious ones.

Omegamon paused. He was taken off guard by the direct question, and a sense of inner awkwardness gathered inside of him. "No, I…" he uneasily began to retort. "I haven't."

Alphamon smiled slightly and winked teasingly at the slender knight beside him. "I'm just joking, Omegamon…" he lightly reassured him. "Although… if you were, I wouldn't be angry. And I certainly wouldn't blame you," Alphamon admitted.

He ventured a glance up at the distant moon. "I have broken your trust, so I do not expect our relationship to go back to the way it was so swiftly. There is still distance between us, and I can only hope that I can repair that bridge with time…"

Omegamon winced softly with guilt. "Alphamon… Please, don't. Don't blame yourself," he quietly pleaded. "If there is still discomfort between us, it isn't because of you. The reason I have been uneasy is…" He sighed. "The fault is mine."

"Why do you say that, Omegamon?" Alphamon wondered, frowning just slightly.

"I…" Omegamon steeled his nerves and drew a centering breath. "I have been too ashamed…"

The frown deepened behind Alphamon's dark helmet. "Ashamed? What for?"

"For everything that I have done. During DarkKnightmon's rebellion," Omegamon explained, a gentle wince in his cyan blue eyes. "I would like to apologise to you, Alphamon…"

"Omegamon, there is no need," Alphamon insisted, shaking his head. With one hand still resting on the waist-high parapet, he faced his alabaster counterpart. "I seem to remember that you apologised quite profusely already. You really don't have to apologise to me. It was my fault that you were placed in that terrible situation to begin with. If anything, it should be me—"

"Alphamon, please, enough," Omegamon abruptly interrupted with a rare display of interpersonal force. He stared into Alphamon's surprised eyes. There was a determination and strength of heart in Omegamon's gaze, but the flicker of guilt soon emerged. "…Please, just once, don't place the blame on your own shoulders… This is about me, not you. This is my apology, not yours…"

Although surprised, Alphamon realised the seriousness in Omegamon's echoing voice. He slowly and quietly nodded at the white knight, allowing him to speak.

Omegamon sighed. "…What I want to apologise for… It has nothing to do with the things I did when I was Zwart. Of course I feel guilty, for hurting my friends, and for being a slave to DarkKnightmon and my own darker emotions. However, that isn't what I want to say…" He glanced down for a few moments before forcing himself to look back up at Alphamon. There was a soft shade of embarrassment in Omegamon's cheeks. "I'm sorry… for the way that I acted when I found out that you were bisexual and in a relationship with Ouryumon."

The black knight raised a brow in confusion. This was certainly not what he had been expecting. "Pardon…?"

Omegamon looked down submissively. "I realised recently that I never apologised properly for that. I apologised for my actions as Zwart, but I don't think I ever explicitly apologised for what came before."

The Royal Knight raised his white hand and gripped the pointed corner of one of the nearby bricks. "…I acted shamefully. When I overheard your conversation with Ouryumon back in Auguria, I was hurt," he admitted. "At that point, you hadn't told anybody about your sexuality or your relationship. …I made it all about me. I didn't even stop to think about how you must have felt. That was one of the deepest secrets of your life and all I could think about was how it affected me."

Alphamon grimaced softly as the memories came back to him. He remembered the day well. It had etched a painful place in his heart. "…You had every right, Omegamon," he explained.

"No, I didn't, Alphamon," Omegamon resolutely responded. "What arrogance did I have to think that you owed me an explanation? Your sexuality was your secret to keep, Alphamon. I shouldn't have acted with such self-righteous entitlement. It is your decision when to reveal your sexuality, and to whom. If you were not ready, then that was your decision."

"I was ready… but I was too insecure. That was my failing," Alphamon admitted. "If I had only told you sooner… The thing that I wanted to avoid was the very thing that ended up happening…"

"Alphamon, please. You have already apologised to me for that. I have accepted it. …Allow me do this. If you apologise again, I will only feel guiltier…" Omegamon pleaded bitterly.

Alphamon closed his eyes and nodded. "I'm sorry." He smiled wryly. "I have a problem with guilt, it seems… I won't say another word about it."

"Thank you," Omegamon answered, frowning. "…When I found out that you were keeping that secret from me, I was hurt and I reacted childishly. I was up all night thinking about what I had discovered… The next morning, I could have kept it a secret and allowed you to tell me when you were ready. Instead, I told you that I knew. I didn't admit it to myself at the time, but I think it was because I wanted you to feel guilty… I was hurting, so I wanted you to know that you hurt me…" Omegamon turned to face Alphamon fully. "What I did was petty and passive-aggressive. I caused you undue pain and pressure. My actions forced you to reveal your secret before you were ready, and I helped to cause the terrible rift that emerged between us. It played right into DarkKnightmon's hands."

"Thank you, Omegamon. However, we both played a part…" Alphamon reasoned diplomatically. "Don't be too self-critical."

"…I think there was a part of me was jealous…" Omegamon suddenly admitted, his eyes narrowed and dark.

Alphamon blinked. "Jealous…?"

The gentle crimson in Omegamon's cheeks intensified, but it was concealed by the night. "Yes… Jealous of you and Ouryumon. That your bond with him was deeper than your bond with me… I had realised that you and Ouryumon had secrets… and you had a connection that I wasn't privy too. I think that may have factored into my reaction as well. It's childish and myopic, isn't it?"

"Omegamon…" Alphamon guiltily spoke.

"N-Nevertheless… That is all that I wanted to say…" he softly finished.

Omegamon looked up, locked his gaze with Alphamon, and stared with his sad, blue eyes. He then bent forwards and bowed deeply, causing his cape to flutter before draping over his back.

"I'm truly sorry, Alphamon… It would mean everything if you could accept my apology…" Omegamon gently requested.

Alphamon turned and placed his hands on Omegamon's shoulders. He raised him up so that they were standing face-to-face once again, on equal levels. He gave him a warm smile. "Your apology has been accepted… All is forgiven, Omegamon…" he reassured his friend.

Omegamon smiled gratefully. "Thank you…" He turned away and returned to leaning on the castle wall's parapets. "I am sorry about all that. I typically try not to be too heavy or dramatic. I just… really want our friendship to be how it used to be, without the guilt and tension."

"I want nothing more, Omegamon," Alphamon agreed, going and leaning on the parapet beside Omegamon, standing close to him. "So, apart from the wars, that's the reason why you have been a bit distant these past couple years?"

"Partially… After everything with DarkKnightmon, I had trouble coming to terms with what I did and that dark side of me… Omegamon Zwart," the white paladin admitted. "Part of me wanted to reject Zwart as just some exterior influence that was forced on me by DarkKnightmon and the Dark Area. However, another part of me knew that Zwart was no different from me – that we were inextricably connected. I was consumed by guilt, concern, and disgust. I had trouble reconciling the two feelings."

Alphamon leered at Omegamon with faint concern. "…Why didn't you tell me? I could have helped. I know what it's like to be consumed with that sort of self-doubt."

"I know you do… But you had your own problems. I know you feel guilty over killing DarkKnightmon… I don't think either of us were in the right place to be comforting each other in that moment. I didn't feel that I had any right to burden you like that either," Omegamon explained.

"I see. And now…?" Alphamon wondered.

Omegamon smiled a little. "Now? I feel… unburdened. At ease, I suppose…" he answered.

"I'm very glad to hear that, Omegamon..." The Knight of the Empty Seat glanced over at Omegamon. "Do you still feel uneasy about Omegamon Zwart?"

"… Not as much anymore," Omegamon explained after hesitating for a moment. "Dukemon really helped me with that recently."

Alphamon smiled gently. "I see. I am sure that he did… Dukemon really is a good friend, isn't he?" he said, looking at Omegamon carefully.

"Yes… He is never afraid to help one of his friends with their problems. He can be quite forthright about it too," the white paladin said with a soft smile.

"Indeed… I can speak to that from experience," Alphamon agreed with a chuckle. "…I know you are sick of me apologizing, so I promise that this will be the last time…" he added with a wry grin. The cheeky look in his eyes became sincere as he stared at his second in command. "…I really am sorry."

"I know you are, Alphamon. You don't need to say so," Omegamon answered, smiling.

Alphamon chuckled. "Very well… Then we will leave it at that." He continued gazing at Omegamon, his body more comfortable than before. "Let's be honest with each other from now on, alright, Omegamon?"

Omegamon nodded gently. "Those are my thoughts exactly… I won't keep anything bottled in around you if I can help it."

"That goes for me as well," Alphamon agreed, smiling warmly.

Nodding, Omegamon smiled and placed his hands comfortably on top of the stone surface before him.

"Omegamon…" Alphamon spoke, gazing out onto the moonlit landscape. "You are more important to me than you will ever know…"

The white knight's eyes widened softly. At these heartfelt words, Omegamon's face lightly heated up. "Alphamon… I…" He stalled, his face burning quietly underneath the moonlight. Omegamon didn't speak. Instead, he simply acted. He was always better at that.

He looked at the black knight and tentatively reached over. Without a word, he gently placed his white hand on top of Alphamon's black one, which rested on the stone surface of the parapet. He felt the palm of his hand settle on top of Alphamon's knuckles, and he softly curled his fingers.

Alphamon looked down at Omegamon's hand with surprise, but he didn't pull away. He looked over at Omegamon's face, which wasn't looking at him, but up at the moon. There was a shy look in his blue eyes, and a blush in his cheeks that was hidden from view by the shadows.

After a moment's contemplation, Alphamon smiled warmly and flipped his hand over. He closed his fingers around Omegamon's hand and squeezed it reciprocally.

Neither the white nor black knight spoke. This time, the silence between them was comfortable. Once again, they were like the closest of friends, who could enjoy the beautiful view in tranquil silence. They simply enjoyed the quiet of the night and each other's company.

Behind them, on the balcony on the opposite side of the bridge, a pink figure watched the pair, his hands clasped together. If RhodoKnightmon's mouth had been visible, he would have been smiling from ear-to-ear.

The rose Royal Knight stood in the shadow of the tower doorway, having watched the latter part of the conversation unfold. As much as he was internally romanticizing, RhodoKnightmon decided to leave the pair in peace. Unbeknownst to the two Royal Knights, he simply turned around and sashayed back into the castle with a spring in his step.

Meanwhile, the moonlight shone down softly on Alphamon and Omegamon. Even in a time of war, they enjoyed this little flash of peace. For once in a long time, they felt like they could enjoy it together.

---

About fifteen minutes passed.

Inside Castle Albion, Ouryumon walked up the stairs from the basement, making his way to the second floor of the castle.

He had spent the last hour in the library with Captain Knightmon. The pair had been going over hypothetical strategies for confronting the Demon Lords using the Strike and Defence Forces. Before that, he had been speaking with his direct subordinates, Leftenants Grademon and HippoGriffomon, about adjusting the Strike Force's training regime. Before that, he had been overseeing training exercises, going over scouting reports with Grani, talking strategy with the Royal Knights, making sure the Strike Force's equipment was all in quality shape, among other things. He had been working hard since the break of dawn. He was relieved to finally have finished his Captain's responsibilities for the day.

Ouryumon sighed as he reached the second floor landing of the wide, spiral staircase. It was about two hours before midnight, so he had a couple hours to himself before he would get some sleep.

Ouryumon knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to do what he used to do after a hard day. He wanted to slip into Alphamon's room and cuddle up to him. He wanted to rest against his chest while Alphamon held him in his arms. The warmth and affection of the Royal Knight was something that he sorely missed.

For a moment, Ouryumon stopped in the staircase doorway and acknowledged the yearning. He wanted to be with Alphamon, but he knew that things weren't that simple. Things kept getting in the way. He had thought that once they won the conflict with the Metal Empire, they could finally start thinking about each other again, but now…

The large, gold dragon shook his head and dismissed his sentimental thoughts. There was no point feeling sorry for himself. There would be chances later, he hoped.

He bent his serpentine body forwards and ducked his head underneath the door frame. He walked out into the hallway on the second floor of the main building. The dim corridor was lit with torches and glow forms to illuminate the area against the night's darkness. He turned left, heading towards the rooms on the western side of the castle. Ouryumon figured that he might try to relax. Maybe some of the others were playing games in the leisure room. If not, he supposed he might just shower and go to bed.

However, his opinion soon changed. As he rounded the corner, he was just in time to see Alphamon walking in from the outer balcony that connected to the castle wall. Upon seeing the Digimon garbed in full, ebony armour clamour indoors, Ouryumon was hardly able to keep himself from smiling.

"Hey, Alphamon!" he chipperly greeted, striding over to the black knight.

Alphamon stopped as he entered the castle corridor from the keep's turret. Hearing the familiar voice, Alphamon turned and noticed the serpentine dragon captain walking towards him. "Oh, Ouryumon," he said with a gentle smile tracing his lips. "Hello. Are you finished for the day?"

"Yeah. Finally," Ouryumon confirmed, grinning as he walked up to Alphamon. "You?"

"Yes, about half an hour ago. I was just enjoying the beautiful night," he responded.

"Always the romantic, huh?" Ouryumon ribbed him with a playful smirk.

"Oh, I don't know. You don't need to be a romantic to enjoy something beautiful," Alphamon answered with a smile.

"Tell that to Duftmon. When was the last time he enjoyed something for its aesthetics? …Or enjoyed something in general, for that matter?" the golden wyrm joked.

"Point taken," Alphamon supposed. He turned and began walking down the corridor alongside Ouryumon. They walked away from the wing where the Royal Knights' living quarters were located, and began heading towards the area where the recreational rooms were. As he readjusted the long, white and blue mantle hanging from his back, he cast his eyes upon Ouryumon curiously. "What do you plan on doing now?"

Ouryumon shrugged. "I dunno. Was hoping to relax. Thought maybe I'd check out the leisure room. Want to come?"

"Sure. It might be nice to unwind with a game before bed," the dark knight supposed. He sneaked a playful grin in Ouryumon's direction. "Perhaps chess?"

"Yeeeeah… I was thinking something more like pool or darts. I don't know if you know this, Alphamon, but I'm not a brainiac like you or Duftmon," he replied, sticking out his tongue. "You always beat me at those strategy games."

"It's never too late to start," Alphamon answered, raising his finger. "Chess is all about thinking several moves ahead and deducing your opponent's actions. It's a stimulating challenge. You just need to slow down and think."

"Easy for you to say. You're the only one of the Royal Knights who's beaten Duftmon in a game of chess. Yeah, I think I'll stick to games of skill. Or checkers," Ouryumon decided.

Alphamon chuckled and continued walking beside the tall dragon down the hallway. They turned the corner and began walking towards the leisure room, which was the second room down.

"Sooo… Apart from enjoying the view, what were you doing out there?" the dragon captain asked. "…Thinking about Bagramon?" Upon seeing Alphamon's soft frown, he had his answer. "I hope you're not still beating yourself up."

Alphamon softly shook his head. "No… I've learned that that doesn't help anybody - least of all, me," he mused gently. "I admit, when I first found out that Bagramon was using me, I was angry at myself for not realising it. It brought all of the feelings about my failings with DarkKnightmon back. I hadn't seen the signs when DarkKnightmon was drifting away, and I couldn't spot Bagramon's deceptions. The fact that they are brothers only underlined those feelings."

"Yeah… I got the feeling it was bothering you more than you were letting on…" Ouryumon said, his amethyst eyes tightening as he stared down at his best friend.

Alphamon smiled slightly. "Hm… However, I am the leader of the Royal Knights and we are on the verge of another war. It is my duty to be responsible and focused on the task at hand. It is not the time for me to feel sorry for myself. It is time to move forward and grasp the future that we desire, not dwell on the failings of the past."

Ouryumon smiled brightly at Alphamon's words of resolve. "Yeah! You're damn right it is!" he agreed whole-heartedly. "It's good that you decided that, Alphamon. You sound like your regular self again."

"Yes, I agree. A good friend helped me remember that…" Alphamon said with a gentle look of appreciation in his eyes.

"Yeah? Who?" Ouryumon wondered, tilting his head to the side as the pair approached the closed doorway to the room.

"Hm…" Alphamon simply wore a mysterious smile on his face and playfully evaded Ouryumon's question. "Perhaps I will tell you over some coffee…"

The c-word sent a sharp chill down Ouryumon's spine and he felt a Pavlovian sense of conditioned dread and nausea in his stomach. "Uh, on second thought… it's a bit late for coffee. Never mind," Ouryumon quickly responded, looking away nervously.

Alphamon smiled and stopped in front of a large door of wood held in place by metal reinforcements. "That's a shame. I was inspired for a new blend just tonight."

Ouryumon was quick to change the subject. He stopped beside Alphamon and stared at the leisure room in front of them. "The leisure room… You know, it feels like it's been years since we last used this place," he mused aloud.

"I suppose you're right. We've been so busy… I suppose we should make the most of it," Alphamon agreed. As he reached for the handle of the door, he suddenly stopped and listened.

He could hear voices coming from inside. Due to the door being closed, it was muffled, but he could hear chatter and intermittent laughter inside. He thought he recognised a few of the voices. "I can hear a few of the others in there," Alphamon noted.

Alphamon slowly opened the door. As he did, he and Ouryumon looked within the leisure room.

Standing inside were four Royal Knights, who were in the middle of chatting during their game of pool. Dynasmon stood on the near side of the table, holding a pool stick in his large claws while letting it rest over the length of his shoulders. On the other side of the table, Magnamon was in the process of lining up a shot with his own cue stick. Examon watched nearby with his back to the entrance, his broad wings obfuscating the door from view. Lastly, was RhodoKnightmon, who stood in the center of the group and was addressing them animatedly. His hands were raised to his chest and his body practically bounced with excitement.

"Take a deep breath, slow down, and tell us what you're babbling on about, Rhodo," Dynasmon told him with a laugh.

"You mentioned something about Alphamon and Omegamon?" Examon reconfirmed, folding his ruby-scaled arms across his muscular chest.

RhodoKnightmon took a breath and slowed the haste of his words. "Yes! I saw them out on the castle wall together just ten minutes ago!" he explained with unbridled enthusiasm.

Alphamon frowned gently. He wondered what RhodoKnightmon was talking about and why he was telling the others this. He didn't interrupt, wondering where RhodoKnightmon was going with this. Had he heard their conversation?

Ouryumon also raised an eyebrow at this. He didn't know what this was referring to. The tall serpent glanced down at Alphamon. He hadn't mentioned being with Omegamon when they spoke about it.

"So what?" Dynasmon asked, grinning resignedly at RhodoKnightmon's usual peculiar, flamboyant sense of conversation and excitement.

Magnamon thrust his pool stick against the white, cue ball, sending it careening into the 3-ball to pocket it. Satisfied with his shot, Magnamon stood up straight (although he didn't have to stand up very far) and grinned. "Yeah. Seeing Alphamon and Omegamon outside together is hardly anything noteworthy."

"Oh, but it is!" RhodoKnightmon explained, clasping his hands together. "They were having quite a deep and emotional conversation from what I could tell. It was an intense and personal bonding session beneath the beautiful moonlight…"

Magnamon's smile disappeared and he stared at RhodoKnightmon critically. "Were you eavesdropping on them?" he chastised.

"Why, no. I couldn't hear what they were saying. I was merely watching from afar!" RhodoKnightmon defended.

Dynasmon rolled his eyes. "So, you're reading too much into it without knowing for sure what they were talking about…" he casually dismissed.

"Not at all! I am a master at picking up social cues. The body language spoke for itself!" the slender, rose knight debated confidently. "Whatever they were talking about was quite interpersonally intense… Omegamon's head was lowered in embarrassment and his shoulders were tight. Alphamon seemed troubled and he was listening very intently, but his posture eventually became open and welcoming. Eventually, the tension eased between them and they began standing very close and comfortably."

Dynasmon released a mix between a sigh and a groan. "Here we go…"

RhodoKnightmon folded his arms and sat on the edge of the pool table. "Hmph. Mock if you want, but what happened next was as clear as if the moons were the sun. …Alphamon and Omegamon began holding hands. They remained doing so for at least a good few minutes."

"What?" Magnamon asked, blinking with surprise.

Alphamon's golden eyes widened for a moment. He internally grimaced with discomfort and embarrassment. He felt his cheeks heating up upon the realization that RhodoKnightmon witnessed that intimate moment between them. So this was why RhodoKnightmon was so excited and mentioning this to the others. He knew that RhodoKnightmon always suspected that there was something between Omegamon and him.

The black knight's heart suddenly froze when he remembered who was standing next to him.

"What are you talking about, Rhodo?" Dynasmon asked, his interest suddenly piqued.

"I am speaking about what I spied upon, my dear Dynasmon!" RhodoKnightmon fawned airily. "The cozy, moonlight chat, the holding of hands, the long, drawn out gazes into one another's eyes… It is patently obvious what has happened!" RhodoKnightmon suddenly grabbed Dynasmon's collar, inciting a surprised cry as he was pulled close to RhodoKnightmon's face. RhodoKnightmon stared into Dynasmon's frightened eyes with zealous enthusiasm. "They finally confessed their feelings for each other!"

As the news washed over him, Ouryumon looked over at Alphamon with stunned, disbelieving eyes. He looked to him to see if what RhodoKnightmon was saying was true. He hoped for an outraged and confused denial. Ouryumon didn't get what he wanted.

Alphamon noticed Ouryumon's eyes staring at him. He instinctively grimaced and sheepishly looked away from what he knew would be a wounded gaze. However, he forced himself to look back up and stare Ouryumon in the eyes. As he expected, there was a formative look of pain brewing in Ouryumon's eyes.

"Ouryumon… It isn't how it sounds," Alphamon explained, although not without enough guilt to put doubt into his words. "We didn't—"

Ouryumon looked away sharply, wordlessly interrupting him with his obvious upset. He glared across the room at the Royal Knights.

"Alphamon and Omegamon…?" Examon asked, staring at RhodoKnightmon with shock.

"You're kidding…" Dynasmon spoke, his jaw dropping in shock. "No way. You've gotta have it wrong, Rhodo. I've known them forever and I never got that sense."

"Respectfully, Dynasmon, but you are rather dense when it comes to these things," RhodoKnightmon teased him. "Though to be fair, Alphamon hasn't been honest about his sexuality until just recently, so one may not have noticed the clues if they were not looking." He placed his hands on his hips. "Well, I am glad that it is out in the open now. They have always had a spark, right from the very beginning! Alphamon should really get together with Omegamon now. It is simply meant to be!"

Examon frowned. "What about Ouryumon?" he wondered, rubbing the scales on the nape of his neck. "Weren't he and Alphamon secretly dating up until the DarkKnightmon incident?"

"Yeah… They went on a break, but they never really said why," Magnamon said, frowning as he thought about it. "It might just be what happened between Ouryumon and DarkKnightmon, but I remember thinking that things were different between Alphamon, Ouryumon, and Omegamon ever since they came back from that trip to Auguria. Something must have happened between them there."

"I could posit a few guesses…" RhodoKnightmon surreptitiously suggested. He folded his arms. "As for Ouryumon, he had his chance with Alphamon and he screwed it up. I am sorry, but he shouldn't have broken Alphamon's trust when he defenestrated DarkKnightmon and then lied about it!"

The sound of clawed footsteps, as well as a low growling, caught Examon's attention from behind him. Examon shifted his body and turned his head to see who it was. The crimson scales of his cheeks suddenly blanched into a pale rose at who he saw.

A seething Ouryumon was stomping towards them. He bore his jagged, gnashing teeth, and his claws were tight, trembling fists. The look of hurt and fury in his draconic eyes were sharper and more dangerous than even his scimitars. Frustrated and grimacing, Alphamon was following behind him to prevent him from doing anything rash.

However, due to Examon's massive, expansive wings, nobody else saw them yet.

"That's a bit harsh, Rhodo," Magnamon countered with a frown. "Even if they're on a break, they obviously still care a lot about each other."

"I know that Alphamon and Ouryumon are childhood friends, but I really don't think that they are all that suited for each other. What do they have in common?"

"Hey, opposites attract?" Dynasmon suggested with a shrug.

Sweating profusely, Examon turned around and looked at RhodoKnightmon with an urgent look in his eyes. "Uh… Rhodo…" he uncomfortably choked out. He raised his claws and made a cutting motion across his neck to try to signal him to stop.

However, Alphamon's voice rang out. "Ouryumon, wait!"

As the three Royal Knights spun around with horror, Ouryumon stormed over and roughly pushed Examon out of his way to get past his wing. Ouryumon made a direct path for RhodoKnightmon, stomping up to him and grabbing the nonplussed Royal Knight by the collar.

"What the hell do you know, you pink, sissy, ASSHOLE!?" Ouryumon shouted in his face.

RhodoKnightmon was stunned that the topic of his discussion was standing right before him, having heard the whole thing.

Despite the helmet that covered the whole of his face, RhodoKnightmon could clearly see the furious glare being levelled at him from centimeters away. More than the glare, RhodoKnightmon could see Ouryumon's lip quivering. The dragon's glower fractured intermittently as the pain stormed within his violet eyes. It dawned on RhodoKnightmon how much pain he had inadvertently caused.

"O-Ouryumon, I…" RhodoKnightmon shamefully murmured, unsure of what he could say.

A deep, tight snarl rolled within Ouryumon's choked throat. As angry as he was, his anguish was greater. He refrained from hitting him, but he wasn't sure what to do now.

"Ouryumon, stop. Please…" Alphamon urged from behind him. A black hand appeared on Ouryumon's shoulder, squeezing lightly and pulling him back a few centimeters to get him to rethink his actions.

Ouryumon snarled and shrugged Alphamon's hand off. He released RhodoKnightmon from his grip and allowed the Royal Knight to place his hands on the surface of the pool table to steady himself.

The enraged dragon spun around 180 degrees and saw Alphamon standing behind him. Alphamon looked at him with a mixture of gratitude, concern, and guilt. Before he could speak, Ouryumon grunted and brushed by Alphamon's shoulder roughly.

"Go ahead! Keep laughing at me behind my back! Don't let me stop you!" he shouted, averting his eyes from Alphamon as he passed by him.

Ouryumon snarled and stormed towards the exit of the leisure room. His gait was hurried and rough. He just wanted to get out of there.

Ouryumon breezed past the door and disappeared into the hallway. He made a bee-line for his room and didn't look back.

Behind in the room, a thick silence began to take the place of Ouryumon's savage growl. RhodoKnightmon bowed his head and slowly slid off of the pool table, standing to his feet before Alphamon. Magnamon nervously twisted the cue stick around in his hands, while Dynasmon rubbed the back of his neck, both of them equally sheepish and guilty.

Examon frowned and began to jog after Ouryumon. "Ouryumon, wait!" he called out, but an obsidian arm reached out and pressed a hand against his chest, obstructing his path. Examon turned to see Alphamon glancing at him.

"Leave him, Examon," Alphamon urged him. "I know Ouryumon well enough to know that going after him when he's in this state is a bad idea… Give him time to cool down. He's a bundle of emotions right now…"

RhodoKnightmon winced behind his helmet. "Alphamon…" he spoke lowly. Gone were his usual, peppy flamboyancy and his wild inflections. His voice was cold, restrained, and demure. "…I didn't intend for him to hear any of that…"

Alphamon's guilt and regret were completely absent from his face. Instead, his eyes were stern and aloof as they fixated on RhodoKnightmon. "By nature, gossip has a habit of spreading around and causing unintended harm, RhodoKnightmon," Alphamon bluntly told him.

"I'm sorry, Alphamon," a wincing Magnamon apologised shame-facedly.

"Yeah…" Dynasmon agreed, sighing as he placed the billiard stick on top of the table. "We shouldn't have been talking about that."

Alphamon's eyes remained firm. "Allow me to dispel any uncertainty before anybody else gets hurt by that baseless rumour… Omegamon and I are not in a relationship. What you saw was something else."

RhodoKnightmon nodded slightly. "Of course, Alphamon…" he agreed without argument. While he didn't cower in the face of Alphamon, he accepted that Alphamon had a right to be angry at him. He stood with cold dignity, prepared to accept whatever words or actions that Alphamon had for him. As such, he stared into Alphamon's eyes emotionlessly.

Alphamon returned his stare, his eyes quietly fixed on RhodoKnightmon's face. The silent exchange lingered between the pair, causing further discomfort for the other three in the room. It was Alphamon who soon broke it.

"…May I have a word in private, RhodoKnightmon?" he asked the rose knight.

"…Very well, Alphamon," RhodoKnightmon agreed, his voice still low and austere. It had the same aloof and no-nonsense edge as it did whenever he was on a serious mission. It was rare that something was so serious to RhodoKnightmon that he would drop his carefree and jovial demeanour.

Alphamon turned to the other three Royal Knights and nodded brusquely. He spun around and began marching out of the room, his cape flapping in the draft of his brisk stride.

RhodoKnightmon cast a glance at the others, but wasted no time in following Alphamon out of the room. He walked swiftly but calmly, moving without his usual flouncy gait.

As the ribbon-clad Royal Knight disappeared into the hallway, Examon, Dynasmon, and Magnamon were left behind. They exchanged sheepish glances and began clearing up the pool table. They didn't envy whatever Alphamon had in store for RhodoKnightmon.

---

Alphamon walked down the second floor corridor in silence. There was a silent intensity in his gait.

RhodoKnightmon quietly walked behind the foremost Royal Knight. His stare was fixed onto Alphamon's caped back.

To his surprise, Alphamon passed by the staircase at the corner of the corridors. RhodoKnightmon expected Alphamon to bring him up to his office. However, Alphamon turned the corner and began heading down the wing with the Royal Knights' living quarters.

The pink armoured knight tentatively followed Alphamon down the length of the long hallway. They passed by RhodoKnightmon's bedroom without instance. They travelled to the very end of the hallway before Alphamon stopped in front of his own room. The Knight of the Empty Seat opened the door to his bedroom.

"Come in," Alphamon told him, gesturing to his large room with a four-post bed inside.

In other circumstances, RhodoKnightmon may have made a suggestive quip, but he was smart enough to know not to with the seriousness of the situation. The thought didn't even cross his mind this time. "Very well," RhodoKnightmon agreed, walking inside Alphamon's bedroom.

On the left side of the room was a balcony that was attached to the exterior wall. Nearby was a desk full of messy papers and an open journal. The black, gold-lined blanket that was draped over the king-sized bed was cleanly made, although with creases. The room smelled of a faint hint of coffee. RhodoKnightmon briefly wondered if Alphamon would subject him to his coffee as a punishment.

Alphamon stopped in the middle of the room and turned around. RhodoKnightmon closed the door behind them with a push of his ribbon. The rose knight stood a few meters away from Alphamon, staring at him cagily.

"We are not doing this in your office?" RhodoKnightmon questioned as he placed a hand on his slender hip. "I suppose I must really be in for it, mustn't, I?"

The dark paladin leered at him with stolid eyes. "This is not any sort of formal proceeding or castigation, Rhodo. This is simply a chat between friends…"

RhodoKnightmon frowned and raised his other hand to trace his finger along one of the ribbons leading from his breastplate. "Yes, alright…" he murmured. He glanced up at Alphamon. "…I am sorry about all of that… I truly didn't mean for you and Ouryumon to hear that…"

"So, it would have been okay if we hadn't heard it?" Alphamon methodically countered. "Talking behind others' backs is rather juvenile and cowardly. The problem isn't that we overheard it; it is that it was being said at all…"

RhodoKnightmon rubbed his neck sheepishly and looked away. "Yes, I suppose so… However, it wasn't done maliciously."

Alphamon sighed. "I know that…" he conceded. "All the same, I can't say I'm happy about it. Ouryumon is very sensitive. My relationship with him or Omegamon is really nobody's business but our own. The issues are ours to sort out, without any outside pressure. I ask that you would keep it that way in the future, RhodoKnightmon."

"Very well… My apologies, Alphamon…" RhodoKnightmon calmly responded.

Alphamon could very well have left it there. However… He refused to be soft when he felt that there was more that he needed to say. He stalled for a moment before speaking up again.

"…I just wish that you wouldn't do that so much, Rhodo," he said, although his words were cautious, as if he wasn't sure if he wanted to continue.

"Do what?" RhodoKnightmon wondered, cocking his head to the side.

"…The things that you do, Rhodo," Alphamon quietly explained, although he didn't shy away from staring into RhodoKnightmon's eyes. "I wish you wouldn't flirt with the other Royal Knights and make advances on them. And I wish you wouldn't vocalize your desire for relationships between the Royal Knights or whoever else you think would make a cute couple. It makes some of them uncomfortable..."

RhodoKnightmon was quiet. Although his exterior was composed and somewhat rigid, he couldn't help but feel inwardly offended. "…Oh, I see," RhodoKnightmon calmly spoke, with a faintly sarcastic edge to his voice. "Uncomfortable because I am homosexual, you mean. Is that it, Alphamon?"

Alphamon's golden eyes hardened somewhat, covering the guilty wince that lay behind his features. He felt a faint stab at the underlying meaning of RhodoKnightmon's own words. "…No, that isn't what I meant, RhodoKnightmon," he insisted. "For Digimon like Duftmon or Omegamon, the gender is irrelevant. They are shy Digimon, and they feel uncomfortable when you make suggestive comments at them. It isn't only them… I don't think anybody enjoys feeling uncomfortable in their own home."

RhodoKnightmon folded his arms. "I have been this way since I joined the Order. Has somebody complained or something?"

"No, but they shouldn't have to. They put up with it because you are our friend and comrade," Alphamon explained.

"'Put up with it'…" RhodoKnightmon looked down and frowned thoughtfully. "…I don't mean any harm by it, Alphamon. When I make those jokes, it is not as though I am trying to force my desires onto them or anything malicious like that. It is simply my sense of humour… Comedy sometimes involves pushing past peoples' comfort zones and watching them squirm a little bit."

Alphamon gently folded his arms as well. "Perhaps, Rhodo... However, sometimes you take it too far, both with the flirting and the pairing off. I know you aren't deliberately trying to hurt anybody, but you need to try to take other peoples' boundaries into consideration. Some people don't know how to react to your sense of humour, and sometimes your desired pairings run contrary to what is reality," he explained.

"I do understand that, Alphamon. However, we are all adults here, and we face actual trauma and danger on a daily basis. I have always assumed that the Royal Knights knew me well enough and were mature enough to take it. If somebody is offended by something I say or do, I generally expect them to tell me and I will gladly respect their wishes."

"Yes, but it isn't always easy…" Alphamon stated with a soft frown. "There are sometimes circumstances that keep somebody from speaking up and telling you so. For example, whenever you would jokingly say that you thought that Omegamon and I would make a cute couple, Ouryumon and I were unable to say that we were already together because I hadn't confessed to anybody my sexuality. It made things quite uncomfortable. And I can only imagine how Omegamon must have felt… We both know that he tends to keep his true feelings to himself in order to please others. Or, perhaps, others feel that too vehement of a denial would only reinforce the truth in the joke that you are making."

At this, RhodoKnightmon looked down, unable to help but feel guilty as he mulled over Alphamon's explanation. "…I suppose I haven't thought about it like that," he admitted, twisting the flat ends of his semi-metal sash between his fingertips. He looked back up at Alphamon. "…I'm sorry, Alphamon. You're right. I will be more mindful of others in the future."

Alphamon scratched his cheek sheepishly. "…I'm not trying to police you, Rhodo. And I'm not trying to suggest that all of the Royal Knights and our subordinates have porcelain skin and don't know how to take a joke. However, I hope you can see that there are situations where your sense of humour can be damaging, even if it is all in good fun," he explained. "It isn't just because I heard you speak about me and Omegamon. As the head of the Order, it is down to me to ensure that team morale and trust is as high as it can be. It's especially important in times of crisis such as now… We both know how important team morale can be. And small fissures have a habit of turning into massive chasms when the right amount of pressure is applied. It is because of misunderstandings and bad feelings between friends that we nearly lost everything to DarkKnightmon."

"Yes, I suppose I can see where you are coming from, Alphamon… However, I want you to see where I am coming from as well." He looked at him directly. "I know that I make Digimon uncomfortable sometimes… I know that I am very different from the masculine hero that one might expect from a Royal Knight. I can see the subtle signs of discomfort that some Digimon have around me. So, sometimes, I make other people uncomfortable on purpose, simply to get a reaction out of them. Other times, it is just because of who I am. It is my natural state of being, I suppose. I have always been 'different'. As such, I enjoy trying to make other Digimon embrace things that go against their conservative sensibilities and their kneejerk state of comfort."

Alphamon couldn't help but smile. "Yes, that's true… The very first time that we met, you insisted on making me eat a strange dish that I have never heard of, from far reaches of Colossus. It turned out to be quite delicious… Ever since then, you have always been a Digimon who has opened up the horizons of others. Whether it is simple culinary treats, or something as grand as a whole new way of thinking… It's thanks to you that we founding Royal Knights were able to move on from the tragedy that was DarkKnightmon's first rebellion. It wasn't a comfortable transition either. You forced us to confront the dark shadow that hung over us with your humour and your shameless prodding. It wasn't easy, and, sometimes, it wasn't pleasant, but we really did need that."

The rose knight smiled slightly behind his pink mask. "Thank you. I appreciate that, Alphamon…" His stance relaxed and he allowed his hands to rest casually against his hips. "…I promise that I will do my best to respect other Digimons' boundaries and privacy in the future, and I will try not to put them in uncomfortable positions. …However, what I will not do is change who I am in order to suit other people."

Alphamon smiled wider. "I would never ask you to, RhodoKnightmon."

"Why, I am quite glad to hear that," RhodoKnightmon responded, his usual sprightly intonation and debonair demeanour returning.

However, as RhodoKnightmon's mirth returned, Alphamon's hidden smile faded. Guiltily, he glanced down, pausing as he mulled over his impending words.

"…You must think very lowly of me," he spoke, looking at RhodoKnightmon with soft eyes. His words weren't accusatory, but tinged with shame.

RhodoKnightmon was surprised by this. He stared at Alphamon curiously, tilting his head. "Pardon? What do you mean, Alphamon?"

Alphamon sighed but managed a wistful smile at the slender, pink knight. "You and I are very different Digimon, aren't we?"

"Why, yes, I suppose we are, Alphamon. However, I am at a bit of a loss as to what you mean…"

"You may have noticed this, but… I care what Digimon think about me," Alphamon explained, staring at the pink knight. "I always have. As the leader of the Order, it is my job to think about how the Royal Knights act and how we appear to others."

"That is true. You have always had a good head for public relations…" RhodoKnightmon supposed.

Alphamon nodded. "Yes… However, I have always cared about my image on a personal level too. I wouldn't say that I'm vain, but I have always been concerned about what others thought of me. As Alphamon… I am an exception. A one-of-a-kind Digimon. A singularity. People have always had opinions about me, especially after… certain events," he explained sparsely. "It shaped how I act. It made it hard for me to be open about my bisexuality…"

RhodoKnightmon nodded, now realising what Alphamon meant. "Oh, I see…"

Alphamon smiled at him a little. "You have always seemed so comfortable with yourself. As for me…" He closed his eyes meditatively. "Ever since I was a teenager, I always knew I was interested in female Digimon. I have had youthful crushes here and there… However, I also found myself having those same sorts of feelings towards male Digimon. I remember feeling attraction, both physically and emotionally, towards my own gender as well as the opposite one… I was confused at first. I wondered if there was something wrong with me."

"Oh?" RhodoKnightmon wondered. "I thought that New Terminal was quite cosmopolitan and permissive when it came to that sort of thing. Is that a mistaken perception on my part?"

"Well, no… I remember having seen a number of same-gender partners around the Republic of Node, and especially in New Terminal," Alphamon explained. "However, I also knew that most formal unions were between Digimon of the opposite gender, for the purposes of reproduction - continuing the family line and inheritance. I knew that same-gender couples, while permitted, were generally the exception rather than the rule. I travelled a lot in my teenage years. I learned that, depending on where I was in the world, those sorts of relationships could be looked down upon or even maltreated. I had heard the slander and the jokes in taverns. I learned what some people thought of people like me. Not everywhere was as accepting as New Terminal was…"

"Yes, it is a pity that there are still close-minded Digimon, isn't it?" RhodoKnightmon calmly agreed, although he didn't seem all that bothered.

Alphamon frowned gently. "Indeed… I suppose I was a bit of a coward. Despite the feelings that I had towards men, I think I subconsciously tried to ignore those feelings and just focus on what was most universally socially acceptable. I, by no means, had an active romantic life, but I chose to focus my attention solely on female Digimon. I opted to go with the most comfortable route… Of course I have had feelings for men since then, but it wasn't until Ouryumon confessed his feelings to me that I felt strongly enough to pursue a relationship. And, even then, I was cautious about it. I didn't feel that I could tell my closest friends, and I was worried that we would be found out."

A gentle sigh escaped Alphamon's lips. "Looking back, I'm ashamed of how I acted. I put enormous pressures on not just myself, but also Ouryumon, and I didn't trust my closest friends because I thought that they would hate me. I was insecure, and I didn't have faith in all of you. It wasn't the truth that drove wedges between us, but concealing the truth. When I look at you, who has been completely honest with your sexuality from the start and your clear comfort with yourself, I can only imagine what you must think of me."

RhodoKnightmon smiled sweetly and walked up to Alphamon. He placed a hand on Alphamon's cheek for a moment, gazing into his eyes. "My dear Alphamon…" he kindly spoke, sliding his hand from the black, metal surface. "Our experiences are very different. I would never judge you for being hesitant about coming out… It may have been easy for me, but I am not so self-righteous to assume that it isn't difficult for other people. It is a massive moment. You had your reasons for being cautious, and they were very understandable ones. You mustn't be hard on yourself. It is just who you are, and that is not necessarily a bad thing."

Alphamon smiled graciously at RhodoKnightmon. "…Thank you, Rhodo. It means a lot to hear you say that. I always worried that I may have offended you. That my unwillingness to confess was implying that it was somehow wrong or shameful to be gay. I never once thought that. The simple fact is that, after all of those years of hiding it, the pressure continued to mount due to the simple fact that I wasn't honest to begin with. I worried I would hurt people, and I think I terribly internalized everything."

RhodoKnightmon nodded. "Well, everything is out in the open now. How do you feel about it now?"

"I am at peace with everything. I feel… free. I am quite comfortable with who I am now," Alphamon explained, his words soft and unburdened. "And it's thanks to all of you."

"You are more responsible than we are," RhodoKnightmon declared, waggling his index finger.

Alphamon chuckled. "It was a difficult path, but, yes, I suppose I had to grow as a Digimon as well…" he contemplated. He stared at RhodoKnightmon thoughtfully. "Although, I have always wondered… Were you always so at ease with yourself, Rhodo?"

RhodoKnightmon placed his hands on his hips. "Well… I don't wish to diminish your personal struggle, but… yes. I would say I have."

Alphamon smiled, not minding his honesty at all. "Really? I'd like to hear more," he inquired.

RhodoKnightmon nodded confidently. "Well… as you know, my father was the Duke of Summerglade, back before the Kingdom of Arcania was incorporated into the Republic. As such, I lived on an aristocratic estate, with servants and tutors and the lot. My parents always wanted me to be normal… They wanted me to follow after them in court politics. I needed to have a respectable education, good etiquette, desirable skills and what have you," he explained. "However, I remember overhearing my parents talking once, and they said that I was always a bit different."

Alphamon nodded quietly and allowed him to continue.

"I suppose that's true. I always was different," RhodoKnightmon said matter-of-factly. "At a young age, I was always interested in non-traditional things… I loved cooking, swordplay, and fashion. Not quite the interests of a courtier. I was a bit lackadaisical; I never liked to push myself too hard, except for those fields that I was extremely passionate about."

RhodoKnightmon smiled and placed his hands on his hips. "I also knew from a young age that I had a keen interest in other men… In fact, my first ever crush was on my swordsmanship tutor," he recounted fondly. "When I attended a private academy, I was always a bit different there too. I was among other rich students, but I was always more flamboyant, with my clothing, my actions, everything really. I pushed the boundaries of what was acceptable… I had a couple friends there, but a lot of students called me a dandy. A rumour also spread around that I liked men."

Alphamon frowned at this. "I'm sorry, Rhodo. Was that hard for you?" he asked compassionately.

"Not particularly," RhodoKnightmon answered with a shrug. "You see, I was actually just confused when I heard it. I had always just assumed that it was natural to like men, and that all the others felt like I did too. I always thought that marriages were simply social and political contracts that were made between important families to shore up power and have children. I suppose it was naïve of me, but I had just assumed that people naturally preferred people of their own gender, and that was why girls mainly had female friends and boys mainly had male friends. It was a surprise when I learned that this wasn't the case. I suppose it was because I spent my childhood a bit isolated."

"I see…" Alphamon spoke, mulling over RhodoKnightmon's words.

"I admit, I was sometimes hurt by their words, but I never felt ashamed of liking men or being who I was," RhodoKnightmon continued. "I was simply living my life how I wished to. Even when I heard my parents or my teachers or the other students say that I should try to be more normal… I always thought, 'Why should I be normal? What is 'normal'? Isn't 'normality' something that a lot of unimaginative people tacitly agree upon because they are afraid of change and things that are different from what they are comfortable with?'"

RhodoKnightmon folded his arms and raised his head proudly. "I challenge the idea of 'normal'. I just want to stay true to who I am, whatever eccentricities and flaws that I may have. I may be different, but I am who I am. I shouldn't try to hide that, and I refuse to be ashamed of myself. I would much rather have fun with it and live my life how I want, rather than live it how other people think I should live it. I suppose that is why I like to challenge other Digimon and their boundaries. I want to show them that is it okay to be different. You can be a Royal Knight and still be somebody like me."

Alphamon smiled warmly. "I think that's a great message to send, Rhodo… You and I really are different," he mused. He brought his hand to his own chin and stroked it pensively with his index finger. "I really admire your courage, RhodoKnightmon, and your ability to be comfortable with who you are. It seems to come so naturally to you…"

"Why thank you, Alphamon," RhodoKnightmon chimed.

The Aloof Hermit smiled a bit guiltily. "Admittedly… I've always been a bit jealous of you, Rhodo," he gently explained. "I envied that about you in the past… Your confidence, I mean. There I was, worrying about how everybody would react to my bisexuality, while you were there, putting yourself out there for all to see…"

"Oh… I'm sorry," RhodoKnightmon apologised, rubbing his neck.

"No… I'm not blaming you," Alphamon assured him peacefully. "I just wish that I could have had that courage to be who I was regardless of what others thought."

RhodoKnightmon smiled and placed a hand on Alphamon's shoulder. "You did have that courage, ultimately. You confessed to us, after all, and I know what a big deal for you that was. You have nothing to feel guilty of. In fact… I am quite proud to call you our leader. Nobody else could do a better job."

Alphamon smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, RhodoKnightmon… That means a lot."

"I am simply being honest," RhodoKnightmon explained.

Alphamon nodded. "I'm glad that you and I could have this chat…"

"Mhm, so am I. Even if it did start with my good self being told off," RhodoKnightmon concurred with a wry tilt of the head.

Alphamon chuckled. "Heh… Well, that still stands."

"Oh, I know… And I will apologise to Ouryumon properly tomorrow morning," RhodoKnightmon explained. "I will even cook him his favourite meal."

"That would definitely smooth the path," Alphamon agreed with a grin. The dark crusader turned, his disposition relaxed and at ease. "Now, drawing a line under all that… what do you say that we relax?"

"That would be nice. What do you suggest?" RhodoKnightmon wondered.

"Well… There is this recipe that I have been working on… I would love to hear your professional, culinary opinion," Alphamon suggested. Although his face was innocent, a sudden sense of foreboding swept over the room.

The words send the cold chill of death down RhodoKnightmon's back and he felt his stomach twist into knots. The words 'recipe', 'opinion', and 'working on' set off immediate alarm bells. He knew there could be only one thing that Alphamon was referring to… Alphamon's tea and coffee creations, if they could be called that. The vile, unholy brews that went against all of RhodoKnightmon's culinary sensibilities. He often wondered if there was something wrong with the knight's taste buds to be able to enjoy those dreadful concoctions of miscellaneous ingredients. Did Alphamon want to punish him after all?

"Err… It is almost midnight, Alphamon…" RhodoKnightmon hesitated. "Isn't it a bit too late for caffeine?" he desperately appealed in an attempt to save himself.

"Oh, not to worry. I have been working on this coffee for awhile now. I have added ingredients with high amounts of melatonin and tryptophan, such as tart cherries, roasted soybeans, and sesame seeds. This should offset the effects of the caffeine and give you a sound sleep," Alphamon explained with restrained excitement in his voice. "I also find that the specific taste and texture works magnificently with the natto."

RhodoKnightmon's face turned a pale blue. "N-Natto…?" he stammered. "I… I am not sure about this, Alphamon…"

"Come now… You are always getting others to try new things. What did you say about pushing past boundaries, Rhodo?" Alphamon asked him with a sly grin. He gave RhodoKnightmon a knowing wink. "As AncientGreymon would say, 'Who dares, wins'."

RhodoKnightmon felt an insurmountable sense of dread as Alphamon boxed him into a logical corner. The conniving villain, he thought. "…W-Well… Perhaps just one sip," he choked out as the blood drained from his face.

Alphamon smiled enthusiastically, completely oblivious to RhodoKnightmon's terror. "Wonderful. I'll get started. I'd like your honest opinion too. I want the flavour to be perfect. I think this could really help to relieve the stress of the other Royal Knights," he said as he walked to the door of his bedroom, prompting the rose knight to follow.

RhodoKnightmon swallowed as he was led out of the room. He promised Yggdrasil that if he made it through the night, he wouldn't gossip wantonly again. Things had been going so well, too…

---

On the second floor of the castle, Omegamon stepped out of one of the washrooms. After having finished his nightly routine, he now planned on going to bed. It was getting late and he needed some rest for tomorrow. It was only a matter of time before they had to set out on campaign against the Demon Lords, so they all needed as much rest as they could get.

Carrying his pieces of armour under one arm, Omegamon stepped out into the living quarters' corridor. He wore a pair of white pyjamas which hung loosely around his slender body. The night-time attire was adorned with a pattern of suns and moons across the soft, white fabric.

Omegamon quietly walked down the corridor. His steps were light and soft. His feet barely touched the floor as he moved, so as to not wake any of the Royal Knights who were already asleep. His room was near the end of the hallway, sitting between Alphamon's room at the very end, and Dukemon's room on its left.

The alabaster-hued paladin bridged the length of the hallway and stopped in front of his room. He reached for the door handle. Omegamon paused for a moment when his white hand touched the knob. He turned his helmeted head and cast his cyan eyes towards Alphamon's door thoughtfully.

The sound of a door opening in the opposite direction caught his attention. Omegamon turned his head around to look up the corridor that he just came from. The nearest door over to his opened and a familiar form appeared.

Dukemon stepped partway out of his room and looked at Omegamon. He was wearing a white, tight-fitting, muscle top with the Zero Unit symbol emblazoned across the chest. He also wore a pair of loose-fitting, crimson shorts, a few shades darker than his actual scale colour. Dukemon smiled upon setting his eyes on Omegamon.

"Hey, Omegamon!" he greeted cheerfully. He grinned playfully and looked Omegamon up and down. "Wearing those pyjamas that Alphamon got you for the Winter Festival? Nice. They're very cute," he teased in his usual playful way.

Omegamon blushed and looked away sheepishly. "Dukemon…" he greeted, although not addressing the jocose comment. He wasn't sure if Dukemon was being innocuous or if he was aiming for that reaction. "You're up late."

"Yeah, I was planning on going to bed soon. I'm just waiting for Grani," Dukemon explained. "What about you?"

"I was about to do the same," Omegamon responded, looking up at the scarlet dragon man.

"Do you have a few minutes?" Dukemon asked him. "It'd be nice if we could catch up."

Omegamon quietly thought about for a few moments. He supposed he could spare another ten minutes or so… "Hm… Alright, Dukemon," he agreed. "Just let me hang my armour up."

"Sure thing," Dukemon replied, smiling and walking back inside his room. He left the door open for Omegamon to follow.

Omegamon placed his pieces of armour on the wooden rack in his room, though he left the black body suit on underneath his pyjamas. He walked out of his room and stepped inside Dukemon's, closing the door behind him. Once inside, he saw Dukemon sitting on the side of his spacious bed.

"Come sit. Take the weight off," Dukemon suggested, patting the place on the bed next to him.

The white Royal Knight walked over and sat down beside him with some space between them. As he felt himself sink slightly into the soft mattress, he looked at Dukemon inquisitively.

"Was there something particular that you wanted to talk about, Dukemon?" Omegamon questioned.

"Not really. I just wanted to chat," Dukemon replied. "You're not usually up this late. Did you have a nightmare or something?"

"No, I was working late," the fused warrior explained. "And then I got talking…"

"Oh, yeah?" the dragon knight inquired. "With who?"

Omegamon folded his hands on his lap. "Alphamon, actually…" he answered, a touch embarrassed. He tentatively made eye contact with Dukemon. "I… apologised to him."

Dukemon couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Oh… What about? Do you mean… the stuff that happened when you were Zwart?" he cautiously ventured.

"No, not that…" He exhaled.

"Oh… Sorry," Dukemon sheepishly replied, rubbing the back of his neck. "I shouldn't have brought that up."

Omegamon shook his head lightly. "It's fine. While I still hate what I did, talking about it doesn't cause me the same pain that it used to." He looked at Dukemon with appreciation in his bright, blue eyes. "That's thanks to you."

Dukemon grinned. "Hey, I'm glad to be able to help," he answered.

"I don't worry that I'm going to lose myself to the darkness of Zwart anymore. Even if I did, I know that all of you would be there to stop me."

"Good," the dragon paladin declared. He smiled optimistically at Omegamon. "Then you've already won." He leaned forwards with his arms on his knees. "So, what did you apologise to Alphamon about? If you don't mind me asking."

"Well… It was about how I acted when I first found out that he and Ouryumon were lovers. I acted selfishly and immaturely, and I wanted to finally apologise to him for that," Omegamon explained. "I played a big factor in the reason why our friendship became strained."

Dukemon frowned and thought about it. "Was it when you three went to Auguria to investigate that prophecy?" he questioned. "I thought that you two were acting weird afterwards."

"Yes… I overheard them, and, well… I was hurt when I really had no right to be," Omegamon shamefully admitted.

"Don't be too hard on yourself. It's only natural to instinctively be a bit hurt when your close friend keeps something from you," Dukemon reasoned. "As long as you don't end up blaming him and being bitter about it. Alphamon obviously had his reasons for it."

"I know he did… but, at the time, I could only think about myself. I felt he couldn't trust me. This was on top of feeling that Imperialdramon had abandoned us…" Omegamon sighed. "It was my own selfishness that led me to becoming Omegamon Zwart. That's why I wanted to apologise to Alphamon."

"I see… And how'd he take it?" Dukemon wondered.

Omegamon smiled warmly. "How you would expect. He accepted it immediately, without question. He distributed the blame evenly. He listened, and he was reasonable."

"So, very Alphamon-y," Dukemon said with a chuckle. "That's good, isn't it?"

Omegamon nodded softly. "Yes… I'm glad that we were finally able to clear the air. Admittedly, things had been a little… awkward since what happened. We haven't really spoken that much outside of work," he explained. "I think we really needed to have that conversation. I feel as though a weight had been lifted from my shoulders."

Dukemon nodded. "I can understand what you mean. It feels good to finally unburden yourself from something you've been sitting on for a long time…" he mentioned, looking at Omegamon.

"Yes, it did…" Omegamon smiled slightly. "…I feel as though my and Alphamon's friendship is starting to go back to how it used to be. I'm really glad that he and I can talk together again…"

The crimson knight stared at Omegamon, his features warm and tender as he wore a knowing smile. "…Hey, Omegamon… Can I ask you something?"

Omegamon turned his head and observed Dukemon curiously. "Of course, Dukemon. Anything."

"Do you have feelings for Alphamon?"

Omegamon nearly choked. Within seconds, blood coursed into his face flooded his cheeks with tingling warmth. His cyan eyes widened momentarily and he could only look away from Dukemon to hide his embarrassment.

"I-I don't see how that's any of your business, Dukemon," he defensively replied.

Dukemon scratched his cheek with his index finger. He had a feeling he may have pressed a bit too far. "Sorry. You don't have to answer. I've just always wondered…" he said, backing off just slightly. "We're friends though. I won't judge you or tell anybody. But if you say that you don't, I'll believe you."

Omegamon grimaced, starting to think past the burning in his cheeks and the nervous churning in his stomach. He felt a bit guilty about putting Dukemon off. He supposed it wouldn't be so bad if he explained it to make him understand…

"I…" Omegamon stammered, pausing as he tried to think of the right words to use for this delicate situation. "It's… complicated, Dukemon…"

Dukemon shot Omegamon a warm and reassuring smile. "It's fine. You're right. It's none of my business if you have feelings for Alphamon or not," he promised him. "Forget I asked."

A soft wince graced Omegamon's eyes. He was having trouble finding the right words. "I… Alphamon and I are very close friends…" he responded.

Dukemon smiled and nodded. "Okay, then," he replied, making it clear that he believed Omegamon and would leave it at that.

Omegamon hesitated. He could just leave the conversation there. Dukemon was giving him the chance to end it. However… he didn't feel right about doing so. He drew a centering breath.

"…I don't believe that the bond between lovers automatically supersedes the bond between friends," Omegamon stated.

"Huh? What do you mean?" Dukemon asked.

"There is a perception among some people that it isn't enough to simply be friends with somebody," Omegamon explained, although his face was still warm and tingling as he spoke. "That, for the relationship to be meaningful or important, the logical progression is to go from friends to being lovers. Romance is treated as a step higher than friendship, which is seen merely as a stepping stone in two peoples' relationship. I don't view it that way."

"Oh…" Dukemon replied, thinking about Omegamon's words. "I see what you mean. I think."

Omegamon looked at Dukemon with a bit of shyness. "My lower forms – WarGreymon and MetalGarurumon… They had a deep love for each other, but they were the best of friends. They weren't romantic in the sense that you might think of, but they did love each other. They were comfortable in one another's company. They were able pour their souls to each other and keep one another warm at night without feeling uncomfortable. If they didn't have that love and friendship, I wouldn't exist right now," Omegamon explained. "To me, love is something that you feel, not necessarily something that you do…"

"Okay… I understand what you're getting at," Dukemon considered as he thought about it. "I do think there can be a difference, though… With somebody you're romantic with, you can kiss them and have a physical relationship. You might not necessarily want to cross that boundary with somebody that you consider a friend, because your dynamic with them is different."

"I suppose so… but that is a matter of the body, not a matter of the heart. I could still have feelings towards somebody without that," Omegamon answered, his voice a bit reticent and his face still rather red. "At least, for me…"

Dukemon chuckled and nodded. "Okay. I see what you mean…" he responded.

Omegamon took a deep breath, summoning the courage that he embodied. He did what needed to be done despite his fear. He looked Dukemon in the eyes. "…I do have intense feelings for Alphamon."

A knowing smile formed on Dukemon's lips. "I always had a feeling…"

"I feel that we have an unshakeable bond between us… or, at least, we did," Omegamon explained. "I care about him deeply… That's why it was so hard when things became strained between us."

"Still, you said you had a good conversation with him tonight, right? You said that things are good between you again," Dukemon pointed out.

"I suppose…"

Dukemon gazed at Omegamon. "…I think you should tell Alphamon how you feel…"

Omegamon's brows furrowed behind his helmet uncertainly. "…To what end? So that he and I can form a romantic relationship?" he questioned.

"Well, yeah," Dukemon answered bluntly. "Wouldn't you like that?"

"…I don't know…" Omegamon guardedly deliberated. "It isn't that simple, Dukemon…" The white knight sighed. "I don't want to hurt Ouryumon. I'm sure that he still loves Alphamon."

"Sure… and I feel bad for Ouryumon, but things like this happen," Dukemon suggested. "It's also about what you want, Omega. I'm not saying that you shouldn't consider his feelings, but you shouldn't ignore your own either."

"It isn't just that," Omegamon insisted. "I… I don't want to put Alphamon in an awkward position. If I forced the issue, it could cause him a lot of problems. Perhaps he doesn't feel the same way that I do. He might struggle to know how to respond to such a suggestion from one of his closest friends…" Omegamon looked down. "…We just got our relationship back on track… I don't want to jeopardize that and risk losing Alphamon's friendship due to my own greed and selfishness."

"It isn't like that, Omegamon. It's not greedy to have feelings for somebody," Dukemon assured him. He stared at him directly, clearly transmitting his strong feelings. "You shouldn't punish yourself for what happened."

Omegamon softly shook his head. "Alphamon likely isn't interested, regardless. He has had Ouryumon for all this time. No matter what happened between them, that is likely where Alphamon's heart still resides," he said with peaceful resignation.

"You keep saying 'likely'. You're just making assumptions without actually knowing," Dukemon explained critically. "Why don't you ask him?"

"Because I don't want to watch him stumble over himself as he tries to salvage our relationship while letting me down gently," Omegamon bluntly countered.

Dukemon frowned. "…You know… I spoke to Alphamon after his argument with Ouryumon. He told me what happened between you three after your encounter with DarkKnightmon. He tried to kiss you…"

Omegamon grimaced and turned his gaze away from the dragon knight. "He did. But he didn't mean it… I knew he didn't. That's why it hurt…"

Dukemon continued staring at the white paladin. "Rebound kiss or not, he tried to kiss you. He wouldn't have tried to kiss you for no reason. I'm sure he wouldn't have done that with any of the other Royal Knights. He must have some feelings for you in order to do that…"

Omegamon smiled a little, with a fragment of pain in his eyes. "It's fine, Dukemon. I'm more than happy to keep my and Alphamon's relationship like it has always been. If we can be friends like we used to be, that is all that I need. I cherish Alphamon as a friend too much to risk putting that in jeopardy…"

Dukemon's golden-yellow eyes softened. "Omegamon… You're the least selfish person that I know, but a lot of the time, it's at the detriment of your own happiness.

Omegamon turned his smile, wistful but honest, towards Dukemon. "I am happy now… Although it hurt sometimes, Alphamon's friendship is more than enough for me. Now that I know what it's like to be without it, to spend time together like we did tonight, just the two of us, is more than I could ever ask for." Omegamon looked up and closed his eyes, releasing a satisfied breath. "…I am content with the way things are." He opened his light blue eyes and smiled sincerely at Dukemon.

The crimson Royal Knight stared into Omegamon's eyes. He seemed to be telling the truth… "…Okay, then," Dukemon said with a grin. "If you're happy, then so am I."

Omegamon turned and looked at Dukemon. "…Thank you, Dukemon. For listening… and caring," he told him.

"It's no big deal. You would do the same," Dukemon dismissed as he flashed him his usual smirk.

"…Spending time with you is just as important to me, Dukemon," Omegamon felt compelled to add. "Your constant support, the ease with which we can speak… You have always been there, by my side, from the very beginning. You have always been there to listen to all of us and give advice. Your friendship and generosity is more than I could ever hope for."

Dukemon sheepishly scratched his cheek with his finger. "Hey, I'm glad to help…" he responded with embarrassment. His voice became less playful and more sincere and heartfelt. "…You're important to me too, Omegamon."

Omegamon's eyes locked with Dukemon's. "I really do cherish you…"

Dukemon gazed back at him, his soft golds becoming lost in Omegamon's warm, cyan stare.

Their gazes held, and they shared a breathless moment. Dukemon found that his hand had drifted on top of Omegamon's knee. Dukemon's stare pierced into Omegamon's eyes, his own never straying.

Omegamon felt his heart skip as Dukemon inched near. He drew a sharp breath.

The metallic sound of a latch opening pierced the tense air. The bedroom door clicked and began to open, followed by a familiar voice.

"Dukemon?" Grani asked, peering inside from the widening gap between the door and frame.

Without missing a beat, Dukemon smoothly swerved his head and stood to his feet. He turned away from Omegamon and faced the door. "Hey, Grani. What's up?" Dukemon casually asked with such ease that Omegamon questioned his own interpretation of what was happening.

Omegamon stood to his feet as well. Was Dukemon about to do what he thought he was about to do or…? Omegamon shook his head and composed himself as he would in battle. He tugged at the collar of his shirt and frowned as he thought about it.

Surely it wasn't what he thought it was. Omegamon inwardly shook his head and dismissed the absurd notion. Dukemon was always the touchy feely kind of Digimon and he wasn't afraid of invading another Digimon's personal space. Despite the brief, intimate silence, there was nothing to suggest that Dukemon was being anything other than his usual self. Omegamon had been feeling emotional after talking to Dukemon about him and Alphamon, so he must have been reading things the wrong way. He thought better of it and decided the matter wasn't worth pressing.

Grani drifted into the doorway. "I just returned from patrol and saw that you were still up. Shouldn't you—" Grani blinked and noticed Omegamon beside him. "Omegamon? Hello."

"Hello, Grani," Omegamon calmly greeted. He smiled amiably at Dukemon and began to walk towards the door. "I should actually be getting to bed. Goodnight, Dukemon. I appreciate our chat."

Dukemon rubbed the back of his neck and watched as Omegamon began to take his leave. "Okay. Goodnight, Omegamon. See you tomorrow."

Omegamon nodded and walked through the doorway as Grani moved into the room and out of the way. "Goodnight, Grani. Make sure he doesn't find another excuse not to go to bed. We have a busy day tomorrow."

"Very well, Omegamon. Have a good rest," Grani responded. He watched as Omegamon closed the door and walked down the corridor to his bedroom. Alone with Dukemon, the Zero ARMS turned and stared at him a scrutinizing leer. "…Did I interrupt something?"

"Not really," Dukemon said with a tiny smile.

Grani continued staring at him. "Dukemon?"

Dukemon grinned at him and walked back to his bed. "I just had a good chat with a friend. Nothing more," he insisted nonchalantly. He swept open the sheets of his bed and sat on top of it. "Are you going to bed?"

"Yes, I am entering rest mode shortly," Grani responded, floating over to the base of the giant bed.

"Goodnight, Grani," Dukemon said, lying down and pulling the covers up to his shoulders.

"Goodnight, Dukemon…"

Dukemon closed his eyes and exhaled. It was better this way… He knew his friend still had feelings for Alphamon, despite his words. There was still a chance for his two friends…