(Author's Note: Here's Part 2 of Chapter 40. A bit of character drama before the storm... Enjoy!)
Chapter 40: Isolation (Part II)
It was a ten minute flight from Yggdrasil's Mount on the Argent Mountains. After descending, Alphamon touched down in front of the courtyard of Terminal Hall. The others were already there, waiting for him to arrive. Examon, UlforceVeedramon, Gankoomon, Ouryumon, Paildramon, SaviorHackmon, and the Greymon Five were all present outside of the guarded gates.
Due to the advancing Demon Lord army, the security in and around Terminal Hall had been doubled, and there were several Perfect level Digimon manning the entrance, while law enforcement patrols walked the streets of downtown New Terminal. These measures were initiated to protect the Council of Seven while they organised the defence of the city.
"Look who finally decided to join us!" UlforceVeedramon teased him. He grinned over at the black knight, but the impatient tapping of his foot against the ground revealed that he was only half-joking.
Alphamon walked over to the group, releasing a soft breath and nodding at them. "Sorry to keep you waiting. I was held up for longer than I expected," he explained. "Did all of you find your families?"
ShineGreymon, WarGreymon, KaiserGreymon, and BlackWarGreymon all nodded. "They're all evacuating as we speak," KaiserGreymon explained.
VictoryGreymon, however, concealed his worried frown. Instead, he smiled at his friends, quietly happy for them that all of their families were at least safe. He just had to keep hoping that his father would evacuate in time as well…
Likewise, Paildramon didn't respond. Her ruby eyes narrowed and drifted slightly towards the ground. She still didn't know where her brother was, and she knew that her father was inside Terminal Hall. She hoped she would be able to ensure both of their safety at the same time.
Alphamon turned his attention to Ouryumon. "Ouryumon? Did you…?" he asked tentatively.
Ouryumon grinned and nodded. "Yeah… I found all of our parents. They're evacuating too. Dad was damn stubborn, but Mom and I managed to convince him to evacuate," he explained. "Your parents are with them now."
Alphamon breathed a sigh of relief. "Good… Thank you."
Examon raised an eyebrow. "You mentioned being held up. Did you find something, Alphamon?" the large dragon questioned the dark knight.
"Someone, actually…" Alphamon cryptically responded. "I think he will be able to help us fill in some of the blanks." He looked at Examon specifically. "Do you remember a Wizardmon from your and Craniamon's journey to Dusk Forest?"
"…Yeah, I do," Examon answered, surprised. "He hired the Tankdramon who became corrupted into Darkdramon. A shy little guy, if I remember right…" Examon frowned as he began to understand the implications of Alphamon's words. "We saw him again in Saversburg before the battle with the Metal Empire… You don't mean… he has something to do with Bagramon…?"
"I'm afraid he does," Alphamon replied. He turned to the others. "However, that can wait until later. There are more pressing issues right now. We need to speak to the Council of Seven."
"Yeah, about that…" Gankoomon spoke, leaning against a lamp post with folded arms. "I'm gonna stay here. Somebody needs to watch SaviorHackmon. Plus, I'm not good with this politics stuff. It's not my thing. I'll just end up shooting my mouth off."
"Yeah, that sounds about right," UlforceVeedramon agreed, earning him a leer from Gankoomon.
Alphamon nodded. He knew that Gankoomon had a point, and it would probably be better for them if he didn't attend. They needed to try to be conciliatory with the Council of Seven, knowing that a few of the Councillors weren't entirely happy with the way the Royal Knights acted. "Alright, Gankoomon. You can stay," he agreed.
KaiserGreymon stepped forwards as well, saluting his superior as he stopped at Alphamon's side. "Sir, I think it would be inappropriate for me and my friends to join the Royal Knights on such an elite meeting. We are just soldiers, so I would like to suggest that the Greymon Five go find our former commander at the military base and see what we can do to help. Commander BlitzGreymon the one who nominated us to join the Order, after all. Would that be acceptable?" the sergeant asked.
Alphamon looked at VictoryGreymon, ShineGreymon, WarGreymon, and BlackWarGreymon, all of whom nodded and saluted in unison. "Yes, very well."
Paildramon nodded and saluted as well. "Sir, I will excuse myself from the meeting as well," she explained. "I think it would be best if I tried to speak to my father in private, rather than publically put him in an awkward situation."
Despite her pragmatic reason, there was another reason why she wanted to speak to him in private. She needed to find out what he knew about her brother's whereabouts.
"You have a point," Alphamon agreed. "That might be best. Hopefully there is time to speak to him individually before we are granted an audience with the council, but they may be too busy with the crisis. We will have to see."
Paildramon nodded understandingly. Even if they were too busy, she would find a moment to speak to her father privately. She had to, even if she had to force the issue.
"So, it'll just be Alphamon, Examon, Ouryumon, and me?" UlforceVeedramon asked. "Okay, then. Sounds good."
Alphamon nodded in agreement. "We shouldn't hang around any longer." He walked past the group and up to the MachGaogamon who was manning the guard post. The post stood before a large fence that surrounded the grounds of Terminal Hall. "Excuse me, do we have permission to enter?" he asked the guard.
"Yes, Sir. Your comrades have already asked. You may enter," the humanoid dog Digimon dutifully answered.
Alphamon turned to KaiserGreymon and Gankoomon. "We will find you when we are finished," he told them.
"Okay," Gankoomon answered, turning to SaviorHackmon. "Come on, let's go look around."
"Yes, Sensei…" SaviorHackmon obeyed, albeit somewhat reluctantly.
KaiserGreymon, in turn, saluted Alphamon. "Yes, Sir. Hopefully we can figure out what the tactical situation is," he said to the Royal Knight. After bowing slightly, KaiserGreymon turned to the other four Greymon. "Come on, guys. Let's move out."
VictoryGreymon, along with his friends, saluted the Royal Knights and filed off. Before leaving, VictoryGreymon gave a gentle look to both SaviorHackmon and Paildramon. He hoped that he would be able to see them again before the fighting started…
Paildramon gave them a nod. "I'll catch up with you later," she promised them.
"Be safe, Paildramon," VictoryGreymon said to her.
Paildramon smiled a little at him. "You be safe as well, VictoryGreymon."
Alphamon watched as Gankoomon and SaviorHackmon began to leave as well. He nodded at SaviorHackmon, who saluted formally at UlforceVeedramon, Examon, Ouryumon, and him. SaviorHackmon then walked alongside his mentor and the two started walking down the security-laden road.
"Let's go inside. We don't have a lot of time," UlforceVeedramon said, his typically casual voice sounding hastened with impatience.
Alphamon turned and walked past them. He nodded at the guards, who cleared the path and allowed them access to the entrance grounds of Terminal Hall. The two Royal Knights, Ouryumon, and Paildramon followed his lead. The group walked down the courtyard towards the entrance of the council hall. They walked by the various statues of revered figures that lined the courtyard's stone path. Alphamon couldn't help but wonder how many of the sculptures would remain standing by the end of this.
They reached the front of the building, passed by the stone columns, and walked under the colonnade that grandiosely decorated the entrance. There, they were met by two guards who stood vigil outside the front doors of Terminal Hall. The pair of sentinel Digimon saluted the prestigious visitors and used a pulley to open the massive pair of wooden, double doors, which were large enough to accommodate even King Spinomon of the Mesozoic Kingdom.
As soon as the ancient doors separated, the group walked into the marble lobby. Across the vast foyer was another set of double doors that led towards the council chambers and ambassadorial meeting room. Flanking the entrance were a pair of Perfect level guards who stood at attention upon seeing the entourage enter.
"Greetings, honoured Royal Knights," one guard greeted, whose muscular, mammalian body was that of a Zudomon. "The Council's secretary has evacuated, so we will be filling that role."
Alphamon strode over to the pair of guards and the other four followed behind him. "Very well," he said. "Can we see the Council of Seven? Or are they in the middle of a meeting?"
"Actually, the Council just broke for a brief recess," the Zudomon guard informed them. "They are sorting out some personal things for about fifteen minutes. They are going to reconvene to discuss the threat afterward."
"We would like to speak with them. The Royal Knights have come here to offer our support against the Demon Lords," Alphamon answered, stopping in front of the pair.
Zudomon looked over at his fellow guard, a WereGarurumon. He gave the lupine Digimon a nod. "Okay. I'll have WereGarurumon go inform the others of your presence."
"If it's alright…" Paildramon spoke up. She took a step forwards, first looking at Alphamon and Ouryumon, and then at the pair of sentries. "I would like to find Councillor Imperialdramon myself. He's my father and I know my way around. I need to speak with him privately."
"Yeah, I suppose that's okay," the Zudomon permitted, nodding at Paildramon.
Paildramon turned to UlforceVeedramon and Examon, saluting them formally. "I am going to look for my father now, if that's okay. I will just wait outside for all of you once I'm finished," she stated.
"Okay, Paildramon, good luck," UlforceVeedramon responded, smiling a bit. "But you don't have to wait around. I know you want to find your brother."
Paildramon hesitated before shaking her head. "No, it's okay… I'm sure that Father knows where he is. It's my duty to wait for my superior officers," she insisted, although her uncertain voice belied her words.
"If you're sure," Examon said to her, nodding gently. The sizeable, red dragon went and leaned against the nearby wall, his wings taking up a large portion of its surface area.
"Just do what you need to do, Paildramon," UlforceVeedramon encouraged her. He smiled and went over to stand beside Examon.
"Sir…"
Paildramon took in a gentle breath and after looking to the guard to announce her intentions, she began to walk off. Having grown up the daughter of a Councillor, she knew this building well. She had a fair idea of where she might be able to find him…
As Paildramon walked off, the hulking walrus looked back at Alphamon. "Actually, Councillor DORUgoramon is waiting in the Council Room. He said that he was expecting you, Sir Alphamon."
At this peculiar news, Alphamon couldn't help but raise a brow and stroke his armour-clad chin. "Expecting us…?" he mused. DORUgoramon couldn't have heard about them that quickly. Did he simply guess that the Royal Knights would show up?
"Yes. He said that you and Ouryumon could go ahead to the Council Room. We'll let you go ahead so that you can speak to him ahead of the formal meeting," the guard explained, placing his hammer down so that he could push the large pair of doors open, revealing a spacious hallway on the other side.
"Uh, what about us?" UlforceVeedramon asked, gesturing to both himself and Examon.
"Uh…" the Zudomon stalled as he finished pushing the doors all the way open. He turned around with an uneasy and sheepish expression. "Sorry, but the Councillor only mentioned Sir Alphamon and Ouryumon. If you'd be kind enough to wait here until all of the Councillors are gathered for the meeting itself…"
"What? Seriously?" UlforceVeedramon complained, irritation flashing onto his face. "You have to be kidding…"
"It's fine…" Examon insisted, giving UlforceVeedramon a beseeching look. "We'll wait here. It might be a personal meeting, anyways."
Alphamon nodded gratefully. "Thank you. That could be it. We'll see you two in about ten minutes," he assured them.
The cobalt Royal Knight turned to Alphamon. "Are you sure about this, Alphamon? Last time we were here, DORUgoramon was tearing strips off you."
Examon readjusted the heavy lance against his spiked shoulder before looking between UlforceVeedramon and Alphamon. "Was it really that bad?" he questioned. "I thought we were supposed to be allies. They even rented soldiers to us."
"It wasn't that bad. DORUgoramon just has… strong opinions," Alphamon insisted. "We are allies, but…"
"Only when it suits each other," Ouryumon replied, folding his skinny, scaly arms as his scimitars rattled at his sides. "In actuality, the Council of Seven can't stand us. Or, at least, DORUgoramon can't. And he's the loudest voice a lot of the time."
"Why not?" Examon asked, frowning at this admission as he looked down at Ouryumon.
Alphamon raised an index finger. "It's—"
"'It's a long story'," UlforceVeedramon quoted, raising his fingers to his chin and mimicking Alphamon's mannerisms. He turned and looked at Alphamon directly, his levity fading. "…Come on, Alphamon. Tell us. Stop brushing us off. It's getting kind of old."
Alphamon tightened his eyes and lowered his hand. The tug of guilt gnawed at him. He realised that he was hiding yet another secret from the Royal Knights. Yet another thing that he felt ashamed of. He had told himself that he had put his secrets behind him. He wanted to be open with the Royal Knights, but he found himself falling back to his old ways.
"I'm sorry. Yes, alright… Very well, UlforceVeedramon," Alphamon complied, breathing a soft sigh behind his face-encompassing helmet.
He turned towards UlforceVeedramon and Examon, pausing as he thought about what he wanted to say."…DORUgoramon used to be friends with Ouryumon and myself. We were quite close while growing up… We all came from roaming Digi-eggs, so we all ended up in the same orphanage, and we remained friends even after being adopted by our families in New Terminal."
"…Really? I wouldn't have thought it from the way you are now," UlforceVeedramon pointed out.
"Yes, well… Things have a way of happening, don't they?" Alphamon answered heavily. "When the three of us were old enough – at our Adult levels - we all decided to become adventurers. We were still young, so we mostly took small-time jobs – errand work. Everybody has to start somewhere and make names for themselves, after all. We worked together for several years, but… things began to change."
"How?" Examon wondered.
"DORUgoramon got jealous," Ouryumon dismissively spat.
"That's a bit harsh…" Alphamon said to the tall dragon. "It wasn't that simple. Ouryumon and I have always been close… He began to feel as if he were a third wheel. I'm ashamed to admit, but I think we started to exclude DORUgoramon without meaning to. There were a few instances where Ouryumon and I took jobs together without him. I think that hurt him and reinforced the feelings that he already had."
Ouryumon grumbled and folded his arms. He supposed he always did prefer Alphamon's company, and he had felt a bit threatened by DORUgoramon when he was young. He didn't have his complicated feelings sorted out when he was that young, so they often manifested in negative ways. Snide comments, trying to be alone with Alphamon, aggressiveness in general…
"I guess…" Ouryumon reluctantly admitted, glancing away huffily. "Still, he didn't have to be so dramatic."
"DORUgoramon decided that it would be better if we went our separate ways," Alphamon explained. "He left to go adventure on his own. We didn't really part on bad terms… and, by that point, we were each strong enough to fend for ourselves. I regret what happened… but we were still on friendly terms."
"Me and Alphamon went and kept travelling together. Every so often, we'd come home for awhile. Eventually, our jobs got bigger. We found out more about the world, met more people, got stronger…" Ouryumon said. "A lot of time passed, and we eventually made it to our Ultimate forms."
Alphamon nodded. "We still met with DORUgoramon here and there when we were back in New Terminal." Alphamon closed his eyes. "The years passed… until…"
"Until…?" UlforceVeedramon asked, cocking his head to the side.
"The Death-X Incident," Ouryumon spartanly said.
Alphamon stared away from the group. One would have to look closely, but there was a haunted look in his eyes. Despite the glimmer of compunction, he calmly answered. "Yes… That terrible event. So many lives lost needlessly."
"The invasion… I had heard of that. It was one of the reasons why the Four Great Dragons relied on me to be the UDC's protector…" Examon mused thoughtfully. "But what does that have to do with DORUgoramon?"
Alphamon opened his mouth to answer, but before he could, the Zudomon guard approached. "I'm very sorry, Sir, but are you going to see Councillor DORUgoramon?" he hesitantly interrupted. "He wished to speak with you urgently, and I'm afraid there isn't a lot of time to spare…"
Alphamon acknowledged the guard with a nod before turning back to UlforceVeedramon and Examon. "Sorry, but time is short. I can't go into the specifics," he apologised, although a part of him was relieved at the interruption. "I'll just say that… after the Death-X Invasion, things were difficult for X-Antibody Digimon. We were persecuted… even hunted. Digimon were scared, angry, sad… looking for someone to blame. The actions of DORUgoramon and myself… differed. Relations between us have never been the same since then."
"I see…" UlforceVeedramon soberly replied. "That's terrible. I had no idea."
"Yes, it was… And once we established the Order of the Royal Knights and eventually created the Free Area… things only became worse between DORUgoramon and myself. The burgeoning Free Area was considered a threat to the Republic of Node. From their view, we were eating up the autonomous states that were under our influence, when the Republic of Node wished for them to gradually be folded into their sphere of influence once again. The Council of Seven wishes to return to the far, old days, where the Republic of Node had control over most of Eniac. This was back before numerous chaotic events, wars, and the subsequent splintering of different Digimon groups into their own realms undermined their influence. The Council of Seven works with us on security matters, but, politically, they don't view us favourably. They think that we are too militaristic and that we intervene in affairs where we have no business doing so. They think that we are trying to be a law unto ourselves when we have no right. DORUgoramon has become the head of the anti-Royal Knight faction in the Council."
Examon frowned with confusion. "A law unto ourselves? But we have been appointed by Yggdrasil, even if I have only seen it once."
"You met with Yggdrasil too? I don't even remember that happening, Ex-sama," UlforceVeedramon said to him with a wry smile.
"It was after I joined. You must have been away on a mission," Examon dryly responded. "And, anyways, the Four Holy Beasts also accept the Royal Knights' role."
"The Holy Beasts' tacit acceptance and the support of a being who only we have direct access to and can confirm the existence of… is not enough for some Digimon," Alphamon explained. "At any rate, that is more or less the reason why things are tense between him and me. That's all I can tell you right now. Ouryumon and I need to go."
"Yeah, okay… Thanks for telling us, Alphamon," UlforceVeedramon said, smiling appreciatively. "Good luck."
"You guys won't be missing much," Ouryumon informed the pair of Royal Knights. The Captain of the Strike Forces looked at Alphamon and then walked ahead, making his way down the hall. "We better not keep him waiting any longer. You know how he gets."
Alphamon smiled slightly and walked alongside Ouryumon. The pair made their way down the length of the grand, carpeted hallway. Neither of them knew what to expect from Councillor DORUgoramon. The fact that he was summoning them alone was peculiar. They just hoped that they could put their complicated history aside for the moment.
Councillor Imperialdramon walked down a spacious corridor, wide enough to fit his expansive, draconic body. He moved at an agitated pace as he walked away from the giant door leading to his office.
His azure tail twitched and tapped against the marble floor with every step. His head was bowed, his eyes were deeply furrowed, and his lips were pursed enough to cause wrinkles at the corners of his mouth. He was a dragon that seemed to have the weight of the world on his back.
He was so focused on what weighed on his mind that he didn't notice the Digimon who turned a corner, down the hallway ahead of him. The distant figure was but a flickering blur in the corner of his eye.
"Father…" a familiar voice said.
So engrossed in his concerns was Imperialdramon, that the word went in one ear and out the other. He didn't even really notice, so it was muddled and put aside in favour of the more pressing issues at hand.
"Father," the voice repeated insistently. This time, it was sharper and firmer, loud enough to garner his attention.
This time, Imperialdramon blinked and looked up. That tone, that willful determination. It was familiar. On a second thought, he was instantly able to place the voice, but he wasn't able to believe it.
The dragon councillor stared down the roomy walkway to see Paildramon marching towards him. She moved with purpose. Her clawed feet tread over the crimson rug that stretched down the length of the marble corridor, covering its center.
Imperialdramon frowned, his monochrome, red eyes creasing as he stared at his daughter. At first, he wasn't sure if he was seeing things due to his stress and lack of sleep. "…Paildramon? Is that you?" he asked, staring at the slender, humanoid dragon.
"Yes, it is," she replied. There was a brisk, stony edge to her words. She walked towards the large, paternal dragon, and came to a stop in front of his face. "Hello, Father…"
"Paildramon? What in Yggdrasil's name are you doing here?" Councillor Imperialdramon ardently questioned, his voice almost demanding an answer.
Paildramon stared up at him, her gaze unwavering. "I came with a vanguard team of Royal Knights. Alphamon, Examon, and UlforceVeedramon have come to speak with the Council of Seven. We heard about the Demon Lords' army, so we are here to lend our support."
"You shouldn't be here…" Imperialdramon muttered in a soft growl of frustration.
Paildramon frowned contrarily and cocked her brow behind her red helmet. "…Do you mean the Royal Knights in general? Or do you mean me personally?"
"You…" Imperialdramon breathed irately. He took in a calming breath. "Any of you…"
His answer was unclear, yet clear enough for Paildramon to confirm her suspicions. Quietly and calmly, she stood up straighter and prevented her steel fingers from curling into a gentle fist. "I am a member of the Order of the Royal Knights now. I am the second-in-command to Leftenant HippoGriffomon of the Aerial Strike Forces. My place is here. It is both my duty to follow orders, and my wish to be here, defending our home."
"It is dangerous, Paildramon. You have no idea what you are up against!" Imperialdramon contended, a scowl on his aged, draconic face as he stared into her eyes. "You weren't around when the Heavenly War took place. You don't know the power that the Demon Lords have. You don't know the horror of the Night of Falling Stars! You shouldn't have come here…"
"You don't think I can handle myself…" Paildramon spoke, almost as much to herself as to her father. Paildramon wished to say more, but she restrained herself. There was so much more that she wanted to say… but now was not the time. There were more important things. So, she closed her eyes and spoke calmly. "I may not have seen the horror of the Night of Falling Stars…" Paildramon opened her eyes and locked them with Imperialdramon's. "However, I know the horror that will befall New Terminal if the Royal Knights don't help defend the city. If the Seven Great Demon Lords are as powerful as you say, then that's all the more reason why you should accept the Royal Knights' help. They were the ones who tipped the scales in the Heavenly War."
Imperialdramon gritted his sharp, draconic teeth and elicited a soft rumble from his thick, jowly throat. It vexed him to admit that she had a point. "Rm… Even so, it is not that simple. This is not the Royal Knights' problem! This is our city. This is the ancient, venerable city of New Terminal – the holy capital of not only the Republic of Node, but rightfully all of Eniac. This sacred city was the shining beacon that lifted our ancestors out of the desolation and destruction of Milleniummon, and into the light of a new cycle. We cannot allow the Royal Knights to simply march in and save us, showing us up once again! They cannot simply interfere in every single area in the Digital World, simply because they claim to uphold Net Security at Yggdrasil's request. We too are ordained by Yggdrasil – we have the root of the World Tree growing outside of our city, and we bear the sacred Yggdrasil Codex. Not only that, but the Four Holy Beasts have also recognised our city. We will not allow the Royal Knights to undermine our authority yet again."
"So, you would put tens of thousands of Digimon in harm's way because of your pride, Father?" Paildramon asked sharply and pointedly. She fixed her eyes with his, refusing to look away. "Whatever this city and the Republic ought to be… it will be nothing if this city were to fall. Right now, the politics of the situation doesn't matter. The Royal Knights are powerful and righteous; we need them to drive the Demon Lords out of the Republic of Node. We both know that the Republic's military cannot do it on their own."
"We have thousands of professional soldiers, Gaioumon's strategies, and thick, defensive walls," the reluctant councillor debated.
"It isn't enough, Father…" Paildramon urged him. "The Royal Knights haven't come here to make a political show of force, or so that the Council would owe them. They came here because they want to keep these civilians from being killed. I'm not just saying this because I'm working for them; I really believe that they are our best hope against the Demon Lords. What will it look like if the Council refuses their help only for the city to fall? What will you tell the families of those who die?"
Imperialdramon grimaced and growled stubbornly, but the deep trill soon softened. He sighed and looked down at the floor. "Curses. …I suppose you're right… We do need them right now…" he reluctantly conceded. "However… I am simply one voice out of the seven. I will put the case to the others, but I know for a fact that DORUgoramon will not be easily persuaded…"
Paildramon sighed. "Thank you…" she answered.
However, despite her fleeting relief, she continued to stare seriously at her father. With the official business out of the way, she could get to the real reason why she wanted to speak with him. The tight, uneasy nipping at her heart began to re-emerge as her mind refocused on the whereabouts of her little brother.
"Father…" Paildramon began, her eyes not looking away from his even for a moment. "I can't find ExVeemon anywhere. I went by our home earlier and Tyrannomon said ExVeemon had been gone since last night. He said that he saw you leaving first thing in the morning. Did you see ExVeemon that morning?"
Councillor Imperialdramon Dragon Mode grimaced softly. He broke his gaze with Paildramon and his ruby eyes drifted off to the side. "…No, I didn't. He wasn't in his room this morning. He must have snuck out during the night…" he responded listlessly.
Paildramon's eyes tightened and she frowned at her father. "So… you didn't hear him at all? You have no idea where he is…?" Paildramon urged him, her voice becoming firm as her desperation grew.
"No…" Imperialdramon reluctantly said, still looking to the side.
"He was with you when you heard about the Demon Lords' army, wasn't he? He shouldn't be out there right now. If he is out wandering the streets when the Demon Lords attack, he'll be in extreme danger!" Paildramon ardently explained, clenching her fists. "We need to find him. We don't have much time. Can't you send out a team to look for him?"
"No, Paildramon," Imperialdramon sharply responded. "The Republic's military is strained enough as it is. I can't ask them to run personal favours for us when they already have so much to deal with. We can't spare a single Digimon." He turned his stare back to his daughter. "I'm sure that one of the patrols will find him and pick him up. They're looking for straggling civilians, so I'm sure they will bring him back here. You mustn't worry about it."
"How can I not…?" Paildramon asked, matching his stare with a rivalrous one of her own. "ExVeemon can be so reckless… What if he thought about joining the fight against the Demon Lords? He isn't remotely capable, even against a single demon soldier…"
Imperialdramon grimaced and gritted his teeth. "Rgh… As I said, Paildramon, leave it to the patrols to deal with. You have your own responsibilities to deal with, and so do I. ExVeemon will realise that he is better off where it's safe, I'm sure."
Paildramon narrowed her eyes. She stared at her father suspiciously. "I don't know how you can be so calm…" she said. Her words were pointed, but her voice didn't waver above her usual calm contralto.
"Do I look calm to you?! My city is on the verge of destruction! Everything is at stake! Not simply my son!" Imperialdramon snapped defensively, his eye twitching with agitation.
Paildramon calmly took the outburst of emotion and continued to gaze back at him, still unsatisfied with his answer.
After a tense pause, Imperialdramon winced sheepishly and glanced aside again. "…You said that the Royal Knights wish to speak with the Council?" he followed up, his voice low and soft.
"Yes, but—" Paildramon began.
"Then I must go and meet with them. I do not have any more time to waste," Councillor Imperialdramon informed her. He began moving his giant body around her and made his way past. "I'm sorry, but I have to go, Paildramon. There is so much that I have to do."
"Father, wait…" Paildramon pleaded, turning around to try to stop him. However, the large, azure dragon kept on walking. "Father…"
Imperialdramon stopped and glanced over his armoured shoulder. "…Do be safe, Paildramon. And don't worry about your brother. I'm sure he will be fine," he told her. "I may have a free moment later, but I doubt it. Goodbye."
With that, Paildramon watched as Imperialdramon wandered off down the vast hall as he headed towards the meeting room.
She was left alone in the spacious corridor. The dark grey sky could barely be seen out of the tinted, translucent windows that lined the right hand walls. The area was quiet apart from the distant, heavy footsteps of her father walking away. Paildramon stood in place, remaining with only her darkening thoughts.
Imperialdramon seemed uneasy and skittish. She wasn't sure if that was just because of the dire situation or if… She didn't want to finish that thought. Even so, something didn't sit right with her. She felt as though he was keeping something from her.
The dragon woman slowly turned around and gazed down the hallway that her father had walked down. She could just see the blue of his tail as it curled and disappeared around a corner.
Thoughts of the worst case scenario began to invade Paildramon's mind. As much as she didn't want to believe it, she couldn't help but fear the very likely possibility. Her wide crimson eyes darkened and her fists loosened.
"Father… Please tell me that you didn't…"
Meanwhile, Alphamon walked down the long hall alongside Ouryumon. He glanced around at all of the paintings and portraits that decorated the walls. They were mostly of notable Councillors of the past, brushed with expert strokes of oil and pigment or sometimes watercolours. They were all drawn in regal and stately poses and the style of portrait were masterful and realistic.
As the pair reached the end of the vast and roomy hallway, the portraits became more contemporary, showing the current Councillors rather than ones of the past.
Alphamon and Ouryumon stopped in front of the tall, wide, engraved pair of double doors at the end of the corridor. As the two guards moved to open the heavy doors, Alphamon and Ouryumon both looked to the painting to their left. It was a portrait of DORUgoramon, who stood in a calm, confident, and noble pose. His armour was resplendent, his broad wings were spread dominantly, his digicore interface shimmered like a ruby, and there was a powerful look in his serious eyes as he stared at the viewer.
"Pssht. I wonder how much that cost," Ouryumon dismissively scoffed, folding his arms and staring at the painting, thoroughly unimpressed. "Talk about self-indulgent."
"Ouryumon…" Alphamon beseeched him, looking over at the tall dragon. "We've come here to help. Please don't make any snide comments to DORUgoramon."
"I won't if he doesn't," Ouryumon answered with exaggerated indignation, the corner of his draconic mouth curling upwards into a grin.
Alphamon smiled a bit and looked forwards, watching as the pair of doors opened before them. They stepped up to the arching threshold and looked inside the council room. The interior was vast and spacious, large enough to fit multiple Spinomon. The wide ceiling was vaulted and there were several pillars skirting the wide room in order to support the ceiling over such a spacious surface area.
They tentatively stepped inside. Their feet touched the smooth, glossy surface of the floor, which was that of a deep, blue marble. The walls were made of polished stone, adorned with sculpted ornamentation and paintings. The stone surfaces were illuminated by small, floating glowforms that cast light over the Council chambers.
The guests' eyes were drawn to the center of the room. In the exact center of the space was a heptagonal table made of a smooth, polished, black stone. Around each of the seven sides were seven seats, each built specifically to suit each of the Councillor's sizes. Standing being the table was a tall, lavender and silver form – larger than either Alphamon or Ouryumon.
It was DORUgoramon. The dragon Councillor opted not to sit in his chair. Instead, he stood at attention and faced the pair as they walked in.
His clawed hands were flat on the top of the table, gripping the surface lightly. His tail intermittently swayed back and forth with agitation. DORUgoramon's head was bowed as he riveted his yellow eyes on Alphamon and Ouryumon.
"If it isn't Alphamon and Ouryumon…" DORUgoramon greeted them, although the cadence of his voice seemed laced with tiny barbs. He raised his draconic head, his lips parted slightly, revealing his jagged teeth for but a moment. He straightened his body up and stood proudly, and he did his best to maintain a calm façade.
"DORUgoramon," Alphamon acknowledged, nodding as he walked over to the near side of the table, opposite that of the Councillor.
Ouryumon wandered over as well, walking up to Alphamon's side. He folded his arms and looked at DORUgoramon sceptically. "Hey. You wanted to see us?"
DORUgoramon didn't answer immediately. He closed his clawed fists atop the table's surface, the movement gentle, but the grip tight. There seemed to be a faint flicker of flames within the nooks of his hands.
Alphamon frowned slightly at his silence. The atmosphere began to feel slightly tense and strained. Alphamon decided to put it down to the extremely stressful situation that DORUgoramon was in, with the Demon Lords at their door. He extended his hand to DORUgoramon. "How did you know that we were here?" Alphamon questioned, finding it odd that he knew of their presence before they arrived at Terminal Hall.
DORUgoramon lifted his draconic, antlered head and stared at Alphamon, his eyes bearing deep into the Royal Knight's.
And then, suddenly, DORUgoramon laughed. It was a hollow and spiteful laugh, drenched in irony.
"Hah…! How did I know…? Because you announced your arrival with all the conceited pomp and ceremony that I've come to expect from you, Lord of the Empty Seat," DORUgoramon bitterly explained. There was a toothy, adversarial smirk on DORUgoramon's face.
Alphamon blinked, DORUgoramon's abrupt hostility taking him off guard. "Pardon me…?"
The silver dragon grunted. "I was out meeting with Commander BlitzGreymon to discuss the strength of our defences when I heard quite a commotion from the fleeing civilians. Curious, I went to investigate… Then, what should I find? You, giving one of your little inspirational speeches to my civilians, promising that everything will be okay…" DORUgoramon acerbically informed him.
Ouryumon snarled a bit, not liking the tone of his voice one bit. "And what the hell's the problem with that?" he demanded. "They needed a bit of hope!"
DORUgoramon ignored Ouryumon's choleric words. Instead, he kept staring at Alphamon. "…Tell me, Alphamon, do you really feel like you have the right to address the citizens of New Terminal after all this time?" he questioned accusingly, his eyes sharpened like swords. "You spend most of your life everywhere other than New Terminal, yet when you show up once or twice a year, you think you have the right to treat the Digimon here as if you are one of them?"
Alphamon's brows lowered and he stared back at DORUgoramon with a mixture of offence and confusion. "DORUgoramon, I don't know what you're talking about… Have I offended you in some way?" he wondered.
"You don't even realise, do you?" DORUgoramon spat. "You think that you can just show up here and do whatever you please. You think you can just step in, your cape rippling against the wind, holy sword in hand, and give some encouraging words to Digimon who you don't even know. You think you can promise them that it's going to be okay, even when it's not. That's just like the Royal Knights, isn't it? Stepping in to save the day without thinking about anything other than your creed and your own egos."
"Now see here, Councillor," Alphamon began.
"You see here, Alphamon! I will not be patronized by you," DORUgoramon interrupted sharply. "You think that because you may or may not have met Yggdrasil – because Yggdrasil supposedly gave you directives to defend the Digital World – that means you can simply trample over everybody and everything! You Royal Knights never change… You think that you can just show up and do things unilaterally. You're the answer to the problem that nobody asked for. You have no respect for the way that we do things – not our politics, our bureaucracy, our culture. It isn't just the Republic of Node either. You're the same way with all of the other lesser states as well: the Mesozoic Kingdom, the Metal Empire, the Heavenly Choir, the Beast Clans, and the list goes on. You're always sticking your noses in where they aren't wanted."
Alphamon stepped forwards and placed his hand on the surface of the table. There was a quiet strength in his movements. "We simply try to bring order to chaotic situations. The Royal Knights are here to help people. We don't intervene where we aren't needed. Despite what you may think, DORUgoramon, but our primary concern is not trying to make you look bad so that we can score political points. Frankly, we have more important things to deal with."
"I'm not that conceited, Alphamon," DORUgoramon growled with a bitter leer. "You are the conceited one… What bothers me is that you think that you are entitled to intervene in matters that don't concern you. These 'more important things' that you think give you permission to act however you want. You, Alphamon, set yourself apart from other Digimon… You put yourself on a mountain, high above everybody else. You look down with judgment, and when you see something you don't like, you swoop down and correct it whenever it suits you. The Royal Knights of yours are no different. They put themselves above everybody else, acting on the alleged orders of Yggdrasil, as if that's an excuse for flouting our sovereignty…"
"If that's what you think, then you really know nothing about the Royal Knights or what our purpose is, Councillor," Alphamon responded, doing his best to remain calm under the barrage of criticism. "Despite your erroneous perception, we do respect other Digimon and their rights."
"Yet when a threat is deemed big enough, you march into our territory with your band of knights and your army, and you take command unilaterally. Even when the Republic's military is dealing with an issue, you still feel the need to swoop in and save the day! The Royal Knights are simply an extension of your own ego, Alphamon. You like to be the hero who saves the day. You like to be the one who rights wrongs - the one who never lets anybody down. …Guilty conscience, perhaps?" DORUgoramon cryptically stated.
"What…?" Alphamon questioned in a near whisper.
"Look, asshole!" Ouryumon finally vented, furious at the insults being thrown at Alphamon. "We came here to help you and your damn army! The Demon Lords are more than you can handle! You should be thanking us! Are you gonna turn us down and try to face them on your own? You planning to cut your nose off just to spite your ugly face?! Think of how many would die!"
DORUgoramon finally turned his critical eyes to Ouryumon. "'Think of how many would die'…?" he asked, his deep voice quivering with rage and emotion. "I have thought about nothing else since yesterday… I haven't been able to sleep because I have been thinking about how many of my soldiers – my civilians – are about to die… And why are they about to die? Why, it's because of the Royal Knights…"
"How the hell did you work that one out?!" Ouryumon demanded, clenching his clawed fists.
DORUgoramon stared at the pair coldly. The flames of his rage were tempered by cold resentment. "…The Royal Knights stepped into the Heavenly War, which was nothing more than a civil war. You didn't have to, but you did, because that's what you do. You made enemies of the Demon Lords. You changed the tide of battle, escalated the conflict, and drove the Demon Lords to commit the Night of Falling Stars," he chided them. "But more than that, you locked the Demon Lords away in the Dark Area, just like you did with DarkKnightmon."
Alphamon grimaced and glared at the dragon Councillor defensively. "You can't seriously blame us for the Night of Falling Stars, DORUgoramon. That blame rests squarely at the feet of the Demon Lords."
The steel drake grunted. "Maybe, but you can't deny that you played a role. However… this was just a disaster waiting to happen… First, DarkKnightmon escapes, and severely corrupts the Dark Area's firewall in his quest for revenge against you… Now, you degrade the Dark Area even further," DORUgoramon accused, raising his hand and pointing his claw towards Alphamon. "The last time you came here, you asked for our help in preventing the problem that you caused. Yet, you went and made it worse! If it weren't for you – if it weren't for the Royal Knights deciding that it was there holy duty to step in and fight against Chaosdramon and the Metal Empire, then the Dark Area's barrier never would have split open and the Demon Lords wouldn't be threatening to raze this city to the ground! So, yes, I have been thinking about how many of my fellow Digimon will die!"
Alphamon's eyes winced, but he didn't shy away. He didn't break his gaze with DORUgoramon. "…You are looking for somebody to blame. However, you are looking in the wrong place. The Royal Knights are not your enemy… We want to help you. We want to prevent all that death."
"Do you now…? Or do you just want to be the hero again, Alphamon?" DORUgoramon questioned, his jagged teeth pressed firmly together. "Do you ever think…? Do you ever think about all the Digimon that you drag into your quests for justice? Do you think about how many of them will die?"
Without missing a beat, Alphamon replied. "All the time…"
As he stared at DORUgoramon, the Councillor could see the weight in his golden irises, not unlike his own. DORUgoramon snarled and looked down at his clawed hands. "How can you say that… when you isolate yourself in a castle? The lofty Order of the Royal Knights…"
Ouryumon snarled and glared at the Councillor. "Don't you dare question Alphamon's heart!" he shouted, jumping to Alphamon's defence. "You have no idea how much Alphamon cares about other Digimon! …Actually, you do! You were our friend! You know Alphamon! He never once hesitated to help a Digimon in need! And that includes you, DORU! You ungrateful asshole!"
DORUgoramon growled contentiously. "Ungrateful? What am I supposed to be grateful for?! Abandoning me? Starting the Order of the Royal Knights?!"
"Oh, that's it! You're jealous! You can't handle that Alphamon has risen to be one of the best fighters and most influential Digimon in the Digital World! You still resent us after all this time!" Ouryumon fired back heatedly.
"Jealous?! You don't know the first thing about it, Ouryumon! Don't judge everyone by your own low standards!" the steel dragon argued. "I have worked my way up to where I am despite all of the odds! Do you know the adversity that I have had to face?! The prejudice?! No, you don't! Because you haven't had to face it like I have. You have been a mon unto yourself, Alphamon. What I feel is frustration that we all have to dance to the Royal Knights' whims!"
Alphamon turned and placed a hand on Ouryumon's shoulder, trying to calm him down before he got any more worked up. He looked back at the dragon councillor, separated from him by the table. "You can criticise the Royal Knights, DORUgoramon. You can even hate me if you want…" Alphamon firmly explained. "But don't let petty politics and personal feelings cloud your mind. Don't let your needless hatred get in the way of what's best for everybody."
The black Royal Knight stepped forwards and placed his hands on the surface of the table, staring across at his childhood friend with cold determination. "I made a promise to the Digimon of New Terminal… I intend to keep it. I will personally see to it that the Demon Lords do not destroy this city. I also intend to defend this city whether you approve of it or not. You can hate me for that if you want… However, it would be in our best interests to work together, so that as few Digimon die as possible."
DORUgoramon locked eyes with Alphamon once again, sparring with him in a battle of wills and words. "Yes, I heard your speech, Alphamon… I find it rich that you said that you wouldn't turn your back and run away…" he bitterly said. "You turned your back on New Terminal already when you joined the Order."
DORUgoramon closed his eyes and stood up straight. He stretched his broad wings and let his arms hang at his sides. "No… Not just that… You turned your back on all of us… You turned your back on me."
Alphamon frowned. "All of who? Stop it with your veiled insults. I haven't turned my back on anyone."
"Is this about what happened when we were adventuring? Because we took a couple jobs without you?!" Ouryumon derisively demanded. "That was so long ago! That was nothing! Get over it, you big baby!"
"Not that…" DORUgoramon opened his eyes and stared at Alphamon. His words were no longer fiery and visceral. Instead, they were cold and accusing, but also tired and hollow. "I mean the Death-X Incident…"
The very name pierced into Alphamon's heart and stopped him in his tracks. His look was that of wistful shock. The memories washed through him, stinging at his insides as he took in DORUgoramon's words.
"That…" Ouryumon stalled and grimaced, looking over at Alphamon with worry. "That wasn't…"
"There is no denying it. There is no distancing ourselves from it…" DORUgoramon stated, gazing at Alphamon, his eyes softening for just a moment. "You and I… We are the only Digimon with this form. DORUmon… DORUgamon… DORUguremon… The only Digimon in the world… That is, until…"
"The Death-X Incident," Alphamon whispered grimly.
DORUgoramon nodded. "They all looked like us. All the Death-X monsters… They were like us, but they were rotting, murderous, cannibalistic… They swept across the continent, slaughtering everything that they came across, killing indiscriminately, eating their digicores…" he remembered bitterly. "I remember, when I first saw one, gorging on some poor Digimon… the utter disgust and self-loathing that I felt. The very thought that I was like that… thing…"
The dragon Councillor stared at Alphamon. "I know that you felt the same way… but it was clearly worse for you. All three of us… we were created by Yggdrasil. We were all roaming Digi-eggs… X-Antibody Digimon, and we have these…" DORUgoramon tapped the ruby digicore interface on his brow. "We were created for a reason… but why on earth did those monsters appear, looking just like you and me? Except you were the first… You are the oldest of us… The first Digimon. The prototype. The Alpha. So, you…"
"They…" Alphamon placed his hands on the table and bent over slightly, staring at the table's black surface and seeing his reflection in the smooth, marble layer. He could see the pain and remorse in his own eyes as he stared back at himself. It reminded himself of that moment at the beginning of the Death-X Invasion, when he stared at a Death-XDORUguremon and saw a black, evil, mindless monster who looked just like him staring back. It was like a twisted mirror. A hellish reflection. A nightmare.
"…They were based off my data…" Alphamon whispered at the memory. "Before the Death-X Incident, I was captured by a mad scientist. GrandDracumon… While in his captivity, he performed tests on me and took my data… He was testing the X-Antibody… My X-Antibody, my data… it was to create the Death-X monsters and unleash them onto the Digital World," he grimly recalled. "I was their prototype."
DORUgoramon nodded. "Maybe… but I was still just like you, even if our Ultimate forms are not the same…" he remembered. "You and I both fought together. Alphamon and DORUgoramon… No... all of us fought against the Death-X plague… But after we wiped out every last one of them…" He stared at Alphamon critically. "That's when you stopped fighting…"
Alphamon was silent. He didn't attempt to defend himself this time. He didn't even look up. He found himself unable to look either DORUgoramon or Ouryumon in the eyes.
"You say that you would never run away… but you ran away in the moment when Digimon needed you most," DORUgoramon bitterly chastised. "When the Death-X Digimon were gone, you ran away and hid. You couldn't handle the shame and the guilt, could you? For being the source of all that mindless destruction… That's why you cut all of your ties and ran away, up to that mountain of yours… I hear you even broke Ouryumon's heart and burnt your bridges with him too."
Ouryumon snarled at DORUgoramon for bringing up the painful memory, but his growl soon petered into a worried grimace. He turned his head and stared at Alphamon, who continued to gaze down, hunched over the table. "Alphamon…"
DORUgoramon's eyes narrowed as he stared at the obsidian Royal Knight. "Even now, you try to avoid thinking about it… You carry the burden of guilt on your shoulders, but you refuse to even try to cast it off… You stayed up on that mountain for more years than I can remember. You became 'The Aloof Hermit'… You stood apart from everything, everyone…"
"You refused to get involved in the Digital World's affairs ever again. Even when your friends were fighting against huge threats, you still didn't step down and get involved. You stood above us, when we needed you the most," DORUgoramon explained.
A scaly grimace formed on DORUgoramon's face. "After the Death-X Invasion, people had heard that the Death-X Digimon had X-Antibodies… The whole X-Antibody phenomenon was pretty new at the time – the subspecies was just starting to get noticed when the invasion broke out, and Digimon already thought it was strange… After that invasion, when Digimon heard of the connection, they started to persecute us. I still remember all of the insults thrown at me. The casual bigotry was one thing, but… there were mobs… squads, even… hunting X-Antibody Digimon down, in some places."
"I didn't know…" Alphamon spoke, in a near whisper. His regret laced his words, but he couldn't find a way to defend himself against the accusations. "If I had any idea that that was going on, I would have-"
"You would have what? Come down? Stood up for us?" DORUgoramon sarcastically interrupted. "Would you, Alphamon? What could you have done for us when you couldn't even stand up for yourself?"
Alphamon didn't respond.
DORUgoramon stared at Alphamon. "You weren't there… You were safe in your mountain, wallowing in self-pity… You ran away, but, Alphamon, I stayed. I wanted to prove them all wrong! …Even though my form was the face of that devastation, I fought and I clawed and I never stopped resisting the adversity that I faced. I got into politics and demanded that X-Antibody Digimon received the same rights and the same dignity as everybody else. Some Digimon have even tried to kill me. But, despite all of that, here I am… Councillor DORUgoramon of the Council of Seven, elected by Digimon who used to hate us for having different digicores… What have you done, Aloof Hermit?"
Alphamon grimaced and tightened his fists on the surface of the table. "…I… I have fought too, DORUgoramon…" he explained, his usually calm voice slightly uneven. He forced himself to look up and meet DORUgoramon's critical eyes. "I am not that same coward anymore. Every day, I do my best to atone. That is why I refuse to turn my eyes away when I see something wrong. It's because I hid – because I stood apart from the Digital World... and because I caused it. That's why I can't turn my back on the Digimon of the Digital World. No longer will I turn a blind eye to injustice… It is for that very reason that I agreed to form the Royal Knights!"
"The Royal Knights… You can use sheer strength and force of arms to achieve many goals, but that alone does not change Digimons' hearts, Alphamon," DORUgoramon informed him.
"I am well aware of that, DORUgoramon," Alphamon responded, seeming to reignite his fighting spirit. His eyes blazed with his new found determination. "That is why the Royal Knights do not simply impose our will on everyone around us. We talk, we debate, and most importantly, we fight with the strength of our hearts, rather than just the strength of our swords. We will protect the Digimon who need protecting, no matter who they are or where they are. That is our creed as the Royal Knights! We won't let petty things like boundaries or species or attributes get in the way of helping ordinary Digimon. That is why we have come here today, DORUgoramon! We have come to put our hearts and souls into protecting the Digimon of this city!"
Alphamon stared into DORUgoramon, showing him the strength of his heart. "I promised myself that I would never let a tragedy like the Death-X Incident to happen again, so long as I can help it. I promised that I would never run and never hide from my responsibilities again. …I won't hide from who I am again," he declared. "I will not let the Demon Lords destroy this city."
A small smile formed at the corners of DORUgoramon's mouth before flattening out. "Hm… Very well…"
"And furthermore, you cannot accuse me of being both an isolationist and an interventionist at the same time," Alphamon added wryly. "I am either one or the other."
"Very well, I'll stick to just one…" DORUgoramon said, a gentle touch of levity in his low, exhausted voice. "…What made you finally come down from the mountain, Alphamon?"
"…My friends," Alphamon replied affectionately. He looked at Ouryumon and gave him a soft smile.
Ouryumon smiled back at him. The golden dragon looked back at DORUgoramon. "We didn't let him take no for an answer."
"You were all quite forceful about it… Particularly Omegamon," Alphamon recalled, smiling slightly as he scratched his cheek. "Those bruises lasted for over a month… It was one of the longer fights of my career."
"Hm… I wish I could have been there myself," DORUgoramon murmured, half-grinning. However, he caught himself when he heard the sudden creak of the doors.
Alphamon and Ouryumon turned around at the abrupt noise and saw the entrance doors suddenly open wide.
"DORUgoramon? What are you doing?" a female voice said. "You haven't started without us, have you?"
"I wouldn't think of it, Angewomon," DORUgoramon sarcastically replied, watching as the female angel Councillor appeared in the doorway.
The remaining six Councillors: Councillor Imperialdramon, Rosemon, Angewomon, Butenmon, MegaSeadramon, and Okuwamon, began funnelling into the meeting room, one-by one. The argument had gone on so long that their recess had ended and they were returning to their meeting.
"Then what were you doing here with Alphamon and Ouryumon?" Rosemon asked him suspiciously.
"Simply clearing the air," DORUgoramon answered cryptically.
"Ohoh. That sounds ominous," Councillor Okuwamon spoke.
"We are in a very ominous situation," Butenmon reminded him.
Alphamon and Ouryumon moved out of the way to allow the six to approach their respective chairs around the table. As MegaSeadramon's large body – the last in the row – slithered inside and out of the view of the doorway, they also noticed UlforceVeedramon and Examon walk in afterwards.
UlforceVeedramon gave the pair a wave, while Examon nodded and made their way over to them.
The last Digimon to enter the room before the doors closed was the lean, dark figure of Gaioumon. The Sitting Advisor gave the Royal Knights a cool stare of acknowledgment before walking over the Council of Seven's side.
"How did it go?" UlforceVeedramon asked, whispering to the pair as the Councillors all settled into their seats around the table. "You look pretty rough…"
"It was… quite lively," Alphamon admitted enigmatically. Despite his playful words, on the inside, Alphamon was somewhat drained after the heated argument and the bitter memories. However, he was a professional and he placed those emotions to the side for the sake of the greater good.
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Royal Knights," Councillor Angewomon began, looking over at the four guests. "And I apologise that we aren't meeting you in the Embassy Room, but, as you are well aware, these are very pressing times and we don't have the luxury of time."
"That is quite alright, Councillor. Thank you for sparing the time to meet with us. We are well aware of the dangers of the Demon Lords, so that is why we are here to meet with you," Alphamon explained, maintaining a deep, professional voice.
"I think we can guess what brings you here," Councillor Imperialdramon spoke, staring over his shoulder at the Royal Knights. "But why don't you tell us specifically?"
"Alright," UlforceVeedramon said, taking a step forwards. "Our scouts have informed us about the Demon Lords' army heading towards New Terminal. It doesn't take a genius to guess that they plan to attack or besiege this city. We also know that the Demon Lords have hostile intentions, so we decided to send the Royal Knights and our Order's military to New Terminal to help bolster your defences."
Examon nodded in agreement. "We want to help you drive the Demon Lords off from New Terminal, as well as the Republic of Node as a whole. They are immensely dangerous," he added.
"Are the rest of the Royal Knights and your Order here as well?" Rosemon questioned, tapping her scarlet fingernails on the table.
"Not yet," Alphamon explained. "We are the vanguard team. Gankoomon, Paildramon, and the Greymon Five are also here, but the rest are lagging behind. Logistically, we can't transport all of them at once, so we have come ahead to aid in whatever way we can."
"I see…" Councillor Okuwamon stated, folding his arms across his silver, stag beetle chest. "When do you expect the rest of them to arrive?"
"It is the morning now… Perhaps not until midnight," Alphamon explained. "I'm sure you know the difficulties of transporting a large army over long distances. It cannot be done in a short amount of time."
"Yes, that is correct," Gaioumon concurred, his voice cold, yet smooth. He stared at Alphamon and the others. "So, until those reinforcements arrive…"
"It is just us," Alphamon confirmed. He looked around at each of the seven Councillors. "I know that not all of you enjoy the way that we do things, but… this situation is extremely dire. We want to help you. We cannot stand by while New Terminal is sacked and razed. Please, accept our offer of help. I assure you, that our offer is entirely altruistic; we want nothing in return. …We want to work together with you, not supersede you."
The Council of Seven was quiet at first. There were a few furtive looks and hushed murmurs between the Councillors.
"As much as I don't want to, we should hear them out," Imperialdramon whispered.
"Isn't it their fault for going to war with Chaosdramon?" Rosemon murmured.
"It was Chaosdramon's madness that caused that," Angewomon argued. "We need the Royal Knights now more than ever."
"…If I may," Gaioumon spoke up. "The tactical situation is such that we will need every branch that we can cling to. We are facing down at least five of the Demon Lords. It is unknown how many will take part in the attack, but we must assume the worst. I believe that we should accept the Royal Knights' offer of help."
"I do believe that this is a matter of survival, at this stage," Alphamon emphasized, staring at DORUgoramon.
DORUgoramon matched his gaze, staring back at him. There was a reluctance, a rivalry, in his manner, but also a resignation. "…Hmph… I am willing to agree under one condition… You are all to work under Gaioumon's strategies. Having two independent forces trying to fight the same enemy is a recipe for confusion and disaster."
"I am inclined to agree with that condition," Gaioumon stated, his cool gaze locking onto the Royal Knights to discern their reactions. "If you would be so kind…"
Alphamon frowned but turned and looked at Examon, UlforceVeedramon, and Ouryumon for their opinions. Ouryumon seemed like he swallowed something sour, but he didn't speak up in protest. Examon nodded at Alphamon, while UlforceVeedramon shrugged, indicating his acceptance.
"…Very well," Alphamon agreed. "We can agree to that."
"In that case… We would graciously have your support," Councillor Angewomon agreed. "We cannot afford to turn our noses up at any offer of help under these conditions.
"Yes, having the Royal Knights on our side would certainly help to tip the balance of power," Councillor Rosemon concurred. "I am hoping that the four of you will be enough to keep the Demon Lords at bay until your reinforcements arrive…"
Councillor Imperialdramon sighed. He remembered Paildramon's words to her, and he knew that she had a point. "Very well… We do need the support right now…" he admitted.
Alphamon nodded and turned his attention to Councillor DORUgoramon. DORUgoramon leered at Alphamon. There was still a touch of fire in his ember eyes. "…You agreed to our condition… and you did make the effort to come here and work with us…" DORUgoramon released a soft sigh. "Very well. We are happy to have the support. …Thank you."
Alphamon smiled. "Thank you for accepting it…" he responded.
"You'll have no qualm from me," Councillor MegaSeadramon added.
"Nor me," Councillor Butenmon agreed.
"Me neither," Councillor Okuwamon said, nodding his bladed head.
"Then we are all in agreement," Angewomon said succinctly. "The Royal Knights will help us rid the Republic of Node of this unholy scourge."
DORUgoramon nodded and gestured to the guards to open the doors. "I am afraid that we cannot spend any further time on discussing this," he impatiently told the Royal Knights. "We have many matters that we still must see to before the blade falls."
"I understand," Alphamon replied. "We will not take up any further time."
"And thank you, Alphamon," Angewomon made sure to say.
Gaioumon strode around the table and approached the Royal Knights. "Please, come with me," he told them. "I will inform you of all the necessary strategy and intelligence. Follow me to the military base."
UlforceVeedramon nodded. "Yeah, okay," he agreed, all too happy to get out of there and get to actually doing something.
"Lead the way," Examon agreed, following the samurai dragon as he began making for the exit.
Alphamon looked at Ouryumon, who nodded back at him. The pair began following Gaioumon and the Royal Knights out of the meeting.
As the pair of guards closed the grand, double doors behind them, they began walking down the long hall filled with paintings.
As he walked, Ouryumon turned his head and stared down at Alphamon. "…Are you okay, Alphamon?" he asked him, remembering how he was towards the end of his argument with DORUgoramon.
"Yes, I'm fine…" Alphamon responded, looking back up at him. "There is far too much to do to wallow in self-pity… I have already wasted too much time doing that in the past. All that I want to do now is to save this city and the Digimon in it."
Ouryumon smiled broadly and placed his hand on Alphamon's shoulder. "…That's what I want to hear, Alphamon. That stubborn, optimistic spirit."
"I cannot change the path that I took in the past, but… I can forge a new path towards a better future. That's what I want to do, with everyone," Alphamon explained. "The path that I choose to take is mine. …It will be our future, that we foolishly charge towards."
Ouryumon grinned. "I don't always get it when you start speaking all philosophically and smart-like, but… yeah. I like the sound of that. I'll follow you anywhere."
Alphamon smiled gently and reached up, placing his hand on top of Ouryumon's. "…Thank you for being by my side…"
Ouryumon smiled and curled his fingers around Alphamon's hand. "I'm your sword; that's my job…"
Alphamon smiled softly and slowly lowered his hand, letting it drop to his side.
"…I see…" the Aloof Hermit said. He closed his eyes and walked out to forge the future that he wanted.
He would protect that future. For everyone.