"Good. Feeling better now?" Metaletemon inquired after the Gazimon left.

"Yes," Exveemon answered. "Although I'd be better still if I weren't shackled to the wall."

"That's just a precaution."

"A precaution? Against what?"

"Against you trying to attack me again only to end up hurting yourself again."

"I'm not that stupid-"

"This isn't a question of you being stupid or not. Now let's get back to the conversation we were having earlier." The mega digimon then leaned his elbow against the wall beside Exveemon's head. "Now just why are you Rebels trying to overthrow me again?"

"I already told you," growled Exveemon, struggling to break free from his restraints. "Its because we stand against all the things you did to gain control over everyone!"

"Its like you're saying its wrong for the Digital World to have a ruler," Metaletemon said calmly.

"Its not that," the champion digimon said. "You just came in out of nowhere and started bossing everybody around, setting yourself up as king with no question. If you had simply offered your rulership in the first place and everybody agreed to let you be the king of the Digital World, then that'd be a completely different matter all together."

"Hm, you mean all I had to do was ask to be king and they would've made me king?"

"Well, I don't know about that..."

"Well then, you're not making a very good argument against my leadership."

"You're not making a good argument for your leadership."

"Am I? Well then, allow me to do so: everybody needs a leader to help bring order, right?"

"Well... yeah..."

"And leaders need to be the strongest, which I am (you can certainly testify to that), and the smartest, which I am (you again can testify to that, judging from the accomplishments I've made). Would you agree?"

"I... well... I suppose..."

"And leaders also need to be admired, and what's not to admire about me? I'm handsome, I have sleek beautiful hair, I'm stylish, I have a great build, and I have the most beautiful singing voice in all the Digital World!"

"If it were-" Exveemon swiftly stopped talking, realizing he wasn't in the best of positions to make the comment he was going to make.

Metaletemon, however, realized this, leaned his face closer to the champion's so that their faces almost touched. "Yeees?" he inquired softly.

Exveemon sighed, and decided to try tactfulness: "I may as well confess, I've heard a lot of digimon complain about your singing BUT," he added quickly when he saw Metaletemon's sunglasses flash. "But, I myself don't think its as bad as they say it is." And that actually was true, he thought Metaletemon's voice was alright, but even he wished that the radios played something other than the android-digimon singing.

Metaletemon, however, seemed placated. "Alright, then. That's not the praise I'm used to, but at least you didn't insult me. But go on, you were going to say something else about my voice?"

"Well... you said it was the most beautiful voice in the whole world, and yet, I've heard a lot of digimon complain about it. How do you explain that?"

"Jealousy."

Exveemon blinked. "...I have no idea what to say to that."

Metaletemon chuckled. "You're so funny, champion. I'm actually glad you were left behind."

"Well at least one of us is glad."

"So we've discovered why the Rebels are rebelling against me: jealousy."

"What? No we didn't!"

"What do you mean? Of course we did!"

"No, you just said without any proof that those who complained about your voice were jealous!"

"'Without proof'? My voice is proof they're jealous!"

Exveemon rolled his eyes. "Well then, at least say that you thought of that, and not me, please."

"Why? You said you liked my singing!"

"I... I do," answered Exveemon, who wasn't about to contradict the mega. "I just think everybody is entitled to their own opinion."

"Whatever," said Metaletemon. "So I discovered the Rebels are jealous of my singing, is that better?"

"Yes. But they're also against you coming along and taking over like a tyrant."

"We already established that I deserve to be king!"

"Maybe, but the way how you gained your kingship was wrong."

"Ugh, I am sick of arguing in a circle like this."

"So am I. Look, why don't you just let me go? You've got nothing to lose in letting me go, I haven't seen anything important, I don't know where anything is, there's not one useful thing I could tell the Rebels!"

"If you were any other digimon, I would agree with you. But, seeing as how you're not just any other digimon, I can't possibly pass up the opportunity of using this to my advantage over the Rebels. Besides, even if you were just any other digimon, I still wouldn't just let you go, because you'd still have to be punished for tresspassing and attacking my soldiers."

"Hey, they picked that fight!"

"You were tresspassing, and its their duty to protect this fortress. But anyway, back to business."

"What business? We've just been arguing in circles, getting nowhere. You're convinced that you've done nothing wrong in taking over the Digital World, and I'm convinced that you have done wrong, and you want me to tell you all of the secrets of the Rebels, and I want to get out of here without telling you a word. Now how can that be business?"

Metaletemon stared at Exveemon for a moment before sighing and lowering his head. "This is all your fault, y'know."

"My fault?"

"Yes, your fault. You were the one who got left behind! And now you've put us both in this awful position where neither of us can do what we want unless one of us gives in to the other- oh!" The android-digimon's sunglasses gave a glint.

Exveemon furrowed his brow. "What?"

"Supposing I promised you a great reward if you tell me the Rebel's secrets?"

"I wouldn't believe it."

"Why not? I've already promised I wouldn't fight or kill you."

"Actually, you said you wouldn't because you knew I couldn't stand against you, and because you need me for those secrets. How do I know you won't dispose of me as soon as I tell you?"

"I would give you my word," Metaletemon said, placing his free hand over his heart.

"Sorry, but we haven't developed a strong enough relationship of trust."

"Hm, I guess you got that right. But I could show you that I do know how to reward those who are loyal to me. Look at my Gazimon, they're still alive and well, aren't they?"

"I'm not so sure if they're such a good example."

"They are. And I would reward you too, very handsomely, if you came over to my side. Think about it, anything you want! Name it, and it'll be yours'!"

"Thanks, but no thanks. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I betrayed my friends."

Metaletemon again stared at Exveemon. "Boy, you're one blockheaded loyal digimon."

"Thanks. ...I think."

"That was both a compliment and an insult. A compliment because I know you'd be very valuable to me if you were on my side. But it was also an insult because you aren't."

"Well..." was all Exveemon could think to say.

"But are you sure I can't bribe you into becoming one of my soldiers?"

Suddenly an idea came to Exveemon. "How about some friendly competition instead?"

Metaletemon arched an eyebrow. "I don't know what you mean by that."

"Well then, I'll explain. I challenge you to a duel of sorts, and if I win, you let me go."

"And if I win, you'll tell me all I want to know?"

"Of course not, it would just mean that I still stay here."

"Heh heh, looks like I've got nothing to gain from that. I like my idea better, at least with that we'd both profit."

"Actually, you'd profit more than I, because I'd have a guilty conscience. But with my idea, if I would win, I'd get my freedom, and you'd lose the headache of trying to get me to talk."

Metaletemon stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm, I guess you've got a point there. And I could say that I lost fairly... not that I'd ever lose, but all the same... alright, then, I accept your challenge."

"Good," said Exveemon, a tremor of excitement trickling down his spine to his belly. "Now then, what shall this challenge revolve around? I can't fight you, of course, so a battle of strength and power is out of the question. How about an eating contest or a comedian contest? Or how about a surfing contest?"

The android-digimon raised his eyebrows. Then he looked thoughtful before a grin spread across his face. "Actually, I just realized; since I was the one who was challenged, I get to be the one who chooses what the contest will be about."

Uh oh. Exveemon knew that was true concerning the rules of challenges.

"And... what do you think it'll be about?"

Metaletemon's grin became wider, and his sunglasses twinkled.

"How about a nice singing contest?"