"A singing contest?" cried Exveemon. "Are you kidding?"
"Nope," smiled Metaletemon. "That's the challenge. If you want to be released from here without giving up any information, then you'll have to sing your way out. And besides, even if you do lose, you won't have to tell me any of the Rebel's secrets."
"But why would I sing against you? You'd just pronounce yourself the winner even before we started!"
"If I knew what kind of a singer you were, then I would. But, since I've never heard your singing before, I'm actually willing to risk my reputation as greatest singer of all time. So what'll it be? At least I'm giving you a chance at all."
Exveemon sighed and hung his head briefly before looking back up into the android-digimon's face. "Alright, fine. We'll sing."
"Good."
And with that, a few things happened at once: the shackles holding Exveemon to the wall suddenly detached themselves, while two Etemon appeared on either side of him. The Etemon then swiftly clasped the shackles together so Exveemon wouldn't be able to walk or run, or use his arms.
Meanwhile, Metaletemon turned to where the interrogation room's doorway supposedly was, and called out to one of the guards, "Gather everybody who doesn't have any duties to perform right now to the Concert Hall! The captive and I are going to have a little sing-off! Oh, and bring back a gag and a blindfold." He turned back to Exveemon, "Sorry, but I don't want you figuring out where anything is in this place, plus I don't like other digimon talking while I'm singing."
Once the gag and blindfold were secured around Exveemon's face, the two Etemon on either side of him picked him up in a sitting position and carried him off to the Concert Hall. The dragon-digimon had no way of telling which hallway he was being carried through, and he felt rather embarrassed about his current position.
And he was more than certain this whole "sing-off" was pointless, as Metaletemon was sure to declare himself the winner, even if Exveemon proved himself to be the better singer!
It suddenly occurred to Exveemon that he had never really sung before... except maybe in the shower.
Finally came the noises of a gathering of several Gazimon. They all sounded excited that their leader was going to sing; and Exveemon could've sworn he heard a few snickers nearby. Either they had the same suspicions he did, or they thought him being carried by the two Etemon was amusing.
"Place him in the front row," Metaletemon commanded.
The dragon-digimon felt himself being set down in a cushioned chair before the blindfold was taken off. Blinking in the bright light, Exveemon looked around to see a very large theater, filled with Gazimon, and in front of him was a stage that Metaletemon himself was walking up on. (The two Etemon disappeared; maybe because they weren't needed anymore.)
A microphone stood in the middle of the stage, right in front of where Exveemon was sitting. Metaletemon strutted up to it, and spoke into it.
"Can I have your attention please?"
The theater became dead silent.
"Thank you. This is a real treat for you, my Gazimon. Not only is your leader going to sing for you, but he's also singing against the captive that you see here; he has challenged me to a singing match for his freedom."
A wave of laughter trickled through the crowds of Gazimon, and Exveemon blushed beneath his gag.
"Ahem," said Metaletemon.
Quiet.
"And so, in order to make this a fair trial, I shall leave the judging up to you, my Gazimon. Please be fair and impartial."
Exveemon rolled his eyes; like they were going to be that!
"But enough of that. Let us begin! I'll go first. Lights!"
And with that, the whole theater went black.
Then the stage lit up with an array of dramatic, flashing lights as a lively beat rent the air. Four oddly-dressed Etemon stood with a variety of instruments in the background, all churning up a storm of rock music. Standing with his back to the now-cheering crowd, was Metaletemon, who was slightly hunched over before spinning on the spot, microphone in hand, and burst forth in song.
"Get 'digi' with it!
"Oooh, yeah!
"Listen up, baby!
"Oooo-OOOOOH!
"I'm the finest piece of metal for miles around!
"Oooooo-OOOOOOOOOOH!"
Exveemon sighed and closed his eyes. He really didn't think that Metaletemon's voice was all that bad, but still, he hoped there weren't that many verses to the song.
"There ain't no other digimon
"As fine as I!
"Oooooooooo-OOOOH-OH-OH-OH-OOOOOH!"
There were.
Just when Metaletemon gave a dramatic end to his song (complete with a shower of sparks flying up behind him), the Gazimon were cheering up a storm, standing on their seats and stamping their feet.
The android-digimon grinned broadly. "Well thank you. Thank you very much."
The Gazimon were suddenly shouting, "ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE! ENCORE!"
Metaletemon chuckled. "Well, if you insist."
Exveemon groaned. Oh great...
Five encores later, Metaletemon finally said, "Thank you, thank you very much. Now as much fun as it would be to go on singing, I must hand some stage time over to my opponent here. Everybody, give a nice welcome to Exveemon!"
"BOOOOOOOOOOO!" the Gazimon shouted.
Exveemon paid them no mind; he was actually looking forward to losing this battle and going back to the quiet of the interrogation room.
Two of the Etemon from on the stage jumped down (while the other two disappeared) and tossed him up on stage while Metaletemon took Exveemon's seat.
His shackles fell from him, and, after pulling the gag down from his mouth so that he now had a scarf, the dragon-digimon rubbed the feeling back into his arms and legs.
"Whenever you're ready," Metaletemon called, sitting comfortably.
Suddenly it occurred to Exveemon that he hadn't thought of what song he was going to sing.
"Um... is there... any song you'd all like to hear?" he asked hopefully.
The only response he got were blank stares.
Well of course, the champion thought to himself. They don't want me to sing, so it doesn't matter what song I sing.
"Um..." Exveemon tapped on the mic before him. "Uh, testing..."
A chuckle rippled through the audience.
Feeling suddenly very foolish, Exveemon sighed, swallowed, and sang the first song that came to mind.
"I feel like chocolate tonight!
"Oh-whoa-whoa!
"I feel like chocolate tonight!
"Oh-whoa-whoa!"
Finally, the song was done, and Exveemon waited for the expected 'boos' to come.
He was, however, met with silence first.
Then, there was... clapping.
Blinking, and looking down at the seat in front of him, the dragon-digimon saw Metaletemon himself clapping. For him.
After a moment, the Gazimon began clapping as well, and there were a few whistles thrown in too.
"Well!" said Metaletemon, and the clapping died down. "That was surprisingly good. I'm very impressed."
Exveemon beamed and blushed, rather taken aback by this unexpected turn. "Oh, um, thanks. So, um... did I win?"
Metaletemon arched his eyebrows. He looked to the Gazimon on his right. He looked to the Gazimon on his left. He looked back at Exveemon.
Then he stated, in a matter-of-fact tone:
"No."