She remembered when she was once Ophanimon. During the war, she had been one of the twelve high-ranking generals to command under the Holy Alliance. To someone else, it may have been an honor to hold such a high position. But it wasn't. It had been stressful. It had been dangerous for someone of her status. It had been what destroyed her in the end.
In the Holy Alliance, for a long time, the Twelve Generals had been powerful Ultimates, as well as all being males. But that had changed when the youngest member of the Twelve Generals died while trying to apprehend Belphemon, while he had been sleeping. The 'mon had thought he could capture and kill him by himself. However, he hadn't expected the Demon Lord's dark powers to be so vast and overwhelming when awakened. When he was deleted, they needed to replace him quickly, for fear of the Virus Court finding out and taking advantage of their weakened strength. And that's where she came in. On that day, she was given the title by her father — to be the Twelfth General.
At first, she had been excited, thrilled even to have such a title. No female Digimon had ever held such a high position within the Holy Alliance before. That was until she learned the truth of her appointment hours later. Yes, she had been selected to replace the 'mon that had died, but that had not been the true reason of her sudden appointment. There had been a number of powerful Holy Angels, Vaccine, and Data Digimon that would have been just as qualified to take the position.
However, there had been rumors as she learned from one of the healers within her small army. The Three Leaders had been concerned of her growing independence and anti-war stance. They had feared that she might find out about the massacres and weapons they were building and put a stop to them. So they had sent her away, believing that if she was away from the main base (and the four of them) and held on a tight leash, they could control her and keep her from finding out the truth, preventing her from doing what they believed was wrong and against their objectives.
Unfortunately for them, she had known all along about their plans, despite their ploy to keep her in line. She had seen the deaths caused by her kind and learned of the true nature of what was going on from her troops that she lead throughout the different regions of the Digital World. She had hated what her father had done to the Digimon. She had heard everything from her troops and healers, as well as those that were supposed to be the enemy.
She remembered, long ago, that she had hated violence. She had been a being of love, so this degree of violence was not in her nature. This was why she preferred negotiating a path toward peace than violence and death. The Virus and Demon Digimon had appreciated her kindness and generous offerings of safety and food, and in return, they told her everything about what her father and the other leaders had done over the months.
It had been disturbing to learn of the magnitude of destruction and chaos her father had caused. Her father had once been an honorable and respected Digimon. He had once led by example to draw a path towards peace with love and kindness. But he had changed when he began working with Garudamon, Mihiramon, and Vajramon. Her father had stopped trying to bring peace to both sides, to sort out differences. Instead, he had sought to destroy and wipe out any 'mon aligned with the Virus Court from existence.
She had been horrified when she found out about this because she knew her father would kill her if he found out that she was saving, protecting and negotiating with the supposed enemy. Protecting and helping the enemy was not something a member of the Holy Alliance was supposed to do and if one did help the enemy, it would have been a sign of treason. She had known this as Ophanimon and didn't care of the consequence. She had hated the laws that demanded them to kill any member of the Virus Court on the spot or to capture and then torture them for information, if necessary.
Lilithmon scowled in distaste at the very thought of her father as she walked down the hallway. Her father was a weak, violent, distasteful creature. She was disgusted to even call him her father. The 'mon had completely humiliated her in front of everyone! Just to prove that he was still capable of leading the Holy Alliance with an iron fist. That he was still in charge of the situation in front of him. That he would be willing to do what needed to be done to make sure that the Virus Court fell and were completely eliminated from the face of the Digital World.
It had been a foolish thought to believe that her father loved her enough to give her the chance to explain why she had not killed a single Digimon that sided with the Virus Court when they crossed paths. As Ophanimon, she had been a Digimon of life and love. It was not in her nature to kill without a just cause. She had wanted to find a common ground, to forge a way towards peace without so much bloodshed and death. It was a belief her father once believed in.
Lilithmon stopped in front of a white colored door engraved with the red Crest of Pride on it. Her hands formed into fists at the very thought of her father, if she could even call him that. Her father was a weak and disgraceful 'mon in her mind. When he got word of what she was doing, he didn't talk to her or treated her like his daughter. He didn't even listen to what she had to say. No, he saw her as an enemy, a traitor to the Alliance. He might not have been there when her camp of female warriors and healers were surrounded by a dozen Angel Digimon that night. He might not have been the Digimon that attacked them, tore their armors off their backs and had their way with them before killing them.
But he had been the one to order the attack. He had wanted her dead. And that was what had broken whatever little faith she had left for bringing peace among the two sides that night. Her shoes, unconsciously, dug into the hard wooden floor as she stared blankly in front of her with a burning hatred towards her father. Her father had cared more about his reputation as one of the four leaders of the Holy Alliance over his own daughter. This had caused her to not only despise her own father but all men. They were all disgraceful, disgusting creatures with no souls and deserved nothing but death by her own hands, especially the one that had raped and beaten her.
That thought brought a bitter taste in her mouth (as well as rage) as she remembered the 'mon clearly. The Angel had been very handsome and beautiful with his bright blue eyes, strong muscles, pure white wings and flowing blond hair mixed with brown at the roots. He seemed to have no flaws, no ill will towards anyone, or a single mean bone in his beautiful body. But that had been just a façade. He turned out to be a cold, soulless, cruel monster. He had laughed at her when she begged for him to stop and ignored her cries of pain. He had treated her like she was nothing; like she was a piece of dirt he could walk on. He had touched her like she was his to touch. He had licked her, kissed her, and marked her like he owned her. And he had violated her and beaten her, just because he could. He had been stronger than her. She hadn't had the power to fight him at the time or have any help. He knew he would be the last thing she saw before he killed her, and he took great joy in that.
Lilithmon shivered at the memory. It had been a blessing that Lucemon had deleted him completely when he arrived for their meeting.
Lilithmon, bit her lip, staring at Lucemon's door with a pained expression. Lucemon. Despite her hatred for men, Lucemon had been different. She had met him long ago when she was Ophanimon. She had helped him when he and his worn out troops needed shelter and safety. As warriors and leaders, she and Lucemon had found a common ground as they talked about the war (and in turn, themselves). They had talked for hours that night and well into the next day. She had enjoyed his company and insight and she knew Lucemon did as well. She and Lucemon had countless meetings after that day, but not necessarily as warriors and leaders discussing strategies or exchanging insight for the battlefield.
Lilithmon raised her fist and knocked softly on the door. "Lucemon?" She didn't know when she started falling for him, but she did, and she never stopped either. Lucemon was never someone that she could hate. Lucemon was one of the 'mons that knew her the best. They had secretly dated long ago before the attack and had even talked about their families and past. Lilithmon had been aware of the deaths of Lucemon's friends and younger brother, and in turn, he knew of her relation with the Four Leaders. Lucemon had been shocked at first, but that didn't stop the feelings they had for each other.
"Lucemon! Open up!" Lilithmon sighed when she got no response. "Lucemon, please, we need to talk!"
Lucemon had been avoiding her ever since that day. Lucemon had seen her when she had been beaten and close to death. He had been shocked. He had been hurt. He had been enraged.
The deaths of his brother and friends had left a deep wound in his soul, forcing him to close himself off and to blackening his own heart to avoid the pain of losing someone he loved. But he had allowed it to reopen — all for her. He had allowed her in and it had been the sight of her looking so beaten, so vulnerable, and so close to death by the hand of her own kind that made him change.
All the light that had kept the darkness within him balanced, shattered at the sight of her. Lilithmon could still remember the hollow scream that left his lips and the coldness of the darkness that touched her weakened body as Lucemon held her after he killed her attacker in a blind rage. She remembered those beautiful, haunted blues turning black and the way his body warped and changed as they were engulfed in a blanket of darkness.
Lilithmon knew Lucemon didn't remember what happened after he saw her crumpled form, but she did. Lucemon had changed when he evolved to his final form — a powerful Ultimate in the form of a terrifying purple dragon. It was a form that she liked to call Satan Mode. For when he was in that mode, Lucemon knew nothing but destruction, anger, and pain.
When Lucemon was in his Satan Mode, she had been within the dark orb that he carried. She still remembered feeling the darkness around her (whispering promises of life with a new form) as Lucemon destroyed everything and everyone in a fit of mindless rage. She had heard Lucemon's sorrowful voice mourning her death, while she floated, weakly within the orb of darkness as the darkness whispered in her ears. He hadn't realized that she was still alive while he destroyed everything. She had felt the pain of her data leaving her body, leaving her weaker and weaker with every passing second, and closer and closer to her death. She knew it would have been only a matter of time before her body broke down into data and disappeared forever, never to be reborn. Her DigiCore had, unfortunately, been too badly damaged, reconfiguration would have been impossible. If it hadn't been for her taking the darkness' offer, she would have permanently died and in turn leaving the one 'mon that cared for her behind.
She couldn't do that to Lucemon. She couldn't leave him knowing that he would forever run mad in that form, attacking everything and everyone in a mindless state of rage and pain. It pained her that he became this form because of her, but she refused to allow him to suffer anymore. She knew she would never become Ophanimon again when she accepted the darkness' proposal, nor did she care. All she cared about was Lucemon.
Lucemon meant everything to her, to the point that she released the last of her holy powers to soothe the rage within Lucemon, calming the beast within. She had been relieved when she felt Lucemon slowly returning to normal when she began to change. In fact, she barely registered the pain of her data being repaired and altered as the dragon collapsed to the rocky ground. She had barely registered her body changing before she was released from the orb and left unconscious on the ground in her new form with a weakened Lucemon, who lost and unaware of what he had or hadn't done.
"Lucemon, please!"
"He's not there, Princess." Lilithmon, startled, spun around on her heel and stared at the owner of the voice. Leaning on the opposite wall was Beelzebumon, unfortunately. The rather annoying, rather childish, Demon Lord of Gluttony stared at her with an amused smirk on his gray face. Lilithmon's right eye twitched from what she believed to be a glint of mockery within those red orbs. The Demon Lord's smirk only grew (most likely enjoying the annoyance his mere presence seemed to cause) before taking a bite out of his half eaten sandwich. "Hasn't been for a while." It didn't take very long to figure out where he went. The tray of food that Beelzebumon was balancing on his other claw was a dead giveaway, especially since the staircase that led to the first floor where the kitchen resided was just down the hall.
"What you mean 'not for a while'?" Lilithmon tried to keep her tone and features calm and neutral. However, it was never easy with Beelzebumon. His personality alone always seemed to get under her skin, even when he wasn't trying.
Beelzebumon gazed at her like he was talking to a child. "It's exactly as I said." Lilithmon's nose scrunched up in disgust at the small bits of food that flew out of Beelzebumon's mouth as he talked. It never ceased to amaze her at the lack of manners Beelzebumon processed. "Angel Boy is not here. Hasn't been since dawn." Lilithmon's lips twitched into a frown. Beelzebumon, for some annoying reason, preferred calling everyone by a nickname than their actual name. Beelzebumon always made sure the nickname were as annoying as possible when he used them. It was rather annoying and childish quite frankly, especially since he knew it annoyed them.
"Since dawn?" Lilithmon gritted her teeth to prevent her from screaming at the Demon Lord as he swallowed the last of his sandwich before proceeding to grab another one from the tray. "Do you know where he went?"
Lilithmon felt her patience grow thin for the other as he seemed to grow dull of their conversation. "Nope," was all he said as he shoved the sandwich into his mouth.
"Do you know when he will be back, at least?"
Beelzebumon paused mid-chewing before placing the sandwich he had been eating back on the tray. He gave her a deadpanned look as he wiped his mouth with the back his claw. "Listen, Princess, just because me and Angel Boy live on the same floor, don't mean I keep track on what he does 24/7. What he does is his business and what I do is mine. If he leaves without a word, I'm not going to ask, end of story."
"It is not the end of the story!" Lilithmon could not believe what she was hearing. Did Beelzebumon not care about Lucemon? Noted, Lucemon had left the castle without telling anyone many times before, but he hadn't been out for this long. What if something terrible happened to him? "Lucemon is our friend, our leader, aren't you worried that something must have happened to him?"
"Not really."
Lilithmon froze. Her eyes grew wide as she stared at Beelzebumon. He doesn't care?! The words swirled around her head like a mantra, cracking whatever patience she had over her emotions. Lilithmon soon found herself feeling an overwhelming anger toward Beelzebumon. "Then why are you here?!" She ignored the look of total bafflement and confusion written on the moron's face as she attacked him with her golden claw. Lilithmon knew she was being unfair to Beelzembumon for attacking him before he could even explain himself before storming off in a fit of rage.
"Lilithmon, wait!"
She had to get out of there. If she stayed any longer, she might very well kill him without thinking. "That's not what I meant!" Besides, she could apologize to him later, must later. Maybe when she wasn't so angry and ready to destroy everyone that crossed her path.
"Lilithmon!" Beelzebumon groaned as he watched Lilithmon storm down the hall and disappear around the corner. "Damn that girl," he swore as he pulled a nail out of his vest. "She going to be the death of me one of these days."
Beelzebumon gazed at his vest with a pout. It was a good thing that the same Digizoid that was used to create the arm and leg plates and boots were embedded into his vest as well. However, it was really annoying to fix or replace each time it got torn or destroyed. And, no thank to a certain snappy female, he now had a nice size hole (along with three rips made by her claw) right in the middle of his vest. It was bad enough that his clothes get damage when he does those recon trips for Barbamon and Lucemon. It was getting increasingly difficult to prevent all these deaths without knowing where the rest of the Angels and Data Digimon were relocated. He had managed to capture an Angemon, but he refused to talk.
"Lucemon sure owes me big for this," he grumbled as he tossed the nail over his shoulder. Despite what the Lilithmon believed, he did care about Lucemon. How could he not? The 'mon saved him, even if he wasn't aware of it at the time.
Before he met Lucemon, Beelzebumon never thought he would evolve to the 'mon he was today or that he would be the highly respected leader among the Nightmare Soldiers. In fact, he never thought he would survive that day all those centuries ago.
After the first successful Baby Massacre, more and more villages had been targeted. However, the way they were attacking were odd. The villages they were attacking were not close together. The were in fact spread out over several miles and divided by a forest, river, or terrain. It wasn't until after he was killed and reborn as Leafmon to realize their true goal. The Holy Alliance had been trying to locate the Village of Beginnings — the final birthplace of all Digimon.
The location of the Village of Beginnings had always been a mystery. No one knew of its location for it was always well hidden. And those who had found it could never find the village again for it had relocated by then. The Village of Beginnings was one of those villages during the war that was constantly moving.
The Village of Beginnings was the final resting place for all Digimon and without it, the cycle of life would cease. Usually, a Digimon would be born at their respected village. However, if the village was destroyed or deemed too dangerous for a Digimon to be reborn, then their data would travel to the Village of Beginnings and reconfigure there.
That had been what the leaders of the Holy Alliance had been looking for. They had wanted to destroy the village to end the threat of them coming back. And they had found it by the time he had been reborn.
The caretakers, DORUmon and Leomon at the time, had feared that the Holy Alliance had been attempting to find the location of the village. It was why they had called the aid of the Virus Court and the remaining members of Witchelny (whose world had been destroyed long ago and had since then repopulated on their world) to help in their relocation. Both sides had answered the call and had sent Lucemon, Mistymon, and their armies to their aid. However, even with their help, it did nothing to the overwhelming destruction that was caused. The two sides had been evenly matched in numbers and in power. While the two sides fought, their caretakers attempted to evacuate them to the underground hideout that had been created for them days before.
However, no one expected the Holy Alliance to have a secondary group to hunt them down. Leomon and some of Mistymon's army attempted to give DORUmon the time he needed to run away with as many babies he could save. At least a dozen of them had made it to the hideout before a group of dragons came flying out of the sky and right towards them. He remembered DORUmon giving them a teary goodbye before he began to glow. DORUmon evolved straight into his Perfect form, DORUguremon, knowing that he would not survive his fight. They had all watched with teary eyes as the other dragons told DORUguremon that he was on the wrong side. That a powerful Digimon like him should be helping them by eliminating the threat, which must have been them. But their caretaker had refused and instead fought to keep them safe.
The battle had been gruesome. The dragons, all Perfect level as well, tore at each other. Wings were bitten and ripped, tails and claws were bloody as they struck each other anywhere within reach. The fight seemed to go on forever with DORUguremon attempting to kill or knock out one of the four dragons that were coming at him. Two of the dragons had fallen and dispersed into data after DORUguremon shot a metal ball at their centers. At that point, they had thought their caretaker would win, but they had been wrong. DORUguremon was only able to kill one more before collapsing to the ground, broken and bleeding faster than be could heal.
They had all been scared. DORUguremon was moments away from being killed right in front of them and they knew they were next. However, they had been saved by none other then Lucemon. Lucemon had surrounded the enemy with a huge eruption of dark energy (which dazed the dragon) followed by a fury of kicks and punches. The dragon could not handle the assault of the powerful angel and had retreated before Lucemon could kill him. Lucemon thankfully had not followed, for it was that moment when they had exited their hiding spot. They had all been terrified from what happened and upset as they all watched DORUguremon's body turned to data and then disappeared, never to return.
Beelzebumon ran a hand through his blond hair as he walked down the hall towards his room. It had been tough after that day. Lucemon had stayed with them until they were safely relocated to Witchelny. The town was protected by powerful wizards and witches and was ruled by the all-powerful Medieval Dukemon. It had been hard growing up during the war, but unlike the others, Beelzebumon had been thankful for Lucemon saving him that day. It was because of him that he survived and it was because of him that he was motivated to continue to live and fight in this unforgivable war.
Many of the babies he had grown up with had given up on life and had died long ago, but he hadn't. He had skilled himself and forced himself to evolve, to survive. He knew one day he and Lucemon would meet again. And they had, in the heart of battle. They had fought together, side by side, for many years before they got together with the others and finally attacked the Holy Alliance at their main base, destroying their weapon before it could be completed.
Beelzebumon smiled at the memory. Beelzebumon liked to think of him as his friend and hoped Lucemon felt the same way. Besides, it was getting quite annoying lying for him whenever Lilithmon came looking for him. It was bad enough that she got annoyed by just being in the same room as him.
Beelzebumon audibly groaned as he opened the door to his room. Yes, he lied to Lilithmon (quite often actually) for Lucemon's sake. Lucemon had told him where he was going when he got back from his recon mission the night before. However, Lucemon never said he would be gone for this long. Although, knowing Lucemon, he probably lost track of time once he got to the Parallel Human World. Besides, it was the anniversary of his brother's death, something Lilithmon must have forgotten.
"Man, he better hurry up before Lilithmon kills the both of us," he said as he closed the door behind him and walked towards his bed. The mattress squeaked slightly underneath him as he sat on his bed. The Demon Lord turned his gaze to the platter of sandwiches he had yet to touch. Ironically, the food did not look appetizing anymore. With an annoyed grunt, Beelzebumon placed the tray on his nightstand before flopping back on his bed.
Beelzebumon rested his claws behind his head as he stared at the ceiling, silently brooding over the two love demons and their current predicament. It was quite obvious that the two were going around each other in circles. With Lilithmon's predictable destructive behavior and Lucemon's avoidance, Beelzebumon was starting to get very, very annoyed. The two had been avoiding each other for months now and if Lucemon didn't do anything tonight, he was going to lock the two of them in a room somewhere in the castle and have them work out their problems.
The thought made Beelzebumon smirk. He was very aware that Lucemon loved Lilithmon, but was afraid to confront her after what happened in the past. Beelzebumon's smirk turned sour at that thought. Lucemon had caused a lot of distraction that day, causing many Digimon on both sides to fear him.
"Damn." Beelzebumon sat up, feeling a migraine coming from all the problems and questions coming and going in his head. "Why can't anything be easy?"
Beelzebumon sighed as he gazed at the shelf filled with toys that he had displayed on the opposite wall. Lucemon was by no means the only one that traveled to other worlds. He and the others had done their fair share of traveling during their free time. Of course, he had traveled to other worlds for totally different reasons.
Beelzebumon's eyes lingered to a particular toy. The toy was a small brown teddy bear with patches of red fur on the head and belly and a dull red eye that had been sewed back into place many times. The old toy had been the first toy he had ever receive as a child. A wise Devimon had given it to him long ago, along with tales of children from other worlds. Toys had always been a sign of innocence and imagination and safety to young ones. Not many Digimon believed what Devimon spoke of was true, however, but he did. And when he traveled to the Parallel Earth by accident for the first time, he had been amazed. The things he had seen in the Human World had amazed him, but it was the children playing with those strange toys that truly caught his interest. Human children had so many toys for different genders and ages and each one was unique and different. Beelzebumon remembered watching the humans from afar as they shopped for different clothing, food, other strange items, and toys. After that day, Beelzebumon had traveled to different worlds, collecting anything from clothing to toys of all kinds, anything that caught his eye. Beelzebumon smiled knowing that no one knew of his trips to other worlds or his collection. No one had ever ventured into his room, nor had they bothered to get to know him.
Lucemon might be the exception, however. The Demon Lord of Pride had always been someone he could talk to, so it wasn't a surprise when they started covering for each other or talking about themselves, even if it was just a little bit. Lucemon knew of his collection for kids' clothing and toys from the other worlds, and a little bit about his past. There wasn't much of his past to really tell, but it was enough to make them close.
"Beelzebumon!" Beelzebumon was startled out of his thoughts at the sound of Leviamon's loud gruff voice outside his door.
"Yeah? What is it?"
"Barbamon is calling for a meeting. We are all meeting in the Planning Room in a half hour."
Beelzebumon stared at the door questioningly. It was a bit late for a meeting and Barbamon usually spent his time trying to track down Goddramon this late at night. If Barbamon was calling them for a meeting then something terrible must have happened. The thought brought a thick dread in the pit of his stomach. Something didn't feel right. "Yeah, I'll be there," he replied after a moment of silence. "Do you know what Barbamon is calling this meeting for?"
"Not sure," Leviamon said much to his disappointment. "But I had heard rumors from some of the Aqua Digimon that another village on land had been destroyed."
Beelzebumon groaned. Damn.