(Author's Notes: Here's Chapter 37. It's going to be posted in two parts, with the second half being posted in a week or two. I'll get to replying to all your reviews shortly. Thanks for the patience and support. Enjoy and let me know what you think!)
Chapter 37: Solace (Part I)
It had been a day since GrandisKuwagamon eluded his pursuers.
Although UlforceVeedramon, Paildramon, and SaviorHackmon had searched vigilantly for hours, the mercenary managed to escape by slipping into the river and drifting downstream within the swift currents. The river had carried him northwest into the Republic of Node. Eventually, the river circled around and drained into the Fountain River that flowed from the Argent Mountains to the west of New Terminal.
The tree trunk that Kuwagamon had been using to float eventually snagged the riverbank and he washed up on the shores of the Fountain River, several kilometers downstream from New Terminal. Too weak to do much else, Kuwagamon could only drag himself ashore and collapse from exhaustion.
Fortunately for him, a Zudomon fisherman came across his body and hauled him back to New Terminal for medical aid. Due to his extensive injuries, Kuwagamon was treated by physicians with a full body healing technique and made to rest in one of the hospital beds.
As soon as he regained consciousness, Kuwagamon had slipped out of the hospital in the middle of the night. Despite not being fully recovered and needing rest, he knew he couldn't stay around New Terminal for long. It was only a matter of time until the Royal Knights or their spies would find him there.
He left the city and made his way west to Dark Point. He knew that it was a risk going there, since he wasn't sure if Blitzmon and Bolgmon were still in the city. However, it was the closest safe haven that he could think of. He needed to disappear under the radar and figure out what his next move was going to be. Luckily, he had a few contacts in the city that he could rely on.
The crimson beetle flew through the murky night sky that lingered over Dark Point. The moonlight played off his smooth, red carapace, causing it to shimmer dully as he flew out of the forest. He skimmed along the landscape, his wings a steady flutter as he approached the outskirts of the city.
He could see the dim lights of the city ahead of him. Since it was night time in Dark Point, despite it being almost constantly dark, there were fewer lights illuminating the city than there were in the daytime. This was better for him. At the moment, he just wanted to disappear for the rest of the night.
Upon nearing the city, Kuwagamon decided that he had enough energy to once again retake his GrandisKuwagamon form. It was a strain on his tired and weary body, but he evolved into GrandisKuwagamon. As the light of evolution disappeared, his sable body melded into the night sky, camouflaging him from view.
"Damn it… Almost there…" he whispered, his voice dry and wispy from pure exhaustion. He pushed onwards, his stubbornness counteracting his tiredness. He brought his hand up to his shoulder, which was wounded when VictoryGreymon reflected his own attack back at him. The gash in his carapace was healing over from the restorative treatment, but it still ached sharply.
GrandisKuwagamon crossed over the threshold of the city and descended down, onto one of the lamp-lit streets. As GrandisKuwagamon's feet touched down on the cement, his wings flickered and relaxed as he shifted his body weight from his wings to his legs. The dusky beetle man relaxed his muscles for only a moment. He brought his hand up between his pincers and rubbed his face. "Okay… Just focus on getting to the bar…" he told himself, releasing a tired sigh.
Not wasting another moment, GrandisKuwagamon walked out of the soft glow of the nearby street lantern. In the blink of an eye, he stepped into the black and melted into the darkness of an alley.
He stealthily made his way through the city, using the familiar shadows as cover. He travelled for twenty minutes or so, traipsing from street-to-street, avoiding the busy thoroughfares and the usual nightlife spots. He knew Dark Point like the back of his hand, so traversing the city was simple.
GrandisKuwagamon travelled deeper into the city, into one of the shadier districts. He walked down a dimly lit street towards a small, hole-in-the-wall tavern that was hidden between two buildings on each side. It was a small building with four levels; the main floor was where the bar was located, and the two levels above it were guest rooms, while the top floor was the proprietor's residence. A weathered, partially-rusted metal sign hung above the entrance, which presented a picture of a Seadramon holding a pint of beer with its tail and a fishhook beside its head. The Digimoji below it read, 'The Hook and Eel Pub'.
GrandisKuwagamon cautiously crossed the street and stopped outside the tavern. He could see the faint glow of candles within the clouded, glass windows. The grime on the outer window sill was building up and it looked like they hadn't been washed for awhile, not that anybody could immediately tell in the dark. He stepped up to the door and listened in before entering. He could hear a few voices inside. There was soft, casual and intimate chatter. It wasn't the raucous yells and boisterous laughter that was common for other Dark Point bars. The Hook and Eel was comparatively low-key. That had been why Black Pincer Company had chosen it as their local.
"It's gotta be around midnight now…" GrandisKuwagamon mused. "Must be last call soon."
The fugitive mercenary stepped up to the entrance and extended his hand to the brass door handle. As GrandisKuwagamon's stiff, black fingers brushed against the smooth metal, he hesitated.
Uncertainty gripped him as he considered entering the bar. What if he saw Blitzmon and Bolgmon inside? What if they saw him? He wasn't sure how he would react, but he was positive that it would be badly. He wasn't sure that he could face them right now. Despite his aloof exterior, his insides were a mess. After bearing all to Paildramon, VictoryGreymon, and SaviorHackmon, he felt fragile, although he would never admit it to himself. Regardless, it manifested in hesitation as he brooded over whether to enter.
If he saw them inside, he didn't trust himself not to lash out and attack them. And he didn't trust them not to try and finish what they started. He knew Blitzmon had doubts about what happened, but he also knew Blitzmon well enough to know that when he committed to something, he saw it through to the end. GrandisKuwagamon was in no physical state for a fight and he knew it. If he tried to fight the pair of them, he would probably lose, and he didn't know what would happen next.
Despite these misgivings, GrandisKuwagamon felt like he didn't have many alternatives. This was the only place that he felt safe right now. The owner was one of the few Digimon that he felt he could trust at the moment.
So, GrandisKuwagamon stifled his weakness. He summoned his courage and determination, and his grip on the handle tightened. GrandisKuwagamon twisted his wrist, turned the handle, and pulled the door open. With a steady breath, he walked inside the bar with an air of confidence.
After immediately scanning the tavern's interior, he was relieved to see that Blitzmon and Bolgmon were not present. Instead, there were only five patrons – three sitting together at the booth adjacent to the entrance, and a pair sitting at another along the left hand wall.
The bar was rectangular in shape, with rows of booths along three of the walls. On the opposite side of the bar was the wooden counter, where there was several different beer taps protruding proudly along the wooden surface. At the far right corner, opposite to the entrance, was a pair of washroom doors. Beside it was a staircase leading up to the second floor where the guest room was. Standing behind the bar was a tall, slender, ebony dragon – a Devidramon.
The Devidramon's four crimson eyes landed on GrandisKuwagamon and widened upon recognising him. The Devidramon bartender suddenly walked over to a bell that was hanging on the side of the bar counter and rang it. As the metallic tolling loudly rang out throughout the bar, the five regular customers all looked over at the noir dragon.
"Grandis…?" he whispered with shock. After a moment, the Devidramon suddenly called out. "Okay, guys! Last call! Finish up your drinks and settle up! Don't make me have to paralyze you and drag your asses out to the curb!" he said with a touch of humour in his voice.
The handful of shady-looking customers finished the rest of their drinks and walked over to the bar counter to pay for their drinks. GrandisKuwagamon walked up alongside the counter and watched as money exchanged hands. He stayed out of the way, standing at the place where the counter met the back wall. He watched as the five patrons said their goodbyes to Devidramon and shuffled out of the tavern to the street.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Devidramon walked out from the bar counter and locked the front entrance, making sure to flip the sign around to say that they were closed for the night. Once that was done, the slender dragon stalked back to the counter and stared at GrandisKuwagamon with disbelief. "Grandis…? It's been awhile," he mused, folding his long, lanky arms.
"Yo, Dev," GrandisKuwagamon nonchalantly replied, putting up a front to conceal his true physical and emotional state. "It sure has. A lot of shit's come up."
"I'll say! What the hell? Blitz and Bolg told me that the Royal Knights captured your ass!" Devidramon exclaimed.
GrandisKuwagamon fought back a bitter scowl, which ended up turning into an annoyed grunt. "I'll bet they did…" he sarcastically noted, taking a seat on one of the bar stools. "I was wondering what those bastards have been saying to explain it…"
Devidramon's four eyes frowned and he stepped around behind the bar counter to stand opposite to him. "Oh. So that's how it is, huh…?" he wondered, picking up the acrimony in Grandis' face. "What happened? A lovers' tiff?"
GrandisKuwagamon managed a ghost of a smirk at the bartender. "A bit more than that… The assholes sold me out to the Royal Knights," he explained. "They're probably acting like it was an accident."
"Hell… Really?" He squinted his multiple eyes at GrandisKuwagamon to see if he was joking. "…You're serious…" Devidramon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "So… Black Pincer Company…?"
"We're finished," GrandisKuwagamon answered decisively, making sure that the strength in his voice underlined the point.
"Shit… You three were some of my best customers…" the bar owner groaned wistfully.
GrandisKuwagamon shrugged. "Hey, this is my local in Dark Point. I'm still coming here," he explained.
"Yeah, I know you are, Grandis," Devidramon deduced with a wry smile. "I've got all your favourite beers here, and nobody pours them like I pour 'em! A connoisseur like you would never settle for anything but the best, right?"
"You can save the sales pitch," GrandisKuwagamon explained with a grin. "I'm already sold."
Devidramon chuckled a bit. "Yeah… but the problem is, so are Blitz and Bolg. I doubt any of you will go somewhere else. I don't want you and those two fighting it out in my tavern next time you're all here. Got it? No aggravation."
"I'll try," GrandisKuwagamon responded half-heartedly. "While we're on the subject, I could really use a beer right now."
"I'm not supposed to serve after I close, but hey, you're a pal so I'll make an exception," the dark dragon said. "Which of your usual? Maybe WarGreymon's Finest?" Devidramon offered, grabbing a clean, glass mug from the shelf.
GrandisKuwagamon winced for a split moment. "…Nah," he responded, shuffling slightly on the bar stool. He raised his hand and rubbed his neck with discomfort. "Uh… Let's go with the Amber Honey E.S.B."
"Coming right up," Devidramon responded, walking over to a beer tap to begin pulling the pint with masterful ease. The caramel hued liquid poured out of the tap and began rolling down the side of the glass, pooling into it perfectly with absolutely zero head. As the liquid continued to fill the mug, Devidramon looked over at GrandisKuwagamon studiously. "…You look like you've been through hell."
"I've had a rough couple months," GrandisKuwagamon explained dryly. "Think I could get a room here? I really need a place to stay for a few days while I get things sorted out."
"Of course, but…" Devidramon stalled. "Do I have to worry about the Royal Knights turning up on my front door?"
"Not if you don't tell anybody I'm here," GrandisKuwagamon responded with a mischievously enigmatic smirk. He leaned forward on the bar counter and eyed the mug of sparkling, amber beer that Devidramon placed in front of him. "Seriously, if anybody shows up asking questions about me, that means they already know where I am, so I'll be getting the hell out anyways. Besides, the Royal Knights aren't like some of the groups around Dark Point, so they won't just barge in and start turning your bar upside down, I think."
"You think… Shit, I guess that's the best guarantee I'm gonna get, isn't it, Grandis?" Devidramon said with a lopsided grin.
"You won't notice I'm here," GrandisKuwagamon promised him. "By the way, I'm a bit short on cash at the moment… Between our hideout getting ransacked and me getting sold out to the Royal Knobs, I don't have two bits to put together."
"It's on the house," Devidramon assured the scarab man. He grinned. "Just as long as you don't end up mooching off me for weeks."
GrandisKuwagamon shot him a flat stare. "I don't freeload off people, Devi," he emphatically told him. "I'll reimburse you once the heat dies and I can start taking jobs again."
"No worries…" Devidramon responded, taking a damp cloth and starting to polish off the smooth, wooden counter. He glanced up at GrandisKuwagamon, watching with his four eyes as he took long, steady swig of the beer. "How is it?"
GrandisKuwagamon's eye softened as the carbonated bubbles popped against his parched tongue and the hardy, bittersweet flavour of caramel and honey washed across his taste buds. A true connoisseur, he savoured the smooth taste for a few moments before releasing a long sigh. "…Holy shit. You have no idea how much I needed that…" he responded, sighing with quenched satisfaction.
Devidramon chuckled. "I'll bet. I'm sure you've been as dry as a SkullGreymon in a desert…" the ebony dragon mused as he continued to wipe down the bar. "So… What's the plan?"
"Dunno… My client pool is kinda compromised now that I split from Blitzmon and Bolgmon… Gonna have to hit up some of my contacts to see if they've got anything for a solo freelancer. I'm gonna have to do a bit of rebranding…" GrandisKuwagamon replied, frowning as he placed the mug down. "I don't know if I've got many options for work right now. It'll be tough, trying to elbow into a new market." He sighed and took another drink. "Not to mention the Royal Knights will be breathing down my neck…"
Devidramon frowned, seeing that the mercenary was having a tough time at the moment. "…No rush. You'll figure it out."
"Don't have much choice, do I?" GrandisKuwagamon said with a sigh, fogging up the beer mug as he brought the rim to his lips and took another swig.
He placed the mug of beer down and watched as the deep, golden liquid rippled back and forth and bubbles fizzed to the top. His ruby eye stared with wistful contemplation into the glass. He squeezed the handle of the mug and the crimson of his eye dulled softly.
"If it's me against the world, then I'll do whatever it takes to survive." His gaze hardened and his eye muscles narrowed. "Even if that means… working for him."
The night passed into the morning. The clouds of the previous day thickened and rain showered across the Free Area. The precipitation drizzled down over Castle Albion, soaking the training grounds and the castle gardens. Rivulets of water streamed down the stone surfaces of the castle and pooled into the gutters along the stone courtyard and castle street. The emerald grass absorbed the water verdantly. A musty aroma of rain and wet stone lingered throughout the castle.
Within the main building of the castle, the events of the previous two days were still being processed. Paildramon and UlforceVeedramon's search teams had lost their quarry. GrandisKuwagamon had managed to escape, and after a few hours, UlforceVeedramon made the call that they needed to call off the search and return to the headquarters empty-handed.
Paildramon stood alone in Alphamon's office. Her waist, arm, and one of her wings were wrapped in cloth bandages, which helped the wounds she sustained in battle to heal. Reverting to her Paildramon form had minimized the wounds, but not entirely. Despite the injuries, she stood completely straight, at full attention.
Alphamon sat behind his desk, looking up at the tall, dragon woman. "Please, sit, Over-sergeant," Alphamon offered, gesturing to the chair on the other side of his desk.
"Yes, sir," she tentatively replied, taking the seat that was beside her and slowly sitting down on the cushioned chair. The softness of the seating was a relief to her sore muscles, but she felt uneasy speaking with Alphamon in such an informal way.
The raven-hued Royal Knight gazed across at Paildramon pensively. He raised a curved finger and gently stroked his chin. "…What happened?" he asked her simply.
Paildramon bowed her head and closed her eyes. "I'm sorry, sir. GrandisKuwagamon escaped. I accept full responsibility for the failure. It was my blunder…"
Alphamon smiled a bit. "This isn't a disciplinary meeting, Paildramon…" he assured her. "I just want to hear from you what happened."
Paildramon sighed and nodded. "My team and I were able to catch up with GrandisKuwagamon. I told him to surrender peacefully, but he refused. With negotiations broken down, we engaged in combat. GrandisKuwagamon is an extremely capable fighter, so VictoryGreymon, SaviorHackmon and I had trouble gaining the upper hand. We were at a stalemate until GrandisKuwagamon gained the advantage in the fight. He was able to grab Lance Corporal VictoryGreymon and use him as a hostage. We tried to negotiate with him. It was an emotionally charged situation. That was when…" Paildramon's ruby eyes narrowed and softened as she recounted the memory of GrandisKuwagamon's story. "…He revealed some personal things about himself. I don't think it's my place to go into details, but it helped to explain why he felt he needed to take such drastic actions."
Alphamon arched a brow behind his all-encompassing black helmet. "Is that so…?" he wondered, the brief spike in pitch in his voice revealing his piqued interest at Paildramon's words. "I don't want to pry into his privacy, but I'm intrigued…"
The draconic over-sergeant looked up at Alphamon. "I'll just say that he is a complicated Digimon who received a bad lot…" she judiciously replied. She frowned. "With that said, I'm not making excuses for his behaviour. I don't believe that he was either. I just feel that I understand him better…"
"I see…" Alphamon understood, nodding gently. "What happened next?"
"VictoryGreymon broke free and the two of them engaged in single combat. I ordered SaviorHackmon not to intervene unless it was necessary because too many of us fighting GrandisKuwagamon at once would have been chaotic and dangerous. We backed VictoryGreymon up from a range and he was able to bring down GrandisKuwagamon himself. It was a bitter struggle. We thought that GrandisKuwagamon was rendered unconscious by VictoryGreymon's Trident Gaia attack," Paildramon continued recounting the events. She sighed. "VictoryGreymon fell unconscious from the struggle and Sir UlforceVeedramon showed up when he realised we had engaged the fugitive. As I was talking to him, GranKuwagamon used the remainder of his strength to escape using his Zone Black Hole ability. We searched the surrounding area for hours, but, regretfully, we couldn't find him…"
Alphamon placed his elbows on his desk and leaned forwards so that his chin rested on his clasped hands. "I see…" he murmured.
"It was my fault. I should have checked to make sure that he was unconscious and properly restrained him," Paildramon apologetically said, bowing her head humbly. "As the team leader, I take responsibility for his escape."
Alphamon sighed. "It's regrettable that he escaped… It doesn't look good for us that we allowed him to escape our grasp," the leader of the Royal Knights informed her soberly.
"Yes, sir," Paildramon agreed contritely. "I apologise… If I had been more capable, this wouldn't have happened."
The heavily armoured Royal Knight closed his eyes thoughtfully. "However… It isn't a major loss to us in terms of practical worth," he explained. "GrandisKuwagamon has already told us all of the information that he knows, and he was able to help us figure out who Black Pincer Company's client was." Alphamon smiled at Paildramon with coyness and warmth. "I'm going to be optimistic and say that capturing GrandisKuwagamon at all and then losing him was a greater boon to us than if we didn't take a gamble on him and simply shipped him off to Havelock Prison the moment that he caught him."
Paildramon blinked at Alphamon's unexpected spin on the situation. "Sir…?" she asked, a bit shocked that he was taking it so lightly. "I suppose that's one way to look at it."
Alphamon's smile faded for a moment. "…I don't know what GrandisKuwagamon's intentions are," he admitted. "I don't know if we would have anything to gain by keeping him locked in jail. I don't believe that imprisonment is necessarily always the right option… However, it is possible that GrandisKuwagamon could end up being our enemy in the future again. I really can't say right now. Even though I have the Alpha inForce, I cannot truly predict the future… All that I do know is that we can't afford to beat ourselves up over his escape, Paildramon. What's done is done. Dwelling on one's mistakes can be a dangerous and consuming path…" Alphamon smiled softly. "Trust me on that."
"Yes, Sir Alphamon…" Paildramon agreed, considering his words.
"So, I would rather focus on the positive. Did we let a prisoner escape? Or did we gain valuable strategic information as part of a deal to let him go? I prefer to think of it as the latter," Alphamon explained with a calm and charming optimism.
Paildramon nodded slightly. "Thank you, sir… So, you don't want for us to search for him?" she inquired.
"I don't see the purpose… Would I like to capture a fugitive prisoner out of principle? Yes, of course. However, I don't think the benefits are worth the costs… We have much more pressing things to deal with at the moment, like Bagramon and the Demon Lords. I'm not sure that expending the resources to hunt him down would be wise. If we cross paths with GrandisKuwagamon again, we will deal with him if it comes to that. If not, I believe it is more important to focus on the high priority issues," Alphamon explained.
"Yes, I agree, sir," Paildramon concurred, nodding with understanding at his words. "Is there anything else you need to know?"
"No, that should be all, Paildramon. Thank you for your diligence…" he responded. "You are free to leave. Due to the weather, the Strike Forces' training is on stand-by, so you should get some rest and allow those wounds to heal."
Paildramon nodded gently. "Thank you, Sir Alphamon," she replied, slowly standing to her feet and repressing a wince as the movements sent aches of pain through her bruised limbs.
"That reminds me… Tea can be quite medicinal," Alphamon noted, standing up and taking a kettle of tea and a small cup from the sideboard. "I have to hold a meeting with the Royal Knights soon, but, before we go our different ways, please, try some."
Paildramon watched as Alphamon began to pour the orange liquid into the tea cup. "I would be honoured to. Thank you very much," she calmly said to him. She thought she noticed some solid bits as the liquid poured into the cup, but she politely didn't mention anything. "It smells quite delicious."
"Why, thank you, Paildramon," Alphamon replied, smiling. "I added some flavours which should create a smooth interplay with the herbal notes of the tea, as well as improve the texture. Let me know what you think."
When Alphamon finished trickling the steeped tea into the cup, he carefully passed it across his desk to Paildramon. Paildramon took the cup in her claws, holding it in her hands the proper way. She stared down at the steaming drink and was disturbed to see bits of something floating below the surface. She glanced back up at Alphamon to see if it was a mistake, but he seemed pleased with the drink, looking at her with an expectant smile.
It certainly didn't look like a traditional cup of tea, but perhaps Alphamon was onto something that she didn't know about. She did trust his judgment… Paildramon smiled at him uncertainly. "It looks like a very unique blend," she said diplomatically.
"I hope it is. I have spent the last few evenings formulating it," Alphamon proudly explained. "Please, give me your honest opinion though."
Paildramon nodded and looked down at the drink, staring at it with hidden scepticism. Being a brave Digimon, she removed her helmet and raised the cup to her lips, taking a gentle sip.
At first, it was pleasant. The fragrant taste rolled across her tongue, and she thought she might like this blend after all. However, then the herbal notes began to sour as an overpowering, acrid flavour hit her like a brick wall. The sourness washed over her mouth, causing her tongue to tense up and recede, and it began to overpower her senses. She began to choke down the liquid, and for some reason she began to feel a burning sensation in her nasal passages and sinuses. It took every ounce of her willpower not to let her face contort and she tried to force the powerful drink down without gagging.
Alphamon looked at Paildramon with an innocent smile, not noticing that her eyes were beginning to water in response to the sharp stinging in her nose. "What do you think, over-sergeant?" he asked blithely.
Paildramon winced and swallowed, forcing herself to look up at Alphamon with a thinly veiled grimace. "W-Well, s-sir…" she wheezed.
Half an hour passed and Alphamon held a meeting with all twelve of the Royal Knights and the four Captains of the Order's military. In the meeting, he revealed the details of the covert operation that had seen Paildramon lead a team to Dark Point to find out the identity of the Digimon who was hiring Black Pincer Company. He explained the deal that he had made with GrandisKuwagamon, eventually leading to the situation in which GrandisKuwagamon escaped from their dungeons. With a heavy heart, Alphamon ended the explanation by telling them the clandestine conductor of Black Pincer Company's actions, which had precipitated a war between the Order and the Metal Empire, as well as the subsequent release of the Demon Lords. He told them that it was Bagramon.
Alphamon sighed and looked around the circular, white table. He could see the mixed reactions of the Royal Knights' faces. For some, it was shock, and for others, anger and annoyance. As he finished his long speech, his words were followed by a tense silence. Nobody wanted to speak first, and they waited for the others to say something.
"…Alphamon," Duftmon spoke, his voice stern and cold, forgoing any attempt at politeness. "How in Yggdrasil's name could you have thought that it was a good idea to keep this from us? What were you thinking?"
Alphamon sighed, expecting such a response from Duftmon. He knew that he hated to be kept out of the loop. "I didn't keep GrandisKuwagamon's mission a secret, and I only just found out about the results of their information-gathering yesterday. I wasn't keeping this a secret from any of you; GrandisKuwagamon's escape merely prevented me from telling all of you sooner than I'd have liked," he explained.
"I am aware of the mission to Dark Point, but he never would have escaped if you hadn't made a bargain with a prisoner behind our backs," Duftmon firmly chastised him, his emerald eyes tightening like the slender blades of daggers. "Dealing with mercenary miscreants such as him is a guaranteed way for the Order to end up looking foolish. Not only does it sacrifice our integrity by making us appear hypocritical for working with the very criminals that we are sworn to bring to justice, but it also emboldens other criminals who will think that they can get away with more heinous deeds when they see we aren't punishing crime accordingly."
"Sometimes compromise is necessary, Duftmon," Alphamon reasoned. "GrandisKuwagamon helped us discover Bagramon."
Duftmon scoffed and shook his head distastefully. "We did not need his help. We would have discovered Bagramon eventually."
"The deal I made with him was a pragmatic one. We needed to find Bagramon quickly, since the Demon Lords are already on the move. I realise that I may have compromised some of our tenets, but I believed that needs took priority over our image." Alphamon frowned gently. "Besides… I believe in giving Digimon a second chance."
"Your trust was misplaced," Duftmon spoke cuttingly.
Magnamon sighed. "I'm sorry, Alphamon, but I agree with Duftmon…" the golden knight apologetically said. "I'm glad we found out about Bagramon, but this outcome could have been expected. He only played along with us for as long as it suited him. GrandisKuwagamon has killed members of our Order in the past; we're just lucky he didn't do so again…"
Omegamon looked at Alphamon with a telling gaze, his light blue eyes steady and serious. "I am also displeased with the result…" he admitted, although, in his voice there were faint notes of regret at saying so. "I can understand the reasons why we made the deal, but the Order of the Royal Knights is supposed to be the vanguard of Yggdrasil's will. We are supposed to be above politics and back-room dealings. We should hold unyielding morals. This incident with GrandisKuwagamon doesn't make us look good…"
Alphamon's golden eyes drifted down to his balled-up, ebony hands, which rested on the smooth, ivory surface of the table. "Yes… I understand your points of view. However, I believe that the mistake I made was mishandling GrandisKuwagamon afterwards, not the decision to work with him in the first place. With that said… I take responsibility for his escape. I apologise for the trouble that this has caused the Order…" he conceded humbly.
Duftmon sighed and tapped his index finger on the surface of the table. "I suppose it is a bit unfair of me; the fault is not entirely yours…" Duftmon glanced over at Gankoomon. "Your apprentice was the orchestrator of this debacle. SaviorHackmon has caused us yet another problem… He takes after his master, I suppose."
At the accusation, Gankoomon growled a bit and sat up straight in his seat, glaring over at Duftmon. "Yeah, the kid screwed up. Nobody knows that better than he does," he defensively said. "He's beating himself up about it… SaviorHackmon's learning from his mistakes."
Duftmon closed his eyes calmly and reflected on Gankoomon's words pensively. "…Just so long as he is," he spoke. "If another reckless and naïve mistake like that is made, I will be formally petitioning the Royal Knights with regards to his suitability as a member of the Strike Forces."
Gankoomon clenched his fists and gritted his teeth. "…He won't make another mistake," he promised Duftmon through gnashing teeth. "You can write whatever the hell you want, neko-chan, but I know SaviorHackmon better than anybody. Trust me when I trust him!"
"I believe you, Gankoomon…" Alphamon responded, hoping to temper the interplay between fire and ice. "Just make sure that he knows what is at stake."
Gankoomon scoffed and reclined back in his seat huffily. "Tch. I will…" he grumbled, his voice low with reluctant compliance.
"…Anyway," UlforceVeedramon spoke up, attempting to cut through the tension of their disagreements. Rather than get sidetracked by the negative, he tried to refocus the discussion. "Let's concentrate on what's important here: Bagramon?"
Alphamon nodded. "Yes… I am confident that it is the very same Bagramon who took part in the Heavenly War," he soberly hypothesized. "I can't believe I didn't see it sooner."
"None of us did…" Dukemon responded, sending Alphamon a meaningful look that told him not to be too hard on himself. "How could we have? He went into complete obscurity after he was exiled. For good reason too…"
"Looking back on it, it is fairly obvious," Duftmon matter-of-factly pointed out. "Bagramon was a high-ranking rebel who was punished and exiled. Of course he aspires to conclude what he and the Demon Lords initiated. Furthermore, he was one of the few consequential demons who were not banished to the Dark Area. It should not have been difficult to link the pieces of the puzzle together and assume a connection."
Ouryumon leered over at Duftmon distastefully, a toothy sneer crawling onto his golden snout. "Hey, you didn't figure it out either and you're our official cat-tician," he made sure to remind him with a teasing smirk.
"Tactician," Duftmon responded, his sharp, feline eyes cutting across the table to the Strike Forces Captain. "And, I admit… no, I did not determine the culprit who had hired Black Pincer Company to counteract our efforts. However, it was not until recently that we were able to ascertain the client's motivations. Our failure to determine his intentions subsequently obscured his identity to us. Had we known that he planned to liberate the Demon Lords, I surely would have been able to decipher his identity."
"I agree, but there is no point in looking back at what might have been done had we known what we know now," Alphamon insisted. "Now that we do know the facts, we must plan our next course of action."
"Alphamon's right," Dukemon declared, putting his support behind the Knight of the Empty Seat. "We can question ourselves and pass around blame all we like, but it won't get us anywhere, will it? The only thing that will get us somewhere is action. That's what we do best." Dukemon looked first at Alphamon and then turned his gaze around the table. "So, what should we do about it?"
Alphamon smiled thankfully at Dukemon. He appreciated Dukemon's decisiveness and action-oriented words. For as much as Alphamon liked to consider and balance every option before making a decision, Dukemon was the opposite. He decided on what he wanted to do and did it. Dynasmon and Gankoomon were the same way. Alphamon knew that he needed this sort of personality around him in order to tell him to do what he already knew that he needed to do.
Alphamon nodded. "You're right, Dukemon. And I know what I would like to do, personally…" he explained. "I am going to go to New Terminal and confront Bagramon."
"What?" Omegamon asked him, blinking with surprise. "Alone?"
"Yes, I think that would be best," Alphamon responded, the brows behind his black helmet sinking as he reflected on his decision. "This is something that I need to do alone."
Omegamon frowned disapprovingly at his close friend. "Alphamon… You can't go alone. It's dangerous," he protested bluntly.
The black knight smiled back at his white counterpart. "I'll be careful. I should be able to handle it by myself. Besides, we can't spare any other Royal Knights while the Seven Demon Lords are on the loose," he insisted.
"Isn't he most likely to be with the Demon Lords right now?" Omegamon countered.
"Maybe, but even if that's so, it would give me a chance to explore his hut for information," Alphamon insisted.
Ouryumon rolled his eyes and leaned on the back of Alphamon's chair. "You're gonna be stubborn about this, aren't you, Alphamon?" he asked, flicking one of Alphamon's horn-like 'ears' protruding from the top of his helmet.
"I'm afraid so," Alphamon answered with a slight smile.
"Just don't take on more than you can handle, okay, Alphamon?" Dynasmon advised him, looking over from across the table.
As the Royal Knights spoke, Examon quietly looked around at some of the more senior members.
Since he had been away at an inspection for the past few days, he had missed the return of Paildramon's team and GrandisKuwagamon's subsequent escape. Furthermore, Examon didn't know who Bagramon was. He had tried to do his best to read up on the Royal Knights' history and operations during his free time, but he didn't really know who Bagramon was apart from one of the fallen angels of the Heavenly War. The sizeable dragon decided it would be better to get some clarity rather than continue to sit in the dark.
"Er, sorry to interrupt, but… who exactly is this Bagramon?" Examon tentatively asked, his voice a bit sheepish for not knowing.
"That's right… I'm sorry, Examon. A lot of the newer members wouldn't know who he is, since he has been living in reclusion since the Heavenly War," Alphamon apologised for presuming. "Bagramon was the Archangel of Death back in the Heavenly Choir; he saw to the deletion of Digimon and the passage of their data into the Dark Area. Due to his position, he was quite high-ranking. That is why it was so shocking when he suddenly turned on the Three Great Angels and sided with the rebellious Demon Lords. He was the one who released them from their prison, it seems."
"If I remember right, Alphamon ended up defeating him on the Night of Falling Stars," Dukemon recollected. "In the aftermath of that war, he was spared from deletion to the Dark Area, but he was severely punished and banished to the Digital World."
Omegamon nodded softly. "As far as we knew, he devoted his new life to becoming a travelling monk before settling in the Argent Mountains as a hermit." The white knight sighed bitterly. "Was he playing us for fools this whole time?"
"Also…" Alphamon spoke up, his eyes tightening gently. "I should also mention… Bagramon is DarkKnightmon's brother…" As much as it pained him to, he felt obliged to add that fact for the sake of transparency. He knew the negative effect that keeping secrets could have on unity, and he knew he couldn't avoid his past.
"What? That DarkKnightmon?" Craniamon demanded, the crimson beads in his shadowy sockets darting over to look at Alphamon with incredulity.
"That's… I didn't even know that he had a brother…" Sleipmon mused, frowning at the revelation. "Did he have anything to do with DarkKnightmon's rebellion?"
Examon nodded and stared at Alphamon intently. "Both DarkKnightmon's rebellion and the Demon Lords' escape involved the damaging of the Dark Area's barrier to release a prisoner," he observed.
"Could he be trying to get revenge for DarkKnightmon's death?" UlforceVeedramon questioned.
Alphamon shook his head softly. "For whatever malevolent intentions Bagramon might have… he and DarkKnightmon were not close. I know for a fact that DarkKnightmon wouldn't have wanted to go to him for aid…" he responded. "Despite the sibling relationship, these two events are separate, I'm fairly certain…"
"Dorbickmon was the mastermind behind DarkKnightmon's escape," Ouryumon reminded Examon. "He would have known if Bagramon was involved in that."
"I guess you're right…" Examon conceded, wincing uncomfortably at the reminder of Dorbickmon's involvement. It also made him remember the disagreement that he and Dorbickmon had back before he left for Dark Point. Examon remembered being high-handed in the way he rebuked Dorbickmon for his treatment of GrandisKuwagamon. The guilt churned in his stomach and he hoped that he would be able to talk to Dorbickmon about it so that he could apologise. However, he remained focused on the discussion at hand.
Dynasmon sighed and rested his pointed chin on his large, opened palm. "So, you didn't suspect anything when you talked to Bagramon in New Terminal those months ago?" Dynasmon asked, looking at Alphamon.
"Not at all…" Alphamon said honestly. "Nothing he said seemed odd to me at all. In fact, he encouraged me… He told me to stand up against injustice…" Alphamon winced. "Was he manipulating me?"
"Possibly," RhodoKnightmon plainly spoke. "However, at the very least, we know exactly who we are dealing with now. We can punish him accordingly."
"We'll stop him from doing whatever he's planning," Dukemon promised, turning his marigold eyes towards Alphamon supportively. "Do what you need to do in New Terminal. If you find him and think you can bring him in, do it."
Alphamon responded with a nod. "Thank you. I will…" He looked around the table at all of the Royal Knights. "I still have a few things to deal with here, so I won't leave right away. All of us should continue what we're doing. Keep training and preparing yourselves, but we are also going to need to start planning our campaign. It's very likely that we're going to have to attack the Demon Lords' hideout in the Gloaming Fields."
"Leave it to me, Alphamon," Duftmon responded. "I shall work tirelessly to form a campaign strategy."
"I know you will," Alphamon replied, smiling a bit. "Work with your fellow Royal Knights and the Captains as you do."
Although he stalled for a moment, Duftmon nodded. "…Very well. I shall request their input where necessary," he agreed.
Dynasmon grinned at the feline-themed knight beside him and slung his hefty arm over Duftmon's winged shoulders. "We'll make sure he plays with the other kids, Alphamon," he joked, levelling a toothy grin at the slender tactician.
Duftmon rigidly shrugged Dynasmon's arm off. "I assume that is all, Alphamon?" Duftmon inquired.
"Yes, that is all that I wished to tell you," Alphamon replied.
The blond-haired knight nodded and gracefully rose from his seat. "Very well. If you will excuse me, I have many responsibilities that I must see to," he informed them.
"Yeah, me too," Dynasmon agreed, standing to his feet. The bulky dragon man turned and looked over at the tall ryu that stood near Alphamon. "Hey, Ouryumon. Are we still on for that special Strike Forces training or not?"
The slender dragon shook his head. "Nah, I had to revamp the training schedule because of all that rain. Everybody'd be slipping and sliding all over the place in the mud. They're on stand-by until mid-afternoon, when we're gonna do outdoors training whether there's rain or not. You can come and join us then," Ouryumon told the wyvern knight.
The Royal Knights began to make their way out of the room, Alphamon rose and gazed after the departing knights. His eyes landed on two Digimon who he had been meaning to speak to. "Magnamon, Omegamon, could we speak for a moment please?" he asked them, walking around the table.
Magnamon turned around, his head ducked slightly and his expression appeared sheepish. "Sure, Alphamon…" he responded as he raised his blue hand to rub the nape of his neck.
"Of course," Omegamon agreed, walking over.
"About what you said…" Alphamon began.
Magnamon winced. "I'm sorry for speaking out against you, Alphamon," he apologised. "I felt I had to be honest, though…"
Omegamon sighed and bowed his head slightly. "Me as well. I didn't wish to undermine you. I just… needed to make my opinions clear," he guiltily explained.
Alphamon blinked and raised his hand. "No, please don't apologise. On the contrary, I wanted to thank you both for being frank. I know that I'm viewed as the leader of the Royal Knights, but my opinions are still no greater than any of yours. I don't expect either of you to agree with me all of the time. Honestly, simply going along with what I wanted even if you secretly disagreed would be detrimental more than anything…" Alphamon explained to them with a half-smile. "For all of Duftmon's faults, I can always rely on him to be honest with me when he thinks that I'm doing something wrong. I sincerely hope that the rest of you can feel free to do so as well…"
Magnamon smiled a bit more brightly. "Of course, Alphamon," he answered, relieved that his worries had been quelled. "I'm glad you feel that way."
"I will always speak honestly with you, Alphamon," Omegamon promised him.
"Thank you… Then could you be honest with me now?" Alphamon asked the pair of close friends. "Do you think I'm acting too unilaterally? Am I not listening to others enough? I didn't consult with any of you over the deal with GrandisKuwagamon, and I made the decision to confront Bagramon on my own." He looked at Omegamon emphatically.
Omegamon frowned a bit and glanced to the side. "Well…" he spoke softly, a soft echo in his murmur. "In this particular case, I would have liked for you to speak with us about it," he admitted. Omegamon sighed. "However… I understand why. There are times where a decision must be made; you can't always have the luxury of going to each of us and asking what we think when a choice must be made in an instant. There are times when you can't afford to take feelings and considerations into account. That's why you are our leader – the first among equals."
Magnamon nodded. "I don't think you're acting unilaterally, Alphamon. You always listen to what everybody has to say before making a decision on behalf of the Order. You're always balanced and you don't kick up a fuss when somebody disagrees with you," he explained to the black knight. He placed his hands on his hips and looked up at him. "You're worrying too much."
"I probably am…" Alphamon admitted sheepishly. "I just don't want to alienate any of you and make the same mistake that I did with DarkKnightmon and..." Alphamon hesitantly glanced at Omegamon.
The look didn't go unnoticed. Omegamon stepped up to Alphamon and stared into his eyes. It was a serious but emphatic and reassuring gaze. Omegamon's blue eyes left no question about the certainty of his feelings. "…You won't make the same mistake again, Alphamon," he assured him, placing one of his hands on Alphamon's broad shoulder. "We won't make the same mistakes..."
Alphamon smiled appreciatively at his friend. "…Thank you. To the both of you…"
"Where did this come from, Alphamon?" Magnamon asked him. "You don't usually doubt yourself."
Alphamon sheepishly scratched his cheek with his index finger. "…Bagramon is DarkKnightmon's brother. DarkKnightmon is one of my biggest failures… DarkKnightmon always has a way of making me doubt myself," Alphamon explained, slightly ashamed at his weakness.
"He always was good at that, wasn't he…?" Magnamon mused, folding his arms. "Still, you said it yourself, Bagramon isn't involved with DarkKnightmon. DarkKnightmon's gone. Bagramon's just another rebel looking to cause havoc in the Digital World. That's the way we have to look at it."
The black knight smiled and closed his eyes, taking their words to heart. "You're absolutely right… I feel a bit foolish now. Thank you for putting things into perspective for me," he said to Magnamon.
"If not us, one of the others would have," Magnamon responded, grinning up at him. "It's our job to support each other at times like this. That's what the Order is for, after all."
Omegamon nodded. "Indeed…" He turned and extended his arm towards the open doors of the council room. "Shall we?"
Alphamon walked alongside the pair at a comfortable pace. "I'll be careful when I go to New Terminal. I don't really expect to find Bagramon there. He probably is with the Demon Lords right now…"
"I can't imagine he would be much of a fighter with half of a body…" Magnamon mused.
"I don't know about that, Magnamon," Omegamon replied. "He could even be more powerful."
Alphamon strode forwards into the great hall, marching with a fresh determination. "I suppose we will find out for ourselves…" he murmured, well aware that the day would come where he would have to put their theories to the test.
A couple kilometers away from Castle Albion was the small town of Knights' Cross. It was a town of modest size that was built on both sides of the Dawn River, the same river that passed by the Royal Knights' headquarters before emptying in the Net Ocean. The town consisted mostly of stone buildings that were in a medieval style; the walls were made of sturdy, washed stones and the roofs were made of wood and shingles. In the center of the town was a wide, sturdy, arch bridge that was made of solid rock. It was a pivotal crossing point for not just the Order, but also many travellers passing through this region of the Free Area.
As a result, Knights' Cross had many different merchants and shops located on its main roads, making it a very commercial town. Whenever the Royal Knights or Order members needed something that they couldn't buy from the merchants in Castle Albion, they would travel to Knights' Cross to shop from the many merchants there. There were also a few taverns located in the town, which made it a popular destination for Order soldiers who found themselves with free time.
One of these taverns was known as the Radiant Shield. It was a well-kept bar with a generous selection of different beers and alcoholic drinks. It was clean and fairly up-market, but cheap enough that soldiers of the Order could frequent it comfortably.
It was a large tavern with plenty of space to allow for easy access and privacy. There were many different tables and some booths along the walls. The grainy aroma of ale filled the lantern-lit bar and intermingled with the hearty, savory scent of food. There was chatter among the tavern's patrons – amiable, but restrained and disciplined. It wasn't a raucous atmosphere in the Knights' Cross, as the Order's soldiers were expected to behave themselves whenever they went into town, and they were usually disciplined enough to do so.
Through the showering rain, Examon walked up the stone road towards the Radiant Shield. He didn't typically go inside bars apart from when Dukemon or Dynasmon dragged him along with them. However, he was looking for somebody, and he had a pretty good idea of where to find him.
The sizeable dragon knight stepped up to the tavern and opened the doors with a gentle push. Rainwater dripped down his scales and the armoured backs of his wings. He tucked his wings back and stepped through the doorway, ducking his head and looking around the tavern. The nostrils on the end of his horned snout twitched as they were assaulted by the pungent aroma of beer upon opening the doors.
As Examon walked inside, he surveyed the bar, wondering if he chose the right bar. He saw several off-duty soldiers sitting around a table, including a Knightmon, Sparrowmon, and Ankylomon. There were less Order soldiers today because not everyone wanted to travel that distance in the rain. The three soldiers spotted Examon and saluted him respectfully. Examon saluted them back and smiled slightly before passing by their table and letting them return to their socializing. Upon looking at the other end of the tavern, he spotted the Digimon he was looking for.
Dorbickmon sat alone at the bar counter. There was a bubbling, half-drunk mug of beer in front of him. The dragon man clutched the mug's handle and brought it up to his snout to take a drink.
Examon made his way over to the lone mercenary. Although he was calm on the outside, he was inwardly uncertain about how Dorbickmon would react to him. They hadn't had a massive argument, but Examon knew he had offended Dorbickmon. He also knew that Dorbickmon could hold a grudge. He stopped a few paces behind Dorbickmon and stalled for a few moments before speaking.
"…I thought I might find you here," Examon greeted, his eyes fixed on the spiked rear of Dorbickmon's head.
Dorbickmon pivoted his head ever so slightly to glance over his shoulder. Upon seeing Examon, he looked forwards again and took another drink of beer. "So I'm that predictable to you, huh? I guess you really do have me figured out," Dorbickmon replied with equal parts sarcasm and standoffishness.
"That's not what I meant." Examon sighed and walked up beside him, gesturing to the seat beside him. "Mind if I sit here?"
"You're the Royal Knight; do what you want," Dorbickmon brusquely responded, shrugging apathetically.
Examon took a seat beside the brawny mercenary. He readjusted his large wings and long tail, and sat up straight. The dragon looked across the bar counter and saw the stocky, copper bartender amble over to him. The Guardromon barkeep stopped in front of the Royal Knight and waved amiably.
"Greetings, good Royal Knight! What may I get for you today, Sir?" the Guardromon asked him. His voice was posh and peppy, a bit like an overzealous butler. "May I suggest the famous Vermillion Summer Ale that we have on special – a favourite of Lord Zhuqiaomon himself? Or perhaps you would like to have a look at our wine menu?"
The dragon knight shuffled sheepishly in his seat and folded his clawed hands on his lap. "Err… I'm sorry, but I don't drink. I'd just like some ancientberry juice, please," he requested. He felt a bit embarrassed not ordering any alcohol at the bar, but he didn't like to drink. He only barely allowed it when the other Royal Knights goaded him into doing so, and even then, he'd only have a sip.
"Why, of course!" the Guardromon replied, all too happy to oblige. "Coming right up~!"
Dorbickmon angled his snout towards Examon and raised an incredulous brow. "…Juice?" he asked him disparagingly.
"It's healthy," Examon insisted, shrugging his spiked shoulders. "Ancientberries are full of vitamins and fibre. Alcohol negatively affects the mind and body. As a soldier, I can't afford to have my reflexes and perception hindered in any way."
"…Uh huh. Alcohol bad, ancientberries good. Nice to know you've still got your lance firmly lodged up your ass," Dorbickmon jeered, taking another drink from his mug of beer.
Examon gave Dorbickmon a sideways glance. "I prefer to think of it as having self-discipline…" he calmly contended. "One has to be responsible, especially when faced with combat scenarios on a regular basis."
"Yeah, that sounds like you. Whereas I can't control myself and everybody who pisses me off ends up on my vendetta list," Dorbickmon sarcastically responded, his sharp rows of teeth appearing behind his lips as he spoke.
The barbed tone of Dorbickmon's voice wasn't lost on Examon. He could tell that Dorbickmon was still annoyed at him. Examon sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "Dorbickmon… Look, I'm sorry about before," he contritely offered.
"What? I don't know what you're talking about," Dorbickmon huffily dismissed, closing his eyes, folding his arms and leaning back in his seat. He half-opened the eye that was facing Examon and shot him a sassy leer. "Not everything's about you, you know."
Examon's stare flattened. "You're not fooling anybody. You're obviously angry with me," he bluntly stated. "I'm sorry that I was so judgmental."
Dorbickmon released a smoky snort out of his nostrils. "I guess it shouldn't be surprising for the 'Dragon Emperor' to look down on common thugs like me from his castle tower," he combatively responded, tilting his snout upwards in an indignant huff.
Examon folded his winged arms to the best of his ability. "Now you're being dramatic…" he said to him plainly. "I'm trying to apologise, Dorbickmon. I shouldn't have called you petty and immature… even if that's kind of what you're being right now."
A mixture between a snarl and a smirk formed at the corner of Dorbickmon's lips. "Some apology this is…" he muttered.
A sigh escaped Examon's draconic mouth and he thanked the bartender when a tall glass of blackish-violet juice appeared in front of him. As he curled his red fingers around the glass, he looked back at Dorbickmon. "Sorry, you're right. I should apologise without qualifying it..."
Dorbickmon finished off what was left in his glass mug and looked back at Examon. "Look, Examon, it's not about the 'petty and immature' cracks," he told him straight. He grunted and turned forwards again, towards the bar counter. "It's about you. You still think that I'm hung up on you and what you did to me. You think I'm full of hatred for every Digimon that wrongs me. I don't just go around holding grudges for fun, y'know."
"I didn't say that…" Examon insisted. "I just didn't want you to lower yourself to his level."
Dorbickmon shot him a look. "That's what I'm saying about you! …Okay, yeah, maybe you were right. Maybe I was pissed at Grandis and maybe I wanted to get a little bit of payback. I think I've got a right to be a little petty, after what he did to me. It pisses me off when you get all holier-than-thou when I don't live up to your high standards. I get that you're a Royal Knight and you try to be whiter than white, but I'm not like that and I'm not ever gonna be like that, okay? …And I managed to be on a team with GrandisKuwagamon without even throwing a punch his way, so that should tell you something about my self-control."
Examon sighed and took a sip from his glass of juice. "I didn't mean to be sanctimonious… I'm sorry if I seemed that way, Dorbickmon. I'll try not to be in the future," he said, looking over at the dragon man emphatically. "I was annoyed, but I didn't want to offend you."
Dorbickmon shifted uncomfortably on the bar stool, leaning forwards on the counter and glancing in the opposite direction from Examon. It was easier for him to be mad at Examon when the dragon wasn't being conciliatory. He hated that now he was beginning to feel guilty.
"…Forget it," Dorbickmon muttered, looking away. "…Maybe I was a bit over-the-top with the bug. …But only a bit! So… Yeah." He braved a look back at Examon, feeling sheepish. "So, in the spirit of not holding grudges, we'll call it even, got it?"
Examon grinned a bit. "Was that your version of an apology?" he asked him, his voice lightly teasing.
"Like hell it was! I'm just accepting your apology, genius!" Dorbickmon was quick to clarify, turning to Examon fully to show him his intensity. "You're so dense, you damn military nut."
Examon chuckled. "Whatever you say…" he conceded, allowing Dorbickmon to have that victory, although he suspected otherwise.
Sensing Examon's scepticism, Dorbickmon grunted insolently. "Oh, shut up and drink your fibre juice, Examon," he huffily responded.
Smiling, Examon drank the rest of the juice. "So… What are your plans?" he inquired.
"I'm sure as hell not staying around here… especially when you guys are probably starting your Demon Lord operation soon. I don't want that kind of attention," Dorbickmon responded. "I'm gonna try to take a few neutral jobs - maybe lay low for a bit. I managed to convince a few mercenaries in Dark Point that I'm not with you guys, but I'm gonna have to reinforce that by not hanging around the Order all the time."
"I see… That's probably a smart move," Examon agreed. He was secretly a bit disappointed that this probably meant that he wouldn't see Dorbickmon for some time, but he knew that this would be the best course of action for him. As the Royal Knights' operation started, they would be focused on and that would be dangerous for Dorbickmon to be around them. "Just don't get into any trouble."
Dorbickmon smirked and rolled his eyes. "I won't…" he insisted. "Same goes for you. You wouldn't be much of a Dragon Emperor if you went and got yourself killed. All your loyal fans in the UDC would be heartbroken."
Examon grinned at him. "If that happens, I'll just nominate you to take my place," he teased. "It might be a good career change for you…"
"Look at you, actually developing a sense of humour," Dorbickmon chuckled. "Never thought I'd say this, but maybe the Royal Knights are rubbing off on you."
"Maybe that's not a bad thing…" Examon reflected, smiling a bit. "The Royal Knights are some of the best Digimon that I've known."
Dorbickmon looked at him carefully. "…So, you don't regret giving up your role as defender of the UDC?" he asked him.
Examon's green eyes drifted down to his empty glass. "I don't feel as though I've given up that role… I know I technically have by becoming a Royal Knight since I don't live there anymore, but I haven't forgotten about it. It's my home," he explained. He glanced over at Dorbickmon, a bit of nervousness hidden behind his eyes. "…You go to the United Dramonic Coalition a lot. Do the Digimon there think I've abandoned them?"
The mercenary looked Examon in the eye. "I'll be honest with you… There's some Digimon there who think you abandoned them when you got a better deal with the Royal Knights," he admitted bluntly. "…But, most of them are happy for you and think that having a Dramon from the UDC in the Royal Knights is better for them." He leaned on the bar counter and gave Examon a dismissive look. "Don't worry about it. You can't please everyone, so don't bother."
Examon stared at his friend seriously. "You don't think I betrayed my species by becoming a Royal Knight?" he asked him. "You pretty much said as much as we were fighting. Maybe not in so many words, but I knew what you meant… and it wouldn't have been the first time somebody accused me of it…"
Dorbickmon sighed and rubbed the back of his head. "Whatever I said, I was furious at the time. I hated that you could be so calm and smug and self-righteous. When I was with DarkKnightmon, every word you said got under my scales and sent me into a rage," he explained. "You're a different kind of Dramon from the kind of Dramon that I am… I've got a temper and I can be stubborn and emotional. It doesn't mean you're less of a Dramon because you're calm, frigid, and impersonal. You being a Royal Knight is actually probably good for the UDC…" He shrugged, a bit sheepish at the words of assurance he was giving. "Don't feel too guilty."
Examon smiled appreciatively and nodded. "Thanks, Dorbickmon. That means a lot coming from you…"
The terrestrial red dragon shrugged nonchalantly. "Whatever…" he said offhandedly, wanting to appear apathetic. "Anyway, if you want your loyal subjects to still like you, you should go and visit the UDC more often. Isn't that right, Dragon Emperor?" he said with a teasing smirk.
"That's not a bad idea…" Examon agreed. He frowned pensively as he considered the possibility. "We're probably going to be pretty busy for awhile though. I'm not sure when I'll be able to find the time… The Demon Lords have to take priority, after all…"
"Just as long as you don't keep finding excuses not to," Dorbickmon told him. "If you want the Dragon Digimon to know you haven't abandoned them, you're gonna have to put in the effort. You can't just sulk about it and hope they'll change your minds without you having to get off your ass."
Examon managed a small grin. He could count on Dorbickmon to be painfully blunt. He appreciated his honesty though. "Yeah, you're right…"
"Anyway, I'll probably head there by the end of the week," Dorbickmon informed him. "Gonna see if there're any jobs for me in Dragon's Peak. I don't want to set my foot back in Shroud or Dark Point just yet. Gonna wait for the word to spread around for a couple weeks first. In the mean time, I'll ask around here to see if there're any jobs or contacts I can use."
"That sounds like a good plan. Good luck," Examon told him.
Dorbickmon grinned at him cockily. "Don't need luck. I've got skill," he declared. "And good looks."
"You have one of those," Examon playfully responded, although his voice sounding as calm and deadpan as usual.
"And you've got neither," Dorbickmon fired back as he stood up from the bar stool.
Examon smiled and stood up as well, taking out a few bits to pay the bartender with. "We can test that sometime… I'd better head back to the castle. Thanks for the talk."
"Not like I had much of a choice, with you hunting me down," Dorbickmon contended. He lightly slapped Examon's shoulder. "Anyway, give those Demon Lords hell for me. And don't trust them, you naïve idiot. Demon Digimon are notorious liars."
"I'll be careful," Examon assured him.
"Yeah… So, see ya around," Dorbickmon said to the Royal Knight. He shrugged and turned, not wanting to drag out the goodbye.
Examon nodded calmly. "Goodbye. If I don't see you first, I might be back in a few weeks. We can meet up then, if you can," he offered.
"Yeah, we'll see," Dorbickmon replied, rubbing his neck. "Anyways, later. Don't screw up too badly."
Examon smiled. "I won't…" With a soft nod, Examon turned and walked towards the exit of the tavern.
Upon reaching the door, he glanced over his shoulder at Dorbickmon. Dorbickmon was glancing at him out of the corners of his eyes, but he turned away and began heading to the bar washroom. Examon smiled a bit and stepped out of the bar, into the rain.
At the very least, he felt relieved that he was able to remove the tension between them. There had been unspoken uncertainties between the pair, but after their chat, he felt a lot better.
With this problem put aside, Examon flapped the broad Caledfwlch wings and took off into the sky. He could return to his professional responsibilities without any distractions now.