(Author's Notes: Here's part two, everyone! This chapter and next chapter will be character-focused, and then we're back to the plot. Enjoy!)
Chapter 37: Solace (Part II)
It had been about an hour since the Royal Knights' meeting. Alphamon's news had given them a lot to think about. One Royal Knight was thinking about what the future might entail, but he wasn't letting it get him down.
Inside Castle Albion, Sleipmon trotted his way down one of the first floor, castle corridors. His six feet hitting the stone floor provided the rhythmic tempo of hoof claps with every step. He walked down the long, side hallway at a casual pace, passing by the various rooms that were along the outer edge of the castle. There was a soft smile on his face as he enjoyed the sound of raindrops pattering against the glass windows.
He walked down a corridor that had several alcoves along the outer side of the hallway, each one with its own small window looking out into the castle gardens. He watched as the rivulets of water trickled down the glass and onto the stone window sill. Sleipmon enjoyed watching the drops of rain falling down onto the lush garden. The vibrant colours stood out against the drab greys, and the plants and flowers soaked in the nourishment of the rainwater.
As Sleipmon walked down the hallway at a leisurely pace, he noticed a Digimon sitting in the furthest alcove at the end of the corridor. It wasn't hard for him to recognise the Digimon by his white body and red cape standing out against the blue fabric of the alcove seats. It was SaviorHackmon, sitting with his clawed hands folded on his lap. His shoulders and head were depressed and his golden eyes were wistful. He looked lost in his own thoughts. His crimson, goggle-strapped hood was pulled over his head so that it enveloped his metallic snout. It didn't take a genius to guess that there was something bothering him.
Noticing his distress, Sleipmon's smile evaporated and he walked over to the young dragon man, frowning with concern. "SaviorHackmon?" he asked, stopping at the mouth of the alcove and gazing down at him.
SaviorHackmon jumped a bit, startled at the sudden words and presence beside him. He had been so consumed by his thoughts that he hadn't noticed Sleipmon approach at all. His hood had also been blocking his peripheral vision. "S-Sleipmon-shishou," he stammered with embarrassment at not immediately showing him the proper respect. He swiftly saluted his superior to rectify that. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't notice you."
Sleipmon offered a good-humoured smile. "You must have something on your mind if you didn't notice a Digimon as large and striking as me…" he observed. He gestured to the bench-like seat across from the one that SaviorHackmon was planted on. "May I?"
"Of course, Sir…" SaviorHackmon replied.
Sleipmon approached the cushioned bench and climbed on top of it sideways. He pulled his six legs up to his flanks and settled into the cushion, resting comfortably on his underbelly. Sleipmon turned and smiled at SaviorHackmon amiably. "You don't have any training?" he asked him.
"No, not until the afternoon…" SaviorHackmon responded, his tenor voice noticeably less animated than usual.
The horse knight arched an eyebrow. "Is everything okay, SaviorHackmon? You seem… distracted," he asked inquisitively.
"Oh… It's nothing, really…" SaviorHackmon insisted, feeling sheepish that his emotions were showing that easily. He must have looked very unprofessional in front of the Royal Knight.
Sleipmon smiled warmly at him. "…Want to talk about it? I'm a good listener…" he offered.
"Thank you, but I couldn't burden you with unimportant stuff like that, Sleipmon-shishou…" SaviorHackmon demurred.
"Why not?" Sleipmon responded, smiling encouragingly. "We all have problems sometimes, even the Royal Knights… I find it helps to have somebody to talk to about it. You can talk to me; don't worry about rank or anything like that. I'm just a friendly ear right now…"
SaviorHackmon brightened up a little at his reassuring words. "Thank you, Sleipmon-shishou," he responded. He looked down at his claws folded on his lap. He wasn't entirely sure where to start.
"Is it about GrandisKuwagamon, by any chance?" Sleipmon questioned softly. He didn't want to presume, but he was pretty confident that GrandisKuwagamon's escape had something to do with it.
The silver dragon went quiet. Ever-so-slightly, the firmness of his eyes melted and his head sunk.
"I think I hit the mark…" Sleipmon said with a slight smile. "What's troubling you, exactly?"
SaviorHackmon sighed and curled his bladed tail around so that it rested on his lap. "I don't know where to start, Sleipmon-shishou…" he admitted.
"I know it can be hard opening up sometimes… Why don't you start with what you're comfortable with?" the bulky cavalier suggested.
The steel knight-in-training nodded gently. "I suppose you know how badly I failed again… It's because of me that GrandisKuwagamon escaped," he began. His words were deep and heavy, weighed down by the shame in his voice.
"That incident did come up in our meeting…" Sleipmon admitted, idly reaching behind his head and running his fingers through his thick mane of lavender hair. He angled his equine head to look at SaviorHackmon directly. "We all make mistakes, SaviorHackmon. Even the Royal Knights do… I certainly do."
"The trouble is that I keep making them…" SaviorHackmon murmured glumly. "And the mistakes I keep making are immense and they cause major problems for the Order… Alphamon would have been right to dismiss me on the spot. It's only because of Gankoomon that he didn't."
Sleipmon shook his head. "I'm surprised, SaviorHackmon. You should give both Alphamon and Gankoomon more credit than that…" he said to him. "Alphamon's a fair Digimon. He believes in giving Digimon second chances when he's sure that they regret their actions. And I'm sure you know Gankoomon well enough to know that he wouldn't make exceptions for you."
"Yeah… You're right. I'm sorry, Sir. I just don't know what to think anymore…" SaviorHackmon said with a sigh. "GrandisKuwagamon was right about me. I am too naïve… I believe the best in others when I really shouldn't, and then they take advantage of it. That was how GrandisKuwagamon escaped… He used my belief in him against me."
Sleipmon frowned softly. "That must have hurt you a lot…" he murmured with gentle empathy.
SaviorHackmon nodded softly. "It… sounds so stupid now, but… I thought of him as a friend. How ridiculous is that? Willingly trying to befriend an immoral mercenary who took me hostage… I feel like such an idiot," he admitted, grimacing. "I set myself up for his manipulations perfectly."
"Don't blame yourself, SaviorHackmon," the cavalier encouraged him. "You believed in him because you're a good Digimon."
"Then isn't that a weakness…? GrandisKuwagamon would never be tricked in the way that he tricked me. He would say that good Digimon finish last… If you don't trust anybody, you'll never be betrayed," SaviorHackmon debated. "Isn't idealism just delusions?"
Sleipmon's violet eyes narrowed and hardened just slightly. His gaze wasn't one of anger, but of determination. "…No. I don't believe that," he answered decisively, his voice as clear and steady as ice. "And I don't think that you believe that either… Wanting to see the good in Digimon and trusting others… is that really a weakness? Isolating yourself on an island, doubting everything that anybody tells you, discarding your dreams as naïve and foolish… is that strength, SaviorHackmon? Is cynicism really a good thing?"
SaviorHackmon winced and leaned forwards, propping his forearms on his angular knees. "I don't know, Sleipmon-shishou," he whispered. "Maybe it is. Maybe I just need to grow up."
Sleipmon offered him a small smile. "I don't know if you noticed, but Alphamon often throws out proverbs when he's giving advice. Dukemon jokes that he likes to sound philosophical…" He chuckled a little. "Alphamon has said many proverbs since I first met him, but there was one that always stood out to me. He said, 'cynicism makes for poor armour.' I really think that this is true…"
The equestrian knight looked at SaviorHackmon meditatively. "Cynics often look down on people like us. They say that we live in a dream world and that we need to grow up. But in my experience, those kinds of cynics are afraid, deep down. They hide behind 'realism' to make themselves feel safe and superior, but really, they just don't want to risk getting hurt. Rather than taking a chance and believing in something with the chance of it all going wrong, they would rather play it safe, keep everything at arm's length, and protect themselves…"
Sleipmon sighed and rubbed his neck sheepishly. "I'm not trying to sound judgmental in any way. I know that a lot of my friends find themselves on the cynical side, and I'm sure they would have a lot of choice words to say about my idealism too. I'm not going to say that there's anything wrong with acting that way, but I strongly disagree with the notion that a cynic is an idealist who grew up. Both sides are valid, and both sides have their own undeniable problems…"
SaviorHackmon grimaced softly. "You're right, Sleipmon-shishou," he admitted. "I don't want to get hurt like this again… I don't want other Digimon to get hurt because of me."
"I don't want that either. However, there's no guarantee that things will always work out, no matter how you view the world. That's just life… I choose to think that the world is worth believing in – that Digimon are worth believing in…"
The dragon man looked up at Sleipmon with soft, vulnerable eyes. "How do you do it, Sleipmon-shishou…? How do you stay so positive and idealistic? You must have experienced a lot more than I have, yet…"
Sleipmon's gentle grin disappeared and he closed his eyes. He briefly reflected on the sorrow in his life. His failures… The Digimon that he couldn't save… The things that he lost…
He reopened his eyes, the glassy, violet orbs rotating back towards SaviorHackmon. "…It's not always easy, SaviorHackmon," Sleipmon admitted gently. "There is a lot of pain and darkness in this world. I can't deny that… The actions of fiendish Digimon and the grievous losses that I've seen have been painfully imprinted in my heart… However, I choose not to let that define my actions and my opinions." The warmest, most hopeful smile Sleipmon could muster appeared on his muzzle. "Believing in other Digimon… striving to help them, even when it's so hard… it really is worth it. No matter how much pain I experience, both to my flesh and to my heart… being able to make just one Digimon smile at the end of the day is worth it…"
The tenderness and sincerity of Sleipmon's words brought a tiny smile to SaviorHackmon's face. "That's why I want to become a Royal Knight… To help the Digimon who need it… I don't think I want to give up on them…" he gently replied as he thought about Sleipmon's words.
Sleipmon reached over and placed his hand on the shoulder of SaviorHackmon's hunched form, gently rubbing the crimson cape draped over it. "Then you have a good foundation for becoming a Royal Knight. If we didn't want to help Digimon and if we didn't think that it was possible, then none of us would be Royal Knights. This Order wouldn't exist. That's why I don't want you to give up hope because of what GrandisKuwagamon did to you, SaviorHackmon."
SaviorHackmon smiled graciously and sat up straighter in his seat. He pulled the crimson hood down from his head and let it rest against the nape of his neck. "Yeah… I'll try. It won't be easy, but I want to try to believe that… My heart still hurts and my mind is all over the place, but… I think you helped a lot, Sleipmon-shishou. Thank you…"
The Royal Knight in question smiled brightly. "I'm glad… You're quite welcome," he responded.
"You were right. This is all because of GrandisKuwagamon," the draconic squire granted. "It's not just because he tricked me, though…"
Sleipmon cocked his head to the side curiously. "Oh?"
"I fooled myself into thinking that he was really a good guy, but when he tricked me, I wrote him off as an evil criminal. …I wanted to hate him… But when I confronted him, I learned it wasn't that simple…" SaviorHackmon responded, sighing. "He told us some personal things that made me question whether he was evil or not. I don't know how to feel about him now… I can't forgive him, but I can't hate him either…"
Sleipmon smiled. "There are many shades of grey, SaviorHackmon… This is something that Royal Knights have to deal with all the time. It isn't always evil, rampaging monsters that we fight," he pointed out. "And none of us are perfect, even though we strive to be. That's why this job is so hard."
"Yeah… I still have a lot to learn, don't I?" SaviorHackmon mused.
"What's important is that you are learning," Sleipmon explained, carefully standing up from the cushioned seat. "You're doing fine, SaviorHackmon. Don't be too hard on yourself."
"Yes, Sir," SaviorHackmon responded, standing to his feet as well. "Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. I know you have a lot of important things you need to do, so I'll go prepare for training."
Sleipmon smiled at the caped dragon Digimon and nodded. "If you ever want to talk, I'm always available," the Royal Knight offered kindly.
Hearing this, SaviorHackmon bowed. He smiled with appreciation at the nadir of the gesture. "Thank you, Sleipmon-shishou. That means a lot to me…"
As Sleipmon nodded, SaviorHackmon stood up straight and saluted him. The draconic soldier then turned and walked out of the alcove. Feeling a bit more at ease with himself, he strode down the corridor and disappeared around the corner leading to the foyer.
The red digizoid-adorned centaur smiled after SaviorHackmon. He liked the mature teenager. He sensed a kind heart within him. Sleipmon knew that he just needed a bit more life experience and confidence. He hoped that he might be able to help him in the future.
"Haha! They grow up so fast…" a voice exclaimed from behind him.
Sleipmon turned and saw Dynasmon stride into the corridor from a door leading to the adjacent great hall. The strapping Royal Knight marched over with a broad grin plastered across his face.
"Dynasmon?" Sleipmon asked, raising an eyebrow. He smiled a bit. "I guess they do. He's matured a lot."
Dynasmon marched up to him and slapped Sleipmon's back, resting his large hand between the two golden, wing analogues that protruded from it. "I mean you, Sleipmon! You've gone from being the new guy in the Order to being a mentor for new members in over a year! I'm so proud of you," Dynasmon exclaimed with a teasing grin.
Sleipmon's equine cheeks flushed slightly. "I don't know about being a mentor… That's really more Gankoomon's job," he insisted, chuckling a bit. "I just wanted to reassure him…"
Dynasmon smiled at him, more genuinely this time. "It looks like it worked. I think you did a pretty good job… Maybe all that leadership training paid off."
The horseman ventured a soft smile towards back at Dynasmon. "He was upset, feeling guilty, and doubting himself… I've been there before," he admitted. "I wanted to tell him that there's a way through it."
"Yeah… I know that feeling too," Dynasmon said, remembering some of the darker parts of his own past with bitter acceptance. His bowed his head and leaned back against the corner of the alcove. His mouth curving upwards gently, Dynasmon glanced at Sleipmon. "You know, I wasn't kidding when I said you've grown a lot."
"Huh? Do you think so? I don't really feel like I have," Sleipmon responded, tilting his head with gentle perplexity.
"You definitely have," Dynasmon declared. "When you first joined the Order, you were really insecure. I get why: you looked a lot different from the rest of us, you had principles that you didn't want to waver on, and Duftmon was constantly getting on your case."
"…Yeah, I guess you have a point about that…" Sleipmon responded, twiddling his fingers as he remembered his first several days at the Order. "I felt really out of place. I didn't have the same adventuring background that a lot of you had, and I was really worried about leaving the Arcane Ruins in my subordinate's charge… Plus, well… I look how I look. I was the first non-humanoid Royal Knight, and my combat style and ideals clashed with a lot of the Royal Knights…" Sleipmon sheepishly recalled. "They still do."
Sleipmon frowned slightly. "To be honest, Dynasmon, after the first month, I almost quit the Order," he admitted. "It was after that mission that I went on with Duftmon and Craniamon. We went to take down that Zanbamon bandit leader that was terrorizing the border region between the Free Area and the Republic of Node. We defeated them pretty soundly, but as the Zanbamon was fleeing, they told me to kill him. I couldn't bring myself to do it. I panicked and tried to shoot his legs, but I missed and he ended up escaping. Duftmon and Craniamon really chewed me out for that afterwards… I was pretty frustrated at myself, so I drew up my resignation and spoke to Alphamon to formally resign… but he convinced me to stay." Sleipmon smiled a bit. "I'm glad I did, even if it was tough for awhile."
"You're principled. I may not always agree with your no-killing policy, but I respect you for sticking to your morals," Dynasmon explained. "We all have our own personal codes and principles that are important to us. I believe in loyalty above all else… You believe in not reformatting. That's pretty commendable. You're a good Digimon, Sleipmon."
Sleipmon glanced aside. "I don't know about that… I try to be, but…" He sighed. "You know, when Examon joined the Order… I was glad. I was glad because he looked different too. Part of me hoped that Duftmon and the others would focus on him instead of me since he was new and obviously out of place… How selfish is that?" Sleipmon admitted with a soft grimace. "I felt comfortable and in charge, being his senior and being somebody who could help him through his tough times. It was a way of boosting my own ego. Maybe that's what I did with SaviorHackmon too."
"You're too hard on yourself, Sleipmon," Dynasmon told him, giving him a serious frown. "None of us Royal Knights are perfect, but we try our best." He reached over and put his hand on Sleipmon's shoulder. "You always try your best, even when it's hard and even when you doubt yourself. You're a lot more confident and mature than you used to be, but you're also one of the nicest guys that I know. That's why I say you've grown a lot from when you first joined. You're willing to step up and help others who need it - and don't say that it's at the expense of others, because it's all down to your own strength."
Sleipmon smiled. "Yet here I am, getting a pep talk after just giving one," he joked, looking jovially at Dynasmon. "Thanks, Dynasmon."
Dynasmon grinned and nodded. "Just… don't let yourself get dragged down by guilt." His smile faded and he stood up from the wall. He turned away from Sleipmon, as if preparing to walk away. "I've been there. I've let guilt shape me." Dynasmon looked over his winged shoulder and offered Sleipmon a small smile. "I don't think you will – you're too strong for that now - just… a few wise words from some big, dumb idiot who's already walked down that long and lonely path."
Sleipmon returned the meaningful smile, the corners of his muzzle gently curving upwards. "…I appreciate it, Dynasmon. I won't… All the guilt I felt remains in the past too."
Dynasmon nodded and looked forwards. "Good…" After a moment, he chuckled heartily. "See? You're more confident. Don't try to be all humble and deny it."
Sleipmon chuckled lightly. "Fine, you've got me…" he conceded. "So… Do you have any plans for this rainy day apart from eavesdropping on people?"
"Thought I might work out in the gym. Want to join me?" Dynasmon offered.
"Sure," Sleipmon agreed. "I've got an hour free before I have to get back to my duties. I'm giving a lecture to the Strike Force recruits on high manoeuvrability warfare and hit-and-run tactics. Then I have to study the maps of the Gloaming Fields."
"Yeah, I'm pretty busy too. I think it'll be this way for awhile in the lead up to this campaign," Dynasmon explained, starting to walk down the stony hallway. He shrugged. "At least we won't be bored."
Sleipmon nodded and trotted alongside Dynasmon. He thought about the prospect of going to war against the Seven Great Demon Lords. It felt like they only just finished fighting the Metal Empire, but he supposed that their enemies weren't just going to stop and wait for them to be ready. Even so, he was concerned. He knew that the Demon Lords would be extremely powerful foes… as strong as or stronger than Chaosdramon was, multiplied by seven. He worried about the dangers they posed to his friends and innocent Digimon.
He knew he couldn't falter. He had to make sure that he didn't. But he wondered if he could face them down without having to sacrifice his principles…
Meanwhile, the castle cafeteria was bustling. There was a large amount of soldiers that were on stand-by due to the weather. This resulted in many of them deciding to hang out in the cafeteria until their training started in the mid-afternoon.
It was lunch time, so the cafeteria was teeming with Digimon. Although the cafeteria was expansive with about a hundred tables, there were enough Digimon present to make it busy and congested. There were long lines to the serving counter, where the regular chefs were pumping out food to the hungry soldiers as fast as they could. Soldiers squeezed by each other as they tried to fit down the busy aisles between the rows of tables. Although the soldiers were disciplined enough not to be tripping over each other, the large Digimon had the right of way and the smaller ones usually had to avoid them to keep from getting bowled over. A chorus of discordant chatter filled the area as they tried to talk over one another in order to be heard.
A single, skinny, humanoid hornet gracefully weaved between large, muscular bodies of passing soldiers, deftly balancing a tray of food in his hands as he evaded them. With every breath, TigerVespamon excused himself and apologised as he tried to get around his fellow recruits and seniors.
"Excuse me. I apologise. Pardon me, please. Very sorry. May I…?" he rapid-fire apologised, ducking under a Tyrannomon's arm and sliding past his tail with grace and precision. He asked for pardon as he passed a Knightmon and a Digmon. With a gentle sigh of relief, he stepped out of the crowd and into a more open part of the cafeteria.
He took the reprieve to get his bearings and look around the cafeteria for a table. To his concern, all of the tables that he saw were packed with soldiers. There were a few vacant seats, but they were flanked by large, chummy soldiers who he wasn't acquainted with. He didn't want to presume to sit down with them – they might be reserved for others still in line.
He stood quietly as he looked around, trying to detect a free table with his compound eyes. It was to no avail. He wondered where he should sit.
"Hey, Vespa! Over here!" a charming, relaxed, high tenor voice called out from behind him, drawing TigerVespamon from his thoughts. He turned around and saw ShineGreymon at a table over at the far end of the cafeteria. The humanoid dragon man was sitting at a table with VictoryGreymon, KaiserGreymon, and BlackWarGreymon. There were a couple vacant seats at the table. Though he was far away, TigerVespamon could tell that his usual confident grin was plastered on his face as he waved him over.
TigerVespamon tentatively headed over, politely passing Digimon as he navigated his way through the crowd. Four 'pardon me's later, he approached the table where most of the Greymon Five were sitting.
"ShineGreymon?" he questioned, looking at his fellow Strike Forces recruit.
"Hey, buddy. If you're looking for a spot, go ahead and grab this one," ShineGreymon offered, gesturing to the empty seat beside him. He sat down and flashed a charming smile at the insect man for encouragement.
"Oh… Thank you. If you are positive you do not mind," TigerVespamon responded uncertainly. "I wouldn't wish to impose upon you."
"Haha, don't be so formal, dude!" ShineGreymon exclaimed, reaching up to put his hand on TigerVespamon's shoulder, gently ushering him into sitting in the chair next to him. "We're training buds, so of course we don't mind if you sit with us. Right, guys?"
"Not at all! Go ahead, Vespa," VictoryGreymon encouraged, putting a broad, friendly smile on his face.
"It's fine with us. You're more than welcome," KaiserGreymon concurred.
BlackWarGreymon nodded quietly at him. "Nobody's sitting there."
TigerVespamon settled into the chair uneasily at first, but he came to feel more relaxed at their assurances. "Thank you. I would be honored to join you," he politely replied.
As he placed his tray down, the fifth member of the Greymon Five, WarGreymon, returned to the table carrying a tray with a mound of food piled on it. It seemed to TigerVespamon that it was more food than any Digimon could or should eat. WarGreymon looked over to the chair that TigerVespamon had taken. "Hey, my chair! I told you guys to save that while I got food!" he complained irately.
"O-Oh, my apologies…" TigerVespamon spoke, beginning to stand up. "I was told that it was vacant. Please, you are welcome to—"
"Oh, relax," ShineGreymon interrupted with a nonchalant grin and a wave of the hand. "Just take the seat next to VictoryGreymon, you big baby."
WarGreymon scowled and grumbled, but sat down in the chair across from TigerVespamon.
"I really do not mind…" the insect acolyte insisted.
"You really have to work on the way you speak, Vespa," ShineGreymon said, slinging an arm over the hornet's shoulders. "It's way too formal and polite. Only the upper-crust officers spoke like that in the Republic's military."
"I could not speak impolitely in front of superior officers…" TigerVespamon awkwardly responded. "Father Angemon taught me that language should not only convey meaning, but also respect."
"Lucky for you, the highest rank at this table is KaiserGreymon, and it's not like we have to show him any special respect," ShineGreymon replied with cheery humour.
"As the leader of the team, I would prefer if you did…" KaiserGreymon muttered exasperatedly, although he knew it would go unnoticed.
"It would be insubordinate of me not to show Sergeant KaiserGreymon the proper respect," TigerVespamon insisted.
"Wow. Are all members of the Heavenly Choir such goody-two-shoes?" WarGreymon asked, looking across the table at TigerVespamon with a toothy smirk.
"In actuality, I am not a member of the Heavenly Choir… As I am an insect Digimon living on the Digital World, I am not legally bound by their laws to follow their codes of conduct," TigerVespamon admitted calmly. He didn't let on any of the uneasiness that he might have felt about that. "I simply choose to follow their religion as well as many of their tenets as it is proper etiquette."
KaiserGreymon nodded. "TigerVespamon's right. No matter what military we're in, there's a chain of command that we have to follow." The broad shouldered dragon sergeant turned his head and looked between WarGreymon and ShineGreymon. "You two should learn from his example. Not everyone is as insubordinate as the pair of you are… You should try to make a good impression on the Royal Knights."
ShineGreymon leaned back in his seat casually and rubbed the back of his head. "Hey, I am. It's WarGreymon who mutters under his breath whenever he gets chewed out by Captain Ouryumon," he maintained lackadaisically.
WarGreymon grumbled under his breath and started tucking into his food.
TigerVespamon began preparing to eat as well, not wanting his food to get cold. The emptiness in his stomach was nagging at him. He gazed down at the food that he had assembled on his plate. On his plate was a succulent, white priest fish, drizzled with a light honey-lemon sauce. Next to it was a generous helping of salad, consisting of a variety of leaves. The green, red, and blue salad was fresh and garnished with a lemon-caper vinaigrette. Also accompanying the meal was a handful of mixed vegetables that he requested, making for a balanced and healthy meal.
TigerVespamon bowed his head and inwardly made a prayer of thanks for the food.
VictoryGreymon noticed this as he was mid-bite, and he immediately began to feel sheepish and guilty. "Oh, um…" He quickly put his fork down, clasped his large hands together, and closed his eyes to pray too, not wanting to offend TigerVespamon.
ShineGreymon looked across at VictoryGreymon and laughed. "What are you doing, Vic?"
WarGreymon smirked. "Since when have you ever prayed before stuffing your face?" he teased.
TigerVespamon looked up and smiled. "You really do not need to pray as well, VictoryGreymon," he assured him. "I will not take any offence."
VictoryGreymon opened one eye and rubbed the back of his neck. "Oh, um, you sure?"
The wasp Digimon nodded. "We were taught at the monastery that faith can be a private and introspective practice. That is how I choose to practice the Religion of Light. I respect the beliefs and non-belief of others; I would never expect you to pray or do anything that you were uncomfortable with simply because I was doing so," TigerVespamon explained.
The large dragon man smiled. "Oh… 'kay. Thanks, Vespa."
"Thank you for considering me, nonetheless," he added appreciatively.
TigerVespamon took his knife and fork and began to cut into his fish with surgical precision. He deftly plucked out the thin bones and carved off a safely bite-sized piece of fish. As he did this, the insect looked around at what the Greymon Five were eating. He couldn't help but be stunned at what he saw.
Compared to his modest servings, the five Greymon basically had mounds of food piled on their plates. Their dishes were dominated by red meats, white meats, pieces of fish here and there, and vegetables. The helpings were big for a dinner, let alone a lunch. TigerVespamon stared over at VictoryGreymon's plate; he wasn't sure he could eat even half of what was on it. He glanced around at the different meals. The one's whose meal was most similar to his own was ShineGreymon's. The leaner dragon man's food was generally healthy apart from one indulgent piece of steak, but there was still plenty of food on the plate. Was it true what they said about Greymon appetites?
"I can't believe we get to eat this food every day!" VictoryGreymon moaned happily as he chewed on a piece of steak. "It tastes so good!"
"Yeah, even when Sir RhodoKnightmon's not the one cooking, his team of chefs still cook amazingly," ShineGreymon agreed.
"It's way better than the slop we got in the mess hall back at the New Terminal base," BlackWarGreymon added.
"Just don't overeat, guys," KaiserGreymon advised them. "I don't want you losing it when we do physical training this afternoon."
"Okay, Kaiz," VictoryGreymon responded before taking a big bite of meat.
"We need the energy," WarGreymon murmured, also digging into his food.
"So, what's the plan? We train for the rest of the afternoon and then we have the evening off?" ShineGreymon asked, looking at KaiserGreymon for confirmation.
"That's right," KaiserGreymon confirmed.
"In that case, why don't we all go to Knights' Cross tonight and have a few at one of the bars?" ShineGreymon offered with a grin. "Maybe those hotties will be there again." The light dragon looked at TigerVespamon. "Hey, Vespa, you should come with us."
"Oh… That is very kind of you to offer, but did I not mention that I do not drink alcohol?" TigerVespamon responded.
"You don't have to drink. Just have some juice and enjoy our company!" ShineGreymon insisted with his usual outgoing confidence.
"I suppose I could do that…" TigerVespamon responded.
"I can't…" VictoryGreymon murmured sheepishly, poking his mashed potatoes with his fork. He looked up at his friends with a small smile. "SaviorHackmon and I've gotta meet with High Curator Phantomon about starting our punishment. Looks like we'll be mopping the halls tonight, haha…"
"That's tough, buddy," ShineGreymon said, patting VictoryGreymon's shoulder. "But, hey, it won't be so bad. Maybe you'll see some of the Royal Knights walking by. Maybe they'll let you clean inside their rooms! How awesome would that be?"
"It's supposed to be a punishment for doing something reckless and ill-advised, not a reward," KaiserGreymon spoke up, looking firmly at ShineGreymon and VictoryGreymon.
"Y-Yeah, I know, Kaiz… I'm taking it really seriously," VictoryGreymon penitently promised him, swirling his fork around the folds of the fluffy potatoes on his plate. He offered a smile. "I doubt we'll be let inside their rooms anyways, since they probably keep confidential stuff inside, and us recruits don't have that level of clearance yet…"
"I don't know what the hell you were thinking in the first place," WarGreymon gruffly chastised, plopping a forkful of vegetables in his mouth as he turned to stare at VictoryGreymon. "Really? Releasing a wanted criminal from the Royal Knights' dungeons? That's stupid, even for you."
As he spoke, VictoryGreymon's smiled faded slightly. "I didn't release him on purpose…" VictoryGreymon half-heartedly defended, although the soft words and raised pitch of his voice revealed the guilt and remorse in his voice. "I didn't expect that to happen."
"You opened up his cell," WarGreymon deadpanned. "What did you expect? For him to just play nice and not take the opportunity to run? Jeez, Victory, you're lucky you have friends like us to keep you grounded."
"I'm sure he feels really lucky having a friend who rubs his snout in it," BlackWarGreymon sarcastically said to his orange counterpart.
VictoryGreymon's smile faded and he ducked his head. He stared down at his plate and continued to sheepishly push his potatoes around. Up until WarGreymon mentioned it, he hadn't been thinking about GrandisKuwagamon. When he woke up in the medical bay after falling unconscious, he had been told that GrandisKuwagamon managed to escape despite VictoryGreymon's best efforts. He felt like a failure. But VictoryGreymon hated to let things drag him down. So he put what happened aside and focused on his duties. However, his regret and pain over GrandisKuwagamon always lingered at the back of his mind. Now, it was coming back out again.
"Yeah, I guess…" VictoryGreymon mumbled, putting on a tiny smile. "It was pretty naïve of me, huh?"
TigerVespamon quietly gazed down at his food as the dragon men spoke back and forth. As the topic of GrandisKuwagamon emerged, his appetite began to disappear and morph into a tight weight in bottom of his stomach. He placed his fork down beside his plate with gentle precision. He lifted his head and stared across the table at VictoryGreymon. "…VictoryGreymon, may I ask you something?" he asked him.
"Huh? Of course, Vespa," accepted the dragon man.
"I am not trying to be judgmental when I ask this, but… why did you help GrandisKuwagamon?" TigerVespamon questioned. Although his words were delivered coolly, his voice was calm and did not reveal any malice.
"…I know it sounds stupid, but… I wanted to," VictoryGreymon admitted sheepishly. "I believed that he wasn't a bad guy. He helped me when I was about to get beaten up by those demons. I don't think that was just a trick…"
"However, he manipulated you and attacked you so that he might escape…" TigerVespamon softly countered.
VictoryGreymon's green eyes drifted down to his lap. "I know he did…" he murmured with a wince. "I shouldn't have let that happen."
"Hey, you made up for it by volunteering to go after him, even if you didn't catch him," ShineGreymon encouraged him.
"I just wish I could have stopped him…" VictoryGreymon murmured, staring at his food before placing a piece of meat in his mouth.
"I cannot believe that he would try to escape… He should have accepted his punishment," TigerVespamon murmured, slowly piercing a vegetable with his fork and bringing it to his mouth to bite.
"GrandisKuwagamon?" WarGreymon asked. "Why would he do that? If I were a criminal and I had a chance to escape, I would."
The humanoid hornet sighed. "I suppose it is merely wishful thinking," he admitted. "His actions are exhaustingly cynical…"
KaiserGreymon looked over at VictoryGreymon. "You didn't really mention what happened when you fought him," he mentioned curiously.
"It looked pretty rough with the amount of cuts and bruises you had," WarGreymon pointed out, poking one of the healing bruises on VictoryGreymon's arm.
"Ow!" VictoryGreymon retracted his thick arm protectively, his muscles still tender from the fight. "Well…" He was a bit uncertain about telling them the details, but they were his friends.
"Come on, V," ShineGreymon encouraged. The solar dragon grinned positively. "Tell us how much of that beetle's ass you kicked."
VictoryGreymon smiled with embarrassment and scratched the rear of his red-haired head. "It was actually a pretty close fight… Grandis is a really good fighter. He probably would have beaten me if Paildramon and SaviorHackmon weren't there," he humbly admitted.
TigerVespamon stared over at VictoryGreymon. "Could you please recount what happened? I am somewhat curious as well. That is, if you do not mind…"
"Yeah, uh, sure… We caught up to GrandisKuwagamon as he was escaping north. We tried to convince him to come back with us, but he wouldn't listen and he attacked us. We ended up having to fight him," VictoryGreymon explained, still rubbing the smooth, orange scales on the nape of his neck as he spoke. "It was really tough… He put up a good fight against all three of us. It took a lot of work, but we finally got him on the back foot. That was when he got desperate and came up behind me and grabbed me."
"What? Like, your ass?" ShineGreymon blithely questioned.
"W-What? No!" VictoryGreymon swiftly clarified, his cheeks tinting pink with embarrassment. "I mean, he grabbed my neck with his pincers and used me as a hostage."
"That's terrible," KaiserGreymon spoke, turning to his right to look at VictoryGreymon. "You're not too hurt from that?"
VictoryGreymon offered a reassuring smile to show that he was fine. "Yeah, it wasn't too bad, but…" VictoryGreymon trailed off a bit, wondering how much he should say. "Emotions were running high. He… opened up about a lot."
TigerVespamon looked up from his food and stared at VictoryGreymon with interest. "Oh…? What about, if I may ask?"
VictoryGreymon grimaced and ducked his head. "Sorry… I'm not sure I can say… He told us a lot of really private things about his past…" the dragon man apologetically explained.
"…I see," TigerVespamon answered, looking forwards and continuing to eat his food, stone-faced.
"You really care about protecting the secrets of some guy who kicked the shit outta you?" WarGreymon incredulously asked.
"It was really personal, War," VictoryGreymon explained. "He talked about a lot of terrible things that happened to him. It really helped me to understand why he acts the way he does. It must have been terrible for him… I can't imagine the pain that he had to suffer through."
"…So, he was attempting to justify his deplorable behaviour simply by recounting some tragic events in his life?" TigerVespamon clarified, his words cold and placid, like the surface of a frozen lake. "Many Digimon have suffered terrible tragedies in their lives, and yet we do not feel the need to turn to crime, brutality and deceit. He chose to live his life in such a way. You should not feel too sorry for him, VictoryGreymon… However sorry one might feel for him, it does not excuse his present actions…"
VictoryGreymon was surprised and confused at how unsympathetic TigerVespamon was towards GrandisKuwagamon, especially since he usually seemed so nice. "Yeah, but… something really bad happened to him when he was just a kid…" he tentatively murmured. "It was horrible, Vespa…"
TigerVespamon paused and his grip tightened on his fork for only a moment. "Yes… and that is terrible… However, does that excuse the fact that he is causing others pain in the present?"
"Well, no, but… He just needs to see that what he's doing is wrong," VictoryGreymon contended. "I know that, despite everything, he's a good Digimon deep down."
"I wonder…" TigerVespamon sceptically whispered to himself. He stared down at the glass of water on his tray. There was not a single ripple in the still, clear liquid. As VictoryGreymon placed a hand on the table, a single quiver arrested the surface of the water.
VictoryGreymon gazed at TigerVespamon. He wasn't aggressive or defensive, but attempting to understand him. "TigerVespamon… I don't really get it. You don't seem to want to give GrandisKuwagamon a chance at all," he tentatively spoke up.
TigerVespamon stiffened slightly.
"You do kinda talk like you know GrandisKuwagamon," ShineGreymon explained.
VictoryGreymon stared at TigerVespamon softly. "Why don't you like him? Is it just because he's a criminal? …Or has he done anything to hurt you personally?"
TigerVespamon looked away from his gaze for a few moments. He took a calming breath and raised his head to meet VictoryGreymon's questioning gaze again. "…He has hurt me in ways that you cannot comprehend."
"Oh… I'm sorry…" VictoryGreymon apologised, guilt starting to emerge inside of him for questioning TigerVespamon's reasons. The dragon man's eyes drifted down to his half-eaten plate of food. He was conflicted. He felt sorry for GrandisKuwagamon and he understood how he ended up like he did. However, he knew that TigerVespamon had a point and that GrandisKuwagamon was hurting people. He just wanted to show GrandisKuwagamon that he didn't have to be that way. Digimon could change. At least, that's what VictoryGreymon wanted to believe…
ShineGreymon's usual smile was absent. Instead, he stared at TigerVespamon with a concerned frown reflected in his blue eyes. "What'd he do? …You said 'we' when you were talking about Digimon who suffered tragedies in their lives… What happened?" ShineGreymon's eyes darkened bitterly. "You mentioned growing up in a monastery. Did you lose your parents?"
"…I would prefer not to discuss it, if that is alright. It happened long ago." He softly shook his head, cleansing himself of any sentiment. "It was in another life… I am a different Digimon now. I do not see the point in dwelling on it," TigerVespamon explained with matter-of-fact resilience. "I would prefer to move forward, as a new Digimon with a new life."
"Yeah, but…" ShineGreymon uncertainly began. He stalled. He seemed as though he wanted to say more, but he decided better of it. "…Hey, I guess if that's what works for you, that's totally cool, dude." ShineGreymon shrugged and returned the carefree grin to his face. "So… this is getting pretty heavy. Should we talk about something less likely to put us off our food?"
"Yes, my apologies," TigerVespamon responded, nodded and continuing to eat his food.
VictoryGreymon gazed at TigerVespamon for a few more seconds before returning to his own meal as well. He didn't know what went on between TigerVespamon and GrandisKuwagamon, but he knew that it would be rude to ask. It sounded like he had been deeply hurt by him. He respected that TigerVespamon had his reasons, but he wasn't sure that TigerVespamon knew what he knew about GrandisKuwagamon. Maybe he just only ever saw the bad side of GrandisKuwagamon, where VictoryGreymon also saw the good side. However, now wasn't the time to convince him.
"Yeah, okay…" VictoryGreymon agreed.
TigerVespamon removed the fork from his insect mouth and placed it down. "I hope I have not offended you in any way, VictoryGreymon," he contritely posited. "If so, I sincerely apologise."
VictoryGreymon smiled at him reassuringly. "No, you haven't… I understand, I think. Don't worry about it, Vespa."
"VictoryGreymon just has a problem with always seeing the best in people," WarGreymon teased. "He's sickeningly sweet and idealistic all the time."
"It's not a bad thing to be optimistic," KaiserGreymon countered. "I find it comforting, having VictoryGreymon around to always look on the bright side."
"Indeed. That is an admirable quality to have," TigerVespamon insisted. "It is important to be able to see the light within the darkness."
VictoryGreymon couldn't help but look at TigerVespamon. "Even when it comes to GrandisKuwagamon?" he suggested.
TigerVespamon went quiet. He suddenly became absorbed in his own thoughts, and his compound eyes tightened ever so softly. "…That is…" he hesitated.
VictoryGreymon grimaced as guilt overtook him. "Sorry. I shouldn't have said that," he apologised sincerely. "I don't know what you went through, so… Sorry…"
"No, it is a fair question… I am just unable to forgive him right now. Perhaps that is my own moral failing…" TigerVespamon conceded, frowning pensively.
"No. I shouldn't interfere. Sorry, Vespa," VictoryGreymon insisted, smiling reassuringly. "I won't mention him to you again."
TigerVespamon nodded softly and continued to modestly peck away at his food. Around him, the other Greymons ate at a much faster pace. They shoveled down their food with more bulk and more mess as well. TigerVespamon couldn't help but feel a bit out of place in their company – they were much different from the well-mannered monks that he was used to spending time with. However, he was grateful to them for letting him accompany them and treating him as a friend, all the same.
As time went on, the six continued chatting and the food on their plates furthered disappeared.
"-so then I swept my tail out and knocked him flat on his ass right in front of Captain Ouryumon!" ShineGreymon bragged, recounting their last sparring session. "It was pretty awesome, if I do say so myself."
"Cool! I wish I could have seen it," VictoryGreymon enthusiastically stated before plopping another bite of meat into his mouth.
WarGreymon rolled his eyes. "The only one who thought that was impressive was ShineGreymon," he jeered. Having eaten quite a large amount of food, the orange dragon man stretched, patted his stomach, and pushed his plate of food away. "Well, I'm stuffed."
TigerVespamon looked across the table at WarGreymon's plate. There was still half a slice of steak, a few pieces of fish, and some stray vegetables. It was enough for an ordinary Digimon's meal. TigerVespamon was surprised and a little dismayed. "You do not plan on finishing that?" he wondered.
WarGreymon shrugged. "Nah, I'm pretty full."
"The Four Holy Beasts require only one grain of rice between them," TigerVespamon proverbially mentioned.
WarGreymon stared at TigerVespamon as though he was speaking gibberish. "…What the hell does that mean?" he plainly asked.
Paildramon stopped as she was passing by their table with her own tray of food. She looked at WarGreymon with a slight, playful smile. "It means that the gods need only a small amount of food for sustenance, so you shouldn't waste food either," she explained.
"Paildramon! Grab a seat," ShineGreymon offered, gesturing to the last vacant seat at the table.
"Hello, over-sergeant," TigerVespamon greeted. "You are correct. It seems a shame to waste food." He frowned and hoped that he wasn't being too preachy. "However, it is also bad to overindulge, especially when we have to exercise later. You shouldn't force yourself, WarGreymon."
"I'll eat it if you're not gonna finish it, WarGreymon," VictoryGreymon offered, looking hungrily at his partially chewed food.
WarGreymon rolled his eyes and slid VictoryGreymon his plate. "Go nuts." As his friend began transferring his food to his own plate, WarGreymon turned to Paildramon. "Hey, Paildramon. How's it going?"
Paildramon settled in and placed her plate down in front of her. It contained a modest slice of meat, vegetables, and a salad. "Not bad. I was just speaking with Leftenant HippoGriffomon about today's training exercises."
"Can you give us any hints?" ShineGreymon probed.
Paildramon smiled. "Tactical manoeuvres in adverse weather," she mentioned.
TigerVespamon noticed the bandages on Paildramon's arm and wing as she began to eat her meal. Like VictoryGreymon's injuries, they must have been from their encounter with GrandisKuwagamon. "Are you very hurt?" he asked.
Paildramon looked up at him. "Oh… Not really. I'm more than well enough to train," she insisted minimally. "VictoryGreymon was worse off than I am."
VictoryGreymon smiled sheepishly. "I'm okay now though. Doctor Duskmon was great…"
"I apologise," TigerVespamon spoke, frowning softly.
"Huh? You don't have anything to apologise for, TigerVespamon. We're fine," VictoryGreymon assured him with a warm smile. "You can't help that you weren't on-duty at the time."
TigerVespamon quietly nodded. As he whittled down the food on his plate and felt his stomach filling up, he quietly thought to himself. He thought about GrandisKuwagamon and the anger that he evoked within him. It bothered him.
Soon enough, all that was left on his plate was a green pod with two peas within it. He idly forked one of the peas, causing it to split. He daintily lifted the pea on his fork and transferred it into the void of his mouth.
TigerVespamon sighed and finished off the final scrap of food despite his full stomach, not wanting to waste anything. The topic of GrandisKuwagamon had also contributed to his loss of appetite. He couldn't help but think about him, despite not wishing to. He didn't want to dwell on it.
Despite that, a tiny part of him wondered what exactly the dark mercenary was doing now…
GrandisKuwagamon walked down a dark, beat up street in Dark Point. His feet clicked gently as they impacted the cracked road with every step.
It was the late afternoon. There was a faint orange glow in the distance, signalling that it was nearing Evening Light. The city was still mostly dark apart from the urban glow.
The street that GrandisKuwagamon walked down had a slight decline. This was because it led downhill towards the port and harbour. He was in the loading district of Dark Point, the area where cargo was loaded on and off ships and marine Digimon for transport. This was now the demons' turf.
After having rested up and been given a complimentary meal from Devidramon, GrandisKuwagamon was feeling in better shape than he was yesterday. He was ready to start reorganizing his life and getting back to work.
He walked down the shady street. His Gran Killers rested protectively over his forearms, warning off any Digimon who might have funny ideas about crossing him. Although his crimson eye stared straight ahead, he was alert and extremely aware of his surroundings. He had got filled in on the situation in Dark Point by Devidramon. He was aware of the details of the turf war going on between the demons and the Talons. He knew he had to be on his toes when travelling through the loading district. There was a chance he could be attacked or get caught up in something that he didn't want to involve himself with.
Despite these dangers, he had an objective in mind. His client pool was dry and money was tight, so he was backed into a corner professionally. However, there was one person who he knew needed mercenaries…
GrandisKuwagamon looked down the dark street. In the distance, the murky harbour water sloshed lazily. Although he couldn't see it well from his current position a few blocks up from the docks, he could smell it. The pungent aroma of salty ocean water, mixed with faint aroma of wet wood and distant sewage, was ever present near the harbour of Dark Point.
He walked past a storage warehouse that was guarded by a fence topped with spikes and razor wire. Beyond it was an apothecary crammed between two large single-floor apartments built for large Digimon. Upon reaching the nearest corner, he turned right - down a side street.
As the mercenary made his way up it, he noticed a few Digimon walking in the opposite direction – a black Garurumon hauling several large boxes on a cart, followed by a Gabumon that was keeping them steady as they were pulled. He paid them no attention and walked past them, down towards the next corner. At that corner was a large bar made of black, mossy stone. An old, weathered sign hung above the door, creaking in the wind. It revealed the bar's name: The Watery Grave. He could already hear a few raucous voices cackling inside of it.
GrandisKuwagamon stepped up to the scratched up door, which had no less than one fist indent embedded in the wood. He could hear the drunken laughter and malevolent snarls of the ne'er-do-well patrons inside. It didn't bother him at all. He was used to dealing with these types of Digimon – the dregs of society. He was one of them, after all.
He pushed the door open and strode inside with unerring confidence. To do anything else would be seen as a sign of weakness. In places such as Dark Point, weakness was pounced upon and devoured. The ebony mercenary walked inside and looked around.
The bar was full of demon Digimon. There were about a dozen of them – a couple Ultimate levels and the rest were Perfect or Adult level. Eight of the demons sat around a large table. They were gorging themselves on bar snacks while pouring over a map of the city of Dark Point. There were small knives stabbed into the map at key points in the city. The smaller group of demon Digimon waited at the bar counter for the bartender to serve them drinks.
As soon as GrandisKuwagamon walked in, the bar went dead quiet. The group of demon Digimon all turned to stare at GrandisKuwagamon with kneejerk suspicion. GrandisKuwagamon turned his head and met their gaze, unafraid of the sudden atmosphere of hostility.
A Murmuxmon sitting at the table suddenly stood up and placed his clawed hands on the surface. He glared at GrandisKuwagamon with a threatening scowl. "Who the hell are you?" he demanded. "In case you're an idiot or something, this is our bar."
"Funny, this used to be the Talons' bar," GrandisKuwagamon nonchalantly mused.
"It's not anymore," the Murmuxmon fired back, his hand hovering near one of the standing daggers. "Are you with the Talons?"
"Me? Not a chance in hell I'd be seen with those losers. I'm just a lone, freelance mercenary," GrandisKuwagamon explained with a grin. "And I know this bar's on your turf now. That's why I'm here."
"What's a pest like you want with us?" the Murmuxmon suspiciously inquired, scowling. "A fight?"
GrandisKuwagamon walked over to the table, unwavering in his stride. He only stopped when the group of demon suddenly rose to their feet and got into a defensive stance. "Easy," he said, noticing their suspicion. "Not here for a fight. I'm here for a proposition…"
"We don't need freelance mercenaries, so buzz off," the Murmuxmon acerbically dismissed.
"You might not, but your bosses do," GrandisKuwagamon confidently restated. When the Murmuxmon cocked an eyebrow at him, GrandisKuwagamon clarified. "I know you guys escaped from the Dark Area. You work for the Demon Lords… I'm guessing you know they escaped too, huh?"
"…Of course we know. We got in touch with them and we were ordered to stay on standby here," the Murmuxmon confirmed, eyeing him to gauge his intent. "What's it to you?"
"I need you to tell me where they are," the dark insect responded.
"As if we're dumb enough to tell you information like that," the ranking demon bluntly denied him. "You've probably been hired to find out where they are."
GrandisKuwagamon rolled his eye. "Would I be standing here if I was? Gimme some credit. I'm here for work," he dryly explained. He stared at the Murmuxmon frankly. "I worked for Bagramon - the guy who wanted to free the Demon Lords. I was instrumental in setting all that up. So a bit of repayment might be nice."
"…What are you after, bug?" the demon asked him.
"I want you to arrange for me to meet them. Doesn't matter how or where. Bagramon will want my services…" GrandisKuwagamon proposed, a glint in his eye. "Just tell me where I can meet them or somebody on Bagramon's behalf."
GrandisKuwagamon grinned faintly. "For whatever they're planning, they're going to need soldiers and operatives… I can't think of a better person to work for Bagramon than myself."
His smile turned dark and there was a glimmer of determination in his eye. "I've got a contract to finish, after all…"