The West Region

[Gabriel Lux]

The new West Region of the Digital World; ruled by Aimsley Couer along side with her partner; Belugamon.
((Description of the land can be added by the Leader))

[armoredamphibian]

Woohoo! Guess I better establish the condition of the setting.

* * *

With cautious slides across the pink-wallpapered hall, Belugamon sighed as she approached the door to the throne room. Nothing about this place could possibly rouse thoughts of worries, besides the screaming Wormmon that had just been carried past her. Belugamon knew better, though, and looked past the portraits of her Tamer, Aimsley, gingerly stroking a Unimon. She knew better.

Belugamon was a small whale Digimon, not much longer than a foosball table. Her rubbery skin was pure white, and atop her head was a short blue horn. Belugamon raised her front flipper slowly and knocked on the Ruby decorated door.

"Come in." The voice coming out of the speaker nearby was blunt, a pouting sort of boredom that was never a good sign. The doors creaked wide open, and revealed a great hall with blinding rose-colored walls.

She had barely hopped inside when she was greeted with a loud, "BELLE!! YOU'RE BACK!!!!" A twelve-year-old, curly brown haired girl in a, you guessed it, pink ballroom gown, came barreling down the velvet red carpet with squealing enthusiasm and, when she reached Belugamon, immediately clamped her arms around the Deep Saver's neck.

Belugamon didn't reply, partly because she knew her partner wouldn't hang on forever, and mostly because she couldn't talk while her air supply was cut off. She was used to not breathing anyway, being a whale. Instead, she managed to kiss the girl on the cheek.

After a few moments of relentless strangling and a spouting about how happy she was, the little ruler finally released her best friend and asked, "So what's the report?"

"Well, Aimsley," Belugamon responded, "I'm afraid a majority of the civilians are boycotting your smithy products."

Aimsley blinked. "Why?"

"Because they found out that you're using forced labor to make them."

"Huh, that's a shame. Anything else?"

"Tension is rising on our Eastern border. No skirmishes to speak of yet."

"Hmmm..."

"A Knightmon was tarred, feathered, and fed to Leviamon earlier today."

"Awww! Those nasty rogues didn't get anything else, did they?"

"Sadly, yes. A barracks and everyone it it were destroyed a few days ago, including the baby Digimon you were training for your army."

"Ooooh! I'm mad now!" Aimsley was stating the obvious. Her face was as red as a beet, and she was clenching her teeth. Knowing what such a look could lead to, Belugamon quickly said, "I'll help you sort all this out in the morning, okay? It's late and you need your sleep."

"But I'm not--" a loud yawn later, "--okay, I am a little tired. But make sure to wake me up early.

"Of course, Aimsley."

The two walked/slid into a bedroom behind Aimsley's throne. There were twin swimming pools lining either side of a tiled path. It led to a slightly elevated carpeted platform. On it was a large bed with thin, pink canopies.

When Aimsley had changed into her pink pony pajamas and was curled up in bed, she suddenly called to Belugamon, who was floating in one of the pools. "Sing to me, Belle?" she whimpered.

Sighing, Belugamon sang with her gifted, melodious voice.

"Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea,
Swim so wild and you swim so free.
Heaven above, and the sea below,
And a little white whale on the go.

Baby beluga, baby Beluga, is the water warm?
Is your mama home with you, so happy."

There was a snore from the other side of the room. Chuckling, Belugamon clapped her flippers twice to turn off the lights before going to sleep herself.

[Mich3ll3]

Michelle followed by her partners Gizamon and Kumamon were just crossing over into the digital world from the human world.
When they landed they were in the middle of a larger town, which slightly resembled the human world. Which wasn't the way she was told it was going to look. Upon hitting the ground she was surrounded by fellow humans and digimon who were all arguing about some new things some leader created. All this outraged Michelle considering she was supposed to be in a new world but it didn't really seem like it.

________________________________
Earlier:

Michelle was playing a video game one day when she got bored. A few friends called and asked if she wanted to hang out at the playground. When she got there it turned out they were just messing with her and they took her stuff and threw it off in different places and ran off laughing.

She then started to search for her stuff until the last thing was her cell phone. When she went to get her cell phone from the tube she saw one of the girls throw it in she had crawled through and didn't find it.

She came back out on the other end and she was in another world; the digital world and her cell phone was now in the hands of a small black teddy bear which stood beside a small orange furred seel looking creature with a horn on its head.

She then went up to the bear slowly to get it. She was scared but felt it was okay. When she touched the phone it changed into another device. It was black and orange and it read on the front 'D-Cyber'. The bear explained it and how she was a chosen child and what this world was.

When she opened the cell phone a voice came on, it didn't sound like a man or woman but it said some of the similar things Kumamon had said; the small black teddy bear. Michelle was actually happy to have left the human world and was ready to help her new friends. When she stood up the cell phone glew and they where all teleported to where they are now.

[armoredamphibian]

"Hey, uh, Belugamon?"

Belugamon yawned and gazed through the darkness at the Floramon standing by the pool.

"You know perfectly well not to disturb Aimsley at this un-Yggdrasil-ly hour," she yawned in response.

"Just you come, I don't think your tamer should know about this yet anyway," the Floramon replied.

Groaning, Belugamon reluctantly heaved herself out of the water and followed the servant out of the room. Once they were safe in the throne room, away from delicate sleeping ears, Floramon burst into his report. "We saw it in the drive room. It's strange, quite phenomenal, really."

"What," asked Belugamon, becoming worried.

Hesitating, the Floramon explained, "Well, we just got reports on a few beings materializing suddenly in our region, and one of them...well...it appears to be...you know...one of...Aimsley's types."

Belugamon froze. "A...a tamer?"

"S-something like that. Details are foggy, but we know it's some kind of Chosen anyway."

Sighing, Belugamon bowed her head and muttered, "it was bound to happen sooner or later."

"Pardon?"

"Don't do anything yet. Keep close tabs on this Chosen, Floramon. And you were right. We mustn't notify Aimsley."

Floramon saluted and marched out of the throne room.

Belugamon, instead of going straight back to the pool, went to Aimsley's bedside. For some reason, the girl looked so sad in her sleep despite being as happy as a Shakkomon while awake.

Peaceful sleep, Tamer, Belugamon said to herself while gently nuzzling her. It could possibly be your last.

It wasn't the first time she thought things like this.

[armoredamphibian]

OOC: Gonna post ahead. Hope this is okay.

* * *

The sun rose dimly like a giant tomato in the sky from the east. It cast a beautiful glow that made the skyscrapers of Route City, the place Michelle and her Digimon had landed in, look like they were made of gold.

It was a good thing they weren't. The prosperous city was targeted enough by the tax collectors as it was. Coming over the horizon were tiny black dots that grew bigger and bigger, slowly becoming the champion level Digimon that everyone knew all too well.

Being one of the few cities in the West Region that homed to humans as well as monsters, the Gladimon, that were now riding in on Unimon, were under strict orders to cause no harm whatsoever. However, it didn't stop them from being the biggest bullies known to monkind.

People groaned as they saw the monsters approaching, and began running frantically through the streets to prepare for the arrival.

* * *

Meanwhile, at a grand pink banquet hall, Aimsley was having breakfast...and a debate.

"Aimsley," Belugamon was saying, "You can't simply give an order to destroy Leviamon."

"Why not?" she demanded rudely.

Belugamon closed her eyes and replied, "He's just too powerful. He's a Mega, and even worse, a Demon Lord. Besides, he doesn't bother us often enough. The offerings the Sovereigns every solstice keep him under control."

"Yeah, but nasty Digimon can still throw other creatures to him," she snapped back. "Just thinking about that poor Knightmon makes my blood boil! You there!!" She suddenly yelled, pointing at one of the two Kiwimon standing by the table's left.

"Y-Yes, Mistress," He croaked.

"Bring in that Shamanmon political prisoner that we arrested yet. He hasn't been tortured yet. I want fresh screams!"

The Kiwimon ran out of the room as fast as he could with a shaky, "Yes, Mistress."

"Look," Belugamon continued quickly. "I agree with you, but we cannot destroy him. We can, however, convince him to leave."

Aimsley's face softened. "Really? How?"

"Simple. Everyone knows Leviamon fears angels. He'll run away without even bothering to fight."

"Wonderful!" Aimsley squealed in delight. "Now, where can we find an angel?"

"That's just it," Belugamon replied with a sigh. "There aren't any angels in this region."

"But I did hear of an Angewomon Queen in a city to the south," the Kiwimon on the right commented. Belugamon shot her a glare.

Aimsley's smile widened. "Alrighty then. Send a few Airdramon with the request. They're fast, I want Leviamon gone as soon as possible."

As the right Kiwimon departed, the other returned with a struggling Shamanmon in his beak.

"Some seer," she sneered, leaving her seat to face the monster. "You didn't see this coming. Your capture, I mean. You knew all about the fun I have with your fellow prisoners."

Shamanmon stopped struggling and glared right back at her. "I was too busy watching your fall." He grinned suddenly. "Yes," he repeated. "Your glorious, glorious fall. I watch it over and over in my head. The border collapses, and then you are swept away by the anarchical current. Who is gloating now?"

Belugamon's eyes widened, but Aimsley looked unconvinced. "Old braggart," she snorted. "I think I'll keep you alive just long enough to laugh in your face when your hallucination doesn't come true. Pin him with your foot, Kiwimon."

Kiwimon obeyed hesitantly. She bent low to face him again and whispered, "You're lucky I'm in a good mood today." She then went and sat back down. "Kiwimon," she commanded with an odd primness, "pull the old coot's teeth out. One by one."

Everything settled into familiarity as the screams echoed throughout the castle. But no one realized the screams were not of pain or sorrow. Shamanmon was laughing.

[Mich3ll3]

Michelle was about to scream for them to shut up when all of a sudden the digimon and humans alike started to scatter. Out in the distance were some digimon riding up on other digimon. Whoever they were they frightened the people and digimon into hiding. This couldn't be good.

"Whats going on you two?"Michelle asked as she was being knocked around as if in a bumper car.

"I don't know."Kumamon exclaimed while dodging everyone.

"Remember were new here as much as you are."Gizamon said sitting under Michelle so that he was out of the way.

Her D-Cyber suddenly chirped up and gave an explanation of what was coming. They were Gladimon and Unimon underneath them. They sounded pretty tough too. Michelle decided to do as everyone else was and run. She pushed through person after digimon after person until see made it to a small ally way with barrels and boxes stacked up. She hid behind them and her two partners quickly caught up and joined her.

The Gladimon rode in right then. Stepping off the Unimon. They spread out and began knocking anything that was in their way over. They went door to door, person to person asking for their taxes. Michelle wasn't sure how much they were asking for because the credits were different but she knew it sounded outrageous. She was frightened though so didn't complain.
They began moving past her as they collected. Although delayed by the others who couldn't pay it. They were taking those who couldn't pay to work in the castle. She just stayed down and out of the way.

"Hey."One of the Gladimon yelled to the others"Has either of those three paid up yet?"

"No." "Don't think so." "Who cares, get money." They answered.

Then the Gladimon started to walk in Michelle's direction. She began to panic and didn't know what to do. She turned and looked at her partners. They both shared the same expression as herself. She became even more frightened by that. So she stood up and started to run off.

"Hey you little girl stop right there!"The Gladimon yelled after her.

This frightened her even more. Her partners were now running behind her too.

"Hey all three of you stop!"The Gladimon yelled furiated now.

Then suddenly a Unimon ran up and charged over Kumamon knocking him motionless against the wall of a building. Gizamon quickly turned and came to Kumamon's assitance using mini blade at the Unimon. Then the Gladimon came in and grabbed Gizamon and slammed him against the wall above Kumamon holding him there. Michelle over came her fightened state to turn around and yell"Hey let my friends go!"

Then with a shimmer from her D-Cyber Gizamon glew icy white and digivolved.
"Gizamon digivolve to...................IceDevimon!"He exclaimed in his new form.

IceDevimon was now as tall as the Gladimon. He extended his long arms and grabbed the Gladimon by the throat then his other arm followed with the words"Ice Punch!"
He punched the Gladimon straight one and knocked him back.

Gladimon was on the ground next to Unimon. Michelle quickly ran over to IceDevimon's side as he picked up Kumamon. He then reached down to let Michelle sit on his arm. He opened his mouth and yelled out "Ice Blast!"
Showers of sharp Icesicles flew from IceDevimon and struck the two digimon knocking them back and leaving a dust field allowing IceDevimon to fly up and off into the distance with Michelle and the injured Kumamon.

[armoredamphibian]

OOC: Yay! I was afraid this thread had died!

"You sent them THERE!!?"

Belugamon and Aimsley were sitting in the throne room now. Shamanmon had long since been returned to the dungeon, and things were quiet for once. Then, Aimsley happened to comment, "The border between the west and south regions is pretty far from the castle, isn't it?"

"Yes, that's true," Belugamon replied rather stiffly.

"Then I guess it might be a while before we hear back from those Airdramon."

This is when Bleugamon's outburst came. "You sent them THERE!!?"

Aimsley blinked in surprise. "Whatsa matter, Belle. You don't like the south region?"

"Who DOES!?" Belugamon shrieked in exasperation. "When you said south before, I thought you just meant south of here, not down in THAT hellhole!!"

"Is it really that bad?"

Belugamon just groaned. "Oh Yggdrasil, I'm afraid we'll be waiting for those poor Airdramon for a long, long time. I have to go, Aimsley."

As the whale Digimon lumbered out of the room, Aimsley was left with the impression that she had done something wrong. Not for the first time.

Aimsley sighed. I always do stuff wrong. Note to self: South region equals bad.

Unfortunately, her train of thought took another detour. South region destroyed equals good!

* * *

"The news is not good," Floramon told Belugamon in the drive room. "We just got a report from the tax collectors in Route City. That tamer from last night?"

Belugamon nodded, nausea returning.

"Well, to put things simply, her Kumamon got attacked, and she retaliated by sending an IceDevimon on some of the Gladimon, and then they flew off."

"Merciful Sovereigns," Belugamon grunted. "Who gave the order to attack in the first place anyway?"

"No order," Floramon replied as he shuffled through some notes. "One of our Unimon has a phobia of bears, and, you know how edgy our soldiers are."

This didn't reassure Belugamon. "But IceDevimon! He's such a powerful champion. Even ultimates have trouble with him."

"Well," Floramon mumbled hesitantly, "there is a possibility. Do you remember Lokimon by chance?"

"The unrefined spiny one, correct?" she responded thoughtfully.

Floramon nodded. "He's a champion as well, but he knows fire attacks, plus he's cheap, so we'll be able to pay him without attracting any unwanted attention from the Mistress."

"Alright, alright," complied Belugamon. "Contact Lokimon A.S.A.P., even though I have a hunch he'll fail."

"What makes you say that, Ma'am? I think Lokimon has a very good chance," Floramon commented, but she was already on her way out.

But she answered him under her breath. Because good always triumphs over evil.

* * *

"IceDevaymoan, eh," Lokimon chuckled over the phone with a heavy French accent. "That wheel be tough."

"You can do it, can't you?" the nervous Floramon asked on the other end of the phone.

"Don' yeau eensult me now, I got eet undare control. That eez, of caorse..."

"Two hundred digidollars being paid into your account as we speak," Floramon interrupted. "Finish the job and the the other half is yours."

Lokimon laughed boisterously. "Yeau sleezes! Un moment, s'il vous plait." He wheeled over on his wheely chair around his secret hideout and in front of the ordinateur...I mean, computer. After a few moments of typing, Lokimon wheeled back to the phone. "Ulright, ya fool, wheel play your way, but I bettare geet that money, n'est pas?"

"You have our word, Lokimon. Now for the subjects' current location..."

OOC: Lokimon looks like this:


And you can control him from this point on if you'd like, Michelle. His attacks are Mistle Dart, Hell Pressure, and Venom Flame.

[Mich3ll3]

IceDevimon flew Michelle and Kumamon to a roof of one of the tall buildings then reverted back to Gizamon.

"I think we need to get out of this town. Its not safe." Michelle said looking around worried.

"Where are we going to go. Look around. It doesn't look like theres another town for awhile." Gizamon pointed out.

"Yeah. But even so. Kumamon is hurt and there are some pretty angry Gladimon and Unimon back there. Plus they'll probably have back up sooner or later." Michelle complained.

"Your right. I'll just Digivo----, I can't digivolve again. What now?" Gizamon exclaimed.

"I guess we're going to have to walk out of here...", She said hopelessly.

They sat the silently unable to think of what to do next. Gizamon started to nudge Kumamon to check if he would wake up. He even pulled his eyes open and everything. No response.

"Is he alive?" Michelle finally asked after Gizamon was done playing doctor.

"Yes. If he was dead he would have turned into data." Gizamon said shrugging his small shoulders.

"Hmmmm, then whats wrong?" Michelle asked.

"I don't know. But you do know what this means though right?" Gizamon asked sarcastically.\

"Yep. We're going to have to carry him out of here." Michelle said in a complaining manner.

Michelle and Gizamon both garbbed an arm and put it over their shoulders. They then jumped down from the low roof onto a trash can. They got all the way down to the ground and started to walk down an allyway. They could see the outside of the town, their destination.

They quickly moved. Darting people and hiding there faces. It didn't look like any of the Gladimon or Unimon were around. So they didn't have much problems on their way. They finally reached the edge and propped Kumamon against a wall of a building lining the edge of the town.

They both stepped forward and looked out across the vast desert looking area. It looked quite empty even possibly hot. Suddenly they heard something slam against metal behind them. A large demonish looking digimon stood where Kumamon was sat. Kumamon was face first in a trash can.

"Delete." said the digimon laughing.

"Oh no! Kumamon!"Michelle said running towards the bear.

Lokimon swung his arm glowing with aura at Michelle but instead it hit Gizamon who had jumped in the way. Now Gizamon was knocked against the garbadge ben as well. Michelle ran past and reached the two. She helped Gizamon up and the two pulled out Kumamon.

"I am Lokimon and I was sent here to delete you."He said laughing in a wierd accent.

"Not if I can help it! Mini Blade!"Gizamon yelled out as a blade flew from Gizamon's horn and hit Lokimon. The Champion level digimon laughed. Atleast the mini blade did something to the Gladimon and Unimon but it didn't even faze Lokimon.

'Hell Pressure!" Lokimon yelled. His hands glew with the aura again and it smashed onto Gizamon as if all the gravity had fallen on him.

"Come on Kumamon! Come on!" Michelle was yelling trying to wake him up as Gizamon fell out and blew past the two.

Michelle then stood up as Lokimon approuched with his arms out stretched reaching from Kumamon. She stood in front of Kumamon with her arms out to her sides. She trembled only a little as she reached for her D-Cyber. She pulled it out and opened it up. The screen was glowing. She faced it towards Lokimon so he could see.

It was as if Michelle was taken over by someone else "You will not hurt these two digimon. They will delete you with my power!"

Kumamon rose into the air still knocked out then suddenly he spoke "Kumamon digivolve into....Grizzmon!"

The once small teddy bear had now changed into a large blue and white bear klad in red spiked armor.

"Cyclone claw!" Grizzmon began as he formed a spinning cyclone heading towards Lokimon claw first.

Now Gizamon walked up slowly.

"Its your turn my friend. Defeat it with your icey powers." The possesed Michelle said as she held out the D-Cyber again.

Gizamon glew and then digivolved into IceDevimon.

"Lets get out of here." IceDevimon said as Grizzmon landed his attack and moved out of the way.
"Giga Ice Blast!" IceDevimon yelled out as a shower of sharp icsicles rained down and deleted Lokimon.

Grizzmon stepped forward and obsorbed Lokimon's data. After it was all gone. He walked over to the other two.
"So what happened to me?" Grizzmon asked.

"You got knocked out badly thats what happened my friend." IceDevimon joked.

"But you were hurt. It looks like your okay now though." Michelle said looking him over.

"Yeah. I'll be alright. It looks like you got both of us to digivolve now too." He said looking IceDevimon and himself over.

"Yep." Michelle said proudly.

"HEY! THERE THEY ARE!" A Gladimon yelled out and was soon joined by a few more Gladimon and Unimon.

"Jump on." Grizzmon said to Michelle.

Michelle quickly jumped onto his back and Grizzmon took off. IceDevimon as well flying low to the ground infront of them. They were to quick and were soon out of range of the digimon's sight.

[armoredamphibian]

"Crud! D'joo see that, mates?! Those blokes killed Lokimon!" One of the Gladimon exclaimed hoarsely.

"Yes, Captain Obvious," replied his friend, rolling his eyes. "Now call the bloody mistress. They're heading straight for the castle, you know."

A third interrupted. "No! Call the commander-in-chief, Belugamon. I here they're trying to keep this whole ordeal a secret from Aimsley."

"Are you kidding?! We must grab our mounts and chase 'em down ourselves."

"Just let it all go. They can see what's going on throughout the region from the castle. A warning would be completely unnecessary."

The squabble raged on, then the scraping of swords being drawn was heard, and the soldiers were about to start cutting each other to pieces, when...

"ENOUGH!!"

The group turned to face none other than the head commander of the Unimon army, now also in charge of the Gladimon ever since Knightmon's demise. Indramon.

"Contact the Mistress," he said gruffly. One of the Gladimon timidly held the communicator in front of him, projecting a holographic scene of Aimsley brushing her hair and humming tunelessly.

"Hmmm hmmm...Oh, hi, Indramon," she greeted cheerily. "What's up?"

"Mistress, I'm afraid that there is a group of hostile outsiders coming toward your castle as we speak," Indramon replied bluntly.

She blinked. "Whaa--! No way! Why didn't I hear about this earlier??"

With a smirk, Indramon replied, "Perhaps the loyalty of some of your subjects is skewed, but now matter. Initiate 'plan funnel-cloud' to the air troops, and everything will be okay. I'll be there as soon as I can to help out with defense."

"But..." Aimsley responded hesitantly, "...why can't we just, you know, kill them?"

"Don't tell me you don't want them captured and tortured."

She coughed at this remark, and exclaimed, "Then, I'm leaving it to you, Indramon. Thanks for the help." And she vanished from sight.

* * *

"I did it for your own safety," Belugamon said defiantly.

"What? A group of strangers beat up some of my soldiers and one of my best assassins, and now they have a clear path to here because of it, and you're saying that it's so I can be safe?!"

Aimsley was raving mad at Belugamon, for the first time in many years. Belugamon, however, stood unwavering.

"Aimsley, what was the Real World like?"

That REALLY hit a nerve, and Belugamon could tell. Aimsley bounced off her throne and twisted her hair about in her fists.

"I hated it! I hated it! Why are you even asking me such a stupid question?!?"

"WHY did you hate it?" Belugamon persisted relentlessly. "Was it because you had no power there? No one respected you?"

"NO! NO! That's not it at all!" She was sobbing now. "I got EVERYTHING I wanted! I was a horrible, spoiled brat, but here...It doesn't change here! E-ever since my...my stupid little brother was born, things changed...but here they don't. They DON'T! I'm a Queen here! I could have you killed right now if I wanted to!! My own best friend!!" She laughed hysterically.

Belugamon waited patiently. "There's more."

"Darn right there's more!" Suddenly she stopped. She realized everything she had just said aloud. She was silent, tears still streaming down her face. She turned to the little whale, still sitting there, waiting. "I could kill you, Belle," she whispered, voice laced with horror.

"You could indeed."

"And you're not scared?"

"I could never fear you, Aimsley. Love and fear can't exist in the same place."

And everything fell back into the way things usually were. Almost instantaneously. Aimsley clutched her partner in another strangling hug. "THANK you! THANK you, Belle! And 'plan funnel-cloud' is being run right now?"

Bewildered by the sudden mood swing, Belugamon could only stammer out a, "Yes."

"Well, I guess I'll head out to oversee defenses," she happily proclaimed. She tripped out of the room, humming the "Baby Beluga" song.

* * *

Outside, about half of the Unimon army was circling the castle in a star-shaped formation, while another fourth was weaving between the rotating pattern, up and down like a sea serpent.

Watching from the balcony, Aimsley smiled approvingly. Don't worry, you old Shamanmon coot, she thought, I'll have some company for you soon.

[Mich3ll3]

When the three knew they were far enough Michelle jumped down and the other two degenerated into their rookie forms.

"I think we're being targeted now." Michelle said sadly.

"Yes. Its most likely whoever is ruling the digital world as well." Kumamon said.

"Right. Remember what we told you about you being a chosen one here in this world. Well this new ruler must know that and doesn't want you to interfere with their plans." Gizamon said as well.

"But I thought it was my job to keep this world in order. This ruler has just brought the human world into the digital world. Its aweful." Michelle cried.

"Yes. Your right. Thats why we have to stop this ruler." Gizamon said.

The three were silent from there on in as they walked the dusty area they had ran into from the city. The land didn't have much vegitation but enough to survive. It was a little hot as well. Off in the distance there was a tall structure but it was to far away to make it out.

[armoredamphibian]

"Indramon, you better not have been pulling my leg," Aimsley warned the commander who had just come up next to the balcony. "I haven't seen hide nor hair of any intruders. Just some wandering Gotsumon, but they had visitor passes."

"I assure you, Mistress, they will come, and they will either be destroyed or driven off the land."

For the fourteenth time, Aimsley began scanning the brush-lands on the southern side of the castle with binoculars. Indramon began talking again, this time more slyly. "Have you discovered who the traitors are?"

"You just mind your own business," she replied coldly, searching the rosy red horizon eagerly. And then she saw the silhouettes of two huge monsters. They shrank and revealed three of them, growing larger as they approached the castle.

Aimsley gave a surprised cry, "You're right! Here they come!"

Indramon smiled, and was about to give the attacking command, when Aimsley stopped him. "I'll tell you when to give the order, 'kay?"

"Mistress..." Indramon started.

"I wanna talk with 'em, when they get close enough."

* * *

Meanwhile, the "traitor" was sliding down the steps, into the dungeon on her own free will. Not even Aimsley knew where she was going.

She scanned the forcefield enclosed prisons, gazing through the purple semi-transparent walls. Even with them, there was no drowning out the cries and pleas for death from suffering Digimon inside.

Only one cell was silent, and that one was where Belugamon was heading. She tapped the controls and turned off the forcefield.

Chained inside on the wall in crucification position was Shamanmon, a toothless, surprisingly peaceful grin on his face. In addition, he had several cuts and bleeding wounds given to him by some less forgiving jailers.

"Wake up, Shamanmon, I want to talk with you," Belugamon said to the pitiful old monster.

"Rah," he replied, snickering idiotically.

Belugamon sighed. This was not going to be easy. "I want two questions answered by you. Answer the first and I will reward you with your life, the second with freedom."

"Who care? Can' lih wifouh mah teeh enehweh," he growled.

"It would be tricky," she agreed, "but I happen to have the technology to restore you to full health in a matter of seconds."

Now he was listening.

"How it works; you'll temporarily be reduced to your In-Training form, then Digivolved back into Rookie to completely regenerate your body, teeth and all."

"Can' tah wifouh teeh," Shamanmon argued.

Belugamon nodded and pulled out a small box. "Very well," she said to him, "but keep in mind that you're in a heavily guarded prison. I can summon soldiers at any moment that will dispose of you."

"Gah eh."

She pushed a button on the box which fired a thin blue beam. The moment it touched the Shamanmon, he glowed white, shrank down, expanded again. When the dimness of the dungeon returned, a healthy looking young Shamanmon fell on the floor, free of chains, pains and age.

"Incredible!" He exclaimed, running a finger across his brand new set of chompers. "I thought you were joking."

"Yes, it's wonderful," Belugamon said impatiently. "Now do your part of the bargain and I'll help you escape. Does Aimsley's fall have anything to do with that Chosen that appeared last night."

"The chosen girl? Uhhh," He scratched his head. "I think she helps, but mostly it's Aimsley's own fault. This whole structure is dying from the inside. Everything will collapse in on itself..."

"...and we'll be swept away by the anarchical current." Belugamon finished darkly.

"Right. So get me outta...!"

"I said two questions!" Belugamon snapped. "Tell me, will Aimsley die in this current, or is there a way for her to escape?"

Shamanmon just grinned, but it was a sad sort of smile. "She's already dead. She's been dead. You know that better than anyone."

No, he's wrong! "I meant in a literal sense," she clarified, still displaying no emotion.

"Sorry, I just can't see the outcome. Not even I know everything."

Belugamon closed her eyes. "Very well. I'll guide you to safety. Continue to spout political speeches, but not in this region. Aimsley will surely hunt you down again."

"Fine."

When they reached the ancient subway system that connected to the Four Corners, Shamanmon said, "I suppose you're staying then. Aimsley is dead, and nothing you can do will change that." He began walking down the tunnel.

He's wrong he's wrong he's wrong! Belugamon screamed in her head, and finally yelled down the tunnel after him. "You're WRONG! If Digimon can be reborn, then so can humans! You don't know Aimsley like I do! In the end, humans and monsters are all the same!!"

"All the same...all the same...all the same......" replied the echo.