2421/Forgotten Ghost

Forgotten Ghost
Date of Scene:	10 June 2015
Location:	The Eastern Ruins
Synopsis:	Duke runs into someone unexpected down in the ruins. A ghost to the Digital Past.
Cast of Characters:	695, Duke

---

Duke has posed:
The land here was haunted, but Duke was cautious where he went. The Guilmon X moved about the area with careful steps and stay out of the dead's way who roamed in this land. What brought him here was-- unknown really. Maybe it was in hope to find a specter who knew of him. Maybe it was to see if any Ghost like Digimon Exiles were hiding out here.

But more correctly, he doubt any shadow walkers would come here; Or so he hoped.

Once the red draco-raptor found his way up a side of an old ruin, he looked out across the area and sighed out softly. His gold eyes closing gently before he lowered his head. His ear fins gently tucking back. "Was everything for nothing...? History will just probably repeat itself and I... I don't know if I can stop it..." He murmurs to himself and only to himself.

Doran (695) has posed:
No spirit calls Duke's name, nor does some ghastly apparition manifest itself. Only the unsettling feeling of not being alone -- but then again, in a haunted location, that is merely the reality.

There are also no obvious sounds of someone /there/, perhaps the shifting of stone rubble or the whistling of wind through ruined stone or whatever foliage remains. However, should Duke open his eyes, he may spot a torn cloth fluttering amongst the ruins from his chosen vantage point. One side blue, one side white.

Duke has posed:
Those gold eyes do open about the time to catch the glimpse of some kind of cloth, though what the cape belonged too was unknown. It was however enough to get the Guilmon X's attention. Step by step, the small four foot Digimon made his way down. Carefully he moved around the rubble, before he got in closer and sniffed at the air.

Doran (695) has posed:
Duke would find the scent familiar, old yet recent alike. And yet, this would confirm this is no apparition or ghost tricking him -- only the living have a scent.

Duke would be able to follow the trail easily, which leads deeper into the ruins where light can scarcely reach -- for whatever the reason. As if this wasn't enough, he will still be able to catch glimpses of that tattered cloth slipping around this corner or that pillar, always staying a few steps ahead.

Duke has posed:
This cloth was a tease! He almost catch up and whatever it was, would keep a few steps ahead! Worse part was, it was going into the dark--- a place Duke would rather not tread. The darker it gets the more he is on edge, until he does not tread any further in concern for the shadows.

"Hello?" His youthful voice at last breaks the silence. "Any one there?" He asks, but is careful how he raises his voice, in concern he may disturb the dead who could be resting here. Though his mind was made up if no one answers--- he was leaving.

Doran (695) has posed:
Where Duke pauses is at the entrance into an enclosed ruin, where the stone ceiling still holds against the onslaught of weather, time, and spirits. As soon as the Guilmon-X speaks, a flash of green from within the structure illuminates everything within -- coalescing into a glowing Digimoji circle placed on the ceiling as if it was a lamp.

At the far side of the wall, sitting on top of a pile of rubble of some internal structure long lost, is an armored Digimon colored a dulled black with tarnished bronze bands. Horrid jagged gashes criss-cross his form, some armor pieces missing and exposing blue digital framework that comprises the inner structure of a Digimon. His blue-and-white cape is in tatters, barely reaching his waist behind him, and the triangular red gem on his forehead seems to have a diamond-shaped gouge taken out of it.

Dimly glowing red eyes focus on Duke, at once seeming wary and weary. "Dukemon." The voice is familiar, the deep rumble of his momentary protector against the MetalGarurumon-X some time ago.

Duke has posed:
Duke's gold eyes narrow as he waits for a response. His claw foot dares to step closer and just as he goes to say 'hello?' again, that is when there is a flash of green that startles him. He lets out a surprise yelp and ducks around, as an old sheet wraps around him and he hides under it with only his tail sticking out.

With the glow of green illuminating the area, he peeks out from under the old sheet, his snout first, before his gold eyes. He blinks them a few times as he makes out the much larger form of a knight. His eyes slowly following up his form, until his gold eyes lock onto those red eyes looking back.

Then the voice, the voice causes him to tense. It was like a ring of old but worse-- he knows /that/ name. Every horror movie also went like this and Duke, because of that-- wanted to duck right back under the cover. Instead he gulps and just stares.

He stares a bit more...

Then he barks out, "Please don't eat me! I don't remember anything! I'm sorry to all you ancestors, ancestory--- ancestorimize!"

Doran (695) has posed:
The damaged Digimon's head tilts to one side. "Really." He doesn't sound impressed by Duke's babbling. "Digimon don't eat Digimon anymore, and you certainly /do/ remember -- at least, you now remember what is important. It is why I have risked meeting you in person again, considering what happened the last we met."

He shifts as if about to get up, but his eyes flicker uneasily as the Digimoji circle above flickers the exact same way. Only when he eases back does the green light stablize again. "You know who I am. You also know I will not harm you. The ghosts outside with you, however, I cannot speak for."

Duke has posed:
The Guilmon X listens to what the larger Digimon has to say. He also observes how the magic circle acts when the large Digimon tries to move. "Tell that to all the horror movies I've watched." He remarks gently, before he goes to at last creep in a bit closer, the sheet just resting on his shoulders now and the rest of it dragging behind him.

Duke narrows his eye ridges in thought. "I... I think I know you, but..." He shakes his head. "I don't remember who or... how." He frowns a bit on his muzzle. "But you know who I /was/, but that isn't who I am anymore." His ear fins tuck back as he lowers his head. "Even if I have come to accept that fact, I know I am far from that Digimon."

His ear fins go back slightly more dangerously, as he studies the Digimon before him. His tail moves side to side under the sheets. "Besides... if you know /who/ I was--- why haven't you attacked me yet? Seems to be the common response these days."

Doran (695) has posed:
The larger Digimon chuckles. "Why would I?" He sweeps a hand out towards Duke. "You, denounced by Yggdrasil when you could reconcile loyalty and morality no further in the fading dusk of our world." His hand presses against his own damaged chestplate. "While I am the first of the betrayed, cursed to watch as the world I protected for time beyond measure was destroyed by its own god."

His eyes close for a moment as a breath rattles, then he refocuses. "Oh no. You are far beyond your former identity of Dukemon. Your eyes are open, lessons learned and well-fought, new memories bridging the gap between the old. But the core..." He taps his own chestplate, "...Yes, your DigiCore has not changed. I still see in you the same Digimon I knighted so long ago."

Duke has posed:
Duke tilts his head faintly as he listens to Alphamon. His ear fin twitches gently before he looks away for only a moment, then back again. "You... knighted?" Duke asks back, the confusion was in his voice. There was a ragged sigh as he closes his eyes trying to remember, but he can only shake his head gently.

"I am sorry... but I don't remember." He says as he opens his eyes and looks back to Alphamon. "While I... I have a great many memories back... there is still so much I don't remember." Duke's ear fins once more droop back as he lowers his head. "So I can only take your word from what you say and while I should be cautious of it... a part of me, somewhere deep down, knows you will not lie."

Duke then looks directly at those red eyes. "Who are you?"

Doran (695) has posed:
The Digimon matches Duke's gaze squarely and unwaveringly. His answer is simple, but with a heavy weight behind each word: "I am the first Royal Knight, the Aloof Hermit of the Empty Seat. I am Alphamon."

Duke has posed:
Alphamon states whom he is and Duke can only stare further. Realization hits those gold eyes, then sadness, before he closes them and then a hidden anger expresses itself over his muzzle. An anger he isn't sure where it is coming for or why--- but it is there and when he opens his eyes, it shows with a flicker of blue.

"You..." His words hiss past his sharp teeth, as he isn't even sure why he is saying why is saying it-- but it all feels right to say. "You were not there..." His ear fins tuck back gently. He can feel his Digicore pulse with each word. His eyes flicker with blue once more as he can feel the digital pulse.

It was like with Beelzebumon, but--- so much deeper. "They needed you!" He barks out. Then tears find his eyes as he lowers his head, his core slowing down as the droplets of water run across his muzzle. The tears tapping the wooden planks under his clawed feet. "...we all needed you..."

Doran (695) has posed:
As Duke speaks, Alphamon's gaze changes noticeably. Slowly, profound sadness and regret takes hold in the dim red eyes, a haunted expression in every sense of the word. Ironic, given their surroundings.

"I know." His voice is heavy, matching his eyes perfectly. "I was powerless by Yggdrasil's own hand. I could only watch as the Digital World was forced into the final Digital Hazard, no longer able to act upon my duty."

He shifts as if trying to get a little more comfortable, and hairline golden cracks audibly crackle throughout the large vented 'wings' on his back. "Tell me. What do you remember of both Project Ark and Project DEX?"

Duke has posed:
Duke looks away as Alphamon explains. Much like a child angry at their own parent and yet, realization is also there. Denied perhaps with a heavy huff from his nostrils that let out smoking steam, but he does look back at the first Royal Knight.

"Not much." He answers back. "I know the names... I know... I was against them. I get clips.. snippets in my memory." Duke closes his eyes. "But nothing that is a cohesive story." He then opens his eyes to look at Alphamon once more. "Just like I am still not sure to be angry with myself, hate myself, or believe that some redemption can be made for any acts I done--- even if I can't remember those acts." The Guilmon X winces. "...and that is the worst part of all..."

Doran (695) has posed:
Alphamon nods faintly, not seeming surprised. "Project Ark was originally intended to save and protect all non-combatant Digimon during the Demon Lord War. Unbeknownst to me, Yggdrasil changed the parameters. Project DEX..." He chuckles harshly, an unpleasantly bitter sound. "...That is where the end began for us all."

He touches one of the gashes in his arm, the ragged edges of which beginning to glow gold. "You made mistakes in the past. You believed you were still in the right, no matter what the orders were... until you could bear it no more." He points at Duke, any sign of regret or sadness gone as strength takes its place. "You alone out of all twelve remaining Royal Knights stood to protect the innocent. You alone remembered what the Royal Knights' original duties once were."

His hand drops to his thigh with a dull metallic 'clang'. "What you did, exactly, matters not. Who you are, now, is who you have always been." His eyes twinkle just a bit. "Even if you haven't always recognized it."

Duke has posed:
Duke eye ridges furrow gently listening to what Alphamon says and even more confusion follows around the end, before a slow understanding comes into those child-like eyes of something deeper in. Including some words echoed by a fortune teller that said 'Be who you already are'. Perhaps in some light realizing the truth in those words.

"Mm." Is all he can say right now as his head lowers and he closes his eyes. Using the back of his paw hands to rub away any left over tears before they fully dry. He was not really sure what to say in such a situation now, or where to go. Until he opens his eyes once more to look at Alphamon, "So then... what happened to you?"

Doran (695) has posed:
Alphamon gets a distant look in his eyes at Duke's question, and it takes a few moments before he speaks again. "Before I can answer that, I must ask first: Do you remember Yggdrasil's claim of my fate?"

Duke has posed:
Duke thinks on the question presented to him. He looks up, before he looks down closing his eyes. Then with a heavy sigh, is followed with a solemn shake of his head of a no. He opened his eyes to look at Alphmon once more. He seemed now trouble by the fact and his shoulders could only slump faintly.

Doran (695) has posed:
Alphamon nods, understanding softening his gaze. He doesn't seem bothered by Duke's memory gap. "Mmm. 'Tis unimportant, in truth, but I remain morbidly curious what lie he had woven."

He leans his head back, eyes closing as further golden cracks quietly spiderweb across his armor. "I was recalled by Yggdrasil himself. Such a notice was only reserved for the most dire of circumstances for me alone, when Yggdrasil was put directly in grave danger with no other option for defense. I had no reason to question, so I made best speed to him without alerting any others."

Another harshly bitter chortle, and the Digimoji circle above torques like the moving face of a clock. "He betrayed me, tore me apart to my very core, and threw me away like refuse. Left me in the most distant wilderness in the Digital World to waste away, never to revive in a Digitama again." He shakes his head grimly. "Only the timely arrival of a dear friend saved my life, but I lost too much. I could do nothing of the Digital Hazard to come, the X-Program borne on the screeching wings of the DEX Project."

Duke has posed:
Duke removes the sheet as he listens to Alphamon's story. He ends up plopping down on the ground, though his gold eyes do look to the damage, before to the magical circle lighting the area. His gold eyes moving back to Alphamon.

He doesn't remain sitting for very long though, because once Alphamon finishes his story, he goes to stand once more. "So..." He says softly. "...that is how..." He grimaces gently and there was a soft laugh, but it was not a laughter of joy-- no--- far from it. "The Royal Knights then... are not the enemy, but are being used."

Duke looks to Alphmon, "But why tell me all this? I'm broken... well, maybe not as bad as you but.." He winces as that slips past his maw. "Urm, no offense I hope." Then the Guilmon X sighs. "But seriously... why me? I can maybe hold my own as an Ultimate longer then I use too... but... I can't even access my /true/ self, let alone remember things. Wouldn't someone serve better to know this? Someone who /can/ do something?"

Doran (695) has posed:
Alphamon shakes his head at Duke's questioning. "It is not yet time. More Exiles are appearing now than ever before. The shadowy agent of Yggdrasil, Gaonoir, is but a scout. The true danger is yet to come."

His eyes refocus solely on Duke. "To tell anyone else, whether they be Digimon or not, may escalate the timetable beyond what anyone can handle. You cannot tell anyone that we have met and spoken at length, nor what I have said. Give yourself time to remember what I have claimed. For now, I am merely the ghost of a failed guardian, and that is what Yggdrasil must continue to believe."

A small piece of his armor fragments, disintegrating in a flash of golden sparks, and he stares down at his hands which are also beginning to crack. "I am out of time. I will not be able to speak much longer."

Duke has posed:
Duke listens to Alphamon and frowns as he is told he can't tell anyone else. This causes him to make a soft tsk in mild protest to such an order really. Yet he gives a nod. "I wont tell anyone we met." He comments back, glancing away before looking back to him.

"Your secret is safe." He adds with a sigh, "At least until I think I can handle it." There was a bit more firm look in those gold eyes. That typical Dukemon stubbornness to do what is right-- eventually. "I... I do want to ask you more, but..." His eyes then go to Alphamon's slowly cracking hand, "..but go. I'm sure we will talk soon enough."

The Guilmon X then turns away and goes to head back whence he came. "Probably better you remain a legend for now anyways..." He says softly under his breath as he continues on his way.

Doran (695) has posed:
Alphamon dips his chin slightly. "Indeed."

As Duke exits the ruined structure, the Digimoji circle abruptly disintegrates and plunges the ruins back into darkness. A rustle of cloth, a sharp grind of metal, then the Aloof Hermit's voice echoes from within the ruins:

"You can handle it. You may not see it now, but you're stronger than you think."