Alexandria

Alexandria (アレクサンドリア) was the former ancient capital of the Midgar Kingdom until it was destroyed by the guardian Mist Dragon, upset at an ancient king for not upholding a vow to kill it. Centuries later, it became the Shadow Garden headquarters base after Shadow bested the Mist Dragon in battle.

History
Long ago, the king of Alexandria formed a pact with the Mist Dragon, who promised prosperity for the city and protected the city using his mist, asking in return that one day the king or his descendant will give the Mist Dragon a death.

However, as time passed, the pact was forgotten and the king's descendants became greedy with their prosperity instead of striving to grow in strength. In response for this broken pledge, the Mist Dragon laid waste to the capital for a test to see if they were worthy to kill the dragon.

However, the capital fell in one night against the Mist Dragon's force along with the king's descendant and it's inhabitants. After it's destruction, Mist Dragon used the fallen city as it's resting place and Alexandria became a folklore of legend, with which its existence had yet to be confirmed, because the city was concealed by the Mist Dragon's poison mist around the Abyss Woods.

Background
Centuries later, a pre-teen Shadow and his "Seven Shadows" were in search for a new home to stay after their previous location was compromised by the Cult's investigators. When Shadow Garden's ranks were growing to the point where they could no longer keep secret their abandoned town as an unnoticed headquarters, Zeta returned with news of having located the ancient city of Alexandria, known only by name in folklore and fables. While the location lay in the Abyss Woods, where many disappear and never return, Alpha believed it was the perfect location, as she recalled and informed the other six of how Shadow once stated that beyond the mists laid the land of shadows for them to rise up in. A gasp at their master's wisdom, they prepared their battle-ready members to sojourn for Alexandria. After Alpha appraised Cid about relocating their headquarters to prevent exposing his secret identity, he was initially saddened thinking it was an excuse to get space from him, but grew intrigued with mention of the Mist Dragon.

As the excursion force mobilized, they relied on Delta's heightened senses to navigate dangers before Epsilon's magic control recognized the magic barrier disorienting their sense of direction. As Zeta and Delta sensed a powerful opposition, Alpha ordered Lambda return to the village while the Seven Shadows (save for Eta) tackle the possible threat ahead, ordering her to inform Shadow if they don't return in three days. However, Shadow had followed them and saw them encounter the Mist Dragon, as Beta conducted a mock interview to corroborate her information, but was too far to hear them.

When the Mist Dragon concluded revealing the truth of Alexandria's downfall, he engaged in battle with six with Alpha dealing even a sliver of damage. Thankfully, Shadow arrived at the right time and joined the battle against the Mist Dragon, ordering Alpha and the others to let him fight alone. But the dragon did not die, explaining that dragons cannot die conventionally, to which only Cid defeated the Mist Dragon using an underdeveloped "I Am Atomic" but could not kill him.

The Mist Dragon marked Shadow with his breath and swore loyalty to him, but as Shadow had to return home for his sister's curfew, he departed and left Alpha in charge of negotiating. The dragon then acknowledge Shadow's strength and swore obedience to Shadow allowing his organization to use Alexandria as their headquarters with the protection of shrouded deadly bluish-purple mist that comes from the breath of the Mist Dragon, believing that Shadow will be able to kill him one day.

With the dragon now allied and Alexandria open to them, Gamma was sent to inform Eta and Lambda to commence relocation. Ironically, despite updating Shadow, their leader couldn't deduce the location of their new base.

Bushin Festival Tournament
After Rose Oriana's assassination of her father, Alpha led the princess to the hidden city, where Shadow Garden's headquarter was revealed in all its glory after passing through the dense fog within the Abyss Woods, the air suddenly brightened, the sunlight shining on the majestic white castle and the cocoa fields that stretched out all around the capital.

As they entering the city, Alpha summons Lambda, a training instructor for trained new recruits and ordered the militant officer to train the newcomer as well. Then Rose was trained harshly by her and was ordered not to use his name while on duty, so he was given the calling code 666 and placed in a group with 664 and 665.

Location
It was a legendary capital, said to be far east of the Sacred Land Lindwurm at Midgar, beyond the Abyss Woods. It's a natural stronghold, surrounded by steep cliffs on three sides and to the west of the Abyss Woods, which is protected by the Mist Dragon's deadly poison mist. It was located in the middle of the Abyss Woods, a place where there was a bluish-purple mist that was extremely thick, poisonous, and impenetrable to sunlight. This forest is not known exactly where it is located, but the rumor has it that anyone who enters it can never return, which is a perfect location to became the hidden headquarters for Shadow Garden organization.

Layout
Alexandria is described as a very beautiful city, with a magnificent white castle standing there and wide fields stretching around the capital. The inner city is truly a veritable utopia itself, housing various departments organized with Shadow Garden members, such as defense system, training centers, research and development labs, housing, etc. Additionally, Alexandria's land is so fertile that it can grow cacao and coffee trees, which are the only ones in the world on vast plantations that are cultivated into chocolate and coffee. The lands also grow other earthen products used for the materials sold in stores.

Upon claiming the city, Gamma was delighted to be able to make her long-awaited "chocolate." Afterwards, the members managed to install the farm and refined the cocoa en mass. As a result, Mitsugoshi Company became the only company in the different world that could exclusively sell chocolate. Later, Gamma succeeded in reproducing the coffee that Cid talked about in "Shadow Wisdom," cultivating it as exclusively as the chocolate.

Trivia

 * In the anime, the city ruins remain while Shadow Garden built contemporary structures and exterior lightings; such as dorms and training centers, as well as street lights. Also, a monumental statue to Shadow stands in the city center, glorifying Shadow Garden's founder for claiming the city.