The End of a New Beginning // Daryl Dixon

Part 72

Daryl

We all walk through the gates of the Kingdom. We look around, seeing more people, more things set up, all kinds of things. There are booths, tables with clothes, food. A bunch of crops; carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, watermelon even. They've decorated this place with flowers, make it feel more homey, it looks like. All the people who took noticed, stopped in their tracks and stared at us. They all made small conversation with others around them, pointing, whispering. Looks like they rarely get new people around.

"Wait here and I'll talk with the King." Richard claims and wanders off.

"They have the numbers." Michonne nods.

"But can they fight?" Rosita asks.

"Oh, they can fight." Jesus nods.

"Maybe." I utter. I noticed a group of men jogging together. They all wore the same thing, gray shirt, black shorts, body armor over their chest, arms, elbows, knees and legs. It's like they've got a whole training academy here. Maybe they could fight. Maybe they could help us fight the fight and win. Maybe their training ain't nothing compared to what we actually need. It all comes down to a maybe for me.

"Morgan?" Tara calls. We all turn our heads and see the one and only Morgan approaching us with a smile.

"Hey." He greets Tara and embraces her in a hug.

"How do you know each other?" Richard asks.

"We go back to the start." Rick explains.

"Well, the King is ready to see you." Richard nods. He turns away and guides everyone into a building that used to be a theatre.

"Did you find Carol?" Rick asks Morgan. Carol had taken off while everything was unfolding. Morgan and Rick went to go look for her, but Morgan remained behind to keep looking while he knew Rick needed to get back incase the Saviors showed up. And, well, we all know what happened from there.

"Yeah, I did." Morgan answers Rick's question.

"Where is she? Is she okay?" I ask.

"She was here, and then she left." He nods. "You know, she wasn't too happy, me following her. She wanted to get away from us, from everyone. But when I found her, she was shot. It was just a graze. I got her back here. They got doctors. They're good."

"Was it them?" I ask.

"It was." He nods. "She had crossed with some of them, and one of them followed her, tried to kill her, but I stopped him. I killed him. I had to. Carol was here. She got help. Now she's gone." Rick and I let out a sigh and head off to see the King.

We enter through the double doors, turn a corner and enter through another set of double doors. There, we enter the theatre room. Rows of chairs drilled into the floor, the stage set up, a man on a literal throne, one of his serpents standing next to him and...a big ass tiger, chained around the neck, lying down next to the King's feet.

"Jesus!" Ezekiel shouts happily. "It pleases me to see you, old friend."

"It pleases him, indeed!" The man in red shouts.

"Jerry." Ezekiel calls. We all remained back by the doors, staring at the King with his pet tiger. I don't wanna go anywhere near that thing. What the hell did he do? Find a tiger? Named it Buster and kept him as a pet?

"Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel?" Ezekiel smiles. "Are these new allies you've brought me?"

"Indeed, they are, Your Majesty." Jesus nods. "This is..." He pauses and realized how far back we all stood. "Oh, right. I forgot to mention that-"