Hiccup, the Womanizer (A Httyd Fanfiction)

Chapter 28: A new threat

A/N: No smut in this chapter, sorry.

(Constantinople)

Within the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire, Constantinople, its emperor, Caius Manilius Valens, the man was reclined back as he watched a private viewing of gladiators fighting within the bowels of his palace. Like every Roman under his reign, Caius was part of the New Romans, a sect of surviving Romans from the days of Julius Caesar and Augustus, thanks to their ancestors. Having left Rome, the capital of their great empire back then, the ancestors of these people set out to make a life for themselves, having been fed up with the tyranny of emperors such as Tiberius and Caligula, and over the millennia, the New Romans grew in numbers and resources and established a new home for themselves. And for a time, the New Romans were living a golden age as their Republic thrived for centuries.

That all changed when Caius Manilius Valens, who was back then, the Fat Consul, burst into the Senate chambers along with the elite Praetorian Guard and declared that the Republic was no more and that the New Romans needed an emperor, one that would surpass all others, and one that leads to Roman expansion worldwide.

"I am the perfect loving god," Fat Consul declared boisterously as the Praetorians who backed his claim formed a protective circle from which he would make his address to the New Roman Senate. "From this day forward, the Republic is no more. I shall take up the rebirthed Roman Empire in my loving embrace. I will be a father to the Roman people, and they shall be my children. I will suffer no tired institution nor petty bureaucrat to stand between me and my children. I am the perfect loving god, and all will tremble to know me." The Praetorians hurled their pilum spears in perfect unison, murdering the entire New Roman Senate, and in the act, overthrowing the Republic and establishing for himself a bloody reign, much like the emperors of old.

This move by the new emperor was not taken lightly, many of the New Roman people resisted their new emperor, especially, the head of New Rome's army-- Nihilus Placidius Vitalis, Dominus of the I Damocles Legion, who was already New Rome's finest warrior and general, but he and his adult children, Proxima and Sejanus, along with half of the New Roman army attempted to wrest New Rome away from Emperor Caius. The resulting conflict led to a bloody civil war and forced Nihilus and the Romans under his command and support to flee Constantinople and seek life somewhere else. Because his armies had defeated the finest warrior that Rome had ever produced in generations, Emperor Caius' ego had been inflated to unbearable heights and he believed that he could overcome any warrior and enemy if they dared to challenge him and his capital city of Constantinople.

Of course, this attempted coup by Nihilus and his loyalists happened five years ago, and since then, Constantinople's population has thrived thanks to rich trade and commerce with the outside world. Constantinople's coffers had swelled to overflowing heights during the last five years, and the emperor used the riches to not only fortify the high walls surrounding the ancient city but also build better defenses to repel any force that would threaten the New Roman people's existence within the city.

"Emperor."

The fat emperor was forced to avert his eyes momentarily from the private showing of gladiators and lay eyes on one of his servants. "What is it?"

"Your son has returned home, and he demands an audience with you."

It had been many months since he had not heard back from his only son, Gallio. And he had feared the worst when he had not received messages on the whereabouts or wellbeing of his sole heir.

But if he was alive...

"Don't just stand there! Send him in!"

Soon enough, Gallio was before his father, the prince had a stern look on his face. "Father," he greeted. "I would have words."