Ready As I'll Ever Be

Prologue

Set in medieval times with magic. Thomas is king. Roman was born a simple peasant, but always dreamed of being a dashing prince, but he doesn't have an ounce of royal blood in him. The closest thing he can get to a prince is to become a knight. So he does and, eventually, becomes Thomas' most trusted knight and close friend. One day while out wondering the woods Roman stumbles upon a suspicious looking man with yellow eyes and scales who compliments Roman, singing his praises and promising him all of his wildest hopes and dreams, "You can be royal to, rule your very own kingdom," "...I-I'll be a prince...?" "Your majesty, you will be king!"

So the stranger gives Roman roses, more than a dozen of beautiful red ones, and tells him to pass them out to everyone he meets. "The people will love you," the man says "A king needs loyal people." so Roman does, and the people really do love him. But a couple weeks later, the snake man approaches Roman with a crown of red roses and sharp thorns. "Every king needs a crown." But the moment he places it on his head, the thorns dig into his skin. The roses drain of their vibrant red hue until they're pitch black. Anyone who'd accidentally been pricked by the roses Roman gave them, fall into a zombie like daze. The perfect obedient people. "I promised you a kingdom, I never said I'd give an entirely new one."

So Roman becomes twisted, kidnaps Thomas and takes full control of the castle. Anyone not affected by the roses flee, including royal adviser Logan, as well as two castle staff incredibly close to the crown, Patton and Virgil. The remaining forces of Thomas' kingdom gather on the outskirts of the palace as Virgil, a close 'friend' of Romans since childhood, who's desperate to get him back, leads the charge to take back the castle.