The Paladin

Rise of Chaos - Part 1

It had been a little over a year since Matthew had defeated Solas Dorcha and earned the permanent title of Paladin, despite him rejecting it. After that, he vanished from the public's eye. His friends however did not. Rose and Clyde now were married and became teachers for fighting. Taylor had turned to any job that he could get, not really caring what it was. Sam had finally became the Queen of Draco with Colin as her head adviser. Tiffany started on her dream to become a singer. Her voice drew crowds to hear her. Everything was going perfectly.

What they didn't know was that the world wouldn't let them be.
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Rose looked at the fruit and veggies, seeing which ones were the best. She had to have the best for her meal tonight. She took her time because this meal was her favorite and nothing or anyone was going to mess it up. Clyde walked up behind her and held up a bag of thick cut meats. "Okay Rose, I have the best cuts. Have you picked the rest yet?"

She was quiet for a minute. "Yes, this one." She picked one from the back of the pile. It looked like it was just picked from the fields. "Perfect!" She smiled and quickly got the rest of what she needed. "Ready now!"

They walked among the crowds of the open market, some people greeted them and thanked them for the fighting against Solas. Both didn't have the heart to tell any of them that they were killed by Solas and they really never actually fought him. In the end though, it didn't matter. As long as the people had hope and peace, they would live with it.

"Hard to believe that it has been over a year already." Clyde said. "Over a year of peace, no war, no Zodiac Warriors and no Solas Dorcha." He had a slight shiver run down his spine recalling his death at the hands of Solas. "It feels strange."

"Yeah." Rose nodded to another cheer. "I don't remember the last time we had something like this. Ever since we were kids, all we have known is the sound of terror and war." She clenched her fist. She had trained to fight at the age of five and had fought every day since then. Now that peace had ruled, she had time to reflect on those days and how her life was now ruined by that.

Clyde put a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright. We are all here together now."

She looked in his eyes and smiled. "Yes we are."

"And it is a good time to be." Taylor said as he walked up to them. He looked clean for a change. He must have been between jobs. "I am not late this time, am I?"

"No little brother, not yet." Clyde hugged him. "How are things?"

Taylor sighed. "Well, it seems that I am going to be out of any jobs soon. The last remains of the old Empire are nearly round up. Only the most loyal remain, but I have been told that they had been found. The question is just if they we come peacefully or not." He looked up. "Then my skills will no longer be needed. Few people these days want me for anything."

"Well, at least the world will be at peace." Rose said. "That must count for something Taylor."

"Oh, it does, don't get me wrong." He said. "I just don't know much else. Even my cooking skills are subpar."

"Well we can always use a new dishwasher!"

"Or he could take our offer to become a Royal Guard." Lady Samantha said behind them. The three bowed. "Oh please, you guys don't need to bow to me." She smiled. "Hell, if it wasn't for you guys, I might have never fought back against Zelous and Solas."

Colin was behind her. "None of us would have. What we did was because of all of you guys. Even Matthew gave us hope. Although he wouldn't see it that way." He shrugged. "Not that it matters what each one of may think. With the restoration of the Trans-Rail System, the whole world knows of what he did. Hope is back and he is the one for it."

Sam nodded. "So, do we know if Matthew will be joining us tonight?"

"No, he will not be joining us." They all turned to see Tiffany in her old work dress. "He sends his regards of course." Tiff had seen him yesterday to once again try to get him to see reason, but with no luck. "So, it will be just us."

Clyde nodded. "Well, it seems that nothing is going to crack him at this point."

They all started to walk together to talk. Sam stayed back with Tiff to talk. "So, why does he continue to keep himself away from everyone else?"

"He still thinks that everything will go back to the way he knows. From that game thing he knows all of us from."

"Doesn't he realize that this is the real world?" Sam scoffed. "This isn't an opera where everything is fixed by one dramatic line."

"I think he hopes it will, one day." Then Tiff froze. She felt a presence that hadn't been around for years. She looked over where it came from and gasped. "Oh no..."

-

The grass swayed in the wind, brushing up on his cheek and stirred him from his sleep. The sunlight going through his now long hair made his head hurt from the hangover. He moaned and covered his eyes, slowly getting up. The bottle wasn't empty yet, but he was too sick to drink. Looking around, hoping to see that he was home again. Alas he was still in the other world. "Why do I keep trying?" He got up, then bent down and emptied his stomach.

"Because you have become a worthless piece of shit." A new voice angrily said. Matt looked and Aaron of The Nine was standing there. "What the hell happened to you?"

Matt looked at Aaron with disgust. "I was made into something I didn't want." He pushed past Aaron into his small trailer. "Made a Paladin for a world that isn't real." He looked for some toast to eat, maybe to ease his hunger. "I should have chosen to go home."

Aaron narrowed his eyes. "You are what WE made you, you should be..."

"Fuck you!" Matt came back out, pistol drawn. "You don't own me. For this past year, I have gotten to know all nine of you so called 'Gods' and you know what? You are more Human then what you what the others to know." He raised the gun to Aarons head. "I think that if I pull this trigger, this special energized rounds Tiff made, you WILL die."

Aaron crossed his arms. "Is that so?" Matt saw in his eyes, he was really scared. "Well, there is nothing stopping you."

"Yeah there is." Matt said. "The fact that the people still think you all Gods. Can't go proving them wrong." Matt lowered it and walked away. "But I am not your Paladin. If the World calls me, I will answer." He pointed at Aaron. "If YOU call, expect nothing." A noise from the Kingdom made them both look. Smoke came from there and Matt's hand started to burn. 'Demons' He thought. He went back and got Oath Keeper but wobbled on his way out.

"You're too drunk to do anything." Aaron said. "Why don't you just rest?"

"Because now the world needs me. I said that would answer." Matt started to slowly run into battle.

Aaron stood there and darkly said to himself. "We shall see how long you last."
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