20 | KING

"I think it's time I introduced you to Ezekiel, King Ezekiel." Jesus proposed after he had told the Alexandrians it was best not to go back home just yet. Roxanne furrowed her brows, a bit worried to be meeting even more new people that could possibly threaten her hopes to finally settle with Kali... and possibly even Rick, Carl and Judith.

"King?" Rick's voice rumbled in his usual Georgian way. Jesus nodded, assuringly.

* * *

The SUV the group was in halted to a stop in front of a few short buildings. The place was overgrown, and mostly hidden. No one would've known an entire town of people lived there. It very much contrasted Alexandria. Alexandria seemed to scream come kill us all with its tall walls and large gate. "It's called the Kingdom?" Skeptically, Rick asked Jesus.

"Yeah. I didn't name it." Jesus spoke nonchalantly. He had seen so many people and so many communities since the outbreak, that nothing seemed to surprise him anymore... not even self proclaimed "Kings".

Rox, as she continued to analyze the quiet surroundings, finally creeped out of the car. "How much farther?" Rick inquired, unknowing that they had already arrived. Though, he was not at fault for being unaware of the presence of the community. The lack of living, and even dead for that matter, blended the area with the rest of the vast, abandoned world.

"Well, technically, we're already here. I mean, we're always here, but here we are— at the Kingdom," Jesus looked around at his isolated surroundings, "well, its outer edge." He gesture around him.

Suddenly, Daryl popped his head out of the car. "Hey, what the hell we waitin' on?" He grunted in his usual manner.

Jesus pointed past Roxanne's head. "Waiting for them." He stated. Everyone twisted their heads round to face the direction Jesus (our lord and savior) was pointing. A faint clacking of hooves on the pavement could barely be heard and a figure of two men on horses quickly approached them.

"Who dares to trespass on the sovereign land of the— oh, shit." One of the men began speaking in a medieval accent, then broke character as his eyes focused on the new faces.

"Jesus, is that you?" The other man on the horse questioned.

Jesus simply smiled and lifted a hand as a greeting. "Who are all these people Paul?" The man continued to ask Jesus.

"Hi, Richard. Nice to see you." Jesus greeted the redheaded man on the horse.

"It's good to see you too. Your friends, who are they?" Richard, the redhead, nodded at Jesus.

"This is Rick Grimes, he's the leader of a like-minded community. These are some of his people." Jesus introduced.

Roxanne stood, militant in a way her ex husband had taught her before the apocalypse, and eyed the men before her. She was slowly reverting to her old self, before Kali was born: selfish, cold, angry, and sneaky. She was soon to fully revert to her cold hearted ways— but I am spoiling far too much now.

"We would like to request an audience with King Ezekiel." Jesus spoke eloquently.

Richard hopped off of his horse and peered into the SUV. "Get out of the car." He ordered, and the others in the group obeyed.

"Line up." Richard barked.

Roxanne hesitated for a moment, she was tired of being told what to do— she had suffered as a prisoner to Negan for far enough time to endure it any longer. "Okay. This is a waste of time. Come on, let's go." Daryl groaned.

"Maybe you're right. The King is a busy man. And it's a dangerous world. We don't usually allow a pack of strangers to waltz through our door." Richard announced.

"We want to make the world less dangerous, and we are all here to show the king how serious we are about that." Michonne piped up, hoping not to lose this opportunity.

"The car stays outside. You got handover your guns." Richard continued to instruct.

Rick sighed. "We only have two." He told as he and Carl handed their weapons over willingly. Richard grabbed the guns and nodded.

"Follow me." He told and began waking.

* * *

The Kingdom was beautiful. It was organized. It was coordinated. They had a military. They had agriculture. They had people. They had children. It was all so peaceful... even too peaceful. The group had encountered an old friend: Morgan. He had been living there for a while and he had found Carol, he informed.

The group was then led into an auditorium, where they were to meet the king. As soon as Roxanne entered the room, she gasped. Upon the stage the King sat, was a tiger. It was simply prowling around, almost protecting the King.

"What the f—" Roxanne began, but Rick rapidly jabbed her side to shut her up.

"Jesus! Tell me, what good news do you bring good King Ezekiel? Are these allies you've brought me?" Ezekiel boomed as he oddly spoke in third person.

Jesus nodded. "Indeed, they are, Your Majesty," Jesus spun around to introduce the group, then saw the shocked visages spread across everyone's face, "oh, right. I forgot to mention that—" Jesus was interrupted by Rick.

"Yeah, a tiger."

"This is Rick Grimes, the leader of Alexandria, and these are some of his people." Jesus introduced.

Ezekiel beamed. "I welcome you all to the Kingdom, good travelers. Now, what brings you to our fair land? Why do you seek an audience with the King?" He asked.

Everyone was dead silent, too intimidated by the tiger. Roxanne took notice and stepped up, masking her sudden fear with her confidence. "King Ezekiel, we need your help— we need the Kingdom's help. Alexandria, The Hilltop and the Kingdom all have been harassed, threatened and robbed by the Saviors. We need to put it to a stop. Alexandria already fought them once before; we won that battle. But there are far too many Saviors to take on the rest of the fight alone. Together we may defeat them. We may defeat their violence and treachery." Roxanne ranted, however, the more she ranted, the more Ezekiel's face fell.

"Your Majesty—" Jesus began, gulping.

Ezekiel narrowed his eyes at Jesus. "Our deal with the Saviors is not known among my people for good cause. We made you a party to that secret when you told us of the Hilltop's own travails, but we did not expect you to share—" Ezekiel began to patronize Jesus.

"Look here!" Roxanne cut Ezekiel off and Ezekiel shot her a daring look.

Roxanne's confidence sunk a bit under his threatening gaze. "We can help each other." She told.

"Don't. Interrupt. The King." Ezekiel spoke firmly.

"With all due respect, sir, you present yourself with such high authority and dignity, but seem to fear and allow yourself to be exploited by the Saviors!" Roxanne scoffed, challenging his words.

Ezekiel never had a woman, nor a man for that matter, ever challenge him and his word. "Everyone out! Except you!" He pointed his staff at Roxanne.

Roxanne spun on her heel to face Rick with a regretful look. Rick's eyes were wide. Roxanne took note and regained her confident composure. She placed an assuring, quick kiss on Rick's soft lips, his growing beard tickling her face. "Good luck." He whispered. Roxanne nodded and turned back around to face Ezekiel.

Once the auditorium was clear, Ezekiel began to speak once again. "What is your name?" He asked.

"Roxanne." She stated plainly.

"I am quite fond of you, Ms. Roxanne. I see your ambition, courage and determination in your eyes. Not just anyone will argue with an old man that has a pet tiger." Ezekiel chuckled.

Roxanne's stern look fell into a small smile. "I only want freedom. For me, for you, for my people... for my child." Roxanne stated.

"What you are asking is very serious." He informed.

"I understand. But we must stop the brutality. The Saviors have murdered— scratch that, they beat many of my people to death. They kidnapped me and two others. They terrorize every community they encounter. The leader of that damn cult is the fucking father of my child!" Roxanne exclaimed.

Ezekiel was silent. "We can't live with these deals they make us. My community is starving, because of them." Roxanne continued.

"We have people, and weapons. But I must ponder this still. I invite your people to sup with us." Ezekiel spoke.

"We need to get back—" Rox began.

"I shall deliver my degree in the morn, Ms. Roxanne." Ezekiel bored his demanding eyes down at her. Roxanne stated directly began and nodded, understanding and accepting his act of generosity.