Author's Foreword: This is the first of hopefully many fanfics. I have a hellish schedule and so can only update every two weeks…mentula. I pray for at least 3 reviews to post the next chapter, although this is the prologue.
Disclaimer: I own almost nothing here. The plot is a nation's history, and the characters of APH belong to Himaruya-san. I own only the OC whose history I retell here.
Out of the Fire, Into the Mud; Out of the Mud, Holding a Lamp
Prologue—Is This Some Sort of Disease?
Circa 35 to 60 A.D. Roma is growing more perturbed with each passing day. All around him, he sees an imminent threat approaching—from within.
"This all started with that cursed slave of mine, Judea," he muttered, pacing the streets of his city. "I let her govern herself to a limited extent and in 783 AUC she goes and gives birth to a cult. Though, of course," he added, "she is trying to crush it."
The cult in question was spreading across the lands of Judea, Samaria, and Grecia, infecting the nations with a very curious disease. It caused them to feel sympathetic to the poor, to become non-retaliating, and imbued them with a love for neighbor. Samaria and Grecia welcomed it, but Judea, aware of the disease, had her Jewish superiors seek out and kill cult members. The disease took its toll on Roma, causing him to break out in subcutaneous tumors. For the moment they were benign, but the day would come when they would fester.
That day came when the cult's members refused to worship Roma's superior, the emperor. That day, Roma came down with a terrible migraine, for there was a tumor in his head. It drove him mad, though not literally insane. His mind was falling under the effects of the dreaded illness.
"Dear me," said the emperor, seeing Roma in such twisted pain. "There is only one cure for this illness, I'm afraid." "And it would be?" asked Roma. "To seek out and kill the members of the cult," replied the emperor. "In doing so, the tumors in you will vanish gradually." "Whatever it takes," replied the great nation, massaging his throbbing head, "it must be done."
64 A.D. The great city was set aflame. For nine days, the city burned, and Roma tossed and turned. It was as if he had encephalitis. After the ninth day, Emperor Nero asked him, "How are you feeling?" "How am I feeling?" the nation asked weakly. "How am I feeling? Terrible, that's what I feel, terrible! Nine days you sang while the city and my head were burning! You," he pointed a shaking finger at Nero, "you did this! How could you!" "Relax, Roma," Nero said, "I never caused this. They," here he referred to the cult members "did." "D-d-does this mean you—" Roma began, but Nero cut him off. "Yes, it does," Nero said, grinning wickedly. "My soldiers shall race across the Empire, and obliterate the cult."
Well, how was the prologue? Rate and review, please! Bonus if you can guess what the cult is. TTFN! (^v^)
