The five Paladins Brandon, Washington, Ayala, Zedler, and Iver all stood in an artificially let room. Technology and holographic devices surrounding them. They stood saluted as the Overseer greeted them, holding a datapad. The Overseer was a middle-aged man, somewhere in his fifties, had a square face. He still had all his hair, some grey patches. He wore something of a jumpsuit, but looked more neater than what most would think of a jumpsuit. It was a dark blue color.
"Congratulations on your mission, Paladins," he spoke in a deep, authoritative voice, "though I understand there were a couple of close calls. I see a bullet grazed your armor, Ashford." Brandon looked at a mark on his arm guard. He just shrugged, "Oh, nothing the guys down in the lab can't fix." The Overseer's face quickly turned into rage as he got up to Brandon's face, "Do you think that a bullet is just no problem? Bullets are what started this war! I started the Project to stop people from dying! This rebellion, who calls themself the 'Nemici', have killed people! People that had loved ones! You are DISMISSED, Paladin. You are ALL dismissed!"

The team sat in their locker room, taking off their armor and putting on their civillian clothes. Washington decided to talk about the elephant in the room, "So, the Overseer seemed pretty pissed at you. I think you pushed a button," he said as he took his helmet off, revealing his dark brown hair. Ayala undid her blond ponytail, "Well, maybe he didn't like your attitude, Ash." Somehow it all turned onto Brandon, "What did I do? Allison, are you going to help?" Paladin Zedler with her long, dark black hair, and tall, sleek, stature, was almost out of her greaves, "Ohhh no. This is much more entertaining if I stay out of it. Margaret?" Paladin Iver spoke, her short, brown hair moving with her body motions, "You know the Overseer lost someone during the war, right? Yeah, they were at some mall when the Nemici came in and shot two people to show that they mean business. Some other guy, and the Overseer's wife." Ayala looked down, as if she were remembering something. Brandon was the only one who noticed this, "Ayala. You ok?" She snapped back to reality and stood up, "Yeah. I'm fine. I'm gonna go get something in the mess. Anyone coming with me?" Everyone followed, except for Brandon who gave them an excuse, "Can't. Fluttershy's feeling sick." Margaret scoffed, "Wow, Brandon. You're so whipped." "What? No I'm not! I'm just caring for my sick girlfriend." The four left, chuckling. Brandon just said to himself, "I'm not whipped." When one of the scientists came into the room. "Paladin Ashford," he spoke in a caring voice, "You have been selected for an...experiment. It is a great honor to be chosen for this.

Later that afternoon, Brandon crept into the cottage, calling up to Fluttershy, "Shy! You awake?" "Yes." He walked upstairs and looked at Fluttershy, who was feeling sick, due to some sort of bug. "Hey, beautiful," he said as he walked to her bed side and kissed her, "How're you feeling?" She sniffled, "I'm feeling a bit better." Fluttershy didn't look better. She sat in bed, with her robe on, her nose was red, her eyes looked tired, she'd been coughing and sneezing, she also had a pretty bad fever. The doctor said that she would be fine in a couple of days, luckily whatever it is, isn't contagious. Brandon layed on the bed, next to her, and put his arm around her. She responded with laying her arm on his stomach and her head on his chest. He ran his thumb over her wing, something she enjoyed, as they sat in the quiet kissing and Brandon having to wipe Fluttershy's dripping nose each time they kissed for ten or fifteen minutes until Brandon asked if she needed anything. Fluttershy thought for a second, "Um...some soup would be nice." At that request, he instantly got up and went for the kitchen. He started gathering ingredients to make for the soup. The two agreed on one thing: Potato soup is the best soup for everything. In just a few minutes he had it on the stove, cooking. He was gathering bowls when he heard someone behind him. "Shy, I told you to stay in bed. It'll be done in a few minutes," He turned around and wasn't greeted by the sick face of Fluttershy, but a human woman who stood in front of him, her hands clasped, wearing a ruffled purple dress, and her long blond hair partially in a bun. This wasn't any normal woman...this was Lady Mercia.

"...Mother...?"

"Hello, Brandon. You've grown into such a capable young man..." She said with a sweet smile. Brandon picked up a knife and pointed it toward his so-called mother, "What the hell are you!? Stay back!" Mercia looked frustrated, "Brandon Ashford, how dare you swear at your own mother? Put down that knife. You'll kill someone again, murderer." Brandon's eyes grew wider as he kept looking at his mom, "You're not real! You're..." "Dead?" Lady Mercia interupted, still keeping that sweet smile, "Yes. I died. Because of you, Brandon. You left mommy to die...why did you do that?" Hundreds of thoughts erupted in his head in a split second, making him scream, cry, throw a fit of rage. These thoughts weren't his own, though. That voice inside his head was different, it sounded different. A hundred different thoughts and voices in his head all telling him he didn't protect her well enough. The voices were distorted, evil sounding. Some sounded like a bunch of little kids talking at the same time, in the same monotone voice, some sounded like normal people, and others sounded like there was a demon in the room. Each breaking apart Brandon's mentality.
The last thing he remembers is Fluttershy standing in front of him, trying to calm him down.
Then everything went dark...
The only thing he could hear were the faint sounds of Fluttershy's screams.

So, I suppose this is my Christmas Present to you guys. I won't update much for a few days. My Wii U and Resident Evil 6 won't play with itself!...That sounded a lot weirder than I intended.
Anyway, just a short, if you can call it that, preview on just what kind of turn this story is taking. I'll try and give a chapter or two a day, but I'm really busy atm with watching my sister's kids.
Uh...yeah, that's pretty much all I wanted to say.
Happy Christmas and Merry Holidays!