A/N It's been some time, but here's chapter 6

Marcus Vanders is Lexvan's OC

Will Vandom had been serving as the new Oracle for more than a month now, and every day she would check up on her old friends, though they wouldn't know she was watching. However, she was pleased and relieved at the progress they were all making in rebuilding their lives. One day, after she watched the new guardians walking out of school, she closed that viewing pool and opened up another, to observe the happenings on a different world…

On Meridian, most people had been spending the last month or so trying to get back to normal. For some people that meant rebuilding their homes, or even entire towns. For others, it meant cleaning up their houses and replanting their crops. And even more only had to make minor adjustments. But for one Queen Elyon, the responsibility covered an entire world.

Since her return to the throne, Elyon was overwhelmed with the demands of her kingdom. During that time, she had surrounded herself with people she could trust, so that she could get back to ruling benevolently. Right now, however, she was in the throne room entertaining her favorite guest, Marcus. Today, Marcus was dressed in a black tunic with blue trimmings, white pants, and black boots.

"Is there a reason for me wearing this getup?" He asked.

"Only so I can bestow an official title upon you…" she answered with a grin. "I'll need you to bend down." He did so, lightly bowing to the Queen. She placed a medallion around his neck and said "Marcus Vanders, you are now Consort to the Queen." He blushed, and Elyon's adoptive parents, who had been imprisoned at Cavigor during the war, applauded.

Marcus stood up straight again. "So, what does this mean?" He asked awkwardly. "What do I have to do?"

"Well…" she began, obviously enjoying this, "…You will serve as my advisor. You'll help me make decisions, keep me up to date, and…some…other things. You know, royal stuff." She said. "You'll also have your own quarters."

"That sounds easy enough." He said with a smile, like he was about to say something devious. "But I had the thought that we might be sharing quarters pretty soon…"

"Marcus! How scandalous!" Elyon gasped, with a similar smile on her face. "But on a more serious note, I know you've been talking to more than just me here. So do you have any news from the kingdom for me?"

"Actually I do." He said. "Constable Vathek told me some people were causing trouble at a town meeting in the capital recently."

"Well that doesn't seem all that bad."

"Except that, according to Vathek, they were stirring up trouble about you."

"Alright, that's disturbing…but still, not the worst given what's already happened."

"True." Marcus continued. "He said those men were chased out of town quickly, but similar things have been happening around the kingdom."

"Really?" She asked, now more concerned. "How long has this been going on?"

"Not very long." He said. "But similar things have been happening around the kingdom. I can show you on the map if you'd like."

"Let's go."

The two of them went into the map room, along with Nerissa and Raythor. Marcus pointed to a location on one of the continents. "The people of this area, so I've heard, are particularly wary of you on the throne."

"With all due respect, your majesty." Raythor interrupted. "That province particularly suffered during the war." He said, despite knowing that she did not want to talk about the war, felt that it was important information. Raythor's appearance was mostly the same as before the war, only now in addition to his sword and his dagger, he also had a revolver on his side and an AK-47 slung over his shoulder.

Elyon tried to hide her feelings after that comment. She knew that horrible things happened to her people when Hay Lin was in charge, and many of those things may have been by her own hand. And while she had freely chosen not to remember those years, the rest of Meridian certainly did.

Nerissa spoke up next. "I've spoken with people in the capital as well, and heard rumors of unrest here and here." She said as she pointed to two other places on the map.

"I've heard about the same thing happening there too." Marcus said. "Outsiders walking in on town meetings and stirring up trouble, calling for revolt or secession. Only they weren't thrown out like they were in the capital. It seems like they have some support."

"Captain Drake's told me the Garrison's found the same thing in villages not far from the capital." Raythor added. Because most of their time under Hay Lin's power was spent on Earth, Drake and Aldarn were able to salvage their reputations somewhat quickly. "They had to break up a brawl after someone called you names I'd rather not repeat."

Elyon looked at the map, deep in thought. She pointed at the continent where the people suffered most severely. "I'm going to visit them next week." She said. The three of them looked shocked at her.

"Elyon, are you sure?" Nerissa asked. "After Vertex was purged from me, it still took time even for my own son to fully accept me."

"I've made my decision." She stated firmly. "How am I supposed to win back the trust of my people if I don't face them myself?"

They walked back into the throne room, where her adoptive parents were waiting. "Father, we are to begin preparations to travel to the provincial capital, Bronzetown. Make sure the governor knows of our plans."

"Your majesty…" Raythor interrupted. "…that won't be necessary. There's nothing left of Bronzetown."

"What?" She asked in surprise. "What happened?"

"I wasn't there." Raythor said. "But when the former Air Guardian came to power, the people of that province stood against her almost immediately. She made an example of them. From what I heard, she wanted to test out Gargoyle after makin' 'im bigger. A few hundred lurdens with torches finished the job."

Elyon paused. Her hand was shaking a bit, but her face looked numb. "The plan is still on. We need to find where their new capital is and inform the authorities of our arrival."

"I'm on it." Marcus said.

"Thank you." She answered. "You are all dismissed." She said as she headed to her room.

Nerissa saw Elyon's face as she walked off. She went to Marcus after Elyon left. "I'll find that out." She said. "You should follow her." Marcus nodded and made his way to her quarters.

…

The next week, Elyon and her entourage teletransported to the town hall of the new provincial capital, a small village compared to what was destroyed. The governor, a green-skinned galhot wearing an official cape, greeted them himself.

"Your Majesty…" he began. "Most of the people of this village, and this province, will not be pleased to see you. Many of the politicians and nobles here are entertaining the notion of cutting all ties with the throne."

"I'm aware of what's happened here." Elyon said. "That's why I want to speak to the people directly."

"It may be more difficult than you expect, my queen." He answered. Outside, a crowd was gathering around the temporary stage built for the Queen's speech.

Elyon took a deep breath before walking outside, accompanied by the governor, Marcus, Tynar, and some of his men. The crowd was loud before they walked out, but as soon as Elyon took the stage, they fell silent. She could feel the tension in the air. She could also see their faces, some angry, others fearful, very few were happy to see her, or if they were they hid it while they were among the others. Elyon cleared her throat. "In the last few years, we have all suffered greatly, but I hope-"

"Bold words from someone who sat comfortably on the throne while WE suffered!" Someone shouted cutting her off. His comment drew cheers and jeers from the crowd.

"I –" she tried to continue. She didn't want to blame everything on being enthralled, because that would make her seem weak. But before she could say anything more, someone else shouted.

"And she even let Phobos live with her!" A woman remarked.

"And the sorceress!" Someone else shouted, referring to Nerissa.

"Tyranny must run in the family!" The entire crowd went into an uproar, with someone finally throwing a rotten cabbage towards Elyon. It missed, but then more people began throwing things as the crowd became emboldened.

Elyon raised a force shield, protecting her and her entourage from anything being thrown at them, making the crowd fall silent. She turned around, facing Marcus, and looked at the ground. She let out a sigh. "We're going." She said as she led them back into the town hall and teletransported back to the castle. Before they left, they could hear the crowd cheering like they had scored a victory.

…

Elyon didn't know what to do now. She feared this unrest could spread and destabilize the whole kingdom. So the next day, she walked into the castle garden, to a little cottage at the edge of the castle grounds. She walked in to speak to her brother, Phobos.

"And what brings my dear sister to my humble abode?" He asked, sounding like he was hiding something, though that would be impossible as he had been stripped of all his magic. Phobos was sitting in a chair drinking tea. He now looked very much like he did when he was glamoured on Earth.

"I have a problem." She answered.

"So I've heard." He said. "It is said that the people are revolting."

"You say that like you resent them."

"Why of course not, little sister." He said with a devious smile. "I just know how troublesome an unruly population can be…"

"Phobos, I'm not going to repress my own people, especially after all that's happened."

His face changed to a more discontented expression and his tone of voice changed to match. "Please don't remind me of the things I was manipulated into doing. Besides, there are other ways than brute force to bring the people to your side."

"I know." She said sounding concerned and uneasy. "I've tried reaching out to the most devastated community, but they threw it right back at me."

"You should also know…" Phobos continued "…that when benevolence fails, fear can be highly motivating."

"Are you saying I should intimidate my people into following me?" She asked frustrated, beginning to question how much her brother had really changed.

"Not at all." He said. "I found that a population quickly becomes much more…reasonable...when they believe that they must turn to you for protection."

"Then what are you suggesting?"

"Why not start a rumor in those unruly provinces?" He asked. "The fear of the unknown on their part, plus a renewed commitment to security on yours, could make for a very peaceful, stable kingdom." He said, his devious smile returning to his face.

"I don't like that idea."

"It appears my little sister is beginning to understand that leadership means making difficult decisions. And since you came to my cottage to chat, I assumed you wanted my help." He said as he put his tea down.

Elyon sighed. She had to stop herself from reminding him that she's on the throne while he's on a couch. "I still don't like it, but what do I need to do?"

"I believe I can put you in touch with an old contact of mine…"

…..

Several days later, Elyon was standing in the map room, with Marcus, and a small, wrinkled green creature. She pointed towards the province she had visited earlier. "Do you know anyone in this region?"

"Oh yes…" he said in a sniveling voice. "… Jeek know many there…"

"And what about these places?"

"Yes… Jeek very well traveled…"

"That's good. We need the people of this region to believe that lurdens are gathering in large numbers, and some criminals have been spotted with them." She said as she pointed toward the province she had recently visited. Then she pointed to another area. "And this region has had a particularly wet season. That could mean more mudslugs and larveks multiplying, and they're hungry."

"They not like Queen there." Jeek said as he looked at the map. "Queen wants to scare them?"

"I want to show them that they can count on me for protection." She replied, somewhat indignantly.

"Jeek understand. And Jeek can do this too…but what in it for Jeek?"

"We have many goods to offer you…" She said.

"Goods from Earth." Marcus added. "Valuable, rare goods."

"And…" Elyon continued. "…we're prepared to grant you full immunity for life. But that's only if the job goes well. Is that understood?"

"Oh yes…Jeek understand. And Jeek will do!"

"Then go, I'll see you when you get back."

Jeek left the room and the castle to do the job he was given. Elyon went closer to Marcus and said "I really hope I know what I'm doing…"

"I hope you do to." He answered.

Elyon looked back at him and said "I don't like this anymore than you do, but I feel like I've run out of options."

"I'll stand by you…" He said in an honest voice. "…but I gotta say, I don't think I would have done this."

"I just wish none of this ever happened…" she said looking at the ground. Marcus came closer and they held each other for a while. Then they went back into the throne room so Elyon could continue with her normal duties.

…..

Days passed, and Jeek had yet to return. Elyon wondered if this would actually succeed. How would she know? Would they send a letter requesting help? Should she go there herself and offer aid? What if it doesn't work? That was the most uncertain question. It's not like the rumors could be traced right back to the castle, could they? Either way, she would find out sooner or later.

As Elyon sat in her study drafting a document, Marcus came in with a scroll. "This just arrived from a messenger. It's from a town called Shellsbrad."

Elyon perked up. "Let's see it!" And she took the scroll and opened it. It read:

"To her Majesty, Queen Elyon of Meridian,

We have heard strange rumors of mudslugs and other creatures growing and multiplying in this region. These rumors have been alarming to some of our people. However, we have sent out surveyors who report nothing to confirm any of these stories. We normally would not bring this to the attention of our Queen, however another rumor has begun to spread, that the first rumor came from the castle itself, and some have begun to believe it. Any information to clarify this matter would be greatly appreciated."

Elyon gulped. "Okay, this isn't good." She slowly handed the scroll back to Marcus so he could read it. "I think I shouldn't have done this." She said in a concerned voice.

Marcus read the letter. "Hey, come on now, everyone makes mistakes." However, before Marcus could do anything more to try and cheer her up, her adoptive father came in with another scroll.

"This came from the post office in the Capital. Whoever brought it didn't want to deliver it to you."

"I feel like this couldn't get any worse." She said, depressed.

Her father handed her the scroll. She opened it and read:

"To whom it may concern,

Attempts to intimidate our people in order to curry favor are intolerable and unworthy of anyone who calls herself Queen of all Meridian. This province no longer recognizes any monarch, nor the throne on which she sits."

"It just got worse…" Elyon said and put her head down on her desk.

"Hey, you still have allies." Marcus said trying to calm her. "And most of the kingdom is still on your side."

"Thanks…" she said, though it didn't make her feel any better. "…I just know I shouldn't take advice from Phobos…"

"Every leader makes mistakes." Her father said.

"I know…there's one thing I need to do now…" She said and got up and walked out.

Shortly after, Elyon was sitting back on her throne, and Raythor walked in. He knelt on one knee and put his fist against his chest. "You called, your Majesty."

"Yes, please stand, Raythor." She said and began to explain. "Raythor, I used a dishonorable method of leadership and tried to deceive my people in order to curry favor. And it backfired. I swear that I will never use such deceptive tactics again, and to rule with honor for as long as I remain on this throne."

"Then my oath to serve you still stands. So swears Raythor!" He swore to her.

"Thank you. Is there any news?"

"Yes, your Majesty. Aldarn and Aketon have built their first working gunpowder-based cannon. Production is ready to begin at your order."

"You have it." She said with a sigh, and dismissed him. "…I just hope we don't have to use any of that any time soon…" She said to herself after he was gone.

Back in her quarters, Elyon confided with Marcus. "I feel like I've made the biggest mistake as Queen. I lied to my own kingdom. The worst thing is, I still don't know how bad this could get."

"Don't beat yourself up." He said with his arm around her. "Whatever happens, I'll stay with you. I believe in you."

"Thanks…" she said, trying to smile. "…all I know now, though, is we're going to have tough times ahead of us…"

So this chapter had quite a different ending than the other chapters so far. Elyon's having some trouble ruling Meridian, and it looks like she just got herself into more trouble. Also, thank you to Lexvan for allowing me to use his OC, Marcus.

Also, Phobos' line "It is said that the people are revolting" is a direct reference to Mel Brooks' History of the World Part I