Return to Rome
So long ago, in the age of the mighty Roman Empire, the continent of Europe was ruled by an emperor. And emperor… with a bad attitude.
Chapter One
In the mighty palace of Rome, two buglers blew their trumpets and a servant stepped forth tapping his staff and called "All hail, Nero! Emperor of Rome! Monarch of the Roman Empire! Ruler of the world!"
Marching through the hallway to the throne room was Nero, a teenage emperor in a blue robe and cape. "Ba-da-bing, baby." he said with a smile.
The crowd cheered "Hail Nero!" as he walked to his throne, grooving. But then, he bumps into an old guy who was trying to get away. The crowd ceased cheering and gasped.
"Aw, man." moaned Nero. "You just threw off my groove!"
Then a Roman guard arrives and said to the old man "I'm sorry, but you've thrown off the emperor's groove."
The old guy got thrown out the window while he said "Sorry!"
"Anyway…" said Nero.
The crowd continued cheering while Nero continued grooving to his throne. The crowd stopped cheering and Nero snapped his fingers. A few men showed up with an item covered by a sheet.
"What's under the sheet?" Nero asked.
"Oh, the sheet." said one of the men. He pulled the sheet to reveal a bath tub. "A beautiful hand-carved alabaster bathing vessel! But to fill the tub, treasure from the Orient!"
"Good next."
The second man showed up and said "Yes. Your highness. A choosing for your new bride."
A harem of potential young women who all look exactly the same showed up before the harem.
"Alright-y!" Nero gets off his throne to analyze the harem one by one. "Let's me look. Hate your hair, not likely, yikes, yikes yikes, and let me guess, you have a great personality." He turns to his servant wielding a staff. "Is this really the best you can offer?"
"Unfortunately, sire," said the servant, "yes. I mean, Rome doesn't have much of available maidens here."
Outside the palace, a peasant walks up to a guard looking for directions. He said "Ah, excuse me, I'm here to see emperor Nero. You see, I got this summons-"
The guard interjected "Inside, up the stairs, and to the left. Just follow the signs."
"Oh, great, thanks a lot." The peasant started walked, but he stopped realizing something. "Pyrrha. Hurry up."
Coming to him was Pyrrha, a red-haired young maiden with a long ponytail. "Coming, dad."
"Now, just stick close, okay?"
Pyrrha followed her father to the palace, but then… "Oh." she said when a sandal fell on her head.
The old man from earlier, now hanging in a tree, tapped Pyrrha on her shoulder and said "Pardon me, that's my sandal."
"Oh, here you go." she said handing the sandal to the old guy.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome." Pyrrha turned to walk away, but she quickly realized he's hanging on a tree and turned back. "Oh! Oh, my goodness, are you all right?" she asked as she helped the old guy down.
"Oh, yes, thank you…"
"How'd you get way up there?"
"Well, I… I threw off the emperor's groove."
"His what?"
"His groove! The rhythm in which he lives his life! His pattern of behavior! I threw it off and the emperor had me thrown out the window!"
Pyrrha gasped in shock and told the frantic elder "Really? Well, my father's supposed to see him today-"
"DON'T THROW OFF HIS GROOVE!" said the old man grabbing her by the robe.
"Easy, easy. I'll keep my distance."
Walking away, the old man said "Beware."
After watching the old man leave, Pyrrha decided to continue on and follow her father.