*Emperor Shadrach Breathed heavily. Being forced to the northern most region of his own kingdom....disgrace. Lazarus was the northern most region of Abed-Nego. The area itself being protected by thick jungles and wild beasts that lived and hunted in the brush. His own private army, The "Zulu", were actually stationed in Lazarus. In theory, Lazarus was a fortress where he could remain and contemplate his next move. But to him, this was no more than a heavily guarded prison. Shadrach sat in his seat of office. A large chair made of elephant hide, engraved with the names of every emperor before him. Inside the walls of his palace in Lazarus, he could actually force Meshach to come for him. But cowerdance did not become any member of the Knight family, and it certainly did not become a man born in the bush of Abed-Nego. He got up from his chair, and prepared to address the troops outside his palace. 1,000,000 troops, not including the other million of his personal army. He got to the door, where his sons were their to meet him. He stepped out onto the balcony, and stood before the million who had gathered o help him reclaim his land. Shadrach rarely spoke in public, but when the occasion arrived, he did not disappoint. He stood in an all ceremonial attire: Black robe, with the symbol of Abed-Nego, A lion standing on it's hind legs, blood trickling down it's jaws. A black ceremonial headdress of black linen, decorated with the teeth of lions and hyena. At his waist, a solid-steel sword in ivory hilt. useless in battle, stunning and awe inspiring in parade. Crown prince Noah Silenced the crowed with a wave of his hand, while Prince Elijah signaled the drummers to begin introducing the presence of his Holy Majesty, Emperor Shadrach Knight. The crowd hushed. Awaiting the speech they had so long waited for. The signal to take back Abed-Nego from Meshach. The signal to fight. Shadrach stood there. His eyes, tired and sedentary gray. He opened his mouth to speak. And none was prepared for the voice that flowed from his mouth like ivy, and ensnared 2,000,000 troops.* "My brothers....My people, and my allies....God weeps. God weeps because of the state of the world today....." *His voice was like distant thunder. It was not the noise itself, but the power the voice represented* "We are a society of snakes....Our lives....they are so full of sin, and treachery, and malice, and our morals become tattered and tarnished. But when our morals are worn out, what do we do? We shed ourselves of our morals for a new coat of deceit and treachery. We have sunken so low, that we cannot even trust ourselves....My brothers....My allies....You have come to aid us, to free our country, from a burning force of fear and power. Though this did not happen on your soil, you aid us as if we were brothers. We thank you. My brothers....My warriors....Will you be able to live with yourselves....when our nation s being run by the head of the ram of Satan? My Brothers! We will stampede through the bush! We will charge to St. Elsewhere!!! Riding on elephant and the thunder of our drums, we will retake my palace, and with it....or Nation!!!!" *His voice boomed like thunder, and shook the very souls of the troops* "We are a nation, of proud African men!!! Forced by many to seek our own Utopia!!! And what did we do? We built or own paradise!!! From the ashes of Africa, rose Abed-Nego!!! The Lion of the Bush!!! We will never back down, nor will we provoke! But fight! Fight to survive! That is who we are!!! We are lions....We...are...ABED-NEGO!!!!" *The drummers began to pound on their drums of wood and animal skin. The soldiers of Shadrach and the alliance applauded in the court ward of his palace. Fueled by his thunder, the readied themselves. As they stormed through the gates of the palace, towards the brush that would lead them to Meshach, the soldiers of Shadrach prepared themselves. Dawning African war-paint, along with their uniforms of dark green camo. Carrying AK-47's, M109's, and several standard grenades. They did this, while some took off on foot. The others, The "Zulu", would ride with thunder. On elephant back, they beheld a frightening force. Black robes, hiding their thick protective padding. Machete hanging at their sides. Zulu do not fight with guns, and do not fear bullets. They move through the grass lands like a scyth, cutting down all in their path. On elephant back however, they rarely need to fight on foot. Protected by iron helmets, dawned with thick iron spike on the tusks and trunks, the elephant are living tanks. The most aggressive males are taken, and trained to kill only when they hear the "Whisper of Israfel" A word uttered by the the "Zulu" that triggers a berserk reaction in the elephants. They started at sundown. By sun-up, they would reach the Palace at St. Elsewhere. Meshach sat in the palace of Abed-Nego. On the balcony, he muttered to himself as he stared at the horizon. Almost dawn. He cursed Shadrach. Who knew the allies would actually smuggle him out of his captivity? and into Lazarus of all places? A fortress....not even the "Anasazi" would survive. Their specialty is gorilla war. No match for the "Zulu". Meshach stood and slammed his massive hand onto the edge of the balcony as the sun hit the horizon. A reflection in the distance. he recognized it. Steel. Upon the horizon, Meshach stared. A black wave falling over the horizon like a shadow. He stared at it, until it dawned on him. Shadrach was not about to sit in his fortress after all. Much worse. He was planning to take back his Kingdom. By any means necessary. Meshach had not expected this! Shadrach was old! Calm! He was never the type to launch a full-sclae assualt! Who are those charging ahead? The "Zulu"?! Shadrach had summoned the most fearsome fighting force in all the empire!!!! Meshach fell backwards as he radioed his generals* "Wake up.....Wake up you fools!!! Shadrach has come!!!! His army travels as if the Devil himself were nipping at their heels!!!!" *A man responded, and stated in a faltering voice* "Chancellor....Sir, Calm yourself. we can kill any man that come against you! 2,000,000 of our finest Abed-Nego soldiers! We have nothing to fear" *Meshach dropped the radio, bowed his head, and cursed Shadrach under his breath. He came back, and this time, with the thunder of God driving them like a ram through the walls of his Was-to-be Empire*