68: Rock in the Road

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"No. No way in hell!" Gregory refused as he paced. "That was not the deal."You people swore you could take the Saviors out, and you failed. So any arrangement we had is now done, null and void." He claimed. The group had suggested to him that Alexandria and Hilltop come together to fight the Saviors, but of course, Gregory isn't on board. "We aren't trade partners, we aren't friends, and we never met." He said, stopping to rest his hands on the desk. "We don't know each other." He sat down and turned to Rick. "I owe you nothing. In fact, you owe me for taking in the refugees, at great personal risk."

"Oh, you were very brave staying in here while Maggie and Sasha saved this place. Your courage was inspiring." Paul spoke up from Maggie's side.

"Hey, don't you work for me? Aren't we friends?"

"Gregory," Rick spoke, walking up to the desk. "We already started this."

"You started it."

"We did. And we're gonna win." Rick insisted.

"These are killers."

"Well, so are we." Elle mumbled under her breath as she fiddled with her knife that Paul had retrieved from his trailer.

"Is this how you want to live? Under their thumb, killing your people?" Rick was quickly getting annoyed with Gregory's lack of empathy and common sense.

"Sometimes we don't get to choose what our life looks like. Sometimes, Ricky, you have to count the blessings you have." Gregory was sure that he made a good point, even though nobody else agreed.

"Zero. We have zero blessings." Elle argued. "With the Saviors dead, that's one."

"I'm talking to the adults, sweetheart." Before Elle had a chance to react, Maggie stood up.

"How many people can we spare? How many people here can fight?" She asked, her hand resting in the chair across from him.

"'We'?" He scoffed. "I don't even know how many people we have, Margaret."

"Just another example of how great a leader Gregory is, everybody! Keep up the good work." Elle sarcastically remarked, adding a slow clap.

"Does it even matter? I mean, what are you gonna do? Start a platoon of sorghum farmers? 'Cause that's what we got. They grow things. They're not gonna want to fight." He ignored Elle's comments and continued to talk in his unfortunately natural condescending tone.

"You're wrong." Tara piped up. "When people have the chance to do the right thing, they usually step up. I mean, people justโ€”"

"Let me stop you before you burst into song, okay?" Gregory held a hand out, cutting Tara off. "And, by the way, who would train all this cannon fodder?"

"Give me a week." Rosita shrugged.

"I will." Sasha said, their voices overlapping.

"Rhetorical, okay? I don't want to know, and I never want to hear another word about it any of it, ever." He pouted.

Getting sick of listening to Gregory make pathetic arguments, Rick asked him a simple question. "Would we be better off without the Saviors, yes or no?"

"Yeah. Sure, okay." Gregory sighed, leaning back in his chair.

"So," Michonne walked up to the desk. "What will you do to fix the problem?"

"I didn't say we had a problem. You did. And what happens outside of my purview is outside of my purview." Elle scoffed as she tried her hardest to keep it together, not wanting another lecture from Rick about making stupid decisions.

"What the hell, man?" Daryl spoke for the first time since they've seen him. "You're either with us or you ain't. You're sitting there talking out of both sides of your mouth." He shouted. Gregory stood up.

"I think I've made my position very clear. And I want to thank all of you for not being here today, and not having this meeting with me, or being seen on your way out." He spoke calmly as he decided for everyone that they were done talking. "In other words, go out the back.

"Oh, choke on a dick." Elle scoffed as she was the first one to make an exit, purposely knocking a vase down on her way out. Rick nodded for everyone else to leave as well, granting them to spew their own insults.

"Walking ballsack." Rosita rolled her eyes.

"I wanna knock that idiot's teeth out." Sasha seriously looked like she was about to. They all gathered outside Gregory's office, making sure everyone was accounted for.

"We don't need him anyway." Daryl grumbled.

"Yeah, that's right." Rick agreed. "We have Maggie and Sasha and Jesus here." He shot Paul a look, knowing that Paul wouldn't hesitate to go against Gregory's wishes.

"And Enid." Maggie added as the front door opened.

"Hey, um.." she spoke, she paused as if she wasn't sure what to say.

"What's wrong?" Elle asked from her side.

"Nothing." All eyes were on her. "Just.. come outside." Everyone followed her outside on the porch, where they were greeted by a small group of people. Maggie made her way to the front of the group.

"What's going on?"

"Hey." A woman began speaking, taking a few steps forward. It was the woman the group had saved when Paul brought them to Hilltop for the first time. "So, if you don't remember, I'm Bertie. And I owe my life to you all, twice over. A bunch of us do." She introduced. "Enid says that you want Gregory to get us to fight the Saviors with you. Is that true?" Her voice was full of interest, as if she were considering joining them in the fight.

"Yes." Maggie replied, urging her to continue.

"Do you think we can win, that we could really beat them? Us?"

"I do." She stated confidently.

"Enid says you could show us the way. I'm ready." Bertie held her head high as she spoke. The people in the group behind her also said they were ready to join the group in their efforts. Enid held her head down, trying to hide her smile as she knew she had successfully helped the group yet again.

"You did this." Elle shoulder bumped her, also smiling.

"It's a start." Michonne said.

"We'll get more. But it still won't be enough." Sasha stressed as the group began walking towards the gates.

"No, it won't." Rosita agreed.

"Well, if we find the right stuff, maybe we don't need the numbers." Daryl suggested "Blow 'em up, burn 'em to the ground." It sounded like a good plan, the only problem was, they didn't know where to get any weapons.

"You said there weren't just soldiers with the Saviors," Tara turned to Daryl, Carl, and Elle. "There were workers there. People who didn't have a choice."

"We gotta win." Daryl shrugged.

"We need more hands, another group." Rick stated.

"Right, 'cause that's easier than finding any weapons of any kind." Elle responded, moving her hair behind her ears.

"Negan had outposts. The geography, the distance works against us. We gotta get back. If they come looking for Daryl, we need to be there." Rick said as they stood right outside the gates.

"You don't have to get back." Paul stopped them. "Not yet." He pulled out a walkie-talkie, one he must've stolen from the Saviors compound when he was retrieving Daryl. "It's one of theirs, long range. We can listen in, keep track of them."

"So, if we're not going back, what are we doing, then?" Michonne asked, just as confused as everyone else.

"I think it's time we introduced you to Ezekiel. King Ezekiel." He smiled.

"King?" Rick asked, his hands on his hips.

"So this is like, another situation where we meet someone who gave himself his own political title?" Elle asked, recalling their events with the Governor, legally known as 'Philip'. Rick had his speculations, but he quickly came around to trusting Paul, and now would be great time to trust him as they needed all the help they could get.


"Stay in the car." Rick instructed as he opened his door, getting out of the driver's seat. Paul got out of the passenger seat, saying they had arrived.

"It's called 'the Kingdom'?" Rick asked as he shut his door. Daryl opened his door, but only stood outside the car, leaning against it.

"Yeah, I didn't name it." Paul smiled with a shrug. Elle sighed as she looked around through the windows, bored of sitting in the car. She couldn't see much, as they parked in an area surrounded in buildings covered in overgrown plants.

"You good?" Jack asked from her side.

"Just cramped in this damn car." She said, watching as Rick and Paul stood outside talking.

"What the hell are we waiting on?" Daryl asked from where he stood. Paul raised an arm, pointing at two men riding horses, progressively getting closer to them.

"Who dares to trespass on the sovereign land of theโ€” oh, shit. Jesus, is that you?" One of the men spoke. Elle let out a small laugh, thinking the way they spoke was funny, yet fitting for the information she's gathered about the place.

"Who are all these people, Paul?" The other man asked, seeming skeptical.

"Hi, Richard." Paul stepped forward. "Nice to see you."

"It's good to see you, too. Your friends, who are they?"

"This is Rick Grimes. He's the leader of a like-minded community. These are some of his people." He pointed. "We would like to request an audience with King Ezekiel."

"'Audience?' This is gonna be fun." Elle continued to laugh at the older vocabulary. Richard climbed off of his horse, approaching the group.

"Get out of the car." He instructed. Daryl moved aside so Elle could get out, finally getting some air. "You say they're a like-minded community, how?"

"We live, we trade, we fight the dead. Sometimes others." Paul answered. Richard looked at him, giving a small, yet hesitant nod.

"Line up."

"Okay, this is a waste of time." Daryl spoke up. "Come on. Let's go."

"Maybe you're right. The King is a busy man, and it's a dangerous world. We don't usually allow a pack of strangers to waltz through our door." Richard shrugged.

"We want to make the world less dangerous, and we are all here to show the King how serious we are about that." Michonne explained, not wanting to be turned away. Richard told them that the car had to stay where it was and they had to hand over their guns. Rick and Carl were the only ones carrying guns, and they obliged, handing them over.



As the guards led the group inside, they were pleasantly surprised by what they saw. The Kingdom was huge, and everyone was thriving. They had lush gardens, growing possibly every vegetable that could be grown with their resources. Kids were running around and playing with their mothers yelling for them to slow down. There were groups of men and women runnings while wearing he same gear as Richard and the other guard they met. There was even a group of kids learning how to shoot bows.

"They have the numbers." Michonne stated.

"But can they fight?" Rosita asked from her side.

"Oh, they can fight." Paul smiled. As the group stood an admired the scenery, Tara looked over her shoulder.

"Morgan?" Hearing the familiar name, Rick turned around to see the man who had helped him in the very beginning. Yet there was no sign of Carol.

Morgan gave his greetings and his hugs as Richard asked how they knew each other. "We go back to the start." Rick replied.

"Well, the King is ready to see you." The group followed as Richard led them inside what appeared to be a theater.

"Is it weird that I'm excited?" Elle asked, almost skipping down the hall as she followed everyone else.

"I think your excitement will be worth it." Paul smiled.

"Does he sit on a throne? Does he talk all fancy like they did? Does he wear a crown." She asked, on the verge of squealing as the idea of meeting someone who calls themselves a King was still quite amusing to her.

"Just calm down and we'll find out." Jack laughed as Rick, Daryl, and Morgan caught up. Elle contained her excitement which quickly turned into being stunned as she laid her eyes on who sat before her, and the creature that stood next to him. She couldn't bring herself to make any sort of comment as her jaw was practically on the floor.

"Jesus!" King Ezekiel bellowed as he saw the group walk in, but stop at the door when they noticed the large animal lay down next to him. "It pleases me to see you, old friend."

"It pleases him, indeed." A plump man echoed while wearing the biggest smile on his face, evident of the fact that he loved what he did.

"Jerry." Elle couldn't even laugh at the amusing way they spoke as her jaw was still on the floor. "Tell me, what news do you bring good King Ezekiel? Are these new allies you've brought me?"

"Indeed, they are, Your Majesty." Paul nodded. "This is..." he paused when he saw everyone crammed together in the door way, speechless. "Oh, right. I forgot to mention thatโ€”"

"Yeah, a tiger." Rick answered casually as he remained in his spot. The tiger then roared, which was enough for Elle to bring her jaw back up as the group slowly made their way down the aisle and toward the stage King Ezekiel sat on.

"This is Rick Grimes, the leader of Alexandria, and these are some of his people, his family. My family." Paul introduced them as they spread out between the seats, letting the King observe them all.

"I welcome you all to the Kingdom, good travelers. Now, what brings you to our fair land?" He welcomed them. Elle already decided she liked him a lot more than Gregory. "Why do you seek an audience with the King?" Even if he did speak about himself in the third person.

"Ezekiel, King Ezekiel." Rick started. "Alexandria, the Hilltop, and the Kingdomโ€” all three of our communities have something in common. We all serve the Saviors." He told him. "Alexandria already fought them once, and we won. We thought we took out the threat, but we didn't know then what we know now." He sighed. "We only beat one outpost. We've been told you have a deal with them, that you know them. Then you know they rule through violence and fear." Ezekiel looked over at Paul, signaling to everyone that the Kingdom's deal with the Saviors wasn't public like the other communities.

"Your Majesty, I only told them of the dealโ€”"

"Our deal with the Saviors is not known among my people, for good cause." Ezekiel cut him off. Paul nodded silently. "We made you a party to that secret when you told us of the Hilltop's own travails. We did not expect you to shareโ€”"

"We can help each other." Paul insisted.

"Don't interrupt the King." Jerry spoke sternly. He took his role very seriously. A young man with curly hair and a staff similar to Morgan's stood between Jerry and Ezekiel, having stayed silent the whole time.

"We brought you into our confidence. Why did you break it?" Ezekiel finished.

"Because I want you to hear Rick's plans." Ezekiel nodded, then turned back to Rick.

"What plans have you, Rick Grimes of Alexandria?"

"We came to ask the Kingdom, to ask you, to join us in fighting the Saviors, fighting for freedom for all of us." Rick's voice was laced with confidence as he spoke, telling the King that with his help, they certainly had a chance.

"What you are asking is very serious."

"Several of our peopleโ€” good peopleโ€” were killed by the Saviors. Brutally." Michonne stepped in.

"Who?" Morgan asked.

"Glenn." Elle said as she looked at her feet. Just saying his name was harder than she thought it would be.

"Abraham, Spencer, Olivia. Eugene was taken." Rosita added, seeing as the young girl wouldn't finish listing off everyone they've lost. "They took Daryl, he escaped. Every second he's out here, he's a target." She paused, Morgan nodded, understanding. "You gonna say you were right?"

"No. I'm just real sorry they're gone." His apology was sincere.

"Negan murdered Glenn and Abraham, beat them to death." Rick added.

"Terrorized the Hilltop, set loose walkers just to make a point." Sasha also added to the long list of Negan's wrong doings.

"I used to think the deal was something we could live with. A lot of us did." Paul spoke.

"You can't live with it if you're dead." Jack said, resting his hands on the seat in front of him.

"Let's change the world, Your Majesty."

"I want to be honest about what we're asking. My people are strong, but there's not enough of us. We don't have gunsโ€” not enough, at least. Not a lot of weapons, period." Rick stated.

"We have people." Richard spoke up from Ezekiel's side. "And weapons. If we strike first, together, we can beat them." Ezekiel turned to him. "Your Majesty, no more waiting for things to get worse beyond what we can handle. We set things right. The time is now." The whole group looked at the King, waiting for his answer.

"Morgan, what say you?" He asked. Morgan looked the the group, then the King as he stood with his arms crossed.

"People will die. A lot of people, and not just the Saviors. If we can find another way, we have to. Maybe it's just about Negan, just capturing him, holding him."

"It's not. He appoints people to take over when he isn't there. We have to fight." Elle argued. The tiger, Shiva, began to grown antsy as she slowly stood up, low growls erupting from her throat.

"The hour grows late. Rick Grimes of Alexandria, you have given the King much to ponder." Ezekiel stood beside his pet.

"When I was a kid, my mother told me a story." He began. Elle sighed and sat down in the seat behind her, as she began trying to zone out so she wouldn't have to listen to whatever speech he was going to give.

King Ezekiel had invited them to a dinner and to stay the night, as early in the morning he would give he answer. Rick was hesitant, but agreed to stay the night.

When early morning came, Richard led them to where the King was spectating archery practice.

"This is life here. Every day." He spoke. "But it came at a cost." He turned around to face them. "And I wanted more of this. I wanted to expand, to create more places like this. Men and women lost their limbs, children lost their parents because I sent them into battle against the wasted when I did not need to." He explained. Elle took a moment to notice that the woman teaching the kids how to shoot was missing a leg.

"This is different." Rick walked up to him.

"It isn't." Ezekiel disagreed.

"It is. The dead don't rule us. The world doesn't look like this outside your walls. People don't have it as good. Some people don't have it good at all." Rick argued.

"I have to worry about my people."

"You call yourself a damn King. You sure as hell don't act like one." Daryl spoke.

"All of this, came at a cost. It was lives, arms, legs." Ezekiel repeated. He turned back to Rick. "The deal we have with the Saviors is uneasy, but it is peace. I have to hold on to it. I have to try." The group knew exactly what he meant by that.

He won't join them. "Although the Kingdom cannot grant you the aid you desire," he began speaking clearer. "The King is sympathetic to your plight. I offer our friend Daryl asylum for as long as he requires it. He will be safe here. The Saviors do not step foot inside our walls."

"How long do you think that's gonna last?" Daryl asks before walking away and towards the gate so they could leave. The group followed him, taking last glances at their chance to beat the Saviors.

"We needed them. These people." Elle sighed as she walked beside Carl.

"We'll be okay."

"No, we won't. We have next to nothing." She argued as Daryl yelled for the guards to open the gates. "Where else are we going to find this many people? Especially those that can fight?" She asked as they walked outside.

"We'll figure it out." Carl shrugged. She knew that was true, but she wanted more. That

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