The Four Horsemen and the Apocalypse

The freshness of the air, as the wind flowed over Mathias’ face, seemed to enliven him. He closed his eyes and took the air in with a deep breath as he tilted his head back, hair still thrashing. Behind his closed eyes, Mathias watched the unraveling of what had come thus far. He smiled as he felt the ardor that was his destiny and his life. He had made it this far and rejoined those that meant so much to him. Taking in another deep, refreshing breath he tilted his head forward. He exhaled, opened his eyes slowly and the fire that was of Mathias shone brightly in them. It was now that the Horsemen witnessed his innermost desires give birth to the Flame of Mathias. The fire, at first, appeared to pulsate around his eye sockets. Then, it burst forth, revealing itself in whole for the first time. They stood astounded, as the darkness that surrounded them was suddenly interrupted by the orange of the Flame and life returned to the shadows. Mathias cast a side long glance towards his comrades. Their focus grew with great expectation. They saw, as the Flame lessened, his golden eyes glow in the dusk like that of burning embers. The Flame had been unleashed. It was no longer held at bay, it was free to roam at the behest of Mathias’ energy. They knew that the Flame they saw was not merely a passing stage this time, for it roared fiercer and more intense than it ever had. Never had it broken through the eyes themselves, it solely sat and blazed inside. No, now the Flame, this time, would not flicker away, the Flame would not burn out. The Flame was here to stay. Mathias turned and faced his Horsemen, his hands still wrapped behind him. Mathias glanced from one Horseman to the next. Down the line his glowing eyes moved and then back again. At long last the waiting Horsemen heard Mathias’ voice. “I stand here before four friends that have been the best the world has to offer.” He regarded them thankfully. “Each of you has been a significant part of my life, all playing a decisive role in the character I have become. I stand here before you one last time as that man. I stand one last time as Jackson Mathias More. As that is, this is also: you all stand before me one last time as the best of friends a man could ask for.” Mathias looked upon each person explicitly as he continued, “You stand here as Saul Proditor and you as Rowan Fontaine. You stand here with me as Jeremiah Prince and you stand before me as the man Mathias knows as Damian Amos. The moment we leave here, you will no longer be those same individuals – in some measure, they will exist in who you become. However, our friendship ends not. It becomes different, yes. It becomes more solid and stronger; it becomes a filial bond. “We leave here, behind us, everything – except that enduring bond. Friends we shall remain, brothers we shall become. Together we strive forward, as we always have, amongst the ruins of the modern world. You leave here as the Generals that I named you to be, the Horsemen that I have chosen you to be: Death, Famine, Pestilence, and War.” Mathias stood quieted once again. He closed his eyes and leaned his head downward. His mind displayed pictures in his head and he saw the men before him transform. He knew his friends could no longer return to the life they had once led. He had brought them into his destiny and this would be where they lived out the remainder of their days. He opened his eyes and from underneath his brow – the Horsemen swore that fire shot out from them – flashed the full fury of a rampaging inferno. “I now stand before the Four Horsemen as their mentor. I stand, now and forever on, as the Apocalypse, forbearer of the world to come, bringer of peace and justice to this nation, reuniting this pagan society with the Father. In the name of God, I endeavor forward, to free the righteous slaves of their demonic masters. Today, the Apocalypse and his Horsemen rain fire upon the unholy that oppose our King. Today we live!”