//------------------------------// // N.W.O // Story: The Samurai's End // by Onomonopia //------------------------------// Orange and red leaves swirled around Applejack as she stood next to Jack in a small field. Her husband was adding the finishing touches to four gravestones that he had spent most of the week carving out of the best stone Pinkie’s family could find. Four tombstones. One for Jack’s father. One for his mother. One for all the lives that had been lost under Aku’s tyranny. And one for himself. The old him. Jack wore a somber look on his face as he carved his parents names into the stone. Applejack wanted to say something to comfort him, but she knew what he needed right now was silence. To finally let go of everything that he had been carrying for so long. But he shouldn’t and wouldn’t do it alone. She would always be by his side. So she stood silently, head slightly bowed in respect as Jack finished carving their names. When he finished he rose and stood beside her, head bowed and eyes closed. She was amazed he wasn’t crying. Even now, years after her own parents had passed, she still teared up whenever she visited her parent’s graves. Maybe he had run out of tears to cry years ago. Or maybe he was trying to look strong for her. She wished he wouldn’t do that. She wished he could trust her enough to be open with her completely. Perhaps in time he would. With Aku finally gone, maybe he would finally be able to not be the savior of the world he had been for decades, but just Jack. Her Jack. “Thank you for being here,” Jack whispered at last. “I…do not know if I could have gotten through all this on my own. With all those years spent chasing Aku and trying to find a way back, I never…gave them a proper burial. I suppose I still haven’t.” “They’d understand, Jack. And it’s lovely anyway,” Applejack consoled Jack. She leaned her head against his shoulder and looked at the gravestones. The ones for Jack’s parents had his families symbol carved into the stone, as well as numerous other small details that AJ was sure only they would understand. Their names were written in a language that she couldn’t understand, but still understood. It was Jack’s native language. The language of his people. “Ah can’t tell what yer parents names are, to tell ya the truth,” AJ admitted. She then gazed over at Jack’s tombstone, which had the same writing for his name. His true name. “And…is that yer actual name there? The one that was given to ya by yer parents?” “Hai. That is the language of what was once my people. And that name is who I used to be,” Jack said with a small nod. “But both are gone and in the past now. But perhaps I can teach you the language and these names later. Perhaps I should teach what I know to others.” “Ah…Jack, speaking of the past…are ya sure that ya don’t…want to go back? To stop Aku in the past and save yer people?” Applejack asked, trying to keep the fear out of her voice. Fear that if he went to the past, it would erase him as the timeline was changed. Fear that it would erase them both. “No. I have no desire to go back,” Jack admitted with a smile. “For too long I was fixated on the past, on trying to fix something that was long gone. But the past can never truly be reclaimed. Time moves forward, like a river. It twists, it turns, but it never goes back. And while I truly would love to see my family once more…if it meant undoing the good I have done in the future, the now, it is not worth the trade. I have made many friends. I have helped so many people. I found you. These are things that I would never want to change. Aku is dead. My people are avenged. And time moves forward, as it always has.” Applejack smiled softly at Jack before pulling herself in closer, enjoying his presence as the leaves swirled around them. She had no idea how much time passed as they stood together, but after a bit a thought came to her. “Um, Jack. Ah know that ya don’t want to go back, but what about the future of yer planet?” AJ asked. “Ah mean, Aku was evil and everything, but by killing him ya left the world without a ruler. There’s going to be chaos and anarchy fer a long time, perhaps even longer than Aku’s reign. Do ya want to go back to Earth and maybe fix things up?” “Do not worry, my beloved. I have already thought of that and placed someone on Aku’s throne,” Jack said with a bit of a grin. “Someone wise, patient and perfect for ruling the world. Everything will be fine. Trust me.” “Jack, yer having a hard time stopping yerself from laughing.” “I do not know what you’re talking about.” ==|=======/ A solitary spaceship of silver color landed in front of the steps to the black tower. A ramp lowered from the ship and two, small aliens with black cloaks that covered their entire features walked out. Behind them floated a massive table filled with all sorts of priceless artifacts and riches. Necessary for when dealing with the shapeshifting master of darkness. The two walked past the massive women guarding the main entrance and entered into the throne room, where they spied the throne where the ruler should sit. It was turned around so it’s back was to them, but both could feel the dark presences of the ruler upon his throne. Knowingly, they both got to their knees before speaking. “Oh great Aku, we come from a planet where a black hole is consuming our world,” one spoke. “We have heard that you will allow extra terrestrial life to establish a home for themselves on your world if the offering pleases you. That is why we have brought the finest treasures that our world has ever produced. They are all for you, if you can find it within your heart to allow what is left of our species to take up residence on your world. Please, spare our people.” The two stayed bowing for a minute, but after there was no reply, they both looked up to see that the throne had yet to move. “Um, great Aku, have you heard us? Is our offering not enough to please you? Aku.” “AKU?! Dontcha read the papers anymore, ya pansy pushing, lily livered, brownnosing space weenies? Aku is deader that a table full of haggis at mah family reunion! There’s a new ruler now!” The person on the throne whipped around to face the two alien and they both gasped in shock at what they saw. Sitting on Aku’s throne was a massive man with red hair that was in a ponytail. His facial hair was the same color red. He wore a kilt that constantly flashed them, had a machine gun for one leg and had a smile on his face that told them he was either crazy or insane. “Remember me?” the man asked. “But…but…” one of the aliens began. “Speak up you stuttering ninny, mah hearing ain’t as good as it used to be!” the Scotsman roared at them. “Something about too much yelling causing me to go deaf. BUT AH DON’T KNOW WHAT THEY’RE TALKING ABOUT! Everything is nice and quiet now that Aku’s deader than a man’s chances of getting with me daughters! BWAHAHA!” “Aku? Dead? But that’s impossible, he’s the greatest and most evil-“ “Are ya calling me a liar?! Ah’ll come down there and kick ya wee little ass so hard that yer great grandchildren will be born with mah bootprint on their rears!” The Scotsman bellowed. “I’ll beat ya into such a mess that everytime somebody hears yer name it will cause them to vomit in disgust of just the mere thought of what happened to ya.” “Please great lord…um…” “Lord Scotsman! The Great Scotsman. Please don’t rip out mah innards and use them to make yer haggis Scotsman!” the Scotsman…excuse me, the Great Scotsman corrected. “Ah’m the one running the planet now and ah think of done a bang up job of it. So if it would please ya tiny specks of space dust, a little respect goes a long way!” “Great Scotsman, we are sorry if our words and confusion has insulted you in any regard,” the second alien spoke at last. “We did not know that Aku had been slain, but after being in your presence, it is clear that only a warrior as mighty as yerself-“ “Quit yer brownnosing, ya backside of a mud covered sheep! Ya theink that just because ya use fancy words and talk in an eloquent manner, that yer gonna impress me? Bah! Ah’ve seen drunken maidens in a bar fight use better language than that! Now mah wife, she’s a wordsmith, able to put together any sentence and make it seem like a prayer! She could calm the seas with her words or even get gods to do her bidding just with a few words from her mouth. Some people hear her speak and never speak again, knowing that they will never be able to measure up to her incredible voice and poetic narratives. The both of ya sound like the wails of the cat we use to beat our rugs! Ah have half a mind to see if the pair of ya work better than me cat!” “Please Lord Scotsman! All we want is to live on this planet in peace!” the first alien begged. “Well why didn’t ya just say so, laddie! Haha, of course yer welcome here!” the Scotsman laughed. “We’re always looking fer new people to come and enjoy our culture! Ever since the fall of Aku, we’ve spent a year renovating the planet, making sure that we wipe out every last trace of his evil. You should see the chamber we found filled with daughters raised to kill fer him. Eugh, gave me nightmares fer a week. Especially those strange mothers who ah had to run through just to save those little lasses. But now ah’m raising those girls with mah daughters, all two hundred and thirty of them! Haha, they’ll be proper Scottish lasses soon enough!” “T-thank you, Lord Scotsman,” the aliens said in unison as they bowed. “We cannot thank you enough! Please, take our treasure and most valuable artifacts in payment for your compassion. There is enough wealth here to-“ “Bah, what would I want with that useless pile of junk? Ya want to pay me back, buy a round at the pub the next time yer in!” the Scotsman laughed. “Now just follow one of mah wee daughters to the sign in desk and we’ll have ya all sorted faster than you can roll a stone!” The Scotsman clapped his hands as he said this and one of the eight foot tall women from outside entered into the room. Both aliens, averaging at three feet, looked up at her with shock and amazement, not sure if she would help them or eat them. “Come with me,” she said at last, turning to leave. “Oi! What do ya think yer wearing?!” the Scotsma roared at his daughter. “That outfit barely covers ya! What do ya think yer trying to say, standing out there showing off all that flesh?” “But papa, I like this outfit,” his daughter replied. “Like it? It makes ya look like yer papa can’t afford a proper attire that covers his daughters! Like yer old man has gone so senile that he makes his daughter dress like they’re for sale! Ah won’t have it! My lovely little angles will not be eye candy for the sheep brained masses that walk around! Now go put on something heavier! It’s cold this time of year!” the Scotsman ordered. His daughter sighed and walked out of the room, getting the Scotsman to sigh as he leaned on his arm. “Kids. Ya try to raise them right and next thing ya know they’re wearing outfits like that and talking about how they want to see cute boys. Spend twenty years teaching them how to throw giant rocks and slay the most vicious of beasts and still…” “I’m…sorry? But once more, thank you for your hospitality and letting us stay on Earth.” “Earth? EARTH? Bwahahaha, ya really don’t know anything, do ya? This ain’t Earth no more!” “This is SCOTLAND!”