//------------------------------// // Visit // Story: The Samurai's End // by Onomonopia //------------------------------// A small cottage near the edge of the small town Maresville. That was where Sakura made her home. As Jack walked down a small pathway towards her home, he tried not to notice how much had changed since he had last been there. There were a lot more cottages around. The river now had a waterwheel attached to it that generated power. And the town was now starting to look more like a city with how many buildings it had. Perhaps it hadn’t been a few years since he had last seen her. Perhaps it had been much longer. As he reached the door to the cottage, which was a simple brick house with a yellow door, he started to wonder what he could even say to his daughter to explain his absence. That ever since Aku he had trouble getting close to people. That with Applejack’s passing he felt alone in the world? Neither of those would be enough. Sakura knew little about Aku (as Jack had felt it was a chapter best left in the past) and the passing of Applejack had hurt Sakura just as much as it had him, yet she managed to continue living her life. He decided that apologizing to her would be his best bet. He raised his hoof and knocked it on the door a few times. “I’m coming! Keep yer shirt on!” an elderly voice called back. The age of the voice caught Jack off guard. If that was Sakura, she sounded far older than he had been expecting. The sound of a lock being undone caused Jack to stand up straight and a moment later the door swung open, revealing Sakura to Jack. It was exactly as he feared. Her mane was silver with age and tied back into a bun. Her once strong and muscular body was now old and shriveled, though some of the muscle still remained. She held a cane in one hoof to help her walk, most likely from an old injury, and had a pair of large glasses on to help her see. But worst of all was a metal…something that was attached to her side, flashing with light every now and then. Then he raised his eyes to meet hers, finding that she was staring at him. For a moment he thought she wouldn’t recognize him, only to remember he hadn’t age. He was as she knew him. Then he wondered if she had perhaps forgotten him. He wouldn’t be surprised or upset if she had. “Dad?” Sakura finally asked. “Hai, my dear Sakura. It is me,” Jack replied. “Well I mean of course it’s you, you look exactly the same as you did when I was a filly,” Sakura said with a laugh. “Your immortal curse or whatever it is. I’m just surprised to see you here. I mean, it’s been so long that you last visited that I thought you had forgotten about me.” “How could I do that? You are my sakura blossom. My pride and joy,” Jack said, before slightly hanging his head. “It is just…I lost myself for a while. And now, thanks to a friend, I am trying to get myself back. Please, may I come in?” “Of course, dad. Come on in.” Sakura moved to the side and allowed Jack to enter her home. Jack did so and took note of the place while he did. It was emptier than he remembered. No toys strewn about, no old books or tools hanging from every place. In fact, every trace of there having been a foal was gone. How long had it truly been since he last visited? “I’m kinda surprised to see you,” Sakura said as she sat down in a chair, leaving the couch for Jack. “But I’m happy, too. Especially with how quiet it is now that the foals are gone. Neighborhood has gotten quieter as well. Most folks moved into the city over there. It’s sure a lot different than the last time you visited, that’s fer sure.” “What about your husband? Is he still around?” Jack asked. “Yeah, he’s still around. He’s off in Canterlot with our foals watching Heavy Metal become Captain of the Guard. Can’t say I envy the kid. I had that job for a few years and it drove me insane. He’ll need all the luck he can get. I’m surprised you’re not there.” “I thought about it, but decided I’d rather come visit you. I have plenty of time to meet with Heavy Metal later.” “Nothing but time, huh? Got to admit, kinda a little upset that I didn’t inherit your immortality. Has to be better than having one of these stuck to you,” Sakura said as she pointed at the metal machine that was attached to her side. “I am sorry, I’m still not good with machines. That is…?” “This here is the only thing keeping me alive. Seems our family has a history of organ issues that is genetic. Mom was spare from it, but from what I’ve learned grandma and my great-great grandma were both taken out by it. Really hope I didn’t pass it onto my family as well.” “I see,” Jack said, biting back his fear. “But the machine keeps you alive, right? So there is no longer any danger?” “I wish that were the case, but sadly…this is only a preventative measure. Stupid problem is going to win in the end. The question is when, not if,” Sakura said before she shrugged and leaned back in her chair. “Well, that’s life. At least it waited until I was already old to rear its ugly head. I’ve already gotten to live my life and now I get one last battle before I get to go. I’m going to die like a real samurai. Fighting. Just like grandpa and just like mom. Just like you trained me to.” Jack said nothing in reply. All he could do was stare at the machine that was keeping his daughter alive. Then he slowly moved his gaze up to meet her, noticing that she had started to nod off. And he remembered. He remembered a similar scene all those years ago, with Applejack. The age, the problems: all of it. But this time it was not his wife. It was somepony who meant even more to him, even if he had failed to show it for years. His daughter. His beloved Sakura. The filly he had raised, trained and sent out into the world…and soon she would be gone. And then her children would follow her. And then eventually Heavy Metal. They would all go. But Jack would remain. “Dad?” Sakura asked. Jack snapped out of his thoughts and smiled at his daughter, who had woken back up. “Are you feeling alright? You had this…look on your face. A look I’ve never seen before. Is something the matter?” “No my dear, nothing is the matter,” Jack said with a smile. “I have just remembered that there are some things that must be done. Ponies to see, task to do…and I haven’t much time to do them.” “What are you talking about? Yer immortal. You’ve got all the time in the world,” Sakura replied with a snort. “But if you really need to get all of this done, then you should go do them. Whatever they are, I’m sure they’re important.” “They are very important, my dear. But not as important as you,” Jack said softly. “So they can wait a little longer. Now why don’t I tell you some stories. You always loved those.” ========= It was when the moon was in the center of the sky did Jack finally leave the cottage, leaving his daughter in the hands of his son in law. A good stallion. He had taken care of her all these years. Jack could leave her in his hooves. The samurai walked alone as he headed towards the train station, with only the moon above as his companion. As he walked he tried to think about the many tasks he now had to do, everything he had to get done before…before… Yet his mind kept going back to his daughter, her frailty, how she struggled and fought everyday just to live a little bit longer. It had taken every last ounce of his will not to break down and cry in front of her. He could barely stand to see her like that. He couldn’t begin to fathom what it would do to him when she finally passed. Which is why he had decided to finally do these tasks. Tasks he had decided upon long ago, before he discovered he was timeless. His final tasks. It was time. He knew it had to be. For if he waited any longer, he would no longer have the will to do them. His friends and family may not understand why they had to be done, but Jack did. And he hoped they could forgive him. If his destiny was to suffer an eternity of watching those he loved die…then he would change destiny. He had done it before. Yet as he made up his mind, he thought he heard a sound. A sound that couldn’t be real, yet he heard all the same. A sound that he hadn’t heard or thought he had heard in well over a hundred years. The sound of a mocking laugh.