With a gasp of breath, Twilight withdrew her head from the portal, emerging with another figure of white.

She fell to her haunches the moment she was free, unaware to the weakness she felt until she attempted to move even a single muscle in her form. Nothing screamed in pain, but everything was apathetic to her wishes. Only during her last 148 hour studying session did she feel this tired. The unicorn’s eyes were wide and unfocused; looking at nothing as her mind slowly gathered itself together.

“Hey, you okay Twi’?” Said unicorn craned her neck to see a worried pegasus in the air behind her, cyan hoof extended towards her.

“Y-Yes.” She spoke on breaths as shaky as her legs. “Just a-a bit… flustered, I-I guess.” Twilight slowly attempted to put some strength into her legs, pushing her form off the ground

“Woah! Hold on there egghead, there’s no rush.” Leaning against the pegasus’s wing for support, the unicorn could not suppress the comment or smile that slowly came into being.

“K-Kind of ironic to hear you say that.” For her credit, Dash brushed off the retort with a quick flick of her mane.

“Yeah, but hay, it’s a day for firsts.” Something about that comment made Twilight’s brain begin to buzz.

“Is it day already?”

Sure enough, as the lavender mare’s purple eyes looked beyond the stained glass of the hall, she saw the brilliance of her mentor’s sun stretching over the far horizon. By rough trajectory, it must have been raised at least two hours thirty-six minutes and twelve seconds ago. She could be off, she reminded herself, but her mind still was recovering.

There was no doubt an unstable mixture of cortisol and norepinephrine currently working through her body.There must have been quite a taxing amount of energy required for the portal to…

“Oh!”

Twilight gave a small push of the pegasus, wobbling on the stone before making solid trots towards the still mist covered figure she had drawn. Her legs made two full gaits before Rainbow caught her descending form again. The mare grumbled at her weakness.

“How did Pinkie jump after she did that?”

“Cause she’s Pinkie Pie, duh.” Dash spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Twilight had no counter argument.

“D-Do you need, um, any help Twilight?” The unicorn and pegasus both looked to see the timid form of Fluttershy just next to them, looking through her elegant mane at the duo. “Only if you need it that is. Or if you want it. Oh, either will do, I don’t mind, really.”

“I hope I can be of assistance as well.” All three now looked to see the sole alabaster alicorn in existence standing above them, regal and kind as ever. “You appear to be exhausted, my faithful student, and I assure you there is no reason to push yourself now.”

The lavender mare looked to her beloved mentor, then to her timid friend, next her loyal companion, and then finally, the misty white figure she had drawn. Her hooves were weak, her breaths deep, and body practically screaming for a few minutes to lie down.

“Yes, yes please.” Twilight answered.

“Very well.” The alicorn trotted to the figure only a few hooves away. It was smaller than the form of Fawkes, yet slightly larger than the dark mist that contained Link. Beyond that, everything about the figure was beyond the princess’s view.

“Should we, um, start, your highness?” Celestia tilted her head to see the canary colored pegasus standing just beside her. “Oh! That’s only if you need my help. I’m sure you don’t, but I can offer it, or I am offering it. If you want it.” The princess of the sun smiled in response.

“I would more than appreciate your help Fluttershy.” Celestia spoke with her calming tone, her voice physically calming the bashful creature. “I am just a small bit surprised that you volunteered. It is a very brave task of you.”

“Oh, yes well, um, i-it’s just because I saw how kind Fawkes really is, at least to Pinkie.” Her eyes turned to her bubbly pink friend, currently bouncing on the knee of the Super Mutant she had pulled forth more than a few moments ago. “Plus, I-I trust Twilight. When she’s focused, I don’t think she can do anything wrong.”

Celestia let her smile grow wider with the words the pegasus spoke, the praise she had for not only her friend, but her own student. Said unicorn was now sitting with four legs on the ground, eyes struggling to stay wide as the cyan mare by her said supported her. What Fluttershy said was true. When Twilight was focused, she rarely did wrong her work.

“Very well,” Celestia motioned with her head, “Shall we proceed?”

They both set to work on uncovering the creature, Fluttershy with the grace of nature and Celestia with the grace of royalty. Their wings worked delicately with the mist, handling with the care a pony would giver their foal. Canary feathers brushed small amounts careful but quick flicks while large alabaster wings slowly lifted great amounts of the equally white mist from the form.  Just beneath, the two began to find large amounts of gray.

“Gray, huh?” Rainbow Dash spoke from her position, just beginning to catch glimpses of the figure beneath the white fog. “I gotta admit, I was getting used to the green.”

“Rainbow,” the tone of the unicorn beside the pegasus carried a critical tone that spoke the same volume as her words. “We are literally gathering the ethereal energy of lives trans-space and trans-dimensional. The odds that every being besides our own wears green is so astronomical in chances that… that all this is more likely to happen.” Despite the meant to be serious words, Dash found herself snickering.

“Yeah, yeah, I get it, cut me some slack.” Dash spoke with a wave of her wing. “I get used to things pretty easily.”

“So I’ve discerned.” Twilight spoke in return. “That is definitely not something I share with you.”

“It’s a gift.” Dash spoke with thick hubris. “Every pony wants it, only I got it.” The cyan mare could feel the gaze of her lavender partner.

“Twilight.” The voice of Celestia called, breaking the two from their short conversation. “We are done.”

Lavender eyes opened wide at the now fogless creature by the portal’s side. Weakly, the unicorn rose from the stone floor, walking the short distance needed to see the creature clearer.

She was not alone. Rainbow Dash was still by her side, offering her wing and side for support as her own pink eyes gazed at the creature lying beneath them. The remaining ponies plus Link each stood around the form as well, each looking over it with expressions ranging from curiosity to wonder. No pony, however, not even the shy Fluttershy, saw the creature as threatening in the slightest.

More similar to Link than Fawkes or Kratos, the creature had pale wrinkled skin. Its ears were unsharpened, though hidden mostly beneath a tall pointed gray hat. A beard thick and long extended from the ends of its face to the end of its chest line. From those few features alone, it was more than clear that this soul had seen much age and, presumably, carried much wisdom.

It wore clothing like the other souls drawn from the portal, though far from the same as any other. They were not tattered rags, small cloths, or armored tunics, but instead, thick gray robes. It covered near every part of the creature, hiding everything but the ends of its hands and the wrinkles upon its face. What drew the eyes of the princesses and Link, however, were not the features or wear, but the items it held within its grasp.

In one hand, it carried a staff, just as tall as the figure itself, but appearing far more aged and delicate than even the creature itself. At stick’s end, an oddly etched crystal sat within twisted bark, holding no light, no beauty, nor anything but shapeless glass. However, in the other hand, it held a sheathed blade. The contents and style of such a sword were hidden from the prying eyes of the ponies surrounding it, but it appeared no more fearsome then the shield on Link’s back.

“He’s an old fella, that much I gotta say.” Applejack spoke first among the crowd.

“Oh indeed Darling, indeed.” Rarity quickly agreed. “And he is wearing such appallingly plain cloth. I mean really, it looks nearly as old as he does. Do they have no fashion where he is from?”

“Wait? How’d you girls end on ‘he’?” Dash spoke before another pony could but it.

“Well Dash, he doesn’t have any of the familiar features belonging to females of any species classification.” The student in Twilight spoke from memory. “His chest doesn’t appear to be preparing itself for any lactation, his cheek bones are too pronounced, chin too wide, and I’m sure if we removed his clothing we would see-”

“WowieZowie!”For what may the first time their lives, the Elements were ecstatic to hear Pinkie cut off on of them from speaking. Said mare had appeared by the creature’s side with speed that Dash would envy, if she were forced to admit it.

“Look at this thing? Is it a MA-A-A-AN still? Maybe he’s a human like Fawkes talked about or maybe he’s a Hylian like Link, but that would be too weird because we already have a Hylian like Link so having another would be just silly unless it were a different kind, but he doesn’t have sharp ears so he must not be an Hylian so that must make him a man.”

“Careful now Pinkie Pie.” Celestia cajoled gently to the mare. “He still has yet to wake. I need you to move for a moment.”

“Whoa, just like that?” Applejack questioned the princess of the sun. “No judgin’ him ‘er nothin’?”

“Compared to the blades of Kratos, size of Fawkes, and tools of Link, I am certain an aged figure such as this possess far less threat.” The alabaster alicorn spoke with a tint of irony in her voice. The cowpony took the message clearly. Mumbling her apologies, she stepped away.

Celestia carefully lowered her horn to the brim of the old figure’s gray hat. Just as before, a ball of white energy collected at her horn’s tip. The alicorn shut her eyes in calculated concentration, allowing the magic to build up carefully under her control. When it reached the same shine as it did with Fawkes, she let it slowly descend into the aged form of the creature below her.

He instantly awoke with a gasp.

He did not however, scream or run. Instead, wide eyes looked up to see the alabaster alicorn looking down on him, horn beginning to lose its shine. Carefully, the crowned ruler of Equestria slowly stepped away, giving the now awoken man room to move.

Like his appearance showed, the man rose with the weight of centuries on his shoulders. His back legs bended together as his form moved into a sitting position. His right hand felt for the stone floor, shaking across the stone tiles as weight was added to it. With a small push he rose into a crouch before rising to his tallest with aid of his staff.

All the while his eyes were wide and careful.

Fluttershy, an expert in all species of Equestria, knew the frightened look the moment her eyes lay on it. She recognized it when a baby dove fell from its tree, lost and separated from its mother and kin. It gave a the saddest cry for help and desperation, only to go silent and still when its baby blue eyes fell on the canary pegasus trying to aid it. It took the pegasus near a full day of careful approach and kind words before the baby bird would trust her. Patience was a must.

Carefully, gently, Fluttershy spoke to the tall gray robed figure.

“A-Are you alright?” The words only appeared to frighten him further.

“You… can speak.” His voice concealed none of his shock, thick and aged as it was.

“Well duh, why wouldn’t we be able to speak?” Dash spoke as she flew in front of the wrinkled man. Her appearance did nothing to still he rapidly beating heart.

“And fly.” Even with the thick gray beard covering most of his features, his open jaw was as blatant as the rising sun.

“Yeppers, we can even dance!” Without wasting a beat, Pinkie Pie jumped in front of the still reeling wizard, jumping on her back hooves as danced like she was in the midst of a grand party. For every wave of her hooves, the gray robed man took another step back.  The observing ponies watched with emotions ranging form nervousness and trepidation of their own.

That changed quickly as he drew his sword.

“HALT!” A voice filled with power roared through the hall. The wizard raised his arm in defense as the air blew against his form without mercy. “SHEATH THINE BLADE AT ONCE!”

The torrent of air slowly ceased, and the cloaked man slowly lowered his arms. Before him stood the congregation of the beings that had instilled such shocked fear within him.

Ponies. Talking, flying, magic casting ponies.

“Ya might ‘ave scared him a bit much there Pinkie.”

“Hey, I didn’t know he was a scaredy pants. I thought he would love to party!”

“Oh, I don’t think he wants a party right now Pinkie. That is, only I don’t think so.”

They spoke about him without speaking to him, talking in circles around the subject that stood before them all. His grip only tightened on his blade and staff.

“Please.”

A voice spoke to him within the crowd. It came from a large alabaster horse, with wings as wide as an eagle’s and horn indicative only to unicorns. Her mane bellowed in winds he no longer felt and had an expression about her features he deciphered as stern. The mere fact that he could read the horse’s expression at all was concerning, neglecting the wings and horn as well.

“Creature,” she spoke again. “Lower your blade and staff in my presence.” She spoke with aura of a queen, and doubtlessly one with much experience. The ponies surrounding her tall form all looked to her with awe before returning to him with anticipation. Clearly, the figure was held in high regard. Wisdom of lost ages spoke to the gray-cloaked man.

To harbor good will, trust must first be built.

Slowly, carefully, his blade twisted in his hand, sliding with a metallic grind as it slowly found its way into the holster at his side. He saw the relief flood across the faces before him. Again, he was unnerved by his ability to do so.

“Thank you.” The white horse spoke again, approaching him with careful trots. “You must be frightened, and I understand that.” He chuckled briefly at the comment, but she continued nonetheless.

“I am hailed as Princess Celestia, Guardian of the Day.” Her wings were flared as she spoke, standing her tallest, despite still remaining a few hooves shy of the wizard’s height.

“What is your name?” The ruler of Equestria spoke as she would to a new ambassador of a foreign land. To the wizard’s credit, he replied in much the same way.

“I am hailed as Gandalf the Gray, Master Wizard of Middle Earth.” The Gray Wizard stood to his tallest as he spoke, holding his staff close to his form as he did so. His blade of silver now hidden beneath his tall and loose robs.

“Then Gandalf the Gray, allow me to be quick with my words. This is the kingdom of Equestria, ruled by my sister, Princess Luna and I.” Her wing flashed briefly to the dark alicorn. Though shorter than the white horse he spoke to, the wizard could tell she stood taller than the rest of the colorful ponies that surrounded her.

“Our kingdom has recently been attacked.” His attention fell to her once more. “We did nothing to instigate this assault. We began no wars nor charted any treaties. The enemy that has assaulted us did so out of spite and anger for what our land holds and represents.”

“And what does your land represent, your majesty?” He heard a chocked gasp from a lavender unicorn behind the monarch, but the wizard kept his attention on the alicorn. He had dealings with kingdoms of old. He knew better than most the twisted corridors of conversations between rulers and lords.

“Harmony.” She spoke easily. Gandalf raised a gray brow.

“My kingdom has been at peace for near a thousand years. No wars have ravaged this land and no hatred breeds within it. This is the land my sister and I guard, the realm we hold dearer than our own lives. But,” The horse lowered her head before she continued, dark thoughts drifting through her mind. No… dark memories.

“A monster from our past has made his presence known again, and he desires now not for just our defeat, but for the death of all of else. Man,” She spoke his species like a title. “It was by his magic that you were brought here, but I hold no secrets, it was by our desire that you came.”

“I do not understand.” It was rare for him to find a riddle he did not know, let alone could not solve. But he was still on the defense surrounded by creatures he did not comprehend. He had little time or desire to think.

“The monster, Discord, the enemy of our state, has used his powerful magic to create a gateway for the dead to enter our world.” The princess let the words wash over the wizard before she continued. She watched his old eyes drift to the misty portal of white, watching it curiously before looking back to her.

“We have, however, converted the portal into a tool for our own use. He can make this device again, and I have little doubt he is doing just that. I know my kingdom is threatened and I also know that we are near powerless to stop it. So, under much consideration and council, we, all of us, have decided to use this portal. You,” She motioned with a hoof. “Came from this portal.” Again, she let silence reign in her court, hoping this wizard would know of what she spoke. Her hope was well rewarded.

“So I was dead, and you brought me back.”

“Precisely.”

“And you did so with the belief that I would aid you.” Now the princess hesitated.

True, as they had discussed with Link, not all of the souls they drew from the portal would be willing to help them. Many would be searching for the death they most likely deserved. If the aging structures of the wizard’s body were any indication, he most certainly was old enough to perish from age. Celestia bit her lip nervously at the thought. But she quickly steeled herself. Like with politicians from foreign lands, she could show no weakness to one belonging outside her kingdom.

“It was not belief, but hope.” She began to explain. “We are not so foalish as to think every soul that comes through this portal will be jumping to our side, but with the risks set before us, the chance had to be taken.” Took to slow deliberate trots towards Gandalf, concealing nothing in her approach.

“I am sorry if you truly wished to rest, a sleep we have now robbed you of.” Her eyes softened as she looked into the aged orbs of the wrinkled man. “It was not and never will be my desire to bring misery upon others. I can tell you carry much wisdom in your mind, no doubt from seeing much in the world you hail from.” His beard made a slight twitch, one that the monarch took for him as smiling. “You must understand the weight of my choice, and I hope again that you agree with it.”

Gandalf looked down silently.

He let the knowledge of the situation flow through him. He was brought back from the dead. He was in a land no longer belonging to Middle Earth. This kingdom was in peril and it requested aid. A kingdom built on harmony and peace, fighting a foe that relished chaos and destruction. The wizard let his eyes wander from the alabaster monarch, looking instead to the collection of ponies around her.

Each looked to him with varying degrees of expectations. From their height, it felt like the eyes of the Halflings were upon him again. The way each of them had such curiosity, wonder, and hope shining in their orbs gave him pause. It was the kind of innocence he had seen robbed before in times of war, children and women forced to fight against their wishes or desires. It made his very bones cry in protest.

With a deep sigh, he spoke his response.

“I do understand and I do agree.”  While the relief was clear upon the ponies behind her, Celestia kept her face firm.

“Then will you help us, Gandalf the Gray?”

He smiled brightly through his gray beard.

“I shall.”

Now joy spread across her muzzle.

“Good, good.” The words followed her breaths of relief. “I must say, with your silence, you had me worried.”

“I apologize for that.” Gandalf spoke in return. “But one as wise as I should know that such a decision should not be made in haste.” The alicorn was quick to agree.

“Of course, but now.” She motioned with her head as she began to turn. “You must meet my subjects, just a few of the ponies who aided me in the decision to use the portal, as well as defending this kingdom.” With a raised brow but shut mouth, the wizard followed. A golden encrusted hoof motioned towards the ponies before them.

“Before you are the Bearers of The Elements of Harmony, the most powerful magical artifacts of our lands. They have been, unfortunately, stolen from us by the creature I have mentioned before.” Celestia’s head gave a small nod towards the ponies one by one, labeling them as she went.

“This is Applejack.” An orange coated mare bowed, pulling her Stetson hat down with her.

“Pinkie Pie.” The exuberant pink pony bounced as she waved at the wizard.

“Rarity.” The alabaster unicorn gave a polite bow upon her spoken name.

“Fluttershy.” The canary pegasus hid herself from view. It brought a small smile to Gandalf’s lips.

“Rainbow Dash.” A nod of the head was all the acknowledgment the cyan mare gave the wizard.

“And my faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.” The lavender unicorn gave a practiced bow as well. The gleam of curiosity and wonder was as evident in her eyes as he had ever seen before.

“So, Gandalf the Gray, do you have any questions?”

“More than one,” he spoke truthfully, but also, as the princess had hoped, easily. “But there is something I would like to say first.” Perking her ears, Celestia bade him to go on.

“Those were not few words.”

The reaction was instantaneous.

The ponies around him quickly began to laugh and giggle at the well-timed joke. One with a coat of purest pink was rolling to and fro on the stone tiles of the grand hall, fore legs to her chest. Another pony, the same violet mare that gasped before, was trying her best to stifle the laughs that attempted to rise from her throat. It was only when the alabaster ruler herself began to laugh did she allow the air to leave her lungs.

“Thank you for your hospitality, Princess Celestia.” Gandalf kindly spoke with a low bow, given as both hands clenched the gnarled staff in his palms. The ruler looked to him with a kind and generous smile, the laughter now gone from her lungs.

“It is my honor to offer it, Gandalf the Gray. Now I thank you for not only your aide to offer, but also your level mind.” The returning quip left his lips before he had a thought to stop it.

“It comes with age.” The Gray Wizard spoke with a wide smile, one the ponies around him quickly joined in sharing.

“We look forward to many conversations with thee.” Princess Luna spoke on approach. “You bear much similarity to a friend of ours in an age past.”

“Really?” He genuinely asked. “And whom might that be?”

“Star Swirl the Bearded.” The dark alicorn answered, a proud smile on her muzzle. “A genius wizard that aided in crafting our nights and exploring the lore and arts of magic. He is credited to many achievements in his long life.” Despite the actions Luna held in high regard, the wizard focused on only one out of the many.

“I think I can imagine why I remind you of him.” Gandalf answered kindly as one of his wrinkled hands began to stroke his beard. It drew a collective giggle from many of the ponies.

“Oh yeah, and that’s one big beard you got.” Pinkie Pie spoke as she bounced in front of the tall wizard. “That’s like super long. Do you ever trip on it? Cause I bet I would, if I didn’t have my Pinkie Sense that is. I’m just an ear flop and tail twitch away from seeing myself fall down.” The words were lost across Gandalf like water on a rock.

“Beg your pardon.” He spoke quietly as he eyes the still jumping pink pony.

“Ah, don’t mind her…” A very deep voice spoke from behind causing the Gray Wizard to turn. His once questioning features turned into those of shock. “She has… quite a lot of energy. Almost makes you feel… uh, slow.”

Gandalf spoke nothing in return. Instead, he stared mouth agape at the green decaying giant. He had lived for hundreds of years, and seen ever manner of beast that walked the plains and forgotten lands of Middle Earth, from awe inspiring to horrifying. This… thing before him was most definitely in the latter.

“Oh, I’m sorry Gandalf.” Twilight spoke quickly to the dumb struck wizard. “We didn’t introduce you to the others.” Slowly, he lowered himself to the lavender unicorn’s position, eyes focused on the being before him. Holding up a hoof, the mare began to speak.

“This is Fawkes, he was the first to be drawn from the portal after the princesses and I altered it.” Gandalf wrote that question in some corner of his mind to ask later. “He’s a big guy, but he’s actually really kind hearted.”

“Is he an orc?” The question earned a curious stare from both Super Mutant and unicorn.

“Um…” Twilight hummed. “I don’t… think so. He says he’s a Super Mutant. Specifically he was caged and left abandoned by other Super Mutants because he wasn’t as barbaric as they were.” She must have chosen the correct words on some scale as the nerves in the wizard’s face slowly began to calm.

“Uh, Night Light is correct.” Fawkes spoke again. “My brethren are not well… loved in the Wasteland, and for good, um, reason.”

“Twilight, actually Fawkes.”

“My apologies, names are still… difficult.” A small nod and obvious smile was all Fawkes needed to know he was forgiven.

“My forgiveness as well, Fawkes.” Gandalf spoke as he rose to his tallest, still several hooves shorter than the green giant. Before either party could question his words, the wizard elaborated. “You appear very similar to a race of beings from my own world. They also were not held in high regard and are infamous for their destructive ways. I had never met one among them who wished differently.”

“Then, maybe I’m the first!” The Super Mutant cheered as eh slammed his gargantuan fist to his chest, the resulting sound resonating through every form present. It earned a hesitant chuckle from the fragile appearing Gandalf.

“Yes, quite so I believe.”

“Oh, and there is one more.” Carefully Twilight gave a small push to Gandalf until he turned to face the other non-pony member of the room, clothed in a green similar to that over their giant friend.

“His name is Link. He can’t speak unfortunately, but we communicate with him through a quill and paper.” The Gray Wizard eyed the Hylian carefully, approaching with steps in sync with his staff. The green clad warrior stood still with the wizard’s approach, arms crossed as he cerulean blue eyes met the curious orbs of the bearded man. When Gandalf stood just before him, he phrased his first question.

“Are you an elf?” Link raised a single eyebrow in question.

“An elf?” Princess Celestia asked as a return, hooves clopping across the stone floor with her approach.

“Yes, elves.” Gandalf confirmed, offering eye contact with the monarch before he continued. “They are an ancient race of people, distinguished by their smooth features and sharp ears.” A wrinkled had motioned towards the pointed ends of Link’s ears as he spoke, bidding the Hylian to raise his hands to them questioningly.

“Whilst we share an accordance that Sir Link harbors such similarities to your elves, we are sure  that,” Princess Luna stopped herself, eyes focusing on the ground before continuing. “I am sure that he is what he calls himself to be, a Hylian. A resident and subject of the kingdom of Hyrule.”

Gandalf turned his attention from the royal alicorns back to the green clad warrior that stood before him. Said Hylian/Elf had his leather bound hands to his head, feeling the sharp points of he his ears self-consciously. The act stopped the moment he saw the wizard’s eyes on him again.

“I find it between coincidence and fate that all of you appear at least similar to races from my world.” Gandalf spoke as he leaned on his staff. “It dwells in a realm of mystery I find myself wishing to explore.”

“I’d love to know more, too!” Twilight eagerly spoke at the Gray Wizard’s side. “There’s nothing I enjoy more than learning. I’m sure there could be some way for else to explore this mystery of yours.”

“I agree it is one that deserves thought.” Princess Celestia spoke next. “But at another time. As we, weagreed,” Celestia spoke with emphasis as her pink eyes lingered to her dark younger sister, the twinkle of mischief in her eyes. “Time is short for us, and there is no way to tell when or if Discord’s portal to the lost souls will close. So,” She turned her attention away from Gandalf and Link, “The question now comes to who wishes to use the portal next.”

An orange hoof raised before Celestia could even take a breath.

“Ah’ll be bettin’ Ah’m next.” Applejack spoke up, pushing her Stetson hat over the brim of her eyes. Seeing the display, her athletic rival could not suppress the words coming to her muzzle.

“You sure you can handle that AJ?” Rainbow Dash jeered. She ignored the displeasing look Twilight sent her. “I’ll bet this is at least twenty percent harder than bucking your entire field of apples.” The pegasus ended her jab with a proud smirk, wings flittering at her sides. The cowpony, however, was quick to react.

“If that’s how it’s gonna be Dash, ya migh’ wanna take a seat for a while. Ain’t now way or how ya’ll can handle this work then.” Applejack took immense joy in the look of frustration that crossed the cyan mare’s face at the remark, as well as the guilty smile that crossed the lavender unicorn beside her.

But before the pegasus could give her own retort, Applejack, unceremoniously, dove into the white portal.

Begin

He had walked this path before.

It had to have been decades past, a lifetime ago. Back when he was a young man, back when his purpose in life still strove for him to do more. He was a fool, maybe, but not foolish. He knew better than most what was at the end of this road.

Past the hands of the sea, through the skies of war, and in the canyon of the dead lay the one thing, the one object, he had searched nearly all of his life for.

The way back home.

“Ha Ha. Back again.”

His footsteps slowly came to a pause as the familiar voice spoke to him. Though the decades were cruel to his own body, the figure looked no different than in the moments they battled all that time ago.

A coat long and black, hiding beneath it several tools designed for war. His skin was blue with the ice that doubtlessly flowed through his veins. But his body, his entire form, it stood taller and wider than it should have, larger than his own as a young man now doubtlessly titanic to his aged form.

“Gotta say Jack, I never really imagined this day would come.” Jack. It was so rare to hear others speak his name, now at least. “Boy, I have been waiting a long time for you to come back here. I have guarded this gate for centuries to millennia, faced warriors as tall as mountains to as small as ants, and I have never had a battle or a foe quite like you.”

“Thank you.” The voice sounded ancient even to Jack’s own ears, but there was no mystery as to why.

“No need, thinking back on it, it makes since.” The figure removed his hands from his pockets, showing the massive appendages off, large and strong enough to shatter bone, maybe even stone. “Rule still stands though, only one man can walk through this portal, and I will stand here and guard against any others who try.”

The gate, the portal, Jack eyed carefully. It stood larger than most doorway should, wider than even some walls. A swirling mass of energy so similar to the magic Aku had conjured during their very first confrontation.

Aku.

At the name alone, Jack found himself smiling.

“Confident, aren’t you?” The voice spoke, drawing the samurai from his dreaming.

“My apologies,” he spoke quickly, raising an unarmed hand. “I was… recalling a pleasant memory.”

Pleasant indeed. The memory of the day, the hour, and the battle in which his life had accumulated to a single moment.It was when he delivered a blow he would never forget.

It was the moment he slew the great evil, Aku.

“Ah, remembering that one last glorious battle?”

“No,” Jack spoke too quickly in return. “No battle is glorious. Necessary, but not glorious.” He explained to the warrior who was doubtlessly older than him.

“Good answer.” The dark coated man spoke in return. “But it will take more than good answers to use the portal Jack.”

“I no longer have the endurance to face you, Guardian of the Gate.” Jack spoke calmly in return. “I have come back here for the sole promise of the two creatures before you. Both spoke of my image in the gate you guard, showing me in a time old then I was.” He extended his arms outward, showing his aged form.

“I am that older figure now, with his goal in the present accomplished. Now, I wish only to return and finish my last great battle, to save my kingdom from destruction.” The guardian was mute and stoic as the samurai spoke. Only his jacket moved in the unfelt winds of the valley as his emotionless eyes watched Jack. When the warrior was finished, arms returning to his side, the guardian gave a wide grin.

“That, that is the man I have been waiting for.” With the weight of years uncounted lifting, the guardian approached the aged Jack with no aura of hostility or deception. “You are the first, and only, warrior to come before me knowing what you seek, and knowing why. I have kept this tool safe from the hands of greedy warlords and pitiful fools who wished only to correct a mistake of their past, unwilling to accept it. You… you finished the fight here, a war that was your own a long time ago. Now you come back to finish it in the past. You’re not trying to correct a mistake, you’re trying to prevent one. One that you had no strength or ability to prevent.” His massive blue appendage gripped this shoulder of Jack. If he attempted to, he would doubtlessly be able to snap the arm in two. Jack was undeterred by the idea.

“Samurai Jack, it is my honor, my duty, and my privilege to allow you to use the Gate of Time.”

The words gave peace to the samurai. It was not the sensation of accomplishment, not the same as the moment his task was done. It carried its own force and kind, lifting from him the burdens and worries of never returning home.

A satisfied smile crept to his lips, pulling at the beard that hung from his chin. He didn’t even attempt to fight it. This was what he had been searching for, looking for, waiting for. Now that it was finally within his reach, moments away from his possession, the samurai did nothing to fend off the waves of joy that worked their ways through his aged form.

Looking to the blue guardian, Jack asked a question he was sure the man wasn’t prepared for.

“What will you do now?”

“Me?” The guardian asked, almost disbelieving the question was even posed to him. His hand removed itself from Jack’s shoulder, taking a step back as he did so.

“Not a clue. Not that I need one. I knew, I and still know, that if everything goes as it should, then all of this.” He spoke with a large sweep of his hands, motioning to the corpses of warriors from ages old to days new. “All of this will never have happened. I won’t be guardian. I won’t be a warrior. I’ll just be another soul in life looking for his way.”

“And that will satisfy you?” The answer was wise, but it was the acceptance of which that perturbed the aged Jack. Of the many lives he had met, long ago and only a short time past, nearly all wished for more than they had. Under the tyranny of a dark god, such things remained dreams. As of late, he heard tales of plans and aspirations hoping to be turned true, no longer dreams that gave light during the night.

“Jack, you’re the first and only warrior I’ve crossed swords with and was able to talk to afterwards. I can’t think of a better way to live my life now than to live in peace. And you, my friend,” Jack saw his smile grow at the word. “You will earn your peace once your last battle is done.”

The samurai didn’t doubt the words for a moment.

“Then I suppose it is time.” He dark brown eyes looked to the swirling portal of white and blue, beckoning his desires. The late Guardian of the Gate agreed.

“It is.” Stepping aside, and slowly walking away, the Guardian spoke one last time. “One more thing though, Jack.” The samurai looked to the dark shades of the one man he could never defeat, listening closely to the message he held.

“Every warrior who has come here came so believing they could control where in time and space the gate would take them. Truth is, it decides for you.” Jack looked at him curiously. “Just because you want to go back to the moment you faced Aku doesn’t mean that’s where it’ll drop you off. You could go back to being a baby, end up a hundred miles away, you might not even go back to the past at all.” The last words struck a cord.

“Then… would I be better suited for not using this gate?” The aged warrior questioned carefully. The guardian, however, was cryptic as ever.

“Not for me to say, Jack. Destiny says you use it, fate says you’re the only one who gets to. Can’t imagine that something I guarded my entire life would do something as stupid as waste yours. My opinion, go for it. You’re decision, not my call.” Raising his hand in farewell, the Guardian departed, leaving Jack’s view for the last time.

The samurai turned back to the gate, now far more hesitant than before using it.

It was a risk that varied little in his dangerous life. Treading into dungeons old, looking for treasures sacred, and most importantly, battling demons with the age of gods. This would not be his first time risking much for his most desired goal.

But should he prevail, it very well could be his last.

That was the thought Samurai Jack put in the forefront of his mind. This would work.

His bones gave small cries of disappointment as he moved closer to the portal. Resolve and determination fueled his every step.

Jack’s body was old, but his will was strong.

It mattered not the amount of years, the amount of battles, the amount pain he had had endured. None of it did. Not as long as all the struggles he worked through brought him to this moment. The chance to correct his error.

The opportunity to completely and fully rid the world of Aku’s existence.

The portal continued to swirl soundlessly as he approached. His feet did not sway, his form did not waver. The warning of the Guardian was held close, but so too were the convictions of old.

Jack stepped into the portal, leaving the world behind.

END

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