After reheating her tea in the microwave (and making a quick run to her room to get a small pack of her favorite sugar cookies), Lena sat down next to G'kar, who had been patiently sipping his narn wine.

Lena herself wasn't a connoisseur--that was more Sunset's province--but Sunset's Isekai was very handy when it came to explaining drinks to its inhabitants. A quick glance at the menu had revealed that it was indeed something she could drink if she felt inclined to, although it would pack a punch for human (and duckburg-duck) biology.

She looked up to see G'kar glancing curiously at the metallic box of cookies she had brought with her. "Want some?"

"That's most gracious of you," G'kar said, "but I'm afraid I must pass. I was just looking at the writing on the box itself. I know there are many human languages, but it reminds me a little of narn writing."

"Oh, alright," Lena said, sliding the box closer to him so he could admire it. "It's japanese, and according to Sunset it says, 'Flying Puppy Bakery'."

"A most curious name, but they seem well-made."

"They're pretty good, Sunset got them from a restaurant that apparently does something similar to the Isekai. They don't make them there, but they have some sort of deal with the bakery."

"The multiverse is exceptional," G'kar said. "But so vast, that the chances of two such places meeting…" he motioned with his hands, "...is incredibly small."

"Well, Sunset has been doing this for a long time apparently," Lena said. "Which is weird, I guess because her guest wall only has so many pictures, but would explain how the chances increase?"

"Ah, but personal guests here are a rarity into themselves, according to Sunset. Groups come and go, and I hear the Isekai sometimes opens in certain places as if it were a normal bar… I imagine this whole endeavor must have been very confusing for Miss Shimmer in the beginning."

"That's true." Lena sipped her tea, and took a bite out of one cookie. "So… speaking of guests…"

"Right, right."

There are many choices in my life that I sometimes look back on with either amusement or horror. Oftentimes both, with a good infusion of embarrassment to round it up quite nicely. It took almost two years before I saw Sunset Shimmer again. Things had changed… and not for the better, for me or my people.

You see, hate, as Sunset had pointed out, only creates more hate. I was on the "highway to revenge" as humans would say. I had maneuvered myself into many a situation where death, threats and the promise of violence fueled my will to continue on that path until its inevitable conclusion. But, as I said before, when my people suffered another, crushing defeat… I was angry, but also lost. Truly lost. I was a leader without a vision, and a force to be reckoned with due to my influence, yes, yet achieving nothing but scattering my remaining resources into the uncaring void with fruitless attempts to do something—anything.

It should be no surprise then, that when I faced a choice… a rather difficult one, I chose personal gratification at much too high a cost rather than attempting to solve things in a way that would benefit all involved. I was lucky—even if at the time I didn't appreciate it—and I was saved.

"G'kar, you have a visitor."

Still strapped to his bed in Medbay, G'kar coughed into the inhalator before giving a wary look to Dr. Franklin. "And who might that be, doctor? Representatives from the Centauri here to tell me how my inaction counts as a murder attempt?"

"Not unless they started hiring young human women to do their bidding," Franklin replied, giving him an amused, knowing, look. "I tried to explain to her that you were recuperating, but she insisted I let you know she was here to see you. She's not very forthcoming on where she came from, but she said she knew you."

"Despite what you might have heard, doctor, I am not the type to chase after human females—"

"She's a redhead."

"—for the most part. I do know a couple of redheads." G'kar coughed again, this time a bit uncomfortably. "Did you check her for weapons? She isn't Psi-corp, is she?"

"We did check for weapons, and she is unarmed. And she also doesn't wear a Psi-corp pin." Franklin raised an eyebrow. "Why? What did you—"

"Hm. That does exclude about half of them. Does she come with a name?"

"A Sunset Shimmer. She mentioned something about Isekai," Franklin said. "It's funny, I could only find a reference to that as a japanese word meaning 'Other World', but she however doesn't seem to exist in the…" He noticed that G'kar's eyes had gone wide. "G'kar?"

"Please," he said, "let her in."

Franklin narrowed his eyes. "G'kar, if there's no record of her existence, she could be a dangerous—"

"I promise you, Doctor, nothing untoward will happen, she's… a powerful acquaintance," G'kar interrupted. "Quite frankly I'm surprised she's even wanting to see me."

Franklin shook his head. "Maybe you have more friends than you think." He sighed and nodded. "Alright, I'll let her through, but if her presence disturbs your rest, I will have to ask her to leave, am I understood?"

"Very clearly, doctor, thank you."

With a final, warning glance, Dr. Franklin stepped out of the room briefly, then returned with a familiar human in tow.

"Miss Shimmer," G'kar greeted, clearing his throat. "How very kind of you to visit me. You must forgive me for not standing up, but the good doctor has apparently instructed his staff to tie me down."

"For your own good, G'kar," Stephen Franklin retorted, a wry smile crossing his features. He faced Sunset. "Miss Shimmer, please remember that G'kar is in a delicate condition, try not to damage him much if it's revenge you seek. It makes more paperwork."

Sunset chuckled. "Don't worry doctor, I'm only here to talk."

Doctor Franklin nodded and then, after a final look at G'kar, left the pair alone. Sunset didn't say anything, simply pulling a chair and sitting on it, staring at him. G'kar for his part tried smiling, even though he knew the effect would be lessened by the breather mask.

After a few minutes of silence, he spoke first. "I'm surprised to see you here, Miss Shimmer. Our last meeting did not end well."

"I heard that you and Londo had almost died inside of an elevator when I arrived at the station, so I tried to figure out what had happened and saw the reports about the Centauri having invaded and occupied all of Narn space," she replied gently.

"For now," G'kar retorted. "But it is just a matter of time before we take back what's ours." He was about to say more, but quieted down when she gave him a slightly hurtful look.

"So what, you decided it was best to suffocate alongside Mollari rather than help him escape? What kind of mentality is that?"

"I have been ordered to stay in Babylon 5 while my family and my people struggle to survive on their own." G'kar settled back on his bed, refusing to look at her. "I had nothing to do with the explosion that trapped us both, but watching Mollari die would have been worth dying there too."

"Really?" Sunset growled. "You are the leader of your people, the one link they have to the rest of the galaxy and other governments and you decide that watching your nemesis die is worth that?"

"Oh, please, spare me the judgemental monologues," G'kar scoffed. "Unlike you we are trapped here, unable to move wherever we want. Unlike you, we can't run. We have to face what the universe throws our way and the universe decided that the war with the Centauri wasn't over."

"As far as I understand, Ambassador Mollari is but one individual in a long, long, list of officials and nobles. Someone that could be replaced with relative ease by the Centauri Republic."

"Perhaps, but he's been a thorn in my side, and in my government's side for decades," G'kar pointed out, "getting rid of him would have brought me no small pleasure, however frivolous it might have been."

"Frivolous is right!" Sunset countered. "You were ready to kill yourself for petty vengeance!"

"And what would you, the legendary Sunset Shimmer, friend to Dukhat, revered by the Minbari know about this?" G'kar asked, hints of venom in his voice. "You have power. You can change things."

Dr. Franklin stepped into the room to check some instruments, but G'kar could see that he had heard some of the exchange. Sunset, however, didn't even seem to register he was there.

She sighed. "I do. And I could, but it's not my place to provide weapons of war or facilitate genocide in the name of whoever claims justice is on their side." She sat back. "I'm not a warrior of legend, G'kar, I'm just a bartender."

G'kar rolled his eyes. "Nonsense, Rarity spoke of your power and your history. The first time I saw you, you were ready to destroy the station—" he tried to lift his arms to snap his fingers, but the restraints prevented that "—with a flicker of your wrist!"

Dr. Franklin's eyes went wide.

"When she mentioned my history, did she mention I wasn't always a good person?" Sunset asked, ignoring the taunt. "That I endangered two worlds because I wanted to be more important? That my own hubris almost cost me everything I never even knew I had?"

"Two worlds, and you are still here," G'kar said, "you can't possibly compa—"

"I can't!" Sunset snapped. "I can't. I know! But I do know what it's like to do something stupid out of petty revenge. Something that didn't help anyone, least of all me!"

"Now you listen—"

"No, you listen," Sunset barked, interrupting G'kar. "You were about to die for petty revenge. You. The last leader of your people, were going to get yourself killed through your own idiocy and refusal to work with someone else for the pointless pleasure of watching your personal enemy die." She leaned in and poked him in the chest. "And tell me, what would happen to your people then?"

"Miss Shimmer, please don't poke G'kar too roughly, he's still suffering from smoke inhalation."

Sunset glanced at Franklin, but stepped back, taking a deep breath. "Sorry."

"Why should you care, anyway?" G'kar said into the awkward silence. "I was quite content to finish my days that way. I admit that perhaps it wasn't thought thoroughly, but few real pleasures in life are. You didn't help me back when I requested your assistance to smuggle weapons. You disappeared for almost two years and never attempted any form of contact. Why come bother me now?"

Sunset sighed, sinking back into her seat. "Because we all deserve a second chance. If I hadn't been given one, I wouldn't be here, G'kar. We might not be friends, but I don't think you're a lost cause."

G'kar growled, narrowing his eyes and visibly forced himself to calm down. "So are you telling me I should give a second chance to those that destroyed my home?" he asked, his voice shaking.

Sunset stood up slowly, looking a bit tired. "I can't tell you what you should do, G'kar… only that until you understand your enemies and yourself you can't help anyone, much less yourself."

G'kar frowned, considering her words. "Perhaps you are right. Perhaps I should understand what the Centauri think before I attempt anything."

"I don't know, G'kar," Sunset said. "I just hope wherever you find the answer, and whatever that answer is, it helps to turn you into a better person, and a better leader. For what it's worth, I do care a little about what happens to you because I know you do care more about others than yourself. I hope that when I visit this universe again you're in a better place."

G'kar gulped, then nodded. "Good day, miss Shimmer. And thank you for visiting."

Sunset shrugged. "I had some time. Take care, G'kar. Thank you doctor."

The pair watched Sunset leave the room in silence. "Who is that, anyway?" Franklin asked after a few moments. "You made it sound like she was a danger to the station, with that whole blowing it up comment."

G'kar chuckled. "I assure you, good doctor, it's not something I intend to put to the test. While I myself doubt she has that ability, I do know she possesses technology far beyond what we do."

At that moment the door to the infirmary opened, and head of security Michael Garibaldi stepped into the room, looking confused. "Hey, you two know the red-head gal that walked out of medbay a moment ago?"

Franklin and G'kar looked at each other. "Yes," the doctor said slowly, "why?"

"It was the weirdest thing, I was walking here to check on G'kar, when I saw Ambassador Kosh also approaching Medbay. Then she came out, and—" he hesitated, eyes narrowing as he shook his head in confusion "—I swear Kosh almost stumbled, turned around and left really quickly. That's the closest I've ever seen a Vorlon run away."

"I don't think Vorlons can run exactly, I'm not sure they even have feet." Franklin said.

"Either that or he floated away very fast."

G'kar and Franklin shared a look. The narn cleared his throat. "I'm sure that's—"

"Crazy, right?" Garibaldi interrupted, rolling his shoulders back. "I think work is getting to me. Kosh probably forgot something in his room." He took a deep breath and blew it out. "Anyway, G'kar, buddy, we still need a formal declaration from you. Mollari didn't press any charges yet, but he's not happy. The earlier we have the paperwork out of the way, the easier things will be."

"I uh," Franklin nodded, "I need some coffee. I'll be back."

Garibaldi watched the doctor hurry out. "What's his deal?"

"I think redheads scare him," G'kar said neutrally.

"Huh."

"Wait, so you really were going to die? Is this Mollari guy really worth it?" Lena asked, shaking her head in disbelief.

"All good friends are," G'kar replied, giving her a conspiratory smile. "I was unfortunately too obsessed with my own misery to see where I was going. Even after Sunset pointed out to me the ridiculousness of my folly, I didn't stop there. I took her words to heart--but in the wrong way."

Lena gave him a look. "How can you turn 'understand others' into a bad thing?"

"Oh! It is possible, let me assure you. And I was quite creative. My mind saw what it wanted to see, and what it wanted to see was a way to pierce through any possible defense the Centauri could muster." G'kar shook his head. "And of course, I thought, knowing the mind of your enemy… well, what better way to know it, than to read it?"

Lena's eyes widened. "You didn't."

"Oh," G'kar gave her a short nod. "I did. There was a drug made by humans, simply called 'dust', and it was said to be able to give others… psychic abilities. When Sunset Shimmer said to understand my enemies I took that as a challenge. How better could I understand those who had hurt my people? My world? Me?" He opened his hands in bafflement. "I had fought the Centauri for decades. Up until then, I thought I knew them but it was clear I didn't."

"So instead of taking her words as an invitation to get to know individuals better--"

"I took it as a hint that I should force my way into their thoughts in order to achieve my objectives," G'kar finished the sentence. "Needless to say, things did not go as intended and I ended up… doing less than stellar things, but also coming to a startling realization."

Lena crossed her arms and gave him an unimpressed look. "Oh? And what was that?"

"Hm." G'kar looked down at his empty glass. He tilted it in the light, studying how it seemed to flow alongside it. "That we were in a cycle of destruction. When I eventually emerged victorious… if I did… it would only be a matter of time before someone else came to destroy me and mine again. And again." He looked at Lena straight in the eyes. "That if I wanted to change things… I had to sacrifice not for death. But for life."

Lena narrowed her eyes. "That sounds questionable at best."

G'kar humphed. "Teenagers."

"So was it when you were all high and looking into other minds that Sunset found you?"

"Oh, goodness no." G'kar actually look worried. "No, if she had seen me at that moment, I have no doubt Miss Shimmer would have made her disappointment in me sufficiently clear. No. I learned that lesson on my own."

"Right, Lena said, looking down at her empty cup. "You know, I think I'll have another tea."

"Good. I could use another cup of Taree. And I can tell you the third time that I met Sunset Shimmer, and finally counted her as a friend."

Author's Notes:

One last part to go!