Author's Note:
This first chapter will be slow-paced, as it begins to establish the new Aku-less future Jack now lives in. The action will pick up in the next when Jack has his first battle with a new enemy.
Episode M
Japan 25XX…
Centuries have gone by.
The ageless prince, his kingdom long passed, now finds himself in a dark room, surrounded by four men standing in the shadows. He stares at them intently before raising his sword, prompting them to pull out swords of their own.
He goes back to that spring day with his parents, his fears of the ever-changing years ahead, and his father's words of encouragement.
A better future than the one you've undone…
The prince smirks at these words, thinking about all that has happened since then till now, to this peculiar spot he presently finds himself in.
A better future…
One of the men lunges towards him with his sword held high.
The prince steps aside, dodging the stroke then returning it with one of his own. It digs into the attacker's ribs, causing spurts of dark red liquid to splatter the floor.
The attacker drops his sword then keels over clutching his side, prompting a second man to rush forward in his place. This one has no such luck either, as the prince deals another blow before he even has a chance to strike.
As the second slumps over, the remaining men decide to attack together. The prince ducks under one swing and jumps over another, striking down both assailants before his feet meet the floor again.
The prince stands over his latest victims, their fallen forms lying in pools of the thick crimson fluid. As he sheathes his sword, he notices a trace of movement from the first attacker lying right next to him. Kneeling down, he lowers himself so he's just inches away from his ear.
And with a stern look he says to him…
"What have I told you about outside food?"
The fallen man chuckles and scratches his head.
"Sorry bout that, Jack. If we knew that these Mc D's Szechuan sauce packets would explode like that, we wouldn't have kept em in our pockets while training."
The man and his fellows stand back up, rubbing their wounds and looking at the mess their crushed condiments left behind.
"If it makes you feel any better, we'll pay for any clean up fees. Or better yet, chip in to fix the crap wiring in this place."
Just as these words are said, the dimmed fluorescent lights flicker back on again, flooding the room with cheap yellowish light.
"No worries, Tim. I'm sure a quick scrub and a good electrician will do the job. Now about your performance…"
The prince, now formally known as "Jack," picks up the wooden bokken (training sword).
"Don't assume that your first strike will hit your opponent. You must always be prepared to follow up or prepare to defend yourself from a counterattack. If I were using a real sword, it would be your blood staining the ground."
"Fair enough, Jack. Thanks for letting us train with these today."
Jack is about to give the other three some feedback before Tim's watch starts beeping.
"Well, that's our cue to go. We've planned a surprise party for the boss, and we've still got some preparations to do. You sure you don't need any help cleaning up?"
"No, thank you. See you next week."
"Great. We'll give you your monthly payment then too."
The four men bow to their sensei, pick up their things, then leave.
Jack takes out a rag and a bottle of cleaner and scrubs the stains. Thankfully the mess is fresh, so he's able to clean up fairly quickly. He looks around the rented space he converted into a makeshift dojo. A nice quaint space with enough room to host his martial arts lessons. After he puts away the supplies and bokken, he switches off the lights and locks up behind him.
It's Friday night and he's ready for a nice relaxing weekend.
After a quick walk down the street, he reaches the doorstep of small humble Asian restaurant. He walks in and is immediately greeted with the pleasant aroma of various foods and light music playing from a small jukebox.
"Jacky! How's my favorite customer, eh?" the bearded middle-aged owner greets him from behind the bar.
"Very good, Kaz. How are you?"
"Same old, same old. Have a seat! I've got a nice hot cup of green tea waiting for you!"
Jack walks up to the bar and rests on one of the stools, where Kaz hands him his drink.
"Thank you. Where's the rest of the usual bunch?"
"Running a bit late I guess. But I'm sure they'll be here soon – Eeeeyyyy!"
Two more men – a well-built Chinese in a police uniform and a husky American with a buzz cut and sunglasses – walk in and sit next to Jack.
"Looks like you've finally managed to beat us here!" the Asian pats Jack's back.
"It would appear so, Captain Chang. You seem to be in high spirits today."
"And for good reason! I just got a substantial pay raise, so me and the family are planning to upsize soon!"
"Excellent! And how are you Morris?"
"Just got myself an ATV, so I'm gonna be taking it out for a woodland test drive all-day tomorrow!" the American beams as he jingles some keys.
"Just what I like to see! Happy and healthy customers!"
Kaz grins and pulls out a small pocket book.
"Now what will it be, boys?"
"Just a glass of sake and some edamame."
"Very good, Chang. Morris?"
"A beer and a teriyaki steak for me!"
As Kaz writes down their orders, the jukebox suddenly starts skipping tracks and flashing sparks. Kaz scurries towards the ailing machine and gives it a few slaps, before it crackles one last time and goes dead.
"Plan on getting the music-maker fixed again?"
"Maybe…or maybe not this time, Jack. This old jukebox has seen many decades already, so perhaps its time to retire it."
"Hear hear. Y'know, I've got a friend in that big electronics chain. I could get you hooked up with a new stereo system."
"Thanks for the offer, Morris. But I've actually been thinking about hiring live entertainment for some time now. Just wish I had the money to do so…"
"Yo, Jack! Isn't that the show you've been looking forward to for the last three weeks?"
Chang points towards a small TV behind the bar. A commercial is on promoting tonight's televised performance of the modern Japanese opera "Sakura".
"Is that tonight? I had almost forgotten!"
"Ha! Amazing how time flies so fast, isn't it? Would you like your food to go then?"
"Yes, Kaz. I would like that very much. Thank you."
"All righty! You want the chicken wonton soup again?"
"Hmm… No thank you. I'll try the shrimp this time."
-o-
Later that night, Jack is back in his apartment. Even with his moderate salary as a freelance martial arts instructor, he's able to afford a secure and comfortable living thanks to the riches he collected during his later adventures. Placing his dinner and a pot of tea on the living room table in front of the TV, he's about partake in his mealtime show before turning towards the wall on his right.
He walks towards it and takes a long look. The wall is covered with sumi-e (Asian ink) portraits he made of his family and friends. Among them are the multitude he met during his quest to return home: the Canine Archeologists, the Woolies, the Triseraquins, the Monkey Tribe, the Spartans, and many more. Each bearing memories of the time spent with them. He looks at one of the bigger paintings and smiles. This one is a full-body portrayal of his best friend the Scotsman in all his larger-than-life glory, from his fiery facial expression to his Celtic-enchanted claymore.
Then he turns to the one next to it and feels his heart sink. Ashi… Forever immortalized in the dress she wore the day they were to be wed. The one who saved him from his despair and provided a way back to the past, taken away before they could begin a new life together.
It's the same story every time he looks at this wall. First the warmth of having been able to meet so many, followed by the horrible possibility that they may no longer even exist in this new future.
But then he turns to another portrait. A portrait of another warrior he met some time after his return…
-o-
"FORWARD!"
Even against the crashing thunder and waves, the battle cry rings clear across the night sky. A massive battle rages on between two armies: a peaceful European kingdom rich with bountiful resources, against a collective horde of hostile barbarians hoping to conquer it. The invaders had planned a surprise assault by raiding the shore, but were foiled and intercepted by the kingdom's fleet. Now both armies are engaged in a furious game of naval warfare, either by long-ranged means or boarding each other's ships.
On the verge of defeat, most of the invaders have set their sights on the kingdom's flagship, where the land's ruler is fighting off the unwelcome boarders. As he's cutting down enemy by enemy, he fails to notice an archer's arrow until it's nearly a foot from his face. Thankfully before it hits its mark, the arrow is cleaved in half by a samurai's sword.
"Thanks! I almost forgot you were here!"
"Not too surprising. I did only drop by the last minute."
The king laughs before he and Jack turn towards a gigantic brute, clad in golden armor and wielding a massive battle-axe and shield, climbing onto the flagship's deck.
"I'm guessing that's their leader. You think they'll leave once we've bested him, samurai?"
"Only one way to find out."
The two warriors rush at him, evading his first swing and shattering his shield with a combined parry. The surprised leader is shortly joined by more of his men, who are all struck down one by one. After a short skirmish, he's quickly overpowered and forced overboard into the rampant waters. As all witnessing enemies are dumbstruck by the loss of their champion, the king raises his sword and addresses them with a booming voice.
"BARBARIANS! Your leader has fallen and your numbers are dwindling! Leave now and NEVER darken our shores again!
Soon after this declaration, the survivors make a hasty retreat, hurriedly returning to their own vessels and sailing off into the horizon never to be seen again.
And so by sunrise, the fleet returns to the shore where crowds of their cheering countrymen await them. Embraced by his relieved family, the king gives a respectful nod to the samurai.
"Thank you, my friend. If you hadn't warned us of the invaders coasting through the deep ocean fog, we wouldn't have been able to mount this counterstrike in time."
"It was a pleasure, your majesty. After all…"
The samurai bows to the mighty golden-haired Scandinavian warrior clad in a majestic cape.
"I could never allow any harm to befall you or your kingdom."
-o-
Jack feels the smile return to his face, filled with immense gratitude for this memory. If the king – once damned in Aku's future to watch his kingdom burn and be cursed for centuries waiting to be freed by a violent honorable death – was blessed to exist and live happily in this timeline, why not all the others he had met?
He walks back to the couch, where he sits back and switches the TV on. Out of habit, he flicks through the various channels, each showing a different piece in this brave new world. Sure, it may not be as technologically advanced as the one he was flung into centuries ago, and he has yet to see any extraterrestrial races visit from beyond the stars.
But it's a world without a trace of Aku's evil influence or tyranny. And that's all that matters to him.
Jack sighs contently and takes a sip of tea, switching to the international cultures channel just as Sakura is about to start.
A far better future indeed.