Gotta get Back, Back to the Past, Samurai Jack

by d-clarence

Fifty Years have Passed... But, I do not Age... Time has Lost its Effect on Me... Yet the Suffering Continues... Aku's Grasp Chokes the Past, Present, and Future... Hope, is Lost... Gotta get Back, Back to the Past, Samurai Jack... Herein is the novelization of Season 5 of Samurai Jack, an expanded look at the canon, but expect surprises... Edited with 00RaiserGundam and others.

10. You are His Friend?

X. You are His Friend?

---

Ashi was a free woman now, but at the same time felt bound by her duty.

The duty that she is somehow obligated to remain by Jack's side. However, he never forced her to, but she desired to be. Where did he go, and why? It was now her quest to find him, but not to hunt him down as she and her sisters were raised to do, but out of her genuine concern for the former Samurai warrior.

As she rode in the family mobile home of the Tartakovsky's with the vehicle filled to nearly overflowing with the youth of the Ceruleans, her thoughts swam and her confusion elevated. Dawn and Genndy bandaged injuries while Jake played board games and read children's books with those who were able. Borisovich drove the large company back home where they belonged.

Driving up, many of the survivors longed to see their children again. The flames that engulfed many homes were extinguished and the strong men that were alive and well took up arms and set up a defensive perimeter in the event more trouble comes. When the large vehicle came to a stop at Azure square, many parents cried names and prayers. They were answered as the children shuffled out the door, back to the families they belonged to. As many as were glad to be reunited, there were just as numerous of those who fully knew they are now orphans. Fortunately, they were taken in by surrounding families, but the pain and sorrow remained.

"Thank you!" A Cerulean mother Shook Genndy's hands. "Thank you so much!"

"The pleasure is not just that of my family and I." He humbly admitted. "Samurai Jack and his girlfriend over there saved your people. I only wish we got here sooner."

Girlfriend.

That word stuck out at Ashi as she stepped down from the doorway in puzzlement. Was the word a compliment? Does it imply some form of relationship or attachment? She found it difficult to say.

"Miss?" The mother called out.

"What do you need?" Inquired Ashi.

"Thank you so much for all you have done for us!" Looking around, she found one of Azure's saviors wasn't present. "But where is the Samurai?"

"I don't know, but I'll find him."

"Chto?!" Boris asked in shock. "What do you mean?"

"He just left me!" She exclaimed. "I don't know why or where he went."

The senior found this to be strange. Sure, Samurai Jack has a habit of leaving the scene after a fierce fight, but not like this. Not when children are in danger, and especially not without saying goodbye.

"Why would he do that?" Dawn pressed.

"I… I have to find him!" Ashi expressed concern.

"Here. Should be enough to aid you in your journey." Genndy reached into his wallet and gave the young woman several golden pieces of paper with bars and numbers etched on them.

"What are these?" she raised an eyebrow.

"Credit chits!" He smiled. "You know, so you can buy stuff with them?"

"Oh, well, thank you Genndy."

"We shall stay here and help these townsfolk get back on their feet," Boris offered. "You should get a move on, he could be anywhere."

"Thank you for your hospitality," bowed Ashi as she headed off. "I won't forget this!"

-…-

"Your family name has been soiled because of your decisions and actions. You know what must be done to atone for your sins…" The Omen deeply echoed.

"Yes," Ronin Jack kept his head low as they traversed the empty desert together. After all these years of running to and fro causing trouble, he accepted that the path ahead is the only way out of this living nightmare now. One thing remained in his mind as he asked, "Shinigami?"

"What?" it responded back harshly.

"Where are you taking me?" He turned to face his horse riding judge.

"Where it all began… The Ancestors and great warriors alike have demanded that this be the place for this to commune."

He knew where he was talking about. At this pace, it will be several days or weeks until they arrived. Jack's gaze returned to the scorched Earth ahead. The land was as desolate as his future now.

"If you dare try to escape, I will have to end your life right on the spot and your dishonor shall be eternal."

"I understand…"

-…-

Ashi's search was quick and thorough. She may not know where to go, who to ask, or what to do for that matter, but she was steadfast and confident she would find Jack one way or another. She found him with her sisters when they came close to ending his life, she stalked him without him ever knowing when they washed up on the Japanese mainland, so the former assassin knew with confidence she can find Jack again.

She headed several kilometers to the southwest, before she climbed up a sheer rock face, being careful not to fall off. Her face was full of focus as she traversed. Her movements were careful and calculated, for she sought to discern a stable place to grab from a crumbling spot that will give way.

Eventually, her ascent led through a ledge wide enough to walk onto. She faced the rocky surface, palming it as she moved slowly along the edge. A narrow ravine eventually came into view that she could reach, allowing her a way straight through this mountain. It was poorly lit, as light shone through the narrow slit over eighty feet up. It was too narrow to stand normally, let alone with her sword upon her back. She had to go sideways with her sword in her hand to fit through. Wind howled as she kept herself unfazed as her focus remained on the path ahead.

Making it out, Ashi found one more rock formation to climb over. When she made it, the former Daughter of Aku gasped, for a great battle was taking place. The Beetle Drone swarm that left the Dominator's factory was locked in battle against a well-prepared contingent of Spartan infantry. The machines thought they could just fly up above the mountain range and rain down on the City of Sparta, only for a great number of them to have been shot down by anti-aircraft fire, forcing the depleted garrison to charge a ground assault in the one place the Spartans were prepared the most.

The people have significantly upgraded in the years since their bloody war half a century ago. Salvaging the power cells and equipment from the former Minotaur-Bot army and the mechanical beast that controlled them, they combined those with their own resources and ingenuity, forging tall Atlas Anti-Aircraft defense towers that encircled the mountainous area the city was settled on. Their targeting software was pin-point accurate, downing scores before the drones of Aku were able to raise weapons.

On the ground, from behind the river that separated the frontline, men fired anti-armor rockets from powerful lances as they spiraled towards their targets. It seemed to be an easy victory, but enemy numbers proved to still remain massive as the drones persisted in their assault. The swordsmen were more than ready.

A flying Beetle, having had lost its lower body from flak, crash landed next to Ashi as its last words played through its vocalizer.

"Error… Error… Total system failure." Ashi drew her sword in case the drone turned on her. "Seventy-six percent casualties sustained. Hostile fortifications and emplacements impenetrable. Error… Error… Communications jammed… Distress beacon is…"

Slash!

Having had enough of the mechanism's ramblings, she sliced it in half. Returning her gaze at the battlefront, a Spartan with a bronze-colored cuirass and a torn, red cape around his back stood on a boulder in front of his men and raised his sword as he proclaimed, "The Three Hundred fight for The One!"

The men raised their xiphoi high in the air and cheered. This was their time. As the Beetles crossed the river, explosions erupted from underneath them, tearing their metal bodies apart. Landmines were placed underwater, hidden away from sight. When they approached and raised their leg-blades high, Spartans wielding shields and swords formed a tight phalanx around. The outer panel of their shields activated, extending a series of rapidly spinning protrusions from within. They blocked the strikes that came down on them. The brave men charged, pushing the powerful drones back, as spearmen took point behind their guards, impaling many of the fearless horde.

Ashi was in awe at the powerful might of these brave and courageous souls. They held fast even in the face of danger. However, their formation was broken as a foolhardy drone made a charge at an opening in their left flank, separating the Spartan army in two as more robots flooded through. Both sides were locked in a bloody fight to the finish.

The caped Spartan cut down many drones with ease before turning his attention to one of his men that suffered a bleeding gash across his leg. As the lead Spartan defended his comrade, they were quickly surrounded by the black and red Destroyers. The leader was unafraid. Fearing his end would come; Ashi intervened, joining in on the fight.

She swung hard and fast, clearing the Beetles that were to the experienced man's rear. He turned and immediately saw this woman was an ally. This wasn't the first time in his life a foreign warrior stepped forth to his aid. Shinobi and Spartan stood back-to-back, as nothing was said between them while they fought to defend the incapacitated soldier. The bots fell as their numbers dwindled further.

Before the Beetles' numbers proved too much, Spartan reinforcements came to the pair's aid. More swordsmen with spinning shields came to their assistance, pushing the drones into retreat. The red-caped one looked up and found that sixty more of his men had assembled with automatic crossbows equipped with magnetic rails on top of the cliff's edge over the ravine that led into their city.

"Shields up!" He commanded his warriors.

Taking Ashi with him, he hunkered down with the wounded Spartan beneath him as he crouched down and raised his oscillating shield atop his head. Ashi instinctively took cover next to him, not understanding why.

Her answer came as bolts rained down; destroying what remained of the garrison of Beetle Drones. Whatever bolts that were accidentally fired in their direction were deflected by their mighty shields. Surviving robots attempted to retreat, but were shot down as arrow after arrow pierced their reinforced hides.

Under the cover of her shield, another Spartan arrived with three others.

"How bad is it, my Prince?" The medic asked.

"Just a gash on his thigh," he reported. "He'll be able to fight again!"

"Okay, okay… Kurtok? Stay with me! You are going to be fine!"

It surprised Ashi that there were women in the ranks of these warriors. But then again, she was part of an all-female cult of secret assassins. Fearing the threat of Aku upon their homeland, their ranks have significantly expanded. Now, their numbers expanded nearly to ten thousand, separated into three hundred man companies. Any able bodied and of age citizen was free to enlist to fight for their homeland and families alike. However, the tradition of recruiting the best of their young remained.

As the medic tended to the man's wounds, she had to ask the lead Spartan upon seeing the stranger. "Prince Brotok, who's our 'guest?'"

"My name is Kunoichi," she responded.

"This battle is of no concern to you," Brotok questioned as he held his shield in place as more bolts rained down. "Why did you fight?"

"I saw you outnumbered," she honestly responded. "I meant no offense. Sorry…"

"What? No!" He raised his hand, rethinking his last remark. "Much like my father, these years of war have made my tone harsh and my words insolent."

The barrage stopped as the last of the robots fell. The group of Spartans arose from cover and the medic carried her comrade back to safety. Brotok escorted Ashi to the company of warriors as they saluted their prince.

"You have won," Ashi breathed out with a smile.

"No, we have not," Brotok responded. "This is just the beginning."

As they returned to the safety of others, a tall, woman in long, curly dark hair emerged from the crowd, dressed in her own bronze cuirass and golden cape, with a longsword stained in black motor oil. There stood Brotok's wife, Princess Artimec.

"My love!" The royal couple embraced as he asked with concern, "What of our casualties?"

"Fifty-three wounded," she counted.

"Any losses?" He tilted his head in concern as he held her hands in his.

"None," she smiled.

"Very well."

She looked behind her husband, beholding a peculiar woman in an all-black outfit with a sword of her own. Artimec asked, "Who's our unexpected ally?"

"I'm Kunoichi. I came here looking for someone."

"Come," Brotok motioned over. "We go to meet my father, the King."

One hundred and seventy men and women remained behind to keep watch over the ravine entry point in the event of another attack. Brotok and Artimec lead Ashi and the rest back home to their city.

"Where are you taking me?" The young assassin asked.

"Sparta," Artimec smiled as she responded. "Our home."

Emerging from the crevice, Ashi gasped at the beauty of the home of the Spartans. While the rest of the world and beyond grew in comfort of the technological Renaissance that encompassed many civilizations, these humble and powerful people favored the proud traditions of their forefathers. They lived in open buildings carved in stone inlaid with marble and granite. The small navy of frigates defended fishing boats out at sea.

When company marched inside, Ashi took in all the sights the Spartans dedicated their lives to defend. Even though they were a militarized people that believed in skills and knowledge over the high and fancy life, they have had plenty of time to beautify their homes, celebrating the preservation of their ways. Their architecture was simple, functional, and now elegant.

"We may be a people cemented in older times, but that doesn't mean we cannot improve our living," the Princess taught Ashi.

"How so?" She asked.

"For example, our swords are now forged as the blades of Damascus were forged, but we mastered the workings of plasma and force-fields, strengthening the blades to unimaginable levels," she proudly proclaimed.

"However, they still pale in comparison to the might of the Samurai's own blade," Brotok reminded.

"But our people couldn't have progressed agriculturally if it were not for him."

"How did the Samurai help your people achieve this?" The Shinobi asked.

"Heh," Brotok chuckled. "You'll have to ask King Spartok about that."

As the royals escorted Ashi into the palace chambers, the young woman continued to marvel at the lifestyle of the people here. Children played with their parents in the wide and shallow reflection pool as watchful soldiers stood guard over them. Farmers tilled the land past the city limits joyfully, taking great pride in their work. Workers made sure their Atlas defense towers remained active and watchful. Were it not for these machines, this city would have been overwhelmed.

Inside the royal palace, people in all colors of linen togas stood around and greeted those that entered. Curiously, Ashi made note of a badly damaged Spartan shield that was hung on the wall, as if it were a memorial. It was dented and burned beyond use.

No longer was King Spartok able to lead troops into battle as he once had. Now, he lay elderly and bedridden near a window overlooking the city. His black robe hid the scars of decades of warfare on his body. Despite his greyed hair, beard, and withered physique, his voice still carried the stern, yet serene tone he was known for.

"My son," he called. "How goes the battle against the invaders of Aku?"

Prince Brotok removed his helmet, holding it under his arm. The heir to the throne had grown out a short beard and sustained a scar under his left eye from a prior battle. He was very much a mirror image of his father in his prime.

"We held the line!" he smiled and cheered. Many of the citizens applauded the man's efforts.

"Very well, my son," he coughed. "I wish I could have been there with you."

Looking over to Ashi, the Spartan Prince announced, "But it was not only the efforts of our brothers and sisters in arms that won the day. This stranger aided me in combat. Were it not for her, I would have perished."

The crowd arose in interest. It has been a very long time since a stranger came to help their warriors.

"My name is… Kunoichi," her admittance was halfway between lie and truth. "I have travelled far seeking the Samurai. My path had led me here, to my intervention in your struggle."

"Samurai… Jack?" The king struggled to sit up. "That is a name I have not heard in a long time… A long time…"

"What has he done for your people?" Ashi wondered.

He smiled as he laid back into his bed and began his tale.

"Long ago, he came to us in our time of need. His name was 'Jack.' Nothing would be the same."

A citizen pulled up a comfortable chair for Ashi as she gratefully sat down. Brotok knelt by his father with his wife by his side as the recount of history continued.

"We know not, even after all these years, from whence he came, but when he did, it was for us. We were locked in a furious war with a mechanical beast that ravaged the land known as Xerxes. It forged an army of Minotaur-Bots to stamp us out, as it had to the kingdoms that once surrounded us. However, the only entrance to our wonderful city is through a narrow ravine." King Spartok punched his fist into his hand as he said in might, "It was there with only three hundred men, we stopped the beast's armies!"

"That sounds incredible!" Ashi grinned.

"But that was not all," He waved his finger at her. "Year after year, the war went on. The battle became a stalemate. Our enemy at the time stripped that battlefield clean of its fallen, to rebuild its army again and again. The Samurai arrived when the machines attacked us when we were at our weakest point. It was him that suggested we attack another way."

"What… do you mean?"

"His travels revealed a path through the mountains, wide enough for troops to move through. It was through this tight passageway with fifty of our best that we destroyed Xerxes together!"

The people of the land knew of this story well.

"The battle was in itself unlike any I have experienced before. My own xiphos broke against the impenetrable hide of that monster. Jack threw his sacred sword to me, for he knew of my purity in heart. I was fortunate to be… worthy… enough to wield it. When he was knocked away from a blast, I struck down the mechanical beast with a single blow."

"What does being worthy have to do with wielding his sword?" The Shinobi asked in puzzlement.

"It is of divine origin, forged by the Gods themselves. Only those who are pure in heart could only use it for good; in the hands of evil, it could not harm an innocent, but it will strike down those who are antagonistic in nature."

"I see," she understood. "But what happened to Jack?"

This day was one the king mourned the most. He's lost many men in the war against Xerxes, but not like how he believed the Samurai gave his life for him.

"When Xerxes fell by the blade of the Samurai in my hands, it exploded, nearly engulfing me in its dying flame. But, he dove in the way, sacrificing himself for my life as he did so. The war… was finally… over. But, the warrior was gone. His… shield… was all that was left…"

He weakly pointed to the opposite side of the chamber where the very shield Samurai Jack used lay hanging on the wall. Ashi gasped at the realization that the beaten piece of equipment is a piece of timeless history.

"This… stranger… who became a brother, aided us in our time of need and made a difference." The people of Sparta who were in attendance sorrowed at this part of their King's testimony. "His sacrifice and that of the others defeated our enemy, saved our lives, and ensured our freedom. They will be honored and remembered forever. The Three Hundred, plus One."

As Brotok caringly placed his hand upon his father's shoulder, Ashi knew the truth of the Samurai's own fate, but retained a respectful silence as King Spartok finished his remembrance.

"But," he doubted, for he theorized, "I believe The One survived. A warrior that great could not be stopped so easily…"

As the retired veteran solemnly closed his eyes, Brotok stood and faced Ashi as he spoke next.

"These are the events of what we know now as The Battle of Thermopylae. We later learned that Xerxes' madness was of Aku's doing. We now stand and fight against him, hitting wherever and whenever we can. The sacrifice of the Samurai is one we honor and remember."

"No," the woman courageously stood. "He lives! Samurai Jack lives on!"

The people gasped and conversed with themselves as to how could this be. The King arose from his bed and sat up.

"Are you sure?!" Spartok demanded.

"Yes," she assured. "I fought with him… I mean by his side. We took down the factory from where these Beetles of Aku came from and saved innocents who were trapped there."

"You…" he pointed at her. "You are his friend?"

The question puzzled Ashi as much as the one about what her name is. Was she his friend, his ally? They fought side-by-side on two occasions, sure, but did that make it official they were together in any way? She was not sure, but one thing was certain:

She cannot forgive him for what he did to her sisters and self. That resentment she held dear embittered her damaged heart.

"I… I do not know…" she lowered he head. "But this much I know; The Resistance needs your help. Your armies are powerful. I have seen it. But you cannot stand against Aku alone. The warriors of Sparta need to rally together under Jack's banner."

A month ago, all Ashi was raised to desire was to build up the kingdom of Aku and kill the Samurai. Now, she wants nothing more than to do something, to make a stand against her former deity.

"Heh," King Spartok scoffed. "The 'Zintaris Resistance Alliance,' as they call themselves. We heard rumors of them. Of their struggles in the name of Jack's people. Now, it is reported they were all lost in the fight against Aku."

"We believe that you believe that fighting for their cause is the right thing to do. But we lack the operational strength for a full assault," Princess Artimec expressed. Several men and women in the crowd murmured in agreement.

"And that is why you band together with the others!" Ashi spoke. "You have won the fight today, but Aku won't ever stop, ever. He will know where your people are! You can't just remain on the defensive for much longer. I am not part the Resistance, but they will need your help."

The people of Sparta were now split. Some argued that this newcomer was right, that their Spartans need to be more proactive in the conflict. The others maintained their ground that engaging the enemy directly will surely bring Aku to their doors. The drowning chorus of complaints, reasoning, and excuses filled the hall to overflowing as Ashi feared she may have inadvertently caused a civil war. She stood silent, in the midst of the arguing crowd. Before tensions could escalate any further, King Spartok arose from the comfort of his mattress, grabbed his cane, and stood tall as he made his stance loud and clear.

Thud!

He banged the end of his cane hard on the marble floor as he proclaimed, "ENOUGH!"

They all fell into a silent awe.

"You all would never be here today to discuss these things were it not for Samurai Jack!" The aged Spartan pointed out. "As he nearly gave his life for us, so must we! Now… who's with me?!"

Prince Brotok stepped forward by his father's side and joined in, simply saying, "I am."

"As am I," Artimec stood by her warrior prince, placing her hand on his shoulder.

One by one, the citizens of Sparta pledged their loyalty and support for the Samurai, and there the former Daughter of Aku stood in between everyone as their proclamation of defiance was made certain.

"Kunoichi," the elderly Spartan marched over to her. His palm was planted in an assuring manner atop the young woman's shoulder. "When you find him, please let him know that we will be there for him."

"Thank you," she respectfully bowed her head. "But, I take it your people have not seen him around here, then?"

Spartok shook his head no in response. However, before Ashi could feel as though her journey here was a waste, a Spartan scout barged into the throne room with them with a special report.

"My King," he heavily breathed.

"What is it?"

"I deployed teams from Epsilon and Omega to scout the southwestern mountain range after today's attack," he revealed. "One of our men spotted a strange individual headed for the Mediterranean, likely bound for either New Jericho, Syrta, or Odalv. He was bearded, pale, wore ragged leggings of some kind and nothing else."

Ashi gasped at the news.

"What is so strange about this individual?" Princess Artimec asked.

"He was not alone. There was a strange armored horseman with him. Green mist surrounded whatever it was. I thought it was one of Aku's scouts, but… they disappeared into the sandstorm."

"It's Samurai Jack!" Ashi shouted.

"Come," the Prince offered. "We will take you there."

Turning over to the still standing King Spartok, she stated, "Thank you for your time, good luck in your fight against Aku."

"Go and find Jack," he ordered. "Not just for our sake, but for the sake of the whole world. We all need him back."

-…-

"Wear this; it shall conceal your identity from the world."

The Omen passed over to Jack a hooded grey cloak which the Ronin promptly put on.

"No running," he pointed to Jack's chest. His yellow eyes met the dishonored one's melancholic ones, warning him more than was necessary. "You will board a flight bound for where your trial will be held."

"I will go and do as so," his tone was kept low.

As he entered the limits of the large fishing city of Syrta, his memories returned of what transpired here long ago.

It was here that Jack first learned of the Triseraquins, an amphibious race of humanoid sea creatures, and aided them in their fight against Aku, even though they initially betrayed the former. He remembered many of their militia and a third of their city, Oceanis, died because of his involvement.

It was also here that his lifelong friend, the Scotsman, went out of his way to save his life when Jack was hypnotized to be a pirate crewman by the Sirens. Now, his Scottish ally's existence has been reduced to ash and memories.

The former Samurai warrior really did feel as though everywhere he went, he only drew more blood onto his hands. The time has come to atone for all his unwitting sins.

Nothing more was said as the Omen temporarily disappeared into the mist, trusting that Jack will not abandon his destiny.

-…-

"So, I see you two have been through a lot together," Brotok commented.

"Yeah, more than I'd like to admit," Ashi added.

For the past few hours on horseback, the former assassin of Aku told the Spartan Prince everything they had been through up to this point. That is, save it be the parts where she was an assassin trained to kill the Samurai. Due to her unfamiliarity with riding these animals, Ashi had to ride behind the back of the Spartan scout on another horse.

"I see that you told me the truth, but I feel as though you are withholding something."

"I'm not yet ready to talk about it," she looked away.

"But if you have really stirred up as much trouble as you claim, then Aku will likely want you dead as well," he warned.

"No, he doesn't know of me yet."

As the horsemen approached a nearby cliff edge, Ashi gasped and marveled at the sights before her. There stood a vast forest and a mountain range onwards to the southeast. Though concealed by light fog, the Mediterranean lay far beyond it.

"Here," The Scout jumped off his stallion. "This is where I saw them last."

Ashi and Brotok stepped off their horses and looked on.

"The man you are tracking is the most elusive man we have ever encountered," warned Brotok.

Yeah, I know from personal experience… Ashi thought.

"So make no mistake, be prepared for anything."

I learned that the hard way. She at least kept her expression neutral as he instructed her.

"Now go!" He waved off. "Bring the legend of the Samurai back to life!"

"Thank you, for everything," the ex-Daughter of Aku smirked.

"No," he shook his head. "Thank you for fighting by our side."

As the Spartans returned home to make ready their preparations of war, Ashi returned to her quest for Jack with renewed vigor in her heart.

-…-

Figuring that she will gain her bearings from the mountains, her first decision was to head for Odalv and ask the citizens there first. As she wandered through the dense, auburn forest, she found herself in an open field that held signs of battle. A castle tower stood in the midst of a robotic Viking army long gone, the moss and overgrowth that formed on their metal bodies and vehicles indicated their struggle took place half a century ago.

Most curiously, they all fell by what seems to be countless amounts of red arrows, the tips still sharp and ready for use. They stuck out from the husks and ground like a bed of pointed flowers as the aged fletching on each arrow waved in the wind. It would seem to her that they were assaulting that tower, but made no effect, having been shot down before any of them came in reach.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Explosions rocked in the distance. Fearing another battle, Ashi made haste to the source as she traversed over the terrain. Her search came to a halt upon seeing dozens of Beetle Drone carcasses littered about. The same red arrows were pierced through their hides with such superhuman precision. Whatever took them down knew where to hit them repeatedly.

Ka-Boom!

Her search led her deeper through the trail of robot corpses as burning wrecks of drones filled the forest and clouded the air. A high-pitched, robotic shriek was audible as she instinctively took cover behind a tree. Several surviving Beetles were in full retreat, many of them covered from head to toe in red arrows. Ashi looked on to see a lingering drone attempt to crawl away, for its lower half of its body was shredded clean off. A crimson bolt flew through the branches and bushes, scoring a headshot on the whimpering mechanism. The survivors growled away before being blown to bits by another hailstorm of high-velocity shots.

What the… How were they taken down so easily? Even the Spartans needed a full company to repel a single assault. Ashi raised her eyebrows in surprise. There must be many of these archers…

Looking from behind her hiding place, she focused her senses, trying to discern the unknown marksmen's position. Her gaze fell upon three tall silhouettes that that approached.

What?! Only three?!

Her suspense was cut short as a red arrow pierced the tree the hid behind, as the arrow situated itself above her flamed haircut. That wasn't meant as a killing blow. This was a warning shot.

"If you are one of Aku's minions, we suggest you run," the Archer warned in a deep voice. "If you are another, then reveal yourself."

The three men's appearance was clear. Standing at over ten feet tall were the mild-skinned people more commonly known as the Archers. Their long necks, red braided beards, and crimson loincloths were the signature appearance of these warriors. They readied another bolt in their black longbows in anticipation of their next target. Ashi knew she could possibly take these men on, for she's dealt with archers of their caliber with ease in her adolescence. But the mention that they are hunting minions of Aku made her realize they are not a threat.

She raised her hands, as if surrendering to them, and slowly came out of her hiding place.

"I seek the Samurai," she said innocently.

Fearing she is another bounty hunter after their Savior's head, the lead Archer's soul angered as he scrunched his face in anger at her.

"No," Ashi dismissed lowly. "I seek to help him… He might be in danger!"

The trio lowered their bows and placed their bolts back in their quivers. They seemed a little embarrassed they nearly shot an ally of the man who saved them long ago.

"A friend of Samurai Jack is a friend of ours," the towering leader stepped up. He offered his hand to Ashi in a handshake. She accepted it as his mammoth palm swamped her forearm. He was warm to the touch, but the pads of his fingertips had grown calloused, a consequence of his experiences with the bow after all these years. "Come."

"Who are you people?" She inquired.

"We are the Alastalidohi," he smiled.

"Uhh," the young woman uttered in confusion.

"That translates to 'Archer' in your language. My name is Chieftain Gigage Gatlida," motioning over to his allies, the Chieftain introduced them as well. "This compatriot of mine is Digewi Tsisdetsi, and the other is Gvhnage Galitsadi."

"Mouthful," she quipped with a smile. "My name is… Kunoichi."

"Yes, each of our names has a meaning behind it, now come, let us take you to our home, Odalv, in the mountains."

As the company left, Ashi found herself among titans. They stood tall above her, easily twice her height. Despite their long necks negating any possibility of aiming, their eagle-eye senses allowed them to shoot with unmatched skill and efficiency. The one thing that trumped her awe was when Chief Gatlida moved aside some leaves, revealing their homeland.

"Welcome to our home," he sternly cheered.

Where the land naturally rolled and turned with the mountains that formed with it, the City of Odalv was carefully carved into place. The mount resembled the tip of an arrow, and a path swirled around all the way to a temple at the peak. The former assassin wondered how long it took these people to build such a marvelous home.

The mountains, while lush, green, and lively, also acted as a form of natural defense against invaders. Each mountain top held camps where many Archers resided, keeping vigilant watch over their homeland. They communicated via smoke signals and messages tied to launched arrows.

Upon reaching the village, the villagers respectfully bowed in front of their leader, congratulating him for the success in defending their homeland against Aku's forces. Children played with their fathers as they came home as Gatlida addressed Ashi.

"None of this would exist if it wasn't for him," the Chieftain humbly confessed.

"Oh," she placed her hand up to her mouth in surprise of a well-detailed and sculpted tribute to Samurai Jack, placed by the cliff's edge. The statue was of the man in his signature gi and topknot, with his sword tucked in the confines of his obi. The children had tossed long wreaths of flowers of blues and violets around it, as butterflies flew around. "Chieftain Gatlida, what has the Samurai done for your people?"

The Archer's smile dropped as he recalled this story well, for he was there when it happened.

"We were cursed," he scowled. "Bound to guard a magical portal. You saw it in the castle tower as you came up to us."

"How were your people cursed?"

"It was called the Well of King Ozric. It held the power to grant any wish any man desired. We thought we could command it to turn us into the greatest of warriors. It did so, but in so doing, robbed us of our sight and our minds, enslaving us as its personal guard."

The three men bowed in sorrow of their mistake. Their quest for power and glory lead to their own near downfall.

"We had lived cursed lives under that well until Samurai Jack arrived. His skill triumphed over all that had faced us before. He escaped our aim and used our twisted talents to his advantage. The Samurai was able to defeat us, but instead of using the Well of King Ozric to fulfill his quest, he freed us, an act of unmeasurable sacrifice. Later, we learned the curse was of Aku's doing. He sought to turn the desires of man to his own evil workings."

Ashi stood in wonder in this recounting of history. Jack went out of his way to save others. But, one question remained within her. "Wait, what quest of the Samurai do you speak of?"

"That we never truly found out," he confessed. "All we know thus far is that he sought for any means of a time travel passage. We suspected at first he was sent to destroy Aku, but this goal is one that perplexed many through the ages. We never knew his real name, either."

The young woman looked up, questioning as to what Jack's intentions were. But upon regaining her focus on her quest, she asked, "Have you seen him? Has he passed through here?"

"No," Gatlida answered. "Since that day, we have not seen him."

He knelt down on front of her and placed his large hand on her shoulder, proclaiming, "But we now stand against Aku. If he is ever in need, we will be there."

"Thank you," Ashi smiled. Before she turned to leave, she had one more remark to give. "I have to go."

Before she could leave, the Archer Chieftain had a present for her. "Wait!"

"Hmm?"

"Take these, if you truly are an ally of Samurai Jack, you'll need every advantage you can get."

A fellow Archer gave Ashi a custom-made black longbow with an accompanying quiver filled with thirty arrows.

"Actually, I have one more thing to share with your people, too," she remembered. "The Resistance. They will need your help in the days to come. Your skills are unlike any I have witnessed from so few against many, and I believe they can make use of your talents."

"Hmm," Gatlida raised his hand to his chin. "They have tried to contact us before, but we refused. However, I suppose you are right. The Alastalidohi shall stand under the Samurai's banner! Good luck on your journey, Kunoichi."

"Thanks again, for everything."

-…-

Okay, the Samurai is not at Odalv. Time to check New Jericho and Syrta.

Many hours have passed since Ashi left the Archers. Though disappointed that both locations she attempted to visit have yielded no progress, deep down she knew she was on the right track. Into the deep forest she went, searching for any sign of the lost Samurai warrior. As she travelled, the unwanted stench of rotting flesh filled her nostrils, making her gag in disgust.

Ugh… Who died here? She grimaced.

Her answer was met as she saw a great walled city in the open further down the path she was on. She remembered over a month ago how the Vice Priestess briefed her and her sisters of the Samurai's previous travels, of saving a village from "heretics," and defeating one of Aku's assassins who was taking care of "dissidents." She knew this was the latter place.

Ashi traced faded motorcycle wheel tracks and footprints from a pair of combat boots. This was definitely the place. As she entered through the city gates, she anticipated another tale from the survivors of how the Samurai saved their lives, of how he defeated his foe with grace, skill, and efficiency. She expected some form of monument to his greatness and glory as she daydreamed further.

She was wrong.

Just when New Jericho's end wasn't enough, the unfortunate city had been ransacked and robbed. All valuables and possessions were stolen from the families that owned them and obscene graffiti now decorated the walls. At least the bodies were left to decay in peace. The stench got stronger as flies and buzzards fed on the fallen.

"Catastrophe, devastation, carnage," she muttered in shock, repeating what Jack told her at Azure.

Ashi sorrowed and angered at the dreadful scene. This place looked like another dead end on her journey to find Jack. Before she could leave, mechanical rustling was heard as sparks of electricity sputtered off in the city. Keeping to the shadows, the former assassin tracked the noise to its source.

It was Scaramouche.

A back-up CPU and power unit activated, essentially resurrecting the hitman of Aku back to life, albeit without his body. His head and part of his neck area was all that remained of his previous encounter with the Samurai as his optics flickered back to life in its original teal glow. He blinked as the obvious came clear.

"I'm alive!" He cheered as the beheaded assassin hopped with what was left of his neck in a circle and sang, "Doo do do do! I'm alive, I'm a-l-i-i-i-v-e!"

Is this seriously the one who killed so many? Ashi highly doubted it.

As he hopped over to the remnants of his smartphone, he spoke with the partially consumed corpse of a young boy, as if he were still alive. "Oh, right! That Samurai schmuck broke my phone. I got to tell Aku that Jacky boy lost his sword. Oh, well, I guess I'm bunny hopping my way there. Hippity hop, baby!"

I guess he is the one… The way the scouts described him made Scaramouche seem like a force to be reckoned with, a true warrior programmed in every martial art available, whilst maintaining a charismatic demeanor in the heat of combat. They were right, but not in the way Ashi just noticed.

Deciding to divert from her course, she chose to stalk this headstrong robot.

-…-

As Ronin Jack stood by himself in the bow of the blimp's carriage, he gripped the railings in front of him tightly and looked onto the dark and stormy night ahead of him. Lightning danced around the airship as thunder drummed loudly all over. It seemed the Gods and Fate were judging him from the heavens. Rain soaked his trembling hands as he recalled each and every mistake that cost innocent lives.

"To the Gods and my Ancestors," he silently whispered in prayer. "May the ritual be sufficient enough not just to reclaim my family honor, but attain forgiveness for all my wrongdoings and failures…"

As he stood alone, the Captain of the vessel walked up behind him. He secured his grey officer's cap on his head as he bundled himself in his same-colored coat and white gloves.

"Excuse me, you with the beard and cloak?" He inquired. "It's a lot warmer inside! We got a full three-course buffet for all passengers!"

"No," Jack dismissed, keeping himself faced towards the blackened sky. "I will remain here for the rest of the journey."

"Not sure if I follow," the Captain was confused. "You also have a room to yourself and everything here and you choose not to take it. Is the bed too hard?"

"No," Jack lowered his head in shame. "Please go."

"Okay?" he turned and left the strange man alone.

-…-

Scaramouche was overconfident.

He saw himself entering the Grand Overlord's castle and coming up to his throne giving the biggest piece of good news Aku will ever receive in existence. He imagined being given back his body with the same black magic that granted him his peculiar set of musically based skills. He dreamed of being the Shogun of Sorrow's Number One assassin, to be given riches and fame most others would only dream of.

But the situation at hand remained.

He knew he was really a shadow of his former self. His body destroyed, weapons stolen, and his favorite coat was now burned ribbons.

"Ehh… ahh… Oh, man," he grunted as he tried to keep moving forward. "Oh. All this walking is hard on my neck…"

He travelled for what seemed like an eternity. He knew where Aku's dark fortress is, it was all a matter of how he would get there. Little did he know that another assassin followed him closely…

Passing over a steep hill that had a path running through it, the decapitated robot cheered at the sound of a cruise liner's horn blaring. The sight of Syrta soon came before him. "Hey, I made it! I finally made it… Aah!"

An unsuspecting couple had accidentally kicked him downhill. Ashi followed closely, keeping to the tall grass and bushes.

Raising his face out of the dirt, Scaramouche had to complain further. "Ugh! When I get my body and jazzy blades back, you will all be sorry!"

Before he could head off again, a certain someone stopped him in his tracks.

"Hold it right there!" She shouted.

As he turned his face around so that he saw who it was. Standing courageously over this barely functioning robot in her skintight black suit, armed with her slain sister's katana and brand new longbow and quiver was the banished Daughter of Aku, Ashi.

"And just who might you be?" He challenged. He had no reason to fear her, even in his present state.

"That is not important," she kept her hands on her hips, while inching one hand to her kunai in her lower back. "Did you kill those people in that walled city?!"

He smiled in pride as he answered, "Oh yeah, babe!"

Her brows narrowed in anger in response.

"Ha, ha, ha! You shoulda seen the look on their faces as they tried to run! I couldn't handle 'em all on my own, so I used my magic flute to summon my favorite pet to stomp them like ants!"

"You… why?" She crossed her arms up to her chest, concealing the dagger under her wrist.

"To lure Samurai Jack to me, bondage girl," he spat. "I mean, what's that skimpy outfit made of? Leather? Latex? Paint? It got all your curves, girly!"

She would rather not remember. Her scowl persisted, uninterrupted by his last remark.

"Well, if you must know, that schmuck tore me to bits when we fought. Boy, that was the toughest fight of my life!"

Serves you right, scum, Ashi nodded in approval.

"Well, anyway, nice chatting with you, flaming hair, I gotta talk with… Aku!"

As he turned away, Ashi was astonished at this revelation. "Wait, why?"

"Oh? You haven't heard the good news?" He raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you must know, I am Aku's top assassin. Imagine the treasures he'll give to me when I tell him Jack lost his 'oh-so-special' sword!"

Before he could hop away, Ashi lashed out at him, grabbing him by his severed neck wiring and held him up to her upside-down.

"Wha… Hey!" He tried to shake out of her grip to no avail. "Put me down! I got places to be, things to do, and a Samurai to end!"

Pointing her dagger right between his eyes, she threatened, "In another time, I would have seen to it myself personally that I tear your head off your shoulders. Looks like Jack beat me to it…"

"Well who do you think you are?! You his girlfriend or somethin'?!"

She froze wide-eyed at that comment. Thrice now someone has accused me of being his ally. Could it really be?

"No, wait," Scaramouche grinned. "Oh yeah… I see it now… You are his girlfriend! Prolly slept with him, too, eh?! I hear he's a virgin! You got it from him e-x-t-r-a t-h-i-c-c, did ya?"

And just like that, Ashi kicked him square in the forehead back into the forest as he screamed in agony.

Good riddance…

As Ashi sheathed her dagger again, ion engines roared above her. Looking up, she saw a full squadron of Shard gunships fly overhead towards the city airport. Hades Squadron was here to move in, enforcing the Law of Aku. Looking back to her left, several six-wheeled, beetle-like, Mantis armored personnel carriers rolled down the path she travelled on bound for the city limits.

Too risky now to just ask random strangers for the Samurai, she figured. I'll have to be subtler in my approach…

-…-

Ashi wandered through the drab, tall buildings and cranes of the city, inquiring the residents if they witnessed any signs of a "strange, bearded man." She was only yielding about as much success as one would suspect. She was pointed repeatedly towards the homeless, burly chefs in markets, and jokingly to the statue of Aku that stood in town square. As hopeless as her endeavors seemed, her determination soared higher with each passing encounter.

Passing through the marketplace to see if Jack wandered through there, she caught sight of a familiar crossed diamond symbol embroidered into a circular panel erected on the side of a shop. The store was Momotaro and Shinobi's Antiquities and Oriental Weaponry. The former assassin ran through the crowd to the scene that was unfolding before her. A squad of Conscripts was assembled together at the edge of the crowd, keeping them at bay while their commander, a Minion of Aku, dealt with the shopkeepers.

"This symbol is representative of the Zintaris Resistance Movement and the Samurai! It has been decreed by the Shogun of Sorrows, the Deliverer of Darkness, the Grand Overlord himself, Aku, that such items are to be burned!" He declared. "I hereby order you with His authority to tear down this symbol from your establishment, now!"

"Piss off," the shopkeeper disregarded. His warm skin tone was only marked by two rosy marks on his cheeks and his orange hair flowed down to the sides of his head. He was dressed in an autumn kimono with brown, wooden geta on his feet. One hand was kept close to a ninjato tucked beneath his obi. He scowled deeply as his blue eyes held back fire. "We've been here with that mark for years. Ain't changing now."

"You dare challenge Aku's greatness and glory?!" The shinobi shozoku clad Minion gasped. "How about I get my men to teach you two a lesson?!"

A dark-skinned man with a short, trimmed beard with his hair tied into a top knot, dressed in a black kimono stepped by his friend's side and shot back, "You think your slaves are loyal to you? The moment Aku turns his back on them, and turn his back he will, they will leave in droves for the Samurai's banner."

The Conscripted stood idly by, fidgeting with their rifles. They didn't want any part in this and their commander knew it.

"G-r-r-r," the red Minion growled at his disloyal troops. "Fine. But you have until tomorrow to remove that disgraceful mark or I will find somebody to do it for Aku! Fireteam Serpent?! Let's go!"

The angered Minion left with his soldiers as the crowds sighed in relief and dispersed. Ashi and the shopkeepers were the only ones who didn't go off. The pair soon took notice.

"Young woman," the man in black stepped up. "You differ from the rest of the people. You are not from around here, aren't you?"

"What gave me away?" She sarcastically smiled.

"Your weapons," the man's partner-in-crime pointed out. "And your demeanor. You are braver than most of the folk who'd flee at the sight of a Minion of Aku."

"I have my experiences." Feeling these two would be the right ones to ask for Jack, she inquired in a whisper as she approached them, "I'm looking for Samurai Jack."

"Normally, we'd disregard you as another bounty hunter," The dark man tilted his head. "But you? We'll make an exception."

"Well?"

"Come inside," the orange-haired one opened the store's door. "We have much to discuss."

When the three came inside, Ashi was astonished at how well decorated the place was for a weapons dealership. The interior resembled the architecture of many of ancient Japan's buildings and homes. The walls were lined with golden fusoma paneling that held paintings of mountains and valleys, with some scattered throughout the store with a variety of ancient and modern oriental weaponry and other Eastern artifacts and clothing hung on its shelves. Even though sunlight lit the spacious building well, candlelight was always kept burning.

Towards the cash register area, a shrine was erected with sweet-smelling burning incense that was kept burning in a purple vase. Ashi made note that the Zintaris mark was carved into an ivory tablet kept hanging low over the whole set up. What was even more interesting was the strange black katana that was kept lying in front of the vase of the shrine.

"You two have quite the operation here," she complimented.

"Domo arigato," the man in the black kimono smiled.

"I'm sorry?" She asked, wondering what he said.

"That's Japanese for 'thank you,'" he promptly escorted her over to a small dining area off to one corner of the store. Sitting on top of a large tatami mat was an electric kotatsu with a pot of green tea kept warm over it. Several cushions were kept around for guests to relax.

"Please, have a seat," the one with the auburn kimono offered. "I do not believe we have been properly introduced yet. My name is Phil and this is my friend, LaMarr. Together, we run Momotaro and Shinobi's."

"Pleasure to meet you both," she shook their hands as she took her seat. "Now about my request…"

"Ah, yes," Phil recalled. "You seek the Samurai? Many people have, but I'm afraid he disappeared into rumors and unconfirmed sightings. I swear I could have seen someone that looked like him not too long ago, but, I'm not sure…"

"Please," She begged eyes wide. "I fear he may be in danger. Where did he go?"

"Patience, young one," LaMarr smiled as he and Phil sat on the opposite side of the table. "We have much to talk about before we get to that. Who are you and why do you seek him?"

"I'm… Kunoichi."

"Kunoichi; a modernized label given to a female ninja or practitioner of ninjutsu," his eyes trailed up her body, making note of her arsenal. "And… you are well armed…"

"No," she understood where he was getting at. "I have travelled with him. I fought… uhh… by his side. I am trying to help him. Why are you so suspicious of me?"

"Forgive us," Phil raised his hands on front of him. "The last Samurai has a special place in our hearts."

"Let me guess, he saved your lives long ago."

They both shook their heads in agreement.

"You are observant. Our individual encounters with him occurred when we were very young," LaMarr remembered. "Allow us to explain."

Phil poured each person a cup of tea while his friend explained his story.

"I was only a young boy when Samurai Jack came to me in my time of need," he sipped his tea as the awesome and bittersweet memories returned. "The village of my birth was under attack. Robotic monsters."

"Sent by Aku?" Ashi asked.

"Correct. Before anyone was taken away and slain, he saved all of us, including me. But, another robotic assassin came, this time for the Samurai's head. It called itself, 'Shinobi; Warrior of the Night.' It kidnapped me, for the assailant sought to use me as bait to lure Jack in, but failed."

"What happened?"

"That is very difficult to put into words," he rubbed his neck. "The skyscraper effigy of Aku was very bright, yet pitch black dark at the same time. Warriors of light and dark, fighting to the death! Even I could barely see what was going on! But, Jack blinded the assassin before cutting him down. That sword you noticed at the shrine? That is the blade of Shinobi."

She looked on in awe before her at the black sword that rested in place.

"As for me," Phil began. "I was only an infant when he saved my life."

"And yet you remember this much?" Ashi was puzzled.

"Oh yes, and besides, my beloved mother kept telling me about this story for what seems like a lifetime!"

As he cheered and recalled heart-warming memories of his mother, Ashi couldn't help but feel… uncomfortable… at what he was saying. She never felt love from anyone. Her own mother disowned her. She cared for her sisters and they did too likewise, sure, but they were gone now. She struggled to keep herself focused at the man's memories.

"… oh, I apologize, is something wrong?"

"What?" She snapped out of her saddened state. "Oh, no! Please… please continue."

"Back to how I knew the Samurai, he rescued me when three robotic ogres attempted to cook me for some kind of stew. He also fed and took care of me!"

"That's… incredible!" She found it astonishing how Jack went the extra mile to care for a lost baby.

"However, I witnessed a great deal of violence on our travels," he recalled. "The ogres and several others came back for Jack, but he had no choice but to cut them down right in front of me. My mother still tells me I had this weird scowl written across my face. Ha! She called it Sakai, or the Spirit of the Samurai."

"To be honest, my friend," LaMarr smirked. "You do tend to do the 'Samurai Scowl' every now and then…"

"Whatever," Phil rolled his eyes. "Anyways, now your turn, Kunoichi. How do you know Samurai Jack? You mentioned something about fighting by him?"

"Yes, I did," she confessed. "We… got into a fight at Aku Tower and…"

"Wait!" LaMarr interrupted, nearly spilling his tea in the process. "That was you two?!"

"Yes."

"Even the authorities were unable to figure out who the shooter and swordsman were! CCTV was grainy as hell. Nobody could have identified the perpetrators. Guess that was you two."

"You showed impressive skills, slicing and dicing up Beetle Drones like that," Phil complimented. "I must ask; from where did you train? Edo? Chechnya? Resistance?"

"Let's just say none of the above," Ashi said. "But where have you last seen him? Please, this is very important."

"As I have previously mentioned, I do not know if it really was him," he doubted. "Uhh, what was he wearing?"

Ashi leaned forward in interest, not even bothering to drink her tea.

"Some kind of hooded grey cloak, his hair jet black and long with a beard almost as long. He… seemed depressed, and…"

She stood from her position and exclaimed, "That's him!"

Phil's jaw hung agape that he just let his childhood hero pass him by and he didn't even notice. LaMarr jabbed his acquaintance with his shoulder as he said, "I told you that you shoulda talked to him!"

Standing up in embarrassment, the former pointed off in the distance and muttered, "He… he… he went towards the airport! There are many airships there, but I know not which he took and where he went. I'm so sorry, Kunoichi. That's all I know."

"Thank you for everything, regardless, Phil and LaMarr. I will find him," taking a drink of her green tea before she left, she couldn't help but express her enjoyment of the warm drink. "Mmm! What's in this?"

"That is a special green tea, Samurai Jack's own recipe, I might add," LaMarr stood proudly. "He showed my mother how to make it in the weeks he remained in my village."

"One more thing," he rustled through the nearby weapons' shelf fishing out a freshly forged kusarigama with an accompanying beige satchel. "Take these as a gift from us."

"Thanks, for everything. I must find him…"

-…-

Having recovered from his ordeal with Ashi, Scaramouche was well on his way to tell Aku of the loss of Jack's sword. He hopped all the way through the city through the port area where a cruise liner was about to cast off. He happily rolled and tumbled towards the entry of the vessel at dock anticipating an easy way in.

He was wrong.

A tall and well-muscled sailor lowered his hand down on the once cheerful assassin, stopping him in his tracks.

"What is the problemo, babe?" He questioned.

The sailor said nothing as he pointed to his right, straight at a sign next to him as Scaramouche read the following:

"'No shirt, no shoes, no body – no entry?!'" He was flabbergasted that anyone would even add in that second to last part. Undeterred, he proudly announced, "Swing-a-ding-ding! I am Aku's top bot, the assassin with the sassin'."

The sailor did not care. He pointed to his left at a list of Aku's latest and best bounty hunters. The shamed robot read:

"'Aku's Current Top Assassins – one, Deathblow, two, Da-Bomb, three, Scaramouche?!'" Disappointed that his ego has fallen, he hopped away and lamented, "Oh, baby, I have come down in the world. How do you like that? One day, you're the star of the show, the next, you're the third act of a two-act play."

As he went on, his monologue was interrupted by a stray pug that happily barked and lapped its tongue at him. Scaramouche saw that the dog was female, had brown-spotted, light grey fur, with one of the spots covering the fur area surrounding the right eye. She had an aged, leather collar with a golden nametag hanging beneath it. It read, "Lulu."

"Well," the beheaded talked sternly to the dog. "This star is a headliner, babe, and once I tell Aku Jacky-o lost his sword-o, I'll be numero uno once more-o!"

Looking around, he sought to discern how he'll sneak aboard.

"Hmm, now how am I gonna get aboard the..." His optics widened at the sight of a flowery woman in a bright colored pink dress who wore a big hat he suspected he can hide in. "Oh, bing-o, baby!"

He jumped right into her flowery hat when she was not looking and silently giggled that he can finally stow away aboard.

Wrong.

The stout sailor caught onto his ruse and plucked the disheartened Scaramouche right out of the unsuspecting woman's hat as she boarded with her luggage and ticket.

"Oh, drat!" He complained before he was promptly thrown into the murky bay.

Fishing himself back onto the dock, Lulu patiently waited by his side as she licked the robot's faceplate clean of the sea muck. Then Scaramouche grinned at her as his next idea came into play.

If I can't hijack a body, I'll borrow one! Facing the pug with a devilish grin, he said, "Hey guess what, babe? I got a plan for you…"

The dog's smile dropped as she tilted her head as to what is he talking about.

As the sailor admitted scores more of passengers aboard, an oddity caught his dreary eye. People scoffed and laughed at the sight of a robot's head snugly tucked around a spotted grey pug's neck. The sight was as inconceivable as it was ridiculous.

"Aww, yeah, baby!" as he attempted to motion the stray forward, she frequently lost balance and dropped Scaramouche flat on his face multiple times. "No, no, no, Lulu! That way, baby-cake! That way!"

Eventually coming to a full stop in front of the sailor for what he hoped to be the final time, the overconfident assassin sang, "Bow wow wow! Bow wow wow! Bow wow wow, babe!"

The silent guardian of the cruise liner pointed back to his right at a… certain amendment... to the boat's boarding policy:

No Dog.

Turning away in shame, Scaramouche sang again, "Bow wow heartbreaker…"

Lulu promptly kicked the head off her shoulders and urinated right in his forehead before running off back into the city.

Well, he frowned. Can't say I didn't deserve that…

Washing himself off back in the bay again, the sassy assassin had to readjust his tactics. Sneaking in won't work out, but he sought to bribe his way in.

Upon spotting a man in a blue trench coat hunched over fixing together his briefcase, Scaramouche sought to use this man to his advantage.

"Hey, you in the blue!"

"Whatcha want?" His high pitched voice squeaked as he turned and revealed himself to the bodiless hitman.

Scaramouche was not expecting what he just saw. Despite being tall and reasonably built, the man's head was shrunken to a degree that must have been done in a lab experiment gone awry or an unfortunate bump unto an angry wizard.

Whoa… What a freak! He marveled. Looks like a talking…

"Ahem," he sternly began. "Again I ask; whatcha need?"

"Oh, well, you see, dic – I mean…"

"My name is Richard," he folded his arms.

More like 'Dick,' he appropriately believed. "Well, Richard, I need to get aboard that ship."

"Uh-huh, well, so do I. Now if you'll excuse me, I should go."

"No wait!" Scaramouche begged. "Look, I'll pay you! How about fifty creds for the trip?"

Even Richard couldn't turn down an easy buck. "Okay fine. What should I do?"

"Well… How do I put this?"

-…-

Ashi had to be careful.

The airport was flooded with security as they searched any suspicious individual. Overhead, past the advertisements and recruitment propaganda, were wanted posters for the following:

Unknown Felons STILL at Large:

Unknown Suited Man and Woman Assaulted Aku Tower in Tokyo.

To be Considered

ARMED and EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

(cR) Reward for Information Leading to Arrest (cR)

I can't risk asking anyone, she quickly learned. But, where do I go?

At least she was grateful her abilities and new satchel hid some of her more controversial belongings.

As she darted past suspicious individuals and security alike, she observed the towering black hologram of today's flight schedule and destinations. Many cities were labeled in white lettering with their corresponding arrival and departure times in red and blue. Green signs next to them signified their boarding status.

Chicago, Moscow, Horizons, New Canton, Johannesburg, she read on. It seemed hopeless to see which flight the former Samurai took. But just as she was about to give up, one city and country stuck out above the rest. The flight's destination and schedule lay third from the bottom. Osaka, Japan?

Japan. The Samurai's own homeland.

That is where he must be headed! As she ran off towards the ticket booth, one question remained. Wait. Why would he go back there?

The more she traveled, the more her former companion's intentions were made unclear. What was his business there? Is this the reason why he abandoned her? To go home?

Upon purchasing a ticket from the automated kiosk, she mentally thanked Genndy and the Tartakovsky family for giving her the money to do so. She tightly gripped the white piece of cardboard in her hand as if her life and destiny depended on it. As she hurried along the winding halls and passages, she made her way through the busy crowds of people, creatures, and aliens alike to the gate where the blimp would be.

She wound up accidentally shoving past two large, hulking men draped in brown cloaks, their faces hidden from sight.

"I'm so sorry!" She apologized as the towering pair loomed over her in curiosity. She ran off as they both felt something odd about her.

"Did you feel it too, brother?" Questioned one in a deep and low tone.

"Yes, her soul is tainted with blackness," replied the other. "We must follow. I fear she is of Aku."

"I agree…"

-…-

Scaramouche and Richard strolled down the dock with the former planted on top of the shrunken head of the latter, as the beheaded assassin grinned happily that he was able to make it past that sailor that denied him entry for so long.

"Yeah, babe," the hitman cheered. "Dig this groovy cat."

The burly sailor only rolled his eyes at the scene as he finally permitted him entry.

"Chow, chow, chowdity-chow chow, baby cakes!" Scaramouche waved off.

Upon making it aboard, the assassin's overconfidence shone through once again. The horn blared off as the vessel left safe harbor in the nick of time. At the rate the cruise liner traveled, it would be a few weeks for it to arrive at its destination.

"Whoo-hoo! Numero uno, here I come!"

Having had enough, Richard removed the annoying robot off of his shrunken cranium and cleared his throat as he reminded, "That's fifty credits, bud."

"Trust me, babe, I'm good for it," he reassured.

"Yeah," the other doubted. "Well the last guy I trusted did this to me!"

As Richard marched away with his luggage, Scaramouche had one more thing to say. "Oh, it's all good, Babou. Aku will give me anything once he hears the news."

Finding himself alone on the ship's railing, he sang to himself another jazzy tune before a disturbing revelation hit him.

"Whoa, what a freak. Looked like a talking penis."

"Hey! I heard that, jack-wad!"

Oh, drats… Scaramouche had turned around to see the angered Richard standing behind him this whole time, and he was cracking his knuckles.

"Uhh… heh, heh," The assassin tried to laugh it off. "Look I can explain… Aah!"

He now had to run for his shrunken friend now wanted to beat him into the deck. And thus began a wild cat-and-mouse chase throughout the vessel as onlookers wondered as to what was going on.

Scaramouche was really not having a good day.

-…-

As Ashi was escorted to her cabin aboard the blimp's passenger decks, she held a brief conversation with the airship's Captain, asking if the "bearded man in a grey cloak" came here.

"Yeah, yeah," he recognized who she was speaking about. "The bearded fella you requested got off on my last flight to Japan."

"Are you sure? Where is he now?" She tried to conceal the concern in her voice.

"Patience miss, we are scheduled to arrive in eighteen hours," he informed her. "I suggest you get some rest. Ya look like you haven't had any for the past few days."

Even she had to agree with that.

"Well, here we are! Room Zero-Three-One-One. Heh. Oddly enough, the same one we gave him, but he never used. Also, we have a dining area down the hall that way. I suggest you fill up."

"Thank you," she smiled.

"And don't worry," the Captain placed his hand on her shoulder. "We'll get you to your boyfriend!"

She stood dumbstruck at the doorway to her room as the officer left to check on his other guests. Several times now have people accused her of being his friend, ally, and significant other. She was certainly no longer his enemy, but still resented him for what he did to her late family. The former Daughter of Aku found herself lost between opposite ends of the spectrum, unable to decide if she really was his friend.

As she rested in the small mattress, two curious individuals crept through the hallway where she resided.

"Brother, we cannot act upon your suspicion alone," one spoke.

"Hear me out," the brother reasoned. "This one definitely seeks the Samurai."

"But, we cannot deny this," he pointed at Ashi's door. "We both sensed her evil."

"I concur," the other hooded individual nodded. "We shall keep an eye on her."

"For the Samurai."

"For the Samurai," he lowly echoed.

-…-

Ashi awoke the next day feeling hungry. Leaving her belongings in the small cabin, she followed the smell of something delicious cooking and made her way to the spacious cafeteria. People of all shapes and sizes came to dine on the variety of different cuisine being served. Fortunately, it all came free of charge with the price of her ticket in.

As she stood in line, she felt a little intimidated by the people larger than her that stood in front and behind her. She still stood tall, confident in her ability to take care of herself. After packing herself a tray full of food, she sat by herself at a small table in the middle of the crowd. As she looked around, she breathed in relief that she can eat in peace.

As she chowed down, a little girl ran up to Ashi, intrigued with the young woman's haircut. The former assassin took notice. The girl had long, silken, white hair, short, light blue fur that covered her body, and wore a yellow dress with sunflowers dotted all over it.

Her twin antennae lit and arced lightning between them as words and emojis took place of the girl's inability to speak. "Hello!"

Caught off-guard by this little one's way to converse, Ashi spoke back. "Uhh… Hi?"

The mother of the little girl soon ran up to the scene. Her fur was green-blue and wore a modest one-piece brown dress. She carried her infant in her arms and seemed a little embarrassed as she smiled at Ashi and her unexpected predicament.

"I… Am… So… Sorry!" She zapped and beeped her antennae. "Hailee… Gets… Curious…"

"Oh, it is no problem," Ashi smiled back.

"I'm… Samara," she introduced herself. "This… Is… Anton… And… U… R?"

"Oh, Kunoichi," part of her believed that name is becoming more and more permanent each time she responds with that.

"Looking… 4… A… Bearded… Man… I… Hear?" Samara coyly rose her eyebrows.

"Something like that…"

"Well… If… It… Helps… I… Was… Saved… By… One…"

"Don't tell me," Ashi could tell right away. "Jack?"

"Jack." Samara nodded once. "We… Better… Leave… You… Be..."

"Nice… Uhh… 'speaking' with you!"

She smiled back and flashed a smiley face in return before escorting her little family away. It was at this moment in time Ashi questioned all the events she has been through over the past few days. It was getting beyond coincidence that she was finding herself exposed to people Samurai Jack positively affected in his life here. Was she being guided towards these people for a reason? The former Daughter of Aku could only wonder.

Finishing up her morning meal, Ashi went outside to the wide balconies of the blimp. Wind howled and the engine chugged the aircraft forward. The aft propeller kept things moving on schedule. There she stood staring out the open skies, wondering where her Samurai companion went. As other passengers marveled at the rolling hills, winding rivers, and other wonderful sights the countryside of Japan had to offer, Ashi did not share the same enthusiasm the others did. The sight of families enjoying their time together and especially of the couples that nuzzled each other was too much for the trained assassin to bear. She knew she'd most likely never receive that affection from anyone alive.

However, as she hunched over the outer railing towards the bow of the carriage, the hairs on the back of her neck stood when an unwanted presence made itself known to her. Someone was spying on her…

"Are you sure she was the one?" A lumbering, hooded figure asked another.

"Yes, I specifically saw her asking about him," he whispered into his brother's ear.

"Aku's bounty hunter?"

"I sense her evil."

"That is a certainty, brother."

The pair were slow and methodical in their approach to the lone woman. After everything the Samurai has done for their people, they were not about to let another bounty hunter have their way for money. Little did they know that she was on to their plans before they even started…

You've got to be kidding me… she grimaced. She's been through enough fights as it is already.

"Gotcha!" The lumbering pair were too slow in attempting to wrestle her between them as they wound up tackling each other.

Ashi readied her fists in case things got messy.

"We will not let you hurt the Samurai!" One of them shouted.

"'Hurt?'" There was once a time she would have, but not anymore. "No, I… Look, I'm not trying to hurt him. I'm trying to find him. He might be in trouble."

Despite their initial suspicions, they both saw the innocence and honesty in this woman's eyes.

"You are his friend?" one asked as he approached, face-to-face.

"I… don't know," she turned away.

"We are his friends!" the pair unmasked themselves, lowering their hoods behind their backs.

There before her stood the identity of the masked strangers that stalked her over the course of the whole flight. The Woolies are a humble, reclusive, and yet powerful race known for their long and bloody history with the Chritchellites, a space-faring race of slavers. The Woolies themselves resembled the extinct Wooly Mammoths, featuring thick, fur-covered bodies, large eyes, and long colorful noses that hung just below their mouths.

"So how are you friends of the Samurai?" Ashi inquired.

"It was long ago," the Woolie began to tell the sad tale of his people as he stared straight into Ashi's eyes. "We were slaves. Our race was dominated by those who sought to use us for labor. With our city and people overrun, all seemed hopeless and lost."

"Was Aku responsible?"

"In a way, yes," he humbly admitted. "He allowed those slavers to control us when they immigrated from a distant star system."

The former assassin's fists clenched in anger that Aku allowed such atrocities to occur.

"But then Jack came," the Woolie happily remembered. "Even without using his sword, he defeated many in close combat. He inspired us, and he broke us free of their control and we drove the invaders off-world together."

"He risked his life to save ours," the other Woolie confessed with a heavy heart.

"I do not believe we have been properly introduced yet," Ashi began to introduce herself. "I go by Kunoichi, and you are?"

"I am Mammuthus, and this is my brother Primigenius," upon realizing his mistake at attacking a friend of their Savior, he expressed his regrets. "My apologies for attacking you. We had no idea. When you were asking around, we believed you were in with Aku."

"It's okay," she shrugged. "This… is not the first time this happened. I am not part of Aku's order."

Not part of Aku's order. Her words repeated in her mind as she recalled those were things her mother shouted at her long ago. Before the trio could converse any longer, the blimp's Captain came up to Ashi.

"Miss, the bearded fella you inquired about? He got off here."

"That's good news! How long until we land?"

"We are mere hours away from Osaka Airport. Hold tight until then."

The very mention of this statement forced her to run back to her cabin and gather up all her belongings. Her quest cannot delay any longer. Coming back to bow of the carriage balcony fully geared up, she stood atop the railing, getting ready for a base jump.

"Mammuthus, Primigenius," she started off. "Thank you for sharing your story."

The Captain could not believe his eyes as to what happened next:

She jumped right off.

"No!" He gasped in horror. "You're supposed to get off when you land!"

Ashi didn't care. She's done this move before. Reaching into her satchel, she released her brand new kusarigama, twirling around the end with the kama as she launched it at a high tree branch. As expected, it wrapped all the way around as the sickle sunk in with a clang, securing the loops. The young assassin braced herself for landfall, going in feet first as she eventually skidded to a stop on the dirt.

Phew! She sighed. Better landing than last time…

Retrieving her weapon from the tree, it was now time to resume her quest for the lost Samurai.

-…-

The Shinobi was even more determined in her search for the Ronin.

Through many towns and cities, she did search for Jack, risking her life in some cases for even the slightest shred of evidence that Jack passed through here. Her determination remained steady even as night fell across the Japanese countryside.

Ashi had wandered her way towards a town north of Osaka called Vivacissimo. It was late at night and not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

Far outside the city limits, she saw evidences of battle. Old Beetle Drone husks were piled off the road. Bullet holes and plasma scorching adorned their shattered armor plating. Rusted shell casings glittered the grounds leading up to the city that seemed unaltered from the attack.

When she arrived, the buildings of this once lively village were unmarred and seemed empty, much to her confusion.

Hmmm, no signs of battle, it is almost as if everyone got up and left of their own accord.

Her investigation came to a halt as she noticed multi-colored floodlights lighting up the sky deeper into the forest.

Guess that's where I need to go for answers…

As she went through the forest, she gasped in awe at the scene before her. Loud electronic music played throughout as a large stage held a single DJ silhouetted behind the lights rocked out to all the unseen figure was playing. Crowds of people, young and old, from all walks of life danced and played. They were dressed in all manner of clothing, some in fine linens, others in more revealing attire, and the rest in whatever suited them for the occasion.

The Shinobi wandered through the crowd, accidentally bumping into a few others, as she sought someone to ask for Jack's whereabouts.

Upon spotting a man in an old astronaut's suit dancing, she asked him loudly, "Have you seen the Samurai come through here?!"

Everything came to a full halt. Music stopped. People ceased dancing and stared straight at the unknown woman in black. The DJ activated a floodlight and aimed a directional microphone at Ashi's direction. Ashi's face was shown on the large holographic screen for all to see.

"What do you want with the Samurai?" The woman on stage glowered.

"I… think he's in danger," she said as her voice echoed through the large speakers on stage and beyond. She lowered her head and closed her eyes as she confessed, "He needs my help…"

Removing her headphones, the DJ stepped up into the light revealing herself. Despite her aged physique, there stood feeling as strong and as youthful in times past was Olivia DeLisle, one of the first of the Ravers. She still wore her hair into two small flowery buns on either side of her scalp, wide purple glasses, and a matching dancer's attire for the full getup.

Remembering what the Samurai did for her and her friends alike, she figured it was time. She raised her hands, curling her fingers and placing them together as it formed an "S" shape, in memoriam of Jack. The image displayed on screen as everyone got the message. They each, one-by-one, in turn happily reciprocated the action as a peaceful electric melody played.

"Samurai… DROP!" Olivia announced, throwing her arms high in the air.

Ashi stood her ground, curious as to what was going on.

The beat dropped, as purple floodlights silhouetted the crowd around Ashi. A few preselected dancers knew what to do next as they dressed up in their costumes and shuffled on-stage.

"We will never forget you 'til the day we d-i-i-i-e-e," Oliva sang. "Samurai… Sa-Sa-Samurai…"

The beat shuffled as the bass and tempo increased. The main screen glowed white behind the dancers as a performance was shown to all, demonstrating Samurai Jack's good deeds through interpretive dances and reenactments. Soon after, Oliva sang praise once more.

"You brought hope in a hopeless p-l-a-a-a-c-e!

You shined a light through the sky you fell from,

Love and Life, Aku divide,

Turn him away, 'cause I need you more!

Sa-Sa-Samurai, we need you, Samurai!"

So, are you people going to help me or not?! Ashi asked to herself in confusion. The dancers on stage then grouped together for their reenactment of when Jack helped the Canine Archaeologists.

"Red diamonds, the Dogs did mine,

In the light, you came to aid!

Freedom attained, they live today!

It was the Samurai! The Samurai!"

For the second act, their eyes glowed red, representing their former control by music from Aku.

"Then Aku enslaved the children with his beats from hell,

But then he came and fought the evil away!"

The crowd around Ashi synchronized a dance routine even Jack himself never anticipated to get so popular. They stylized a series of kicks and punches in a group dance session as Ashi found herself joining in. For years upon years of Ashi's youth, these sorts of exercises were to strengthen team cohesion and discipline, but now it was a form of enjoyment for her. She found herself legitimately happy as the song of Jack the Samurai continued.

"… And now we're all standing, side by s-i-i-i-d-e,

As your light crosses into mine!

Feel our heartbeats in your mind,

Aku shall fall, by thy s-w-o-o-o-r-d!

It shall be the Samurai! The Samurai, Samurai-ai-ai-ai-ai!"

All stopped out of the blue.

Ashi found herself in an awkward situation once again as she too ceased her pose under the spotlight.

"Whoever you are," Olivia spoke over the loudspeakers as she stepped down off stage towards Ashi. "Know this; Samurai Jack has… a special place in all of our hearts."

Eventually both DJ and Shinobi stood face-to-face under the spotlight.

"I'm sorry that this is not exactly what you were looking for," Olivia giggled. "But… I believe you can do it. Find Jack, and bring the legend of the Samurai back to life. It's not just us that need him, but all of those worldwide. No pressure."

"So," Ashi found the strength to reply. "You never saw him come through here?"

Olivia shook her head no.

"Thank you," she said before she left. "I will find him… I must find him..."

As she left, Olivia returned to the stage and put on her headphones as she announced to her fellow Ravers, "Alrighty, boys and girls, ladies and gentlemen, next up we have Pool City, McKnight Road by TOBACCO and Hang 'em All by Carpenter Brut!"

The crowds cheered as the shrill tones were followed by the electronic beat of the music that followed. Ashi left the scene as people danced to the song's rhythm.

While this was honestly another dead end in her journey, the experience made it worthwhile.

-…-

As Ashi headed north from Vivacissimo, she found herself deep in the wood and lush jungle. All her leads at this point have proven fruitless. She knew not where to go, but instinct told her to keep moving forward.

The plants and greenery had a peculiar glow to them. Bioluminescent insects and plant life thrived here. Neon blue butterflies flew between trees whose leaves flickered on and off in what seemed to be all colors of the rainbow. Seedlings launched from flowers spouted tendrils of their own, guiding them in their flight for a new home to grow. The cherry blossom trees that dotted to and fro were among those that remained as they were.

"'Even in the bowels of the darkest of creatures, there is beautiful light,'" Ashi quoted Jack. The beauty of nature before her reminded the former assassin so much of when she and Jack were in the belly of the Garganolith.

As she moved along in admiration of the forest before her, the sounds of rushing water caught her ears. There was no river nor any waterfall in sight, but it was surely there. Her answer came as she approached a small cavern deep in the ground. Water pooled within as a small waterfall flowed and poured right into it.

Seeing her mirror image in the water made her truly reflect on who she was:

A Daughter of Aku.

Ashi's skin itched and her eyes quivered at the remembrance of her own literal baptism by fire…

-…-

The baptism was a mandatory rite of passage for all Daughters of Aku. Priestesses encircled a pit of scalding hot volcanic tar and ash as they bowed down around the rim, chanting their deity's name over and over. High Priestess Azula stood behind her frightened children, who were only draped in grey sackcloth.

"Aku, our Lord and Master, is one with the darkness," she taught her offspring. "He was born from it, which fills him with infinite power!"

Placing her hand on little Ashi's shoulder, she went on, saying, "We too, must become one with it."

What the overzealous mother did next scarred the little girl for all time and eternity. She undraped her daughters as they stood nude at the Pit of Hate's edge for the ceremony.

"We are forever grateful, and ever in your service," Azula calmly prayed.

One by one they were each knocked into the red-hot pit, emerging scarred for life as the tar stuck to their skin like a shroud, a shroud they will carry for their life purpose and quest. They all screamed in pain and horror as the priestesses chanted thanksgiving to their God, as their leader stood uncaring.

-…-

Each time the Seven grew out of their "gifts," they had to be tossed back in, symbolic of their lifelong devotion and steadfast faith in Aku.

Ashi turned away from the pit of crystal clear water, shaking in fear of each time she had to be tossed back in, but then, she made a different choice. Where her first baptism came by the fires of her childhood, it was time to set all that aside for a new beginning, a new life, a renewal of her own self.

She jumped straight into the small pond, relishing at how cool the water was to the touch. She swam in comfort, before eyeing her blackened reflection on the waterfall that revealed herself.

It's time for a new change of looks.

Casting aside her weapons and gear, she searched around, finding two pumice stones. She furiously scrubbed away at her charred flesh, freeing it from the last mark of her connection to her former cult and upbringing. All throughout the night she did this, even as the sun rose from the horizon.

Fully free from her past, she swam a victory lap around the pond, truly feeling comfortable with her own lithe and toned body for the first time in forever. Emerging from the pool, it became also time for a change of hair. Honoring her fallen sisters, she restyled to match their own. A crew cut like half her sisters like Arya wore while curling up the edges as Aya had. With her kunai, Ashi gave herself a much needed trimming, leaving her hair spiked as Aki's.

Having been satisfied with her new look, she looked down to see she needed new attire.

"Uh oh," she gasped at her nakedness. She will have to improvise her next line of clothing.

Looking around, she spotted several bushes of thick, wide, and impressively durable leaves nearby in the cavern.

Maybe I can make something nice out of these…

For many hours, she fashioned a dress, a look, and a style that truly represented herself. She fashioned a single-strap tank top by weaving the smaller leaves around into a secure and durable vest, secured together by the angel hair strewn about, whilst leaving a decorative fringe at the top of the strap. A freely waving skirt was mended from longer leaves. She really enjoyed how the air felt on her legs. Carving two soles from flexible pieces of wood, she secured them to her feet with long and soft reeds, effectively making a comfortable pair of all-terrain boots. Her left bicep and right forearm were scratched badly from her impromptu scrubbing, so Ashi elected to cover them up as well with improvised bandages from the green reeds. To top off the whole ensemble, she carefully pieced together a necklace made with six long, orange seashells, each representing one of her sisters.

Securing her sword to her waist with the strap acting as a belt, her bow and quiver hanging from her shoulder, and her beige satchel hanging by her side, she was now a new woman.

Having emerged from her baptism by water, the former Daughter of Aku, Ashi, has now turned over a new leaf.

…

---

Sorry about the long wait on this one. :(

The difficult thing about writing this chapter was trying to keep it the same way Genndy himself had this episode paced, not being too overly filled with fan-service and keeping the plot moving forward. I honestly went through six revisions of this whole chapter trying to find balance between each of Ashi's encounters, whilst throwing in ones I saw fit. I had honestly planned to add more people in, but, after much thought, I feel it would be more natural if I handle future encounters the same way I handled the return of Extor. Hope you enjoyed what I made here thus far!

For the record, the only reason I put so much into this chapter is mainly because I have a very… special… run-in I have planned for Ashi in the next chapter.

And now, for my favorite section, References! Longtime fans of Samurai Jack will notice I used in the same way Jack entered the battlefield of the Spartans for Ashi and included the ending to Episode XXV: Jack and the Spartans with Ashi's encounter. As for the naming of the Archers, I used quite a bit of Cherokee. Odalv translates to "Mountain," Gigage Gatlida is Cherokee for "Red Arrow", Alastalidohi translates to, well, "Archer." Digewi Tsisdetsi means "Blind Mouse" and Gvhnage Galitsadi means "Black Bow." My own idea of a joke. Even though it was confirmed in a San Diego Comic Conference that Momotaro is female, Jack and the mother referred to the baby as "son." Mammuthus Primigenius is the scientific name for a Woolly mammoth. Olivia's "It was the Samurai" song was expanded using lyrics from "We Found Love." Pool City, McKnight Road is the song that played in XCVII Promotional and Hang 'em All by Carpenter Brut is one of two songs that played in the Season 5 trailer, the other being Division Ruine by the same group.

Also, I'd like to take a moment and give a special shout-out to 00RaiserGundam for all the much needed revisions, changes, and edits to this fanfiction! If you're reading this, thanks a bunch yet again!

Please look forward to Chapter 11: The Hope You Gave Me coming when it is truly ready.