Author's Note: This is the last part in present tense.

A bright blue sky is underneath his wings as he flies upside down towards the town. Clouds are above him and as he falls towards them a gust of wind pushes him, forcing him to flip and drop through the air. His black wings catch the wind and begin to glide.

Suddenly green wings join him, pushing against the wind to rise. Together they soar, one with the sky. Below them a man watches, a grin covering his face. His body is exhausted but his heart is light. His skin, chilled from a night wearing only a t-shirt, begins to warm up from the power of the sun. He feels like this was all a dream, the transformation, the long night researching, all futile. He wants to wake up, but the light caressing his face confirms he is awake.

A shorter man walks up to him with a steaming cup of the local coffee. He hands it over and the tired man drinks it appreciatively.

"The sky here is beautiful." Radek looks up at the orange pink sky against a bright expanse of blue.

"He looks beautiful playing in the wind." Rodney smiles softly.

"I am sorry for your loss, but he will be happy here yes?" Radek stretches his arm to include the whole planet.

"He would be if he were staying." Rodney closes his eyes and enjoys the morning breeze.

"What do you mean?" Radek face shows surprise. Atlantis is no place for a bird.

"John is returning with us as soon as we change him back to human." Rodney's face is determined.

"Rodney, you know that's impossible." Radek's eyes are sad.

"I've spent all night thinking, and what I've come to realize is nothing's impossible. If the great Metamorpher was really a form of ascension then the person can descend just like Daniel did." Rodney scratches his head.

"It is not the same. His soul was transformed. There are no examples of reversals."

"Yes, but we have something these people never had." Rodney is smiling crookedly.

"Her?" Radek starts to smile too.

"We have our very own ancient. Gather the manuscripts. We're going to Proculus." Rodney holds his arm up and the green parakeet stops his games with the black bird and flies down landing on Rodney's arm. "Ready for a trip John? Going to meet your favorite lady." John whistles in his ear. Together they walk towards the gate.