Long Shadow leaned against her dock in Southampton. She was trying unsuccessfully to drown her grief over her apprentice, Wisconsin's death in Norfolk a year prior. She'd done the same thing after Britannia died, trying everything from alcohol to the opium trade. She'd been addicted to the stuff ever since. Victory had her on regular doses of Lithium, a drug used mostly for bipolar disorders to help with mood swings and depression. But like she did before, Long Shadow took advantage and overdosed. It got to the point where Victory would find her passed out in her berth, her eyes rolled back into her head so only the whites showed. The old healer sighed. "Why must you always make this so difficult, Shadow?" She asked.
It was a few weeks later that Long Shadow prepared to sail out. She still had her duties to perform, whether she liked it or not. She'd learned her lesson on abandoning them the hard way, she wouldn't do so again. Victory had loaded her hold with Lithium for her to take daily. But that alone wouldn't be enough for her. She considered stopping in Karachi in the Arabian Sea to pick up some opium shipments that had arrived there in that port from fertile grounds in Afghanistan. Taking the last dose of what she had now, she shoved it in an old fashioned pipe and lit up, puffing away. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. Victory's nose twitched. "Ugh, Shadow you know I don't like you doing that." She said. "Yeah but I'm not gonna stop and you're not gonna make me." Long Shadow replied smugly. "Hmph." was the healer's response.
Finishing off the pipe, Long Shadow stored it back where it belonged and cast off her lines. "Goodbye Victory, I'm heading out!" She called. "Never goodbye, Long Shadow. Only hello!" Victory replied. Long Shadow smiled to herself and raced away, gaining speed as she went. Once into the open ocean, the old ship set a course for Gilbralter then took a dive. It'd be easier for her to navigate the Suez Canal undetected. She got tired of paying a fare after a time. The Mediterranean was a breeze as usual though she did have a few close calls with some submarines. "Huh, who's there?!" asked Virginia who was lurking off Lybia's coast in the shallows. Long Shadow chuckled to herself and sailed on leaving the confused sub behind. She entered and exited the canal with no issue, merely following a large freighter inside the locks and following it out again. She didn't surface until she reached Karachi. Shaking herself off, she sailed into the harbor, docking at her usual spot. Another ship was there, a large freighter bound for Seattle. "Merhaba." (Hello there.) The ship said. It'd been a while since she'd heard Turkish but she readily replied in the same tongue "selamlar arkadaşım". (Greetings friend.) "Eğer Türk konuşmak." (You speak Turkish) The ship asked surprised. "Evet, gerçi o süre oldu." (Yes though it's been a while.) Long Shadow replied.
A man came forward then and spoke in Dutch "Wat kan ik voor je doen, Lang Schadow." (What can I do for you, Long Shadow?) The old sailing ship smiled. "Wil je het hebben." (Do you have my order) She asked. "Ja, hier ben je." (Yes, here you are.) He and several men came forward, carrying crates filled with opium. Long Shadow lowered her gangplank and let them come aboard. "Dank u meneer." (Thank you sir.) She said. "U bent van harte welkom." (You're very welcome.) He replied. "Iets voor een vrend van mohammedanisme." (Anything for a friend of Islam.) She dipped her head and sailed out.
Once again on the open sea, she turned south for the Cape, her eyes flickering up to the stars that had spontaneously sprung up overhead. "So beautiful.." She whispered. "Are you up there Wisconsin?" She asked. "She's here." replied a voice. Long Shadow jumped in surprise. She hadn't been expecting an answer. Before her appeared a beautiful old galleon, one that Long Shadow would recognize anywhere. "Britannia..." She whispered. Her former mentor had a sad look in her eyes as she gazed at her apprentice. "Long Shadow." She sighed, shaking her head in obvious disappointment. "What have you become?" Long Shadow had seen Britannia cry tears of sorrow, she'd seen her raving mad but nothing, nothing could hurt her more than seeing that profound look of shame in her eyes. "I-I don't know." She replied, bowing her head. "Look at you, turning to such means to cope with yourself." Britannia said. "I taught you better than that." "I know you did. It's no fault of yours. I make my own choices now." Long Shadow replied. "You're still my apprentice." Britannia pointed out. "You're my responsibility. That makes anything you do, right or wrong, my fault." Long Shadow sighed and nodded. "Why are you doing this to yourself, Long Shadow?" Britannia asked. "You know Wisconsin wouldn't approve." "I know but, how can I keep doing this when everyone I love dies? In the end, I'm always left with nothing!" Long Shadow cried. "You think it was easy for me?" Britannia asked. "I lived for 7500 years. 7522 to be exact. I never wanted to live forever. I never asked for it. But it was my purpose to protect the great empires of the world, be they Rome, Egypt, Britain or France... In the end yes, my friends of that generation died. But I was never alone. I always had someone to turn to. That's the beauty of having a heart Long Shadow, no matter how much it hurts, how much you don't want it, you cannot resist the temptation to have someone share life with you." She moved forward and nuzzled her apprentice. "Why does it hurt so?" Long Shadow sobbed. "Why must I endure such pain?" "It hurts because it was real, my dear Shadow." Britannia replied gently. "You will live on, and find others to care for and protect until it is their time to go. Your duty isn't just to protect the dead, it is to protect life, to enjoy life, to live life as you would've all those years ago when I chose you." "But how? How Britannia?!" Long Shadow whimpered. Britannia pressed her muzzle to her ear and whispered "Start by knowing you're not alone. I am always with you, and now Wisconsin will be too." "I won't ever abandon you, Long Shadow." "Wisconsin..." Long Shadow whispered, breathing in the battleship's sweet, familiar scent as it wreathed around her. She turned her head to meet Wisconsin's blue eyes. "Don't do this, Shadow." She begged. "Don't destroy yourself like I did. I thought doing such things would help and they proved to be my own undoing. I don't want to see you in the Ancients any sooner than necessary. Your place is here." "But I miss you." Long Shadow sighed, dropping her gaze. "I know, and I miss you. But like Britannia said, we're always here. You're never truly alone and you never will be." She nuzzled her gently, Long Shadow returning it. Britannia kissed the top of her head, holding her in a tight embrace before letting go.
They sailed off a short distance, facing her and said in unison, their forms fading "I love you." Long Shadow smiled. "I know." She whispered softly, her voice choking as tears sprung from her eyes, making wet trails down her cheeks. "I love you too."