A/N Sorry I haven't done anything lately. I thought I'd apologize with a real quick Rangers Apprentice one-shot. Enjoy!
"Will!"
The boy blinked and suddenly an middle-aged man was standing in front of him, wearing a Rangers cloak, with Ranger's weapons, and a golden Ranger oakleaf.
"Who are you?" The boy asked, only relaxing slightly, when Rangers retired, it was because either old age or an injury prevented them from their duties, and Will could see signs of neither on this Ranger's face.
"Pritchard." The Ranger said. "I believe Halt's mentioned me?" He said it casually, and it took Will a second to place the name.
"Halt's mentor!" The boy's face lit up, before falling doubtfully. "But you're supposed to be dead-"
"I am dead." Pritchard said. "Look around you. Have you ever been here before?" The boy looked around, seeing the familiar, yet unfamiliar location.
"Halt's cabin." He said, and his gaze landed on the chair.
"Actually this was my cabin." Pritchard said. "From when I was training Halt. We were in Conmel at the time."
"Why would we be in Conmel?" Will asked. "And why is Halt important?" Pritchard chuckled.
"Now I see why Halt found it so irritating." Pritchard muttered to himself. "Halt is important because he is where our lives intersected, in a way. He is what we have in common."
"Other than the fact that we're both Rangers?" Will asked.
"Well, yes." Pritchard said. "Though you're still an apprentice. But there's more. If it hadn't been for Halt's interest in you, thanks to your father, I would have never noticed you. After death, a Ranger can teach a child's subconscious things they will need to know to be a Ranger. I'm the one who taught you that people will see what they expect to see."
"So I didn't come up with that out of thin air?" Will asked. "Thanks, I guess." He thought for a moment. "Wait, if you're dead then does that mean I'm dead?"
"No, you're dying." Pritchard said. "You can go back, if you want, Halt's waiting for you. Or you can come with me, meet the rest of the Rangers. They're waiting to meet you."
"By the rest of the Rangers- you mean, the dead Rangers, don't you?" Will asked. "You're-"
"Offering you eternity." Pritchard said. "With the ability to help others from dead threats that Rangers never learn of."
"The why are you telling me?" Will asked.
"Because there's always the chance you might come with me." Pritchard said. "And, if you chose to return to Halt - like I hope you will - there is a fifty percent chance of you forgetting this. Make your choice soon."
"Or?"
"Or the choice will be made for you." Pritchard said. "And you'll have to come with me."
"I'm going back." Will said instantly, and the room around him and Pritchard began to fade.
"Good luck, Will." Pritchard said as he began to fade. "I'll see you again." He waved, and suddenly, Will saw the real world again.
"Will!" He heard Halt's voice through the pain now. "Will! Thank god. Hang in there, we're almost to a healer."
A/N And that's that. Please tell me what I can do better with a review or PM.