Disclaimer: Highlander belongs to Davis/Panzer Productions, I don't own anything, just my original characters.

From the dawn of time we came; moving silently down through the centuries, living many secret lives, struggling to reach the time of the Gathering; when the few who remain will battle to the last. No one has ever known we were among you... until now.

(Cue Princes of the Universe)

Starring

Jack Turpin

Kehli O'Byrne

Adrian Paul

and Christopher Lambert as Connor MacLeod

(Princes of the Universe ends)

Prologue

Special Guest Appearance by

Clancy Brown as The Kurgan

and

Sean Connery as Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez

There once was a boy, who lived alone in the Highlands of Scotland. He was less than a peasant boy, with long black hair and piercing green eyes that seemed to look through one's soul. Upon reaching his adult years, he grew a long scraggly beard, covering the majority of his face, along with his hair.

The year was 1624, and his life was empty. He did not know where he came from, or who his parents were. He lived in a cave in the woods as if he were a savage animal and did whatever he could to survive. The only way he ever felt at peace in his world, was when he would run. He would enjoy running through the forests and open Highland fields. He climbed hills and mountains to boost his stamina and strength. The action helped him feel free and he did what he could to survive.

As he grew older, he learned that his hearing was stronger than he thought. Soon, he learned that he could expand the length of his hearing. He started training to use his advanced hearing abilities as he got older. At the age of twelve, he used his hearing to locate a traveler in the forest. When his back was turned, the boy attacked him and likely killed him, stealing his Scottish claymore sword and belongings. He even collected some furs to cover himself from the cold. Soon, he used his ability to learn what people were saying while he was hiding in a limited distance. Despite not knowing how to speak English, he was able to understand it.

At the age of twenty-one, he ambushed a group of travelers to collect more supplies. Despite his thin appearance, he had some muscle and put up a good fight, but his inexperienced swordsmanship caused him to become overwhelmed. He ran as fast as he could up a high hill, but after reaching the top, he lost his balance and tumbled down the hill until he felt what was like a rock hit the back of his head, hard.

Hours later, he woke up with a headache, but none the wiser on what he had experienced, he went back to his cave. After recovering from his headache, the youth continued on with his life.

But on the night of the year of 1624, the youth went out for a hunt once more. When he approached what looked like a cave, he felt a sharp pain in his head, pulling him toward the cave. Feeling danger was nearby, he pulled out his sword. As he readied himself for the possible danger, he was greeted by another hermit, dressed in clothing similar to his, with a basket hilt claymore.

The youth attacked, but the stranger had more experience and effortlessly parried his strikes. After a brief time of exchanging blows, the stranger disarmed the youth of his sword and got him to the ground. The youth looked up, awaiting the final blow, but the stranger kept his blade at his side.

"I'm Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod," he introduced as the youth stood up. "Who are you?"

The youth did not answer. He just looked and breathed.

"Where do you come from?" asked Duncan, as the youth tilted his head. "You understand what I'm saying to you?"

The youth grunted while nodding at the same time.

"I'm alone too. I won't harm you, but there are dangers out there you're not ready to face. I'll teach you to use that sword correctly."

Duncan walked over to the youth's sword and collected it. He walked back over and handed it to the youth.

"We must go," he said. "From this day forth, you are now Owen MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."

The newly named Owen lifted his head, his eyes widened. Duncan then led Owen out of cave and into the night.

The following year in 1625, Duncan had taught Owen to use his sword more properly, and act like a Highlander. He even provided the ex-hermit with small Highlander trinkets to truly mark him as one. Soon, Duncan told Owen the legend of Connor MacLeod, a member of the Clan MacLeod from over eighty years prior to their own births. Connor was slain in battle against a rival clan but lived only to be banished from his village. Duncan had experienced the same thing but had come to see it as a coincidence. Owen never mentioned it, but he grew fascinated with Connor's legend.

One day on the following year, the Battle of Glen Fruin happened, and Owen and Duncan participated in it. They fought valiantly against the enemy, but amidst the battle, they were overwhelmed and struck down.

Hours later, they revived and saw the aftermath of the battle. They were severely covered in blood, but their wounds had disappeared.

"Get up!" called a voice.

Duncan and Owen felt a pain in their heads and grabbed them.

"GET UP!" the voice called again.

Duncan and Owen grabbed their swords and turned, seeing a man standing above them. The man was in similar height to Owen, with brown hair and icy blue eyes that seemed just as piercing as Owen's green ones.

"You've better things to do than lie there on your asses?" asked the stranger.

Owen growled lowly, keeping his sword in a defensive position.

"Who are you?" demanded Duncan.

"Someone who knows more about you than you know about yourself," replied the stranger.

"Are you a demon?"

The stranger cackled with amusement.

"I've been called that, and worse," he answered. "I'm Connor MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod."

"Connor MacLeod?!" said an astonished Duncan.

"Huh?!" grunted Owen.

"And like you my friends," the legend continued, "I've a hard time dying."

He reached down to them and helped them back to their feet.

Hours later, Connor brought the duo to a hill. He had his new friends sit on large rocks and face him as he explained his tale.

"Immortal?" asked Duncan.

"Indeed," replied Connor. "You cannot die, Duncan. Accept it."

"How is it possible?"

"That I do not know," the elder answered. "What I do know is, because you were born different, mortals will fear you, try to drive you away, like the people of your village."

Duncan thought back on what happened years ago when he became Immortal. Owen stood oblivious, not understanding what mortals would think, because he never spoke to mortals.

"You must learn to conceal your special gift and harness your power until the time of the Gathering," continued Connor.

"What gathering?" Duncan asked.

"When only a few of us are left, we will feel an irresistible pull towards a faraway land to fight for the Prize."

"But I don't want to be fighting against other Immortals," objected Duncan. "What I want is to marry and have a family."

"You cannot have a family. We cannot have children."

"F- F- Family?" Owen asked suddenly.

Duncan and Connor looked at him, but Duncan was astonished by Owen speaking for the first time.

"I think that's the first time he's ever spoken to me, let alone anyone," said Duncan.

"Regardless," Connor continued, "We must defend the Prize from the evil ones of our kind. When we first met, you felt ill, remember? We call that the buzz, being able to sense another Immortal when close enough. But meeting me wasn't the first time you felt that sensation, was it?"

Owen pointed at his head, asking about the headache he received.

"No," Duncan answered Connor. "I think he felt it for the first time when he met me. When I encountered Kanwulf the Viking in the forest, I felt it then for the first time."

"I remember when I felt it for the first time. When the MacLeods fought the Frazers and a black knight appeared, I felt it then. Only it was more painful."

Connor thought back to his first battle in 1536.

Connor stood on the field ready for battle, however he started to feel very strange, like he was sensing something around the battle. It was there that he saw lightning in the sky and saw a black knight on top of a hill.

"There is one called Connor among them," said the knight.

"Aye," acknowledged Chieftain Murdoch Fraser of the Clan Fraser.

The knight secured his right arm's gauntlet and pulled out his large broadsword.

"Remember our agreement, Murdoch. The boy is mine."

"It's begun," Murdoch told his clan. "Death to the MacLeods!"

"Death to the MacLeods!" the fellow Frasers cheered and charged into battle.

"Death to the Frasers!" the MacLeods roared and charged in return.

Both clans clashed hard, some using barbaric tactics to kill the other. Connor stepped forward, broadsword and shield raised, but despite his demands, not one Fraser would face the young Highlander.

"Fight me, damn you!" he shouted at them. "Fight me, you cowards!"

"No, not him!" yelled one of the Frazers.

"Nobody will fight me! They all run away."

"Here, laddie, stay by me," called Connor's elder cousin, Dougal as he continued to fight.

Without warning, Connor heard the sound of a horse and saw the knight ride straight up to him.

"Mother of God," whispered Connor at the sight of the monster of a man.

"Fight me!" the knight demanded as he dismounted.

Connor raised his blade, but the knight easily stabbed him in the stomach, dealing a mortal wound. The knight shoved the blade further in and pulled back, over and over, causing torturous pain for Connor. The boy fell to the ground, with the knight stepping on him to hold him in place.

"Connor! NOOO!" screamed Dougal, and he rushed to help.

The eldest cousin, Chieftain Angus, also saw it and rushed to help as well.

"Come on, quick!" he cried as the knight raised his sword above his head.

"There can be only one!" he declared before both MacLeods ran into him.

More members charged into the monster and pushed him away, with some stabbing him with daggers.

"Another time, MacLeod!" swore the knight as he was trampled to death by the clan.

Connor laid down on the battlefield, the pain from his wound was excruciating and he was barely holding on to life. Soon his vision blurred, and blurred, and blurred, until all he saw was darkness.

"I believe I was an early bloomer, because I felt the black knight before I became Immortal. But that black knight was known as the Kurgan. It's because of him that my teacher, Juan Sánchez Villa-Lobos Ramírez, sought me out."

"Who is the Kurgan?" asked Duncan. "Where does he come from?"

"The Kurgans were an ancient people from the steppes of Russia. For amusement, they tossed children into pits with hungry dogs to fight for meat. The Kurgan, he is one of the strongest Immortals in existence. He's the perfect warrior. If someone like him wins the Prize, mortal man would suffer an eternity of darkness, from which they will never recover."

Owen and Duncan looked at each other, horrified.

"How do you fight such a savage?" asked Duncan.

"With heart, faith, and steel," answered Connor, as he quoted the late Ramírez, whose voice he remembered in his head. "In the end, there can be only one."

"Ah," Owen grunted in understanding.

Over the next few years, Duncan and Owen each trained with Connor, but Duncan made more progress than Owen. The ex-hermit stood before Connor, both with their claymores in hand.

"If I were to take your head right now, I would receive your Quickening," Connor explained. "The Quickening contains all the power and knowledge an Immortal has obtained throughout his or her life. When you take a Quickening, it will feel like you're in the center of a lightning storm."

Owen took it all in and made his first move. He delivered a heavy strike along with a growl, but Connor dodged and rested his blade at Owen's throat.

"Never lose your temper," he warned the ex-hermit. "Every mistake you make can result in the loss of a limb. But if your head comes away from your neck, it's over."

"H- Head," whispered Owen, touching his neck in worry.

Duncan noticed Owen beginning to talk and decided he would need to train Owen to talk more. Owen tried again, but this time, he overextended his thrust, resulting in Connor trapping his blade.

"Never overextend your thrust," Connor criticized. "You're vulnerable and off balance."

He finished by shoving Owen to the ground. All of it was advice he learned from Ramírez. Connor continued to explain the rules of this ancient 'Game.'

"We must fight until only one remains. There can be only two opponents at a time, no outside interference. Only bladed weapons can be used, so now arrows. No mortal can know about Immortals, those who do must be ones you know, like my deceased wife, and they must swear to secrecy. An Immortal must move on to another land if dying in the eye of the population. You are safe only on Holy Ground, such as a church. None of us will violate that law. It's tradition."

Owen and Duncan rose quickly as swordsmen to became great players in the Game and Owen slowly began to develop his English words. But secretly he had an idea that his advanced hearing could help him in the Game.

"Now, boy," said Connor. "Let me help you with that."

He gestured to Owen's long, scraggly beard and pulled out a small knife. Carefully, he trimmed around Owen's face until the beard was gone. He then handed Owen the knife, allowing the young man to see his reflection. He gazed upon his new look with wonder, the reflection of a young man – so unknown, yet it looked like him.

He was no longer the unnamed hermit boy in the Highlands. He was now Owen MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod.

Three hundred sixty-five years later

When the world entered the scientific age, Owen, having been able to fully communicate and read, developed a sense for hacking. He used this talent to help him access the bank accounts of criminals and take their money as payback for their thievery. He was also good at covering his tracks when he hacked or took heads, leaving behind false leads to more bad people. The hacking, combined with the odd jobs he took, led Owen to become rich.

He had also grown to like his now brown hair. The long exposure to the sunlight resulted in his hair altering in color. In Owen's eyes, his brown hair helped him further distance himself from the unnamed hermit from Scotland.

Nine years prior in 1981, Owen was able to buy a penthouse apartment in the city of Seacouver, Washington. He even helped Duncan out at his antique business. Owen's job was to transport antique shipments to and from the shop. He even took shipments to schools for various history classes and big events. Owen always did his best to give an entertaining history speech about the antique. Some speeches were mixed, but Owen did not mind.

But in 1990, he was in for a treat. Owen had a special delivery to a history event at a college in Chicago. He transported a special set of armor to the school in his truck. He was the final person on the stage and did a rehearsed speech that got the 'right amount of attention and praise.'

Following the speech, he received a lot of congrats from the faculty and a lot of interested students. As he prepared to head out, he saw a sight walking slowly to him. It was a girl, around the same age as him, dressed in formal black, sparkling blue eyes and her blonde hair swaying hypnotically. As she walked toward him, something inside Owen melted when he looked at her. He found himself slowly smiling as she walked closer. She even smiled herself. Soon, she reached him.

"Hi," she greeted. "I'm Lynn."

Owen raised an eyebrow.

"Lynn...?" he asked.

"Horton," she answered. "Lynn Horton."

"That's a pretty name," Owen complimented, holding out his hand, to which Lynn shook. "Owen MacLeod. I'm a traveling antique dealer in my father's business."

"I can see that. Where did a guy like you learn all this?"

"Oh, my father homeschooled me and I was inspired to join the business after discovering my fondness for antiques."

It was quick for the two to forget everyone around them. As they chatted, they began to flirt. Ten minutes went by, and their chat went outside.

"So, it's your second year?" asked Owen.

"Yes," Lynn answered. "I hope to finish in two more years."

"What do you plan to do to celebrate?"

"Well, I've always wanted to go to Paris," admitted Lynn.

"Well, I for one, am rooting for you," encouraged Owen. "I've been to Paris many times, maybe I could show you around."

Lynn giggled, while blushing slightly.

"Well, I need to get back to Seacouver," Owen said. "My dad will have my head if get back late."

"I don't think he'll do that," chuckled Lynn.

"He might be my dad, but he's also my boss."

"Good point," agreed Lynn. "My dad's strict too."

Owen gently kissed Lynn's hand, making her blush even more.

"Well, I sure plan to see you again," he said, adding a wink.

"I- I plan to see you again too," replied a flattered Lynn.

Owen walked to his truck and got inside. As he began to drive away, he blew Lynn a small kiss. Lynn's face blushed brighter than ever as she watched Owen drive out onto the open road. As she walked toward her car, she placed her hands in her pockets and felt something in her left pocket. She pulled a piece of paper out of the pocket and looked at it. A smile slowly formed on her face.

Two years later

Owen laid on his bed, gazing into Lynn's eyes through his long brown hair. He could not believe that they had been together for two years. The two had kept in touch after Owen gave Lynn his number. The many conversations between the two and visits Owen paid led to the two to become a couple in less than three months.

Whenever Lynn had a break, she joined Owen for adventures around America. They would go sightseeing, beaching, joyriding and many others. Owen had interest in meeting Lynn's family but kept forgetting to ask her. Luckily, Lynn was telling her family so much about Owen and how successful he was as a 'traveling antique dealer'.

As the next two years went by, Owen had grown his hair out for Lynn. However, in secret, Owen protected his head from many Immortals that were after it. Sometimes, any old friends or flames were killed and Owen made it personal. For many years, his closest friends called him, "an avenger." A year prior, he learned his old flame, Sarah McLaughlin, was killed by the Immortal samurai, Matshiro Kanagawa, in Hawaii. Kanagawa served Lord Asano Naganori of Akō in late-medieval Japan.

Owen cornered and confronted Kanagawa in an alleyway. It seemed that the samurai had been waiting for him.

"Why?" was Owen's only question. "All she did was work at a theater."

"It is what we must do," Kanagawa had answered. "There can be only one. It was not personal."

Owen drew his sword, insulted by Kanagawa's coldness.

"It was all personal to me."

Owen swung at Kanagawa with a dragonhead katana, who defended with his tachi. The rivals battled around the alley, katana to tachi. When Owen's sword left his grip, he evened the playing field with a kick. The Highlander and the samurai fought each other hand to hand, causing welts to their bodies. But ultimately, Owen retrieved his sword, sliced Kanagawa in the neck and took his head. The resulting Quickening shattered the alley windows around Owen and increased his skills with his katana. Owen was upset afterwards and mourned Sarah, but Lynn was there for him.

Now, Lynn graduated from college with a B.A. and Owen watched her get her diploma from his hiding place. Luckily, he informed Lynn he would be hiding but be there. After the ceremony, Lynn hurried off to Owen's car so he could take them on a joyride to the lake, instead of joining her family for a party her father, James, was preparing.

While at the lake, Lynn asked Owen if she could move in with him, because they had gotten closer than before and her time at college was over. Owen was surprised by her offer but was happy to agree. She loved his home and thought it was good payback for him to hack into the accounts of criminals.

However, that night, Owen could not take it anymore and decided it was time to make a bigger move with Lynn. The following move would change their relationship forever.

"I never felt this happy in a long time," Owen said, stroking Lynn's blonde locks.

"Really?" asked Lynn. "Most people would at some point."

"I'm not most people, hun," Owen admitted.

"I know. If you were, I wouldn't love you so much."

That touched Owen, but he was not at ease.

"You flatter me," he said, "But you stay with me, your life's not going to be like anyone else's. And it'll never be the same."

"It's already not the same," soothed Lynn. "I've never been in love before, not truly. I want you... forever."

"You're sure?"

"More than I've ever been."

That sealed the direction of their conversation. Owen knew there was no turning back from what would happen next.

"Then you have to know everything about me," he said. "No more secrets. Everything."

"Tell me," urged Lynn. "Whatever it is, it doesn't matter."

"It might."

Owen got over to the nightstand next to the bed and pulled out a pocketknife from one of the drawers. He walked back to the bed and sat down at the foot of it. Lynn sat up at the foot too.

"I want you to promise me something," the Highlander said.

"What?" asked Lynn.

Owen pulled out the blade from the handle.

"That you won't call anybody, no matter what happens," he explained. "Promise me."

"What... what are you doing?" asked Lynn.

"Promise me. Promise me!"

"Okay."

Moving the blade onto his palm, Owen quickly moved the knife, cutting the palm open.

"What are you doing?!" Lynn panicked.

Owen held up his hand, trying to keep her at ease.

"You had to see it to believe that it's real," he said calmly, keeping his palm closed.

"Believe what?" asked Lynn, failing to stay calm. "What are you talking about?"

"I can't die, Lynn."

"Never?"

The blood was escaping through Owen's fist, but he remained calm.

"I'm not like others," he continued. "I was born nearly four hundred years ago in the Highlands of Scotland. My father is also like me, but he only adopted me as his own. He was born Duncan MacLeod of the Clan MacLeod and when he adopted me, he made me a part of that clan."

"What are you?" asked Lynn.

"I'm Immortal."

Owen opened his fist, showing his slit palm. Then, the energy sparks of Owen's Quickening flickered around the wound. Lynn watched in astonishment as the Quickening energy closed the slit. She gently touched the healed palm, avoiding the blood. Owen held her hand with his clean hand.

"I'm human. Just like you," he continued. "But I don't age. Dad and I fought in the American Civil War. We survived the reign of terror in the French Revolution when they still burned witches at the stake. We battled the Nazis during World War II."

He noticed the astonished expression remained on her face.

"Does it scare you?" he asked. "You can go, I understand."

"No," admitted Lynn. "I was just sad. I imaged how lonely you and your dad must be. Your mom, your friends, having them all die - and your children."

Owen sighed. He had more explaining to do.

"I never had an actual mother," he continued. "My Immortality keeps me from making children, and you won't be able to make any, either. That's the price you'll pay for being with me."

Lynn looked down with worry.

"My dad won't like that."

"But do you still love me?" asked Owen.

Lynn grabbed his hands in response.

"How could I stop?" she replied. "I'd rather live the rest of my life with the man I love than make my dad happy with grandkids."

"And if he doesn't understand?" asked the worried Owen.

"Don't worry, I'll make sure he does."

Lynn embraced Owen and he returned the hug. But I am sorry to say, this is where the story begins.

(Cue Princes of the Universe)

Co-Starring

Jackie Chan as Matshiro Kanagawa

Billy Hartman as Dougal MacLeod

James Cosmo as Angus MacLeod

Alistair Findlay as Murdoch Fraser

(Princes of the Universe ends)

It is my idea to write Connor as an 'early bloomer' because he was able to sense the Kurgan when a pre-Immortal.

I also did not want to focus too much on that flashback to the original film as we know all we need from it, and I also hate the clan for casting Connor aside like that. No wonder famine came to them later as seen in Endgame.

Sarah McLaughlin never appeared in the original series, but the photo of her found in the Watcher Chronicles on the DVDs is actually that of Gillian Horvath, associate creative consultant and script coordinator for the original series. But since the character never physically appeared in that series, or this fanfiction, I decided to not credit her.

This chapter is also dedicated to Sir Sean Connery, who played Ramírez in the original film. Only he could have guided the audience into understanding how Immortals worked, otherwise, the film would not have reached it's cult status.

He was also known as the original James Bond of the original 007, Henry Jones Sr. of the Indiana Jones franchise, and even Allan Quatermain of The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. His retirement was well-earned and we will take his advice and make this century ours.

RIP, we will miss you, Sean.

August 25, 1930 - October 31, 2020 (90 years old)

Thanks for reading, please review.

R&R, Roland Cain out!