"We do this every year King Arthur. It's never going to be 'easy' again." said Miles. Not pleading, not questioning, just a declaration of fact, as he put his arm around Ekaterin. It was a statement without energy, as if it had escaped with a long sigh.
"You're absolutely right. The forces of Time never stop, they can only be held at bay. The battle will continue for all eternity." I said.
As with all young men, the struggle had seemed like fun at first. "Time never wins!" we would tell ourselves. "Their forces are weaklings! Let's have some fun and test our mettle against them!" We were so naive back then. It seemed so easy to come to the field every year, put on our armor, all shiny and bright, and show our comrades, our family, ourselves, just how invulnerable we were. Just how strong we were. Just how smart we were.
And it WAS fun. Don't let anyone tell you anything different. We would do crazy stunts! We would charge the enemies of Time single handed! We would fight them blindfolded! We would bet each other on the outcomes. Who would slay the most, who would do it in the most interesting or challenging way. We were so... young?
Vlad and his Jhereg, teleporting in and out, behind enemy troops. Honor and her treecat, hair and blade, tooth and claw, a blur. To this day I still can't believe some of the things we did on those fields of battle. Glorious, crazy, stupid, exhilirating, fun.
But the Forces of Time have a limitless army with which to fight. Tireless, innumerable, relentless.
Those heady days aren't over completely, of course. There are still those of us who will get up the nerve to do something nutty for posterity, or pride, or just to rally the troops. You still see one of the Goonies grab a Bottle Rocket and shoot it from their hand at the enemy with no thought of the possible consequences. Ugh, the baseball bat and the stick of dynamite! And the camaraderie is always there, Ghimly, Neo, Ripley and the rest. Batman is looking haggard as ever, still bringing his A-game every time we meet. Spiderman hasn't been his old self, but he really did distinguish himself this year.
And the lost ones. The ones that time has taken away. We musn't forget them. But that's exactly what time does... It takes their memories, the joy they brought, the excitement they gave. Oh Han, Luke, Yoda... You were giants amongst men in the early days. Before I really knew what this fight was about, what time could do to the forces of the Golden Morning. You not only brought your A-game, but you raised everyone else's game. You're with us now, but mostly in spirit. Thank you... Out of the corner of the eye, a glimpse might still be seen during a quiet moment in the battle, a shudder might be felt from those old days. M.A.S.K, G.I. Joe, Optimus, Mr. Gygax. Your presence will always be felt. Your influence on these younger soldiers is omnipresent.
These newer fighters... though they came less often as the years went by, we didn't see a problem. We had been given a trump card!
Years back, NIKITA, a fighter that would overmatch any and all of comers fought with and for us, and her skills were legendary. It felt like the old days. There were laughs, there were stunts, there was time to goof off, time to crack jokes, time to heal wounds. It was as if Time had not only been vanquished each go-round, but it felt as if Time had actually been driven back many years, and it's recent effects had been undone. I truly felt like a King again! The battle was something to look forward to. With the Sword of Kas in my left hand, and Excalibur in my right the air shimmered. Oh, they would sing through the air, they would dance in my hands. It was as if I was merely watching myself vanquish the forces of time. It was easy, it was liberating, my heart flew!
This battle was different. Sacrifices were made. This patch you see on my face? I don't think anybody understands. The forces of time cannot win, it is simply not an option. I had to find the Eye of Vecna and "meld" with it. Oh, the pain. Can you see me taking my own eye out and doing that? Nobody could. Nobody. Such a painful ritual. It had to be done.
"But you have the Sword of Kas!" said Mario.
"And you've got Excalibur, the greatest sword in the land," said Joe, with that little cigar sticking out of the corner of his mouth, "You didn't have to do that!"
"Why did you do it?" asked Indy. "We've been winning easily for all these years! It makes no sense!"
They didn't know... Heck at the time I didn't know for sure, it was just a gut feeling.
NIKITA was gone.
It felt like it should have, but the fight didn't end. We couldn't let Time win. So once again into the breech we went, and once again, Time's forces have been driven back. Yet it is not the same... As I gaze into the fallen Battle Standards of the Cupcake Horde that nearly broke our lines, their red plastic stems lying quietly in the mud, I think about the future, about the past, and about the next battle, and the next. Hit-Girl brought two of them back with us from the battle... So young...
The battle... it's not so glorious anymore, but it certainly must be fought, every year. For the future is always uncertain. Maybe Luke will return to his former glory. Maybe the Cylons are NOT all evil robots. Maybe a new hero will arise and we'll all forget the fallow seasons. Maybe NIKITA will come back...
Time simply cannot win... It's not an option.
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