Highlander: The New Gathering #wattys2018

Episode 4: Finding Duncan

"So, you must be Ashlyn Macleod? You are much more skilled than I have imagined," The Woman says, walking down the stairs, dressed in red.

"And who the hell are you?" Ashlyn asks, pointing her sword at The Woman.

"You may call me Regina Bane, I am a such a fan of yours. You have racked up an impressive headcount, all those people you killed, you are bloodthirsty!" Regina taunts Ashyln.

"What's it to you? Maybe you're next on my hit list, what's to stop me from taking your head right now?" Ashlyn asks.

"If you value respect, you will hear what I have to say..." Regina says with a bolt of reality. As Ashlyn puts her sword away, Regina slowly walks towards her and she looks into her steely blue eyes.9

"I see a fire inside you, a fire that a woman has. That fire burns brighter than the fire of men, it scorches the weak and strengthens the strong." Ashlyn feels a chill run down her spine, as Regina circles around her.

"What does this shit have to do with me?" she asks, still undeterred, but uncomfortable all the same.

"You are the soul that I have been looking for, a soul that can stand side by side with me in the grand design. Where women like us can stand together and make the world revere us!" Regina explained, making Ashlyn scoff.

"You think I would want to join your little pop band? Sorry, but no thanks!" Ashlyn says.

"This one is a sparky fellow, very well. But, think about what I have said to you, you may change your mind." Regina says as she and her allies walk away.

"Oh... whatever you fear about Duncan Macleod, fear the worst." Ashlyn is suddenly alarmed by this warning from Regina, does this mysterious woman know something about Duncan Macleod's whereabouts Walking out of her loft, Ashlyn takes out her phone and she goes into her contacts to call Sonya. Dialing the number, she listens to a random ringtone that makes her cringe.

"Hello?" Sonya says over the phone.

"You really need a new ringtone, the one you have is cringe-worthy love!" Ashlyn says, insulting Sonya.

"Yeah, yeah. You tell me that every time you call," Sonya retorts, rolling her eyes.

"Listen, I need to ask you about something, where are you?" Ashlyn asks.

"I'm just closing up my bar for the next hour, is something wrong?" Sonya wonders, while she places a new crate of vodkas in her wine cellar.

"I ran into an immortal today, she was wearing all red with gold trimming around her coat, she has this scar on her face, near her left eye," Sonya stops putting the Vodka's in the cellar and she ponders about Ashlyn's information.

"This woman, she didn't happen to have a sword with a burgundy hilt and sheath, did she?" Sonya asks Ashlyn.

"Yeah, she does," Upon hearing Ashlyn's reply, Sonya rushes upstairs and she grabs her car keys off of the bar table. Closing up her shop, she gets into her car and she drives off.

"Sonya, why am I hearing your car engine?" Ashlyn asks sounding confused.

"I'm going to see Joe and Methos about this, they may know something about this certain immortal," Sonya tells her.

"Okay doll, let me know what you find out," Ashlyn says, hanging up her phone. Ashlyn feels a presence coming from the north, it blows through her like a breeze as it rings in her head. Ashlyn goes into her garage and she grabs her motorcycle, a black Harley Davidson custom bike.

Riding north towards an abandoned dojo, Ashlyn can feel her heart racing, as if something or someone is waiting for her. She heads into the dojo, wondering who is there with her. Ashlyn looks at a fencing uniform that she once wore when training with Duncan in London. She touches the uniform and she remembers that exact memory.

London England 1894

"You are growing stronger by the minute! I am greatly impressed Ash!" Duncan compliments Ashlyn, as he blocks her rapier thrust.

"What can I say, you are a great teacher. You and Connor taught me a lot." Ashlyn smiles all while standing at the ready. Duncan attacks her with his rapier, but Ashlyn blocks every swipe he throws.

Duncan tries to thrust his sword at Ashlyn, but the young immortal steps to her right and she sweeps the leg of Duncan, making him fall to the floor.

"Good, that's enough for now. There is something I want to tell you..." Ashlyn puts her rapier away, eager to hear what Duncan has to say.

"Very soon, you and I will have to part ways. There is something I want to give you for your journey..." Duncan hands Ashlyn a necklace made of rhinestone gems and diamonds, they beautifully glow as the sunset hits them.

"Duncan... it's too beautiful! This is too beautiful!" Ashlyn gushes, shedding tears over Duncan's generous act of kindness towards her.

"Oh Ashlyn, don't cry on me. I guess you never been given anything like this before huh?" Duncan asks.

"No, never. Where did you get this?" Ashlyn asks, wiping her tears of joy away.

"An old Shaman gave it to me, he said that it will protect you from the evil spirits that plague the world," Duncan says to Ashlyn as he places the necklace around her neck.

"With this, I will always be with you Ashlyn, no matter what," Duncan says, giving her a hug, Ashlyn holds him tight as they say goodbye to each other.

Back at the dojo, Ashlyn smiles upon staring at the fencing uniform, a small tear falls from her face, as she is thinking about her memories of Duncan and the great times they have shared as a family. Moments later, footsteps are heard and Ashlyn feels a presence that alarms her.

"Are you looking for something? Or someone?" a male voice says in French. Ashlyn turns around and she forms a shocked expression on her face

"Duncan?" she says in the form of a question.

Hey there guys! What did you think of this chapter? Comment and let me know!

Also, this episode is dedicated to one of my favorite authors, DoNotMicrowave, thanks for being a source of inspiration in helping authors like me be better writers!

Thank you for reading and I will see you soon!

Peace and Love