Chapter Text
Ashi had lived all her life surrounded by women. The only people she knew while she lived in the Aku worshippers cave for 22 years were her mother the High Priestess, her six identical sisters, and the other cult members.
They were nothing like the Scotsman’s family.
Soon after Jack retrieved his lost sword, he and Ashi went in search of Aku’s tower. Before long they came upon an army going the same direction; the Scotsman and his massive army of daughters. Besides the fact that Jack’s old friend was a ghost, Ashi was bewildered by the sheer numbers of young women he called his children. Like her and her sisters they were all identical, but there were more of them. Much more. Ashi lost count after twenty. They were all muscular, statuesque redheads in matching red tartans, all boisterous and rowdy warriors who talked and laughed a lot. Their voices were loud and friendly and they gave Ashi the warmest welcome she could have imagined. Grateful though she was, Ashi couldn’t keep any of their names straight.
The only one who stood out to her was Flora. She was the eldest and her father’s second-in-command, and it showed in the confident way she carried herself. Her clothing was different from sisters and she carried her undead father’s broken sword. She was the first to extend her hand in friendship to Ashi, and had a firm handshake and a warm smile.
Ashi wasn’t sure why but she liked Flora right away and wanted to talk to her more, but in a group this big that was hard to do. Flora’s many sisters were always coming between them, asking Ashi all sorts of questions like how she met the great Samurai Jack, why she was wearing leaves, had she ever eaten haggis, and why she was such a little toothpick. When they weren’t asking questions they were challenging her to tests of strength. Jack assured her that this was the way of the Scotsman’s clan when introduced to someone new.
By the end of the first day, when the army set up camp for the night, Ashi was completely worn out from all the talking, eating, arm wrestling, and general roughhousing. She needed a break and a quiet place to regain her energy. Unfortunately during all the commotion she and Jack were separated and now she had no idea where he was. And who should she bump into while searching for him but Flora.
“Oh!” Ashi said in surprise. She had to tilt her head back to look the tall woman in the face. “Sorry, I didn’t see you.”
Flora arched her red eyebrows in surprise. “Didn’t see me?” she echoed in confusion. Then she chuckled and grinned. “It’s dangerous not to watch where yer goin’, lassie. I was right in front o’ you. Had I been a cliff ye would’ve fallen right over the edge.”
Ashi frowned slightly, unsure if Flora was scolding or teasing her. Her face felt oddly warmer than before. “I’m looking for Jack,” she said. “Do you know where he is?”
Flora nodded and pointed her thumb over her shoulder. “In my father’s tent. They’re catchin’ up on fifty years worth o' stories, so ye likely won’t be seein’ him again fer hours.”
Ashi sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose in disappointment. “Great…”
Flora chuckled again. “If it’s company ye want, we have plenty of that. Ye’ll never be lonely with this crowd, that you can be sure of.”
“No thank you,” Ashi replied, smiling as politely as she could. “I just wanted to know if Jack was still here. I’ve had more than enough company today.”
“Have ye, now?” Flora asked. “What a lucky coincidence! So have I! Don’t tell my sisters, but even I need a break from them now an' then. That’s why Dad put me in charge; I’m the mellow one.”
Ashi arched a curious eyebrow, and looked Flora up and down. Nothing about her appearance or bearing seemed mellow to her, but she chose not to comment.
“Come with me, lass,” Flora said, gesturing for Ashi to follow her. “If it’s peace and quiet ye want, I now where we can find it.”
“We?” Ashi echoed.
“Aye, you and me.” Flora’s bright smile flickered with uncertainty. “Er, that’s not a problem, is it?”
“No,” Ashi said quickly. “No problem at all. Lead the way.”
Flora led Ashi to a river a short distance from the camp. The lively chatter of the Scotsman’s daughters was quieter here. The sun had gone down, the moon was rising, and the stars were coming out. Ashi smiled at the sight of them and Flora breathed a sigh of relief.
“Now this is more like it,” Flora said, seating herself on the spongy turf at the riverbank. “Ye can really see the stars from here.”
“Yeah,” Ashi said, sitting next to her and hugging her knees to her chest. “You know, until a few weeks ago I never saw the stars before.”
“You what?” Flora said in surprise. “How's that possible? Were ye raised in a cave?”
“Yes,” Ashi said simply.
Flora blinked in silence for a moment. “Really?”
Ashi nodded, gazing out at the water. “My sisters and I were born there. Mother trained us from birth to be ruthless warriors. We had no time for the distractions of the outside world.”
“That’s a shame," Flora said. "Yer sisters… were ye close?”
Ashi shook her head. “Mother wouldn’t allow it. When we weren’t training she kept us all separated. That’s why your family is so strange to me. There’s so many of you, but you’re all so… so close.”
Flora said nothing. What could she say to that? As she stared out at the river and pondered the things Ashi had told her, she heard a sniffling sound. She looked and saw tears running down Ashi’s cheeks.
Flustered, Flora began to fuss over her. “Oh! W-What’s wrong, lassie? Why are ye crying?”
Ashi touched her face, confused by her own tears. “I… I don’t know…” She sniffled again and turned her face away as she wiped her eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t know why I said all that… I still haven’t told Jack…”
Not knowing what else to do, Flora put an arm around Ashi’s shoulders. She was so tiny and frail compared to her. If she squeezed too hard the poor little thing would break.
“I’m sorry,” Flora said. “I shouldn’t’ve said that about ye livin’ in a cave…”
Ashi leaned against her, keeping her head down to hide her tears. “It’s not your fault,” she said tiredly. “Just stay for awhile. I… I don’t want to be alone.”
Flora nodded and said nothing else.
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Sorry this took so long I had an entire episode in my head that needed to get out.