The year: 2023

Pendragon Castle,
Albion

[Marty's POV]

Possessing Akurra's body, Lancelot leaned in; the serpent's breath washed over the nape of my neck, "I want my life back," his eyes lingered fondly on Meena, "and this woman. I want to rule Albion for real, not through a puppet king."

I begged my master to stay calm and return the control of my body back to me, but he ignored me. "I don't have the power to do that, Lancelot."

"Oh, but you do. You have the gateway and the stone of Erer. Give them to me. It's not too late to save Arthur this time, but if you delay-"

I finally understood what it was that Lancelot desired. He wanted to enter Lastshire because he had somehow acquired knowledge that there was something there that could help him restore his body. But since he had dabbled in dark magic, his soul was tainted. Just knowing where the gateway was was not enough. He needed me or my master to hand over the amulet containing the stone of Erer to him willingly!

"No. I won't let Arthur die this time," Master Merlin interrupted. 

I knew what was going through Merlin's mind. He needed to be stopped, even if it meant hurting him, 'Your impulsiveness cost you his life once. Don't make the same mistake twice.'

Master Merlin heard me this time. His hand, which was reaching for the amulet, stopped. 

I pressed on, 'Trust me...Trust your teachings. I promise I won't fail you, Albion, or Arthur.'

I felt a pull. When I opened my eyes, they were level with the serpent. Master had given me my body back!

"I don't have the gateway with me. Moreover, what's the guarantee that you shall let us go?" I demanded, adjusting Dwight's body to make him more comfortable. I gazed at his- extraordinarily- beautiful face and ran my hands through his now-golden fringe. 

My eyes drifted to Skarla then; pursing my lips, I caressed its head. The poor thing only had a few breaths left. 

"Oh, Marty is back, I see," the serpent said, sounding relieved. "If you are of this generation, Wyllt or not, you must be smart and selfish, unlike Merlin here." It lowered its head and fixed me with a calculating gaze, "Tell me, boy, what would it take for you to give me what I want."

While I pretended to contemplate, Skarla's soulful eyes searched mine, and she nuzzled into my lap.

The one controlling the serpent did not notice this innocent display of affection and waited patiently for my reply. 

"I want Excalibur." I stated matter-of-factly and heartbeat later, and the serpent's eyes widened, "Impossible!" it growled. 

"Well, from what Nimueh tells me," I took the high priestess's name like I had no regard for her, "that's the only thing that can kill a serpent like you."

The fire in the beast's eyes brightened. Perhaps I had touched a nerve by suggesting that it was not a dragon as it wanted all and sundry to believe, but a snake: both literally and figuratively. Without getting intimidated by its proximity, I forged ahead, "And if I can't have that, then we are going to die anyway, so I might as well take you down with me." I countered and crossed my arms over my chest. 

The creature narrowed its eyes. "Just the sword, Marty Wyllt? Tell me, Marty Wyllt," Strong, dark magic swirled around me, looking for a chance to claim my mind, "what do you plan to do with it?

"I will protect myself with it. I will fight you if you try to stop me. I am strong." I boasted, grinning confidentiality. 

"No tricks?" Lancelot's red eyes held mine, "No mischief?"

"No tricks or mischief," I replied, fixing him with a cold gaze. "If you want to be generous, I would like a position of authority in your rule as well, but I can only have that if I can save myself from you."

The dragon sighed, sounding bored, "Fine, but remember, one step out of line, and I will scorch you alive."

I nodded, "Fair enough."

The serpent raised to its full height; with the pointy end of its tail, it made a sharp cut over the underside of its belly. The metal blade of the most powerful sword ever forged gleamed, catching and reflecting the single ray of light that the metal door failed to keep out of the cursed beast's lair. The enormity of the creature made the mighty Excalibur look like a toy dagger. It was the only sword in existence that could get rid of dark magic without spells. There was only one catch: it only worked when a Pendragon was wielding it.  

The evil soul, disguised as a serpent, leaned, "Take it. It's yours. I don't need the serpent anymore," it lied. 

Lancelot was cunning to the core, I realized. He knew he could control Akurra's body without Excalibur, for the serpent's consciousness had already eroded with time. The creature's body was no better. It was falling apart. Still, I could sense that it had enough juice to nuke Dwight and me out of existence.

I reached for the sword but fell short by inches. "Are you trying to mock my height!?" I snapped. 

The creature laughed as if I was a jester and not an opponent. 

Big mistake, buddy. 

It leaned in till the sword was within my reach and even lent me his tail, exposing it further. 

We, Dwight and I, were waiting for this precise moment. Thus, no sooner than we had the chance to execute the plan, I moved out of the way, and Dwight, all fit and fine, stood up. His fingers wrapped around the hilt of the sword that was destined to be wielded by him and pulled The Excalibur out of the serpent's belly. 

Before Lancelot could comprehend what was happening, I threw my palms out and yelled. "Levianto!"

Dwight leaped up; his golden locks caught the sun rays creeping inside the lair just like Excalibur had not moments ago, and like a lion going in for a kill, he pounced at the dark mist rising like smoke from the serpent's eyes.

Excalibur sliced through the cloud of black and wedged itself between the creature's blazing eyes. A blood-curdling scream bounced off the cave's walls just as the serpent's body exploded, drenching us all in shimmering golden dust. 

What was left of the serpent's face fell at my feet shortly after. I could tell that Lancelot's consciousness which had been controlling the beast for over a thousand years was gone. The serpent's eyes turned golden and narrowed in pain, but it smiled nonetheless; mischief and glee played hide and seek in his amber depths just as Dwight landed next to me, with Excalibur gripped tightly in his hand. 

"Merlin," the serpent's deep throaty voice called out to my master, and I let him take over my body. It was the least I could do, knowing that once upon a time, the serpent was my master's well-wisher. 

Once again, my eyes stung, but the tears didn't fall. 

"I am here, old friend." Merlin caressed the serpent's head, "The millenniums show on your face now, more than then," he observed.

Akurra laughed softly, "You look almost the same," his eyes dropped to my stomach, "if only a little plumper."

Merlin held his tongue, and I took this chance to get clarification on something I had witnessed first with Lancelot and then Akurra.

'Master, how does Akurra know that it's you he is talking to and not me?' I asked my master who was watching the serpent give my body a through once-over.

'Lad, he can see my consciousness reflected in your eyes. Once that happens, in their eyes, your body holds the form your eyes do. Do you understand?' he asked and surprisingly, I understood.

My master turned his attention to Akurra who seemed lost in thought. Snapping his fingers in front of the serpent's amber eyes, he called, "Serpent, I see that age hasn't done your attention span any favors."

The serpent tried to raise its hood and failed. "Our time in the mortal realm has ended, Merlin," said Akurra and turned to look at Dwight, "Albion is in safe hands now; we can rest assured. Finally," he turned his head towards Jared, "The boy bears the curse of his ancestors," he lowered his eyes and whispered, "Mordred." 

I was confused, but Master Merlin understood what Akurra was talking about, "The boy has suffered enough," he said, placing his palms over Jared's heart and muttering, "Bozaso!" 

I knew the curse; it helped me understand what must have happened. The boy and his father- probably his ancestors too- were born mute because of a curse Master Merlin must have placed on Mordred, the knight whose sword had mortally wounded Arthur, leading to his death, after the battle of Camlan. At least that's what our history books taught us.

As I joined the dots in my mind, the serpent's golden eyes fell on my amulet, "Lady Morgana is here too, I see."

Without notice, Master Merlin swapped places with Mistress Morgana. Now she was in control of my body, "Men's bodies are weird!" she sighed irritatedly and- as an afterthought- added, "Greetings, serpent, you look worse than I feel. I am glad."

"Lady Morgana, I am truly sorry for underestimating your heart; blaming it on Lancelot would be unfair," it contemplated, then promised, "I will make it up to you, lass. I promise."

I wondered how that was possible and then realized that since Akurra was not an evil being but merely controlled by Lancelot, it had secured its place in Lastshire. 

"I will hold you to it, serpent," Mistress Morgana said before turning to look at Dwight, "I should have guessed it was you the first time I heard your voice, Arthur. I have had a thousand years to come up with a good reason for hating you, yet I have nothing."

Dwight blinked. His cerulean eyes zeroed in on me, and his lips fell open, "Morgana?" he asked, looking and sounding confused.

Mistress smiled, "It looks like there is much you still need to recall, but this is where I leave you, brother. I am sorry, Arthur. I let my hate for our father blind me to the good in you. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me."

"Morgana," Dwight took my hands in his, "I should have protected you better. I am truly sorry," he said, looking more clear-headed now than he had seconds ago. 

"You are right, you should have looked out for me better, but I didn't give you a chance to save me either. Do a better job running this place than you did the last time around, alright?" 

"I will do my best." No sooner did Dwight say it than calm flooded me; Mistress Morgana had left. I knew she wouldn't speak to me again, at least not in the mortal realm. 

Dwight, meanwhile, closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. 

Master Merlin whispered, 'I will borrow your body one last time, lad. I am sorry for being a nuisance earlier. Thank you for saving the day and keeping your end of the bargain.' 

"Go ahead," I replied, and he took the place Mistress Morgana had vacated moments ago, "I will see you soon, Akurra," he whispered into the serpent's ear, and right in front of me, what was left of the creature vanished.

The only ones left now from the past were Merlin and Skarla. 

Master Merlin smiled at the pitiful creature. It had the kindest heart I had ever come across. My master gulped thickly, "Thank you, Skarla. You did the right thing." 

As expected from a great sorcerer, Master Merlin had understood what the ussa had done for Dwight, or should I say, Arthur? 

Skarla was connected to my masters and thus could sense their anguish. She had willingly channeled her life force into my palm when I had taken back control of my body. It was her life, her magic which had healed Dwight. When I had touched his head and Skarla's simultaneously, I had, on her insistence, transferred her life force into him along with a message. So when Dwight came to, he did what I had requested him to do. 

Master stroked Skarla's brow like he had done with Akurra and bowed to her. 

I finally understood the gesture for what it was: an intimate display of affection without it being obvious.

The ussa nodded and crawled towards Dwight, who was watching everything unfold in complete silence. 

She raised her head as if asking to be petted. Only a heartless man could refuse such a request, and Dwight was anything but that. He leaned down and caressed the creature's gold-silver hide. His eyes widened, and a heartbeat later, Skarla disappeared just like Akurra had. 

"Merlin!" Dwight's cool blues caught mine. He gulped thickly, "Merlin?" his voice shook, his lips quivered. "You haven't changed. I told you not to, and you listened."

I felt my heart lurch; joy flooded every fiber of my being; it was not me but Master Merlin.

"Took you long enough, brat." Merlin reprimanded lightheartedly before closing the distance and wrapping his arms around his king. His Arthur. 

"Thank you, Merlin." Dwight reciprocated, burying his face in my neck. 

"The pleasure is all mine, my lord." my master leaned away and stroked Dwight's brow before cupping his face, "Thank you for returning. Finally, I can take the vacation you promised." 

"Can't you stay?" Dwight asked, much to my annoyance. 

Had he forgotten that Merlin was borrowing my body!? 

"I am afraid I can't, but Marty will; the lad is not an impulsive idiot like me. I am leaving you in his care, my lord. He will keep you safe."

No, I won't; I already have a job, thank you very much! 

Before his presence ebbed away, my master whispered, "Farewell, Arthur," leaving me with the man I had (apparently) befriended recently and had idolized forever: Arthur Pendragon, who had been reborn as Dwight Peyton, and thanks to Skarla, had now inherited Arthur's memories to guide him as well.