Now.

One last time, the sun peeks over the horizon.

Warm yellow light dances in Mary's eyes, lifeless like a doll.

Sitting next to her on the hood of the car, Junko hugs her knees to her chest. The ravine beneath them is home to nothing but rock and forest... the drop, hundreds of feet... certain death to anyone who might take the plunge. The vehicle is parked only a few feet away from the edge, close enough for the vertigo to set in if Junko lets herself think about it too much. Mary doesn't have that problem... never did. She'd jump in head first if she knew it would bring her closer to Jesus.

That's Mary's biggest strength.

Also, her biggest weakness.

That's how Junko remembers her, at least.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: I thought Dumah was joking when she said you were here to see me.

Mary speaks plainly, matter-of-factly, straight forward as though she's speaking to no one at all. Junko slowly turns her head to face Mary, resting her cheek on the knee in front of her.

JUNKO SOUMA: It was never part of the plan.

Mary's eyes glow orange amid the dying light.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Your English has gotten better.

JUNKO SOUMA: Practice.

Mary nods, then takes a deep breath.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Practice.

She lets the word hang in the air for a moment.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: That'll do it.

Together, they sit in silence for what feels like forever.

JUNKO SOUMA: You are on your own now?

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Just me and the gang.

JUNKO SOUMA: No more... Eternity's Gate.

Mary pushes off the hood of the car, landing on her feet. She takes a step toward the edge and looks out across the tops of the trees. A gentle breeze moves her hair. She puts both hands in the front pockets of her jeans.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: No.

JUNKO SOUMA: What--

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: It's a long story.

She turns, facing Junko, back to the ravine.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: The fact is... all of that's behind me now. All that's left is me, the people who care about me, and the trunk full of anti-psychotics that keep my focus on getting right with God... instead of trying to prove I'm some kind of vessel for him.

She kneels down and picks up a handful of dirt.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: I'm his servant.

She lets the dirt fall through her fingers.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Not his divine weapon... not anymore.

Junko lets her legs down and slides off the hood of the car. Mary stands and meets Junko's gaze, dusting her hands off. Junko brushes the silver and blue hair out of her eyes, pinning it behind her ear.

JUNKO SOUMA: So, what now?

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: What now? You're the one that went out of your way to find me, even though you had no reason to ever want to... after everything we did to you? How we used you for clout... and then worse? It's not about what I want going forward, Junko... it's your turn to tell me what you want. I'll listen because I owe you that much... but I'll really only consider it under one condition.

Both women stare at each other silently for a long moment before Junko offers a solemn nod.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: No more dwelling on the past.

Junko's eyes narrow, wondering if that's it.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: That goes for both of us.

It's darker suddenly. The sun has made its dramatic exit, dipping beneath the horizon, leaving only red hued clouds and silhouetted tree tops behind.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Whatever this is... whatever you want... it only works if we leave everything behind. It only matters if we look toward the future.

JUNKO SOUMA: Fine.

Junko nods one single time, hammering the point home.

JUNKO SOUMA: Good.

Incredible strength.

That's the name of the game for Samson.

Shirtless, wearing jeans and a big iron belt buckle, he carries what amounts to an entire tree over his shoulder and deposits it effortlessly into the middle of the campsite. He points down at the tree and loudly addresses a disheveled man with curly blonde hair and a beard, clad in a silk bathrobe and playing a wooden flute.

SAMSON: Make fire wood.

Zachariel lays the flute across his lap.

ZACHARIEL: We don't even have an axe... which brings me to my next question, how did you cut down this--

His eyes follow the tree down to its roots and his eyes widen.

ZACHARIEL: Oh.

He takes a deep breath and shrugs.

ZACHARIEL: Blessed is his strength.

Samson points at the tree again.

SAMSON: Fire wood.

ZACHARIEL: I literally have no idea what you want me to do.

As Samson and Zachariel go back and forth, Mary Taylor Chang leans forward against a nearby tree with both forearms pressed into the bark, processing information she's been given by Junko. Standing a few feet away, Junko's arms are folded across her chest... head tilted to the side as though she's awaiting an answer from her former friend.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It was always your dream. I heard you went back to wrestling after you escaped-- after you left the compound... I've heard... horror stories about the things you've gone through. Deathmatches, fire, broken glass... but you finally got your excursion to the United States.

She takes a deep breath.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: You even went back to Japan.

Mary pushes off the tree and then dusts off her forearms.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: And now you're back in IIW.

She turns and looks Mary in the eye.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Where it all started.

JUNKO SOUMA: Where it all started, yes.

The corner of Mary's mouth turns up slightly, a familiar smirk.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Did you finish it?

Junko looks down at the grass beneath her sneakers.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Did you win the title yet?

Junko looks back up and meets Mary's gaze.

JUNKO SOUMA: Working on it.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Right on.

She smiles and looks down at the ground, giving the earth a gentle tap with the tip of her shoe.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: So, this tournament...

JUNKO SOUMA: Yes... very important.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: It's just for a shot at the tag team titles?

Junko nods.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Nothing personal?

Junko remains silent. Mary huffs and folds her arms across her chest.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: There it is.

Junko averts her eyes, refusing to meet Mary's.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: What is it? Someone in the tournament did you dirty? The champions? Did they--

Junko cuts her eyes in Mary's direction, finally.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: The champions.

Mary shakes her head, disbelieving.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: So, that settles it, I guess.

She chews her bottom lip for a second.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: We have to go all the way.

JUNKO SOUMA: All the way.

Mary turns and begins slowly walking through the grass, toward the campsite.

JUNKO SOUMA: You do not want to know why?

Staring straight ahead, Mary replies.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: Doesn't matter why.

Junko begins to follow.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: After everything I put you through--

She looks over her shoulder, hurt in her eyes.

MARY TAYLOR CHANG: --I owe you that much.