Spoilers: Pegasus Project, The Quest 1 & 2, and The Shroud

Notes: I am assuming that Merlin's weapon successfully destroyed the Ori in The Shroud and that the Ancients allowed SG-1 to build the weapon because they approved of Daniel's plan (or Merlin's plan – whatever). I don't know for sure if these assumptions will be contradicted at some point, so for now, just go with it and pretend that this takes place either late in season 10 or around the time of the first movie.

Epilogue

Daniel was bent over his worktable, silently puzzling over a piece of Ancient text. It probably had no strategic value for the SGC, but Daniel hoped it might hold a bit more insight into what the Ancients believed and how they had become what they were today. There was a stack of work on his desk, all of which was probably more important: mission reports, the rough draft of a mineral rights treaty with some planet whose name he had already forgotten, status reports from various members of his staff on a wide variety of translation projects and anthropological surveys… But Daniel had shoved all of that to the side in favor of this one obscure and cryptic little text because, for some reason, the Ancients still held an undeniable fascination for him. Even after they had punished him and wiped his memory, even after sharing his mind with Merlin, he still wanted to understand what forces had shaped the Ancients. There was so much that he could learn from them, even if part of what he learned was that he did not want to follow in their footsteps.

Suddenly he felt a slight stirring in the air, as if a cool spring breeze had rushed over him.

"Hello, Doctor Jackson."

He spun around to face the soft voice and found himself staring at the glimmering image of a woman dressed in white, with short dark hair framing a pleasant face, and a warm smile gracing her lips.

"Morgan."

"Yes, my friend," she smiled. "And before you ask, you are not imagining this."

He looked stunned and it took him a moment to speak. "But how? I thought you were punished by the Others?"

"I was. I was banished from them and stripped of my powers. But despite what you may think, they are not without compassion. Now that your attack on the Ori was successful, they are no longer such a dire threat, and the Others believe that I will have no reason to break their laws again. However, they revoked my banishment with the clear understanding that a second transgression would not be tolerated. They will, no doubt, be watching my actions closely."

He stood, brows drawn together in confusion. "So why are you here? I mean, even speaking to me violates the rules. Why would you risk angering them again?"

Morgan smiled. "You were once one of us. The rules hardly apply to a former ascended. You know who and what we are better than anyone else in your galaxy. What possible damage could this conversation cause? I am coming to you as a friend Daniel Jackson, nothing more. I am not here to help you in any way. Actually, I'm here to thank you."

"Thank me? For what?"

"For showing us all that some things are worth fighting for. For giving me the courage to do what I should have done a long time ago."

Daniel shook his head. "I didn't do anything Morgan. All I did was ask you to help me. And for that, you were punished." She saw the flash of guilt cross his face as Daniel spoke quickly, the words pouring out on top of one another. "I'm sorry, Morgan. I should have known what would happen. I knew the consequences, and I never should have asked, never should have pressured you to…"

"Daniel." Her voice stopped him and he looked up to meet her eyes again. "I needed to try. I needed to take a stand, no matter what the consequences were. I have never regretted that, any more than I regretted hiding Merlin away in the safety of that cave." She turned away to pace his office slightly. Daniel watched intently, waiting for her to continue. "You see, Daniel, I have lived according to the laws of the Ascended for far longer than you have been alive. And for the most part, I believed in those rules and what they represent. But even when I opposed Merlin, there was a shade of doubt. I thought that maybe the rules meant to protect us were also holding us back from something…more. And from the day that I met you, I knew that you would never be satisfied with what we had to offer." Morgan smiled softly. "You were always searching Daniel, always trying so hard to make a difference. You made me question my actions and realize that even though I had helped Merlin, I hadn't done enough."

She could see the disagreement in his eyes. "Morgan, you chose to act all on your own. It had nothing to do with me. You have been fighting the Ori for thousands of years. You and Merlin. I simply helped Merlin finish what he had started. You are the one who protected him, who made it possible for him to finish his work."

Morgan laughed. "You never were one to take credit for your actions." She turned away again, looking contemplative before she changed tactics. "You know, Daniel, you and I are the only ones left."

Daniel's eyes narrowed in confusion. "I'm sorry, I don't understand."

Morgan continued as though she hadn't heard him. "I have spent so much time watching as others broke the rules. As others risked their lives in the hope of making a difference. Orlin will never be the same since he helped you cure the Ori plague. I doubt that we shall ever see Oma Desala again." Daniel lowered his eyes at the mention of his mentor's name. "And now Merlin is gone as well. It's funny, actually. I always thought that Merlin would out last us all." When Daniel looked up, Morgan could see the sadness and sympathy in his eyes, reflecting her own feelings. Daniel understood exactly how she felt. And that was why she had come to him. "You and I are the only ones left. The only ones who managed to break the rules and survived to tell the tale, as you might say." She looked at him intently. "Don't ever regret the choice you made, Daniel. And don't ever stop trying to make a difference."

Morgan thought she saw Daniel blush just a bit, but he looked away so that she couldn't be sure. "And what about you?"

Morgan grinned back at him in response. "Well, it turns out you were right about a good many things. Recent events have caused many among us to question the 'archaic rules.' There are many who still respect Merlin for all that he has accomplished. He was High Councilor of Atlantis and is still granted the respect that such a position affords. His words and his actions have swayed many. And I'd like to think that my actions played a part as well. Either way, the balance of power has shifted and it is possible that some of the old rules will be discarded in the very near future. Or at least, revised, in light of what we have recently learned."

"So, the Others are finally going to admit that they don't know everything?" Daniel asked with touch of sarcastic humor.

Morgan laughed. "Well, I wouldn't go that far. But they are willing to admit that the galaxy has changed, and perhaps we should change with it."

Daniel shrugged and seemed to contemplate that for a moment. "Well, I suppose every revolution has to start with the desire for change."

"Exactly. And it will be a revolution. It may take some time…well, actually, it may take another thousand years, but I believe that it will happen."

"I'm happy for you, Morgan. And while you're here, since I might not ever see you again, I just want to say thank you. Thank you for proving me right and thank you for having the courage to risk your life for us." Morgan smiled and her image shimmered slightly in the light. She seemed about to reply when Daniel was distracted by footsteps and a loud voice.

"Hey, Jackson!" Mitchell's voice drew Daniel's gaze to the doorway. When he looked back to where Morgan had stood, there was only empty space. "We've got a mission briefing in five minutes. Are you coming or what?" Daniel let out a sigh and sunk into his chair. "Jackson?"

He glanced up distractedly. "What? Oh…" Daniel scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Uh…yeah. I'm coming."

The colonel gave him a critical look. "Who were you talking to?"

"What? When?"

"Just now. I heard you talking to someone just before I walked in. Who was it?"

Daniel looked up with a wry grin. "Just a friend."

Mitchell looked annoyed. He made a show of looking around the room. "What, an imaginary friend? I don't see anyone else here."

Daniel stood up and spoke calmly. "I was talking to Morgan La Fay," he said, before strolling nonchalantly out of the room.

Mitchell stood in the office, dumbfounded before finally hurrying after him. "What…Morgan La Fay…as in Morgan the sorceress…the Ascended Ancient…the one who told you guys the addresses for Castiana and Sahal…the same Morgan who hid Merlin on that planet and left a dragon to protect him?"

"Yep!" Daniel called over his shoulder. All the way to the briefing room, he just couldn't stop grinning.

A/N: I want to thank those of you who have stuck with me through this. Thanks for making this story so much more fun for everyone involved.