//------------------------------// // The Cure // Story: Neighpon tales // by Seanzilla115 //------------------------------// Dash watched as Fluttershy paced around the room, a look of thought on the pale yellow mare’s face. “You know Dash…” Fluttershy began as she looked over at the tied up Pegasus, “I gave your little marefriend all the time in the world, and yet she hasn’t returned yet. Would you care to explain why she hasn’t returned yet?” The rainbowette attempted to say something, but due to the gag on her mouth, all she could do was give muffled replies. “Oh… I wish I could guess,” Fluttershy stated as she walked away, “Then again, she’s probably acting like a scared coward right now. I mean, who wouldn’t when they have to trade one of their best friends’ freedom just to set someone free.” Rainbow tried to shout something at her, but it was completely muffled. Right now, she wanted to punch Flutter...no, she wanted to punch that witch so hard in the face, but all she could do was glare at her. “Shoot as many dirty looks at me as you want, it’s not gonna change a thing,” Fluttershy smirked a bit, not even phased by Rainbow Dash’s glare. Dash attempted to get free, but failed due to how tight the restraints were. Fluttershy couldn’t help but giggle as she watched the cyan pegasus’ attempts to get free, “Go on and keep it up. It’s so much fun watching you squirm…” ‘Grr...you better hope I don’t get out of this soon, because once I’m free, I’m gonna hit you so hard, the old Fluttershy will come back,’ Dash thought with a very large glare on her face. --- Twilight and Sunset watched as the sun rose over Neighpon, the boat having finally arrived in Osaka as it began to dock into the port. “So where are these flowers?” Sunset asked Kota as he walked over. “...it’s not clear. It’s just somewhere here in Osaka,” Kota informed. “Ugh…” Sunset let out an annoyed groan, “We’re gonna be looking for quite a while then, aren’t we?” “Most likely, yes,” Twilight nodded, “You should be happy given… circumstances.” “‘Circumstances’?” Kota blinked. “Nothing,” Sunset and Twilight quickly said, making Kota blink further. Philomena and Spike approached the group and they proceeded to begin looking around for the flowers, the former looking from above while the latter just looked down below. --- Fluttershy took the gag off of Dash, letting her get a chance to breath as the tomboy coughed a little. “There. Feeling better?” Fluttershy asked in a teasing tone. Dash simply nodded in response. “Good…” Fluttershy smirked as she brushed her hand against Dash’s bust, “Hmm...a little short. Wonder how your little marefriend enjoys it?” “Stop!” Dash snapped, attempting to free herself once more. “Then again, having small boobs probably makes it so you can fly faster,” Fluttershy noted a bti with a slight shrug. The color seemed to rush out of Dash’s body as the rainbowette attempted to free herself one more time.. “Your struggling is so nice to watch…” Fluttershy giggled a bit. This made the rainbowette growl a bit as she continued to glare at the pale yellow pegasus. It was then she felt some of the chains around her arm weaken a bit, the tomboy trying to use this to her advantage as she began to try and move one of her arms out. “I could watch Sunset do that…she always seemed so cute when sh-” Fluttershy began before she felt Rainbow’s hand against her throat, “?!” “Heh...gotcha,” Rainbow smirked in victory, one of her arms free of its binding. “Wha… gah… ack…” Fluttershy gagged as she tried to get Rainbow’s hand off her neck. ‘I’ll be free in a sec… wait. What am I doing?!” Rainbow exclaimed, ‘Why am I trying to choke Fluttershy?! I know this isn’t really her but...deep down, she’s still my sister!’ She slowly let go of Fluttershy’s neck, letting the normally shy mare gasp as she fell to her knees, coughing a bit. At that moment, Platinum Knight walked on in and quickly ran over to Fluttershy. “Mistress! Are… are you okay?!” Platinum Knight asked in concern. “Y...yes. Just...got taken by surprise is all,” Fluttershy panted as Platinum Knight helped her up. “...You!” Platinum Knight growled, glaring at Rainbow Dash, “YOU! I’ll kill you!” Rainbow tensed at the glare he gave her before her eyes widened a bti when she saw him draw one of his swords. “No...behave yourself,” Fluttershy ordered. “She hurt you… she must pay!” “She… will… but only by my terms… got it?” Fluttershy commanded. Platinum Knight only nodded as he sheathed his sword. “Good boy.” --- Twilight and Sunset walked around, looking at any flower store they could see, but Twilight got looks from some ponies, a few giving her some rather nasty glares. “...Are these ponies seriously still upset about me being an alicorn?” Twilight groaned, “You’d think they would’ve calmed down by now.” Sunset just nodded a bit as she rested her hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “Think they’ll ever get over it?” Twilight asked. “No offense Twilight… but I highly doubt it,” Kota told her as he showed the two a book, “Look at this Youkai book.” “Yo what?” Twilight blinked. “Youkai. It loosely means ‘mysterious monster’,” Kota explained quickly, “It’s said Youkai are behind certain problems in everyday life, such as hunger, emotions… and… here’s what the book says about alicorns, ‘Alicorns, Youkai who cause disasters wherever they go’.” “...” “Gomen Twilight,” Kota apologized. “it’s fine, Kota. It’s just...I can’t believe that’s what Neighponese ponies think of Alicorns,” Twilight admitted. “Alicorns aren’t like that. And did they forget their own mythology about Alicorns being our creators?” Sunset asked, a slight frown on her face. Twilight just sighed before she looked ahead, “...maybe we can cover more ground if we split up. I head north, Kota heads south, Sunset heads east and Spike heads west.” “Good idea, Twilight,” Sunset nodded. “Just be careful. We don’t know if the ponies here have calmed down yet after what happened last time you were here,” Kota warned her. “I will,” Twilight responded. --- Twilight was silent as she looked around for the flower, the purplette looking at a picture of the flower as she searched through the area. “Hello, have you s-” Twilight began to ask a local, who then gave her a stink eye, “...thank you.” Twilight walked around, and it was more or less the same story. “Hello?” Twilight asked as she approached a ramen store, “Can I-” “Go away Youkai!” the owner shouted as they slammed their door shut and locked it. “...ugh…” Twilight sighed as she resumed her search. Ponies screamed in fear and closed the door in front of her, locking it tight as some ponies just hid from her, or glared at her. Twilight let out a loud groan as she continued to walk, a slight headache starting to form in her head. The princess of friendship wandered into a forest, sunlight barely shining through a few openings in the trees. Twilight wanted to avoid crying, a lot of stress on the violet Alicorn, but it was near impossible. She sat down and began to cry. She felt bad because of everything that has happened as of late. Even if it was an accident, it was her fault for turning Fluttershy into Flutterbat in the first place, which in turn caused her wife-to-be and her unborn daughter to be kidnapped and then how much Neighpon hated her because she was an Alicorn...it was starting to be too much for her. “She looks so sad…” a voice whispered that was hiding in a bush. “She certainly does. I wonder why?” a second voice whispered back. Twilight continued to sob, unaware of the things watching her. “Hello,” a voice said as one of the things hiding in the bush walked over, “You alright?” “No… I’m not,“ Twilight whispered, “Everything lately has been terrible. One of my best friends have been turned into a monster, and she has my wife-to-be and my unborn daughter as hostages. And to make things worse, nopony in this country would help me because I’m an Alicorn.” “Those ponies are just big meanies to Youkai,” the voice told Twilight. “But I’m not a Youkai. I’m just a normal pony like everyone else,” Twilight replied. “You need to cheer up, nya,” the voice said. Twilight then looked up to see what looked like a violet cat with cyan eyes, a yellow underbelly and had a long tail… two long tails. “What the…?” Twilight blinked, “Who… and… what are you?” “I’m Nekki, and I’m a nekomata, nya!” the cat giggled. “...” Twilight just blinked a few times before rubbing her eyes a bit, the Alicorn making sure she wasn’t seeing things. “Nya!” Nekki smiled. “...you’re a cat… that has two tails?” Twilight asked. “Nyep!” Nekki nodded. “...uh-huh…” Twilight nodded. “Hey, Koma! Come on out and meet this nice lady Youkai!” Nekki told his friend in the bush. “For the last time, I’m n…” Twilight began before what looked like a white lion dog hybrid that had cyan highlights near the top of its head, had a green belly , “Aww…” “Ano… Ah’m Koma,” the other creature informed. “He’s a komainu,” Nekki informed. “I see…” Twilight noted as she looked at the two. “It’s nice to meet ya,” Koma smiled, “What kinda Youkai are ya anyway?” “...I’m not a Yokai,” Twilight replied, “I’m just a pony from really far away.” Nekki and Koma then proceeded to hug Twilight, surprising her a bit as she looked at the two. “Uh...can I ask you two a favor?” Twilight asked them. “What is it?” Koma responded. “I’m looking for a certain kind of flower,” Twilight informed as she handed them the picture of it, “You two live around these parts. Think you can help me find them?” The two looked at the flower for a moment, with Nekki instantly recognizing it. “You don’t know about this flower? I thought all Youkai knew about it,” “I know it’s some kind of cure flower, and that’s why I came here to Osaka. I need to find that cure,” Twilight informed. “Well then, follow us and we can make sure you find it!” Nekki assured with Koma pulling Nekki by one of his tails. “Forgive mah friend fer a sec. We need to speak in private,” Koma informed, dragging Nekki back behind the bush. “What is it?” Nekki asked in slight confusion. “She’s no Youkai. How can ya be sure we can trust her?” “She said she was rejected just like all of us Youkai are!” “...true...” Koma realized that was a decent point of logic. “Plus, she did say she nyaded the flower for an important reason,” Nekki added, “So I say we go and make sure she gets it, nya!” “Alright… if ya’ll get in trouble, it’s on yer head,” Koma warned. “Okay, nya!” Nekki nodded as she ran out of the bushes to talk to Twilight, “Good mews! We can take you to where the flower is, nya!” “Really? Thank you so much!” Twilight smiled. “Follow us, nya!” Nekki instructed Twilight. “By the way… what’s yer name?” Koma asked. “Oh right… sorry about that. My name is Twilight. Twilight Sparkle.” “Eh?” Nekki blinked, “Demo… I don't see any sparkles on you.” “Huh?” Twilight blinked at that, “Oh uh… hmm…well...it’s a part of my name.” “Eh? But how…?” “You take me to this flower, and I will tell you everything you need to know on ponies from Equestria.” “Hmm… I had another deal in mind…” Nekki informed, “But we can talk about it later, nya,” --- Dash looked at her broken arm and tried to rub it. “I said you could hit her arm, not for you to BREAK her arm!” Fluttershy growled. “Apologies, mistress. But I had to make sure she doesn’t try to escape,” Platinum Knight apologized with a bow. “Nice one… you…” Rainbow began before Platinum Knight smacked her, “Ow!” “Do not speak, slave.” Platinum Knight earned a stern glare from Fluttershy at that, the former pegasus flinching a bit before stepping back. “Apologies, mistress…” Platinum Knight bowed. “...Whatever,” Fluttershy scoffed with an eyeroll, “Just don’t do it again.” Platinum Knight nodded as Dash just glared at the two. “I know what you’re gonna say, but please don’t. I’ve gotten actual headaches from listening to you and your babble,” Fluttershy told Dash as she began to walk away, “I’m going out for some air. Make sure no one tries to free her, Platinum Knight.” “Hai, mistress.” Fluttershy headed out the window and slowly walked around, Platinum Knight turning back towards Rainbow Dash as the former pegasus gave her a stern look. “...Why don’t you take a picture? It’ll last longer,” Rainbow quipped “I have half a mind to beat you into a pulp just so you’d shut your danm mouth!” Platinum Knight growled, “But I won’t...Mistress still wants you alive, so I won’t lay a hand on you.” Dash rolled her eyes and sat down, “You know… the pony you actually are that’s currently locked away under layers of mind control and darkness… I’d be happy to call him my brother,” This caused his eyes to widen at that, “...N...nanda?” “But they’ve both vanished and are being poorly imitated,” Rainbow scoffed. Platinum Knight growled, “Shut your mouth.” “I’ll admit, at first...I didn’t care much for Silver Hawk. Heck, I nearly wanted to deck him after hearing that Fluttershy was pregnant with his children,” Rainbow admitted, “But after seeing him spend so much time with her...I can tell he loves her a lot.” “Shut your mouth!” “And I’ll wait until he’s back and I can speak to him again to say…I’m proud to call you my bro-in-law,” Dash smiled, “...heh. Guess I gotta fill in as the sappy one until Fluttershy comes back,” “I said… SHUT! YOUR! MOUTH!” Platinum Knight shouted as he rushed towards her, and to punch her face in. Rainbow closed her eyes at this, preparing for the incoming punch. But… it never came. She slowly opened her eyes to see Platinum Knight’s hand mere inches away from her and was being held back by a whip being held by Fluttershy. “I step out for one minute, and here I see you trying to harm my hostage again,” Fluttershy frowned as she tugged on the whip, forcing Platinum Knight to the ground, “You are a bad slave! Bad!” “But…” “Urusei!” Fluttershy snapped as she whipped him across the face, “You can’t even handle one simple task!” Dash cringed as she watched this unfold, Platinum Knight grunting in pain as the normally shy mare whipped him hard. “You are lucky I am willing to forgive you this one time,” Fluttershy informed as she took the whip away, “But next time you decide to disobey me, I'll use more than the whip. Understand?” “...hai, mistress,” Platinum Knight whispered as he managed to stand up, blood dripping from his head and busted lip as the uncovered parts of his armor revealed bruises and cuts. ‘...I won’t forgive that stupid bat… I want this nightmare to be over with. I...I want my shy angel back… not this… monster…’ ‘...why are you back?’ ‘I’m you, you monster. This is…’ ‘Your body, I know. Stop repeating yourself like a broken record.’ ‘...Give me my body back!’ ‘Yea, give him his body back!’ a female voice shouted. ‘I hate this girl half! Why did Mistress make her?!’ ‘I don’t know, but at least she has some common sense!’ ‘Thanks...er, me.’ Dash looked at him in confusion as Platinum Hawk was having an argument with...himself. --- “So Nekki, Koma, are all Youkai names similar to what the Youkai is?” Twilight inquired, “You’re a nekomata named ‘Nekki’ and a komainu named ‘Koma’.” “In a way yes, nya,” Nekki nodded. “Ah have a kappa buddy who’s name is literally Appak,” Koma added. “‘Kappa’ spelt backwards?” Twilight checked. “Yeppers,” Nekki informed. The three continued to walk as they arrived at what looked like a traditional Japanese shinto shrine by a waterfall. Around it were various different Youkai that Twilight had not yet seen. “Come on, we need to see Bakui-sama,” Nekki informed. “Bakui?” Twilight blinked. “A baku,” Koma explained as the two Youkai ran up to the shrine gates. They knocked on the gates and were given entry, “The alicorn is with us Appak,” “Alright,” the green kappa nodded, motioning for Twilight to follow. Twilight took a small deep breath as she went inside, the Alicorn a bit nervous. But she had to do this to find those flowers...she had to do this for Rainbow. “We’re home, Bakui-sama!” Nekki announced, earning a wallop to the head with a paper fan from Koma. “Don’t be so informal, Nekki,” Koma growled as he bowed, “Bakui-sama, we bring you someone from outside Neighpon. They’re here on a special mission it seems.” “...Send them in,” the purple baku ordered with a kappa guiding Twilight in, “Ah yes… the Youkai who has brought the terrors of the west back. I will not ask you for your name, I shall call you Ali,” Twilight didn’t want to respond and say she wasn’t a Youkai, but she needed to find that flower and fast. “Tell me Ali… why is it you are here?” “..I am here looking for a special flower,” Twilight replied, “It’s a pure white flower and is said to restore memories,” “Ah yes… the omoide no hana (flower of memories),” Bakui nodded, “It is said to recover lost memories, even ones that have been locked deep inside one’s psyche.” “Why do ya’ll need it Ali?” Koma asked. “...To save a friend,” Twilight informed, “...my friend has had her memories scrambled, and she corrupted somebody she loves. I need that flower to save her and her friend,” Bakui looked at her in a serious manner, pondering for a moment. “...Please. I’m begging you for help. Me and my friends had spent days, maybe weeks looking for this flower,” Twilight began, “I need my friend back and without this flower there’s no way we can save her,” “Ali… I understand your plight and I can commend you for your hard work and determination,” Bakui smiled, “But I cannot give you the flowers,” “What? Why?!” “Let me finish. I cannot give you the flowers, you must earn them,” “How?” “You must show how much you need them, Ali, just show me how much you need them,” “How’s she gonna do that, nya?” Nekki inquired. “Tell me exactly what is going on and what the flowers are needed for, and what you two agreed to do to bring her here,” Bakui explained. “...Alright…” Twilight sighed a bit as she took a deep breath, “It started like this…” --- “Your friend became a bat pony?” Nekki asked after Twilight finished her explanation, “Wow...I’d say that’s cool, but I can tell this is pretty serious.” “And she’s the sistah of yer wife-to-be?” Koma asked, earning a nod from Twilight, “Ouch...This really is serious.” “It is. and unless I find the flower...then I’ll lose my friend, and my wife-to-be,” Twilight sighed, “...and my daughter that hasn’t been born,” “...Soka…” Baku noted, her eyes closed as she took this info in, “...Ali, this truly is a dire situation you’re in...I can tell you care for your friends deeply, and thusly… you may take the flowers. Yukina.” A girl who seemed almost as white as snow and covered in a cyan cloak approached, “Hai?” “Take her to the omoide no hanas,” Baku ordered, “She has earned the right.” “Yuki-onna?” Twilight checked. “Yep,” Nekki nodded, “But if she goes, we go with her, nya!” “...Very well, nekomata, komainu,” Bakui nodded. --- Twilight gasped upon seeing a wide field with thousands upon thousands of white flowers, “Take as many as you need,” Yukina smiled softly. “Thank you,” Twilight smiled as she hurried over and began to grab some of the flowers carefully, “Thank you so much. I...I don’t know what to say.” “But we have a deal,” Nekki informed as he ran over, “We take you here… you owe me and Koma,” “Yea… what is it?” Nekki took out a blue necklace of sorts, proceeding to hand it to Twilight, “You gotta come back and play with us, nya.” “What?” “I just want you to come back here and play games with us, like hide and seek, go fish, and tag, nya,” Nekki stated “...that’s it?” Twilight blinked. “Not many Youkai like us,” Koma added, “Ah think Yukina and Bakui only tolerate us because we’re Youkai too.” “And Appak is just our babysitter for when Bakui can’t watch us, nya,” Twilight looked at the two Youkai for a moment, thinking on their request, “...sure. This necklace, I’m guessing, allows me to come here.” “Hai,” Koma nodded. Twilight continued to gather the flowers, a small smile on her face. After this, things were starting to turn up for the Alicorn. --- “Twilight? Twilight?” Spike called out as he looked around the city, “Twilight, where are you?!” “Twilight?” Sunset also called out. “Where is she?” Spike asked, worry evident in his voice, “You don’t think… somepony hurt her, do you?” “Don’t worry that much,” Sunset told him, “I doubt anypony would try and harm her in broad daylight.” Spike then walked up onto Sunset’s shoulder to get a better look, “Can you blame me for being really scared since… y’’know… the entire country hates her.” “That’s not really accurate… the entire country minus about 10 ponies,” “Ha, ha, ha,” Twilight’s voice laughed sarcastically, “Very funny, Sunset.” “Twilight!” both Sunset and Spike smiled happily, turning around to see the Alicorn coming out of the nearby forest. “Where were you, Twilight?! We were starting to worry about you!” Spike exclaimed. “Getting what we need to save our friends,” Twilight smiled as she showed off the flowers, causing their eyes to widen greatly. “H...how did…” Sunset began. “Let’s just say it’s a secret,” Twilight giggled a bit, confusing the two before they shrugged it off, ‘Rainbow...Fluttershy, don’t worry. I’m coming to save you.’