Hide your darkest doubts and fears away in me
Back and forth through space and time you'll stay with me
Careful to not overlook the unseen...
Chapter 20: Recollecting the Spirit
---
Apple Bloom returned with a new empty bucket just as Applejack had finished bucking the twenty-fifth row. The older of which took her hat off briefly to wipe off some honest, hardworking sweat.
"Whew, all right, Apple Bloom," said the bearer of Honesty, "Let's take a break."
"Mm-hm," affirmed the younger sister. The two of them trotted over to one of the trees that offered a larger source of shade and sat down comfortably. The yellow filly rubbed her chin in thought for a second.
"Hey, sis," chirped Apple Bloom, "What did you think of that whole 'Jen-sin' thing the Princess brought up yesterday?"
"I don't know," shrugged Applejack, "It sounded to me like a whole lot of hooey."
"Well, I'm going to try it," said AB.
"Try what?" asked AJ. She looked and practically jumped out of her hide when her sister manifested her sword.
"Land sakes!" she exclaimed, "Watch where you point that thing, Apple Bloom! It's not a toy."
"I know," replied the filly, "I'm going to lay it here and try 'meditating' with it or whatever it's called." Apple Bloom then closed her eyes and tried her hardest not to move an inch. The sword laid on the grass just in front of her.
"Uh, okay," said Applejack with one eyebrow raised, "You can go right ahead and do that."
The pony of little faith did not realize what was actually happening in her sister's mind.
---
The unmarked section of Whitetail Wood graced her eyes. Apple Bloom was slightly baffled that she didn't want to move from that spot. At the same time, though, she didn't mind. In fact, the slight breeze in this place felt calming. It felt good just sitting there with her eyes half open. She could feel another presence standing just behind her.
"Howdy, Ruri'iro Kujaku," she addressed the presence without looking.
"Hello to you as well, Apple Bloom," greeted the slightly older man.
"Can I call you Kujaku?" asked the filly.
"As long as you stop calling me Fuji," said the Zanpaktou spirit slightly irritated.
"Why?" inquired the curious farmer, "I thought that's what you're supposed to be called when I just want an extra blade."
"I despise the color wisteria," the man practically spat, "When you call me wisteria, I can't feel anything but loathing."
"Aw, come on," edged Apple Bloom, "I think Fuji Kujaku's a cool name."
Ruri'iro Kujaku sighed, "Well, I can see this conversation led nowhere in a hurry."
"So what do you think about all the strange stuff that's going on?" asked Apple Bloom to change the subject.
"It's ugly," commented the spirit, "Very ugly. It makes me revolt when my beauty is even forced to touch such ugliness."
"Well, you're technically a sword," pointed out the filly, "Touching the enemy is kind of unavoidable, isn't it?"
"Yes, I suppose it is," the Zanpaktou spirit sighed, "Such is the curse of being a fighter."
"Is there anything I can do to make you feel better, Kujaku?" asked Apple Bloom.
"If nothing else, please try to call me by my real name in the future," said Ruri'iro Kujaku.
"Well, I won't Pinkie promise, but I will try," said the filly sincerely, "Thanks for chatting with me."
"Of course, Apple Bloom," said the spirit.
---
Apple Bloom opened her eyes.
"Applejack! Applejack!" she exclaimed, "It worked! It really worked!"
"Woah, girl, slow down," said Applejack raising a hoof, "What worked?"
"That 'ji-sen' thing!" said the younger sister still excited, "I talked with my sword and it talked back."
"Uh-huh," said the orange earth pony that was still skeptical, "Sure it did."
Apple Bloom could see the doubt written on her sister's face and said, "I'm serious, sis. After saying 'hi' to it, I found that Ruri'iro Kujaku had an obsession with his own beauty like Rarity."
"That's... oddly specific," said Applejack half out of disbelief and half out of intrigue.
"Try it with yours! Try it with yours!" insisted the filly.
"I don't know, Apple Bloom," said Applejack uneasily, "I'm not sure that I should."
"Come on, AJ, just try," said Apple Bloom. She activated her cute, big eye blink.
The bearer of Honesty finally sighed in resignation, "Oh, all right. I'll do... whatever it is you did." She held out a hoof (away from her sister) and summoned her sword.
I can't believe I'm doing this, thought the older sister, Talking to your sword? That's ridiculous. Still, she decided to humor her little sister and placed it down just in front of her. She closed her eyes and tried not to move. The filly looked at her sister expectantly.
She'd have to wait a full minute for the results.
---
Applejack opened her eyes in shock to find herself in that strange, abandoned pathway along Whitetail Wood. She almost panicked and tried to move. Yet, a soothing, surreal feeling tingled down her spine. It made her body insist on just sitting there in the quiet. She... actually liked this feeling.
"Well, you came back, Applejack," said a woman's voice.
"You," stated Applejack, "I remember... you. I take it that you're Zabimaru?"
"Congratulations," commented a snide boy's voice, "Give the pony a prize."
"Give it a rest, Snake," said the woman, "She's just getting used to us, after all."
"Excuse me, Monkey," retorted the boy, "but weren't you the one that called her stupid during her last visit?"
"No, that was you," corrected Monkey, "I simply added that if she was stupid then you were too."
"Meh, typical remark made by the one with the big butt," said Snake as he kicked the woman in the gluteus maximus.
"Why you little..." growled Monkey as she gave the boy a double noogie on either side of his head.
"Ow! Quit it! Ow!" cried Snake.
"Hey!" called Applejack, "Knock it off you two!" The two entities joined by a chain looked at Applejack, looked back at each other, and then turned away from each other in a huff.
"Wait a minute," thought Applejack out loud, "Snake and Monkey? Who's Zabimaru then?"
"We are," said the two bipeds at the same time.
"Our name means 'Snake Tail'," explained Monkey, "Snake here is basically my tail."
Snake spat, "Somebody's got to cover that big butt of hers."
"Why I ought to..." growled the woman.
"Enough!" shouted Applejack, "If you two are the same Zanpaktou, shouldn't you get along better?"
"You're one to talk," replied the boy.
"If we seem stubborn, it's only because we take after you," added Monkey, "We reflect aspects of your spirit after all." Applejack was about to retort, but the words her Zanpaktou had chosen hit a chord inside her. After all, she didn't believe her sister about the meditation communication at first.
"I guess I... can be a might stubborn now and again," admitted the farmer.
Monkey nodded, "That steadfastness can help you remain standing in a long-term battle."
"Just remember not to let it get in the way of trusting the truth," added Snake.
"Right," affirmed their master.
"And if you ever find yourself in a situation where all hope seems lost," added Monkey.
"Just remember this one phrase," continued Snake.
"Higa Zekko!" they declared together.
"Higa... Zekko?" asked AJ tilting her head slightly at the odd phrase.
"It's a last resort of ours that you can use," vaguely explained Snake.
"But remember to save it as your finisher; otherwise you'll be wide open," continued Monkey.
"Well, all righty then," said Applejack, "Thank you." The two parts of her Zanpaktou spirit nodded in affirmation before she whited out.
---
Applejack opened her eyes and gasped.
"What the hay?" she whispered.
"Did it work? Did you see it?" asked Apple Bloom excitedly.
"Y-yeah," stumbled the older sister, "but that was really weird."
"So what's your sword like?" asked the filly, "Is it a guy? Is it a girl?"
"Yes," said Applejack at a loss for more detailed vocabulary.
"Is she nice?" queried Apple Bloom.
"Not exactly," admitted the bearer of Honesty, "she's a bit hard-headed and easily irritated."
"Sounds like Rainbow Dash," commented the yellow filly.
"Yeah, kind of," agreed Applejack, "How about we get back to work?"
"Aw," drooped Apple Bloom along with her enthusiasm, "All right." Oddly enough, the sun had barely moved at all. It indicated that little time had actually passed while the siblings had been in that other world.
---
"~Hm, hm, hm, and that's the art of the dress,~" hummed Rarity. At the moment, she was adding the finishing touches to a special ensemble for her most recent Canterlot client. It practically shone with her finesse and mystique. This last gem in her magical grasp required specific alignment. She could afford no distraction.
"Rarity!" called her distraction. She jumped up in a yelp. The release on her levitation resulted in sending her gem to some parts unknown behind the furniture. She fought to control the growl escaping through her bared teeth... unsuccessfully.
"Yes," she muttered, "What is it?"
"Are you almost done?" asked her most common distraction.
"You know what?" asked Rarity before letting out a held breath, "I think now is as good a time as any to take a break."
"Yay!" cheered Sweetie Belle while hopping around, "So, what you want to do?"
"Frankly, I wouldn't mind just finding a seat and resting in quiet," answered the bearer of Generosity.
"Okay," smiled her little sister, "Hey, do you want to meditate in Jinzen with me?"
"First of all, it's redundant to say meditate and "zen" in the same sentence," corrected Rarity, "and second... yes, I think I'd like that." She walked over to the shop's door to flip over the "Closed" sign. This moment of peace required no distractions. Well, it would make sense to at least minimize external disturbances.
Sitting at the center of the room a few feet apart, both of the unicorns summoned forth their respective katana. They laid it down in front of themselves and let their eyes slowly close. Their consciousnesses swam to another plane of awareness.
---
The storm had passed and the waves were calm once again. The beach line with a lone, bent palm tree was brightly lit even though the sun's position couldn't be identified. A distant seagull's call completed the mental image. It felt nice to be here.
"Haineko," stated Sweetie Belle.
"Senbonzakura," stated Rarity.
"Hello, Sweetie Belle, nyah," meowed the 'ash cat'.
"How are you faring, Lady Rarity?" inquired the man of 'one thousand cherry blossoms'.
"Wonderfully, good gentle colt," replied Rarity, "Those lessons you gave me came in handy several times."
"That's good to hear," nodded Senbonzakura.
"By the way," she continued, "I couldn't ask you this last time we met, but how would you like a makeover?"
Comically, a sweat drop appeared on the outside of Senbonzakura's mask as he said, "Th-that's quite all right. It isn't necessary."
"Oh, but I insist!" exclaimed Rarity. She continued on with a long-streamed tangent about the proper looks for a biped and/or a sword. Senbonzakura, on the other hand, kept struggling while turning down her offers and ideas. Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle and Haineko looked at the wild conversation with unreadable expressions.
"I still can't believe she's always been like that, nyah," muttered the girl.
"Tell me about it," said the unicorn filly while shaking her head. Eventually, Rarity got so excited in her ramblings that she jumped up from her seat in excitement. This motion cause her and Senbonzakura to vanish from Sweetie Belle's sight.
---
"Idea!" declared the bearer of Generosity. She practically hopped over to her design palettes and fabric supplies leaving Sweetie Belle to meditate on her own.
---
"O...kay, then," hesitated Sweetie looking for the right word.
"So, you think you're ready for this, nyah?" asked the girl with a cat-tail.
"This what?" asked Sweetie in return.
"I mean the converging enemies situation, nyah," said Haineko.
The filly shook her head before saying, "I don't know for sure, but as long as my friends and I stand together, there's nothing we can't accomplish."
"Nyah, hey, before you go," said the 'ash cat' as she tapped her master's forehead resulting in a slight spark of acknowledgement inside the filly's mind.
"What was that?" asked Sweetie Belle blinking her eyes.
"Just a gift, nyah," answered Haineko, "You never know when it might help."
"Thanks, Haineko," said Sweetie Belle as she faded from the mind realm.
"Take care, nyah," fared Haineko.
---
Fluttershy sat quietly (as she usually did) at the center of the amphitheater. After letting her animals have an extra portion in their breakfasts, she had decided to try that "Jinzen" that Princess Luna had told her about. It was somewhat distilling but at the same time very calming to be back in this place. She somehow fought her usual instinct to jump upon feeling the other presence nearby.
"Wabisuke, is that you?" she asked.
"It is," replied the Zanpaktou spirit.
"I... never got the chance to thank you for helping me save my friend that one time," said Fluttershy.
"It's a bit early to be thanking me," responded Wabisuke.
"What do you mean?" asked the Pegasus.
"Now that all of your friends have these new powers," he elaborated, "They will most likely be the targets of threats in the future."
"Oh, I wouldn't worry about them too much," she said softly.
"And why is that?" he asked.
"As long as we're there for each other, we won't be overcome by the challenges we face," she answered gently but confidently.
Wabisuke sighed, "Nothing gets you down, does it?"
"Well, sure I feel sad sometimes," admitted Fluttershy, "but I don't let that get in the way for too long. Life's too short to let a few sad times stop you from living."
"You're a good soul, Fluttershy," said the 'penitent one'.
"I try my best," she smiled. A breeze seemed to grow louder as she opened her eyes.
---
Twilight Sparkle was flipping page after page in a pile of books. She hadn't been this frustrated with a lack of results since that one time she tried to look up "dragons". The thought that pony kind was this uninformed about the world discouraged her. Surely there had to be something about the Quincy beyond a hallucinated phrase and dream. Despite her insistence, there didn't seem to be anything.
"A minute of mind-clearing rest never hurt any pony," Luna had said before.
Twilight sighed, "Maybe she's right." Letting Owloyisius sleep on his perch, Twilight quietly walked out to the library balcony. She rested her hooves in a comfortably folded position and closed her eyes. Not a gust of wind stirred her from her moment's reprieve.
---
"So teleportation isn't the only way," acknowledged a voice.
"What? Who's there?" asked Twilight in a startled jump. She looked around, not quite recognizing the rooftop that she was now standing on. It kind of resembled that of an old castle. This, however, was not what had her attention. She found her eyes focused on hooded unicorn standing a few feet in front of her but looking away. They appeared to take a step forward before their body was suddenly whisked away from sight by some unknown force.
"No burst of teleportation magic?" asked Twilight, "How is that possible?"
"Hirenkyaku," said the voice. Twilight slowly turned her head and body around. She practically jumped again at the sight of the other unicorn. She wasn't sure, but they looked really familiar.
"Particles of spirit energy carry the user's feet," continued the other unicorn, "and allow the user accelerated motion without exhausting magical energy from the mind."
"Who... are you?" asked Twilight. The other unicorn lifted a hoof and pushed her hood back. Twilight gasped and her eyes went wide. This unicorn... looked a lot like her but... older.
"Perhaps you can learn this technique as well," whispered the not-Twilight.
"Hiren...kyaku," muttered Twilight taking a subconscious step forward. In the sound of a whisk of air, her form vanished as the figure with a hood stood on the castle roof alone.
"Good luck, Twilight Sparkle," whispered Clover the Clever, "The last Quincy."
---
Twilight Sparkle stood up frantically after opening her eyes. The image of her vision still remained fresh in her mind.
Clover the Clever, what are you trying to show me? thought the bearer of Magic. Time marched on and the sun moved through the sky, but she remained standing on that balcony lost in thought.
---
Another day turned into another night. The Cakes had closed up shop. Contrary to the theory that she had endless energy, Pinkie Pie actually fell soundly asleep. Her snoring was adorable, though somewhat annoying, as she dreamed whatever it is that Pinkie Pie dreams.
---
"I can't believe this!" griped the vibrant black and purple imp, "I want to get out and play."
"Patience, Kazeshini," said Pinkamena Diane Pie holding up a hoof, "There is a war brewing. Losses in this fight are inevitable. Pinkie will most assuredly lose a friend in the conflict."
The straight-haired pony grinned wickedly as she continued, "When her sadness and anger reach a boil, I will walk again. Then, Kazeshini, we will have our fun."
"But I can't wait," complained Kazeshini, "I want to rip somebody to shreds now."
"You know," proposed Pinkamena, "I could still force a mental zipper and lock into existence to force your mouth to be quiet."
The discolored imp quickly went stiff before squeaking, "I'll be quiet."
"Good," she replied as she resumed her tranquil meditative state.
---
"~Chocolate fountain,~" sang Pinkie Pie,
"~Some stay dry while others taste the rain.
Chocolate fountain.
Another lick and then come back again.~"
"Move away from the stream to take a gasp of air!" giggled Pinkie Pie happily before taking a huge breath. She took a dive into her brown pool of chocolaty goodness. The piano continued playing without her lyrics.
---
Scootaloo had spent most of the day racing through the streets on her trademark scooter. Now, she sat quietly on the floor in the guest bedroom the Apple family had graciously lent her. While the idea of meditating to talk to her sword had sounded silly, she did have to admit to herself the curiosity behind the concept. She decided the best thing to do would be to turn off the lights. After that, she summoned forth her blade and laid it flat on the floor in front of her.
Closing her eyes, she let her mind wander.
---
The museum wasn't such a haunting image anymore. It became a vast open area for her eyes to explore. The Pegasus filly was slowly accepting the truths of light and darkness. So she wasn't surprised upon hearing the hoof steps that approached her.
"Hey there, Kagehime!" called Scootaloo.
"Ah, Lady Scootaloo! Wonderful to talk to you again!" exclaimed the chain mailed unicorn, "Love your mane! You never looked better! You're beautiful! I could just kiss you because you're so beautiful."
"Heh heh," chuckled the filly, "I'm glad you're feeling all right."
"Am I feeling all right?" asked Kagehime rhetorically, "Maybe I'm not. Maybe this is just a front and I'm actually sick."
"I think I'd be able to tell if you were sick," said Scootaloo with a smirk.
"Too true," giggled the Zanpaktou spirit. She then made a noise as if clearing her throat before assuming a much more serious tone, "So, how you faring, my lady?"
"I'm all right," answered the filly, "It'll take time, but I think I'm starting to find my place in the world."
"That's good," responded Kagehime with a nod, "Have the shadows stung recently?"
"Not too badly," replied Scootaloo, "Though, I had a bit of a run in with someone else trying to fight off shadows with light." The memory of her fight with Trixie wasn't exactly something she could forget.
"I know," said Kagehime, "I was there."
"Oh, right," Scootaloo chuckled sheepishly, "I keep forgetting."
"We work together, Lady Scootaloo," said the armored unicorn with a sincere smile, "You're never alone."
"Right," affirmed the filly with a nod, "Thank you, Kagehime." She prepared to take her leave.
"Don't be a stranger," giggled Kagehime, "Call me."
---
Scootaloo felt her cheeks blush as she opened her eyes.
"Did Kagehime just...?" she asked no one in particular as the disturbing mental image crossed her mind. She then looked down at the Zanpaktou in question and shook her head at the ridiculous idea.
"Nah," she chuckled nervously as she touched her sword's handle to remove it from the physical plane of existence.
---
Rainbow Dash flew back home after a long day of weather patrol, kicking back, napping, stunt performing, more napping, and just being awesome. The sun had already left the sky a few minutes ago. Now it was time for some well-deserved sleep. Her lungs agreed as they released a yawn that escaped the cyan pony's mouth.
Entering her self-constructed cloud home, her ears were met by the most awful sound. It sounded like a cross between sand paper and Pinkie Pie's most recent prank. Rainbow Dash held one hoof up to cover her ear while she looked around inside for the source of the noise. She was not surprised and she was rather irritated to see that it was exactly what she thought it was: her guest's teeth grinding.
Although she was quick to judge, she wasn't unkind. Dash decided to try a different tactic tonight than directly poking her guest awake. She flew over to her closet and shuffled some stuff around. She finally managed to find her old mouth guard. She used her breath to blow a layer of dust off before rubbing the second layer off with her hoof. She then returned to the sofa area and stuffed the mouth guard into her guest's mouth. The teeth still ground, but at least the awful noise had been muted.
Dash sighed silently in relief and flew around to her own bed. She laid down and fell asleep without a struggle.
---
Rainbow Dash lazily opened one eye. She thought it was a bit too early for Princess Celestia to raise the sun. At least the clouds were cool to look at.
Wait, Dash thought, The clouds?
Her eyes opened wider upon realizing that she was not in her cloud home where she shouldn't be able to see the outdoor clouds. Instead, a row of bland, blue structures met her eyes underneath a sky of patternless clouds. Also catching her off guard was the fact that she had somehow been sleeping here while floating in midair. She let out a yelp as she quickly flapped her wings. Only then did she stop and realize that her wings weren't lifting her in any direction and she wasn't falling when they stopped.
"What the hay is going on?" asked the bearer of Loyalty.
---
A/N: Kagehime is an original Zanpaktou thought up by Leo Archon. Thank you muchly.