(How in the name of the Hakurei God are those two so freaking adorable? Urgh. I just hope I can control myself when I see some of my favorite Gensokyens.) I thought as Reimu and I flew away from the Sweet Apple Acers I held Twilight in my arms due to Reimu saying it was a little preemptive training. Luckily we were just gliding at the moment and Reimu was right beneath Twilight and I just in case. As we flew I said. “So since the Everfree is basically the Forest of Magic is it safe to assume that Marisa, Alice, the Three Fairies of Light or as I like to call them the Three Mischievous Fairies and, Rinnosuke live around here?”
“For the most part. There’s a path that goes deeper into the forest from the Hakurei that splits where one side goes to Marisa’s house and the other goes to Alice’s. Rinnosuke managed to move the Kourindou to Canterlot where it quickly became one of the biggest chains in the kingdom, and Sunny, Luna, and Star live in a giant tree near a Zebra named Zecora.” Reimu explained.
“I still have no idea how he knows the perfect prices for everything he sells.” Twilight said. “But I assume it has to do with his Ability.”
“Your right about it being his Ability Twilight.” I said. “From my understanding his Ability lets him know just about everything about an item. When it was made, what it’s made from, if it’s magical, how it’s used, and what it’s worth.”
“That’s a rather powerful Ability if it works the way you say it might.” Twilight gasped.
“And yet compared to a lot of other Abilities it’s not that out there.” I said as Reimu chuckled.
“From what I’ve learned within the last month… your right.” Twilight said. “I mean Reimu really helped us against Nightmare Moon.”
Reimu shrugged. “Just doing my job.”
“Who?” I asked.
“To make a long story short…” Twilight started.
“Too late.” I snarked.
“…A thousand years ago Equestria was ruled by two Alicorn Princesses. Princess Celestia who moves the sun and her sister Princess Luna. During that time everypony worked and cherished the day but shunned the night.” Twilight said.
“Even sailors who used the stars to guide them, guards who had the night shift and astronomers?” I asked.
“…Ok MOSTLY everypony.” Twilight said as Reimu and I chuckled. “Point is Princess Luna got so jealous of her sister she became a being called Nightmare Moon and had to be banished to the moon. A month ago she broke free and my friends and I traveled into the Everfree to obtain six powerful artifacts called the Elements of Harmony. When we found them Nightmare Moon captured us but that’s when Reimu appeared and kept her distracted so my friends and I could use the Element’s powers to purify Nightmare Moon and bring Luna back. Honestly I thought she was going to die fighting Nightmare Moon.”
“Yeah well considering everything Reimu’s done fighting a Moon Princess who’s throwing a colossal temper tantrum isn’t that special.” I said with a small shrug as we reached a town I assumed was Ponyville. “So where should we land?”
“See that large purple building?” Reimu said pointing a two or three story building that reminded me of a carousel. “That’s the Carousel Boutique. It’s owned and run by our friend Rarity. She should be able to make you some more clothes.”
“…Her store is named after a carousel? That’s….slightly morbid in my opinion but whatever.” I said we started the decent.
“Why’s it morbid?” Reimu asked. “Come to think of this Sanae though the same thing but wouldn’t explain why.”
“In the Outside World there’s a ride where depending on how big a certain amount of fake horses, and that’s h-o-r-s-e-s Twilight.” I said making Twilight roll her eyes.
“I know what a horse is Arashi. They live far to the south east.”
“Just being careful, anyways there are fake horses made out of wood with a metal pole going through its center holding it in place and making it look like it was in motion. Once everyone was ready the person running the ride would turn it on and it would start to spin while raising and lowering the horses while music started to play.” I finished my explanation as we landed and I dismissed my wings. Reimu didn’t look that fazed at my explanation but Twilight was looking a little sick to her stomach.
“No wonder Sanae didn’t want to explain what a Carousel from Earth is.” Twilight muttered as I gently rubbed her back before the three of us entered the building. As the bells above the doors range Twilight called out. “Rarity are you here?”
“We’re in my office Twilight.” When the three of us entered the room I saw the Head Maid of the Scarlet Devil Mansion Sakuya, Alice, and Momiji having tea with a white coated unicorn with purple hair. Floating next to Alice on either side are her dolls Hourai and Shanghai who are in dresses very similar to Alice only Shanghai has pink bows while Hourai had red bows.
Looking over Momiji said, “I thought I could smell a new Tengu, but why do have the scent of crow along with the scent of wolf?”
“That’s because I’m a one of a kind. I’m Arashi the Crow-Wolf Tengu and the one Yukari sent to help Reimu keep the peace.” I said with a small smile before looking at Momiji. “Apart from changing me from a Human to a Tengu, Yukari also gave me copies of your sword and shield. Can you teach me how to use them?”
“Show me.” Momiji said. Focusing for a moment my wristbands glowed before disappearing only for my sword and shield to appear in my hands a second later.
Sakuya drank a sip of her tea. “It’s not surprising that Yukari gave him those weapons considering what happened.”
“You’re talking about that awful Porky fellow yes?” Rarity asked as I dismissed my weapons.
“She is.” Alice said as Shanghai came over to examine me. Shanghai flew around me once before tilting her head.
“It’s one thing to hear about your Ability Alice but it’s another to see it. I honestly can’t tell if Shanghai is sentient or not.” I said as I held out my hands to Shanghai which she landed on and gave a small cute curtsy. (God damn it! Why are some Gensokyens so good at being cute!)
“Thank you. I put a lot of work into my puppets.” Alice said.
“Well come this way Arashi, and I’ll get your measurements.” Rarity said leading me to a small platform as she used her magic to grab a measuring tape.
“Thank you Rarity, but how am I going to pay for it?” I asked.
“How about you come with Spike and I the next time we go gather gems?” Rarity said.
“Sure. When will that be?” I asked.
“In three days. I assume you’ll be staying with Reimu until you find a place of your own?” Rarity said.
Reimu shrugged. “I guess so. That way I can tell him about the important things about this world.”
Once Rarity had the measurements she said. “So what kind of outfit are you looking for? Something particle I assume?”
“Yup. I’d like a dark blue shirt and some shorts, and then there’s…” I said before whispering something in Rarity’s ear. I had a feeling Momiji heard me but if she did she didn’t say anything.
Rarity nodded. “I don’t have any big orders at the moment so I should have the first set ready for you tomorrow. By the way why does your shirt have such large rips in the back?”
“That happened when Yukari turned me into a Tengu.” I said with a shrug. “Perhaps if you put holes where my wings are and flaps to cover said hold until I need them.”
“That’s not a bad idea.” Rarity muttered as she looked over a few sketches. “It would be difficult to implement correctly but given enough time I might be able to have it worked out.”
“Take your time.” I said shrugging. “As long as I’ve got a few normal outfits I’m in no hurry.” Looking over to Sakuya I said. “So how’s the other residents of the mansion doing?”
Giving a small smile Sakuya replied “The Mistress is fine as is Patchouli and Koakuma has been flying back and forth between the Mansion and Twilight’s library. Meiling’s been slaking on the job as usual.” Sakuya rolled her eyes when she mentioned Meiling’s habit of napping on the job.
“Have you ever thought about getting a guard for the night shift?” I asked. “If Mailing actually had time to sleep then I doubt she’d continue napping on the job.”
“I’ll bring that up with Mistress Remilia when I get back.”
“And what about Flandre? How’s she doing?” I asked and if looks could kill I’d be dead from the glare Sakuya just gave me.
“Pardon me Sakuya but who’s Flandre?” Rarity asked.
“That’s her Mistress’s little sis.” Alice said with a shrug.
“How come we haven’t met her yet?” Twilight asked while Reimu shot me a look that said she was going to enjoy seeing me try to dig my way out of the hole I’d put myself in.
When no one answered I sighed. “Because Flandre is… a little unstable and her power is one of the most dangerous in Gensokyo.”
“I highly doubt it’s that bad darling.” Rarity said. “Compared to some of the others I mean.”
“She has the power to destroy anything she wants.” Momiji explained with a small sip of her tea making Rarity’s and Twilight’s eyes go wide in shock.
“That’s… I have no words.” Rarity said putting her cup of tea down on the table.
I couldn’t help but smirk a little but that changed quickly when Sakuya gained her own smirk. “I suppose since it’s your job to help Reimu here then you wouldn’t mind being in charge of teaching the Young Mistress about living in Equestria? Good! I’ll be sure to let Mistress Remilia know.”
I sighed and face palmed as Reimu broke out laughing. “I haven’t even been here a day and you do this to me?”
“You dug yourself into a hole now you need to take responsibility.” Momiji said. “Consider that your first lesson.”
“…Understood.” I said before Alice looked at the clock.
“Knowing your friend shouldn’t it be starting soon?”
“Shouldn’t what be starting soon?” I asked looking around confused.
Reimu and Twilight chuckled as the others got to their feet. “You’ll see once we get to the Sugarcube Corner.”
“That name just screams ‘come here and you’ll need a dentist’.” I muttered as I fallowed the others. Soon we came to a store that looked like a gingerbread house. “From the design of this place I’m guessing this is a bakery?”
“Yup. Our friend Pinkie Pie works here.” Twilight said as she opened the door.
Behind me Reimu looked at Sakuya and they grinned at each other before Reimu gave a quick nod and the two kicked me through the door. Flying through the door I skidded on the floor for a few feet then fell flat. With my face flat against the floor I held up a hand. “I’m….ok…”
“That’s what you get for sticking your foot in your mouth.” Sakuya said.
“Got it.” I said getting to my feet but when I looked up I saw two things. Frist I saw Hina wearing her normal black and red dress with a green swirl and her green hair framing her face with a ribbon in her hair folding her hands together and a dark purple mist flowed out of me and into a purple orb that was forming between them. Next to Hina is a pink Earth Pony with a fluffy pink main and tail wearing a wide rimmed black and white witches hat.
“You ok?” The Pony asked.
“Yeah I’m fine…just little annoyed.” I said shaking my head. “Name’s Arashi, I’m guessing you’re Pinkie Pie?”
“That’s me! Nice to meet ya Arashi!” Pinkie exclaimed.
“Hey Pinkie how come you’re wearing one of Marisa’s old hats?” Sakuya asked.
“Well she gave it to me after she finished teaching me a few things!” And with that Pinkie pulled a broom out of nowhere, hopped on and started floating with a huge grin on her face.
“OH GREAT!” Twilight groaned. “Now Pinkie can fly! That’s all we needed!”
Looking around I saw all of the people Twilight and Reimu had introduced me to and a lot of other Gensokyens and Ponies milling about enjoying a very childish looking party. Shrugging it off I asked. “Where is Marisa?”
Pinkie shrugged. “Probably off trying to take books from the Canterlot Archives again. She tries about once a month and hasn’t succeeded once. According to Rinnosuke there’s a bet going around the guards on whether she’ll make it in before the end of the year.”
Twilight bristled at this but before she could do something Hina placed a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t worry Twilight. I doubt she’ll get in any time soon… and even if she does how long will she keep it?”
“That’s a good point. Anyways I’m going to go enjoy the party.” Alice said before walking off with her dolls floating above her shoulders.
Pinkie then grabbed my arm and dragged me over to a few Gensokyens and started to introduce me to them.
—Time skip, three hours later—
“That was a little to childish for me but man I don’t remember the last time I had that much fun at a party.” I said grinning as Twilight, Reimu, and I walked back to the Hakurei Shrine.
“Pinkie’s parties are always amazing.” Twilight said before she noticed someone sitting on the shrine’s front steps swinging her legs and drinking from a purple gourd. She has long orange hair two long horns on the side of her head with a blue bow in the left one, a pale pink blouse that looked like it’d seen better days with a long purple and pink skirt. On her wrists and belt were three long chains with a red pyramid attached on the right chain, a yellow ball on the left and a blue cube on the belts.
“Shhup Rheimu!...*hic* Who’s the new guy?”
“Suika this is Arashi, he’s the one the Gap Hag chose.” Reimu said.
Suika was on her feet in an instant and I guessed that she only came up to my waist. “Really? This calls for a drink!”
“I’ll have to take a pass on that.” I said. “I’m not that interested in alcohol. It’s not that I don’t like it, it’s more that I’ve never found one I liked.”
“WHAT!” Suika gasped. “Well that just won’t do! If you’re going to help out around here I need to teach you how to handle your booze!”
Slowly backing up I said the first thing that came to mind that might be able to save me from drinking with an Oni. “Well I’d love to say and continue talking but I should probably meet the Princesses.”
“You can meet them later.” Suika said as she quickly knocked me onto the ground, grabbed my leg and started to drag me towards the shrine. “Now it’s time to teach you how to drink like an Oni!”
“REIMU, TWILIGHT HELP! SHE’S GOING TO KILL ME WITH THAT MUCH SAKE!” I yelled.
Twilight looked at Reimu and sighed. “Sorry Arashi but nothing can stop her once she gets like this.”
Reimu smirked and just as Suika dragged me into the building she said. “Welcome to Gensokyo and Equestria, Arashi.”