(Twilight’s House)
(Evening)
Twilight was pacing back and forth creating a minor rut in the floor while Spike and Applejack tried to calm her down. “What if he was eaten?! What if he fell in a crevasse and is dying from thirst?! What if he-.” “TWILIGHT!” She was taken from her inner ranting by the farmer and drake yelling her name. “What?! What happened?!” She asked frantically trying to discern their cause for yelling her name.
“You’ve been pacing back and forth for two hours waiting for Zeko.” Spike said concerned for his adoptive sister’s mental health.
“I have?” She responded before looking at a clock and seeing the time, causing her to rub her neck in embarrassment, “Oh, I have. I’m just concerned with how many dangerous creatures I’ve read about that live in that forest, that one of them mi-mi...” she stopped as she began to hyperventilate thinking about every possible way in which the teenager could have been hurt.
“Calm down there Twi, ya ain’t breathing right. Here take this.” Applejack said while handing the librarian a brown paper bag to breathe into. “I had some apple fritters in there so it should be mighty calmin.” She said while Twilight calmed her breathing down enough to form sentences.
“Ok, ok I’m fine. I just keep thinking about how a colt from another world just ran into that forest without hesitation, and I just hope he doesn’t get hurt.” The librarian sat back down and resumed breathing into the bag.
“Ah reckon he’ll be fine Twilight, so long as he doesn’t run into that Zecora.” Applejack said with some scorn earning confused looks from Spike and Twilight. “She’s a strange pony that lives in that forest and does curses and such.”
Twilight managed to calm down and looked at her friend with an expression of disbelief. “Applejack there’s no such thing as curses. They’re just old pony tales.”
“That’s odd coming from you, ya do have a knack for magic yourself.” Applejack retorted. “So how can ya tell me there ain’t a such thing as a curse?”
“My magic is real and comes from within, curses are just a-“
“Wood style:Tree limbs.” Twilight didn’t finish her sentence as she was cut off by a familiar voice and looked to see the hole in her tree was being fixed by moving tree roots. “I’m back and I told you I’d fix that wall... er trunk? This is a confusing place.” Zeko said coming in through the door, he noticed that all eyes were on him but wasn’t sure why so he ignored it. “So did I miss anything important?”
The only response he got was Twilight walking up and slapping the back of his head before pulling him into a protective hug. “Don’t ever do something like that again! I’m supposed to be your legal guardian and y-you just ran off an-and...” Twilight stopped as she began to cry.
“Wow, she really thinks she should cry over me like this?” The shinobi thought while Spike and Applejack looked worried as well. “Twilight.” The librarian heard him say breaking her from her sobbing. “I’m sorry, I never had a guardian worry about me so much and I just got used to running off when I wanted.” Zeko said looking into her eyes to show sincerity.”
“He’s telling the truth Twilight.” Applejack pointed out. “But why wouldn’t anypony care about ya?”
“That’d be my parent’s fault. Thanks to me being born with the Rinnegan other villages saw a power imbalance and wanted to correct that, so my parents decided to sell me to the nobles in different villages for the highest price.” This caused Applejack to clench her fists in anger while Spike and Twilight were shocked to the point where they couldn’t speak. “Hold on it gets better. You see they wanted to do that so I could have kids with the daughters of the nobles, so it wasn’t just taking my freedom but theirs too.”
“WHY I OUGHTA...!” The farmer screamed, but stopped as she didn’t want to damage anything in her friend’s home out of her anger. “How could anypony be so darn mean to their own kin and other foals? Did ya let em know how you felt about it?”
“I did but it didn’t matter, they had a way to earn more wealth and reputation. But I made sure that I learned something new in every village, whether it be jutsu or fighting styles. That’s kinda how I learned what I know.”
“Wait a second.” Twilight said, having finally stopped the silent crying and getting over the shock and anger she held to Zeko’s parents. “You had to go to villages to... have babies with girls so that your eye would be passed onto the next generation?” She asked curiously but nobody caught on to her point.
“Yeah that explains the last 9 years of my life, at least me having to go to villages and meet them. They waited until I was 15 before they sent me for the other part.”
“So you have kids?! But you’re still a child!” She exclaimed in frustration that someone so young was a father already.
“No I don’t.” Everyone’s face went blank at this. “Yes I was sent for that purpose but I never actually did it, I would just walk around the village with the girl to make it seem like I wanted a date first and when we had to retire we snuck out so they could teach me new techniques.” Zeko explained earning relieved sighs from the two adults in the room. “Well I’ve enjoyed today but I’m pretty tired, so I’m gonna head to Canterlot and stay at the castle.” He said breaking the semi-embrace he had been in.
“Well I suppose it’s ok, but I’m going to send a letter to notify the Princess that you’re returning.” The librarian said walking to a desk and picking up a quill.
“That’s ok I guess...” The shinobi said while walking out the door. “Ok I think I’ll use the fifth Kazekage’s floating sand technique instead of tearing up the earth again.” Zeko said, opening his gourd and causing sand to spill out and form a circular platform in front of him which he stepped on. “And now to get to the castle.” The sand platform began to float towards the capital of the country, somehow not dropping sand on anything below.
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(Canterlot Castle)
Zeko landed in the courtyard and was being escorted to the throne room by a pair of guards. “So you’re the one from a different world?” One asked wanting to know if the rumors were true
“That might explain how you pulled off those strange spells.” The other guard answered, having been at the duel between the Captain and the teenager.
“Well you’re both right in a way. I’m from a different world, and the techniques I used might be exclusive to it. But I just want to know if there’s a place I can sleep for tonight.” Zeko ended his statement with a dramatic yawn to drive the point that he wanted to rest. Luckily enough he was lead back to the throne room where the diarchal rulers were listening to multiple complaints from nobles.
“Princess Celestia I still don’t see why we should pay tribute to that-that menace!” One exclaimed, not wanting to give any of their bits to another without a future growth.
“Well Silver Tongue you did decide to offer that many bits for a demonstration of the young one’s power and-here he is now.” Celestia answered before gesturing to the shinobi who was being glared at by most of the nobles.
“Did I choose a bad time? I can come back tomorrow. Actually no I can’t I was wondering if there was any place for me to stay.” The shinobi said remembering why he initially came here.
“T’was not a bad time at all, we were discussing the matter of thine payment from those who questioned thou skills.” The Alicorn of the night said, looking directly at Silver Tongue.
“Oh yeah, you are one of the ones who promised me a thousand... bits? Is that what they are?” The shinobi questioned.
“We definitely shouldn’t be paying this monster! He should be locked away so that your subjects aren’t in danger!” Silver Tongue said in anger. “He bested the Captain of the Royal Guard and you haven’t restrained him?”
“Now I have learned from a monster, I wield a monstrous weapon, I’ve beaten people horrifically, and I’ve had to kill... but the fact is that I’ve never wronged anyone who didn’t deserve it.” Zeko said earning shocked looks from the diarchal rulers.
“You...you’ve had to kill?” Celestia said while Luna looked horrorified that a child has taken lives. “I’m sorry.”
“I don’t know why you should be, they deserved it. But about the wager with you three... I’d like to know when I can get paid, I’d like to start a personal project as quickly as possible.”
“He admit to atrocities then decides to talk about being paid to the Princess herself?! This colt must be the bravest warrior or most stupid child I’ve met.” The mare known as Fleur De Lis thought as her husband walked up to Zeko.
“Well it is nice to meet you young sir.” He said shaking Zeko’s hand; “My name is Fancy Pants and I must say I greatly enjoyed your duel and will gladly pay you on behalf of Sir Silver.” Zeko squinted at Fancy Pants, searching for deception as he was greatly used to by nobility but found none.
“I have to ask, how are you so good at masking lies?” The teenager said bluntly earning a gasp from Fleur.
“I don’t quite follow what you mean.” He said quizzically, while the other occupants of the room were wide eyed at Zeko’s statement.
“I’m used to you nobles and politicians lying to meet your goals, so how can you hide it so well?”
“Well my good sir it may be that I’m being completely honest in wishing to compensate you as you did say you had a project you desired to finish.” Fancy Pants said while polishing his monocle, friendly smile not dropping.
“Bullshit.” Zeko said which made everyone save Fancy Pants gasp in shock. “A generous person with noticeable wealth isn’t something that exists.” He said with a slight scowl.
“Well if that is what you wish to believe then I won’t stop you but know that I will be back tomorrow with your two thousand bits and I hope you learn that not every noble is conceited.” He said as he walked away with his wife close behind.
“Whatever, Hey Princesses is there anyplace I can sleep for tonight?” The shinobi asked returning to his typical bland expression.
“How dare you! You come into this country from who knows where, and challenge the Captain and demand money and board from royalty?! You should be locked in Tartarus for your insolence!” Silver Tongue said in pure abhorrence.
“That is enough!” Luna said outraged by his outburst. “Thou shall not speak ill of our guest in such a manner! Leave now!” She said nearly red-faced in anger towards the intolerance present. Silver Tongue sighed in frustration before turning and walking away but not before whispering to Zeko.
“I’ll make sure you pay for your insolence and my embarrassment.” Zeko smiled at the threat, as he was familiar with this behavior and as always was happy to invoke it.
“Well let’s all try to pretend that didn’t happen. Zeko there are guest rooms present in the castle one of the guards can escort you.” Celestia stayed while calming down since she was just as aggravated as her sister.
“Before that can I see you lower the sun? I don’t believe it’s possible and I need to see it to believe it.” He responded earning a smile from the Princess of the day.
“Of course follow me.” Celestia said getting up from her throne with her sister behind. “This balcony is a perfect viewpoint for the event.” She said as they gathered on a nearby balcony overlooking the garden.
“There’s no way she can actually move the sun.” The shinobi thought in denial, but saw the Princesses having chakra spikes and noticed their horns and hands glowing. “Wait what?” He said as he saw the sun set exponentially faster and the moon begin to rise into the sky. “So they have a jutsu that moves the Sun and Moon?!” He thought to himself while wondering if he could learn how to do the same thing.
“Do you believe me now?” Celestia asked noticing the expression of disbelief on his face. “Ok I’ll tell you a secret.” She leaned closer to him and whispered into his ear; “We don’t exactly move the Sun and Moon, we simply rotate the planet.” Zeko was slightly relieved but still in surprise that they were able to move the planet faster.
“So that would count as an Earth style meaning I could learn how to do it.” Zeko said making Luna look at him curiously.
“What would an Earth style be young fighter? And thine may be quite skilled but only an Alicorn is able to move the planet with magic.”
“Well Earth style is a school of jutsu that involve manipulating the Earth, and since I’ve seen and sensed you moving the planet I could find my own way to do it in time. But I’m tired so where are the guest rooms at?” Zeko said quickly changing the subject.
“Follow me.” A guard with a brownish coat rather than a white one said before walking down a hall and stopping next to a door and opening it. “You will stay here for tonight and will be called for breakfast.”
“Alright thanks.” Zeko said before walking in and closing the door before opening Samehada and picking a basic white shirt and sleeping pants before laying on the bed and having one final thought before sleeping.
“I need to find a way to get my friends here, I refuse to tough this out alone.”
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