//------------------------------// // Arc 4 Chapter 6: Catching Up // Story: Ring eyed Shinobi // by Seeker Of Knowledge //------------------------------// (Wasteland) (Dusk) “Would my moms believe that I love a stallion? Would any of the mares I got along with believe me or would they think Zeko tricked me?” Celona was having a mental debate while riding on Zeko’s back in the wasteland. The pair had been walking for hours and Celona exhausted herself trying to keep up with the more enduring shinobi. “Sorry but I’ve never been so high up and I panicked.” Zeko recalled how initially he tried to float them back but ran into Celona’s fear of heights, which he understood since she wasn’t a Pegasus nor used to climbing high positions. “It’s fine, we’re gonna have to make camp now since it’s getting dark.” Zeko looked around and saw a rock around the size of a small cottage and he walked towards it. “How is this rock so big?!” Celona exclaimed to Zeko’s temporary surprise “You’ve never seen- Oh right you lived in a forest... a rainforest at that. Rocks this size aren’t too common.” Zeko set Samehada, which he ha to carry by hand, down “What are you doing?” Celona questioned while Zeko brought his hands up and formed a hand sign “A jutsu sign.” Zeko said before opening his mouth and sending out a burst of air that carved a hole in the rock. The hole was as tall as him and nearly punched through the other side. “Ok you can sleep here, I’ll make a fire.” Zeko set her down in front of the rock and created a set of branches with wood style to Celona’s amusement. “Well I should get the food I packed then, might as well eat. Why didn’t those stallions come with us anyway?” “They weren’t in condition to make the trip back... even floating could’ve been dangerous.” Zeko responded as he stoked the now lit fire while Celona pulled out salted meat, fruit and some vegetables. “Wait you have meat? I thought you ponies were vegetarian?” “The tribes can eat meat too, we live in a different place so we just got used to it.” Celona answered casually. She made stew with the foods using a pot she took with her as Zeko kept watch for anything that could threaten the duo. Shortly after Celona had made the stew which Zeko was passionate about... “How... How?! This is amazing! You never said you knew how to cook!” He aggressively ate using his spare set of chopsticks and finished before Celona started hers. “I have to go on a walk otherwise I’ll just eat it all myself, if something happens just scream.” Zeko walked off with Samehada leaving Celona to think about things aloud “I never thought I could cook that well, maybe my moms weren’t just being nice when they told me my food was good.” Celona decided to let her thoughts leave her mind since nobody was around to hear. Her thoughts quickly shifted to her feelings for Zeko and she pulled out her journal and wrote in it for a few minutes. I don’t get how I fell in love with him. He just came and stood against everything I knew but he opened my mind to something better. There has to be a way to know if he feels the same way about me. Maybe there’s somepony that understands him. She thought about what she wrote repeatedly until she fell crawled into the carved rock and fell asleep in her blanket while Zeko kept watch from afar until he fell asleep ============================== (Ponyville) (The next day) “Wow! This is such an amazing tribe, their village is huge compared to the Unum’s!” Celona looked around in awe at the scale of her surroundings while Zeko gave a slight smirk “What would she think if she saw the Hidden Sand?” He thought while Celona started to notice the stallions walking around “Even more of them? How many stallions are in this place?” “Surprisingly there are more mares than stallions, I’d think a mare your age would know that.” A familiar voice said prompting Celona and Zeko to look and see a purple unicorn mare in a white blouse and purple plaid skirt “Twilight. It’s been a while, what’d I miss?” Zeko asked to Twilight’s notable irritation “Well a few things; we had our winter wrap up, Rarity made our dresses for the Gala, and today Rainbow Dash is going to the best young flier competition.” Before Zeko could question any further he saw a hot air balloon being dragged along by Spike and Applejack with Pinkie Pie inside. He noticed Rarity flying... and did a double take when he saw her wings “How is she doing that?” Celona asked. “I’ve never seen a unicorn fly!” “It’s a spell that I found, I managed to give her a pair of wings so she could cheer our friend on. It took a lot of magic so I can’t do it again but I can use a spell that’ll let you walk on clouds.” “I don’t think she’s doing that, Celona here has a fear of heights.” Zeko informed Twilight while Celona nodded. The rest of the group, excluding Spike, got into the cabin of the hot air balloon. “I’m guessing you aren’t gonna tag with them Spike?” The drake ignored Zeko as he still had hearts in his eyes from staring at Rarity until Zeko slammed Samehada in front of him, breaking Spike’s gaze “Huh!? Wha?! Where am I?” Spike looked confused by his surroundings until he saw Samehada in front of him. “Zeko? When did you get here and... who’s she?” Spoke gestured to Celona who was still in awe over Ponyville’s appearance “Well that’s a long story and- Hey Spike you wanna see where I live? I can explain the story on the walk there.” “Sure I can- Wait don’t you live in the Everfree Forest?” Spike started to sweat from nervousness but he was calmed quickly by Celona giving him an herb that smelled like gems to him “Calm down Spike, the forest is pretty peaceful when you get to where I live. Just stick close by and you’ll be as safe as an Ursa in any given situation really.” “Can we come?!” Three female voices nearly screamed from behind and were revealed to be none other than the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Applebloom stepped forward “We’re tryin to get our cutie marks in adventurin and the forest is the best place somepony can go!” “Yeah! There’s so much scary stuff that we can find in there!” They continued to bombard Zeko with “Please” until he decided to put Samehada on his back and walk away gesturing for them to follow him. The group walked through the town and received stares from mares and stallions alike. Celona was quick to notice the looks she was getting and decided to voice her concern to Zeko before they went into the forest. “Hey Zeko, why is everypony staring at me like that?” She continued to shift her gaze to the occasional stallion and didn’t recognize why they looked at her strangely “Pretty sure it’s jealousy either way.” Celona looked confused by the blunt statement. “The stallions are jealous that you and the CMC are with me. Even though they’re just twelve.” Zeko’s inner voice added, “The mares are angry that the stallions aren’t focused on them and from what I’ve read up on they might think I’m starting a herd and see me as desirable... makes my head hurt thinking about this world’s customs.” Zeko shook his head to clear his mind of the strange things he’d learned over the past month but stopped when a hand touched the side of his head. “Um what’s she doing?” Sweetie Belle questioned Celona’s actions while Zeko seemed unfazed. “Your head doesn’t feel like there’s anything in it and your hair makes you look like a gathering mare.” Celona’s made a white tick mark appear on Zeko’s head as he walked faster ahead “You can say I’m brainless but don’t insult my hair, I don’t insult yours so- whatever let’s just get to the forest.” The group continued to walk until they reached the border of the forest where Zeko reminded them to stay close to him but before they could go in a kunai pierced the ground in front of them and when they looked up they saw a clay bird coming down to them “Hey Zeko! It’s me!” Nouka said from above “I don’t know anyone else who learned how to use that clay. I also don’t know anyone who has a Sharingan in one eye.” Zeko looked to the duo who jumped down to greet him but before they could say anything, Kotetsu noticed something “Isn’t this one of those Amazons? Shouldn’t she be back at that village?” “Actually she wanted to tag along with me and witness my greatness up close.” Zeko said right before resuming the walk to his land “Ok but who are these kids? I thought Kotetsu said children were evil and you shouldn’t let them-“ Nouka was interrupted by an angered Kotetsu slamming his fist against the clay user’s head “Why don’t you just blurt everything out?! Go ahead tell them my life story why don’t ya?!” He was interrupted by an enormous burst of rainbow energy from the sky and a booming noise that put them all in awe “Ok that was amazing and I’m asking about it when I come back to Ponyville, oN with the walk.” The group walked through the forest and eventually came across the small desert Zeko calls home, the CMC and Spike were immediately impressed while Celona was baffled, Nouka and Kotetsu were surprised that Zeko would make a desert within a forest but said nothing and followed him to his house which was now hardened to sandstone. When they walked in they were greeted by Mist in a wheelchair. “Zeko! You’re back, and you brought guests. Those two look like humans so they’re your friends but everypony else...” She rolled over to the group “That’s Kotetsu, Nouka, Spike, Celona, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo.” Zeko pointed at each respective being as he listed them while Mist nodded her head and remembered names and faces. “The younger ones here just wanted to see where I lived and they’re free to walk around as long as they don’t break anything.” The kids of the group took that as an opportunity to leave the house and explore. “This is Celona, she’s going to stay with us from now on so get acquainted, and these two are my best friends.” Zeko slung his arms around the shoulders of Nouka and Kotetsu to show his point “What’d I say about touching me? You know what? I’m gonna go burn something before dinner... shoulda mentioned we’re staying for a day or two, gotta make it seem realistic that we’re visiting.” Kotetsu walked out to Nouka’s alarm “Aren’t you going to stop him? He’s gonna burn the forest down!” Nouka said in worry “No he won’t, that’d be too easy. He’ll probably turn some of my sand into glass.” Nouka calmed down and decided to walk around himself. Zeko looked at Mist and thought about her wheelchair, and how she came to be in it. When the two had fought he pierced her legs to immobilize her but his aim was off and he severed major nerves in her legs, if he was a better healer he could’ve saved them but now she was crippled just because she was helping her “family”. “I’m gonna go add more to the house so they can all sleep somewhere if they want.” Zeko walked outside as the CMC gasped when they heard him “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS SLEEPOVER AT ZEKO’S! YAY!” “HOLY SHIT! MY EARS, I’m gonna kill something!” Kotetsu screamed right as a tree hit the ground. “His friends seem nice, except the black maned one. I know a psycho when I see it, but if they’re friends it’s under control.” Mist thought to herself as she rolled into the kitchen. After a few hours it had gotten dark and the group was enjoying food made by Celona, sans the meat for the most part, and stories were being told every now and then. “So I called Kirin, a dragon of lightning, and held it over the village. That Mjoll lady tried to say how she’d get us but Zeko used the Raijin and brought us away right as I told Kirin to strike and after that no more Mjoll.” Kotetsu told his perspective of how they liberated the Amazon mares and they were enjoying it until Zeko came back inside and let them know the addition was done and that boys would sleep on the middle floor and girls got the very top. Mist deadpanned for a second but was levitated to the top by Zeko, along with the CMC and Celona. “That’s one way of getting someone somewhere.” Nouka said as he reached into his bag and pulled out a nightshirt and pants while Kotetsu and Zeko already had theirs on. Spike decided to wear his underwear from a lack of anything else “Alright its time for boys night.” Kotetsu pulled out measuring tape and made Zeko laugh while Nouka and Spike were confused ============================== (Zeko’s Mind) Zeko was meditating with his body in two different halves showing different versions of power. One was his right side where his Rinnegan was active with floating chakra rods next to him, and the other side had a deep orange aura with a tail made out of the same energy and sand was in a ball with many black markings covering it. “I have to find a balance, I feel like a jinchuriki would have this way easier. They just have to beat the tailed beast but controlling the chakra yourself? Just can’t let it merge into mine unless I want to be the new Shukaku.” Zeko continued to meditate while the sand and black rods continued to drift in the air as he floated above the swirled pool of water. “Hello once again Zeko!” Luna appeared in Zeko’s mind for the second time but was taken aback by his current situation and lack of acknowledgement “Can’t talk, need to focus so please leave.” Zeko murmured to the Lunar Princess’ displeasure “You seem to be struggling against the forces of good and wicked, I’ve had the same issue in the past and it lead to mine corruption and being trapped in the moon.” After hearing this Zeko’s eyes opened and both the rods and his aura dispelled “Forces of... that Nightmare Moon thing? Twilight told me about what happened before I showed up but she wasn’t too specific.” “That would be correct but the circumstances were more detailed. One thousand years ago I was jealous of the attention my sister was receiving from our subjects and over time this hate manifested into the Nightmare.” “I can understand jealousy and that evil consuming you but that’s not who you are so why bring that up.” Zeko questioned, not understanding the point Luna tried to make “I see that very same struggle in thee, the energy surrounding thy body was laced with anger while the other half was peaceful, almost divine.” Luna explained further, making Zeko think about her statement “Are you talking about Shukaku’s chakra?” She nodded, believing that to be the name of his demons. “That’s not evil... at least not while it’s in me. He gave me some of his chakra so I could use the sand and wind like he can... there’s some sealing abilities too but that’s not as important.” “Then is this... Shukaku, an evil one? There is clear malice behind the aura and I don’t want you to fall victim to a-“ “He’s not evil, he doesn’t like humans since we act like we’re better since we can seal him and other tailed beasts into someone. I befriended him... after a long process of getting him from my mom and eventually ripping him out myself and nearly dying in the process but he decided to give me some of his chakra to save me from biting the dust then and there. Damn a year goes by quick. I just need to figure out how to control it to the best. So please leave so I can keep practicing.” Zeko resumes his meditative state which was shortly followed by his aura and chakra rods returning. “I suppose that would be a good reason to practice, I’ll be on my way then.” Luna created a portal and left the domain to the lone shinobi who continued his calming action “What does control over the first tail look like? I’ll find this out if I keep working for it!” Zeko’s aura and rods sped up in accordance with his thoughts until they slowed down again. “One step closer, Ill make you proud Shukaku!” =======