"Come on, you two!" Scootaloo called to Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, who were trotting far behind her. "We need to find that flower!"
The Cutie Mark Crusaders were deep within the Everfree Forest. Normally, ponies avoided this place, and they would get into a lot of trouble if anypony knew where they went. But this time, it was different. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were going to come to Ponyville for a visit, and the whole town was preparing for days to welcome them properly.
Yesterday, the three of them had cleaned up Twilight's library, due to losing a stupid bet with Spike. While Scootaloo originally thought that it’ll be an incredible drag, when they were cleaning the library one of the books about flora, accidentally opened on a page about a 'Lunar Flower', a very pretty plant that grew only in the darkest caves of the Everfree Forest.
Scootaloo still remembered how Princess Luna helped her when she was plagued by nightmares, so she decided to go get few of those flowers and give them to her as a 'thank you gift'. She also figured that maybe she and the other Cutie Mark Crusaders could earn their cutie marks in plant gathering, or something along those lines, so she recruited her friends for this quest. Taking advantage of the fact that everypony was busy with last minute's preparation, they ventured into the forest.
The only problem they had was that they only now managed to find a cave, and it was already past the time the Princesses were supposed to arrive.
"Come on!" she shouted once again after the two stumbling ponies.
"We're coming, okay?!" Sweetie Belle said as she and Apple Bloom stopped in front the cave, panting.
"Why are we... huh... doin' this again?" Apple Bloom asked, wheezing.
"Because, A: that's a great gift for the Princess, and 2:.."
"You mean B:, right?"
"... it's a great chance to earn cutie marks." Scootaloo finished, glaring at the unicorn. "Now, Cutie Mark Crusaders, let go!"
"Yay!" shouted the two other fillies, their enthusiasm renewed, and they all went into the cave.
"I need your assistance." those were the first words he heard since his soul was sealed away with the Shiki Fūjin.
Hashirama Senju opened his eyes.
In front of him stood the Death God himself, a huge human looking-like being, with skin blue as a dead person would have, long white hair with two red horns sprouting from within them, wearing a white robe.
"What do you mean?" he asked him calmly, despite the situation.
The Death God peered at him with his black eyes with yellow iris.
"There’s something that’s going to happen, which will cause a great tragedy. It will disrupt the balance of the very multiverse. I need you to stop it when it happens."
"Why me?" Hashirama asked, and then recalled that there were others trapped within the Death God’s stomach. "What of my brother? And Saru?"
"They're going to stay here."
Hashirama glared at the Death God, who ignored it.
"I cannot interfere directly, but I can bring you back to life and send you to that world. Do this for me, and I shall grant you one wish of your choosing."
That got the shinobi's attention.
"Any wish?" he asked.
The Death God shook his head.
"I will not bring peace to the Shinobi World, if that's what you are thinking. I meant something along the lines of your fate. I could bring you back to your world, I could let you pass into the Pure World... whichever you choose."
Hashirama frowned at that. The Death God guessed his intention correctly. He would've gladly continued to spend eternity within his stomach in exchange for world's peace. His efforts after founding of Konoha to uphold the peace that came from one village per country system, ended up in failure. The Great Shinobi War, during which he perished, erupted and taking the lives of many shinobi, his younger brother Tobirama most likely included, since he looked the same when they were brought to life with Edo Tensei by that white-skinned youngster.
He took a deep breath and asked:
"Where is it that you want to send me? It doesn't sound as if you mean my world."
"You are correct, First Hokage. That world is very much unlike yours. You could even say that it's the opposite." the Death God said, and made a strange noise.
"Did the Death God just...chuckle?" Hashirama wondered.
"Do you accept those terms?" the Death God asked him now, casing that disturbing sound.
Hashirama pondered on that. The prospect of leaving this black nothingness of Death God's stomach was tempting, but he didn't like the idea of leaving his brother or Hiruzen.
"On the other hand, however," he thought, "if what the Death God said is true, then that world is going to be in trouble. Even if it is unlike like mine, I still cannot leave weak and innocent to suffer if there is something I can do."
"Very well, then." Hashirama said finally." I accept."
The Death God nodded, with facial expression unchanged.
"That disaster isn't going to happen for some time. Enjoy yourself, start preparing, learn about this world, or do whatever you wish. You will recognize that threat when it arrives. You will choose your reward once we meet again."
Hashirama nodded and began to wonder how the Death God planned to send him there.
"There is one more thing." the Death God continued. "As you are now, you won't be able to stop it."
"Well, that's... bad." he responded, raising an eyebrow.
"Indeed." the Death God said, reaching to him with his hand.
"What are you..." Hashirama started to ask, trying instinctively to back away, only to find out that he couldn't move.
He realized what the Death God meant when he ripped his eyeball.
As he screamed in pain, he noticed the hand moving to his other eye.
"Now, try to not shake too much. If we do this quick, you will make in time to impress the... locals."
"It's got to be here!" Scootaloo muttered angrily as they walked around in the darkness.
"How are we even gonna see it?" Apple Bloom asked.
"It glows in the dark. Duh!" Scootaloo replied as she continued to trot forward, when suddenly, she bumped into something.
Something that growled.
Princess Celestia looked around at the partying ponies within Sugarcube Corner, happy to see them happy.
She took another sip from her tea, comparing this visit from the previous. For one thing, this time Luna was with her. She was gradually becoming more sociable, which made Celestia very happy. It took a lot of effort to prepare everything so that both of them could leave Canterlot for few hours, but it was worth it. She wished that they didn't have to return before it was the time to set the sun and raise the moon, but royal duties called.
"Still though, that's no reason we can't enjoy ourselves." she thought.
"Are you having a good time, little sister?" Celestia asked her.
"Indeed I am, sister." Luna replied, smiling. "Ponyville is such happy place, and this 'get-together' is most pleasing, unlike any events in Canterlot, save maybe for Cadence’s and Shining Armor's wedding. Perhaps we should consider moving the capital here."
Celestia giggled.
"Pity there is no noble around to hear you say that, sister. Their faces would bear most hilarious expressions."
As Luna joined her at laughing at the expense of so called 'higher classes', Celestia noticed few of Twilight's friends looking around the Sugarcube Corner, as if searching for somepony. She glanced at her student, who stood few meters away, looking nervously at everypony and beckoned her.
"What is it, Princess? Are you having good time? Do you need something?" Twilight quickly asked her, immediately afraid that Celestia and Luna were unhappy.
"Some things are never going to change, aren't they?" Celestia mused as she suppressed a chuckle.
"We're having a wonderful time, Twilight. I was just curious if something happened to your friends. Applejack, Rarity and Rainbow Dash look a bit... distracted."
"Oh, it's nothing, really." her student said, calming dawn. "Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, the three fillies that sometimes send you friendship reports, are still not here."
Celestia raised an eyebrow, curious as to why she thought it was nothing.
"They were probably trying to earn their cutie marks again, and lost track of time." Twilight explained. "I'm sure that they will be here soon."
"I suppose you're right." Celestia said, recalling how often those letters involved them trying to earn their cutie marks. "Still, tell your friends that if they want to go look for them, they can ask our guards to assist them."
"I will, Princess..." Twilight started to say, but was interrupted by a loud, terrified shriek coming from the outside.
"Dragon!!!"
Everypony in Sugarcube Corner looked at Spike.
"What? It's not me."
Full of worries, Celestia glanced at Luna as both of them rose and quickly followed the other ponies to the window.
There was a dragon standing by the edge of Ponyville.
Celestia had to blink and rub her eyes.
The dragon was still there.
Sharing another look with her sister, Celestia decided they needed to do something about it.
"Everypony, stay here." she said, knowing that the royal guards would be no match for a dragon this big if 'things went south'.
She hoped to try to reason with dragon, but was prepared that her sister and her might need to chase it away, and Celestia would prefer if nopony was nearby. She would not risk the life of her subjects, no matter what, and that included her student and her friends. While they saved Equestria not once, but twice, Celestia would not make them face such threat.
"Not without the Elements of Harmony, at least." she thought. "And also, Fluttershy has passed out."
Celestia and Luna teleported outside and regarded the dragon. He - at least, Celestia thought that it was 'he' - was huge. His wings were spread and were wider than the entire Ponyville. His scales were black, with grey on the underbelly and spikes on spine. His claws were few meters long, and one of his paws was raised...
... and about to strike three fillies.
Celestia watched, terrified, as the dragon began to descend his paw with a roar. She immediately glow her horn, preparing to cast a spell.
"I won't make it!" she realized, grief clenching her heart.
As the dragon's paw hit the ground, she saw a blur. Soon she felt as if she needed to rub her eyes again.
Gliding on the ground was a being that Celestia never saw before. It seemed bipedal, and as it stopped in front of her by grabbing the ground with his hand - and leaving a few meters long mark on it as it halted, a testament to the speed with which it moved - she noticed that it wore dark red armor, that was constructed from numerous metal plates, formed into multiple protective guards along being's body, in particular: chest, shoulders, thighs, and forearms. Each collar of armor's shoulder guards bore a strange symbol emblazoned on them. Under this whole war garment, it wore a simple black suit. This clothing was accompanied by sandals and some kind of headband with a metal plate bearing another strange symbol.
But what matter most at the present moment, was that with its left arm was holding three fillies.
"You three little ones are alright?" it asked, glancing at them, in a warm, caring voice, which deepness told Celestia that the being was most likely a male.
"Yeah, thanks, mister." the earth pony filly, Apple Bloom, stammered either shaken by this strange creature, or more than likely, by the fact that a huge dragon nearly turning them into pancakes.
The stranger smiled slightly hearing that and lifted his head, allowing Celestia and Luna to better see his face, which until now, was hidden behind long black hair. They were surprised to see that didn't have a muzzle, his nose and mouth weren't connected. There was a shallow scratch on its cheek, with a blood on it. Celestia wondered briefly how did it had that cut, until she recalled how close he came to the descending dragon's paw with such long claws, and was once again amazed with his speed.
But the most unsettling and enchanting at the same time part of his appearance, were his eyes.
Each of them had red iris, and had three strange dots around pupil, which gave them an appearance of a wheel.
The stranger's eyes widen slightly as he regarded them in turn.
"Apple Boom!"
"Sweetie Belle!"
"Scoots!"
Celestia glanced at the incoming Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Twilight, followed closely by two royal guards, all ignoring her order once they saw three fillies in danger.
"Speaking of danger..." she thought as the dragon roared.
"You took away my prey, little fly!"
Princess Celestia glanced back at the stranger as he put three fillies gently on the ground and rose, turning to regard the dragon.
"Prey?" he asked him, loud enough for everypony to hear. "It looked more like a murder than hunting from where I stood."
The dragon laughed, amused with the response, his voice causing the entire Ponyville to rumbled. Celestia concentrated, no longer thinking about talking with beast that though of her subjects as 'prey', and now thinking more along the lines of 'blasting it to kingdom come'. She could see Luna gathering magic as well. They were about to unleash their spells, when suddenly, the stranger glanced back at them.
"There's no need for the two of you to face that fiend." he said, smiling at them, confidence in his voice. "I will deal with it."
His statement - that he could take on such huge dragon by himself - astonished Celestia and made her wonder just who he was, exactly. Noticing that Luna was glancing at her, uncertain as how to react, she nodded to her and let the stranger, who was currently walking up slowly to the dragon do as he pleased... for now. She was prepared to cast spell in any moment.
"Princess Celestia!" Twilight exclaimed as she and the others, who hugged the three little fillies, still terrified from their traumatic experience. Her student's gaze was switching between her teacher and the stranger. "Who - or what - is that?"
"I don't know, Twilight." Celestia replied, truthfully, as she turned her attention back to him.
"I'm going to say it only once, so listen carefully." he said, calm, despite addressing a creature few hundred times bigger than him. "Leave this village while you still can. If you don't, I won't guarantee that you will wake up tomorrow."
"Is that guy insane?!" Rainbow asked in a hushed voice, a moment before the dragon bursted into laughter again.
"You're funny!" he exclaimed, still laughing. "Tell you what: since you tell such great jokes, I will let you live if you step away now while I burn this place to crisps."
"Those who stray from the path of justice have no courage, but under the wing of a strong leader, cowardice cannot survive." the stranger replied, as if reciting some words.
"Those who... what?" the dragon asked, confused. "What did you just say?"
"Basically? I told you I'm not moving." he explained. Celestia couldn't tell from this angle, but she was pretty sure that he was smirking. "Although you should be thankful that's me you are facing, and not those two behind me. I'm merely going to knock you out cold, although I have no idea what then will happen to you."
"Did he just say that he was going to knock out that huge dragon?!" Twilight asked, her eyes wide.
If that was some kind of joke, then it didn't made anypony laugh, least of all the dragon.
"You're beginning to lose you funniness." the dragon growled. "You actually think you can take on a dragon, let alone one such great as me!?"
"And I thought that Nine-Tails was talkative..." the stranger muttered to himself, although it was still hearable by Celestia, Luna, and everypony who stood behind them. Soon, he turned his attention back to the dragon: "So you're a dragon? That's actually the first time I'm meeting a real one. I would love to see the extent of your strength, but I would prefer not to damage the village in the process. What do you say we take it somewhere else?"
"Ha! Are you stupid of something?!" the dragon asked him, spreading his wings as he prepared to attack. "I'm tired of this talk. Die!"
With those words, he launched at the stranger, who stood his ground, his only reaction lifting his right hand to his face, with fingers clenched into a fist, save for his straight index and middle fingers.
When the beast was few meters away from its target, Celestia once again prepared to use her magic...
... and watched in amazement as the dragon fell on the ground, unconscious.
Hashirama watched as the beast was coming closer to him, gathering quickly chakra in his new eyes.
Genjutsu: Sharingan.
The dragon, who continued to foolishly stare into his eyes, fallen victim to Sharingan's simple technique, which cost many of his clansmen lives during the time before the truce with the Uchiha.
"I suppose I should be grateful for all those times I fought with Madara." Hashirama thought as he watched the dragon fall on the ground, rendered unconscious due to the illusion he placed in its mind. "Otherwise, I wouldn't have gotten used to those eyes so easily."
That the Death God decided to rip out his real eyes and replace them with Sharingan he took as some sort of joke at his expense. Hashirama decided not to ask as to how did the Death God have a got a hold of those eyes, feeling that he wouldn't like the answer.
Next thing he know, after the quick surgery (and after using his medical ninjutsu to speed up the recovery process drastically) he was in this strange world that the Death God spoke of, standing right next to gigantic creature that was about squash three terrified little horses, that were stammering for help.
"Speaking of, what are those creatures?" Hashirama thought, glancing behind him. "They look like something that would be appropriate for my four year old granddaughter to summon... Wait, she can't be still that young. If Saru was..." he shook his head, realizing how pointless it would be to think about it.
He looked at the two bigger ones, who had wings and horn sprouting from their foreheads. Thanks to the Sharingan, he could now see chakra, and while most of the smaller horses (or maybe they were ponies) had an average chakra levels, those two... their chakra was on the tailed beast's levels.
"What did you do that dragon?" one of the smaller ponies (Hashirama was pretty certain that that was what they were), a lavender one with a horn, who's chakra, while nowhere near the level of the two bigger ones, was exceptionally strong, with those three others close behind her, asked, sounding more curious that scarred.
"I forced it unconscious with my genjutsu, an illusionary technique." he answered, coming closer to them.
The one of the two winged ones with horns, a white one with mane and tail in the colors of the sky; in contrast to the other, slightly smaller one, who was dark blue with mane and tail like a starry night, appeared to get a hold of herself, as she cleared her throat and spoke:
"You have our thanks for taking care of him, as well as for saving those three fillies." she said. Her voice, despite what happened few moments ago, was calm and serene, as she went on to introduce herself, sensing probably that he wasn't from around here: "My name is Princess Celestia, and this is my sister, Princess Luna. We both rule this land, which is called Equestria. Who are you?"
"So, they're something like the Feudal Lords of this land..." he mused, and bowed respectfully.
"It's a pleasure meeting you. My name is Hashirama Senju, co-founder and First Hokage of Konohagakure, Village Hidden in the Leaves, of the Land of Fire."
