Chapter 7:The First Prisoner
Pain and Konan teleported back to the clearing with Itachi and Kisame. When they arrived, they found Kakuzu, Hidan, Deidara, Sasori, myself, and Zetsu already there.
“Good, you’re all here. I assume Obito is still out in the field for a good reason...?” Pain said turning to Zetsu.
“Yes, he is in the middle of “acquiring” certain assets.” Said Black Zetsu.
Pain nodded. “Well, he’ll have to hear the results of everyone’s discoveries later.”
He cleared his throat and continued.
“I called you all here because Konan, Itachi, Kisame and myself have discovered something important. The ponies of this land are ruled by 4 Princesses who reside in a city formed from a single marble block built into the side of a mountain.”
Everyone’s mouths dropped open, including mine. Of course, it did sound very strange.
Pain was silent for a moment before speaking. “I can understand your skepticism. But it is true. Allow me to explain what happened.”
“When we reached the top of the mountain, we found the trail we’d been following actually led to a city built right into the side of the mountain! We ran along the path until we reached the gate; which was opened to let us in.”
“However, the people weren’t too friendly towards us. They stared and they whispered to each other. I ignored it, since we needed to look for tailed beasts, not pummel street vermin. We found the city only had one main street, and four side streets. We were going along the main street which led to a large, white castle at the far end of the city. So we decided to look there for information.”
“Before we got to the castle, I noticed several people in the streets were crying. It seemed someone everybody loved had died, or so I thought.”
“I found a flier on the side of a building that announced some town called ‘Appleoosa’ had been destroyed. All the residents were slain, even children. The houses and buildings were all burned.”
“While I was looking at the picture, a pony with armor approached and informed us that the Princesses needed to see us in her castle. I wasn’t sure if the residents were just hospitable towards strangers, or if we did something wrong. Either way, we followed him to the castle.”
“When we walked through the castle’s main doors, I saw the beauty firsthand. The walls were solid marble, with gold carved into them in patches. Rare jewels encrusted the rugs and carpets in the rooms we walked past. But the most amazing room, was the one the guard led us to: the Princesses’ Throne Room.”
Pain took a moment to catch his breath before continuing.
“The guard led us through the doors, and we saw a room like no other. The walls were all windows, with various designs carved into them. The floor was solid marble, with a purple carpet leading to four solid gold thrones with four Princesses sitting in each one.”
“The Princesses were listening to a pony who was telling a story of how he had just escaped, barely alive, from a confrontation in some place called ‘Ponyville’.”
“He says three ponies dressed in strange clothing, two of which showed exceptional combat prowess, successfully killed both of his comrades and a whole squad of reinforcements; consisting of the Captain of the Guard, and five of his men.”
Deidara interrupted. “Geez, boss. Just get to the point, already. You’re boring me to death, hmm!”
Pain looked disapprovingly towards Deidara, then continued.
“As soon as we walked in, the Princesses stared at us for a moment. The pony on the ground looked up, then followed their gaze to us. He jumped up shouting, ‘That’s the clothing they were wearing! Princess, they’re the ones who killed the Captain!’ Immediately, two of the Princesses, one purple and one pink, jumped up and flew towards us. We had no choice but to flee.”
“We ran back through the castle and then out into the streets. The two Princesses were right on our trail, and yelled for the guards to close the gate.”
“The guards successfully closed the gate, and forced us to go another way. We ducked into a nearby alley and ran all the way to the end. There was a sewer grate, and, as disgusting as it was, we entered.”
“We closed the grate behind us, and placed a sealing tag on it so it couldn’t be opened. While we were descending into the sewer, I heard the Princesses above shout to have their armies split. Half of the pink Princess and half of the purple Princess, to hunt us down.
We followed the sewer all the way to an exit pipe near a small lake. We cleaned ourselves in the lake and then called everyone to meet here.”
Pain finished his story, then sat down.
“Which means a few things, “ he continued. “three of you have blown our cover, and now two halves of possibly very large armies are hunting us down. I would also like to guess that the three of you who killed the Captain of the Guard also torched that town? Would anyone like to confess?”
Kakuzu stepped forward. “The three that witness was referring to was me, Hidan, and Rokuro. We killed the Guard Captain and his men. But we never destroyed a town.”
“Why should I believe you?” Pain asked.
“You have no reason, to. But I’m telling the truth. Me, Hidan and Rokuro were in the town and we killed the Guard Captain. I can’t present any solid evidence to back that up. All you can do is believe me.”
I felt as if Kakuzu and Hidan were about to take the heat for something they didn’t do, so I decided to tell the truth.
“Sir, it was me and Zetsu that destroyed that other town. Zetsu started an argument with the locals, and they charged at us, with the intent to attack. I killed the residents that attacked us, and Zetsu burned the buildings after I lit the town hall on fire first.”
Pain looked at me intently. “Then it is not your fault. Zetsu is your senior, which means you must listen to his orders. Did he direct you to kill the residents of that town then burn it?”
“Yes, he told me to burn the buildings, but he never told me to kill the residents. I did that out of self-defense.”
Pain nodded. “I see, well the damage is already done. Nothing to be done about it, I suppose. But you,” he said facing Zetsu, “should’ve known better than to expose ourselves so openly without my order to do so!”
Zetsu didn’t say anything. Instead, he sank into the ground and disappeared.
“Hmph, typical Zetsu. If he can’t or doesn’t want to defend himself against me, he just runs away.”
Pain looked at me next and spoke. “By the way, did you ever find Hotaka?”
I shook my head. We still hadn’t found him yet. I wondered what became of him?
- - - - -
“Huh”, said Hotaka out loud to himself, “I wonder where everyone else is? I’ve been walking forever, and I haven't seen them or anyone else except that rude little pony the other day.”
Hotaka had decided to keep walking and follow the path he found after he left the edge of the forest where he met the yellow pony with pink hair. He believed he would run into somebody at some point, but it had been two days and still no luck.
“Well I can always look on the bright side. I’ve figured out how to use this horn.”
Hotaka continued walking, until he was stopped by a blockade up the road. The blockade consisted of four ponies, all wearing armor. Three of them had wings and swords at their sides. The other one had a horn on his head, just like he did.
“Excuse me, why I am being stopped, here?”
“Because,” said the unicorn, “you are suspected of the crime of murder. Your clothes gave you away. You should’ve disposed of them when you heard of Princess Cadence and Princess Sparkle’s decree.”
Hotaka looked confused. “What decree? Why do my clothes make me guilty of murder? What are you ponies talking about?”
The guards laughed. “You must be a complete idiot, I never doubt the Princesses, but I hardly believe you’re capable of murder with your brain capacity.”
Hotaka cringed. If there was one thing he hated more than anything, it was people without etiquette. While these offenders were ponies and not people, they still fit the book.
“You ponies have just made the biggest mistake of your lives. Perhaps, the last even.”
Hotaka’s horn glowed, and a small, grey rod appeared from out of his robes. It was his wand he used for casting various jutsus.
The guards became alarmed. “Look out! He’s got a weapon! It looks like we might have to take this one in dead!”
The three winged ponies drew their swords, and the unicorn captain created a sword using magic from his horn. They rushed towards Hotaka, ready to strike.
Hotaka laughed. “You fight like genin straight out of the academy!”
With that, Hotaka waved his wand. “Earth Style: Needle Floor!”
Sharp rocks jutted out from the ground, forcing the winged ponies to fly away, and the unicorn to jump to safety. But it didn’t stop them; they continued to run towards Hotaka.
“Hahaha! That was just a warm-up jutsu, anyway. Now we get to the real fight!”
Hotaka waved his wand forward then pulled it back sharply. “Water Style: Tears of the Heavens!”
Large drops of water began to fall from above. Several struck two of the winged guards, forcing them to fall to the ground. However, the other one and the unicorn continued to approach.
Hotaka looked disgruntled. “I am a warrior!” But I refuse to resort to my most powerful jutsus! However, you are forcing me to the edge!”
The wand moved up then to the left. “Wind Style: Nimbus Hammer!”
Small clouds began forming in the air, then massing together into a large, white block.
Hotaka waved the wand towards the flying pony, and the cloud mass flew towards the pony. It was so large, he couldn’t dodge it. The block hit him hard, and sent him crashing into the ground.
Hotaka looked at the captain unicorn running towards him, and waved the wand in his direction. The block hurtled towards him; but the unicorn created a shield with his magic that absorbed the blow. The cloud dissipated, leaving Hotaka unprotected.
“Well, you seem to be far more talented than your colleagues. Very well, let’s end this fight with a jutsu worthy of such an elegant warrior!”
Hotaka waved the wand up, then to the right. “Fire Style: Dance of the Atronach!”
A being made entirely of fire appeared. It wielded a large, two-handed axe made of fire, as well.
“Now, you die.” The wand pointed towards the unicorn. The atronach ran at his victim, axe raised.
The captain closed his eyes, thinking of his fate. The atronach reached him, and swung his axe. The unicorn disappeared!
Hotaka’s eyes grew wide. “What?! How? Where did he go?”
The unicorn appeared in a tree, not far from where they were fighting.
“I need to contact the Princesses! I can’t win this fight, and they’ll want to deal with him directly at some point, anyway.”
“Where did you go, coward!?” Screamed Hotaka. “You think you can run from a battle that easily? I will find you and double the suffering of your death!”
Hotaka looked viciously for the unicorn, but couldn’t find him.
“This is ridiculous! As much as I shouldn’t, I’m about to leave this battlefield since this coward won’t show his face!”
Hotaka began to walk away, when suddenly two more ponies flew down from the sky onto to the battlefield.
One was purple with black, purple, and pink hair. The other was pink with purple, red and yellow hair. Something else, both of these ponies had horns AND wings! Hotaka had never seen one of these ponies before.
“What stunning young ladies, you both are! I must say, I feel lucky; and not in the way you two might be thinking, either.”
The pink one spoke up first. “You shut your mouth! You’re under arrest for murder!”
The purple one chimed in. “You killed my brother, you scum!”
Hotaka was surprised. “Why, whatever do you mean? I never did such a thing. Although I will admit, I may have killed one or two of these losers. But I’m not sure; maybe you should check their pulse.”
The pink Princess became infuriated. “I don’t care about interrogating you, now! You are just so abrasive and hateful, that I want to end you now!”
The pink Princess flew towards Hotaka, her horn glowing.
“Hahaha I know what that glowing horn means. It means trouble, but I think I can cause a lot more trouble than you!”
The wand moved back and twirled a few times in the air. “Water Style: Voracious Tsunami!”
A large wave appeared and rushed towards the pink Princess.
The purple one jumped in to warn her. “Cadence! Look out!”
Hotaka thought to himself, ‘Hahahaha, foolish little girl. Now I know the name of one of the rulers of this land. I’m sure Nagato would be pleased with this information.’
Cadence unleashed the energy charged in her horn in the shape of a large shield. She plowed straight through the raging water, and right into Hotaka; knocking him off balance.
Hotaka tried to get up, but the purple Princess flew right over and stood on him.
“You aren’t going anywhere! You are hereby under arrest for the most heinous crime in our land! Murder!”
The unicorn captain jumped down from the tree he was hiding in and rushed over.
“Oh! I’m so glad your here, your highnesses! If it wasn’t for you, I could be dead, right now...”
Cadence turned to him. “You shouldn’t doubt your abilities so much, soldier. But enough of the pep talk. You need to see to your men and get them medical attention, immediately! Me and Princess Sparkle will fly the prisoner back to Canterlot.”
‘Again!’, Hotaka thought to himself, ‘They let me hear another one of their names! It seems they don’t understand how powerful their own names are in a land filled with their people, who know all about them! All my comrades have to do is capture one of these peasants, talk to them a little, and we’ll get most of what we need to know about them!’
Cadence bound Hotaka with rope and hauled him onto her shoulders.
“Cadence! Don’t you think we should call a chariot to carry the prisoner?” Said Princess Sparkle.
“No, I want to carry this scum myself. Now come on; we need to get back to Canterlot.”
With that, both of the Princesses flapped their wings and began flying back towards Canterlot, with a new prize in hand. Not realizing that they would soon become a part of something bigger than all of Equestria had ever seen before.