//------------------------------// // Introducing the Shinsengumi // Story: My Little Pony- Stories of the Shinsengumi // by Dragonfire2lm //------------------------------// October 1001 AH, The Yagi residence, Kyoto. Sitting at his desk and finishing up his paperwork for the night, was a white earth pony with purple eyes. His long black mane was tied up to keep it out of his face, save for two bangs that framed his face and his tail equally impressive. He wore a white undershirt and purple jacket. Hoofsteps sounded from the hallway and came to a stop outside the sliding door of his room. "Permission to enter?" A voice on the other side of the door asked. "Come in Yamazaki-san" The room's occupant replied and the paper and wood door slid open. The earth pony put down his writing brush and faced his visitor. The yellow pegasus colt sporting a mostly short and scruffylight brown mane and wearing an emerald green jacket walked in and sat down with practiced grace. "Hijikata-san, We have a situation, A group of ronin* claiming to work for doctor Kodo Yukimura has appeared at the entrance with a unicorn mare in their possesion" Yamazaki explained. "Call a meeting with the captains" Hijikata ordered. "I'll go have a word with our guests". "Understood" Yamazaki replied and left the room. Moments later, Hijikata found an annoyed white furred, orange maned mare wearing a simple grey kimono, bound and gagged on the doorstep of the Shinsengumi headquarters with the ponies that left her there nowhere in sight. "If you run, I'll kill you" He stated as he untied the unicorn. The mare simply nodded in understanding. She took a quick glance at the pair of swords at his left side, but remained quiet. "Follow me, no sudden moves" Hijikata commanded and headed towards the common room. "Hey Hijikata-san, what's the big idea calling us in this late at night?" A tan earth pony, with his light brown mane tied up in a simple knot, asked brashly as Hijikata walked into the room. The orange jacket with a gold hem and sleeves the pony wore looked hastily thrown on. "Rude as always Souji..." Hijikata replied. "Be patient". "Huh? Who's she?" A light brown, blue eyed pegasus asked, his scruffy mane was tied up in a rather long 'pony tail'. He wore a gold vest lined with purple silk, as well as matching purple armbands on his forelegs. The shortness of his attire allowed his cutie mark, a sword xrossed over a sun, to be seen. "Hey she's kind of cute, don't tell me you got her at shimabara**' a cream colored unicorn spoke up. He had a dark red mane and tail, amber colored eyes and wore a white vest with red lining that was half open. His cutie mark was an ornate-looking spear. The mare looked embarrassed and a bit insulted. "I'm not cute...Or a freaking geisha" She grumbled. "Nice one Sano-san!" The light blue earth pony with a dark brown mane, wearing a similar white and green vest and a necklace of green dragon scales, laughed and elbowed his comrade in a good natured fashion. "You've made the girl mad". "Well Shinpachi-san, how was I supposed to know a pretty thing like her had claws hm?" 'Sano' replied. "Perhaps if you all quiet down, we can let the commander explain the situation". This came from the ink blue pegasus in the corner of the room, his dark purple mane was tied loosely, the 'tail' draped over his shoulder and a long fringe obscured his right eye. he wore a white scarf around his neck and was dressed in black clothing. Unlike his fellow swordsstallions, he carried his swords on his right side instead of his left. "Aw come on Hajime-Kun, we're just having fun" The brown pegasus who spoke earlier said. "Even so Heiskue-kun, The Commander has called us here for something important" the dark blue pony replied. "As soon as chief Kondo-san arrives we will most likely have to decide the mare's fate. We are captains of the Shinsengumi, we cannot afford to take this matter lightly". "Yeah I know..." Heiskue said. "What matter is there?" Souji asked. "We're just going to kill her anyway right?" "He's joking right?" The mare in question asked. "I didn't get dragged here against my will just to die..." Sitting on one of three cushions placed near the right side of the room was a grey earth pony with a slicked back dark brown, almost black, mane. He wore a dark green jacket with gold lining. "Until we can determine you are not a spy, or a threat to our organization, you should assume the worst" he said, the light of the paper lanterns glinted off his glasses. The mare pushed her pair of glasses back up her muzzle and frowned. "I haven't done anything to give you all a reason to kill me" she said. "Not yet at least" the grey earth pony replied. Hijikata moved to sit on the cushion on the end, leaving the one between him and the other earth pony vacant. A door on another side of the room slid open, a yellow unicorn with a large build walked in. His black mane was tied up in a knot and he wore an orange jacket, he took his place on the middle cushion. "Sorry I'm late everypony, what's the situation?" He asked.