Chapter 2: Exploring the Town
I sprint towards the small town ahead of me and see an apple orchard to my right. 'Okay, finding something to eat is going to be easier than I thought.' I change course and head straight for the fruit trees.
'Why didn't you at least slap them? They deserve it for what they did to us!' Bob asks me.
'They had every right to do that. You slaughtered half of the city's population!' I scold him.
'Well excuse me for trying to have fun back then,' he replies.
'There was nothing fun about it,' I say and ignore him for now.
I reach the white fence surrounding the orchard and easily jump over it. I hide within the forest of fruit and try to sense any spiritual pressures nearby. So far only four are close and they're coming from the farm house just ahead of me, it seem's the Princesses have lost me as well.
I reach up and take four apples, I then sit down and lean back against the tree and start eating them. Holy crap these taste great!
I wolf them down and sigh contently. "Damn those were good," I say and toss the last core away. I then shiver as a cold breeze blows past me. "Crap, I better find somewhere to sleep for the night," I mutter to myself and head towards the barn.
I open it and look around inside; apart from tools and hay bales it's empty, good. I jump up onto the rafters and lean back against the support beam where I yawn and put my hands behind my head. After a bit of shifting to get comfortable, I fall asleep.
I wake up to the sound of grass or hay being moved. So I look down to see an orange pony with a blonde mane and tail tied up with red bands at the ends wearing a light brown stetson hat with three red apples for a mark on her flank. She's dragging a hay bail across the floor and pushes it into the corner of the barn.
"There, that should do fer now. Just gotta git to the northern fields an buck some apples," she says to herself with a smile.
I lean too far over the edge and slip off the beam. "Shit!" I yelp and fall to the ground. *THUD* "Ouch..."
"Land sakes!" the mare shouts and looks at me with wide eyes.
I rub my head and smile sheepishly at her. "Erm... good morning?" I say with a nervous chuckle.
She stares for a few seconds before bolting out the door. "MAC! WE GOT AH TRESPASSER IN THA BARN!" I hear her shout as she runs away.
Welp, I'm not hanging around here so I leave the barn and look around. I spot the mare running back with a lasso in her mouth, but what I'm looking at is the big red stallion with a hair colour similar to mine nearly twice her size and muscles that look like stone!
"There it is, Mac!" she says to him.
Time to go! I take off into the orchard and grab a few apples on the way. I put two in my bumbag and munch on another. I toss the core away and make my way towards town as I easily outrun the ponies. I'm curious to see if it's any different than the one I first saw when I arrived. Although the new Canterlot looked rather good... from what I was able to see at least.
"Rainbow Dash! Quickly! Catch that varmint! It stole some of our apples!" the orange farm mare shouts.
Wait... who's Rainbow Dash?
"I'm on it!" a rather tomboyish voice replies to her.
I look back and see a sky blue pegasus pony with a rainbow mane and tail flying after me. Oh crap, she's fast!
I jump to the right and the pony rockets past me. Okay, the pegasi are faster than I thought.
"Hold still you thief!" she shouts at me.
Pfft, as if. I continue to run towards town and she begins to chase me again.
"Get back here you skinny minotaur!" she yells at me. Minotaur? I stop and turn to face her. "So you're giving up? No pony is faster than me! So I don't really blame you for giving up," she boasts.
I just smirk at her. "Are you now?" I point my left middle and index finger at her. "Bakudō number one, Sai!" I say and her forelegs wrap around her back and pin her wings to her sides.
"Hey!" she yelps and then grunts as she hits the ground. "What the hey is this!? Let me go now!" she yells at me while struggling.
"I don't think so. Now if you don't mind, I got a town to explore," I reply and run off again.
"I'M GONNA GET YOU FOR THIS!" she shouts at me as her voice fades in the distance.
I just chuckle as I reach the town and hide behind a building. I look around the corner and see what's here; the buildings look similar to the ones I've seen before I got turned to stone, just bigger.
I watch as a lavender unicorn trots past with her muzzle in a book. I look ahead of her and see a cart in her way making me grin and watch. 'Three... Two... One...'
*Clonk* "Ow!" the unicorn yelps and rubs her muzzle as her book drops to the dirt road.
"Oh! I'm sorry, Miss Sparkle. I really should learn to stop leaving my cart in the middle of the street," a stallion says to her.
"Oh no, I should have been watching where I was going," she replies with a sheepish grin.
I chuckle and look elsewhere. I turn to the right and a very pink pony is right in my face. "Hi my name's Pinkie Pie!" she introduces herself with a massive smile.
"GAH!" I yelp and fall on my back. I didn't even sense her there!
"Oopsie! Sorry about that," she says and holds her right hoof out to me. I grasp it and she pulls me up into a sitting position. "Wowie, you look scary. Is this your Nightmare Night costume?" she asks. "But then again, Nightmare Night isn't for another six months!" she then says.
I just stare at her. Even with her right in front of me, I still can't sense her.
"Oh oh! What's your name?" she asks me.
I shake my head and smile at her. "I'm Ichigo Kurosaki," I reply.
She laughs and snorts. "That's a funny name! How long are you staying in Ponyville for?" she asks, her smile never fading.
It's nice to see someone here not scared of me "Not long, just looking around," I tell her.
"Aw... I was hoping to throw you a welcome to Ponyville party..." she says and looks at me with puppy dog eyes.
I chuckle at her antics. "Thanks, but I don't think anyone else here would like me," I tell her.
"Pinkie? What are you doing back there?.." the voice of that lavender unicorn asks but stops when she sees me. "BY CELESTIA! Its the Canterlot Demon!" she yells in fright dropping her book a second time.
I look back at Pinkie. "Told you." I get up and get ready to run again. "See ya, Pinkie. Was nice having a friendly chat," I tell her and sprint away.
"No problem, Ichy! I'll see you later!" she shouts back.
I run around the outskirts of the town and come across a small Cottage next to a small stream with a little bridge. Looks cosy.
I walk up to it and see bird houses and other animal shelters around the place. I knock on the door and wait.
"Oh, Coming!" a quiet and soft female voice replies. The door opens and a yellow mare with a pink mane and blue eyes pops her head out. "Hello? How can I... help... Eep!" she says and slams the door closed.
Huh, that happened. "I'm sorry if I scared you. I don't mean you any harm," I say to her.
The door opens just a bit, showing only an eye. "W-Who are you?" she asks.
"My name is Ichigo Kurosaki. What's yours?" I reply and ask.
"Oh... M-My name is F-Fluttershy," she replies in barely a whisper.
"Hello, Fluttershy. Again, I'm sorry if I frightened you," I tell her.
"Oh, erm... T-That's okay... Erm, how can I h-help you?" she asks.
"Nothing actually. I'm just looking around, it's a nice town so far," I reply.
"I see... W-Would you like some tea? I've never seen a creature like you before. Are you some kind of minotaur?" she says and asks.
I smile at her. "Tea would be nice, and I'm not a minotaur, I'm a human," I reply. She opens the door to let me in and I have to duck down to fit through the door. I look around and see some animals running about. "Nice place you have," I compliment her.
"Oh erm, thank you. What tea would you like?" she asks me.
"Do you have some green tea?" I ask her.
"Yes, would you like some?"
"Yes please, thank you," I reply with a small smile.
She walks into another room and I sit in the middle of the main room. I doubt that small couch would even hold my weight.
'That pony is strange. She looks like a coward, but isn't afraid of you,' Bob tells me.
'I'm not complaining. It's a welcomed change,' I reply.
As I wait for Fluttershy to return, a tiny white bunny is kicking me on my right thigh. I look at it with a raised brow. "What?" I ask it.
The bunny points at me, then at the front door. "You want me to leave?" I ask. It nodded in reply. "Why? I'm not here to hurt anyone," I tell it.
Fluffy didn't like my answer, so it threw a carrot at my head. I just stare at him as the carrot bounces off. "Cute," I say with a deadpan stare.
We continue to stare at each other until Fluttershy returns. "Oh, I see you've met Angel Bunny. I hope he didn't give you a hard time," she tells me.
"Nah, he's been very nice. Even shared his carrot with me," I reply with a smile.
"Angel, that's very nice of you," she tells the bunny with a warm smile.
Angel just stares at me, jaw agape as I take the cup Fluttershy offers me. "Thank you," I say and take a sip. "Wow, this is delicious," I tell her and take another sip.
"Thank you, it was grown in my own Garden," she replies.
"Not bad," I say and continue to drink. "Why are you so far from the town?" I ask her.
"Oh, I like the peace and quiet here, and I'm closer to my animal friends as well," she replies. A small bird lands on her back and chirps.
"I see, that makes sense. So you take care of animals for a living?" I ask.
"Mm-hmm. I even help the ones who've... died, to pass on," she tells me.
I almost choke on my tea when she said that. "You can see spirits?" I ask shocked.
"I know, it sounds silly, but ever since I was a little filly, I've been able to see deceased animals and ponies," she tells me.
I frown in thought. "Have you seen anything else. Monster like creatures with skull like masks?" I ask.
She goes wide eyed and gasps. "You can see them too?" she asks me.
"Yes. I fight them, that's what I do," I tell her. It's not a lie, since that's what a shinigami does.
I finish off my tea and put the cup down. "I see, but what are they? We call them demons," she asks me.
"You're not wrong exactly. They're called hollows. Did you notice a hole in their chests?" I reply and ask her.
"Yes. I thought they were hurt at first, but they all seem to have them," she replies.
"It's because when a soul remains behind and doesn't pass on, they slowly begin to turn into a hollow. The hole represents the heart they've lost. They try to fill the hole by eating the souls of others with high reiatsu," I tell her.
"Oh my. So you mean they're the souls of ponies?" she asks me with wide eyes.
"Yes, or the souls of any living thing, and It's my job to slay them," I tell her. She gasps and holds her hooves over her mouth. "I don't kill them if that's what you think. When I slay a hollow, they're purified and their soul passes on. That's what a shinigami does," I tell her. Is there even a Soul Society here?
"Oh... That's good, right?"
I nodded with a smile. A beeping noise starts coming from my bumbag. I open it and pull out my phone... Oh that's right, I lost my old one when I left it on that table... When I got possessed.
'Oh boo hoo. You still got that one,' Bob tells me.
'But it doesn't have my games on it,' I reply in a sour tone.
"What kind of phone is that?" Fluttershy asks me.
"It's a phone for shinigami," I tell her. I open it up and a radar screens shows up. A red dot appears and is moving towards us. "Not to alarm you, but it seems a hollow is heading over here," I tell her.
She Eeps and jumps behind the couch. "You mean one of those scary demons is coming?" she asks trembling.
"Looks like it, but don't worry. I'll take care of it," I tell her and head for the door.
"Please be careful!" she tells me with worry filled eyes.
"I will," I reply and exit the cottage.
I look in the direction of the signal and see a four legged green pony shaped hollow about five foot tall with thick fur, small eyes, a large mouth, and lots of teeth. I draw my sword with a flourish as it unwraps.
The noise of its cry echoes throughout the area. After looking around it spots me. 'I don't like the look it's giving me,' I think to myself. It roars again and charges at me. I hold my sword facing behind me and run at it.
The hollow opens its mouth and spits some bone like barbs at me where I use my sword to deflect them away. I leap at it and swing my sword, it jumps away but I clip its front right leg. It roars again and tackles me. I block it with my sword as it pushes me into a tree near the forest.
"Oof!" I grunt from the impact and then kick it in the side of its head.
It stumbles to the left and I slash it in the face, only chipping its mask. Wow, this one is tough.
It spins around with stunning speed and its tail hits me in the hip. "FUCK!" I shout as I slam into another tree, snapping it in half as bark and splinters fly everywhere.
The hollow cries out again and turns towards the cottage. 'Oh no you don't you bastard.' I get up and jump high into the air. I hold my sword pointing down and land on its back, my sword going through its spine. I then pull my sword out to the left, cutting a large gash into it.
It thrashes and I raise my sword and bring it down on its head, but it rolls to the right, throwing off my balance. I roll away and get in between it and the cottage. "I won't let you hurt her," I tell it and lift my sword over my head. I gather my reiatsu into the sword and my eyes glow a silvery white along with a visible aura of my reiatsu around me. "Getsuga... Tenshou!" I yell and swing downwards.
A beam of white energy leaves my blade and slams right into the Hollow, slicing it right down the middle. its blood sprays out as the two halves start to split apart.
It then slumps to the ground and dissolves. I rub my right hip and left shoulder, that bloody hurt. I put my sword away and walk over to the cottage. Fluttershy is standing by the door with wide eyes.
"A-Are you alright?" she asks me.
"I'm fine, nothing broken," I reply.
"That's good," she says with a relieved sigh.
"Fluttershy! Are you alright!?" I hear the voice of that Rainbow Dash pony shout out. Oops, looks like it's time to go!
"It has been a pleasure talking with you, Fluttershy, but I'm afraid I need to go now. I hope we can talk again later," I tell her and start running back towards town. I haven't had this much fun since I kicked Bob's ass.
"THERE YOU ARE! GET BACK HERE!" Rainbow Dash yells at me.
I laugh and jump up onto a house and continue to jump the rooftops. Rainbow has gotten very close now and just as she was about to catch me, I use my Shunpo to drop down between the buildings and into an alley.
"Huh!?" I hear her say and zoom past.
"Oooooh good one!" says the voice of Pinkie next to me.
"Bloody hell! How do you do that?" I ask her while gripping my chest. Damn pony is gonna give me a heart attack at this rate, and I still can't sense her!
"Easy! I can feel your reiatsu!" she tells me.
"You know what reiatsu means?" I ask her with confusion.
"Uh-huh... Oops, you better skedaddle. Dashie's coming back," she replies and points out the alley.
"Found ya!" Rainbow says and flies right at me.
"Bollocks!" I shout and use Shunpo to make my escape.
I make my way to the other side of town within seconds and lose the prismatic mare, I then stop in front of a tall building that looks more like a carousel. Intrigued, I knock on the door while ignoring the stares I'm getting from the ponies looking at me.
"Door's open!" a refined female voice calls out from within.
I open the door and duck down to get in as a little bell jingles above the door. The room looks neat and spotless with mannequins that look like ponies lined up to the right with a few dresses on them. In front of me is a platform with a few mirrors around it and a door leading to a back room. To the left is a counter with a cash register and a set of stairs going up.
The back room door opens and a white pony with a very stylised indigo mane and tail with blue eyes and three diamonds on her flank walks in.
"Welcome to the Carousel Boutique. Where everything is... is... Good heavens!" she says and yelps with a mortified look.
"I apologise if I startled you. I'm just exploring the town," I tell her.
She shakes her head and smiles. "Oh no, It's not that. What happened to your clothes? They're shredded!" she tells me.
I look down at my chest. 'Oh yeah, I remember now. That Manticore I killed tore it.' "Ah right, I just haven't had time to get it fixed," I reply.
"Well that just won't do. Take them off and I shall have it repaired for you in a jiffy!" she says and levitates a needle and some black and white threads over to herself.
I frown and sigh. "I'm afraid I don't have any money to pay you."
She waves a hoof dismissively. "It's not a problem at all. It won't even take five minutes," she replies.
"Alright, thank you," I say and take my Shihakushō off and hand it to her. Good thing I have my underwear still.
She levitates a needle and some black and white threads. "Oh where are my manners? My name is Rarity, it is a pleasure to meet you. So, what brings you to Ponyville?" she asks as she begins to stitch them back together.
"Oh, not much. Been stuck in one place too long and wanted to get out and about, and my name is Ichigo Kurosaki," I reply. She's really good with a needle, in just a few minutes my Shihakushō is as good as new.
"I will admit that I like to travel from time to time, and done! Magnifique!" she tells me and levitates my robes back.
"Thanks. I'll be sure to remember this," I tell her as I put them back on.
She giggles with a hoof over her muzzle. "Don't mention it, darling. Your attire is rather unique, you wouldn't mind if I make a few designs based off of it do you?" she asks me.
"Sure, I don't mind," I reply with a smile.
"Rarity?" a voice calls from outside. Sounds like that lavender unicorn from before. "Are you home? It's an emergency!" she says and opens the door. "The Canterlot Demon has got loose and is... In... Ponyville," she says but trails off at the sight on me.
"Erm... hi," I say to her with a raised right hand.
Her horn starts glowing signalling it's time to go. I use my Shunpo to slip past the lavender unicorn and run through town while the ponies scream as I rush by them.
"*gasp* See Bonny! I told you humans were real!" I hear someone say as I rush past them.
I can feel two large spiritual pressures heading my way. 'Huh? So the Princesses are now on their way? I guess someone told them where I am. Oh well, I had fun while it lasted.' I stop on the edge of town and run along the forest's edge towards the west.
I spot Fluttershy along the way feeding some chickens in a coop. "Hi, Fluttershy!" I call out to her with a wave.
"Huh? Oh... hello, Ichigo," she says and waves back.
"I GOT YOU THIS TIME!" I hear Rainbow yell at me.
'Wow she's persistent.' I take a left turn into the forest and keep running.
"That's right! Run away!" Rainbow shouts at me. I'm surprised her voice hasn't given out yet from all her shouting.
When I finally stop and take a breather. I see I'm at a ruined old Castle... 'I recognise this place...' I can see faint black stains on the ground and around the Castles walls.
'Ah... Such fond memories!' Bob says and chuckles.
'More like a nightmare.' I sigh and sit down on a piece of the broken wall. I can feel the Princesses getting closer. 'Why did it have to be like this?' I pick up a small piece of stone with a black stain on it and stare at it.
A few minutes later the soft clopping of pony hooves fill the quiet forest. I look up at them with a sad expression. "What brings you into this neck of the woods?" I ask with a weak chuckle.
They look at each other before Celestia sighs. "We got word you were running about in Ponyville when Twilight sent me a letter. Once we arrived, we felt your magic and followed you..." she tells me without any expression.
"So what will you do now?" I ask and drop the stone. "I don't plan to be locked away again and will fight to keep my freedom if I have to," I tell her.
She closes her eyes and shakes her head. "That won't be necessary. Fluttershy told us of how you protected her from a demon... and that you have not yet harmed anypony in Ponyville," she replies, but she still shows no expression.
"We know of what thou went through when thou were possessed. We too went through the same ordeal," Luna tells me.
"Then why the hostilities back in Canterlot?" I ask them.
"Our Sister believed thee to still be the bloodthirsty demon we sealed away so long ago..." she replies. Celestia gives her a scowl. "We believed our sister was right... but thou did not harm us or anypony else. Thou even aided us in battle against the flying demon. Whilst in thy demonic state," she tells me and sighs.
"I've learnt to control him over the years. I regret what happen that day so long ago... even though my actions weren't my own. I still played a part in their deaths," I tell them and look back at the stained rock on the ground.
Luna walks over to me and drapes a wing over my back. "We know, tis like watching it through another's eyes. Helpless to stop it..." She sighs and looks at me. "Will thou come back with us? We promise not to seal thee away again. We wish to know the being under the mask," she tells me with a smile.
I return the smile and look at Celestia, she doesn't look convinced though.
"Alright, but I'd still like to explore this world a bit. Meet some of the other races and maybe slay a hollow or two," I reply with a grin.
"We see no harm in letting thee see the world. Come, tis nearing time for lunch. Our treat," she says with a smile.
She pulls her wing back and I stand up. I hear rustling in the bushes and grasp the grip of my sword. The cry of a hollow shakes the very air itself as a large ten foot tall bipedal grey hollow steps out of the tree line. Its mask is thin but long with two ram like horns on each side of its head. The arms are longer than its legs like a Gorilla and its eyes are large but with small pupils.
Luna's horn glows and a katana with a deep blue grip appears in front of her. The habaki, fuchi, and kashira are a pure silver while the tsuba is shaped like a full moon and the blade is midnight black.
Celestia also has a katana with a fiery orange grip. The habaki, fuchi, and kashira are bright gold while the tsuba is shaped like a sun and the blade a pure white.
I just stare at them both... why do they both have Zanpakutos?