//------------------------------// // Chapter 17: The Hogyoku // Story: Shinigami In Equestria // by Urimas Ebonheart //------------------------------// Chapter 17: The Hogyoku After stepping out of the portal, we're back in front of Rarity's place. "Remind me not to follow you to another world anymore... That Asphyxious was... I don't even know what to call him," she says and walks off. "I'll meet you back at your place, Ichigo... I need to scrub my eyes out," she tells me. I look around and notice the others are now gone, probably got tired of waiting for us. I pull out my P-Phone and call Luna. "Ichigo? Where have thou been!? We were all worried about thee!" she yells at me. "Jeez, another Displaced called and I will admit I used it as an excuse to escape," I reply. "That was rather rude of thee... what happened to thy voice?" she starts to scold me but then gets confused. "I turned back into a guy while over there, but now I'm burping bubbles," I tell her. "Truly? Tis a shame, Twilight twas so looking forward to her slumber party tonight," she replies. "Yes, a real shame... Well, I'm off to have a shower, getting licked by a dragon leaves a nasty stench," I say and hang up before she could reply. 'Someone's in a bad mood,' Bob says, at least he's back to normal as well. 'I got turned into a chick and went to a Spa with the girl I like and a bunch of mares, I had to fight someone who's more of a nutter than Kenpachi, who also flirted with me and also licked me. Did I miss anything?' I reply and ask. 'Don't forget that minotaur that hit on ya,' he tells me with a chuckle. 'Yes, that too... ' I grumble. I ignore him for the rest of the trip home, along the way, I belched again and thirty or so bubbles come out making the ponies around me laugh a bit. Seems the foals find it funny as a couple started popping them. I enter my home and take a shower, after that, I made Rukia and I dinner and then spent the rest of the day in my room getting some much needed rest. Thirteen Days Later I've continued my training with Urahara which is making me physically stronger quite quickly, I've also told Urahara about my new bow which really intrigued him saying it shouldn't be possible unless I had Quincy blood or latent power already within me. I've also been training the Princesses and Celestia has figured out her zanpakuto's ability, it allows her to breathe fire like a dragon. Rukia has also continued to train me with kido and my hado number four, Byakurai is getting better, I no longer zap myself. Twilight had her slumber party but I stayed right away from that. I've also been burping five times a day for five days straight, a favourite of the foals every time. I also went through the laser vision effect, would have been a handy power if I could control it, had to camp out in the Everfree just to keep myself from harming anyone in town after almost hitting a mare the first time. Once the effect finally wore off just after four days, the cake making power kicked in, this one was much better as I got creative and made a five metre tall chocolate cake in the middle of the town square, everyone had a piece of it until Pinkie showed up out of nowhere and yelled 'Cannonball!' as she threw herself into it. It took me a while to clean up the mess, even with shunpo. I got a call from the Soul Society asking me to attend a Captains meeting about the Quincys in a week's time, that's going to be fun. Orihime and I have been spending more time together, mostly her patching up the wounds I'm getting from hollows and training. My attraction to her is getting stronger, she's kind, honest, fun to hang out with and always takes care of me when I'm hurt... I'm falling in love with her. My job at the farm is over as all of the apples have already been harvested... I'll have to wait till next season to start again, Rukia though found a part time job at a local diner as a waitress, they got really popular when she joined and at least she's now paying half the rent. Rukia and I have also been doing our jobs of slaying hollows whenever they show up, where more and more are appearing, it even has the Soul Society sending more Shinigami into Equestria just to even the odds... I feel something big is coming and I don't think like I'm as strong as I could be for it, dammit. I'm currently in Urahara's training area practising with my bow trying to get as strong as I can as fast as I can, I can at least hold my Bankai for ten minutes now and for two minutes with my mask as well... but it's not enough. Renji has joined the team for the area of dealing with hollows four days ago, but he's being paid by the Soul Society unlike me and Rukia who get paid via the royal coin purse. He's also staying at Urahara's store, no surprise there. He and Rukia are training together while I take a break. "You're improving quite well, Mr. Kurosaki," Urahara tells me and gives me a cup of green tea. "I guess so, but not fast enough. I feel something is coming, something big and I just don't feel strong enough to face up to it... I need to get stronger," I reply and drink my tea. I notice him glance at Rukia for a while and then back at me, it seems he's having a debate with himself. After a minute of silence, he speaks up. "So you've been feeling it as well? There is one way... but it could cost you your life," he tells me. I look at him with determination. "Ichigo from the anime went through hell to gain his powers, I don't see why I shouldn't as well. So, what's your idea?" I ask him. "You said Captain Aizen gets the Hogyoku from Rukia and uses it to make himself stronger along with the hollows. Why don't you try the same? You have surprisingly strong spiritual power, no doubt from your millennia of training within your own mind. Not only may it give you more power, but you'd be able to keep it safer as well," he tells me. I frown at him. "But won't that kill Rukia? She almost died from Aizen pulling it out from her if I remember correctly," I reply. "Who do you think put it in her in the first place? I can remove it without harming her, don't you worry about that, all you have to worry about is if the Hogyoku finds you worthy or not to be its master," he tells me. "So what will it be? Continue to train as we have been in the hope you get the power you'll need, or try to claim the Hogyoku?" he asks me. I take another sip of my tea and think. 'What do you two think?' I ask Bob and Zangetsu. 'Tough call, buff up like anyone else or get super powers from a powerful artefact? I'd say chance it, I've been feeling more hollows coming for awhile now and they're only getting stronger, sooner or later, you're going to get your ass kicked and then I'll have to step in to save it,' Bob tells me. 'I agree, even should you train non-stop, you may not be ready for what is coming. I suggest taking this risk as there is no other choice,' Zangetsu replies. 'Alright then, let's just hope I survive this,' I say to them and look back at Urahara. "Let's do it," I reply to him. "Very well, I'll go get the Hogyoku after explaining to Rukia and Renji what will be happening," he tells me and walks over to the others. After a few minutes, Rukia is sitting in front of me with an expression of disbelief. "I've had this thing inside me for years and you never told me!?" she yells at Urahara. "Calm down, Rukia. It was the only choice I had at the time to completely hide it from those who would misuse it. Now Ichigo wishes to try and harness it's power to boost his own. Ichigo, Yoruichi, unsurprisingly Ms. Pinkie Pie, and myself have been sensing something big coming, we're not sure what it is yet but it'll be here soon. Even the Head-Captain himself senses it," Urahara explains to them. "So, you're going to pull this thing out of her and put it in Ichigo?" Renji asks. "Correct, but this is also risky, if the Hogyoku finds Mr. Kurosaki unworthy it could kill him," he replies. "Or do absolutely nothing," he then adds at the end in a more light hearted tone. "This won't hurt me will it?" Rukia asks. "Nope, at least I think it won't," Urahara replies and holds his right hand's fingertips right in front of her chest. "Ready?" he asks her. She gulps and nodded. Urahara slowly pushes his hand into her chest and a small hole opens making us all look at it wide eyed. After a few seconds, he pulls his hand out with the Hogyoku and the hole in her chest closes. "Well, here it is," he says and holds it out. In his hand is a small one inch tall blue glass like ball with a light blue energy swirling within. "That's it?" Renji asks as he leans in to look at it. "This is what this is all about?" "According to Mr. Kurosaki it is," Urahara replies to him and then looks at me. "Are you sure you wish to do this?" he asks me one more time. I nodded in reply. "Yes, I need to be ready for whatever is coming..." I reply and stare at the Hogyoku. "Alright, good luck," he says before removing the seal and presses it into my chest. It pushes inside half way and my vision goes white. I rub my eyes to see I'm in my mindscape, Zangetsu and Bob are next to me while a being that looks like it's made of pure energy like the Hogyoku stands before me. "Who seeks my power?" he asks. I gulp again and glance to my companions then back to the being. "Ichigo Kurosaki," I reply. He looks at me and floats down two metres in front of me. "And why do you seek my power?" he asks. "A threat is approaching and I'm not strong enough to face it as I am... I need help to fight it," I tell him. "Is that all? You just want power?" he asks, almost sounding disappointed. I take a moment to think... 'Do I just want power? I was perfectly fine with training myself to get stronger, and I'd prefer to do it that way... but if what we feel is coming is as strong as we think it is...' Images of the friends I've made over the weeks come to mind, The Element Bearers, the Princesses, the townsfolk, Rukia and... Orihime... I then look back at the being. "I want the power to protect my friends and those I care for. I want to make sure they all stay safe," I reply with a determined expression. He floats an inch off the ground and gets right in my face, staring me in the eyes. I don't dare to blink or look away as he continues to stare, he then tilts his head slightly and backs off. "Your resolve is admirable, I deem you worthy of my power as long as you keep that goal in mind. But be warned, for once you accept my power we may never be separated. Should that happen, you will die," he tells me and holds his right hand out to me. I look down at it and back to Zangetsu and Bob who both nodded at me, I turn back to the being and smile. "I accept," I reply and hold his hand with my right. I'm blinded again and a searing pain spreads from my chest, I open my eyes and grip my chest as I can feel something forming on my neck, wrists, and chest. "Ichigo!" Rukia says with worry. After a few minutes of burning pain, it stops. I get up off the floor and gasp for breath on my hands and knees. "How do you feel, Mr. Kurosaki?" Urahara asks me. I look up at him panting for breath. "Like I've been... set on fire..." I reply as I lean back and sit up on my ass. Rukia and Renji gasp as they look at my chest, I look down and see the Hogyoku in the middle of a black X in the centre on my chest... 'Wait a minute... aren't these Ichigo's Fullbring markings?' I think to myself and slowly stand up. I pick up my Zanpakuto and notice it's new shape, the grip is now black with a small chain at the bottom. 'I feel different... I feel more powerful... I, Ichigo, form our mask quickly!' Bob tells me. I place my left hand over my face and form my mask... "Ichigo... the markings on your mask has changed," Rukia tells me. I take it off and see two vertical lines over each eye from top to bottom. I put it back on, raise my hands and stare at them, I feel stronger, a lot stronger. "This is going to take a while to get used to," I say in an even more distorted voice than before. "Are you alright, Ichigo?" Rukia asks while Renji has a hand on his zanpakuto. "Yeah... I feel fine," I reply and dismiss my mask and look at my zanpakuto. 'Zangetsu, how’re you feeling?' I ask him. 'I feel fine Ichigo, the Hogyoku has... moved in as you might say,' he replies. 'He's there?' I ask. 'I am, but I shall remain silent unless you request aid or information,' the Hogyoku replies. 'Oh... Okay,' I say and look back at the others. "Well... it worked," I tell them. "At least Aizen can't use it to make Arrancars now... wait a minute... aw shit! I forgot that he also has his own version that he made!" I say and groan, how could I have forgotten that! "I see... Then he can still get his power even if he doesn't have this one..." Urahara says in a sombre tone. "So what we're sensing could be Aizen making his move?" I ask. "Could be, but there's no way of knowing unless we ask him directly," he replies and pulls out his fan. "Well, until then, I think I should practise with my new power and get used to it," I say and flex my fingers, I feel like I'm using my Bankai already. "Good idea, it will help you get used to your new strength and speed. It'll also help you figure out the extent of your new powers." Urahara tells me. So for the next two hours I test my new power, as I thought, I'm just as fast as I was in my Bankai before, my zanpakuto's grip is better as well. I formed my bow but it still looked the same, though the arrows are just a bit stronger now. My Bankai though, I could only hold it for three minutes before I had to cancel it, I'll still need to train my body some more but it's better than nothing. My Bankai looks a bit different now, there's multiple crosses across the front of my Shihakushō and I have bone like gauntlets that look like X's and the Hogyoku is in the centre of the top cross on my chest. My Zanpakuto is now curved with three points near the tip on the back of the blade. My hollow mask only boosts my power by half of what my Bankai does, and I can only hold it for ten minutes now instead of three days, but I'm already stronger than I was with my mask before, so it's not really an issue anymore. It was when I tried using my mask in my Bankai that something new happened, Instead of just a mask, it covered my whole head and body and I see horns grow out the side of my head which are pointing forward. I have red fur like tufts on my ankles, wrists and neck, my skin is now white... I look down and instead of a hole, the Hogyoku is in the middle where the black lines connect. 'This is Ichigo's hollowfied form when he fought Ulquiorra.' I can only hold this new hollow form for thirty seconds before it starts to drain me rapidly, as powerful as I felt in it, it’s more like a last resort thing for now. After I finish my training for the day I walk over to Urahara. "Thanks for helping me, Urahara. Here's the bits for today's training," I tell him and hand him forty bits. He takes the money and pockets it. "No trouble at all, Mr. Kurosaki. I think it's safe to say you could take on a couple of the captains by yourself now," he tells me. "I hope so, if it is Aizen and his Arrancars that are coming, I'm gonna need all the strength I can get to face them," I reply and stretch my sore limbs. "Ichigo from the anime struggled to face them even with his Bankai and hollow mask together, just I won't make the same mistakes he made by drawing a fight out, If they do come, I'll make it a quick fight," I reply and tell the others I'm heading to the Castle. "Very well, I'll see what I can dig up in the Soul Society in the meantime," Urahara tells me and I head out. I make my way to the Castle and the guards let me pass, I wait by the throne room doors until the guards finally let me in. I smile at the Princesses who smile back, but then look surprised at my new appearance. "Ichigo? What happened to thy zanpakuto and attire?" Luna asks. "And what is that in your chest?" Celestia asks looking right at the Hogyoku with a frown. "Well... it's a bit of a long story, I'll explain it during our training," I reply.