Sengoku Ranon

>At Ponyville, inside the city hall, a young mare, with a white coat, and light purple and pink mane, observes some stallions setting up chairs.

>”Try to have them be perfectly aligned; we don’t want to come across as bumpkins.”

>”Sure thing Ms. Sweetie Belle!”

>The stallions do their best to line up the chairs, three chairs sit side by side, and in front of them, a table. Further from the table, stands a single chair, under a spotlight.

>SB: “You guys be sure to clear out. If what we heard about him is true, he’s very dangerous, and I don’t want you all to get hurt.”

>”B..but Ms. Sweetie Belle! We can’t possibly leave you alone with somep0ny so dangerous.”

>SB: “We’ll be fine; we’re the Cutie Mark Crusaders after all.”

>Some doors against the wall swing open as a light yellow mare, with a large bow, comes running in, “He’s here! He’s here!”

>SB: “What?! We’re not ready yet!”

>“No time. Scootaloo said he’s already on the outskirts of town. Here, put this on.”

>The doors swing open again, as a burnt orange pegasus mare comes in, “Did Apple Bloom tell you?!”

>SB: “She did!”

>S: “We’re so not ready!”

>SB: “I know!”

>AB: “Would ya quit yer gabbin, and get dressed all ready?!”

>The three mares wrap red capes around their necks, on the back, is the seal of a filly on her hind legs. Looking over themselves, the doors slowly swing open.

>Enter you, and 2 stallions escorting you. They lead you against the wall and to the seat under the spot light.

>Looking at both stallions, you sit down on it, and bring your sword to rest against your lap.

 

>The three mares walk up to their table, and take their seats, the light yellow one bumps against her chair, causing the cheap metal to screech against the concrete floor.

>The white mare looks over at puffs her cheeks out at the yellow one, before clearing her throat.

>SB: “So, ummm..we brought you here, to, talk about…maybe hiring you.”

“….”

>AB: “What Sweetie Belle is tryin tah say is, we’d like fer ya to work fer us. We know yer a mercenary for hire, and we have a job fer ya.”

“I’m listening.”

>The three mares look over at one another.

>AB: “You ask him Sweetie Belle.”

>SB: “I’m not gonna ask him, you do it Scootaloo.”

>S: “ME?! I had to find him! I already risked my head, I’m not doing it again.”

>AB: “Oh fer pete’s sake! We want ya tah take over Equestira!”

“Run that by me again, I think I had something crazy in my ear.”

>AB: “Ya heard me, we want tah declare war on all of Equestria.”

“I didn’t know Ponyville was in the war games, when did this happen?”

>AB: “It hasn’t, at least, not yet. We kinda were holdin off, till we got you to join us.”

“Is this some kind of joke? You bring me here with promises of an awesome reward, and then you hit me with this stupid proposition? Are you completely out of your minds? To wage war on all of Equestria, you would need an army to match the Crystal Empire at least.”

>SB: “We know it looks bleak, but we just can’t stand by anymore, with all this constant fighting.”

>S: “The Elements of Harmony have been fighting one another for most of our lives.”

>AB: “All we want is for things to go back to how they were, and if doing so means having to remove everyp0ny from power, then so be it.”

>Hearing their case out, you begin to crack a smile, and lean back into your chair.

“Ahahahahaha! So you’re gonna bring peace by declaring war?! Ahahaha! That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard!”

>AB: “But we’ve tried tah mend the fences, but nop0ny wants tah listen.”

>SB: “All of our sisters are so darn stubborn, they won’t listen to reason.”

>S: “Yeah, and every day, more and more ponies suffer for it.”

“And why should I care about this? I’m doing GREAT! I have jobs lined out the door, why would I want that to end?”

>SB: “Because...why settle for being a mercenary, when you can be a king.”

“….No, no, it’s a stupid idea. A suicide mission at best.”

>AB: “It is not! We have a secret weapon!”

>SB: “Shh! Don’t tell him that.”

“No, tell me that. What weapon?”

>AB: “Ah have a necklace, that can amplify the power of anyp0ny tenfold.”

“The Alicorn Amulet, well, now I’m interested.”

>SB: “So you’ll join?”

“Let me see it first.”

>AB: “No way, no how. Ya aint gettin so much as a hint, till I know, yer on our side.”

 

“How do I know you’re not just lying? Like everyone else that “claims” to have it.”

>AB: “Yer just gonna have tah trust us.”

>A low, but haunting voice whispers to you, “She has the amulet.” Shocked, you slightly tilt your head, and gaze down to the side of your sword.

“Are you sure?”

>AB: “Course ahm sure, us Apples never lie, and..” As she prattles on, you tune her out, and continue listening to the sword.

>Sword: “Yes, I can feel its power radiating from here; she has come into contact with it on several occasions.”

“All right, let’s say I believe you, what do you plan to do with such a powerful magical item? You DO know it corrupts those who wear it, right?”

>AB: You can see her expression take a more somber turn, as she sits herself back down, “Well, yeah, but we only plan tah use it on er sisters.”

>S: “And that’s why we need you to get us to them.”

“Hmm, you really thought this through, but I have to ask, if everything goes back to how it was, what’s the point in making me a king? Wouldn’t my power be meaningless?”

>Scootaloo leans over to AB, and grins, “I was really hoping he wouldn’t realize that.”

“Tell you what, if I do this, you let me KEEP the Alicorn Amulet.”

>The three look rightfully concerned, but huddle around themselves to talk.

>AB: “What do ya think? It’ll save us a bundle on havin tah pay him.”

>SB: “But can we really trust him?”

>S: “Yeah, whats to stop him from turning on us when we give it to him?”

>AB: “Are ya’ll dense? Are sisters. They’ll have no reason tah hate each other anymore, and they’ll take care of any baddies, just like the old days.”

>SB: “That’s a great idea!”

“So, we’re in agreement then?”

>The three mares all scream in horror as you somehow managed to sneak up on them. Scootaloo tries to buck, but you roll to the side, jump back, and place a hand by your sword.

“Easy Sweetie, we’re on the same side now.”

>Sweetie Belle tilts her head in confusion, “But I’m Sweetie Belle.”

>Applebloom sighs, and gets up off the floor, “We’re in agreement fella.” Spitting on her hoof, she offers it to you, but you leave her hanging, “Hey, when ya make a deal with a pony, ya gotta spit on it.”

>With a grimace, you reluctantly spit on your hand, and squeeze her hoof. The cold spit connects, and squishes as you shake up and down.

>AB: “What do ya call yerself?”

“Anon is fine.”

>AB: “Well Anon, ahm Applebloom, this is Sweetie Belle, and you’ve already met Scootaloo so, welcome tah Ponyville.”

 

>Exiting the big building, you take a turn towards the outskirts of town.

>AB: “Where are ya goin? Ah was gonna show you yer house.”

“I need to get my horse.”

>AB: “Horse?” Curious, they all follow you as you walk over to the edge of town, to a dark patch of grass.

>Placing your fingers up to your mouth, you let out a piercing whistle. Some birds flap away from the grass as a small commotion gets bigger, and bigger. From the shadows, a dark brown mare with reigns in her mouth comes out of the trees, and to you.

>You place your hands around her neck, check her for any damage, and then walk to the side to mount her.

“Heeya!”

>She slowly takes some steps forward as she passes the three mares. Scootaloo looks her right in the eyes as she passes, and is shocked to see the horse make eye contact back, before looking forward.

“So, where to?”

>After showing you to your home, you lead the horse in, and close the door behind her.

“All right, so where can a guy get some grub around here?”

>S: “Who was that?”

“Huh?”

>S: “The mare, who was she?”

“Oh, her? She’s my horse.”

>S: “YOUR horse?”

“That’s what I said.”

>S: “She isn’t property, you don’t OWN her.” You look her in the eyes before chuckling.

“I’m gonna pretend I didn’t hear that, so, I’m hungry.”

>AB: “Well right this way! Ah’ll make ya anything ya want! Sweetie Belle, take Anon to muh home, ah just need ya to get some groceries right quick, Scootaloo, come with me.” She quickly drags her to the side, as you get moved away, “Are ya crazy? Don’t be pickin fights after we just got him on board.”

>S: “Did you see how he treated her? How could I not say anything?”

 

>AB: “Ah aint gonna lie and say it didn’t bother me, but we’re already in this. Just stay out of it, we don’t know her story.”

>S: With a scowl, she moves to the door, “Lets find out then.”

>AB: “Scootaloo!”

>By then, it’s too late, as she bucks the door wide open, startling the horse into gasping, “Please don’t hurt me!”

>S: “Ugh, sorry, I uh, didn’t mean to.”

>”Who are you?”

>S: “My name is Scootaloo, and this is Applebloom.”

>AB: “You are the DUMBEST…Hi! Well, see, we just wanted tah make sure yer all right.”

>”Yes, I’m fine, but, you could’ve knocked.”

>S: “Sorry.”

>”My name is Meadow Springs, and it’s nice to meet you, but uhh, could you fix the door?”

 

>At Sweet Apple Acres, you look around the place as you walk with Sweetie Belle.

“So, this is Ponyville huh? The birthplace of the elements of harmony, and the great calamity, that divided Equestria into a warzone….its dirtier than I imagined.”

>”I know its nothing like you’re probably used to, but we have a nice charm here. I’m hoping our sisters can realize that again. Like maybe, if we just got them all here one more time, they’d remember why they were friends.”

“Uh-huh that’s great, when’s lunch again?”

>Sweetie Belle sighs tiredly and looks to the side, “Soon.” Reaching the door, she opens it and lets you in first. Walking in, you look around the old wooden home and casually stroll around.

>Picking up a framed photo, you see a younger looking Applebloom, a big red stallion, an old green mare, and an orange mare in a big Stetson hat.

“Is this Applejack?”

>Before Sweetie Belle can answer, you hear Applebloom off to the side, “That’s right, long before the fight. We were so happy back then.”

>She walks over to you and takes the photo into her hooves, looking it over she runs her hoof along the glass lost in thought. Your stomach grumbles out, breaking her from her trance.

“So, my lunch?”

>In the kitchen area, you sit at the table with a sandwich in front of you, Scootaloo to the left, and Sweetie to the right. In front of you is Applebloom, who served you the sandwich. Grabbing a hold of it, you take a bite.

“So, who’s that old mare?”

>AB: “Muh grandma.”

“Where is she now?”

>Applebloom lowers her head and sighs, “She’s gone, it’s just me an muh brother now.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

>S: “Hey, we’ll get her back.”

>You chew aloud, and cock an eyebrow at her.

“Like grave robbing?”

 >Applebloom laughs, “Sorry, ah should’ve been more specific, she left with muh sister an is now servin under her. Ah didn’t mean tah..”

“Nah its fine, you just used up what little compassion I have.”

>Finishing the sandwich, you sigh satisfied.

“Ok, so who do we wage war on first?”

>The three are startled by your sudden turn into warfare, Applebloom stammers out, “A..ah Sweetie, get muh maps from upstairs! Scootaloo, tha dossier! It’s under the sofa!”

>They run and scamper around collecting stuff they need, and piling it on the table. You grab hold of the big map and look over it.

>Finally done, they pant tiredly as Applebloom scoots a chair next to you. You turn the map around a few times and think.

“Ok, what do I need to know??

>“Why er ya askin me? Weren’t you the one who wanted tah declare war, and are a mercenary?”

“True, well, umm…the first thing…is…Ok, I got it. Who are our neighbors? Best thing to do is start close to home and expand.”

>”Well that’s easy.” She gets close to you and points at the map, “Now, we’re here, and over here is tha White Tail Woods. Fluttershy rules there, but doesn’t really cause us trouble. She’s tried tah get us tah surrender, but she wont risk hurtin her animal army. She loves them too much to risk their safety.”

“Ok.”

>”Over here is Zecora, but ya aint gotta worry bout her, she’s neutral, and ah friend. She wont bother us.”

“Ok.”

>”And over here is Canterlot, Princess Luna lives there. But..she don’t consider us a threat, she is more concerned with the other Elements. Celestia used tah live there, but..she went missin a long time ago.”

“Ok.”

>”So, in MY opinion, tha best thing tah do would be tah go after Fluttershy. She’s the wea..uhh, most passive. Ah think she’d surrender if she saw yer power, cuz she never wants tah fight.”

“I do like easy wins.”

>”Zecora is muh friend, goin after her is gonna make me right mad.”

“Eh, kinda no offense, but you’re a medium sized pony. No match for me.”

>”And Luna is an Alicorn, only a few of them around. Right powerful too.”

“She sounds hard, but I have heard many things about Luna.”

>”So, there ya have it.”

>You lean back into your seat and think this over. Tapping your sword onto the ground, you inhale and sigh.

“Ok, it’s decided.”