Look Around You, Look Beyond
“Nightmare Night, what a fright, give us something sweet to bite!” Came the voices of three fillies, carried up by the wind to the top of Monument Hill. Twilight smiled to herself.
At least the Crusaders aren't getting themselves into too much trouble tonight, unlike last Nightmare Night. She thought. She had laid down to rest on the very top of Monument Hill, in front of a solitary gravestone next to an oak tree.
“It’s a great night out tonight. It’s not too cold yet, the breeze is relaxing, and Luna’s done a great job with the night sky, as always. It’s a perfect night. All it needs now is a little story.” She said, making sure her companion heard the emphasis.
A chuckle. “Maybe tomorrow, Sparkle-dono.” Came the voice.
Twilight resisted the urge to face-hoof. “Ugh, will I ever get to hear your story? And please, just call me Twilight! I’m still getting used to being a princess, and I don’t need anymore of that formal stuff.” She said, exasperated, turning to glare at her companion.
He was resting against the oak tree, gazing with a smile at the moon. Twilight had to admit, when she first met him, his appearance scared the ever loving hay out of her! After all, he was a human.
Humans are myth, they always said. Apparently not!
He called himself a samurai, a warrior of ancient Japan, whose final resting place was, apparently, against this very tree. He was the oldest spirit on Monument hill, and all the others deferred to him. Even Starswirl the Bearded, who was entombed at this very hill, considered him above all the others, even himself!
When Twilight first heard this news, she was quite shocked. She had looked up to Starswirl for many years, and was her idol all throughout Magic School! So when she first took that long walk to the top of the hill, she was understandably shocked to see the samurai there.
After all, it isn’t every day one meets a human, even a long dead one.
She had pleaded with him to share his story, as all the other spirits have. But the answer was always the same. A chuckle. “Maybe tomorrow.” Twilight huffed, and swore that one day, she would hear his story. Every night since, she made the trek up to the top to demand his story, with little success. She had stopped seeing him after she had moved to Ponyville, only to resume after her coronation as Equestria’s newest Princess.
The night of her coronation, after Celestia lowered the sun and Luna raised the moon, she once again took the long trek to the top of Monument Hill, with much on her mind. She faced the spirit and, instead of demanding his story, asked for advice. Surely such an ancient spirit, though still clad in his intimidating armor and armed with two katana, would have some advice?
He chuckled, and rested his hand over her heart. “Your heart knows the answers you seek. Follow you heart, and it will not lead you astray.”
It was quite possibly the greatest bit of advice she had ever been given.
“Don’t you usually hold this celebration in Ponyville, and not here?” Asked the samurai, breaking the silence between the two.
“No,” said Twilight, shaking her head. “Nightmare Night is a national holiday, celebrated all over Equestria. Ponyville is simply where the biggest celebrations are, since Princess Luna visits every year. Princess Celestia liked that. Said it was good that Luna was making more friends.”
“I see…” said the samurai. A few more silent moments passed between the two, before he spoke again. “Thank you.”
Twilight turned to her companion, confused at the statement. “For what?
The samurai smiled. “For many, many years I have sat on this hill, lonely. Many of my friends have since passed on from this world, and those that remain have been asleep for just as many years. It makes me glad that one such as you has visited me for so long. I had almost forgotten what it was like to have a friend before you came along.”
Twilight smiled. “It was no trouble. Nopony should be without a friend. I am honored to be your friend, samurai, though I don’t even know your name…”
He chuckled. “Maybe tomorrow.”
This time, Twilight did face-hoof “Ugh…”
The samurai laughed. “Hahahaha! I apologize, Sparkle-dono. I couldn't resist!”
“You could just tell me you know…” She mumbled under her breath.
It took a few moments for the samurai to catch his breath. He turned to face Twilight with a smile on his face. “I want to give you something. A token of our friendship,” he said. He stood up and walked to his tombstone, beckoning Twilight to join him. Twilight stood up, stretching her limbs in a series of satisfying pops, and walked over to join him.
“My gift to you is buried behind my grave site. I’d dig it up myself but…” he trailed off, looking at his hands.
Twilight giggled, using her magic to dig into the ground until she hit something. She pulled the object out of the ground and set it on the grass. It was a wooden box, heavily deteriorated from its long stay within the earth. She lifted the top to reveal a katana, much like the ones the samurai carried with him.
But this katana… something was different about it. First of all, it’s sheathe had not deteriorated at all! It was still in pristine condition, after countless centuries! She carefully lifted the sword out of its case, holding it with her magic. She studied the sword for a long moment, then grasped the hilt, slowly drawing the blade.
It was the work of a master! The sword glinted in the moonlight, polished to a sheen. “It’s… beautiful. I have never seen a sword like this one before!” Twilight exclaimed.
The samurai smiled. “This sword is called Harusame. It was the sword I used in life, and I have kept it by my side in death. I no longer have need for this sword, so I want you to have it instead.”
Twilight sheathed the sword and turned to him. “I don’t know what to say… This is a great gift. Thank you, samurai.” She said, bowing, as was the custom of his people. Oh sure, the samurai never told her his name, or his story, but he told extensively of his people and Japan.
“Please, call me Amidamaru. It’s only fitting that I tell you my name. Or else you would never stop bugging me about it!” He said, laughing.
Twilight grinned. “So does that mean you will tell me your story now, Amidamaru?”
“Maybe tomorrow.”
“UGH!”
Meanwhile…
“Are you SURE about this, boss? I hear that this place is haunted!”
“Nonsense, my friend! There’s no such thing as ghosts. Don’t be such a coward!” THAT voice belonged to the infamous “Wooden Sword” Ryu. As uncouth and disrespectful as any unicorn could be, he cared little about the well-being of others, save himself and his gang. His mane was styled in a huge pompadour, and he wore a smug grin on his face as he hefted a wooden sword onto his shoulder.
“You see that hill up there?” he said, pointing in the direction of Monument hill. "Finally, our search is over! For as long as we can remember, we've been outcasts. Kicked out of restaurants, bowling alleys, even lemonade stands! But now, now we have a place that no one can refuse us, where we can come and go as we wish. That place there, shall become our Sacred Hang!"
Back on Monument Hill...
"You think I am a shaman?" Asked Twilight.
Amidamaru nodded. "Yes, this I believe without any doubts. I knew there was something familiar about you, Twilight, and my suspicions were confirmed the moment you drew my blade. A long time ago, I served as the Guardian Ghost of a young Shaman named Asakura Yoh. He was descended from a long line of powerful Shaman, and one of my closest friends. When I pledged my service to the Asakura family, his wife, Anna, placed an enchantment on my Harusame, so that only those of Asakura blood, or anyone they deemed trustworthy, could draw the blade from its sheath. You drew Harusame from it's sheath, so you must be descended from my good friend Yoh!" He exclaimed happily.
Twilight was stunned. Her, descended from a Shaman? A human at that!? She had no words to describe the feelings she felt wallowing up inside her.
Amidamaru took a knee in front of her and bowed is head. "I would be honored if you were to let me become your Guardian Ghost, Twilight-dono. It would make my heart soar, that I might serve the Asakura family once again, as I did so long ago!"
"I... I don't know what to say..." Twilight began. "Thank you, Amidamaru. I'm sure we'll be great friends!" She said, smiling all the while.
"Are you finished talking to yourself, you crazy mare?" Came a crass voice.
Twilight whipped her head around to see the most unsavory group of ponies in Canterlot.
"You're... the Dead-Enders!" She exclaimed.
Their leader smirked, hefting a wooden katana onto his shoulder. "Got it in one! Allow me to introduce myself: I am "Wooden Sword" Ryu, and these are my boys!" he said, pointing to the rest of the gang. "And as for you, I am going to be polite and give you one warning. Leave Monument hill and never come back! This place belongs to the Dead Enders now!"
Twilight began to grow angry. "How... How dare you! You can't just waltz in here, acting like you own the place! Show some respect to the dead!"
"Uh, boss?"
"Now now, Magnet!" Said Ryu, silencing his second-in-command. "Unfortuantely for you, I just did! Now take your pretty little flank and get off our Sacred Hang!" He shouted. Suddenly, he charged at Twilight, slicing at her with his sword! He missed, but not without slicing Amidamaru's headstone in two.
Ugh... this must be the third time someone has sliced my headstone... Amidamaru thought. His mouth curled up into a smile Though, this does remind me of how Yoh-dono first met Ryu all those years ago. Who would have thought this clown would not only bear his name and weapon, but have the exact same personality and background? One of the mysteries of the universe, I suppose...
Twilight's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. "How... How could you do such a thing!? Do you have no respect? Are you really that depraved that you'll go around vandalizing grave stones like this!?" She demanded.
Ryu glared at her, hatred rolling off of him in waves. "You ponies make me sick!" he exclaimed. "All you rich types, with your noses in the air and you condescending looks... you think you're so much better than us, just because you have more money! Me and my boys were chased out of every place we tried to hang out at! EVERYPLACE! I will not allow some stuck-up rich pony like yourself to take our sacred hang away from us!"
"That's right!" Exclaimed Magnet, Ryu's second in command and closest friend. "We only have ourselves to rely on, since you rich types dont lift a hoof to help us!"
"That doesn't give you any excuse to destroy things that don't belong to you!" Twilight countered. She started to sweat. There's nine of them, and only one of me... I may be an alicorn now, but I don't know any combat magic! Darn it, I should have taken Shiny's offer for that self-defense class!
"If you won't leave... then I'll MAKE you leave!" Declared Ryu as he charged Twilight, sword raised.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!" Twilight screamed, closing her eyes and preparing for the beating of her life... that never came. She slowly opened her eyes, only to discover that she had somehow grabbed Ryu's wooden sword with her bare hooves! And it didn't even hurt!
Ryu's gang was speechless. "H-how did she do that!?" asked one of the gang, Blue Chateau.
"I got no idea, Blue! It was like a miracle or something!" Said Ball Boy, a rather big stallion said.
H-How did I do that? Twilight wondered. T-There's no way that I could've-WHAT!? Right there, where her hooves grasped the sword, she saw ghostly, armored hands overlap them.
Did I not tell you, Twilight-dono? Asked Amidamaru. A Shaman never fights alone. As your Guardian Ghost, I will always be at your side, fighting along with you. We fight as one being, Twilight-dono!
Twilight was stunned. She felt Amidamaru within her, his confidence boosting her own as he joined his spirit with hers. She smiled. "Thank you for giving me this chance, Amidamaru. I hope I prove myself a great partner!" She exclaimed.
I know you will, Twilight-dono.
"Talking to yourself again, you stupid unicorn? I'll beat you up for ignoring me like that!" He shouted, prying free his sword and jumping a short distance away. "You're going down!" He shouted, charging at Twilight, sword at the ready.
PAIN
"GAAAAH!!! W-What... happened...." Said Ryu as he slumped to the ground, his pompadour cut off down to his forehead. Above him stood Twilight, standing in a bipedal stance, wielding Harusame. Wow, Amidamaru! You must have been an extremely skilled swordsman! I didn't even notice us drawing the blade, and I was the one that did it!
Amidamaru chuckled. In time, you will learn to master the same skills that I possessed in life. Not bad for your first fight! I believe you will go one to become a very powerful Shaman, like Yoh-dono before you.
Twilight glared at Ryu, who had since slipped unconscious. It seemed you did not possess the strength to take Monument Hill for your own, after all. She said, in a combination of her's and Amidamaru's voices. She sheathed the sword and turned to the rest of the Dead-Enders, pale and paralyzed with fear. "I am sorry for the actions of my fellow nobles, but that gives you no excuse to bully others! Take Ryu and leave, before I change my mind! She ordered.
"Y-Y-Y-YES MA'AM!" The gang cried, taking Ryu's unconscious form with them and disappearing in a cloud of dust.
Twilight fell back onto all fours and felt Amidamaru leave her body. "Wow, that was amazing! You're amazing, Amidamaru!"
Amidamaru smiled. "Thank you very much, Twilight. I am glad to have served you well."
"Twilight? Twiiiiillliiiiight! Where are you?" A voice called.
Twilight cringed. "Rainbow Dash!? Oh no, the others must be worried sick about me! I've been gone for a while now... Oh, horsefeathers, I should have been paying attention to the time!" She said, berating herself.
"It's alright, Twilight-dono." Said Amidamaru. "Come, let us rejoin your friends. If they are as wonderful as you say they are, then I can't wait to meet them in person!"
"Oh, you'll love my friends!" Only, be careful around Fluttershy. She can be a little skittish..." Said Twilight, her voice fading out as she walked back down the hill to rejoin her friends.
A few minutes after Twilight and Amidamaru left the top of Monument Hill, a strange figure appeared in front of Amidamaru's broken headstone. With a quick flash of light, Amidamaru's headstone was repaired, with no sign suggesting it was broken.
The figure was a human, wearing a, rather flowery, Japanese kimono, with long, brown hair reaching down to his calves, perhaps a little longer. His eyes were a stunning gold, and he carried himself like a king.
"So, my brother's bloodline managed to last so long, into this age?" He asked himself. A small smile graced himself. "Perhaps I'll check in with her. What was her name, Twilight Sparkle? Maybe a test is in order... but I shouldn't be too hasty. I'll wait and see. After all, this is only the beginning of her adventures. Good luck, Asakura Twilight."
As quickly as he came, Asakura Hao, the Shaman King, disappeared.
