Chapter Six

Entrance - The Knight

“I wonder what the person the Princesses are sending is gonna be like?” Pinkie asked as she jumped and down in anticipation. Her, Wataru, and the rest of the Mane Six were waiting on the platform at the Ponyville train station.

“Me too. The Princess didn't mention much about this person. Only that he'd been highly recommended for helping with the Fangire,” Twilight said as she remembered the letter Princess Celestia had sent her the day before.

“Ah think he'll be fine. 'Sides, maybe he'll be able to shed a little light on the Fangire,” Applejack said.

As all this was going on, Rarity kept looking around nervously. Fluttershy saw this and walked over to her.

“Rarity, are you alright?” she asked. Rarity looked shocked for a moment before she regained her composure.

“Never better dear. I'm just.....admiring the train station is all,” Rarity said with her normal level of composure.

Fluttershy was about to say something when she was suddenly bumped by a unicorn stallion in a trench coat and hat. She looked down and saw that he had dropped what looked to be a necklace.

“Um...excuse me sir....you dropped this,” Fluttershy said. The stallion quickly turned, eyes wide with shock as he grabbed the necklace in his magic and stuffed it back in his pocket. As the train pulled up to the station and the stallion turned to walk away, three ponies in police uniforms ran around the corner, one blowing a whistle.

“Stop that stallion! He's a jewel thief!” one of the uniformed ponies said. The stallion grabbed Fluttershy and pulled a knife out of his coat with his magic.

“Nopony moves or she gets it!” he yelled. Fluttershy screamed in terror as the police ponies stopped.

“Fluttershy!” Wataru and the Mane Six yelled.

“Let her go creep!” Rainbow Dash yelled as she extended her wings.

“Stay back!” he said as he put his knife close to Fluttershy's face. Dash snorted as she folded her wings. As this was going on, the train pulled to a stop in the station. The doors opened, shocked ponies stopping as they saw what was going on.

“Nopony moves, nopony gets hurt,” the stallion said as he inched his way towards the train doors.

“Good thing I'm not a pony then,” a voice said behind him. The stallion looked up to see a griffin in a sport coat and tie looking at him with calm, piercing eyes. The stallion's eyes nearly shot out of his head at the sight of the griffin.

“That life, please return it to God,” the griffin said as he proceeded to grab the stallion by the throat as well as grab the knife. The stallion struggled, only to stop as the griffin looked him in the eye. The griffin threw the knife away as he reached into his pocket and took out a notebook.

The griffin flipped through the pages until he stopped at a page with a picture of the stallion the was currently holding by the throat.

“Silver Wing, you are wanted on several accounts of theft and assault. Bounty – 800 bits,” he said as he closed the notebook.

“Excellent. I didn't expect I'd get to make some extra bits on my way here. How convenient,” he said as he reared his other arm back, clenched his talons into a fist, and punched Silver Wing into the train station wall. The stallion looked up for a moment before he fell unconscious. Nago walked over to the stallion and snatched a button off of his coat, adding it to a necklace with many others on it.

Everyone in the vicinity stood shocked at the display before they all came back to reality. The police ponies went over and cuffed Silver Wing and lead him over to a cart with bars on it as the other ponies cheered for the griffin. The Mane Six and Wataru rushed over to Fluttershy and consoled her. One of the police ponies walked over to the griffin.

“Well, thank you for your assistance sir. It was dangerous and foolhardy I won't lie, but you got the job done,” the police pony said.

“No problem officer,” the griffin said as he dusted himself off. The police pony looked at him for a moment before his eyes widened.

“Wait a minute, I know you. You're that famous bounty hunter,” he said. The griffin nodded as he bowed.

“You are correct, my name is-”

“Keisuke Nago,” a voice said. Nago looked over to see Twilight Sparkle staring daggers at him.

“Twilight Sparkle, a pleasure to see you again,” Nago said. Twilight fumed at the griffin.

“You two know each other?” Rarity asked.

“Unfortunately,” Twilight said as she continued staring angrily at the griffin.

“Are you okay Fluttershy?” Wataru asked. Fluttershy nodded weakly, tears still staining her face. Nago walked over to Fluttershy and offered her his talon. Fluttershy back away for a second before taking his talon and letting Nago help her to her hooves.

“T-thank you for-” Fluttershy said before Nago raised a talon to stop her.

“Your thanks are unnecessary Miss. Though I am saddened that you were a part of this, it was merely part of my job. Capturing the filth that riddle this world and bringing them to justice,” Nago said as he clenched his fist.

Twilight Sparkle huffed at this “What a sanctimonious snob,” she thought.

“How cool,” Wataru thought as he stared at the griffin in awe.

“What are you even doing here Nago?” Twilight said in a rude tone.

“I am here on business,” he said as he reached into his jacket pocket.

“What business could someone like you possibly have here in Ponyville,” she asked as Nago took out a roll of parchment. He unfurled it and presented it to Twilight.

Twilight looked it over for a moment before her eyes went wide, crumpling the parchment in her magic as she began to tremble.

“You cannot be serious,” Twilight said with a slight snarl.

“Afraid I am. The Princesses have sent me here to help aid with the Fangire situation,” Nago said.

“Uh Twi, you okay?” Applejack said as she noticed Twilight was beginning to shake and smolder, one eye twitching.

“I need to be alone,” Twilight said as she teleported away. Soon after, a loud yell of anger echoed throughout the town.

“Such a warm welcome,” Nago said. Everyone raised their eyebrows at the griffin.

“Anyway, nice to meet you Mistah Nago,” Applejack said as she tipped her hat to the griffin.

“Likewise Miss Applejack,” Nago said bowing.

“You know me?”

“You are the Elements of Harmony after all. I'd be foolish not to know who you all are,” Nago said.

The Mane Six looked at each other for a moment. Yes, they had been widely regarded as heroes in the past, but this was one of the few times somepony, or griffin in this case, acknowledged it.

“Well, we're happy to have you here. It's nice to see the Princesses have sent us help. The only help we've had thus far is that mysterious Kiva stallion,” Rarity said. Nago's face contorted into a look of annoyance.

“Ah yes, Kiva. I do hope to speak with him. Personally,” Nago said as he balled his talons into a fist, which went unnoticed by the group.

“Well, while Twilight cools off, why don't we show you around Ponyville and you can tell us a little more about your mission,” Rarity suggested.

“That sounds lovely,” Nago said as the group left the train station.

However, unbeknownst to them, a figure watched them as they left.

“Soon my dear, I will make you mine,” the figure said as he began to follow the group.

“Rarity, are you sure everything's okay?” Fluttershy asked as she and Rarity sat getting hooficures at the Ponyville Spa.

“I..I'm sure I don't know what you mean Fluttershy dear,” Rarity said, trying to keep her composure.

“Well....it's just the whole time we where showing Mister Nago around the town you kept looking around. Like you thought someone was following you,” Fluttershy said.

Rarity struggled to think of an answer before she finally sighed.

“Aloe, Lotus, could you leave us alone for a bit?” Rarity said.

“Of course Miss Rarity,” Aloe said as she and Lotus left the room. After they left, Rarity turned to Fluttershy.

“Okay, the truth is........I think I have a stalker,” Rarity said.

“Oh dear!” Fluttershy said.

Rarity sighed “A few weeks ago I found a letter on my door. A love letter. At first, I thought it was sweet, like having a secret admirer in school. However...it quickly got out of hoof. Instead of letters showing up rarely, they started coming every day. Then it was flowers, then chocolates. Then I noticed things starting to go missing from my boutique. Finally, I can't shake the feeling that somepony has been watching me wherever I go,” Rarity said, her voice cracking a bit.

“That sounds awful,” Fluttershy said as she moved over to comfort her friend.

“I didn't say anything because I wanted to try and handle things myself, but I just don't know what to do,” Rarity said, putting her head in her hooves. Fluttershy comforted the distressed unicorn.

“It'll be alright Rarity. The others and I will help you through this. Plus, I'm sure Wataru and Mister Nago would be willing to help as well,” Fluttershy said. Rarity suddenly perked up.

“Wait, that's perfect!” Rarity said as she threw off the robe and towel she had been wearing and raced out of the spa. Fluttershy sat there for a moment before she flew after her friend.

“Twilight, you really need to calm down,” Spike said as he, Wataru, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack sat in the library, watching Twilight angrily stack books.

“I am perfectly fine Spike,” Twilight said as she noticed a book was out of order, which she responded to by taking the book and ripping it apart with her magic. The group watched as the pieces of the book fell to the floor.

“Yeah Twi, you're cool as a cucumber,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Really? Because she looks reallyreallyreallyreallyreally mad,” Pinkie Pie said. Applejack and Rainbow Dash groaned at Pinkie's blunt attitude. Twilight apparently heard this as well, angrily slamming a book down.

“OF COURSE I'M MAD!! I can't help it whenever that pompous jerk is around,” Twilight said. The group looked at each other confused.

“What in tarnation do yah have against Mister Nago Twi?” Applejack said.

“Yeah, I think he's amazing. I wish I could be as confident and strong as he is,” Wataru said, fanboying a little bit. Twilight huffed at this.

“Trust me Wataru, you don't want to be anything like him. He's an obnoxious, elitist, fanatical, sanctimonious-”

“Ah! Enough big words,” Pinkie said. Twilight cleared her throat.

“Point is, Nago isn't to be trusted,” Twilight said.

“Look Twi, we're gonna need a little more to go on than that,” Applejack said. Twilight slammed a book down and turned to her friends.

“Fine, here's my problem with Nago. He-” Twilight said before the library door burst open. Everyone turned to see Rarity, with Fluttershy hovering beside her.

“Oh wonderful, everypony is here. I have a little problem I need help with,” Rarity said.

“Can it wait Rarity, we're kind of in the middle of something here,” Rainbow Dash said.

“Actually Rainbow, I don't think it can. I mean....if that's okay with you,” Fluttershy said.

“Yes Rainbow, I'm afraid this is a very serious matter,” Rarity said.

“Well for land sakes Rarity, what is it?” Applejack said.

“Before that I need to ask Wataru something,” Rarity said as she walked over to the stallion.

“What is it Miss Rarity?” Wataru asked.

“Please dear there is no need to be so formal. I have a little request of you,” Rarity said.

“What do you need?”

“I was wondering if you would be my colt friend,” Rarity said.

The library was a very tense place. Fluttershy and her friends all sat around the couch, watching over Wataru as he lay unconscious in Fluttershy's lap. Spike was sulking in a corner, drawing circles into the floor with his claws. Needless to say, Spike wasn't too happy about his crush asking somepony else out in front of him. The group looked at Rarity, who sipped tea as she messed with her hair. She noticed the stares and looked confused.

“What?” she said.

“You know darn well what missy. How could you just ask Wataru to be your coltfriend out of nowhere like that!? For Celestia and Luna's sakes, the poor boy passed out sprayin' blood out of his nose when you asked him,” Applejack said. Rarity looked down for a moment in shame.

“I am truly sorry about that, but I needed to ask that of him,” Rarity said.

“And you couldn't have asked him this after you had told us you were being stalked why?” Twilight said.

“Why dramatic flair darling,” Rarity said Everyone facehoofed at Rarity's remark. Wataru groaned in Fluttershy's lap as he began to regain consciousness. Fluttershy looked down at him and smiled, relieved that he was okay.

Wataru's eyes opened to see Fluttershy. Wataru's face blushed as he realized where his head was laying, sitting up abruptly. Twilight and the others smiled at Wataru.

“I'm glad you're okay Wataru,” Fluttershy said. Wataru nodded.

“Um....what happened exactly?” Wataru said.

“Rarity asked you to be her coltfriend, you turned redder than Big Mac, your nose started bleeding and you passed out,” Rainbow Dash with her usual level of tact, none. Wataru blushed again.

“Right,” Wataru said embarrassed. Rarity set down her cup of tea and cleared her throat.

“I'm terribly sorry for surprising you like that Wataru. I should have explained why I asked you that,” Rarity said. Wataru squirmed in his seat, still blushing.

“I....I....suppose that would help,” Wataru said.

Rarity explained her situation to Wataru. While this was going on, Spike had come away from the corner, now sitting next to Twilight, who tried to comfort the pouty dragon.

“So that's my predicament Wataru. Will you help me?” Rarity said in a pleading tone. Wataru was still blushing.

“Well......um......wouldn't it be better to ask somepony else to do this? I mean what about somepony like Big Mac ?” Wataru said, trying his best not to sound rude.

“Big Mac is a sweetheart, but I don't think he'd be exactly convincing. Besides dear, he's even shyer than you are when it comes to romance. Plus, I think Cherilee would kill me if she saw me with him,” Rarity said. It was no secret the school teacher was sweet on Big Mac ever since the incident with the CMC and the love potion.

“What about Mister Nago? I'm sure he could help you far better than I could,” Wataru said, now sounding a little desperate. Rarity thought for a moment before shaking her head.

“Mister Nago certainly is dashing, but I'm afraid I wouldn't want to ask something like this of someone I barely know,” Rarity said. Twilight huffed when Rarity called Nago dashing.

“Oh,” Wataru said as he began to sweat. Rarity went up to Wataru and grabbed his hoof.

“Please Wataru, I need your help with this. You're the only one I can ask to do this. Please,” Rarity said, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Wataru blushed red before saying “I....I guess if there's nopony else,” he said before Rarity grabbed him in a bear hug.

“Oh thank you ever so much Wataru!” Rarity said as she hugged the shy violinist. Realizing her lapse in manners, she let go of Wataru and cleared her throat.

“Sorry dear. In any case, thank you Wataru,” Rarity said as she smiled.

“Woah, hold up a sec Rarity. The plan to lure this guy out sounds plausible at least, but what if he gets violent? This isn't safe,” Twilight said, trying to bring logic into this conversation. Rarity giggled as she flipper her hair.

“Oh Twilight, you didn't seriously think I was going to go about this with just myself and Wataru did you?” Rarity said. Everyone looked confused as Rarity smiled.

“Here's what we're going to do,” Rarity said.

Wataru stood by the fountain in the center of the Town Square. He had on a simple scarf, he had fixed his mane so he looked presentable, and wore a red vest. Wataru cantered in place, nervous about the plan. Wataru had never been on a date before, albeit this wasn't technically a real date, but he was still nervous.

From a bush near the fountain, Twilight popped up, shaking a few leaves out of her mane.

“This is silly. Why do we have to hide like this?” Twilight said. Twilight looked up to see Rainbow Dash observing from a cloud, Applejack observing from her stall in the market, and Fluttershy and Spike observing from a tree. Pinkie Pie popped out of the bush next to Twilight.

“Because Twilight, this way that mean old stalker pants won't know we're here and we can catch him,” Pinkie said, for some odd reason wearing a mustache on her face.

“I'm inclined to agree with her Twilight. This is a sound method in catching criminals,” Nago said, his larger body barely being hidden by the bushes. Twilight sneered at the griffon.

“Why are you even here Nago? I thought you're job here was to help with the Fangire,” Twilight said, shooting daggers at the griffin.

“I help wherever I am needed. Besides, it would leave a bad taste in my beak to let scum like stalkers walk free,” Nago said

Twilight huffed at the griffon “We don't need any help from you Nago,” she said.

“So much for all those etiquette lessons with the Princess,” Nago said in a dry tone. Twilight looked like she was about to punch the griffon before Pinkie shh'd them.

“Shh!! Rarity's coming,” Pinkie said as she disappeared back into the bush. Twilight huffed at Nago once more as she and the griffon followed suit.

“Hope I didn't make you wait long,” Rarity said as she trotted up to Wataru. Wataru blushed at Rarity's appearance. Contrary to her normal extravagant style, Rarity had toned it down to styling her mane a bit, wearing some simple earrings in the shape of her cutie mark, and a light sundress with some fancy trimmings.

“Sorry I took so long darling. I simply couldn't decide what to wear,” Rarity said.

Wataru blushed nervously “N-no trouble Miss Rarity, I just got here as well,” Wataru said. Rarity frowned.

“Remember Wataru dear, we're supposed to be on a date. Please just call me Rarity,” she said smiling at the shy stallion.

“Okay.....R-Rarity,” Wataru said as he continued to blush. Rarity smiled at this.

“Excellent, now let's get going,” she said as she and Wataru began to walk around town.

From a nearby tree, Spike and Fluttershy watched this scene play out. Both of them had dangerous, jealous gleams in their eyes and dark shadows looming around them.

“He better not try anything,” Spike thought.

“She better not try anything,” Fluttershy thought.

Rarity and Wataru's date proceeded fairly well. Wataru eventually got comfortable enough around Rarity to not be blushing the whole time. They went around to various spots in Ponyville, looked at some of the stalls in the market, and generally seemed like they were having a good time.

“I must say Wataru, this has been a lovely day. You sure know how to treat a lady,” Rarity said teasing him. Wataru blushed at this.

“W-well...I..just didn't want to be impolite is all. Besides, you payed for everything,” Wataru said, rubbing the back of his head with his hoof. Rarity giggled at this.

“It was the least I could do after asking you to do this,” Rarity said.

“Y-yeah,” Wataru said. Rarity was about to say something before she stopped in her tracks. Wataru looked to see that a pegasus stallion with a grey coat, glasses, and a black mane was standing in front of them.

“Can we help you?” Rarity said. The stallion fixed his glasses and pulled a letter and hoofed it to Rarity.

“Miss Rarity, I've admired you from afar for a long time now. Please accept my feelings!” the stallion said blushing. Rarity grabbed the letter in her magic, opened it and examined the letter. Her eyes went wide when she recognized the hoofwriting.

“Are you the one who has been sending me the lover letters and packages?” Rarity asked, trying to keep her composure. The stallion blushed and nodded. Rarity sighed.

“Look dear, I appreciate your feelings, I really do, but I can't accept them. I already have a coltfriend as you can see,” Rarity said as she leaned up against Wataru, causing him to blush. The other stallion's face fell at this.

“Oh,” he said, hanging his head. Rarity looked at the stallion with pity. She never liked rejecting potential suitors, but this stallion had crossed one too many lines.

“I'm sure you'll find your special somepony someday dear, but alas it won't be me,” Rarity said. The stallion nodded.

“I understand,” he said.

“I'm truly sorry dear,” she said as she and Wataru began to walk away. The stallion took off his glasses and smiled.

“I guess I'll just have to eliminate the competition,” he said as stain glass markings appeared on his face and his eyes glowed. This caused Wataru and Rarity to turn around just in time to see the stallion transform into a Fangire. The Fangire looked to be based off a sheep or ram, with horns curling around his head and long dreadlock-like tendrils covering his body.

Rarity screamed as she proceeded to faint, Wataru catching her. As the Fangire approached, Wataru placed himself in front of Rarity to try and protect her.

The stallion's face flashed across his stain glass body.

“She will be mine!” the Fangire said as he pulled out a flintlock pistol with stain glass designs on it and pointed it at Wataru. Wataru grit his teeth.

“If only I could become Kiva,” Wataru thought as the Fangire clicked the hammer on his gun.

“Disappear,” the Fangire said as he put his finger on the trigger. As Wataru closed his eyes, he heard a loud boom as he felt a rush of air go over him. He opened his eyes to find the Fangire had been hit by something. Wataru looked over his shoulder to see that Nago was standing behind them, holding a strange black and gold object in one of his claws and pointing it at the Fangire.

“Well, isn't this interesting. A bounty and a Fangire all in the same day. The goddess must be smiling upon me today,” Nago said as he walked over to the Fangire. Twilight and her friends came out from their hiding places and converged around Wataru and Rarity.

“Nago, are you crazy!? You can't fight that thing!” Twilight yelled. Nago turned to Twilight and made what could be considered a smirk with his beak.

“You underestimate me Twilight. Watch and you'll see why,” Nago said as he clicked a button on the strange device in his talons. Suddenly, a black belt with various attachments on the sides appeared in his left talons.

“What in Celestia's name?” Twilight said. The Fangire looked at Nago annoyed.

“That life, please return it to God,” Nago said as he swung the belt around his waist, the belt clicking in place as he did so. He lifted the strange device and pressed one end of it against his other talon.

READY?

Nago threw his right arm to the side “Henshin!” he said as he crossed his arm across his chest before placing the device on the belt.

FIST ON!

The belt sounded and beeped as a golden, stylized cross appeared in the air in front of Nago before passing through him. When the light dissipated, Nago was encased in white armor with blue and golden accents along it.

The visor on his helmet opened, releasing a blast of heat forward that caused explosions to go off in front of him, which harmed the Fangire.

“Bastard! Who are you!?” the Fangire said.

“I am IXA, and I'm here to send you back to Tartarus,” Nago said as he charged toward the Fangire.

Author's Note

*GASP* BladeSpark actually updated a story!? What sorcery is this!?

Yeah, I'm a lazy bum. Sorry for the lack of updates guys. I should probably explain why. Part of the reason I don't update very often is because it gets difficult for me to actually come up for ideas for this story as it progresses. Grand scheme, I've got a lot of ideas. However, it's the little in between bits that get me stumped. However, I am working on fixing this so there's hope there.

Anyway, enough about my problems. If anyone's wondering about the whole deal with how the belt actually appears, the show never gave a proper explanation for how that thing just appears out of nowhere, so I figured I'd give one.

The explanation?

Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, you're all lovely people, and I hope you all have a wonderful day/week/month/year, whatever.

This is Bladespark, signing out.