When Ghouls Cross Over

Chapter 3: Encounters

The sound of crickets rubbing their wings together as a soft chirping echoed into the calmness that was night was the only sound Kaneki could hear as he sat outside Sugarcube Corner. Sitting on the bakery’s porch as he stared out into the night.

Peace.

A strange feeling that had come over the boy as he watched fireflies floating about this town called Ponyville.

How long has it been since I’ve been able to just sit down like this? the thought popped into the boy’s head. And to that question he found no answer. The best answer probably being: never. Not since his transformation, at least.

“Can’t sleep huh?” A voice said. It was Mr. Cake. The male stallion opened the door wider as he walked up to Kaneki’s side staring out at the empty silent streets of Ponyville.

Kaneki didn’t reply, which was just as good. The stallion had only woken up to give Pumpkin and Pound Cake their bottles. After a few more minutes of peaceful silence Carrot turned around. “Don’t stay out too long alright? Wouldn’t want Pinkie’s new friend getting a cold, especially since this your first time here.”

Kaneki simply nodded as Mr. Cake walked back inside. “Oh yeah, welcome to Ponyville” he heard the stallion say with a smile before gently closing the door.

Silence soon resumed its place in the room.

“Friend huh?” Kaneki said to himself. It was strange. He had only moved to save the girl because he didn’t want to see her getting hurt but when he had saved her he was more surprised by her actions than the strange reality of what he’d seen since waking up.

“Friend” he repeated as if the word were foreign to him. Obviously it was not. He had friends. Friends he would do anything for. Friends he was willing to sacrifice his very body for. Touka, Yoshimura. Tsukiyama. Hinami, Nishiki, Hinami, Enji...Kaya. They were all his friends. And he wondered what they were up to right now.

A gentle breeze stroked the boy’s white hair as his eyes continued to stare out into the night. Pushing the thoughts out of his head Kaneki turned his attention to other matters of the present. He would deal with them later.

Tomorrow he would be meeting the pink mare’s friends at least according to Pinkie Pie, he would.

Were they all as energetic and friendly as this one? a voice soon called his name drawing him out of his thoughts.

“Still awake?” Pinkie Pie asked, now in her pajamas. The pink girl stood in the doorway with her arms behind her back as she stared at Kaneki with a friendly smile.

Kaneki lifted his head upwards as he stared back at the energetic girl who’s smile seemed to infect a lot of people of this town.

“Ready for tomorrow?” Pinkie asked.

He nodded. “As ready as I’ll ever be.”

“Great answer” she said still smiling. “By the way aren’t you cold? It is a little chilly out here” she said taking a seat next to Kaneki as he scooted over.

“I’m fine” he replied. After all he had been in a blizzard with nothing but the very same clothing he wore now.

“If you say so” Pinkie said hopping up. “Do you know where you’re bed is?” she asked as she made her way back inside.

He nodded his eyes remaining straight ahead.

“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow then” she said, taking another step towards the bakery house Pinkie stopped and stood there staring at the boy as she recalled the look in his eyes she had seen earlier in the day.

They looked like the eyes of someone who’d been through so much she thought, placing a hand on the doorway as she continued to stare at Kaneki’s back in silence. And why did I shudder when I walked towards you? her eyes narrowing before she turned towards the house.

“Night Kaneki.”

He nodded, “Night.”

Hearing the door close behind him Kaneki felt another small breeze brush by him as he sat in silence. He’d felt Pinkie’s eyes watching him in silent observation but he’d simply ignored it. There was no chance the girl would ever learn of what he was. Not as long as he continued maintaining this low profile till he knew just exactly where he was.

Getting up the boy turned to head back inside the warmth of the bakery home. Tomorrow he needed to get up early if he wanted to meet the rest of Pinkie’s friends. Maybe there he could get more information out of them.

Walking towards the door, his foot crossing the doorway’s border the ghoul froze. His eyes turning in a certain direction of Ponyville.

“Kaneki, could you please close the door. The children.” Mrs. Cake’s voice called from within.

Kaneki didn’t respond immediately his eyes still staring in silence down a street of Ponyville.

“Kaneki?” Mrs.Cake called.

Slowly Kaneki walked inside, his eyes still fixated on that spot. “Did you see something outside?” Pinkie’s voice called from above.

As Kaneki entered the room and slowly began closing the door he paused still staring down the street. As if expecting something to happen. The tension in the air rising with his silence, when nothing did.

“It’s nothing” he said and shut the door.

Twilight sat in the library with Fluttershy in silence. The young princess tapping her hoof against the floor as she bit her thumb nail in agitation. Their conversation had went further into the day than she had expected.

After the two Japanese investigators had gotten their answers the two retired back to their room. The one with blue hair known as Sting wanting his weapon back in case an emergency sprung, but his partner simply dismissed the younger detective as they moved back up to their room.

“Are you serious Kill? What if we need them?!” Twilight heard the voice of the younger detective ask as they made their way back upstairs.

“We won’t need them. Not yet at least, like I said Centipede isn’t the type to cause a ruckus like the lower ghouls. We can always get our weapons back later.” The rest of the conversation was more hushed than Twilight’s ears could pick up as the two detective’s voices faded into their room.

Twilight was still biting her thumb nail the clicking of her hoof against the floor becoming louder and louder as the seconds passed. What the two detectives had said worried her greatly.

Should I contact the Princess? was her first thought.

“Twilight” the voice of Fluttershy said although the voice to Twilight was only drowned out by more thoughts and concerns.

Just what in Equestria are these ghouls those two keep talking about? And why did they refuse to tell her what she needed to know?

“Twilight” Fluttershy’s voice called again, but for a second time it was drowned out by more worries.

What if this guy they’re searching for is off causing trouble in Ponyville! What if he’s doing something horrible right now?! she thought now firmly gripping her skirt.

“Twilight!” Fluttershy said louder this time drawing the young alicorn’s attention as she gently placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder.

“Y-Yes?” Twilight asked as if she had been shocked out of a horrid experience.

Fluttershy pointed to Twilight’s hoof. Raising her leg ever so slightly the girl could see that she had made a dent in the crystallized ground underneath said hoof. She frowned, her horn glowing as she cast a reconstruction spell that would return the shattered fragments back and make it whole again.

“Twilight I really think you should calm down. You’re working yourself over with stress” Fluttershy said pouring her friend the rest of the herbal tea.

“Thanks Fluttershy” Twilight said trying to smile as she kindly accepted the tea. Taking a few sips, she hadn’t even noticed that she’d finished the rest of it with her last sip. Putting the tea cup back down the alicorn sighed, feeling a little better than before.

Fluttershy remained silent patiently waiting for her friend to say something as the two sitting next to each other both contemplated what the investigators had told them. Or as much as they had offered to reveal.

From Fluttershy’s vivid imagination she was absolutely terrified of the very concept of meeting a ghoul. The thought of even seeing one sent a shiver up her spine. The pegasus however could tell, that the whole thought of a creature like that being in Ponyville would surely be devastating and frightening for Twilight who’d just a few months ago became a princess.

Twiddling with her fingers nervously Fluttershy glanced over at Twilight who once again looked like she was in deep contemplation and inner turmoil.

“Twilight?” the mare said quietly.

Twilight jumped, looking over at Fluttershy before smiling apologetically. “Sorry Fluttershy. I’m just thinking over a lot of things is all. I should probably have Spike send a letter when he gets back from Rarity’s tonight.”

“I think that would be a good idea. Princess Celestia would surely know what procedures to take just in case there is a” -she shivered looking around nervously- “a ghoul hiding somewhere in Ponyville.”

Twilight nodded standing up, Fluttershy doing the same as the two began heading downstairs towards the door.

“If Sting or Kill Shot need anymore medical treatment don’t be shy to ask me. I’ll come over as soon as I can alright?” Fluttershy asked. Twilight merely nodded obviously lost in thought as she began planning out how she’d send the letter to the diarchy of Equestria.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy said snapping her fingers in front of the mare, grabbing her attention.

“Hm? -Oh yeah, sure. Fluttershy no problem. I’ll um...do that thing you said I should do” she stated as they reached the door.

“Call me if they need more medical assistance” Fluttershy repeated as she now stood outside the doorway of Twilight’s castle.

“I will, don’t worry” Twilight said with a nod, as she began closing the door but Fluttershy’s hand stopped her dead.

“Twilight” Fluttershy said taking on a serious tone rare in the mare’s voice. “I’m serious anything at all. You call, don’t hesitate or go into a frenzy understand?” she asked.

Slightly taken aback by the sudden strictness, Twilight nodded. “I will Fluttershy I Pinkie promise.”

“Alright then” she said feeling more content with that. “I’ll be going then. Try to take it easy Twilight” she said before turning around and heading homewards.

Twilight waved goodbye to her friend as she watched the mare slowly disappear from view before closing the door and heading back upstairs. When she entered the library she saw that the weapons left on the table were gone.

“I think I’ll...just let them keep it for now” she said with a slightly nervous smile. Her horn getting caked in an orchid overglow as a parchment, ink bottle and feather floated towards her desk.

Sitting down in front of the material, Twilight took hold of the pen in her fingers, before taking in a deep breath and exhaling as she gathered her thoughts.

“Dear Princess Celestia,

I have urgent news to inform you of.

“Now Spike shouldn’t you be getting back to Twilight?” Rarity asked the dragon, standing beside her as he held a dress up for her, that she had been measuring. Turning around she took it up in her magic.

“Psssh, Twilight will be fine without me Rarity. Besides I’d rather help you at this moment” he said with a dreamy smile on his face.

Rarity smiled before placing it on a mannequin nearby. “Thank you my dear Spikey-Wikey” she said hugging him.

Spike obviously enjoyed this greatly, his face growing red, as he took in the fragrance of Rarity’s perfume and her...body heat, oh Celestia that body! He could now feel the unicorn’s own heat radiating off her and onto him. It. Was. Bliss.

THUD!

And now that moment is gone he thought with a grimace as the mare retracted her hug, moving away from him before looking curiously at the door.

“Were you expecting somepony?” Spike asked adjusting his shirt as he tried to hide the grimace on his face so that Rarity wouldn’t see.

“No. No not at all. And at such late an hour” she said glancing at the clock as it now showed it was getting to eleven at night.

“Then who could it be?” Spike asked his own curiosity replacing the bitterness he felt upon being interrupted as he copped a feel.

“I’m not sure Spike” Rarity said as she moved over to the door and peeked through the peephole only to find no one there. Strange she thought opening the door only a crack to peer through. Her horn glowing just in case she needed to cast a quick spell.

While the mare may not look it since she considered herself more of a fashionista than a magic expert, Rarity did know a few spells here and there for when things could get bad. And she sure as heck wasn’t afraid to use them when the moment called for it.

As the door swung open Rarity took note of the small dirt mark on her door, and the strangely shaped hand and footprint marks inches away from the mark against her door. Turning her head towards a nearby street the mare squinted her eyes to see if whatever had slammed into her door could still be seen from here.

It could not.

Spike came outside as well, just barely up to the mare’s shoulder as he stared out on the same street she was looking down, that lead around the corner in a curve and few turns down to Sugarcube Corner.

“Did you see something?” Spike asked.

Rarity continued to stare out on the street in silence for a few more seconds before she turned around her tail swishing to the side as she did so, going back into the Boutique. “No, I suppose not dear. Come along Spike I’ll inform Twilight you’ll be staying the night over.”

Hearing those words made Spike’s day as he pumped a fist into the air a wide grin on his face. Immediately regaining his composure, the young dragon pulled his shirt down, made sure his fly wasn’t down then turned around as he walked back inside closing the door.

Upon walking inside Rarity had already finished scribbling down a letter to Twilight and handed it over to him.

“Be a dear and send that to her for me will you?” she said with a sweet smile.

Trying his hardest not to blush Spike took the letter thought of Twilight and let green flames seep out of his mouth, licking the parchment before it evaporated in a green mist.

“Done.”

“Nicely done” Rarity said.

“So um” he said running a claw through his hair. “Where were we?” a dress floating into Spike’s hand was the only response he got from Rarity who looked at him from the corner of her eye with a smile.

Sighing Spike held the dress up for her to examine. “Right...dresses” he said with a hint of annoyance clear in his voice. “Give me a break.”

*** ***** ***

Minutes Earlier.
Location: Ponyville; Canterlot Boutique.

THUD!

His back slamming against the door of Canterlot Boutique a man fell to the ground.

“Were you expecting somepony?” the man heard a voice say from within. Getting up with one hand propping himself up and using his foot as he prepared to launch himself forward, the man in the trench coat took off down a street in his sights as he turned a corner and hid behind the bushes.

Hearing the door he had slammed into open almost a minute after his escape, the man quickly steadied his breathing and peered through his glasses out at the strange equine creature and what appeared to be reptilian animal that seemed to have humanoid like figures came outside.

The mare who had been inspecting the spot only for a few seconds turned to look down the street that the man had run off down, almost looking in the bushes he now hid.

“Kusou” the man swore under his breath. How the hell was something like that so perceptive? Was it the ears? he thought glancing back at the mare with the extremely curled hair from the glare of a lamp post in his glasses.

“Did you see something?” he heard the reptilian say. After a few seconds he heard a reply though the tone told the man that this creature was definitely wary of his presence.

“No I suppose not dear.” He had heard her- whatever it was, say. The door soon closing after the reptilian had done a little victory cheer upon hearing something that the man himself could not.

Adjusting his glasses now that he was in the clear the man looked around, adjusting the trench coat that nearly covered his entire face, as he looked around the surrounding area.

“Where am I?” the man thought getting up as he looked around. Only to stop as he felt a sudden familiar presence a couple meters away.

He wasn’t sure where. But this was a feeling Chuu Hachikawa would never forget.

“Ghoul” he snarled. Turning around and heading in a different direction the man moved elsewhere. Knowing that since he had no weapon he would only end up prey for the demon he had yet to meet.

“Wait for me ghoul. I’ll sniff you out and shred you to pieces. Even if I have to tear this whole damn place apart” Hachikawa swore as he walked into the night, only to suddenly get knocked down by a strange figure.

Rubbing the back of his head the man looked up from his glasses with a look of rage on his face only for it to instantly disappear as he stared at the blond, grey winged creature before him. Wearing nothing but a buttoned up shirt and jeans with a bubble insignia on it.

“Pegasasu?” he said in surprise.

The blond pegasus smiled. Offering a hand to help him up which he strangely accepted. The cross-eyed pegasus was a sight to look at, considering one eye seemed to be focusing on him while the other drifted.

Once up Hachikawa turned to leave walking away, and leaving the mare alone on the street as he headed to a different destination. Hearing a call he turned to see the blond pegasus still staring at him with a slight smile.

“I’m Ditzy Doo! What’s your name?” she called.

Feeling like he didn’t really need to answer, but getting the strange feeling he should Hachikawa turned around and continued walking down the street, his back facing the young woman.

“I’m an investigator. That’s all you need to know.”

Twilight had spent almost half an hour figuring out what to write as she tossed paper after paper down to the ground. Slowly piling up till it nearly threatened to form a pile the size of a pillow on the floor till she received a message from Spike.

“Dear Twilight,

I believe it would be best if Spike spent the night with me tonight. I do hope you understand but something rather bizarre happened here not too long ago and I would prefer it if Spike spent time with me where it was safe instead of heading home by himself. I’ll be sure to head over in the morning with him first thing in the morning.

Yours Truly,

Rarity.”

Sighing Twilight dropped the pen and closed the ink lid rubbing her temple as she sat staring at the letter.

“I hope they’re alright” she said to herself as she stood up.

Trudging towards her room the alicorn immediately changed clothes before sliding into the safety of her bed and closing her eyes. Letting sleep do it’s job on her.

“Better rest up...if I want...to send that letter...to the princess” Twilight yawned, feeling more tired than she initially thought.

I guess stressing out over this ‘ghoul’ thing really does something to a pony she chuckled at herself her lids feeling heavy. Blinking a few more times the young alicorn slowly drifted into sleep.

“I’ll send that letter, tomorrow” she stretched before shutting her eyes for the last time, then drifting to sleep. Carrying her worries with her into her dreams.

The piercing screech of a roaster awoke the pink mare as she glanced over at the clock. It read 10 a.m.

Perfect! Pinkie thought hopping out of bed.

Skipping over to the bathroom the mare quickly got ready for what she felt would be quite a splendid day as she would be introducing a brand new friend to her friends. The very thought made her feel extra excited, yet at the same time deeply bothered her. However the latter was merely shoved off into a closet full of doubts and concerns, locked up tightly and then buried seven feet under the ground as Pinkie would let absolutely nothing such as insecurity on what she had felt the day she met Kaneki ruin this day she had planned to go so well.

Once she was done getting ready Pinkie quickly headed over to Kaneki’s room only to find it empty. “Did he wake up earlier than I did?”

Heading downstairs Pinkie turned to see Mr. & Mrs. Cake working on their sweets for the day already.

“Have either of you seen Kaneki?”

“He said he was going to get something to eat and wouldn’t be back for awhile” said Mr. Cake

"Why didn’t he just get something from here?”

“The poor kid said he has a very sensitive stomach so he can’t eat a lot of things even if he wanted to. Must be a condition he was born with. Don’t worry though dear, I’m sure he’ll be back in a few minutes he did leave an hour ago.” Mrs. Cake said as she took out the frosting for the cupcakes.

An hour?! What was he doing eating a field?! sighing Pinkie walked over to the Cakes and slumped down in a seat as they did their work. Offering help here and there when needed.

“Just what in the hay makes someone eat for an hour?” she muttered grumpily as she handed over an iron baking tray to Mr.Cake, who smiled at Pinkie’s impatience.

She’d never really had an eye for that kind of stuff.

“Don’t worry Pinkie. He’ll be back soon, he is just going to eat. How long could it be?”

Kaneki was now in the Everfree forest. His desire to feed had started kicking in and had he not left and waited for maybe even a day longer there was a possible chance he could’ve lost it and slaughtered the entire Cake family.

That was something he’d rather not have on his conscience, especially not when they’d been so kind to take a complete stranger in like this.

Having sniffed out a food source the boy was able to track a cemetery about 2 miles down the road. Finding a recently fresh, unsoiled body within he dug in. Eating as light a portion as he possible could.

And as the fleshy substance of the dead stallion slowly slithered down his throat Kaneki couldn’t help but notice the completely different yet still pleasant texture that came off of eating this creatures flesh. It wasn’t like when he’d bit into Jason. That experience had been completely different.

“At least I don’t have to kill anyone here to eat” he said wiping the blood off his lips with his thumb.

Taking a detour the boy headed near a river by the Everfree Forest as he washed himself. Making sure not a trace or even speck of blood could be detected or smelt on him when he returned back to the bakery home.

Finishing within a few minutes Kaneki put his clothes back on and headed back to the Cake’s reaching there in about ten minutes as he decided there was no rush in reaching their place at the moment. He was bound to meet the girl’s friends eventually and one way or another he’d need to if he wanted to get information on how he could get back to Japan.

As he reached the bakery shop that was now in view he took note of someone rushing out and bounding towards him at full speed.

Ready to block and flip this person over Kaneki hesitated when he saw it was Pinkie, and was even more surprised when she stopped inches away from him as she stared at him with a slightly annoyed look on her face.

“How long does it take you to eat?!” she asked clearly peeved having to wait half an hour for someone she wanted her friends to meet.

He didn’t reply.

Sighing Pinkie walked up over to him and patted his shoulder. “Cmon let’s go. I told Dash yesterday to gather the others at Twilight’s so we’re heading there.” Moving ahead of her enigmatic friend Pinkie began walking in the direction of Twilight’s castle. Casting a quick glance at Kaneki as they moved on. The boy’s eyes remained looking straight ahead as they continued to push on towards the castle.

What Kaneki hadn’t realized is that Pinkie’s ears had flopped along with a combination of her tail twitching meaning someone was about to get hurt or someone was about to receive a sudden surprise.

The pink mare had noticed the sudden change in the boy’s stance when she had rushed over to approach him and that combination merely made her freeze in place as she realized that she would be receiving said surprise.

Casting one last glance at Kaneki who at this point had come to completely ignore these looks the two moved on in silence towards Twilight’s castle.

“Whoa!” Dash said once everyone had gathered. Twilight walking down the stairs her hair a mess and still feeling sleepy from the constant tossing and turning she had done in her sleep.

“Who are these two?” Dash asked pointing a finger at the two soldiers who came downstairs.

“They’re guests” Twilight said in a tired voice.

“We get that sugar, but who are they?” Applejack pressed.

“We’re investigators” Sting answered, getting the orange girl in her shirt, jean shorts and stetson to look at him.

“And what exactly are y’all investigating here in Ponyville?” she asked.

“That information is classified. At least for now it is” Kill Shot responded taking a seat across the three girls whose eyes were firmly fixed on him.

Spike had moved over to Twilight where she was now on the same ground level as everyone else.

“Care to tell me what’s going on?” he asked with a raised brow.

Twilight sighed. “It’s a long story. Anyway Rainbow Dash?” the cyan pegasus girl turned to her.

“Yeah?”

“Did Pinkie say why exactly she wanted us all out here?”

Running a hand through her rainbow hair the girl tried to think her tail swishing to the side every now and then as she tried to recall. “No...she said it was a surprise” the pegasus responded after a few seconds.

“Knowing Pinkie I’m sure it will be an interesting one” Rarity said taking a glance at the two detectives. “Oh my,” she said noticing Sting’s bandaged hand. “What happened to you?”

“It was...during the line of work” he replied.

Applejack’s eyes narrowed at the answer, but she didn’t push it further seeing as they’d get answers soon enough.

“How’s your hand feeling?” Fluttershy asked moving over to Sting.

“Much better. I can now move my fingers if only a little bit. Thank you once again” he replied cheerfully. Fluttershy merely shook her head.

“No need to thank me. I was merely helping somepony in need that’s all” she said with a smile, as she began examining the hand, and removing its bandages.

Tracing her finger across it Fluttershy made sure that it would still react to touch. It did as Sting’s hand twitched when she prodded his palm with a finger. Seeing that it was alright, she turned to Rarity asking if she could get bandages for her to replace these with.

Once the bandages had been replaced Fluttershy smiled at Sting who merely smiled back. Everyone remaining silent as they watched the two seem to grow a bit closer as the seconds passed by.

“Ahem!” Kill Shot said startling Sting whose hand immediately retracted from the mare’s.

“Try to focus will you Sting?” Kill Shot said with a teasing grin which Sting merely scowled at.

A sudden clicking from the door downstairs had signaled that Pinkie had made her appearance.

“We’re here!” she said her hooves clicking on the azure stairs as she and her friend slowly made their way up.

“We?” Sting said looking at the girl in the red shirt and dark blue jeans called Dash. The girl merely shrugged.

“Don’t look at me.”

Silence ensued as the footsteps grew louder and louder until the bubble gum girl emerged first holding a beaming smile that seemed to hit the two investigators with such a force they couldn’t help but blink.

“I’ve got someone you all should meet” she said turning her head in the person’s direction and waving him inside.

As the boy took a step inside his shoes quietly clicking along the azure crystal floor, he couldn’t help but notice the slight change of tension in the air as he walked in.

The five girls and dragon being slightly surprised that the person introduced to them was like these two investigators here they couldn’t help but look back at the pair and back to Kaneki. Rarity noticing the extremely shocked look on both their faces upon the boy’s entry.

“Meet Kaneki” Pinkie Pie said. “He’s from Japony, though he doesn’t talk much I was hoping you all could get to meet him as well” Pinkie said still smiling.

An awkward silence filled the room as everyone stared at Kaneki, who silently stared back.

“Um, Hi” Twilight said after a few more seconds of strained silence. “I’m Twilight Sparkle, this is Rainbow Dash” she said pointing to the floating pegasus who gave a head nod in the boy’s direction.

“That’s Rarity” the girl smiled in Kaneki’s direction which he nodded back to. “Applejack” who tipped her hat in approval, “Spike” she said patting the dragon’s head beside her who merely grinned back.

“And over there next to Investigator’s Kill Shot and Sting is Fluttershy-” she paused just now noticing the enraged look on Sting’s face.

“What’s wrong?” Fluttershy asked, feeling slightly nervous by the man’s sudden change of mood.

Kill Shot who had now regained his composure looked at his partner and patted him on the shoulder, applying pressure to make sure he wouldn’t get up hastily.

“Hey there Kaneki” Kill Shot said with a forced smile. “How’s it going?”

Kaneki said nothing, his eyes focused on the now trembling man beside the senior detective.

“Oh don’t worry about Sting. You know Sting always a hot head, never one to-” feeling his hand get smacked away Sting got up from his seat in a quick motion and launched over to Kaneki who stood his ground now away from the staircase.

SLAM!

Kaneki’s back hit the wall as his collar was being fiercely gripped by the man before him that looked at him with rage in his eyes.

“Hey what in tarnation are you doing?!” Applejack asked clearly outraged. “You don’t just-” she went silent as Sting cast a look at her giving the mare the chance to see the clear anger in his eyes.

“Now hold on one second” Rarity said ready to unleash her own feelings of admonish upon the man that had looked at her friend in such a way and tackled this new ally of Pinkie’s.

“Who do you think you are to just attack someone like this?! I don’t care who you are but you do not come into somepony’s home and attack a new guest like this now if you would be so kind release your grip!” she ordered sternly.

Sting who was still snarling at the boy ignored Rarity, though his grip did weaken.

Kaneki made no move to defend himself, as he knew that if he overpowered the man here he would either arouse suspicion or questions and he wasn’t ready for either at this moment.

“Why did you do that back there?” Sting said ignoring Fluttershy’s pleas as she now begged him to release the boy.

Pinkie was still a bit dumbfounded by all this and didn’t know what to do but watch. She had however caught what Sting had said as did the others.

Rainbow Dash now floating behind the man, cracking her knuckles stopped any attempts to hit him when she heard him say that. Kill Shot had now gotten up as well moving through the crowd of girls that were now around the two.

Kaneki had said nothing as of yet.

“Answer me!” he said forcing his other hand to close into a fist and wincing from the pain.

Kaneki still said nothing.

Gritting his teeth even more Sting raised his injured hand ready to inflict as much possible damage he could to Kaneki’s face, but was stopped when a firm hand wrapped itself around his wrist.

Kill Shot was looking at his partner with a strict “no” written on his deadpanned face.

Struggling with his inner rage the man tightened his grip on Kaneki his hand pushing a bit more roughly into the boy’s chest.

“Enough!” Twilight said her horn glowing and surrounding Sting’s hand forcefully pushing him away from Kaneki. “What kind of behavior was that?!” she asked Sting angrily. The blue haired detective said nothing in response.

“Is this the kind of way your investigators act?” Twilight asked looking back at Kill Shot who had remained where he stood to stop Sting from enacting.

“Some do. Not all” he replied truthfully.

The group stared at him in shock. Applejack who had regained her composure turned to Sting who was still glaring darkly at Kaneki.

“Why did you attack him?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” Sting said with venom. “He-”

“I didn’t do it.” Kaneki said raising his voice to drown out Sting’s.

Everyone looked at him. Pinkie Pie looked at him with as much confusion written all over her face as it was for the others.

“Didn’t do what?” she asked.

“I didn’t bring us here to this world.”

“That’s not what I’m-” Sting yelled only to be silenced by Fluttershy’s stare.

“Continue” Twilight said once the investigator had been quieted.

“I didn’t do what you think happened back in that truck. Nor did anyone from Anteiku. I’m not a part of them anymore” he said calmly. “And I didn’t bring us here.”

“Then why are we here?”

Kaneki shrugged. “I don’t know why. All I know is that I didn’t do it. If I did why would I have stayed here with you guys?”

Kill Shot looked into Kaneki’s eyes as the boy stared back at him. Both staring down each other till Kill Shot looked back at the still seething Sting whose anger was now partially directed on Fluttershy for silencing him.

“He’s not lying” the detective stated.

“What?!?!!” Sting shouted in disbelief. “How can you believe him?”

“Because like I said. This one’s not like-” he paused. “Not like the other detectives” he said catching Applejack’s raised brow and Twilight’s questioning gaze, both which he ignored.

“And we shouldn’t worry about that. What we should worry about is if he’s here. Then that means the ghouls are here. And if they are” Kill Shot sighed, earning the concerned stairs of the six including Spike.

“Then we’re in for more than we bargained for.”