Author's Note

The contest has been concluded - and by the very first commenter! WhyNot34, please step forward to claim your prize!

Also, I know this chapter probably isn't the best one I'd ever written, but this is mainly to explain Bastian's limitations... and because I wrote this whole thing in a hour or so.

Meeting Royalty

Bastian sat back in his chair as the Elements of Harmony surrounded him in uncomfortable silence. He sighed.

"Alright, look - I already told Applejack what I did for a living, so if you didn't hear my message to the town, please ask her before bombarding me with questions. As for those tridents, that's a manifestation of my Nen."

"Manifestation of Nen?" Twilight asked, tilting her head.

"Yes, but I can give you a lesson on what I mean later." Bastian said, glancing out the window. "For now, though, you might want to answer the door - there's a couple of ponies in armor heading this way."

Twilight blinked as everyone else jumped at the sound of a chiming bell that reverberated throughout the house. Guess that's what they use as a doorbell for such a big house, Bastian mused to himself as Twilight teleported away to try and open it.

A few minutes later, a few royal guardsponies walked into the room. "Bastian Kuroyama, the Princesses have requested your presence." One of them, apparently the leader, stated. Bastian shrugged.

"Oh well. Guess we'll have to continue this later." He told the Elements as he stood up and stretched before following them out the door and towards a carriage waiting outside.

"So, you say those weapons of yours can be summoned at any time?" Luna asked.

"That is correct." Bastian replied. "You need not worry, though - I don't plan to use them unless I find a criminal who refuses to surrender, and even then I'd only try and frighten them like I did with the thief in the square. The only exception would be if, say, I found a murderer or the like." His expression hardened just a fraction as he said the last sentence.

"And, you say you hunted criminals back home?" Celestia asked.

"Yes, I was a Blacklist Hunter of the Hunter's Association. A large group of humanity's 'elite', if you will." He elaborated upon seeing her look. "To become a Hunter, you'd need to take and complete the Hunter Exam, which is a long and arduous task that occurs once a year, where death is not uncommon." His casual mention of death was a bit off-putting, but they let him continue. "I passed the exam when I was fifteen. Believe it or not, though, the record for youngest Hunter of all time went to a twelve-year-old named Ging." He added with a chuckle, despite the Princess's shocked expressions. "Even better was the fact he was the only one to pass that year."

"What sort of association lets young children enter such a dangerous thing?!" Luna demanded. Bastian remained unphased.

"The Hunter's Association." He replied calmly. "Anyone can take it, anyone can join - provided they pass the Exam, of course. A Hunter's License is one of the most sought-after things in the world, though usually only less than ten people actually get one each year due to how dangerous and strenuous the Exam is." He reached into his pocket and pulled out his own card, showing it to the monarchs.

"Why is such a thing so sought after?" Celestia asked, taking it in her magical grasp and levitating it up to her face to observe the card's strange language.

"Because it gives a Hunter access to ninety-five percent of public faculties at no cost, access to ninety percent of countries that restrict travel, and seventy-five percent of areas inaccessible to the general public. It also allows next to no legal responsibility for killing, but I generally only use that when a murderer refuses to surrender."

"You've... killed?" Luna asked, staring in shock.

"Yes. I don't enjoy it, but I'd certainly say it helped make my world a better place." Bastian replied. "Say a serial killer was running around in the city down there - Canterlot, was it? - and your guards weren't able to stop him. Would you prefer they continue to roam free, or would you prefer it if someone were to 'remove' them in the name of saving everyone else?"

The princesses glanced at each other at this; they truly hated the idea of taking another's life, but if a killer like that existed...

"So yes, I have killed - but they always refused to surrender. In fact, that's actually one of my Limitations."

"Limitations?"

"Nen techniques can grow stronger if Limitations and Vows are applied to a user. Two of my Limitations are that if I were to try and use my tridents, my opponent must be a criminal; the other is that I must always ask said criminal if they'd like to surrender. If they say no, then I'm free to use my tridents against them. Another severe Limitation I have is that I can't harm an innocent - if I did, the damage would rebound back onto me. Finally, there's a Vow I set a long, long time ago - I can't use my full power unless my opponent is a murderer who refuses to surrender."

Celestia and Luna glanced at each other again. If this was true, then they really would have nothing to worry about from Bastian - his own power would turn on him if he tried to use it to harm any of their little ponies.

"If you like, I could give a more in-depth explanation of Nen and how it works, but judging by the fact that I saw quite a few ponies waiting outside those doors, I think your schedule might be a bit busy." Bastian pointed out. "But, if you're willing to let me stay in Ponyville, I can give the detailed explanation to Twilight and have her send you the report. If you have any questions that aren't covered in said report, you could always send a letter or ask me in person. Does that sound good?"

Celestia considered this; while she could certainly hold Day Court off a while longer and keep talking, she also felt that she could trust Bastian to not harm any of her little ponies if let go. But his power was frightening to behold, despite its limitations... and what if he was lying about them?

She made up her mind.

"Alright, Bastian, you may go." She decreed, ignoring her sister's sidelong glance. "However, remember this - should I find out you intentionally harmed one of my little ponies without good reason, I will deal with you personally." The narrowed her eyes at him.

"That sounds fair, your majesty. Now then, I shall return to Ponyville." Bastian replied calmly, giving a small bow before turning and heading for the doors. "Expect the report to appear sometime during the next few days."

Once he was gone, Celestia sent a messenger to find one of her most trusted confidents. A minute later, a dark-brown pegasus wearing a vest bearing Celestia's mark walked in, bowing once she was close enough.

"Whisper, I have a special assignment for you." Celestia declared as the pegasus straightened back up. "I will need you to observe a human known as Bastian until further notice; he seems trustworthy, but the lengths he went to while capturing a criminal, not to mention the powers he possesses, worry me. To ensure the safety of all my little ponies, I ask that you watch him and report back to me should anything happen."

"It shall be done, Princess Celestia." Whisper curtly replied before turning and walking back out, nothing but the last few echoes of her voice showing she'd ever been there.