Harmony's Guardianby Pseudo BronyChaptersChapter 1Chapter 2Chapter 3Chapter 1 As stated in the description for this story, this one is unique - the readers will get to decide what actions the character makes as the story progresses! I will leave the options on a card below the chapter. Happy reading! Twilight Sparkle slid out of bed, stretching her muscles as she yawned. A few small pops sounded as she twisted her back before she sighed, beginning to head to the bathroom to clean herself up for the day. She could already hear Spike downstairs in the kitchen as she brushed her hair, styling it in its usual way before making her way down the stairs, her wings fluttering in anticipation of breakfast. She paused just outside the kitchen door as an odd feeling washed over her, sending goosebumps up her spine before she shook it off. Glancing out one of the front windows, she couldn't help but wonder - what was that? After a moment, she shrugged and entered the kitchen to have her morning meal. Tomas was led to the platform, his hands bound in Seastone cuffs as his tattered shirt flapped in the wind. He stood there silently, shadow covering his face, as the crowds below raged and screamed. "King Z. 'Black Flag' Tomas." The World Government representative spoke out, reading off a list of his crimes. "Assault of multiple Marine officers. Forcible seizure of World Government territory. Holding multiple towns hostage. Murder. Piracy." With each new item, the crowds raged harder, the Marines on ground level being forced to push them back to prevent them flooding into the execution building and swarming up to the platform. "For these crimes committed against both the world, and the World Government, you are hereby sentenced to death." Tomas's mouth slowly stretched into a grin as he slowly knelt, two men with long blades stepping up on either side of him. "This guardian may not have anyone to guard him... but the same also applies to you." He said, looking up at the Marine official. "Once I'm dead... there will be no stopping them." Down below, the crowds raged harder, trying to reach the platform to rescue their beloved protector as they screamed abuse at the Marines holding them back. "They'll swarm in from all directions to avenge me." He continued. "After all, every action has a reaction." The executioners turned to face him. "My actions gained a reaction from the World Government, just like your actions have gained a reaction from the crowd down there." The execution blades were raised. "I wonder what sort of reaction my death will have on you." He finished, his smile widening as the blades finally came down. The last thing he saw before the blades took his life was the horrified realization on the official's face as he realized what the crowd would do to him once they got their hands on him. King Z. Tomas died with a smile, knowing his work had finally come to an end. Fate, however, had other plans. Tomas found himself floating in what seemed to be some sort of grey void, completely devoid of color or sound. How long he'd been here, he had no idea. It could have been a few seconds, it could have been several years. He wouldn't be able to tell the difference. "Hmmm... yes... I think you will do nicely." A disembodied voice spoke up, causing Tomas to twist around in surprise, attempting to find the speaker. "Who's there?" He called out, only to realize a moment later he couldn't hear his own voice. The speaker, however, seemed to understand, and responded. "For everything you've done for the world, I honestly think you deserve a second chance at life. Unfortunately, I cannot bring you back in your previous world; that world is blocked off from you entirely." "What do you mean?" Tomas silently asked, still unable to hear himself. He couldn't help but wonder if he was actually saying those words, or just thinking them. Still, the voice seemed to hear. "I will place you in a new world." The voice replied. "There are six beings you will have to find there; they hold the key to their world's future. In exchange for being sent to this new world, you will protect them with your life. Do you accept this offer?" "...I do." Tomas silently said after a moment, nodding. He was suddenly blinded by a flash of light. Tomas blinked the brightness from his eyes, finding himself floating a few feet above the ground for a few seconds before gravity took hold. Managing to land on his feet, he looked down at himself to see his clothing - black pants, boots, and a maroon button-up shirt, black tie, and gloves - had been miraculously fixed, despite them having been tattered, torn, and stained during his execution - something he was absolutely sure he hadn't made up. Straightening up, he looked around to take stock of his new surroundings. He appeared to be in some kind of forest, if the trees surrounding him from every direction were any indication. A sudden weight on his lower back, however, gave him pause. Glancing down at his waist, he smiled at what he found. "Ah, so good to see you again, my old friend!" He said out loud, chuckling as he pulled Sandankamae from its horizontal sheath. The odd weapon glinted in the sunlight, looking like a broadsword had been crossbred with a trident. The blade was short and thick, ending in three sharp points, the blade's edges razor-sharp and the grip wrapped with white leather. Reverently sliding the weapon back into its sheath, he began to walk, reasoning if he walked far enough, he'd eventually escape the woods. After a while, he came across a very boggy area; his feet seemed to sink an inch into the wet ground every time he stepped. He couldn't help but wonder if his Devil Fruit would be even be useful here; the ground already seemed pretty squishy... A sudden rumbling caught his attention, another flicker of Observation confirming it - something much bigger than that wooden wolf (currently lying in several pieces almost a mile back) wanted to fight him. Turning, he faced the beast as its four heads rose up out of the murky water, each head staring at him and licking its lips. He stared right back, the corner of his mouth curling up into a smirk as the staring contest continued. "Well now... been a long time since I've fought something as big as you!" He chuckled, his hand taking of Sandankamae as he spoke, preparing to draw it at any moment should the need arise. The quad-headed beast roared and charged forward. Alright, here's the first Options Menu! Please, choose wisely! A: Fight the hydra - Let's see if I've lost my touch... B: Run away - As fun as fighting it might be, I don't have time for this. Author's Note For those of you that are wondering what Sandankamae looks like, here's a good representation; take a look at the blade the knight is holding: It doesn't look exactly like that, but it's pretty close. Chapter 2 Choice Selected: B = run away Tomas's smirk turned into a frown. What the hell am I doing? I can't waste time around here. He leapt up into the air, dodging the first of the four heads as it snapped at him. A second one tried to bite him next, his midair form unable to truly dodge. "Tri-Slash!" He yelled, swinging his weapon and sending three flying blade attacks at the attacker, causing it to roar in pain as it's tough skin was sliced open. Dropping back down to earth, he took off running, his body a blur as he fled. At least I haven't gotten too rusty, he thought to himself as he ran. He could hear the beast roaring at him angrily as he fled. It wasn't until he was completely clear of the swamp, however, that he began to walk again. He tried to check the sun's position in the sky, but was disappointed to see that he couldn't see through the canopy of the forest. With a shrug, he continued walking, still thinking to himself that he'd eventually come to the edge of the forest after a while. The swamp was just a fluke, it could have happened to anybody. Some sort of carnivorous plant snapped at him as he walked, but it fell apart into pieces the moment it came within range of Sandankamae. That done, he continued walking, leaving the plant pieces behind. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the end of it, because several more carnivorous plants began snapping at him. As he dodged and slashed, he couldn't help but remember the time he ended up on one of the 'islands' of the Boin Archipelago - in reality, just a giant Stomach Baron. At least he'd been able to leave in one piece... He absentmindedly slashed the final plant to shreds before beginning to walk again. This time, thankfully, he eventually found the edge of the dark forest. Walking out into the bright sunlight, he stopped and looked around for some sort of landmark. All he saw was just grass, flowers, the treeline for the forest... and what looked like a castle of sorts attached to the side of a mountain. Not really seeing anything else, he began to walk. Nineteen Years Ago "Get back here, you little brat!" A voice yelled after a small child running away down the street, a small loaf of bread held in his arms as he fled. Tomas ran out of the small town as the baker chased after him, wielding a rolling pin like a club as he tried to chase down the little thief. It didn't take long for said little thief to disappear into the woods with his prize. Heading deeper into the woods as the sounds of pursuit faded, Tomas's run slowed to a walk. There were plenty of fruit trees in the forest, but they often didn't hold enough for him to satisfy his hunger, not to mention nutrition. It was for that reason he often stole a bit of food here and there from the town every few days. As he walked, he picked a handful of berries - safe to eat, he knew - and a fallen apple and banana. Not much in the way of food, but it was all he had at the moment. Returning to his little hideout - more of a small shack build with driftwood and some sheet metal he'd found - he sat down to enjoy his meal. The berries were quickly squashed and turned into a sort of jelly before being spread on a slice of stolen bread. The apple was cut up into slices and quickly placed on a small dish he had carved out of a piece of driftwood. It wasn't until he came to the banana he paused in confusion. He hadn't looked too closely when he picked it up, but now he could see that something was wrong with it. It was still yellow in color, but much closer to lemon-yellow than the usual shade. Additionally, it was bumpy, the outside covered in odd-looking swirls. Confused, he carefully peeled it, revealing the inside to be colored an odd shade of blue, swirls covering that as well. He had no idea what the hell had happened to this banana, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was edible. Deciding to take a risk, he sunk his teeth into it and took a bite. Nine Years Ago Tomas slashed another Marine across the chest as another charged towards him. Bending down, the tall man touched his hand to the ground. Moments later, the man's advance came to an abrupt halt as he began slowly sinking into the ground, now acting like quicksand. He struggled to escape as Tomas advanced, his saber dripping red with the blood of his latest victim. "You saw the flag on the way into the harbor, did you not?" He asked the sinking recruit. "The black flag?" "W-what the hell are you talking about?!" "See that flag up there?" Tomas turned to point his crimson-coated steel at a tall flagpole beside the harbor, from which a black flag depicting what seemed to be a screaming skull flapped in the wind. "That black flag is my mark. All who willingly live under it, live under my protection. Those who trespass will be met with lethal force." "W-who are you?!" "The one who protects towns from marauders like you." Tomas said simply before grabbing the man and hoisting him out of the trap. "Now then... go back to your ship, and tell them what you saw here today. Let them know that anyone who tries to attack or take over a town bearing my flag will incur my wrath." The terrified recruit fled down the street, back toward the harbor. Two Years Ago 'Black Flag' Tomas stared down what had to be twenty Marine battleships' worth of soldiers, all of them staring back with swords and rifles. "I will only say this once." He growled. "Leave the townsfolk alone. They do not need your 'protection'." One of the soldiers - a new recruit, by the look of it - fired his rifle. Tomas's Haki easily saw it coming, however, and it was a simply matter to sway a little to the side to let the bullet pass. "Well now..." His gaze zeroed in on the one who'd fired. "...guess I'm going to have to knock some sense into you all." He leapt forward, Sandankamae's three points easily piercing the recruit's chest. Moments later, the miniature war began. Tomas looked up at the enormous gate separating him from the small city and castle; he could see two horse-like creatures in armor and carrying spears standing in front of the doors. Choose wisely! A: Walk up and say hello - Probably won't attack me on sight. B: Jump the gate - The quicker way in, but also more dangerous. Chapter 3 Choice Selected: A: Walk up and say hello Wanting to make a good impression, Tomas walked casually toward the front gate. As he got closer to the horse-like creatures, he was able to make out more details. For a start, they were a bit smaller than any horse he'd seen before; they had to be roughly half the size. Secondly was the fact that both their coats were pure white - something rare back home - and both their manes and tails were bright blue in color. He wondered if it was dyed, or if they were twins. Or both. Both was also an option. Yet another difference was the fact that both of them had horns; did this make them some sort of unicorn? Putting that question to the side for now, he inspected their armor. Seemed sturdy, but also slightly restricting. They probably wouldn't be able to reach back if something landed on their backs; he noted this as a potential weak point if he had to fight them. The moment they saw him approaching, the horse-things' horns glowed, a similar glow surrounding their spears - which were quickly leveled at Tomas's chest. The pirate stopped, giving them a small smile and holding up his hands to show he meant no threat. "Hi there." "Who, and what, are you, creature?" The horse-thing on his left demanded. Tomas wasn't too surprised it could talk - the intelligent look in their eyes showed they were just as sentient as a human. "I am a human. My name is King Z. Tomas - call me Tomas." "King? You're royalty?" The one on the right asked, a little surprised. "No, not royalty." He shook his head. "'King' is my family name. Tomas is my personal name." "And what's a 'human'?" The one on the left demanded. "The being standing before you right now." Tomas replied simply. "I simply wanted to try and talk with whoever is in charge around here - would I be wrong in assuming they live in the castle back there?" "You want an audience with the Princesses?" "What makes you think you'd ever get close to them, creature?" "I'm willing to wait." The pirate said with a shrug. "All I want is to talk to them about something important, if they're willing to listen." Tomas sat quietly on the floor of his cell. Apparently the guards hadn't been entirely trusting of him - something he respected, in all honesty. If a strange creature showed up out of the blue and asked to speak with your leader, who wouldn't take steps to ensure their leader's safety? Of course, while he had willingly given up Sandankamae (on the condition he get it back later), he couldn't help but notice how they'd simply placed him in a cell without binding his hands in seastone. Maybe they didn't have it here? He'd have to ask sometime. The faint sound of a door opening, followed by the clip-clop of hooves, let him know some horse-things - he'd heard them calling themselves 'ponies' - were coming his way. He looked up as they arrived at his door. He couldn't see them, as there were no windows, but closing his eyes, his Haki let him know there were three beings on the other side. Two were the same guards from before, but the third... It was bigger than the others, almost twice as tall, and just seemed to exude power - this was certainly someone he did not want to piss off. Especially since, judging by the reverence practically radiating from the guards, this strong entity was their leader. He remained sitting as the door slowly opened, though his stopped his Observation and opened his eyes. Before him stood a tall 'pony' - one with both a horn and wings, he'd noted. On the trip to the prison, he'd seen the other guards having either one, or the other, or sometimes neither. He idly wondered if having both wings and a horn was a sign of prestige as the tall pony sized him up. "You said you would like to speak with me... Tomas?" She said, her voice calm, though he could pick up a slight hint of wariness, so well-hidden he almost didn't notice. "I did indeed." He replied, nodding respectfully. "Before we begin our talk - assuming that's what you are here for - would I be able to get your name?" "Celestia. Princess Celestia." "Pleasure to meet you, Princess." Tomas replied, bowing from his sitting position. "My name is King Z. Tomas, AKA 'Black Flag' Tomas." "Black Flag?" Celestia asked, confused. "It was the epithet the Marines decided to put on my bounty poster." Tomas replied, causing Celestia's eyes to narrow. "You're a criminal, then?" "Depends on who you ask, really. To the World Government and those who blindly follow the Government's orders, I was a pirate. To the many innocent lives I protected on a near-daily basis, I was a guardian angel who would protect them to my dying breath." He replied, closing his eyes. "I would protect towns or even small cities, and ask for nothing in return other than the occasional room and board. The World Government, however, saw my actions as a pirate amassing territory... and began attempting to wipe out the towns I'd 'corrupted with my evil'. They slaughtered everyone they could find in the name of their 'justice' - even the littlest child." Celestia's eyes went wide before she scowled. "Why should I trust someone with a bounty on their head, such as yourself?" Tomas chuckled. "Of course. Why would the criminal paint the government that hunted them in such a bright light?" His smile vanished as his expression darkened. "Honestly... I wish I could lie about the things the World Government has done." Celestia thought for a moment before subtly lighting her horn. A quick mind-reading spell - known only to herself and Luna, for obvious reasons - allowed her to secretly enter his head to view his memories. Tomas tilted his head to the side in confusion as Celestia's eyes went wide, her knees trembling as she witnessed the tragedies that this... poor soul both witnessed... and committed. She saw these 'World Government' figures wiping out entire islands for not allowing them entry, claiming the island to be full of evil before moving on to the next. She saw Tomas slaying these figures for this egregious crime, these 'Marines' calling him a monster despite the actions they themselves had taken. She saw thousands of innocents as they watched Tomas fighting off what appeared to be a band of thugs, who continued attacking despite Tomas's attempts to force them to leave. She saw Tomas's final moments on the execution stand as the Government listed off his 'crimes' to an enraged crowd - but they weren't angry at the one sitting before her now, she realized. No... they were angry at the monsters posing as the lawmakers of his world! Her eyes widened, however, as she came across a recent memory... a voice she hadn't heard for many, many years. Tomas watched as Celestia calmed herself from her abrupt mood swings before looking at him in a whole new light. "You... are here to protect." She said, clearly not a question. "I know of the six you seek... but should you bring harm to an innocent, or abandon your duty as their guardian... You will receive no mercy." Tomas smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Princess." What does Tomas do now? A: Learn more about this world's culture - might help me gain their trust faster. B: Head straight to the six - The sooner I find them, the sooner they can be protected. Author's Note Sorry it took so long, and sorry if this seems sub-par. Due to a bunch of snow days, my midterms were pushed back to both before and after Spring Break, not to mention all the work I had to do during said break. Anyway, same drill as always - pick an option, and let me know what you want!
Chapter 1 As stated in the description for this story, this one is unique - the readers will get to decide what actions the character makes as the story progresses! I will leave the options on a card below the chapter. Happy reading! Twilight Sparkle slid out of bed, stretching her muscles as she yawned. A few small pops sounded as she twisted her back before she sighed, beginning to head to the bathroom to clean herself up for the day. She could already hear Spike downstairs in the kitchen as she brushed her hair, styling it in its usual way before making her way down the stairs, her wings fluttering in anticipation of breakfast. She paused just outside the kitchen door as an odd feeling washed over her, sending goosebumps up her spine before she shook it off. Glancing out one of the front windows, she couldn't help but wonder - what was that? After a moment, she shrugged and entered the kitchen to have her morning meal. Tomas was led to the platform, his hands bound in Seastone cuffs as his tattered shirt flapped in the wind. He stood there silently, shadow covering his face, as the crowds below raged and screamed. "King Z. 'Black Flag' Tomas." The World Government representative spoke out, reading off a list of his crimes. "Assault of multiple Marine officers. Forcible seizure of World Government territory. Holding multiple towns hostage. Murder. Piracy." With each new item, the crowds raged harder, the Marines on ground level being forced to push them back to prevent them flooding into the execution building and swarming up to the platform. "For these crimes committed against both the world, and the World Government, you are hereby sentenced to death." Tomas's mouth slowly stretched into a grin as he slowly knelt, two men with long blades stepping up on either side of him. "This guardian may not have anyone to guard him... but the same also applies to you." He said, looking up at the Marine official. "Once I'm dead... there will be no stopping them." Down below, the crowds raged harder, trying to reach the platform to rescue their beloved protector as they screamed abuse at the Marines holding them back. "They'll swarm in from all directions to avenge me." He continued. "After all, every action has a reaction." The executioners turned to face him. "My actions gained a reaction from the World Government, just like your actions have gained a reaction from the crowd down there." The execution blades were raised. "I wonder what sort of reaction my death will have on you." He finished, his smile widening as the blades finally came down. The last thing he saw before the blades took his life was the horrified realization on the official's face as he realized what the crowd would do to him once they got their hands on him. King Z. Tomas died with a smile, knowing his work had finally come to an end. Fate, however, had other plans. Tomas found himself floating in what seemed to be some sort of grey void, completely devoid of color or sound. How long he'd been here, he had no idea. It could have been a few seconds, it could have been several years. He wouldn't be able to tell the difference. "Hmmm... yes... I think you will do nicely." A disembodied voice spoke up, causing Tomas to twist around in surprise, attempting to find the speaker. "Who's there?" He called out, only to realize a moment later he couldn't hear his own voice. The speaker, however, seemed to understand, and responded. "For everything you've done for the world, I honestly think you deserve a second chance at life. Unfortunately, I cannot bring you back in your previous world; that world is blocked off from you entirely." "What do you mean?" Tomas silently asked, still unable to hear himself. He couldn't help but wonder if he was actually saying those words, or just thinking them. Still, the voice seemed to hear. "I will place you in a new world." The voice replied. "There are six beings you will have to find there; they hold the key to their world's future. In exchange for being sent to this new world, you will protect them with your life. Do you accept this offer?" "...I do." Tomas silently said after a moment, nodding. He was suddenly blinded by a flash of light. Tomas blinked the brightness from his eyes, finding himself floating a few feet above the ground for a few seconds before gravity took hold. Managing to land on his feet, he looked down at himself to see his clothing - black pants, boots, and a maroon button-up shirt, black tie, and gloves - had been miraculously fixed, despite them having been tattered, torn, and stained during his execution - something he was absolutely sure he hadn't made up. Straightening up, he looked around to take stock of his new surroundings. He appeared to be in some kind of forest, if the trees surrounding him from every direction were any indication. A sudden weight on his lower back, however, gave him pause. Glancing down at his waist, he smiled at what he found. "Ah, so good to see you again, my old friend!" He said out loud, chuckling as he pulled Sandankamae from its horizontal sheath. The odd weapon glinted in the sunlight, looking like a broadsword had been crossbred with a trident. The blade was short and thick, ending in three sharp points, the blade's edges razor-sharp and the grip wrapped with white leather. Reverently sliding the weapon back into its sheath, he began to walk, reasoning if he walked far enough, he'd eventually escape the woods. After a while, he came across a very boggy area; his feet seemed to sink an inch into the wet ground every time he stepped. He couldn't help but wonder if his Devil Fruit would be even be useful here; the ground already seemed pretty squishy... A sudden rumbling caught his attention, another flicker of Observation confirming it - something much bigger than that wooden wolf (currently lying in several pieces almost a mile back) wanted to fight him. Turning, he faced the beast as its four heads rose up out of the murky water, each head staring at him and licking its lips. He stared right back, the corner of his mouth curling up into a smirk as the staring contest continued. "Well now... been a long time since I've fought something as big as you!" He chuckled, his hand taking of Sandankamae as he spoke, preparing to draw it at any moment should the need arise. The quad-headed beast roared and charged forward. Alright, here's the first Options Menu! Please, choose wisely! A: Fight the hydra - Let's see if I've lost my touch... B: Run away - As fun as fighting it might be, I don't have time for this. Author's Note For those of you that are wondering what Sandankamae looks like, here's a good representation; take a look at the blade the knight is holding: It doesn't look exactly like that, but it's pretty close.
Chapter 2 Choice Selected: B = run away Tomas's smirk turned into a frown. What the hell am I doing? I can't waste time around here. He leapt up into the air, dodging the first of the four heads as it snapped at him. A second one tried to bite him next, his midair form unable to truly dodge. "Tri-Slash!" He yelled, swinging his weapon and sending three flying blade attacks at the attacker, causing it to roar in pain as it's tough skin was sliced open. Dropping back down to earth, he took off running, his body a blur as he fled. At least I haven't gotten too rusty, he thought to himself as he ran. He could hear the beast roaring at him angrily as he fled. It wasn't until he was completely clear of the swamp, however, that he began to walk again. He tried to check the sun's position in the sky, but was disappointed to see that he couldn't see through the canopy of the forest. With a shrug, he continued walking, still thinking to himself that he'd eventually come to the edge of the forest after a while. The swamp was just a fluke, it could have happened to anybody. Some sort of carnivorous plant snapped at him as he walked, but it fell apart into pieces the moment it came within range of Sandankamae. That done, he continued walking, leaving the plant pieces behind. Unfortunately, that didn't seem to be the end of it, because several more carnivorous plants began snapping at him. As he dodged and slashed, he couldn't help but remember the time he ended up on one of the 'islands' of the Boin Archipelago - in reality, just a giant Stomach Baron. At least he'd been able to leave in one piece... He absentmindedly slashed the final plant to shreds before beginning to walk again. This time, thankfully, he eventually found the edge of the dark forest. Walking out into the bright sunlight, he stopped and looked around for some sort of landmark. All he saw was just grass, flowers, the treeline for the forest... and what looked like a castle of sorts attached to the side of a mountain. Not really seeing anything else, he began to walk. Nineteen Years Ago "Get back here, you little brat!" A voice yelled after a small child running away down the street, a small loaf of bread held in his arms as he fled. Tomas ran out of the small town as the baker chased after him, wielding a rolling pin like a club as he tried to chase down the little thief. It didn't take long for said little thief to disappear into the woods with his prize. Heading deeper into the woods as the sounds of pursuit faded, Tomas's run slowed to a walk. There were plenty of fruit trees in the forest, but they often didn't hold enough for him to satisfy his hunger, not to mention nutrition. It was for that reason he often stole a bit of food here and there from the town every few days. As he walked, he picked a handful of berries - safe to eat, he knew - and a fallen apple and banana. Not much in the way of food, but it was all he had at the moment. Returning to his little hideout - more of a small shack build with driftwood and some sheet metal he'd found - he sat down to enjoy his meal. The berries were quickly squashed and turned into a sort of jelly before being spread on a slice of stolen bread. The apple was cut up into slices and quickly placed on a small dish he had carved out of a piece of driftwood. It wasn't until he came to the banana he paused in confusion. He hadn't looked too closely when he picked it up, but now he could see that something was wrong with it. It was still yellow in color, but much closer to lemon-yellow than the usual shade. Additionally, it was bumpy, the outside covered in odd-looking swirls. Confused, he carefully peeled it, revealing the inside to be colored an odd shade of blue, swirls covering that as well. He had no idea what the hell had happened to this banana, but he couldn't help but wonder if it was edible. Deciding to take a risk, he sunk his teeth into it and took a bite. Nine Years Ago Tomas slashed another Marine across the chest as another charged towards him. Bending down, the tall man touched his hand to the ground. Moments later, the man's advance came to an abrupt halt as he began slowly sinking into the ground, now acting like quicksand. He struggled to escape as Tomas advanced, his saber dripping red with the blood of his latest victim. "You saw the flag on the way into the harbor, did you not?" He asked the sinking recruit. "The black flag?" "W-what the hell are you talking about?!" "See that flag up there?" Tomas turned to point his crimson-coated steel at a tall flagpole beside the harbor, from which a black flag depicting what seemed to be a screaming skull flapped in the wind. "That black flag is my mark. All who willingly live under it, live under my protection. Those who trespass will be met with lethal force." "W-who are you?!" "The one who protects towns from marauders like you." Tomas said simply before grabbing the man and hoisting him out of the trap. "Now then... go back to your ship, and tell them what you saw here today. Let them know that anyone who tries to attack or take over a town bearing my flag will incur my wrath." The terrified recruit fled down the street, back toward the harbor. Two Years Ago 'Black Flag' Tomas stared down what had to be twenty Marine battleships' worth of soldiers, all of them staring back with swords and rifles. "I will only say this once." He growled. "Leave the townsfolk alone. They do not need your 'protection'." One of the soldiers - a new recruit, by the look of it - fired his rifle. Tomas's Haki easily saw it coming, however, and it was a simply matter to sway a little to the side to let the bullet pass. "Well now..." His gaze zeroed in on the one who'd fired. "...guess I'm going to have to knock some sense into you all." He leapt forward, Sandankamae's three points easily piercing the recruit's chest. Moments later, the miniature war began. Tomas looked up at the enormous gate separating him from the small city and castle; he could see two horse-like creatures in armor and carrying spears standing in front of the doors. Choose wisely! A: Walk up and say hello - Probably won't attack me on sight. B: Jump the gate - The quicker way in, but also more dangerous.
Chapter 3 Choice Selected: A: Walk up and say hello Wanting to make a good impression, Tomas walked casually toward the front gate. As he got closer to the horse-like creatures, he was able to make out more details. For a start, they were a bit smaller than any horse he'd seen before; they had to be roughly half the size. Secondly was the fact that both their coats were pure white - something rare back home - and both their manes and tails were bright blue in color. He wondered if it was dyed, or if they were twins. Or both. Both was also an option. Yet another difference was the fact that both of them had horns; did this make them some sort of unicorn? Putting that question to the side for now, he inspected their armor. Seemed sturdy, but also slightly restricting. They probably wouldn't be able to reach back if something landed on their backs; he noted this as a potential weak point if he had to fight them. The moment they saw him approaching, the horse-things' horns glowed, a similar glow surrounding their spears - which were quickly leveled at Tomas's chest. The pirate stopped, giving them a small smile and holding up his hands to show he meant no threat. "Hi there." "Who, and what, are you, creature?" The horse-thing on his left demanded. Tomas wasn't too surprised it could talk - the intelligent look in their eyes showed they were just as sentient as a human. "I am a human. My name is King Z. Tomas - call me Tomas." "King? You're royalty?" The one on the right asked, a little surprised. "No, not royalty." He shook his head. "'King' is my family name. Tomas is my personal name." "And what's a 'human'?" The one on the left demanded. "The being standing before you right now." Tomas replied simply. "I simply wanted to try and talk with whoever is in charge around here - would I be wrong in assuming they live in the castle back there?" "You want an audience with the Princesses?" "What makes you think you'd ever get close to them, creature?" "I'm willing to wait." The pirate said with a shrug. "All I want is to talk to them about something important, if they're willing to listen." Tomas sat quietly on the floor of his cell. Apparently the guards hadn't been entirely trusting of him - something he respected, in all honesty. If a strange creature showed up out of the blue and asked to speak with your leader, who wouldn't take steps to ensure their leader's safety? Of course, while he had willingly given up Sandankamae (on the condition he get it back later), he couldn't help but notice how they'd simply placed him in a cell without binding his hands in seastone. Maybe they didn't have it here? He'd have to ask sometime. The faint sound of a door opening, followed by the clip-clop of hooves, let him know some horse-things - he'd heard them calling themselves 'ponies' - were coming his way. He looked up as they arrived at his door. He couldn't see them, as there were no windows, but closing his eyes, his Haki let him know there were three beings on the other side. Two were the same guards from before, but the third... It was bigger than the others, almost twice as tall, and just seemed to exude power - this was certainly someone he did not want to piss off. Especially since, judging by the reverence practically radiating from the guards, this strong entity was their leader. He remained sitting as the door slowly opened, though his stopped his Observation and opened his eyes. Before him stood a tall 'pony' - one with both a horn and wings, he'd noted. On the trip to the prison, he'd seen the other guards having either one, or the other, or sometimes neither. He idly wondered if having both wings and a horn was a sign of prestige as the tall pony sized him up. "You said you would like to speak with me... Tomas?" She said, her voice calm, though he could pick up a slight hint of wariness, so well-hidden he almost didn't notice. "I did indeed." He replied, nodding respectfully. "Before we begin our talk - assuming that's what you are here for - would I be able to get your name?" "Celestia. Princess Celestia." "Pleasure to meet you, Princess." Tomas replied, bowing from his sitting position. "My name is King Z. Tomas, AKA 'Black Flag' Tomas." "Black Flag?" Celestia asked, confused. "It was the epithet the Marines decided to put on my bounty poster." Tomas replied, causing Celestia's eyes to narrow. "You're a criminal, then?" "Depends on who you ask, really. To the World Government and those who blindly follow the Government's orders, I was a pirate. To the many innocent lives I protected on a near-daily basis, I was a guardian angel who would protect them to my dying breath." He replied, closing his eyes. "I would protect towns or even small cities, and ask for nothing in return other than the occasional room and board. The World Government, however, saw my actions as a pirate amassing territory... and began attempting to wipe out the towns I'd 'corrupted with my evil'. They slaughtered everyone they could find in the name of their 'justice' - even the littlest child." Celestia's eyes went wide before she scowled. "Why should I trust someone with a bounty on their head, such as yourself?" Tomas chuckled. "Of course. Why would the criminal paint the government that hunted them in such a bright light?" His smile vanished as his expression darkened. "Honestly... I wish I could lie about the things the World Government has done." Celestia thought for a moment before subtly lighting her horn. A quick mind-reading spell - known only to herself and Luna, for obvious reasons - allowed her to secretly enter his head to view his memories. Tomas tilted his head to the side in confusion as Celestia's eyes went wide, her knees trembling as she witnessed the tragedies that this... poor soul both witnessed... and committed. She saw these 'World Government' figures wiping out entire islands for not allowing them entry, claiming the island to be full of evil before moving on to the next. She saw Tomas slaying these figures for this egregious crime, these 'Marines' calling him a monster despite the actions they themselves had taken. She saw thousands of innocents as they watched Tomas fighting off what appeared to be a band of thugs, who continued attacking despite Tomas's attempts to force them to leave. She saw Tomas's final moments on the execution stand as the Government listed off his 'crimes' to an enraged crowd - but they weren't angry at the one sitting before her now, she realized. No... they were angry at the monsters posing as the lawmakers of his world! Her eyes widened, however, as she came across a recent memory... a voice she hadn't heard for many, many years. Tomas watched as Celestia calmed herself from her abrupt mood swings before looking at him in a whole new light. "You... are here to protect." She said, clearly not a question. "I know of the six you seek... but should you bring harm to an innocent, or abandon your duty as their guardian... You will receive no mercy." Tomas smiled. "I wouldn't have it any other way, Princess." What does Tomas do now? A: Learn more about this world's culture - might help me gain their trust faster. B: Head straight to the six - The sooner I find them, the sooner they can be protected. Author's Note Sorry it took so long, and sorry if this seems sub-par. Due to a bunch of snow days, my midterms were pushed back to both before and after Spring Break, not to mention all the work I had to do during said break. Anyway, same drill as always - pick an option, and let me know what you want!
