Over the next few days, things went on as normal. Just as Aku’s grandmother had said, his subjects showed no fear in his further transformation. In fact, many of them simply said that they liked him better this way now that he no longer looked so asymmetrical with just only half his body transformed. Though not fully transformed into his true oni form, he was pretty close. All that worrying for absolutely nothing! The poor man was having anxiety attacks with how they’d react to him while making his way back that morning. But thanklfully, everythingwas still good. In the land.

As Aku was handling business at the military training grounds, a postrpony ran up to him with a rather ornate looking envelope. The paper was smooth and the trimming on the side of the envelope was gold and looked rather..familiar. Like something he’d see back in his world that made him think of someone rather high in society. And the writing on it…it was almost in japanese, but it was closer to this world’s language, just in a similar style to his. And yet, he could read it just fine.

Dear Oni King Aku,

I do hope that this letter finds you well and high in spirit. I am Emperess Everbloom. I am the ruler of the eastern nationof Hiizurukuni. I have been hearing many, many wonderful things about your flourishing nation and wish to talk about a possible alliance between or nations.

I believe that we could both benefit from the union of our lands. Even if just from domestic affairs and such. I eagerly await your response, and hope to have the pleasure of meeting you soon.

Warm regards,

Empress Everbloom

Aku looked down at the letter for a few more moments before folding it up and placing it in his coat chest pocket. Hiizurukuni? WHat would a large nation like that want with his much smaller one? And why ask for peace talks? It's not like they have anything to fear from Aku since neither he nor the nation in question have shown any signs of hostility. Nevertheless, it was Aku’s duty as a ruler himself to respond in kind. He would even be so kind as to make the journey himself to the kingdom rather than have the empress come all the way out to his land.

A few days after having written the return letter, Aku prepared a small traveling party of several samurai, a few shinobi and a handful of soldiers. Along with one transporter helicopter, he assigned two attack choppers for escort. Not as much military might he showed off to the Equestria rulers. After all, this wasn’t to intimidate possibly new allies. This trip was going to be a peaceful one. And to make sure it was, Aku made sure to let the empress know to look out for ‘unusual flying machines’ to signal that he was coming in his return letter.

As Aku and his traveling party flew over the new lands, Aku quickly noticed the structures and layout of the kingdom. It was very much feudal/edo era japan style. It was extremely similar to how his own home looked all those many years ago in his history. There were certainly a lot of sakura trees to be sure. In fact there was a whole entire forest of them. The land below was truly a beautiful sight to behold. It was almost like he had gfone back in time in his own world. But, he knew better than that.

As the party drew closer and closer to what he assumed was the capital, he took immediate notice of the castle as well. And just as he thought, it was a large and grand castle just like how it was in Edo way back in the feudal era in his world. Tall and decorated with gold and the curved rooftops. Even with the lion statues at the multiple sets of steps that lead up to the castle itself and a long main road that went all the way through the town to the main entrance.

“Just like home….” he muttered to himself as he remembered seeing building of the past back on his school field trips, a small pang of longing hitting his heart as he truly did miss his home back in his world, and seeing all this wasn’t helping his small bit of grief. However, this wasn’t thew time to be dwelling on such things. He had business to conduct here after all. As the transport helicopter landed and the two escorts remained airborne, Aku and the couple of samurai and soldiers he had stepped out of the helicopter and made their way up the stairs, taking in their surroundings and making sure that they are all being welcomed.

Once they reached the top to the palace entrance, a tall, brawny looking stallion with white fur and a black mane and tail stood there waiting for them. One thing that Aku noticed right away was that one of the stallion’s eyes was closed with a rather nasty scar running down it. And his face was weathered and looked like it had seen the tides of battle over and over again. Right away, this stallion had already started earning Aku’s respect. As Aku now stood before the stallion, he watched as he reached out his hand. Aku reached out as well, but not going for his hand, instead, they both clasp each other’s forearms with a firm shake, both of them smiling at the same time when they do so.

“It seems your greeting is similar to my own from my own land, Oni King Aku. We welcome you to our kingdom. I am General Shadow Fang, leader of Empress Everbloom’s army. We were told to expect strange flying machines upon your arrival. But these…these are a technical marvel…” he said as he continued to eye the flying machines every now and then. “And the soldiers you have brought with you…never have I seen such streamline armor and weapons…”. Aku smiled and looked back to his people before turning to face the stallion again “I do hope you don’t mind their presence here. Simple protection for me in a foreign land and all. We don’t want to cause any trouble, on my word.”.

Shadow Fang gazed up at Aku, searching his eyes for any hint of deception. While the older stallion could sense…something swirling within Aku, it wasn’t deception. “Very well, she is waiting for you now, King Aku. If you’d please follow me.” he said as he turned to lead Aku and his men into the palace. “You can drop the king part…I am not a fan of having titles like that. Believe it or not, I came to this world as an outcast. Other than to my own people, I am still treated as such..”. Shadow Fang Nodded as he could hear truth in Aku’s words “I can tell that you suffered quite a bit in your past. I can see it in your eyes, young one. But, you haven’t let it hold you back from what you need to do. You heave the heart of a warrior. And you will do what you have to to keep those who believe in you safe. Signs of a true leader.”.

As they continued through the palace, Aku took in the architecture. It truly was just like how it was in the edo period back in his own world, except he was getting to see it all in pristine condition. Far better condition than how the aged buildings in his own world looked. Once they made it to the royal chamber, Shadow Fang stopped at the large double doors “Only you may enter from this point on, Aku. I trust that won’t be an issue?” He asked as he turned his head slightly to gaze upon him with a knowing look. Aku picked up on it quickly before nodding to his men “Wait out here for now. This is their kingdom after all. We must abide. I will take the gifts from here and present them myself.”. The soldiers nodded before taking up post ojn the opposite wall on the dors. One of them handing off the couple of boxes they had brought with them to Aku.

Shadow Fang nodded before pushing open the double doors, allowing Aku to enter into the massive royal throne room which was decorated to the teeth with golden oriental design, and at the very end of the room, a shrouded throne which definitely screamed ‘feudal emperor’. Once he stood before the throne, Aku dropped to a knee and bowed deeply in respect to the fellow ruler. Before presenting the gifts by holding them above his head. “A little something for you, Empress Everbloom. I wasn’t sure what you would like. But I brought you some sweets from my land. They are just simple sweet dumplings stuffed with red bean jam. And I brought you a katana hand forged by my best smith. They aren’t much, but I do hope you will accept them.”.

Shadow Fang nodded before taking the gifts from Aku and walking them up to the shrouded empress who sat there without a word for now. The first thing that he did was open the box of dango before popping one into his mouth. He was quiet for a moment before opening his jaw slowly while gazing down at the treats “This…this small dumpling…it tastes absolutely magnificent! I have never had a sweet like this, even in my youth! My empress, you must try this!” he exclaimed before offering the box to her. Aku took notice of the empress’ hand and arm right away, noticing that they were too small to be a full grown mare. Everbloom took her first bite of the dango before placing a hand upon her cheek, her eyes widening in delight as a blush forms across her face “I have never enjoyed something so simple but yet so divine…what do you call these, King Aku..?”

Aku stood to his feet with a smile, happy that the sweets were making a good impression “They are called dango. Those kind are called anko dango. A traditional treat from where I come from. It makes me happy that you enjoy them> I would ber happy to share the recipe with you and your subjects. Along with a few other foods that you may enjoy.”. Everbloom placed the box of sweets next to her before letting Shadow Fang open up the decorated weapon case that held a katana that was forged with the highest quality metal that Aku’s nation had available. The hilt was black and silver with the guard having the design of a dragon encircling it and the head holding the blade from its open maw.

“This is some very fine crafting here, King Aku. Your warriors must be very capable to have earned such fine swords.” Everbloom said as she continued to ey the sword up and down before handing it off to Shadow Fang. Once she had done so, she stands up from her throne and slowly makes her way down to Aku’s level. Just as Aku had thought earlier, she was no mare. But a filly, no older than what appeared to be fifteen years of age. Did this kingdom really have such a young ruler? As he looked down at her, he took in her features. Deep purple fur with a multicolored mane and tail, mostly black with ice blue streaks running through them. And piercing sky blue eyes.

However, his gaze wasn’t one of negativity or pity. It was of respect. Someone so young had taken charge of this land and appeared to be doing just fine with what he had seen on his way here “Forgive me, empress. I had not expected a leader to be this young. Though, it doesn’t surprise me in the least. Where I come from, there were many young rulers in the past. One was just about your age actually.”. Everybloom looked up at him in shock. She had expected him to ridicule her and make fun of her youth as the current leader of such a large nation. But, he was respectful and didn’t see her as anything less.

“Also, you don’t have to put the King part in. If it pleases you, you can just call me Aku. We sare here to build friendly relations are we not?”. The guards along with Shadow Fang were surprised with Aku’s forwardness towards their leader. Nevertheless, Everbloom dropped her poised appearance and gave out a sigh of relief as she revea;ed her true self to him. Just a teenage girl who was getting tired of ‘keeping up appearances’ and tugged at his hand for him to follow her “Finally, a fellow ruler who isn’t so stuffy! Come with me, I wanna show you around the palace!” she said as she pulled at him. Shadow Fang’s jaw dropped at this before he reached out to Everbloom “Y-Your grace, not in front of the guest!” he said in a panicked manner.

Aku shook his head as he put a hand up to stop Shadow Fang “It’s just fine. Let the girl let down her collective mane. I promise what I see here won’t leave these palace walls. Bsides, I would love to see what this place looks like from all around. It truly is a beautiful palace. I will be a proper gentlecolt and make sure nothing gets out of hand.” He said as Everbloom finally pulled him away to give him a tour of the palace. It truly was a place worthy of oriental royalty. But, one thing was bothering Aku very much. The crown she wore. It radiated a rather foul type of magic, almost as if it were cursed.

Once they were in a secluded area, Aku took this chance to ask the question. “Forgive me, Empress…but your crown. Is it…cursed?”. She had stopped in her tracks as she stood there for a moment in silence with her head down “I..suppose there is no hiding such a thing from a magic eater like you huh? Yes, it is cursed. And it has been for generations now. Every twentieth birthday, the ruler of our land dies who has worn this crown. And the rulers must pass it on to their heirs or else the land will fall into ruin. And this curse was forced upon us by the royal sister of Equestria…”

Author's Note

I know it is taking me forever to crank these out. But I am getting them to you.

May the darkness grant you peace.