Aku stood there speechless for a few minutes as he heard what or rather, who was behind this curse that Everbloom’s family had suffered under. He slowly clenched his fists in anger to the point where his claws were digging into his palms “They have gone so far as to curse who whole nation to ensure they stay in power..? That is absolute cruelty. Making another nation suffer while you claim to be these peace loving rulers in your fucking castle…” he said as that dark purple aura started forming around his fists. Before he lost his composure however, he breathed in slowly, then exhaled as he began to calm his mind and heart.

Everbloom took notice of this, walking over and taking one of his hands into her much smaller ones “Judging by your expression, it seems they have brought a great deal of harm to you. I can feel it in your emotions…” she said with a worried expression on her face. Aku nodded and opened up the top part of his jacket and shirt, revealing a faintly glowing scar where the royal executioner had stabbed him all those years ago. “They tried to end me because I had a power that they chose to demonize me for.”.

As Everbloom gazed upon the scar, she reached up and placed one of her small hands over it before giving a sympathetic gaze up to the man “You have been through so much it would seem. Hurt and betrayed. Darkness surrounds your heart and mind but you keep it at bay. I can feel that you control and embrace these dark powers of yours….but don’t lose sight of who and what is important to you…grandpa Shadow Fang was right to advise me to have you brought here and pursue friendly relations with your nation. But….” She said as she removed her hand from his chest.

“...I don’t want that…I want to be free of this curse and this responsibility. I want to be free to live my life the way I want to. I am only the ruler of my nation because my parents gave birth to only myself before the curse took them. And it is traditional that a male ruler take over each time. And also….I want to live a full life. Dying at just the beginning of adulthood is just…so unfair!” she exclaimed as she dropped to her knees before starting to cry. Streams of tears falling down her cheeks as she buries her face into her hands. Aku could definitely feel where she was coming from. Your life being forfeit at a decided time would bring anyone to tears. It was practically a living sacrifice.

“King Aku..my people know about this curse…and have so since the beginning of our nation. It is there wish that this land would no longer have to worry about such a thing, and could live and prosper without knowing that their leader’s time is so very limited. Therefore, I would like to make you an offer…”. Aku offered his hand down to help the young ruler off her knees before he gently wiped away her turns on his sleeve for her. She gratefully took his hand as she stood back up, her hand so much smaller in his, the larger man taking great care in treating her gently. “Over the next few days, I will be having talks with my advisors in all branches of my kingdom. And I want you to be there. But, before I sent out the letter..will you please consider absorbing the nation of Hiizurukuni into your own? I feel like under your rule, my subjects could be even more happier than they are now. And that someone with your power will be able to end this curse once and for all…”.

Aku’s eyes met with ehrs as she looked up at him with pleading eyes “I can easily break the curse without all that needing to happen. But, why would you want to have my nation take full control of yours? WOuldn’t your subjects be against such a thing? After all, I am just a ruler of a small nation who is considered a villain to the major power of this world. Don’t you think that might cause some issues?” he asked rather concerned about the outcome.

However, Everbloom was not concerned in the least “You see, Oni King. Your reputation has travelled further than you think. You took a handful of refugees who had been wrongly accused, worked with them to create a new nation entirely. And continued to take in more and more refugees who have pledged their undying loyalty to you because you have them a second chance. Oni King Aku is a name that is widely known and respected in Hiizurukuni. And if you were to become our leader and take our lands into yours, I have no doubt that we could prosper even more so. Our military might become stronger for it. And given from what I have heard from some of my officials that have come to visit your nation, domestic, cultural and residential life would become even more advanced than in Equestria.”.

Everbloom did have a point, several of them in fact. But, this was going to have to be her and her people’s decision first and foremost. Aku was not in the habit of forcing another nation under his rule unless provoked through means of violence and invasions. “If this is what you truly want, Everbloom. Then get with your subjects and spread the news first. Yale however much time you need. And if things go well, I will free you and your subject from your generations of this curse. And you will be free to live your own life.”. He said as he placed a hand upon one of her shoulders.

Over the nextyear, Aku spent his time traveling between Hiizurukuni and his own homeland as new was being spread between both lands. Once all the detailed had been ironed out and everything was legally prepared, the day was upon them to finally free Everbloom from her curse, and for Aku to absorb the second largest nation into his much smaller one. Who would have ever guess that in all his life, he would become not merely a king, but a full blown emperor of a nation so much like his own from his world.

One the day of the ceremony, Aku stood next to Everbloom as they walked out ontothrone room balcony above thousands of ponies who had gathered to watch both the breaking of the curse, and the transfer of leadership. Aku stepped forward and spoke first “I have been told that you have all been hoping for this day for a long time. To finally be free of this curse that could bring ruin to this land if the cycle failed to continue….” he said before turning abc to Everbloom before he reached out a hand, the mouth opening up on it before it began to literally eat away at the foul curse before the crown suddenly crumbled into nothing but dust.

“...No longer. All of you, and everyone else in this kingdom can now live without any worry of the royal sisters’ tyranny being held over you and bringing sorrow and pain to anyone again.”. The crowd cheered loudly as they witnessed the shattering of the crown, the ground nearly shaking with how loud it was. Afterwhich, Everbloom stepped forward and spoke her peace as well “And, after much deliberation. And a year's worth of preparation, legal talks, and hard work. The nation of Hiizurukuni is now absorbed in Kazoku. With that, Aku is now our new ruler. And has promised that everyone under his rule will be even more happier than we could have ever dreamed. And remain that way forever and ever..”.

Aku nodded as he stepped back up to speak once more “From this day forward, everyone’s lives are going to improve. It will take some time to improve the infrastructure, but I promise you, I will make things better for everyone. And I mean everyone. This is a great day for all in this nation. No more oppression, no more tyranny!” he said as he thrusted a fist into the air, a strong breeze flying past him with sakura blossoms flowing around and pas6t him before the gathered croud shouts and cheers once more.”All hail Oni Emperor Aku!” sjputed Everbloom

“Ah-ku, Ah-ku, Ah-ku!!!” shouted everyone below. The crowd was in an absolute joyful frenzy of their new ruler as a festival had already begun in the capital. Music and dance, good food, and most of all, happy faces on every colt, mare and foal. This was a brand new age for this land. And Aku was going to do his damnedest to keep it that way. However, he knew that trouble was going to be on the horizon here soon enough. But, he was ready…

Later that late afternoon, Aku and Everblookm sat in one of the garden in front of a fountain on a marble bench, the filly’s head resting on one of Aku’s thighs as she looked up at him with a warm smile. Aku returned the affection by gently stroking through her hair. It would seem that over the year they had been meeting over and over, they had grown rather close. As close as blood family could be. The two were practically sworn siblings at this point. “Big brother Aku? You once said when we first met, that there were rulers that were as young as I where you came from. Who was one that stuck out to you the most?” she asked in genuine curiosity.

Aku rubbed his chin in thought with his free hand before chuckling to himself as he answered “Oh that is an easy one. There was a young ruler called Baldwin The Fourth. A truly noble king who showed both valor and greatness at the age of sixteen. However, the young one was cursed with the disease of leprosy. A disease that slowly killed him as he aged older and older. Once he believed that after his first great victory, he would live to be a hundred years old. But the fact is that due to this disease, he wouldn’t live to see thirty. However, he didn’t let that stop him from his kingly duties. He was even very well respected by his enemy. When you can achieve such a thing, you know you are ruling properly.”. Aku continued with the story of King Baldwin as the night went on and on, making sure he told her all about his triumphs

–Canterlot Castle–

As Celestia and Luna went about their royal duties, they suddenly felt a sharp pain in their chest,both of them dropping to the ground on their knees and spilling all their paperwork. They both looked at each other with wide, knowing eyes. The fear built up in their hearts as they knew exactly what this meant. They both hurried to Celestia’s private study before locking themselves in it.

“Sister…the curse has been lifted from the lands in the east…but only we could do that. How is this possible?” Asked Luna as she clutched at her chest still in pain. Celestia however, knew who could destroy such a power with ease “That accursed magic eater….Aku.” she said as she slammed her fist onto one of the hardwood tables “He is ruining everything you and I have done. This can’t keep going any further.” She growled in anger.

Author's Note

Aaand with this final act, this sequel is finished. However, the story isn't done yet. There will be a part 3 eventually down the road. But I am going to be working on other projects to get my motivation up and running again. I hope you all enjoyed this sequel.

May the darkness grant you peace.