Twilight and her friends sat one one end of a long, finely carved wood conference table in chairs they had never sat in before. Sot and plush from the back to the seat and be able to lean back and roll around in them. The typical office chair from where AKU came from. While Aku himself sat at the other end of the table with his hands clasped together and resting upon the shiny, clean wooden table top with Tempest standing at his side along with the other council members in the respective seats next to him. The room was dark all for the lights that hung over the whole seating area.

In this kind of light, Aku looked more intimidating than ever, which made Twilight and the others a bit uncomfortable. However, they did notice that Fluttershy wasn’t anywhere among them. Thinking that she didn’t want any part of this, they figured they’d get things started with the peace talk. “So then…I imagine that your princesses have set out a few terms to form a peaceful relationship with this nation then?” Aku asked as he sat there in the same position. Twilight nodded and took out the stack of several scrolls and levitated them towards Aku. Once they were placed in front of him and he opened them, he started reading them.

All was quiet for a moment as he had passed the scrolls around to the council members. Once he and they had finished reading them. Aku stood up and walked over to one of the windows as he looked out at the city.”So, your leaders are demanding I send back every single pony from Equestria, refugee or not, so that they can be returned to their proper home and the refugees properly punished? And the fact they demand that we share our military skills and technologies? And the gaul they have of even asking for this last one…” he said before turning to face them again. “..For me to step down as the ruler of our nation? Al for the possibility of not having to worry about Equestria sending in forces to take over?”

Aku stepped forward and leaned on the table with his hand flat on the surface and his head lowered for a moment before lifting his head slowly. A sharp toothy grin slowly formed on his face, a ghostly image of the oni standing behind him with the same smile on his face,which was clearly visible to everyone in the room. While Twilight and the others were clearly disturbed by the ghostly image, the council and Tempest only looked to Aku and the image with acknowledgement and reverence. “You can tell your leaders to “get fucked’’. Even a child could see that this is a one sided deal. I might have not been a leader as long as the princesses of Equestria. But I have learned many, many things thanks to experienced minds that have come to our nation.”

He takes the scrolls in his hand and rips them apart into tiny shreds before tossing them in the air, a look of shock upon Twilight and her friends’ face as they didn’t expect this peace talk to go south so quickly. “Now you listen here!” shouted Applejack “The ponies that came here from Equestria belong there. It is because of yer influence that they up n’ abandoned their homes to come tuh this nation! We dun know what kinda tricks you are usin’, but you are splittin’ up families and protectin’ criminals from justice that needs to be served!” She shouts as she stands up while banging her fists on the table. The guards at the double doors place their hands on their sword hilts and start to move in slowly. Aku places a hand up to stop them and shakes his head which makes them step back into position.

“When you came into our city, did you notice all the creatures who own their own shops and restaurants? Half of them are refugees from not only Equestria, but from other nations as well. They are living a life far better than they had ever done so before finding their way here. In my nation, we believe in second chances. While there are some cases where they are a lost cause, we have a ninety-eight percent success rate of reformation. Twenty-three percent higher than Equestria. DO you know why? Because we give them not only incentive, but a choice. Not an ultimatum unlike your princesses. “

“As for breaking up families, everyone is allowed to make their own decisions in life. We have even had children make their way here because of abusive parents or guardians. And we have happily taken them in and helped them find new homes or even allowed them to take up jobs if they so desired. All while still treating them with the proper care a child needs.”
Rainbow stands up and points a finger at Aku with an enraged glare “You promote child labor?! WHat kind of monster are you?!” she screamed, getting ready to fly over the table at Aku. Aku shook his head in response

“Paid internships. As I said before, we don’t force the children to work. But,we have those few who already know what they want to do in life and seek out a master of the craft they wish to pursue. While education is a must for everyone, it is good to allow them to start when they are young so that their experience grows even more when they go into adulthood. All while making money so that they can buy all their needs and wants. And what’s even better? You won’t find a single one of them living on the streets or in alley ways simply because they want to better themselves for their future.” Aku continued to explain in a calm and rational manner. All while quietly reveling in their angry outbursts.

Aku looked over to the guard at the double door and nodded “You can bring him in now.” He said as before the guards opened the door and a colt who was at least fifteen years of age came in. He was wearing a chef’s jacket and black pants with a slightly messy apron around his waist. Once he was brought in and spotted Aku, his eyes lit up and a genuine smile formed across his muzzle. “Oh wow! Had I known I was coming to see you, I would have changed into something more proper!” He said as he ran up to Aku and swung his arms around him in as tight of a hug as he could. Aku responded in kind as he placed a hand on his shoulder and gently ruffled his hair.

“Hey there, Cookie Crunch. How goes the sweets business with Sweet Cream? Is she teaching you everything you want to learn?”. The colt nodded multiple times and pulled out a rather hefty coin purse of bits he had worked so hard to earn”Mhm! And she has been paying me on the amount we both agreed on. She is even talking about already giving me a raise!” From the five mare’s view point, the colt was genuinely happy with his situation. Even Pinkie could tell that his smile was one-hundred percent real. And as much as she didn’t want to admit it, Applejack could tell that none of this was staged or an act.

Aku smiled in approval of the colt which in turn made him chuckle and smile back “You gotta come by sometime, Aku! We came up with a new cupcake icing flavor that has been making them fly off the shelves. And I am sure you will like it!”. Aku nodded again and placed his hand upon the colt’s shoulder again like a father would do to show his son that he was proud of him “I will most certainly swing by sometime soon. Now, off you go.”. ANd with that, the colt gives Aku one more hug and runs out of the room.

Aku then turns to the six mares as a serious gaze returns to his face “So, as you can see. Everyone is doing fine in OUR nation. We may not be perfect, but you know what? We work through things TOGETHER. Your princesses send you out into the world to fix their problems. But you follow them blindly. That is your problem.” Aku then makes his way to his spot at the table and smiles again. “Speaking of new residents of our nation…” he said as Fluttershy came out from behind a curtain and took her place at Aku’s left side. “Fluttershy has made a choice she has been thinking about for a long time now. And she has chosen to make her new home here in Kazoku.” he said as he placed a hand upon her shoulder in a comforting manner, knowing what was about to come next for her.

All five of them gasped in shock as their eyes widened to look like saucer plates. Twilight stood up with a look of both anger and disappointment upon her face “Fluttershy…how could you even want such a thing? Would you really betray your own nation for another..?” Fluttershy looked up at Aku, he nodded in reassurance to ehr before she got a serious look on her face and began explaining herself confidently. “Yes, I do, Twilight. And do you know why? Because while everyone else was blaming and ridiculing Aku, I saw past all that and found a sweet and caring stallion who wanted to do what he could to help others. And what did Equestria and its residents do? They turned against him because they didn’t understand his abilities and immediately saw him as a monster! You and I both know that wasn’t fair to him, Twilight!”

Aku could hear the emotion starting to shake her voice and tears slowly welling up in her eyes. Tempest, having the same kind of feelings after learning about Aku’s past in Equestria, felt sentimental herself as she makes her way over to Fluttershy and gently places her hand on her other shoulder in a gentle manner. It seems she had already found common ground with the yellow pegasus. They both cared for Aku a great deal. “And I decided I want to be a part of this nation! And there is nothing you can say or do that will change my mind! I won’t ever sit on the sidelines again and let him go through that kind of pain ever again!”.

Fluittershy’s heart beat rapidly as she let all that out, the mare having never spoken ehr mind so much in so little time. She placed her hands on her chest and breathed heavily before Aku nodded to Tempest “She has had enough…take her to one of the overnight rooms and let her rest. This has been weighing on her shoulders ever since last night.”. Tempest nodded and gently took Fluittershy’s arm around hers and led her out of the room. As she passed her friends, she said one final thing “I am not sorry about the choice I have made here.” as the doors close behind her.

Twilight and the others look back at Aku with resentment in their eyes. Not only has one of their best friends chosen to abandon Equestria, but now the elements are split apart. Rainbow and Applejack were hot now. Both of them climbed over the table and made their way straight to Aku. They both tackle him to the ground and start to pound their fists into his body as hard as they could before the council members start scrambling to get them off him. Suddenly, they are sent flying across the room and into one of the marble pillars. A loud thud and cracking sound could be heard as a few of their ribs have been broken.

Aku rose to his feet, not looking any worse for wear as he dusted off his clothes and menacingly made his way over to the two mares who groaned in pain, but looked up at him with the same expressions they had before. As he gazed down at them, his eyes started to glow a dark purple as a toothy grin formed across his face again “You know, I could tear you apart right here and now for what you two just did. I could drain you of every last bit of your magic and make you into nothing but a sulking mess. You two would never be able to buck apples or fly the skies ever again. But, out of respect for Twilight and the others, along with Fluttershy’s affection for all of you, you are lucky you are getting off with just this. General Tempest would have torn you apart herself if she saw what you had just done.” he said before looking back at Twilight “Take the rest of your friends and return home, Twilight. Tell your leaders what I have told you.”

Suddenly a pair of hooves started running towards Aku as a pink blur latched herself around Aku while looking up at him with tears in her eyes “This isn’t who you are, Aku! What happened to the guy who helped me bake cupcakes even though he didn’t want to?! And even was nice enough to stick around and help me clean up?! I know you are still that some stallion under all this darkness in your heart along with all these physical changes!” she exclaimed as she started crying into his chest.

Aku didn’t push her away, instead he reached up and ran his fingers through her messy but soft mane and placed a hand upon her back gently. “It's too late, Pinkie. With everything I have been forced to endure in this world, I am afraid darkness is part of who I am now. But, I can promise you this. I will not allow it to turn me into a ruthless tyrant who oppresses his residents and brings unhappiness to them. I refuse to become that kind of monster.” Aku then turns his gaze to the guards and motions them over “Escort them out to the main gate. Gently, please.” He said before the guard had to pry the sobbing pink pony off of him, the mare thrashing and trying to get back to Aku to hug the evil out of him, but to no avail. Twilight looked back at Aku who then returned to the window to look out upon his city once more before being escorted out.

As they made their way back to Equestria, both Aku’s and Fluttershy’s words rang in her mind. As much as she didn’t want to admit it, he was absolutely right in his response to the peace offering and the way he was running the nation. Never ever in a million years did she ever start to doubt Celestia’s choices and knowledge. But after today, the seeds of doubt have been planted in her mind. And from all angles, Aku’s ways seemed to be the most logical she had ever known. Would she defect from Equestria and leave all that she knew behind and abandon her teacher and princess?

Author's Note

Twilight seems to be second guessing herself it seems. Could this only cripple Equestria more?

May the darkness grant you peace.