“Where is that pony?” I yelled, shielding my face from a sudden outburst of flame.

“Twilight’s still inside!” Rainbow Dash answered.

“What is she doing in there?”

“Trying to save her books I’ll bet.”

“Have we tried putting it out?” I asked. My eyes scanned the area for the tiny dragon and the purple unicorn. I couldn’t do anything until I knew for sure where they were.

“I called in for a storm, but it won’t get here soon enough,” Rainbow said.

“Shikamaru! Use your ninja magic!”

“It’s not magic Pinkie,” I berated. She was right though, I had to do something. Although, Twilight and Spike would have to be saved first. I bolted into the burning building, ignoring the cries from the ponies behind me.

The smoke invaded my lungs, choking me as I stumbled through the library. Books lay unattended and set ablaze, eating up everything within the building. My eyes watered from the relentless smoke and my chest forced out another rough set of coughs.

Damn it, where is that stupid horse? I could feel the heat rising; the flames were creeping along the walls and tapestries, climbing higher and higher within the hollow trunk. A mountainous plume of smoke spilled out from the hallway leading downstairs. A good bet as any as to where the fire started.

I stepped lightly, dancing over burning books and leaping towards the billowing black cloud on the other side of the room. “Shadow Manipulation Jutsu!” I lifted my shadow off of the ground, parting the smoke just enough for me to traverse through. As I descended the temperature escalated. I finally made it to the lab. I could see the outline of a body lying in the middle of the floor.

“Twilight!” I coughed. I edged closer, but the fire roared at my advance. I forced my body through, all the while the tongues of flame kept nipping at my heels. Finally I pushed through the blazing wall and ran over to the slumped body on the floor.

“What the hell?” I shouted, dodging back as a kunai shaved some fuzz off of my chin. The body rose up, standing two feet higher than me. The bulky man in front of me waved the kunai back and forth, clocking his tongue. A smug grin was plastered over his face.

“You didn’t think a stupid snake could kill me did you?” Jujo asked, holding his weapon out at me.

“Why are you still alive?” I wasn’t completely shocked, but his face was a little disconcerting at the moment.

“I had to return the favor. You left me to die in a hazardous environment, but I survived,” he chuckled. “Now it’s your turn.”

“You started the fire,” I concluded, glancing over at some spilled chemicals. “Twilight wasn’t even here, was she?”

“If you’re talking about that purple horse or her little lizard, then yes. I waited until they left before I started the fire,” he chuckled again.

“I guess now I have to make sure I finish the job. I won’t let you escape again,” I said, forming a hand seal. Jujo avoided my shadow attack and hid in the thick smoke. His laugh echoed throughout the room. A sudden explosion reminded me of where I was.

“Do you think you can defeat me before the tree house burns down?” he taunted.

“Of course I can’t,” I muttered. “You’re counting on me trying to escape because you know I can’t. Then you’ll ambush me from the safety of the smoke.” I released some chakra and concentrated my shadow into being. “So I’ll use your technique against you! Ninja Art: Smokescreen Jutsu!”

The dark outline on the floor stretched all around the room, circling each cloud of smoke. I clasped my hands together and the shadowy tendrils constricted, binding the smoke together into a small condensed egg-sized form. The smoke now gone, I could clearly see Jujo. In a moment, he wouldn’t be able to see me.

I released my hands, allowing the jutsu to finish. Under the pressure of my shadow, the smoke leaked out of the technique. When I had released it, the toxic gas exploded into the room, covering its entirety in a thick blanket. No vision for me, but that meant none for Jujo either. I quickly charged towards the stairs. Twilight wasn’t here and Jujo was trapped. No reason for me to stay.

“Ninja Art,” I heard from within the smoke. I hustled faster up the stairs. “Earth Shattering Jutsu!” From under my feet, a column of dirt broke through the floorboards and launched me in the air.

Jujo emerged from the hole as well, manipulating the earth to smash into my body as I fell to the ground. I nearly fell through the second floor.

“Let’s face it. In a straightforward fight, you’re useless Shikamaru,” he said, pressing the column of earth down harder. “Even so, you’re the only one here that’s a legitimate threat to me, so you understand why you have to die, right?”

“Bastard,” I choked out. How was he handling all of this smoke in the air?

“I’m glad that snake ate me, I really am.”

“Should’ve stayed inside of it then,” I replied.

“Heh, if I had, I never would’ve discovered the secrets of that magical woods.” I glared at his cheery disposition.

“What are you on about?”

“There are things in that forest that rival the wonders of the Forest of Death,” he said. My vision was fading. I had inhaled too much smoke.

“We’ll show you later. Right now, my boys and I have some terrorizing to do,” Jujo chuckled, looking at another human body. I turned my head and saw a clone of the pain in the ass right above me. “Not a Shadow Clone Shikamaru,” he said suddenly.

“What?” I groaned.

“I’ll let you reflect on your thoughts as I kill your new friends,” he said. Three sets of laughter. Three distinct bodies. What did he mean by not a Shadow Clone? Damn it, that wasn’t important. Right now I couldn’t even move and I was on the verge of passing out. The door was open. Jujo lunged at a small pony and I couldn’t do a thing to stop him.

“Shikamaru!” the voice sounded distant. I saw a pink blur rushing towards me, shouting incoherent things.

“Oxygen,” I gasped. I could feel a tug on my pant leg and the ceiling eventually turned into a starry sky. I coughed some more, pulling myself on my side after I had finished. My vision steadied now, and I could see Pinkie’s face twisted in unnatural settings,at least for her.

“Shikamaru, this guy just came out of Twilight’s house and started lighting the village on fire!”

“I know,” I groaned. “Where is he now?”

“NOOOO! My precious boutique!” I jumped up, shaking off the dizziness around my head. Jujo had set a building ablaze that petrified Rarity to the spot. I rushed over to her, but was assaulted from the side by one of the clones.

“Shikamaru?!” Pinkie Pie called out. She too was knocked away.

“Jujo,” I began, but he lifted me of of the ground by my mouth. I could only mumble as he lifted me higher into the air.

“I will become the god of this world, and every universe that I step into! No one will be able to stop me, and when one falls,” the Jujo gripping me started,

“Another will come in my place,” a clone gloated.

“I won’t kill you now, I think I’ll save that for later.” The burly ninja threw me onto the floor. “I just wanted to see how complete that little pond made my clones. It seems they are exact replicas, independent of me entirely.”

“Unlike Shadow Clones, they can’t be dispelled by a jutsu or vanish from a lethal strike,” the last clone explained.

“My army will march over this world, and then with that new Dimensional Jutsu I’ve learned, I’ll cover the multiverses with my authority!”

Lighting bolted from above. A loud thunderclap sounded throughout the town as rain began to pour over the burning city. The Jujos looked up at the sky and retreated into a tight formation. The original, the one in the center smirked and vanished, his posse following close behind.

My head turned sideways. A few yards away, Pinkie lay on the floor as well, the rain gliding down her coat. The icy cold water didn’t seem to even phase her.

She didn’t get hit that hard… I reasoned. Jujo just shoved her out of the way.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash came galloping up now, frantically pacing back and forth between me and Pinkie. My head was beginning to settle and I could actually hear Rainbow’s threats against my life.

“What did you do Shikamaru?! How could you let Pinkie get hurt like that!” Her hooves latched onto my vest and she shook me back and forth.

“I didn’t tell that crazy horse to come after me,” I argued back, pushing the pegasus away. “She got herself into that mess.”

“No,” Twilight interjected. “That thing knew you, and it looked just like you too. Is it another ninja? If so, then you’re the one to blame for this.”

Great, now I’m being lectured by a horse. Damn it, it wasn’t my fault Pinkie wasn’t thinking; she was just too close!

“Is she alright at least?” I changed the subject.

“As far as I can tell, she’s just knocked out,” Twilight confirmed. I brushed myself off and looked around. Ponies lined the streets, staring at the charred houses and ruined town. A few of them cast their glances in my direction.

“This is why I told you to just let me go,” I said. Twilight and Rainbow Dash both stared at me. “I didn’t want to involve you in my business, so before you go placing blame on me, why don’t you analyze yourself?”

“The time to give blame has passed,” someone said from above. I flinched at the deafening volume projection. Twilight gasped, and I tried to make out what had startled her so suddenly.

“Princess Luna,” she uttered. I wondered at the reverence she held in her voice. Princess? So was this the ruler of the land I was in?

“My subjects called out for me through their dreams. I sensed great dread coming from this direction, and lo, here stands before me the creature responsible for this mess.”

“What happened to ‘giving blame has passed?’” I asked.

“I did not say that the blame was not attributed to you, just that the moment for it has passed,” the winged unicorn replied. With a wave of her wings, the skies parted and her mane was allowed to shimmer in the moonlight. Were I not in deep shit right now I would’ve given her a compliment.

“It wasn’t entirely Shikamaru’s fault, Princess,” Twilight interceded for me. “There was another, and Shikamaru did want to leave, but we wanted him to stay.”

“Speak for yourself Twi,” Rainbow Dash commented from the side. She held Pinkie in her hooves. “I couldn’t care less where he went. You all wanted him to stay.”

I stared at the slowly breathing mass in Rainbow’s arms. I know she wasn’t very important to me, but I couldn’t help but feel like a ball of crap after what happened.

Oh well, no time to regret it now, I thought as two more winged ponies descended from the sky. Their fangs lit up as bright as Luna’s mane and their eyes cut through the cold darkness of the night. I thought it odd for a pegasus to have bat-like wings instead of feathers. This Luna was obviously a vicious dictator.

“Creature, Shikamaru. Come. I have decided that I shall hold a private summons with you and my sister on the matter of your arrival and subsequent departure,” Luna ordered. I caught her glancing around the town and grimacing some at the destruction around her. Okay, so maybe she wasn’t heartless.

“Oh, hey Dashie,” Pinkie Pie suddenly said. Rainbow gasped and set her down.

“Pinkie, are you okay?” She felt Pinkie’s head and examined her body.

“I think so, I just took a little nap was all. My head does hurt a little… did you wave me around while I was sleeping?”

“Pinkie, I’m sorry,” I said then, making sure to get that out of the way first.

“Shikamaru? Sorry for what? And why is Princess Luna here?”

“Enough,” Luna barked. “We must take Shikamaru to Canterlot for questioning. He has caused great turmoil within our lands and we must deal with it.”

“Princess, I meant to tell you, honestly,” Twilight entered.

“I believe you, Twilight Sparkle,” Luna replied, “but I still cannot let this go unchecked. He may return, but that depends entirely on the sentence of my sister and I.”

“Sentence? You can’t keep me imprisoned in a foreign country,” I protested.

“We shall see,” Luna said back.

“I believe you are rushing things, sister,” Celestia said. She took another sip of tea and studied me for the hundredth time. It was becoming uncomfortable, more so than the first time I met her. Luna’s glare was one thing, she held a specific spite towards me. Celestia on the other hand… what a poker face.

“Why should we not take such action? It would be better if only one of these creatures were allowed to roam Equestria,” Luna argued.

“But you don’t know what he can do,” I spoke. “He’s not just a man, he’s a shinobi. He’s armed and is knowledgeable enough to be considered more than dangerous in my world.”

“What sort of world do you come from, where violent barbarians exist outside of monsters?” I wanted to respond, but I didn’t know how. Instead I looked to the floor.

“I sense that you feel we are passing incorrect judgement, Shikamaru.” Her voice reminded me a lot of Tsunade’s, though a little less tantalizing. You had to be careful around these types, they were prone to go off at any second.

“If you truly meant to leave as you said before, why did you linger?”

“We’ve been over this, sister,” Celestia answered. “A more pertinent question would be, What will you do now that this has happened?”

“I intend to stop this man from wreaking any more havoc within your country,” I answered. “I realize my presence has caused an uproar, and I don’t intend to stay any longer than I have to.”

“Despite your current circumstance, you still wish to seek a way home?” Celestia looked puzzled.

“You have come to terms with the fact that you’re further away than you imagined rather quickly,” Luna added.

“It’s just the way it is I suppose,” I replied. I wasn’t too happy finding out that I wasn’t even in the same space as Konoha. It was nearly crushing to know that Jujo had opened a dimensional rift to another world entirely.

“We will not fault you completely for this criminal’s actions, Shikamaru,” Celestia began, “and when he is brought under control, you are more than welcomed to stay within this land.” Luna peered at her sister questionably. “However,” she started again, “as it stands right now, my subjects are in fear of your kind, and we have a potential hazard walking among us, frightening ponies everywhere.”

“Thank you for your generosity,” I told her, “but my duties exceed simply capturing this man. I have a life back home as well.”

“I understand,” she replied.

“As of now, every province in Equestria is on high alert, and watching out for Jujo,” Luna said. “We will do as you requested and counsel our forces against engaging him.”

“It’s for the best,” I said. “Based on what you’ve told me, he’s too dangerous even for adept magic users. Besides, I can’t risk any more people… I mean ponies, getting hurt.”

“Your chivalry shows, has anyone told you that before?” I looked at Celestia with a raised brow.

“I just don’t want a bad conscious is all,” I finally said back. “Thank you for bearing with me, Your Highnesses.” I bowed.

“Escort Mr. Nara out please,” Celestia ordered. I followed the iron-clad ponies to the castle’s entrance. A long sigh escaped my lungs as I pulled out a cigarette. I was really tempted to light it this time. We made it out to the courtyard. Standing at the bottom of the steps were Twilight and Pinkie.

“What did they say?” I looked at Twilight and sat on the steps.

“Well, I thought I had taken care of Jujo, but now that he’s alive that means I’ll be staying a little longer,” I answered her.

“What are they going to do? Is Princess Celestia sending out a search party?”

“Celestia and all of Equestria will stay out of this,” I said. “I’ll take care of Jujo and make sure we both get back home.”

“Shikamaru, you can’t do this by yourself!” Pinkie objected. Why was she even here?

“Why not? I let him into Equestria, I gotta take him out. Besides, if I let any of you get involved, that’ll only mean he’ll have more leverage over me,” I explained.

“You’re still stuck,” Twilight said. “He vanished last night, and nopony has seen anything related to him today.”

“I’m not too terrible at tracking if that’s what you’re implying,” I said, crossing my arms. “Seriously, thank you all for everything, but I’ve got to make sure I do this as quickly as possible, and with as little distraction as possible.”

“I won’t be a distraction,” Pinkie shouted. “I promise, we’ll just follow you and not even say a word.”

“Pinkie, that’s ridiculous,” Twilight beat me to saying.

“At least for you,” I added.

“Hey, I can stay quiet if I try,” she pouted.

“Well, it’s your call then Shikamaru,” Twilight said. “We won’t bother you about it anymore, but think about what you’re doing here.”

“I have thought about it,” I responded.

“How thoroughly though?” I was taken aback by Pinkie’s statement. She continued, “You’ll be going up against an enemy without any support. From what you’ve told us, it won’t make any sense chasing down this man by yourself. That’s why you were originally sent to find him in a squad, correct?”

“How much did you hear?” I asked, pinching the space between my eyes.

“Enough,” she replied sheepishly. I looked at Twilight.

“It wasn’t my business, and I originally wasn’t going to, but Pinkie Pie pressured me into it,” she confessed.

I believe that, I thought, looking at the fluffball.

“ Okay, valid point,” I said. “But consider this: What if you did come with me, and you ended up getting hurt? I already promised Celestia and Luna I would leave citizens of Equestria out of it.”

“It’s not a big deal,” Pinkie said. “I’d do anything for a friend, even lay my own life down for him!”

“Now you’re just paraphrasing,” I moaned.

“Shikamaru, c’mon, it’ll be an adventure!”

“Pinkie,” Twilight interjected, “I don’t think you should view this as that. Shikamaru and the princesses agreed to this plan, so naturally it’s the best one.”

“Not to mention, I’m pretty sure Rainbow Dash would knock my block off if I let you get killed for my sake,” I chimed in.

“I’m a big girl, Dashie just has issues with ponies who are cooler than her.”

“Thanks for the compliment, but it won’t change my mind,” I said, turning away.

“Where are you going?” Twilight asked.

“Jujo was last seen at a place called Ghastly Gorge,” I answered. “Your princess gave me a map, so I’m fine.”

“But-” Twilight stopped Pinkie from saying anything.

“Okay Shikamaru. I’ll at least continue working on a spell to send you and Jujo back home,” she said.

“You can do that,” I agreed. “Goodbye little ponies,” I said, walking away.

“Hey!” Pinkie called. “No hugs?!” I waved my hand up and left it in the air for a little while. I lowered it and shoved them both in my pockets after I couldn’t hear her shouting anymore.

“Ghastly Gorge… That shouldn’t take too long by train,” I mumbled. I had to think of a plan. I couldn’t just barge in and challenge him head-on. A certain somebody I knew might have, but I wasn’t that brainless.

It doesn’t make any sense, I thought. He could have easily performed the dimensional jutsu again and left, but he hadn’t. What’s troubling me is that there’s something here that is keeping Jujo occupied… or at least has him interested enough to stay. Probably in the Everfree Forest… So was it just a clone at Ghastly Gorge?

“One ticket please,” I said to the earthen pony behind the counter.

“Twenty bits, or do you have a train pass?” Suddenly I remembered that yen probably held no value in this world.

“Oh, uh, I guess I don’t have any bits… Will this work?” I held out a few dazzling looking objects, but the stallion shook his head.

“No bits, no ticket.”

“Come on, you could melt it down into those bits or whatever,” I tried to reason.

“Maybe if I was a blacksmith,” he replied. “This isn’t a bank, it’s a train station, so either get some money or shove off.” I left, scratching the back of my head.

Guess I’m walking… What a drag…

“Ah ha! You do need my help!” Pinkie Pie said from behind me.

“What are you doing? Where’s Twilight?”

“She’s trying to get into the castle to speak to the princesses I think. I decided I was going to go home by traiiiiin.”

“How appropriate of you to stretch out that last word,” I sighed.

“Sooooo… I’m still willing to help now,” she sang giddily.

“Buying a train ticket is not the same as taking a bullet, so I guess I’ll let you do that,” I replied with a yawn.

“Uh nopetey, nopity, nopey, if I buy your train ticket, you have to take me along with you. I’m still determined to make you my friend. I got a stubborn old mule to like this pink ball of fluff, so how hard can it be?”

“Very,” I replied quickly. “It’s a drag, but I’m not opposed to walking. Go home, Pinkie.”

“What you got against da Pie?” she shouted, popping out from under my legs.

“I’ve got nothing against you,” I said. “I’m just not looking to make friends right now. And I’m not looking to endanger you.”

“Got a deep sense of duty huh, Shikamaru?”

“Yes, yes I do. So if you’ll excuse me, I need to get going.”

“Two tickets please,” she said, speaking around me.

“You’re not coming with me,” I groaned.

“I know,” she said, trotting over to pay the stallion behind the counter. “So there’s no point in trying to convince you to let me.”

“Oh… great. I’m… I’m glad you see it my way,” I said. That was twice that Pinkie Pie surprised me today.

“I didn’t say that, Shikamaru. I’m coming along, even if you say no.”

“What?! What do you mean?”

“Look, it’s really simple,” she said handing me my ticket. “You got a mission, and what are you going to do if I do tag along? Not go? Well you can’t do that either. So why even bargain with you when you’re not the one holding the goods?”

Damn horse, that’s three times!

“You shrewd little… meh, what a pain, you really are troublesome,” I sighed. I slapped my hand over my face and shook my head.

“Well, to Ghastly Gorge we go!” she shouted bouncing into the train.

“All aboard!”

“What the hell have I gotten myself into?” I groaned.

“It’s not your fault,” she said from the train door then. “You haven’t gotten yourself into anything, I sorta dragged you into it.”

“Not helping!” I shouted. I boarded the train with her and took the seat next to the window.

“Hey, Shikamaru?” Pinkie poked my shoulder. I tried not to acknowledge her, but she kept talking. “How are we gonna get to Ghastly Gorge if this train is going to to Manehattan?”

“What?” I jumped up.

“This train, I think I bought the wrong ticket,” she chuckled.

“You did that on purpose,” I growled. The doors shut and the train began moving. A loud whistle rang out, and I decided to sit down instead of wasting anymore energy. Pinkie sat down next to me. Something in the distance caught my eye.

“Oh… Twilight looks upset,” I said. She came galloping out of the direction of the castle and began searching around frantically for I can guess who.

“I didn’t tie my knot tight enough I guess,” Pinkie said. She then glanced above me and exclaimed, “The train route!”

“What? I know it’s going in the opposite direction,” I said. Twilight, along with the rest of Canterlot passed away.

“Look on the bright side, the train will eventually reach Ghastly Gorge. It’ll just take a little longer,” she said, patting my back.

“Joy,” I yawned, closing my eyes.

Author's Notes:

I tried not to bore ya'll with the Celestia and Luna delegation, but it felt a little rushed... oh well, it's already published. Too much of a pain to go back and fix it...