*A story untold*

*Is a tale that must be told*

*To honor the lost*

Chapter 11 – Ginei

=Unknown=

(Luna's PoV)

-How can these Sengoku Ponies… how can they…- Luna thought as she watched Aketoki sheath his sword after performing the act that he did. "HOW CAN YOU DO THAT TO HIM?"

"Yea he was defenseless you didn't needa murder him!" Applejack shouted.

"I told you it wasn't murder, it was suicide." The Doctor said as calmly as he could, though he too was a little shocked at the act that took place.

"Ah don't care what word you use, that Aketoki murdered that pony. What kinda husband did Hanayo marry if that's what he's willin ta do to win her!"

"Yea what Applejack said, she told us how Honorable he was and how much he cared for her, what kind of pony does that to somepony that's defeated and defenseless?" Rainbow Dash yelled in agreement.

"The kind that wants to spare the one committing Seppuku the pain of such a death." The Shogun said to them from behind.

Luna and all those gathered besides Aketoki turned and looked at him, and saw that he was smiling at the scene before him, as well as looking at them all with eyes full of wisdom. "You see, one called Rainbow Dash, the act of committing Seppuku is probably the greatest act we Sengoku Ponies, especially Samurai, can act to prove our loyalty and our honor to all who witness. The act is not cowardly, nor is it shameful, the act is so painful to perform that one who performs it chooses to suffer such excruciating pain that the pain alone is enough to cause death."

He stood up and beckoned them all to follow him. "Hogeki Ninman was a samurai of the Ninman Clan, one of many clans loyal to the Hojo Clan, and it was his job as a law enforcer to make sure the laws were upheld in Takasaki." He explained as he stepped forward and seemed to walk on air before floating to the ground before them. "When his and the Kusaji Clan made a pact to marry their only youngest daughter, Hanayo, to him, he became enthralled, for he had always harbored such feelings of romance for the Onna-bugeisha. However she already had her eyes set on Aketoki Nimaji, this was something he couldn't stand, after all the two clans were mortal enemies. This is why when Aketoki and Hanayo fled in the night for the Province of Kai, Hogeki lied and used his influence to make up the story that Aketoki had abducted her. He then used ninja to trap the two, but certain events happened that transported them to your kingdom of Equestria, separated. Days ago the three gathered near Canterlot in various locations, but Hogeki had sent his ninja after the two. When Hogeki learned of Aketoki's and Hanayo's locations, he sent his ninja to once again after Aketoki as well as Princess Luna."

"So he did send those ninja after us?" Luna asked.

The Shogun nodded as he responded. "Indeed, the goal was to make it look like Aketoki was after your life, as well as free and kill Aketoki out of your palace so that when he searched for Hanayo, he would not have to concern himself with you interfering with his plans. However those were ruined when Hanayo arrived and together, she and Aketoki slew the ninja after him. Such actions are considered shameful and dishonorable, and any Samurai who is foolish enough to partake in such actions will forever be stained by those actions. Hogeki, defeated in this duel, if he had chosen to return home the truth would have been found out eventually."

"But why… why did he do this to himself?" Ditzy asked this time.

"If the truth was uncovered, and his clan as well as the Kusaji Clan learned of his lies and crimes, he would have lost everything and more. His clan would have disowned him, his rank and title stripped, his honor tarnished, and he would have been forced to live life as a Ronin, banished from Takasaki under pain of death and torture. No Lord would ever hire him, for fear that he might turn against them, and none would ever look at him as an honorable warrior ever again. He would have been lucky to find work guarding a rice convoy, unless he wanted to turn to crime."

There was silence for a few seconds as they all comprehended this information. "I'm guessing… that nopony woulda helped him?" Applejack asked.

"Would you have, knowing that his ninja attacked you without a second's thought, just for trying to help Hanayo?" The Shogun asked this time, raising an eyebrow as though he knew the answer.

"No… now that I think about it… Ah wouldn't have…"

There was silence again before Celestia spoke up now. "So… this Seppuku…" She asked. "What's the point of this Seppuku then?"

The Shogun gave them a small smile before he responded. "By performing this act, he chooses to die with honor, acknowledging his actions, and accepts death in the most painful way he could possibly make it. It was a good death… a noble death… one that you should not be saddened or angered by. He died as a warrior should have, fighting for his honor, and his love."

At these words Luna felt that they all understood and finally got over the shock of seeing death before them. Then the Shogun nodded and turned to face Aketoki as Hanayo walked over and stood by him, giving him a short, respectful bow before looking at the remains of Hogeki Ninman. "I think it's time we burry the departed…" The Shogun said as he unfurled his fan and waved it gently before him.

As he did the beautiful field that they were standing in faded away, and they were once again near their familiar forest just north of Canterlot. The Shogun waved his fan again, and a large amount of dirt was lifted from the ground, perfectly rectangular in shape about ten feet deep. He waved it again and now Hogeki's body was inside an ornate crate, with symbols of his clan adorning its sides. He was concealed from them all, but there was just enough room left in the open lid for the Shogun to walk up, and somehow procured two pieces of solid gold to drop through the lid before closing it.

"This is so you may pay the ferryman…" The Shogun said respectfully before the dirt drifted over the whole, and dropped on top of the crate, covering the grave. "Go forth Hogeki Ninman… your ancestors await you…"

(Aketoki's PoV)

His final words given, he backed up and allowed Aketoki and Hanayo to step forward and pay their final respects.

"I can't believe it… he's finally gone…" Hanayo said as the two of them looked down at the grave of their greatest threat of being together. "He was so determined to make me his… and I wouldn't have cared earlier today if he had died upon his own sword. Yet now that he's dead… I'm really sad…"

Aketoki nodded in agreement, he too felt sorry that Hogeki was gone. "If it weren't for him and this proposed marriage… we wouldn't have gotten this far Hanayo…" He said. "He was the heir to our clan's enemy Hanayo... yet I had absolutely no ill will toward him after I won the duel. I was more than willing to even adopt him into our clan so he didn't have to go back home. Yet he chose this path…"

Hanayo looked at him with curious eyes. "Would you have really done that Aketoki? Despite everything he did to claim me for his own? The attempted murder of Princess Luna, breaking you out of prison and pointing the blame at you, trying to convince them to execute and hand me over to you, and even trying to take me by force, would you have really adopted him after all that?"

Aketoki nodded silently. "Even after all of that I would have, because if it weren't for him… his clan… and all the effort he went through to steal you from me. I would not have you by my side now. He gave me the will to get his far…"

There was a long pause in silence before the Shogun spoke to them both, or more specifically him. "Such a swordsman spirit I have not seen for many a generations, and your skill with the sword and the devotion you have to your beloved is beyond any that I have ever seen." The Shogun said. "Such spirit and personality deserves reward… ask what you wish and I shall grant it!"

This caught Aketoki completely off guard, the mere presence of the Shogun himself was one thing, having him witness his duel was an honor all its own. But anything he wanted and the Shogun would grant it? That was almost a dream come true.

And yet… there was not a single thing in the world that he wanted.

"I don't need anything Lord Tenshi…" He said respectfully as he held Hanayo close to him. "I already have everything I could ever want. Hanayo is safe and sound, we are both married to each other, and we no longer have to fear Hogeki's retribution."

The Shogun smiled at that, but still there was a twinkle in his eyes that still sparkled. "You mean there is not one single thing or desire in your heart, which you do not long to be granted?" He asked. "Not a single question or lingering worry you want answered?"

Before Aketoki could say no, something in the back of his mind surfaced, and he remembered there was one thing he always wondered but never could figure out. "Lord Tenshi… is there any way… you could tell me the name of the Ronin… that saved my life the day my Clan died?"

The Shogun stared blankly into the sky before he took his fan, unfurled it and turned to look at Princess Celestia. "The name is but one part of a story that must be told properly… or else the name will have no meaning!" He said to her. "With your permissions, I will bend time and space once more… to tell the tale that must be told."

Celestia looked hesitant before nodding, giving the Shogun her permission to use his powers once again. "Our story begins twenty years ago, before you and your beloved were born… in the town of Takasaki…" He said as he waved his fan gently around and once more everything seemed to fade as they were transported back to the mysterious world.

This time they were in a bustling city, one Aketoki recognized as Takasaki, in fact they were right outside a large house complex he was very familiar with before it was destroyed. "Aketoki it's…" Hanayo said to him as she too recognized the house.

"Yes… it's the Nimaji Clan's house… where we all gathered for special occasions." He said sadly as he even recognized vaguely members of his family.

(Everyone's PoV)

"Whoa where are we now?" Rainbow Dash asked in amazement.

"I would have to guess somewhere in Japan… most likely this Takasaki place that they were talking about."The translator said.

"This is where these Sengoku Ponies are from?" Princess Celestia asked this time. "It's so peaceful… I was expecting…"

"Indeed, this is Takasaki during one of the many rare times of peace that it enjoyed under rule of the Hojo Clan." The Shogun said as several ponies started entering the house, almost all of whom had Aketoki's clan symbol on both sides of their cheeks. "I must now ask you all to remain as quiet as possible… for while I can show you what has happened in the past… it takes much strength to maintain this gift. Now the house you see before you is the Nimaji Clan's meeting house, where the lord of the Nimaji Clan lives. The entire clan is gathering to celebrate the arranged marriage between the new Lord, and his marriage to Yumi Yorikatsku."

"Arranged marriage, again with this stuff?" Rainbow Dash said. "Why the hay do you guys force mares to marry against their will?"

"Yea what RD said, Ah aint liking where this is going!" Applejack declared.

"Not all arranged marriages are like the one between Hanayo and Hogeki… as it was with these two." The Shogun declared as he stepped forward and walked through the closed door as though it weren't real. "Come… it's almost time… and before you continue let me just say that none of these ponies can see or hear you. You are like spirits to them… invisible spectators of events that have long since happened."

They all walked through and entered the house. Inside was a large hall where all the ponies were dressed in similar clothes that Hanayo wore, but varied from wearer to wearer. At the forefront was a young looking stallion, in his mid-twenties who was enjoying a drink with his new wife who was in her early twenties and another stallion who was not a Nimaji, also in his mid-twenties.

"Are they…" Luna asked as she noticed the resemblance between two of them and Aketoki.

"Yes… those are Yumi Yorikatsku and Tendoshi Nimaji, Aketoki's mother and father… or they will be in eight years from today." The Shogun said as Aketoki looked at the ghosts of his parents with sadness. "The one sitting next to them is a lifelong friend of Tendoshi Nimaji, called Ginei Tsunuyo, a loyal family friend since childhood. They are just celebrating the union of his best friends."

"Childhood friends… you mean they been pals since they were both foals?" Applejack asked.

"Indeed… but deep down Ginei harbored a deep jealousy for his friend… for he too had harbored feelings to the fair Yumi that Tendoshi was now married to." The Shogun declared as several of the Nimaji began to leave the room, but still the three at the forefront remained. "Listen now… for these words are important."

And they went quiet to listen to the three ponies speaking to each other as they finished the last of their drinks. "Well my friend… you're finally Lord of the Nimaji Clan and you have the lovely Yumi all to yourself… what are your plans?" Ginei asked as Yumi stacked their serving trays on top of each other.

Tendoshi smiled as he chuckled and slapped his friend boisterously on the back. "For now, attend to the affairs of my Clan!" He said. "The rest of the clan saw fit to make me head, so I shall make sure that their faith is rewarded. We have a lot of work to do don't we Yumi?"

Yumi smiled as she stood up and picked up the serving plates. "Yes, well since the guests have finally left I shall go and bring the financial statements you needed as well as the Dowry that I have promised you." She said respectfully before she left the room.

As soon as she left an awkward silence filled the room as the two friends suddenly lost their cheerful spirit. "Tell me my friend… do you still love her?" Tendoshi asked quietly.

Ginei looked at where Yumi last was before he nodded. "Yes…"

"Do you feel jealous that she's my wife now?" Tendoshi asked nervously. "We both know you really liked her for as long as I did… are you…"

Ginei smiled and shook his head as he looked at his friend. "No, deep down I always knew she was after you." He said. "After all you had those biiiiig stroooong muscles that wooed her the first time we all met!"

"Oh yea, and you were the one nearly that broke his leg from falling for her literally!"

The two chuckled and laughed as they acted like they were fifteen years younger. "Don't worry my friend, I still care for her but now I have another reason to keep an eye on you both!" Ginei said with a grin. "Because the moment you stop caring about her is when I'm taking her for myself!"

"Oh yea right, you and what army!" Tendoshi declared mockingly, as though he were being challenged.

"Me and THIS army!" Ginei said as he picked up a bottle and splashed whatever liquid was inside it onto his friend.

"Oh, that was some perfectly good Sake!" Tendoshi complained.

"What a waste!" Ginei agreed.

The two shared looks as they both started laughing their heads off at each other's expressions.

The scene around them began to fade into swirls and mist before the Shogun started talking again. "Four years after this marriage, Aketoki Nimaji was born, and months after that Hanayo Kusaji, and before them both Hogeki Ninman." He said. "As you all know, the two clans of Nimaji and Ninman were mortal enemies to each other. While Hojo kept the two from openly declaring war on each other, their feuding never ceased. Tendoshi, Yumi, and Ginei were all still good friend even as war gripped their country. True to his word, Ginei watched over the family, wanting to protect his friends in any way he could, not because he was duty bound but because he wanted to. It was a debt owed to them for personal reasons."

"Six years after the birth of Aketoki, word began to spread of a plot to kill and assassinate Lord Hojo. The rumors all pointed to a plot that was being organized by the Nimaji, as armed warriors were gathering near Takasaki, and all other cities in Hojo's realm. Ginei, unable to convince any that the plot wasn't true, decided to become a Ronin to find out the truth. He managed to get hired by the Ninman to arrest the Lord of the Nimaji under orders by Lord Hojo. He assumed that he would simply arrest Tendoshi and then he could speak in his defense."

"Alas merely an hour before the arrest was to be made in the dark of night, the head of the Ninman Clan as well as head of Takasaki's police force, changed the orders and ordered fifty Samurai to storm the Nimaji's home and slaughter them all."

The swirling mist settled and they were once more back in Takasaki, specifically near the Nimaji's home. This time they were with Ginei and four other Samurai, and apparently they had dropped into a heated discussion.

"No… not this… please Lord Tenshi I don't need to see this!" Aketoki suddenly shouted.

"Yes Lord Shogun, please we don't need to witness this massacre again!" Hanayo pleaded desperately. "Please my Lord, in all your wisdom spare us this sight! Don't make Aketoki relive this event again!"

"Yea uh… I don't need to see this!" Rainbow Dash said nervously as a whistle sounded in the distance.

"Dad… what's about to happen!" Sparkler asked nervously.

"Shogun Tensaki, please do not force us all to view this horror!" Celestia declared quickly as the samurai they were near tensed up.

The Shogun however shook his head silently. "All this must be seen, for these actions define those that stand here and those that no longer stand here." He said.

A few seconds later another Samurai arrived and quickly said something that they couldn't hear, until Ginei suddenly shouted. "What do you mean the orders have changed?"

"It's as Lord Ninman said, because of the suspicious activities and sudden gathering of the entire Nimaji Clan, Lord Hojo and Ninman have ordered all Samurai to converge and slaughter the whole Clan. These orders are to be carried out within five whistle blows."

"I don't care if all the Daimyo himself came here and said this to us, our orders were to arrest only Tendoshi Nimaji!" Ginei said angrily as the first whistle bew. "And what of my information, I've known the Nimaji my entire life, did nothing I say matter? Why are we doing this?"

They continued to argue as four more whistle blows sounded, and a large uproar sounded. "Come one everyone, let's go!" One of the lead Samuri said, drawing his sword and rushing for the Nimaji home. "CHARGE!"

"Waaaaaaaaaait!" Ginei shouted angrily, racing after his fellow Samurai as lights went on inside the entire house.

Aketoki charged after Ginei, and was soon followed by Hanayo and soon all the others watching.

They all entered into the main hall of the house right behind Ginei, and the first thing Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Ditzy, and Sparkler did was scream. The main floor that they had moments ago been watching a celebration in take place was now the scene of a massacre. Inside there were blood stains on the floor, swords stuck inside bodies, spears shoved through bodies and even into heads. Hooves were cut off, clothes splattered in blood stains and covering gore. Yet it wasn't just them screaming, it was the also the screaming of those who were still fighting or dying. It wasn't also just armed Samurai, but defenseless young and old, male and female, none were being spared.

Around them Samurai armed for battle were fighting barely dressed warriors of the Nimaji Clan, desperately trying to survive. Even as they watched a mare ran down the hallway, making a dash for the main door with a young filly following her, but they were quickly cut off by two Samurai.

"NO SPARE MY YOUNG I BE…" She tried to say, before a sword was stabbed through her guts, and right after the filly met the same fate.

"YOU MONSTERS!" A Nimaji shouted as he charged the two Samurai, carrying a large Naginata similar to Hanayo's.

As they dueled the sounds of battle from above sounded, shouts and screams of pain, metal clashing on metal, and then one ear piercing scream got all of their attention. "Aketoki!" Hanayo shouted as she ran down the hall, followed by everyone else as they ran upstairs, trying to ignore the scene around them as Samurai took advantage of the defenseless mares before killing them, even as the Samurai of the Nimaji fought their hardest to protect them!

At the top of the house they found Aketoki, staring alongside Ginei, oblivious to any of them being there, staring through an open door at a scene that Hanayo had only described to them but not this accurately.

In the room, lying on the ground with blood spilling onto the floor, were Aketoki's parents. Inside the room a single Samurai stood, sheathing his sword as he looked at Ginei. "You're a little late for the glory fight, this Nimaji barely put up a fight!" He said as he started to leave, even as other Samurai joined them. "He tried to protect his wife, but he wasn't even armed. Such a pathetic way to die for a Samurai!"

Aketoki collapsed to the ground, crying with murderous rage at his parent's killer being so smug. A look shared by Ginei.

"Ginei wanted nothing more than to avenge your parent's deaths right there, no matter what would happen to him Aketoki." The Shogun said. "However he saw something that gave him a reason to silence his Samurai sense of duty to his friend, at least for the moment. Something this cold hearted Samurai did not see."

They all watched as the samurai all left, going to fight the remaining surviving Nimaji who were still battling below. This left Ginei alone with the dead bodies of Tendoshi and Yumi Nimaji, and hiding just behind a closet, barely visible, a six year old Aketoki Nimaji.

"You all know what happens after…" The Shogun said as Ginei took Aketoki, and risked his own life by throwing himself out of the window to get Aketoki safely outside, without being spotted. "Aketoki never met Ginei before that day, at least not one that he could remember. The last time they met was his birth. Still he rushed to save his two friend's young, and take them to the one Clan that could keep the Ninman away from them. The Kusaji Clan, a clan that at one point was a great friend of the Nimaji. He asked them to raise the boy and shelter him from the storm that the Ninman unleashed, until he was of age."

The next scene they saw as they followed Ginei racing through the town, avoiding contact with any of the inhabitants before he reached a house, similar size to the Nimaji's house. The residents of this house had Hanayo's Clan symbol on their cheeks, and the only bit of relief they found from the horrendous massacre from before, came in Hanayo bopping Aketoki on his head with her wooden sword.

They were once again being surrounded by mist as Hanayo did her best to comfort Aketoki. Not just Hanayo, but nearly all of them except for The Doctor were shocked at such a scene. Such a sight was about as foreign as they could get on Equestria.

"After you were safe with the Kusaji, Ginei went after the one who killed his two friends. Alas by this time he was already highly favored by the Ninman's head, and was already being offered a position in Hojo's army as an officer. Unwilling to simply let the killer go, Ginei offered his services to Hojo for free, saying he simply wanted to protect a friend of his. So it was for a full year."

"Ginei kept the samurai safe, which he learned the name of. His name was Toshiyu Kunda. Ginei made sure he was safe throughout the battles that followed, pretending to be a good friend and old colleague from the Nimaji Purge. He maintained this image until finally, one winters evening when the two were traveling alone, Ginei challenged him to a duel."

The mist disappeared and revealed a snowy path well outside of a town in the distance. The clashing of two swords sounded and they watched Ginei and Toshiyu battling. "So you were lying this entire time, pretending to be my friend?" Toshiyu shouted angrily as they clashed. "Why did you do that, protect me all this time, just for revenge?"

"That's right; you killed my best friend and his wife, as well as their entire clan!" He replied. "I couldn't take my revenge back then, but now I will! One way or another you will DIE HERE!"

"Don't you get it, you'll be dead too for doing this!" Toshiyu said. "You can't get away; there are several of my friends almost here! They'll kill you for this!"

"That doesn't matter to me now… all that matters… IS THIS!" Ginei said as he knocked Toshiyu's sword away and stabbed him through the chest.

Moments later Toshiyu fell to the ground, and several samurai charged toward the pair, swords drawn. However before they reached him the scene faded one final time, and they were returned to where they were. "After he took his revenge, Ginei was arrested and tried for murder. Pleading guilty he accepted death, and was executed. He died knowing that he had fulfilled his promise to his friend… he kept their legacy safe, and ensured that the Nimaji Clan would live on… long after him."

The Shogun turned to Aketoki and nodded in understanding as he looked at the shocked expression. "Now you know the name… of the one who saved your life… all those years ago…"