Chapter 1017 Strawberry's secret

I don't own Bleach or any of the powers and gear used in this story.

Zack was drinking the lemonade that Strawberry made and she smiles watching him.

"So what do you think?" She asked.

"It's pretty good..." He then thinks of something to ask. "Also..."

"Oh wait." She then takes out a present for him. "Here a gift."

"Huh, but it's not my birthday." Zack was confused.

"It's a little gift, since we're friends." Strawberry smiles.

He blinks and opens it revealing a small bunny that's mix with a strawberry too.

"Is his a plushie?" Zack asked.

"Haha! No silly that's a Strawbunny! They're a mix of strawberry and bunnies, one of my creations!" She said.

"Oh I see, well thanks." Zack pets the little guy.

He smiles and raises his arms. "Wawawa!"

"You better take care of them Zack!" She frowns.

"Hey I always take care of my friends, like Epona." He said.

"Who's Epona?" She asked.

"Epona is my horse, she's always been my trusted friend." He smiles.

Among his allies he was happy to find Epona, she was always the one he can count on when he needs help, she was there ever since he first met her, Malon told him to take care of her and he did.

It seems no matter what time or reality, Epona seems to always come to his aid and help him, when he called her Epona would come to his side and they would ride into battle together.

"She must be really important to you." Strawberry said.

"Yeah she is, you can't always be wrong with Epona." He said. "Say theres been legends about people going inside the woods and getting killed."

She got nervous. "W-what... Don't be silly I get lost all the time and i'm fine. Your fine too even."

"Yeah I Guess your right, so I should be able to leave without a worry." Zack gets up.

She got scared. "No!"

He looks at her before vines grabbed him and took him to her room.

She goes to the kitchen and she was worried. "I can't let him leave."

Zack struggles before he breaks free. "What's wrong with her?!"

He then saw the Strawbunny point at a diary on the table.

He got curious and reads it to see what she's hidding.

He learned of her story, where she completed to become a real witch like the others she knew, then she has been living alone for a long time, she met many people that became her friends and they went back to the woods where they get killed by the curse it has.

Zack frowns since he understood her more, she felt alone for a long time.

Strawberry came up and gasps. "You read my diary?!"

He looks at her and goes up to Strawberry, she feared the worse but he hugs her surprising the witch.

"It's okay, I understand." He said.

"You do?" She said.

"Yes, but doing this won't solve much, but maybe we can find a way to end this together." He looks into her eyes.

Strawberry has tears before she cries out hugging him again. "Thank you Zack! Thank you!"

He smiles at her before he senses something. "I think I know a way to start."

"Huh?" She got confused.

They went out to the back of the house to see a tree glowing.

"That tree eas strange since it's magical but I couldn't do anything." Strawberry said.

"But I can." He smiles.

He plays his ocarina doing the Song of Freedom, she got stunned before the tree starts to change.

It then became Captain Linebeck who smiles.

"Linebeck." Zack was surprised while Strawberry was amazed seeing that.

"Yes Link, i've came back once more, it seems you need help." He smiles.

"Okay, so what do you have your ship?" Zack asked.

"No, but something that can help." Linebeck used magic to summon the Spirit Train.

"The Spirit Train!" Zack got stunned.

"Yes, we can use to make a trail to the outside of the forest without anyone getting hurt." Linebeck said.

"Really?!" Strawberry asked.

"Yes, all aboard!" Linebeck said.

Zack helps Strawberry up and the Strawbunnies went to the train too.

It then goes foward with a railroad appearing for it, Strawberry watches them actually leaving the forest without anything trying to stop them.

The magical energy from the train is protecting them from the curse and she smiles with tears of joy coming out of her eyes.

Zack smiles at her since this train is now the thing to make a safe travel.

They exited the forest and they went all out.

"Once you need the train, just summon it." Linebeck said.

Zack nodded and he plays Epona's song, then Epona comes towards them stopping in front of Zack.

"Strawberry meet Epona." He said.

She smiles and pets the horse. "Your so pretty."

Strawbunny goes up to her and Epona rubs her head against it making the bunny smile.

Zack helps Strawberry up and they ride off to the distance since he has so much he can show her.

Strawberry felt free since the burden she had is now lifted, while the curse still existed the train was there to make people have a safe travel.

"I'll make sure to have your home somewhere safe." He said.

She nodded and they kept going into the sunset.

Strawbunny was on Epona's head and smiles feeling the wind with Epona also happy for the little guy.

Note: Zack helped Strawberry and he also got the Spirit Train thanks to Linebeck as that's the only way to travel out of the woods without getting killed.