//------------------------------// // Harmony Days VI: Uncle Orange's Day out (part 2) // Story: Sometimes They Call Me Super // by KorenCZ11 //------------------------------//         Before today, I don't remember ever visiting this place. I certainly don't remember the trade center being that imposing, that's for sure. Tin, the city in which Argent more or less owns every scrap of land around, isn't so much of a city as it is a collection of small homes and businesses and one gigantic tower that overtook the skyline, casting a shadow on the places below. Depending on the time of day of course. At the moment, it was nearing 4 PM before daylight savings kicked in, meaning that the shadow of Argent Tower was just about to fall over the city.         The little town was more or less dead at this time of day because shifts had yet to switch, the miners were still in the mountains, and everypony else was either in Argent Tower or waiting to open when the shifts switch in about an hour. Tin was further north than Manehattan and today it was particularly cold for whatever reason.         I had made my way through about half the city, or really half way to the tower, when I spotted my train ride partner. Her mind was very active as far as I could tell, her power swirling just above the surface just ready to be activated at a moments notice. I wonder what she's up to. The mare made quick movements of scanning around and continued further down a well hidden alley way that I wouldn't have likely noticed if there weren't a bright blue, rainbow maned pony walking through it.         It must be inconvenient to have a coloring like that when one is trying to be sneaky. She seemed rather smart, so I bet she has a costume. But I wonder if her costume would also attract attention? Maybe... it's not like she had anything on her but that phone of hers. I continued to watch her until her mind gave notice of her powers spreading outside of it. The mare unraveled the gauze on her broken wing bone revealing that it was like the wound had just been made. The blood started to flow from it, floating and pooling just above the mare's head in front of a wall that had a strange groove on it.         The liquid traveled into the wall, filling it until all the groves were red, making some kind of rune pattern out of the various lines. The blood began to glow and I felt another power of somepony beginning to work on the door. One latch, two latch, three latch, four latch. The door began to slide away, and the mare's blood started to flow back into her bone like it'd never left. She wrapped the spot back up and headed inside.         I checked the tower's shadow to see how far it had moved in the last few minutes to make sure I still had time to investigate, and when I decided it had only been five minutes or so, I inspected the spot. The door had closed as soon as Rainbow entered, returning back to the near invisible wall. The best place to hide a tree after all... Had I not been looking for it, I wouldn't have seen the grooves in the first place. They were so shallow that it barely looked like there was anything different about this section of white wall than all the others on this little building. The runes looked like something you'd find in a unicorn spell book and formed a circular pattern on the wall that made a few triangle shapes inside.         A six pointed star? That's unusual... I heard movement from nearby and decided it best to make my way to my appointment in the tower. The shadow had shifted another few inches and four PM was growing ever closer. As soon as I had entered the giant white coated place, I was immediately directed by somepony toward the main elevator. After reaching the interior of the mirror walled box, I noticed that there were at least eighty buttons on the elevator panel. The mare, who was a stark white pegasus probably in her mid twenties with a range of colors in her mane and tail from blue to yellow, pressed the top left button and entered a code into a keypad that caused the elevator to rise.         A strange feeling occurred when I realized that this mare was... different. With normal ponies, their minds came off as more or less bland. Mostly colorless and usually without any particular flavor giving me almost nothing to read as I passed them. With power ponies, there was always a color, and there was always a flavor, telling me what they were, what they could do, or what their powers do to them. This mare however was a mixture of both sides. The color was more grouped toward her eyes as opposed to her whole body like a normal power pony, and the flavor was almost as if it were masked somehow. As if she was intentionally hiding her powers, but not specifically from me.         “So... Have you worked here for long?” I asked. The mare made a movement like she was going to answer, but hesitated before she did.         “A while. I've known Mister Argent for a long time,” She said. Have you really? You powers are stirring...         “I see. Are you... very close to him?” Her mind looked almost as if it were fighting itself. The flavor wanted to stretch out and expand, but the color was keeping it all locked away near her eyes. It didn't look so much like she was trying to hide it anymore, but like she was desperately trying to control it. The mare nodded.         “I'm his personal secretary and have been so for years, Mister Orange.” When she said my name, her powers swirled like a vortex, spinning and winding, rapidly trying to escape it's prison. Her tone was harsh, as if she wanted nothing more than to be away from me. How strange. I've yet to do anything and this mare is already hostile.         The elevator dinged as the upward momentum stopped. The light above the door came on and the two doors slid open, revealing a small hallway that lead to a large open room with a singular desk that appeared to be empty, a couch and several glass display cases lining either wall. I followed the mare, even her movements seeming to hold resentment as she lead me to the couch. Hidden in front of it was an another chair and a coffee table with a chess board on top of it. I noticed the girl's powers flare and caught her staring daggers into me with her pale gray eyes. For a moment I thought she might've been blind, but by the way she was staring at me there was no way she was... but then again, maybe that's why her powers are grouped so close to her eyes?         “Mister Argent will be with you shortly. Please take a seat and wait for his arrival.” She turned on her hooves and just about stormed back to the elevator. Rather than continue thinking on what I could have done in the few minutes I've been here to cause so much malice in that girl, I decided to focus on the chessboard in front of me. The pieces were made of aluminum and glass, one set facing the other in traditional fashion. As with most chess sets in Equestria, the king's piece was in the shape of Celestia's crown, and the Queen's piece that of Luna's. The rest of the pieces appeared to be normal, but upon further inspection had engraving in the back of each one.         The bishops were engraved, one with a six pointed star almost identical to the one I saw on the door, and the other with a diamond shape on the back of it's head. The knights, A lightning bolt and a butterfly, the rooks a balloon and... an apple. What a strange set of pieces. Surely these shapes mean something to Stannum, but what? Just as I picked one up, I heard the elevator door open behind me.         He was an older stallion, but that didn't make him look any less intimidating. An earth pony, strong and built of an imposingly tall and muscular figure with a silver gray coat. His mane was a mixture of brown orange and white, somewhere between rust and old age, cut short like somepony used to working in the military. He had a neatly trimmed beard and mustache that matched his rust speckled mane. He was wearing a suit that was stark white, much like his assistant, that had six colored pins along the lapels. He carried himself like a creature that had been at the top of the food chain, but at the same time with an almost royal air of dignity around him. His dark orange irises settled on me and showed his near shining white teeth under a smile. His mind was covered in a sickeningly sour flavor that danced with the same silver color of his own coat. With all the effort I could manage I kept the scowl I had been anticipating from forming on my face and stood to greet him.         “Hello Stannum,” I said, finally subduing my own hate into something that appeared pleasant.         “Evening Mister Blood Orange. It is wonderful to see you again,” he replied with a voice made of southern velvet and deep tones. A twinge of pain struck my heart as his voice was only so much different from Citrus', yet more refined. I hated it, but if nothing else, Stannum Argent oozed charisma. His mind sprang to life nearly covering his whole body in a burning silver aura that I have only seen once before when he approached me years ago. The flavor and color of Argent's mind were so unique to himself, even I didn't know how to read it. If anything, it reminded me of that pegasus mare I saw back in Manehattan today. Like a monster deep within. No, no, this is Stannum. The monster is already on the outside.         “If that's how you feel about it. So, what can I do for you today?” He made his way over and took a seat at the other side of the table and motioned for me to to sit as well.         “Blood, do you play chess?” I didn't like where this was going. Stannum was a stallion that practically enjoyed torture, and as much as he looked to be covered in brawn, he was just as cunning. Dangerous, is the word I typically use to describe him.         “I have before.” That's about the understatement of the century. Applebloom uses me as her practice partner. It's a miracle that I can even manage to keep ahead of her at the rate she learns. If I can't keep up with her, she has nopony else to practice with, so I'm always looking for new tactics. He nodded slowly.         “Good. I've called you here today because I have a little game to play with you.” 'I've called you hear because I want to see you squirm,' I translated. Stannum likes nothing more than tormenting ponies who know his true nature, but what he was really after today I didn't know.         “I suppose I can't really say no now that I'm here.” The old stallion gave me a big smile and leaned over the board.         “Perfect. I'll take the first move then.” Argent began by moving his white king's knight to F3. Opening with a knight? Just what have I gotten myself into? In response, I played black queen's pawn to D5.         “Hmm... I must ask, Mister Orange, do you have a history with this game?” Stannum asked. What is he after now? I could feel a change in the flavor he was giving off. The taste at its core was the same, but now there was a hint of something else to it. Genuine curiosity? Or is this a ploy to get me to start talking? He met my pawn with his own, and I responded by mirroring the board.         “I suppose. My youngest niece loves this game, so I try to keep up with her.” No new information to him, he knew about all of them, long before I knew about him. The flavor changed again and Stannum started the beginnings of a smirk. A white pawn to C4. Why would he just give me that? Should I just take it anyways? Bah, she would know better... the less pieces he has, the better off I am... Probably. I take the pawn and he cuts me off. Blocked off... what now? Apply pressure? I need to get something moving... Black queen's bishop to F5.         “Well, this is a rather pleasant surprise. It seems like your mind is still sharp after all these years. I suppose there never really was any need to worry about regression.” White king's knight to H4. I figured he'd cut me off, but not with his knight. Aggressive bastard. One move after another, my bishop retreats. Damn it, he's making my moves for me at this point. I don't want that queen out of her box just yet...         “I have to take care of them somehow. I am their guardian after all.” I won't get anywhere retreating like this... A trap maybe? So much for that pawn. Pressure to his knight for trade. Bishops move, pawns shift. We both have an avenue for our queens, but I'm certain he'll go on attack first.         “So, I've heard that Manehattan has become an interesting place over the weekend.” Getting to what you really called me here for now, huh? Pawns die, bishops glide, and more and more it looks like he's setting up to set his monster loose. Is he about to move out his knight? Where would he go with it?         “Is that so? Why do you say that?” If Rainbow was under orders to tell me what she did, then he won't bring up old information. I apply pressure, then it finally happens. White queen to F3. Gah, the bitch is in play. As if I wasn't having trouble keeping up as it is. Might as well bolster defense on my king's bishop. Black rook's pawn to A5. One pawn each, I have his king's knight, he has my queen's bishop. Stannum chuckled.         “Well for starters, my piers were damaged in some kind of fire fight. Supposedly, the entire harbor has grooves in it from high heat exposure of some kind, but my two ports were much more heavily damaged than any others. Sounds like some kind of... monster got loose doesn't it?” A distraction maybe? So far he hasn't done anything without purpose. But that makes me believe that Rainbow was telling the truth. I wonder if she's to meet with Stannum next? A monster... Wait a minute... Black queen to E7. What has he been up to?         “Really? It almost sounds like you're being targeted, but I can't think of anything in the last few years that would warrant that. I'm sure you haven't made any enemies recently.” I made sure to let the sarcasm drip from my voice. Goddess, that queen makes me nervous. I can't leave any openings here. Damn it. Bah, putting that in front of the rook will only make things worse. I'm better off checking his remaining knight.         “It could be that. I doubt you know this, but some punk ass kid thought it would be fun to hijack one of my import ships and then he stole all the cargo. But... I left a present in there for him. From what I've heard about the harbor, I'd say he got all three of 'em...” Damn, he's trying to attack my weakened side. I need to get my king out of the way... All three of what? Is he talking about that Goose Fang guy? Why would... no, he already knew the boat was going to be stolen. Black king castles to C2.         “A present huh? What kind of present?” He looked at me and smiled. You don't have anywhere for that rook to go! What are you doing with it? Speaking of nowhere to go, what do I do? Moving my more powerful pieces right now would more than likely prove fruitless if Applebloom has taught me anything about mid-game. Let's see... that knight's pawn hasn't been moved. Maybe I can clear a spot so I can push my chariots into action...         “Oh you know... something shiny and reflective, just what a punk like him would want.” Other thoughts went on hold. “You did what!?” One of my pawns dies in passing. No, no, no... more of them? How? How could he have made another one? He didn't actually find those relics did he? They were supposed to be lost shortly after the nation was founded, there's no way... Oh no, I wasn't paying attention to that knight! That's why he moved the rook! His queen is already trained to take over that whole side of the board. This is fine. I can just take the pawn and react to whatever he does next. Black knight's pawn captures F6.         “Trigger a memory perhaps? I merely tested out a new product using a very... special sample group.” The white queen storms ever closer. Lab rats. He's treating gang members like lab rats at the expense of his own harbor. There must have been some kind of horrible reaction to whatever these new mirrors are made out of, but that certainly explains the second power. However... is the gang boss still wearing it? Surely it could have been damaged in a fight if he wasn't specifically protecting it... Mine had more than a few layers of magic protecting it in that suit, and even then Citrus almost broke it and killed me... sigh. I almost wish he'd succeeded. How different things would be if I was the one who died in that fight. Divert his attention, or protect the pawn? He probably wants me to protect the fake target while he goes after the real target. That queen still has two places to move that could screw me over... Fire with fire, my chariots are in play too.         “There are those in this world that I can't ever forgive, and both of those ponies happen to be the same room right now. How are you making them again?” Stannum moved a pawn to corner my knight, and suddenly, he had nowhere to progress to. Damn, he was after my king's knight all along. Well, nothing I can do but retreat for now. At least my bishop is still relatively safe, but that could change rather quickly. I feel like the board is going to tip very soon...         “Oh, you know, a little of this and a little of that. I think I've finally solved that whole, fracturing problem. You see, mercury has a fun little interaction when it's exposed to the virus under a disruption crystal and then frozen and charged with magic. Once activated, not only will the new mirror force integrate with the host's body, but it will eventually become permanent to the point of removing all traces that it was ever there over a few month's time, which means...” The back row pieces are all moving now, encroaching ever closer. Three moves and ponies start dying left and right.         “The powers received never go away... the host will permanently have an additional power until it dies...” I said, more to myself than Stannum.         “Exactly. See, I knew you still had your whits about you.” He can make soldiers... he can just create power ponies with what is essentially the flip of a switch. If the mirrors integrate with the body, then not even an immunity to the virus would save you, it manipulates genes! But... wait. There must be more, otherwise he'd have already started his campaign. He gave them away? On purpose to test them... because there's a variable he can't control. A variable he can't know for certain until after the deed is done... Fortify the king before the carnage begins. Black king to B2.         “So what is it? What's causing these mirrors of yours to malfunction? If anypony knows you, it's me, so why haven't you already started your conquest yet?” Stannum frowned. The first sacrifice moves, a pawn that will become a domino. I can pull my bishop out and pressure his queen! Stannum puffed out some air through his nostrils. The monster backs away. Now is the time to take back the hill! My bishop dies in battle and now the hill is contested even further. Stannum started to smile again. What are you planning now? I'll avoid the death trap that is that pawn and use my king's knight to pressure his bishop.         “Well, as you know, magic isn't the most predictable thing in the world, and neither is science to a certain degree, and with the virus being biologically unique to each pony, there have been a few... interesting reactions.” His tone sounded so displeased that it almost made me smile. The bishops dance on opposite colors, parallel forces that can only watch mournfully from a distance. He's disappointed? He must not know how to fix his problem... Maybe I can take his knight next...         “Interesting reactions?” Stannum nodded. He captured my king's pawn at and then put his hooves together.         “Mister Orange, have you ever heard of the Beast?” The Beast? What is he on about now? Hmm... I have an opening for my chariots now... Queen's rook to D8. Ah yes, D8. The space she likes to refer to as 'Sad face,' or the place 'Rooks go to die.' She's not wrong about it either. Any time we do trade rooks, it's almost always at D8 or D1.         “No, I'm afraid I haven't.” He's blocking? Well, now would be the time to take that knight then. The Black knight slays the white knight. Why yes, you will bleed on me.         “The Beast is an unusual power pony that showed up in Manehattan about three years ago. Nopony has survived to see what the creature looks like before it transforms, save for one who managed to see it's outline in the dead of night. We know that it is a pegasus when it walks around like a pony, but that is not what earned it the name, 'The Beast.' Under exposure of something, this pony transforms into a monstrous creature more akin to a wolf, like a strange pony hybrid. It becomes almost two stories tall and manages the strength to literally crush a pony like a tomato in a single claw. It's earliest appearance was some time in twenty seven, and it was most active in the following year, yet the year after there were maybe one or two sightings, less since.” Hmm... he wants me to go after that bishop with my rook, but that would only be disastrous. Take the pawn instead. If I lose my knight, he loses his bishop and effectively loses the trade. Another victim falls to the black Knight.         “And you're telling me this because it has something to do with your new mirrors?” Stannum nodded. I figured as much, those bishops seem to be his new wave of pressure. But now that the secondary threat is gone, let's put pressure on three of his pawns and trap his king in one spot. His monster sets out to be an obstacle. Protecting his rook. Fine, his pawn dies. Black queen to capture A4, another victim of the Beast.         “The second generation is dealing with a similar flaw that causes the host to mutate not unlike the Beast into a monster that more or less goes berserk and destroys everything in sight. We don't have a large sample size yet, but so far it affects most of our test subjects.” Ha! I've got you now! Time to kill your rook. The Beast tramples on, one less chariot in the clear and silver world. And next is your king...         “Check. That doesn't sound like you, you normally have these things planned better.” Stannum shook his head.         “While I thank you for the praise, even I can't know everything.” He blocks with his bishop. Now I get to make you dance. And another one down, and another one down, and another one bites the dust! Now that I've killed that off, time to move into position. We're about to enter the end game. My Beast bathed in the blood of her enemies looks for her next victim.         “I see. This game is gone on long enough, why did you call me here Stannum?” His monster stands in the way of mine, but that damnable bishop is baiting me. Trading queens now? You're not in a great position as it is, but I don't see a problem in that. My Beast kills his monster, only for her to be taken out by that bishop at C5. With my Knight as my largest threat remaining, he moves in.         “I need the original.” My knight chases his chariot, and soon there will be nowhere left to run. I have him on the ropes, if I can just... the original?         “The original? I thought I told you, that was destroyed.” Stannum shook his head.         “No, no, no, there's no way that could have happened. That thing was loaded with fragments of the six element crystals! This game has already ended in stalemate, tell me where the mirror is, Mister Orange!” He stood and rose to full height, the Adonis like stallion imposing over me. Looking at the board, in only a few moves, it would end up as me having a single pawn more than him, and two bishops on opposite colors. Unless one of us suddenly decided to give up, it was over. I stood up myself.         “I told you years ago, the mirror was destroyed with the trade center. There is nothing I can do about it.” Stannum looked at me with eyes burning, the taste of his power had suddenly turned spicy. Oh goddess, please don't tell me he's about to attack.         “I don't think you understand what I am trying to tell you mister Orange. Get me the mirror. Or there will be consequences.” I lowered my eyes. No... he should have no way of knowing I don't have Citrus' powers anymore, he should know better than to challenge me.         “And I don't think you understand Mister Argent. The mirror was destroyed. I don't have it and I don't know if even the fragments remain.” I felt his powers flare and begin to grow to fill the rest of his body. I was about to turn tail and run when I felt another mind rising from below by the elevator. The doors slid open and our attention was drawn to it. Out trotted... or half rolled, a younger pony, probably in his late teens or early twenties. His coat was a dark green, and his mane and tail were a shiny mixture of white and silver with irises that were a dark orange color. His lower body was strapped up in belts and hooked to some kind of wheeled apparatus that allowed his more or less malformed hind legs to move with the rest of his body.         “Dad, are you ready to go? We need to... I'm not interrupting anything am I?” The young stallion asked. I watched the older stallion visibly and mentally relax before he let out a breath.         “No, Silicon. Mister Orange was just leaving. But we'll speak again soon. That you can be sure of,” Stannum said. The air in the room seemed to become very thin very fast. I took in a deep breath that didn't seem to do much for me and simply nodded.         “I see. Very well then. It was... a pleasure, to see you again Stannum,” I lied through my teeth. I quickly made my way to the elevator, passing the cripple on my way out, only making eye contact with him long enough to figure out what his power did. I nearly ran to the elevator and slammed the doors behind me. Goddess, how is that kid even alive? After the doorsclosed and I clicked the button for the first floor, I simply sat in amazement that that young stallion had even made it to the age he was. It was almost like a growth, that vision of color and that taste of bitter. Coiled around his body like some kind of ball of wriggling snakes tightening around his organs.         His mangled hind legs were the least of his worries with a power that was likely actively killing him. I tried to shake the sight away, but nothing would have it leave my eyes. Whatever power it granted him was likely not worth the literal suffering it caused in return. Is that why he was so desperate to get his hooves on the original? I should see if it's still there... That kid didn't look like he had much time left, as thin as he was. He called Stannum dad. The stallion was dangerous as it is, but desperate too? This can only end poorly. Maybe... maybe I should test my suspicions. If she is who I think she is, then maybe she can do something about it... My thoughts were interrupted by the elevator ringing, signaling me that I had arrived at my floor. When the doors slid away, I was greeted to the sight of a more depressed than angry looking, likely blind, white pegasus.         “Please come with me, Mister Orange.” She didn't give me a chance to question her, he just turned away from me and exiting the building. I suppose 'no' isn't an option is it? Reluctantly, I followed the young mare out of the building. The streets of Tin had come to life in the time that I had spent with Stannum. The roads and restaurants now full of occupants, streets filled with noise. The white mare had stopped and stared in my general direction just a few meters away, then trained her eyes on my location after stretching out her wings once. In that time, her power shot through them like a lightning bolt, then returned to her eyes.         “This way,” she said, unusually clear through the mass of voices and minds swirling around me. The crowd seemed to be half made up of power ponies, making it difficult to keep my concentration, yet somehow, I couldn't take my eyes off of her. She was alluring in a way that I couldn't quite put my hoof on. I followed her deep into the shadow of Argent tower, the east side of Tin becoming more like night out, the streetlamps already coming on. As I followed her, my memory started to trigger, making me remember that I had come this way not too long ago and once I had made the final turn, I realized where we were. The mare pulled a glowing blue liquid out from under her wing and flew to the top of the grooves on the wall. She removed the cap and poured the liquid over the grooves, and I watched in awe as, instead of following the established laws of physics, the liquid followed the grooves on the wall, filling them with an ethereal glow that just shouted 'magic' at anypony who could see it. One latch, two latch, three latch, four latch. The wall shuttered and slid away, leaving the magically charged liquid to flow back into its original resting place. The mare put the cap on her test tube and hid it beneath her wing.         “Hurry, or the door will close,” she said with that strange clarity again. She disappeared behind the wall, and as if enchanted, I followed. The moment my tail entered the space in front of it, the wall came back down behind me like lightning, grazing me and sliding back into place. The hall was remarkably dark, and it seemed to circle the building, leading to a set of dimly lit stairs going down the next wall to my right. The mare was waiting for me at the top of them and then began to hover, not unlike a humming bird, down them. For minutes, we went down stairs, deeper and deeper underground. I finally saw a brighter light at the end of the fourth turn and watched the white mare gently float inside it on her near invisible wings. Quick to escape the darkness of the stair riddled hallway, I galloped after her and into the room, only to be immediately stopped at sword point.         In a black cloak made of feathers that shined blue in the light was another figure holding a sword underneath it and pointing the tip at my neck. The figure wore a silver helmet and most of her dress was stark black and gray, save for her silver boots and small golden buttons on whatever coat she was wearing. The urge to swallow overcame me, and I took the feeling of multiple powers ready to activate as a sign to take a seat. It was when I felt the powers that I realized the one pointing the sword at me was familiar. A hemokenetic? Rainbow?         “What are you doing here?” The harsh tone pulled my attention away from the sword at my neck and toward the white mare who I'd followed here. The room itself was a bare basement-like block of cinder colored stone with a single exit on the opposite side of the room with an almost out of place, high tech steel reinforced door with a green glowing sign above it.         “What am I doing here? I followed you here at your instruction!” She made a motion to the black feathered character I could only assume was Rainbow in disguise, and the sword disappeared under her cloak. I never saw the end that was holding it, but based on the fact that she had no horn and the sword was on her right, I figure she recognized me and was trying to hide her singular wing. The white mare relaxed and sat down, but Rainbow kept her powers just an inch away from surfacing, and the bitter tang to it told me she was still on edge.         “Don't play dumb with me, you know what I mean. Who are you? Why are you in Tin?” Her voice seemed to have more calm mixed in with the anger now, so I relaxed a little. I would ask the same questions, but I don't have a weapon to threaten you with.         “Blood Orange. I'm an accountant who works for one of Mister Argent's subsidiaries. I was called in by Stannum for a visit.” And that is the truth. The mare frowned.         “How do you know Argent then? Why would he call some random accountant to his office personally?” She narrowed her eyes, but not specifically at me. Her powers had moved back to her wings and her eyes were left darkened. Ah, so she really is blind.         “I... was hired by him personally years ago. I'm... one of his acquaintances.” I'm certainly not his friend.         “Very well then. What did you talk about in his office?” Why would you ask that? Aren't you his secretary? “Be that as it may, that does not mean he will tell me all of his plans. Answer the question.” A mind reader? That's not what I felt...  “Felt? What do you mean, 'felt?'” At this point I figured she was at least in tune enough with me to read whatever I was thinking, so there was no point in not voicing my thoughts.         “I can feel the powers of others... uh, it comes as a combination of taste and color in the pony or ponies nearest to me. You're blind... and you in the mask, you're Rainbow Dash, aren't you?” As quick as the words exited my mouth, the feather coated mare flew back on wings of crimson that materialized out of thin air and the sword returned to view now covered in a pulsing red liquid, being held at the golden hilt by a cyan wing. She looked like she was about to dive bomb me, when the other mare stood up.         “Stop! We can't kill him yet!” the white mare exclaimed. I rolled my eyes. That's reassuring.  “At the very least it'll prolong your life. Calm down, Rainbow.” She hesitated at first, but then her wings evaporated and she settled on the ground. The sword lost it's glowing red and was quickly sheathed in a bright red case on her left side. Her wing took hold of her helmet to set it down on the table and then she removed the pale gray mask underneath it.         “He knows who I am! What are we supposed to do now? Just let him walk away?” Rainbow angrily shouted. The white mare shook her head.         “He already knows he's trapped, and we have a common enemy here. If he's smart, he will work with us, right?” I sighed and nodded.         “There's no hiding anything from you, and I'm sure she can out pace me if I tried to escape. But then again, who says a one winged pegasus can't fly after all?” I couldn't help but let the sarcasm out in full force. Rainbow eyed me.         “You know damn well I couldn't just do that out in the open. Sure I won't kill you, yet, but maybe I'll send you home a leg short! See what a cripple's life is like for a change!” She yelled, her wing gripping the sword hilt, her blood flowing around it in a red haze. The white mare stamped her hoof in between us.         “Stop it! Fighting with him will do neither of us any good. Sit down and be quiet while I try and figure out what to do next.” Rainbow looked from her, then back to me, growled once and let the sword click back in it's sheath. She just about threw a chair out from the table with her wing and slammed herself down in it.         “And here I thought you weren't an asshole. Shows what I know.” She said at me. I shook my head and sighed again.         “I would love to see how you act while being held hostage at sword point. I would imagine you might just feel a little upset. What do you want from me? And really, why do you want anything from me? Did you know I had powers before, or did you just assume I did because Stannum asked for me personally?” The white mare sat back down on the floor across from me and took a deep breath.         “First off, before anything else, why? Why do you give off almost the same signature as Citrus Root?” The words stabbed me like a cone of ice jabbing through my heart. Nopony has said his name aloud in almost eleven years. Pain and memories started to flood my eyes, a stabbing sickness filled my whole body. I only just managed to relax the sudden tension in all of my muscles before I could reply.         “You... you knew my brother?” Her ears flattened on her head and her pale gray eyes went wide.         “You're... I...” She paused and swallowed, as if a similar pain had gripped her with my own words. “Tell me everything. Everything you know, everything you think you know, and anything you suspect about the events going on right now. I want to hear it all.” I didn't know what time it was, and I could only guess it was close to five thirty PM when I left Argent tower. I wouldn't leave Tin until it was time for the last train departure to Manehattan, near midnight that day.