It had been around a week since Kai started living in the massive castle. It still was a bit weird to him, the castle being significantly different from the cave he used to sleep in. Kai had been sleeping in a room with Fluttershy, the bed the Princesses gave him was big and soft, so he didn't have to sleep on the hard flooring of the castle every night. Fluttershy had stayed with Kai just to keep an eye on him, and to make sure that he was okay, while Twilight had stayed to help the Princesses observe and study Kai.
Currently, Kai was sitting outside the castle in a massive garden, his eyes closed as he tried channeling his mana into his body some more. The past week had been amazing for Kai's skills, as having nothing else to do, he decided to focus on leveling his few skills. Equestrian Tongue had reached its max level, which seemed to be five for his skills. However, much to Kai's irritation, he still couldn't speak with the ponies around him, just being able to understand their conversations perfectly. This turned out to be a blessing and a curse, as it allowed him to learn things about a few ponies in the castle, like servants and guards, but it also allowed him to hear the many things they said about Kai.
Kai had been keeping an eye out for any writing, to help boost his Equestrian Writing skill, however, no writing was present within the castle. It made sense, it just sucked for Kai's skill. His only real solution to leveling his skill was peeking over Fluttershy's shoulder when she was writing a letter or reading a book. His Equestrian Reading skill was at level three, so he could make out most words, but anything longer than seven letters was just a mess of letters and shapes.
His most intriguing skill, Mana Control, had been raised to level four and he was having an easier time controlling the mana within his body as well as an easier time bringing in outside mana in. He had tried once to manipulate mana outside of his body, but the excruciating headache and burnt hair around the crystal in his chest stopped him from trying again.
Aside from leveling his skills, however, Kai had been keeping an eye on the princesses just like they were doing to him. Kai was still unsure what Astelo had meant when he shouldn't trust Celestia and Luna, as they seemed to be rather benevolent rulers, not tyrants or dictators. It made Kai unsure if he should listen to Astelo's advice and kill the Princesses, ignoring the fact that he was nowhere near strong enough to kill these ponies. Kai had been trying to talk to Astelo, with no luck conversing with the god.
Kai's goal in this world was to save it, so how would killing the leaders of this country help save the world? Kai's thought process interrupted his pseudo-meditation, canceling his channeling of mana and giving him a nasty headache as feedback from messing up his channeling. Opening his eyes, Kai glanced around the massive garden, observing the few gardeners tending to the various plants and hedges and guards ponies patrolling the garden. Kai was unsure if the guards were merely ornamental or if they had an actual use besides standing around looking strong.
After watching the various ponies around the garden, Kai went off, looking for Fluttershy, so he can be around the timid pegasus. The pegasus had become his only real 'friend' that he has made in this world. Fluttershy had become something of support for Kai, helping him when he got too upset from remembering his family. Kai traversed the halls of the castle, meandering his way back to the room he and Fluttershy were sharing on their trip. Upon returning to his room, Kai saw Fluttershy sitting on a couch, reading a small book that she had brought with her.
"There you are Kai, I was wondering if you wanted to go out shopping with me?" Fluttershy asked the wolf, as the door closed behind him. Kai gave a soft, affirmative woof, making the pegasus smile and clap her hooves. It was an adorable act that made Kai's heart skip a beat every time she did it. "Wonderful, I need to get outside of the castle, I'm going stir-crazy being cooped up in this castle."
Fluttershy put her book down and put on a small saddlebag with relative ease. Kai was still unsure how the ponies managed to put on the saddlebags so easily, as it didn't seem like it should be an easy thing to do with hooves. Once Fluttershy made sure that she had bits to spend, she smiled at Kai and walked with Kai out of the bedroom, out the castle, and out the castle grounds into the streets of Canterlot.
Canterlot was a lot more 'modern' than Ponyville, having more concrete and glass incorporated into buildings, some newer structures even using steel. Boutiques with massive glass storefronts showing beautiful dresses and elegant suits, restaurants with elegant architecture, and fancy-looking designs. Fluttershy walked with Kai along the many storefronts, window-shopping certain stores. The city was bustling, it was mid-day and pedestrian traffic made the sidewalks busy with ponies coming and going.
Fluttershy and Kai walked around for a few hours, the sun slowly lowering to the horizon, as the two enjoyed their walk. After a few hours of walking and browsing the many storefronts, Fluttershy and Kai decided to take a break at a large park. The park was on the edge of the higher district, with a railing that looked out over the lower districts and the flatlands below the mountains of Canterlot. The lower districts were primarily lower-class residential and commerce, the lowest being the industrial sector of Canterlot.
"Canterlot has changed a lot in the last few years," Fluttershy spoke up as the two looked out over the city's lower districts. The tone in her voice carried a tinge of sadness as she sighed. She said nothing more, as the two stood there looking out over the landscape before finally, Fluttershy pulled her attention away from the view. "We should start heading back, don't want to be out after dark."
With that, the two slowly made their way back to the castle, the sun halfway below the horizon, the moon rising to take its place. As the sun dropped, so did the temperature, falling from comfortable to slightly chilly, especially when the wind blew, rolling down from the mountain tops. The two walked along as a figure hidden in the shadows of an alleyway backed away, disappearing into the dark.
The mysterious figure bowed before her leader, her hair falling down in front of her eyes. The light grey color a stark contrast to her pitch-black coat. Glancing to her left and right, six other ponies appeared, all bowing to the best of a ponies ability.
"Report," their leader spoke, his sharp, cold voice making the seven ponies in front of him shiver.
"Honesty is stuck on her farm, helping her family with harvesting apples," the stallion spoke, clearly and directly, followed by another.
"Loyalty is still training with the Wonderbolts, she is rarely alone, but she follows a strict schedule, I have a good opportunity to follow through on your command, sir," a mare spoke up, her tone hinting at anger at 'Loyalty'.
"Hmm, good, for now, continue observation," the leader spoke, before letting the next pony continue.
"Laughter is... something is off with the target, she seems to know I'm watching her, but I know that I haven't bee-," the stallion didn't even get to finish his report before a blue laser blew through his chest, killing the stallion instantly. The leader growled, his horn smoking slightly.
"Take it away, and bring in someone more capable next time," the leader spoke to a stallion standing to the side.
"Generosity has traveled to Manehattan for a fashion show, I'm keeping a close eye on her, her boutique is usually empty and she is usually alone," an effeminate stallion spoke.
"Equality is traveling with her friend, currently they are doing their magic show at Vanhoover, but they plan on returning to Ponyville when the school year starts for the School of Friendship," the mare reported, mention of the School of Friendship making the leader groan in disgust.
"Magic is currently in Canterlot, staying in the Castle, reasons are unknown currently why she has stayed, but she left Ponyville due to a wolf, currently infiltrating the guard to observe closer," the stallion next to the grey maned mare spoke, who looked over at the mare and nodded slightly, his mane and coat similar to the mares.
"Kindness is also in Canterlot, reasons are the same for Magic, except the wolf, whom she calls 'Kai', is different, I need more time to investigate the wolf, I'm currently infiltrating the castle staff to have better access to the wolf and Kindness," the mare spoke, swallowing her saliva after giving her report.
"Intriguing, Moon Beam, you will also be keeping an eye on this 'Kai' as well as Kindness," Moon Beam nodded to her leader and savior. "Good, resume observations, and remember, the future of Equestria rests upon you sev... six, we are doing this to save Equestria from the tyranny of the so-called Princesses and Elements of Harmony."