> KAMI: Malicious Edge
>  by Tai Ichi
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Prologue: The Moon Fest
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Prologue



The Moon Fest


“And in 495 C.R., after a 7 year war, the peace treaty between Saddle Arabia and the Griffon Kingdom was finally signed…”

Except for Greymane’s lecturing and the sound of the scribbling that came from the pens of the few students, who were actually paying attention, the only sound that could be heard was the sound of the clock in front of the class. And its message was clear to many of the students in Greymane’s class. Only five more minutes left….

Greymane’s lesson was almost over, and by the looks of it, the students were happy that they could almost go home. 
Not that the lesson was boring, Greymane was a brilliant teacher. Only today he wasn’t able to fascinate the adolescents with his lecture and he was not to blame, after all what kind hearted teacher could blame his students for wishing to the qilin fest tonight? After all the two-horned dragon-like equines threw excellent festivals. Their eastern traditions and rich culture, it was what made the festivals colorful and beautiful.

The celebration was an initiative from the qilinese population in Manehattan. 
The streets of Manehattan would be filled with festival stands.
Ponies would be wearing traditional qilinese attire and festival masks of Nightmare Moon, Luna, Celestia and even masks of the faces of the wielders of the elements of harmony.
Lanterns, with qilinese symbols on them, would light the streets of Manehattan and on every corner there would be at least somepony playing some kind of instrument, most likely qilinese instruments like the horsagai, the neighkan or the shineighbue.

Most of the time the streets are going to be filled with the noise of merchants trying to sell trinkets and souvenirs to tourists, the simmering of oil used to fry qilinese festival food, foals who are laughing and trying to win at something at the festival games, music and conversations. 

But when the moon is on her highest all the sound would go quiet, all the lights would be dimmed, all the foals would stop their little games and all the eyes would turn to the night sky. 
Luna would then present her night in all her glory, the moon would be brighter than ever, the stars would twinkle in perfect harmony with the peace and serenity of the city and a thousand falling stars would draw lines in the blackness of night and after Luna’s performance the Qilin would light fireworks, the whole sky would be filled with colorful explosions which would give the sign that the festival would continue. 

The “Moon fest”, as the qilin called it, was a celebration in honor of Princess Luna’s return to Equestria. The qilin saw this as a sign that balance had returned to planet Equis, which they considered a very important event and big events were to be celebrated with even bigger festivals. 

Needless to say the Moon Fest is one of the most important festivals of Manehattan, not only because the city will be visited by the four princesses, it is also a very important attraction for tourists and for most merchants it’s a good source of income.

So everypony was eager to leave school, get home and get ready for what will be the best, and longest, night of the year.
That also counted for the white earthpony with black mane and a pattern on his coat that looked like he wore a black jacket and his flank wore a taijitu as cutie mark.
Tai Ichi was his name. Most ponies called him Tayson, but nopony really knew where his nickname came from.
Tayson lives with his grandma in the qilin town in Manehattan. His grandma runs a little shop where she sells herbs, potions, charms and other trinkets.

Like a gong in a monastery, the school bell, with her soft but loud four tones, filled the whole school building and released the tension of the students who were more than eager to leave school.

“Ok class, seems like we have to finish this chapter next lesson, everyone have fun at the Moon Fest and we’ll see each other next Friday.” Greymane’s words only reached a few ears, most already left the room when the bell rang. 

Ponies like Tayson, who realized that leaving two minutes later wouldn’t make any difference, started to pack their things after the bell rang.

“Tayson, I’ll go ahead ok?” Silver Breeze said, “We’ll see each other at the festival?”

“Cool, I’ll join you and Lily as soon as the festival stand of my grandma is set up.” 

“Take your time ok? I would like some time alone with Lily.” Silver Breeze winked and grabbed his saddle bag.

“So, you’re going to ask her tonight?” Tayson chuckled.

Silver blushed a bit. “Well, I’ll try, if my nerves allow me to form a somewhat coherent sentence when I ask.”

“Well good luck.” Tayson gave Silver a hoofbump. 

“Hey kids if you don’t want to miss the Moon Fest, I would propose that you leave now.” Greymane smiled as he was standing next to the two colts.

“Of course sir.” Silver quickly grabbed his saddlebag and left. 

“You too Tayson.” Greymane turned to Tayson. 

“Of course sir.”

“Oh before I forget, did Crystal remember my order?”

“Of course.” Tayson rumbled a bit in his saddlebag until he found a brown bag with the name of the shop of his grandma on it ‘Crystal’s charms and brews’. 

“Here you go, a dozen bitter bite roots. But are you sure that you don’t want to see a doctor? Maybe he can prescribe something that would help better against your rheumatism.”

Greymane smiled and took the bag. “Thank you for worrying,” Greymane smiled, “but these roots are all I need. Besides pills don’t taste as good as tea now do they. So how much do I owe you?”

“Well granny said they were for free since you are my teacher.” Tayson grinned sheepishly. “She believes it will help with my grades.” 

Greymane chuckled. “Stubborn as always, huh? It's no wonder she gets into financial problems if she keeps giving discounts and free stuff to everypony even slightly connected to her. Can't have that now can we? Here's ten bits. Just drop them in her cash register, like always.
Tayson grinned as he took the bits and put them in his pouch.

“Thank you sir, have a good weekend.” Tayson took his saddlebag and trotted out of the room.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As Tayson left the ‘Littlehorn academy’ and started his trot home, the sun was already setting, he could already see some qilin, ponies, griffins and zebras setting up their stands for the festival.
Most of the streets were already decorated and on a few corners he could already see some musicians tuning their instruments for their all-night performance.
The festival would start in about two hours. Crystal was undoubtedly waiting for him to come home so they and Pick Up—the qilin who helped her in the shop—could start to set up their festival stand too.

But before he could go home, he had to pick up one little thing. A little filly who’s lessons would stop in three, two, one.

As predicted, the bell of the Manehattan elementary school rang. Soon a stampede of little hyperactive fillies and colts, who were forced to sit still for several hours, exited the front gate of the school where their parents were waiting to get them home, fed and ready for the festival and some of the younger ones ready for bed.
When the stream of foals thinned out you could also see a few teachers with ruffled manes and tear bags under their eyes. Those were probably due to exhaustion caused by having to deal with spoiled brats, correcting homework, dealing with annoyed parents and occasional, in the younger grades, having to stop a colt from eating glue.

Now Tayson waited for the filly that lived in the apartment above his. 
Her two mothers were always friendly and often invited Tayson and his grandmother for tea or dinner.
Usually, when her parents went on a date or the one had a gig where she was performing and/or the other was invited to play in a symphony orchestra, which happened more then one would expect, they asked Tayson to foalsit Melody. 
Since the little filly adored her foalsitter, her mothers asked if Tayson could accompany Melody home after school.

After two minutes he could see a light grey coated Pegasus filly with a blue mane leave the school building. She was accompanied by a middle-aged white-coated unicorn with a red-orange mane, which looked like a bee nest, and a red pen and a piece of paper as cutie mark.
Melody’s teacher had the same grumpy face as always and on the I’m-not-amused face of Melody he could see that something happened on school today.

“Good afternoon Miss Pen, may I say that you look charming as always.” Tayson tried as subtle as possible to compliment his ex-equestrian teacher.

“Good afternoon Tai Ichi, may I ask you to inform Melody’s mother.”

“Mothers…” Tayson corrected.

Red Pen was clearly not amused with being corrected. Sadly she was also not amused by the fact that Melody had two mothers. “Fine, her… motherssssss,” she said the last word with a hiss and an undertone of disgust, “that Melody had a fight today.”

“THAT JERK STICKED GUM IN MY HAIR!” The little filly tried to defend herself.

“Melody, please…” Tayson pleaded but the damage was already done.

“Excuse me little miss but I don’t tolerate this language.” Red Pen said with a firm tone.

“Miss Pen I don’t want to be rude—” Tayson said before being cut off by his former teacher.

“Then don’t.” Red Pen interrupted with a firm tone.

Tayson sighed internally. Why has she always to be like this?
“AS I was saying,” Tayson continued, “I still got a lot of preparations for the festival and my grandmother is already waiting so could I get the short version please.”

Red Pen huffed. “Very well then. She bucked a colt in his face.”

Tayson looked unamused at the little filly and cut Melody off before the filly could try to defend herself again with the same statement she just used. “Very well Miss Pen I’ll make sure her parents will be informed of the misbehavior of their daughter and I’m sure she will be punished accordingly.” Tayson turned his attention to the little filly who then left the side of her teacher so she could stand next to her favourite foalsitter.

“I’m sure you will.” She glared a last time at the filly, huffed and turned around to take her leave.

As soon as Tayson was sure Red Pen couldn’t hear him he groaned like he always groaned after a conversation with her.
He then looked at the filly. “Seriously?” His voice filled with an unamused tone.

“It’s not my fault,” Melody whined, “You know what a bully Sapphire Crown is. Earlier this week he did called Babs and I ‘blank flanks’ again.”

“But did you have to buck him in his face? Inside the school,” Tayson stressed, “I mean you know how exhausting it is having to deal with your teacher.”

“Hey, I have to deal with her every day. Besides all the other fillies and colts cheered when I bucked him in his bucking face.” She puffed her chest out in pride.

“Well I had to deal with her too for six years so I shouldn’t have to deal with her anymore.” 

“I’m sorry…” The filly looked down and poked the ground.

“It’s ok.”

“Are… Are you going to tell mom and mom?” She looked at Tayson with pleading eyes.

“Well, I guess I have to.” He shrugged.

“Dawww… Guess Babs has to go to the Festival without me.” Melody knew she would be in trouble now. Not only with both her mothers but also with best friend Babs Seed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll talk to your mothers and I promise that they’ll let you go to the Moon Fest after all.” Tayson winked.

The filly’s eyes lit up. “Really? Pinkie promise?”

“Pinkie what now?”

“The Pinkie promise, it’s something Babs learned when she went to her family reunion in Ponyville.”

“Well ok,” Tayson shrugged, “but now we should get going, my grandma is already waiting. Show it to me on our way home.”

The filly jumped on Tayson’s back and they started their trot home.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“I’m hooome.” Tayson shouted throughout the entrance of the three story tall house.

“Me toooo.” The filly on his back shouted with the same tone in her voice as Tayson used in his announcement. The two went the up the stairs till they were on the first floor.

“Ah Tayson, good to see you,” an elder grey coated earthpony with her light blue mane in a bun and two long thick needles through it left her apartment and stepped near to Tayson, “we should hurry, the festival will start soon.” 

“I’ll join you in a minute, I have to speak with Melody’s mother.” Tayson gave his grandmother a nuzzle.

“Ok but don’t take too long, Pick Up is strong but he can’t levitate everything himself.”

“Hello Crystal.” The filly on Tayson’s back chirped.

“Hello dear, how was school today.” Crystal turned her attention to the filly.

“Not good, a bully stuck gum in my hair…” The filly’s mood fell.

“Oh no, don’t worry I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun with your friends on the festival.” She patted Melody’s head which conjured a smile on her face, while her whole mood lifted at the notion of the Moon Fest.

“Well, I better get going otherwise Pick Up will do all the work himself, can’t let that happen now can I.” With that Crystal Clear left the building.

Tayson now rose the stairs and knocked on the door of Melody’s apartment.
A grey coated mare with amethyst eyes and a charcoal mane opened the door, she wore her pink bow tie as usual and purple sol clef as cutie mark.
Melody jumped off Tayson’s back and jumped at the mare in front of them. 

“HI MOMMY.” The filly chirped. She nuzzled her mother and ran inside to greet her other mother.

The grey earth pony rolled her eyes and smiled as if she had expected her daughter to act different then always. She then turned her attention back to the stallion who ‘escorted’ her daughter back home.

“Hello Tayson, thank you for bringing Melody home.” The mare smiled gracefully and her tone wore the same sophisticated tone she always used.

“No problem Octavia. Oh but…” he leaned to Octavia to whisper something in her ear, “She had a fight with a bully today on school.”

Octavia backed a bit away. “Oh no, she isn’t hurt is she?”  She tried to call her daughter so she could examine her for bruises. Tayson however was able to get her attention back to him. “No she isn’t, the bully however.” Tayson’s stretched the last word as if he tried to buy time to express what he was about to say as soft as possible.

“She didn’t…” Octavia had a you-got-to-be-kidding-me expression on her face.

“Well, she bucked him in the face…” Tayson said while he flattened his ears.

“Oh Celestia, I swear she has that from Vinyl.” She turned around, ready to scold her daughter. Tayson however cut her off. “Well he did put gum in her hair and he was bullying her for the entire week.” He tried to defend Melody.

“Fine, I’ll see Red Pen on Monday to discuss what to do with that bullying problem.”

“Could you do me a favor?” 

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Well if you’re going to scold her, could you please let her go to the Moon Fest, you can still ground her on another day, right?” Tayson smiled sheepishly.

“Well…” Octavia considered Tayson’s proposal.

“I’ll foalsit her free for an entire month!” Tayson interjected whatever decision Octavia would have made. “I kind of promised her that she could go.” 

She gave him a smile. “An entire month?”

“Yes, just don’t be too harsh on her ok?” Tayson said.

“Deal.” She grinned

She turned around to see her wife with her daughter on her back trotting to the door.
Vinyl gave her wife a kiss then turned to Tayson so she could give him a hoofbump. “Yo Tayson wassup.”

“Well I got to go help Crystal with her stand.”

“Cool, we’ll come too, isn’t that right champ?” She looked up where she could see the grey Pegasus filly that was climbing on her head.

“YEAAAAH.” Melody cheered and almost tumbled off Vinyl’s head.

“We’ll see each other there than.” Tayson smiled and started to make his leave. As he went downstairs he could hear Octavia starting a conversation about why it isn’t ok to buck somepony in the face followed by an amazed Vinyl who almost prized her daughter for winning a fight and an annoyed Octavia who told Vinyl that she shouldn’t be encouraging such a behavior.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Setting up Crystal’s festival stand didn’t take as long as Tayson had expected. Pick Up had used his magic to levitate all the heavy parts like the supporting beams and the boxes with all the tradable goods that Crystal wanted to sell on the fest. Tayson’s job mostly consisted in assembling the whole thing. Pick Up’s magic was too rough to handle little parts, like the screws and nails, with the precision needed to make sure the stand would be able to support its own weight. Crystal’s eyes on the other hoof weren’t the best anymore so she made sure that the lay out of the stand was appealing enough for the customers.

After almost half an hour the whole thing was set up and ready to use.

“I think we’re done here.” Pick Up said in his deep and heavy voice.

“Thank you for the help boys, especially you Pick Up. You had to see us last year, we almost spend half an hour at only transporting the whole stuff here.” Crystal laughed in nostalgia. “Your levitation made it way easier.”

“The pleasure is all mine Cristaru-san, I’m more than happy to lend my strength to you.” The yellow equine smiled proudly and puffed his massive chest and his muscular furry legs. 
“A qilin’s magic comes from his physical strength after all.”

Tayson looked at the qilin. He always found it a weird concept that the qilin got their magic from their strength since every unicorn he knew who good was at magic relied more on their mental sharpness than on their physical strength.
But it would explain why he was able to lift the whole stand on his own. He was big, even for Qilin standards, he almost doubled Tayson height where other qilin were about one and a half times his height. He was so big that Tayson wasn’t even able to see the ‘cutie mark’ on his back.
He did see it once but it looked different than a cutie mark, it had the same meaning but it was abstracter. It looked more like an ink drawing, like every other qilin cutie mark, then like a picture like ponies had.

“Tayson?” Crystal, who now stood in front of her grandson, snapped Tayson back out of his thoughts.

“Yes, sorry, what did you say?” Tayson smiled like he was a foal caught in the act of raiding the cookie jar.

“I said that I was thankful that you helped me setting up my stand and asked if you shouldn’t head to meet your friends.” Crystal smiled.

“Oh right, almost forgot about that.” He gave his grandmother a nuzzle and turned around to start trotting of. 

“Have fun with your friends and send my regards ok?” Crystal waved and turned back to her stand.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


After half an hour trot he finally arrived at the Manehattan central park, where he would meet Silver and Lily.
The trot from Qilin town to the central park normally just took ten minutes. But Tayson had taken a detour and met Octavia and Vinyl (who looked gorgeous in qilinesian kimono, Vinyl had also left her shades at home at once which made the amethyst eyed pony and the ruby eyed pony stand out). Apparently was melody now in the care of Babs Seed’s mother and was now trying to get her cutie mark with the aid of the cutie mark crusaders, whoever they were. “Oi, sleepyhead we’re right over here!”

Tayson could hear Lily’s, soft but strong (almost tomcoltish), voice and saw Silver standing right next to a green unicorn mare who was waving at him. He lost no time and sprinted off to meet his friends. 

“Hey guys, sorry that I’m late, you know how long it takes to set up Crystal’s stand,” Tayson lied flatly.

“Wasn’t Pick Up of any help?” Lily looked skeptically.

“He was the one who saved us the most time, but some of the screws were rusty and one of the power cables was broken so we had to fetch new ones.” Tayson’s lie was very effective. Lily smiled again as if she just lost any doubt, not that it would matter if her friend lied to her.

“So did I miss anything?” Tayson smiled mischievously at Silver who could only flush and shake his head fast but subtle.

“Naah, we were just talking about school stuff when you came here.” Lily said with a nonchalant tone. “Anypony who wants some ramuneigh? I'll pay.” The two stallions nodded and smiled as Lily trotted off to get some of the qilinese soda. The grin continued for a second or two and stopped when Tayson threw his gaze at his friend. He looked with an unimpressed look at his friend.

“Look I know what you’re thinking but I’m just waiting for the right moment to ask—” Silver grinned nervously.

Tayson punched his friend’s shoulder. “NO, you’re procrastinating.”

“But let me explain,” Silver whined as he rubbed his sore shoulder, “I saw her sitting here and thought that it wouldn’t be romantic enough to just ask her in the park.”

“PROCRAASTINAATING.” Tayson interrupted the almost pathetic excuse Silver tried to use on his friend. “If you’re going to wait too long someone else will snatch her away right in front of your nose, you moron.”

On Silvers face you could see what the horror of seeing his crush with another stallion (or mare) meant to the silver coated Pegasus.

“'kay, I promise I'll ask her when Luna’s show starts, ok?”

“Pinkie. Pie. Promise.” Every word was fortified with Tayson moving his head closer to Silver’s. 

“Pinkie what now?” Silver’s head was now filled with confusion.

“Something Melody showed me. If you break the pinkie promise apparently a pony called Pinkie Pie will break you.” Tayson’s gaze intensified. “Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. Now say that phrase while doing these movements.”

Tayson showed the ritual movements of the Pinkie Pie Promise. Silver looked embarrassed but copied the movements of his friends without any resistance or questioning. 

“Cross my heart and hope to fly, stick a cupcake in my eye. I promise that I’ll ask her at Luna’s show.”

“FOOOREEEVEEER!!!!!” A roar was heard throughout Manehattan, most ponies looked confused, not sure what just happened, but most resumed shortly after like nothing ever happened.

“Whoa guys, did you just hear that?” Lily just returned with two closed and one opened bottle of ramuneigh from which she took a sip before levitating the other bottles towards her friends.

“Heard what?” Tayson said with artificial honesty and turned his gaze to the now terrified Silver who had probably second thoughts on the pact he just made.

“Well the roar, you know… the… well never mind, so what were you guys just talking about?”

“Well I had to talk to Miss Red Pen today.”

“With that old homophobe hag? What did you do? Did you talk about how the immigration rate of zebras has a benefit on the equestrian culture?” She laughed at the almost infinite ways that could force Tayson to talk to one of the worst teachers in the history of bad teachers.

“You know the little filly that lives above my flat?”

“Yeah, what about her?” she chuckled as she took a sip from her drink.

“She kicked a bully in the face.” Lily spitted the soda all over the Silver’s face.

“Oh my Celestia, I’m so so sorry.” Lily gasped as she realized what she had done

“No problem.” Silver gave an embarrassed smile said as he wiped the soda from his face.

Lily grinned sheepishly. “Let me make up for this pleeeaaase.”

Tayson grinned. I know how you could make up for this. His mischievous smile turned to Silver who blushed and threw a glare at Tayson.

“Wait I know how.” Both stallions now turned their attention to the orange-maned unicorn. “I learned a cleaning spell today, just hold still for a moment.” The unicorn with an enchanted water rose as cutie mark focused and a magical shine formed around her horn. There was a flash and soon after that Silver was as clean as if he had an all-included treatment in the spa. 

“See, better.” The mare smiled at her successful spell. “Now you’re clean enough to go on a date with every mare you’d like.” She winked.

“I-I guess, th-thanks Lily.” Silver stammered as he became as red as a ripe tomato.

Tayson gave Silver a last mischievous smile, which made the Pegasus flush even more.

“Well let’s go, unless you guys want to spend all night in the park. I for my part want to explore the festival.” The mare trotted of. Both stallion looked at each other, smiled and galloped after their friend.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The trio had just finished exploring almost a quarter of the whole festival. The mare had bought and won a lot of stuff: a pink kimono with flower pattern on it which she now wore, a metal flower-styled hairpin which now graced her mane, a mask, several boxes with sweets inside and of course a ton of stuffed animals which she had won on the many festival games.

“You know, you could always just levitate all this stuff.” Silver said as his bones were crushed under the massive amount of stuff his crush had acquired on the festival.

The mare who lead the trio assertively through the streets of Manehattan turned around and flattened her ears. “Oh, I’m sorry,” she looked at silver with watering eyes and sniffed a bit, “if it’s too heavy then I’ll take it over from you.”

She is evil.

Silver regained his posture at the mention of his physical limits. “Did I say that it was too heavy? I… eh… meant that… eh… if you find something else I can carry you just have to ask.” Silver smiled nervously.

Tayson looked at the soon-to-be couple and face hooved.

“Oh look, another arching stand. Back in a second guy’s ♫” The mare trotted off towards her next target. It is way too creepy how good she is at arching.

Tayson looked at what was still visible of his friend beneath the pile of festival stuff. “You’re such a pushover you know that.”

“NO,” The Pegasus defended himself, “I, my friend, am in love. And you know what they say: “Love is the greatest power of them all.”

“Love also makes stupid.”

The Pegasus paid his friend’s statement no attention as the green mare came back with two more stuffed animals which she threw on the growing pile of festival trophies she had acquired. Silver tried not to squeak on the extra load that was just added and Tayson could only watch in disbelief on how fast the mare had won. “That was fast, even for you.”

“Well it wasn’t that difficult, it was a big target.”

Tayson glanced over the mare’s shoulder only to see a merchant with his mouth wide open at the look of a target where the bull’s eye was pierced with about twenty arrows.

Tayson gulped. I probably shouldn’t make her mad when there is a bow in range.

“Well gentlecolts, let’s head towards the park, Luna’s performance will soon begin.” The assertive mare smiled and lead the way. Silver who was almost unable to move followed her obeying, Tayson looked for a second at the two and followed them in disbelief.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Back at the park there were already a bunch of ponies, zebras, griffons and qilin assembled.
The most of the open space was already filled with friends, family and lovers who had already spread blankets across the grass field and shared emotional or familiar moments under the black blanket of the night.
The two stallions looked around to see if there still was a place where they could put their blanket. Both were snapped out of their concentration when they heard Lily shouting their names.

“GUUUUYS, come on, I’ve already found a place.”

The two looked at each other and shrugged. In their trot—to the place that Lily was able to conquer—Tayson poked Silver. “When the performance starts, I’ll leave you two alone ok? And then you ask! OK?! Oh and send me a text message if she says yes and you want some time alone ok?” Tayson gave a gleeful smile.

Silver’s face froze at the mention off what he now had to do. He wasn’t sure from what he should be more afraid off, the rejection of the mare he loved or whatever demon would devour his soul if he even dared to break the pinkie promise. He decided for the later, after all what was the worst that could happen? She could laugh, be disgusted, say that she’s sorry, say that she is gay, say that she thought that he was gay, get angry, laugh even more, she could run, ignore him, the world could explode, she could say that she has a crush on Tayson, ask a restriction order, say that she simply isn’t interested, don’t forget the laughing, she could stop talking to me and our little clique could fall apart and she would tell everypony on school and everypony would laugh at me for even trying and, and, and. 

“Sure thing.” He gave a confident smile.

Tayson rolled his eyes and sat down on the blanket Lily had laid on the grass field.
After a few minutes all the noises in the park were silenced as all the lights were dimmed.
Well I guess this is my cue. 

“Guys, I’m going to search for a toilet.” Tayson whispered, trying not to break the quiet.

“What? Now?” Lily exclaimed loud only to be shushed by every other pony on the grass field.

“I’ll be quick, don’t worry, I’ll be back before you know it.” Tayson smiled as he trotted off. He went down the street and left his friends alone on the grass field.

The last light was dimmed which made the only light source the moon herself.
Everything was quiet and everypony waited for Luna’s performance to begin. 

Silver Breeze lay next to Lily Petal, he glanced at her and quickly turned his eyes back to the twinkling stars. Silver’s breath became labored, he tried to calm himself by breathing deep in… and out… in…. and out…. But it only worked for a while.
He glanced back at Lily. She was gorgeous. Her Beauty was only supplemented by her kimono and her mane was elegant with the metal flower-styled hairpin she wore. And the moonlight hid every last little imperfection there was. She looked astonishing, amazing, gorgeous.

“Do you like what you see?” Lily now looked with a seductively smile at Silver Breeze.

“I… uh… well… I was just…”

The mare chuckled. “Don’t worry about it, I’m just teasing. Now if you don’t want to miss the spectacle you should look at the sky.” The mare turned her azure eyes towards the night sky.
Silver tried to regain his calm. Ok any minute now.

As the first falling star drew a line across the dark blue sky, there was a sound of awe. Soon came a second and a third.
Silver gulped. I guess that’s my cue. Geronimo!

“H… Hey Lily.”

“Yes?” The mare let her gaze slowly drift to the stallion who lied next to her. Her azure eyes were now looking at the silver coated Pegasus and her small but warm and serene smile made Silver’s heart flutter.  

Silver took a deep breath.

“There was something I wanted to tell you.” For a moment he could see the face of the mare switch from serenity to surprise back to serenity.

“Yes?”

“I… I l… love you.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson had found a little quiet spot. Now he just waited for whatever is going to happen to Silver.

He was pretty sure that Lily felt the same way Silver did. I mean, yes, Lily was always a little harsh towards Silver, but letting him carry all her things was just the peak of the iceberg. There even was a time where she’d force him to do her math homework, which she was perfectly able to do herself. She was smart and very talented when it came to subjects like alchemy, magic and mathematics. So Tayson always assumed that it was her way to ask (or more like demand) for attention.

Then again, he had no proof, so he could be wrong. 
Looking up he could see that the show had started. Tayson sighed, it was peaceful and he enjoyed the serenity. Manehattan was always a busy place, nopony had time to spend, it always was rushing from one place to another without looking at the path one was walking on. Nopony ever looked how beautiful the city was, not just in the physical reality but also the abstract part. This city was the home of thousands and thousands of ponies, zebras, gryphons and qilin. They all lived here, worked here, loved here. The city wasn’t just a complex of buildings, shops, offices and hotels; the city was alive, a living being who took care of the ponies that lived in it. Yet nopony wanted to take care of the city by choice (except for a few), some even harmed the city by besmirch it with graffiti or dumping their garbage at the streets. But tonight everypony was just quiet and they just watched, no deadline to catch, no place to rush to. Everything was serene and peaceful.

Tayson was snapped out of his thinking as he felt something vibrating in his pocket.
He actually asked. Tayson smiled and grabbed in his pocket. He pulled out his phone and looked at the screen. 1 new message. From: Silver.
He clicked on open but before he could read the message his phone was hulled in a purple shine and grabbed out of his hooves.

“HEY, THAT’S MINE!” He yelled.

In front of him stood two ponies, one was a unicorn and the other was an earthpony. Both wore sunglasses and had no expressions on their faces. The unicorn who was levitating Tayson’s phone now ceased his spell and let the phone fall to the ground. Before Tayson could even attempt to grab the phone and run, the earthpony stepped forward and crushed the phone under his hoof, never stopping to stare at the now a little terrified earthpony.

“You will now come with us.” The two said in unison.

“Yeah right.” Tayson didn’t waste any more second and tried to run as fast as possible only to be grabbed in another purple levitation field. He floated over to the unicorn who still wore no expression. “That was no request.” The unicorn smashed Tayson towards the next wall with as much force as possible. Tayson was only half-conscious, this quickly changed when he hit the wall a second time.
> Chapter one: Malicious Edge
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter One



Malicious Edge


When he regained consciousness, Tayson was laying on a cold concrete floor. The only thing he was able to perceive were the two brutes who just kidnapped him, sitting at a table with a little light bulb lighting the little room they now were in.

Tayson could smell a fishy odour which spread through the room. 

They brought me to the harbour. WH-Why the harbour? 

Tayson was still groggy and head felt like being run over by a squad of train-ponies.

How long was I out?

Tayson glanced outside the window and was able to see the last few fireworks shooting skywards, indicating that Luna’s performance was over and that the festival would continue.

“How long are they going to make us wait?” One of the brutes smashed his hoof at the table.

“Relax, the boat will be here any time soon.” The other brute tried to calm his companion mood while he flicked through the pages of his newspaper. 

Tayson groaned. “Seems our little buddy is awake.” A mischievous grin crept across the face of the unicorn. “Why don’t you just go back to sleep?” The brute’s horn lit up and a purple shine was forming around Tayson.

The earthpony threw his newspaper bundle against the face of his accomplice. “Don’t damage him anymore, the boss wants him alive you bonehead.”

“Fine, whatever,” his horn stopped glowing and the aura ceased to be, “but if he starts screaming then I’m going knock him into a coma.”

“As long as you face the consequences alone, you can do whatever you like.” After that last sentence the two brutes fell silent again, the earthpony picked his newspaper up and continued his reading while the other just stared out the window.

The room was silent, only the occasional miscellaneous sounds the two brutes made filled the room with sound. Tayson just lied down on the floor. A thousand thoughts roamed free through his mind, but only one kept returning over and over again.

 Why?

He wasn’t able to process what had happened. Nothing made sense, why would they want him? He wasn’t special, he wasn’t rich. He was literally of no value to them.

Yet he lay in this room, his hooves tied and apparently waiting for some kind of boat to ship him somewhere where nopony will ever be able to find him. His face only wore the expression defeat, grief and denial. A single tear rolled of his cheek as he realized that he won’t ever see his grandmother again. His friends, classmates, teachers, literally everypony he had ever known; he won’t see them ever again.

His thoughts vanished as a light shone through the window. The two brutes became active again. “Looks like our ride is finally here.” The unicorn was definitely relieved that he didn’t have to wait any longer. He took Tayson in his levitation field and the two left the building with their hostage.

As they left the building, a motorboat stood there with another brute driving it.

“Finally!” The unicorn stepped towards the boat. “Thought you’d let us wait here forever.”

“Stop whining and throw him on board, the boss is getting impatient.” The other brute sneered.

As Tayson realized, that after he stepped on the boat his life would be over, panic got hold of him. He thrashed and screamed, all in a futile attempt to get as far away as possible. This, however, only annoyed the unicorn who was levitating him.

He glared at Tayson and was ready to break the spirit of the stallion in his levitation field with bare hoofs. He gritted his teeth and was now ready to punch Tayson in the face.

“Didn’t I tell you to be qu–”

His words ceased as he ran his hoof over his neck and got hold on a wooden stake that had pierced his neck. However, before he could even attempt to pull it out; his head got crushed to the floor. There was a sound of something snapping and on the—now—dead unicorn’s head stood a brown mare with a mane which was coloured in multiple tints of green, with a darkish green as main colour.

She had her back turned towards Tayson. However, Tayson was able to see on the expressions of the two other brutes that they did not saw this coming. The two glared at the mare and took battle ready stances.

The one in the boat took a sword in his hooves, jumped out of the boat onto his hind legs and charged at the mare. This seemed to be a mistake as another stake shot out of the ground. The attacking brute was able to evade the attack with no time to spare, only to be tackled by the mare. The attacker bounced back towards the other brute, got back on his hooves and nodded towards his companion who in his turn took a step forward; he took a deep breath and exhaled crimson flames towards the brown mare. She in her turn stomped her hooves and a barrier of thick tendrils formed in front of her, deflecting the blazing flames.

As soon as the flames ceased, the barrier was pierced by the sword wielding brute.
The mare was able to evade the attack in time and jumped sideward so she could face the—now—stuck brute who tried to free his sword out of the tendrils. The mare stomped the ground again which made a wooden hammer grow in front of her. The mare took the hammer, brought it all the way up and back down on the head of the sword wielding brute.

The last brute, who saw his chances of survival fading away, clapped his hooves. Soon he was encircled by a ring of fire. The blue eyes of the mare widened as she realized what he was up too.

“Don’t you dare to run away!” The mare stomped with all her force on the ground and a wooden dart shot out the ground trying to kill the last of the brutes. But instead of piercing the flesh of her enemy, the dart pierced the wall a wooden shack.

“DAMMIT!” The mare groaned before she turned her attention to the stallion who looked with a combination of relief and fear. The mare’s gaze softened a bit. She stepped towards Tayson, tapped the ground with one of her hooves and a wooden dagger shot out of the ground which she caught it mid-air and leaned towards the stallion to cut the rope that kept him from running away. The mare helped Tayson back on his hooves and smiled. “Well you’re lucky that I was able to save you before they shipped you off to Celestia-knows-where.”

“A-are they dead?” Tayson’s gaze looked in terror at the two corpses that lay on the impromptu battlefield.

“Sadly yes,” the mare shook her head, “I had planned to take the last one as prisoner so we could get some information from him.” The mare’s face distorted as she realized that the third one got away. “We need to run, if that guy informs his boss we’re screwed.”

“C-can I trust you.” Tayson had a tremor in his voice.

“Well you don’t have much choice, but yes. I promise you that I get you home before the sun rises.”

“I-I… Ok.” He followed her towards the dark part of the city.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The two were running through the streets. 

“Where are we going?” Tayson panted as he followed the mare’s pace.

“I’m trying to get you back at the festival. They’re not stupid enough to disturb the festivities knowing that there are four princesses and more of my kind there to kick their flanks.”

“What do you mean with ‘your kind’? What was that anyway, why were you able to do those crazy things? I mean, you’re neither a unicorn nor a Pegasus.” Tayson’s questions came to an end as both suddenly stopped at a corner. The mare shushed the stallion. 

“Hush now.” She peaked around a corner and saw two more brutes who wore the same attire as the ones whose heads she had crushed. “Horse apples.”

“What now?”

“I need to get some data.” She took a deep breath and exhaled a green miasma. She waved a bit with her hooves which made the miasma follow the movement of her hooves, following the corners of the buildings, all the way towards the two brutes. 

The green cloud poured into the ground and a black dandelion started to bloom.

“The wiretap is placed.” The green mare exhaled a second cloud who poured into the ground before her. This time a messing coloured daffodil started sprouted. After a few seconds sound came out of the daffodil.

“Those two idiots weren’t even able to kidnap a stupid teenager.”

“Hell, if they wouldn’t have been so incompetent, we wouldn’t have to stop those two brats to get back to the festival.”

“I hope the commander will be here soon, that filly isn’t a problem but if another member of KAMI gets here we’d be in big trouble.”

The mare looked as if she was in deep thoughts. After processing all the information she got, she opened her eyes in sheer determination. 

“Well… I’ve heard enough.” 

She stomped her hooves and a branch sprouted out of the wall of one of the buildings, crushing the head of one of the brutes against one of the other walls. Before the other one could react he got impaled from beneath by giant bamboo sprout. The plants disappeared as fast as they appeared and let the lifeless bodies of the brutes fall to the ground.

Tayson looked in terror at the lifeless bodies of the two brutes. He stared for a few minutes before the bodies caught fire and a black purple fire reduced their bodies to ashes which were then carried away by the chill night wind, erasing every trace of the existents of the brutes.

“Their bodies always catch fire when they die, it’s their way to destroy any evidence or possible information they could deliver. Come now, we need to get going before their boss catches up with us.” She put a hoof on his shoulder

“No!” Tayson slapped the hoof away and backed down a bit. “You just killed two ponies without the least of restraints. I’m not coming with you before you explain me what’s happening. Why are you able to do these things? W-Why…”

“Maya.”

“What?”

“My name, Maya.” She sighed, “Look, I understand that you’re afraid but you have to trust me. These guys are evil, they show no mercy, no restraints and if we don’t leave we’ll have to deal with their commander and I’m not strong enough to deal with him. I promise I’ll explain everything as soon as I find another member of KAMI.”

“What’s a kami?”

“We’re an organization, but really we have to leave before...”

The sound of something heavy falling resounded through the streets. Maya’s ears flattened, she turned around as her eyes widened. She gulped and winced. 

"Shit….”

In front of the both ponies a Minotaur, with the same attire as the brutes, got back on his hooves. Despite her fear, Maya did her best to regain her posture. 

She threw a taunting smile at the Minotaur. “Hello Stringy, how’s life? Tell me, did your miserable little gang really need to resort to foalnapping to appease your mad boss?”

“That’s Pulling Strings to you,” the Minotaur balled his fist as he snorted some steam through his nostrils, “give me the boy and I might let you live.”

Maya snorted, “Wow, where did you get that line? Out one of those bad action movies or did you come up with that one yourself?”

The Minotaur sighed, bit his thumb and let some blood drip to the ground all while maintaining his stoic gaze. Soon two oversized wooden pony anatomy dolls crawled out of the ground and turned their faces towards Maya and Tayson. 
String spread his arms towards the two dolls and spread his fingers.

“Last chance Maya.” String sounded more annoyed than threatening.

“Hmmmmmmm, how about—” the mare touched her chin “—No.”

“As you wish.” Out his fingers shot strings which attached to the dolls. Like a puppeteer he waved his arms and the two puppets started charging Maya. Maya turned her face towards Tayson and motioned with her lips: “Run”.

However as he turned around and started to run towards the lights of the festival, his path got blocked by the same brute who ran away at the harbour.

At the same time Maya tried her best to evade the barrage of kicks and punches that came from the two dolls. However it didn’t take long until the two puppets pinned her down to the ground. String released one of the puppets from his duty and used his, now, free hand to shoot some strings towards Maya. Maya got wrapped inside a cocoon with only her head sticking out. She turned her defeated gaze towards her String. String smiled at the fact that it was so easy to defeat his opponent. 

The two stared at each other for several moments until both got startled by the sound of a blast behind them.

“GET OFF!!!” A light flash could be seen and the brute falling to the ground.

Maya was shocked as she saw what Tayson just did. The Minotaur just sighed at the defeat of his subordinate.

“The boss warned me that this could happen—” Pulling Strings shook his head “— well let’s apply the sealing tag.”

He stretched his arm towards Tayson and used the same trick he just used to wrap Maya in a stringy cocoon. 

Tayson looked back for a moment until continuing to run away. He looked at the strings shooting in his direction and flattened his ears.
He tried to run away but string after string engulfed his barrel and hooves. Tayson tried to pull away from the strings but got eventually overwhelmed.
He let a scream of despair escape his muzzle as he tripped and fell to the floor. 
The Minotaur walked over with a devilish grin on his face. Tayson now faced his captor and was completely overshadowed by... well… his shadow.
String took what looked like a piece of paper out of his pocket and attached it to Tayson’s forehead. 

“Now be quiet. I need to send a message.” The Minotaur turned around and took a piece of chalk out his pocket and started scribbling at the nearest wall.

“I’m sorry….” Tayson looked with a blank glaze in the direction of Maya’s voice. He looked at her only to see that the mare who had saved him back at the harbour was sobbing. “If I-I had been stronger, th-then I would have been able to save you.”

“It’s my fault. If I hadn’t been so stubborn he wouldn’t have caught up with us.” Tayson started to shed some tears too. Rage, fuelled by hatred and frustration, summoned a glare on Tayson’s face which would have molten through solid steel. He glared at the Minotaur. “Hey bonehead! Pulling Strings is the most ridiculous name I’ve ever heard! I bet your mother never loved you and now your sick mind is compensating for the lost affection by kidnapping teenagers! You’re just a mere bully! A! Big! Fat! Worthless! Pile! Of Trash!” 

The Minotaur stopped scribbling and turned towards Maya and Tayson. Tayson’s ears dropped as did his rage. As he walked over towards Tayson the words String had scribbled on the wall ignited in green fire and vanished. String grabbed Tayson’s and Maya’s cocoon and started to walk towards the harbour.

His walk quickly stopped as an arrow pierced the ground before his hoofs. String frowned and turned his gaze towards the direction where the arrow came from. His gaze quickly shifted from a frown to a sly smile. 
On the roof of one of the buildings stood a steel coloured earthpony with a bow in his hooves. His black M-styled mane flowed in the wind and his expression was that of pure determination. 
He jumped of the building, made a summersault and landed on all for his hooves. 
He lifted his gaze and continued to glare daggers at String, who simply kept on smiling. 
String released the grip on the two cocoons and let Tayson and Maya plummet towards the ground. He took five steps forwards, took an aggressive posture and let out a war cry.

“Steel Needle.” A mocking tone filled String’s voice. “Finally we meet again.”

Steel needle maintained his cold gaze and complete silence.

“Today we’ll end this once and for all. You see, the last year I had the privilege to be trained by none other than Malicious Edge himself.”

Steel Needle gritted his teeth and Tayson could swear he saw Steel’s shuriken cutie mark shine with blood thirst.

“I’ve grown since our last encounter and I am more powerful than ever BEFORE!” String’s voice grew in volume. “I will crush you and I’ll take this colt and your little adoptive daughter to my boss and claim my reward. BUT BEFORE THAT I’LL KILL YOU. So. Any. Last. Words?”

Steel Needle jumped on his hind legs, spread his forelegs and a thousand needles appeared out of thin air. “IRON MAIDEN, 1000 NEEDLES” He crossed his forelegs and the needles shot forward and pierced every inch of String’s body. The Minotaur cried out in agony and fell on his back. 
Steel Needle stepped towards the Minotaur and glared even more holes at String.

“You can steal, threaten, murder whatever or whoever you want and I’ll find you. But lay one finger on my daughter and it’s personal! You got that?”

String could only groan in pain. Steel Needle took a step towards Maya and Tayson before turning back to String.

“Oh and by the way. That was the worst speech ever.”

Returning his attention to Tayson and his daughter, Steel took out a knife to free them. Once out of the cocoons, the pair stretched their limbs.

Maya hugged her adoptive father and started to cry tears of joy and relief.

“Thank you that you found us, thank you that you saved us, thank you, thank you, thank you.”

“I wouldn’t dream of letting that pretentious douchebag take you away.” Steel continued to comfort his daughter for a few more minutes.

Tayson still struggled with the new information he received over the last few hours.
He had been kidnapped, saved by a mare who could let plants appear and disappear by will. He had seen a pony breath fire, four ponies getting killed a Minotaur controlling two puppets with strings he shot out of his fingers and a pony who seemed to be able to summon metal stuff.
Tayson cleared his throat in an attempt to get the attention of both his saviours.

“U-Uhm, I-I’m sorry but could somepony explain what just happened?”

“HOW ABOUT YOU EXPLAIN SOME STUFF! YOU’RE A GOD TOO, WHY COULDN’T YOU HELP ME OUT WITH FIGHTING THAT OVERSIZED BULL!” Maya snapped her face from the comforting shoulder of her father and glared at Tayson.

“U-Uhm, what do you mean?” Tayson cringed and took a few steps back from the raging mare.

“THE FLASH! I SAW THE TECHNIQUE YOU USED TO DEFEAT THAT BRUTE…” 

“Shhhhhh…” Steel Needle tried to calm his daughter, which resulted in Maya seeking comfort again in Steel’s shoulder. Her sobbing continued and Steel Needle turned his attention back to Tayson while petting Maya’s back.

“Tell me what happened?”

Tayson gulped as now he had to explain everything that happened.
Tayson told Steel everything he knew; at first he stammered a lot but grew more confident with every sentence he said. After Tayson had told Steel everything that happened from when he was at the festival till what had happened when he defeated the brute while Maya was fighting String.

“You see, I don’t know what happened. I was just so scared and as I looked in the eyes of that brute, something snapped. H-He just fell.”

Maya, who had regained her calm, looked with red, exhausted eyes at Tayson while she still snuggled at the side of her father.

“A visual technique…” Maya muttered to no one specific, Steel Needle tapped his chin and was silent for a moment.

“Where did that brute go anyways?” Tayson looked around.

“He probably teleported away as soon as String captured us.” Maya looked at Steel Needle. “What are we going to do with that jerk over there?”

“I’ll take him to the HQ and interrogate him, maybe I can squeeze some information out him…” Steel Needle got cut off by the sound of the Minotaur behind his back getting back on his legs.

“NEVER!!! YOU WON’T GET ANYTHING OUT OF ME!” The Minotaur spread his bleeding arms and again, two puppets crawled out of the ground, this time facing their master. “I RATHER DIE!” He flicked both his fingers which made the two puppets take an aggressive stand. Their mouths opened and each revealed a set of razor sharp teeth. Three sharp claws shot out of each hoof they had.
The two puppets stormed at their master and began to tear him apart. 

Tayson, Maya and Steel Needle looked at String. Maya and Tayson shared a shocked expression at how far the Minotaur was willing to go to keep the secrets of his organisation. Meanwhile Steel looked in disappointment at the lost possibility to get some steps ahead of them. 
As soon as the puppets had finished their job they lay beside their former master and after a few seconds String combusted in black and purple flames. The flames devoured String and his puppets until everything was reduced to ashes. A breeze carried the cremated remains of the Minotaur away and with that every trace of him perished into nothingness.

Steel Needle sighed. “Why do they have to be so radical?” He turned his gaze towards the stunned Tayson. “As soon as I knew that Maya disappeared I alarmed every god at the festival. They are now patrolling through the streets so it is safe for you to go home and get some rest.”

“I-I want an explanation. What did they want from me? What is this Kami? Wh….” Tayson got cut off by Steel Needle.

“Look. I want you to get some rest, DON’T tell anypony what happened tonight! You get that?” Steel Needle glared at Tayson which made clear that this was no request but an order, his glare softened as he continued. “I want you to be at the central park at twelve o’ clock. One of our members will pick you up there and bring you to our HQ and then you get the explanation you deserve.”

Tayson looked uncomfortable at Steel’s proposition to go home alone. “What if one of these brutes return?”

“Again, there are gods patrolling the streets now, if you get in trouble just shout for the help of KAMI. They will be with you in no time and don’t forget DON’T tell anyone.”

Tayson nodded and started his way home. After a few steps he looked back only to see that the two ‘gods’ had disappeared in thin air.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The rest of the night was uneventful. Tayson hadn’t bothered to look after his friends. Whatever had happened between the two could wait after he got some sleep.
He was home early considering that the festival lasted until sunrise and he wasted no time to get in bed.

Tayson woke up when a loud disturbing electrical sound filled his room.
His alarm clock, not being able to see that his master wanted to continue his sleep, just kept on cluttering. 

Tayson wanted to smash the damn thing, but sanity regained control and he just stopped his alarm.
He groaned and rubbed the remaining sleep out of his eyes and threw his blanket out of bed. He took a few breaths and jumped out his bed. 

He left his room and went towards the kitchen where he could heard the simmering of oil. He looked at the clock: 11:30.

“Good morning honey, how was the festival?” Crystal looked over from the frying pan.

Tayson froze at the question. He was a good liar… when it came to deceiving other ponies. Yet his grandmother was another story. She seemed to be able to see through every of his lies. So Tayson always told her the truth since lying seemed to be a futile attempt.
He remembered the glare of Steel Needle and decided that he could decide between having to lie to his grandmother and being killed by a metal summoning stallion. He chose the first.

“Oh fine, but I came home early. It got a little boring in the end.”

Crystal stepped towards Tayson and her peaceful expression turned into a concerned frown. She touched Tayson’s cheek which made Tayson wince and pull away from the painful touch.

“You’re a terrible liar you know that? Just like your father. Your face is covered in bruises and so is your body.” Crystal frowned. “Now tell me what really happened.”

Tayson, now aware of the damage that his body suffered last night, tried to come up with a reasonable explanation of what happened.

“Well u-uh you see, I kind of got in involved in a fight… They broke my phone and, uhm, well…” Technically, Tayson was telling the truth. But after Crystal raised her brow in disbelief, he knew that it was useless. 

“Ok.” Crystal went back to monitoring the hay bacon and the conversation seemed to just die.

“Well uhm, I, have to leave… I was going to meet Silver and Lily at the park. If that’s ok with you.” Tayson gulped nervously as his grandmother just let the topic slip off. Normally it meant that she was disappointed if not angry with Tayson for lying to her. This however seemed not to be the case as she took a plate and put a slice of hay bacon on a sandwich.
“Of course not, but not before you eat something.” She now had again a warm smile on her face.

She knows everything!! Tayson smiled sheepishly.

After he finished breakfast he started to go to the park where, hopefully, all his question would be answered.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


When Tayson arrived at the park it was five to twelve.

He sat down at the nearest bench. 

And now we wait. 

For the next five minutes he just sat there, watching as the city came back to life after yesterday’s festival.

The five minutes passed and nothing happened; no “god” arrived to pick him up. Well that’s fine, maybe they’re just running late? Ten minutes passed, fifteen, twenty and still nothing. Tayson grew impatient, his face now wore a frown and he had his forelegs crossed. Twenty-five, thirty. That’s it, screw them, I’m going to catch up the rest of my sleep.

He stood up and started to take his leave home only to be stopped by the sound of a mare yelling at him. “HEY!” Tayson turned around to see the brown mare who had saved him yesterday. The mare sprinted towards Tayson and stopped right in front of his hooves. She was panting but still able to smile sheepishly. “Sorry to make you wait, I kind of overslept.” 

Tayson raised his eyebrow. “Overslept?”

“Yeah sorry, saving your flank and getting beaten by a puppeteer Minotaur who is able to shoot strings out of his fingertips tends to drain my powers.”

“Touché.”

“Well we should get going, luckily it isn’t too far from here. Actually it is right around the corner.” 

The two started their way towards the HQ.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The turquoise Pegasus frowned at the chalk message that had formed on his desk.

To: Lieutenant Borealis.
Mission failed. Agents of KAMI interfered.
Pulling Strings failed his mission, as did agent 733, 859, 562 and 854.
All of the above were killed, except commander Pulling Strings who committed suicide.
Awaiting further orders.
From: Agent 745.

Borealis was more than afraid, only five minutes ago he had gotten a message from commander Pulling Strings that he was able to capture the colt Tai Ichi.
The Captain will kill me when he gets the news. But if he doesn’t get informed he will kill me anyways. 

With aversion the turquoise Pegasus left his writing desk and made his way to what would certainly be his death sentence. 

Why did I even sign up for this?

He went down the hall, turned left, right and left again before he stopped in front of a large black double door. There wasn’t much lighting and the few rays of light that permeated the hallway were only perceivable thanks to the golden ornaments that adorned the two black doors in what looked like some kind of magical circle.

“Ah, Lieutenant Borealis, how lovely of you to report back. I take the mission was a success?”

Borealis froze and turned towards the source of the sound, where he could see the gentle smile of his feared Captain. “C-Captain Two Face. I-I-I…”

“STOP STUTTERING AND SPEAK CLEARLY YOU WORTHELESS PIECE OF TRASH!” An ocean blue Pegasus stepped out of the shadows and the glare of his emerald eyes pierced the very essence of Borealis’ soul.

The turquoise Pegasus took some anxious steps back and made peace with himself.

“I-I’m sorry sir, but the mission failed.” Borealis swallowed, now sure that he won’t see the next sunrise. He cowered closer to the ground and started to pray to whoever or whatever would listen to his pleas for a short and painless death.

“Oh my, are our agents safe? I hope they’re not hurt, it would be a shame. They are always so loyal.” Two Face’s smile returned.

“W-Well they are dead…”

“Oh… well, can’t be helped, how about you take off for the rest of the day? You must be tired of making all these extra hours. Don’t worry; I’ll tell the boss. We both know that he can be a little scary sometimes” Two face snickered and turned towards the black doors.

Borealis gulped. “U-Uhm sir? Agent 745 survived and asks for new orders.”

“TELL HIM TO GO TO HELL.” The manic glare of his emerald eyes pierced through the darkness as were his white gritting teeth. “HE IS GO TO THE LABORATORIUM TO SERVE AS TEST SUBJECT FOR NEW CHEMS, THAT COULD BE TO DANGEROUS FOR THE TEST ANIMALS!” He glared daggers at the cowering pony that lay in front of him.
Borealis wasted no more time and ran as fast as possible back to his office so he could give agent 745 his new orders. No wonder he got those two masks as cutie mark, I never know if I survive the next conversation with that guy.

When Borealis was gone Two Face knocked at the doors and entered the room.
The room was drenched in complete darkness, the only light entering the room coming from the hallway. 

“My lord. Your agents have failed their mission.” Two face bowed as he entered the room, leaving the doors open so he could see his master approaching.

There were steps echoing throughout the room yet their source wasn’t traceable. After a few seconds, however, there was a manic chuckle audible through the room.

“Well, well, well.” Right in front of him, Two Face could see his Malicious Edge stepping out of the shadows. The black coat and obsidian mane of his master were now visible. As were his yellow sunglasses with black frame. His black trenchcoat draped across the room. He was now next to Captain Two Face. Both facing opposing directions.

“Maybe, I should do it myself,” The Malicious Edge chuckled again, “It’s not often that I get a chance to visit my brother.”

Malicious Edge stepped out of the room and closed the doors behind him.

Two face was now engulfed in complete darkness. He began to chuckle, his emerald eyes were still piercing through the void. His chuckle evolved into a manic laughter that filled the room and the rest of the hideout.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson and Maya stood in front of the Manehattan town hall.

“Seriously?” Tayson glanced at Maya.

“Yup.” Maya said in a cheery voice. “Didn’t see that one coming, now did you.” She looked back at Tayson with a big smile.

“But why. I mean, isn’t it dangerous to put the HQ of an entire secret organization in the most public building of one of the most crowded cities in Equestria?” 

“Actually, our main building is in Canterlot.”

“But… I mean… never mind, let’s go inside.”

The two went down the hall and entered an empty elevator. The door closed and Maya started to push what looked like a random sequence of buttons one and zero. 
The elevator went two floors down and then started to go back for a while until resuming to go downwards. Except for an annoying elevator jingle there was complete silence.

After the elevator descended, what Tayson would estimate to be about five floors, the elevator doors opened. Tayson had to cover his eyes for the bright white light that burned on his retinas. Maya didn’t seem to have that problem and just stepped outside and turned towards Tayson who was recovering from the sudden light.

“Welcome. To the Manehattan seat of KAMI.” She gave Tayson an inviting smile and spread her forelegs in a welcoming gesture. “What do you think?”

Tayson left the elevator and looked around in awe. The walls were painted in the purest white, a few plants stood next to some black waiting seats and there was a secretary doing some paperwork.

“It is… white.”

“No shit Sherlock.” Maya gave Tayson an annoyed little glare.

“What?” He shrugged.

“Come on, this way.”

Tayson followed Maya as they went through the building. The halls were all painted in the same white only to be occasionally interrupted by an oaken door, a potted plant or a painting.

“Isn’t there any security?”

Maya stopped in her tracks and looked dumbfound at Tayson.

“Well I mean… This seems to be a very secret building, so I imagined that there would be a lot of security.” Tayson shrugged.

“That’s a weird question you know? But yes there are some guards here, but they mostly protect the entrance hall, the archive and the prison. However, we don’t have to deal with intruders very often. You can think of us like some sort of guard. No sane criminal would break into the guard. However, in Canterlot you would be right. Our main archive lies there so there is a lot of protection there.”

“Oh, well ok.”

The two resumed their trot until they stood in front of a large wooden double door.
Maya knocked at the door and waited.

“Come in.” A muffled voice resounded from the other side of the door.

Maya opened the door and the two entered the room.

It was a large circular room with three doors, each on the same distance from each other and something that looked like a stage between two of the entrances; a portion of the floor stood higher than the rest of the floor.

There were some cushion laying in the middle of the room, forming a circle with on one of the cushions Steel Needle sitting. He turned his head towards Tayson and Maya and smiled.  In the middle of the circle lay a fancy tray with a steaming teapot and some cups.

Maya sat next to her adoptive father and Tayson took a seat in front of his two life saviours.

“Good to see you again,” Steel Needle filled Tayson’s cup with tea, “I take that you had no trouble getting home?”

Tayson took the cup and nodded. “Thank you.” He took a sip from the tea.

“Wasn’t the boss coming today?” Maya asked Steel Needle as he filled her cup.

“He will be here in a second. In the mean time, we have some time to talk.” 

Maya looked at the tray and saw five cups standing on it. “Are we expecting somepony else?”

“No, that is just in case I’m right with something. But never mind that.”

“Why is your boss coming?” Tayson looked a little nervous, not sure why. It’s not like there was a link between him being abducted and their boss coming.

Steel Needle put his cup back on the tray and took a more formal stance, the smile he had just carried now made place for a serious face. “Because I invited him. What happened yesterday was out of the ordinary, even for us.”

Maya looked in confusion at Steel Needle. “But we deal with these guys at a regular basis, why is this time so strange? Yes they tried to kidnap a random pony and we had. To. Deal with a commander… Oooooh I see where you’re coming from.”

Steel Needle nodded. “Exactly, normally they only act against other gods and even then it is rare to see that they send a commander.”

“But why do they need me? I'm not special, I’m not…” 

“A god?” Steel Needle interjected.

Tayson froze at the sudden implication of the grey earthpony. “C-Come again?”

Steel Needle took a long thoughtful sip from his tea before he spoke again. “A god.”

“Well that would explain a lot.” Maya said.

“But I’m not a god, I don’t even know what that actually means.” 

“Look, Tayson. These guys aren’t normal criminals, they are very dangerous and very careful in their actions and in who they send. They are one of the most notorious criminal organisation that are known to the KAMI organisation and I can reassure you that they’d never waste time and resources on kidnapping a normal colt. The Lotus Dragon would never be interested in you unless, you’re a god.”

“A… god.” Tayson looked in disbelief.

“And one with a great potential, after what I’ve heard yesterday.”

“Huh?”

“Well after you were gone, I asked my daughter to tell me what she meant with that you were a god. She told me about the flash and that it felt like a raw burst of pure energy.”

Maya nodded. “It surprised me that that brute actually survived your technique.”

“B-But I don’t know what happened! I didn’t…” Tayson was cut off by a waving hoof of Steel Needle.

“Don’t worry about that, we’ll discuss that after our boss arrived. For now I would like to ask you a question,” Tayson calmed himself and prepared himself for the next question, “what’s the name of your grandmother?”

Of all questions, this was the one he would’ve never expected to be asked in this conversation. “U-Uhm, Crystal Clear, but I don’t see why that’s relevant?”

Steel Needle sighed at Tayson’s answer and started to fill the fifth cup. “Yeah, I was afraid that you’d say that.” As soon as the cup was filled the same door where Tayson and Maya had entered the room, was sent flying across the room.

“YOU FILTHY LYING CLANDESTINE GOOD-FOR-NOTHING IGNORAMUS…”

The train of insults went on until Tayson recognised who was yelling them. “G-Grandma?” What came after those words was a sequence of incomprehensible gibberish as a result of a mental blue screen of death.

Behind the rampaging mare came the secretary. “I’m so sorry sir,” she bowed, “I tried to stop her but she didn’t want to hear anything of it.”

“I told you to NOT, I repeat NOT, to even try to initiate him into KAMI.”

Steel Needle waved a dismissive hoof at the secretary. “It’s ok Lyra, I'll handle it.” Lyra nodded, looking at the doors that were catapulted through the room and muttered something about that she already had enough paperwork to handle. He then tried to smile as sincerely as possible at the light grey mare. 

“I’m so sorry Crystal, but yesterday some brutes of the Lotus Dragon tried to kidnap your grandson. If it wasn’t for my daughter, they would have succeeded. Afterwards I had to save both when they had to deal with Pulling Strings.” Steel Needle tried to force himself not to flinch from the glare of Crystal Clear, “He wanted an explanation and since I didn’t know of his heritage I just told him to come here and to not tell anypony. The boss will be here soon and then we can discuss what to do. What do you think of it?” He smiled sheepishly. “I got some tea, and it is your favourite flavour.”

“DON’T. EVEN. TRY TO LIE TO ME!” Crystal Shot Steel the angriest of glares in recorded history, a glare strong enough to pierce through hardened steel.

Steel Needle tried to maintain his posture but his coat started to darken as the result of the quantity of fear induced sweating. “OK YES!” He finally cringed. “But come on, the cutie mark, the colour pattern and the mere fact that Malicious Edge wanted him. Only one clan in recorded history had those characterizing features. It was obvious!” He threw his hooves in the air from desperation.

“Then why didn’t you erase his memories and report to me like I ordered you to do.” Her glare only intensified as she leaned in, narrowing the space between her and Steel’s face.

“Because, whatever my brother’s up to, he needs to be stopped and if he wants that colt, then we’re going to prevent him from taking him.” A new voice rang through the room.

Steel Needle’s and Maya’s ears perked up at the voice, both turned around and saluted at the White unicorn. He stood at the entrance where the door, that Crystal Clear had catapulted through the room, lay. His right eye, which wasn’t covered by his light-brown-reddish mane, coldly analyzed the current situation and his stoic face showed no sign of any emotion as. He lowered his gaze in an elegant manner where he closed his eyes and spoke. “At ease, we have no time for formalities.”

Maya and Steel Needle relaxed. Meanwhile Tayson’s blue screen of death was fixed and his mind rebooted, now able again to process new information. Only Crystal Cleared seemed not amused to see the, taller than a normal pony, unicorn.

“Time Gale! What is the meaning of this? I’ve told you to leave my grandson alone!”

“Miss Clear, I understand that you’re upset. But if my brother gets what he wants then we’re in bigger troubles than your little family affair.”

Crystal stomped at the floor. “Then have at least the decency to inform me!”

“Hey it’s not my fault that you’re overprotecting your grandson!” Steel Needle interrupted.

“DON’T EVEN DARE TO LECTURE ME! WHIPPER-SNAPPER!” 

“LISTEN OLD HAG, I TRIED TO BE REASONABLE! BUT YOU’RE WASTING HIS POTENTIAL!”

“HOW DID YOU…”

“ENOUGH!!” The amplified voice of Time Gale boomed through the room, much like the Royal Canterlot voice. The gust sent the tea and the tray it was on flying. The two arguing gods became quiet and decided to choose their next words with proper care. Time Gale returned to his calm and stoic expression. “How about we let the colt decide for himself.” He turned his expression to Tayson who sat perplexed on his cushion.

“I’m not going to talk around the subject, you’re in danger. My brother wants you for Celestia knows what and we can assume that it is bad. I’m giving you two choices. You can either choose to resume your daily life, we’ll erase your memories and set you under constant supervision. OR you can join the KAMI organisation, we’ll train you and you’ll be strong enough to defend yourself.”

“But why me?”

Time Gale sighed and turned his gaze towards Crystal. “I think you owe your grandson an explanation. We’ll leave the two of you alone.” He nodded at Steel Needle and Maya who left the room at command. Time Gale followed shortly after and shut the doors with telekinesis.
Only Tayson and Crystal remained in the room.

“G-Grandma?”

“I’m so sorry Tai Ichi.” She lowered her gaze.

“Why… why didn’t you tell me?”

She sighed. “I wanted to keep you safe. After what happened to our family…”

“They, they didn’t die in an airship crash… did they?” Now it was Tayson’s turn to lower his gaze.

“No… I-I’m afraid not… They fell prey to that monster…” A tear rolled from Crystal’s cheek.

There was a silence for a few minutes until Tayson opened his mouth again.

“C-Can you tell me? Tell me what happened, I mean.”

She made herself comfortable on the cushion in front of Tayson and began her story.

“It was sixteen years ago. You were still a foal of course. Every member of our little family worked for KAMI, well except your sister, she was still too young. The night it happened I was on a mission and…”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The council was talking for an hour straight and the diplomats were still arguing about whatever matter they had to decide on. It was Crystal’s first mission in a while, but she had hoped for a little more exciting job than playing the escort for an presumptuous noble. 

“And with that I am sure, gentlecolts, you will agree with me that we should limit the Zebrican emigration.”

Crystal bonked her head against the table. Oh my Celestia, who the hay cares!!!

The diplomats in the room huffed at the sudden outburst of the escort of the equestrian noble. The noble himself threw an annoyed glare at Crystal. “Is there a problem Miss Clear?”

Crystal gritted her teeth. “Misses. And yes, there is a problem, why don’t you take your oversized e…” 

She was cut off when the doors of the conference room went open, a Zebrican guard stood there with a scroll in his hooves. “Misses Clear,” His Zebrican accent gave an exotic tone to his Equestrianese, “There is an urgent letter for you here.” He went to her and gave her the letter. There was a white seal with a green ring around it. A message from KAMI. She unfurled the roll and read it, and completely ignored the other diplomats in the room. When she finished the letter she froze.

“I’m also here to inform that there’s an airship for you ready on the platform.” The guard saluted and left the room.

The noble cleared his throat and spoke. “Is there a problem Misses Clear?”

“I need to go…” She stormed out the room and headed for the airport.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“It was then that I’ve learned that our family house was invaded by Malicious Edge and his gang…” Crystal was now silently crying. “There were no survivors.”

Tayson gave his grandmother a few minutes to calm herself before asking. “What happened then? Where was I?”

“Well, I left Stone-Water city and returned to Canterlot…”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Crystal ran through the streets of Canterlot. She exited the city gates and went for the forest near the city. Crystal ran as fast as she could until she could see the family house of her clan.
The mansion was roped off and some Pegasus guards were stationed near the entrance.

“Halt! Who goes…” the guards crossed their wing to block the entrance until they saw who was nearing, “Misses Clear, we’re so sorry. Please continue.”

Crystal Clear slowed down to a trot. “How very kind of you to allow me to enter my own home.” She sneered and glared at the guards.

The guards gulped. “We’re sorry about what happened. Time Gale is waiting inside.”

Crystal ignored the two guards on their last statement and just entered the family estate. She walked through the garden until she reached the devastated front of the house. There hung a scent of burnt wood. The once white walls were black and the roof was filled with holes and broken tiles.
The inside wasn’t a better sight, the wooden floors were covered in dirt and blood.

Every piece of furniture was broken, every window shattered and every wall cracked.
Crystal walked through her home, on the verge of crying, but no tear escaped her eye.

She reached the main hall where she saw Time Gale sitting at one of the tables. He was drinking some tea while looking through some paperwork. As soon as he saw that Crystal was in the room he put the papers away and turned to her. “Misses Clear. I’m so sorry for what happened.”

Crystal didn’t respond, she walked over to the table and sat on the opposite side of the table. Time Gale poured her some tea in a cup and looked through the papers.

“The attack happened three days ago. The forensics have detected remnants of energy codes that are identical of my brother... They probably attacked at night and took them by surprise.” Time gale fell silent for a few moments before resuming his report. “There were no bodies found, so we assume that he has taken them to get information…”

Two streams of liquid ran from Crystal’s face. She didn’t look at Time Gale.

“Crystal, I…”

“You sent me away.” She cut Time Gale off, there was a tremor in her voice and she spoke these words with an unusual high tone.

He recoiled a bit. “S-Sorry?”

“YOU SENT ME AWAY!” She slammed her hooves at the table. “FOR A STUPID DIPLOMATIC MISSION!”

“Crystal, please I didn’t…”

“SHUT UP!” She send the tray flying through the room. “I SHOULD HAVE BEEN HERE, I SHOULD HAVE PROTECTED THEM! BUT NO! I HAD TO ESCORT ONE OF THOSE UNGRATEFULL SPOILED NOBLES SO THEY COULD DISCUSS ABOUT IMMIGRATION LAWS! I-I...” She glared daggers at Time Gale and clenched her teeth while tears streamed down her face.

“Crystal, I-I’m…”

“NO YOU’RE NOT! GET OUT! GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!” 

Time Gale sat there for a moments, completely lost until he got up and started to walk out of the room. He stopped at the door and turned his face at Crystal. “If you ever need anything, just let me know. I’ll let my guards here to watch over you… I’m sorry…” With that he left the room.

Crystal sat at the same spot for a few minutes, her face still filled with anger. She let out a scream of rage and sorrow which decayed into a weep and lastly into a sob.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Meanwhile, as Crystal was telling her story, she too was crying at the memories of loss and sorrow.

Tayson sat in front of her, not sure what to say. “But I don’t understand…” he finally spoke, “There were no survivors… then… what about me?”

Crystal interrupted her sob to smile at her grandson. She wiped the stream of tears out of her face and continued. “You have to thank your sister.” She was still crying, but it seemed that those were tears of joy. “She was a smart filly…”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was hours after Time Gale had left, the guards were patrolling the estate. Some gods had come to give their condolences. Even the princesses had come. However, she sent them all away. She didn't wan't their apologies, she wanted her family back.

She was now strolling through the broken halls of the mansion. Every trace of memories was replaced by the feelings of pain and grief. The once warm corridors now only were empty and the rooms all had lost their colours, their warmth. The gardens were unrecognisable, most of it had been burned or in another way destroyed.

This wasn’t her home anymore…

She now headed for the room of her grandchildren. A sign on the door announced the room of her granddaughter. Mirage’s room. A smiley was drawn on the door and some paper stars were attached to it giving it the flair of the room of a young filly. She entered the room. Toys and books littered the floor and her bed and desk were destroyed. Crystal sighed at the sight, she wanted to cry yet all her tears were already spend. She sat on the demolished mattress bed and picked a copy of Perception filters for advanced up. She was such a smart little filly… Crystal looked around, with the hope of finding a memento. However everything of emotional value had been destroyed, except for the book in her hooves. She put it in the saddlebag which she hadn't bothered to take of yet.
She moved on and went towards the room of her grandson. Tai Ichi’s room.

This room was no exception. The crib had been completely demolished, the baby supplies had been thrown through the room. The only thing that was in a halfway acceptable state was the cupboard on which laid a scroll. For Granny Clear. Love Mirage.

She touched the scroll, but before she could attempt to open the scroll it exploded in a smoke cloud. Crystal coughed as the smoke entered her lungs. As soon as she realised that there was another sound, the sound of a foal crying, adrenaline shot in her blood. She sprinted towards the nearest window and opened it. The smoke lifted until it was completely vanished, Crystal searched for where the sound came and cried in happiness as she saw a foal, wrapped in a red cloth, laying on the intact cupboard. She sprinted towards the foal to be sure that it was really Tai Ichi who laid on the cupboard. When she was completely sure that it was her grandson, she took the crying foal in her arms and started comforting it. With tears in her eyes she shushed the foal to sleep. “Don’t worry Tai Ichi… It will be alright… You’re safe now…” She took the mattress and tapped the ground. Soon the mattress was embraced by a new glass crib. She laid the foal in bed and smiled. “I’m… Thank you… Thank you for being alright.” The foal had calmed and was now drifting away to sleep. Crystal stood at the crib and thanked the sun and the moon for this wonder. As soon as the foal slept, she grabbed a piece of chalk out of her pocket and started writing on the wall.

To: Time Gale.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“I sent Time Gale a request, in which I asked to be re-stationed somewhere safe and for you to be kept in the dark about your heritage and abilities. I know it sounded stupid but I was afraid that if word spread that a member of our clan had survived that he would come after you. I didn’t want to lose you too.” She said the last sentence with a wince.

It was silent for a few moments, Crystal’s gaze was lowered in sorrow and shame. Tayson just sat there, not sure what to think, what to say.

“However, it seemed I was wrong… In the end it didn’t matter, he has found you.” Crystal lifted her gaze to meet Tayson’s. “In a minute now, Time Gale will come through that door… and he will ask you if you want to join KAMI or if you want to resume your normal life,” Tayson gulped, “no matter what you answer. I… I will support you...” With that she stood up and let the waiting gods in. She didn’t look them in the eyes, she just made a gesture to tell them to enter. Everypony gathered at the circle and looked at Tayson. Time Gale cleared his throat and began to speak. 

“I take that you’ve gotten your explanation?”

Tayson just nodded absently.

“Then you already know what I want to ask you?”

Again, Tayson just nodded.

“I see... Well then, it’s up to you. You can return to you old life or you can enter the service of KAMI. Of course you don’t have to join. You can also just become a member of the god society.”

Tayson looked up, he opened his mouth but it took him a minute to form a coherent sentence. “I-I would like t-to go back to my old life.” As those hollow words left Tayson’s mouth, he cried a bit. “I-I’m…”

Crystal laid a hoof around her grandson’s neck and drew him closer. “It’s ok Tayson…”

Steel Needle looked a bit disappointed and sighed. “A shame, you would have made a good soldier… Well it’s your choice.”

Time Gale just nodded. “Do you wish that we erase your memories?”

Tayson shook his head. “No I… I’d like to remember everything… please… I don’t want to live in a lie.”
Steel Needle smiled. “I like your attitude colt. If you ever need anything or you want to know more about, well about anything. Then you can always ask me. I will also teach you how to use your abilities if you’re interested.”

Maya smiled too. “I can show you the city if you’d like. Well the part of it that you haven’t seen yet.” She winked.

Crystal hugged her grandson. “And I promise to never keep a secret from you again….” She chuckled a bit. “By Celestia that sounded cheesy.” 

Tayson returned the hug smiled. “Thank you.” He released the grip and turned back to the other ponies in the room.

“And you too, again, thank you for saving me last night,” He smiled at Steel Needle and Maya and then to Time Gale, “And thank you for giving me a choice.”

Time Gale, who hadn’t shown any emotion throughout the whole conversation, now just laughed at the last statement. “Well, you could thank Celestia for that. You can’t be friends with her for a thousand years and still be the same harsh leader, whose will is absolute.”

“Celestia knows about this?” Tayson rubbed the last tears out his eyes.

“Of course, but that will be a story for another day. I think that it has been enough commotion for today.” Everypony nodded in unison stood up ready to leave the room.

“READY OR NOT, BUT HERE I COME!” Before anypony could react, Steel Needle was cut in half by black clouds, Crystal was pinned to the floor and Time Gale and Maya were smashed against the walls covered in black clouds.

“Night Sky?! How did you…” Time Gale was cut off when the clouds, that chained him against the wall, discharged. He spasm in pain and went limp for a moment until he found the strength again to lift his gaze.

“Hehehe, well it is nice to see you too brother, but you seem to mistake me for somepony else.” Malicious Edge gave his brother a fake sulk.

“Stop this, Night, or I’ll…” Another shock silenced Time Gale.

“You’re the older one, so you should be the wiser one. Yet you seem to be unable to remember your brother’s name. Tsk tsk tsk.” Malicious shook disappointed his head. “Well, never mind, I’m here for something else.” His manic gaze turned to Tayson who cowered against the nearest wall.

“Don’t you dare to TOUCH him!” 

Malicious Edge looked at the raging grandmother with an uninterested look. As he turned his head back towards Tayson the yelling grandmother was silenced by a shock of her cloud.

“Granny!” Tayson cried out.

“Oh don’t worry about her,” Malicious spat, “I think you’re in bigger troubles. Well then, where were we?” Malicious tapped his chin. “Oh right, Tai Ichi, the colt who lived. Wait no… that’s from a book…" He facehooved and groaned. "I can't quote a book when I'm trying to fullfill my evil masterplan. Well never mind, I did it and we'll have to live with it,” he chuckled a bit as he returned his attention towards Tayson, “you can’t imagine what a pain you were to find. I had to look everywhere.” His rambling came to an end as a wooden stake went right through his head.

Malicious just stood there for a moment looking around, at the same time Tayson could see the hole at the side of Malicious’ head. The hole quickly closed as dark clouds seemed to bind the ends of the hole together, and as soon as the hole was covered, the clouds fused to his head, which made it look like nothing had happened at all. Meanwhile, Malicious had found the source of his disturbance. Maya had somehow managed to free her hoof, and one could see where the stake had shot out.
Malicious just sighed. 

“Really?” He shrugged. “Cuz, I thought my brother had at least told you that you can’t kill me like that. I just come here to get something that belongs to me and you just attack me? I even spared the guards and that mint green chick at the entrance, I think that I’m actually more than reasonable for the moment. Also, I thought you’d be cleverer than that.” He flicked his tail which caused Maya to spasm in pain as electric currents flowed through her body. “You see that? I can do that all day.” He proved his point by letting the room fill with the screams of agony and pain. Malicious laughed.

“Shocking isn’t it.” He chuckled manically and returned to the terrified colt. “Enough bad puns for today, back to business.”

“Please…” Was the only word that escaped his mouth.

“Ohoohoh, don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you,” He grinned and placed his hoof over his chest, “I have ponies who do that for me.” Malicious took a few intimidating steps towards Tayson until he stood right in front of him. He brought his face closer, close enough that Tayson could smell his greasy mane that covered his right eye. “You look a lot like your mother you know that?” He just kept on smiling. “The same eyes… Your mother’s eyes” He booped Tayson’s nose, “those eyes, were the same eyes that looked at me. Normally, I would have taken you that same day. But we could. Not. Find. You.”

“MALICIOUS I SWEAR…” Malicious’ face fell, he disappeared in black clouds and reappeared in front of Crystal Clear.

“I told you to be quiet.” He slapped her face.

At that moment something snapped in Tayson. His fear just vanished in thin air, he stood up and cried out in pain. All the colours in the room disappeared, the tiles under his hooves cracked and air started rushing towards him. Naturally this attracted the attention of everypony in the room. Malicious turned around and smiled a smile that soon turned into a grin and finally in manic laughter.

“WONDERFUL, kyahahaha.”

Tayson too started to smile in a manic way. His pupils and irises were replaced by two taijitu. He took a step forward; and where his hoof touched the ground, a pulse started to flow through the room, returning the stolen colours.

“Oh, I love it. The chaos mode is such a rare sight lately.” Malicious admired the sight of Tayson’s rage, Crystal however was not so happy to see her grandson in such a state and neither was Time Gale.

“TAYSON, DON’T! PLEASE, TRY TO REMAIN STABLE!” Time Gale cried out in a futile attempt to inhibit the anger induced rage.

Crystal just looked and a tear rolled from her cheek. “Tayson…”

Their concern fell on deaf ears as Tayson opened his mouth and stuck his tongue straight out. 
At the tip started to form a sphere of white energy, and a smaller marble of black energy formed as such that the tip of his tongue, the white orb and the black marble stood on one line. The marble started to accelerate towards the white orb and as soon as it touched, a beam of energy shot out.

Malicious dodged the beam by turning into clouds and forming a hole through which the beam shot. The clouds rushed towards Tayson and fused together into a Malicious Edge, ready to crush his face with an overhand punch. 
The punch hit and the blow catapulted Tayson across the room, he didn’t reach the wall as his image disappeared like a fading picture and reappeared in the exact same fashion above Malicious. Tayson rushed at Malicious and used his momentum to crush him into the floor. Tiles shattered and Tayson stood on top of his, almost, defeated enemy. He formed white spears of pure, untainted energy and used them to pin down the limbs of his enemy. He brought his hoof on one line with Malicious’ head. Black packets of energy started to form around his hoof and rushed towards the tip of his hoof, where they assembled into a black orb. However, before Tayson could blast his bloody head of, a muffled sound interrupted his attack. “Backdoor.”

Malicious escaped the grip of his opponent, not with the usual ‘transforming into black clouds, disperse and reassemble somewhere else’ fashion instead he just vanished from one second to another. The black beam shot, it pierced several layers of concrete, yet what it didn’t pierce was his opponent’s head.
Malicious just reappeared in front of Tayson, completely unharmed. His trenchcoat, however, wasn’t that lucky.

“Ethereal attacks. Gehehe, smart. Only way to kill an elemental user isn’t it.” Malicious kept laughing for a few moments until resuming his ramble. “But I guess I don’t have to waste my breath on you, you can’t hear me anyways.”

Tayson jumped on his hind legs and pointed both his hooves at his opponent, and released a barrage of white and dark energy. Malicious dodged every last of the energy orbs, by using the same technique he had used to dodge the energy beam. He then materialized in front of Tayson but before he could start a counterattack, he was tackled by Time Gale.

Malicious stumbled a bit but succeeded in landing on his hoofs and quickly regained his posture.

“How did you?”

The question died as he saw his brother’s left eye. Malicious couldn’t do other than grin. “Ohooh, of course. Completely forgot about the sun eye. Have you finally managed to control the power?” His question was answered when Time Gale coughed up some blood. “Hmm, maybe you should try…”

“Shut up.”

Malicious shrugged. “Your choice. As you can see, I have managed to channel the power of the moon eye and…” His boasting was interrupted when an orb of black energy smashed him at the nearest wall.

“LUNADAMMIT! DO YOU GUYS HAVE TO KEEP INTERUPTING ME?” since Tayson didn’t seem to listen to reason he just ignored the question and charged the wall with both his hooves who were surrounded in white and black energy.

Malicious was able to dodge that attack just in time and reappeared in front of his brother, the manic grin he had worn through the whole battle had vanished and had been replaced by an expression of frustration. “Fine, you’ve won this time brother dear. Backdoor.”

“DON’T YOU…” Before Time Gale could end his sentence, his brother already had vanished in black clouds. Maya and Crystal Clear were released from their chains and Steel Needle’s remains were freed. Time Gale sighed. “Every single time….” 

The peace was of short while as Tayson started to resume his rampage, however before he could shoot another beam or deliver another blow, one look of Time Gale’s left eye silenced his rage. Tayson’s screams ceased, his eyes became dull, and his body limp. Eventually gravity took over and Tayson fell to the ground. Everypony else sighed, and that was the last sound that resounded through the room.

> Chapter two: Starting Training
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter Two: 

Starting Training


The chill wind of the night air blew over the cemetery of Manehattan. Tayson was wandering aimlessly around the graveyard; not paying attention to his surroundings. Everywhere were blank tombstones. An owl occasionally disturbed the quiet of the cemetery as did the occasional laughter of foals. Shadows walked past the fields and over the tombstones, but never coming near Tayson.

Time seemed not to progress, and neither did Tayson. He was still walking on the same spot—he moved but it was not by his own actions. His surroundings moved on their own—whirling around Tayson and pushing him forwards like a river carrying a leaf towards the ocean. No matter if he tried to turn right or left, he always moved towards a hill in the middle of the cemetery.
On the top of the hill stood a mirror with the image of a pony on it; and as Tayson came closer he could make out that the pony in the mirror was his image. However, instead of the dull eyes and emotionless expression his reflection wore bright eyes and a warm and gentle smile. The two looked at each other for a few moments, until the surroundings shifted. The graveyard made place for a taiga, the tombstones were substituted by snowed trees and the hooting of owls was replaced by the howling of timber wolf.

The smile of Tayson’s reflection now shifted into a manic grin, while behind him Malicious Edge emerged from the shadows of the forest. Tayson turned his head to look where Malicious stood, but he was nowhere to be found. As he turned his head both his reflection and Malicious Edge had vanished, instead, now facing him was a light-green horse with a bone-white mask which looked like the head of a dragon. His turquoise mane went all over his back and his breath even permeated the mirror and enveloped Tayson in a dusky haze.

His mouth opened and showed some teeth and saliva dripping from his mouth. “You will free me!”

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH” Tayson’s eyes shot open. He was covered in sweat and struggled to get grip on what just had happened. Crystal ran towards Tayson and tried to calm him.

“Tayson, don’t worry, it's alright. It was just a nightmare.” She shushed him, Tayson’s heartbeat normalized and his breathing stabilized. That was until his gaze shifted and caught a face he hadn’t expected to see anymore. “YOU!”

In front of him, on a chair, sat a steel-colour coated stallion; eating—unbothered by the colt staring at him—a bowl of noodles. He looked up with a dumbfound face. He looked right, then left, then back right, trying to check if the accusation was directed at somepony else. When he was sure that he was meant he pointed at himself. “Me?” He asked with a bundle of noodles still hanging from his mouth.

“YES, YOU! YOU WERE DEAD! CUT IN HALF BY THAT PSYCHO. What was his name?” He looked questioningly at his grandmother. 

“Malicious Edge,” Crystal responded flatly.”

“YEAH, THAT GUY.” He threw his glare back at the Stallion in front of him.

Steel Needle swallowed the noodles, looked up and thought about what Tayson had said for a few minutes.

“Huh, yeah. Completely forgot about that.” He turned his attention back at the bowl of noodles and slurped another bundle of the wheaty deliciousness.

Tayson groaned in agony, first because of the obliviousness of the metal god (let's call him like that since he is a god who does stuff with metal) and—after a few seconds—as a response to the headache that was tearing his brain apart.

“Are you alright?” There was a tone of concern in Crystal’s voice as was there an undertone that stated that she knew the answer.

“Yes… just a little dizzy… what happened… yesterday? Was it yesterday? How long was I out? What happened to that psycho?”

“There, there,” Crystal interrupted the train of questions, “it’s still Saturday, you were just out for a few hours.” This was confirmed by the orange light of the setting sun that streamed through the windows. “And about Steel Needle, let’s say that we call him the “Iron Will” for a reason, but that is a story for another day.”

“Indeed it is.” A new voice entered the room.

“Good evening Doctor Tender Daze, nurse Anne Sthetics,” Steel Needle Greeted the doctor and nurse.

“Hello Mister Needle, are the injuries healing?” He gave a warm doctor-like smile to Steel Needle.

“Sure.”

“Well that is good to hear, now let’s head to our new patient shall we?” The nurse gave an absent nod while she looked over some papers.

“Good evening Miss Clear, haven’t seen you here for a while.”

“It’s good to see you too, doctor.” She gave a warm smile.

Doctor Tender Daze turned his attention towards Tayson. “And you must be Tayson? Right?”

Tayson nodded. Anne Sthetics gave the doctor Tayson’s dossier. Tender Daze looked through the pages with the occasional “hmm” and “aha” and after a few minutes he gave the dossier back to nurse Anne Sthetics and gave Tayson and Crystal a warm smile. “Looks good, completely healthy. But we’d like to keep you in for one night to see if your energy flow has regulated.”

Tayson looked worried at his grandmother, who in her turn just gave a comforting smile. “Don’t worry about that, it's just routine.” This,—slightly—calmed Tayson’s nerves. “I’ll be here tomorrow to pick you up, ok?”
“I hate to interrupt this emotional family thingy, but the visiting hours are over. So could you…” Tender Daze waved his hoof at the direction of the door. Crystal frowned at first but the frown vanished as she understood that the doctor was just doing his job. 

“Of course,” She replied with a smile. She gave Tayson a kiss on the forehead and left the room together with the nurse, doctor and the metal god.

Tayson let his head fall in his cushion and stared at the ceiling. The image of the dragon helmet kept reappearing before his eyes. YOU WILL FREE ME! Tayson cringed at those words, but wasn’t sure why. It was just a dream…just… a dream…

He looked at his hoof and noticed that it was bruised, as were his head and other parts of his body all were covered in bandages. At first he thought that those were remains from the rough handling of the brutes but after he looked a little closer he noticed that some were new and especially sore and covered in bandages which had darkened brown stains on it. What the fudge happened? His head hurt as he tried to conjure the memories of what had transpired hours ago. After a while; however, he decided that it wasn’t worth the headache and just let the matter rest and kept on staring at the ceiling. 

So… I’m a god… my family consisted of gods… and of course my grandma is a god too… I have really no idea what to think of all of this. Malicious’ face reappeared before his inner eye and he could see him hit Crystal in the face. A burst of anger went through his body. That piece of filth. Tayson felt the same snapping sensation he had felt then. He saw the clouds cutting through Steel Needle and cringed. Why does he want me? He saw Maya spasm in agonizing pain as she got electrocuted by the dark clouds. Why does he go through all that trouble just to get me? Now he saw what could happen, he saw Octavia and Vinyl being tortured while Melody had to watch, he saw Lily and Silver being beaten to death by those brutes, Pick Up being killed on the street, Greymane being pushed into an alley where he would never get out. All his friends were in danger. Everypony he had ever known, they weren’t safe as long as that psycho roamed free; and this was all his fault, because he was too much of a coward to learn how to defend himself and his friends. Tayson got angry, all the anger flowed through him and made a gear turn, and with every rotation of that wheel he got more and more angry; and all of anger was turned towards one specific pony.

Himself.

He wanted to tear this room to bits, he wanted to find Malicious and end him for being a threat to his friends. It’s his fault! I could have had a family, a normal life, a life where I shouldn’t be afraid to lose everything I’ve ever loved. The gear started to spin and spin until it risked to break apart—but instead—it stopped.

I guess I’ve made up my mind, haven’t I?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The next morning, Tayson was up early. He now just waited for his grandmother to pick him up.

There was a knocking on his door, followed by the entering of Doctor Tender Daze and Crystal Clear. Doctor Tender Daze looked through Tayson’s file and spoke, “Well looks fine to me, there was a little excitement in the energy flow around ten o’ clock but nothing to be worried about.” He showed the graph to state his point and smiled.

“So, I can go home now?”

“Of course. Now if you excuse me, I have non-god patients to attend too and, well, let’s say they’re not as durable.” He gave an awkward smile and left the room.

The two thanked the doctor for his time and smiled. Now Crystal turned to Tayson. “Ready?”

Tayson shifted his weight awkwardly and bit his lip, this made Crystal worry. “Is there something wrong?”

Tayson left the bed and took a deep breath. Come on, yesterday I was so convinced. “I’ve been thinking and… I would like to talk to Time Gale a second time.”

Crystal’s face fell and there was an awkward silence for a few seconds.

“You want… to… talk to him?” There was an uneasy pace in which she said those words.

“Yes.” Tayson nodded.

“I… But…” Crystal forced a smile. “Of course. If you want to…” 

Tayson smiled and gave his grandmother a hug. “Thank you, granny.”

The two left the hospital and made their way towards the town hall.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


There was a knock on Steel Needle’s door. “Come in.” He said absently while going through some paperwork. The door went open and on the other side stood Crystal Clear and Tayson. Steel Needle looked up and put his glasses aside. “Hello, come in, how can I help you?” He gave a warm smile.

Tayson looked around the office. “You’re an official?”

Steel Needle shrugged, “I’m in charge of KAMI in Manehattan, and somepony has to do the paperwork. But never mind that, what brings you here?”

“Have you seen Time Gale? He wasn’t down in the KAMI building,” Crystal said.

“Time Gale?” Steel Needle cocked his head. “Why? Do you need to talk to him?”

“I would like to talk to him about yesterday,” Tayson said.

“Oh, well, he was only here because I asked him to come over to discuss your kidnapping. It is possible that he has already left for Canterlot.”

Tayson face fell. “But I really have to talk to him…”

“Don’t worry, I can always send him a chalk message. I think he could be here again next week if that is ok with you?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Time Gale’s voice entered the room, as did Time Gale, however he had to duck, so he didn’t hit his head. “I was just taking a walk through Manehattan, it has been a long time since I was here last time.” He smiled in nostalgia. “So, what did you want to talk about?”

Tayson gulped and took a more assertive posture. He took a deep breath in.  “I would like to reconsider your offer to join KAMI.”

Time Gale’s face was stoic as ever, however, there was a hint of surprise in it. “Miss Clear, Steel Needle, could you leave the two of us alone?” The two looked at each other for a while until they nodded and left the room without saying a word. Time Gale took a seat in Steel Needles chair and motioned for Tayson to take a seat too.

“So…” Time Gale began, “you want to join KAMI?”

Tayson nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“You know that it will be dangerous? We’re handling more than just other gods.” 

Tayson nodded. “Yes, I know.”

“You also know that you have to get very strong very fast?”

Again, Tayson nodded. “Yes, and I am certain that that won’t be a problem.”

Time Gale cocked an eyebrow. “Is that so?”

“You wouldn’t have asked me if it wasn’t possible in the first place.” Tayson grinned a little for a second until regaining his serious face.

Time Gale chuckled. “I guess that is true. Very well then, may I ask what made change your mind?”

Tayson dragged a hoof nervously across the floor. “My friends.”

“Your… friends,” Time gale said sceptically. “Do you care to explain?”

Tayson’s ears perked up. “Well, you see… uhm… well…” Tayson inhaled and gave a long, calming sigh, “After what happened yesterday, I couldn’t stop thinking about Malicious Edge, and what he was willing to do to ponies that I didn’t even know just to get to me; and after a while I couldn’t stop thinking about the things he would do to the ponies I really care about.” His eyes began glistening with a film of tears as he continued. “And I don’t want to rely on anypony else to save my friends from the danger I bring upon them.” He winked the tears out his eyes and replaced his face with one of sheer determination. “I want to get stronger to protect anypony who is important to me!”

After that it was quiet for a few minutes. Time Gale stood up and sighed. “Very well.” He then walked towards the door and opened it with telekinesis. On the other side was an eavesdropping Maya and the two other gods. Maya fell as the door she rested on was pulled away and fell in front of Time Gale. She shook her head and rubbed the sore spot of her head for a few seconds until she noticed the shadow over her. She looked up and gave a little squeak as she saw her boss looking with a disappointed gaze. Maya sprung up and made place for her boss to walk through, she saluted and tried her best to not give an awkward grin. Time Gale looked at Steel Needle. 
“I’ll be staying for another day,” he said, “Please send a message to inform Circadian Rhythm. She is to inform the princesses that our dinner has been postponed−” He walked past Steel Needle. “−We have a little rescheduling to attend to.”

Steel Needle saluted. “Yes, sir!” He then turned towards Crystal Clear. “Well, I guess you should leave now. Unless you anything else to discuss?”

Crystal looked at her grandson. “No… we’re fine. Thank you.” She gave Steel Needle a smile and left the building together with Tayson.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was Monday and Littlehorn academy was once again filled with uninterested adolescents. Well not all of them were uninterested, but a lot of them were. Tayson, however, was one of the interested adolescents since it was nice to have a regular day after all he had been through. The weekend, which was supposed to be peaceful had turned into the biggest plot twist of his entire life. Not only had he been beaten, kidnapped and almost killed, no, he also seemed to be a godlike being who’s family was a clan who had pledged their services to a secret organisation that stretched over the whole planet… so yeah. The only thing he wanted to see now was the smile of his two best friends—who now, hopefully—were in love with each other. Well, at least one of the two was. Tayson smiled as he saw Silver Breeze walking towards him.

“And there he is, our little Casanova. How did…” His playful tease ended as he read Silver’s body language. His gaze was cast down, he walked slowly and there wasn’t any sign of happiness in his trot. “Oh no, don’t tell me… I’m so sorry…” He stretched his front leg in an attempt to comfort his emotionally broken friend. But he got stopped as Silver grabbed him in the tightest hug in recorded history. 

“SHE SAID YES!”

“Hubajewah?” 

“Lily, she said yes. I got a fillyfriend! A fillyfriend!” The glee in Silver’s face was so intense that Silver had to utter a fanfilly scream. Otherwise he would have suffered an intern meltdown of happiness.

“You flankhole! You had me worried for a second. You looked like she—I don’t know—had laughed you in the face.” 

“Oh, but she did.” The glee intensified.

“Come again?” 

“Well at first she though it was a joke and it was like super awkward but after I explained what my feelings were for her, she was like super serious she just blushed and it was awkward for another five minutes and then she just kissed me and…”

“Breath!” Tayson punched Silver’s shoulder in an attempt to get the—now blue—Pegasus to breath. Which he did, he inhaled a few litres of air, which made his chest expand three times its original size and exhaled and grinned. “I’m so happy.”

“I can see that.” Tayson nodded sarcastically.

“There was also a pink pony who just appeared, gave her congratulations and then just disappeared.”

“Well, that is weird.” Tayson shrugged.

“Yeah, I know. BUT WHO CARES! I GOT A FILLYFRIEND!” The shouting attracted some annoyed glares but Silver was in a too big euphoria to care.

“♪Hey guys.♪” Lily’s sing-song voice travelled from the front gate towards the ears of the two colts. 

“LILY!” Silver moved so fast towards his new fillyfriend that one could have sworn that he had broken the spectrum barrier and performed a mini-sonic rainboom. He then grabbed Lily, in what would now be the new tightest hug in recorded history.

“Whoa, calm down, Casanova. You don’t want to crush her barrel, now do you?” Tayson said.

Silver released Lily, who gasped a little for air. After that, she gave him a nuzzle. The two then turned towards Tayson. 

Lilly’s face fell as she looked at the bandages that covered Tayson’s body. “Talking about crushed ribcages. What the fudge happened to your face?” Lily pointed at the several bandages that covered Tayson’s face.

“Your face looks lovely too,” Tayson replied sarcastically.

Lily’s face drooped in an unamused fashion. “You know what I mean, Zweistein.”

“Yeah dude, looks like you were in a fight,” Silver said in a worried fashion.

“Well, that is partially because I was in a fight. Some drunks at the festival were bothering me after I left you two lovebirds alone”− The two blushed a bit at the notion of lovebirds − “They took my phone and broke it. Luckily a guard found us. Those drunks were arrested and I was brought to the hospital.”

The two looked a bit guilty for not knowing that their friend was beaten up at the festival, while they were—well—doing couple stuff. “Well that explains why you didn’t reply on my message.” Silver pointed out. “You sure you’re ok?”

“Yes, don’t worry about me. It’s just a scratch.” He gave a reassuring smile.

The school bell ended their chat.

“Whoops, looks like we’re out of time.”

“Indeed.−” Silver turned towards Lily “− I see you during lunch break, sweetie?”

“Yes, honey.” She gave Silver a kiss.

Tayson looked at his friends and did his best to not throw up at their public expression of affection. “Oh, get a room you two.”

The two interrupted their kiss and turned a bit embarrassed away from each other. Lily galloped towards her class and waved at her two friends. “See you later!” She winked at Silver.

Silver just flushed, and the two trotted off towards their class. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The rest of the day was an ordinary school day. Well, except that Tayson had to explain to every teacher and classmate where he got those injuries. And during lunch break, he had to deal with his friends/lovebirds. 
Ok they are cute together, but still, it is icky to see my friends being all smoochie woochie. 
After school the two came together at the school gate.

“Tayson, do you want to come with us? We want to watch a movie at the theatre,” Silver asked.

“Sure, why not? What movie is running now?”

“Oh, I wanted to see the filming of hard reset,” Lily said with a glee.

“Oi, Tayson!” A new voice entered the conversation.

“Uhm, Tayson, do you know that filly?” Silver looked sceptically.

Tayson looked around to see who was calling, only to see Maya with a glee trotting towards the group. "Oh hey, Maya, what are you doing, here.”

Maya wanted to answer but saw Lily and Silver staring at her. “Oh, sorry, am I interrupting something?”

“No, not at all.” Silver reassured the mare. “Uh, Tayson? Who is she?”

Tayson thought quickly for a fitting lie. Let’s see, she knows me. I haven’t ever told my friends about her. Family? No, they know that my family is dead. Got it!

“I—” Maya wanted to introduce herself but was cut off but Tayson.

“She's Melody’s cousin. Octavia and Vinyl were visiting Octavia’s mother in Canterlot. She is from Ponyville and wanted to see Manehattan, so now she takes care of Octavia and Vinyl’s flat and in return she can stay in Manehattan for a while, and she is probably here because I promised her a tour through Manehattan. Am I right?” He gave Maya a just-roll-with-me-for-a-minute smile.

Maya frowned for a while at Tayson and then gave Silver and Lily—who were waiting for confirmation—a smile. “What he said.”

“Oh, well, I didn’t know you had a date today Tayson.” Silver gave Tayson a conspicuous smile.

“WHAT? NO! I’m just doing her a favour.”

“Yeah, right—she can join us—I heard the book was awesome, but I’m not the reading type.”

Maya shook her, head. “No, sorry, I prefer to read. Tayson,” she turned towards Tayson, “the tour can wait. And—if you want—I can always send you a message.”

“That would be nice, but my phone is broken.”

“Oh, well, in that case, I’ll leave Crystal a message.”

“That would be nice, I’ll see you soon then?" Tayson gave an awkward smile.

“Sure, have fun at the movie.” She said goodbye to everypony and then left.

“Well, she sure is cute.” Silver gave Tayson a grin.

“Keep on smiling, I dare you! I double dare you!” Tayson glared daggers at his friend and then tried to use the most feared weapon of wars between friends… his fillyfriend. “Did you hear what he said? He said that she looked cute!”

Silver gulped, but Lily just smiled slyly. “Don’t even try to do that. Besides, he is allowed to look at it, as long as he doesn’t touch it.” Lily walked past Silver and smacked her tail in his face and gave him a little seductive smile.

“Fine,” he groaned, “sorry. But she is just a friend.”

“Yeah, right.” This time it was Lily’s turn to taunt Tayson.

“ARGH!”

The two laughed a bit at their friend’s misery and after a while Tayson couldn’t help but to join the laughter. After a few minutes they realized they were later for the movie and started to gallop.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was late when Tayson came back home. He had a good relaxing afternoon with his friends. 

“I’m home.” Tayson didn’t supress his voice, since there was no little filly above their flat who could have woken up, and neither was there a temperamental white unicorn who would have kicked his flank for waking her up.

“Ah, Tayson, welcome back. How was the movie?” Crystal was reading something in the living room and looked up from the page she was reading, so she could see him entering the room.

Tayson gave his grandmother a synopsis of his afternoon with his friends, and asked if Maya had left a message for him.

“Oh it is on the chalkboard,” she said nonchalantly and looked back at her book.

“We have a chalkboard?” Tayson cocked an eyebrow.

“Yes, of course.” Crystal didn’t look up.

“Since when?”

“Since we moved in.”

“Come again?” He turned around and cocked his eyebrow even further as he saw that a chalkboard hung at the wall.

“Yeah I put a little perception filter on it.” She put the book aside and walked next to Tayson who tried to solve the riddle of the sudden chalkboard.

“Perception what now?”

“Oh don’t mind it, it just means that if you don’t look for it, you won’t find it.” She pointed at the chalkboard. “This is how KAMI communicates with its agents,” She continued, “and how gods in general communicate with each other. You just take the piece of chalk, write to whom you want to send it, the message and then the sender. After that you draw a circle around it all and the chalk will burst into green flames and appear on a surface where the receiver will see it. You can do the same with ink and pencils, but you’ll learn that soon enough.”

“And why did you keep this board a secret?”

“Well I didn’t want to explain why there was a message on it that stated that I have to take out an assassin, or something like that.”

“Point taken.” He shrugged.

To: Tai Ichi.
You are hereby officially a member of the KAMI organisation.
You have been assigned a team and teacher and you will get a message from a member of KAMI—who is stationed in Manehattan—with further information.
Please confirm that you have received this message after reading.
Welcome amongst our midst
Sincerely,
Circadian Rhythm, Secretary of Canterlot HQ.
From: Circadian Rhythm

“So, I should reply to it now…” He took a piece of chalk, followed the instructions of his grandmother and started to scribble under the message from Circadian Rhythm.

To: Circadian Rhythm.
Thank you for informing me, I have received your message.
From: Tai Ichi.

He drew a circle around the short confirmation and waited… and waited… and waited. And after an awkward five minutes—in which Crystal had walked over to the kitchen where her kettle with tea had started boiling—he looked at the piece of chalk and started inspecting it. “Hmmmm…”

“Is something the matter, my dear?” Crystal left the kitchen with a tray with tea on it on her back.

He hold the piece of chalk into the light to see if there was some hidden switch. “I think this piece of chalk is broken...”

Crystal put the tray on the coffee table and chuckled at the reaction of her grandson. “No my dear, you’re not infusing any energy into it.” 

Tayson looked in confusion at Crystal. “And, how do I do that?”

“Well, it is one of those standard techniques that every god can learn. Let me think, it has been a while since I taught somepony how to do that −” She rubbed her chin in a thinking manner. “− Ok, focus on the piece of chalk.”

Tayson did as told and focused all his attention at the piece of chalk in his hooves, a few vanes started to become visible on his forehead as were a few drops of sweat. In the meantime Crystal wiped the former circle from the board. “You have to do this until you feel a little spark coming from the chalk, or whatever medium you’re writing with.”

It went on for a few seconds until Tayson felt a weird tingling sensation coming from the chalk. “Ok... I think it is ready.”

Crystal nodded. “Ok, you can relax now.” − This is what Tayson did − “Now energy alone doesn’t make a technique, you have to give the energy a purpose,” Crystal continued. “Just imagine how the letters will ignite in green flames and that it will be sent. Sent towards Canterlot,” She now stood behind Tayson, looking expectantly. “Sent towards Circadian Rhythm.”

Tayson focused on the imaginary road the message had to take, of course he didn’t know the real road, but that seemed to be irrelevant, what now counted was to imagine that it will be sent somewhere. He put the chalk on top of the message and continued to think of Canterlot. It went on until he had Canterlot in front of his inner eye, the mountain castle in all his glory. He then drew a circle again in a fluid and rapid motion, almost forming a perfect circle around the message.

Now he waited again… and waited… and waited... and waited… and then looked back at the piece of chalk. “You sure that it isn’t broken?”

Crystal let loose of an exuberant laughter and wiped a tear out her eyes. “Well, the message said that you’ll be assigned a teacher.” − She patted Tayson’s shoulder − “Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of it quite soon.”

Tayson showed a defeated grin. “Hehehe, well Canterlot wasn’t built in a day, am I right?”

Crystal took the chalk piece and drew with a loose hoof a circle around the message, and after two seconds the letters burst into flames. Tayson’s ears now drooped. “Well…”

“Don’t let it bother you, it took your sister a month to learn this, and even that was considered to be fast. Well she was five back then but never mind that, she was also just introduced into the world of gods.”

Tayson smiled warmly and looked at the other message.

To: Tayson. (Oh, so it also works with nicknames too.)
How was the movie?
By the way, you never guess who’s team you’ve been assigned to, don’t worry I’ll give you a second or two to figure out.
Ok time is up. It is mine :-D, and Steel Needle is your teacher/team leader.
Isn’t that awesome?
Anyways, I’ll meet you tomorrow at school to pick you up for your first training session.
Cya.
From: Maya.

“Looks like you made a new friend.” Crystal chuckled.

Tayson spun around. “She is just a friend!”

Crystal looked confused back. “Did I say something else?”

Tayson gulped. “No… It’s just, I’m a bit startled. She came to my school to tell me the news, and since I couldn’t tell my friends who she really is—I had to come up with a lie; and well, you can imagine how they reacted to it. They were teasing me the entire afternoon.” Tayson rubbed his neck in awkwardness.

“Oh, I see…” She walked back to her seat and picked her book and resumed reading. “I think you two would make a cute pair though.” She chortled.

Tayson sighed, "Excuse me, for I have to bonk my head against the wall for the next five hours.”

"As long as you don't damage your wall, my dear," Crystal said—again—without looking up from her page.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It had been four days since Malicious Edge returned from his failed mission; and his anger hadn’t cooled down yet. 

Borealis was looking over some paperwork concerning new missions for the agents, like drugs transactions, theft, you name it. However, his concentration was constantly interrupted by the sound of something breaking and/or exploding. 

In the rare case that the boss did a mission himself and in the even rarer case that he actually failed, he had the habit to destroy everything in his office (which included the office itself) and since Borealis didn’t want to be considered part of the office, he stayed as far away from it as possible.

To: agent 465.
Make sur—

Borealis’ writing was interrupted by another explosion. He closed his eyes and massaged his temples in an attempt to dull his frustration. 

“Is he going to keep doing this?” He asked rhetorically (since the answer was more than obvious).

There was a green flash, and as he opened his eyes he could see a new message on a paper on his desk together with a scroll with the label of the research facility on it.

To: Lieutenant Borealis.
Test results were more than satisfying. Agent 745 is still alive and well, we managed to infuse the new chems without any major health problems. Please report this to Captain Two Face.
From: Bunsen Burner.

Borealis crunched his teeth. “Oh, no problem, of course I will report to Two Face,” he said to no one in particular, “it’s not like I had some major business to attend to, like—oh, I don’t know—having my intestines NOT removed for rope skipping!” He sighed. “Well at least it is good news… in the worst case the death will be at least short and hopefully painless.”

He took the letter and made his way towards what might be his certain doom… again. Maybe I should ask… no, beg… no, let’s stick to ask to be replaced to, I don’t know, somewhere away from those two freaks. Borealis stood now again in front of the black double door with the golden circles on it.

It was weird. No matter where he looked, Two Face didn’t seem to own his own office, and no matter who he asked, nopony seemed to be able to answer where his office was or why he didn’t have one. If you looked for him—and that was never in free will—then you found him around Malicious’ office.

Borealis also found it weird that he worked in an office. They were criminals, not bureaucrats. Of course he had heard of organized crime, but this was ridiculous. At least it helped to be, relatively, safe. Remember you're doing it for her.

What was also annoying was how you found Two Face. Well, if you could call it that; in fact you searched for him, but he was the one who found you.

“Oh Lieutenant Borealis, how lovely of you to visit us again.” If you speak about the nightmare, you’ll hear her wings flap. 

Two Face had the annoying habit of stepping out of the shadows and scaring the crap out of you with that gentle tone of his. Borealis, who was confident… no hoped… no, who was in a sense confident that he would survive, tried his best to salute in a way that he didn’t look like he was waving at the mad Pegasus. He still trembled though, but at least it looked like he wasn’t peeing in his pants. Not that he wore any.

“H-Hello Captain. I have a letter concerning the tests you had ordered on agent 745.” He gave a little smile.

“Oh, is he still alive?” Two face looked interested. But Borealis couldn’t make out if his concern was genuine or artificial.

“Y-Yes, you can read the full report.” He handed the report over.

“WELL, TELL THEM THAT THEY ARE TO TEST EVEN MORE ON THAT PIECE OF FILTH!” He slammed the scroll out of Borealis’ hooves.

“Y-Yes sir.”

“Well fine then, you’re dismissed Borealis.” Two Face gave Borealis a warm smile. Borealis didn’t question it and ran away as fast as possible.

Two face sighed, picked the report up and smiled slyly. He then walked towards the black doors, knocked and entered. “My lord—” A vase was thrown and scattered next to his face.

“WHAT IS IT?!” A dark cloud materialised in front of him. Two Face didn’t even flinch at the sudden appearance of his master. He kept his composure and handed over the scroll which Malicious then suspended in a levitation field. He opened the scroll and read it, suddenly all the anger and rage were replaced by a manic grin.

“Well it was about time that they fixed that formula. Let that brave agent of mine come over here, I have to reward him for his loyal sacrifice for our purpose.” He chuckled a bit.

“I will personally send the message my lord.” Two Face made a mental note to visit Borealis’ office after this.

“Good… very good…” He kept looking and smiling at the paper, “Thank you for bringing this to my attention Captain…”

Two face bowed in a humble way. “It was my pleasure my lord.”

“You’re dismissed, Two Face.”

“Thank you, my lord.” He opened the door and left the room.

Malicious looked at the paper and grinned, the grin slowly transformed into a chuckle and gradually turned into a manic laughter.

“Looks like my plans are just a little bit delayed.” His laughter eventually resonated throughout the entire hideout.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tuesday was like any other school day. The last bell had rang a few minutes ago and released the students of their daily ‘torment’.

At the school gates, Tayson was talking with his friends about today’s events. Lily had learned about the ‘want-it-need-it’ spell and why to never use it. Tayson and Silver had gotten their results of their last tests and... well...

“HOW DID I GET A “D” IN MAGIC?!” Silver mourned about his grades. 

Lily patted his back. “There there, it’s not that bad. I mean, you just have to review the part about the Ponything-vector and, well, maybe review maretricess. –” She gave a forced smile. “— I could help you with that?

Silver smiled at her and nuzzled her. “Thank you. –” he looked back at the paper. “– But why do I have to learn this stuff? I’m a Pegasus for Celestia’s sake!”

“Well, a lot of earthpony engineering depends on magical aspects as does almost every Pegasus device and—of course—every piece of arcane technology,” Tayson said flatly. “Like the rainbow factory majorly depends on the working of the Ponything-vector, if they don’t get the right amount of friendship in it, then the rainbow won’t be intense enough to be seen at big distances.”

Silver took the argument and sighed. “I guess you’re right…”

“Oi, Tayson!” A familiar voice rung in his ear. He turned around and saw Maya approaching, he quickly stared at Silver to silence his chuckling and then turned his attention back at Maya.

“Hey, Maya.”

“Are you ready for your—I mean, my tour through the city?” She smiled nervously and glanced at Tayson’s friends. “Oh hey, sorry we haven't been introduced yet. I’m Maya.”

Both Lily and Silver introduced each other and tried to start a little conversation to elicit some information about the brown mare. Yet, Maya just smiled and nodded awkwardly at everything.
After a few awkward minutes Tayson finally decided to stop his friends’ subtle interrogation. “Ok guys, we have to go now. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

The three said their goodbyes and waved goodbye as Tayson and Maya trotted off.

“Have fun you two!” was the last thing Tayson heard as they rounded a corner. He tried his best to not to facehoof at his friend’s snicker.

“So… where are we going?”

“Well, it is your first training session. so we’re going to meet up with Steel Needle at the gym.”

“And what are we going to do there? Stamina building?”

Maya grinned. “Yeah, you could say call it like that.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


At the gym the two were waiting for Steel Needle. In the meantime, Tayson had the opportunity to see some balloon animals—I mean body builders—working out.

“So, where exactly is he?” Tayson asked as he saw another body builder with obese muscles enter the gym.

“He’ll be here any second.”

“The two of you don’t take punctuality serious, am I right?”

“I said! He’ll be here any second!” Maya hissed.

“I can see that.”

“Remember, that I’m the girl who finished those brutes without even flinching!” She took an intimidating step towards Tayson, who in his turn took a step back.

“Hehehe.” He forced a smile. “That is actually a pretty good point.” 

Right before Maya could physically harm Tayson, Steel Needle entered the gym.

“Maya!” Steel Needle scolded. “Didn’t I tell you that hurting the weak is cowardly!” 

Tayson—who was happy that his flank was saved from the rage of the forest goddess—couldn’t help but feel a bit offended. I’m not that weak.

“Wait and punch him when he is stronger!”

Tayson ignored that last remark of his deferred doom.

“Do we finally have the room?” Maya asked.

“Yes, sorry that it took so long, there was some paperwork related to last minute reservations of the dojo –” Steel Needle sighed. “– Stupid bureaucracy! Why do they need five papers on why I want the dojo when nopony else wants to have it? Anyways let’s go.”

The three walked across the building until they stood in front of a door with a big red ‘NO ENTRY – AUTHORISED PONIES ONLY”

“Err, Steel Needle? It says only authorised ponies only.” Tayson pointed at the sign.

Steel Needle smiled slyly. “Oh, but we are authorised.” Steel Needle opened the door and motioned Tayson to enter.

Instead of four grey walls and tatami mats—what one would expect of a dojo—there only was the one wall—where the door he just entered was—and a big meadow with some trees and a lake. There were birds twitching and real sunshine instead of the artificial magical light. Instead of the smell of sweat, blood and other body fluids, there was a smell of flowers and clean fresh air—the kind you normally didn’t breath in the city. Tayson looked around, analysing what was wrong with this picture. “Steel Needle?”

“Yes?” He smiled.

“We were on the second floor, right?”

“Yup.” Maya grinned.

“Is there a particular reason why there is a whole meadow here?”

“In fact there is—I can’t give you the technical details but it was a gift from a friend. This is the fourth dimension. You could say that the room is bigger on the inside.”

Tayson stared for five seconds at Steel Needle but then just decided to shrug. “Ok.”

Maya looked confused. “Ok? That’s not the normal reaction! You should be astonished, your mouth wide agape! You should stutter or start rambling nonsense!”

“Yeah, because getting kidnapped by a criminal organization, rescued, invited by a secret organization, getting to know that I’m a godlike being and that some kind of mad god—who does stuff with clouds, while being a unicorn—wants me for Celestia knows why. Isn’t weird enough. And did I mention the puppeteer minotaur? Seriously, I would call this one of the normal things that has happened lately.”

Maya’s ears drooped a bit in dull disappointment. “Fine...”

Tayson spun around so he faced Steel Needle. “So, what are we going to do?”

Steel Needle whistled—which made a cloud float towards him. He jumped on the cloud and smiled. “Our first lesson will consist of learning how to walk on clouds.”
Three smaller clouds floated down and formed a makeshift staircase. Steel Needle nodded. “Now you try. All you have to do is making the energy exit your hooves at a constant and controlled rate, that way you create a layer of energy that will exert an upwards force on you. In other words, you’ll be walking on clouds.”

Tayson looked sceptically, but none the less tried. He jumped and his hooves touched the moist fluffiness of the clouds. He balanced for a second or two and stood on the cloud like a foal for the first time on a frozen lake. One of his hooves lashed out, which made him lose balance and fall straight through the cloud.

Maya giggled and helped Tayson back to his hooves. “Well, that didn’t work.”

“At least you’ve seen that you can stand on clouds. However, energy alone—”

“Doesn’t make a technique. I know.”

“Exactly!” – Steel Needle nodded – “However you had your purpose, so you got the same problem like most foals when they start training. You need to remember that you just have to use enough energy so you can stand on the clouds. Use too much and you hover, use too little and—well—you fall. However you also have to make sure that you make your energy flow at a regular rate. And that is exactly why this exercise is perfect to learn it. We can completely focus on how to control the flow, since the purpose is already there. If you do it wrong you fall, and to make your training more effective –”He nodded towards the nearest lake and flicked his tail, which made the clouds float towards it, “– we’re going to practice here.” He gave a big gleeful smile.

Maya chuckled at the juvenile joy of her father. “You're way too happy to be tormenting him.”

“Wouldn’t you?” He threw his hooves in the air. “I hadn’t a new student with who I could start from zero since—well—you. I’m a teacher Maya, so it is completely normal for me to take joy in teaching.”

He jumped of the cloud. “Maya, please go and fetch every last towel you can find.” Steel Needle stomped his hooves and made a metal staircase shoot out of the ground – which led towards the cloud. “And Tayson, you start training!”

Tayson was unsure at the beginning but didn’t question it. He ascended the staircase and looked down at the lake. He looked back at Steel Needle—who just nodded—and took a deep breath. He jumped and plummeted straight towards the lake.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Celestia walked through the halls of the castle. The day court had just been finished for today and she was completely worn out from still having to deal with issues from the Tirek incident. There were complaints from the mountaineering club, due to the increase of inaccessible mountain sides due to landslides. The nature reserve committee, who wanted to plant more trees to restore the forests around Ponyville.
Ponyville also wanted a bigger budget to restore the library where her student had resided until lately.
Also the nobles—who were suddenly very interested in Discord’s reformation—kept demanding that Discord should be sealed in stone again. But telling them that they had to propose their worries—concerning Discord—to princess Twilight Sparkle fell on deaf ears.

The only thing Celestia wanted to do now was to spend some of the rare moments with her sister during her dinner and Luna's breakfast. She entered the dining hall and saw Luna already sitting there, absently munching on an apple.

“Good morning, sunshine,” Celestia said with a grin so big that it threatened to tear her face apart.

Luna looked up with a deadpan face and didn’t say a word.

“Oh come on sister, you need to lighten up a bit.”

Luna let her head thump against the table and grumbled a bit.

“Excuse me, but I couldn’t quite catch that.”

Luna shot up. “I’m sorry sister, but the last few nights were more draining than I had anticipated. I still have things to catch up with since we went to the Moon Fest. And the clan fight is coming up in a few months and Time Gale has asked me to plan this year’s tournament.” She let her face fall again.

Celestia chuckled. “I’m sure you will be able to fulfil everything, dearest sister.”

“But why do we still have to organize this tournament. I mean there are no wars between the different clan houses, why do they seek battle? And why is there more fuss around it than a thousand years ago?”

“For the same reason we still organize the Equestria games, sister. Prestige.”

Luna sighed, “It can’t be helped then.”

“Your majesties!” A new voice entered the conversation. Both princesses turned their heads to see a khaki-coloured unicorn with a short pitch-black mane and a setting sun as cutie mark. “I’m sorry to interrupt, but I got a message from Manehattan.” She floated the scroll towards Celestia and bowed.

“Thank you, Circadian.” Celestia gave her usual warm smile and dismissed Circadian Rhythm.

Circadian Rhythm bowed and left the room.

Celestia sighed to which Luna cocked an eyebrow. “What is it, sister? I thought you’d be more enthusiast to get a letter from your friend.”

Celestia frowned a bit. “Normally I am, Luna. But I know that when Time Gale sends a message via Circadian Rhythm, then it most likely is something unpleasant.”

She unfurled the scroll and began to read. Her eyes opened wide in shock. “Malicious Edge has become active again.”

Luna looked quizzical. “Malicious E…–” She slammed her hooves at the table. “– You mean Night Sky? Is he ok?”

“If you redefine ok, then yes.”

“Where is he?” Luna pressed

Celestia sighed, “I’m sorry Luna, we don’t know. All we know is that he has laid his eyes upon the last blood-member of the clan of light and dark. And that he recently has attacked the HQ in Manehattan.”

“He attacked? But why would he—” Luna’s ears dropped.

“I’m sorry Luna, but he isn’t the colt you once used to spend time in the laboratory with I’m afraid.” Celestia cringed at having to break the news of Luna’s best friends… once again.

“But we were just experimenting that day. I just don’t know what happened that he snapped.” Tears were forming in Luna’s eyes but she quickly dismissed them.

“Luna, we’ve talked about this,” Celestia said in a comforting tone. “What matters now is that we have to stop him.”

“But we can still help him. I mean there is a chance that whatever turned me into Nightmare Moon has affected him in some way too.”

Celestia shook her head. “I’m afraid that won’t be the case Luna.” She immediately regretted saying those words.

“WE CAN STILL SAVE HIM!” Luna bellowed through the room. Though she calmed herself as soon as she realized that she was using the Royal Canterlot Tone against her sister.

“Luna, please… I didn’t say that I don’t hope that we can save him. But I’ve seen him, he doesn’t seem to have the same symptoms as you did during your time as the Nightmare.”

“I’m sorry.”

Celestia gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry about it. I understand that you have a lot to do. We all get overburdened from time to time. We'll do our best to save your friend, but first we have to protect the poor colt he has laid his eyes on.” Celestia teleported a feather and an inkwell out of her study along with some parchment.

“Are you going to reply already?”

“Of course. And it looks like there will be a sudden increase of guards around the site of Manehattan. That should keep Malicious Edge away for a while.” She turned her head towards Luna. “Say, sister. Could you spare some of your night guards?”

“Of course!” Luna exclaimed. “Everything to save Night Sky." She stood up and walked for the door. "Anyways, good luck with that. I’ll go and explain to the dignitaries of the clan houses that we can’t just let anypony fumble around with the seals of Tartarus.” 

“Why do they want to look at the seals.” Celestia cocked an eyebrow.

Luna shrugged. “They’re afraid that—since Tirek was able to escape Tartarus—something stronger might try to escape too.”

“You’re not going to tell me that actually believe in the fairy tale of the twelve demons.” Celestia chuckled until she noticed Luna’s iron look.

“Celestia, we both are old enough to know that those stories have a core of truth.”

“But even if the legends are true, they’re imprisoned by Hades herself. There is literally no way that they could escape her.”

Luna shook her head. “Celestia, even if Tirek’s escape was an accident. I share the worry of the clan houses, we have to avoid another prison break. Or at least we have to defer it.” With that she left the room.

Celestia thought about what Luna had said for a while. Another prison break, huh.
She then looked back at the piece of paper. She drenched her quill in ink and started scribbling.

To: Time Gale…


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


It was late in the night when Tayson came home after—what was his seventh training session, and it looked like he had made little progress. The last six trainings sessions had consisted out of running, balancing on clouds, kata’s and—strangely enough—learning how to stand on two legs.

Steel Needle had also brought him a weighted hoody. And it was heavy—like humongously heavy—first time Tayson had tried it on, he thought he’d never move again. However, after six days it felt like a second layer of skin. Yet it didn’t help with balancing on clouds. Steel Needle had said something about letting more energy flow through the hooves, but Tayson didn’t really get what he meant with that.

And that is what the next session was for. But instead of going to the gym, Maya would drag him to the library. Of course not the normal one, but the one he hadn’t seen yet. Tayson had planned on seeing it earlier. but aching limbs, joints and energy conduits—of which Tayson wasn’t aware that he even had them—withheld him from doing so. It was a miracle that he was able to pay attention in class, despite feeling like being run over by a train-pony squad. 

“I’m home,” Tayson mumbled throughout the apartment—his nose picked up a wonderful mouth-watering scent. Ever since he started training, Crystal had made the habit out of it to make a nutritious meal for him after training; for which he was ever thankful. Since Steel Needle’s training redefined the concept of draining.
Crystal came out of the kitchen, wearing an apron and balancing a tray with a few bowls of rice with goulash.

“I hope you’re hungry.” – A question that was answered with the drool escaping Tayson’s mouth. – “Because I’ve cooked enough to sustain Celestia’s entire guard with food for a while.”

Tayson rubbed away the drool and smiled sheepishly. “Thank you. I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse… figuratively speaking of course.”

Crystal set the tray on the table and Tayson almost dived in the food. He took some chopsticks and began eating.

“How was the training?” Crystal asked while she took herself a little bowl of rice.

Tayson swallowed. “Good, actually. I mean, there hasn’t been a lot of progress but I can feel that I’m getting stronger.” – He looked at his hoodie. – “And you got to admit. The hoodie looks nice. It is heavy though.”

“I can believe that. I used to train with those too, you know?” Crystal smiled proudly.

“You did?”

“Why yes. Of course. Wearing weighted clothes was a common training technique back in my days. But it isn’t that used anymore.”

Tayson cocked his head, to which Crystal raised an eyebrow. “Is something the matter, my dear?”

“I never really thought of it before now. But—if you don’t mind—Maya is a forest god and Steel Needle is a metal god, But I still don’t know what kind of god you are.”

Crystal looked dumbfounded at the notion of Tayson’s question. “Oops, completely forgot about that.” She gave a sheepish grin. “Well, I am a glass god.”

“A… glass god?”

“Yes.”

Tayson cocked an eyebrow. “And… what does that mean?”

“Well, mostly summoning glass objects like lenses. But I managed to use it in a more metaphorical sense, I’m able to see through lies.”

“I KNEW IT WAS MAGIC!”

Crystal startled by the sudden outburst. “Sorry, what?”

“You could always see through my lies, and I knew that you had to use some kind of magic!” Tayson said with a juvenile glee.

Crystal looked for a few moments at Tayson and began chuckling. “No, you’re just a terrible liar.”

Tayson raised his hoof in protest but was unable to find a counterargument. Instead he just focused back on his food.

Tayson finished his meal and yawned. “Damn, I think I’m going to hit the hay now. It will be a long day tomorrow; Maya is going to show me the ‘part of the city I don’t know yet’ and after that Steel Needle is going to torture me for another six hours.” Tayson sighed until he noticed how Crystal stared at him. She looked worried but she didn’t want to show it, which made it even more obvious as she stared at Tayson. “Grandma?”

Crystal was snapped out of her stare, she shook her head and her frown was replaced with a—slightly—forced smile. “Of course. Figuratively speaking I hope.” She chuckled awkwardly and started to clear the table. Tayson cocked an eyebrow and let his gaze follow Crystal.

“Sure…” he said sceptically. “Is there any reason to think otherwise?”

There was a long silence coming out of the kitchen. “Of course not. You said you had a date with Maya tomorrow?”

Tayson startled and blushed a bit. “It’s not a date, grandma! She is just going to show me the city!”

“I’m just saying that it is completely normal to having feelings for a mare.” It didn't matter that Tayson couldn’t see her face, he knew that his grandmother had a wide teasing grin on her face. He bonked his face on the table and groaned.

“You’re evil you know that.”

"Oh don’t be so sensitive~ I just like to see that my grandson gets his first fillyfriend.”

Tayson groaned again. “I’m going to hit the hay, though. Sleep well.” With that he went for his bedroom and went to bed.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Why are we in front of a confectionery?” Tayson looked sceptically at Maya as the two stood in front of Bon Bon’s Confectionery.

“Because, I need new equipment for our next mission.”

There was a little awkward silence until Tayson spoke again. “Again, why are we in front of a confectionery?”

Maya facehooved. “Just come inside, I’ll show you.” The two entered the confectionery.

Even though the two were in the city, the confectionary had a mountain styled theme and a strong aroma of candy and wood went through the room. At the end of the room was the counter, with a glass showcase—framed in wood—to show the latest artesan created candies. Maya looked around to see if the shop was empty and walked for the counter and rang the counter-bell. After five seconds a pink unicorn with a cupcake as cutie mark popped up behind the counter. “Hello and welcome by Bon Bon’s confectionary and—” She looked at Tayson and inhaled a few liters of air while hovering a meter above the ground. “Ohmygoshohmygoshohmygosh! You’re the new one.” Her face wore a giant smile.

Tayson took a step back. “Um… hi?” He awkwardly waved his hoof.

“HimynameisBubblePiebuteveryponycallesmeBubblesandIwanttowelcomeyoudoyoulikecupcakesmyauntiellooooovesthemyouprobablywanttoknowwhythisshopissoimportanttoKAMI—”

“Bubbles?!” Maya interrupted the rambling of the pink unicorn.

“Whoops, sorry.” She smiled sheepish. “I got that from my auntie. Anyways, here’s a free sample.” She put a candie—wrapped in a yellow paper—on the counter.

“A bonbon? Um, thanks? I guess.”

“It isn’t a bonbon. It’s a BOEMBOEM!” She said with a bit of a manic grin. “You chew on it for about three seconds and infuse some energy in it. Then you spit it out or throw it, and after five seconds contact with the air it goes BOEM!”

“So, this is made out of explosives?”

“And sugar!” She grinned.

Hoof steps were heard from behind the door and through it a light-yellow mare with a candy coloured mane entered the room “Bubble, dear, who’s there?” She then noticed Maya and Tayson standing there. “Oh hi, Maya, how is Steel Needle?”

“Hi, Bon Bon. He’s fine, we’re here to pick up our order.”

“Of course. Bubble, dear, would you mind getting Maya’s order.” Bubble saluted, zipped of and came back with two boxes on her back.

“Here they are, two boxes containing combat candy, weapon-keychains, and health licorice.” She put the boxes on the counter.

“The usual price I assume –” Bon Bon just nodded so Maya took a pouch and threw it on the counter, took the two boxes, balanced it on her back and she and Tayson left the shop. “– See ya.”

“Bye-bye, new one!” Bubbles yelled after them as she waved at them.

Tayson gulped, "is she always like that?"

“Yes, but you get used to it. She is actually very nice if you know her better.”

“So, where are we going next?”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“OI! LOGARITHM, WHERE ARE YOU?!” Maya yelled through the Manehattan library—which resulted in an angry librarian almost threatening to throw her and Tayson out and some more glares as they walked through the bookshelves. After a few minutes they found a grey unicorn—with a short blue mane and a Möbius strip as cutie mark—reading between the bookshelves, sitting on a pile of books, suspending two books in a levitation field. “Logarithm?!”

The unicorn didn’t look up which caused Maya to grit her teeth. “LOGA!” She yelled again but got quickly shushed by nearby readers.

“I’m not deaf, Maya. I can hear you.”

“Well, normal ponies would be so polite to answer!”

“What do you need?” He looked around and his eyes started to gleam. “Oh, you must be the new one, right?” He stood up and spurted towards Tayson and started inspecting him. “I’ve never seen somepony from the clan of light and dark.”

“Dude! Ever heard of personal space?”

“Oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude. But you see, your energy is a special kind. Since it is divided in two parts. And since your family is dead—which makes you the last one with that special energy—I could only study it in books. And I was dying to measure the energies inside of you.”

Tayson stared with a frown at Logarithm, and then turned towards Maya. “Can I hit him in the face?”

“You can try, but he is stronger than me. So recommend not.”

Logarithm cocked his head. “Why would you want to hit me in the face?” He looked at Maya questioningly until he noticed how she looked at him. “Oh, don’t tell me that I crossed the line again.”

“A tinie-tiny bit, I’m afraid.” She said while awkwardly biting her lip.

Logarithm quickly looked at Tayson and bowed. “I’m so sorry, you see. I am a genius when it comes to advanced magical theorems and alchemy and every other art of pure logic. But when it comes to social interactions, I’m a…” His face distorted while he looked for the word.

“An idiot, moron, cretin, imbecile, bone head? A beginner?” Maya finished his sentence, the last word saying with a taunting smile on her face.

“I wouldn’t call it like that.” Logarithm flung back.

“But I would.”

Logarithm’s ears dropped and he glared annoyed at Maya until looking back at Tayson. “You could say that I have my problems when it comes to social interaction. But, please let me be clear that I didn’t mean to offend you or your family.”

Tayson just looked at him for a few seconds. “Fine, apology accepted. So, you’re going to help me with my energy flow?”

Logarithm smiled gleeful at Tayson. “Yes, of course. When it comes to explain the properties of energy and how to use it right, you'll find nopony who is better fit explain it. Please follow me.” Logarithm trotted of with a hint of genuine happiness.

“He sure seems sure of himself,” Tayson said with an annoyed undertone in his voice.

Maya just shook her head. “Don’t worry, he is as smart as he thinks he is. He can be rude sometimes, but he never means to offend anypony. He is actually very nice as soon as you know him better.”

"Are all members of KAMI weird?"

"I'm not weird!"

"Yes you are." Tayson said flatly.

"OI! WATCH IT!" Maya leaned in to smack him in the face, only to be interrupted as the shadow of the librarian casted over her.
The librarian shushed the two as nopony had ever shushed anypony before.

"Quiet! Or leave!" She huffed and went back to her desk.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“And if those two react with each other, they’ll cancel each other out and produce humongous amounts of energy.” Logarithm cited while pointing at the blackboard that stood in the middle of the KAMI public library. In the meantime, a few other gods had gathered around and sat in front of Logarithm’s lecture. But not in front, they sat two rows back. Since in the front there sat a confused Tayson, looking with a dumbfounded face at the chalk drawings of circles that should represent energy packets called quanta. 
Logarithm had explained to them that he was explaining to the last member of the clan of light and dark, how to use his powers. However, this only boosted the popularity of his lecture, as everypony wanted to know how one of the most powerful clans in history got their tremendous power.

Tayson massaged his temples. “So you’re telling me… that if light energy and dark energy react with each other… they create more energy?”

“NO!” Logarithm groaned. “Come on, I just explained that every god has alchemic attributes assigned to their energy. Take Maya as an example, she is a forest god, so her energy has attributes like life, earth, and plants. Which is also useful since she’s an earthpony, so she is also able to transform her earthpony magic into combat ready energy when needed.”

“Ok? So, why don’t they cancel each other out?”

“Because they’re not opposites of each other! –” He pointed at a confusing diagram. “– I just told you that only complete opposites of each other cancel each other out.”

“But, doesn’t that mean that I shouldn’t have any energy at all? I mean, they’re in me. How can they not react with each other?”

“Ok, maybe I didn’t explain that part right. First off, you're confusing them with waves. They’re not waves, so forget everything you’ve ever learned about waves, ever! Next, ever heard of antimatter? –” Tayson just nodded “– Like antimatter, if the two react with each other, they annihilate each other and everything that is left is energy. But the difference is that opposite attributes don't destroy each other, they just cancel each other’s effects. And the attributes itself become energy. And we’re talking about massive quantities of energy.”

“But why don’t I then just burst into flames. I mean, if I got that much energy then I should burst from energy, why isn’t that so?”

Logarithm sighed, “Well one of the problems is... that we don’t really know. Light and dark act very strange. They never appear alone, that’s why you’ll never find a light god or a dark god. But what we do know is that you’re clan has a safety mechanism built in. A dam—if you like—that keeps the two separated, only to react in small quantities.”

“O…K… I think I begin to understand what you’re saying. In fact I only get as much energy as I can handle.”

“No! That’s no true either, it’s not a physical barrier. In fact, right now, light and dark are fighting inside your body to get the upper hand. Releasing massive amounts of energy.”

“Look, you keep explaining things but revoke them as soon as I start to understand them.”

“OK! Forget the dam, there is no dam, there never was! Dams are stupid!” Logarithm yelled, “What’s happening inside is that your clan uses the energy it gets from the reaction to control the reaction itself. Luckily you get more energy from it than you use to control the process.”

“Good, now I see where you’re coming from. But I still have a question.”

“Yes?” Logarithm asked skeptically.

“What happens when—theoretically—that limitation falls away. Like in, I suddenly get all the energy.” As he asked the question, the whole library fell silent. Even more quiet than it should be. Tayson looked around and saw that everypony was looking at him. “Did I say something wrong?”

Logarithm quickly broke the silence and attracted all the attention while doing so. “That—my friend—is an excellent question.”

“Why, I mean, it’s just theoretically. It’s not like it could actually happen, right?” He looked at Maya who cringed a bit. “What?”

“Well, you know how I told you that the main hall has to be renovated after the fight with Malicious Edge?”

“Yes,” Tayson said, not sure what would come next.

“Well, most of the damage was done by you…” She cringed a bit.

“Come again? I can’t even walk on clouds properly. How—in Celestia’s name—would I be able to destroy an entire room. Besides, wouldn’t I remember that?”

“And that’s what our next topic will be about.” Logarithm smiled in a determined fashion. “Rage shifts.”
> Chapter Three: Rage shifts
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter Three: 

Rage Shifts


“Rage shifts?”

“A rage shift is a state of body and mind in which a god releases the boundaries that keeps him from accessing his full potential. It can be accompanied by a loss of rational thought and/or health damage due to overstraining of the energy conduits or the muscles,” Logarithm cited.

Tayson looked at Logarithm with a confused frown for a few seconds. Before he could re-ask his question, Maya interrupted by jumping in front of Logarithm. “Ever hear of the urban legend that a pony can access only ten percent of his full brain capacity because, if he could access all of it at once, he would overstrain his body?”

“Yes?” Tayson replied, cocking an eyebrow in uncertainty.

“Well—when applied to gods—that myth becomes reality. Some gods can access really great amounts of energy, your clan being an example of this. However, thanks to evolution, we haven’t destroyed ourselves yet. We have security protocols in our genes that regulate the amount of energy we can access. If we didn’t, most of us would have blown up by now. And it is by shutting these down that we can access our full potential.”

“So... kind of like a restriction spell?”

“Yes, you can put it like that, a natural restriction spell. But, sometimes it just manifests as technique. An example of this is a clan in the gryphon kingdom. They have a technique that enables them to eavesdrop on their enemies from kilometres away,” Maya lectured, “However, we don’t always inherit a rage shift. Some gods train to the point that they put a restriction on themselves out of fear that they would use too much power in daily life and some gods never get one.”

“But your clan-” Logarithm continued as he pushed himself back in front of Maya “-has one of the most powerful and feared inheritable rage shifts ever seen: The chaos mode.”

“Could you define ‘powerful’?” Tayson asked nervously, not sure if he really wanted to know.

“In its heyday, your clan consisted of twenty members, five of which were related through marriage. Take into account that a normal clan consists of about a hundred blood members at any time.”

“Ok. Very powerful. Got it. But, wouldn’t that mean that the ‘chaos mode’ would destroy their bodies as soon as it gets used?”

“Well, that is the scary part.” Logarithm replied with a shrug, “It didn’t. They just released their boundaries and let the energy flow. However, using it did tend to cause the user to lose their sanity and their memories for the duration of the shift.”

Maya gave Tayson a pained look. “Yeah… remember your little outburst?”

Tayson massaged his temples. “So, I can just lose control any minute now? At school, at home, anywhere. Lovely…”

“No,”   Logarithm assured him, “For an instable chaos mode to occur, the shifter has to be brought out of mental or emotional balance. Something devastating has to occur, like seeing a how loved one was hurt or when the shifter was losing a battle. You know, major stuff. It was mostly used as a last resort in battle against monsters. A god would be considered world-weary if he tried to induce a chaos mode.”

Tayson kept massaging his temples until he processed what Logarithm had said. “Wait… you said, instable chaos mode?”

“Of course,” Logarithm stated, the look on his face clearly stating that he was enjoying sharing his knowledge. “Your clan wasn’t one of the strongest because they were ticking time bombs. They were considered one of the strongest because they learned how to control it. At any given point in time, they could induce the chaos mode in a controlled fashion. As an extra precaution, your family tended to stick together so they could fight a rampaging member when needed.”

“So... I can learn to control it?”

“If you can find a teacher, sure,” Logarithm replied with a shrug.

Tayson looked at the bookcases around him with searching eyes. “Are there any books on that topic?”

Maya tapped her chin thoughtfully as she tried to think of a place where Tayson could start searching. “There might be some in the archives. You should ask my dad or your grandmother if they know anything about those.”

“I know one!” The librarian answered excitedly. Apparently she had abandoned her post of re-shelving books a while ago to attend Logarithm’s lecture. She was smiling proudly as she demonstrated her organizing skills by floating a quill and a small piece of paper over to her. After she scribbled some words on it, the paper burst into green flames and a blue book with a circular shoji-window on it appeared where the paper had burned. She blew the thick layer of dust from it and floated it over to Tayson. 

“You can have it. It’s a copy I once got from your father.” She said with a wink.
Tayson looked at the title.


A Guide Towards Inner Harmony:
A Collection of Techniques of the Clan of Light and Dark.


“Thanks,” Tayson replied, looking at the book with amazement. His amazement was short lived when his face shifted to a frown. “But, I can’t just take it. I mean it's property of the library. Won’t you get in trouble if you just give it to me?”

The librarian chuckled at his response. “Oh don’t be silly. Your father gave it to us as a sign of trust. He said that their secrets weren’t meant to be used as a weapon. Anyway, it’s not like we can do much with it.” She leaned in closer to him to whisper. “Besides, I don’t think anypony would mention it if you just took it.” Tayson found the other gods nodding in agreement.

Unsure of what to say,Tayson gave an awkward, but sincere, grin. “Thank you, everypony.”

Logarithm gave a small cough trying to get the attention. “I think we can conclude our session on this note.”

“Of course. Thank you for your help, Logarithm."

“Oh, you can thank me as soon as you’re able to control your energy,” he said, smiling gleefully, “I would love to do some testing!” 

Tayson gave a small chuckle. “Deal.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson stood once again on top of the staircase to heaven. In front of him floated the cloud that had been mocking him for two weeks now. But today, everything would change. He had been training like crazy and today, he would be walking on clouds. He took a step forward, letting one of his hooves carefully rest on the moist fluffiness of the cloud.

Now let the energy flow.

The way that energy flowed through the body had become much clearer after a few sessions with Logarithm. It was mostly just staying calm, then the energy would flow by itself and keep you on the right side of the cloud.

Tayson took a step back and prepared himself mentally.

I just have to jump… the cloud will catch me. I won’t fall. I can do this!
He closed his eyes and jumped. Now he waited for his body to hit the surface of the lake and to feel the pain that would result from the impact. Yet, nothing came. He slowly opened his eyes, feeling the moist fluffiness of the cloud permeate his coat.

“I did it…” he whispered, his smile growing wider by the second. “I DID IT!” Unable to restrain his enthusiasm, he jumped up and cheered. “Whoohoo! I did it! I did—”

One of his legs lashed out, which made him lose his balance and fall through the cloud. He desperately grabbed the side of the cloud and could hold onto it.

Steel Needle watched and smiled at the success of his student. “Good job, Tayson.”

Tayson crawled back on the cloud and sighed in relief as he let himself fall into the soft cloud.

“Well, it was about time after two weeks.”

“Indeed, you have trained hard and your stamina has increased a lot. I guess that we can start with some basic techniques now.”

Tayson smiled in glee. “Am I finally going to learn how to do one of those techniques in that book?”

Steel Needle flicked his tail to command the cloud to come down and chuckled. “No. That is still a bit too early for that.”

Tayson’s glee deflated. “Oh, come on! I would like to do more than just this.” He brought his hoof next to his head and formed a small ball of white energy, which flickered and died almost instantly.

“Impressive…” Maya stomped her hooves in teasing sarcasm. Tayson, opting to ignore her, grabbed his saddlebag, removed his father’s book, and flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for.

“Look at this.”

Steel Needle leaned in to look at the page. “‘The Taijitu-no-me:’-” he frowned a bit as he mumbled those words “-‘A visual technique of qilinesian origin…’ I'm not sure if I can teach you this.”

“Why not? I mean, it probably has something to do with those energy conduits and mixing chakras and I don’t know…”

“I’m sorry Tayson, but I’m afraid that I can’t teach you your clan techniques. These are very complicated and I’m not an expert on light and dark energy…”
“So, I’ll never learn them?” Tayson concluded, not bothering to hide his disappointment. Even though he didn’t feel a real connection with his family, he had hoped that he would have been able to learn the techniques that his family had spent generations to perfect.

“No, I said that I can’t teach them to you. And besides, you’ll never be able to learn all of them. That is not how your clan worked.”

“They didn’t?”

“Of course not, no clan works like that. Trying to master every technique is like trying to read every book. One life time is just not sufficient, even with our extended lives. It’s just too much.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I should at least learn a few of them. I mean, I can’t keep on forming little balls of energy and throw them at my enemies.”

“Don’t worry about that. Most gods create new techniques instead of recycling the old ones. Just learn the basics and create your own style from there. Now catch your breath and drink something. We continue in five minutes.”

Tayson stuffed the book back in his saddlebag and checked his phone.

1 New message
From: Silver.

Open.

Dude, where are you?! We were supposed to meet each other at the bowling alley, remember?

Shit… Tayson’s eyes widened as he remembered that he was supposed to meet Silver and Lily. Panic overcame him a little and he started to mash the buttons of his phone as quickly as possible.

Sorry guys! Completely forgot about that! I’m still helping my grandma in the shop so I’m not gonna make it. I’ll make up to you. ^^” I promise!

Send.

But as Tayson put his phone away, the tension still remained. How could I’ve forgotten about them? I always remember what they tell me. I cannot possibly… Ok, pace yourself pace yourself. It just happened once, I’m going through a lot of change the last time so it can be that I have problems to bring my two lives in sync. Tayson facehooved. And now I’m making up excuses…. I’m going to apologise tomorrow….

“Tayson, get ready! We’re going to continue.” Steel Needle stomped his hooves to get Tayson’s attention. Tayson jumped up and turned towards Steel Needle.
The lesson continued, but Tayson’s mind was everywhere, except on the training.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson got to school early. He was completely worked up due to not getting much sleep the night before. He had to meet his friends and apologize for not showing up, living with the guilt wasn’t an option. 

Every visible street from the school gate had been under his severe observation for the last half hour. He had walked around the block about five times in the hope that they had decided to take another route to school today.

I would give everything I got just to have those eyes from that book! I mean, what if they’re so angry with me that they decided to skip school today?! Tayson smacked his own face in frustration. Ok, now I’m getting ridiculous. I mean this isn’t the first time I’ve forgotten about them. He took a deep breath and calmed himself. Just as he finished, he looked to the right where he saw a familiar grey Pegasus hovering above a green Unicorn.

Tayson smiled. See, everything is ok! I just have to go over there and apologise and then everything is fine again. He started to trot over to them, but stopped as his nerves began to tingle again. What if they are angry with me? I mean, they haven’t answered my message... Ok, here goes nothing. He gulped and waved at the two. “Hey, Silver, Lily!”

The two looked in his direction and cantered towards him. “Hey, Tayson! How was your date?” Silver asked, his expression shifting to one of smugness.

“Guys, I’m so sorry—date?” Tayson’s asked, his apology getting stuck on its way out.

“Yeah, with Maya.” Lily grinned teasingly.

“I-I—”

“Oh, don’t be so shy. You don’t have to act like that.” Lily punched Tayson’s shoulder in a friendly gesture.

“But, really I—” Tayson tried his best to interrupt his friends thoughts, but got cut off again by Silver.

“Nah, don’t worry about yesterday. But, you have to promise that we go on a double date. Deal?”

Tayson was completely lost. His two friends were now smiling as if they had a cramp in their mouth muscles. Tayson feared for what he had to do now. They can’t be serious thinking that… Oh dear Celestia…



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“BWHAHAHAHAHAHA…” Maya—who had been rolling on the floor of the local café for the last ten minutes—had now attracted every set of eyes in the café.

She slowly tried to push herself up and sit back on her chair. “THEY REALLY THINK… THAT YOU…. AND I…. BWAHAHAHAHA!” This brought another round of raucous laughter as she continued to laugh her flank off and wiping away laughter induced tears while rolling on the floor like a newborn foal.

While this was going on, Tayson had become as red as a ripe tomato. He kept his gaze down, trying his best to avoid all the curious looks of the other customers and to not falter under the curious gazes and the soft snickers of the other customers. “Yes…” He said weakly.

Maya’s laughter intensified as she heard that fact for the third time today.

“Could you please stop?! It’s not funny!” Tayson hissed in a futile attempt not to get any more looks.

“YOU’RE RIGHT! IT’S HILARIOUS!”

“No it is not! I have a serious problem and I really need your help.”

In the meantime the café-chef had come over to their table. Despite Coffee Cream’s surly face and deep voice, he was always friendly to his guests and, of course, wanted them to enjoy their coffee in peace and relative silence. “Could you keep it a bit quiet over here? You’re bothering the other customers!”

Maya managed to calm herself a bit and looked around. “Whoopsie…” She came back on her hooves and grinned awkwardly. “I think I lost myself a bit.”

“I noticed,” Coffee said sarcastically, “as did the other customers.” He gestured to the combination of annoyed glares and soft chuckling of the makeshift audience.

After apologizing openly, Maya took back her seat. She looked absently outside and sighed. “Well I must say… I’m surprised and that I… I feel the same for you…” Maya blushed and faked the embarrassed look of a qilinesian schoolfilly.

Tayson gave her an even glare. “Die in a fire…”

Maya huffed, “And I thought you were a gentlecolt!”

Tayson bonked his head on the table. “Are you done yet?”

Maya took a sip from her coffee and grinned. “Yeah, that was the last one. So, I’m practically going to play your fillyfriend, right?”

Tayson sighed, “Yes…. And I can completely understand if you’d decline, but I really—”

“Sure, why not?” Maya shrugged.

“You’ll do it?” Tayson’s eyes narrowed in skepticism. “What do you want?”

“Nothing, I’m just trying to be a good friend,” Maya answered with a smile.

“Bullshit!” Tayson spat a little too loud, since the Minotaur lady at the next table looked a bit disturbed. Tayson noticed this and apologized quietly with an embarrassed grin. Turning back to Maya, he gave her an accusing look.

“Hey, don’t look at me like that! I need something to keep myself busy.”

“Fine, thank you.” Tayson waved at the waiter for the bill, but cocked an eyebrow as Maya stood up and walked for the door. “Where are you going?”

Maya blinked in confusion. “Home, of course.”

“We still have to pay you know?” He looked confused as Maya chuckled.

“I thought that the coltfriend had to pay the bill?” She smiled teasingly and left the café.

Tayson sat there dumbfounded. “Evil…” He took his wallet, but as he looked at the bill, his eyes shot open. In a futile attempt, he turned towards the door and yelled, “Wait! Maya, I don’t have enough bits…!” As expected, his words reached no ears as Maya was already out of hearing range. His ears drooped as he looked back at the waiter and gulped.

“No bits, eh?” The waiter arched an eyebrow with a steely silence.

Tayson shook his head as the shadow of the waiter spread over him.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As Saturday night arrived without preamble, Tayson found himself walking to Silver’s to meet his friends and Maya. After meeting up there, the four of them would go to the theatre and then to a local restaurant afterwards. Seeing how his evening had started with trying to explain to his grandmother that this was a plan to convince his friends that he wasn’t evading them and not a date, it didn’t look promising.

“I will never hear the end of this,” Tayson complained, crunching his teeth. “Why did they have to assume that I was dating Maya? Why couldn’t they just assume that I was evading them or was feeling like the third wheel? I swear, ponies’ minds get rewired when they’re in a relationship.”

Tayson’s grumbling continued until he finally reached the Silver’s place. When knocking on the door caused it to open slightly, he lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Tayson pushed on the door and looked carefully through the opening.

“Guys?”

As nopony replied, Tayson carefully entered Silver’s home. He noticed that there were no lights burning, some plates laid scattered around the room, and a few chairs were turned over. Tayson felt his eyes widened as he began fearing the worst. “GUYS?!”

He removed his hoodie, letting it fall unceremoniously to the ground with a heavy thump. Now that the extra weight was gone, Tayson felt lighter on his hooves. He cleared his mind of everything that was irrelevant and let all the information he got from his environment flow in. 
It was obvious from the chaos that a fight took place. Given their history and current relationship status, it was possible that they might’ve had a quarrel that got out of hoof. However, he knew that they wouldn’t leave the house unattended when Silver’s parents weren’t home. Of course, all this might have been the results of their rewired thinking.
Moving to the living room, he saw a piece of paper laying on the table. He picked it up to read it, hoping it wasn’t what he thought it was.

Hello, little god of chaos, 
I’m sure you’re smart enough to realise that your friends are not home. They didn’t resist much; as soon as we had the filly, the colt just surrendered. Not very strong friends you’ve got there.
Don’t worry, they’re safe… for now. Now, you’re probably asking yourself why we would kidnap your petty little friends, am I right? Well, I would like to propose a little transaction. We won’t kill your friends and, in return, you hand yourself over to the Inquisition.
Meet us at the train station and please don’t dawdle.
Signed. The Inquisition.

Tayson ripped the paper to shreds, feeling his heart pump faster as adrenaline coursed through his system. “Those.” His breath became faster and faster. “Filthy.” His eyes shot wide as he glared at the shreds. “BASTARDS!”
As energy raged inside his body, he wanted to rip off the faces of those ponies. Seeing the energy manifest around him to form little spheres of light and dark, he forced himself to calm, realising that he was slipping into a rage shift. “I can’t wait on Maya, who knows what could happen if I show up too late.”

Tayson pressed himself to find a solution as quick as possible. He knew that he wasn’t ready to face those ponies alone, but it could take maybe fifteen minutes for Maya to come here, and it would take another thirty minutes to walk towards the train station.

Tayson rushed towards the kitchen and pulled out everything in every drawer to find a writing utensil. Finding a pen and a piece of paper, he prayed to the stars that this would work.

To: Steel Needle
Come to the train station. Friends got kidnapped. They call themselves the Inquisition. Need help.
From: Tai Ichi

He drew a circle around the words and waited for the magic to work. “Come on come on come on! BURN!”

Yet, no matter how hard he yelled or how hard he shook the paper, the ink wouldn’t catch fire.
“Buck it!” He took some tape and attached it to the front door so that Maya knew where he went and started running towards the train station.

As Tayson ran down the streets, the paper was dangling in the air of the night. After a few minutes the first letter took a green shine, smoke forming around the paper as the letters smouldered. After a few seconds, the letters burst into green flames and vanished, leaving only a white paper with a blue circle on it.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


As Tayson arrived at the train station, he was breathing heavily. However, thanks to Steel Needle’s training, it wasn’t because he was out of breath. He could’ve run through half the island of Manehattan and not be out of breath. He was now breathing out of pure unadulterated rage. 

He stared into the empty train station with his teeth gritted and a glare that would turn even a cockatrice into solid stone. It just screamed ‘trap,’ however there was one benefit: he didn’t have to hide his true nature.

“HEY!” he screamed into the oppressive silence, “I’M HERE NOW! COME OUT AND LET MY FRIENDS GO, YOU BUCKBUCKETS!”

Silence stretched for a few second before a small giggle pierced it.
“The little god thinks he can command the mortals,” the soft voice of a mare answered, resonating through the station, “Now, if that isn’t cute.” Due to the echo, it was difficult to tell where it was coming from.

“Mortals?! Oh for buck’s sake, show yourself! I know that you’re gods, so why not come and get me! I’m no match for you!”

“Oh, the haughtiness. Tsk, tsk, tsk. You gods think that you’re oh so secret.”

Tayson didn’t care for the nonsense of that mare. “Where are my friends?”
The mare chuckled again. “Somewhere safe. We would never kill some ponies for the sake of a god. However, it is late and I think that young ponies should go to sleep now.”

“What the—” Tayson didn’t get the chance to finish that line of thought as a spring sound filled the air.He jumped to the side as two syringes shattered against the ground. A small frustrated growl was audible and the tapping of hooves resonated through the train station.

“COWARD! WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?!” Before Tayson knew what he was doing, he was following the sound of hoofsteps. He saw the door of a nearby warehouse slam close and smiled confidently. “Gotcha!”

He ran over and burst into the warehouse. “Come out! I know you’re in here!”

No reply.

“What do you want from me?!”

“Nothing in particular. We just want to avoid having to deal with a god of chaos when the time comes.”

Tayson gritted his teeth. “Then why don’t you kill me at the spot?! It’s not like I’m any danger at the moment!”

No reply.

“Where are my friends!?”

Hearing the sound of a snap, Tayson looked up as a net fell from the ceiling, wrapping around his form. As he struggled to get out, a Pegasus mare stepped out of the shadows wearing a jumpsuit and a proud smile. “Well, well, well… looks like we got you distracted for a while.”
Tayson glared daggers at the mare and pointed a hoof towards her. As an orb of darkness formed, the mare took a step back and covered her face as though she were waiting for a blow to send her flying. When nothing happened, she looked back to see Tayson cursing at his hoof.

“COME ON! ONE LITTLE BLAST! IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR?!”

The mare’s proud smile returned and she stepped towards Tayson. She chuckled and pressed Tayson’s face to the floor. “Not so strong now, are we?” she asked tauntingly.

“What are you deaf and stupid?! I never said I was! I was constantly pointing out that I was no match for another god, but the only thing you did was talk, talk, talk, and not make any sense at all! I mean, what kind of villain are you?!” Tayson spat as his face got crushed under the force of the mare’s hoof.

“Must be embarrassing to lose against a normal pony, am I right?” The mare leaned in and grinned.

“You’re what?”

The mare snickered, letting go of Tayson’s face. She turned around and began walking towards the crates behind her.“You should listen to your enemy, foolish god!” she answered dramatically, “I’m a mortal, a normal pony, not a blasphemous being like you!”

Tayson groaned. “Fine, whatever. Now that you got me, let my friends go!”

The mare tsked disappointedly, removing a syringe from her pocket. “No can do I’m afraid,” she answered, tapping it to release any trapped air. 

“BUT YOU SAID—”

“We said that we wouldn’t kill your friends and we won’t,” she interrupted, turning back to Tayson and smiling manically. “We’ll even teach them to be free... as soon as we’ve disposed of you.”

The mare began to slowly approach Tayson, the needle giving an evil gleam in her hoof. As she got closer, Tayson became more and more terrified of what would happen. Time seemed to slow down, his breath became laboured and pulse became uncontrolled.

If I die now, my friends will be lost!

Right when the needle touched his skin, a pulse went through Tayson. Feeling empowered, he glared to the mare and shouted, “BUCK OFF!” A massive wave of energy propagated through the warehouse, ripping the net to shreds and sending the mare crashing into a pile of crates. 

Tayson got to his hooves and and shook his head clear. He brought a hoof up to inspect the spot where the needle touched his skin. No blood, so there shouldn’t be any of the drug in my body.

Tayson’s attention got pulled back to the battlefield when a rumbling came from under the broken planks. As the mare pushed the debris aside, she glared daggers at Tayson. Tayson met that glare with an icy-cold gaze. “You’re not going to tell me where they are, are you?”

The mare pulled another syringe and charged at Tayson. “WHAT GAVE IT AWAY?!”

Tayson jumped up and kicked the syringe out of her hoof, sending the mare flying with a second kick to her face. “The fact that you weren’t polite enough to tell me your name,” he answered landing on his hooves.

The mare managed to recover right before she hit another pile of crates. She then used her momentum to rebound and charge again at Tayson. Tayson jumped onto his hind legs and pointed his front leg towards the mare—stabilizing it with his other hoof like a gun barrel—and let out a rage-fuelled scream as more black energy formed at the tip. But, instead of blasting into a beam and sending the mare crashing into a pile of crates, it scattered as though it couldn’t stabilize its form.

Tayson’s eyes widened as the mare crashed into him and sent him flying into the next wall. The mare stood atop of him, smiling triumphantly.

The mare reached for another syringe, but Tayson smashed her face with a head-butt before she could attempt to stab him with it. Letting go of the syringe, the mare stumbled back and covered her sore face. Tayson took advantage of this and sent his hoof  flying towards her face.

The blow caused the mare to roll along the floor, trying to get a grasp on her situation. Tayson picked up the syringe and walked calmly towards her. “Let’s see how you like your own medicine…”

The mare chuckled. “You won’t be able to kill me with that, pesky god. It’s a narcotic, not a poison. We wanted you captured, not killed. You’re too precious—”

Tayson’s face was blank of all emotion as he kicked the mare in the ribs. “Shut up…” He then jabbed her in the leg with the syringe, emptying the contents into her veins. The mare’s face became distorted as though she were in pain.

“Idiot… I’m nat ahone heeee…” The mare’s voice became more and more stretched as the drug paralyzed one muscle after the other. “HUUUUUUUUUYS HET HAT HILTH!”
Tayson took a battle-ready stance and looked around expecting more enemies to show up. At that moment several unconscious bodies fell to the floor with an audible thump. He then heard a chirping voice cheering, “NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A FIRST DATE!” Maya then lowered herself from one of the crates.

“You’re late!” Tayson grumbled.

“Well, I would have been on time if I had known where you had headed.” Maya replied with a shrug.

“I left a note on the front door! How could you not have seen it?!”

Maya snorted as she grabbed into her pocket. “You mean this one?” She showed a paper with a blue circle on it.

“Wait, where did—”

“You should practice your hoofwriting a bit, Tayson. I could hardly tell whether you needed help or you wanted to play polka on a rodeo.” Steel Needle stepped out of the shadows and looked at the mare that had given up the fight to get back on her hooves and now looked like a bag of potatoes with a tongue sticking out. “But I have to say that you handled the situation pretty well.”

“No, I didn’t…” Tayson said quietly, glaring hatefully at the mare. A dark aura formed around his hoof. “My friends are gone, AND IT IS HER FAULT!” Tayson punched his hoof with immense force towards the paralyzed mare, but his blow was blocked by an iron wall that shot out of the ground between them. Tayson looked to Steel Needle, tears cascading down his face and teeth gritted in frustration.

“Tai Ichi, we’re not going to find them if you kill our only source of information!” Steel scolded.

“Do you really think that that mad mare is even able to form even one sentence that makes sense?! THAT PIECE OF FILTH SHOULD PERISH JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM.”
When Steel Needle smiled, Tayson looked at him in disbelief. “IT’S NOT FUNNY,” he screamed, his voice filled with rage, “I WAS UNABLE TO SAVE THEM, IN SPITE OF ALL THE TRAINING I’VE BEEN DOING!”

Steel’s face fell back into a neutral expression as he looked upon Tayson. He walked past Tayson and hefted the mare onto his back. “I’ll get the necessary information out of her. When it comes to information, I’m an expert at getting people to talk. In the meantime, you get yourself checked out at the hospital. Maya, you take the others to the prison and make sure Tayson gets to the medical wing. Doctor Stable is to do a whole check-up, got it?” When Maya nodded her response, he trotted out of the building.

After Needle left, Maya stomped a hoof causing several tendrils to submerge the other captives into the floor. She then turned to face Tayson with worry on her features. “We’ll find them… you can trust us…”

“And then what?!” Tayson spat hatefully, “Erase their memory? This whole night was planned around deceiving my friends… what point is there in training to protect my friends if I have to lie to them and might lose them as a result anyway?”

Maya looked away in pain. “Tayson, you've trained a lot and thanks to that—”

“You know what, don’t even bother,” he said curtly, “Thank you for saving my flank. Let’s just get me to the hospital.”

With that, Tayson turned around to leave, not seeing Maya as she frowned and shook her head. She followed after him, both leaving the warehouse in complete silence.
> Chapter Four: Meet the Inquisition
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------


Chapter 4

Meet the Inquisition


“PAX CHRISTI!”

Steel Needle slowly closed the door behind himself as he left one of the interrogation rooms in the Manehattan HQ. He looked to the right where a guard stood. “Nopony is to enter this room unless I say so!” He stressed.

The guard saluted and took a stoic position in front of the door.

With that Steel Needle walked through the halls until he arrived at a large, empty room, with a row of pillars at each side. He looked at the clock at the other side of the room and took a deep, calming breath. He took his wallet, opened it and took a bit out of it. As he looked at the coin he infused it with more and more energy until it was about to burst. He threw it at the floor and clapped his hooves, making air surge towards the coin.

“GATE THROUGH HEAVEN!”

A lighting struck and a portal opened mid-air. From it Time Gale emerged looking cold and stoic as ever.

“Good evening, Steel Needle.” He said, waving his mane to the side, covering his left eye.

“Sir.” Steel saluted and followed him as the two walked down the halls. “The prisoner is in the interrogation room. She should talk in about thirty minutes.”

Time Gale nodded. “I take you have found out who she is by now?”

Steel Needle shook his head. “We have run her data multiple times through our databases and always got multiple matches, all of whom are confirmed taxpayers, have medical records. In short, all who are real ponies but appear to be the same pony…”

“So we have no idea.”

“I’m afraid not…”

Time Gale sighed. “What did you feel during the interrogation?”

“Sir, I—”

“Answer the question, Steel.” Time Gale insisted.

Steel Needle became quiet for a while, casting his gaze down for a while before looking back at Time Gale. “Nothing…”

Time Gale nodded. “You know why I ask this, Steel.”

“Yes, Sir…”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Now arriving on track number six, local service stopping at Canterlot, Cambraya, Cincinneighti, Fillydelphia, and Manehattan."
A violet unicorn mare brushed away the bangs of her navy blue mane from her eyes, putting away the book she had been engrossed in to hop onto the train. She had been looking forward to this trip for months, her job as CEO leaving little in the way of 'personal time.' Now though, she was finally going to see her parents, who were as anxious to see her as she was to see them. Gathering her luggage into her magical aura, she made her way to the platform where her train was arriving.
She arrived at the scarcely populated platform before the train, the platform becoming more crowded as the train approached. The mare took a few steps closer to the edge of the platform so that she might simply step onto the train when she felt a sudden constricting in her chest. Setting her luggage down, she placed a hoof onto her chest and hoped the sensation would pass.
She then felt a foreign sensation pass through her body, as though a cold wind had picked up and had pierced her core. Her body shivered in reaction, unable to warm itself. Then, much to her own surprise, she found herself taking a step towards the rails and the approaching locomotive.
Not understanding this reaction, she frowned and willed her body to step backwards. When her body ignored her, she tried to force herself to step backwards, finding herself taking another step forward.
Not understanding this at all, she tried to turn her head to the side, finding that only her eyes would oblige her request. "Help me..." she whispered, drawing only momentary attention from the bystanders around her, "Please help me!"
She vainly struggled against herself as she approached the oncoming train, her body rebelling against her commands. Silent tears began to streak down her cheeks as the train's warning whistle sounded. She flung herself unwillingly onto the tracks as the sounds of screaming and squealing brakes filling her ears were the last sounds she ever heard.
As ponies crowded around in a worried, muttering herd, one figure stood unmoving. He leaned impassively against a pillar, witnessing the scene as it had played out in front of him. He gave a small smile and turned to leave, unnoticed by anyone.

Tayson had been staring at the ceiling for the last two hours while undergoing one test after the other. Blood had been taken from him, his eyes were checked along with pulse, mouth, legs, throat, everything. All while Maya’s eyes looked with concern at him.

After the last test Dr. Stable came back with the results. He took a deep breath and checked a last time the dossier. “Everything looks fine. But you might want to eat some more bananas, you’re low on Potassium.”

Tayson had been quiet till now, he sighed without even bothering to look at Dr. Stable. “That’s the least of my worries right now…”

Dr. Stable frowned and sighed. “Listen, I know you’ve been through a lot but—”

“Please stop there,” – Tayson interrupted – “Because you don’t!”

Dr. Stable bit his tongue to not retaliate on that statement. He took a professional stance and looked with cool indifferent eyes at Tayson. “Fine. But promise me that you won’t try to rush things. We’ll be able to help you.” With that Stable left the room, closing the door firmly.

As soon as Tayson and Maya were alone, Maya jumped up. “Stop it!”

It was the first time since they had entered the room that Tayson moved more than he needed to. “What do you mean?” His voice was still filled with an undertone of sadness, but was hidden deep under a thick layer of growing indifference.

“The way you just acted towards Dr. Stable was not ok!”

“So?”

Maya blinked a few times as if she couldn’t believe what she just heard. “SO?!” She stomped towards Tayson and came dangerously close to him. “He comes in, tries to comfort you and all you do is cut him off and act like you’re the only one who has lost something!”

“I—”

“Don’t you DARE to interrupt me!” She bellowed, silencing Tayson’s objection before it could be spoken. “Let me make you something very, VERY clear! Everypony in KAMI has lost at least someone dear to him. And the difference between them and you is that they won’t get those loved ones back!”

“And who did you lose then?!” Tayson spat back, trying to get back in the conversation. But instead got a smack in the face by Maya who was on the verge of tears.

“THAT IS NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS!” With that she stomped out of the room, leaving Tayson alone with a sore cheek which he carefully touched.

He closed his eyes took a deep breath and lowered his gaze. “Well done, Tayson…”

It has been about an hour since Maya had left the room. Tayson was looking at the ceiling, lost in thoughts.

“How the buck—”

He got cut of as the door suddenly opened. Steel Needle and Time Gale entered the room.

“Tayson—” Steel Needle stopped abruptly as he saw how he shot up, “Are you alright?”

Tayson calmed his nerves quickly and just nodded

Steel Needle looked unsure but took Tayson for his word. “Ok… I got some good and some bad news.”

Tayson sighed. “With all respect, but just spit it out already…”

Steel Needle scrunched his muzzle, but just decided to not reply. “Fine, I guess… The bad news is that we’re not able to get the necessary information in time, so we’re making this thing public.”

“And that means.” Tayson asked in a tired, sarcastic voice.

“Well, it means that the mortal officials are now considering this a crime and are helping us in some way. The good news on the other hoof is that there is a way to get some more information out of the mare we captured since we have another… informant.”

“Splendid, so my friends are still captured.”

Steel Needle sighed, but nodded in the end. “I’m afraid they’ll be for a while, but we can change that!”

Tayson’s eyes shot open. “How?!”

Steel Needle motioned Tayson to follow him. “Let’s call it, persuasion…”

A chill went down Tayson’s spine. Hearing this words come out of Steel Needle’s mouth had an ominous undertone. Tayson gulped nervously as they walked down the halls.

They arrived at the interrogation room that Steel Needle had left his prisoner. Steel Needle dismissed the guard and the three of them entered the room.

It was a room in which a single-shaded glass separated the actual interrogation room and the room in which other ponies could follow the interrogation. The lights in the interrogation room were dimmed, which added to Tayson’s unease. Inside the room Maya was sitting, staring at the black window. She looked at the incoming ponies, but her eyes quickly darted back as she saw Tayson amongst them.

Her eyes were red and her mane was a mess. Her lips were curled into a small frown as if she were on the verge of tears, yet her posture was stoic and disciplined. Like she was supposed to.

As everypony sat down, Steel explained that the previous interrogation was without fruits and that he had to use some more… drastic measures in order to make her speak. He then pressed a button which made the lights in the other room go on and reveal the mare.

She was battered and broken, dried blood covered her coat while she was attached to a crucifix.

Steel Needle looked away, Time Gale and Maya just looked indifferent at the mare. Tayson didn’t even blink.

“Are you willing to talk now?” Time Gale asked in a calm but demanding voice. “If you do so, you’ll be free the moment you agree. You’ll get medical treatment, and there won’t any longterm effects neither from us nor the injuries. Your memory will be erased and you will be given a new identity. This whole thing will, at least for you, literally never have happened.”

The mare looked up with a twisted smile. “Tempting, but I’m afraid that I have to decline.”

“You know that we can keep you here as long as we want, right. Blackmailing a god is against the mortal law.”

“I know the law. This whole conspiracy won’t be enough to break me, you freaking buckbucket!”

“Conspiracy?” Time Gale’s eyes narrowed curiously.

“Oh, please. Do you really believe that nopony notices? After all, you guys are always involved whenever something big happens. The return of the Nightmare, Discord’s resurrection, Sombra’s siege. So many innocent lives were lost at those days.” The mare looked up with a manic smile on her face. “But did you ever stop them? No! You just wait till thousands of ponies die and watch while we have to fight the monsters YOU summoned upon us!”

Time gale leaned towards Steel and whispered. “No wonder you didn’t get anything out of her. She has already planned what she would say to us, her arguments don’t flow out normally.” 

Steel nodded in agreement. “She has been like that since she came here. She felt rather enthusiast back then. Like it was some kind of reward that she got to talk to us.”

“We’ll continue this for a few more minutes, if that doesn’t work, I’ll contact Circadian Rhythm.” 

Time Gale looked back at the mare and shook his head. “I’m sorry, but we’re not allowed to intervene in mortal affairs. Neither did we cause those events. They simply happened. Familiar with the term ‘accident’ or maybe better ‘natural disaster’? We don’t control you, we’re not even allowed to watch over you anymore. That with Luna was an experiment that went wrong. Celestia lost her sister that day, as did I lose somepony very precious to me. Discord is the manifestation of entropy. We got tons of them, the Qilins have Sacred crystal bells, the Gryphons wake over the power of Honour. Given that they don’t move and cause that much havoc, but they’re parts of nature and you can’t fight nature. And that with Sombra.” Time Gale snorted. “He was a king that got corrupted by power.” Time Gale stood up, getting more assertive as he gave more arguments. “Given, they were gods too, two of them were Divine rulers, something we’re not allowed to deal with! That’s part of a treaty that was mad generations before your ancestors’ ancestors were even conceived, after a war fought for a cause, that puts the petty cause of that little club of yours to shame.” Time Gale spat. “This conspiracy was made because you mortals demanded it! But you forgot, and we remembered. And now you want to blame us?”

“LIES!” The mare struggled to get off the cross, but it only caused her to yank back in pain. “MY WHOLE LIFE GOT RUINED BY YOUR KIND! ONE OF YOU JUST CAME BY ONE NIGHT AND MURDERED MY WHOLE FAMILY! BUT YOU MADE ME FORGET! I GOT PLACED IN AN ORPHANAGE WHERE I GOT BULLIED AND ABUSED!” The mare panted as her anger slowly cooled off. “But He made me remember. He was my saviour. He helped me get strong. And He will help your friends to become strong too.” The eyes of the mare burned right through my eyes.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A knock on the door pierced the silence of the Howling Moon’s library.

“Come in.” Howling Moon laid the book, he was studying, aside.

Malachite entered the room respectfully, gaze cast down as to never look right in his master’s eyes.  “Milord, the new... trainees have arrived.” 

“Excellent. And… what about her?”

Malachite hesitated. “She went after the chaos god… And got captured… As is the squad that she had with her…”

Howling Moon sighed. He stood up and went to the desk of his office. On top of the desk laid a deck of cards which he levitated in the air and began to shuffle. “That is very unfortunate.” He looked through the cards, took the ones he needed and spread them on the desk. On each was the face of a pony, and on the one in the middle was the face of the mare. “She was very useful. Maybe a little to impulsive, but she has contributed a lot.” Howling dipped his quill in his inkpot. “Oh well, she can be replaced.” He then drew a cross over the mare’s face. From where the ink touched the card, the colours slowly faded away until only the cross remained. The ink then combusted, burning the card in purple and black fire.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The eyes of the mare shot open as she screamed in agony. Everypony startled at the sudden outburst of the prisoner.

“RELEASE HER!” Time gale commanded almost immediately.

Steel Needle looked confused. “But Si—”

“THAT IS AN ORDER, STEEL!” Time Gale’s voice cracked, on the brink of being amplified.

Steel Needle obeyed and stomped his hooves, making the needles that held the mare on the crucifix dissipate.

“Get a doctor, prepare to wipe her mind and get her a new identity! We're done with her.” Time Gale walked for the door. “After that I expect you at your office, Steel.”

Steel Needle saluted, took a piece of chalk and started writing on the wall. After a few minutes Doctor Stable arrived. The mare got carried to the medical wing. Maya and I got dismissed. In the hallway I tried to apologise to her. She listened, but didn’t reply, and after I was done she simply left.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Much had happened. His friends got abducted, he had his first real fight, he had angered his teammate and had seen a mare being tortured. At the moment Tayson had a lot to think about. What would he do if his friends couldn’t be saved in time… or even at all? What is he going to say to their parents? How is he going to act in school? What will he say to his friends when they are saved? How is he going to make up with Maya? And above all, will he stay in KAMI?

Tayson didn’t want to leave the safety of his bed, outside shone the sun, but Tayson was oblivious to that and to the thousands of lives that were cherishing the light of day. For now, the only thing Tayson wanted was to forget this day and what had happened in the interrogation room. He hadn’t said a word when he returned home. He couldn’t think of anything to say. All that was in his mind were the eyes of the mare that had burned down upon him with unrefined hatred. 

A soft knock on the door was followed by Crystal slowly opening the door, making light pierce the pitch black of Tayson’s room. “Tayson…?”

No reaction.

Crystal now completely opened the door, making Tayson pull his covers over his head to shield them from the light. “Honey, I understand that a lot has happened, but—”

“I’ve never seen so much hatred…” Tayson slowly got up and looked at Crystal with exhausted eyes. “I’m scared, granny…”

Crystal walked to the window opened the curtains, making Tayson cringe at the now bright room. Crystal sighed and sat next to him in bed. “You have every right to be scared, you're friends are in danger… But remember that you chose for this.”

“But—”

“No buts, Tayson. When you chose to join KAMI you knew that it would be dangerous, you knew that your friends would be in danger. And right now, you have to be stronger than you’ve ever been.”

Tayson let his head down. “I don’t know if I can do that, granny…”

Crystal frowned. “I’m afraid that this isn’t a matter of can or can’t. You have to... if not, your friends might die.”

Tayson’s body got tense. “D-Die?”

Crystal nodded. “It is time to grow up, Tayson. You’re now in a world where you can’t depend on the elements of harmony to save the day. You have to survive yourself.”

Tayson got quiet. Crystal gave him a hug and left the room. “Now, get ready. Steel Needle has sent a message.”

Tayson took a deep breath. The thoughts weren't gone, and he felt far from better. But his grandmother did have a point. He chose for this, it was his responsibility now. If Silver and Lily were to die, then he would be to blame. He threw the covers from his bed and jumped out.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


A knock on the door disturbed the conversation of Steel Needle and Dr. Stable.

“Come in, Tayson.”

Tayson carefully entered the room, a nod of Steel Needle gave him the permission to sit down as he waited for the conversation to end. With a last document, Steel Needle thanked Dr. Stable for his time, who then left. Steel Needle turned over to Tayson. “So, how are you feeling?”

“A little tired…”

Steel Needle nodded to that. “Understandable.”

“What happened to that mare?”

Steel Needle sighed. “She has been wiped…”

“No, I mean, what happened in the interrogation room. After she, well, started to scream.”

Steel Needle looked confused for a while, but he then understood what Tayson meant. “Exactly what I said. Her entire memory has been wiped... spontaneously.”

“Oh, I see… and my friends?” Tayson looked a bit worried.

“From what she told us we know that they have no intention to hurt your friends. But she has been set back to a prior moment in her life. I’m afraid that there isn’t anything to recover from her.”

“So, we have no clue where they are?”

Steel Needle smiled knowingly. “I didn’t say that. It is true that she can’t give us any more information. But since we’re clearly dealing with a large organised group. The chances that she was our last lead are slim.” Steel Needle grinned. “I’m very sure a particular friend of mine will be more than willing to help us with this problem.”

Tayson almost jumped up. “And where does he live?!”

“I hope you don’t have a fine nose.”

Tayson cocked an eyebrow.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson looked at the manhole cover with a mix of curiosity and resent. “So when you were talking about an underground network…”

“I meant an underground network, yes.”

“This idea stinks…” Maya grumbled.

Steel Needle lifted the manhole cover and climbed down the ladder. “Probably not as much as the sewers.” A slight chuckle could be heard from the dark pit into which the manhole lead.

“Is he always like that?”

Maya shrugged. “He is probably just excited that he can take out some frustration on the poor guy we’re about to meet.”

Tayson took a deep breath and jumped in the manhole.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


“Scruffy! Where are you, you old bastard!”

Scruffy’s eyes widened. That voice, that terrible, terrible voice. The voice that brought trouble with it. Trouble and pain. Scruffy gulped. “Oh no…”

Steel Needle entered Alligator Alley’s ‘finest’ bar. The place where the scum of the underground would come to handle of deals, get drunk and find some accomplices to plan some robbery.

Steel Needle went to ask the bartender if he had seen his old friend. Scruffy tried to make himself as small possible and sneak out of the bar without being seen by Steel. He was almost out of the door when his rat-like tail got trapped under Maya’s hooves. “Eager to leave, are we?” Maya asked dull.

Scruffy stuttered, sweat forming on his brow. “O-Oh, Maya, how are you? Look how you have grown.” Scruffy got up and wiped the slug of his fuzzy rat belly. He hugged Maya like an uncle would hug his niece. To which Maya pulled away like a niece would do with her least favourite uncle. “How old were you when we last met? You were so cute back then. Oh I have some pictures of that time, but they are at my home. I will go and grab them.” Scruffy started to sprint and disappeared behind the first corner, where he got stuck in some vines which carried him back to Maya. Scruffy struggled to get out but gave up and gulped as he stood eye to eye with Steel Needle who had a content smile on his face.

“Hello, Scruffy.”

“H-Hello, Steel…”

“You weren’t intending to just leave without helping your old friend with something, where you?” Meanwhile the vines had put Scruffy back on the floor and was Steel guiding Scruffy to a free table. “I mean it must be ages ago since we saw each other for the last time. We have a lot to talk about.”

Scruffy sat down and looked sceptically at the new face. “And who are you?”

“May I introduce, this is Tayson, my newest student and the reason why we came to visit you.”

Scruffy crossed his arms. “I have nothing to do with it!”

Steel smiled. “I know, but I also know that you know a lot more about what happens in the underground than I do. So tell, ever heard of ‘The Inquisition’?”

It became silent as everypony in the bar turned over to look at Steel Needle. “I take that as a yes.”

Maya gritted her teeth and slammed her hooves at the table. “What the buck are y’all looking at?! Mind your own business or I will make you!”

Everypony was suddenly eager to mind their own business after the outrage.

“You’ve become quite the temperamental mare, haven’t you, Maya?”

Steel nodded. “Guess where she got it from.”

Scruffy gulped. “Look, Steel, we’ve known each other for a long time. Would I ever lie to you?”

“Yes.”

Scruffy deadpanned. “Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Sure I have heard about them. But who hasn’t, why do you even need that info?”

“They have kidnapped two teenagers and are holding them hostage.”

“So?” Scruffy shrugged. “Not my problem.”

Tayson crunched his teeth, which made Scruffy regret what he just said. “Ooooh, I get it. They are blackmailing this little god colt.”

Steel nodded. “Exactly.”

Scruffy shrugged. “I’m sorry Steel, I have nothing. I’ve never had contact with them.”

“You know that …”

The conversation of Steel and Scruffy faded into the background as Maya checked out some crates that were stashed in the back of the bar. She subtly poked Tayson “Psst. Imma go check something over there. Just act normal and pretend that you’re not seeing anything.”

“Huh?” Tayson looked unsure at Maya.

Maya tapped the floor with her hooves and made some vines sprout. They slithered through the bar stools and the tables until they arrived at the crates. They quietly slithered into the crates. Scruffy couldn’t help but notice how Tayson and Maya were staring at the crates. He looked over his shoulders. “What are you two looking a— NO!”

Maya’s eyes shot open. “HOW DARE YOU!!” Vines erupted from the floor and wrapped around Scruffy.

“Maya, what are you doing?!” Steel was taken by aback by the violent reaction of his daughter.

“Take a look at the crates!”

Steel walked towards the crates. Meanwhile it became tense in the bar. Everypony was waiting for some final drop to make the situation escalate. Steel formed a crowbar in mid-air and opened the crates. Inside he found documents labelled with the sign of the Lotus Dragon imprinted on them. He took one of the documents and as he opened it the air in the bar froze. Through the silence, the only thing audible was Steel violently looking through the pages. He took another document, and another, and another. As he had looked through the last of them he turned around with cool anger all over his face. He took a deep breath and amplified his voice. “EVERYONE, OUT!!”

No sooner had those words left his mouth had the bar been emptied. Maya threw Scruffy at the hooves of Steel whose eyes burned with anger.

“L-Listen, S-Steel—”

“Tell me, how in Celestia's name, do you happen to be in possession of crates, filled with documents, about every agent that KAMI employs?!”

“I-I—”

“DO YOU REALIZE WHAT I AM JUSTIFIED TO DO TO YOU RIGHT NOW?!”

“S-Steel, I swear, I didn’t—”

“Listen, Scruffy, I give you exactly one chance to tell me everything I want to know. I do this because you are my friend and you have helped often in the past. But if I don’t get satisfied with whatever comes out of your mouth next, then this dirty hole beneath the ground will become your grave!”

Scruffy gulped. “Please, S-Steel, I swear I didn’t know what was inside.”

Steel’s face deadpanned. “Seems like I will get the chance to use a new technique.” He took a step back and thought of the right execution of the technique. “Let’s see. I just need to walk past you and then turn to you. Quite easy.” Steel concentrated energy in his hooves and took some steps forwards until his back was turned to Scruffy. He turned around and smiled. “Last chance Scruffy.”

“NO WAIT! STEEL, PLEASE, YOU KNOW THAT I’M NOT ALLOWED TO LOOK WHAT’S INSIDE!”

“Kiri—”

“Please, let me think!” Terror was now over his face.

“-Sute-”

“YESTERDAY”

Steel Smiled. “Let him go.”

Maya huffed and let the vines contract a little before letting him go, all while giving a ‘whoopsie’ from her.

Steel lend Scruffy his hoof. “You were saying.”

“Listen, Steel, if I tell you this, then I’m not safe anymore.”

“Not my problem. But depending on what you say, I might be able to help you.”

“Fine… It started… let’s think… a few months ago. A blue Pegasus called ‘Borealis’ contacted me. He gave me a letter and insisted that I didn’t open it under any circumstances. If you know what I mean. And he asked me to deliver the letter to some weird extremist mare who always wore a jumpsuit, I forgot her name…”

Steel sighed. “I know who you mean. Nevertheless, go on.”

“Well when I first tried to contact her, she almost killed me. She was rambling some things of filthy gods and wanted to stab me with a syringe. It was only after I showed her the letter that she stopped. From there on I have been going back and forth delivering this and that to both sides.”

“What did you transport

“I told you, I did not look inside. I delivered some letters, some crates, I swear I don’t know what I was transporting.” Scruffy pleaded.

“Did you know that you were working for the Lotus Dragon?”

“No! I swear! Steel, I’m greedy, a thief and a dealer, but I’m not stupid enough to knowingly work together with that shadow lunatic.”

Steel sighed. “Fine, anything else? Some more names?”

Scruffy looked with pleading eyes. “I’m sorry, but that was all they told this rat here. I swear.” He drew a cross over his heart and raised his hand like he was under oath.

Steel shook his head. “Maya, take him to the HQ.”

“P-Please, Steel, I don’t wanna die!”

Steel groaned. “You’re fine, but we can’t let you walk around freely, you’d be dead within days.” He spat.

Scruffy gulped. “I-I—thank you.”

“Oh, I’m not done with you yet. Pray that you know some more things, or your future will be dark, if not non-existent.”

The vines pulled him underground as Maya transported Scruffy to the cells of KAMI.

Tayson went to the crates and took one of the files. He flipped through them. Seeing many familiar faces. “What does this mean, Steel?” He pointed at the page. “Why is this so important to them?”

Steel took the file out of Tayson's hooves. “Knowing your enemy is the biggest advantage you can have over him. And as of right now, they now know us. They know our resources and the strengths and weaknesses of each single one of us.” He put the file back in the crate and gave Maya a sign to get them to the HQ too. “The one who kidnapped your friends has most likely a file like this but with your name on it.”

Tayson ran a frustrated hoof over his face. “But those are just medical records, right?”

“Medical records, relationships, CV, you name it.” Steel put a hoof on Tayson’s shoulder. “We need to know our members so we can find the right god for the job.”

“So, Silver and Lily got kidnapped, because you knew this information.”

Steel nodded apologetic. “I’m afraid so.”

After that Steel, Tayson and Maya left Alligator Alley.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Steel thought back to the events of the previous day. Scruffy… Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy, Scruffy… You’ve done some nasty little deals. But this just topples them all. Steel shook his head. But, how? And more importantly: why? Why would the Lotus Dragon work together with the Inquisition? Clearly they have different interest. Just the part that the Lotus Dragon consists mostly of gods should make the Inquisition despise them. Steel took a deep breath, looked from his window down at the plaza in front of the town hall. That doesn’t make any sense… Pfffft… an alliance. But why’d they choose Scruffy as messenger? It isn’t that big of a secret that I know him… I mean, let’s be honest. The amount I’ve looked him up at Alligator Alley should have made at least somepony realise that I know him better than is good for him… Did they want me to find him? But why go through all the trouble--

A knock on the door disturbed Steel’s train of thoughts. “In!” Steel yelled absentmindedly. Time Gale entered the room and cleared his throat. This startled Steel and made him turn around and salute almost immediately. “Goodmorning, Sir!”

Time gale smiled at the awkward reaction of Steel. “Goodmorning, Steel. You wanted to see me?”

Steel nodded and took one of the files out of the crate. “Look at this.”

Time Gale suspended the file in a levitation field and hovered it over to himself. He flipped through the pages. With a dull expression he put the file aside. “I take that you didn’t go through all the trouble summoning me here, only to show me files on our members.”

Steel shook his head. “Yesterday I paid an acquaintance of mine a visit. I wanted to ask him if he knew something about the inquisition. Turned out --” Steel pointed at the crate. “-- He knew more than he wanted to admit.”

“I take that you executed him on the spot, then?”

“Sir, I know the protocol. But he has nothing to do with it.”

Time Gale cocked an eyebrow. “How so?”

Steel put the file away. “I know him for some time now, he has helped with some shady deals.” He looked Time Gale deep in the eyes. “He is a criminal, a liar, a dealer, he has a strong fragrance. But no amount of money would make him risk his life, for he is the biggest coward I’ve ever known.”

“I see, so you think he didn’t steal the files.”

Steel snorted. “He wouldn’t even dare.” Steel shook his head, getting rid of his grin. “No Sir, when we were at Alligator Alley, he told us he had been delivering numerous letters, packages and crates to the Lotus Dragon as well as the Inquisition. But not even once was he aware to whom nor what he was delivering.” Steel had a sly smile on his face. “OR, he knew it exactly, and they wiped him every time.” 

“What do you intend to do?”

“I asked you to bring Circadian Rhythm?”

Time Gale nodded. “She’ll be here after she has helped fixing a security hole in the file storage.”

Steel Needle was baffled. “Sir, you knew that there was a breach?”

“The hole was discovered a few days ago by accident. Files were missing, security cameras had some blackouts, oh and the night guard was found passed out on the floor…” Time Gale’s face was blank as ever. “At least now we know where they are, and who had them… We only need to find the mole. So, where is your ‘friend’ now?”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


The door of the interrogation room flew open, making Scruffy fall from his chair he’d been napping on for the last few hours.

“CHEEDDAARR!” Scruffy fell on his face, grumbled a bit and looked over at the door. “Oh, it is just you…”

Steel smiled. “Slept well, Scruffy?”

“I just had such a nice dream about chedar… And you ruined it.” Scruffy got back on his feet, wiped some dust from his rat belly and took a seat back on the chair he had fallen off prior. “Rather uncomfortable, but at least it doesn’t stink as much as the sewers. So what brings you here? I’ve already told you everything I know.”

Steel took a seat in front of Scruffy, behind him Time Gale entered the room together with Circadian Rhythm. Scruffy’s eyes widened. He leaned towards Steel. “Steel, buddy, that isn’t perchance --”

Steel looked over his shoulder. “Scruffy, may I introduce to you, the big boss of the KAMI organisation in Equestria, Time Gale.”

Scruffy jumped up and threw himself at Time Gale’s hooves. “Oh please, great god of time. Please, I’ve already told you all I know! PLEASE DON’T BURN MY SOUL!!” Scruffy got suspended in a levitation field and hovered in front of Time Gale’s face. 

“Please sit down.” The words were firm. Scruffy shielded his eyes and fell to the floor. Like bitten by dogs he rushed back to his chair and started praying.

Steel facehooved. “Scruffy, listen, we believe you.”

“You do?” Scruffy blinked. Relieved he wiped his forehead. 

Steel nodded. “We aren’t here for the things you know, but for the things you’ve forgotten.”

“NO! I swear, I’ve told everything--”

“Mister Scruffy!” Time Gale bellowed rather annoyed. “As you probably can imagine, I’m a very busy pony.”

Scruffy gulped. “Y-Yes, Mister Gale.”

Steel sighed and motioned to Circadian Rhythm to come over. “This is Circadian Rhythm, she is here to scan your mind in order to recover any information that has been wiped. This procedure will tickle a little, but is completely save.”

Scruffy nodded, and gulped as the Khaki coloured Unicorn created a green aura around her horn. She came closer and touched Scruffy’s head. Who then started to scream in agony. “THIS DOESN’T TICKLE, YOU FUCK!”

Steel nodded in agreement. “I know, I lied, but try to get someone to do this when you tell him that it will feel like getting your tongue ripped out via your skull.”

“BASTARD!”

Steel chuckled. “Oh you, stop.”

Circadian began sweating and pulled a purple fabric out of Scruffy’s skull. As the last piece left his skull, Scruffy collapsed. Circadian took the purple fabric and suspended it like a screen in mid-air. 
“Shall I get doctor Stable to tend to him?”

Steel waved his hoof dismissivly. “Nah, I think it is his free day anyways. Besides, the strain isn’t that bad. I’ll let Doctor Tender Daze see after him when we finish here.” 

Random pictures whizzed around on the screen. Circadian waved her horn around to get the pictures to stop and get a more coherent movement of Scruffy’s thoughts. “The Lotus Dragon was careful. No faces, no locations, the inquisition on the other hoof…” She fast forwarded. “And stop.” The screen now showed Alligator Alley from the perspective of Scruffy. The blue Pegasus, he was talking about, showed Scruffy a map with two locations marked. One was East from Canterlot. The other north from Manehattan.

“No sound?” Steel asked.

“Give me a second.” Circadian’s horn flared up. First there was a static sound, followed by crackling voices. Circadian was moving her horn as if she were tuning an old radio until she got a rather decent sound.

“-- the north of Manehattan is one of their training grounds. They’re using some strong Unicorns to make the place invisible. Normally if you get closer to it, you’ll feel an urge to go back. That is completely normal. The closer you get to it the more you’ll feel threatened. Do know that there is not threat as long as you can recite the formula we thought you.”

The screen bobbed as Scruffy nodded. 

Borealis folded the map and put it away. He took the package and a bag filled with bits. “Here is a part of your payment in advance. The rest you’ll receive in a week when we meet back here.”

Scruffy greedily grabbed the bag and caressed it.

“Mister Scruffy, I know that you’re known for your ability to not care about what you’re transporting as long as you get paid. But – ” And this is where Borealis’ expression hardened. “ – I want to emphasize what we would do to you if you were to look inside the package.” Borealis’s expression was serious.

Scruffy gulped, making the screen shake a little. “Of course, Mister Borealis. You can be assured that nopony except the receiver will know what is inside the package.”

Borealis smiled. “Well then, I look forward to work with you, Mister Scruffy.” A handshake sealed the deal. Shortly after the screen went black. The screen went black. 

Circadian looked at Steel and Time Gale “That is all there really is. We already know what he was carrying, and the rest he didn’t look at.”

Steel nodded. “Could you show us the map again?”

Circadian’s horn flared up. She quickly rushed through several images until the map was once again visible.

Steel stood up and walked to the map. He looked at Time Gale. “Looks like we now know where to look.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tayson was absentmindedly flipping through the pages of his textbook. Greymane’s lecture had become a background noise that only made him look up when the tone changed. That he was daydreaming was an understatement. The events of the last few days were stuck in a loop in his head. 
That two students were missing meanwhile had become common knowledge. The headmaster had given a speech in which he wished family and friends of Silver Breeze and Lily Petal the strength to deal with the situation, and that the two may return unharmed to their homes. According to the papers the couple was at home when they were surprised by the kidnapper. How or why the kidnapper entered the house was a complete mystery to the guards who had been examining the crime scene. 
In the paper there even was a part where the parents begged the kidnapper to let their children go. The one they let do the talking during the interview in the paper was Silver’s father, Silver Wind. Maybe for the best. Lily’s parents are rather impulsive ponies, they quickly would say something that would insult the kidnapper than making him release their children. Silver’s mother on the other hoof is a very sensitive mare. Tayson could imagine that she wasn’t in the state of mind to converse with anypony except her beloved husband. From the four, Silver Wind was the most rational one. He knew how to analyse a situation, and stay calm while doing so. That, of course, didn’t mean that he wasn’t afraid of what could happen to his son. He just had a different way of dealing with it. 
The picture in the papers of him holding his weeping wife, while having a deep frown was proof of that. He had to be strong for both his son and his wife.
Tayson sighed. Come on, dude, focus a little! KAMI is working on finding them. It will all work out. I hope…
Tayson closed his book in an attempt to listen to the remaining lecture. After five minutes however his book rumbled, and from between two pages a green flame erupted, causing a burping sound and his book to fly open.  

Taken by surprise dropped Greymane his piece of chalk and turned around as to find out what just happened. “Was that you, Tayson?”

Tayson sweated and nervously ran a hoof over his mane. “No—I mean, yes. I’m sorry. I-I, you see, I’m a little sick… and well, my grandmother gave me some eastern medicine to fight the symptoms.”

Greymane frowned. 

He’s not buying it, quick, think of something! “Th-They’re called Dragon Drops.” Tayson chuckled nervously. “And boy, do they work. But the side-effects are… a little… bizarre?”

Greymane’s frown persisted, but in the end he just shrugged. “Well, bless you then.”

Tayson wiped the sweat off his frown in relief. Who in Celestia’s name sends me a text during class?! As if it weren’t bad enough when your phone rings in class! 

To: Tai Ichi

Come to the HQ as soon as possible, we know where your friends might be!

From: Maya

Tayson shot up immediately and almost yelled. “Sir!”

Greymane dropped both his book and chalk in surprise by the sudden outburst of his student. “By Luna, what is the matter, boy?”

Tayson quickly noticed that he had now the attention of everypony in the class. “I-I… Ahem… I forgot another side effect of the drops.”

“And that would be?” Greymane cocked an eyebrow in subtle annoyance. 

“Nausea, and, well, ” Tayson sighed. “Can I just be dismissed? Please?”

The cocked eyebrow turned into a kind smile. “Of course, Tayson.”

Tayson grabbed his textbook and saddlebag and left as fast as possible. When he was gone, Greymane shook his head. “Poor boy, he must be worried as hell about his friends.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Maya was waiting in front of the Manehattan town hall. Tayson came just around the corner when he saw her looking around absentmindedly. Oh, sweet sweet revenge. He took his textbook in his hoof and prepared to throw it. “Hey, Maya! Think fast!” He threw the book, by that time Maya had looked towards Tayson, just in time for the book to hit her face. 

“Hey?! What was that for?” Maya rubbed her sore nose.

“For texting me in class! Explaining your phone is ringing is easy, but now I had to make some shit up about some kind of medicine I’m not even sure exists!”

Maya huffed. “Not my problem! I thought you’d be happy that we could finally save your friends! So I sent it right away. I didn’t know that you had school today.”

“It’s Monday, Maya.” Tayson ran a frustrated hoof over his face. “Ok, look, I’m sorry I threw the book at you. I am happy, and grateful, but don’t you have a phone? I mean, I can’t use that excuse a second time.”

“Nope. Never had one, never needed one.”

Tayson deadpanned. “Ok, fine, we’ll figure something out later. Now, I need also a doctor’s note since I left school early today because of symptoms even a blind pony could see I don’t have.”

“And they believed you?”

Tayson snorted. “Oh hell no, but I can sugar-coat a lot of stuff.”

Maya giggled at that. “In that case, you’ll hear from me when I need something from Steel.”

“You’re not using me as a lying machine against your dad!” Tayson grumbled.

Maya winked. “We’ll see about that. Also, if you ask doctor Stable, and apologise to him (if you haven’t already) for your behaviour the other day, I’m sure he’ll make a fake one for you.”

Tayson gazed embarrassed at the floor. “Sorry again…”

Maya shrugged. “Look, Tayson, you need to calm down. I promise that you’ll have to deal with even worse situations in the future. And with such an attitude I promise you that even more things will go wrong.”

Tayson nodded. “I know, I… I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“I tell you, you were thinking too much. And it clogged up your mind. Analysing the situation is good, but if you try to analyse everything at once you won’t be able to analyse anything at all.”

With that the conversation died and the two entered the town hall. 


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


With a knock on the door Maya and Tayson entered Steel’s office. Steel motioned the two to sit down until he had finished sending some messages. A final circle made the letters vanish in green flames and Steel shift his attention to the two in front of him. “So, Tayson—”

“Where are my friends?” Tayson nearly jumped at Steel.

“Whoah, easy there.”

“My friends are in danger!”

Maya punched Tayson in the ribs. “Did you even listen to me?!”

Tayson rubbed the sore spot and frowned at Maya. “Yeah, I listened. This is why we are here right? You know where my friends are, now I’d like to know myself.”

Maya facehooved. “You’re an idiot.”

Tayson nodded. “I’m glad that we’ve finally settled that. Could we now get back on topic?”

Steel cleared his throat. “Tayson, I know you’re worried, but if we act too rash now we might lose them. So, calm down and sit back while I explain you two what we are going to do.”

Tayson was clearly not amused by that, but he calmed down and focussed. Steel nodded. He grabbed  a file, took a photo out of it and showed it to Tayson and Maya. “This is the map we got from Scruffy’s hidden memories. On it there are two locations marked. The one to the north of Manehattan is, according to some of the recordings we got from Scruffy’s memories, a training ground for recruits. We suspect that your friends are hold here.”

Tayson crossed his forelegs. “So? What are we waiting for? Let’s charge the building, kick some flanks and get my friends back! Easy job, easy done!”

Steel deadpanned. “Yeah, sure, let’s do that. Let’s charge the building without a plan, trigger a few alarms and give them enough time to flee with your friends. Hell, let’s send them a letter, that way they’ll even have time to inform other hideouts.” 

Hearing the sarcastic venom dripping from Steel’s reply, Tayson decided to keep his mouth shut.

“Charging head first isn’t the thing that we want to do right now. What we want to do is to get a small squad in, free your friends and gather as much information as possible before leaving.” He put the photo back in the file. “Preferably without being noticed.” He looked at his daughter.

“Oh, come on, Steel! I can be sneaky too!”

“I have to see that before I believe you, young lady.”

Maya grumbled. 

Tayson looked at both of them. “Am I missing something.”

Steel chuckled as he got to tell a story. “Well, a few years ago we had the mission to free a family that was held hostage by a rogue god and his companions.”

Tayson cocked an eyebrow. “A rogue god?”

“A god that thinks he is a god of something else, and who gets mental in believing so.” Maya murmured.

Steel nodded. “Take for instance that Maya would not be pleased by being a god of the forests. She’d rather be a god of metal, like me. Then she would use her own powers to imitate my techniques. Believing that she would actually move metals.”

“Like in, she would summon plants, and take a piece of iron and throw it at somepony?” Tayson guessed.

“Hey! Don’t you underestimate me!” She tapped the metal bars of the table and from it sprouted a metallic flower. Which died as soon as she stopped touching the metal. “See!”

Steel chuckled. “You see, gods can use their powers in many ways. Sometimes being creative can work wonders in a situation. But anyways, don’t let us forget the story I was telling.”

Maya pouted in discontent.

“So, Maya’s job was it to sneak in, free the family and get them out alive as quick as possible, so we could charge the building and take out the rogue god before he would hurt anyone. Turned out that it wasn’t that easy, because our sneaky lady here, what did she do?”

*mumble mumble*

“What was that?” Steel perked his ears.

“I tripped!” Maya hid her face in shame. “I tripped, got all the attention I didn’t want and wasn’t stealthy at all.”

“And what had we to do then?”

“Please don’t make me say it…” She motioned to Tayson. “Not in front of him! Not in front of the newbie!”

Tayson huffed. “Excuse me?!”

“Oh don’t be so sensitive, you know what I mean.” She spat.

“Maya!” Steel insisted with a parental undertone.

Maya hid her face back in her hooves. “You had to save me too…”

Steel erupted in laughter. 

“It’s not funny!!” 

“Then why am I laughing?” Steel wiped a tear from his eyes.

Tayson cleared his throat. “I do thank you for the story, but if we could go back to the whole ‘saving my friends from a bunch of fanatics’ that would be nice.”

Steel nodded. “Of course. It is very simple, Maya, you and I are going to form the Alpha team, we’re going to infiltrate the hideout with the recruits. Another team from Canterlot is going to infiltrate the hideout near Canterlot, and do the same there.”

Tayson and Maya nodded in unison. “When are we moving out?”

“The day after tomorrow, we wait till the team from Canterlot is ready to move. Then the mission starts.”

Tayson didn’t like to wait another day, but he simply nodded.

Steel clapped his hooves and motioned the two to leave. “Prepare yourself well, especially you, Tayson. This will be your first mission. Don’t let it be your last.” With a serious look in his face he dismissed the two and returned back to his work.