Chapter 1 – A very old and fascinating game

Kosumi’s family moved to Canterlot before he was born, but even though he had lived there his whole life he never seemed to fit in. The other fillies and colts in his class never made fun of him, really, and they didn’t even mock the fact that he was one of the last in his class without a cutie mark, but they also never made an effort to be his friend. Each day at school was the same: show up, take notes, play outside alone, eat lunch alone, take more notes, and go home. Sometimes Kosumi wondered if anypony would notice his absence for a day, or even a week, but he didn’t have the motivation to skip class – it wasn’t like he’d have anywhere to go anyway.

Then one day, instead of heading straight home, Kosumi wandered around the streets of the capital city. He wasn’t afraid of anything in this city – the royal guard did not tolerate even the slightest disturbances to the peace – but he was fairly certain his parents would not have approved of the young colt going about unsupervised. He just wanted to find something to do.

After about 20 minutes, Kosumi was starting to get bored by his semi-adventure. He didn’t see much to Canterlot. The other fillies and colts at his school all cared about the latest Wonderbolt derby or who the most amazing fashion models were, and that was what most of the shops in the area seemed to reflect. Some were selling memorabilia or had flyers about upcoming events in town and the rest had the sophisticated Canterlot type of feel that Kosumi also detested. Kosumi had never found any of it to be that exciting. It just made him feel more out of place.

Just before he turned back, however, Kosumi went down one more side street and there, nestled between a noodle shop and a newspaper stand, was a small antiques store. I wonder if they have anything interesting.

The shop seemed even smaller on the inside. A bell chimed as he entered. No, it wasn’t a bell. It was a set of wind-chimes. Regardless, the clatter roused the shopkeeper, a white male unicorn with a long purple mane, who looked up from a little wooden table he had been sitting in front of. “Hello there, young colt. Are you looking for anything in particular?”

“I don’t know what I’m looking for. I’ve been wondering around the town looking for something to do or see.”

The old unicorn smiled. “Ah, I know that feeling. Well, I do have some things in here that might peak your interest, but I’m afraid most of them are quite expensive.”

“To be honest,” said Kosumi, his ears falling and his face slightly blushing. “I don’t have any money.”

Nodding, the shopkeeper looked back down at the table and then, his horn lighting up, lifted a white disk from a bowl next to him and gently set it on the table in front of him. “Well, you can still look around. I don’t charge anything for window shopping.”

Kosumi trotted over to the table the old stallion was sitting behind. It was covered in black and white disks resting on a large grid. “What are you doing?”

“This? It’s a very old and fascinating game. It was invented thousands of years ago in a far away land and it’s an important part of unicorn culture.”

Studying the board, Kosumi thought back to all of the games he had ever seen in his life and couldn’t recall any that looked like his. “How come I’ve never heard of it?”

The shopkeeper sighed. “Many of you youngsters don’t seem to have an appreciation for classic games like this. You’re too into that pegasus racing and rodeos and flashy things like that to be bothered by something so old.”

“Well, I don’t like any of those things,” Kosumi peered over the board. He started to notice patterns in the pieces. It looked like they were forming chains. “But this game looks interesting.”

“Yes, I love go.”

“Go? You love to go where?”

Laughing, the stallion said, “That’s the name of this game. Go.”

“Oh, I see.” Kosumi stared at the board again. The pattern was almost mesmerizing. “Sir, would you please teach me how to play go?”

The old unicorn’s eyes lit up. “Well, you might find it a bit hard to play without magic, but I’ve never turned down someone who wants to learn go. You can call me Mr. Komi.”

That afternoon Kosumi learned all about the rules of go. He wasn’t sure how to hold the stones (which the old shopkeeper insisted were to be called “stones” and not pieces), switching back and forth between holding them in his mouth and trying to lift and place them with his hoof. Mr. Komi was patient with him, not upset by how long it took sometimes to get the stone onto an intersection, but even though Kosumi was uncertain of how well he could play, he was sure of one thing: He liked go. A lot.

The next day Kosumi went to the old man’s shop after school again. And the day after that. And the day after that. Days to weeks. Weeks to months. And even after the school year ended, Kosumi still found the time to come by Mr. Komi’s place. The unicorn really seemed to know the ins and outs of go. At first he only taught Kosumi the rules and basics, but soon he was teaching him strategy and how to read out patterns in the stones. As time went on, Kosumi began to improve in his game but Mr. Komi still always won. It wasn’t that he was harsh to Kosumi. On the contrary, he praised Kosumi every time the young colt made a truly good move. Still, it seemed like Kosumi should have been able to win. At first, Kosumi wasn’t surprised that Mr. Komi was taking it easy on him. That was to be expected when teaching a beginner. However, he saw that every single game, no matter how much better he got, was always a win for Mr. Komi by about 6-7 points and Kosumi began to wonder if Mr. Komi was still going easy on him after all this time.

Chapter 2 – I have to know...

When Kosumi entered the shop, Mr. Komi smiled at him as usual and walked over to the go board toward the back of the shop.

“Today,” said Mr. Komi. “I wanted to teach you a bit more about attack and defense.” The unicorn began to play stones across the board, but Kosumi interrupted.

“Mr. Komi, could we play a truly even game? One where you don’t go easy on me?”

Stopping with the stones, Mr. Komi frowned at that. “Kosumi, don’t get me wrong. You’ve improved immensely. I’ve never had a student move as quickly as you have and I’ve taught go for nearly 40 years, but I don’t think you’d want me to play you at full strength.”

But Kosumi insisted. “I have to know how good I am.”

Something sparked in Mr. Komi’s eyes as Kosumi said this. “Okay,” he smiled. “Let’s see what you’ve got.” And so Mr. Komi played an even game against his student at full strength.

By the 50th move, Kosumi realized there was no hope of victory. He shook his head at the board as he saw how every one of his groups was in danger and how he had hardly managed to gain any territory – or even potential for territory – compared to the old unicorn. “Mr. Komi,” Kosumi asked more out of awe than true curiosity. “Just how good are you?”

“In my day, I was a professional.”

“A professional? Like how the Wonderbolts are professional racers?”

“That’s right. I was actually a top professional – 9 dan.”

“Why did you stop playing professionally if you’re so good.”

Mr. Komi looked down at the board and his ears fell slightly. “I would rather not talk about that, but suffice it to say I’m very good at go. That’s why my cutie mark is this yellow fan on a go board.”

Kosumi had come to admire his teacher’s mark. It was one of the best cutie marks he had ever seen and Kosumi had wanted to get a go cutie mark of his very own, but it still hadn’t appeared. He had begun to fear that earth ponies couldn’t have a go cutie mark. “I wish I wasn’t an earth pony.”

Mr. Komi’s head bolted back toward Kosumi. “What did you just say?” Kosumi was about to repeat himself, but Mr. Komi lifted a hoof. “Don’t you ever say that again. I wasn’t lying when I said you have learned go faster than any of my past students. Never for one minute should you think that just because you’re an earth pony that means you can’t play go.”

“But I still don’t have a go cutie mark. I’ve been here every day for months studying and playing. If I was going to earn a go cutie mark don’t you think I would have it by now?”

“Nothing in all of Equestria can make a cutie mark appear before its time and nopony knows what their mark will be until they get it. Your cutie mark might be about go, but it could also be about woodworking or farming or math. Don’t fall into the lie that you need to get a cutie mark as fast as possible.”

“You sound just like my parents. They keep telling me that go is just a game and that I should enjoy it and not try to get a go cutie mark.” Kosumi’s parents had been a bit concerned that their son wanted to learn how to play some ancient unicorn game, but his mother was just glad that he finally had a hobby. Yet his dad had even once hinted that he would prefer Kosumi not get a cutie mark related to go.

“There is some truth to that. Go is a game and you don’t need to have a cutie mark to play go.” Suddenly the wind-chimes at the front of the store rang. This was a semi-common occurrence and Kosumi always just waited by the go board as Mr. Komi took care of the customer. This time, however, the customer was lead back to Kosumi.

“One-Point Jump, I want you to meet Kosumi. He’s the prodigy I told you about last week.”

Kosumi turned to see a large, light brown unicorn with a deep red mane and a cutie mark of two white go stones. The unicorn was smiling until Kosumi turned around, then he frowned. “Your prodigy is an earth pony?”

At that, Kosumi’s ears fell straight down and his head flopped onto the go board, again ashamed by his lack of magical ability. Anger flared in Mr. Komi’s eyes. “How dare you, One-Point! Kosumi is the most promising student I have ever instructed. He’s learned more about the strategy and intricicies of go in a few months than you’ve learned in your 20 years playing the game.”

“How does he even play the stones?” One-Point laughed, lifting up a go stone with his horn and putting it in front of Kosumi. “Here kid, play the stone.”

The last thing Kosumi wanted to do was play a go stone in front of this stallion, but Mr. Komi smiled at him and nodded in a way that told Kosumi he was more than capable of doing this. The colt replaced his depressed stare with a determined look as he snatched the stone out of the air. Then, turning to the board, he found a decent spot to play his move among the fight in the center and carefully set the stone down on the intersection. However, he had to be careful not to disturb the other stones, so he did need to slide the stone into place first and that took a second.

“Wow,” said One-Point, sarcastically. “I’m really impressed.” Then he turned to Mr. Komi. “You are wasting 9 dan talent on teaching some colt that can’t even put a stone on the board.”

“At least he’s willing to play go.” Kosumi wasn’t sure what Mr. Komi was getting at, but something about the statement seemed to poke at One-Point.

He was only phased for a moment, though. One-Point laughed and looked down at Kosumi. “Well colt, if you want to play go so badly then come to our go club tomorrow night. We’re over in The Empty Corner.”

A part of Kosumi just wanted his interaction with One-Point to be over, but he had something to prove to this stallion. Something that he had to prove to himself. Without missing a beat, Kosumi stated boldy, “I’ll be there.”

Chapter 3 – Cross-Cut of the Go Club

When he arrived Kosumi was somewhat nervous, but a strange confidence had also come upon him. He had been playing go for months now and learned from Mr. Komi. If he had been trained by a former pro that had to mean he was at least decent compared to most amateurs.

Mr. Komi had also given him a few pieces of advice. First, to laugh and smile through the insults. Second, to let his playing speak for itself. And finally, that he needed to play a unicorn named Cross-Cut.

There were 6 ponies in the Canterlot Go Club. One-Point Jump was one and they were all unicorns. As soon as Kosumi entered, One-Point pointed him out to the rest. “You see guys. I told you a little yellow earth pony was going to come try to play go at the club tonight.” One-Point and a couple of the others laughed. Kosumi took a deep breath. He wouldn’t let himself be intimidated. He could do this. Just remember what Mr. Komi told you. Slowly, Kosumi walked toward them.

The only female unicorn was orange with a magenta mane and was one of the six that wasn’t laughing. She approached Kosumi as he came across the room and smiled at him. “Hi, you’re Kosumi right?” He nodded. “My name is Atari.”

Then One-Point walked over to the two of them. “I just wanted to see if you’d show up, colt. I have plans tonight, but I’ll be back later to see how badly these guys have beaten you.” As One-Point left, Atari shook her head.

“Mr. Komi told us a bit about you, and One-Point told us a bit more.” Then she whispered so that One-Point couldn’t hear as he was leaving, “Personally, I trust Mr. Komi more, so I’m looking forward to playing you.”

Kosumi smiled at that. “I look forward to playing you too.”

The other unicorns introduced themselves as Approach Move, Bamboo Joint, Long-Knight, and finally Cross-Cut, a light blue unicorn with a dark blue mane and a cutie mark showing a cross-cut pattern. Kosumi wasted no time in issuing his challenge. “Cross-Cut, Mr. Komi said I should play you.”

Cross-Cut chuckled. “He said you should play me? I don’t see why. Can you even hold the stones?”

“Cross-Cut!” scolded Atari.

But Cross-Cut shrugged, “Look, go is a unicorn game for a reason. If he can’t hold the stones how can he play?”

Kosumi drew on some confidence he didn’t know he had and smiled. “Try me.”

Rolling his eyes, Cross-Cut’s horn lit up and sent 4 black stones onto the board, one on each corner star point. “I guess we can start you at 4 stones and see how many we’ll have to add after that.”

“No.” Kosumi looked directly at Cross-Cut and each one met the other’s gaze. “We’re playing even. Let’s choose for color.”

Taking the stones back off the board, Cross-Cut picked up a hoof-full of white stones and placed them in front of him. “Odd or even?” Kosumi took one from the bowl of black stones and knocked it onto the table. Cross-Cut had an even number, so Kosumi was going to play white and go second.

Instead of starting their own games, the other unicorns in the club gathered around Kosumi and Cross-Cut’s board to watch their match. Kosumi lightly gulped at the thought of the crowd around him, but then focused on the board. He needed to let his go speak for him.

“I suppose we can get this over faster if you don’t have a handicap...” Cross-Cut played a stone on the star point next to his right hoof.

Kosumi frowned. He’s not even starting on my half of the board. He won’t even do me that respect... Then he realized what was happening. He wants to see how well I place a stone across the board. He looked up at Cross-Cut, who was staring at the board. Fine, I’ll show him how I can drop a stone. Placing his hoof in the bowl, Kosumi drew out a white stone and raised it up. He weighed it in his hoof for a moment, pretending to have difficulty. Then, in one motion, he sent it flying down onto the 3-4 facing Cross-Cut’s star point stone.

The other unicorns watching their game gasped and even Cross-Cut flinched at the finesse of Kosumi’s play. Maybe this earth pony isn’t as foolish as I thought. But just because he can drop a stone doesn’t mean he knows how to play go. Cross-Cut looked over the board. Kosumi’s move would allow him to play a cross fuseki – his favorite kind – but he had been told that he should work on his parallel fuseki and a game against an earth pony seemed like it would be a good time to experiment. Taking a black stone, he gently rested it on the star point across the board. I’ll build into the sanrensei and then—

Kosumi immediately brought down another 3-4 stone facing away from this new star point stone. It was so fast that Atari would have missed the move had she not been looking at the board. Mr. Komi was right. He doesn't let a lack of magic stand in his way.

Cross-Cut scowled at this. He didn’t even think about that move. He must just play the same opening every game. You shouldn’t leave an uneven side like that. He considered his next move for a moment. I can’t let him get a shimari from this. If I approach him high then he’ll likely come away with sente and he could split up my framework. But if I approach him low he could tenuki immediately to split me. Then again, I could press him down after that and get a nice wall facing the top. And if he plays out a pincer joseki I can play out a variation to come away with sente and finish my framework.

His horn lighting up, Cross-Cut took a black stone and played a low one-space approach move to Kosumi’s corner. This time Kosumi thought. He wants me to let him come away with sente so he can finish off his side. I could try to force a pincer variation that lets me get sente, but I doubt he would let me – he’d probably turn it into a fight. Kosumi considered all the joseki Mr. Komi had taught him for the low approach, but one kept coming back to him. What if I just let him come away with sente right now...

Taking a stone, Cross-Cut brought his hoof down on the corner. When it was removed, he had played the diagonal response.

Cross-Cut and the other unicorns were baffled. That move?! Why would he play the diagonal? Does he know I can just tenuki and he can’t kill my stone? This little pony doesn’t know what he’s doing. I’ll finish my sanrensei and... wait. Examining the whole board Cross-Cut thought he could see Kosumi’s plan. He wants me to tenuki. He wants me to tenuki so that he can press my stone down and he can get influence facing the left. He could build a nice framework over there. Cross-Cut considered his options. He could be comfortable having a good framework on his side of the board and letting Kosumi build something for himself, but that wasn’t his style. No, I won’t let him...

Some criticized Cross-Cut’s play as too aggressive. They said he was too focused on taking from his opponent and not focused enough on building for himself, but the unicorn had proven that he could back up his moves in the past and he wasn’t going to let some colt make him timid. Splitting white, he played the 3-9 point on the other side of the diagonal.

Kosumi smiled, this time not because of Mr. Komi’s advice, but because he was happy. Cross-Cut had seen what he was up to and that meant he wasn’t ignoring Kosumi’s play as that of a foolish beginner. Now you’re playing against me like I’m a real opponent. Let’s play a real game now. He gently lifted out the next white stone and brought it down on the board.

After 187 moves, Kosumi resigned.

Cross-Cut had played a very impressive game taking advantage of Kosumi’s smallest mistakes. He played moves Kosumi had never seen before and had a style that was both aggressive and firm. Mr. Komi had tried to teach Kosumi many go styles, but Cross-Cut’s was definitely new to him. He could see why the old unicorn had wanted him to play Cross-Cut. Still, he hadn’t managed to win, or even make the game that close. I wasn’t good enough. I suppose any respect they gained for me is gone now. I guess I can’t come back here anymore. “Thank you for the game.” Kosumi stood up to leave and Cross-Cut only stared at him. Kosumi frowned. “What is it?”

Cross-Cut’s eyes were wide as he pointed at Kosumi’s flank. “You didn’t tell me you had a go cutie mark.”

“I don’t have a cutie—” Kosumi looked back at himself to see the diagonal joseki he had played etched out on his flank. His eyes lit up. “Yes! I got my cutie mark! I have a go cutie mark!” Kosumi bounded up and down, shouting with joy. Then he noticed that the moon had completely replaced the sun in the sky. “Sweet Celestia, it’s late. I really have to go. Thank you so much, Cross-Cut. I look forward to playing you again and playing the rest of you guys too!” And while he left, Kosumi was screaming with excitement, “I knew it! I knew my talent was go!”

As Kosumi bounded out of the restaurant, Cross-Cut’s eyes swept from Kosumi’s now un-blank flank to the board. Yes, I would have to agree with that. And suddenly Cross-Cut felt his win sliding away into insignificance. I don’t think I’ll beat you by this much the next time we play. I don’t think I’ll ever beat you by this much again...

Epilogue

About 15 minutes later, One-Point Jump came back. After talking to Long Knight and hearing that Kosumi had left after playing a game against Cross-Cut, One-Point trotted over to the board that the blue unicorn was still studying. “You were black this game, right Cross-Cut?” Cross-Cut nodded. “I knew an earth pony couldn’t play go. You sure showed him.”

Cross-Cut shook his head. “I showed him nothing.”

One-Point raised an eyebrow. “You definitely won. It would have been by at least 30 points if he hadn’t resigned.”

“Oh yes, I’m stronger than he is. There’s no doubt about that. But I’m not significantly stronger. I won because he was unfamiliar with my moves, not because he can’t play. I can see his potential, One-Point. In a few years Kosumi could be stronger than any of us.”

“But he’s an earth pony. Did you see how slow his moves got when the board had a lot of stones on it?”

“He may have been slow to place the stone, but he was fast when it came to finding where it needed to be played. I would never have believed so much determination could come from an earth pony, but this colt is no ordinary earth pony.” Cross-Cut looked intently at the diagonal Kosumi had played. How wonderful his go is. Fresh and unrefined but with an edge that none of us could see coming until it was right before us. “It’s a shame you didn’t get a chance to play him.”

Shaking his head, One-Point scowled at Cross-Cut. “I would never stoop so low as to play an earth pony. The idea that that colt—” The daggers in Cross-Cut’s eyes cut One-Point down to silence.

“Mark my words, One-Point Jump. In a few months it will be Kosumi who is stooping down to play against you.”

Author's Notes:

I've updated the story to use more English go terms, especially in regard to names so that the story feels more like it takes place in Equestria proper instead of some Japanese Equestria.