Exactly what I was talking about. Celestia's trick were harmless, but served as a great disadvantage for me. And this fourth trick of hers, was something I did mind, unlike the other ones, which were obvious and I would have been able to figure those details out on my own. However, she revealed my name and the worst part of it was that her student caught me lying. If only the Mayor would have known it, then I would have been JUST okay with this discovery. Then, she had to regard me with my real name, which she got from Celestia herself... at least my family name remained hidden...

True, in the past, I had easier time with these aliases. It worked for me like this: Soul 'A' knew me by my title, while soul 'B' knew me by the name Dhanthas or Dhuradhan. The two souls never seen, heard and will never hear about each other, thus letting me stay hidden and to not get in front of them with that dreaded question: ''Who are you actually?''

Unfortunately, it was Equestria and Celestia was close with Twilight Sparkle. Still, if the Mayor wouldn't have said my name, then the letters for Celestia, sent by Twilight Sparkle, will name me as Outsider. In that way, Celestia would realize what I do and wouldn't reveal me.

Sadly, it wasn't about to work, due to the Mayor and because Celestia revealed my name on paper... and what is on paper, it will forever exist, until you destroy the evidence...

To get away from Twilight Sparkle as soon as possible, I hopped over the handrails/hoofrails, landing on the middle of the bottom staircase and reaching the entrance door under seconds. On the other side of the door, were the frequently placed buildings after the short open area... the keys for my escape...

To my bad luck, on the other side was something I should have expected to be there...

Stepping through the doorway with more speed than it was normal, I nearly slammed into a brown male pegasus, with spiky mane and tail in the color of dark-blue. Before he leapt away from my way, I was able to see the panic in his greenish eyes and the other ponies had the same reaction. Him and his buddies then tried to act casual again, thinking that they weren't obvious about their intentions.

The unlucky pegasus could only press himself against the railing, trying his best to not blow up his cover. ''Hehhey, welcome to Ponyville! Name's Zephyr Verve, but my friends call me Zeph-''

''Have a nice day!'' I called back, not in the situation to chat with him, nor with his watching buddies, who were at the bottom of the stairs. They were in my way, completely blocking the path over to my house's direction. ''Excuse me.'' I said, going through their gathering circle like some projectile, as they quickly stumbled out from my destination's way.

I didn't look back and didn't run, but I should have done that, instead of just listening to Twilight Sparkle's voice, questioning that stallion by the door about my whereabouts. And of course, they had to tell her that I was behind the Mayor's house, already getting closer to my living place...

''Wait!'' She called out and I knew she will cry out both of my alias and Mortal name. ''Outsider! Ad-''

I whipped around, raising up my hand. ''Spare me from spreading that word and causing me difficulties, Element of Magic!''

She caught up, slowing down before me with a questioning expression. ''Thank you.'' I nodded at the unicorn, turned my back against her, whilst pulling out the map for a more accurate direction. ''You've done what I requested and I need no further help from you. I appreciate your help and it is time for you to go and resume your life. Goodbye...'' I started walking, getting no reply from her, only the sound of her... hoofsteps?

I didn't glance down, just kept on looking forward, occasionally taking a peek at the Map or somewhere else, but not at the unicorn. I ignored her, so she would give up following me in hopes of making small talk and definitely asking me why I lied.

She didn't wait for me to say anything and she persisted on not dropping the topic. ''Why did you lie to me and my friends, Adam?''

I lowered the map, letting out a huge amount of air through my nose and only glancing down at her with my eyes. ''You persist to know, huh? Can't we just drop the topic?''

''We're talking about your name here. This is important!'' And there she was wrong...

''No, it's not. And you shouldn't bother yourself about it. It's not important, so forget this name, do not mention it out loud and call me Outsider. And you are wasting your time here, I am not the social type.'' Plan truth, was what I tried on her. For my own sake and lying to her further did not crossed through my thoughts.

It seemed to completely shut her down to form up any questions. ''I still want to come with you.''

''As you wish...'' And with that said, we fell into silence.

While I ignored her presence as much as I could, I still felt the questioning look, directed right at me from the level of my stomach. This time, I was going with my own pace, forcing Twilight Sparkle to hurry her leg movement up to keep up with me. She was trotting while I was just walking in positive manner, finally knowing where I was going. I half-tried to slow down to her pace, seeing that only my two legs guided me twice faster than her four hooves could carry her.

Still, I did my best to let her know, that I will NOT talk to her any time soon, whilst doing so in a gentler manner. I hated to admit, but she had JUST enough moral rights to know why I lied. But explaining it would not just take too much time, but would be unnecessary, for she would not understand it in the end.

Only if I would have told her about my world in more detail, which I certainly avoided for too good reasons...

For a while, the Element of Magic was inspecting my movement, most definitely noting how I can walk on two. Though I wasn't the best one to examine, given how crooked my spine was. Also, I was over the average Humanoid built as well. It may be specie dependent, but taking into count, that most of the Humanoids were as tall as an ordinary Mortal, then I was above all of them literally. With over two meters height, a balance between the ripped and muscular body, three times or more endurance, strength, reflexes, mind-sharpness, tolerance/resistance to environmental changes... if she was about to make a research about the average Humanoid, then I wasn't the best example...

She probably realized that this wasn't something for public eyes, so she stopped examining me eventually. Our walk just got more blissful and eased its tension...

''Look out!''

Out of nowhere, a beach ball came at my direction, along with a cry of warning.

I caught the ball with my left hand, glancing away from the map. I heard the gasps around me, the unicorn's louder than the other ponies'. The beach ball wielded the colors of the rainbow, but it wasn't what caused me to froze in place...

But the memory it recalled for me...

_________________________________________________________________________________________________

I picked up the ball from the stone ground and threw it back to the playing children, who were having a great time on the beach. They were laughing, screaming in joy and have little care about the world around them. But that was the youth for you, a blissful fun through all day and happy dreams at night about playing.

''Köszönjük!'' [''Thank you!''] They shouted in unison with their lively pitched voice, already running after their toy.

I hummed to myself before my smile disappeared and went inside the dark corridor, which led to the changing rooms. The otherwise white walls weren't sending further the brightness from outside, adding a grim look for the clean corridor. The pale white floor looked like it needed a cleaning up, no matter how recently it had been washed up. And the only light from outside was coming from the sun, yet its beams faltered when they reached and leaned into the entrance.

I knew too well what was causing such darkness on a clear day like this... Shadows...

Getting deeper and deeper, my vision started to fail me in the total silence. I heard no one in the building, only the naked footsteps on the walls, ceiling and sometimes on the floor, yet I found no Mortal soul anywhere. Unnerving environment, unusual sounds from uncertain directions... it was close to me, I felt it...

The door opened behind me and I quickly turned around, calling a Torch to my left hand and to be safe, Summoned my Golden Cross, in case I had mistaken the threat and it turns out to be a Dark Angel. Dark Power had an unpleasant effect on the Mortals, but beings like Pure Souls and other powerful beings could sense the Energy from that Power, including its influence in the area. And that area was clearly the home of rogue Shadow or a Dark being...

''I see you are prepared against the Dark ones, my boy.'' Came the voice of a highly familiar Pure Soul...

''Thelestial?'' I lowered my arms a bit, still careful with the near danger.

Out from the door, came walking out the purest of all, Leader of the Light and a Saint, who could be considered as a second father for me. His otherwise snow-white hair and beard had lost its brightness and now it's just speaking about my mentor's age with grey paleness. His long beard was now in a unique weaving, the length of it touching the top of his chest.

I've never seen him half naked before and the white swimming shorts weren't telling stories about ancient times like his robe did, but they more like told a gossip about a trip to the local summer shop. Not like I expected anything, but to my surprise, he kept himself in rather good shape. His body - as I had predicted a long time ago - still had the muscle built of a fit thirty years old man and even more. I knew there was something more to his wide shoulders and big hands. I was a starting boxer, if I compared my ripped built to his muscular one.

He pulled his feet out from his casual, brown summer slippers and picking them up, he stuffed them inside his pockets of his shorts - which could be found on every single guy on the beach in different colors and looks - , to reduce the sound coming from his steps, and then he Summoned his own Golden Cross. Mine was the one, which has been in the possession of each Avatar and when it was time to give it to me, I found out that mine was better than his, due to improvements on it from previous Avatars. Still, he had the more experience with this relic, mine just had more features...

''Let us do the hunting together. It would be a really pleasant nostalgia for me.'' He said, turning towards the entrance door and shutting it with an Alteration Spell. I noticed it wasn't an Ability, given how he just left the Energy to work on the door. He was saving his Energy with this and allowed his attention to be on something else. Exactly what he had told me about his style.

''Y-yes, of course, mentor.'' I nodded and turning around, I got ready for any possible incoming attack.

''Please, just call me by my name. We're a team as of right now, boy. Now come on, I defend the rear.''

''Alright... Thelestial.''

From my peripheral vision, I could only see his long hoariness and back, as he kept an eye out for behind. I, on the other hand, watched the front, coordinating us through the ever so darkening corridors, up until only my Torch provided us light. I heard Thelestial casting Flares and leaving them behind to find our way out quickly, if things go down to Hell all of a sudden.

No matter how powerful he was, he couldn't just scorch the whole building out with Light Energy and picking up the attention of the Mortals outside...

''This reminds me of the days, when me and a few more friends of mine went on these hunting and cleansing raids. We had many kind of tactics to take out the Shadows without any casualties or mistakes. What we are doing now, is one of those tactics and against Shadows, it's highly effective and needs only two Pure Soul.'' He explained, as always, telling me about his adventure filled past. I knew he liked telling these stories and to be honest, I liked listening to them.

''Am I a Pure Soul?'' I asked back, not really finding it accurate to do this cleansing with him, if I wasn't a Pure Soul...

''Do you consider yourself as one?''

It was a hard question, indeed. I had committed suicide, but since then, I've been only doing good after good and it turned out, that Lucifer's influence had a key role in my sin, so me still being clean was a high possibility. ''I'm not sure... I'm the Avatar, I can't be a Pure Soul.''

''Sometimes, you have to let go of the traditional system and your own philosophy needs to be forgotten, in order to observe and decide about something, from a completely different aspect. You are The Balance of this world and you will encounter souls, who may committed a sin, but their intentions were pure. Or similar situations, when no matter what they told you at The Light and what you had learned about sins and purity, morally, a third aspect will be the perfect solution as The Balance. I ask you again: Do you consider yourself as a Pure Soul?''

I thoughtfully put his words away in my mind, like I always did, when he shared his wise advices with me. Or his philosophy, for that matter and when he tells me a story, I always try to figure out what the lesson is behind his words. He was the lesson himself, every word of his was memorable and easy to store it away in my memories.

Thinking it over again with these new informations, I answered. ''Yes, I do.''

''There you go, then now you can continue hunting without feeling as an outsider. But in all honesty... being an outsider is special and not always a disadvantage, you do know that.''

''Yes, I do.'' I nearly replied instantly, having already experience from this topic. I was no Mortal, nor a Pure Soul, but considering myself as one of these, it helped me to not feel left out or think of myself as a freak. But even then, knowing what I was not one of these, yet acknowledging my positive actions for the world... I realized that I liked being an outsider, no matter what I was not and won't be... my motives were for good and I needed no certain title to do good...

''Excellent, then tell me why you're not enjoying yourself on your holiday? Something is wrong?'' He surprised me by the question. I was fine, really!

''I- I just thought I should secure the area from Dark beings, then I could start having fun as well. First the world, then myself.'' I told him, recalling what I had learned and come to realize since the first day as The Balance.

''Boy, you are repeating yourself.'' What? ''You do know there are Guardian Angels in here, looking out for the sake of the Mortals. You could have already started having fun hours ago.'' I was about speak up at that revelation, but he was faster. ''Yes, I've been watching you for a while now. I know you covered down three street so far and you are planning on going through the whole town. While I'm impressed, I cannot bear to see you outworking yourself. Tell me, why are we looking for this Dark being or two?''

''Because it could be-''

''For your information, there are two of them. One is a little boy and one is man, both Shadows, but only one of them is dangerous. Continue...'' He corrected me and I realized it was going to be another lesson, that he will teach me soon.

''Because they could be dangerous-... one of them could be dangerous to the Mortals and he's committed sins. And because of that, we are here to take care of them.'' I finished explaining and waited for him to answer.

''Just only one of them, boy. And I would like you to find out why. Remember what I had told you not so long ago...''

While we walked up the stairs, went inside various rooms, then down on the final corridor, we suddenly heard the sound of a crying children. Then it kicked in...

''The third aspect...'' I looked at my mentor, who motioned for me to continue. ''The boy, no matter what he is now, he may or may not commit a sin, but now... he is innocent...'' I stopped to hear the kid sobbing. ''... and scared... alone...'' It made sense actually and up until now, I haven't realized this... and how could I kill a child, if I'm at it?

''Now you are starting to understand this third aspect... what are going to do?''

''Leave the young one alone and go for the real sinner.'' I answered, just thinking that the lesson was over.

''Now forget about the lessons from The Light itself and listen to yourself. To your morals and according to your philosophy... do you find it right, to take away the life of this Shadow?''

I did as he said and just looked at this case with Mortal eyes. I thought over what this Shadow had done to the younger one, who was once a Mortal. No system, only my own morals and philosophy... both of them seemed to agree upon the death of that shadow...

''Yes.''

''And do you think, that it will be the best for others as well? You're not just doing this for your own self... but for others...''

If the Shadow remains, then people will slowly fall into the traps of this evil creature and get devoured. After that, more will appear and soon, the town will be in need of great help against a horde of Shadows...

''Yes.''

''Then do your thing, here he comes.''

And sure enough, it revealed himself and was charging at me from behind. Thelestial stepped to the side, allowing me to take care of the black, shadowy being. It had no visible mouth, yet the blood curdling scream it was letting out spoke otherwise. The Shadow hasn't changed to solid form, hence the slight transparent form of his. No eyes, nose or ears, only limbs of Dark Energy, without a mind to control it. The footsteps of his were either too light to be heard, or the horrifying scream muffled it.

Before he could lunge at me, I pointed my cross at it and let the Flashlight to vaporize my target, leaving the corridor in complete silence, after the dying echoes ceased to disturb the peace in the building...

''You took away a Dark being's life. Shadows have never been never categorized to the living beings, because of the lacking sentient features. Yet in a way... it was a life. You do know and understand that, I believe.'' Thelestial stepped close to me, a neutral expression on his face.

''Yes, I understand, but this is part of The Balance. One bad and one good in my solution.'' I said, again, telling what I had learned first as The Balance... and realized on my own experiences...

His face quickly shifted into a smile and he started walking back, down the now much brighter corridor. ''Good, now we should go. I still have some time to spend in here, so...'' He trailed off, chuckling to himself and I caught up with him.

''But you said you're here to watch over me? No?''

''What, thousands years and I can't do what the Mortals do for fun?'' He let out a heartily laugh, which quickly stuck on me as well, electing a short chuckle from me.

The building slowly became brighter and brighter, the presence of a single child Shadow being in the building was nonexistent. I found the middle solution, learned from my mentor on a vacation and had the privilege to see him in swimming shorts. I wondered if we will speak again soon...

''So... no Words for Spells?'' He started up our next conversation to my delight.

''Yes... and I prefer Abilities now.'' I answered, making him smile a bit at that.

We reached the entrance door and I opened it for him. He smiled even more and stepped outside to the sunlight, me following him behind. Both of us breathed in the fresh and slightly salty air from the shores and looked up at the sun, recharging our Light Energy.

''You're going to finish up the rest of the discovered area, right?'' He saw me nodding at that and he sighed. ''As you wish...''

For a while, we just stood there, listening to the waves, the children and the wind coming from the water's direction. Then he spoke up for the last time on that day...

''You're learning fast and maybe with the same speed, you will learn when to ease up, and who to accept as a friend...'' He suggested at my lack of company on my vacation. I was just here with family and searched for no one, aside from danger and threat for the Mortals. I didn't think about finding some teenagers to have fun with, that is how busily I occupied myself with my duty... with my destiny as The Balance...

I carved his last sentence into my mind and decided to wait for that day to come and find joy in living life as a simple Mortal would do...

We both looked at the playing children, still wearing those merry smiles and joyful grins on their expressions. All of them were friends of each other, just enjoying life as it is... Maybe Thelestial wanted to see me amongst friends as well? To see the same smile on my expressionless face? He did look after me like a parent would do...

''One day, you will find the place, where you can just lean back and have real, trustworthy friends...'' He added, walking off to the beach. I watched him walking deeper and deeper into the shallow water and eventually, falling face-first into a larger wave, disappearing...

I could only hope he was right and that I will find real friends one day... but only after fulfilling my destiny as The Balance...

''Vissza tetszik adni a labdát, uram?!'' [Can we get our ball back, sir?!] The kids cried out after each other, jumping up and down with their arms flailing around to get my attention.

And I picked up the ball and threw it back to them, before I started my way over to the next abandoned building...

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Words:

- Saying out loud the name of an Ability/Spell, you help yourself focusing better on successfully doing the needed Technique. Usually, when you start Tuning an Ability/Spell or start learning it from a book, a teacher or someone else, you ought to use Words to help you getting used to the Technique and perfecting it out. However, when you have difficulties at focusing for some reason (Getting hit by something painful and such.), you could use these Words to help you performing the Technique just as perfectly as before you started to have these difficulties.

- There is no shame in using it, there are masters, who still use the Words to absolutely and perfectly perform a Technique.

- If you say more of it's name, you perform better, since your intentions will be sensed by the Energy. It is like you are giving more precise coordinates and instructions to you Energy. In other words, the Energy will work better on doing the Technique...

Examples:

- Tuning/learning starter: ''Ability Power Wing, Alteration Power Tree, Telekinesis.'' *performs Ability easily and perfectly*

- Tuning/learning starter: ''Alteration: Telekinesis.'' *performs Ability/Spell not as easily or not perfectly or both*

***

Torch:

Holds an Energy flame in your hand/on your finger, to illuminate the area around you. If it makes contact with something, it will loses from its light and eventually falters.

Pro Tip: Using Light Energy makes it more effective and can be used to scorch Shadows and other Dark beings... (Light Powers are highly dangerous to those creatures...)

***

Flare: Send out a flare, to illuminate the area. If someone touches the flare and it has plenty of Energy in it, it could damage the one who touched it, thus losing Energy from the flare itself, due to physical/magical contact...

Pro Tip: Using Light Energy makes it more effective and can be used to be shot at Shadows and other Dark beings... (Light Powers are highly dangerous to those creatures...)

***

Flashlight:

Spreads Energy around like a flashlight to illuminate certain areas, depending on where you are pointing your hands or eyes. It could be used to cause some burning to something or someone as well, if it has enough Energy in it...

Pro Tip: Using Light Energy makes it more effective and can be used to scare away or burn away multiple Shadows or other Dark beings. (Light Powers are highly dangerous to those creatures...)

***

Summoning:

Summoning someone or something out from something. (Pretty much what Balance does with his Scythe, Golden Cross.) (Balance's claws are from Morphing ability, that means, he only Morphs the look of his body, slightly. Transformation is when completely losing the original look of yourself...)

Example:

- Balance summoning The Scythe out from his marks on his right shoulder.

- Balance summoning the Golden Cross from himself.